Autumn Feels

Truth be told, the Fall 2014 runway shows were not my favorite. There were a lot of out there trends that I just can't pull off and don't really care to. When it comes to fall, I'm all about being cozy. Boots, long sleeves, pants, scarves, jackets. Give me all the layers!

The only problem with the layering situation is that usually by the time I get to class I'm sweating buckets. Love the look, hate the feel (but we all make sacrifices, right?). I've been doing a bit of online shopping here and there, and while I don't have my fall wardrobe down just right (as a matter of fact, it's not even close), at least I have an idea of what I'm looking for! The top of my list? A comfy pair of sneakers. Not only do I love the ones below, but I'm obsessed with these ones in particular.

Check out my top picks for fall below!

Red dress, $24 / Tory Burch slim fit sweater / Boohoo aztec print top / ONLY cream top, $45 / MANGO cotton shirt, $49 / Uniqlo t shirt / Paige Denim slim fit jeans, $315 / J Brand super skinny jeans, $245 / Paige Denim skinny jeans, $270 / Circle skirt / Tory burch boots / Sole Society high heel boots / Vans grey shoes / Converse shoes, $84 / Kate spade wallet / Sole Society scarve

I'm trying to get myself to invest in a good pair of jeans. Any thoughts on Paige Denim? Help a girl out! I'd love your input!

School in Style No. 2: Varsity Player

True story, I'm in love with the whole "varsity" look that's coming in for fall. Sports-inspired looks were all over the runways and I gotta say, I am so happy about it. I basically live in my sneakers on a day-to-day basis (I nanny and work at a gym.. okay?!), so this trend might seriously be the best thing to happen to me this season.

One of the biggest criteria for dressing myself in the morning is comfort. If my outfit isn't comfy, it is not going to be a good day. As a matter of fact, it's one of the quickest ways to put me in a bad mood. I'm a firm believer in the idea that comfort is key, and if you're not comfortable in the clothes you're wearing, how are you supposed to rock them in confidence? Bring on the boyfriend jeans, t-shirt dresses, and sneaks please!

School in Style No. 1: The Lady in Leopard

Stockholm Streetstyle

Is anyone really surprised that leopard has managed to stick around long enough to make it back to the fall runways? I've been on the hunt for cute leopard-y things to add to my wardrobe since last fall when they started making their comeback into the real world, but up until now I've been a little too scared to take the jump. I've been lusting over these flats for quite some time now though, so don't be surprised if I pull the trigger come mid-September.

Anyhow, with school starting up again in a little less than a month (not sure how I feel about it yet), I thought it'd be fun to do a little weekly series of fall looks for you all to rock when you head back to campus (or high school)! In case you didn't catch on by now, this week involves leopard. And lots of it! I'm in love.

"As far as I'm concerned, leopard is a neutral."

~Jenna Lyons

Mango collared shirt / Current/Elliott current elliott jeans / Diana Warner rope sandals / Lauren Merkin tote bag / Tech accessory / Stella mccartney glasses

Alice Olivia white blouse / Current/Elliott low rise jeans, $485 / River Island golf skirt, $47 / Christian Louboutin red sole shoes / Alexander Wang leather shoes / Kate Spade brown handbag / Style Co leopard purse

Leetha silk sleeveless top, $925 / Louche summer top, $76 / Theory black pants / Black skirt / French Connection tight / Tory Burch black boots / Kurt Geiger high heel pumps, $500 / Jonathan Adler leather bag / Black handbag, $19 / Ray-Ban wayfarer sunglasses / Yves Saint Laurent scarve / Tory Burch tech accessory / Diane Von Furstenberg tech accessory / Yves Saint Laurent lipstick / Beauty product

I'm definitely going to have to invest in something soon. And now I'm thinking that in addition to these flats, I'm definitely going to need these Tory booties too. The shopping struggle is always real my friends.

xoxo

Sundays in Bed

Happy Sunday my loves! I hope your day treats you well as mine is jam-packed. Coffee will be needed and oh, if someone had brought me breakfast in bed this morning, I would have been the happiest girl alive. But I settled for cereal, so there's that. Anyway, moving on to the good stuff...

The city takes a breath on Sunday.

Photo/could i have that?

Take Me to Rio

It should come as no surprise that I'm a Kate Spade addict to any of you, but alas, I couldn't resist doing a post on their latest new arrivals. I browse the site almost daily and while I had my doubts about the latest additions to the collection, they've really grown on me.

As if I wasn't obsessed enough with their book clutches, I absolutely fell in love with this one. It's so bright and summer-y, if I had a reason to carry around a clutch I would totally invest in it! I have a feeling that my bag addiction is never going to stop. I love them, and really, can a girl ever have too many bags? Hint: the answer is an unequivocal no.

Summer is my absolute favorite (although my hair would suggest otherwise... frizz is at it's highest from May to August). I love dresses, and I love skirts. I am the epitome of a girly girl and summer is my season.

I Like Large Parties

So if I'm being completely honest, I really do like large parties-- preferably where I know a lot of people (versus the classic being stuffed into a basement with a ton of people I don't know kind of party.) I think it has something to do with the fact that when people let loose you can really see their true colors. Not in a bad way or anything, but when Fitzgerald wrote, "I like large parties. They're so intimate", he kind of had a point.

Large parties are funny to me because in college, everybody is constantly either trying way too hard to fit in or way too hard to stand out. But when I'm with my friends and we're all out, it's like none of that stuff matters. It's honest. And I really enjoy hearing stories, and I find I hear many of them when people are, I guess you could say, more willing to be vulnerable.

21 is not just a number.

My friends' 21st birthdays are coming up rapidly! Sure, I already have a few friends that have hit the mark, but the majority of them aren't around. And if I like parties, I love birthday parties. Call me selfish, but I enjoy milking my birthday until I can milk it no longer. It's kind of my favorite holiday, but I love celebrating my friend's birthdays too. While my friend and I are planning a few things here and there for the up and coming birthday weeks, I find myself off in la la land, wondering just how my 21st birthday (October come faster!!) will pan out.

And while I like large parties, I like to keep things classy too. And pink.

1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8

Can you tell I'm thinking along the lines of pink for my 21st? Go ahead and call me Barbie. Except for don't because there's a 99% chance I'll get mad.

xoxo

All I Think is Mexico...

So after spring break, we're kind of in the home stretch. And I just realized yesterday that I only have one final (granted, it's on the last day of finals... because, well that's just my luck). Ignoring that little tidbit though, I basically decided that I'm officially done school April 30th. It's SO close! But so far away. It's also the most aggravating feeling in the world. I feel like I have senioritis and I'm not even a senior. Whoops!

Moving on though, last week was basically torture scrolling through my Instagram feed and seeing loads among loads of pictures of paradise. Key West, Cancun, the Dominican Republic, oh, they all looked so nice! Needless to say it put my wanderlust into full throttle and two of my best friends and I booked a trip to Mexico this June. To be followed directly by my family trip to Disney! Last summer was amazing, and I knew it'd be hard to beat, but I don't know... this summer's looking pretty good so far.

In other news, I'm broke again...

But oh well! One of the perks of working three jobs is that I know I have a steady inflow of cash coming in. So yay! My anxiety attacks related to lack of funds have officially subsided. And now all I have to really focus on is making sure I get through the next six weeks of school (which is already proving to be an issue as I took a "mental health" day yesterday.) Professors give out freebies for a reason, right? The reason being they understand how vital spending a day online shopping is to a girl. But don't worry! I haven't clicked "purchase" on anything, yet.

Wasted Away Again in Margaritaville

Elan Halter Cover-Up, $64

Steve Madden Crochet Cover-Up, $36

Kate Spade Capri Espadrille Francis, $268

 

Lilly Pulitzer Shoreline Tote, $78

 Lilly Pulitzer Delia Shift Dress, $198

 

J. Crew Sailor-Strip Underwire Top, $58 (I'm eyeing it in blue grotto...)

 

J. Crew Rosewood Geo Bandeau Ring Top, $44

 

Vineyard Vines Reef Strip Maxi Dress, $158

And to think, that's just the start of the list...

Count on a new pair of Jack Rogers for this summer too. Ahh my weakness. But seriously how cute are these?!

The One Thing Every Girl Needs

Did you ever see Blair and Serena without their handy sidekicks? I'm talking bags ladies. And I'm thinking spring! It's no surprise that I'm obsessed with Gossip Girl, and I was just as obsessed with the fashion. If there's anything I firmly believe in investing in, it's bags. Well, bags and shoes. My weakness for shoes outweighs my love for bags, but either way, I spend a lot of money on the two.

I tend to gravitate towards larger bags, just because between classes and work and everything it's more convenient. Having all my must-haves in one place is extremely handy and plus, I kind of just love big bags. But when the warmer weather comes around and classes aren't in full swing, bags tend to become more of an accessory than a necessity. Anyone else with me here? Sometimes a cute bag is the cherry on top of an adorable outfit!

A Bag is An Investment

2 Park Avenue Beau Bag

Still lusting over this bag... And I adore this color!

Robinson Chain Mini Bag

Perfect for a night out, no?

Medium M.A.B. Tote

I love, love, love this bag. In every color. Rebecca Minkoff nailed it.

Runaway Cross Body Bag

When I'm running errands, I tend to like functional bags more than I like cute bags. And that's mostly because on days I'm running errands I care far less about what I look like than I do on a day to day basis. But this bag's a nice touch, and I love the gray!

Little Minka Leather Satchel Bag

The only excuse I have for this one is that I love Kate Spade. And I love pink.

Scarlett Saffiano Leather Shopper Tote

I always forget how much I love Calvin Klein. This bag is so simple but adorable. I love it in white too!

Jane Tote

Seems like the perfect beach bag, doesn't it?

Ooh La La Francis

Just the fact that there's a bow and "ooh la la" is in it's name is good enough reason to love this bag for me.

Holly Street Rubie

It's the perfect shade of blue.

Spring, come faster!

A new season calls for a new bag, right? I can't wait for the sunshine, it seems like everything is better when it's warm and sunny! And everything is especially better when a new bag is involved... Have your eye on anything?

xoxo

Kate Spade Spring 2014

I know NYFW is in full swing for Fall/Winter 2014 collections, but right now all I'm thinking is spring, spring, spring! And while I have been following the shows happening this week (I'm currently loving Rebecca Minkoff's collection and Rebecca Vallance), I decided now is an appropriate time to start planning for the warmer months that, fingers crossed, lay ahead!

The other day I was sitting at our lunch table, and I pulled my agenda, wallet, and phone out of my bag. (All are Kate Spade because clearly I have an obsession.) And one of the girls who sits with us said, "Wow, Emily, do you like Kate Spade or something?" Cue the laughter. I'm obsessed. Season after season, the collections manage to perfectly balance elegance and girl power, the two things I feel embody the modern woman. So, it shouldn't come as a shocker that my favorite collection from spring 2014 is Kate Spade's. Oh, to be rich!

Bon Voyage!

 I've been eyeing this clutch since I first set my eyes on it...

Places to Go, People to See

Now, if you knew that the spring collection was inspired by Deborah Lloyd's travels in Europe, then you probably aren't surprised that I'm head over heels for this collection. Especially given the post I wrote just last week! I've still got a serious case of wanderlust and this line makes me so, so, SO excited for spring and summer. And even more than that? All the fabulous adventures that come with them! As always, Deborah Lloyd and her team nailed it.

xoxo

p.s. Kate Spade is having a surprise sale!! It ends Thursday, 2/13 at 11:59pm so hurry!

Weekly Wonders: Instagram Edition

I really love Instagram... it's kind of one of my obsessions. I'm working on being artsy enough to become some kind of "cool" Instagrammer, but again, I lack in the creativity department. But what I lack in creativity I make up for in good writing (or at least I like to think so)! Anyways, I thought it would be fun to compile a list of my top ten favorite Instagram accounts for this week's round-up! All of these ladies are amazing role models for those of us with a love for style, fashion, and all things that seem effortlessly cool. I've read on a few of their blogs that they spend a lot of time setting up and staging photos, and for that I admire them.

#ladieswhorock

1. amy_stone

2. collegeprepster

3. garypeppergirl

4. katespadeny

5. laurenconrad

6. lillypulitzer

7. parisinfourmonths

8. sarahkjp

9. thestyleline

10. devonrachel

These ladies/companies have it figured out. They capture beautiful photos that set them apart from so many others. The talent they have when it comes to putting together an amazing photograph is something I hope to acquire in the coming years. So unique, so perfect. 

xoxo

Emily