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! :) 

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! 

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