Larisa T.

     Larisa is a Political Science and French double major and describes her style as artsy and formal. She rarely wears jeans. Dresses and skirts with thick tights are her winter staples. Larisa has been pleased with the chilly weather that we have been experiencing so she can show off her diverse scarf collection. She told me that she owns around thirteen kinds of scarves, which come in different colors and patterns.

“I actually have a scarf organizer in my room” she said.

            With colder weather quickly approaching, it is easy to just draw a neutral colored winter jacket around your shoulders and walk out the door. A bright scarf like Larisa’s adds a pop of color to an outfit that would have otherwise been plain. At the beginning of the semester, Larisa had a pop of color that brightened up her outfit each day; her hair was dyed a vibrant purple.

            Boots are a staple in the winter. Even before the snow hits, boots can keep feet much warmer and more comfortable than flats or sneakers. Larisa bought her boots in Montreal, when she went on a trip with her Chorale group over last spring break.

            “There was about four feet of snow and my suede boots were just not cutting it” she said.

Larisa has been able to use her French skills in many instances, including her trip to Montreal. She also studied in France last summer.

            Larisa told me that she gets many pieces of her wardrobe from her aunt, some of which are vintage. 

 “She knows my style and she actually gave me this dress which is from the 1980s” stated Larisa. Sometimes clothes that are hand- me- downs are real treasures.

            Larisa hopes to go to Law school and work in the Human Rights field in the future.

Flowery Power

I have not been posting lately because I have been much too busy with school and out of class activities. I am also getting ready to go to London after December Break.
I was really excited to wear this outfit today because dress is from a vintage store. I bought it last year but I have not been able to wear it because I did not have the right kind of slip. I got one as a hand me down from a friend and I could finally wear it! I love it. The sleeves have ruffles that make me feel like I am in another era. I get the same feeling when I wear my oxfords.

Impromptu Photo Shoot featuring Emily

 Emily just cannot help but look cute sometimes. So I asked her to be in my blog again! Surprise surprise! Her yellow corduroy pants make her stand out among a sea of college students walking to class, all in black Northface jackets and Ugg boots. Mustard yellow is just a great color for fall. It is unique and bright. 

 I had a really fun time editing these photos. I just bought a Photoshop program and I'm learning how to use it little by little. It has encouraged me to use my camera more often so that I can experiment and edit more and more photos.

Rebekah H.

Rebekah is one of my best friends at college. She is a sophomore, like me, an RA and a Theology major. To go along with her major, she is getting an emphasis in youth ministry and secondary education so that she can someday be a youth minister or religion teacher. I can already tell that she will be great at whatever she does. Rebekah is probably one of the most caring people that I know. She is also quite popular here at school, seeing that she is friends with everybody; From the freshman to the huge basketball players.
Over the weekend, Rebekah and I, along with some of our friends, walked to a thrift store about a mile away from our school. I have found some great buys at thrift stores before, such as one of my favorite leather bags for $8.
Rebekah found a lot of items that just fit her and her personality, perfectly.The shirt that she is wearing in the photo above is actually long sleeved and shiny. It reminds me of a circus and I love it! She also bought the Lacoste sweater for $3 at the thrift store.

It was clearly owned by a man before. A really great part of thrift shopping is all the little treasures you find while looking for wearable clothing. James Pauley lived or is living somewhere and bought this sweater however long ago. It comes with a story, and Rebekah is just continuing the story.
Within the first sweep of the clothing section of the little thrift store, I did not find much. However, after some hard looking, I found some treasures, each for just $3.

 This sweater is perfect for the cold months ahead. It is really heavy but comfortable. It is also good quality. I love the purse. It is not as heavy as the last leather bag that I bought while thrifting and I think that is why I like it so much. I will most likely be bringing it to London with me.

 This shirt is from Eddie Baur and I thought that the pattern was really interesting. After trying it on, it was a little oddly shaped but I still like it a lot.

 This is the patchwork detail on a large Lee sweatshirt. I love it! I wore it all day Sunday. It is so warm and comfortable. I could sleep in it! At first, I thought it was a grandma-y sweater, but after thinking about it, I realized that I was in love.

This scarf is a little itchy, but the cool blue just called to me. I wore this today with a longsleeve shirt and jeans. It brings a pop of color to my outfits, seeing as most of the clothes I own are the same colors (black, gray, navy blue, army green, tan).
This thrifting trip was a huge success. I am going to have to go more often, especially because I bought all these things for less than $20. It also goes to a good cause. The proceeds from the particular thrift store that we went to go towards helping the Daughters of Charity.
How nice!

Noelle and Emily

These are my roommates/ best friends and they let me photograph their outfits last Sunday. We had gotten all dressed up to go to mass.

 Emily is an International Studies major. She also plays field hockey and loves to chat. She is my best friend and I am soooo glad that she is going to London with me next semester. I would be a lot more nervous if I didn't have her to go with me. We are going to be rooming together and taking almost all the same classes together.

 Noelle is a science major and she wants to be a pediatrician "when she grows up." She is starting a pre-med club on campus and she loves to yell at our tv while watching Raven's Football. The team is her pride and joy. She is also my best friend.

<3

Morgan C.

Morgan is a sophomore who knows how to dress for chilly, fall weather. She would usually describe her style as “preppy/ casual,” but this outfit is all about being warm and comfy, while still looking stylish.

            “I own about fifteen v- neck sweaters” said Morgan, when I asked her about the go- to items that she has in her closet. You can never have too many sweaters. Personally, I am drawn to articles that have just a little bit of a design on them, just so they are not plain. I especially liked the detailed knitting in the front of this sweater.

            The piece that stood out to me the most about this outfit was Morgan’s skirt. Usually around this time of year, plaid is found on plaid shirts. This skirt was refreshing and perfectly suited for fall. I asked if there was a story behind it and she told me that she had to go to two different stores in order to buy it.

“I knew the skirt was on sale, so I went to the store to buy it but they did not have the right size. My sister and I drove fifty minutes away to get it.” She had been hunting for a good deal.

            A good pair of boots is also ideal to have for the fall. I live in mine throughout half of the year, during fall and winter. Morgan’s boots are combat-esque, like a toned down pair of Dr. Martens.

            “I got them when I worked at a shoe store, so they were half off” Morgan stated. She believes that dressing nicely should not have to be expensive.

            “I like to look for sales or spend more money on a piece I know will last me for a long time.” As a college student, this is the best way to shop.

A Rainy Day Post

It poured today... like torrential downpour/ monsoon season... It was insane.
I know for a fact that it rains a whole lot in England, so I need to go there prepared for the weather.
I already have a pair of Black Wellingtons. They are a necessity, especially when there are flash floods and mud all over. They make me invincible!
Sperry's Pelican Tall Rain Boot :

The ones I have are very similar to this. I like mine a bit better because they have two sets of gold buckles, which make them not so four- year - old puddle jumper and dress the boot up just a little bit. I love them! I am bringing them with me to England, I do not care how much space they take up in my luggage.
I like to wear legwarmers and tight pants with my rain boots. They make me look cozy and actually help my boots fit better.
Hunter  boots are also good quality and very popular right now. A girl in my hallway has bright teal ones, which I love. They brighten things up on rainy days.

How appropriate!

The obvious rainy day necessity is a good rain coat. You have to try on and test out a rain coat before you buy it. I learned the hard way. I love the rain coat I have right now, but the hood flies off my head and I have no way to make it tighter. I usually end up holding it over my eyes so that rain does not make me blind or get my hair wet. It is a pain. I am on the lookout for a new rain coat, preferably something bright.
The North Face has a great selection of bright, good quality rain coats. They are a bit expensive, but they are so durable. It is definitely worth it.

MAKALU INSULATED JACKET

This is the one that I am thinking about getting. The colors are gorgeous.
Rainy weather is not my favorite, although walking through the monsoon today made me feel like I was on an adventure. A perfect rainy day outfit can make a day like today so much better. Especially when you are kept warm and dry.

BIG (Ben) NEWS

I just found out that I was accepted to study abroad in London next semester! I am so happy and excited. I also get to go with one of my best friends. Thank God, I would be really nervous to go without her.
With all this excitement, there is also fear. I'm a little scared to go that far away. I went to England when I was in middle school, but this experience will be totally different. I will be actually living there for three months. What a great opportunity! I hope to get an internship while I am there. I will be taking four to five classes. I plan to travel all over Europe while we are there.
I am aiming to go to Morocco for a day. I also want to go to Italy, Ireland, Scotland, France, and Austria.
I saved my money all summer... so I plan to go everywhere and see everything! I do not want to have to worry about money while I am there. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I plan to take full advantage!

hi-lo dayyy

This is my best friend Emily! Her and I decided to wear our hi-lo skirts to class today (actually, they're both mine. but I let her borrow one).
I adore my skirts. They're so easy to pair with anything! They look very elegant as well.
I tried out my Dr. Martens (which were given to me by my best friend Amanda's grandmother). I was nervous about wearing them because I never see real people wearing them. But today I took a risk. I think they looked alright with my outfit... however, they gave me horrible blisters! I wore thick socks too... they are comfortable besides the part that rubs against my ankle. I guess they are just not good shoes for walking. I still love them though. I will be wearing sandals for the rest of the day.

"Style"

Style, by Lauren Conrad, was a quick read, but had so much information within its pages. It had the basic -basic things, such as how to build up your closet with things that will always stay in fashion, to how to shop vintage. I do not really follow the lives of celebrities very much, but if anyone knows about fashion, shopping and being in the public eye, it is Lauren Conrad. She also had help from her stylists.
This book was actually helpful and interesting. It was very light and simple. She covered a wide range of topics including: what to pack on a trip, when you know it is time to get rid of an article of clothing, and even how to do hair and makeup.
Lauren Conrad also put in some personalized stories which were quite relatable. She is just like a normal girl...... who is always in the public eye and just happens to have a lot of time and money to go shopping.

Year 2

I have begun my sophomore year in college! I'm all moved in and have already done some homework. This semester will be tough... I know there will be a lot of reading and a lot of work involved. I'm excited though. I like all my classes. I am in a broadcast journalism class... and it reminds me a lot of the interviews I plan on conducting about fashion! Perhaps I can even do my final project on something like that.
I would love to be a fashion journalist... like Alexa Chung. My dream would be to host a talk show and write on the side.
Things have been very busy around here since move in day... but I am getting used to it all over again! College is such a gift. It is a time to learn... not only to gain knowledge, but to learn about relationships and yourself. Living the college life is not easy... especially when you're so far away from the ones you love (my hometown is about 6.5 hours away, and my boyfriend goes to school about 5 hours away from there) but it is the best experience. It is the accelerated learning of life lessons. I love it! I do not enjoy it all the time... especially when the neighbors are loud, or I wait to do a paper to the last moment, but I am living on my own, working on campus and following my dreams.
I will cherish these years... they are so important.

Move In Day 2012

I'm back on campus and sooo excited to start this year! I am sharing a suite with three of my best friends and we are already having a blast! I was never a huge fan of posters... so I use magazine pages to decorate my bare walls. I make them into a collage... this year, they look more like a cloud above my bed.
I had a great idea! But it came to me too little too late... I wanted to use only black and white magazine pages to go along with the bedspread that I have... and then turn all my photographs into black and white. Oh well... maybe next year!

Emily B.

This is Emily! She will be my first feature in this blog. Emily has been my friend throughout high school and she has an amazing style. She actually received the "most fashionable" senior superlative in our yearbook.
Emily goes to college in New York City and spends her free time people watching... she hopes to start a blog about the cute couples she sees from day to day.
My fashionista friend would describe her style as,
"90s grunge mixed with modern day... what's the Addams family girl's name?"

Wednesday Addams 

Emily's signature outfits are all black; goth but not goth.
This particular outfit has a story to it:
"The sweater always reminds me of a date that I went on with an ex- boyfriend," she says with a smile.
Her boots are Dr. Martens, the first pair that she ever bought and she got her purse from a cute Italian man while on a school trip abroad.
"We were on a cute cobblestone street and I was between this bag and another, prism- shaped one. I should have bought both."
Emily and I had a nice time walking through the village. We caught up and celebrated her birthday over froyo.
There is no doubt that she will be featured again in this blog.
Cheers!

Niagara Falls

I am a full fledged member of the Daytrip Club... My family and I go on daytrips all the time. I grew up on long car rides and they will never bore me. Last weekend, we took my family from out of town to Niagara Falls. We went to both the US and Canadian sides. We also visited Niagara on the Lake, which is always quaint and beautiful. The houses are absolutely amazing. Some of them are so huge and elegant... they make me wonder how anybody and afford to live there.

How amazing is it to have a World Wonder right in my backyard?

Above is the Maid of the Mist. I brought a bunch of friends to Niagara Falls for my 16th Birthday and we went on the boat and got so close to the falls that we could feel the spray. It is a great adventure. We would have ridden the boat on this day, but we had a two year old and a four year old with us and it was a little chilly for them to be so wet.

Bittersweet

Here is the thing about summer... it always has to end. I'm so excited to go to college and see all my friends again. I cannot wait to get back into the swing of things. I'm going to be in a creative writing class and I am going to start running again.
Summer has had its ups and downs, but altogether it has been pretty great. This past month has been incredibly busy for me. I've been on vacation, had soooo many hours of work, turned 19, and started packing. It is so hard to believe that I go to school in a week. I have so much to do in such a short time. I have to make my boyfriend's birthday gift, pack a ton, and say too many goodbyes.
It is going to be really hard to leave my parents, boyfriend and my friends. I'll miss them dearly.
Unfortunately, I have not gotten around to any interviews... this disappoints me. Hopefully I will gain courage and free time when I go back to school.

Update!

These next few weeks will be very busy for me... I'm working a lot this week, celebrating my birthday this weekend and getting ready to go back to school! I'm a little stressed. I'm disappointed that I havent been able to interview anybody yet... I've been chickening out... always finding excuses not to hand them my business card. I think it will be easier when I have a little more time and fewer distractions.
This is the outfit that I wore to work yesterday:

 I am in love with this skirt... I only bought it about a month ago and I've worn it a lot! It goes with anything and everything. I had to think a lot about buying a hi-lo skirt... and I'm so glad I decided to get one!

My photographer (my mother) and I were experimenting with lenses from a nice camera that my mom has had for a while. I think the photos came out very cool!

This is the lens.
Have a lovely day!
xoxo,
Angela

The Return

I'm back from my two week hiatus! Wow, vacation was really great. We went to Nova Scotia and it was absolutely gorgeous!
Here are some photos: