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.

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.

Embellished Americana

/ J.Crew button down (sample sale) / Vintage Levi's from LF / Zara heels / H&M clutch / Illamasqua polish / 

When I would think of classic American dressing, jeans and a white t-shirt would come to mind. As much as I love a good basic, I wouldn't really call them my go-to. Still inspired by the denim and white combination, and the concept of easy dressing in mind, I pulled out pieces that much more suited my sense of style to update the classic pairing. Both the button down and the vintage Levi's are updated versions of classics in themselves. A white button-down can easily seem quite stiff and conservative, and ill-fitted denim can come across as borrowed from your parents--and not in the chic oversized way. However, with a bit of embellished beads and rhinestones and a fitted shape for the top, and a distressed appearance and lace inserts for the shorts, these pieces are still classics, but for a girl who likes her basics--a little less basic. 

PS: Happy Birthday, daddy! I hope it's full of everything you wanted. xo

Vintage Blues

/ Vintage Dress / H&M Clutch / Zara Heels /

One of my favorite parts about vintage pieces is that they are so one-of-a-kind. As much as I love my fast fashion stores, there really is something special about having a piece in your wardrobe that no one else shares with you. When it comes to vintage, I am quite particular about what I like, and it is usually in the form of devastatingly feminine pieces. This dress is no exception, and is probably one of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe. I knew when I saw it last summer at the since closed Zachary's Smile in New York City's West Village that it was a piece that really got to me. Hard to appreciate the details in photographs, everything from the delicate zipper to the inner construction shows the time put in to make this dress that you just don't find in your fast fashion pieces today. In styling this dress, I tried to complement the silvery blues of the bows that adorned the skirt and shoulders with my latest favorite metallic heels, snakeskin print clutch, and skipping on the jewelry-it clearly isn't needed.

Do you have a favorite vintage piece? One of my other favorites is a 1950's lilac prom dress that I keep hanging in my closet as a daily source of inspiration.

Tuesday Shoesday

As much as I have been talking about iridescent/metallic shoes and accessories (and basically any fashion style), I finally purchased a pair of shoes like the ones I had been eyeing. When I got caught in a crazy rainstorm the other day, I found myself stopping into H&M to browse  stay dry. Lucky for me, these blue and silver metallic sandals were on sale for $10. For a trend that may or may not stick around for long--even though I must admit, I am obsessed-- this great price, and the gloomy weather, made this purchase an easy one to make. In the summer, sandals are an obvious staple. Since I have gotten rather tired of wearing my basic black flats as my go-to, I am excited to see how I can incorporate these into my outfits and making them work as a creative nod to neutrals. Stay tuned!

If you're loving these as much as I do, head over to H&M and pick up a pair. There is also a great style of metallic blue heels for $15 that are waiting for you, as well. 

Tuesday Shoesday

When I first took notice in iridescent footwear, they came in the form of this post. More recently, though, iridescent shoes have been popular in the form of heels, and I must say have absolutely stolen my heart. When it comes to shoes, though I love to appreciate intricately detailed pairs and those consumed with colors, I gravitate more towards practical pieces-- in colors, not styles-- iridescent options however, seem to create a happy medium- they are both whimsical enough that they feel a bit like playing dress-up, but practical enough that I could wear them on many different occasions from casual to cocktail. And, at about fifty dollars, they are a more understandable purchase than an expensive of-the-moment trendy version.

Heels from Zara

Tuesday Shoesday

Now that the weather has begun to follow the fact that the season changed in the past few weeks, all I have on my mind are boots. From decorative zippers, western detailing and embroidery, and cap-toes and heels, boots are great not only for the warmth factor, but that there are so many more ways to incorporate them into our wardrobes. Though we have featured cap-toes before, I think I'm diggin' these guys in every way. While most boots during the colder seasons are either black or brown, these, in a combination of pewter and silver, make a stylish statement in a fairly simple way that definitely works amazingly.

What are your favorite kinds of boots for fall or winter? Do you prefer the cap-toe style in a boot or pump?