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!

Dress Up

One of the pieces that I feel doesn't get as much attention as it should is the classic slinky slip dress. This style is the perfect starting point for any look, in that basically anything can be added to it, and will usually work. Slip dresses are easy to wear, versatile, and can easily pull of the effortless look--even if you put a lot of thought into what you paired with it. This week's 'Dress Up' feature is this Floral Satin Slip dress from Topshop. While simple in shape and cut, the floral patterns aren't common when it comes to florals, and are in a much more sophisticated and abstract manner. A piece like this is also ideal for transitional weather, like what we have been having here in Upstate New York. For cooler days, pairing it with a leather jacket and black booties will help to make the floral even less feminine and more edgy, while throwing on a dark wash chambray left open with a pair of neutral flats will keep the look more casual. If you really want to be a fashion risk taker, opt for this upcoming seasons' huge trend of mixing florals and plaids by tying a plaid button-down loosely around your waist, or wear it open, as well. 

What do you think of the Floral Satin Slip Dress? How would you style it? I'd love to hear!

Kendra Scott

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Going to college in the East Coast, I sometimes forget how trends differ depending on location. This summer while I was at home in Texas, I repeatedly came across friends wearing bright and simple jewelry pieces that were worn with everything from cuttoffs to cocktail dresses. Time after time, I was told they were 'Kendra'. I soon learned that the 'Kendra' was in reference to none other than jewelry designer and Texas native, Kendra Scott. As much as statement necklaces are fun to wear, Kendra's pieces make every bit of that statement, while also being classic pieces that you will wear on a daily basis. Below I gathered four of my favorites. I love how they are all delicate pieces, but still manage to have a bit of a raw and organic shape to them, as well. 

Are you a fan of Kendra Scott's jewelry? What is your favorite piece of hers? I'd love to know.

Tuesday Shoesday

If you for some reason haven't been up-to-date on fashion happenings, I am here to let you know that Club Monaco has finally created a shoe collection. Just like their incredible ability to "mix fashion must-haves with timeless classics" when it comes to their clothes, their shoes have a similar feel and style to them. If you're looking for statement-making shoes, though, these are not them. These pieces are designed to be those perfect staples in your wardrobe that you will go for time and time again. With my new-found love for ankle strapped shoes of any kind, it was these Casey Leopard Calf Hair Sandals  that are my favorite from the new collection. Sometimes, just a peek of leopard from the back or the ankles is enough to make all of the difference in a simple look.

What do you think of Club Monaco's new shoe collection? You can view each style and pair here

Tuesday Shoesday

When I ventured out of my traditional comfort zone when it comes to nails a few months ago and went with bright white, I was pleasantly surprised. It was a color that went with much more than I thought it would, instantly brightened up any outfit, and -dare I say- even made me look tanner! That alone was a miracle. When it comes to white shoes, however, I was slightly more skeptical. Difficult to keep clean, easily crossing over to tacky, and short lived (no white shoes after Labor Day, remember--ha), they seem quite difficult to pull off. However, I spotted these adorable twisted patent leather sandals from Prada and remembered how much I loved that white manicure. These would make a great alternative to a tan or black neutral that can be paired with nearly everything and, with its subtle detailed braiding, makes it simple-not boring. 

Would you try out a pair of white shoes? What about nails? 

Dress Up

Ever since I picked up these at the J.Crew sale last week, I've been obsessed with everything in this punchy pink. Brighter than a fuchsia but not quite as bright as a neon, this is a great in-between hue. I love a garment with a little element of surprise to it. This dress, with it's super simple yet pretty front, definitely makes up for it with a quick twirl around. While I've seen similar styles with one bow adorning the back, this style, with it's center spine panel and two bows, feels like a fun and updated version of a classic that's ideal for the summer months. 

What do you think of this week's dress?

Gallery Girls

//Dress: Forever 21//Heels: Sam Edelman//Purse: Christian Siriano//Watch: Michael Kors//Ring: H&M//Necklace: From Austin, TX//

When I was in high school I was really interested in pursuing a career in art working in galleries and interacting with artists on a regular basis. While people that are actually a part of the Art world may completely disagree with me, when I put this look together, this specific type of art gallery girl is what I had in mind. When I used to study what these girls would wear that I was so infatuated with, they always had dresses composed of perfect simplicity and easy details that really made them what they were. I am not really fond of hi-low garments, but when it comes to asymmetry, like seen in this dress, I'm all in. The slanted sections of this dress, as well as the dropped sleeve addition on the right really make the piece. Not only did these girls have the best black dresses, but their accessories seemed to be what stole the show. Though their clothes were muted in color, the accessories often made up for it. This Christian Siriano neon chartreuse faux croc bag (similar bag here) is one of my favorites not only for it's shocking color and statement-worthy appearance, but for it's ability to constantly seem to complete outfits by simply adding it to the mix. So while I ended up pursuing a career in the fashion industry instead of in art, I still regularly cite gallery girls and people involved in the art world as a source of inspiration not only in art, but style, as well. 

Dress Up

Everyone that knows anything about me knows that I have a mild obsession with Club Monaco. Everything about the brand from the actual garments, to their window displays and lookbooks always inspires me. So, when it came to a simple black and white striped dress, this one from Club Monaco is anything but simple and every bit perfect. This 'Alice' double-knit is an excellent way to work in the mod and graphic trend from spring in a comfortable and easy-to-wear dress for summer, as well. With the flattering paneling and length, this is also the perfect dress to transition from work to play and easily dressed up or down with some fancy footwear and accessories.

What do you think about this not-so-simple dress?

Home Improvement

Have you ever seen things differently after you start taking interest in a new trend or activity? When Madewell came out with their 'map view' print, I began taking an interest in maps of all kinds. While we don't really look at traditional paper versions as often as we used to on travel excursions and road trips and turn to the digital iPhone, Mapquest, or GPS version, I think that there is something so intricate and interesting about them. It takes a great amount of skill to layout and organize an entire area of a place. For this week's Home Improvement, the kitchen above with the large wall map in a black, white, and grey palette creates an interesting sort of wallpaper and art piece at the same time. In keeping the furniture to a simple style and neutral, natural colors, the focus is clearly on the wall and doesn't make the rest of the room boring.

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Dress Up

Black and white pieces are made up of elements that remain classic and interesting, but with minimalistic and fairly simplistic notes. While prints and patterns can easily become bold and the opposite of simplistic, the windowpane trend catching on for spring 2013, is a pattern that can be easily incorporated as a basic. With it's precise grid lines and geometric order, the windowpane pattern is almost effortlessly put-together and chic. While I have seen this up and coming trend printed on blouses, skirts, and this sweater that I have my eye on, this Tibi dress is perfection. Though the peplum trend still seems to be going strong, this drop waist is a relief to waists everywhere, and it's little flounce on the bottom adds just the right amount of interest, as well as draws the eye down to add to a more complete look. 

Are you excited to try out this windowpane trend?

Person of Interest: Gaia Repossi

Although born into the jewelry business, Repossi, founded by her great grandfather, Gaia Repossi did not always aspire to one day be a part of the company. With her interests leading more towards the fine arts of painting and studies in anthropology, she wasn't particularly interested in fashion. However, in 2007 she became the artistic director for the Repossi jewelry brand. Infusing her love of anthropology and various cultures into her jewelry work, she is inspired by "ethnic silhouettes and tribal adornment with contemporary art." Though she doesn't consider a fashion line as of now, she has done many collaborations in designing jewelry for some of fashion's top designers such as Alexander Wang and Joseph Altuzarra, both for their fall 2011 collections.

Although her interests lie in metals instead of cloth, she understands how to dress incredibly well. Gaia Repossi's sense of style is rather simple and incorporates many masculine references. She has said that her mother told her to "never overdress because it's never going to work." In thinking about the concept of making an outfit "work", one of the main qualifications is making it come across as that you have thrown it on and it just happened to be perfect. With her outfits mostly consisting of solid colors and easy shapes, even in a long sienna colored dress in the far left image above, she never looks overdone.  If never overdressing will result in my outfits appearing like Gaia Repossi styled them, consider it done.

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Person of Interest: Amanda Brooks

Growing up in Bronxville, NY and Palm Beach, Florida, Amanda Brooks was always surrounded with style and influential people. Beginning with her parents who met through a mutual friend, Lilly Pulitizer, to being a student at Brown University studying photography and having Carolina Herrera's daughter, Patricia as her roommate, to dating DVF's son, Alexander, Amanda was destined to be not only a regular in the social world of fashion, but in being a part of it creatively, as well. Her interest in photography led her to an internship with famed fashion photographer, Patrick Demarchelier. Following photography, she then became the muse and former creative director of Tuleh, and contributed to Vogue. However, in addition to her involvement in various parts of the industry, it is said to have been her blog, "I Love Your Style" that played a key role in her hire for her position as Fashion Director for Barney's. After a year of this position, she has since moved to Oxfordshire, England with her husband and two children inspired by the blog, "The Pioneer Woman" to show that she is able to write about fashion from a different perspective, as well as citing "I've spent my entire career devoted to the vision of others,""This year away is for introspection. For myself."

Amanda Brooks has one of those styles that I admire for their sense of no-fuss perfection. From some of the photos in the image above, she manages to form her put together style with minimal elements that still come across as complete. From a basic button down and pencil skirt with heels, or simple peach dress with a pop of color for a bag, it is this act of simplicity to which I am drawn. Having been cited as not fussy when it comes to fashion, you can tell from the way that she wears the clothes, as well as the actual clothes that she is wearing. Amanda reminds us that there is something important about knowing how to wear simple pieces well, and that prints and patterns (while keeping the shapes and cut of the garments simple), can keep your outfit interesting and full of style.

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Dress Up

Originally, one of the qualities of dresses that I loved was their easy wearability in addition to being able to maintain a put-together look. This week's dress by Sister Jane is exactly that. While it is a fairly simple dress (shape wise), the slightly puffed sleeves, gathered pleating, and embellished Peter Pan collar, make it seem more formal to wear than it actually is. With the sort of tan-salmon overall color of this style it also becomes quite a neutral palette when it comes to pairing it with fun jackets or shoes. Accessory speaking, necklaces are not needed--but always welcome-- as the embellishments make plenty of sparkle around the neck.

Have a great weekend!

Home Improvement

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There is a library on our Syracuse University campus that has creaking spiral metal staircases and narrow wooden floored aisles that always makes me feel as if I am in an old English library when I am in there. I have collected all of my favorite fashion and art magazines for as long as I can remember, and held on to favorite books for whenever i get the sudden urge to delve into them and hope to one day have an immense shelf filled from floor to ceiling with books and magazines that are not only interesting and beautiful to read, but to look at, as well. I love how in the room featured above, everything about the room is simply white and black and that aside from the rug, the only other color is coming from the spines and covers of the books.

Do you hope to one day have a library? What are your favorite books and magazines to collect?

Dress Up

Jacquard, like brocade, is a fabric that always makes a garment feel special and unique to me. This short sleeved Jacquard floral print dress with an inverted pleat in the front that although is a fairly simple design, is one that is the perfect base for layering in the cooler weathered climates. I can picture paring this piece with an army green utility jacket that would work well with the cold, silver, and bronze metallics that are found in this dress's fabric, as well as dressing it down a bit. 

How would you style this dress? Are you a fan of Jacquard?

Fluorescent Elements

{Forever 21 sweater,  H&M pants, Target heels,  Necklace from Dillard's}

Lately, I feel that the way that an outfit can work best is with simple and basic pieces but with amazing accessories. By using a bright fuchsia sweater and basic black pants as the base, and adding a neon green statement necklace and leopard print wedges, this otherwise simple outfit is now a lesson in mixing brights with patterns. While the traditional suit style has seemed to be fairly distant from the need to be in our wardrobes for a while now, this is an outfit--or style-- that I feel could work well for a creative office setting or even an interview, as well.

I arrived back in Syracuse last night to finish off the rest of the first semester, so look forward to starting off tomorrow with our regular school line-up starting with tomorrow's "Tuesday Shoesday" post. 

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving break!

Tuesday Shoesday

Shoes are a part of our wardrobe that I feel people either love or feel indifferent towards. When it comes to shoes for me, I have definitely been headed towards the love side recently. The same way that a piece of jewelry can instantly change an outfit, shoes can do the same. These great Chloe sandals can do that. Although they are not ornate in detail or bold in coloring, these are the kind of shoes that can  change your outfit to look complete by being perfectly simple. The height of the heel and width of the straps, as well as the two-toned leathers, are flattering on anyone and are the style that would work with nearly any outfit that you have on. While these have been sold out for a while, this is surely a look that I will be looking out for soon.

Do you have any shoes that you absolutely love for their simple perfection?

A to Z: Jewelry

{This great necklace completes this simple and beautiful bodice}

When I was little, I was constantly infatuated with costume jewelry. Whether the pieces were real or fabricated didn't matter to me at all, but their intense sparkle and appearance sure did. When it comes to jewelry, my style regarding what pieces I actually wear has varied over the years. Though what I wear may change from chunky crystal pieces to more delicate and symbolic ones, jewelry is an easy way to transform a simple outfit to a spectacular one or to add on to a great outfit even more. Here are some pieces that I am particularly interested in at the moment.

{Stunning opal Art Deco earrings from the 30's.}

{A great lesson in layering longer pieces with shorter ones}

{For me, a great gold statement necklace is a necessity--This is YSL}

{Fun pieces like this Delfina Delettrez ring always make jewelry great to work with}

What are your favorite styles of jewelry? Do you prefer to mix and match or go with more classic pieces?

Dress Up

Being so pale, I used to shy away from garments in white or black, and would gravitate towards brighter colors. Recently, though, I have enjoyed wearing solid black or white pieces, and have found ways through accessories and makeup (lipstick, anyone?) that will no longer cause me to blend into my clothes. While white is typically not a shade for the cooler seasons, this Madewell dress is hard to resist (even seen by the fact that it is currently sold out). With it's sweetheart neckline, sheer panel and long sleeves, it is the perfect combination of sweet and simple, but with the cut and the feel, make it one of those dresses that I would pull out to wear again and again. 

Person of Interest: Rachel Bilson

Rachel Bilson is one of those actresses that really maintain a style that is effortlessly perfect and fairly simple, but never boring. Her look is very recognizable, in that she is often seen in well-fitting pieces--often in solids-- such as pants, skirts, and simple dresses, and for pairing her ankle boots with more feminine pieces for an ideal contrast. While often seen in jeans and t-shirts or sweaters, she wears them with a way that combines undone with thought out, and always pairs them with amazing accessories--Philip Lim being a favorite. Rachel's style is one that I love. While she is mostly a fairly casual person, with simple pieces that are always spot-on, she shows that you don't have to "dress up" everyday to end up with an end product this right.

Who are some of your favorite POI? Is Rachel Bilson also one of your favorite stylish celebrities?

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