A Semester of Fashion Faves in Review

Hello world! I am back at it blogging. Who knows how long this will actually last since I start up a lovely winter intersession grad. class and go back to work in about a week. I can't believe that it's been about a year since I posted but being a full time working girl-student-fashionista can be tricky.

I wanted to make this post to share some of my favorite style staples from this past fall season as we make our way into the new year (2015? What!?). With my hectic schedule, it can sometimes be hard to put together cute outfits every day. These adorable fashion pieces have helped me so much with throwing together fashionable looks. First up I have one of my most favorite recent looks:

This sweater is a recent purchase (sale!) from Old Navy. I had been looking for one of these loose turtleneck sweaters for awhile and fell in love with this adorable and super cozy one. Another reoccurring trend you will see in my outfits is this pair of adorable boots. I have been wearing them nonstop this season and I love how they can be paired with just about anything. The look of the sweater, leggings, and boots is so effortless and somehow makes me feel put together on the busiest of days! Here's another couple of outfits with the same boots. Each outfit is so different but somehow the boots tie it all together. Oh, and did I mention that these were only $30 from Forever 21!? I think that everyone needs a pair of functional brown boots and you don't have to break the bank to get them. I admit that I should probably invest in a quality pair, but these have held up amazing so far and look so cute with every outfit. See below for evidence!

 
Clearly I have mastered the mirror selfie in the name of fashion! ;)

Next up I have another favorite look, featuring THE fuzziest vest. I remember featuring a different fur vest last year, but this one has a little extra flair. It started off as a jacket with sleeves but I ended up cutting them off to achieve this precious fur vest! I am so happy with how it turned out and I love how cozy it is (feels like I'm wearing a robe!), while also bringing the outfit together. I paired it with an all black look and an extra style boost with some brown booties and my infamous cheetah print scarf. This look is totally acceptable for my job or even going out with friends or for a date night. Super simple! 

Another outfit featuring my lovely scarf is this look that I pulled together pretty early on in the season. I love how simple it is but also looks really polished and classy. I paired my new vest from The Loft (latest obsession) with a simple long sleeve tee, jeans, and my beloved Tory Burch, Reva flats. This vest has become such a staple for me and I have already gotten so much use out of it. It creates such a fun, layered look and I know I will be getting a lot more use out of it soon. 

This post would not be complete without one of my most favorite, fall, must-haves: My Hunter rain boots. I had been in the market for new rain boots for awhile and figured I might as well invest in a good pair. These bad boys make rainy days not so dull! They are navy with a royal blue stripe on the back for an added pop of color. I love how even though I'm wearing rain boots, I can still make my outfit look put together with these. In the picture below I'm wearing them with an adorable plaid shirt and skirt combo. I have also been loving the knee high socks peeking out from the boots look as well!  And again, totally acceptable for work and school throughout the semester. I never thought I could wear rain boots in a fashionable way! If you're in the market, I would definitely suggest investing in a pair of Hunters. Rain on!

And lastly, we get to my final faves! First up; the blanket scarf. I have gotten SO many compliments on this scarf all semester. I have always been a scarf person, but when I saw this one, I knew I had to have it. It is an extra large scarf, but so cozy and can literally transform into a blanket. Sometimes I feel like I am drowning in a sea of scarf when I wear it, but I'm okay with it. I pretty much wear this whenever possible and it is such a staple for me this fall/winter. 

 There's me and the scarf taking over my body!

You can find the same one here from Aerie: http://www.ae.com/aerie/browse/product.jsp?productId=1729_2273_184&catId=cat5650221

It's a little pricey for a scarf (I got mine on sale-duh) but totally worth it in my opinion. I know a lot of places like Zara and Express have similar scarves now as well!

Last but not least, I have these perfect booties. I literally just bought these at Forever 21 (for 20 buckaroos) so they aren't really a favorite from this semester, but I can already tell I will be getting a ton of use out of them. I love the buckles and cutouts on the side for an edgier look. They are also super comfy, which is perfect for going out or even wearing to class/work. I can totally see pairing these with a skirt/dress or a skinny jeans or leggings look. I'm in love with these shoes and I have no shame about it. 

That is all for now fashion friends. Hopefully I won't be MIA for as long this time! But for now keep shining on for the new year full of fashion and fun!

Packed up in Style

It has been quite some time since I've posted anything; mostly because I have been packing and getting ready to go back to school! With entering my senior year of college, (seriously how did that happen?) you would think I would be a pro at the whole "packing just the right amount of stuff without packing my entire room or excluding anything important". Nope... not even close! I have come a long way from freshman year, when I basically dumped the entire contents of my room into large, purple, plastic bins! Now, I attempt to seriously look through all of my clothes and see if I will actually be wearing any of the stuff that I am packing! This year I did exactly that! Only problem is... I have A LOT of clothes to choose from (pictures below will show you what I mean). Being the type of person who loves to dress up and experiment with outfits and styles and rock different looks, it is a challenge to pick out clothes that I don't want to bring with me to school. I always think "what if I want to wear this dress at some point?" or "what if we have a themed party that could require me to wear this shirt?" It is surely the struggle of being a girly girly and a fashionista! My advice to those struggling with the same problem: pack the clothes that you think will make YOU happy while you're away at school! Even though you might be limited on space, it's okay to bring that extra sweater or that adorable dress that you can wear in a bunch of different ways... be daring!

Now, the real issue is the rest of the stuff that isn't clothing related! Bedding, kitchen supplies, bathroom essentials, decorations, and most importantly accessories. ;) Happy packing!

These pictures surely show how much stuff I have... that's not even half! 

Bonus tip: bins are super helpful! I pack everything in these colorful bins and they make it really easy to organize all of my stuff! 

GASP! An empty drawer in my room.. that's something you don't see too often!