Fall Colors

When my friend Caryl was in town last week, we just had to seize the moment and take a few outfit pictures together! Unfortunately, Friday was gray and rainy, so you're not able to see the full fall beauty of Atlanta, but I hope you enjoy my very first outfit post on the blog! I was totally unsure about how to pose myself and everything, so to my overly-critical eye, I look totally awkward...please be kind :)

gray tee: Target (similar)//green sweater: Tahari (similar)//brown sweater: J. Crew (similar)

jeans: J Brand (similar)//boots: Geox (similar)//purse: Longchamp

earrings: Francesca's

ring: Kate Spade//nail polish: 'Pat On The Black'

You might be wondering why I'm wearing two sweaters...because I'm a baby about cold and it was cold and rainy. Not pictured: my coral rain jacket and the cashmere handwarmers I wore in the car.

I alternate between thinking the brown sweater is totally amazing and totally hideous...it's definitely a comfort piece. Oversized and chunky, it's more like a sweater-coat than an actual sweater. It's J. Crew from a few years ago and I wear it far more than is probably acceptable.

I hope you've enjoyed seeing me for the first time! I'm hoping to do more outfit posts in the future so I can get a little more comfortable posing in front of the camera!

C. Wonder Crushing

C. Wonder is one of those places that totally overwhelms me in person, but I could buy everything on their website in a heartbeat. Lately they've been knocking it out of the park, and this fall is even better than past seasons.

I feel like the preppy-yet-modern aesthetic really works for me in particular, because so many of their signature pieces (buttondowns, driving mocs, silk blouses) are things that I wear all the time anyway. It's all definitely preppy, but not in an obnoxious, pink-and-green, embroidered critter pants way. It's grown-up preppy and all perfect for the work world or for just hanging out.

A few things I'm crushing on currently...

Camo Calf hair Loafer: One of my friends works for a menswear company that is advocating what they call "prepneck" this fall, and these slippers fit right into that aesthetic. It's preppy, but also a bit rednecky, but done in a sophisticated way. These little camo loafers are prepneck for the ladies, if you will.

Suede Watersnake Chunky Heel Pump: A perfect combination of J. Crew's Etta pump and a pair of Tory Burch Mabel pumps I was slightly obsessed with a few months back. Considering both of those shoes are sold out/way out of my price range, I think I need these! I have also noticed a distinct lack of neutral shoes in my closet and these would fill that hole without being boring.

Striped Crewneck Sweater: Fall means football, and for me, football means finding the cutest orange and navy outfits for games. This would be adorable with a navy skirt and riding boots for games when it's too cold for a sundress but not cold enough for a coat or thick sweater.

Striped Button-Shoulder Tee: Another perfect Auburn gameday top!

Silk Pocket Top: I can't get enough silk blouses in my life. I've been looking for a saturated, bright blue top that isn't outrageously expensive and this one fits the bill perfectly. If blue isn't your color, there's lots of other colors to choose from! Ps: it's under $100!

Embroidered Chain Geo Pillow Cover: I think I've finally narrowed my apartment's color scheme to navy, gray, white and coral for the living room. These pillows would look SO crisp on a white couch with solid coral pillows mixed in.

Gold Foil Coasters: Perfectly affordable, so they'd be an adorable little hostess gift. I love the patterns and the gold foil makes them a little sparkly...and when is sparkle ever a bad thing?

Pebbled Driving Moccasins: I have a pair of brown moccasins from Zara that I've practically worn out, and I'm always wishing I had a pair in black as well. These are more sophisticated and polished than my Zara flats, and would be equally as cute with trousers as they would be with jeans.

Hurry up fall! I can't wait for the weather to cool off so I can wear all the new fall things without feeling weird about it!

Wallet Upgrade

I desperately need a new wallet. For the past five or so years, I've been using a Juicy Couture wristlet as my wallet and while it's worked out quite well, it's now looking very sad and needs to be retired. So I'm on the lookout for something new!

I want something durable, high-quality, and fun. I've rounded up a few favorites below...now I just have to pick one!

1//2//3

4//5//6

All of these are fun but still chic and sophisticated...and none of them would easily be lost in a dark purse!

Kendall Conrad

 Artemisa Cuff Ring I

Thin Bangle

As you probably know, I'm not much of a jewelry person. I like my jewelry to be simple, delicate and understated. I prefer clean lines, sleek shapes, interesting textures, and expensive-looking metals.

Thin Rounded Stacking Ring I

Tapered Bangle II

Which is exactly why I love Kendall Conrad's jewelry. Her pieces are perfectly imperfect and manage to be both delicate and hefty. Nothing is in-your-face ostentatious, but rather more understated while still making an impression. No logos either (logo jewelry is so tacky, in my opinion).

Chaquetilla de Matador Charm

Hair Hook

Thin Rounded Hoops

These are definitely not inexpensive pieces, but rather pieces you'll have forever instead of only a season or two. Plus, did I mention she also makes the most amazing, beautiful purses as well?

 

Filomena Tote

Marisol Tote

These are definitely aspirational totes! I love how simple they are, with no overdone hardware or logos or obnoxious flaps or pockets. Simple but not boring and made of thick, luxurious leather and suede. Swooning. I'm such a KC fan. Check out everything KC here!

Darling Magazine

 Have you heard about Darling Magazine? The above photo is their mission statement and I think it's absolutely perfect. I clicked around their website and I'm pretty sure that this magazine is exactly what I've been looking for. It's intelligent and well-written, deals with "fluffier" things like home and fashion but also tackles more intellectual topics as well. I'm interested in picking up a real, paper copy of the magazine and seeing what it's like in print vs online.

 Visually, it's exactly what I look for in design: a bit vintage, clean and not cluttered but still has personality. I'm totally smitten with the pictures alone!

Interested and want to know more? Read what makes Darling different here...I think you'll like it.

all images via Darling Magazine

Flashback: Formals

So this past Saturday was my sorority's spring formal, and now that I'm an alumna of the chapter, it made me so nostalgic to see everyone's pictures on Facebook.

So...let's take a little walk down memory lane and relive some past formals, shall we? Spoiler: I wear a lot of J. Crew.

 Spring 2012...last formal ever. Wearing Cynthia Rowley (I think) and it was definitely a last-minute dress pick.

Hey Blakey.

I have such pretty friendssss!

Fall 2011. Wearing J Crew (duh). This picture is absolutely ridiculous...in the best way possible.

Fall 2011 again. Hi friends! I miss y'all!!!!!

It wouldn't be an Auburn formal without pictures at the Auburn sign!

Spring 2011. Not wearing J Crew...but only because I couldn't find a J. Crew dress in pink, white or silver.

I think I got ready in like literally 20 minutes...and I definitely look like it. A tan would have been helpful with my dress.

My little!

Fall 2011...Not a formal, but Navy Military Ball. Wearing Nicole Miller. I was (and still am) mildly obsessed with this dress! Hi Bennykins!

Fall 2008. Wearing J Crew. Awww so long ago. Some jewelry may have been nice.

Blast. From. The. Past. Hahahaha.

If you're wondering where Spring 2008, and anything from 2009-2010 was: I didn't go. I was studying abroad for the formal in spring 2010 and the others I had reasons that I forget.

I MISS FORMALS! And college!

XOXO, Gossip Girl

 S&B

I know this is roughly 5 years too late, but I am officially addicted to Gossip Girl. I watched the pilot the other night on a whim because I needed a new show on Netflix and 6 episodes later, I was hooked.

It has all of the things I look for in a fluff TV show: great clothes, juicy drama, enviable apartments, girls with impossibly perfect hair, and of course, hot boys. All so much fun.

Are you on Team Blair or Team Serena? Are you more of a Dan fan, a Nate girl or a Chuck fan? I, for the record, as of Episode 13, am Team S, Team Serena & Dan, and allllll about Nate. It's nice to know that even though the characters may be fabulously wealthy, they're not immune to hardships.

If you've been a GG fan since the beginning, you know what I'm talking about. If you've never seen the show, watch the first episode and try it...you'll get hooked. I'm actually super psyched to watch every season now, even though I know who Gossip Girl really is (I peeked at series finale spoilers...).

You know you love me...XOXO
cheesy yes but oh so appropriate ;)

Weekend Update

via*

Hello friends! I'm sorry I've been a bit MIA over the weekend/past few days, my parents and I took a super last-minute trip to San Antonio to watch my cousin and the Air Force Academy baseball team play against UTSA. It was so much fun to hang out with my cousins and laugh and just have a great time, and even better that I got to see one of my BFFs for a bit while I was there too!

As great as the weekend was, it was so much better to be home and in my own bed last night. This week I'm planning on finishing up NYFW and possibly starting London Fashion Week. I also have to catch up on last night's Downton Abbey episode (no spoilers, please!!) and just made a ton of homemade granola to snack on while I watch and blog and live. All of these things make me happy.

What were your weekend plans? What's making your Monday a little bit brighter?

*in case you were wondering, no, I don't read or speak Spanish at all, I found the picture on Pinterest, but that's the original source...

Nesting, part 2

Are you tired of NYFW posts yet? Hopefully not, since I have more to come as the days progress. Can you imagine actually attending the shows and having to take notes for work? I'm sure everyone is exhausted!

To switch gears for a bit and focus on something that's not fashion, I've been dreaming about furnishing my very own teeny tiny apartment that is (hopefully, hopefully) in the very near future. When I was in Tampa on Thursday, we had a good chunk of time between my interview and when we had to be back at the airport, so my mom decided that we should spend that time at HomeGoods and looking at apartments "just in case" and now I'm pining away for a home of my own that I can decorate and furnish just how I want.

I'm leaning towards a mostly neutral palette for the entire apartment, with accents of coral and gray in the living room and turquoise, green and blue in my bedroom. I want it to be a little beachy and very comfortable, so you feel completely relaxed everywhere.

this is what my dream apartment looks like: creamy white walls with moldings, medium wood floors and tons of natural light

I love this headboard and want something very similar, only a bit less dramatic

seersucker upholstery? so cute

I'm also loving seagrass furniture as a way to bring some texture into a room...plus this doesn't look too heavy to move

I love the pattern in this rug...and it's on sale!

this bedding is so cute...I think I would do a solid white duvet/shams w/ the printed sheets

So many decisions, so many things I love...I can't wait to be settled somewhere so I can finally start furnishing and decorating!!

Old Love

 so sweet

Since February is the month of celebrating love in all of its many forms, I want to share this sweet, sweet New York Times article of two people who married at 71 and 81.

I know I'm guilty of thinking love is only for the young and you couldn't possibly fall in love after your 30th birthday or that romance dies once you hit 28 or so. I'm happy to admit that Sam and Eve's story made me realize that although our grandparents and their peers are old, they're not immune to love or romance or first-date jitters or any of those other amazing feelings that you experience in a relationship. If anything, they've experienced those feelings more frequently and more strongly than I have.

I don't really know what else I can say about the article, other than read it--it'll make your day a little bit brighter.

And now I'm going to go mail a valentine to my sweet grandparents.

xoxo and ps: I have no idea who the people are in the picture, but aren't they just the cutest?