A Perfect Match

When I packed for my L.A. trip,  I made a conscious effort to bring clothes that could all work if remixed. This is the love child of this look & this look. And, I don't know, I may be biased, but I think that it's a pretty genius pairing.  

Everybody give it up one more time for this dress, which, with the right top becomes a skirt. Also, this crop top deserves honorable mention for having those transformative qualities. Together, they make one hell of a power house couple. 

The "Shift This Way Dress" was c/o Fiore Boutique.  As always, opinions are my own and not influenced by the brand.

photos by Paula Young Photo

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Use code LULU10 for 10% OFF all purchases at Fiore Boutique

Being That Girl

I'm trying to be less "that girl," and by "that girl," I mean the girl who cries about how busy and overwhelmed she is, because, let's be real, everyone has things to do, right? But, for one moment, if you can stick with me, I'm going to be "that girl."

Today I'm starting my summer semester of classes, which is such perfect timing because I've also just taken on a major new project at work, and I'm sort of pulling my hair out. The overwhelmed feeling I've been having is making me doubt myself in all sorts of ways. 

"THESE SHOULD DO UNTIL I FIGURE OUT HOW TO BALANCE IT ALL, OR UNTIL I SAY SCREW IT AND RUN TO SOME FARAWAY ISLAND."

On the particularly rough days, I find comfort in things like an especially feminine dress (original sold out), sparkly bits & my favorite purse. These should do until I figure out how to balance it all, or until I say screw it and run to some faraway island. 

photos by Kaye McCoy

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The Business of Pink

The fear of being labeled a frivolous girly girl kept me away from pink and all of its shades for years. Now that I embrace being as girly as I want (in addition to all the other things I am), I may go overboard from time to time. 

You know, just some pink lipstick here, a little pink nail polish there. Maybe a bright blazer for special occasions. Or, you could do all three if you really mean business that day, because being that committed to pink has to be handled like business.

"FOR THE SAKE OF NOT GOING FULL ON ELLE WOODS, I'VE GOT TO BALANCE IT WITH CLASSIC NEUTRALS."

For the sake of not going full on Elle Woods, I've got to balance it with classic neutrals: a striped sweater and black jeans. The truth is, though, once you decide to go that pink, there's no going back. 

photos by Kaye McCoy

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the coat wars

When fall rolls around, there are two things that shoot up on my "must buy" radar: a sturdy pair of boots and a trusty coat. Right now, these are what I'm looking at, but the decision is proving to be tough. Girlfriends, I need your help. Which coat would you choose?

The Pink Coat

PRO:  It's pink! From powdery shades to bubblegum ones, I love them all. 

The unexpected brightness will make fall/winter feel less drab.

CON: Even though I' like to think of myself as continuously fashionable, let's be real: I'm a college student. 

I often wear workout clothes to class. Will this work in my everyday wardrobe?  

elle.com

The Plaid Coat

PRO:  I love plaid for the fall. On a coat, I think the pattern makes for an interesting change up.

It would also be exciting to have my first patterned coat

CON: I'm afraid the pro is also the con. Will I get tired of seeing that pattern? And will I be able to wear it with the rest of my closet? 

fashionvibe.net

The Camel Coat

PRO:  Camel is timeless and chic. I know that it'll go with just about everything in my closet.

It'll easily compliment my other fall colors (burgundy, hunter green, navy, gray, black). 

CON: It's so safe! A camel coat can be a little Plain Jane. 

makelifeeasier.pl

the denim equation

In my recent efforts to get comfortable in jeans after years of avoidance, I've cooked up a kind of crazy idea. Hear me out, okay? Pull those denim bottoms out of your closet, dust them off, and then throw on a denim top. Life changing, I say. Also, to be completely honest, I didn't entirely come up with this idea. 

Pinterest did it. I saw this combo and was immediately smitten. I'd never thought that wearing matching denim-on-denim could work. It almost doesn't. But the blazer, a thrifted one I should mention, is the glue that holds this all together. It is what really makes this work. 

And with it being such a vital part of the denim squared equation, why not make it a bright bubblegum pink? And then, why not add striped heels and a structured purse to really tell the world, "hey, I know this is a Texas Tuxedo, but look, I can make it fancy!"

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give a twirl

Pink has not always been an easy color for me to wear. I think at some point during the early-to-mid 2000's Paris Hilton had a monopoly on the color which sent me running in the opposite direction.

Now that I'm confident that I can wear pink without it being related back to a spoiled heiress or other similar stereotype, I wear it a lot more. 

I'm especially attached to the softer shades of pink -- blush to be specific. The paler the pink, the easier it is to blend with the rest of my closet. I can think of 50 ways to wear this dress right now (chambray shirt, sweater over, sweater under, tied patterned button up, crop top, leather jacket, etc.)! 

And besides the versatility of it, there is the fact that it is pink. And how can you feel anything but fabulous when wearing pink? Fabulous enough to twirl, perhaps?

shirt - thrifted (similar) | dress - F21 | glitter flats - faded glory | purse - h&m | jewelry - fiore boutique (similar)