Three Braided Buns

Today's post is a hair tutorial inspired by this look, found here. I wore it for an awards ceremony for an essay contest about women in science. It was very warm that day, so it was important for me to keep my hair up and out of the way. My hair right now is the perfect medium length to try all sorts of hairstyles - one of my favorite styles for camp has been a braided side bun (tutorial coming soon!). 

Here's a photo of the hairstyle. I like how all the braids played up the texture of my hair nicely! Having hair that is all the same color, it can sometimes be hard to achieve dimension. Braiding is one of my favorite techniques to create more texture. 

And here's the photo of me at the awards ceremony.

Outfit details: Dress: Lush via Nordstrom / Wedges: Franco Sarto via T. J. Maxx / Earrings: Urban Outfitters 

I went with a summery look with the cream lace dress (one of my favorite dresses - it's so versatile!), nude wedges. I accessorized the otherwise neutral-toned outfit with gold and jade earrings. 

A heat wave is hitting my town right now, making it very warm - wherever you are, please stay cool! Have a fantastic day. 

Chopped

On the day of prom, my hairstylist took one look at my long locks and said, "I'm going to have to cut some of this if you don't want to be waiting here for hours while your hair curls!" I was thinking about getting a haircut to help me cope with the hot and humid days of summer, but I wanted to keep the length for prom. But since I was getting a side bun anyway, I thought, why not? It's time for a change. I hadn't gotten my hair cut in more than a year! Here's the end result...

This photo was taken at my senior luncheon a few weeks ago. 

And here's a clearer picture of the outfit I was wearing for the luncheon:

This photo was taken at an awards breakfast for a scholarship I received earlier that month. I liked the outfit so much it had to be repeated!

Outfit details: Dress: Darling via T.J. Maxx / Belt: Store in China / Necklace: Forever 21 / Sandals: Franco Sarto 

I love how this necklace, a gift from one of my best friends, matches everything - it's the perfect accessory to dress up or down any outfit. This dress was an amazing bargain find at T.J. Maxx. I love the retro yet elegant fit and the timeless floral pattern. The colors suit my skin tone well! 

It's been fun finding ways to style my shorter (and undeniably more comfortable in the summer) hair. Sometimes, a little change is necessary. 

Hope you're having a fantastic day! Happy Fourth of July :)

Senior Prom 2013

As promised, here are some photos from senior prom!

The weather that day wasn't great, but it was nice and cool. It drizzled a little bit but I braved it for these photos :) I was happy to be able to wear my favorite color, and I matched my earrings, hair clips, and the ribbon of my corsage to my dress. My earrings were the aqua, emerald and cobalt blue ones I wore here - I liked how they added a little bit of contrast to the dress. I think the grecian style dress and floaty skirt suited me well! My date's name was Todd and he's one of my friends from my high school. I had my hair done by my favorite hairstylist and I did my makeup myself. I asked for a side bun and my hairstylist added some gold glitter hairspray which made my hair sparkle with every move of my head. For my makeup, I went for a gold and black smokey eye with a neutral lip. The venue was gorgeous and it was so nice to see my classmates in their finest attire smiling and enjoying themselves after a long and stressful year. These photos were taken at my friend's house before the dance.

Outfit details: Dress: Jodi Kristopher via Dillard's / Shoes: Nina via Lord & Taylor / Earrings: Lord & Taylor / Corsage: Local florist / Hair clips: Store in China 

 

Jazz hands at my friend's house! Since it was raining, we took some group photos indoors.

This photo was taken at the venue by one of my teachers.

Hope you enjoyed your prom! It's really a great part of being a high school student - one that I'll miss! 

Transformation

Would you believe me if I told you this shirt...was a dress?

Remember this dress? I wore it here.

I really wanted to pair the dress with these mint pants, but when I put them on, the flare of the dress didn't go well with the skinny jeans. I've never been into the dress over pants look. However, I still felt determined to make the two go together...with a little rolling and tying, I turned the dress into a shirt! I put on a blazer to cover up some of the pinning in the back and keep myself warm - perfect for a spring day.

Outfit details: Blazer: Gap / Pants: American Eagle / Top (dress): H&M / Sandals: Franco Sarto / Earrings: Native American shop in North Carolina 

Have you ever gotten creative with your clothes and transformed them? I'm going to try to learn how to sew this summer with my grandmother so I can create my own designs! 

Happy Memorial Day!

Fedora: Charlotte Russe / Cardigan: Charlotte Russe / Dress: Forever21 / Shoes: TOMs

Quick post today guys! Memorial day is all about honoring veterans who served our nation. It's important to show respect because a lot of men and women gave their lives for our freedom.

So I dressed for the occasion.

Today, I was planning on going to the Devon Horse Show in Pennsylvania (ended up not going and went to the largest retail mall in American instead, King of Prussia Mall) so horse show = preppy (dresses and hats in particular). Now I don't have many hats, but I thought this straw fedora matched my outfit nicely without distracting from the red, white, and blue ensemble.

I started with the white polka-dotted, red dress as the base and layered on a light white cardigan with a lace back. The sides of the cardigan kinda dangled weirdly so I tied it up.

And for that final pop of blue....TOMs!

I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day and weekend!

I Love Spring Tag - Michelle's Turn!

As soon as I saw Xuewei's post, I wanted to write my own! That's why I was delighted to see that she had tagged me. Here's my responses :) I'll have to admit, there's a reason why Xuewei is the makeup guru of this blog...

1. Favorite spring nail polish?

Image from product-girl.com

I actually don't wear a lot of nail polish (I'm not so good at applying it), but my favorite color is aqua and my favorite nail polish color is aqua as well. I love this one, Butter London slapper. It's bright and fun! 

2. What is your must-have lip color this spring?
My go-to lip color is usually Classic Chapstick (I said Xuewei, not I, was the makeup guru!) but if I were to choose a color that I like, it would be Fresh Rosé Lip Balm. I got this in a Sephora sampler and I love it. It's moisturizing and adds just the slightest hint of color.

Image from fresh.com

3. Show us your favorite spring dress!

I have so many dresses, it's actually really hard to choose! I'm liking the longer lengths this season, and I think this one will be my go-to dress this spring. I got it in the fall but I think the lace and neutral color will make it a wonderful layer. I wore it here: 

4. What's your favorite flower?

Hmm, this is a good question. I love flowers, and nature in general, but I've always loved the variety and color of tulips. They come in so many colors and their shape is just beautiful.

Image from theflowersavenue.com

5. Favorite spring scarf/accessory?

I think we all know what the answer to this question will be! My scarf, gifted from my grandmother, which you can see here, here, and here. 

6. What spring trend(s) are you most excited about this year? (Makeup, fashion or both!)
I am loving the intricate braids for spring and summer. As someone who loves to wear her hair long, sometimes it can be tough to keep it out of my face. Braiding it (and finding braid inspiration on Pinterest) is super fun. Here's my Hair and Makeup Pinterest board, where I'm constantly pinning my favorite looks. 

7. Favorite spring candle?
I'm usually not a candle user, but I really like this candle that we have at home. After reading what Xuewei had to say about the relaxing abilities of scents, I think I might give it a try! 

Image from pcfallon.com

8. Favorite body spray/perfume for spring?
My flute teacher recently gifted me Viva La Juicy, and I love how it's got a little hint of floral. It's not too overwhelming, and it's youthful. Although I don't usually wear perfume, I might use this more in the spring. Spring is always a great time for change! 

Image from juicycouture.com

9. What is spring like where you live?
Spring is like a refreshing breath of air after a long day. Although I like the winter, I find spring to be a pleasant change. However, my allergies have made it difficult for me to enjoy the start of spring. I hope this year I'll be able to enjoy it more! 

10. What's your favorite thing about spring?
I love how the weather gets better and warmer, but there are no pesky mosquitoes that plague me every summer! 

11. Are you a spring cleaner?
I don't mind organizing and I find myself doing it all the time, but there is something satisfying about cleaning in the springtime. In short, yes, I am a spring cleaner. A clean, neat and sunny room - that's what I love to see coming home from school.

12. Any plans for spring break or an upcoming vacation?

I had spring break a few weeks ago and I spent most of my time at home getting some well-deserved relaxation. 

I think this post was fun to write (thanks for the tag, Xuewei!) and I'm looking forward to the rest of the season :) 

Versatility

I never expected this floral blazer to be so versatile! Since I got it last year, I've found myself wearing it with everything from jeans (here) to boots (here) to dresses! This outfit was taken at the science symposium where I saw Angelica, and we actually matched that day. Here's a photo of the two of us flaunting our floral, black, pink, and blazers! 

For this outfit, I had to look formal but I still wanted to show my personality. Rather than choose a plain black blazer, I paired the black dress with my floral blazer. The black in the blazer coordinates well with the dress. This dress is also one of the most versatile pieces in my closet, and I am so happy to have found this LBD. I've used it quite often throughout high school and I know that I will take it with me to college. 

Outfit details: Dress: Tadashi via Saks Off Fifth / Blazer: Lush via Nordstrom / Flats: Libby Edelman / Earrings: Anthropologie (gifted) / Necklace: Forever 21 (gifted) / Purse: Thrifted 

These earrings and necklace were a gift from my wonderful friend Angela! The purse is a cute yard sale find - it's got a lovely vintage vibe and I can't help but wonder about its previous life every time I reach for it. 

I hope you have a fantastic day! 

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! :)

Fashion Design

I've always wished that I had the creativity and eye for fashion design. When I was younger, I used to keep a notebook for sketches of outfits and dresses that I would dream up. I named the line "The Azura Series." I don't really draw anymore though, but recently, I came upon a picture on Pinterest (the best website ever) that gave me a glimpse into the world of fashion design and inspiration.

These gorgeous tulips, somehow, instantly reminded me of the bottom of a beautiful dress. In my mind, I could see the gently folded layers that had a slight ombre effect. Even the little dew drops could be incorporated into the design.
Anyway, I haven't had one of those fashion design moments in a long time and just decided to share. Tell me I'm not the only one who experiences this sometimes?