Early Spring Phil?

        Can’t we go back to last week? The subtle taste of spring effortlessly slipped its way into both our weekday forecast and our subsequent wardrobe choices last week. It felt so natural and peaceful to walk around outside without having to come to class looking like you just attended a funeral with watery eyes and running noses; to actually leave class on time, without having to bundle yourself up for an extra twenty minutes with your winter jacket, scarf, gloves, and hat; and to actually be, well, happy. I suppose I’m still in the winter blues, just waiting for any sign of a blooming flower or buzzing bee. Well, maybe not the bees. Oh, please Mother Nature, can’t you give us anything to signify the beginning of spring? These were my thoughts before I realized Spring Break was next week. Next week! Talk about a change in mood! Spring Break means finally being able to break out the springtime clothes you’ve been dying to wear. Even if you’re not going anywhere warm, Spring Break can mean going home and finally being able to purchase the clothes you’ve been dying to buy in an effort to prepare yourself for the upcoming season. So just what clothes are you going to pack into your suitcase for your trip to South Carolina? Well, you’ve come to the right place! If you’re looking for some tips on what to pack or what to buy while you’re home, hopefully you can find some relief from this post!

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for the extra money you have to spend because your overflowing suitcase weighs more than 50 pounds. 

Let's start with a cute romper and dress. Rompers, like I said in my last post, are really great because their flexible from day to night. And you can never go wrong with an iconic floral springtime dress. 

Spring Floral Dress; $12.90; Forever 21

Printed Deep-V Romper Cover Up; $49; Urban Outfitters

A cute floral skirt is always an essential piece to a Spring Break suitcase. Also, the high-waisted shorts featured at the right are really in style right now. 

In Bloom Knit Skirt; $13.80; Forever 21 

Timeshare Short; $34.99; Modcloth

                               

I'm sure you guys can find tops you like pretty well, but I just found this one to be super beach-like:

 

Playa del Pink Top; $49.99; Modcloth.com

Consistent with the beach theme, what would Spring Break be without a swimsuit? Pricey, I know. But still glorious to drool over!

Crochet One Piece; $148; Free People

Pick Your Path Bikini; $138; Anthropologie

          

Is your suitcase overflowing yet? Thought so. 

Did Your Wallet Gain Weight?

             I will admit my previous posts have fashioned some pretty hefty prices. I’ll tell you now that it is not worth it to spend a million dollars on something because trends go in and out of style as fast as it took you to dress yourself that morning, only to realize that you’re already out of season. Yes, some clothes never go out of style—mainly sweatshirts and sweatpants—but we’ll leave those to the “How to Dress Like a Real Penn Stater!” blog. Anyway, I dedicate this post to clothes on a budget—money that you or me would actually spend. I also thought it’d be neat to put together some outfits instead of throwing up some miscellaneous pieces that you have no idea where to even begin with. I’m sure this will be the most pragmatic post you’ve seen on my blog thus far. Although, I know how equally exciting it is to see a tank top go for $300. Yes, three hundred dollars. Hey, I guess this is why we’re going to college! Dream big! But for now, let’s consider some outfits that can realistically be purchased!

Hera Gladiator Sandals; $18.80; Forever 21

Pix-elated Dress; $47.99; Modcloth.com

                                      

         

Faceted Faux Stone Ring; $4.80; Forever 21

Little Heart Locket Necklace; $1.50; Forever 21

                                

Consistent with the current weather, this look is extremely spring! Florals, as usual for the springtime, are in again. The gladiator sandals, whether in or out, I don't even really care. I think they look great on everyone. Also, teal and jade are ultra-flattering and calming colors. One theory you should know that I live by—you can never over-accessorize!  Here's another budget-friendly outfit:

Double Button Skinny Jean; $13.50; Forever 21

Wearable Waves Crop Top; $25; Modcloth.com

         

                                              

                             

I'm a huge sucker for anything that's blue and white. Break the matchy-matchy with an etched belt or strappy sandal.

Classic 5 Metallic Bracelet Set; $1.50; Forever 21

O.N.E.sie Romper; $19.99; Modcloth.com

                                                                             

Suedette Floral Slingbacks; $27.80; Forever 21

Buying a casual romper such as this one in the denim material is useful because you can either dress it up or dress it down. Wearing the romper on its own looks cute for the day, but pairing it with heels and flashy accessories is a perfect going-out outfit for when it gets warmer. 

Trust me, your wallet will thank me. Healthy shopping!

Valentine's Day, Shmalentine's Day

Unfortunately I’ve succumbed to the Valentine’s spirit—or not. Whether you’re hinting at him to buy you something other than flowers, or you’re trying to refrain from wallowing in your sorrows by replacing Ben and Jerry with a shopping spree to yourself, I’d advise you to give these Valentine’s themed styles a look over! Even if you aren’t into the holiday, these picks sure are cute! Think hearts, lace, crochet, and florals. On an unrelated side note, I'm sure you've noticed (or will notice in this post) that a lot of styles I choose come from Modcloth.com. For all you online shoppers, if you've never been to this site before, I really recommend checking it out. Modcloth has a lot of unique, one-of-a-kind styles of clothing, accessories, and shoes that have quality construction. The prices may vary, but I'd say that a lot of their clothes are based on a reasonable budget. More interestingly, they sell authentic vintage pieces--meaning that once they are sold, no one else in the world will own that item besides you. Neat, right? It's also pretty cool to wear something from a past era. Totally trendy. Anyway, back to the oh so imminent holiday. If you’re looking for something special to wear on the hallmarked evening, or trying to impress no one but, as I would say, good ol' me myself and I, then read on followers!

Galeteria Romper; Modcloth.com; $50

Everything Nice Lace Dress; Free People; $98

Through the Loop Dress; Modcloth.com; $100

And if you're really trying to get fancy.... (cue awful "Oh, You Fancy Huh" song):

                                                                                        

Dianthus Fields Dress; Modcloth.com; $90

And if you're feeling extra Valentiney:

Heart Link Lady Watch; Urban Outfitters; $34

Sweet Heart Sunglasses; Urban Outfitters; $14

Or, you could always go south with this route.....

Cheers, lovebirds!

These Boots Were Made for Walking....

Hello fellow fashionistas! Sorry to forward your mind to Jessica Simpson in daisy dukes as you read the headline. Not as classy as Stevie Nicks, I know. Anyway, as I searched for this week’s latest clothing trends, I succumbed to my anticipation to make a blog post dedicated to shoes. This was intended to be a later post in a few weeks as a surprise, but, I couldn’t handle it. I love shoes too much to save them for a later date.  Shoes are great because they last a long time, and therefore, are worth your hard-earned money! In addition, it’s easy to experiment with new styles of shoes, whereas new clothing styles can sometimes be a gamble. Shoes also rarely go out of style, but new trends always keep appearing on the market. Enough with my ramble on the importance of shoes, it’s about time you see some styles! Cue the drooling!

As expected from my last blog post, 70s shoe trends are in style! This includes a look of high, platform sandals with lots of wood and brown leather designing. For example,

Lauren by Ralph Lauren Sadia $109

BCBGeneration $100

Another style that I’m seeing in stores everywhere nowadays is a blush tone pump or sandal:

L.A.M.B. Crepe $365

Pierre Dumas Carolina $65

            

                                                                           

Now that the outside is starting to become a continuous frozen tundra, I hope all of you already own a pair of rain boots or snow boots to slush through the snow in. But, if you don’t, here is one of my favorite picks:                  

      

Hunter Original $125

                                                                     

Obviously these styles are a little pricey, and therefore you may be weary of getting your frat on in these particular shoes, but mind you, these are examples of the kinds of styles that you might want to look for in other stores that fit your budget! Personally, I prefer to shop on websites that carry shoes I can afford! Try piperlime.com, modcloth.com, or lulus.com for online sites that are budget promising (sometimes these sites also include online coupons you can search for!). As for actual stores, I like the Urban Outfitters shoe section, good ol’ DSW, and maybe the little splurge here and there from Nordstrom. Even Forever 21 has some trendy shoes these days! It’s definitely worth taking a look!

I can’t wait until this weather passes so I can start getting my feet uber-chic again! At least our good friend Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring!

All images courtesy of piperlime.com