'Tis the Season to Be Formal

Hi Beautiful Readers!
Today is going to be a busy day for me...sorry about the sporadic posts, I am just very overwhelmed with final projects and writing portfolios at the moment, I promise my blogging will stabilize again very soon!
I wanted to do a post on formal season, because I know that most of my readers are involved in Greek life. The end of the semester always means FORMAL! Despite the panic associated with finding a date (that hasn't "socialized" with another girl in your sorority house), making a hair appointment, testing out the perfect "natural" face or smokey eye; the biggest panic (for me) is finding the perfect dress...oh and shoes...oh yeah, and bag.
Every year I say the same thing, "I'll recycle a dress" but can I do that, nope! And why you ask? It would apparently make sense to do so, since I only wear black to formal events (it's slimming DUH!). However, there is nothing like finding that new dress that makes you feel like a million bucks.

I want that spotlight-glimmer-shimmer-sparkly-deliriously-excited feeling when I get ready for formal, and for me a new dress does just that.
So trying on a million options, and then returning a million options, I am finally settled on a dress...and it only cost $10 after all the in-store sales! Hello Urban Behavior body-con snake-skin-pattern dress. With my new F21 black suede stiletto heels and my Grandma's vintage black beaded clutch, I will be the belle of the ball...or club, Monet Lounge to be more specific.
This is the first formal we are having at a lounge/club, no sit down dinner, no formal-ness about it at all...strictly dancing, drinks, and a ton of...drama? (I HOPE NOT!)

In case you have a formal coming up here are my tips for dressing for success:

• Always make sure you feel 100% comfortable in what you wear. If you don't you will not have a fun night because you are going to be wondering if your "back-fat" or "love-handles" are apparent in every picture being taken (and there are A LOT of pictures at formal!)
• Double, triple, quadruple check that no one in your sorority is wearing the same dress as you, girls tend to freak out at that type of thing...and do you really want to be comparing yourself to someone else the entire night!
• If you are going to for a trendy dress, keep it classy and understated with accessories--let the main focus be the dress. Similarly if you have a basic dress, up the ante and wear tons of accessories *remember to sparkle, sparkle, sparkle!*
• Make sure you can walk in your shoes...enough said!
• Have fun, leave the drama at the door, because no matter how great your outfit is, a bad attitude (re: angry face) will make anything you wear look bad!

Have a great formal everyone, mine's on Sunday and I cannot wait. It will be such a nice break from my final projects and tests!
Let me know what you're wearing!
xoxo.

Inspired: Francoise Hardy

Ah this blog post feels so good...I have been working on my final writing portfolios all day and I need a little break...this blog post...before I take my break later and attend an "Ugly Christmas Sweater" party! (Pictures soon to follow). Since I don't have any ugly sweaters (hello I am a fashion blogger with amazing clothes!--do you pick up on my sarcasm?! HAHA!) my friend Rachael is letting me borrow her mom's "ugly" pink Christmas sweater.

I think with some cute heels and a black high-waist-ed pencil skirt the whole look will be cute.
Anyway, a little inspiration for you...and me since I need the distraction, I present:
*Francoise Hardy*
She is the iconic French singer and actress...oh and astrologer.
Side note: I love astrology and am obsessed with being a Virgo. That is actually my disclaimer when I talk..."it's because I am a Virgo."
Back to Francoise--I love her style. She was a huge icon in the 60's but I can't help but appreciate and admire her clothes with clean lines, and total sophistication.
Maybe it's the fact that she is French...French women just always look amazing, I don't know what it is, but I am definitely going to Paris to attempt to steal some Parisian style.
Oh, and can her hair be more choppy, layered, and perfect? I think not!
Have a lovely weekend!
I am going to continue to write, and write, and write, listen to some Rihanna jams (hello random!)...and maybe (okay, definitely) have a cocktail or two.

Flying Like a Butterfly

Hey ladies!
Oh and a special shout out to all my UMASS girls!! (haha this is actually the most hilarious/greatest news I received all week! Thanks for reading!)
Okay so major updates here:

• I have a formal date: woo hoo! More on this in future posts
• I have a formal dress, and formal shoes: double woo hoo!
• I drank a ton at Bonvue last night and do not feel hungover right now: triple woo hoo! (is that getting annoying yet?)
• I think after graduation I am going to go to Europe! I am not sure how/why/where but I know in my heart it is something I NEED to do!
• I am quickly approaching the end of my second to last semester of college, and it makes me appreciate everything so much more.
• I love all my friends!
• I love the direction I am going in my life, and even though I make mistakes, I would not trade anything I have experienced for the world!
• Oh lastly, my sister was initiated into her sorority! Congrats D!

So last night Bonvue was a madhouse, I think it is because it is the first Thursday we are back since Thanksgiving. I literally felt like a little seashell being pushed with the tide anyway it moved--dance floor, bar, everywhere--I don't know what was going on...regardless I had an amazing time!
I wore these shoes: $29.95 at Wet Seal. I was looking for some military & equestrian inspired lace up-sky high heels...what do you think?


As for my outfit today:

• Kelly green butterfly sweatshirt by WE THE FREE
• Forever21 blue/black jeggings
• GAP blue ruffle flats
  

I have such a strange mentality these days, I go through major bursts of different emotions. Some days I am super happy loving everything, the next I am in panic mode: what am I going to do with my life, I am only 21 why am I going to be in the real world soon, why can't I stop shopping when I'm sad? Oh the questions of my life!
Anyway, please follow the blog if you read, it will make me super happy!
Oh and my friend Alyssa and I are doing a photo shoot soon, so be prepared to see my model face (YEAH RIGHT!) all over this blog...not that you don't see enough of me already.
As always if you have any questions, just shoot me an email/message.
I love you all for reading!
Let's all get through Friday classes so we can enjoy the weekend!

Doom & Gloom

I am really trying to look on the bright side despite events that have occurred over the past few days: speeding ticket, confusion with homework/grades, panic that I am graduating, family issues, etc.
It's been really hard to stay positive, but I know that I need to trick myself in to thinking that everything is great and fabulous--it's the only way for me to get over the bad stuff...to ignore it until it eventually fizzles away (or builds up in to massive heaps).

Last night I watched a documentary called "The September Issue" about Vogue and the creation of the 2007 September issue of the magazine (the biggest edition the magazine had put out thus far!) I loved seeing designers such as Thakoon and Oscar de la Renta interact with fashion dynamo Anna Wintour. The whole time I was watching the movie I was thinking of the movie The Devil Wears Prada, Meryl Streep's character Miranda Priestly is exactly like Anna...the similarities are hilarious (even the pursing of the lips scene in the movie is documented!) I really recommend watching this if you have an interest in fashion, the magazine industry, and just style in general.

Comfort was the only thing I had on my mind today mostly because I have been moody and didn't feel like dressing up--but I love dressing up! Okay, I am making a pledge right now to all my readers, my outfits are going to be much better after today. Pessimism negatively affects wardrobe choices.
I'm wearing:

• Dark wash BASS strait leg jeans
• Ralph Lauren scoop neck black t-shirt
• Marisa Christina brown, tan, and black sweater-coat
• Purple, black, gold, brown Pashmina scarf
• Minnetonka moccasins...one bow-tie broke today :(

I am going to work on having a positive attitude right now...wish me luck!

OBSESSED

BLOG CRUSH!

So since I have been procrastinating all day I figured I would share my new obsession: reading Christing's blog Fashion Hedonism. This blog showcases styles that I wish I could come up with!
She is located in the UK and is moving to Hong Kong..how cool is that?!?!
Christing's blog seriously makes me question what I am doing with my life: I want to jet set, go out for chic dinners wearing gorgeous clothes...can that be me?
I am seriously going to attempt a more fabulous life in Rhode Island!
Here are some pictures from her site, if you have never visited it you are missing out!
PS: sorry for all the exclamation points, I guess I just get really excited about things and need to emphasize my enthusiasm, oh well.

Lace and Floral--Sign Me Up

This is just a picture of a dress me and D are obsessed with so I had to share.
It's from the site Lulu's, which is a decently priced clothing website.
Upside: amazingly cute clothes...especially dresses
Downside: only online orders
What do you guys think?
Flowers of Fall Lace Floral Dress
$40.00

Speed Demon

Hey ladies!
Okay, so yesterday was not the greatest day. Well it started GREAT! An awesome breakfast (yogurt, cut up granny smith apple, honey sunshine Kashi cereal, blackberry, wheat-germ homemade parfait YUM!) followed by a great gym session...then on my way driving back to school BLAM! I got a $294 speeding ticket, I wanted to cry, scream, yell and explode, but I just sat there patiently as the police officer wrote me up. This very expensive lesson that I learned yesterday was a wake up call of some sorts for me...I drive way too fast, I have a lead foot, period. So when I finally got back to school I was not in the best of spirits. However, one trip to Charlie O's with my friends and 2 $5.00 pitchers of pink Sangria later, I was feeling happy, light-hearted and...drunk? I know I shouldn't be posting about my intoxication (on the Internet?) but I needed to get loose and alleviate myself of some tension, and I am 21 so it is perfectly legal, so I will continue talking about this. My liquid courage was the perfect motivator and at the bar I asked my friend to formal, score! So, now I have formal shoes, a formal date, and now I need a formal dress (okay, okay, I kind of have one, but there's always room for improvement and new ideas right?).

Today, despite a massive hangover, I am feeling pretty good. I had a great breakfast, drove below 40mph all the way to school listening to OAR and the Pussycat Dolls (weird combination right?) and I feel pretty good about life. This is my outfit: comfortable and casual, perfect for the chilly yet sunny Rhode Island day.

1. American Eagle plaid flannel long sleeve button down (gifted from Mom)
2. BASS skinny leg "trouser" jeans
3. Minnetonka moccasins
4. Skinny gold headband (from Aldo Accessories)

Again sorry for the horrible quality pictures! I do have a camera, but when I do self-timer shots they look horrible and do not get my whole outfit anyway. I need my roommates to take my pictures but they sleep in so late (lazy bums!), or actually...I just wake up entirely too early. Who goes to sleep drunk off sangria and 2am and wakes up (internal alarm clock) at 7am? This girl right here!

I hope everyone is having a great Monday so far. Appreciate the sunshine and look for the small things in life to make you happy, that's what I am doing! Can you guys believe there are only 2 more weeks of classes left?!?!