Look of the Day: Tribal Patterned Skirt

We all have those days where we wish we could throw on sweatpants and lay in bed. Yup I had one of those days today. 

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I had to wake up super early for work and had no motivation to try, but of course I still wanted to look cute. A plain black t-shirt and a gathered A-line skirt did the job. This is one of my favorite summer skirts. I bought it at Forever 21 without trying it on and came home to realize that it was way too big. After having it sit in my closet for months on end, I finally decided to hitch it up to my natural waist and tie the belt (hard to see in the photo) in a perfect bow right in front. It's still a little big, but oh well. I love how it is so vibrant! I look put together and I didn't even try. 

I decided to go against the grain and wear my black Gap tee with my favorite Urban Outfitter brown sandals. Who says you can't mix brown and black? Breaking 'the rules' got me going and I decided to wear a clash of metals. I'm wearing copper heart earrings, a silver zipper bangle, a bright red friendship bracelet, and a gold Rams' head bracelet my grandma gave to me (she got it at a casino with a ram's theme years ago). I love how they looked stacked together. I kept the red going by wearing my new tarte lipsurgence in the color Spirited. Spirited is an orange-red and I adore it! I'll have a full review coming soon. I really think it completed this outfit to the T. 

I was comfy, but boy did I feel good!

t-shirt: Gap

skirt: Forever 21

sandals: Urban Outfitters

red friendship bracelet: Gap

zipper bangle: Jewelmint

Ram's bracelet: vintage (grandmother's)

Look of the Day: Graduation

Last Saturday I officially graduated with my Master's degree! All the stress, struggles, and sleepless nights finally paid off. My entire family came from Chicago to DC to be there for the celebration. My biggest concern for my big day was finding the perfect dress.
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It took me three tries to find the perfect dress. I had my heart set on wearing a white, lace dress but they all were too short for my taste or out of my budget. I gave up and bought a navy blue sweetheart dress at work that I decided was too casual for wearing to my own graduation, a second navy lace dress at Shabby Apple that was too long and too big and just not what I was looking for. Finally I pressured my mom to stop into H&M for a few seconds and I found the perfect dress (at just $30!) within 5 minutes. I love the peplum detail and how it makes the dress a little more playful than just a plain shift dress. I think the length is perfect and I felt comfortable wearing it all day. The marshmallow color is a bit warmer than a stark white and makes me look tan! I love how subtle the lace detailing is. It is a sweet and pretty dress. Plus, I think I could easily re-wear it for other special occasions.

I loved the bracelet I found at H&M because of the pastel turquoise and pink. We then headed to Forever 21 to see if they had a necklace that worked with it. This was the first necklace I laid eyes on and I love that it brings out the gold in the bracelet and adds a little roughness to the very sweet dress. I didn't have money or time to buy a new pair of shoes so I wore my trusty brown pumps from H&M they worked well since it again played up the golds in my accessories.

I spent a lot of time on my makeup and tried really hard to perfect the cat eye, which I've never done before. I used eyeshadows from the Kat Von D True Romance Palette. For an all over base I used the peachy Sister and for the lime green cat eye, I used multiple layers of Snake Eyes wet. And on my lips I'm wearing Tarte Lipsurgence in Amused, which I got in my Teen Vogue Birchbox. I was very happy with how my makeup came out, it was subtle, timeless, but had a little edge to it.

 dress: H&M

shoes: H&M

bracelet: H&M

necklace: Forever 21

earrings: Lydell NYC

Now on to the next journey...

Look of the Day: 70s Inspired Floral

This post marks the first Look of the Day (LOTD) post!  Random goodness of budget-friendly fashion/jewelry of the day and maybe even makeup. I may even include a little bit about where/when I wore it.
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When I got home to Chicago I was expecting the weather to only hit the high 60s, but we have had some lovely, warm days. I decided to wear my new button-up 70s inspired floral dress to celebrate the warm weather. I got this dress a few months ago from Forever 21. I loved the bright, large floral print against the warm brown. I love that it commands attention yet doesn't require much effort! I paired it with a Twisted Orchid purse I won last month from Eugenia's blog! I got to pick any purse from the Twisted Orchid purse and I fell immediately in love with the slingbak backpacks! You can wear it as a backpack, slung on one shoulder, as a large hobo, or even across your back! It is so roomy and goes with everything! I cannot get enough of it.

dress: Forever 21

sandals: Steve Madden

purse: Twisted Orchid

I wore this outfit out to lunch with my mom and sister. We went to Thanks Jordan Raw Vegan Cafe of Lockport, IL. If you aren't familiar with raw veganism it is a diet that excludes cooking anything above 118 degrees fahrenheit. Many people eat raw because they believe cooking destroys the balance of nutrients and there may be chemicals created due to the heating process. This restaurant is an interesting concept in the fact that it is run 100% by volunteers. All proceeds are donated to the Thanks Jordan foundation which benefits children battling life-threatening illnesses. It was one of my first experiences with raw food and I can say it was amazing and filling! I'd definitely go back!

I had the taco salad (the meat was made of almonds!).

My sister had mushroom alfredo that was made with zucchini shreds as pasta. It was so good! Even though it was cold!

Lastly, my mom had dill covered bagels with a mixed salad and a fruit salad. She loved the salads, but thought the dill topping was just okay. 

Warm weather, good food and company, what's not to love? Thanks for stopping by!

Look of the Day: Forever 21 Life In Progress Chino Ankle Pant

I don't normally wear khakis, chinos, or whatever you like to call khaki style cotton pants. Growing up I always had a fear that Id get out of my seat and have dirt all over my booty or other unfortunate incidents. My anxiety is so bad that I do not own a single pair of khakis. But all of these gorgeous colored khakis and chinos this season made me envious! I finally decided to take the leap when I found these reasonable priced ($22.50 a pop) Forever 21 Life In Progress Chino Ankle pants. Unfortunately the US site is all sold out, but they are still available on the UK, Canada, and EU websites. They came in pale banana and brick. I have never ever worn Forever 21 pants, I always just assumed that they would be a terrible fit, look cheap, and I'd have to size up 20 sizes. But, I could not resist!

 I got my regular 'Gap' size in the banana and the size up in the brick colored. I was so pleased when they arrived. The material was softer than any of my expectations, a bit thicker than I thought I'd be getting for the price, and they have the perfect amount of stretch. I decided I had to wear a pair the day after I got them. But, what do you wear with colored chinos?

I was at a loss for a few hours trying to decide what to wear with them. Should I play it safe and wear a boring button up or plain t-shirt? Go crazy with prints?

I needed to find inspiration online through other blogs, google searches of yellow pants, and street style. If it wasn't for blogs I'd still be wearing flood jeans with running shoes (circa 2000), horrific. Having an online fashion FOTD diary for 4 years really helped me gain confidence to try crazy looks and find out exactly what is my style. Although even today, my looks don't always end up as cool as I first thought. But hey I tried. Here's one of those looks that I look back and wonder...why?

this is an example of poor fashion choices...

So my first look with the pale banana chinos is a relaxed and casual look for work. I love this Gap V-neck tee since it has so many gorgeous colors: mints, lavenders, corals, navy. They all really compliment the yellow. Purples and corals are perfect colors to match with yellow without feeling like you threw up the primary color wheel. And if you want to be a little more subtle, any graphic tee with pops of beiges or yellow of the same hue/color family as your pants will be a perfect compliment. 

The pants and this look were a hit at work. I was comfortable but still felt put together. I'm so excited to come up with more styles! 

What do you think of all the colored khakis? What would you pair with these chinos? Let me know in the comments!

Help me decide which color to get! [Express (Minus The) Leather Moto Jacket]

Friends, I need your help!


I found this awesome faux leather jacket on Rinny's Beauty Blog. My store has had some sweet leather jackets this season, but they are all 100% real and we all know I won't go there. I am 100% committed to buying this lovely gal (even if DC is 80 and humid right now). But I cannot decide on what color. I love how Rinny's clay looks, but the black is so hot! I wish I had room in my budget to buy both, but alas I don't.

Help me make a decision!
(btw check out Rinny's linked page to truly see how gorg the clay is)

         

             
                  BLACK                     OR                    CLAY 

Let me know in the comments below!

Shoedazzle: Toccoa

A rough, long day at work means I have little to no interest in doing the mounting schoolwork that is in front of me. I have been staring at my word document for a good hour now. Time to give up and call it a day. Instead I'll do something I enjoy for a change...Sharing my joys with you, of course!

Last month I picked up Shoedazzle's Toccoa. I was absolutely smitten after seeing the promo email I received that I bought it seconds later while still in bed. Yup, smitten. As much as I love bright and fun purses, I love simple, clean line purses even more. It makes life a little easier not having to worry about your purse not matching.

Toccoa is a beige faux ostrich-leather satchel that has contrasting black straps, trim, and bottom. What initially attracted me to the purse was the contrasting black and soft white and the fact that it would fit my laptop comfortably. I love it even more now that I have it! The straps are so well enforced that I feel I can carry around boulders. And it doesn't hurt my shoulder to carry lots of weight. Plus, I didn't realize it had feet on the bottom which I really appreciate. The bag does not look cheap at all. It does not scream faux, instead it screams luxury! I have gotten so many compliments on this purse and so many of my friends ask where I got it. A few people have asked me what designer it was, assuming it was a high brand name. Nope, I only spent $40 to get this look.

The only negative that I can find about this purse is that the zipper to the interior doesn't extend all the way to the ends, it stops short say about an inch on either side, so if it is raining Im alway worried that the rain will get in my purse and on my belongings. For such a cheap price, I'm okay with that.

Strangely enough, this morning on my way to work I saw someone with this same bag! I was about to compliment them on their Shoedazzle purchase when I realized that they must have the real version. It had the Hermes style flaps in the front in black with a lock detail. But the color, the straps, and even the buckles on the side were all the same. I wonder how much she paid to get the same look...

dolman shirt: Old Navy

jean leggings: Gap

shoes: Shoedazzle

zip bangle: Jewelmint

Don't know what Shoedazzle is? Shoedazzle is a monthly shoe club. They also sell purses and jewelry. Everything is just $39.95. As of 3/29 Shoedazzle no longer charges you every month. No need to remember to skip the month, just pay when you purchase! Before the new month's shoes come out, Shoedazzle will ask you what you are looking for (sky-high heels, boots, open-toe, casual, fancy, etc). On the 1st of the month you can visit your showroom and see what they've prepared for you. If you don't like anything you can request a new selection or browse your friends showroom. What's even more exciting is that every 10 items you buy, you get a free credit to purchase whatever you want!
Interested in signing up? Click here to take your style quiz and view your showroom!

Why I don't wear leather

I've come to realize that purses are my very, very soft spot. It may have something to do with the fact that my mother works with handbags. I've been around the brands Coach, Dooney and Bourke, etc before they were even popular. I also love shoes. I probably have spent more money on shoes and purses in the last year than I have on clothes. But I have a moral obligation to uphold and no matter how cute the current trends are I refuse to wear or use any product from an animal source.

Many people try and dissassociate leather from an animal, but it is the skin of the animal. The higher demand, the higher number of animals each year will be killed for their skin. The same thing goes with the fur industry, the past few years revival of fur has increased the number of animals killed for their fur. Leather can be from all types of animals: cow, pig, goat, sheep, alligator, ostrich, kangaroo, dogs, and cats. Yes, I said cats and dogs. Much of our fashion is produced in countries that use cat and dog fur and leather, and there is no requirement to label the type of animal the leather came from. None of this happens dainty either. The animal is not allowed to live to an age old, are confined in overcrowded filthy conditions, and many are skinned/dismembered while still conscious.

In the United States most leather comes from milk cows and beef cows. Beef cows are raised on over crowded feed lots that have the same amount of space as a human would have if they lived in a small closet. They are fed unnatural diets to fatten them, fed antibiotics and hormones to help them grow faster and keep them alive in terrible conditions, and many die from infection and injury (little to no veterinarian care).

Milk cows are generally confined indoors in small spaces, are force impregnated using artificial insemination, and their new calves are taken immediately at birth (sometime even ripped out of the cow) so they can move on to veal crates, beef lots, or milking. The hormones that the cow's are fed cause them to produce 10x the amount of milk they would produce naturally, think bovine growth hormone (BGH). A cow's natural lifespan is 25 years, but dairy cows are killed only after 4-5 years. And their confinement causes their muscles to atrophy so their meat is generally only able to be used as low-grade pet food or cheap meat.

Veal crates are a whole other story. The little males are confined in crates, in the dark, that disallow them to grow beyond a certain point and keeps their meat tender. They are fed a liquid diet of no nutrition to keep their flesh white. They are killed within a few months of life.

All cattle are subjected to the same horrible end at the slaughterhouse where their meat and skin will be removed. The few laws regulating transport of animals is not routinely enforced (and excludes poultry). Animals are confined sometimes for more than 36-48 hours without being unloaded for food, water, or rest. They load as many animals as possible to save money and even have double and triple decker transport vehicles. The trucks are not insulated and in summer many animals die of heat exhaustion. In winter many die from the cold or become frozen stuck to the floor. Any downed animal will have ropes or chains tied around its legs and will be dragged off the trucks. And if they are stuck to the floor legs have been ripped beneath them. They are prodded and shocked and beaten to get into line neatly.

I don't mean to scare or gross you out. I'm also not just giving a picture of the most extreme of the extremes. These facts are of what the majority of cows in america are subjected to. All I want to do is inform you. You should be a conscious consumer. You cannot make an informed decision or purchase without knowing all the facts.

I was a vegetarian for almost 9 years before I went vegan. It wasn't until I learned the facts that I realized how the dairy and egg industry directly contribute to factory farming and slaughterhouses. And when my reasoning to be a vegetarian was animal cruelty and rights, I realized I was not doing all I could to help reduce animal suffering.

Now I have to say that I do not generally like wearing faux fur. It makes me feel funny. For years real fur could have possibly been labeled as faux fur if the value of the fur was less than $150. For example, raccoon dog fur, popularly 'cultivated' in China, was mislabeled and sold in the US as faux. There is now a law that recently went into place (The Truth in Fur Labeling Act of 2010) that prohibits the false labeling no matter the value. But I still don't like the idea that it only took effect last year.

But I am torn with fake leather. I have a few bags and purses that mimic the patterns of alligator and ostrich. I sometimes wonder if someone who liked my fake purse or shoes went out and bought the real, leather version. But, in our day and age it is very hard to completely avoid all leather-like shoes and purses. I mean I don't want to wear only hemp or rubber shoes and totes. I love fashion and I choose to express myself without the burden of animal suffering. I am doing my best and only hope to spread the word.

Free Pair of Glasses from Coastal.com

Yeah, you heard me...FREE! Coastal.com is a contact and eyeglasses online website that has an offer where your first pair of glasses is free (use promo code: FIRSTPAIRFREE) and you only have to pay for shipping and handling. The company wants you to feel confident ordering from an online eyeglass website and to show you how easy it is.

I've looked at a lot of eyeglass websites that have very, very cheap quality products and I was expecting the same when I started looking at the glasses on Coastal, but I was wrong. They offer many well known brand names, such as: Cynthia Rowley, Espirit, Bongo, Converse, and more. They do offer luxury brands, but those products are not included in the free promo. And thankfully, they are easily labeled as not being part of any sale/promo. The majority of the frames that I liked were from their own brand names, but the quality of the products still looked stellar. The prices range from about $30-$100. And no matter the price, all of the standard glasses are included in the promo!

I had a blast deciding what I wanted. Ever since I saw Ali Wong on the Chelsea Lately Round Table back in December I have wanted to be her. No joke. And that includes her glasses. To really appreciate the glasses, take a look at the full-size image. I love the semi-cat eye shape, the strong bridge that fades into nothing. It is just such a great shape! And who can resist such a classic, vintage style. So my Coastal.com pick was my own version of Ali's glasses for me!

What I ended up on was Derek Cardigan's 7010 in Grey Haze. Derek Cardigan is a brand I've never heard of and from my searches I have only found the glasses on Coastal's website. The line is vintage inspired and 'reflect Derek's joie de vivre philosophy on fashion and life. Derek Cardigan eyewear evokes the spirit of a swinging by-gone-age brought right up-to-date full of color, whimsy, joy, and style' (Do I just buy things that are described in someway as joie de vivre?) 7010 are browline eyeglasses that were ever so popular in the 1950s.

The frame is made of acetate and silver metal. I chose the Grey Haze color which is a translucent grey tortoise style. I love that they define my brows but are not over powering as a fully opaque black would have been. Plus, if you look closely you will notice they are massively geeky. Check out the multiplication and division signs, and on the sides the equal signs. That sold me. There were multiple browline styles, but it was a done deal.

Once I got my eyeglass prescription from my optometrist I was ready to order.
Note: Your contact lens prescription is not the same as your eyeglass prescription! Because contacts sit on top of your eyes whereas eyeglasses sit a few cms away from your eyes they have different focal lengths. Call your optometrist and they will be able to give you the correct prescription and your pupil distance. If you have an astigmatism you will also need your cylinder power and axis numbers.

The website recommended me to upgrade to a higher quality lens, but even though my prescription is somewhat high (-3.5 and -4) I decided to go with the standard free lens. You can also change the lenses to sunglasses or transition lenses (although I do not believe these are part of the free promo) and you can add UV protection, scratch resistant coating, and anti-reflective coating. The coatings each are an extra +$9.95 so I did not take advantage of them.

I received my lenses just 3 business days after I ordered by Fedex. The glasses came with the case, a cleaning cloth, and a lens tightener. I was so happy when I first laid eyes on my new glasses, they are gorgeous! The lenses were obviously high quality and crafted carefully. The frame feels durable and looks just as in the picture, well even more shiny and beautiful. They fit my face perfectly, are really comfortable because they have spring hinges and adjustable nose pads. But if you find yours don't fit perfect, take them to lenscrafters and they will do an adjustment for free. I did find the lenses took some adjusting on my eyes. But now that I've had them for a few weeks they no longer bother my eyes and I see well. One thing I wish I had done is paid the extra $10 for the anti-glare. Any light causes a glare to show up, good luck using flash! I'm going to stop by Lenscrafters and ask if they will add the anti-glare coating. It is worth the extra $10!

I have gotten many compliments on my glasses! Even from my 60 year old photography professor! They pair very well with my style. They definitely add a whimsy and fun feel to any of my looks. I have a heart-shaped face and they do not overpower my big forehead or accentuate it at all. Plus, I think the fact that the majority of the frame is thin, silver it allows me to shine through! I originally bought these to be an extra pair to wear when Im just around the house or laying in bed watching TV, but I almost think I like this style more than my Ray Bans!

top: Gap

necklace: Jewelmint

earrings: F21

Coastal's website is a bitch glitchy. I couldn't use the try on view and the website is slow. It took forever to search through all the glasses since the pages would every so often freeze up. But in total, I am VERY satisfied and will probably get getting another pair from Coastals in the future. I would definitely recommend taking a look at the Coastal website. Don't forget your first pair is free with promo code (FIRSTPAIRFREE), excluding any additions and shipping ($9.95). So for $10 I have a pair of glasses that beat out my $300 pair!

Have you ordered from Coastal's before? What is your favorite style of glasses? Let me know what you think in the comments!

Friends and Family at Gap! (40% off entire purchase)

Hello Friends and Family!!
Anyone who reads my blog is a friend of mine! And some of you may know that I work at Gap.

Either way. I wanted to let you all know that Friends and Family at Gap (US and Puerto Rico stores only) is happening Thursday March 8th - Sunday March 11th! What does this mean? It means that you as a friend of me get to save 40% off your ENTIRE purchase!

All you have to do is like my brand new facebook page and the coupon will available for you to print out! Click the awesome Gap snapshot below to go straight to the Friends and Family Link on my facebook.

It is a great time to take a look at what Gap has to offer. Here is a little snapshot of my favorite women's Gap items so far this season. All of these looks are available in-stores and online right now!

Happy Shopping Everyone! And if you have any fit, sizing, or style questions about Gap in general or for a specific item, Im your gal!

Marcy - Shoedazzle

As a vegan it is hard to find knee-high boots that don't look like they are made of latex for hookers or will fall apart in a minute. I have one pair of dark brown boots that I adore, but I saw these boots (Marcy, they are already sold out or Id give a link) on Shoedazzle this month and couldn't resist. I was pleasantly surprised with them. They were soft, didn't look cheap, and are completely lined. They fit like a charm and Im in love with them. They barely hit my knee, but such is life as a giant. Im on my way to the grocery store to test these babies out. 

eta: I noticed that the buckles on the back jingle a bit. Im going to add a piece of clear masking tape around the buckle bar to stop that from happening. I felt like I was gonna step out and sing Jingle Bells during a flash mob. But super comfortable, I have no doubt I can wear these all day long at work without inserts.

top: Gap

jeans: Gap

necklace: Jewelmint

What is Shoedazzle? Shoedazzle is a monthly shoe club. They also sell purses and jewelry. Everything is just $39.95. As of 3/29 Shoedazzle no longer charges you every month. No need to remember to skip the month, just pay when you purchase! Before the new month's shoes come out, Shoedazzle will ask you what you are looking for (sky-high heels, boots, open-toe, casual, fancy, etc). On the 1st of the month you can visit your showroom and see what they've prepared for you. If you don't like anything you can request a new selection or browse your friends showroom. What's even more exciting is that every 10 items you buy, you get a free credit to purchase whatever you want!

Interested in signing up, click here to take your style quiz and view your showroom!