Dress Up

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I've been drawn to everything pink lately (seen in this post). Currently in the process of making a pink top and pant set for my final in my draping class, it's safe to say that pink is constantly on my mind. In perusing inspiration for this week's Dress Up post, clearly this simple pink frock on Natalie Joos tugs at my heartstrings a bit. I love the simple shape and cut, but the slightly exaggerated sleeves (something I am doing to my garment, as well) and ways that she has chosen to style it (pale purple fur, sort of digital printed clutch, pink sunnies, and what seem like fuchsia suede heels) make it even more swoon-worthy. While I have seen plenty of perfect pink pieces (hey, alliteration!) lately, none of them have made their way into my wardrobe--yet. Natalie shows how with simple pieces you can either shift towards the minimal route and let the garment speak for itself or, in this case, add pieces to it that truly enhance the simplicity and special details in it anyway.

Home Improvement

Finding new ways to decorate and style spaces is always exciting to me. It's so easy to change the look and feel of a room with a simple DIY. While these purple chairs may or may not be a DIY project, it is a fun thought to realize that with a touch of spray paint and basically any piece of furniture, you can fairly quickly and inexpensively alter your home to match whatever is suiting your style at the moment. If you're anything like me, committing to something as seemingly permanent as home furnishings can be difficult. With a purple color as unique as the one featured in the image above, it would be interesting to test it out for a time period and when the color is no longer inspiring, change it up with a few sprays of a different shade and watch the space transform.

Aren't these purple chairs amazing? Not too pastel and not too deep of a purple, they provide a happy medium for a decorating color that is often not explored

Tuesday Shoesday

When I was first introduced to Tory Burch in my middle school days, the "Reva" ballerina flat definitely grew to be the most popular shoe choice among the girls. While perusing the Tory Burch website I found that aside from being a master at preppy ballerina flats and classic, sophisticated riding boots (last seen here), Tory is also a genius when it comes to perfectly embellished sandals. Not too elaborate and screaming to be worn in the summer months, the Etta flat sandal is one that has a unique color pairing when it comes to footwear, but one that should definitely be used more often. With it's geometric pattern design balanced by its overall fairly simple shape, this sandal hits the perfect juxtaposition of dressy casual. Whether worn with denim cutoffs or adding a blazer to a flirty little white dress, these sandals are surely a reason to keep your "Reva's" away and trade these in, instead. 

What do you think about these eye-catching sandals?

Dress Up

I used to completely shy away from tank tops-- I thought they were too basic, nearly all the same, and uninteresting. However, recently I can't get enough of them. In the last week, I've picked up two of them (one in white and one in olive green), and I love the way that they are so effortless and easy to wear, but can sometimes finish an outfit off much better than a blouse could. In figuring out other ways to incorporate 'tank styles' into my wardrobe, this week's Dress Up dress is basically this same idea. This dress from LuLu*s is basic in it's style and serves as a perfect base point to dress up with jewelry, shoes, or jackets. If you really want to go for basic, wearing the dress alone works as well, and the color is a statement in itself.

Where do you stand on tanks? Tank tops or Tank dresses, what's your preference?

Odd Pairings

{Delia's skirt (old), Forever 21 blouse + belt, Target shoes, Michael Kors watch and Essie's "Mojito Madness" polish}

Since oxbloods and burgundies have become this seasons everything, every fashion lover has thought of how to make the fashion worlds latest color obsession work in their wardrobes. Upon seeing this photograph of a favorite, Elisa Nalin, at first, choosing to pair a deep burgundy with a lighter lilac seemed odd and contradictory. However, I found myself consistently returning to the image for reference. In my interpretation of this burgundy/lilac blend, I added a bit of subtle pattern mixing, as well. With a delicate floral blouse and a skirt with a stitched circle arrangement, I attempted to unify the light and deeper colors by adding a level of textures and prints to the mix, too. 

Would you ever try an odd pairing? Burgundy and lilac? Light pink and burnt orange?

The Purple Panther

{H&M Blouse, Forever 21 leotard and necklace, Zara skirt, Michael Kors watch, and Steve Madden shoes}

With the incredibly feminine silhouette and fun quality that peplums have on a garment, I am surprised at how long it took me to actually test them out. I am absolutely in love with this blouse from H&M. With a peplum that is lower on the waist than the ones I had been seeing and a blous-y and lightweight look, it is a perfect piece to layer over dark colored skirts and dresses and will be great with a leather jacket and dark pants when it gets cooler. In a deep purple color with an almost hidden panther pattern, it is a conversation piece that is just as easy to wear as it is fun.

Fashionably Fuchsia

{Necessary Clothing dress, Francesca's Collection necklace, Michael Kors watch, and Aldo sandals}

Not all dresses are created equal. I mean, obviously, but just like most people, I have certain dresses that I reserve for the more swanky soirees of life and others that are for everyday excursions. However, there are those everyday days when a girl just likes to put on a little extra make-up than usual or throw on a pair of heels and maybe pull out one of those swanky soiree dresses. That was just what I did this past weekend. While this dress isn't particularly expensive, it is one that I usually reserve for special occasions. There's something about this color that always feels a little bit fancier and makes these everyday days just a little bit swankier.

Fanned out florals

{ Forever 21 blouse, H&M skirt, Michael Kors watch, and Aldo sandals }

Yes you are looking at yet another picture including a pleated garment. However, this skirt is far different than any of the others. When I saw this skirt at H&M believe me, I resisted. I thought to myself "Leah, do you really need another pleated skirt"? But, when I went to touch it, as I often do when deciding on a piece of clothing, it was made of an amazing and almost neoprene material. I found it interesting how such a seemingly feminine skirt with it's great fuchsia color and accordion fanned out pleats could be made of such an athletic and sporty material. I love the way that the pleats are so structured and hold their shape and the length is so ladylike. So friends, for these reasons, it made it's way into my wardrobe...pleats being just an added bonus. 

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.