Watercolor Rose

/ Topshop top and skirt / Zara heels and purse / DIY sunglasses /

Lately, it's a pretty rare occasion where I come across a garment that stops me and I automatically need to have it. Even rarer, is that it is in a reasonably affordable price range. I have been working on trying to add in a few special pieces into my wardrobe, regardless of their wearability, and this skirt from Topshop had all of the qualities I was looking for. Feminine, dainty, and unique in design, it is one of the pieces that has the power of making you feel a bit prettier just by putting it on. Bonus points, it reminds me of Katie Rodger's Dior illustration on Paper Fashion!

Have you seen any of these special pieces lately? I'd love to see.

Elizabeth Street

/ Christian Siriano dress c/o / Christian Siriano belt (on sale!) / Christian Siriano heels /

Is there a piece in your wardrobe that you can always rely on regardless of the occasion? For me, it's this Christian Siriano circle skirt dress. With it's flattering shape and obvious little black dress appeal, it always manages to make me feel feminine, polished, and pretty. When it comes to little black dresses, one of the many great qualities about them is that there are limitless ways to style them. This pink metallic snap belt, which is on sale at the store (!), and the seafoam Julie mary-jane's provide just the right amount of additions, without taking away from the dress's own beauty, as well. 

Are you as much in love with Christian Siriano's pieces as I am? If so, head to his store located at

252 Elizabeth Street btw Prince & Houston in Nolita

New York City

to pick up some fabulous pieces. They're even having a summer sale!

Tuesday Shoesday

One of my favorite places to visit while on vacation are the botanical gardens. It's always so quite and peaceful and the many varieties of plants and flowers create such a beautiful setting for fragrant smells and bright colors. These Kate Spade heels remind me of a perfect day strolling through the grounds. With florals being so effortlessly feminine, I like how these are slightly more abstract and create a bit more of a blurred image- easily allowing you to pair them with much more than just a dainty dress.

What do you think of these floral heels? 

Home Improvement

When it comes to pink, things can get tricky really fast. Naturally, the color is full of girly qualities to begin with, so it can easily err on the side of super-feminine or sometimes even juvenile. While I love nearly all shades of pink, playing with the femininity of the color with some earthy textures and colors     [seen in the fur throw on the wooden chair, table decorations, and wall paintings], help to make the pink more of a relaxing neutral than an over-the-top girly setting. 

How would you style a pink room? All-out feminine or mixin' it up?

photo via 

Eyes for Eyelet

1//2//3//4

Although it is still snowy here in Syracuse, yesterday was actually the first day of the long-awaited season of Spring. While lace garments often come to mind when this new season comes into play, it is eyelet that actually seems quite overlooked. While I typically associate lace with extreme femininity and a girly approach to dressing, eyelet feels to be for that girl that is a bit country. Though she likes the idea of lace, it is not as dressed up and not as prim as usual. The girl that is a fan of eyelet, wears her pieces either relaxed when it comes to how she accessorizes, as seen in image four, or exudes a sort of relaxed glamour completely, as seen in the first and third images above.  While lace can easily go overboard when it comes to the overall look, eyelet seems to work better as a starting base. Above are some eyelet pieces that I was particularly drawn to for either their intricate cut-outs with simple shapes or how they have been styled by those who wear them.

Would you try out eyelet this spring?

Person of Interest: Alexa Chung

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With each year that passes as I learn more about fashion and style, my own personal style fluctuates from being extremely feminine to adding tomboyish pieces to the feminine ones, and eventually it all becomes sort of oddly combined to create some sort of sense of style. For a while, though, through all of the changes in my own style, Alexa Chung has always had a sense of personal style that I constantly admire, look up to, and try to re-create. Aside from her perfectly un-kept messy bangs that almost have me wanting to re-visit that hairstyle when I study in London next spring, her mile-long slim legs, and the fact that she has a bag named after her by Mulberry, Alexa's style seems effortless in an exquisitely crafted manner. She is an expert at combining feminine prints and silhouettes with combat boots, muted colors, and at pairing vintage pieces with modern ones. Her style is very English and classic, but she creates combinations that feel anything but conservative and stuffy. While I have yet to achieve success in the styling of Alexa Chung, until then, her looks continue to serve as a form of daily inspiration. 

Tuesday Shoesday

As a college student, on a regular day to day basis, I don't wear heels. With the occasional heeled ankle boot, trying to navigate the Syracuse hills while carrying my books and art supplies, is usually not a recipe for success. However, my girlish desire to add a few inches to my legs and hear a clink with each step continues to present itself. These Asos heels are a height and style that while they are heels, they are just dressy enough to dress up a casual outfit. With their neutral suede and ankle strap style, they also can go with nearly any outfit, and I could see them being an obvious go-to when it comes to casual weekend outings with friends.  

Dress Up

I have found through examining collection after collection that when any garment--or lipstick-- is executed in this punchy fuchsia, I instantly love it. Aside from the obvious color infatuation, with it's slightly larger short sleeves, drop waist, full skirt, and knotted bow, there's no doubt what the reason's were for being drawn to this dress. This Giulietta party dress from the Pre-Fall 2013 collection was based around 1960's silhouettes and Breakfast at Tiffany's (when asked to keep Tiffany's & Co. in mind). While the dress is fairly simple, but still feminine, I appreciate the way in which Sofia Sizzi styled this particular look. With an un-fussy hairstyle and with basic black accessories in the shoes and frames of the model, this amazing dress is worn just how you would feel it was supposed to be. 

Tuesday Shoesday

Though my love for loafers has since taken over, for a while I was oxford obsessed. I paired the Madewell ones that my sister passed down to me with everything from casual shorts to more formal dresses and always felt that they provided the perfect dose of menswear quality to balance off my typically feminine outfits. Until this pair by Deena & Ozzy, I thought that I was surely done with oxfords. They sort of remind me of glass slippers in the sense that they are iridescent, which I clearly have been drawn to lately. Completely opposite of my Madewell pair, instead of providing a menswear addition to a feminine outfit, this pair appears feminine due to their less clunky shape and size and their shiny exterior.

Do you prefer more feminine or traditional style oxfords?

A to Z: Menswear Inspired

As much as I have a soft spot for extremely feminine and delicate designs, menswear inspired pieces, or incorporating components of menswear into otherwise lady-like looks, is a style that I have been gaining interest in over time. Starting with my love of a pair of Madewell oxfords, menswear inspired pieces focus mostly around fit and quality. Currently, I am really loving a more modern take on menswear with a well tailored short suit that is both polished and whimsical at the same time. 

Below are some of my favorite menswear-inspired pieces. 

Have you ever styled your outfit around menswear? What's your favorite part of it?

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A to Z: Lace

To me, lace is one of those fabrics that regardless of what color it is in, or what it is applied to, always exudes a sort of femininity. In a way, with all of the varieties, each lace has a personality that is different and makes each garment feel special. While lace used to be more associated with bridal gowns and creams and whites, more recently, it can be found in every color from neutral to neon (see above).

Do you have a favorite color or style of lace? I absolutely love the cream colored dress in the image. While it is definitely a more subtle version in comparison to the chartreuse all-over lace on the right, I love the way that it appears so soft and ethereal and then is paired with a bright poppy colored bag.

1, 2, 3, 4

Scalloped with an Edge

{Madewell dress, Topshop vest, Forever 21 purse, Target boots, Michael Kors watch, Unknown necklace, and Essie's "Mojito Maddness" polish}

As much as I love scalloped edges for their delicate and feminine quality, sometimes they can be the perfect girlier aspect of an outfit to juxtapose with more typically edgy pieces like leopard and (faux) leather. I love this dress for it's amazing ability to take layers well. In starting with the dress and then adding from there, a simple and pretty dress turns into a stylish look that appears quite put-together, but is easy to wear, as well. 

Dress Up

In my pattern making class we were just assigned our final project so that we can begin to gather ideas and inspiration surrounding the Victorian and Edwardian styles. In the 1860's sleeves began to showcase wider sleeves, and higher necklines with lace, and this week's Nasty Gal dress reminds me of a modern version of just that. One of my favorite styles of dresses are short in length but with long sleeves. I love the way that these sleeves are sheer and sort of blouse at the wrist and comes across as a rare vintage find that has been updated for a girl of today.

What parts of the Victorian/Edwardian era inspires you the most? I love how feminine and intricately crafted each of them are. 

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Purple Pleats

{Zara blouse, Necessary Clothing skirt, Steve Madden shoes, Michael Kors watch}

If I could only choose one perfect way for clothes to make their way into my heart, it would be pleats. They are the perfect combination of put together structure and girly whimsical appeal and regardless of how old I get, I still feel the need to twirl when wearing them. Lately, I have been in a purple mood. I am drawn to all shades of the color as it is seems to be slightly more grown up than pink, but still provides that sweet femininity that it brings. This skirt, in it's sort of ultra neon violet shade adorned with those perfect pleats, make it such a desirable piece that is indeed twirl worthy.