Oh Yes I Did.

So I have a sorority formal coming up in a few weeks, and I was going through my closet over and over trying to decide what to wear and coming up with nada.  And then I checked my bank account and realized it was a little higher than expected, so I went straight to Rent The Runway.  Yep.  I finally caved.  I'm so excited.


Herve Leger "Naughty and Nice" Dress, rent for $100, retail $1,050, Catherine Malandrino "Modern Queen Elizabeth" Dress, rent for $75, retail $525: I rented (or will rent haha) this purple Herve Leger dress.  I've been dying to try one for years, literally, and I love this one.  The purple is a great color for me, and the sweetheart neckline is great for a bigger chest, plus it's the perfect length and I love the open back.  The way Rent The Runway works is that you get two sizes of the dress you order to try on (and if you order 1 dress you can get another of equal or lesser value for TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS).  I'm wearing this with big sparkley earrings and strappy black platforms and it is going to be epic.  Now, I won't personally order this second dress for my body type, but I absolutely love the cut of it.  Isn't it gorgeous?  The open shoulders!  Sigh.  Someone order it so I can look at pretty pictures of it.  Oh!  Rent The Runway also sends you a Fit Kit with double sided tape and lint rollers, etc, which is so cute and practical.

The Preppy Polka Dot Personalized Tumbler, $14.50 at etsy.com: The other thing I got myself today was one of these tumblers.  I know they're sickeningly cute, but they're so practical for someone who's always reusing Starbucks cups for drinks in my room.  You can get different fonts and colors with your name on the front (I did a grey/light pink/black combo).  I love things like this that are cute and practical.

Images via renttherunway.com, etsy.com.

New Wardrobe Staple

I did something for the first time today.  I bought a backup of a pair of jeans.  I know.  I've never bought 2 of the same pair of jeans before because I've always had some sort of small problem that keeps me from repurchasing.  But with this pair...nothing.  No problems.  And they're a pair of skinny jeans!  It's like the world is ending.

7 For Mankind Gwenevere in Antoinette Darling, $189 at revolveclothing.com, J. Crew Lace-Stripe Tissue Tee, $58 at jcrew.com: I picked up another pair of these 7s on eBay.  If you're like me and you love designer jeans but not the price tag, I can't recommend eBay enough.  I got this pair for over $100 off.  The key is finding out what size in a brand and what cut fits you, and then you can buy a pair from that brand with trying them on.  Success!  What I love about these jeans is that they're stretchy enough to be comfy but thick enough to be supportive, the dark wash is flattering, the high rise doesn't cut into my hip...padding, and the skinny leg works really well with boots.  These are my new wardrobe staple.  I legit wear them every day.  Today I'd like to pair them with a cute-with-a-twist tee, like this lace paneled one from J. Crew.  The slight sheerness gives it a hint of interest, and the off-white hue is very flattering.  I like to do a slightly more voluminous top with a skinnier jean like this pair to balance everything out.

Frye Carmen Short Harness Boots, $298 at fryeboots.com, LOT78 Siouxie Leather Biker Jacket, $860 at net-a-porter.com: I've been wearing those jeans with these boots non-stop.  I heart them.  They've already been re-soled.  The cute, cropped width of the boot works nicely with the skinniness of the jeans, and I love the sassy, western attitude juxtaposed with the sweet girliness of the tee.  To play off that contrast even more, I'd do a cropped leather jacket on top.  When I do a roomier top I like to do a cropped jacket to add some structure and remind the world that I have a waist.  Plus skinny jeans and a leather jacket is just the cutest, Audrey Hepburn gone bad combination.

Ray-Ban Outsider Oversized Wayfarers, $139 at revolveclothing.com, J. Crew Oval Heirloom Locket Necklace, $50 at jcrew.com: Yup, just to push the Audrey Hepburn comparison over the edge I'd add a pair of oversized Wayfarers.  The tortoiseshell is sweetly retro, the shape is very '50s chic, and the oversized nature gives them a fun, celeb-hiding-from-the-paparazzi twist.  Last but not least I'd do a vintagey-locket necklace to add a little visual weight to the lacey shirt and a fun bit of bling.

If only I owned all of these things.  Sigh.


Images via revolveclothing.com, jcrew.com, fryeboots.com, net-a-porter.com.

Friday Faves

Oof, it's been a long week.  Time to look at some pretty things, no?

Rebecca  Taylor Tiered Matte-Silk Maxi Dress, $345 at net-a-porter.com, YSL Belle D'Opium, $89 for 3 oz. at sephora.com: This first one is wishful thinking, seeing as it was about 20 degrees yesterday.  Cry.  Maxi skirts are going to/have been big for a while, and while that skirt does absolutely nothing for my body type.  Maxi dresses, however, manage to be a bit more flattering with the cinched in waists and fitted tops.  I love the vibrant purple hue of this one, and the matte finish of the silk gives it such an interestingly luxurious and exotic vibe.  I want this perfume, if only for the bottle and the fact that the UK outlawed the commercials with a girl randomly dancing around because they simulated opium use.  Really UK?  Having finally watched Skins, I can say that their standards are wack, because that show is CRAZY.  Anyways, this perfume has notes of peach, white pepper, casablanca lily, jasmine, incense, resins, and sandalwood.  I really wanted to like the original Opium, but it was a big too strong and old-fashioned for me.  This, on the other hand, sounds absolutely lovely, just the right mixture of sexy and fresh.

Acne Breeze Top, $300 at shopbop.com, Club Monaco Olivia Skirt, $149 at shopbop.com: First off, this is definitely a dress and not a top.  But second off, I love dresses like this.  It's all cute and cozy from the front and then BAM, turn around and it's crazy sexy and offbeat.  I've never shopped at Club Monaco, but how adorable is that skirt?  It's a beige chiffon with sewn-on rhinestones, the perfect combination of modern, feminine, elegant, and whimsical.  I'd do this with a sheerish white tee and a ton of jewelry.

Have a happy weekend y'all!


Images via net-a-porter.com, sephora.com, shopbop.com.

Randomly Craving: Kate Spade

I am not really a Kate Spade person.  Mainly because I'm just not really a preppy person.  I don't wear lots of collared shirts or pastels or polka dots or any of that, so I don't generally look at Kate Spade.  But for some reason I ended up on the website this morning, and there were actually some kind of adorable accessories.  Here are my top three:


iPhone 4 Hard Cover, $40 at katespade.com: I have a pink case for my iPhone, and it's a normal medium pink with lighter pink accents.  It's fine.  It's a bit on the boring side.  I have to have a case because otherwise I will actually shatter my phone to pieces, so I want it to be a cute case.  I really like this one, with the combination of the pink trim on the front and the crazy, psychedelic flowers on the back.  I like the balance between cute, creepy, and functional.

Devote Mod Leopard Lacey, $225 at katespade.com: This wallet is totally overpriced.  I recognize that.  But this is so...so cute.  The monochromatic leopard print strikes a nice balance between functional and sassily adorable, and it has SO many pockets inside.  I love wallets that have lots of compartments where you can store fun stuff, and this one has literally tons.

Emma Book Clutch, $325 at katespade.com: And this one is my favorite.  It's a hard clutch shaped like Jane Austen's Emma.  I find book clutches mildly obnoxious most of the time, but this is one of my favorite books, so I can't hate on it.  The pale pink color is lovely (and what I'm painting my room next year!), and the back has one of my favorite quotes from the book.  It's so sweet in a sassy-nerd sort of way.  As I am sassy and also somewhat nerdy, this belongs in my life.  Also I just realized I have no clutches...hm...

Images via katespade.com.

End of Week Ramble

I don't know about all of you girls, but this week has been difficult, to say the least.  To the point where when my phone today I almost burst into tears on the subway (the ultimate in pathetic.  It's a phone.  For crying out loud--pun intended).  Oh, and on that note, should I get an iPhone or another Blackberry?  I'm so torn.


So the level of what I can handle writing about today is pretty things that I want.  Nothing revolutionary, but I think we all need a little end of week pick-me-up.


Rebecca Minkoff Navajo Studs Flame Satchel, $425 at shopbop.com, Ray-Ban Vagabond Sunglasses, $145 at shopbop.com: I realize that this bag is mildly tasteless and will be completely out of fashion in like 6 months.  But I really want it.  I like the studs, I like the print, I even like the tassels.  The clean, structured shape balances out all that drama nicely, and the shoulder strap is really convenient.  How Jackie-O fabulous are those sunglasses?  I love the elongated, cat-eye shape and the retro simplicity of the tortoiseshell frame.  The shape would be flattering on a variety of faces, and they're just so...cool.

Mary Green Sleeping Beauty Eye Mask, $25 at shopbop.com, Alice + Olivia Tie-Dye Silk-Georgette Dress, $295 at net-a-porter.com: I need one of these.  So badly.  I can sleep through basically anything, but it's so hard to fall asleep when one of your roommates is cramming late for a test and has a bunch of lights on (just a hypothetical situation).  I want a glam, cute solution to having to bury my face under a pillow, and this is it.  The pale pink is adorable, but the black gives it a nice edge, and the 'sleeping beauty' thing is so sweet.  Also confidence boosting in the early morning.  For the longest time I thought this dress was plaid.  Which was really cute.  But the fact that it's tie-dye that doesn't look overly hippie-tastic or granola-y is kind of awesome.  It's like minimalist, abstract tie-dye, and that works so well with the simple cut of the dress.

Images via shopbop.com, net-a-porter.com.

Today's Wants

So I was a fail blogger yesterday.  I was in the middle of writing a theory paper about transnational migration theory and then I went to sleep and completely forgot about blogging.  Fail.  But today I'm on top of it!  Here are my wants:


Pottery Barn Faux Fur Throw: Okay, so this isn't for sale anymore, but a friend of mine has it and I WANT IT.  It's a plush, suede-like material on one side and then on the other side it's a fluffy faux fur.  It's so warm and cozy, but it looks so glam and fabulous.  I want to snuggle with it.  I've tried to steal it from my friend, but she's not having it.

See by Chloe Yate Clutch, $95 at endless.com: This is so cute.  I just want to hug it.  I'm not really a clutch person, but this one is so cute and well-priced that it needs to be mine.  The shape and hue are very practical and easy to wear, but the bow adds an adorable girly twist, and then the metal takes it to a rock and roll glam sort of place.

 

Ginger + Liz Polish in Reality Bites, Swagger, and Prima Donna, all $12 at gingerandliz.com: All of the Ginger + Liz polishes are vegan and eco-friendly (yay!) and they come in the coolest colors.  No but like really.  Best colors ever.  Reality Bites is cream polish in a coral with tangerine highlights.  I love this color because it's a fun, bright, springy color but it's not glaring like a neon.  Swagger is a metallic rose gold.  I LOVE metallic polishes.  Love.  The usual gold ones are cute, but the pink twist with this one makes it so much more interesting and so much younger and more flattering.  Prima Donna is a metallic pink with lavender undertones.  I want this.  I want this a lot.  It's such a cool color!  The pinky purple is all cute and girly, and then you throw in the metallic twist and BAM it's all high fashion and quirky chic.

Images from pbteen.com, endless.com, gingerandliz.com.

My Precious

There's this Anthropologie dress I've been stalking down for months.  I wanted it in October, it wasn't on sale, I couldn't justify the $180 or so price tag, so I crept around the Anthropologie website for months, waiting for it to go on sale.  And then it disappeared off the website and I thought all hope was lost (so dramatic, I know).

Then on a random shopping trip last week, I wandered into Anthropologie and BAM.  My dress, on sale for half off, in my size.  I couldn't not buy it, right?  I absolutely love it.  It's an a-line cut with a fitted waist, sweetheart neckline, a tan and white striped fabric with a blue print and a cute little waist tie.  There are two things that really get me about this dress.  The first is that the quality is very high.  The fabric is thick and sturdy, there are large fabric allowances in all the seams, the skirt has multiple layers so it actually flares out like a real a-line, just little things like that that make me feel like I got my money's worth.  The second is that the fit is really, really flattering if you have a silhouette like mine--very, very hourglassy.  I wish it was a bit smaller through the waist, but it actually fits my chest, which never happens, so I'm not complaining.

Here I'm wearing it with my Frye Carmen Short boots, which are sadly at the cobbler now getting new heels.  I don't really have a lot of occasions to wear this dress now in Boston, but just looking at it reminds me of spring and makes me so happy.  It's part country western, part retro '50s, and just really fun.

Zoya Edtya and Blair

It happened.  My 3 Free Facebook promo Zoya polishes came in the mail (WOOHOO!).  Well two of them came, the third (Kelly) comes tomorrow.  For those of you that don't know, Zoya is a great, eco-friendly polish company that had a get 3 free polishes deal where you just paid for shipping a while back.  Mine were all backordered, but they're finally here!


So my first two are Edtya and Blair. Zoya describes Edyta as a complex mixture of gold, olive, blue-green and smokey grey with a sparkling metallic finish.  You can actually see all of those in the bottle, which is impressive.  This polish is along the same lines as Zoya Valerie, in that it's very, VERY thickly packed with fine glitter.  Blair is described as a cool blackened red with subtle hints of purple and metallic shimmer.  I'd say that's pretty spot on.  I love that it reminds me of Blair from Gossip Girl and it's such a me color--vampy but not so dark that it comes across as black.  It's similar to OPI's Royal Rajah Ruby, which I also have, but while RRR reads as dark and then red on the nails, Blair is most emphatically a red that then registers as vampy.  It other words: it's HOT.  Zoya polishes are usually $7 at zoya.com.

Definitely click on these to make them bigger.  I did my nails with Edyta first because it's such a weird color.  I mean weird in a good way, though.  The thing with me and polish is that I don't like crazy, weird colors.  I usually stay within the range of pink/red/purple/color/navy.  No bright greens or yellows or blues here.  So a green polish is a little crazy for me.  The reason I got this is that it fills the gap in my polish collection of the vampy color that's also offbeat and a little edgy.  Edyta is extremely easy to apply, you could get away with one coat but I like to do two.  It is hard to remove since it's a glitter, but it sparkles like fire in the sunshine, it's fabulous.  The color on my nails reads as a greyed down olive green with hints of gold and mint green shimmer.  It's kind of a badass army green.  I love it.  It flatters my skin tone, it's quirky but not actually weird, and it's wearing really well compared to Zoyas I've had in the past (probably the stubbornness of the glitter).

Awkward Chic rating: A+.  I mean, it was free, the color and application are great, and it's insanely glittery.  I have no complaints. 

How To: Rock a Fur Stole

The lovely Joeybunny asked me to do a post on how to wear a fur stole, which was ironically coincidental as literally when she asked me I was standing in front of my closet staring at a fur stole I've never managed to wear out.  First off, I have to say as a vegetarian I'm not a huge fan of the fur industry, but since this was inherited I feel like if no one wears it then the animal died for no reason (just my opinion).


So I feel like when you wear a fur stole you need to either go one of 2 directions: either go full out and wear it with a cocktail dress and heels like it was intended, or do the rock and roll glam thing and wear it with jeans and a tee.  As a college student, option B is a heck of a lot more practical, so that's what I went with.


Here I'm wearing an ASTARS tee, 7 For All Mankind Gwenevere jeans, Frye Carmen Short Boots, a vintage fur stole, and Tiffany's jewelry.  I'm also wearing a big Forever 21 necklace with an elephant face on it but for some reason it got swallowed up by the fur.

So my logic behind this outfit (yes, sadly, there was logic) was that you don't want to fight with the fur.  Clearly it's going to be the star of the outfit.  I'm not a flashy person when it comes to clothes (wearing a fur stole on campus is pretty over the top for where I go to school) so I kept the shirt in a neutral color.  I like the juxtaposition between the casual shirt and the glam stole, but they also go so well together because they drape so nicely.  I did dark jeans really because they're more flattering and because I think dark denim is a little more rock and roll than light, no?  And then I did the boots, which are terribly hard to see, my bad, because they add a casual edge to the outfit but they're sassy enough to stand up to the fur stole and not let it completely take over the outfit.  One of the things you have to accept in this situation is that you're not going to get a practical outfit out of this.  Short sleeves and fur?  Ridiculous, but cool looking in a devil-may-care sort of way.  You could probably do a long sleeved shirt here, but I don't actually own any--I have crazy neuroses about things touching my wrists--and I tried layered it over a leather jacket, but that was just too much.


What do you girls think?  Would you rock a fur stole during the day time?

Currently Craving

I'm thinking about finding summer jobs right now, and the sad thing is, when I think about sumer, I think about shopping.  And you all know that I love shopping.  Definitely too much.  Here are my two favorite things I found perusing around today:


Foley + Corinna Jet Set Bag, $495 at shopbop.com, Alice + Olivia Nicola Fitted Dress, $297 at shopbop.com: I've wanted this bag since 8th grade.  No joke.  It was actually between this one and the one I got (the city tote) when I bought it, after having saved up all my money FOREVER.  The city tote won out, but I still have a soft spot for this baby.  I love the structured shape, and how it contrasts with the slightly edgier details, like the buckles and zippers.  It's just the right size for all my junk, and the leather on these Foley + Corinna bags ages so, so well.  Plus it has a handy shoulder strap so you can wear it two ways.  If you can't tell, I want it again.  On another fab note, there's this Alice + Olivia leopard dress.  I love me some leopard, and I love me some body-con dresses, and when you put them together--DOUBLE LOVE.  It's almost too much, but since the cut of the dress is so simple I think it works, no?

Images via shopbop.com.

BHLDN

This is bad news for brides-to-be everywhere, kids.  Anthropologie has launched an online bridal shop, complete with wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, cocktail dresses, accessories, shoes, etc, etc.  Why is this bad news?  Because it is going to kill my wallet and I'm not even getting married.  It's genius, really.  Take the romatic-boho chic of Anthropologie and capitalize on it in wedding form and you have a guaranteed money maker.  Here are some of my favorite pieces (but let's be honest, I love all of them):

Tiered Tulip Gown, $2,400 at bhldn.com: I love this wedding dress.  It's so different from what you usually see, but not so different that you could never actually wear it as a wedding dress.  The lettuce edge to the layers adds a hint of femininity without going overboard, the slit in the front shows a bit of ankle without being too sexy, and the black sash at the waist adds just the right amount of structure and edge.  It's modern, it's romantic, and it's just a bit quirky.

Starburst Pleated Shift, $200 at bhldn.com: This is so '20s screen siren, in a modern take (also, does that model look a bit like Camilla Belle or is that just me?).  The black becomes fun instead of standard with the high sheen fabric, the subtle pleating gives the simple shape some visual interest, and the wrapped, jeweled belt adds this old school glamour twist.  I want to wear this dress in a smokey speakeasy with tons of black liner and basically just be awesome.

Savoy Dress, $220 at bhldn.com: I have a dress like this from Rodarte for Target, with the same neckline with the illusion/sheer fabric and the sweetheart cut.  It's such a fun dress because you aren't showing too much skin, but you're still flashing a little something-something.  The length is flattering but wedding appropriate, and the sweetness of the little bow balances out the vampiness of the lipstick red perfectly.

Images via BHLDN.com.

J. Crew Wants

 Aw, J. Crew.  It's like they understand me so well.  I'm going to start one-stop shopping there soon.  I mean, now they sell nail polish and lip gloss, so I'm pretty much set for life.  Here are some of their cute new items:

Oxford Ballet Flats, $138 at jcrew.com, Corsa Hobo, $298 at jcrew.com: I've always wished I could rock a pair of oxfords, but something about the lace-up structure of them throws me off, and they're a little on the masculine side for me.  That's why I think these flats are adorable.  They have the styling of a pair of oxfords, but in cute little ballet flat format.  It's the perfect balance of masculine and feminine, and so quirky chic.  J. Crew is really knocking it out of the park with their handbags recently.  I like my bags to be basic and versatile, but with a bit of a unique twist.  This bag is big enough to hold all my junk, a versatile and rich color, and has a few little quirks: the distressed leather, the oversized zipper pulls, the chain handle.  Plus at just under $300, it's a pretty good deal.

Swirling Dots Dress, $148 at jcrew.com, Crosstown Tee, $27.60 at jcrew.com: I am still on the hunt for the perfect little sundress--just a hint of vintage flair, flattering cut, lightweight.  This isn't it, but it's pretty darn cute.  It has a cute swirling dot print, a light cotton-silk blend fabric, a cut that flirts the line between fitted and flowing nicely, and a sweet little bow at the bustline.  It's simple but elegant, and an outfit in and of itself.  I love all of J. Crew's riffs on the basic tee, like this wrap/crossover front tee.  It comes in a ton of colors, the wrap cut makes your waist look tiny, and it's one sale.  Wootwoot.

Images via jcrew.com.

Craving: Urban Decay Feminine Palette

I don't think I've ever bought an eyeshadow palette.  I'm too picky.  I like to be able to choose all of my colors.  But sometimes I wish I had a cute little palette like this to take with me when I travel.  It's so much more travel friendly than a ton of loose eyeshadows and the packaging is LOVELY.  


Urban Decay Feminine Palette, $34 at urbandecay.com.  Loving the feathery art on the front.  I'd actually be proud to whip this out of my makeup bag.

So what's included in the palette is a mini of their Eden shadow primer (a matte beige), a mini of their 24-7 liner in Zero (black), and 6 shadows: Stray Dog, a cool deep brown taupe, SWF, a metallic cotton candy pink, Midnight Cowboy, a gilded champage bronze, Aquarius, a pale, muted teal with silver shimmer, Darkhorse, a deep chocolate bronze-brown, and Ecstacy, a cool violet purple.  I really love that there's a nice combination of wearable, chic shades, and then there's the purple and the teal thrown in for a fun, whimsical touch.  The black liner adds a nice bit of edge to it all. 

I read somewhere that you get about $80 worth of product in this palette, which is a pretty phenomenal steal considering that the actual price is about $46 less than that.  Talk about a bargain people.  Has anyone tried this?  I want it.


Images via audreydao.com.

Womanity

So when I replaced my old, dried up gel liner from Sephora a few days ago, I ended up with some fun free samples.  One of which was the Thierry Mugler Womanity EDP, which I've been dying to try for a while now.


Thierry Mugler Womanity EDP, $78 for 1.7 oz at sephora.com: It's definitely not a cheap fragrance, and I have mixed feelings about the bottle.  I like it, but I don't think it's very chic or elegant.  There's some mumbo jumbo about 'secret symbols' carved into the cap and all that, but the one bit I do like about the cap is the twist-on cap.  It feels a little more glamorous than the standard atomizer.  The other thing that bothers me is the name.  Womanity?  Really?  Ugh.

So the notes in this are fig, caviar, citrus, and woods.  When I first heard that I was like hm.  I'm a vegetarian.  Caviar is one of the last things I want to smell like.  But the caviar here doesn't say "baby fish fetuses."  It adds a salty, musky base to the fragrance that twists around the dry woods beautifully, in a way reminiscent of drift wood on the beach.  The citrus adds a bright note, but the fig...the fig is the real star.  It adds a sweet, feminine, unctuous twist that keeps this from being any generic girly fragrance and takes it to an interesting, offbeat and sophisticated place.  I really love this.  I loved it so much that I thought it must be weird (I always like weird perfumes), and so I made basically everyone I talked to today smell it, and the general consensus is that it's FAB.  It's feminine but not boring, has great sillage and lasting power (I put a TINY dab on over 12 hours ago and I can still smell it clearly) but isn't overpowering, and it's sexy.  Very, very sexy in a non-slutty, non-tacky kind of way.  I really want this.  Which is a problem, since it ain't cheap.


Awkward Chic rating: A-.  I'd give the perfume itself an A+, but the name, price, and bottle take it down a bit.


Image via sephora.com.

Today's Wants

I need to choose my classes next year based solely on which ones don't have WiFi in the classrooms.  Otherwise I need to change my major to online shopping.  Which I would be amazing at.  Here are my two favorite things I found today:


Elizabeth & James Odila Leather and Glossed-twill Bell Skirt, $465 at net-a-porter.com, Emma Cook Feather Print Silk Crepe de Chine Dress, $620 at net-a-porter.com: This skirt is HOT.  I love me an a-line skirt under any circumstances, but this one is extra fab because of the built-in leather belt with all its geometric cut outs.  The sheen of the leather and the interesting texture put all the emphasis on your waist, and the flair of the a-line skirt makes your waist look tiny.  Doesn't the flower print on this dress look real?  That's why I like it.  It looks like a $1,000 dress covered in real feather, but instead it's a $600 dress that balances a vibrant, textural print with a clean, simple silhouette perfectly.  It's such a statement in and of itself.

Images via net-a-porter.com.