one. last. summer. hurrah.

It's bomb pop o'clock. 

Summer has (sadly) come to an end and fall is officially in full swing. Before I jump into fall content, however, I wanted to share one last summer #OOTD. TBH, it may or may not be one of my favorite looks from summer ‘16. What better way to say “see ya later” to one season and hello to the next than with a bomb pop in hand? That’s not even a question.

Although, I just snagged this ruffled plaid shirt from Anthropologie on sale shortly before the end of summer, I know it’ll be in rotation this fall, too. I can’t wait to pair it with dark wash jeans (thinking about investing in these) and a field jacket (or a beige cardigan). Unfortunately, these navy high-waisted shorts probably won’t be getting much more wear beyond these next few weeks — fingers crossed, I’ll be able to team ‘em with an oversized sweater before it gets too cold. In lieu of accessories, I let my Rebecca Minkoff Mini M.A.C Crossbody bag do all the talking as it’s such a statement piece in its own right. The shade of powder blue is super versatile for year-round wear, especially during the winter months when a little extra pop of color is appreciated.





What are you most looking forward to this fall? Let me know in the comments below!

xo,
A
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battle. of. the. t-shirts.

And here's how I styled my white v-neck tee from Everlane. I kept things casual with a brocade mini skirt from Club Monaco and d'Orsay flats from J.Crew. 

If there’s one capsule wardrobe essential that every fashion girl should be equipped with, it’s a trusty white t-shirt (or three). Though maybe not the most exciting piece to go shopping for, the styling potential of this basic layering staple shall not go unnoticed. With my favorite James Perse pocket tee seeing better days, my mission to snag a replacement tee seemed more imminent than ever.

And so began my search for the quintessential white tee. Since I didn’t want to spend a fortune on another James Perse t-shirt (I snagged my previous one from Marshalls on major clearance), I decided to shop around for a more budget-friendly option. I ended up investing in a v-neck tee from Everlane and an oversized pocket tee from Topshop (purchased through Nordstrom). Read on to see if they’ve lived up to my expectations thus far.  


Everlane The Cotton V ($15): My very first order from Everlane (more on that in a future post) included a simple white cotton t-shirt. Despite just receiving it a few weeks ago, I’ve already managed to wear it on a few occasions. To date, my favorite way to style it has been with a mini skirt and flats — give or take a field jacket if the temps are nippy. As suggested in the description, I ended up sizing up for a more relaxed look. It’s not too sheer, not too fitted, but just right for a casual half-tuck. The v-neck isn’t too low-cut — it definitely has more of a borrowed-from-the-boys feel. All end all, I would highly recommend ordering one of Everlane’s cotton v-neck tees (they’re available in a slew of colors!) for everyday wear. Pssst: You can receive free shipping on your first order within 24 hours of signup!  


Topshop Pocket Tee ($25): TBH, I was so pleased with my Everlane tee that I could’ve ended my search there. However… while browsing the Topshop section at Nordstrom, I stumbled upon their white pocket tee on sale (marked down to $12), and I couldn’t not invest in it as a backup. Compared to the Everlane tee I purchased, this one flaunts a more laid-back chic fit (I sized up again). It's made of a soft jersey material that’s super comfortable and flattering. And, of course, the pocket is my favorite part! Though I haven’t gotten a chance to wear it, I can’t wait to style it with skinny jeans and a cardigan or knotted with a skirt for a dialed down look. Unfortunately, it seems to have already sold out online — definitely check in store though as it could still be available.

The verdict: I found not one, but TWO high-quality white tees that will serve different purposes in my wardrobe. Mission accomplished.
 

More budget-friendly white tees that I’m loving:


What’s your favorite way to style a white t-shirt? Let me know in the comments below!

xo, 

A
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end. of. summer. playlist.


In honor of the last day of summer (and #HumpDay), I've compiled an end of summer playlist to help you power through the workweek. While tomorrow may mark the first day of fall, I have a feeling I'll be in a summer state of mind for a while. (Side note: If you haven't already, you can still check out the midweek playlist I made earlier in the summer.) My latest playlist is just a snippet of some songs I've had on repeat lately. I really wanted to include this song (appropriately titled, Living it Up in the Summer) that was featured in a video for Tommy Hilfiger's spring 2017 collection. Unfortunately, it's not on Spotify! That's all for now — I'm hoping to share a really cute #OOTD post on Friday, so stay tuned for that :)


What have you been listening to lately? Let me know in the comments below!

xo,
A
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back. to. school. with. bluesky's. day. designer.



 

I’m a smidge behind on the whole back-to-school bandwagon, but I definitely still think the entire month of September is devoted to fresh beginnings and new routines. I received samples from BlueSky’s Day Designer collaboration with Whitney English a while back, and I just wanted to take a second to share my thoughts. 

This post really couldn’t have come at a more perfect time as I’ve found myself in a bit of a rut as of lately. Ever since vacay (nearly a month ago now), I feel as though I’ve been constantly playing catch-up with blog posts and freelance work. I don’t know about you, but I hate it when work lingers over the weekend — not only is it a total distraction, but you never truly get caught up with everything. Hence, where I am now: feeling frustrated and not-so-inspired.  

Enter in the Day Designer collection, AKA a savvy college student’s (or self-proclaimed busy girl’s) dream. If you’re someone who likes to pencil in ALL the things, then Whitney English’s line of academic year planners, wall calendars and desk accessories will be right up your alley. The best part: It’s all sold exclusively at Target with everything in the collection coming in at just under the $20 mark. #Winning


I created Day Designer in response to my own desire for a planner that was both functional and beautiful. I envisioned a planner that would be simple to use yet robust enough to handle the modern woman’s busy, chaotic, challenging - yet ultimately rewarding - life. An efficient planning system was truly the key to helping me, and busy women all over the world, find focus, create balance and live a more inspiring life. — Whitney English

Despite being a post-graduate, I still swear by a good planner (or three). While I occasionally like to create to-do lists on my iPad, I’m definitely more of a pen and paper kind of gal. I have to say, I was very, very impressed upon receiving the Day Designer 8 x 10 inch navy striped planner (as well as the 5 x 8 inch gold striped planner), the wall calendar, navy floral pen, printed pencil set and pack of assorted washi tape. I’ve linked all the items below (if N/A online, definitely check in store!) as well as additional commentary on what I love about each product.
 





1. Day Designer Weekly/Monthly Planner in Navy Blue/White // Not only is this navy and white striped planner gorgeous on the outside, but the layout on the inside is incredibly streamlined and easy on the eyes. (Shhh, don’t tell, but it’s honestly just as nice as my Kate Spade planner.) I love how there’s a space for you to record your top three goals and agenda for the day as well as thoughts of gratitude and notes for the week.
2. Day Designer Weekly/Monthly Planner in Gold/White // This planner flaunts a classy gold and white palette that’s equal parts glamorous and sophisticated. It’s slightly smaller size makes it perfect for a backpack or even a leather tote. The layout and organization are the same as the navy and white planner above — just on a smaller scale. I especially love the section of lined pages at the back devoted to note-taking, whether you’re jotting down notes in class or brainstorming ideas on a whim. 
3. Day Designer Wall Calendar in Creamsicle // Admittedly, I’ve never owned a wall calendar before (at least, not the type that you actually write on), but this one’s making me want to be a little more on top of things. But actually. I’ve decided to reserve this cute pink + teal striped calendar for blogging. Since I wasn’t so successful with keeping up with an editorial calendar in August, I’m hoping to get down a solid blogging routine this month. Fingers crossed. 
4. Day Designer Fountain Pen in Floral Print // As if I didn’t already have enough pens, now I have one more to add to the mix. This floral print fountain pen with a gold finish (which writes in black ink) is perfect for in-class note-taking and making to-do lists.  
5. Day Designer #2 Pencil Set in Multi-Print // Do you even head back-to-school if you’re not equipped with at least one #2 pencil for bubbling scantrons? That’s not even a question. 
6 Day Designer Washi Tape, 3 Rolls // ‘Cuz washi tape is always a good idea. Use it to decorate your wall calendar, designate special dates and upcoming getaways in your planners — you name it.

What’s your go-to method for staying on top of things? Let me know in the comments below!

xo,
A
Disclosure: All BlueSky products featured in this post were kindly provided as samples. Please note that all views and opinions are my own.
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august. outfits.

Channeling those summatime vibes.

“I blinked, and then all of a sudden it was September.” Story of my life. I can’t believe that it’s already Labor Day weekend — where did summer go?! I fully intend on making the most out of these few remaining weeks before fall weather officially kicks in. For now, I’m sharing my favorite outfits from August (which also just so happen to be all the looks I wore in NYC). Speaking of which, I hope to have a recap of my trip up sometime next week. Fingers crossed!


Day 1: I opted for a super casual, laid-back look since I knew I’d be traveling by train for a good bit of the day (and you just never know how chilly it’s going to be!). I styled my favorite Industry Standard jeans with a lipstick print top and d’Orsay flats for a low-key evening spent at the New Museum.


Day 2: Doesn’t this outfit just scream summer in the city?! I wore this sophisticated look for an afternoon spent shopping in the Flatiron District (one of my favorite areas in NYC!) and participating in First Fridays (I stopped by the Neue Galerie and the Morgan Library & Museum). My ruffled top is by YSTR, the skirt is Scotch & Soda and the sandals are from Madewell.


Day 3: Reasons why I love NYC: Mornings spent exploring SoHo and afternoons at the Whitney. Oh, and walking along The High Line afterwards! This easy-breezy tribal print dress from Duo proved to be perfect for the hot and humid weather we were having that day. I finished off my look with an old pair of Sam Edelman gold gladiators.


Day 4: We started the day out at the Cooper Hewitt (a very cool design museum on the Upper East Side) before venturing off to the Met and the Met Breuer. A trip to the Met rooftop always calls for a LBD — this time was no exception. My super cute heart necklace is from Ban.do., BTW.


Day 5: If only all Mondays could be as perfect as they are when in NYC. Since we had already hit the Upper East Side, SoHo, Flatiron and the Meatpacking district, the first half of our Monday was spent in lower Manhattan checking out the “Oculus” designed by Santiago Calatrava, which is located at the World Trade Center. I’ll talk more about that in my trip recap post, but the architecture was ah-maz-ing (definitely a look-up kind of moment). Anyway, shown here is a lovely floral Free People dress teamed with a seasonal lemonade I picked up from by Chloe.  



Day 6: I can’t explain it, but there’s something so iconic about a Lacoste polo. I’ve had mine for about five years now, and I still love finding different ways to style it. For a quick photo op outside the New York Public Library, I paired it with a metallic skort that I bought from J.Crew last summer. The result was modern preppy with a twist.

Are you sad to see summer go? How will you be transitioning your summer clothes for fall? Let me know in the comments below!

xo,
A
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