Birthday Brights

 / Zara top / Tracy Feith for Target skirt (2009) / Primark sandals / Rebecca Minkoff clutch / Michael Kors watch / Baublebar necklace / David Yurman ring / iPhone case from NYC /

Hello, everyone! After another summer in NYC I am back home for a couple of weeks and ready to get back to some regular posting for a bit. Yesterday we celebrated my dad's birthday, and there is something about being back in Texas that always makes me dress much brighter and want to combine so many patterns, and I think that concept clearly shows in this look. Birthdays are meant to be happy and in perusing my closet through the pieces I haven't seen in a while, I came across this Tracy Feith skirt that was part of a Target collaboration from 2009 (!). I love the vintage surfer/beach vibe that the neon flowers give off, and you simply can't go wrong with this shape of skirt. With the colors in the pattern as bright as they are, the white blouse and shoes keep everything else relatively simple, but give off a brightness of their own. And, obviously, the amazing Rebecca Minkoff clutch pulls everything together. As it was a birthday gift last year, it seemed fitting to pull it out to celebrate someone else's birthday, as well!

Black + White

/ Dress by Me / Necessary Clothing belt / Primark clutch / David Yurman ring / Zara heels /

Lately I've been particularly drawn to bold black and white stripes. There's something about them to me that is so classic and stylish, and I love when there are touches of color to accent them off. I made this knit dress my sophomore year and had never worn it, so when I saw the black and white striped bell sleeves peeking out of my rack in my closet, immediately I went for it. The fabric is two-sided (one with stripes the other with polka dots) and the play on the combination with the fun sleeves and sort of scalloped hem made it a dress that I will definitely be putting on more frequently in the future.

What do you all think? Do you like it? I'd love to hear feedback. 

Hope everyone has a great start to the week! 

New Uniform

Topshop T-Shirt / Cos T-Shirt / J. Crew T-Shirt / GAP Jeans / Target (Wrangler Mens) Jeans / H&M Tennis Shoes / Nike Tennis Shoes

If there's one thing that I have learned with living with seven roommates while being abroad, it's that I easily pick up on styles that I like and want to try. While I had long admired those who could master the graphic tee + boyfriend jeans + stylish tennis shoes look for quite a while, it wasn't until I came to London and bought my first pair of fashion tennis shoes--the snakeskin ones above (as opposed to ones reserved for the gym) that I realized it's surprisingly a look that I now wear (embarrassingly) too often. Whether it's a comfortable look for a Monday morning lecture, or a cool mix of casual luxe with the snakeskin and a tailored coat, this easy three-part equation is hard to go wrong with.

Is this a look that you would wear? Even if not, take a try at it--I bet you'll like it.

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!

DIY: Bedazzled Earrings

//Forever 21 Make-up bag//Rhinestones and earring backs from Toho Shoji and M&J Trimming//

If you're anything like me, you save endless how-to's on crafts and DIY projects in a folder on your desktop. Even though the whole concept of DIY is to show that seemingly difficult projects can actually be managed by ordinary people with an ordinary skill-set, I always was wary that my projects wouldn't turn out as stellar as the original. This past weekend, I came across this post on a favorite blog, and couldn't help but actually attempting to re-create these statement earrings like hers. And, lucky for me, these are clip-ons--yes, I still don't have my ears pierced. Below you can find the steps to make your own pair of dazzlers. Enjoy!

Step 1: Gather all of the materials that you need: Scissors, Rhinestones of your choice, Clip-on earring backs, Superglue (E6000), and some PVC sheets. I couldn't find any PVC sheets near me, but I found this cute make-up bag from Forever 21 and cut the plastic out from around it, and still can use the bag later.

Step 2: Once you have gathered all of your materials together, choose the size that you want your earrings to be (I went with about a 1" by 2" rectangle) and cut that size from the PVC sheet. Play with the rhinestones to see how you want them to lay out and how they fit best together before you glue them down.

Step 3: Once you have chosen the placement of your rhinestones, glue them down while making sure to press firmly so that they are secured into place.

Step 4: After your rhinestones have been glued down, flip the rectangle of PVC (now with the rhinestones on it) over and glue down the clip-on earring back. Again, remember to press it securely and make sure that it is the correct way so that you can clip it onto your ear. Place an object with a bit of weight to it, I used a book, on the top of your upside down finished pieces to help the rhinestones to hold in place while they dry overnight.

Voila! You've made your very own pair of bedazzled statement earrings! I've already experimented with pairing them with simple jeans and a tank to dress them down and swanky cocktail dresses for a special night out on the town.

I hope you enjoyed my first DIY post. I certainly had a lot of fun making these if you can't tell. If you attempt these, or any other DIY of your own, I'd love for you to share.

Naturally Neon

//Dress: Old Navy (old)// Jacket: Ecoté from Urban Outfitters// Heels: Jessica Simpson// Watch: Michael Kors// Ring: H&M// Necklace: Francesca's Collection//

After almost a week of all black outfits, I felt like a little bit of color was due on 85 Dresses again. I purchased this safety yellow dress from old navy forever ago, and it is one of my favorite go-to dresses during warmer months. From the color, linen-like fabric and easy to wear classic shirt-dress style, it is perfect to throw on with cute flats during the day or to dress it up a bit more with heels and statement jewelry for a casual event. Since it felt a bit cooler during this particular day, when searching for a jacket, this army green utility jacket has a similar slouchy effect as the dress, but in a similar color palette, and with details like the expandable pockets and drawstrings, it definitely adds more interest than a simple cardigan.

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. 

Style Smörgåsbord

{Forever 21 shirt, necklace, H &M fur sweater, HUE leggings, Target booties, and Urban Outfitters holographic nail polish}

I had been looking for a faux fur sweater or vest for a while, but didn't really want to settle with a simple brown or black style. This piece from H & M I fell in love with for it's, though bright teal in color, versatility. While definitely a recognizable and unique piece, there is much more that can be paired with a color faux fur like this than you would ordinarily expect. The oversized denim button-down and neon necklace work well with the bright of the sweater, while the black sleeves, leggings, and booties help to juxtapose the brightness with a sense of balance.

How would you style a bright colored faux fur?

A to Z: Lace

To me, lace is one of those fabrics that regardless of what color it is in, or what it is applied to, always exudes a sort of femininity. In a way, with all of the varieties, each lace has a personality that is different and makes each garment feel special. While lace used to be more associated with bridal gowns and creams and whites, more recently, it can be found in every color from neutral to neon (see above).

Do you have a favorite color or style of lace? I absolutely love the cream colored dress in the image. While it is definitely a more subtle version in comparison to the chartreuse all-over lace on the right, I love the way that it appears so soft and ethereal and then is paired with a bright poppy colored bag.

1, 2, 3, 4

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!

Necklace DIY

{Original Necklace: Forever 21, T-shirt: Target}

Like most accessory fanatics, I have definitely purchased my fair share of neon and bright colored cocktail jewelry. Remembering this post from last year, I turned my slow day into one of a craft that to much surprise, turned out just as how I had hoped. I wanted to use a combination of pastels and brights to fit in with some of my favorite styles right now. Overall, it was easy, fun to do, and was a great way to add an accessory to my wardrobe.

{Colors used: ette's "Coral", Sinful Colors's "Forget Now", N.Y.C's "#110A", Essie's "Vermillionaire", and Revlon's "Minted"}

{I did two coats for each color so that I wouldn't see the original crystal underneath}

{Finished Product}

Do you ever attempt DIY projects? What are some of your favorites?

Monofoamatic

{Zara t-shirt, Necessary Clothing belt, Nine 3 Two skirt (from Nordstrom Rack), Tory Burch sandals (borrowed from mom), Michael Kors watch,  American Eagle necklace, and Anthropologie sunglasses}

So, remember this post? Well, after seeing how perfectly this sea foam skirt matched this incredibly soft Zara t-shirt, I figured I should give the colored monochrome look a try. With one of the trends from this summer being to mix the popularity of spring pastels with summers love of brights, I added my favorite neon belt to an otherwise pastel look, to create my first attempt at a colored monochrome style. 

{Went kind of nail happy at Sephora the other day}

BlackWhiteBright

{BDG top and shorts, Michael Kors watch, Christian Siriano purse, and Steve Madden shoes}

The neon trend has been around long enough for there to be different ways that people prefer to pull it off. While going full out neon is definitely a statement style, I prefer my neon measured out in smaller doses. A full neon look may appear more summery, but wearing accent pieces in piercing hues can work year round and still have the same statement effect. So whether you choose a belt, a pair of amazing heels, or a great chartreuse purse like this one, neon accessories are a way to work this bright trend for longer than just the summer.

Dress Up

{Pick of the week}

I am a huge fan of long sleeved anything. There's something about a sheer long sleeve that just really suits me. In the summer, though, long sleeves are usually the farthest style from our mind's when we are getting dressed. With this dress's cut, color, and fabric all very summery, the long sheer sleeves from this Nasty Gal style perfectly compliment it's breezy feel without adding too much heat. Are there any cooler month pieces that you usually wear all year round? 

These are my last few days in NYC before I head back to Texas for a few weeks. This weekend I plan on going to the Met, hitting up a few vintage shops, and drinking way too many Swedish Berries Iced Teas from Coffee Bean + Tea Leaf. What are your weekend plans? I'd love to hear.

(Milk) Maid in Manhattan

{O by Organic dress, Topshop necklace, Michael Kors watch, and Guess? shoes}

I have always been quite the fan of the milkmaid braid that creates a sort of headband or crown of braids across the top of the head. However, they appeared to be difficult to execute, and even harder to stay put for a busy day of running around. Today, though, they were the perfect pairing to a sweet polka dotted dress that I amped up with a triangle decorated necklace in bright traffic cone orange. They were easier than I expected, lasted the whole day, and managed to provide a fun alternative to a bun to sweep the hair away from my neck.

Have you ever tried to do the Milkmaid Braids? Here are some of my favorite ones: 1, 2, and 3