Vintage Celebration

Vintage Dress via Shareen Vintage / GAP denim jacket / Vintage purse (my grandmother's!) / Christian Siriano heels c/o / Michael Kors watch / Sunglasses from Anthropologie

Do you build your outfits around a pair of shoes? With shoes as amazing as these Christian Siriano ones, you can't help but start with them first. I've never seen anything like them and it feels like you are wearing bracelets on your ankles in the best way possible. Aside from my obvious obsession with them, I knew that one of the first things I wanted to try them with was this vintage dress from Shareen Vintage that's actually my mom's. I loved the way that the skirt of the dress sort of mimicked the skirts of the heels and created such a feminine feel that was perfect for the first of my early birthday celebrations.

Three Ways: Lace Overalls Part III

/ Topshop coat / Zara purse, heels, and button-down / Necessary Clothing overalls / Francesca's necklace /

For the final part of our overalls three ways mini series, what better way to finish off layering than with our new favorite print--camo. Remembering how versatile it was from this post, I pulled out this jacket that I needed when I bought last winter at Topshop, but couldn't figure out what to pair it with--until now. This short jacket (that came with a removable faux fur vest inside) is the perfect alternative to your traditional single colored and longer versions when you feel like adding either a little bit of interest to an outfit or, in this case, a lot. Since these are overalls, not pants, the short length of the jacket allows for them to be shown off a bit more which also allows the lace to be seen, as well. It's interesting how so many things feel like neutrals to me now. From hot pink then denim and now camouflage, fashion is much more fun when you aren't stuck on whether or not things match and instead, just keep playing with the pieces until you come up with a final product that you love.

Have you gotten any more confident in camouflage? I'd love to know!

As for our mini series, check out the three final looks below!

one / two / or three? / Which is your favorite?

I hope you enjoyed this mini series as much as I did. 

Xo

Fresh for Fall

/ 1. Topshop Tank / 2. Forever 21 Jacket / 3. Topshop Skirt / 4. Forever 21 Sandals

After what felt like excruciating heat for about the past week (I totally forgot about no AC at school), the weather finally cooled a bit yesterday. While it was certainly still every bit sandal weather footwear-wise, getting to throw on a new favorite varsity jacket with the coolest quilting that I found for $18 the day before, made that exciting look towards fall a good one. With a black and white palette and faux leather jacket, metallic sandals in a similar style to the ones above, added the shine needed to take the simple palette to a sophisticated one, all while happily welcoming fall.

Collegiate Crop

/ Vintage cheer top / Forever 21 jacket, skirt, and heels / Zara purse / Brandy Melville ring / Necklace from Austin, TX / Michael Kors watch 

I've always had an odd obsession with collegiate apparel. Although I am certainly not one to don my Syracuse sweatshirts to class, I do like to find ways to incorporate them into more stylized looks.  I had many collegiate cheer uniforms when I was younger, but this Rice University one with it's classic blue and white combination and bold printed 'R' was my favorite. With my recent love of a flair of sportiness to an outfit, I took the fact that it was much too small now as an advantage and played it up to the popularity of the crop top this summer. With my favorite varsity jacket already adding to the collegiate quality, I added a lace pencil skirt and leopard wedges to ensure there was still a bit of femininity to it, as well. 

Do you love collegiate apparel, too? I seem to always buy long sleeved pieces.

Fancy Pants

//Jacket: Ecote from Urban Outfitters// Tank, Pants, Shoes, and Ring: H&M// Necklace: Vendor in Austin, TX// Bag: Target// Watch: Michael Kors//

That's right, everyone...fancy pants. I found these pants at H&M a while ago in the clearance section (also $10!) and decided to give them a try. While I'm not particularly fond of jeans and regular styles of basic pants so much, when it comes to a more stylized and well, pretty versions, I'm all aboard. The colors on these brocade-like pants remind me of summer and autumn, and while the sun was still out, on a slightly cooler day, they provided the perfect focal point for an outfit that took me to a spontaneous matinee show performance.

Updated Classic

//Jacket: My Design// Romper: AQUA// Heels: Ellen Tracy// Ring: H&M// Necklace: Forever 21//

When I found out that we were going to be assigned a jacket as our final project of senior year in my pattern-making class, I knew almost automatically that I wanted to do an updated version of a classic varsity jacket. I lettered in Varsity Cheer in high school, and though I rarely wore my high school jacket, it was a much less stylized and much more oversized, I loved the combination of plush leather sleeves and the felt body. When it came to designing my own, I wanted the colors to be light neutrals, but to be anything from boring. With the quilted sleeves, floral body, and bold zipper, it came out exactly how I imagined it: crisp, stylish, and able to make whatever it was thrown on top of instantly pulled together. 

I would love to hear your comments/thoughts about how you think that it turned out. They would mean a lot to me.

Naturally Neon

//Dress: Old Navy (old)// Jacket: Ecoté from Urban Outfitters// Heels: Jessica Simpson// Watch: Michael Kors// Ring: H&M// Necklace: Francesca's Collection//

After almost a week of all black outfits, I felt like a little bit of color was due on 85 Dresses again. I purchased this safety yellow dress from old navy forever ago, and it is one of my favorite go-to dresses during warmer months. From the color, linen-like fabric and easy to wear classic shirt-dress style, it is perfect to throw on with cute flats during the day or to dress it up a bit more with heels and statement jewelry for a casual event. Since it felt a bit cooler during this particular day, when searching for a jacket, this army green utility jacket has a similar slouchy effect as the dress, but in a similar color palette, and with details like the expandable pockets and drawstrings, it definitely adds more interest than a simple cardigan.

POI: Elizabeth Olsen

1//2//3//4

In researching Elizabeth Olsen as a source of killer hair inspiration, I became quite drawn to her sense of style, as well. The Elizabeth in her sisters' (Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, that is) line, Elizabeth and James, Liz Olsen sticks to mostly neutrals when it comes to dressing. While she keeps her colors to a minimum, I noticed that one of the garment styles that she frequently exhibits is none other than a form of jacket or coat. I am a strong believer in having a jacket pull a look together, and Elizabeth Olsen definitely demonstrates that. From a head to toe velvet rust-colored suit to a creme shaw colored jacket. Her style has a certain nod to the easy glamour of the seventies but with an updated twist when it comes to lengths and styling. Although her hairstyle is what initially brought me to her, it is her style in addition that made me stay.

What do you think about Elizabeth Olsen's style? Do you have a favorite Olsen sister when it comes to fashion and style?