Crystal Collar

I planned this outfit around the shirt. I haven't gone clothes shopping in a long time, so when I saw this affordable, trendy and sophisticated blouse at Forever 21, I knew I had to get it! Thanks to Xuewei, I've been looking at brands I normally wouldn't shop at. I don't have anything in this cornflower blue color. I usually buy clothes in only cool tones so that they will blend in well with the rest of my wardrobe. My favorite part about this shirt, however, is the crystal collar. It's just a tiny bit of glam - perfect for days when you want to play up the dressiness. The dark jeans serve as the canvas for the shirt and the leopard flats are just another pop of fun. I'm looking forward to wearing these flats as neutral statement pieces in Spring - neutral because of the coloration that matches everything from black to white to neon and statement because of the cute animal print. 

Outfit details: Blouse: Forever 21 / Cami: American Eagle / Jeans: American Eagle / Necklace: LOFT / Earrings: Gifted / Flats: Nine West

My necklace is actually a lariat from LOFT. The gunmetal color contrasts with the dark silver of the crystals. My earrings are also a matching gunmetal color. I looked for balance: A sprinkle of match and mismatch.

I changed it up with the hair this time! Since the collar is the focal point of the outfit, I didn't want to take attention away with my hair. However, since the collar cannot be seen from the back, I took the opportunity to braid my hair a little differently. Here's the amazing Pinterest tutorial that inspired the look. Some modifications I made: After I made the two Dutch braids (you have to be careful when making the top one not to use too much of the hair - start higher than you think and section off the bottom hair), I combined them into a single side braid. Hope you like the hairstyle! It's a more intricate look and keeps the hair out of my face. Most of the time Pinterest tutorials seem too complex (i.e. involve too many bobby pins) so I don't try them, but from how this one came out, I might want to try some more! 

Going back to shopping again - Since I don't shop often, when I do go clothes shopping, I am pretty selective. What I've found helps me the most is having developed a more cohesive style. Since middle school, my style has become more sophisticated and feminine. Therefore, anything that fits into those categories are easier to incorporate into the mix - florals, jewels, and classic staples are all great. Have any of you found that having one or two style "themes" helps when building your closet? 

Hope that you have a great day! The sun and bright blue sky, combined with my clear blue shirt, lifted my mood today :) 

Fairytale Dress

Last week my school had its Senior Fashion Show, a fundraiser in which the seniors dress up in clothes borrowed from local stores and hit the runway to model them. It was a lot of fun to participate in, and the best part was that I got to wear this gorgeous blue prom dress. Although it was completely impractical (the tulle skirt took up about the space of 4 people and kept getting caught in my heels) for a few minutes, I felt like a modern princess. I did my hair and makeup myself :) 

Here's the dress! It was made by Jovani and was from the store Gatinolli. My earrings are from a mall kiosk. Below are a few photos taken while I was on the school auditorium stage. 

And here's a shot of my hair. I made loose curls all over with a 1 inch curling wand, clipping it back and French braiding until the nape of my neck, where I clipped the remainder of my hair together. If you notice, this is the same day that my "Remixing - Same but Different" outfit is from. 

As I search for prom dresses, I think I want to wear something that is the same color as this dress but more practical. I really liked the beading and the sweetheart neckline too! I find that it's easier to shop for something when you don't have an idealistic, perfectionist image in your mind, so I'll remember to keep an open mind. But I don't want to settle for less than what I really want! What about you? Are you shopping for your prom dress with an idea in your mind of what you want, or are you just seeing where your search takes you? Whatever your strategy is, I wish you luck in your search, and I hope you can find a dress that makes you feel like a princess! :)

Remixing - Same but Different

In this post, I'll be talking about the art of remixing, so amazingly mastered by Kendi! I would like to be better at reworking the clothes in my own closet. This outfit is one of my first experiments in remixing an old outfit with some different pieces. 

Here's the original outfit (post here)

And here's the remixed outfit: 

Haha! Posed the same way too :) 
Outfit details: Shirt: LOFT / Tank: Aeropostale / Pants: Gap / Belt: LOFT / Boots: Nine West / Scarf: Vintage (mom's) / Earrings: Jewelry store in Venice, Italy

This time, I tied the scarf in a different way. This way shows more of its colors - it's really got all the colors of the rainbow! 

Hair: Clipped back with a medium-sized clip

I chose these earrings to match my scarf. They're iridescent glass earrings that shine in rainbow colors. I used to wear these more often, but I find that my crystal posts match more. Maybe I'll wear these earrings more in the spring with bright colors, though! 

I like how this outfit allowed me to stretch my closet more and combine different colors. When I bought these blue velvet pants, I never thought I would wear them this way. I think it's great to try new things and I am definitely looking forward to unexpected yet stylish combinations in the next few seasons. 

I hope you're having an amazing day, and I wanted to share this quote with you. I feel like it defines a lot of what I believe about true beauty. 

Image from laurenconrad.com via Pinterest 

When you feel good about yourself, you shine from the inside out!

Mixing Prints

For the past three weeks, I've been suffering from itchy and red eyes and a runny nose. A few days ago, my mom introduced me to my new best friend: Allergy medicine! Now that my symptoms are alleviated, I've been feeling so much better. These photos were taken on a day when I had, unfortunately, not started taking the allergy medicine. That also is one explanation for why I usually am not wearing makeup in my photos. I don't like to wear makeup when my eyes hurt, but I think the allergy medicine might change things up a bit! 

Outfit details: Blazer: Lush via Nordstrom / Shirt: Gap / Jeans: American Eagle / Boat shoes: Sperry / Necklace: Forever 21 / Earrings: Anthropologie 

For someone who loves nature as much as I do, being able to deal with my allergies is such a relief. 

Now onto the style theory behind this...I've wanted to wear this floral blazer with something striped for a while, but I've always been wary of mixing prints. I finally decided to give it a try and I like how it turned out. I think having this blog has made me more adventurous in my outfit choices :) I kept the shoes and jeans neutral so my outfit would not be a visual overload. These are one of my favorite pairs of jeans - super comfortable and I like the flare style! It goes with my more bohemian, casual side. 

Hope you're having a fantastic day! Here's a quote for your day. 

Letting the Dust Settle

This isn't a post about fashion or makeup, but rather more about emotional maturity. Recently, I've started watching Gossip Girl (I'm late, I know >.<) which has kind of become my guilty pleasure. Usually, I wouldn't expect to learn much from a show like that, but one character said something that actually really clicked with how I was feeling lately.

"Get two people in a room willing to be balls out honest, might get ugly but, eventually, the dust has to settle. And then, you can see if there’s hope." - Vanessa from Gossip Girl

With issues like college admissions, my friends and I have been feeling some tension lately. I'm sure all friendships and relationships have difficult moments, but it's hard knowing what to do. I've been torn between confronting people when I'm upset and burying my feelings. At first, I just ignored what was bothering me and blamed myself for overreacting. Eventually, I actually became really upset and it really strained my friendship. I was still afraid to talk to my friend about it though. I was afraid that our friendship would disappear if we got into an argument. 
What Vanessa said is right though. Be honest. Talk it out. It always seems like guys are more willing to voice when they're mad or upset and girls try to suppress it which only leads to secrets and distrust. If you are upfront (though reasonably so, don't be obnoxious) about your feelings, it "might get ugly," but if the friendship or relationship is meant to work out, "the dust has to settle." 
I ended up talking it out with my friend and we're completely cool now :) Time to enjoy Spring Break!

Be the Boss

As I'm maturing and having to wear business formal attire on different occasions (this was for a science fair) I can't help but think about how I'll probably wear clothing like this every day when I'm an adult! 

Outfit details: Blazer: J. Crew / Blouse: LOFT / Pants: LOFT / Flats: Libby Edelman via Lord and Taylor / Scarf: Adrienne Landau (gifted) / Earrings: Anthropologie / Necklace: Forever 21 

My favorite thing about this outfit was how comfortable it was. I love clothes that are both functional and fashionable! 

In this outfit, I'm wearing the scarf from my grandmother. Here's a photo of me and my grandmother at my birthday lunch. I wear this scarf so often because it matches everything! My grandmother definitely has good sense. I don't have many photos of her when she was younger, but I can tell she was quite beautiful :)

The outfit I wore reminded me of a picture I saw on Pinterest. 

I like how this contradicts established norms and has a really independent tone to it.

 

 

I'll be showing another business formal outfit next week from another science fair! Hope you're having an awesome day and remember my quote: Wear whatever you want, be yourself, think, and be the boss! 

I Love Spring Tag

So I recently saw missglamorazzi's I <3 Spring Tag (Go watch it after you read this post!), and since spring is my favorite season, I decided to do this fun tag.

Here are the questions:
1. Favorite spring nail polish?
2. What is your must-have lip color this spring?
3. Show us your favorite spring dress!
4. What's your favorite flower?
5. Favorite spring scarf/accessory?
6. What spring trend(s) are you most excited about this year? (Makeup, fashion or both!)
7. Favorite spring candle?
8. Favorite body spray/perfume for spring?
9. What is spring like where you live?
10. What's your favorite thing about spring?
11. Are you a spring cleaner?
12. Any plans for spring break or an upcoming vacation?

 Yay, let's get started!

1. My favorite spring nail polish: 

Revlon Nail Art Expressionist - Pinkasso

Okay, I cheated a little. This two-in-one nail polish set has two of my favorite spring nail polishes! One side has this beautiful orange-y coral color and the other side has a bright (VERY bright) pink. I feel like both polishes are great pops of color for the springtime and really draws attention to my nails. Overall, I just think they're really fun! Also, a cool thing about this nail polish is that the bright pink side has a thinner brush so you can use it to create cute designs! 


2. My must-have lip color this spring:

Revlon Color Stay Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain - Sweetheart

Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Sweetheart Valentine

Crayon-like texture

Left: One Layer, Right: Layered on thickly

What it looks like on my lips

I've been really loving Revlon products lately! One of the biggest trends this spring is bright lips which, in my opinion, can be hard to pull off if you look young. Usually I go for the more orange/coral colors that match well with my warm skin tone because I've always felt like fuchsia and magenta colors clashed with my skintone. The Revlon Lip Butter in Lollipop, for example, really does look good on me. This lip stain, however, for some reason, fits so well with my lip stain. One layer of it is pretty sheer and good for everyday looks, but when I apply more, it still doesn't look unnatural or out of place at all. Also, it doesn't dry out my lips as much as other lip stains though I still make sure I apply chapstick before I use this. 

 3. My favorite spring dress:

 I actually don't have many dresses....weird considering how girly I am. I think it's because dresses don't fit me well since I'm so short. So out of the few dresses that do fit me, this red, polka-dotted, strapless one from Forever21 is my favorite. The back has a peek-a-boo cutout. I feel like it's classic, but fun and cute for the spring/summer. Also, it's the perfect length!


4. My favorite flower: 

Peach Roses

 

I really like peach roses (though daisies and lilies are close seconds!). Of course, I just love the color peach in general, so I probably only like peach roses for their color and not for the flower. Roses are always expected to be dramatic like red or white, but peach is such a soft, pastel in-between color. I think it just really softens the look of a rose. Also, I've always lived in a house with peach roses in the garden, both in California and in New Jersey, so peach roses also remind me of my childhood. It's just the quintessential representation of a spring/summer day as a child :)


5. Favorite spring accessory:

Floral Sunglasses

Floral Sunglasses from Forever21

 

I don't usually wear sunglasses, but when ever since I got these floral ones from Forever21, I've definitely been grabbing them when I go out. The cute floral pattern on it is just super cute for the spring season!


6. My favorite makeup/fashion spring trend:

Neon Colors

 

This could probably go for makeup and fashion, but I'm really loving bright pops of color for the lips and the nails as well as in the overall outfit. I have this crossbody bag for American Eagle that has neon pink lining and it is my favorite bag for the spring and summer because it's so loud and bright. 


7. My favorite spring candle:

Eucalyptus Mint - Bath and Body Works

This is actually my only candle...so I really didn't have much of a choice. I consider it a year-round scent, since it's very calming and relaxing, and overall good for de-stressing. I'm not a huge fan of candles since I find that the smell overwhelms my room, but I do like leaving the top open so that it freshens up the air a bit.


8. My favorite body spray:

Fresh Flowers!

Just kidding! 
 
 My favorite body spray is Pure Seduction by Victoria's Secret. It's described as "A passionate romance of succulent red plum and sweet freesia." I know it sounds extremely suggestive, but it's actually a really fruity and flirty spray. This used to be my favorite spray two years ago, but then I ended up buying J'adore Dior. Since my signature perfume is a little too heavy for summer, I'm starting to transition into using this body spray every day now.

9. What is spring like where you live?

Let me just start out by saying that I hate winter. I hate it. So much. Sure, it's nice when it snows, but it only snows (and I mean real snow, not gross slush) once or twice in three months. The rest of the time is just plain cold. This year, winter has been just refusing to leave. It's already officially spring, and we just had a snow storm a few days ago! The temperature is still in the forties, which is not even warm enough to wear short-sleeves. Excuse me, mother nature, can you please do something about winter?? All I want to do is wear my spring dresses and skirts!


10. What is your favorite thing about spring?

This might sound crazy, but my favorite thing about spring is the scent in the air. I may just be imagining things, but whenever spring comes along, the warmer weather brings in this weirdly delicious scent in the wind. The smell of spring just makes me feel instantly happier. I think I just made myself sound like a dog, but anyway, it's true! Go outside and smell the scent of spring!


11. Are you a spring cleaner?

Yes! I'm one of those people who lets junk collect on the desk until the weekend when I have a massive cleaning session. The same goes for my entire room and house. Typically, every vacation break I have, I dedicate a day to cleaning out my room and my closet. I just throw out everything I don't need and attempt to reorganize one aspect of my room. Something about throwing all this useless stuff out and seeing a clean and organized room just makes me feel as if I'm purging all the stress, worries, and unhappiness out of me.


12. Any plans for Spring break or vacation?

I may be visiting Virginia with my family for a few days, but I'll probably spend the rest of my time de-cluttering my life and my room as well as just hanging out with friends. I'm also hoping that I'll finally be able to exercise outside (-fingers crossed-)!


Whew, that was long! It was still a lot of fun though. I would really like to see other answers to these questions so I tag Michelle and everyone reading this!

 

Bohemian

Rather than my usual more preppy-casual look, this time I went for a more bohemian style, featuring a handmade bracelet. I made this bracelet in 6th grade, but I still wear it from time to time. I usually don't like to wear bracelets, but this one matched so well with my shirt that I had to put it on. The gold bracelet is a gift from my mother, from a long time ago too - I don't even remember when she gave it to me! I usually like to keep my old jewelry and I tend not to purchase new jewelry for myself because I'm quite picky about what kind of jewelry I wear. Thankfully, people love giving me jewelry for gifts  :) 

Outfit details: Shirt: Truth via TJMaxx / Tank (worn underneath): American Eagle / Leggings: Aerie / Boots: Luxury Rebel / Necklace: Kiosk at Disneyland / Bracelets: DIY and gifted / Earrings: Urban Outfitters 

Unlike Xuewei, who likes neon, I tend to gravitate toward more earth tones. This outfit is a great example of that. I also find that the black leggings and black boots combination works well for my tall figure. Tunics are hard to find, so you can imagine how happy I was to find this at TJMaxx. I really like the selection of casual tops at TJMaxx. 

This hairstyle worked with hair that had a little bit of texture from it. I made braids on each side to highlight these pretty chandelier earrings! 

Detailed picture of the earrings and bracelets I wore with this outfit.

I tried something the other day while I was on a jog - I tried to spread a good feeling by smiling and saying good afternoon or hello to every person I passed. I visited an old friend and had a chat. On the way home, I talked to the crossing guards at my elementary/middle school (it was combined) who I remembered from when I attended that school. It made me feel really amazing to greet people and hope that I passed on some positivity to them. Try this out today or tomorrow and see how it makes you feel!