TWENTY

/ 1. Topshop Dress / 2. Anthropologie Belt / 3. Birthday Cupcake / 4. Illamasqua Lipstick in 'matte warm pink' / 5. Asos Heels /

When it comes to birthday celebrations, I either love to go all out, or super simple. Since going to college, my birthday always falls on the first official weekend back at school, so my celebrations are more low-key and focused on being with friends and remembering to celebrate before the workload gets heavy. This year, I turned 20. Two decades old deserves some celebration in my book, and the pieces above certainly seem as if they would make turning twenty feel as fabulous as everyone says it is supposed to be. With a perfectly feminine, yet simple, light pink party dress, sparkly belt, understated heels that pack the interest in the gold ankle bands, a lipstick that adds just the right amount of pop to your pout, and a cupcake to celebrate, this is my ideal twentieth birthday look to ring in my twenties and bid adieu to my teens. 

How did you celebrate your twentieth birthday? Any advice for my twenties?

Home Improvement

Pastels are playing a huge role in coats for the upcoming fall and winter seasons. What used to be reserved for darker blacks, grey, and navy, have been replaced by more subdued cotton candy colors. With pastels making a statement in a season other than traditional Spring, I came across this room above, that keeps the pastels and sweet colors slightly toned down with a graphic black and white rug, funky light fixtures, and a bit of nature with a pop of kelly green plants. Keeping the furniture simple both in shape and style is key in a room like this one. With the prints and patterns displayed on the fabrics, the basic furniture helps to balance it out, and the robins-egg blue table picks up on colors in the blankets. 

How would you arrange pastels in your home to keep them from being overly sweet? I'm in love with that rug!

Tuesday Shoesday

So, remember how I have been ranting about how my beloved Steve Madden shoes don't fit anymore? What used to be my go-to pair of fancy casual shoes seems to have lately been replaced by my Zara metallic t-straps. Well, today I found a perfect alternative to ensure that I'll get back on that kind of footwear in no time. These 3.1 Phillip Lim 'Vincent Ankle Strap Mules' fit that description of 'fancy casual' in so many ways. With a heel height that is ideal for boyfriend jeans and flirty minis, open toe to show off your polished pedicure, and shiny golden straps and heels for an interesting add-on, my closet would surely be honored by the addition of these lust-worthy shoes.

Do you have a pair of shoes in your closet that need replacing? I'm also still on the hunt for an amazing pair of loafers. Any suggestions?

Dress Up

I have always been a fan of simple designs that have surprise details that pack a punch. When I saw the back of this neon pink dress on Pinterest, I did what any other crazed pinner would do, and stalked until I found it. Lo and behold, this week's 'dress up' feature was found on E's Closet Boutique. The 'Mallory' is one of those dresses that is perfect for a college student. Easy to wear, sophisticated but still fun, flattering, and affordable, this is piece that be just as transitional for a sorority formal as it can for wedding or birthday party. And, obviously, the punchy neon is one of my favorite kinds of pink.

What do you think about this 'Mallory' dress? I'd love to hear!

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.

Tuesday Shoesday-Pointed Pumps

/ 1. Zara / 2. Asos / 3. NastyGal / 4. Valentino /

I used to avoid pointed shoes of any sort. Regardless of if they were flats, heels, sandals, or boots, they always seemed either too severe or mature for my taste. Over the past season or so, I have realized that I couldn't have been more wrong. Sure, there are always the styles that stay true to the look I had been avoiding, but lately, pointed toe shoes are the style that has been growing in my wardrobe. After all, I purchased three (!) pairs this summer. The Valentino 'Rockstud' is on my ultimate dream wish-list, and the luxe green pair above (4.) is unique and anything but severe and mature. Otherwise, the collage above is a compilation of four fairly affordable pointed pumps from around the web that I found inspiring for various qualities. Oddly, they all have a sort of fall and autumn feel to them. I guess my subconscious is craving fall just as much as I am.

What are your thoughts on pointed pumps? What about pointed shoes in general?

'Til Next Time, New York

/ Forever 21 dress / Michael Kors watch / Topshop (old) heels / Necklace from Austin, TX / Yankees cap /

Well, New York, another summer has come and gone and my busy period of balancing up to three internships at one point and keeping up with this blog has ended. I came home on Saturday and have until Thursday until I head back to New York (upstate, though) to start my Junior year at Syracuse. I wanted to say goodbye to summer and bye to the city with a classic NYC accessory, the New York Yankees baseball cap. Baseball caps are not an accessory that I integrate into my wardrobe regularly, but I have always loved how they add the perfect athletic vibe to any outfit--even a mod black and white shift with sky-high heels.

Have you ended your summer dream careers? Where are you headed now, I'd love to hear!

Off the Vine

/ H&M Jacket / J.Crew Dress / DIY Necklace / Zara heels / 

As great as my love for colors is, lately when it comes to getting dressed, they have taken a back seat to make more room for neutrals in navy's, blacks, army green, and cream. With the slightly cooler air we've been having in New York the past few days, I realized summer really is coming to a close, and took full advantage of wearing summer brights for a few last times. This orchid colored dress was also a purchase from the J.Crew sample sale, and I love the way that it works surprisingly well with my kelly green suede moto jacket. With colors as bright as these, and a necklace that certainly adds to it, my favorite hologram heels pull the outfit today while still keeping the look interesting to the eye.

Fall Favorites

/ 1. Topshop / 2. Isabel Marant / 3. Rag & Bone (mens!) / 4. Topshop /

Fall is definitely my favorite season, and nothing makes me happier after a brutal summer than heading to work with a perfect crisp breeze in the air. During colder months, and even at the beginning of fall, I try my best to wear my skirts and dresses with my legs bare for as long as possible. With this challenge, easy jackets are for sure my go-to pieces. When it comes to favorites, jackets in a varsity or army/utility style are what I find myself wearing with absolutely everything. With my favorite varsity jacket in a dark navy and black combination (faux leather sleeves, of course!) and my utility jacket in its classic army green, these are staples that are must haves for that crisp pre-fall air that will certainly carry you much into fall.

How have you been adding on for pre-fall?

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

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

Home Improvement

/ original image via /

It may sound odd, but one of my favorite things to daydream about is a spacious, perfectly organized walk-in closet. As I am getting older, and my collection of special pieces is growing, I engage in thinking of a future closet as more of a dressing room like in the image above. Though the room depicted is far too luxurious and out of reach (especially with plans to live in New York City), a layout with combinations of drawers and tall mirrored cabinets with a sophisticated sitting arrangement, is one that would be not only an inspiring and beautiful place to get dressed, but can serve as a sort of small museum collection of your sartorial explorations through the years, as well. 

Which rooms do you find yourself daydreaming about most?

Elizabeth Street

/ Christian Siriano dress c/o / Christian Siriano belt (on sale!) / Christian Siriano heels /

Is there a piece in your wardrobe that you can always rely on regardless of the occasion? For me, it's this Christian Siriano circle skirt dress. With it's flattering shape and obvious little black dress appeal, it always manages to make me feel feminine, polished, and pretty. When it comes to little black dresses, one of the many great qualities about them is that there are limitless ways to style them. This pink metallic snap belt, which is on sale at the store (!), and the seafoam Julie mary-jane's provide just the right amount of additions, without taking away from the dress's own beauty, as well. 

Are you as much in love with Christian Siriano's pieces as I am? If so, head to his store located at

252 Elizabeth Street btw Prince & Houston in Nolita

New York City

to pick up some fabulous pieces. They're even having a summer sale!

Tuesday Shoesday

I have long praised my love of a fabulous pair of blue shoes. When I came across the pair for this week's Tuesday Shoesday feature from Shop Sosie, I knew they were a winner. They are every bit summery like a classic checkered picnic blanket or table, and I love how geometric they are and all of the straps near the front. Oddly enough, they immediately reminded me of the Kate Spade Saturday dress on the left. With it's painterly abstract plaid and fun strappy back, this pairing is whimsically similar. I'd love to see what they would look like paired together. Too crazy or pattern perfection?

What do you think?

Ooh La La

/ H&M sweater and clutch / Necessary Clothing crop top / Bebe top / Zara shorts / Sam Edelman heels / Michael Kors watch / Brandy Melville ring / Forever 21 "Ooh La La" necklace / Illamasqua polish

When starting with a classic black and cream color palette, mixing textures, patterns, and fit is key. With the delicate top and faux leather shorts both being on the shorter side length-wise, a light-weight cardigan that acts as a half silky blazer and half nubby knit is the ideal addition to pull the look together. And, while you might feel the need to accessorize, as I did, having a few statement pieces will work, but make sure that only one of them, in this case my snakeskin clutch stands out-even if the necklace is doing the talking-ha. 

How would you accessorize a black and cream look?