It's Time To Get Professional!

         As much as we all want the school year to end to free ourselves of the endless amounts of work from classes, the summer does also count itself to working as well. This time though, you’re getting paid at least! The summer is a time to relax nonetheless, but also gain experience and money by having a job! At this age, jobs start consisting more and more of internship and career experience. As I stated in one of the last posts, dressing yourself appropriately at an internship or field position is extremely important. It makes a good impression on your employer, allows you to feel and act professional, and finally, offers you experience for your future day-to-day apparel when you embark on your career! Granted, not all internships require you to dress a certain way; many may have their own uniform or “look” that does not lend itself to any of the options I may display below. However, it is necessary to understand what kinds of clothing constitute “business-casual” because I guarantee, you will have to dress this way some time or another, whether or not your intended career path could care less about the attire you wear. Interviews, however, are a common opportunity for many people. No matter what the job is, the employer will take you more seriously if you dress in a manner that embodies the “professional” aspect of a job. I figured that dedicating an entire post to professional work attire will be beneficial, and practical nonetheless. This may be the most useful post you will see on my blog thus far! I really encourage you to take some of these pointers into consideration! When an event says “dress ‘business casual’”, it is overwhelmingly ambiguous for most people. What will other people wear? Will I look too casual? Too dressy? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!? Rest assured, I’ve found a few pieces that will leave you drop dead..professional!

Let’s first take a look at some slacks. I know the name sounds ugly, boring, and well, unflattering. However, if you find the right cut and design for your body, slacks don’t look all too bad! Plus, “pants” are the go-to look for an intern or employee. They do not dress you up too much, but still look classy in the office. Also, as I’ve stated before, wear a pear of (walk-able) heels with slacks. The cut of these pants are usually tailored to individuals with height and elongated legs. If you have neither the former nor the latter, trust me, you’ll want to find a pair of heels!

Fletcher by Lyell Pleated Pant; Urban Outfitters; $58 

Halogen 'Whitney' Pants; Nordstrom; $78

Diane von Furstenberg 'Simca' Wide Leg Pants; Nordstrom; $298

Next, we’ll look at tops. A blazer is usually the prime example of professional business attire. Wear a blazer a tank top underneath, maybe a necklace, and definitely with tighter-legged pants. Or you could go for a blouse. The blouse obviously has to match your pants. Usually a cut that isn’t too baggy looks better since the bottoms of slacks are usually flared. Usually most pants are tweed or solid colored. In this case, you can get a little fun with your blouse! Go for a pattern (not overly dramatic) or a solid color with a ruffle design!

Print Journalist Top; Modcloth.com; $54.99

Silence & Noise Blazer; Urban Outfitters; $78

Finally, if you don’t want to wear pants and a blouse, you can always opt for a nice skirt or dress. Obviously, these have to be classy (and long enough) for it to be appropriate to wear to work. Trying wearing these with a pair of flats, so your look isn’t too done-up. 

Washi Wrap Skirt; Anthropologie; $88

Elephant in the Bloom Dress; Modcloth.com; $49.99

A Break from Clothes!

            For this week’s post, I thought I’d take a completely different approach. Every week, you’ve been reading up on the latest trends, styles, or anything else that may look like it’d be a good fit for your wardrobe. However, in relation to fashionable clothing styles, I have another separate passion that I thought I’d share with you for this week’s post—interior decorations! Before you look up to check if the URL you typed in was correct, I assure you this is the right blog! As with clothing, interior decorations like bedding, room decor, lighting appliances and the like are all gateways to creativity. What expresses your own personal style (rather than the clothes you wear) better than your own room? Your living space is an extremely personal haven and the way you decorate it is an expression of your tastes and interests. As a college student with a roommate, it is hard to feel that your room is “yours”. The best solution is to design your (half) of the room in a way that truly reflects your personality. If you spend the time designing your space, I guarantee you will get the “at home” feeling every time you walk into your room. Like I’ve stressed, having this feeling in college is extremely beneficial! Unlike a shirt you may wear once a month, your room is something you see everyday. It’s something you need to live and associate with for the rest of the semester (even though it’s almost already over!) But seriously, trust me on this one—putting creative energy into designing your living space is well worth it! I guarantee!

Let’s start with some reaaalllly beautiful bedding:

Although it may be expensive, Anthropologie honestly has the trendiest, well-made, and unique bedding out there! I think that the bedding you have in your room is probably one of the most important components. It is the largest item you’ll buy, and thus the focal point to the design of your room. You can either choose a solid tone to give your room a more relaxed and matched pallet, or you can go for a colorful combination that spices up that dreary dorm you’ve been given:

Rosette Bedding; Anthropologie; $48-$288

Kaveri Bedding; Anthropologie; $48-$268

Distant Voyage Bedding;  Anthropologie; $58-$228

If you have an apartment like me, curtains are a great way to give your room some color. You can either go for a bold look that could counter solid colored bedding, or you could choose something more sheer if these are going in your living room.

Simply Sub-Lime Curtain; Modcloth.com; $49.99

Indian Jewel Curtain; Urban Outfitters; $38

As for wall decorations, my go-to options are usually something abstract and artsy, or something more personal like a band or movie poster. If you can’t come across anything you want to keep on your wall, try something more neutral like an intricate mirror:

Decorative Wall Mirror; Target; $29.99

Finally, I just wanted to post a few more random things from the Urban Outfitters apartment section that have me going crazy, but are just too expensive to buy. Hopefully you're more fortunate than me. Side note, out of any website I’ve searched or store I’ve gone to, Urban Outfitters has the most dynamic and hip apartment section, like ever. 

Tromp L'Oeil Floor Mat; Urban Outfitters; $159

Patchwork Chair-Sky; Urban Outfitters; $249

All images courtesy of Anthropologie.com, Modcloth.com, Urbanoutfitters.com, Target.com

Where Did My Life Go?

            As the spring starts creeping up on us (well, maybe not with this weather…) our pleasurable lifestyles start to commence. Instead of speed walking from class to class in order to avoid hypothermia, we pace ourselves and take in the sun. We eat outside and catch up with friends. We attend tailgates and “daylongs” instead of sweating inside of a cramped frat house. Out with our slum and in with our progression! As our lives start to get more enjoyable, we also get busier and busier. We make time to do the things we want, instead of hibernating indoors and partaking in an anti-social attitude. The spring and summer bring about a multitude of activities, trips, and events that require you to find the perfect outfit to match the occasion. After this grueling winter season, I’m sure you’ve all lost the ability to conceptualize what it would be like to dress yourself in spring and summer apparel. Do I even know what shorts are anymore? How am I supposed to even start thinking about what I’m supposed to wear on my upcoming study abroad to Europe? Rest assured that these questions are valid and universal. Most people this time of the year cannot even picture what it would be like to wear, god forbid, a dress! It’s the time of the year where the go-to outfits consist mostly of sweatshirts and sweatpants. If you’re having trouble getting out of the winter mode, you’ve come to the right place! For this post, I chose to put together outfits in an effort to help you start thinking about the clothes that will be appropriate to wear on that trip to Europe!

Summer=dating season! What are you going to wear on that special date with the guy you’ve drooled over since high school? Stick to something casual, yet flirty. A romper is a good choice because it encompasses the dressed-down shorts attire, yet gives a feminine touch with the and ruffle and bow design. Also, you’ll want to choose a pair of sandals or wedges. Let’s be honest here—how many of you can actually walk in a pair of 5-inch heels? No one. You don’t want to embarrass yourself by stumbling all over the place, so choosing a fancy pair of sandals to match your romper adds the perfect amount of focus to your legs. 5-inch heels on a date looks trashy anyway.

Cremini Tasting Romper; $34.99; Modcloth.com

Topography Sandals; $98; Anthropologie

Room for More Bag; $109.99; Modcloth.com

      

You’ve planned a trip to the beach with your friends. You need a new swimsuit and cover up that allows you to look cute and fashionable on the beach, without being overly done or complicated. This bathing suit is simple, yet adds a small piece of embellishment for an extra touch that allows you to look stylish in a carefree manner. A crocheted cover up is essential. Not only does it drape nicely over a swimsuit without being too form fitting or constricting, it allows you stay cool as you get the breeze from the ocean filtering through the holes:

 

Embellished Circle Bandeau Top; $28; Victoria's Secret

Lace Cropped Kaftan; $228; Free People

  

Dolce Vita Desert Braided Sandal; $78; Free People

          

Your family is taking a vacation to a lake and you guys decide to take out a boat. Try and really get into the spirit by dressing yourself in nautical attire. A blue and white stripe top tucked into a pair of high-waisted buttoned shorts really extracts the true sailor in you!

Relaxed Seaside Top; $13.80; Forever 21

Linen Blend Sailor Shorts; $13.80; Forever 21

          

BC Knot Sandal; $60; Urban Outfitters

       

You’ve scored a prestigious internship or job for the summer. This will look great on your resume, and will help your career experience in the long run. Excelling at a job does not only depend on good work ethics, it also depends on you looking the part and presenting yourself in a professional manner. How can you make a good impression? Try wearing something that is sophisticated, but doesn’t look age-inappropriate like a business suit. A flowy blouse and a pair of nice slacks will have your employer satisfied. Find a nice pair of heels to go along with your slacks, since most are cut long and baggy which will shape up nicely with some added height. 

Flurry Up Top; $39.99; Modcloth.com

Corset-Laced Wide-Legs; $88; Anthropologie

            

DV by Dolce Vita 'Briar' Pump; $89.95; Nordstrom

All images courtesy of Modcloth.com, Anthropologie.com, Freepeople.com, Victoriassecret.com, Forever21.com, Urbanoutfitters.com, Nordstrom.com

Go Vintage!

           Up until this point, my posts have generally been about what’s in style, where to find it, and how much it will cost you. What about clothes that aren’t particularly in fashion, but allow you to put your own twist onto an outfit by selecting a piece of clothing or accessory that’s titled as “vintage”? Literally, vintage pieces aren’t the newest fashion trend on the market. Their styles have been seen before, and worn before too for that matter. However, many fashion trends that we see today are based off an influx of reoccurring vintage pieces that surface after years of storage. Wearing a vintage design is awesome because the pieces are one-of-a-kind. How likely is it that the shirt you’re wearing today is on some other girl within a 50 ft. radius? Very. To wear something that you know can’t be reproduced is a favorable incentive to buying something vintage. Vintage pieces are generally not too expensive, but probably were at some point back in their prime. Thus, you get the same quality of construction as it had at a higher price, just that now it’s affordable. As stated, many current styles are based off of past era’s clothing trends. Buying something vintage allows you to wear the original and authentic archetype of that fashion, and not just some knock-off piece you bought at the mall. A vintage piece you encounter most likely isn’t a random, humdrum garment that someone impulsively sold to a consignment shop or vintage clothing store. Remember that you’re seeing these pieces because they’ve been kept around for a reason. They either have an irreplaceable design, unique purpose, or epitomize the fashion style from the era they are from. Rest assured that the vintage piece you just purchased is special in one way or another. For those who aren’t already sold on going vintage, you may be asking: why would I want to wear something that someone else has worn and is totally outdated? In response, I beg to differ and proclaim that the “wear-and-tear” feel of vintage pieces is what makes them so remarkable and unique.

            In my previous posts, you’ve seen a lot of clothes from Modcloth.com. The one’s I’ve shown have been current styles that relate to some fashion trend in some way. However, Modcloth.com is recognized for their vintage section on their website. There, you’ll find several pages filled with vintage and one-of-a-kind pieces. You’ll also find that all of them are probably sold. Consistent with the unique nature of vintage items, only one person can buy the item before it is sold out. If you’re familiar with bidding on an item from EBay, you’ll recognize the similarity in this situation. If refreshing the page a million times in order for you to be the first person to purchase a new item doesn’t appeal to you, I advise you to look at the Modcloth.com’s vintage section anyway. It’ll enlighten you to what vintage piecing is all about. Here are a few samples:

Vintage Resplendent in Ruby Top; Modcloth.com

Vintage Sunny Meadow Dress; Modcloth.com

Vintage Live in Color Bag; Modcloth.com

Urban Outfitters also has their own vintage section called “Urban Renewal”. These pieces are not vintage in construction, but are made out of vintage materials and fabrics. If you want something that looks vintage but will have a flattering and contemporary construction, try an Urban Renewal piece.

Vintage '80s Floral Blazer; Urban Outfitters

Vintage Heliotrope Crochet Top; Urban Outfitters

Finally, Free People just incorporated their own vintage section into their website. Their section includes several collections that underlie a common theme—for example, “Sheer Victorian” or “Bohemia”. Free People puts outfits together using these items, which is extremely useful for those who don’t know how to wear something vintage. If you want to find a specific vintage item or theme, or want better luck than Modcloth.com with respect to actually purchasing an item, try Free People’s “Vintage Loves” section.

Vintage 1920s Crochet Dress; Free People

Vintage Prairie Dress; Free People

Back to the roots!

Accessorize!

 Accessories are the chocolate chips to your pancake. You can have pancakes plain, but the chocolate makes them that much better.

Accessories are the details in life that you don’t want to admit you pay attention to, but you do anyway.

Accessories are the little dashes of vitality that enhance your outfit from cute to chic.

            Fashion is a form of expression. The clothes you wear can be an indication of your personality, ideologies, or emotions. It is often that you find people wearing clothes that follow a certain trend. Clothes go in and out of fashion quickly, and they rarely can be worn for years on end due to personal growth, taste, or style. However, accessories are items that you own forever. Although new styles of accessories may appear, the old ones you have never really go out of style. I’ll ask you this: have you ever thrown out a belt because it was out of style? Have you ever given your earrings or rings away to Goodwill? Accessories don’t have to be worn to satisfy a certain trend; they can be worn because you want to wear them. Therefore, they are a greater indication of a person’s individuality than any other piece of fashion. In addition, a lot of accessories are meaningful or memorable in some way. Many people carry family heirlooms, which for a lot of the time are a piece of jewelry such as a ring or necklace. I said it once and I will say it again. You can never over-accessorize! Love to feel the weight of your ring-laden fingers as you attempt to type on the keyboard! An accessorized outfit embodies the meaning of creativity. Experiment! I dare you!

As you guessed, this post will be dedicated to the oh so lovely abundance of accessories!

Let’s start with some belts. Brown belts are the perfect staple to any wardrobe. If you’re wearing a loose dress or flowy blouse, cinch a skinny belt around the waste to transform your upper half from baggy and unflattering to “hour-glass” and waist-enhancing. If you’re wearing a pair of trendy high-waisted shorts with the top tucked in, add a belt to give your outfit some sophistication.

BDG Classic Skinny Belt; Urban Outfitters; $20

Finely Braided Belt; Anthropologie; $28

Urban Renewal Narrow Leather Belt; Urban Outfitters; $18

Next we’ll take a look at some purses. Handbags are valuable because they can be used as both a utility and a fashion accessory. It’s worth it to spend your money on a good handbag because you will use it every day and it will last you forever.

Style Alliance Bag; Modcloth.com; $99.99

Cooperative Turnlock Tote; Urban Outfitters; $69

Let’s finish with some jewelry. Jewelry is probably my favorite accessory you can purchase. They’re not too expensive (well, most of the time…) and add noticeable drama to your outfit. You can call a piece of jewelry the cherry to top off your ice cream sundae.

Necklaces can either be bold or simple. For a plain outfit, add a bold necklace as a statement piece.  Your necklace will be the focal point of your outfit. If you’d rather go for something a little more subtle, try a necklace with a single chain and small attachment. Simple necklaces add a fine touch to your outfit without overbearing it.

On The Ropes Necklace; Madewell; $48

Soaring Bird Necklace; Forever 21; $1.50

Earrings follow the same routine. Loud earrings draw attention to your face. Although they may seem over-the-top, they make an outfit pop. If you’re feeling confident one day, opt for a pair of exaggerated earrings. If you want to look refined and pretty, stay classic with a pair of diamond studs.

Scalloped Citrus Earrings; Anthropologie; $198

Glass Firework Stone Earring; Urban Outfitters; $19

Finally, we end with bracelets and rings. In my personal opinion, any style of bracelet or ring works with any outfit. These are the pieces that truly stay with you as you age. They are the pieces of flare that don’t have to correspond to the color of your outfit or the other accessories you’re wearing that day. Put a bracelet or ring on any day for an expressive touch of individuality.

Oval Bead Ring; Forever 21; $3.80

Jessa Stone Cuff; Free People; $28

Okay, so maybe accessories don’t evoke the same feeling you would get from finding a surprise chocolate chip in your pancake. However, once you start to get the hang of accessorizing, you’ll notice the thrill of putting on an outfit change from that of anxiety to a wonderfully intriguing process.

All images courtesy of Urbanoutfitters.com, Anthropologie.com, Modcloth.com, Madewell.com, Forever21.com, Freepeople.com

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.