Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Juxtaposition

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Hello! This is an outfit from the Monday before last. Exams really threw off my blogging schedule last week! I had just enough time to fit in a quick photo shoot during a study break but not enough time to write up a post so I bring this look to you today.
 
My look relied heavily on juxtaposition. Basically, juxtaposition is placing (or in this case, styling) two items (in this case, styles) next to each other in order to create interest through contrast. For this look, I combined sweet and edgy elements. I played up the sweet vibe with a vintage, fairytale-esque dress and cutesy lace socks. The sweetness/innocence of the look was contrasted with edgier elements such as my faux leather jacket, faux leather jacket and studded belt.
 
I finished the look up with swoon-worthy leopard print boots and classic sunglasses. I rarely leave my house without a pair of my Giant Vintage sunglasses!
 
Dress: Vintage
Faux leather jacket: Marshall's (similar)
Lace socks: JCP
Leopard print boots: Target
Faux leather backpack: Urban Outfitters
Studded belt: Aeropostale
Classic sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage 

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Layering Ideas

Layering Option 1

 
Layering Option #1: Skater style dress+ denim button down+ knit sweater+ leopard print coat+ sweater tights+ lacy socks+ Chelsea-style booties. Lots and lots of layering preside in this option! Want to wear a sleeveless dress in the winter but cold weather prevents you from wearing it? Don't let the weather stop you anymore! Layer a denim button down, knit sweater and leopard print coat over it and a pair of lacy socks and sweater tights under it. Chelsea style boots and a statement necklace only add more "chic" to the look.
 
Layering Option 2

 
Black skinny jeans+ patterned tank+ denim jacket+ white cape coat+ lace up booties+ fringe bag. Boho babes, this option is for you! Transition a patterned/tribal tank into winter apparel by layering it with a denim jacket and coat. A fringe bag adds an extra dose of bohemian to the your look.  
 
 
Layering Option 3

 
Olive colored jumpsuit+ quirky sweater+ leather jacket+ spiked coat+ spiked heeled boots. This option is for my edgier readers out there. I love jumpsuits and am currently lusting over an olive-colored one from Urban Outfitters. They are so easy to layer. Throw on a sweater and leather jacket over a jumpsuit and you have an instantly stylish look. Amp up the edginess of the look with spiked accessories.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Snowy Day

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Hello! For me a snow day equals lots and lots of layering. How else would I keep from freezing? I started my look off with this maroon/berry-colored lace dress. Next, I layered on a DIY Minnie Mouse sweater and piled a knit wool sweater along with a black winter coat on top of it. There's nothing like a good wool sweater to keep you warm! As for keeping my legs and feet warm, this outfit only achieves mild success. I styled my Jeffrey Campbells with two pairs of sweater socks but my toes definitely still felt the chill of the snow. A maroon hat and white heart sunglasses completed the look.

Is anyone else experiencing snow right now?

Lace dress: c/o Lulu's
Socks: Betsey Johnson (similar)
Platform heels: Jeffrey Campbell (similar)
Minnie mouse sweater: DIY
Wool sweater: Vintage
Coat: Sears (similar)
Maroon hat: Vintage
Heart sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage Sunglasses

Thursday, January 24, 2013

At the Drop of a Hat

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Hello! It has been quite frigid here in Richmond. Flurries even descended from the clouds last night and left a sprinkling of snow across my lawn (which has basically all melted at this point). However, school was not cancelled. For once I was glad that school was not cancelled. Today was my last day of exams and I am extremely pleased to be done with them! Now here's to crossing my fingers that I scored well on them.

Despite the chilly weather, I decided to slip into a dress today. There are about a million and one reasons why I love this dress including the lovely color, quirky horse print and versatility. I decided to play up the pattern in this dress by styling it with a patterned blazer. The key to mixing prints is making sure that both prints have at least one color in common. For example, both this jacket and dress have maroon in them.

To keep from freezing, I layered a black cardigan underneath my 100% wool blazer and covered my legs up with opaque tights from Urban Outfitters. In my opinion, this blazer has a bit of a menswear inspired look to it and I decided to spotlight that by sliding my feet into a pair of classic, androgynous (well androgynous minus the heel at least) oxfords and grabbing a pair of unisex Ray Ban glasses.

My feminine, early to mid 1900's hat and berry lips kept menswear from dominating the look.

Houndstooth blazer: Vintage
Horse print dress: Marshall's
Tights: Urban Outfitters (similar)
Glasses: Ray Ban c/o Eyes on Style
Lipstick: Wet 'N Wild
Oxfords: Vintage (similar)
Hat: Vintage

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

1920's Inspiration

1920's


Clara Bow


The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby by toriraddayyahoocom featuring kate spade

Hello! If you know me, you know that I LOVE the 1920's. Everything was just so glamorous! Flapper style dresses, adorable headpieces and long layers of pearls? Count me in! Above I have shared some of my favorite 1920's inspiration. Anyone else anxiously awaiting the new Great Gatsby movie?

Sunday, January 20, 2013

American

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Hello! Today, I chose to don a patriotic look perfect for sunny skies. I started my outfit with this high-low star print dress and layered a vintage denim jacket over top of it. I found this jacket at a thrift shop yesterday for just $5; score! I accessorized the jacket with a few pins including a CITGO pin, American flag pin, safety pin and Pluto pin. It was quite windy outside today so I slipped into a black body-con skirt under my dress in order to avoid any Marilyn Monroe moments. Black combat boots and knee high socks were also worn. Gold rimmed sunglasses and red lips added the finishing touch to this full-fledged American look. 

Dress: ShopCalico
Denim jacket: Vintage/ thrifted (similar)
Socks: Betsey Johnson (similar)
Pins (CITGO, American flag & Pluto): Vintage
Sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage sunglasses
Lipgloss: Mary Kay
Boots: Target

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Bonjour

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Bonjour! Snow one day and tee-shirt weather the next perfectly describes Richmond's bipolar weather

For today's relatively warm weather, I chose to wear a graphic tee which is a rare occurrence for me. However, when I saw this one resting on a lonely hanger at Forever 21, I knew it had to be mine. Decorated with the phrase "Bonjour, je m'appelle ______." this is the perfect quirky tee. For those of you who don't speak French (like myself), the saying translates to "Hello, my name is _______." While shopping, my friend, Brittany, had to translate the phrase for me. Thanks, girl! When I tried it on, it fit perfectly and I immediately dished out the $2.50 for it. You can't lose with the Forever 21 sales rack!

I kept my look simple today by pairing the tee with a pair of black BDG denim. Of course, I needed a dash of leopard print which is where these urban boots come into play. I also styled a faux Chanel bag with this look. For some reason, I just love this bag. Perhaps my love stems from the humor the bag can bring to a look or because it is such an out of the box idea

Today wasn't my best hair day, so I threw on this vintage hat as a temporary solution. Basically, if I am having a bad hair day, I instantly look to my collection of hats for help. Being that my hair is so short, there isn't much else I can do; if I want to put my hair up, at least 5 bobby pins are required. This vintage hat not only covered up my bad hair day but also added the perfect touch of vintage to my look.

Finally, I grabbed a pair of red heart sunglasses for a bit of a "wow" factor. Hope that you all are enjoying your weekend!

Black denim: BDG (similar)
French tee: Forever 21
Leopard print boots: Target
Hat: Vintage (similar)
Faux Chanel: DIY
Heart sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage

Friday, January 18, 2013

Romping about in the Snow

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Hello! The rainfall here in Richmond finally stopped yesterday evening. Instead, snow flakes began to spiral down throughout the night due to the winter storm "Iago". Luckily for me, Henrico County public schools cancelled school today.

On this lovely snow day, I decided to don my olive green romper. I know wearing a romper in the midst of winter seems a little silly but is totally do-able when layered correctly. I layered a pair of black opaque tights under my romper and slipped into a pair of combat boots(a stylish alternative to UGGs) to keep my feet from freezing. I layered a huge, leopard print faux fur coat on top of my romper. This coat is a life-saver for keeping me nice and cozy. You know, not to mention that I pretty much adore anything leopard print....

To keep my head toasty, I grabbed this vintage beret. Oh la la! So French. Sometimes, I love to imagine and ponder about the others that have worn vintage/thrifted pieces that I now wear, like this hat. This could have been someone's favorite hat or the hat that they wore to a glamorous banquet dinner. The possibilities are endless.

I also accessorized with black heart sunglasses (a classic in my book!) and a Kay Adams necklace. I won this necklace in a giveaway a while back and it is such a vintage-y, quirky piece. It has five pendants on it; each being a piece of an old watch. Talk about cool! If you want one for yourself, you can find one HERE.

Did you guys get any snow from the winter storm "Iago"?

Black tights: Urban Outfitters (similar)
Leopard print coat: Flying Tomato
Combat boots: Target
Beret: Vintage (similar)
Heart sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage
Necklace: Kay Adams/ Anthill Antiques
Olive romper: Forever 21

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Wet Seal x Wanelo Contest

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Hello! I don't have an outfit post for you today; it's been raining cats and dogs here in Richmond! Instead, I would like to share an opportunity to win a Wet Seal gift card with you. Wet Seal teamed up with Wanelo for a contest for all the fashion and Wet Seal lovers out there. Five winners will be picked to each receive a $100 Wet Seal gift card. You can enter the contest in just five simple steps:

1. Create a Wanelo account.
2. Follow Wet Seal on Wanelo.
3. Pick out your favorite Wet Seal items.
4. Paste the URL's or your faves into your Wet Seal Style collection and hash-tag #wetseal on them.
5. Mail your collection to wanelo@wetseal.com

Everyone who enters will receive 20% off their next Wet Seal purchase. You can check out the complete details for the contest HERE. However, if you want to enter, get creating your collection ASAP. The contest ends Friday! Good luck to those who choose to enter.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Retro Inspired

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Hello! I hoped that you guys enjoyed your weekend. It was a warm weekend for those in RVA and I definitely enjoyed it although I spent a majority of my weekend indoors.

I wanted to share this outfit with you guys today. I actually wore this outfit a week or so ago but never got around to blogging about it. My outfit revolved around this gray crop top. In order to not show too much stomach, I paired it with a pair of high-rise BDG denim. I decided to go retro for this look with these white sunglasses and old-school converse. I kept my hair back with a DIY leopard print headband. The look was finished with a swipe of classic, red lipstick. To keep the retro vibe going, I posed with my vintage Polaroid camera.

High rise jeans: BDG via Urban Outfitters (similar)
Crop top: Forever 21
Sneakers: Converse (similar)
Leopard print headband: DIY (similar in style but different in pattern)
Sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage
Lipstick: Wet 'N Wild
Camera: Vintage Polaroid

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Teen Vogue Look of the Day

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Hello! I have some exciting news to share with you guys- I was featured as Teen Vogue's Look of the Day on their website! I saw the feature this morning and seeing it sure was a great way to start off my day. I don't know if you guys remember this look but this was from my "3 Ways to Style a Patterned Dress" post. It feels like I have been trying for ages to make it as Teen Vogue's Look of the Day and now it has finally happened. It's kind of like a dream come true. Thanks, Teen Vogue! You can find the feature HERE.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Musician Spotlight: Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey



Hello! Today, I thought I would share a collage of photos of my favorite musician, Lana Del Rey. Lana Del Rey has such a unique voice. Some of my favorite songs by her are "Carmen", "Off to the Races", "Cola" and "Gods and Monsters." However, many of her songs are marked as "explicit" so if you are young, you may not want to listen to them.

Besides, loving Lana Del Rey's music, I adore her sense of style not to mention her hair. Lana Del Rey has spotted various times wearing flower crowns and heart sunglasses. Gotta love her for that! Lana Del Rey has been featured on the covers of several magazines including VOGUE Australia and was recently spotlighted in an H&M campaign.

Have you guys heard of Lana Del Rey before?

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Bella and I

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Hello! Today, I posed for a few photos with my little yorkie, Bella. I even dressed her in an outfit that coordinated with mine. She is such a stylish dog!

I planned my outfit around this Mac+ Jac dress which I received as a gift for Christmas. The dress is a great shade of blue-green topped by a layer of sheer, black tulle. How fancy! I dressed it down with a faux leather jacket and combat boots. Unique tights added a dose of "me" to the look. Classic sunglasses and a glamorous rhinestone collar completed the look.

Dress: Mac+ Jac
Combat boots: Target
Tights: Urban Outfitters
Rhinestone collar: Christmas gift (similar)
Sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage Sunglasses

Monday, January 7, 2013

Minnie Mouse Sweater

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Hello! I wore denim for the second day in a row. What can I say? I just love BDG denim! I also received this pair as a gift for Christmas. The high rise style and classic color drew me to these jeans. For a simple day spent back at school, I paired them with this DIY Minnie mouse sweater. So cute! To boost me up a few inches and to elongate my legs, I slipped into this pair of Jeffrey Campbell's. I accessorized with black heart sunglasses, dark lipstick and a pink flower crown.

Heels: Jeffrey Campbell (similar)
Black jeans: BDG (similar)
Minnie Mouse sweater: DIY
Flower crown: DIY
Heart sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage Sunglasses
Lipstick: Wet 'N Wild (similar)

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Faux Chanel

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Hello! Today is my last day of freedom before heading back to school. Winter break has been a lot of fun and I have been able to get a lot done. My break was filled with scholarship applications, shifts at Justice and lots and lots of blogging. Over winter break, I even managed to get featured on Glamour Magazine's website! How crazy is that? You can read the full article HERE.

Anyway, today I chose to don a slightly edgy but quirky look. I started my look off with this pair of BDG denim that I received for Christmas. BDG denim is definitely my favorite denim. One reason why I like them so much is because there is no design on the back pocket. Call me weird but I don't like designs on the back pockets of jeans; there is something about them that I just find unappealing. This pair of jeans has a very eclectic, reptile skin print on it. How quirky!

I paired the jeans with this versatile, denim button down. I threw on a faux leather jacket on top of the button down for extra warmth and an extra oomph of edge. Before I left my house, I grabbed this faux Chanel DIY paper bag. I just cannot get over how much I adore this bag. It's humorous and versatile at the same time- what's not to love? Combat boots, berry colored lipstick, white heart sunglasses and vintage earrings completed the look.

And you cannot tell from the photos but I painted my nails this morning with the coolest design. All of my fingernails are painted with Revlon's "black lingerie" nail polish but on the thumb of each hand, I painted a white, interlocking "CC" which represents Chanel (just like my bag).

Besides being featured on Glamour Magazine's website over winter break, I was spotlighted on Fashion Treatment (HERE). I also guest blogged about myself on Hanna Marie Lei. If you want to get to know me better, hop on over to the article HERE.

I hope that you all enjoyed you winter break and the start of 2013!

Faux leather jacket: Marshall's (similar)
Denim button down: Thrifted (similar)
Reptile skin print jeans: BDG (similar)
Combat boots: Target
Faux Chanel paper bag: DIY
White heart sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage Sunglasses
Earrings: Vintage
Lipstick: Wet 'N Wild

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Model Spotlight: Allison Harvard

Allison Harvard

Allison Harvard by toriraddayyahoocom on Polyvore

Hello! This post would fall under the "& More" section of my blog; it is a spotlight on Allison Harvard. Allison Harvard is a successful model who was a contestant on America's Next Top Model. She participated in two cycles of the show but unfortunately, she never won. Nowadays, she is still modeling but is more focused on her art and photography. Her paintings are great but what really draws me in is her photography which can be seen HERE. Her photographs are just so ethereal and vintage looking!

Even though, she is quite focused on her art/ photography, she is beautiful as a model. Harvard has a unique, quirky look that causes viewers to look twice at photographs taken of her. Her large, wide eyes are breath-taking and give her a sweet, innocent doe-eyed appearance. Beauty can also be found in her luscious hair and  big lips which she tends to open while being photographed. 

What do you guys think of Allison Harvard?

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

DIY Leopard Print Pocket Blouse

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Hey! Today, I have a DIY that you guys can try out: a DIY leopard print pocket blouse. Since I am currently not in school (because of winter break), I have had a lot more time on my hands. Subsequently, I have had time to go through my wardrobe and pick out several items to update/ recreate. One item that I picked out was a boring, white button down. I decided to cut the sleeves off and add a dose of leopard print. The result can be seen in the photo above. Below, I have listed the information and steps for this DIY.

Level of difficulty: Easy to medium difficulty. You must be able to use a sewing machine.

Supplies: Blouse, leopard print fabric (or any other patterned fabric), sewing machine, pins and scissors.

Cost: Minimal cost. This DIY cost me nothing because I used supplies that I already had. I took an outdated long sleeve blouse from my closet and leopard print fabric from a skirt that didn't fit me. I already had a sewing machine, pins and scissors.

Time: This DIY should take between 15 minutes to 45 minutes depending on your sewing skills and if your blouse was already sleeveless or had sleeves that you wanted to cut off. 

Steps:
1. Gather supplies.
2. (Optional) Cut off sleeves from blouse. Hem edges for a more finished appearance.
3. Cut out a small square of your patterned fabric.
4. Pin the fabric down to the blouse. Make sure it's even! Also when pinning, be sure to pin the rough edges under. 
5. Turn on and thread your sewing machine.
6. Sew the pocket down. Be sure to not sew the top of the pocket!
7. Voila! You now have a cool blouse with a personalized touch.

What do you think? Will you be trying this out?

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

2013

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2013. A year that will be filled with goals, hopes, accomplishments and dreams. It is also the year in which I will graduate from high school, attend my first semester of college and turn 18.  2013 is a chance for a fresh start. Cheers to the new  year!

Romper: Forever 21
Knit Sweater: Forever 21
Faux leather jacket: Marshall's
Tights: Christmas gift
Combat boots: Target
Sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage Sunglasses
Backpack: Vintage GUESS