forget me knot.

Everyone has weird pet peeves. Some people hate wearing socks (me), other people hate when people scrape their fork against their teeth when they eat (seriously, that noise). My major one was that I always, always hated wearing my hair up. In fact, I would refuse with every fiber of my being to wear a ponytail or bun in public. I would, however, wear a side braid. How does that figure? But anyway, my friends always looked at me like I was a complete nut job. How could I survive without wearing a bun in public? Aren't you hot dancing in this overly crowded bar? Yes, I was. No, I would not give in.

Now, I've never minded the look on anyone else. In fact, I always feel insanely jealous when I see girls that can pull it off. Hello, Jessica Hart? Miley Cyrus (pre-haircut), Demi Lovato, any girl that twirls their wrist and has the perfect, messy knot? Despite having so many examples of how awesome the up do could be, I just refused to let anyone but my bathroom mirror see me that way. Until I started graduate school. Something about the sweating/panic/anxiety attacks that comes every single time I enter a classroom makes me want to pile all of my hair on top of my head. As if by getting my hair out of my face, I'll suddenly feel less overwhelmed. Spoiler alert: I don't. But I still find myself throwing my hair up into a bun every. single. day. For hours. In public. And I'm not gonna lie, I'm kind of loving it. Even if I'm sure I actually do look like a hot mess. But then I look around the room and see that 99% of the girls have done the same thing.

EMBRACE THE BUN. FORGET THE HAIRBRUSH. No, just kidding. Sort of.

a girl's got style, legs for miles..

I'm in lust, an intense lust, that has been consuming my every thought, dream and being. In fact, this infatuation has brought life back into me; it has revived all the inspiration I need in my style world. I have been admiring the object of my fashion affection for years, but only recently has it struck me that I should be spending my free, exhausted time before bed staring at this girl's thread(s) on The Fashion Spot. It's been hard getting dressed for me lately. Impossible really. Not because I don't have enough clothes (but really, who ever has enough clothes?), but because I've been worn out and uninspired to pick out anything more than a t-shirt and jeans to school. And flats. Which have been a) killing my feet since I wore them in the city last Saturday and b) making my feet unexplainably sweaty and a bit stinky all of a sudden. Yet I keep wearing them. Yes, I needed this intervention. And the person hosting it was Jessica Hart. Like I said, I have been following Jessica Hart for years. When people would point out the gap between her front teeth and wonder why she was a model, I would defend her with all of my being (plus, I used to have a gap of my own, and so I appreciate any and all models that still sport it). But back then, I was more concerned with her print and runway work because model candids were so hard to find. These days, in my almost-daily checks to Love VS Models or TFS, I get new ones of this girl constantly. The prints, the canvas sneakers, the dog?! I'm always overwhelmed with something so simple yet so awesome that I end up making a list of things I positively need for the season. This time around, what I take away from the above looks is that it's completely and utterly necessary to embrace all that is lace/crochet. And prints. So many prints. In fact, I almost included a photo of Jessica wearing a leopard print tank over a different leopard print skirt. But I'm just not sure that is a look I could pull off. I'm definitely not that brave. But a pair of printed trousers with a nice lace shirt? Absolutely. And you can't forget the big, everyday black bag or the comfortable shoes. I love the fact that Jessica wears sandals or sneakers in her daily life more than crazy pumps. Although, I guess she is tall enough already.. Although I dig her looks where she is simply being herself and throwing her hair up in that signature bun, I do also love her more polished, refined looks. Even while wearing denim shorts, she can throw on a crisp shirt and blazer and change her look from casual to chic. The above has also made me realize that I'm crazy for not owning a classic, khaki trench coat. And I have to admit, these pictures are also making me beg my hair to grow a little longer… and causing me to wish that it was blonde. A trip to the hair dresser in my future? I love the idea of pairing a straight-laced dress, equipped with a high collar, with a boyfriend blazer. It's fitted enough that it wouldn't overwhelm the dress' shape, but also loose enough to keep that I-just-threw-this-on look. Lately, Jessica has been embracing metallic heels a bit, so these pointed toe pumps were perfect. They don't completely match, which keeps the look from being too boring. And, like in the above photos, I included a 'book clutch.' I have seen this style of bag a few times, first on the Cherry Blossom Girl, but now on Jessica. The ones I found on Polyvore were a bit pricey, but something tells me that there are hidden gems on Etsy just waiting to be discovered.

This is probably only the first of many posts featuring Ms. Hart, but until next time, make sure to follow her Tumblr tag and see all of the different looks she has been sporting recently.

Final note: I just got notified that I have been viewed over 500 times on Polyvore! It may seem like a small number, but it means so much to me. Thank you for following!

she said, "i'm going to school, and i can't be late."

Going back to school can be both exciting and daunting. I know I get anxious the night before classes begin, which usually means I get little sleep and have bags the size of Louis Vuitton luggage under my eyes the next morning. Luckily for me, this first week of classes I don't have to get up early for work, so I could sleep in as long as I wanted. But sleep wasn't my only issue! The weather was horrid all day, pouring buckets of rain and thundering. I had an outfit all planned, involving a white button down almost exactly like the one below, but we all know that looking like a wet t-shirt contest contestant isn't the appropriate first impression to make. I had to think fast. And ultimately choose the default outfit I have been sporting lately due to my obsession with my new Free People top.

So here is what I dreamed of wearing: This look is classic and makes a good impression, both on classmates and professors. You are dressed well but with a twist, the colored denim and shirt tied at the waist giving you a more on-trend look. And since syllabus week is the only one where I can ever seem to get away using a regular, small purse, I would have loved to take advantage of it! (The only upside of this weather is that it made me realize I do not own any nice bags in the tan/brown realm and remedied that immediately by purchasing the messenger bag in my 'must haves for school' post.) What this look would have screamed: I'm chic and ready to jump into some feminist theory! Or, you know, whatever class you happened to have that day. That was mine yesterday.

And now here is what I ended up wearing: The photos on this one aren't as great, and I could have simply posted the picture my mother insisted on taking of me while I was out the door (ugh!), but I'm afraid to know what I looked like in the anxious and frazzled state I was in. The baby doll tee screams 90s comeback, and I love that the shade is just slightly darker than mint in real life (it makes it early fall appropriate!). It also hides any and all stomach bloat that you may get after stress-eating spaghetti before class. I have been living in these jeans, or maybe you can call them jeggings, since they are skin tight but still the most comfortable pair of jeans I've ever put on my body. Old Navy never disappoints with their Rockstar design! I topped off the look with sneaker wedges from Aldo, which were perfect because if I stepped in any puddles, my delicate jeans weren't getting wet -- and of course I used my go-to backpack. And I can't forget, my giant bubble umbrella! It's a lifesaver. Not one bit of me got wet on the long walk from the parking lot to my class!

So even though the fashion of my day didn't go as planned, I still managed to have a good class and got through the dreaded first day. Now everyone cross your fingers that the weather clears up and I can wear my favorite white shirt tomorrow! After all, a new class means I can still make a successful first (fashion) impression.

the end of summer.

Happy Labor Day, everyone! I wasn't quite sure the significance of this day, besides the fact that it obviously had to do with work, and so I looked it up, naturally on Wikipedia. It turns out I was pretty much correct, but there is so much more history to it than I expected. Check it out here if you want more information! For a lot of us though, we mostly embrace Labor Day as the end of summer and beginning of fall.

This year, the weather has unfortunately fit that perfectly. It's been cloudy, and yesterday it down poured, which meant that it wasn't much of a beach weekend for us here on the Jersey Shore. Yet, it wasn't a total bust, because this means the bennys are leaving the beaches and the locals can finally have them to ourselves! I'm crossing my fingers for some sunny days to make up for the constant traffic and crowded beaches we've had to endure since Memorial Day.

I think my ideal Labor Day would play out like this: an entire day in the sun, specially on the beach, with a bunch of friends. We'd read magazines, flip our bodies every fifteen minutes and take dips in the water. Once the sun went down, we'd build a bon fire, drink beer and roast marshmallows. I'll admit, I was semi-influence by The OC when I thought up this idea. The best episodes of that show were on the beach, weren't they? Since Labor Day signifies the end of summer, I chose some cooler colors to highlight. These burgundy hot pants are epic. I chose a bikini that matches the color scheme, plus a simple white crop top that will end up being covered with sand. If the summer wasn't practically over, I'd be snatching these sandals up immediately, they look extremely comfortable but still stylish, which is something that most of my sandals cannot be described as. A big tote bag, classic round sunglasses and a stack of bracelets complete the day look. To move this look into night, and knowing how breezy the shore can get, toss on an oversized flannel and instantly warm up. The integration of flannel into my wardrobe may be my favorite part about fall!

Since Labor Day is rather dreary here, chances are I'll simply be preparing for the school year to start tomorrow, reading and perhaps roasting a marshmallow or two on the blog. My wardrobe? Jeans, a tank top, and a hoodie. It's safe to say I'm jealous of whoever gets to enjoy the beach today!

20 college must haves for the new semester.

In the years I was an undergraduate, I have learned so much about literature. But even more so, I have learned what items are necessary for me to survive the fifteen weeks of the semester. Now in my first year of graduate school, I know which highlighters never run out, what bag will hold my heaviest anthologies, and how many hours I need to study before an exam. With school beginning in less than a week, I thought I'd compile a list of must haves for any girl trying to survive the 'best years of her life.' Details on each item after the jump!

asymmetrical skirts: the inquisition.

Yesterday, I woke up to a text from one of my best friends asking me if she could still wear her asymmetrical skirt into the fall. My initial response to any question about carrying an item of clothing over into the next season is, YES! Do it! Why not?! But in actuality, it all depends on a few factors: style, color & weather. A mid-length or high-low skirt can be worn into fall but only while the weather is still warm enough that you wouldn't need tights. Tights are a no no when it comes to skirts that fall below the knee, in my opinion, whether they fall that way in the front or back (or side, in this case!). Color is important because it is very hard to pull off certain colors in autumn: neons, mints & pastels in general are difficult, but if the weather is nice enough (cue the third factor), then it's possible. But wearing a neon yellow asymmetrical skirt when it is 40 degrees out and cloudy? Not going to fly. Plus, your legs would freeze!

Here I chose an asymmetrical skirt that I think is actually a little more early-fall appropriate than even summer! I styled it two ways: to the left is a fall look, complete with a cropped blazer and ankle boot; to the right is the summer look, a cropped, sheer tank with a bandeau and flat gladiator sandal. I think both looks would be perfect to wear into the night. The summer look would be great to wear at an outside bar with girl and guy friends. Sipping on a vodka soda while swinging your skirt around? Sounds pretty ideal to me! The fall look would be great for a date in the city. I'm growing tired of women thinking they have to wear tight dresses on dates; this outfit is the ultimate 'sexy without trying to be sexy' kind of look. And the cropped jacket would give you shape! So get rid of your spanx on date night and slip into something a little more funky.

P.S. How cute are those Jeffrey Campbell ankle boots? I got them for my birthday and I'm so excited to try them out with fall outfits!

business as usual.

It seems that I lost my inspiration for a while there. And by "lost my inspiration," I mean I was knee deep in my first graduate school course and found little time to breathe, let alone to feel inspired enough to post here! I created snippets of posts, all of which never made it to editing, but I am working on it… I promise! (Yes, I know I have made hasty promises before. But I am being truthful. Really. Truly.)

Since summer is coming to a rapid close, I have been feeling less and less excited about getting dressed. Part of me is clinging to the days lounging by the pool, but every time I glance into my closet, I want to throw on sweaters and boots and fall back into the easy fashions that come with autumn. It truly is the easiest and most fun time to dress, isn't it? Think of all the options and layers that are involved! I do hope that we have a relatively warm fall/winter, but with enough cool breezes to make the grandpa sweater I recently purchased at Macy's worth the buy.

But before we jump completely into sweaters… There is an all day convention for English majors and everyone interested in careers dealing with publishing or academia coming up in just a few short weeks. It takes place after my first week of classes, and I am both nervous and excited for it! It will be my first time going to anything of this kind, and I have to say that I should have signed up for something like this much sooner. There will be talks about CVs and resumes (my two archenemies!), as well as plenty of time for questions and networking. While I should be figuring out what kind of things to bring with me (resumes? business cards? a small notepad and pen!), I have been focusing even more on what to wear, of course. Here is what I came up with in just a matter of an hour while playing around on Polyvore: I came up with two different options: one with a skirt and one with black jeans. It all depends on how formal I think I need to be. I wanted each look to have a business appropriate side, but also with something about it that makes me stand out.

For the first outfit, there are two pieces that would make me stand out. First and foremost, the fact that I would be wearing a skater skirt. I know that most people in a business-type event would go for a pencil skirt, but that simply wouldn't be me. This skirt is flirty, but also long enough not to be inappropriate, especially if worn with tights. Then there is the fact that the white button-up has studs on the collar. The buttoned-up-to-the-top look usually indicates that someone is stuffy (in fact, it reminds me of Lilith on Cheers), but the studs would both make me approachable as well as help me to stand out. A gold watch and black flats with gold accents would finish this look perfectly, especially if I opted to wear my hair in a ponytail or bun.

For the second outfit, I went more casual. The shirt is a bit more flowy, and although I would be wearing jeans, the fact that they are black would make them look more event-appropriate. For this look, it's important to have some kind of heel to give the leg length and to add a touch of formality. However, I also have to be realistic, and know that I won't be going to the city in tall pumps anytime soon (nor would they be appropriate!), so I chose am ankle boot with a short heel; that way, the leg is elongated without sacrificing comfort!

I chose basic black bags and a pale pink lip with both looks, because again, it's important to only have one thing that is going to draw the eye to you (me). For the second look, the stand out would be the color of the shirt. I also would love to have this business card holder (and business cards, obviously!) because I never know who I may meet.

Let me know what you think of my two looks, and make sure to check back in a couple weeks to see what I actually end up wearing! Who knows, maybe I'll go in a completely different direction!

well she was an american girl raised on promises..

Happy 4th of July, everyone! I know that everyone in the blogosphere is writing about their 4th of July activities, and we all know that I'm not one to be left out. Today has been a very low key day. I spent the day swimming around in my pool, covering myself with tanning oil and hanging around with the family. Tonight, I'll be heading to my uncle's house for s'mores and beer, but most likely heading back to my house to watch the actual fireworks since my pup is not too fond of them. Normally, I have much more exciting plans around the 4th, but since the 3rd of July fireworks were canceled this year, it meant that me and my friends weren't getting together to drink a little too much and find ourselves in the middle of a massive crowd! The low key holiday is always up my alley, but I hope everyone enjoyed today in their own way. One thing I love about the 4th is seeing how many people actually have clothes that have the American flag stars & stripes on it. I am constantly drooling over things that have this pattern, especially shoes and cut offs, but have yet to purchase any for my collection. I, for one, think it's awesome when people go all out and wear some of this print. But people often overdo it. For example, if you're wearing a top with the American flag on it, don't wear shorts that are completely covered in the same pattern. Instead, maybe go for a white pair of shorts or the ones up top that have the subtle American flag pockets. A lot of people are comfortable with such a bold print either, but instead go with something simple: a cover for their phone or American flag nails! I wish I were talented enough to do that for myself, but I have trouble keeping the nail polish on my nails, so it isn't something I could try. Heck, I even included a little shirt for your pup if yours can actually handle going out for the fireworks! Unlike the one currently sleeping in my bed, who I'll have to hold for hours while constantly telling her to hush. If you're like me and do not have any kind of bold print like the previous set, just wear the colors! You don't even have to wear all three, though I highly recommend it. I am currently wearing a white top, blue skirt and red sandals. I may even add a white flower crown! Normally, red and blue are colors that you can't wear together because people will say you look like the American flag (just like how red and green look like Christmas).. but that's the fun of it -- looking like the American flag is the POINT! I think it's at least necessary to wear some colorful sunglasses like the ones above. There's always some way to show your patriotism! And you don't even have to buy new clothes to do it. I know you at least have SOMETHING with red, white or blue in your closet!

I hope that everyone had a good day on the beach, having picnics, bbqs, and good food! Try not to burn yourself on sparklers, and let yourself eat that second hot dog. It's a holiday! Now I need to go make some s'mores (but I'll secretly be dreaming of this cheesecake that I found on The Feasting Foodie! I might even have to make it this week for post-4th festivities.. Who said patriotism had to stop after one day?!

first of all, you got home. second of all, you got friends.

When I get a hold of something I love, I become completely enthralled and obsessed with it. Shoes, clothes, make up, nail polish, a movie, tv show, song, celebrity… the list goes on. I will constantly stare at, wear, apply, listen, watch or whatever else this thing until I have absolutely worn it out and/or found something else bright and shiny to obsess over. The past two weeks or so, that thing of mine has been the 'Homefriends' mix that Ross One & Harley Viera-Newton created. I usually cannot stand listening to mixes that are an hour long and doesn't involve a little fist-pumping (aka I do not listen to these things outside of a club). But this mix is different. It isn't exploding with the newest Rihanna and Drake songs, but rather songs that will hit you with nostalgia. These are songs that you listen to and connect to a memory. Or hell, just think, "Wow, this song really fucking rocks." You will think that for the entire hour that this mix goes on, trust me.

I have done almost everything to this mix. Write, fall asleep, walk on the treadmill, fry my skin in the sun, do laundry, and pedal ferociously on my stationary bike. This mix even made me forget how badly the seat of said bite was riding my ass. That is how good it is. But I think 'Homefriends' is built for much more than I have exposed it to. It needs to be brought to the great outdoors, where it is enjoyed within a group (which obviously has to be your homefriends, also known as the friends from your home. See, it isn't so hard to understand). So my ideal location to blast this mix would be a picnic. I'm thinking somewhere super green and grassy rather than a beach, which in my mind is a park in London but since London is kinda far from New Jersey, I will settle with a park somewhere within fifteen minutes. I'm lazy, okay? But that is another reason why I love having this mix so much: no more making playlists! Even if you're at your little picnic for more than an hour, just make sure to get the people with you super buzzed on wine and/or beer and chances are they won't notice that you just keep playing the same mix over and over again. As per usual, I had to choose my ideal picnic outfit. It has been steaming hot in the sun lately, so minimal clothing would be a must. You might even want to exchange the bandeau for a bathing suit in case the tank is too much. Yes, that is how hot it is. Wear comfy sandals, cute cutoffs, a sweet pair of sunglasses and you're pretty much set. And don't forget the food. My idea of the ideal picnic would be an assortment of precut fruit (pineapple, apple, strawberries), finger sandwiches or a sub in slices (salami would be ideal, but I'd totally get down with PB & fluff), pudding cups for dessert, water bottles to keep from passing out, and beer/wine to ensure that your friends are drunk, forgetful about the music and freely dance when 'Lovefool' comes on. How could you go wrong?

summer lovin', happened so fast...

June is coming to a close which means that summer is already nearly one-third over! I know summer technically starts the third week of June, but for those of us that are in school, whether grammar school or graduate school, summer is marked from the moment we step out of those halls until the moment we have to gather our backpacks for a new year. If I was going by that logic though, my summer would actually be over July 9th when my first graduate class starts, but since it is only twice a week and during the late afternoon-early evening hours, I say it doesn't count! But summer is still rapidly passing us by, and I can't say I have done a whole lot that is on my summer to-do list. Sure, I have now accumulated a decent tan from laying by or in the pool so I no longer resemble the look of the undead, but there is so much more to be accomplished and so much more fun to be had. Have a sleepover with my girlfriends that involves lots of hair braiding, nail polishing, and maybe even a prank phone call or two. ☺ Read as many fun, romantic, or cheesy books as possible. ☺ Make an epic playlist that encases all of my summer favorites. ☺ Go to the beach for the entire day, morning to night. ☺ Get those popsicles with the gumball eyes from the ice cream man. ☺ Have a water balloon fight. ☺ Toast marshmallows in the fire pit with my family. ☺ Create the perfect summer salad. ☺ Go through all of my old and new copies of Nylon that I've never finished. ☺ Write more blog posts! ☺ Tie dye my white tank dress in fun pastels. ☺ Get in touch with old friends. ☺ Watch episodes of 'Laguna Beach' and laugh at how much I used to love it (and still do). ☺ Drink lemonade and frozen margaritas by the pool. ☺ Drive to the beach and watch the sunrise at the pier. ☺ Write more short stories / try my hand at poetry. ☺ Re-pierce my ears. ☺ Learn to make at least one decent dinner… and those chocolate chip cookies with the oreos inside them. ☺ See both Magic Mike & Ted & laugh my head off. ☺ Go to six flags and ride everything. ☺ Make the effort to exercise more often. ☺ Go to the city and have a fancy brunch. ☺ Dance, dance, and dance some more. ☺ Take more photos!

things i love this week: first edition!

This week was incredibly dreary.. well, this month really, and so it's been really easy to get caught up in a funk and feel a bit down and out. To rid that negative feeling, I thought I would adapt the concept of posting little things that I enjoyed, loved, or found inspirational each week, which is a concept that I originally found via Gala Darling! If you don't already check out her blog, you absolutely should begin. She is all about radical self love & a lot of her articles have really opened my eyes over the years I've followed her! But now onto the things that I've loved this week..

The image above from the Wildfox sunglasses collection ◆ Having a Sunday family dinner with my best friends ◆ The Feasting Foodie ◆ Going on a online shoe-gazing spree! ◆ The trailer for Pitch Perfect ◆ Starting A Place of Yes by Bethenny Frankel.. I think it'll be an interesting journey! ◆ Matt Bomer's beautiful self ◆ Constantly tweeting Bret Easton Ellis as if we are best friends (no, he never tweets back) ◆ Discussing 'Girls' with my friends ◆ An upcoming weekend full of fun ◆ The rain finally coming to an end today ◆ Waking up from bad dreams and knowing they will never be real ◆ The faux fur throw on my living room couch (impossible not to take naps with it!) ◆ The smell of my mother's meatloaf ◆ Whatsapp ◆ Getting sucked back into Grey's Anatomy ◆ Deciding to start wearing my wedges again! ◆ My once too-tight jeans feeling a little bit big ◆ Constant snuggles from Peanut ◆ ...And new songs by Azealia Banks!

laters, baby.

As you know from my previous blog post on Less Than Zero, I'm a huge Bret Easton Ellis fan. When I read on his twitter account that he was showing legitimate interest in penning the film adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey, it is an understatement to say I was excited. Yes, I read the trilogy. I am always tempted to read things that become fads, and while I know that they are not incredible literature, I was sucked in just like everyone else! I have been getting beef about it from fellow Literature majors, but I have no shame in what I read in my free time (usually). Like everyone else in the blog-world, I have to share my casting choices for Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey. I'm sure many people have had the same ideas for these parts, as they fit them almost perfectly as shown in past roles. Felicity Jones has a very innocent, young look despite her actual age and she can play both awkward and sexy within the same character, which is more than necessary. I think by casting her in the part, they would be giving Ana more depth to her character, simply by not placing a 'teeny bopper' actress in the part (Nina Dobrev, for example). I think Matt Bomer is perfect partly for his look but also as he has displayed his knack for playing a businessman as well as being boyish. Christian needs both sides.

But this is a blog about fashion, so I'm not really here to discuss the plot or characters but rather.. to style Anastasia! It's difficult to style her because she has a million looks throughout the book, but I chose some that stuck out in my mind without having to fumble through the book looking for descriptions. So while these looks won't be perfect, they are close to what I picture them to use in the film. Also, this is my first set that I did not have a price limit on, as I am currently pretending to be as wealthy as Christian Grey, so don't be surprised if you click on something and it's more than $50-100! The first thing that stuck in my mind was the purple dress. It had to be something slinky, something that would cling to her body so it would show when she lost weight. This was also the hardest item to find, but I like the dress I chose. Next, I chose the long, silver dress. This is more of a casual gray, but I couldn't help myself. I felt it was lovely for her character. The next outfits were slightly blurry: I knew there was a blue blouse, lots of jeans, converse sneakers, knee high boots, black on black work attire and a gray skirt. I think if one was going for a true Anastasia look, one would wear tight jeans and a casual tee or blouse during the day then vamp it up at night. Of course, she transitioned into a well-dressed career woman throughout the books, but I hope to see a lot of the basic college girl style in the film before she completely does a 180.

So no matter what you have to say about the book, characters, or possibility of a film, you have to admit that this story is everywhere. And while the story might make you cringe, at least the main character has a style that anyone can emulate (even if you don't have thousands to spend on a single item of clothing)!

i want to go out tonight!

One of the best parts of summer is going out on the town with your friends. Now, of course, you do this year round but there is something about memorial day and what comes after that makes things more fun. Maybe this is a Jersey Shore thing, and I don't mean in a Snooki way, but because the bars that we go to are so close to the ocean, the summer gives us more of an excuse to go all out. My friends and I frequent this sports bar, which means wearing shorts/jeans and a tank top all summer. Don't get me wrong, we love this bar and the bartenders and the people, but every once in a while it's fun to get a little more dressed up and play with fashion. When this bar shut down for a month (and my birthday month too!), we were extremely disappointed but at least we recently discovered some place that is a completely different atmosphere. Rather than sit/stand around talking to each other, we dance all night and I end up with sore legs the next morning. Going out that turns into exercise? That is the only kind of work out I'm interested in.

But like I said, this meant a fashion change. The first time we went, I wore jeans and a tank and felt a bit out of place. Girls were wearing tight skirts and dresses and heels! Before we went back, I knew I was going to have to go shopping, and I knew exactly what I wanted. I felt like it was necessary to be a little bit dressier/sexier than usual, but in no way did I want to look… well, less than classy or too fancy. And there is definitely a fine line between the two. To be on the safe side, I decided that I would need some bandage skirts. They are everywhere right now, and I finally see why! They are awesome. (To fellow curvy/bigger girls: they are like wearing spanx as your outfit. Trust me. Invest.) Above are some favorites that I found on polyvore. As of now, I have one that is similar to the black above and one that is a light, slightly-neon blue color. But I want more! That is how great these skirts are. But I think there are some rules for them. For one: you don't want it to be too short. It will absolutely ride up if you are dancing all night and you don't want to be the girl on the dance floor with her lacy bits showing. Also, I think it's important to have one basic black/staple skirt and then get some fun ones! And don't worry about the skirt being too dressy, like the yellow one above, because you can always dress it down with the top and shoes you choose. I think it's important to choose the skirt before you choose the top so that you know which direction you are going in. If I'm going to this specific bar, I don't want to be too dressed up so if I pick a fancier skirt, I'll go with a more casual top like the one with the tie or the smiley face. But if you are going somewhere a little bit more upscale where you need to really dress to impress, don't be afraid to choose a top similar to the black one above. The important thing is to mix and match, have fun and experiment! You don't want to be the girl at the bar that wears the same thing week to week (which is a rule I'm sort of breaking since I'm wearing the same skirt two weeks in a row, but my excuse is I'm desperate for a shopping trip for tops and some of these might be on my list!). You can really push limits with your top if you're feeling adventurous too. Don't be afraid to go a bit sheer or with a crop top (as long as only a sliver of skin is showing and NOT your navel!).

Of course, shoes are another key part of deciding what to wear. Here is my advice: unless you are going somewhere with a dress code that says you need to wear heels.. DON'T DO IT. Wedges are key if you are going out and want to be able to be on your feet with no issues. Or do what I do when I have to wear heels and keep one of those fold up pair of ballet flats in your clutch! But for me, and maybe again this is because I live on the Jersey Shore, I opt for sandals or flats every time. I just know that my feet will thank me the next day!

So those are some of my basic fashion tips for going out on the town with your girlfriends. Remember: don't be afraid to mix and match with your clothes but never with your alcohol!

missing: one fashion blogger.

Missing in action is an understatement! I have completely and whole-heartedly neglected this blog, and I have to tell you, it has been terrible! I graduated from college in mid-May and thought that I would give myself a break from all things internet (save for downloading my favorite shows and applying for endless jobs and internships, of course!) which meant that my laptop has been taken much less abuse in the past few weeks. However, this also means that I have been writing less and feeling less creative. Blasphemy! While I have read a few books since my summer has begun, I have to admit that I need a little bit more stimulation. I even miss writing ridiculously long academic papers! I suppose it's a good thing I'm diving head first into graduate school in July… I wish I could say that I have been up to many different adventures, traveling across the globe and meeting fabulous new people and new experiences. Truthfully, I've been spending many of my days laying outside on my patio or inside with a book and spending the evenings with my same three best friends going to the same bars and dancing my feet off! It may sound boring to some, and yes, sometimes I get bored in the confines of my house, but I love it. But since I am starting this blog up again and hoping to keep it going for a long time, I think that is the perfect incentive to get out there and DO SOMETHING! I am currently getting over an awful case of strep throat (in June? Seriously? Only me!) which has kept me particularly lame in outings but I'm hoping to stop that soon… especially with my birthday coming up in a couple weeks. Atlantic City, anyone?

So while this is not a wonderful apology, and I am lacking wonderful excuses that could reflect the awesome new gig I got interning at a fashion magazine in the city (yes I'm still unemployed and despising it -- hire me, hire me!), I hope you will take it all as a promise for more. More words, more inspiration, and hopefully more excitement!

my name is ferdinand, i have told you enough!

For those of you who know me, you may already know that I have an affinity for French films. I absolutely love to watch them, even though I don't understand a word and have to spend a good portion of the time reading the subtitles. My favorite French film is 'Perriot Le Fou' starring Anna Karina. It is one of the few foreign films that I can almost watch completely without looking at the subtitles because I have seen it so much. Ever since I watched it the first time, I've been entranced by Anna Karina. Her big eyes (nearly always lined with the most fantastic eyeliner), her bangs, the delicate way in which she speaks and sings. If there is anyone that I could be, I think that it would be her. So I decided to point out a few things that represent her classic style.. Anna Karina, to me, always gives off this soft look even if her eyelids are often covered in dark eyeliner. As you can see in the above photographs, she often wore very delicate, girly dresses. Lace, ruffles, bows -- her dresses had them all. I have been searching for graduation dresses (which I may make another post on next month), and these are the type of dresses I have been looking at the most. They are both modern and classic, I especially love white dresses with collars and high necklines, and Anna Karina embodied all of those current trends back in her day. Another outfit that Anna Karina seemed to have used repeatedly was the combination of a cardigan and a knee length skirt. I feel like this could be my inspiration for moving into career-appropriate attire, as I have yet to truly purchase clothing that falls into that category. The buttoned up cardigan can be reserved or sexy depending on the neckline, and depending on the tightness of the skirt? Well, you catch my drift. This look can be demure or naughty-librarian depending on how you wear it and your attitude, which is something I think I'll love to play with in the future. In the past few seasons, all we have heard thrown at us is POPS OF COLOR! Whether a sock, shoe, clutch or pant, I think we have all embraced this trend full force. If I were channeling Anna Karina for the day, my pop of color would definitely have to be something red. A bold red tight or dress, or maybe a more tame red sweater or stripe pattern. Ms. Karina adored big, boyfriend-type sweaters as can be seen in many of her photographs and films, but she also adored skinny jeans (often cropped), so I think she would love the more modern red denim that we have seen so much this spring. I could see myself wearing any of these items, but for those out there that are afraid to wearing something so eye-catching, I would suggest to simply go with a red nail! It's a statement without screaming "look at me!" Last but not least, accessories are key when channeling the incredible actress. It was rare that she was seen without any accessories at all. In fact, I think her most popular was for her to be wearing something on her head or in her hair. She often wore the basic black beret, but also toyed with more colorful fedoras and flower crowns -- all of which fit perfectly into anyone's spring style. Round glasses are something that have often been associated with her as well, and I actually just purchased my own pair from The Caravan, but the site has even more options that even have her namesake. Click here to check out the different styles! Along with these accessories, she seemed to be a very literary type and like most stars back then, a smoker. But don't worry, the cigarettes I included in the image above are candy!

what i wish i was doing this weekend.

(photo by tiger-photography on flickr)

All of my favorite blogs are filled to the brim with posts about Coachella. My Twitter feed, Instagram list & Tumblr dash are all full of the same thing. I, unfortunately,will not be attending the festival and never have, but I really hope to next year or at least sometime in my life. I have attended festivals before; in fact, I was an avid Bamboozle fan for years, but this year is my first not going to that one either. (I feel like I should have a broke girl problems hashtag somewhere around here.) But one day, I truly want to attend an amazing weekend festival that involves traveling, sleeping in a tent, sweating my butt off and such incredible music that changes my life. Is that too cliché? Either way, someday I will be one of those annoying people that are posting what they are packing for either Coachella or Bonnaroo. In fact, I have gone as far as to think of different outfits that I would wear when my time does comes along…
Clearly, there would not be enough room to pack all of these outfit changes, but since there are six days of Coachella total this year, I thought six different choices were appropriate. I think that both sides of my fashion personality shine through these choices. Part of me always wants to be a bit classy or buttoned up, while the other half of me wants to channel my inner "free spirit" (note: this side of me is why I am desperately willing my hair to grow back to where it was). A lot of people wear dresses to festivals, but I opted to go with tops and shorts for all of my choices because I just see it as more practical. Who the hell wants their sweaty thighs rubbing together all day anyway? Give me a cute bathing suit, tank and cutoffs and you have my perfect look. There's more variety in the shoes I gave, but let me tell you one thing: no matter what shoes you wear, you will be uncomfortable, so pack those bandaids and don't be afraid to go barefoot here and there to give your feet a break. A lot of bloggers opt for ankle boots, most girls go for flat sandals, but I think the best bet for longterm comfort is a good pair of Toms or canvas sneakers. Two more tidbits I've learned from trekking around Bamboozle and London for hours on end: do not wear a cross-body bag, it'll kill your shoulder no matter how light the bag is and don't bother bringing your Karen Walker sunglasses, bring your cheapest pair instead because at some point, you will lose them.Last year, my favorite look at Coachella came from Kate Bosworth. So I'll be watching her the closest this year, along with the large skew of models that are attending. While I may not be at the festival myself, I will be refreshing for photos like crazy in between watching some of my favorite bands on the live feed, so don't be surprised when I act as if I was there all along.

disappear here.

I try and read one book a week, and this week that book is Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis. This is actually the third time I've read the book, as Bret Easton Ellis is my favorite author. I started to read it again because I have been contemplating what to do my thesis on in Graduate school (I just applied!) and knew that I would have to do something with Ellis and possibly even this novel. Even though the story is pretty tragic, I have always found myself wishing that I lived in California in the 80s without a care in the world like the characters in the book and movie. I think Blair is such a great female character, and I love that Jami Gertz played her in the film adaptation.. She had such excellent style and personality… and the fact that Ellis was a bit obsessed with her in real life makes the casting so much better!If I were recasting the movie to reflect today's actors and actresses, I know that I would start with Amber Heard. While Gertz was fabulous with her dark curls, I think Blair is meant to be more of a beach blonde. This pick is biased, of course, because Amber starred in The Informers, another film based upon one of Ellis' novels and now I cannot get her out of my head when thinking of any of his books. She has the ability to be vulnerable and high strung, which is exactly what the character of Blair needs. The guys were definitely more difficult, so I just chose two actors that are semi-popular at the moment (at least, in my opinion). Liam Hemsworth would be a great Clay because I think that he would be able to step back and let the other characters have the light when it was their turn. He also has that look about him that makes both men and women swoon, which is necessary. The part of Julian was easier to pinpoint. At first, I wanted to go with Aaron Paul, but I think he's just a bit too old for the part (then again, so was RDJ). But Sebastian Stan has the ability to be dark-yet-likeable and could make Julian the hero of the flick just like RDJ did once upon a time.…And now for the part you must have seen coming. I have not seen Less Than Zero in a while, so I don't remember all of Blair's outfits, but I do remember them involving lots of blazers, shoulder pads, as well as a couple more casual outfits. So I threw together one outfit suited for a party and another more suited for lounging with Clay. All of the items are under $50 and I might have to have some of them! How fabulous is that dress? And that Barbie band tee? Definitely a must have for summer! Click the photo for all the details.

windy days and mondays always get me down...

(photo from tumblr)
Have you ever had such an awful night's sleep that when you woke up, you just didn't feel like getting dressed? I think I can hear a resounding "YES" from every single person on the planet. This morning was one of those days, and I fully blame the tornado-like winds that took over last night. Somehow they managed to blow papers around my room, as well as cause my blinds to move, despite the fact that my windows were closed! How does this happen? I'm not sure, but I do know that it has always been about 10 degrees colder in my room than the rest of the upstairs, so I think that there is a leak in my windows…

But back to what is important -- getting dressed! I felt lousy this morning and leaving my blanket was not ideal, so I did not feel very inspired while searching through my closet. In fact, I changed twice before settling on what to wear. It was definitely a day for sweats and a t-shirt, but since I'm not the type to wear sweats to school (all the power to the ladies that do though; I envy you!) so I went for my own version of sweats. My favorite skinny jeans - the 'diva' by Old Navy (no really, I wear them so much that I desperately need a new pair), a cropped cashmere sweater - the 'queen' by Stylemint, a tank from H&M, and my usual black flats. (Maybe keeping this blog will force me to shake things up and not wear the same staples everyday!) I also usually wear one of my two watches everyday to school, and today I chose my Michael Kors rose gold watch.



old navy cropped sweater, splendid slouchy sweater, mango skinny jean, h&m white tank, american vintage tank, michael kors watch, tillys crotchet backpack, chinese laundry flats
I threw together some options to recreate my "sweats" for those of you who are also on a budget. Normally, I wouldn't have spent $90 on a sweater, but it was a gift. I included the Michael Kors watch only because it is something worth splurging on because it is something you will use for years! I definitely think rose gold has become a classic look, but if you are a little more traditional, get it in gold or silver! You won't be disappointed. I chose a backpack because I brought my ASOS floral backpack to school today (as per usual) and I think a great backpack is a must have for students, especially when you don't want to bother coordinating a bag on top of carrying your laptop or notebooks. And finally, rather than my black flats, I included the same pair in a rose color to better fit the scheme. I may even have to purchase them since I wear their counterpart so often!

what i wore & what i wish i wore: easter edition.

bar III dress, alloy cropped cardigan, avenue shorts & chinese laundry flats (not pictured).
I absolutely had to have this dress when I tried it on at Macy's about two months ago. I'm very curvy, but I have a small waist, so I love anything that accentuates that feature of mine! Unfortunately, I don't have a tripod so I don't have any non-photobooth photos of myself in it, but I swear it looked better than the photos! The only thing with this dress is that it is pretty short, and I had planned on wearing tights but -- shock -- I don't have any! I couldn't believe it! I found these shorts in the back of my drawer.. I'm guessing they are supposed to be similar to bicycle shorts or spanx but they are way too big on me for that (which always makes me feel good, haha!) but I figured they looked decent enough for an Easter dinner at my house. If I was going somewhere fancier, I definitely would have worn tights! I also planned on wearing a pair of heels, but my legs are sore from working out the past few days so I took them off after about five minutes and switched for my go-to flats of the moment!


skirt by anomalous, shirt by topshop, shoes steve madden
Normally, my family goes out for brunch rather than stay in like we did this year. I love brunch because I can wear a mix of classy and casual -- I never have to be too dressed up, but I usually over do it by wearing heels that are probably too high for a holy holiday (oops!). When I spotted this skirt on Polyvore, I knew that this would have been the ultimate skirt for today. I'm obsessed with the high/low trend going on right now! I also really love shirts with any kind of ties or bows or collars, so the shirt from Topshop is another on my most wanted list. I try to keep everything I look for on Polyvore under $100 to be realistic for my price range, but I felt that these accessories would be classy without screaming THIS WAS CHEAP! I especially love the clutch and the hints of lace! I wish I could find out who made it.

it girl: gillian zinser.

(photos from tumblr & tfs)

From the second that she stepped onto the screen on 90210, Gillian Zinser has been on my fashion radar. She instantly became my favorite character as Ivy, and I always admired how different she was from the rest of the characters. Her style both onscreen and off is cool, relaxed, and looks like she just stepped off the beach. She's the perfect style icon for the rising temperatures and the best inspiration to get my butt to the gym so I can get myself a pair of high-waisted cutoffs to wear hidden under an over-sized tee!

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