all. in. the. details.

Last day of February? Time flies when you’ve got a growing to-do list looming over you. With spring on the horizon (only 20 days away — put it in your iCal!) I'm slowly, but surely starting to work in spring wardrobe essentials. (Knowing how spring in Virginia goes though, I have a feeling we haven’t seen the last of winter yet. I like to call it sprin-ter.) And that’s where today’s #OOTD comes in.

What better way to make the transition from winter to spring than with a lightweight Madewell knit sweater (I’m obsessed with the pinkish coral hue!), skinny jeans (cuffed ‘cuz I'm borderline petite) and lace-up ballerinas? Give or take a little peekaboo tulle trim. I know this outfit isn’t particularly fancy, but goodness knows I'm a sucker for a dialed down look that works overtime on the weekend. Since I know that tulle’s having a bit of a moment, I paired my oversized sweater with a frilly hem tank top that I’ve had for years. The result was a little bit girly, a lot femme — and definitely sophisticated. For accessories, I opted for a simple gold horn necklace and an Old Navy bucket bag that never fails to fit the bill. 

Last but certainly not least, let’s take a sec to chat about these olive suede flats (also from Madewell). They’re. Literally. Perfection. I got them on sale on a whim, but never imagined how comfortable/amazing/foolproof they’d be. Not only was I able to break them in during the first wear, but they’re extremely versatile with jeans, denim button-front skirts — you name it. Sometimes the ties have a way of unraveling over the course of the day, but otherwise, they’re < insert praise hands emoji here >.

Okay I lied, one more thing. Can we all just agree that a good hair day shall *always* be documented? Lately, I’ve been all about peppy ponytails. They’re fun, girly and immensely underrated. Throw in a bow hair tie and I'm pretty much on cloud nine. Sue me for my obsession with bows — they may not be for everyone, but you can definitely count me in.

sweater (similar and I loveee this one) | skinny jeans (similar) | lace-up flats (similar) | bucket bag (similar) | bow hair ties

What are your spring style essentials? Comment below!

xo, 
A

12

may. outfits.

Fact: Cool kids wear Keds. Stay tuned to see how I style 'em!

It’s hard to believe that summer will officially be here in a few short weeks. Heck, it’s even harder to believe that it’s already June! To recap the month of May, I thought I would share a roundup of my favorite #OOTDs. You’ll notice from my photos that May was a very rainy month — hence my umbrella in several of the snapshots. While I appreciated being able to style some rainy day outfits, I’ve come to the conclusion that I much prefer sunshine over rain on most days and could never live in a rainy climate. It’s just too gloomy for me!

Pink is my power color...

Those May showers...

Stripes + polka dots are kind of my jam.

Sorbet-hued pants turn a rainy day upside down. This Old Navy bucket bag never gets old.

I kept things daytime casual for Memorial Day. I can already tell that this striped button-down by Splendid and these cute seersucker shorts from Duo are going to be on repeat.

What are your favorite spring/summer outfit essentials? Leave a comment below!

xo,
A

1

what. i. wore. | style. chameleon.

relaxed tee (in grey)  |  striped shorts (similar)  |  floral scarf  |  dainty necklace

When it comes to defining my personal style, I often find myself all over the place. Normally, I "aim" for a more classic preppy look (think anything by J.Crew, stripes + ballet flats), but other times I gravitate towards effortless pieces that err a smidge on the boho side.  But then again, I'm also really girly.  Sigh.  Sometimes I wish that that my style could be more consistent, but what fun would that be?!  Haha.  

The outfit that I'm sharing today was from Memorial Day Weekend.  The temps were hot and I just wanted to wear something that would be comfortable and easy-breezy.  I'm not sure why, but when I look at this outfit, something about it screams West Coast — just FYI, I'm an East Coast girl. 

what. i. wore.  Sometimes it pays to shop in the children's section.  The last time I was in Old Navy I stumbled upon this cute floral scarf (and a scalloped belt, not pictured) for less than $10. I'm all for fun of-the-moment accessories and don't feel the need to spend a fortune on them.  Another budget-friendly find that I recently acquired was this cute Eiffel Tower charm necklace.  For less than $4, it's such a steal — I highly recommend snatching one up before they sell out!  I myself can't wait to pair it with striped shirts and anything navy.  #navyornothing 

One more thing that I love: t-shirts, even better when they're striped.  At Gap, I found this jersey striped tee (in pink!) with elbow-length sleeves in the clearance section. While I'm perfectly fine with the sleeve length, I folded them this go-around for a more pulled-together look.  Lastly, the striped denim shorts that I wore were a sale find from Anthropologie last fall. I'm always looking for shorts and these were just quirky enough to catch my attention.  

How do you define your signature style?  Tell me in the comments below!

xo,

A

2

what’s. in. my. bag. // pt. II.

Welp!  Half of the semester is dunzo...and, truth be told, I’m not sure where the time has gone.  In a way, it’s hard to believe that we've arrived at the halfway point, but on other hand, August (and syllabus week) seems SO long ago.  Either way, I thought that now would be the appropriate time to finally (!!!) share my school bag essentials.  I snapped these pictures a while back, but alas, never got around to posting about them.  Just as a refresher, back in March, I did a fun feature spotlighting “what’s in my bag” (i.e. what I cannot leave the house without). Make sure to check it out if you haven't already!

Truth be told, on a typical day of classes, I normally have to carry a big tote.  BUT, on the rare occasion that I have a lighter load, my Old Navy bucket bag (similar) is everything. It’s chic, effortless and holds more than meets the eye.  As far as notebooks go, I rely on my Moleskine Cahier Journal and Rollbahn (gridded) notebook.  Both flaunt a minimalist design and are small enough to ensure that they don’t take up too much room in my bag. Note: this is key for me.  

On a good day, one of my fave fashion magazines may or may not end up in my tote. (Side note: I do love me some Glamour UK!) In between studying, reading up on the latest fashion trends is naturally at the top of my agenda.  #priorities  

When it comes to my writing utensils, I’m a total pen snob and for good reason.  My roundup of go-to pens will have to be left for a future post, but Muji, Le Pen, Staedtler and Stabilo are four that never disappoint.  Oh, and that pen case…yeah it’s by Muji and I highly recommend it.  Not only am I in love with the minimal design, but it also prevents my pens from mysteriously going missing at the bottom of my bag.

 

While some people invest in one trusty planner, I’ve done the unthinkable and actually have three which I admittedly don’t use as much as I should.  I will say, however, that for school, my red Moleskine planner is both functional and professional.

If there’s one thing that I’ve learned about school supplies, it’s that sometimes form does not follow function.  Take these Jack Wills sticky tabs and Jonathan Adler highlighters for instance. While they’re both super cute, they just may be too cute to use.  On the other hand, they do make great photo props… #doitfortheinstagram

Muji pen case.  // Le Pen.  //  Muji Gel-Ink Ballpoint Pens.  //  Jack Wills stick notes.  //  12-Month Weekly Moleskine Planner.  // Rollbahn notebook.  //  Moleskine Cahier Journal (set of three).  //  Jonathan Adler highlighters

What are your must-have school essentials?  Leave a comment below!

xo,

A

P.S. - The other day I spotted Kate Spade highlighters at my school’s bookstore, and oh-em-gee, they’re just as witty and knock-your-socks-off-good as one would expect!

4

june. the. list.

This is a tad late (halfway through the month already?!), but today I’m sharing with you my lovely roundup of things that I’m currently coveting for the month of June.  I have another busy catch-up week ahead, so I’m just going to let the items do the talking!

1.  So Well Composed Pen Set (Kate Spade)- Every self-proclaimed KSNY girl needs a set of these pens in her arsenal.  I mean, just look at them, they’re so quirky and utterly perfect.

2.  Kitschy Faux Stone Cocktail Ring (Forever 21)- I apparently have an affection for this kitschy floral design...back in April, I spotlighted the exact same necklace version of this ring.  It was from Forever 21, too!

3.  Cotton Piqué Short in Gemstone Print (J.Crew)- With the official arrival of summer so close, I can’t help but want every pair of shorts in sight.  It’s safe to say that J.Crew is a top-contender for some of the season’s best shorts options.  Besides this gemstone printed pair, I also have my eye on these polka dots and these chambray sailboats.   

4.  Lightstitch Skirt (Madewell)- The vintage-inspired embroidery and femininity of this skirt make it incredibly hard to resist.  Pair it with a knotted chambray shirt, tuck in a silk blouse or throw on a slouchy cashmere sweater in the fall...I think you see where I’m going with this. #endlessstylingoptions

5.  Kiki Stamped Ballet Flats (J.Crew)- I guess you could say that summer whites and creams are getting the best of me. Regardless, these Kiki ballet flats are the epitome of sophistication. The only thing missing is a little white dress...

6.  Saline Sunglasses (Westward Leaning x Olivia Palermo)- I’m currently obsessed with Olivia Palermo’s sunglass collaboration with Westward Leaning.  Normally one to gravitate toward either black or tortoiseshell sunnies, I surprised myself by instantly falling for this “matte frost” pair.  

7.  Blanket Cut Out Dress (Tibi)- The stripes featured in this Tibi dress are super cute, right?  Available in cactus green and pale blush, the colors could not be more spot-on.  AND those sweet side cutouts – just perfect!

8.  Shine Stripe T-Shirt (aerie)- Whoever dubbed lightweight tees as boring and basic is surely mistaken. This one from aerie is so nonchalant and effortless that it’s meant to be tucked and tied for simplicity sake.

9.  Women's Faux-Leather Tassled Bucket Bags (Old Navy)- I’ve seen this bucket bag in person and have been debating whether or not I should get it.  For just around the $30 mark, it seems like it would be the ultimate summer bag for running errands. I just don’t know that I really NEED it...

10.  The Grass is Always Greener Large Notebook (Kate Spade)- In classic Kate Spade kelly green, this notebook makes me want to handwrite everything – who needs a laptop anyway?!

11.  Maison Kitsuné Stripe Skater Skirt (J.Crew)- Fact:  There are few color combinations more Parisian than navy + cream. Whether paired with a chambray shirt or lightweight sweater/sweatshirt at dusk, this stripe skater girl has “cool girl” written all over it.

What summer must-haves are on your list?

xo,

A

2

monday. favorites.

According to my Kate Spade planner, it’s June.  What!?  I try my best to avoid commenting on the time, but sometimes it’s just inevitable.  As long as June inches by ever so slowly, I’ll be okay.  Since I can’t even remember the last time I did a roundup of my current “Monday favorites,” I thought that today would be as good of a time as any.  Without further ado, here you go!

- This elephant necklace from Duo (check out this similar style) is a game changer.  I’m not lying when I say that it’s often the first necklace that I reach for in the morning.  It’s just that conventional.  My favorite part about it is the size.  As you can probably tell from the photos above, it’s not your ordinary pint-sized elephant – it’s supersized!

- As I’m a sucker for all things paper, I obviously couldn’t pass up this gem of a notepad (especially since it was on sale + extra 40% off!).  Designed by the stationery brand Knock Knock, this pocket-sized notebook is as witty as they come.  I’m obsessed with the design (less is always more!) and can’t wait to use it for my most important to-do lists.   

- Target was spot-on when they designed their line of J.Crew-inspired magic wallets.  With cute white and pink whales, it instantly reminded me of Vineyard Vines.  While they’re currently sold out at my local Target, they appear to still be available online.  For $6.99, I’d say that it’s totally worth it!  (If you’re not one for whales, then definitely check out the sailboat, polka dot and diagonal stripe prints – they’re all too cute!)

- If you follow College Prepster, then this striped button-down shirt from Old Navy may look familiar.  The only difference is that while Carly’s red and white stripe Huxter popover retails for $180, mine was on sale for around $10!  Granted, I totally understand that Huxter is an all-American brand (made in New England, of course) and is designed with the utmost quality...but since button-down shirts aren’t typically my go-to, I happily went for the budget-friendly option.

- Every summer, I yearn for one pair of sandals that I can wear day in, day out…these nude-colored bow sandals from Gap are just that.  Besides the obvious, I’m bow-obsessed (duh!), they go with everything.  I’m so glad that I’m such a frugal shopper and thought to snag these up back in November for a little bit of nothing.  

What are you coveting on this first Monday in June?

xo,

A

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