My Top Ten Outfits of 2011…

With 2011 coming to an end, I thought that it would only be appropriate that I share my top ten outfits from the past year. So exciting, I know! I’ve been photographing my outfits (on an almost daily basis) for about three years now. It’s so fun to look back and see how my style has evolved. I’m able to see which outfits work…and which ones don’t. Not only has documenting my outfits aided me in the style department, but it has also helped me make better decisions when it comes to makeup. Seriously though! If you don’t currently photograph your outfits, then I strongly recommend it…

For my top ten outfits, I chose ones that I haven’t featured on this blog before. If I devoted an entire blog post to an outfit before, then I obviously liked it lots. That being said, why not choose new ones! Although it was really hard to narrow down all of the outfits that I wore in the past year to a mere ten, I did the best I could!

Without further ado, here they are (in no particular order)!

1.

Cardigan from Delia’s, top from Express, scarf by Pins and Needles (Urban Outfitters), skirt from Urban Outfitters, ring from Forever 21, flats from Aldo

This is my favorite scarf! I love the color palette which consists of magenta, orange, light blue and tan. It matches nearly everything (jeans, skirts, my Delia’s cardigan, etc.) and never fails to add panache to my ensembles.

2.

Cardigan from Abercrombie and Fitch, shirt from J.Crew, shorts from Hollister, necklace from Ann Taylor, belt from Hollister, tights from Kohl’s, shoes by Bandolino

This outfit is from w-a-y back in February (when I was working on an art project – hence the large canvas in the background!). When I first bought my leopard print tights, I wasn’t sure how I was going to wear them. I mean, let’s face it, leopard print tights can either look really chic or super tacky. Based on this outfit, however, I think they ended up looking really cute!

3.
Cardigan from Anthropologie, top from Express, skirt by Xhilaration (Target), belt from Kohl’s, tights (N/A), shoes from Aldo

It’s no secret that I love my cardigans! (This one covered with westies happens to be one of my favorites.) Another thing that I love about this ensemble is its black and white color palette. Add in lace and ruffles and you have a flawless ensemble!

4.

Cardigan from Gap, top from American Eagle, black jeans from Madewell, scarf (N/A), belt from Hollister, watch from Target, shoes by Tahari

It’s no secret that I love my cardigans! (This one covered with westies happens to be one of my favorites.) Another thing that I love about this ensemble is its black and white color palette. Add in lace and ruffles and you have a flawless ensemble!

5.

Jacket from Express, top by XOXO (Macy’s), pants from Madewell, necklace from Ann Taylor, ring from Forever 21, boots by Miz Mooz

Let me start by saying, I love this jacket. Not only is it super festive and perfect for the holiday season, but it looks great with black jeans. I added a sparkly necklace and a white ruffled top to make it all the more glitzy!

6.

Blazer from Eloise (boutique downtown Charlottesville), skirt from Urban Outfitters, scarf (N/A), tights from Kohl’s, shoes by Nine West

I was spot-on in color coordinating this ensemble! My pink scarf matched my pink suede shoes almost perfectly.

7.

Sweater from Lacoste, top from Express, skirt from Mango, tights from Palmers (Vienna), necklace (N/A), shoes by Bloch

Another one of my favorite cardigans lands in the top ten! This cardigan by Lacoste is so incredibly soft, warm and cozy, that I’ve made it a goal to buy more of the preppy brand’s sweaters. Because I’m all about mixing and matching prints, I wore my geometric patterned cardigan with my subtle leopard printed skirt. To add a pop of color, I donned a pair of purple tights!

8. Jacket by American Rag (Macy’s), cardigan from Madewell, top by Eryn Brinie, skirt from Express, tights from Steffl (department store in Vienna), handbag by Coach, socks from J.Crew, boots by Nine West

These tights from Vienna are so crazy…and that’s why I knew I had to have them! Although I have pictures of me without the coat on, I don’t think the outfit looks nearly as good. With this ensemble, I feel like you’d either like it or hate it. I liked it…a lot! I had fun wearing it, and that’s all that matters!

9.

Cardigan from Gap, vest by Burning Torch (Eloise), jeans by J Brand, necklace by Simply Vera Vera Wang (Kohl’s), shoes by Tahari

I found this knit sweater/vest in the $20 bin (such a steal!) at my favorite boutique, Eloise. I’m so in love with its subdued color palette and think that it looked fab with my taupe cardigan. And, I can’t forget the edgy and cool necklace that I had on!

10.

Cardigan from Peek & Cloppenburg, top from Anthropologie, skirt from Club Monaco, necklace from Dillards, sandals by Boutique 9 (Bloomingdales)

I’m not sure why I like this outfit so much…but I do! It’s definitely matchy-matchy, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing! One thing that I learned from seeing this photo was that I should never wear flats with maxi or mid-length skirts. Since I don’t have super long legs (I wish I did!), I plan on wearing heeled shoes in the future. Speaking of the future, I foresee my navy blue crinkled skirt being incorporated into many outfits in 2012.

Happy New Year! Here’s to another year of fashionable outfits!

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

Hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas!

(from my December 3rd trip to NYC!)

(Vienna, Austria - featured in National Geographic as one of the top 10 places to see holiday lights...I've been there!)

Image Source: http://notbookfun.blogspot.com/2011/12/let-there-be-christmas-lights.html

Twas the Night Before Christmas...

Peter Jensen Polka Dot Bow Sweater from Urban Outfitters

It's Christmas Eve! Call me crazy, but I love dressing up on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. Although I think that holiday-themed sweaters (such as the one above) are super fun, I'm more into wearing lots of green and red. And sequins! If you're in a bind and don't know what to wear to any last minute Christmas parties or dinners, then here's some inspiration! Happy holidays!

Do you have any special holiday outfits planned?

Gloves and Mittens that Make Me Want to Go Frolicking in the Snow!

Winter break has finally arrived! It’s about time, I must say. Last week I was preoccupied with dreadful final exams (through Friday), but now I’m free for three blissful weeks to do as I please. Yay! One of the first things that I’ve done with my time off is open a Pinterest account. After spending hours (eh, maybe days!?) on Pinterest, I can confirm that it’s super addictive. If you haven’t used Pinterest yet, it’s basically a website that allows you to create inspiration boards. So far I have made three boards, “’Tis the Season for Sequins,” “DIY Christmas Cards” and “Style Crush: Olivia Palermo.” You can upload your own photos, find ones online, or peruse Pinterest (which contains gazillions of images!). See, lots of fun!

On another note, today is the first official day of winter! Although it doesn’t feel like winter (at least not where I live), I do think that it’s essential to have a few winter wardrobe staples. In addition to a heavy winter coat and boots (these are no-brainers), gloves and mittens are also super important. I only own one pair of gloves and normally neglect to wear them.

While perusing some of my favorite stores online (something I do oh-so often!), cutesy gloves and mittens have been catching my eye a lot lately. Though I’ve been yearning for a nice pair of leather gloves a la Coach, this season I’m slightly obsessed with colorful knit ones. Call me childish, but they are über fun to wear and I honestly just can't get enough of them. When Old Man Winter does decide to arrive, I'll also have something to keep my hands nice and cozy!

Here are some of the gloves and mittens that I just may be buying after Christmas!

Juicy Couture

Short Tassle Gloves - $35 (was $48)
Eek! My very, very favorite and number one pick of the season is this pair of short tassle gloves by Juicy Couture. I love the fun and vibrant color palette, the cute design (stripes and Fair Isle – yes!) and, of course, the pink pom-pom tassels! What is there not to love?

Fair Isle Long Gloves with Slits - $35 (was $58)
Another winner by Juicy! I love the extra-long length of these gloves and the colorful Fair Isle pattern. The pair of gloves that I currently own is cut so short that my wrists are often left exposed to the frigid air. This is not fun when I’m walking from one end of the campus to the other…

Handwarmer & Nailpolish Set - $50 (was $68)
Okay, so technically these are “handwarmers,” not gloves or mittens. But they are super cute and come with nail polish (I hear Deborah Lippman makes the best lacquer!). And, it doesn’t hurt that they just so happen to be bedecked with faux diamonds. Sold!

Kate Spade

Silver Ring Cocktail Gloves - $45 (was $75)
I have a huge obsession with cocktail rings and wear them on a daily basis. Unfortunately, most of my rings are too big to wear underneath gloves. Since going ring-less is simply not an option, more often than not, I choose to leave my gloves behind. Am I supposed to take off my ring, hide it in my purse for safe keeping and then put it back on once I’ve gotten inside and removed the gloves? That’s quite a process to undertake 2+ times every day. On the coldest of cold days (I’m talking 20 degrees and below), maybe this pair of gloves will suffice…

Prize Ball Pop Top Mittens - $45 (was $75)
If you haven’t noticed, I’m kind of a fan of color.

Taxi Mittens - $39 (was $65)
Although I’m from a small town, I’m a total city-girl at heart. This pair of bright yellow mittens stamped with ‘taxi’ makes me feel all warm and giddy inside!

Jack Wills

Maythorn Mittens - $29
I have a confession: I’ve never owned or tried on a pair of mittens before. That being said, I’m shocked that I actually like these mittens from Jack Wills.

Madewell

Flurries Fair Isle Mitten - $20 (was $38)
Yet another pair of mittens! The pink-and-blue color palette just seems wintery, doesn’t it?

Modcloth

None of the A-glove - $55

Not an everyday glove, but I do think they would look fab with a white pea coat.

Bell Choir Gloves - $35

Ruffles! Chic, sophisticated and subdued, this pair of gloves is for the practical fashionista. Whether you’re wearing a black, white, or gray wool coat, rest assured that these gloves will match your attire.

If you’re lucky enough to have a white Christmas, grab your cheekiest gloves and enjoy some winter wonderland fun!

Source: We Heart It

Winter Wardrobe Staple: Tights

Two outfits, two exceptionally fun pairs of tights. Although the temperatures thus far haven’t been too horrid, it’s cold enough now that skirts and bare legs are a no-go. (Tragic, I know!) Being the girly-girl that I am, skirts and dresses are a regular fixation in my wardrobe rotation. Since wearing jeans on a daily basis simply isn’t an option, I must turn to some form of chic leg wear to keep me cozy (hence, comes in tights!). From opaque black to floral and leopard print, I have quite the collection of tights.

With tights being a winter wardrobe staple, I always stock up on them during the summer months when they’re on clearance. Instead of spending $10+ on a pair of tights, it’s so much more practical to pay $2+ (or sometimes less!). Since tights obviously don’t last forever, and are bound to get snags and runs, there’s no reason to splurge.

As I promised earlier in the week, here are a few of my most recent outfits!

Jacket from Kohl’s (ELLE), sweater from Ruehl, skirt from Urban Outfitters (Silence & Noise), tights by Hue, shoes by Dolce Vita

When it comes to styling ensembles, I am all about color coordination. While I could have easily worn a pair of black tights with this outfit, I knew that I wanted something a bit more eye-catching. Leaving black behind, I channeled my inner Peter Pan and went for green ones instead. Hunter green and deep purple look fantastic when worn together. Because both colors are of the same tint, they complement each other quite well. To prevent my ensemble from becoming discordant, I donned a black motorcycle-cut jacket and kept my shoes neutral. For some pizzazz, I finished off with one of my favorite statement necklaces and a mega-sized ring.

Cardigan from Club Monaco, dress by Leifsdottir, pearls from Forever 21

Last Friday, I went for a “girls just want to have fun” look. Complete with pearls, eclectic tights and tough, biker-esque boots, this outfit is as edgy and crazy as it gets for me. Maintaining my classy and sophisticated style, I wore my favorite black dress and long Club Monaco cardigan. In place of my usual pair of bow-adorned ballet flats, however, I opted for chunky, lace-up boots.

To keep your style fresh, sometimes you have to go for the unexpected. Instead of always dressing ultra-feminine, bohemian or punk, why not wear something outside of your comfort zone? It can be as little as trying a different skirt length or as drastic as trading in your Chanel tweed jacket for a daring leather one. The point is, experimenting with fashion is fun. I loved wearing this outfit and totally embraced it!

Tights from Target (Xhilaration), socks from J.Crew, boots from Urban Outfitters

When I saw this floral pair of tights at Target, I thought that they were super cute and knew instantly I had to have them. Because they are cropped (which I can’t stand…), I decided to layer sparkly white socks on top. Maybe it’s just me, but cropped tights are so unconventional. The purpose of tights is to keep my legs nice and cozy (and cute!), not to expose them to the frigid air. Nonetheless, I am happy with how chic and effortless my outfit turned out.

For the variety of tights that this season has to offer, check out my latest article, “Tights Galore: Lace, Fair Isle, Leopard and More!” posted on College Gloss.

Which tights are you looking to add to your collection this season?

What’s your favorite way to style tights?

Alice + Olivia Holiday Collection

Thanksgiving break is finally here! Nine blissful days off to catch up on my studies and enjoy some much needed relax time. Watching Gossip Girl episodes that I missed, cleaning my room and sleeping (such a foreign word these days!) are just a sample of the things on my to-do list. During my week off, I also look forward to blogging – there is so much in the fashion world that I’ve been dying to write about! Currently, I have the upcoming holiday season on my mind. With Christmas just over a month away, department stores and designers are releasing their lookbooks, shopping guides and holiday videos. Yay! This is my favorite time of the year for a reason…

So far, I’ve already been wowed by Kate Spade’s extravagant gift guide. A cute thermos, berry-colored pumps with a black & white striped heel and a dark spearmint patent leather handbag are just a few of the must-have items I’m swooning after.

Another one of my favorite designer lines, Alice + Olivia, just released a holiday video (see below - so cute!) packed with holiday goodness (and chic sequined dresses!).

A few of the Alice + Olivia looks that I just can’t get enough of…

Eek! I love my skirts...and this one's in metallic gold!

Hands down, cutest coat of the season.

Perfect for any late night rendezvous.

The intricate beadwork is so stunning.

LOTS of sequins...and I'm not complaining!

This dress just makes me want to twirl around (and around).

What do you think of Alice + Olivia's Holiday Collection?

Have you come across any especially noteworthy gift guides? (If so, please share!)

Photo Source: Alice + Olivia

Mulberry: What I’m Yearning for this Month...

1. A girl can never have too many scarves! With Jackson Pollock-inspired paint splatters, this scarf gives off an understated cool and artsy vibe.

2. Say yes to pleats and white after Labor Day. Think how divine this pristine white skirt would look when paired with a bright-colored wool coat!

3. Boxy shaped satchel bags are so timeless and chic – this is a must!

4. Never one to turn down a classic pair of oxfords (let alone one in bronze!), I would be more than happy to add these into my wardrobe rotation.

5. A classic coat for a classy lady. In a gorgeous shade of navy blue, this year-round coat will prove to be a wardrobe staple for years to come.

6. Add some pizzazz to your winter attire by donning a pair of quilted leopard print gloves! The magenta spots are sure to spice up any ensemble.

What are you loving from Mulberry this month?