how UNiDAYS saved my life (okay, okay, really my bank account)!

Anyone that knows me or follows this blog has come to know that my shopping weakness has to be ASOS.com! I have a link to the site in my toolbar, which I click everyday to look at what is new to the site. Every weekday, I end up adding at least a handful of new things to my 'saved list,' which has proved to be excellent for my wardrobe.. but not great for my student bank account! Luckily, I came across the UNiDAYS site (click the image above to check it out!) which allows college students to get a 10% discount on ASOS EVERY! DAY! They also always have awesome deals and contests (not to mention, an awesome customer support and social networking team) that have me using the site.. well, almost constantly. Because of this site, I can have my cake and eat it too… or in this case, shop for some kick ass clothes and not break the bank! As mentioned, my 'Saved List' on ASOS is huge and constantly growing. Luckily, I've been able to break it down bit by bit by using the 10% discount with each purchase. I even got a chance to do a nice haul with a 20% limited time discount they were offering! But I still the above items on my list, and I thought I would share them with you because I think they're all perfect for summer.

1. A perfect mini skirt with writing -- this has to be one of my favorite trends this season, I need writing on EVERYTHING! 2) The perfect clutch to go from the beach to the nearest bar. 3) Subtle but still stunning cat eye sunglasses. 4) Who doesn't need a unicorn onesie for lazy Sundays or BFF sleepovers?! 5) Delicate, gold rings: everyone's addiction in the blogging world. 6) Ripped, bleached jeans like we're still living in the 90s. 7) Ear cuffs of all shapes and sizes (I actually already have these, I adore them)! 8) A chunky, collar necklace to make any outfit interesting. 9) A snapback for days when your hair just isn't cooperating (or you just want to look like a badass). 10) Strappy, white heels. I'm dying for a classic white open-toed heel this season! 11) A denim jumper. Need I really say more? 12) A floral skater skirt. They have this in the Curve line along with the standard sizes, because ASOS loves to make sure us curvy girls get our share of a fashion fix, too! 13) Rose gold and studs. Wear one or wear them all! 14) Bright. Yellow. Sandals. And I'm really loving that tiny heel. 15) This hoodie from Wildfox is so necessary (but so is everything else from their line)! 16) This raincoat has been in my saved list for MONTHS. Guess who is using their 10% to finally get it?! (Hint: me!) 17) A white bag with daisies, what could be the better bag for the hot hot heat? 18) A new spin on the flower crown. Spikes included!

As always, click the image to find links for all of these items. And yes, all of them are in stock but going fast! Check out ASOS as well as UNiDAYS to keep up with the best styles for every season. You know I will!

in the twilight of these white nights.

Like most others, my wardrobe is dominated by the color black. I have pants, cardigans, dresses, tops, bags, shoes.. the list goes on. White has also been a major player in my closet, but in more subtle ways -- undershirts, mostly. But I've been trying to be more bold with it. Now I have white, leather loafers with spikes (actual), a white peplum dress I wore for my graduation (similar), and a beautiful portfolio style clutch in the clean shade (similar). In the past few seasons, we've seen white become one of those colors that one must consider when wanting to try out the monochromatic look (see: Candice Swanepoel's look while filming extra earlier this month.) Forget leaving those whites behind after labor day, I think white has become a color that you can and must wear all year round. Monochromatic looks may seem easy while wearing black, but I have to say, you need to be careful when going in this direction. Your look can easily fall from chic to Morticia Addams (unless that's the look you're intentionally going for?) with a little too much of the dark color. So pick fun pieces. Don't wear a black turtle neck with black pants if you aren't going to play with the look -- add a belt with a strong gold buckle or a shoe that lengthens your leg and lets a little ankle show. Note: I apologize in advance for not having a polyvore link here, apparently the site ate my draft and no one wants to cry about it more than I do! Maybe if I can find some motivation, I can remake a similar one and link it in the future. Last but not least, my favorite thing to do with these two colors is a strong contrast. Olivia Lopez does it best on her blog, Lust for Life, and I am dying to go for a contrast this wild. Black and white striped ankle pants with a barely there shoe and a leather jacket? Don't forget the sharp, clean white bag. I think my ideal black and white contrast would be a skater skirt with a bold, floral print (white on black) with a fuzzy, and very 90s, black angora sweater and one of those transparent, box clutches that only encases cosmetics with black cases. Oh, to be able to snap any outfit into life! But this may be a nice alternative..

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.

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!

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?!

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!