Monday, November 30, 2015

Closet Barcode

November 2015
November 2015

Hello! Recently, Closet Barcode sent me this sweater to showcase on my blog. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Closet Barcode, it's an online fashion retailer that brings designs from independent designers to customers. They have an eclectic assortment of fashion-forward merchandise that is sure to please your wardrobe. When they offered to send me over an item for review, I was immediately drawn to this sweater. This is the "Diamond Patterned Black and White Sweater" and it's currently on sale for $30.99 HERE. The chunky style, vintage-inspired pattern and versatile color of the sweater make it a winter wardrobe must-have. It's perfect for throwing on over your favorite dress or with a pair of leggings for a more relaxed look.

For this look, I styled it with a little black circle skirt and black tights. I added a slight hint of color with a pair of green and white polka dot socks and a turquoise stone necklace. I accessorized with a couple other golden necklaces, a golden bag of sunglasses and a glitzy gold bead embellished bag.

Sweater: c/o Closet Barcode
Black circle skirt: H&M
Crystal necklace: Ashby
Stone necklace: c/o Shop Lately
Black tights: Urban Outfitters
Golden circle necklace: c/o Robert Matthew
Black booties: Daily Look
Sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage
Golden bag: Urban Outfitters
Polka dot socks: Forever 21

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Saturday, November 28, 2015

Photographer to Keep an Eye on: Nicholas Von Thrower

Wells
Wells

Hello! Recently, I interviewed Richmond photographer, Nicholas Von Thrower. Currently, Nicholas is studying photography in school and shooting photos every second that he can. I've shot with Nicholas several times and shooting with him is always enjoyable. He gives great direction and you can tell he knows a lot about angles and lighting; impressive doesn't even begin to describe his photography skills as well as his final photos. Today, I wanted to share some of my favorite of his photographs with you all as well as a short interview.

Jocelyn
Jocelyn

What drew you to photography? "Mainly the idea of capturing a moment in time and having it last forever is what originally attracted me to the idea to start getting into photography. Letting someone see a scene through my eyes as I did in that moment"

Ellie
Ellie

When did you first start experimenting with photography? "I first started about age 17, I took my first high school photography class my senior year of high school and I have been shooting ever since."

Jessica F.
Jessica

Reed
Reed

What do you enjoy most about photography? "My favorite thing about photography is mainly just bringing to life an image I have in my head & working with a model to make it a reality. Being able to meet so many new people and be inspired by them during shoots is also a great benefit as well."

Madison
Madison

Kaiya
Kaiya

What is your favorite subject to shoot? "My favorite subject to shoot is the nude human body. Mainly the sheer number of unique bodies there are out there to photograph makes the possibilities endless. No one body is the same and showing off that uniqueness is something I focus mainly on in my work."

Camilla
Camilla

September
September

Where do you see yourself in five years from now?  "I'm hoping to explore more of the fashion world in my photography and work with new and creative minds. I also want to just travel around the country to meet and learn from people I have yet to meet."

Hannah
Hannah


What is your ultimate goal with photography? "Ideally I would love to either shoot for an online or print magazine, exhibit my work in local galleries, and make enough money to survive off my work and keep shooting every day."

You can see more of his work on his Instagram @flowersdaddy or his Flickr. As a heads up, his Flickr is NSFW (it features nude photography as well as fashion photography.)

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Friday, November 27, 2015

Vintage Beauty

November 2015

Hello! One of the things that I love about winter is being able to break out all my fabulous winter coats. And how wonderful is the cream-colored coat that I'm wearing above? My great-grandmother made this coat for my grandmother and my grandmother passed it down to me. Talk about a vintage beauty! The fuzzy texture, glamorous golden buttons and long silhouette of the coat have me falling in love with it.

For this look, I styled the vintage coat with my favorite burgundy sweater and black circle skirt. I emphasized the burgundy color of the sweater with a pair of maroon thigh-high socks and a swipe of lipstick. I slipped on a pair of black heeled booties to highlight the black color of the skirt. I accessorized with a cool pair of golden sunglasses and a golden beaded bag.

Cream-colored coat: Vintage
Thigh high socks: Kohl's
Black booties: Daily Look
Golden bag: Urban Outfitters
Black circle skirt: H&M
Burgundy top: Urban Outfitters
Lipstick: Wet 'N Wild
Sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage

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Thursday, November 26, 2015

iDress

idress

Hello! Today, I want to introduce you guys to iDress. iDress, an online fashion retailer, specializes in discount wedding dresses NZ, flower girl dresses, bridesmaid dresses, affordable ball dresses and cocktail dresses. They have an incredible selection of affordable, stylish dresses for any special occasion. If you're in need of a dress for a formal event, iDress has you covered!

Featured above are a few of my favorite bridesmaid dresses from iDress; read on to hear why: 

1. Blush Boat Neck Cap Sleeve Floral Chiffon Long Prom Dress $175. I'm loving the neutral color and intricate detailing on this dress. It's so glamorous, so luxe. 

2. Vintage Red Strapless Sweetheart Long Evening Dress with Tulle Overlay $147. How lovely is the deep red color and tulle skirt overlay of this dress? Very romantic. 

3. Lace and Chiffon Sleeveless Boat Neck Long Formal Evening Dress with Slit $139. The neutral color of this dress and thigh-high slit of this dress make it an ideal bridesmaid dress.

4. Vintage Modest Sleeveless Emerald V Neck Pleated Short Prom Dress $118. Swooning over this rich color! Additionally, I'm loving the flattering, fitted silhouette.

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***Disclaimer: iDress provided monetary compensation for this post but I wrote the actual post and all opinions written in this post are mine.

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Gudeer

Gudeer

Hello! Today, I wanted to introduce you guys to Gudeer. Gudeer, a discount bridesmaids dresses shop, specializes in wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, prom dresses, special occasion dresses, luxury dresses and jewelry. They have a wonderful variety of formal dresses to chose from. No matter what special occasion you're searching for a dress for, Gudeer has the perfect inexpensive dress for you!

Featured above are a few of my favorite cheap bridesmaid dresses online from Gudeer, keep reading to find out why: 

1. Unique Shoulder Wrapped V Neck Long Tulle Bridesmaid Dress $159. The soft blue color and flattering bodice of this dress are irresistible. 


3. Two Tone Wide Strap Pleated Long Chiffon V Neck Evening Dress $129. The color-blocked style and flowing silhouette make this the perfect pick for a bridesmaid dress. 

4. Grape Short Sleeve V Neck Long Chiffon Bridesmaid Dress $179The deep, rich color of this dress is absolutely perfect for this season. Besides loving the deep plum color, I can't stop obsessing over the flowing silhouette. 

5. Simple Grey Strapless Sweetheart Long Pleated Chiffon Bridesmaid Dress $129. This classic dress may be simple but it makes a perfect bridesmaid dress. 

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***Disclaimer: Gudeer provided monetary compensation for this post but I wrote the actual post and all opinions written in this post are mine.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Hello Richmond

November 2015
November 2015

Hello! I'm back in Richmond for Thanksgiving break and am immensely grateful for the week-long break from my hectic semester at Philadelphia University. I've been looking forward to Thanksgiving break for weeks and could not be more relieved that it's finally here. On a related note note, I wrote an article for The Odyssey about 20 reasons why being home for Thanksgiving break is the best; I'd love it if you guys could check it out and share it on Twitter and Facebook. 

One of the reasons I'm happy to be home that I didn't mention in my article for the Odyssey is being back at home means being able to borrow pieces from my mom and my sister's wardrobes. For this look, my mom let me borrow an oversize, chunky knit sweater. The hand-knit texture, versatile gray color and oversize fit of the sweater make it hard to return this sweater back to my mom. I styled it with a little black dress and black tights for a sophisticated, free-spirited look. I added a pop of color to the look with burgundy polka dot socks and cherry-colored lipstick. I accessorized with a futuristic pair of sunglasses and a major statement necklace. 

Black dress: Forever 21
Sweater: borrowed from my mom's closet
Black tights: Urban Outfitters
Polka dot socks: Forever 21
Black booties: Daily Look
Statement necklace: c/o Yoins
Cherry lipstick: Wet 'N Wild
Sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage

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Monday, November 23, 2015

Alien Space Buns

November 2015

Hello! It's now been over a month since I've used any sort of heat on my hair-yay! Read my original post on this subject HERE. While I definitely have my wild hair days, I'm loving leaving my hair natural. I feel like by quitting using heat on my hair, my hair is longer and it seems as if the naturally curly texture is enhanced. 

All that being said, since I no longer use heat on my hair, I have to be more creative with how to deal with my bad hair days. Yeah, I can just throw it in a braid but doing that too often feels boring and uninspired. When I was experiencing a bad hair day last week, I decided to switch things up and try something new. I threw my hair up into two little buns on top of my head which feel like alien space buns to me. And I love it. This style will definitely be a new go-to when I can't figure out what in the world to do with my hair.

For my outfit, I slipped on a basic textured dress. I made a statement by pairing the dress with a bold leopard print faux fur jacket and lace-up thigh high boots. I kept my accessories to a minimum, only donning a futuristic pair of sunglasses to play up the outer space vibe of my hair-do. Red lipstick pulled the whole look together. 

Leopard print coat: Threadsence
Thigh high boots: Nasty Gal
Textured dress: H&M
Lipstick: Birchbox LOC (sign up for your first box for only $5 here!) 
Sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage

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Sunday, November 22, 2015

Cocomelody

COCO logo 2

Cocomelody

Hello! Today, I want to introduce you guys to Cocomelody. Cocomelody, an online fashion retailer, sells wedding dresses, special occasion dresses, cheap bridesmaid dresses and formal accessories. They have an incredible selection of different styles of dresses- so many different colors, necklines, lengths, etc. Even better yet, their dresses are very well-priced. If you're shopping for an outfit for a wedding or special event, Cocomelody has you covered. 

Above are a few of my favorite bridesmaid dresses online from Cocomelody; read on to see why:

1. Sweet One Shoulder Natural Short-Mini Tulle Mint Sleeveless Side Zipper Bridesmaid Dress $79. I mean just look at how gorgeous the teal color of this dress is.

2. Charming Sheath-Column Natural Floor Length Tulle Light Purple Sleeveless Zipper Convertible Bridesmaid Dress with Ribbons $99. The pretty pastel purple color, feminine tulle skirt and sweetheart neckline of this dress have me falling in love with it.

3. Pretty Sheath-Column Halter Natural Floor Length Chiffon Pink Sleeveless Lace Up-Corset Bridesmaid Dress $99. Although I'm not typically drawn to pink, I'm enchanted by the pale color and feminine silhouette of this dress.

4. Cute Sheath-Column One Shoulder Natural Floor Length Chiffon Green Sleeveless Lace Up-Corset Bridesmaid Dress with Ruched $89. Loving the aquamarine color of this dress!

COCOBridesmaid buy3+

So if you're shopping around for a special occasion dress, be sure to check out Cocomelody! Additionally, if you buy 3+ bridesmaid dresses, there's free shipping.

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***Disclaimer: Cocomelody provided monetary compensation for this post but I wrote the actual post and all opinions written in this post are mine.

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Glamorous Fur

November 2015
November 2015

Hello! This past weekend, my friend, Kayla, and I ventured off to the Wissahickon trail to appreciate the beauty of nature as well as snap some photos of our outfits. I signed out a camera from my school this past weekend so we used that to take the photos.

For my look, I slipped on my favorite dress. I know, I know, I wear this dress every week but hey, the rich autumnal colors, retro floral print and mod breezy silhouette of the dress make it irresistible. Additionally, this dress is surprisingly versatile; while I may wear it every single week, I style it differently each time. Check out a couple of other ways that I've styled the dress here, here and here.

I decided to throw on my glam vintage fur coat with this look. I purchased this beauty sometime within the past year at a thrift shop for only $35. Yes, only $35! For a gorgeous vintage fur coat, that's an incredible steal. However, after I wore this coat out for the shoot, I started to notice that it's sort of falling apart and either I'm going to have to figure out how to sew it myself or take it to a seamstress.

I styled a pair of black thigh high socks and black Doc Martens with the look. The juxtaposition of my gritty, beat-up Doc Martens and movie star glam fur coat creates an interesting, eclectic look. I accessorized with a small golden necklace, purple druzy bracelet and a unique pair of shades.

Fur coat: Vintage
Thigh high socks: Daily Look
Combat boots: Doc Martens
Sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage
Floral dress: Urban Outfitters
Druzy bracelet: Charlotte Russe

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Friday, November 20, 2015

Free People: the First Frost

Free People November Lookbook 2015 j
Free People November Lookbook 2015 i
Free People November Lookbook 2015 e
Free People November Lookbook 2015 b

Hello! Free People has done it again. They've released a new lookbook that once again, I'm falling all over. The lookbook, the First Frost, features Queeny van der Zande, a Dutch model, at a cozy cabin in the woods. And this lookbook has me dreaming of winter break big time. Now if only I was spending my winter break at this cabin! The rustic-luxe vibe of the cabin established by the rich hardwood floors and brightly printed and embellished pillows and blankets is giving me major envy.

Of course, I'm also drawn to the clothing and accessories showcased in the lookbook. I'm swooning over the luxe layering and unique knits in the collection. The long textured cardigans, the thick knit scarves and cozy thigh-highs socks in this collection all captured my heart.

Images courtesy of Free People.

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Thursday, November 19, 2015

College Fashionista

November 2015
November 2015

Hello! This past weekend, my friend, Rachel, and I set off to the Wissahickon trail to practice our photography skills. Next semester, both Rachel and I are interning for College Fashionista. For those of you who haven't heard of College Fashionista, it's a fashion site where college style is highlighted. Rachel and I will be in charge of snapping street style photos of well-dressed students at PhilaU and writing articles about their looks for the site. I'd love to actually work for College Fashionista someday so I'm thrilled for my internship next semester. For our posts, Rachel and I are required to take photos with an actual camera- not just our phones, so we signed out a couple cameras from school for the weekend to figure out how to use them. We both enjoyed honing our photography skills and I love how the photos turned out.

For the shoot, I put together a free-spirited, quirky look revolving around several of my favorite pieces of clothing in my wardrobe. I styled the look around this pair of watercolor floral shorts. The ethereal print and lace trim of these shorts draws me back to them again and again- even when it's chilly enough outside to throw on a faux fur jacket! I highlighted the warm colors in the shorts with a burgundy, lace trimmed shirt. I played around with texture by layering a cream-colored faux fur jacket and mustard yellow knit shawl on over the look. I can't get over how much I love the lace-faux fur-knit texture combination. It emits a very rich, luxe mood.

Of course it would have been too cold to wear the shorts on their own so I styled them with a pair of colorblocked thigh high socks. As a side note, I'm currently obsessing over these thigh high socks; unlike plenty of other thigh high socks I've tried out before, they go up pretty far on my thigh and have a charming two-tone design. I ordered them from GoJane a few weeks ago for about $6 which is  a pretty good deal for a pair of thigh high socks like these! When GoJane offered free shipping last week, I ordered two more pairs of thigh high socks in this style but in different colors. When you find a pair of thigh high socks, you've got to stick with them! If you're like me and you wear thigh-high socks fairly often, you know how difficult the struggle to find the perfect thigh-high socks can be.

I paired the thigh-high socks with a pair of burgundy Doc Martens. Yes, I own shoes other than heels! I accessorized with a few golden rings, bracelets and necklaces. I accentuated the golden color of my jewelry with a pair of gold-rimmed sunglasses. A swipe of lipstick and a fairytale braided hairstyle pulled the look together.

White faux fur jacket: H&M
Thigh high socks: Go Jane
Combat boots: Doc Martens
Burgundy top: c/o Yoins
Golden rings: Vintage
Golden bracelets: Vintage
Crystal necklace: Ashby
Golden necklace: c/o Robert Matthew
Mustard yellow shawl: RetMod
Lipstick: Wet 'N Wild
Sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage
Golden pins: Vintage

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Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Fashion Mia

Fashion Mia

Hello! Today, I want to introduce you guys to Fashion Mia. Fashion Mia, an online retailer, produces trendy clothing and accessories for women. They have an incredible selection of different chic styles. And all at great prices! Below are a few of my favorite pieces from Fashion Mia: 

1. Fantastic Lapel With Zips Patchwork Jacket $25. I love the soft color and versatility of this jacket. Perfect for throwing on with so many different outfits.

2. Concise Assorted Leather Crew Neck Blended Bodycon-Dress $17. A refreshingly modern twist on the little black dress. 

3. Casual Loose Boat Neck Pullover $17. There's something so boho, free-spirit about this sweater that I can't help but love it; the interesting detailing and eclectic silhouette make this sweater a must-have this season. 

4. Women's Hollow Out Plain Round Neck Pullover $16. I'm loving the unique green color, trendy silhouette and textural knit of this sweater. It would look great thrown on over a printed dress or styled with a pair of high-rise jeans and a pair of killer heeled booties. 

5. Charming Boat Neck Cotton Striped Bodycon-Dress $14. Such a classic piece that would be a great addition to any wardrobe!

If you're looking to add a couple new trendy pieces of clothing or accessories to your wardrobe, I would recommend making Fashion Mia your first stop. Their assortment of fashion-forward styles at affordable prices is unbeatable!

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***Disclaimer: Fashion Mia provided monetary compensation for this post but I wrote the actual post and all opinions written in this post are mine.

Monday, November 16, 2015

Yerdle

November 2015

Hello! A few days ago, I decided to take the opportunity to debut one of my most recent wardrobe acquisitions- this tan jacket. I love the faux suede texture, neutral color and cozy lining of the jacket. I purchased this jacket from Yerdle. For those of you who haven't heard of Yerdle, Yerdle is essentially a huge online yardsale. Yerdle users can sell their used items as well as buy items from other Yerdle users in the online Yerdle marketplace. This jacket was 50 Yerdle dollars but luckily I had that many Yerdle dollars in my account and just paid shipping! So I purchased this gem of a jacket for less than $10.

I would definitely recommend checking out Yerdle and their unique online thrift shop/yardsale essence. And if you sign up with my invite HERE, you can a get a $35 Yerdle credit and free shipping on your first purchase. How could you say no to that? Join and update your wardrobe with a new-to-you piece of clothing or accessory with no cost to you today!

For this minimalistic look, I styled the jacket with an asymmetrical black dress and black booties. I added detail to the look with a pair of polka dot tights, delicate golden jewelry, golden sunglasses and a pop of red lipstick.

Polka dot tights: Unknown
Gray lace-y socks: Urban Outfitters
Black asymmetrical dress: c/o SuperBrand
Jacket: Yerdle
Red lipstick: Birchbox LOC (get your first box for $5 if you sign up with my link!)
Golden bracelets: Vintage
Golden rings: Vintage
Sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage

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Saturday, November 14, 2015

Dressing for the Holiday Season with Express

Express Holiday Looks

Hello! When Express reached out to me and asked me to participate in their holiday challenge for bloggers, I couldn't resist. I mean hey, what blogger would really turn down Express? On a related note, I must be doing something right with my blog if I get PR emails from Express! For their challenge, they asked that I round up a few of my favorite holiday party looks from their shop to share with you guys. I've featured my fave pieces in the image above.

While browsing through Express, I fell in love with all the different options they offer for holiday parties. They have the most incredible beaded and embellished dresses that I can't help but swoon over; the ornate glitzy detailing gives the dresses such a rich, luxe vibe. Perfect for holiday parties! I also adore their selection of glimmering earrings, stunning heels and richly detailed bags.

After seeing everything they have to offer, you can bet that I'll be making a stop at Express to browse through their merchandise in-person. If you're shopping around searching for your perfect holiday look, I would recommend making a stop at Express also.

And be sure to keep an eye on their Black Friday and Cyber Monday pages for their #EXPSWEEPS and a chance to win their New Year's Eve in NYC contest!

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Friday, November 13, 2015

Coupon Code Day

Screen Shot 2015-11-13 at 7.01.26 AM

Hello! As a (seemingly always) broke college student, I'm forever looking for ways to save money. My hectic class schedule has deterred me from getting a job this semester and therefore, my budget is very, very limited. Even $10 decisions have to be carefully thought out before going through with them. For that reason, I'm drawn to various sites that help save money by offering various coupons and discounts.

And that's where Coupon Code Day comes in; I just discovered this site and you can bet that I added it to my bookmarks. Coupon Code Day highlights current sales, offers discounts at your favorite shops and even has free shipping offers. Coupon Code Day promotes the idea that they "believe that you can have your cake and eat it too – even if you’re doing it on a budget" and aim "to arm consumers with the latest, functioning coupon codes in order to make their money stretch further."

Coupon Code Day offers all those deals to all of their users' favorite stores (really though- they have discounts for over 1,900 retailers!) Another reason I like them is because their website is easy to use and navigate through. They have a search bar at the top of their site where you can search for coupons from whatever retailer. Coupons from 6pm? Check! Discounts from Kohl's? Check! You can also browse their site by store or by category- perfect if you're shopping around for a good deal on a certain product. Additionally, they have an option where users can upload other coupon codes and discounts that they have found so that users can share their savings with other users.

You can definitely count me as a new Coupon Code Day user! Coupon Code Day should always be the stop you make right before an online purchase. If there's a chance you could save money just by searching to see if Coupon Code Day has a deal for you, how could you pass that up?

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***Disclaimer: Coupon Code Day provided monetary compensation for this post but I wrote the actual post and all opinions written in this post are mine.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Vintage Boy Scouts Jacket

November 2015
November 2015

Hello! Oh November, I love you; this weather that we've been having is an absolute dream. It's chilly enough that I can break out my fall jackets and begin incorporating tights and thigh-high socks back into my looks. But not cold enough to the point where I absolutely have to have something covering my legs when I walk outside.

For this look, I pulled a porcelain print dress out of my wardrobe. The delicate print and light colors of the dress are simply charming. I added to the feminine feel of the dress with a pair of neutral chunky heels, golden jewelry and red lipstick. I decided to contrast the femininity of the look by throwing this vintage French Boy Scouts jacket over my shoulders. The juxtaposition between the femininity of the dress & accessories and the masculinity of the jacket strikes the perfect chord and I can't get over how much I love this look.

And on another note, it's now been about three weeks since I've used heat on my hair! While my hair may be a little wild, I'm loving it way more than I loved my hair a few weeks ago. Read more about why I stopped using heat on my hair and how I still manage to tame my hair HERE.

Porcelain print dress: c/o Yoins
Boy scout jacket: Vintage ("borrowed" from my dad)
Neutral heels: Jeffrey Campbell
Red lipstick: Birchbox (get your first box for just $5 with my invite!)
Golden bracelets: Vintage
Golden rings: Vintage
Golden necklace: Vintage

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Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Update Your Wardrobe with a Stylish Backpack

Update Your Wardrobe with a Backpack

Hello! Want to update your wardrobe? Why not trying adding a stylish backpack to your wardrobe? If you're a student like I am, you're constantly having to tote your books and laptop all over campus and it's so much easier if you have a big tote or backpack that you can just throw everything in. And they can add an extra dose of style to any look!

Today, I've compiled a few of my favorite stylish backpacks for women to share with you guys: 


2. Unisex European and American Style Army Green Canvas Traveling Backpack $29. Sturdy and stylish- the ideal combination. 

3. Fashion and Casual Big Square Metallic Panelled Nylon Backpack $49.50. The metallic glimmer and the modern boxy shape of this backpack give it a futuristic, outer space kind of vibe that I'm loving.

4. Vintage Khaki Canvas Outdoor Flap-buckles Backpack $36.50. The neutral color and utilitarian style make this backpack a classic!

5. European and American Style Fashionable Large and Soft Cow Split Leather Backpack $61.50. I love the bold color & streamlined shape of this fashionable backpack.

Not loving any of my backpack choices? Check out http://www.omgnb.com/backpacks for more chic backpack options!

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***Disclaimer: I was provided monetary compensation for this post but I wrote the actual post and all opinions written in this post are mine.

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Mustard Yellow Seventies Shawl

November 2015

Hello! Ever since I added this mustard yellow shawl to my wardrobe last week, it's practically all that I want to wear. The bold mustard yellow color, knit texture and seventies appeal of the shawl all make it absolutely irresistible. I find myself reaching for it again and again to layer over whatever outfit I'm wearing and having to restrain myself from wearing it too many times in a row. After all, I do have a reputation on campus for dressing well that I do have to uphold and I don't think wearing the same piece of clothing day in and day out fits in so well with that. I figure I can wear it a couple times a week and get away with it.

For this look, I threw the iconic seventies shawl over a cute daisy printed dress. Although it's barely noticeable in this photo, I like how the color of the shawl accentuates the tiny bit of yellow in the daisy print of the dress. To emphasize the free-spirited, bohemian appeal of the shawl even further, I also styled it with a pair of seventies-inspired neutral wedges. I accessorized with a handful of golden bracelets and a couple golden necklaces. A swipe of red lipstick finalized the look.

Daisy print dress: Buffalo Exchange
Neutral wedges: Target
Necklaces: Assorted (Ashby & c/o Robert Matthew)
Bracelets: Assorted (Vintage & Charlotte Russe)
Lipstick: Wet 'N Wild
Vintage shawl: RetMod

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Monday, November 9, 2015

Scream Queens Fashion Inspiration

Scream Queens

Hello! Scream Queens, a comedy-horror television show, premiered this fall and I can't stop obsessing over the fashion in the show. Talk about major style inspiration!

The show features Emma Roberts, style icon, as Chanel, a sorority president surrounded by a well dressed clique (group of minions?) Chanel and her clique are consistently dressed to the nines in fluffy furs, boxy jackets, cropped cashmere sweaters and platform heels. All in various shades of pastel pinks, blues, lavenders and mints. All pastel everything. What would a scream queen be without her baby blue platforms and gigantic pastel pink fur coat?

As if the fashion in Scream Queens isn't making me envious enough as it is, I'm swooning over Chanel's closet in the show. Her closet features a spiraling staircase and shelves and racks of the most incredible pieces of clothing and accessories; her closet in the show is bigger than the townhouse that I currently live in with four other people!

Do you guys watch Scream Queens? What do you think about the style in the show?

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Friday, November 6, 2015

Three Ways to Style your Fur Coat

Hello! I know, I know, it's still not quite cold out yet but I'm dreaming of the days that it's chilly enough to break out my fur coats. Before the cold weather hits, I wanted to share three ideas for different ways to style your fur coat this season. You can bet that I'll be trying out all of these options!

How to Style a Fur Coat

Option #1: Boho babes, this look is perfect for you! Take your patchwork fur coat and style it with a bold pair of flares. Enhance the seventies vibe of the look by slipping on a neutral-colored top and pair of platform boots. Accessorize with a floppy hat, effortless tote bag and several stone rings. Extra points for a bold red lipstick!

How to Style a Fur Coat: Option #2

Option #2: Dressing up for a night on the town? This is the look for you! Slip on a dress with a plunging neckline and midi fit. I love the rich shade of burgundy of this dress. Add a retro glam feel to the dress by slipping on a luxe fur coat. Play up that vintage inspired mood with a classic clutch, Chanel earrings and a dark lipstick. Strappy black heels keep the look modern.

How to Style a Fur Coat: Option #3

Option #3: Who says a fur coat isn't for everyday wear? I love wearing my fur coats and jackets all the time. If I'm going to class and it's chilly, I'll throw on a fur coat; if I'm going to run a quick errand and need another layer, I'll throw on a fur coat. Fur coats are great for adding a touch of glam to regular looks. In particular, they look great styled with everyday patterned dresses. Make the look texturally charming by adding a knit scarf, cozy tights and fuzzy socks.

How do you guys plan on styling your fur coats this season?

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Thursday, November 5, 2015

Why I Stopped Using Heat on my Hair

November 2015
November 2015

Hello! As the title of this post suggests, I've stopped using heat on my hair. While I've never really been into blowdrying my hair (I can probably count the number of times that my hair has been blow dried on one hand), I do tend to rely on my curling wand for a pick-me-up for my naturally curly hair.

However, in the past couple months, I've noticed that my small "pick-me-up" for my hair had slowly turned into curling my hair more and more; my three minute curling routine suddenly became a fifteen minute ordeal. And while fifteen minutes still isn't much time to be using heat on your hair, it's more heat than I like to use on my hair. When I realized that I was suddenly coming to rely more and more on my curling iron. I also noticed that my hair was becoming more and more damaged. Split ends and dry hair, oh no! Additionally, I've been trying to grow my hair out and what good is growing it out if I'm just going to damage it and then have to cut it to get rid of that damage?

When I noticed this change and how unhealthy my hair had come to be, I decided to drop my curling iron for a while. For the past two weeks, I haven't used heat on my hair at all. I'm actually really surprised that I've lasted this long without using heat on my hair but also proud. My hair seems longer and it definitely feels softer and healthier. While damage is still there, my hair just seems happier. I know my hair can't actually be happy but it seems like that to me. And hey, it saves me like fifteen minutes while getting ready in the morning!

What is my hair routine now? Well, like I've always done, I let my hair air dry. For the most part, I shower at night so I let my hair dry while I sleep. When I get out of the shower, I comb my hair and use the "Totally Twisted Curl Boosting Mousse" from Herbal Essences to tame the frizz and enhance my naturally curly hair texture. When I wake up, I either throw it up into a braided hairstyle, half-up messy bun or wear it down. Some mornings it looks better than others so I let that guide my styling decisions.

If wearing it down, I spray it with "Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray" to give the volume of my hair a little boost; I also like how it emphasizes the already curly texture of my hair. I received this spray in my October Birchbox and it's been a lifesaver. If you aren't already signed up for Birchbox, I would recommend joining and discovering all the best products for your hair and beauty routine. If you sign up here, you can get $10 Birchbox credit (definitely worth it)!

So overall, while two weeks may not seem like much time, it's a major step towards improving the health of my hair. And hey, healthy hair is prettier hair! I plan on continuing to see how long I can go without using heat on my hair. I don't plan on stopping using heat on my hair entirely forever but do want to give it a slight break and in the future, really only use my curling iron for a pick-me-up. Hello, three-minute hair routine!

What do you guys think about using heat on your hair? Do you rely on your curling iron or blow dryer daily?

Black dress: Forever 21
Lace-up boots: Nasty Gal
Golden coin necklace: Charlotte Russe
Stone necklace: c/o ShopLately
Golden circle necklace: c/o Robert Matthew
Stone ring: Ashby
Lipstick: Wet 'N Wild

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Wednesday, November 4, 2015

RetMod

November 2015
November 2015

Hello! Oh how I'm loving the seventies this fall! I just added this iconic mustard yellow seventies shawl to my wardrobe and could not be any more in love. I spotted this beauty on Etsy last week and could not resist adding it to my wardrobe; I purchased it from RedMod for $22. For such an incredible vintage piece, I think that this knit shawl was a steal! I'm very happy with the purchase. The shawl is in great condition, the seller was friendly and it arrived quickly. I added RetMod to my "favorites" on Etsy and have a feeling that I'll be shopping with them again. They have a jaw-dropping assortment of various vintage dresses from the sixties and the seventies and if you're looking to update your wardrobe with a throwback item, I would recommend checking out RetMod for their great selection as well as great prices. 

For this look, I styled the mustard yellow shawl with my favorite fall floral dress. It seems as if I wear this dress every week (and in actuality, I probably do) and I'm always looking for new ways to style it so when I received the shawl, I just knew that I needed to pair it with this dress. I played up the warm shades of maroon in the dress with a pair of burgundy thigh high socks. I amped up the seventies vibe of the look by slipping on a pair of tan flatforms with the socks. Who says you can't style socks and sandals together and still look good? I accessorized with several stone rings, a vintage bracelet, a rich purple druzy bracelet and hip triangle earrings. A pop of pink lipstick emphasized the feminine colors of the dress. 

I played up the seventies appeal of the look even further by throwing my hair up into a bold milkmaid braid hairstyle. Originally, I wasn't planning on trying out this hairstyle. However, when I woke up my hair was a mess and I made a promise to myself to try to stop using heat on it (more about that in an upcoming post!) I didn't want to just throw my hair into another braid so I decided to try out two side braids. Which was a nightmare. I looked like a seven-year old schoolgirl. I fixed it my just pinning the braids up and voila! Easy and seventies-perfect braided updo. 

Floral dress: Urban Outfitters
Yellow shawl: Etsy via RetMod
Thigh high socks: Unknown
Flatforms: Steve Madden
Lipstick: Wet 'N Wild
Rings: Assorted
Simple golden bracelet: Vintage
Druzy bracelet: Charlotte Russe
Triangle earrings: Ashby

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Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Shades of Autumn

November 2015

Hello! There's nothing I love more than the various shades of autumn. Rich burgundys, warm reds, burnt oranges, mustard yellows...the colors of the leaves falling all around me definitely have a major impact on my wardrobe. For this look, the color scheme of my look mimicked the falling leaves. 

I started the look with this maroon, paisley dress. The seventies inspired print and deep colors of the dress make this dress one of my repeated fall favorites. I've worn this dress much more than the other dresses in my wardrobe throughout the past couple years. You can check out a few ways I wore it last fall here, here and here. I purchased this dress for around $20 from Forever 21 quite a while ago and while Forever 21 seems to get a bad rap for the quality of all their merchandise, this dress has held up wonderfully. I agree that Forever 21 may not produce the best quality merchandise all the time but I've definitely purchased a few items from them that have become wardrobe favorites and lasted for a while. 

I wanted to play up the slight orange coloring in the pattern of the dress so I slipped on a pair of burnt orange tights, a cozy orange scarf and my favorite autumn cardigan. I layered a white faux fur vest over the look. I'm all about textural looks so I love the combination of the different textures from the subtle knit of the sweater to the faux fur of the vest to the woven textile of the dress to the chunky knit of the scarf. The tights also add an interesting texture to the look. Maroon and white polka dot socks and burgundy Doc Martens pulled the rest of the colors in the look together.

Paisley dress: Forever 21
Burnt orange tights: Kohl's
Burgundy combat boots: Doc Martens
Orange cardigan: Urban Outfitters
Faux fur vest: Urban Outfitters via Ashby
Orange scarf: Forever 21
Lipstick: Birchbox

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Monday, November 2, 2015

Free People November 2015

Free People Holiday November 2015
Free People Holiday November 2015
Free People Holiday November 2015
Free People Holiday November 2015

Hello! Wow, I can hardly believe that November is fully upon us. Maybe one of the reasons that it just doesn't feel like November yet is because the surprisingly pleasant weather that we've been experiencing the past couple weeks. I expected for it to cool down quite a bit but I can still go outside without tights or even a jacket. I'm dreaming of the days where it's cold enough to break out items from my winter wardrobe. Embellished sweaters and major fur statement pieces are just sitting in my closet waiting to be worn. And Free People's November holiday lookbook definitely contributes to my desire to start dressing for cooler weather.

The Free People November lookbook is chock full of swoon-worthy textured knits, intricate beaded pieces and rich textures like velvet. The holiday lookbook features a lot of sparkle and glam for holiday parties as well as cozy looks for days spent in by the fireplace. The lookbook is a conglomerate of the latest trends, retro influences and free-spirited effortlessness. And I'm dying for every single piece featured. Especially the mod boots in the second image above! I'm swooning over the retro shape and rich texture. 

Images courtesy of Free People.

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