Fancy Footwear

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Lately I've been getting more and more into shoes. Although, like most of the clothes that I buy, most of the shoes that I'm interested in are anything but practical. But, my shopping motto has usually been to buy for the life that I want and dream that I have, not the one that I actually do. With that said, these four fancy footwear styles are all from Asos and all have a bit of fun to them. From fun sayings (ooh la la!) to fringe and faux fur, any of these styles would add a bit more pep to your step.

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

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Chances are, even if you only follow a few bloggers (I follow about 35 daily!), you are well aware that the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is happening now. From yesterday until July 16th, you can shop the sale early if you have a Nordstrom credit or debit card. Houston has been it's typical blazing self so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to browse what to look forward to for fall-- I guess going to school in upstate New York where it is cold most of the year has trained me to love fall dressing. I scoured each and every page of the Anniversary Sale section for all of you and came up with my Top 10. From faux layered pieces, suede, and some great footwear, I've rounded up some great options but if you're itching for more, head over to Nordstrom to see all of the great pieces and start getting excited for fall.

Happy shopping and hope everyone has a great weekend! 

Instagram Update

It's been a while since we did an Instagram update around here. While there isn't much to actually update y'all on post-grad wise, I have been trying to find ways to spend my day that make me happy and creative instead of staying home all day. Make sure to follow me on Instagram @leahshkolnick for more frequent updates! 

New Sam Edelman flats // Q&A a day 5-year journal

Job Application // motivation

Dress to Impress // National Pink Day

Baking // Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Weekend Wear // Pops of Color

Red Toes // Custom Dr. Scholl's

New Bohemia

/ Forever 21 dress / J.Crew sandals / Cotton On purse / Michael Kors watch / David Yurman + Syracuse University class ring  / 

In thinking of describing my sense of style, bohemian is not a word that I typically use, though one I wish I could pull it off better.  I had been eyeing this Free People dress for a while, but with the higher price tag, and a bit unsure of how to style it, I resisted. Luckily though, on a quick trip to Forever 21 with some girlfriends a few days ago, I spotted this look alike and instantly snatched it up. It is surprisingly wearable, in a fresh length to my wardrobe and I feel like it makes me even walk with the sort of sway that I associate with bohemian pieces and gauzy fabrics. 

Marit

GAP jacket / Anthropologie "Marit" dress / Target booties (old!) / 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target purse / Michael Kors watch

As hard as it is to believe, it is actually pretty rare that I try on a dress and am absolutely in love with everything about it. Usually it hangs strange on me, or my proportions are off, or it's "just not for me". However, this Anthropologie dress by brand Vanessa Virginia, was an exception. I saw it this past summer and was drawn to the beautiful embroidery, delicate sleeves, and unique slate blue color. Like most pieces at Anthro, it was a pretty penny, so I left without it. Much to my online browsing habit, a few months ago it was incredibly marked down, and I was thrilled when it arrived just as I had remembered it. 

Winters in Texas are bizarre and these were actually taken over Thanksgiving where it was colder than it is now if you can believe it. I love how this dress looks with a leather jacket and some suede ankle boots. Which, if you live here, you know is perfect for this time of year. 

If you're as obsessed with this dress as I am, it's still on sale! 

Happy Hanukkah!

Cold Weather Wear

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Well wow, everyone! I think that it is officially Winter here in Syracuse. Goodbye PSL's and hello to Gingerbread and Peppermint Mocha's. Aside from all of my favorite warm winter beverages, Winter is one of my favorite seasons to dress for, despite my continued dislike for the cold weather--it's the Texan in me, I guess. Anyway, we just had our first real snowfall this past weekend and I'm officially in bundle mode. Over the years of attending college in one of the snowiest cities in America, I have found that accessories really are key to keeping warm and are also a great and easy way to add extra patterns and textures to your overall look. I put together a few of my necessities for once the weather cools down:

1. A statement faux fur coat: I have learned that having a few statement coats in your closet in addition to your go-to basics really is ideal when it comes to colder weather. Since there is a good chance that you will be wearing a coat everyday for the next four-five months, having a few that feel fun instead of just warm will make getting ready to brave the cold a little more stylish. I think I'm at the point to where I have a rainbow collection of faux fur (...oops), but this Topshop daisy one sure did catch my attention. 

2. A beanie / hat: This is the area that I need to improve on. Hats make such a difference when it comes to not having the heat escape your body. I for one, don't think that beanies look the best on me, but I saw this chunky H&M style this past weekend (after my ears were freezing) and am determined to start trying to pull them off even if it's just a warmth issue.

3. Fun mittens / gloves: If you're anything like me, keeping the same pair of mittens over the course of the winter season (forget the year) is quite the struggle. Like socks, I always end up with one of them and have misplaced the mate. Because of this, I try to have a few different styles always stocked up and in different places from my book bag, my car, and my room for whenever the cold hits. Inexpensive styles like these cute Old Navy ones keep me smiling even when I'm cold. 

4. Over-the-Knee boots: Boots are one of the best winter investments in my opinion. I have quite the collection of ankle boots in my shoe closet, but have yet to add a pair of over-the-knee ones. The Stuart Weitzman 50/50 is one that is on my 'winter wish list' year after year, but these Zara ones come in pretty close, too. How fabulous is the patent cap toe part?!

What are your must-haves for the Winter season? I'm also a huge fan of infinity scarves. They make all the difference in my opinion.

Nordstrom Sale!

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My family grew up around Nordstrom. Whenever someone needed something (or didn't), Nordstom was always one of the first stops on the list to check out. With so many departments and a style for each person in the family, it was hard to go wrong and leave without finding something that was perfect. So, when the Nordstrom sales roll around, it's even better. My mom and I share the same love for a great sale on quality pieces and when she e-mailed me about Nordstrom's current sale, I immediately headed to their site to do some damage. Don't worry, mom, I didn't actually purchase any of the pieces above yet, but the seven options above are the ones that I specifically was interested in. I've never thought that I could pull off the over-the-knee boot style, but those Same Edelman ones (#5) sure make me think about trying again!

Head over to Nordstrom or online to check out their sale to save up to 40% off! The sale runs until November 11th, so you got plenty of time to organize your dream wish list and maybe find those fall pieces you've been eyeing. Good luck!

Tuesday Shoesday

In this seemingly never-ending hunt for the perfect ankle boot to replace my beloved pair from Target, I have realized a few qualities that I had in the back of my mind when determining whether or not a pair would make the cut. The first importance was that I realized that my foot looks best with an elongated and pointed toe instead of a short and round one. I love the look of a long toe and I had noticed that all of my favorite boots (ex: the leopard chelsea ones) have this feature. Aside from the length of the actual shoe, I appreciate a shoe that has a good quality to it when it comes to ankle boots and not one that is delicate. I like one that looks a little rugged and sort of worker-boot like. Enter, Gap's Chelsea booties. I had gone to the store a few weeks ago and there was the black pair. Someone had returned them and as soon as I tried them on I thought that my endless hunt for these perfect ankle boots had ended. While I didn't end up leaving the store with them in hand (or on my feet...), I know now that in addition to Gap being perfect for all of my go-to items, that their boots are on point, as well.

Also, even though I had been looking for black, I am really loving the grey and brown options, too! What are your favorites? 

Addicted to A. L. C.

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Lately my style has been very un-like me. While I used to resort to burgundies, blacks, and navy during cooler months, recently it has been more frequently on a day-to-day basis regardless of the weather. In trying to pin-point a style that I have been referencing often, I was reminded of a favorite brand of mine, A. L. C. 

Designer Andrea Lieberman creates the perfect classic pieces that are somehow on trend, but never trendy in the sense that after the season they will be buried in your closet. These are garments that have the idea of accessible casual luxury and the idea of "sartorial convenience, value and versatility." Sounds like my kind of pieces.

What I love : Gap Jeans

Let's play favorites today. I am absolutely in love with GAP jeans. GAP was one of the brands that I was raised around. It was somewhere that every member of my family could find something that they liked and feel good about bringing home with them. One of my favorite options that they sell are their jeans. In my search for the perfect pair of jeans this summer that didn't end until last week (photos soon!), somehow I had forgotten to check in GAP assuming that I had already had most of their main styles covered. I was wrong. For me, GAP always has those jeans that look like they've been in your closet for a while and are always perfectly worn it, amazing washes, and random--but they always have the perfect ready-made cuffs! These perfect jeans? The 1969 Sexy Boyfriend style. They hit all of my requirements in that they are clearly boyfriend jeans, but as if I shrunk them to better fit, they are heavier weighted so they feel durable when I put them on, and like most of GAP's denim, the wash is exactly what I was looking for but was unable to explain during my search. Above are some of my favorites from GAP at the moment. Those Rip & Repairs are pretty great.

Basically, if you're in need of jeans, hit up GAP as your first stop. What are your favorite jeans or denim wash?

Tuesday Shoesday : J. Crew Flats

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I am not a big investor in shoes. While I love, appreciate, and 'dream pin' them, when it comes to actually purchasing shoes, I find them to be such an investment and a big deal. As a result of being on my feet a lot, I go through them quickly and as a result, purchasing good quality shoes always leaves me worrying how quickly they will be in need of repair. As a frequent shopper of Target and Old Navy when in need of a simple shoe for the season, my feet are often left in terrible shape and by the end of the summer, the shoes usually end up being thrown away instead of just a quick repair to keep them looking good for the next season. 

As the weather has already started shifting here in Syracuse with the start of September, I found myself thinking that it may be time to retire my summer gladiator sandals and look for a new fall staple that will actually work all year round--the classic ballerina flat. J. Crew's shoes are always extremely well-made and they are quality shoes that I can feel when I wear them--not to mention come in every pattern and color under the sun. With a gift card that has been in my wallet for a record amount of time, I can't think of a better investment to put them towards than this chic and classic style. I'm leaning toward the perfect milky nude. 

What are your favorite pair of ballerina flats?

Dress Up

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For today's Dress Up post, it's not necessarily a particular dress being featured, but a style and idea--sequins and glitter! When the holidays start to roll around, nearly every store has some sort of garment covered in glitz. Now that the holidays are in full-swing, it's almost as if the sparkling lights adorning the neighborhoods have found their way indoors and onto the clothes. When it comes to sequins, I'm not picky. Gold, matte gunmetal, pale pink or anywhere in between and I'm ready to throw it on and twirl. That can't be just me, right? With sparkly dresses specifically, I've found that I'm more a fan of simple silhouettes. The sequins say plenty enough and having a simple shape keeps the focus on the shine and allows you to appreciate the quality of the sparkle in itself without being distracted from the style of the dress. Although, I've got to admit, when anything is covered in sparkles I automatically pay attention. Have you all found any sparkly holiday dresses for Christmas or New Years yet? Surprisingly, I only own one. The dark navy sequins and open back keeps it exactly as I like it--simple but statement-making and reserved for special occasions.

Happy Friday and happy hunting!

What are you all up to this weekend? I'm heading to Austin, TX for a road trip with the family for some much needed outdoor trails and killer vintage. This girl needs a new pair of cowboy boots!

The Pink Coat

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If you've been paying any attention to fashion trends since the Fall/Winter fashion shows this past February, you are well aware that pastel coats and warm weathered wear in non-traditional colors are everywhere! Carven Fall/Winter '13 I'm looking at you. Ever since I noticed how suprisingly wearable the pink coat can be, I have been on the hunt for the perfect style. To counteract the super feminine quality of the pink, a style in a more relaxed and masculine shape will keep it from looking too sweet, as well as a color that is either a dusty pink or more coral version--though the pale baby pink versions do have me picking them up off the shelves. Above I have compiled six varying shades of pink coats. From H&M and Topshop versions (1 and 2) to luxe styles like the vintage Courreges (3) or Elizabeth and James (6), each have elements that make them special and unique. I tried on the Topshop one (2) a few weeks ago and the cut and material had me styling look after look in my head.

So, what do you think? Would you wear a pink coat? Which of the above styles is your favorite?