What-to-Wear for: Library Night

It’s only a few weeks into the semester, and you’re already back to the daily grind. Homework, tests, applying to internships, blah, blah, blah… so much to do, so little time to do it in. So how do you stay comfortable while still being cute on your trips to the library? Here’s a fun, cute look to help you stay chic and comfy:

Styled with Polyvore.

Wear cute, patterned leggings ($21, dorothyperkins.co.uk) with a fun graphic sweatshirt ($25, etsy.com). Add cute booties or these mustache-slippers ($36, boohoo.com) to stay cuddly walking around campus. Throw on an Aztec print backpack ($30, Target) to carry all your things in, and you’re good to go for a night slaving away in the library! Remember, you can look fabulous for any occasion!

 

 

Trending Tuesday: A Lady in Lace

New York is finally de-frosting – the temperature is 50 degrees right now! I feel like I’ve been waiting for spring forever, and now the weather’s finally nice enough to actually try out some spring trends (without looking crazy). A big trend that’s coming back all over the S/S 2013 runways is lace.

Elie Saab, Spring 2013 Couture.

Spring is all about the sheer, as well, as the spring runways have shown (but that’s for another post). Lace and netting seem to come into style every year at some point, and this year is no different. It’s all about creating a look of ladylike elegance and luxury, in light colors perfect for spring and with enough femininity to make any tomboy look like Charlotte York. Here’s a look for a special spring bash or a fancier event:

Styled with Polyvore.

Dazzle the crowd in this ladylike ensemble. Channel your inner Kate Middleton with this golden, fitted lace dress ($40, sheinside.com). Pair it with cute bowed flats ($33, shopruche.com) or a pair of fun, color-blocked heels ($25, owntherunway.com). Make it regal with gold, glittery bracelets, and spice it up with a fun, floral-patterned clutch. Complete this look with a pop of pink lipstick to modernize this vintage chic look.

Styled with Polyvore.

For a more casual look with lace, opt for a lace pant/legging ($24, warehouse.co.uk) and tee with lace inserts ($31, awear.com). Keep it all neutral with a gray quilted bootie (hautelook.com). Add some bling with a graphic necklace ($15, alexandchloe.com), bracelets ($8, newlook.com), and pretty studs ($7, wallisfashion.com). Throw in a pop of color with a pretty red bag with a bow ($23, banggood.com). Throw on a black trench or leather jacket, and you’re good to go!

Play with textures and colors with lace to create a feminine mix of old-fashioned elegance and modern aesthetics. And remember, don’t be afraid to be fabulous!

 

 

 

Fabulous Friday

My best piece of advice: If you are ever unsure or afraid to do something, put on your big girl pants, slap on a smile, and just go do it!

Last night I was so nervous that I almost didn’t go. But I said to myself, “Honey, you’ve been through a lot of hard things. You’re competent. You can handle this one little opportunity that could give you so much more.” So I went. And it was great.

It was a little event near Times Square in a boutique called “Angelique Bridal.” The designer Sarah Jassir was there (she used to work for Valentino and Vera Wang – AH!) and I met a lot of great people. It was a very little thing, the first event in their new store, and they plan to have something every month. A celebrity makeup artist was there to do a demo and talk to brides about bridal makeup. It was small and easy work, and there wasn’t anyone super famous, but it was a great experience all the same. Everyone was so nice, and I know that I was really lucky to have this be my first experience at a fashion event. I had a lot of my questions answered, got to see how the business really worked, and they even said they’d be contacting the volunteers in the future for more help. The girls I worked with were around my age and all were very nervous at first, too. But we all got along well, and it was fun to talk to girls with similar interests trying to make it in the big City.

The night was inspirational as well. I was proud of myself for going out on a limb and taking a risk. We were told what to do by the man that does Jassir’s PR and sales, and I learned a lot about where to find opportunities from him, and I also was inspired by him to work hard and reach my goals, like he had.

This was by no means a BIG thing (I mean, I didn’t volunteer for McQueen at NY Fashion Week or anything), but it was a wonderful starting point and an exciting night. So, I urge you, take that risk, step out on that limb, and run towards your dreams – don’t be afraid to be fabulous!

What-to-Wear for: City Volunteering

Exciting news! Today I am going to go volunteer at a celebrity makeup event in the city with Tiffany Bartok, called “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” at Angelique Bridal. It was simple – I saw the post and just emailed them. But I’m still excited to start volunteering for fashion events and working my way into that world. Anyhow, what does one wear for such an occasion? Well, whatever they tell you too, basically. Fortunately the guidelines given to me were fairly broad – business attire or all black. So here is my inspiration:

Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”

The queen of simplicity and class, Hepburn turned all-black dressing into an art form in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” I’m going for the all-black look today (which is hard to do when you have only half your wardrobe in a college closet, and you surprisingly don’t have a lot of black). I’m wearing black leggings (Old Navy), a black cowl-neck sweater (Nordstrom’s) and a black blazer (from Macy’s, a while ago. I definitely need a better one…), and either black heels or flats (I’m bringing both and deciding when I get there). If you start to branch out to look for different fashion opportunities, and have similar guidelines for dressing, here’s a Polyvore set to help you find this simple black look with an affordable price tag:

Styled with Polyvore.

Blazer: $40, newlook.com. Sweater: $4o, houseoffraser.co.uk. Leggings: $22, houseoffraser.co.uk. Heels: $40, zappos.com. Flats: $24, boohoo.com.

As far as makeup and hair go, I’m probably either going to do my hair half up, half down, or put it into a chic sock bun. I’m going to line my top lids and wear subtle pink lipstick, as the event is called “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”

Hope you all have a great Thursday! Wish me luck!

Alerts!

Happy Tuesday! Here are two special alerts to make your Tuesday even better:

Zara is having a sale!!! I’m sorry, I was just so darn excited. I bought a cute rocker tank with studded shoulders ($15!) and a mile long, thick knit scarf ($10!), which has come in very hand today with the frigid cold.

Right now if you go to Marc B.’s Facebook you can enter a giveaway to win a bag – a new one from the new season! Go now and enter away!

Stay fabulous!

Trending Tuesday: Bow Delight

Christopher Kane Spring/Summer 2013.

An old trend is once again reborn. What once cinched in the waists for McQueen Winter runway looks is now adorning runways for Spring. Bows are the new accessory, and there are so many ways to make this trend work. Feeling girly? Try a hair bow or a belt with a bow to add instant polish and innocence to your look. Want the sweet-meets-rebel vibe? Take a flirty piece with a bow print and throw in booties and a lot of leather. Keep the trend current and mature by using oversized versions as accessories and clothes with fun bow prints.

For the goody-two-shoes in all of us:

Styled with Polyvore.

Bring some trendiness to your campus or while running errands with a bow added to a casual look. Pair a big, bright hair bow ($5, etsy.com) with jeans ($49, dorothyperkins.co.uk) and a top in the same color family ($20, allyfashion.com). Throw on a thick, knit cardigan ($19, desireclothing.co.uk) as needed and nude ankle booties ($32, newlook.com) to keep the look feminine and sweet. Add some tougher accessories, like a bag with studs or a punk ring, to keep the look from becoming too young.

For the girly rocker:

Styled with Polyvore.

Take a vintage lace dress with a bow print ($38, maxnina.com) and toughen it up with a leather vest [$33, Forever21] (add a gray jacket for warmth) and black, studded booties ($49, lulus.com). Add pops of red with your bag ($16, Charlotte Russe), nails, or lips to add a glamorous vibe. Finish off with equally tough or vintage accessories, and get ready to be fabulous!

 

Sales Sunday!

Happy Sunday all! I hope you’re enjoying this great turn in weather if you live in New York. I’m going out to Chelsea later and then Brooklyn tonight. Hope you have a great day and long weekend! Here are some sales to get you through:

• 50% off sale items at Express, plus coupons online
• Buy one, get one 50% off the new spring collection at NY&Co, + the Big Big Sale is still going on
• Up to 80% off at H&M
• Extra 50% off sale items at Forever21
• 30% off your purchase online at bananarepublic.com
• Clearance sale at JCPenney’s
• Weekend Sale and Clearance at Macy’s, and extra 25% off clearance online
• Shoes buy one, get one for $16 at Charlotte Russe + $12 high-low skirts and spring sale items starting at $5
• Extra 30% sale items at J. Crew
• 30% off sale items at Aldo, and 50-75% off original price of clearance items
• Semi-Annual sale at Victoria’s Secret ends in 4 days
• Women’s swimwear sale and home sale at Target (tip: some Target items are cheaper online than in-stores)

 

Fabulous Friday: Check Mate

Slapping an oversized checkboard print on a shift dress with no waist sounds like a recipe for pure fashion disaster – but Louis Vuitton proved that theory wrong with his new collection.

Jessica Alba in Louis Vuitton.

On paper, it really shouldn’t work. But it just so, so, so does. This is completely chic and I’d bet money it will become a new classic. So, I’m just sitting here, desperately waiting for H&M or anywhere with clothes under $100 to adapt this look so that I can play with it. Maybe I’ll just have to wait until I’m rich and famous.

Styled with Polyvore.

Here are the very few looks that go along with Vuitton’s genius design. The bustier top paired with the long skirt to create the same effect as the dress? Risky, but it might work. A big, black belt is probably necessary though (it would have a waist and wouldn’t fall like the Vuitton dress anyways, so a necessary sacrifice).

Shoes: $50, solestruck.com

Skirts: both from asos.com (Pencil: $32, Mini: $25)

Pants: $32, asos.com

Top: $28, gojane.com

What-to-Wear for: Interviews

It’s one interview of your life, and it’s just for an internship – no big deal, right? In reality, though, it feels like the most important moment of your life – you nail this and you can handle anything. First and foremost, you need confidence. And where do a lot of us get confidence from? Our outfits, of course. If you feel like you look like the best candidate out there, then odds are you’ll tackle the interview better. One way to feel invincible with your outfit is to incorporate trends (especially if it’s an interview at a fashionable firm). A few trends right now that are prefect for spring interviews are the new color of the year, green, and the return of pastels.

Styled by Polyvore.

Take work classics and amp them up with some color. Black pants ($32, warehouse.co.uk) and a white blouse ($20, monki.com) are the perfect back drops for a jewel green blazer ($48, H&M). Add some power pumps ($32, shelikes.com) and stud earrings ($42, Juicy Couture), and you’ll get the best cubicle in the office! For a sweeter look, pair a black shift dress with flair ($46, zalando.co.uk) with polka dot pumps ($27, gojane.com) and cool accessories in pastel colors (watch – $35, sincerelysweetboutique.com). With some mascara and a trendy mani (think bright pastels with an accent nail with “caviar” texture, the new thing) you’ll take over the office in no time!

Trending Tuesday: Red Hot

Claire Danes in Valentino at the 2013 Golden Globes.

If you didn’t watch the Golden Globes, here’s the news: red is going to be a big color trend, and soon. I’m thinking the color will pop up as people (like me) get over-excited about spring, and will really get big when the summer heat waves roll around. But for all of you that can’t wait until summer for the trend, here are some spring-ready outfits with a little red.

Styled with Polyvore.

Stand out with a pop of va va voom red. For a cute, flirty look, pair a nice red blouse with a neutral colored skater skirt, brown oxfords and bag, and pretty red accessories. If you want to be a little edgier, try red jeans with a printed blouse or graphic tee. Pair with black booties and classy earrings. Remember you can add some red to any outfit with some lipstick or nail polish – both great classics to fall back on! So throw on some red, go out tonight, and be fabulous!