Monday, June 29, 2015

Feminine Floral

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Hello! Can I just live in this dress for the rest of the summer? I've had this dress in my wardrobe for a while now but can't resist the feminine floral, bell sleeves, vibrant colors and easygoing trapeze shape of the dress. It is unbelievably comfortable and made from the perfect lightweight fabric to beat the summer heat. 

For this look, I played up the colors in the dress by slipping on a pair of olive flatforms and deep berry lipstick. I especially love the way that my lipstick accentuates the berry tones in the dress. To capture a somewhat free-spirited aesthetic, I accessorized with a couple golden necklaces, a turquoise ring and round sunglasses. 

Floral dress: c/o ShopLately
Olive flatforms: Ashby
Stone necklace: c/o ShopLately
Circular necklace: c/o Robert Matthew
Berry lipstick: Wet 'N Wild
Stone ring: Ashby
Sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage

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Saturday, June 27, 2015

Vibrant Fusion


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Hello! Oh Ashby, you've captured my heart again with this vibrant geometric dress. There's always an abundance of stylish dresses at Ashby but this one stood out among the others. I purchased it a couple weeks ago and am in love with everything about the dress. The vibrant colors, bold print and bell sleeves of this dress are absolutely irresistible. The fusion of multiple colors and prints in the dress is flawless. There is a distinct hippie vibe to this dress but it is a refreshingly different vibe than my other free-spirited dresses; it's a lot more "in your face" with the daring colors and eclectic print. 

To complement the colors of the dress, I slipped on a pair of olive-colored flatforms and a cobalt blue bag. I stacked on several free-spirited, crystal and stone necklaces with the dress although they are a bit hidden among the print of the dress. I threw my hair up in a messy, half bun to add a feeling of effortless spirit. Round, hippie sunglasses pulled the look together. 

Dress: Ashby
Flatforms: Ashby
Sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage
Cobalt blue bag: Vintage
Necklaces: Ashby

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Friday, June 26, 2015

Borrowed from the Boys [Scouts]


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Hello! Earlier this summer, I noticed that my dad left several pieces of his clothing hanging in my closet. We recently moved and I guess he hung them up in my closet while I was away at school. I moved most of his clothing out of my closet but when I spotted his old Boy Scout jacket, I decided to let the jacket linger in my closet for a bit longer. I was instantly drawn to the utilitarian style, olive color and patches on the jacket. And when I tried it on and it fit perfectly, I knew that I couldn't let this piece leave my closet quite yet. 

For this look, I decided to pull the jacket out of my wardrobe. I styled it with an acid-wash denim, babydoll dress. The contrast between the uniform style of the jacket and the edgier, 90s trend of the dress create an eye catching aesthetic. I wanted to follow a strict color palette of olive, blue and red in this look; the combination of these colors is pleasantly simple.  I accentuated the olive color of the jacket with olive flatforms and olive sunglasses. I grabbed a vintage, blue bag to go with the dress. Red lipstick added the final touch to my look; I love the feminine touch that it adds to the look as well as the way that it plays up the red in the patches of the jacket. 

Jacket: Vintage Boy Scouts
Acid wash dress: Forever 21
Flatforms: Ashby
Blue bag: Vintage
Sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage
Lipstick: Wet 'N Wild

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Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Under the Sea


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Hello! Dressing up in a fish print dress and stacking on aquatic gems is the closest that I'll get to being anywhere by the sea for a while. But it's still fun to pretend! I'll be going to Puerto Rico in late July/early August and can't wait to be lounging by the ocean, taking in the sea and the sun. For now, I'll have to settle with dressing up in marine inspired outfits. 

I styled this look around this beachy, fish-print dress. The faded turquoise color, easy silhouette and quirky print of this dress make it one of my summer go-to dresses. I wanted to accentuate the fish print of the dress with layers of aquatic-inspired Kay Adams necklaces for a day at my internship. I started the look with a vibrant statement necklace; various shades of blue, vintage pendants, fish elements and a bold octopus made this necklace the obvious choice to start layering with. From there, I slipped on a long, golden, layered chain necklace and clipped starfish, crab and seashell elements to the chains. Next, I grabbed a shorter, marine blue beaded necklace and a long, beaded necklace comprised of pearls, sparkling greens and eye-catching blues that I created this summer at my internship. I'm in love with the effortless, artistic, sea-inspired mood of this look. 

Now, if only this aquatic look could automatically transport me to the beach...

Fish print dress: Vintage
Heels: Vintage
Sunglasses: Zoo Shoo c/o ShopLately
Layered necklaces: Kay Adams Jewelry
Lipstick: Wet 'N Wild

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Monday, June 22, 2015

Summer Stripes

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Hello! Last week I made a trip to one of my favorite resale clothing shops in RVA, Ashby in Carytown; I was recently given an Ashby gift card at my internship and I couldn't wait to spend it. As I browsed through the racks of clothing and shelves of shoes, the stylish mix of merchandise reminded me why I love the shop so much; Ashby carries an incredible selection of brands I love for prices that college students like myself can afford. If you haven't been, you don't have to take my word for it; stop in to Ashby and see for yourself!

I purchased several dresses on my excursion to Ashby last week: a vintage watercolor floral dress, a vibrant printed dress and the striped dress that I'm wearing above. When I spotted this striped dress on the rack, I immediately fell in love. The textured fabric, flattering silhouette, low back and classic summer print all captured my heart. The dress is originally from Urban Outfitters and I scooped it up for only $18 at Ashby (similar dresses at Urban Outfitters retail for about $50-$60 so it was quite the bargain!)

The morning after my shopping trip as I was getting dressed, I immediately slipped into this striped dress; I couldn't wait to wear it. The sophistication of the dress paired with the almost nautical feeling created with the black & white stripes established the perfect canvas for a crisp, classic summer look. I styled the dress in a minimalist sort of way, abandoning the notion of slipping any jewelry on with the look and sticking to a fairly neutral color palette. A pair of nude Jeffrey Campbells, bold red sunglasses and a swipe of red lipstick were all that were needed to emphasize the beauty of this dress. And I can't wait to see how many other different ways I can style this versatile dress this summer (I can't stop dreaming of all of the different shoes that I can wear with it.)

Striped dress: Urban Outfitters via Ashby
Red sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage
Nude heels: Jeffrey Campbell
Lipstick: Wet 'N Wild

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Saturday, June 20, 2015

Free Spirit


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Hello! What says "summer" better than a cutesy sunflower print in the form of an open-back dress? I love the tiered detailing and breezy appeal of this dress. For this look, I styled it with a couple golden accessories, round sunglasses, berry lipstick and neutral wedges. I threw my hair up in a messy half-bun to emphasize the free-spirited, bohemian, effortless feeling of the outfit. 

Sunflower print dress: c/o ShopLately
Wedges: Steve Madden
Lipstick: Wet 'N Wild
Bracelet: Vintage
Crystal necklace: Ashby
Round necklace: c/o Robert Matthew
Sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage

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Thursday, June 18, 2015

Heart IFB: Links A La Mode June 11th


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Hello! I was lucky enough to be featured in Links A La Mode again for having one of the best blog posts of the week; check out all the other great posts below: 

Links à la Mode, June 11



SPONSOR: Shopbop, coupons, Plaid Dresses, suede flats, Kacey K, Jenny Kwon, Pascale Monvoisin, LeSportsac, Red Heels, Jelly Flats & Shoes 1. Heads up! We've changed our submission process. First, read LALM's submission rules here. Then submit your links on our Facebook page in the comments section of this post


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Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Sunflowers


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Hello! This photo is from earlier this week when it reached a fiery 97 degrees here in Richmond. This weather has me questioning whether I'll be able to survive this summer; the heat is slowly killing me already. Despite the heat, I'm doing my best I can to remain stylish. I'm relying on lots of lightweight fabric and breezy, short styles to keep me somewhat cool this summer. And I've said goodbye to always wearing a bra and makeup; it's just too hot for all of that.

For this look, I started with a white circle skirt; the lightweight textured fabric, white summer-y color and short style make this the perfect skirt for a hot summer day. I grabbed a tee printed with sunflowers from my sister's wardrobe to pair with the skirt. The playful, quirky print and comfort of this tee tempt me to avoid giving this tee back to my sister. Sorry Missi! I slipped on a pair of white heart sunglasses, red lipstick and platform sandals to complete the look.

Sunflower print top: Borrowed from my sister's wardrobe
White circle skirt: c/o ShopLately
Platform sandals: Steve Madden
Red lipstick: Wet 'N Wild
Heart sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage Sunglasses

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Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Free People June 2015


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Hello! Oh, dreamy 1970s California! The images above from the Free People June 2015 look book instantly conjure up thoughts of driving around sunny California in a chic convertible in the 1970s or relaxing on a bright orange, mod couch while talking on a retro phone. The distinct 1970's, retro inspired vibe of this Free People look book has captured my full attention; I love the kitschy details of the shoot as well as the stunning merchandise featured. 

Neutral colors, laid back prints, bell sleeve details and loose fits are all key style components of Free People's latest collection. The looks emit a nostalgic, carefree feeling that is perfect for summer. What do you guys think of this look book? 

Images courtesy of Free People

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Sunday, June 14, 2015

Little Black Dress


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Hello! This look is from earlier this week; it's what I wore to my sister's high school graduation. I wanted to look sophisticated and put together but also let my free-spirited sense of style shine through. I started the look with a little black dress; the flattering silhouette, delicate lace trimming and lightweight fabric made this the perfect choice for the occasion. I accessorized with a couple golden necklaces, druzy earrings, a golden flash tattoo, a golden bracelet and golden round sunglasses. Red lipstick and my olive-colored flatforms pulled the whole look together.

Hope you guys are surviving & keeping stylish in this hot weather!

Black dress: Urban Outfitters
Olive flatforms: Ashby
Flash tattoo: Ashby
Crystal necklace: Ashby
Green stone necklace: Vintage
Bracelet: Vintage
Druzy earrings: Ashby
Rings: Vintage & Forever 21
Round sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage
Red lipstick: Wet 'N Wild

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Tuesday, June 9, 2015

$2 Outfit


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Hello! I picked up the two-piece set above from Salvation Army last week for just $2. Yes, only $2! Even I can't get over how good of a deal this buy was. However, this two-piece set looked a whole lot different when I purchased it. As I spied it on the rack with the dresses at Salvation Army, I was instantly attracted to the funky print and the unique texture. I was not so much attracted to the fit of the outfit; when I tried the set on, it was entirely unflattering; the shorts were much too long and the top felt baggy and kind of blah. 

I decided to make a project of this vintage find and purchased it anyways. Recently, printed crop tops and matching shorts have been all the rage and that inspired my alterations. I altered the shorts by cutting and hemming them. For the top, I shortened/gave the sleeves more shape and hemmed it for a cropped fit. I'm very pleased with the end results; the set looks almost like an outfit out of a Free People catalog and I like how the top is cropped just enough to show off the slightest bit of skin but not too much. I also love that I can wear the pieces together or separate and they will still make an impressive statement. Talk about a good $2 spent!

For the look, I wanted to show off my legs so I donned one of my pairs of Jeffrey Campbells; the deep red color and platform heel of these shoes make them one of my favorite pairs of heels in my closet. I love the way that the color of these shoes brings out the colors in the two-piece set. I accessorized with a vintage clutch and a couple crystal necklaces (to enhance the Free People vibe even further.)

Have you guys had any great vintage buys like mine recently? 

Two-piece set: Vintage
Platform heels: Jeffrey Campbell
Necklaces: Assorted (Ashby & c/o Robert Matthew)
Clutch: Vintage Etienne Aigner

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Monday, June 8, 2015

Suede Olive Platform Sandals


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Hello! I hope that you all enjoyed your weekends and are ready to power through this week. My weekend was pleasantly relaxing; I didn't have to work much and loved having some free time. 

I was able to stop by the RVA Antiques vintage market on Saturday morning and fell in love with all of the vintage pieces that I saw; I particularly loved the showstopping, genuine vintage clothing and accessories at the VB Vintage booth. Sometimes I dream of what it would have been like to be a housewife in the 1950s or a free-spirit in the late 1960's just because I'm so in love with the clothing from those decades. Anything with a feminine 1950's silhouette or 1960's mod print has me swooning and the VB Vintage booth had plenty of both. If you're interested in seeing what I wore to the event, you can check out a photo that was snapped as my friend, Rachel, and I were browsing HERE

I was happy to have off from work entirely on Sunday and wanted to go to the Broad Appetit festival with my friend, Mary. I figured that parking may be difficult but that I would be able to find parking nonetheless. Well, I was wrong and Mary and I spent over an hour trying to figure out how to park in order to be able to attend the festival.

After spending so much time searching for parking with no luck, we decided to just call it a good attempt and grabbed lunch at Mellow Mushroom instead and browsed through a couple shops in Carytown. So of course, we had to stop at Ashby. And boy, am I glad that we did. 

While looking through their selection of shoes, I spotted these suede olive platform sandals. I picked them up and fell in love with the shape, color and texture of the shoes. The tag stated that they were a size 7.5 and cost $39; I was a bit hesitant to try the shoes on because I usually take a size 8 and don't like to spend much on shoes at all. 

However, when I slipped them on, I knew that I had to have them; they fit perfectly and I love the way that they tie up at my ankle. I had a gift card from selling to Ashby last week so I just decided to use the rest of my gift card to splurge on the shoes for myself. I googled the brand of the shoes (Sundance) when I got home and discovered that a similar pair of these sandals would normally retail for $100-$200 so I was lucky to pick these up for just about $40 at Ashby.  I've only had them for less than a day but they are already taking over as my favorite pair of shoes in my wardrobe. 

When I got home, I immediately changed into these shoes because I was so excited to wear them. They went perfectly with my 90's babydoll, daisy print dress and olive-colored sunglasses. Several golden necklaces, a golden flash tattoo, my "dressed to kill" button and red lipstick pulled the whole look together. I recently re-discovered this "dressed to kill" button and can't wait to start wearing it again. 

Daisy print dress: Vintage
Flatforms: Ashby
Sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage
Red lipstick: Wet 'N Wild
Moon bracelet: Ashby
Flash tattoo: Ashby
Crystal necklace: Ashby
Druzy necklace: Ashby
Circle necklace: c/o Robert Matthew
Green necklace: Vintage
Bird necklace: Charlotte Russe
Earrings: Ashby
Dressed to kill button: Vintage

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Friday, June 5, 2015

Ashby RVA

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Hello! For this vibrant summer look, I decided to show off a dress that I purchased earlier this week. While shopping, my eye was instantly drawn to this dress; the bright colors, tropical floral print and flattering silhouette of the dress were impossible to not notice. The second that I tried the dress on, I knew that it had to be mine. Even better yet, the dress only cost $12. I added bold pops of color to the look with tan platform sandals, a deep green clutch, a turquoise necklace and bright red lipstick; I love the fun, playful feeling portrayed by wearing such vibrant colors together.

Wondering where I could have scored such a stylish dress for such a great price? Ashby! I know that I have briefly mentioned Ashby on my blog before but want to tell you guys a little bit more about Ashby today. 

First I want to start by saying that Ashby is probably my favorite shop in Richmond; it is a quirky little consignment shop located in Carytown next to Mellow Mushroom. Ashby buys and sells trendy, brand-name and vintage clothing, accessories and shoes for both men and women. They carry fashionable brands such as Free People, Urban Outfitters and Forever 21 as well as quite a few vintage gems. I'm always impressed by their merchandise when I stop in and find myself wanting nearly every piece in the store. Their prices also tempt me to come back again and again; dresses typically cost between $10-$30, shoes between $15-$35 and jewelry between $5-$25. 

I sold a few items to Ashby on my trip this week and got back about $65 in store credit (how great, right?!) Their assortment of stylish clothing at such affordable prices is unrivaled in Richmond. If you've ever shopped at a Buffalo Exchange, I would say that shopping at Ashby is very similar; both stores have that idea of bringing in clothes to "trade" for new used clothes to update your wardrobe. If you live in or near Richmond, a trip to Ashby this summer is a must.

Bright floral dress: H&M via Ashby
Platform sandals: Steve Madden
Green clutch: Vintage
Lipstick: Wet 'N Wild
Turquoise stone necklace: c/o ShopLately
Crystal necklace: Ashby


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Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Rainy Days


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Hello! Blah, rainy weather presided over Richmond today; originally, I was supposed to work today but got called out of work due to the dreary weather. Getting called out of work and having the whole day free definitely makes the gloomy weather seem a lot less gloomy. With my free time I decided to make a trip to Carytown and browse through a few thrift shops. I took this quick photo in between rain showers while out and about in Carytown.

Rain boots were a must for walking around Carytown in the rainy weather so I grabbed these classic gray rainboots from my wardrobe. I wanted to contrast the height of the boots with a short dress so I slipped on this mini vintage dress with the boots. The beachy fish print, free-spirited shape and washed out color of this dress draw me to it again and again. And the aquamarine color of the dress was the perfect pick-me-up for today's weather. I layered on a pile of several sea-inspired and golden aquatic necklaces with the dress to draw out the beachy vibes of the dress even more.

Printed dress: Vintage
Rain boots: c/o Roma Boots
Necklaces: Assorted
Golden bag: Urban Outfitters
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Monday, June 1, 2015

Naja: Eco-Friendly Bra & Swimwear Line


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Hello! I consider myself pretty environmentally friendly and love when my interest in protecting the environment coincides with something in the fashion industry so I was excited to hear that Naja, a luxury swimwear and intimates brand, just came out with an eco-friendly bra and swimwear line.

For their eco-friendly collection, they have produced several bras and swimsuits made out of recycled plastic bottles (PET.) The designs are fresh and fun; they rely on innovative prints as well as an interesting, fun use of color. The cheerful, playful vibe makes them absolutely perfect for the summer season. The bras featured above retail from $60-$110 per bra while the swimsuits in the line (not shown above) retail for $95.

Who could say "no" to an eco-friendly bra line when it's this cute? I'm swooning over all their designs. Check out their site to see more of the collection. 

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