In With the New

Dress and shoes, DVF.  Necklace, So Good.  Bracelet, Marc Jacobs.

Lately I find myself hopping, skipping, and jumping out of my comfort zones.  Ever since graduating, I've been feeling like I need a big change in my life...so of course I started with the fun changes: new clothes and a new haircut!

This silk jersey dress from DVF is SO far out from my normal waist-whittling wardrobe, but for some reason I couldn't resist the contrast of the dramatic draping on the comfortable tee-shirt material.  When I wear this I feel like a completely different person- but I like it!

I added a statement necklace to break up the high neck line and add some intrigue to the solid grey.  Worn with DVF sparkly slingbacks, because every outfit needs a touch of glitter!

And from this angle you can see my fresh new 'do!

The wonderful stylist Anna Kathryn at Umi salon on Newbury St chopped my bangs and introduced my eyebrows to the world!  She also cut my curly locks super short in the back and angled them longer towards the front.   I never thought I could pull off such an edgy look, but I absolutely love it!  I've been so inspired to try new things ever since the big chop...it's amazing how something as simple as a new haircut can give you the confidence to tackle the complicated parts of life.

This might not be a look that I'll rock forever, but I'm loving it right now!

The Graduate

Dress, Betsey Johnson.  Shoes, Prada.

As of May 7th, 2011, I am officially a college grad!

While finishing college was exciting, it wasn't nearly as thrilling as hunting for and finding the perfect dress for the occasion.   I knew this Betsey Johnson number was the dress the moment I laid eyes on the exaggerated floral print and the pretty pleated skirt.   Plus, the deep red perfectly complimented my new Prada pumps...how could I resist?

I've had a lot of 'special events' lately, and I've used every single one as an excuse to buy a new outfit.  My searches have been blissfully brief, though, thanks to the Betsey Johnson boutique.  Although I've worked down the street from Betsey for 4 years, I'd never set foot in the store until a few weeks ago- and I regret neglecting this mecca of quirky 50s/80s glamour for so long!  Every rack was filled with flirty frocks that I couldn't wait to try on, and I ended up walking away with 3 new dresses (all at 40% off!).

I told my Mom (Happy Mother's Day, Momma!) about my newfound obsession, and she gave me the coolest graduation present I can imagine:

Purse, Betsey Johnson.

What a sassy little bag!  The lips on this purse are calling my name, and I plan on carrying it with my everywhere-  at least until my next Betsey shopping spree.  

Checkerboard Chick

Dress and belt, Betsey Johnson.  Shoes, Prada.

Whenever I'm stressed out, I turn to shopping.   Seeing as it's my last week of college and I have quite a few papers begging to be written, you could say that I'm pretty frazzled!  Therefore, this week has been full of in-between-classes shopping trips and late night eBay purchases.

I bought this awesome little dress from Betsey Johnson instead of finishing a PowerPoint presentation, and it was so worth it!  The material is a stretchy thick-knit that simultaneously hugs my curves and holds them in.  The peplum skirt keeps it from looking too skin-tight or showy, and the thick black belt ensures that my waistline isn't lost in the checkerboard print.  

This dress makes me feel like a slightly more 'rockabilly' version of myself.  Whenever I wear it, I act like a rockstar-  I think it's key to have an outfit in your closet that makes you feel like a badass!  

However, I have to admit that my favorite part of this outfit is MY NEW PRADA SHOES!!  I bought them on eBay a few weeks ago and they finally arrived in the mail from Spain the other day.  I haven't taken them off of my feet since!

I'd been drooling over this pair ever since the AW10 collections, and even though they're two seasons old, I feel like they'll never go out of style.  The deep red color will match pretty much everything in my wardrobe and flirty bows are the ultimate detail!  I'm in love.

Now if only these new additions to my closet could write my final papers for me...

Back to Black

Dress, Nanette Lepore.  Shoes, F21.  Necklace, Zoom.

Over the years I've tried out pretty much every trend and style possible- I had a graphic tee phase in middle school, in high school I was into neon brights and Converse sneakers, and my earlier college years fell victim to the grungy hipster look at times.   All of these styles were fun to experiment with, but none really fit my personality perfectly.  After what feels like endless searching, I think I finally figured out what looks best on me!

This little black dress is currently the MVP of my closet.  The simple shift cut is basic but intriguing- the fabric is broken up at the waist to look like seperates, and it's finished off with a dainty bow at the center.    Because the fit is a bit loose and the collar is high, I can get away with the fact that this piece also boasts  the miniest of mini skirts.  

It's also the perfect backdrop for this amazing pearl and gold chain necklace I recently purchased.  The dress and the jewels really compliment each other- the simple silhouette lets this funky piece shine, while the necklace amps up the basic black.  

I added some flair with my leopard print pumps, and threw on my fave H&M bomber jacket when it got too cold to go sleeveless!

I love this outfit because I feel like it showcases the kind of person I am.  The black dress and pearls let people know that I'm classic, but the cool details like the short hemline and chunky chains play up my fun side, while the hint of leopard gives a sneak peek at my wild streak.   

Although I'm sure I'll sample more trends as they come and go, it's good to know that I have a fool-proof look to fall back on!

Target Practice

Dress, Zac Posen for Target.  Shoes, Prada.

I've always been a huge fan of the Target Go! International designer collaborations; they bring specialty pieces made by world renowned designer labels to the masses.  This pink polka-dotted purchase from Zac Posen for Target only cost me $35, while a Zac Posen collection garment will run you upwards of $1000.  What's not to love??

There are just so many outstanding details!   My favorite part is the pink ribbon outlining throughout the dress- it's placed to highlight the best parts of a woman's body.  The ribbon shows off the waist, hips, and chest, creating the perfect silhouette.  That's the work of a talented designer-  you're not going to find that kind of intricacy in regular mass-market fashion fare.  Zac Posen is a genius!

I also can't get enough of the shoulder cut-outs.  It's so unique and different from anything else you'll find in my closet!

This is probably the first time I've ever worn head-to-toe pink!  That's how you know the dress is amazing :)  Paired with my favorite Prada pumps...which were subsequently swallowed by the sand on the beach.

Thanks to Momma for taking these pictures!!

Beachy Keen

The weather has been so amazing lately that I was inspired to make my first beach-wear purchase of the season!   This tee-shirt dress from H&M is the perfect throw-it-on-and-go outfit for those days when it's too hot to think about putting together an ensemble.  

Dress, H&M.  Shoes, Cynthia Vincent for Target.

Granted, it's not quite that hot yet, but I got so excited about the sunshine that I jumped the gun on summer fashion when I went for a stroll on the beach earlier this week.   

Spring/summer is the perfect time to break out of my black-and-white shell and put some color into my life!  I feel like I can get away with these crazy, candy-colored stripes because the cut of the dress is clean and unfussy.

I love the exposed zipper detail on the back.

I was endlessly tortured by my sisters when I went to the beach in high heels last year, so this time around I decided to try wedges.   They're much easier to walk in, blend in with the sand, and still allow me to look 4 inches taller.  :)

These wacky wedges were the perfect pair to wear with the dress!  Mixing prints is very in this season, so I mixed the geometric shapes on the shoes with the striped dress- it works because the color palettes are so similar.   

As fun as it was to feel the sand between my toes, it's still pretty chilly by the water.  I'm gonna put this look on hold until summer is officially here- it's just around the corner!

Lady in Red

Dress, Nanette Lepore.  Shoes, Forever 21.

Red is my favorite color (black and white don't count as colors, or so I've been told), but I've really only used it as an accent in my wardrobe instead of making it the main event.  All of that changed once I found this Nanette Lepore dress!  It's the exact same shade as my lipstick, which is all that it took to convince me to buy it.  

Also, it's a faux-wrap dress!  I strongly believe that wrap dresses are the most flattering garments ever made- anything that makes my chest look bigger and my waist look smaller is a no-brainer in my book.  I love the flattering ruching along the bustline leading to the bow.  It makes a simply cut dress more intriguing!

I added cute leopard-print pumps to give the outfit a funky touch.

I wore the dress while walking along the Jersey Shore boardwalk...I was a little overdressed and a lot out of place.  Not your usual guido garb!  I loved this "Lady Luck Casino" sign and couldn't pass up the chance to take a photo underneath.  All the credit goes to my momma for scouting this cool location and taking these pictures!!

I didn't add many accessories- just pearl earrings.  Keeping it simple keeps the focus on me instead of the clothes!  I think that's the point of getting dressed- finding clothes that fit so well that you get noticed instead of the outfit.  I love this dress because people aren't going to say, "That ruching is really flattering!", they're going to say, "Your waist looks so tiny!".   It's all about me, which is how I like it!