The Weather Outside is Frightful, But the Fashion is so Delightful

Welcome back! I have been MIA on the blogging throughout the entire semester, but I am back for winter break. I have survived the semester (in style of course) and can safely say that I have one semester left of my undergraduate career! With that being said, my schedule has been so hectic that I have barely had a chance to do much of anything aside from school work, job responsibilities, and mandatory events. Well, let's get started with what we are all really here for: the fashion!

The fall and winter seasons are most definitely my favorite, especially in terms of fashion. I just love being able to layer up and try out different styles and looks. I figured that this post would be dedicated to some of my favorite fall/winter fashion must haves that will maybe even inspire some upcoming looks!

First and foremost, I have been loving the classic black dress look. I have found a way to make this dress work so many times already this season. A plain dress goes a long way, as I have been mixing it with different colored/patterned tights, scarves (a MUST have in my life), and different boots. This particular dress is from H&M and is skater-style. I loved how it looked with these olive green tights and the cream colored scarf. A perfect outfit for student teaching in my case, a dinner outing, or even a great Christmas look!

Next, we have another one of my favorites this season...the fuzzy vest. Now, this may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I personally think it adds a lot of fun to a plain outfit. I choose to pair this vest with a simple look such as black leggings, black boots, and a plain white top. The key is to use the vest as the statement and avoid overpowering it with any other bold pieces to avoid looking Ke$ha-esque. 

Here we have another must have for the season: patterned leggings! I searched all over for a pair that was just right. I knew I wanted a black and white pattern but couldn't find exactly what I was looking for at a decent price. The other day, I happened to come across these from H&M for $5!! Yes you heard me $5! I loved the funky pattern and the leggings are a nice quality and aren't see through (a difficult issue to avoid). I love how these leggings add so much to an outfit and can be paired with virtually any color sweater/boots. I like the look of these with an oversized cream sweater...just my style! 

Well, that's all for now, but I promise to keep up with the blogging throughout my winter break! Stay tuned for some of my favorite holiday looks and different ways to go out in style even in the cold winter months. Happy holidays everyone... stay toasty and remember you will always look good with a beanie on your head and a Starbucks cup in your hand! :) 

Back to School in Style

It's that time of year again.. back to school! For some it is a dreaded time; dealing with homework, papers, assignments, and stress. For others, it is a fresh start and a chance to get back on a schedule. Although I am going into my senior year of college, I still enjoy the excitement of going back to school. Call me crazy, but it's true! I'm not exactly looking forward to the "work" aspect of school, but I am most definitely looking back to all of the fun back to school accessories/shopping! Since I was little, I always loved going to Target, Staples, etc. to pick out new notebooks, highlighters, agendas, and whatever other back to school items were available. Not much has changed at the age of 21 (I guess it's the future teacher in me?) With all of that being said, I have put together some of my favorite back to school accessories for this coming school year. Hopefully they will give you some inspiration for your own shopping!

Ah the excitement! Pictured above I have:

• Vera Bradley tote in "Heather"- I am seriously obsessed with this tote/pattern! Vera never lets me down! This bag is the perfect size to hold books/binders for school. With all of the different patterns you really can't go wrong transitioning into the different seasons. 
• Vera Bradley agenda also in "Heather"-How could I resist the matching agenda? I am a total agenda junkie. I would be lost without my agenda so I figured it was worth the investment for one that was both cute and durable! This agenda is also perfect for college students and has plenty of space under each day, a place for your schedule, and of course adorable patterns throughout! A definite must for this school year. 
• Michael Kors black wristlet- I have had this wristlet since last year, but I still think it's a perfect option for back to school. It is conveniently small in size but does the job! There's plenty of space for money, ID cards, credit cards, and even your iPhone! The handy wristlet makes it perfect for a grab and go on those busy mornings! Tons of brands have items like this, I just happen to love the Michael Kors because of it's durability and sleek style. 
• Pink travel coffee mug from Target- Of course we need an adorable coffee mug for back to school! With hectic mornings rushing to class or student teaching, I need my coffee on the go! This travel mug comes in a few different colors and keeps your coffee nice and warm on those chilly mornings!
• Assorted highlighters-Pretty self explanatory, but I love highlighters! They help to keep my notes and agenda organized and the fun colors really make things stand out! Gotta have them!
• Monogrammed post-its- Post-it notes are another organizational essential! It's hard to tell from the picture but these have a little monogrammed "C"... I am a sucker for anything monogrammed. Post-its are great for writing reminders to yourself or keeping track of your busy schedule. Again, these come in tons of styles and colors but these happen to be my personal favorite :) 

Notebooks and Folders! I love mixing bright patterned folders with plain notebooks and color-coding! These notebooks are also customizable and I plan on adding a cute cover onto them with my class information and a fun design!

Hopefully this post helped to ease the back to school blues a bit! Happy back-to-school styling!!

Summer Daze

Can you believe the month of August is already underway? It's hard to believe that this summer has pretty much come and gone already. For a fashion lover like myself, the last few weeks of summer is the time to break out all those cute "summery" outfits that failed to make an appearance in the last two months. I always find that at the start of each season, I pick out outfits that I plan on wearing and then before I know it, miss the opportunity to do so! With that being said, I plan on making the most of the final few weeks of summer fun-filled activities with bold fashion choices mixed with a laid-back, casual vibe. I have put together a few outfits for inspiration that would be perfect for a summer date night, backyard BBQ with friends and family, or a relaxed shopping day with the girls. These outfits match my personal style, but can be shifted to match your own personal style.

Look 1: Backyard BBQ

Maxi skirts/dresses have been SO in this summer and are the perfect effortless look for a summer BBQ or family/friend gathering. I love the look of a high-waisted maxi with a little lace crop top. It's the perfect balance of showing a little skin (Ooo la-la) but still being covered enough! This light blue, lace top is from a local boutique and the [sheer] maxi is from Forever 21 (you'll see a trend in my shopping staples). I paired this look with simple, black, strappy sandals from Target and silver, earrings with blue accent, also from Forever.

Look 2: Date Night

I am absolutely in love with this date night look. It's perfect for a summer night walking through town, going out to dinner, taking a stroll by the water... you name it! This super girly dress is adorable and can be warn in so many different ways. I am a huge fan of scarves and yes, I even wear them in the summer! This light-weight navy blue, floral scarf from American Eagle adds a great "pop" to this outfit and jazzes it up a bit. This white dress is from Forever, but any light, flowy dress will do for this type of outfit! I also leave these blue sandals that were a perfect match for this outfit!

***Fashion Bonus: For those chilly summer nights, a light denim jacket is the perfect way to keep warm, but still look cute! I have been living in mine since the spring!

Look 3: Girl's Day!

This final look is really perfect for any relaxed, summer occasion. Pairing dark-wash jean shorts, a brown belt, and a casual striped shirt is a safe bet, but also a solid outfit choice. I like this look for a coffee date with friends, or a long day of shopping with the girls. It is comfortable and versatile and can be dressed up or dressed down. As far as shoes go, flip-flops, to strappy sandals, to a pair or Sperrys (a personal favorite) will do the trick! *Note: Starbucks cup... What's a summer day without a cup of iced coffee in hand? ;)

Well, that's all for my first fashion blog post! Hopefully many more to come, hoping that I can stay on track and consistent with my posts. I hope these fashion ideas were helpful! Always remember to shine your brightest! <3