Athleisure Lovers Rejoice!

The Gods have opened up the gates and have granted the one wish we  women have all been praying for: athletic wear is now socially acceptable to casually wear in public (yes, this includes yoga pants!) Add these two topics of discussion together and you have one of the fashion industries’ most talked about topics, #Athleisure – and man oh man am I loving it!

If you have ever been to college, had a full-time job or just naturally enjoy being comfortable, yet presentable, your level of excitement is probably just as high as mine. Coming home from your daily grind, rolling out of bed to head to class or if you ever left the house thinking “I’d rather not wear colored jeans, a blouse and heels to run to the grocery store” then you know exactly what I am talking about.

So let’s break this down. First and foremost, this isn’t a new concept. Women everywhere have turned to this style daily, at various times of their life. However, what makes the whole idea even better is that yes, that fashion industry is indeed turning it into something to talk about, but we no longer have to rely only on those “sporty” brands to make our athleisure purchases (Nike, Reebok, Adidas etc.) That’s right, casual-wear brands and more are turning to athletic lines that we females have turned in to something more than just articles of clothing to wear while we burn those cals. Brands like Free People, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie even Lilly Pulitzer, are all trying to work their way into this market to fit the needs of athleisure lovers everywhere. We also can’t forget about the the brands that have already been in the game for quite some time like, Lululemon, Athleta, Patagonia and more, while also remembering that for every great athleisure outfit comes a cute pair of sneaks, try these or these. And like every other clothing trend accessories are important; watches, headbands and other accessories are all necessities.

So athleisure lovers rejoice! If you loved it before, you’ll love it even more now.  The market for this trend is continuing to grow – which from my perspective is phenomenal! Women of all ages embrace this look and I hope this is a trend that never goes out of style (if it does I will carry it on!)

Personally, I turn to athleisure quite often. Obviously when heading to a workout, but now even to run errands, hangout with friends or lounge around the house. I am not afraid to admit that I am also very jealous of those who work in an environment where athleisure is acceptable – at my office, not so much, but a girl can dream. So once again athleisure lovers, rejoice! We can live a cute, casual and comfortable life in our athleisure clothes and enjoy every minute of it!

For related articles check out: this, this, this, and this.

Fall Must-Haves

Booties, sweaters, denim and scarves are all clothing trends that never go out of style as October comes and goes each year. These items, and more, are pieces that every girl loves and this year, seems to be tweeting about. Now, I am also guilty of turning to these “go-to” items when the cool air rolls around, however this year there seems to be three stunning trends that I am absolutely in love with!

What I love so much about these are that they aren’t just specific clothing items that are trending, but styles, colors and fabrics. Navy, florals and leather clothing items are all trending in any and every way imaginable. Dresses, pants, skirts, shoes – you know name and this year it seems as if you can find it one of these styles.

Navy – no matter what time of year, is one my absolute favorite trends. Pictured below, I have it in three of styles that I see can be used to complement the rest of your wardrobe.. Cardigans, tops and dresses. One thing you will notice this time of year is navy dressed with black. I am sure many of you have heard of the unwritten rules that navy and black and navy and brown should not go together. However, in fall navy and black go perfectly together!

Florals – I have talked about fall florals previously on my blog – see here. I am a floral freak! The more color the better! I believe that flowers are one of the most uplifting and beautiful items on this earth. When portrayed in fashion, there often is not much you can do to go wrong. I talked in a previous post how florals are in for fall, but that doesn’t mean you need to go buy a new set of floral clothes. Below, I have pictured three of my favorite floral items for fall, but when faced with a tight budget reuse your summer florals by adding them to other fall trends – navy or leather!

Finally, leather – Leather is chic and stunning. Most think of leather as the bad girl or rocker look, but when dressed appropriately anyone can rock leather in a classy way. My favorite ways to wear leather are through a jacket, pants or skirt. Pants for me are the best, because they are a great way to spice up black work pants.

No matter what your favorite fall clothing trends, turn to these style trends to enhance your fall staples. A diverse wardrobe has never felt this good!

1. Navy

Navy Cardigan at Gap

Color Block Tunic at Loft

Navy Striped Dress at Anthropologie

2. Florals

Floral Pants at Anthropologie

Floral Top at Gap

Floral Dress at ASOS

3. Leather

Leather Jacket at Old Navy

Leather Pants at Old Navy

Leather Mini Skirt at J. Crew Factory

 

High Five for Friday: 9/5/2014

TGIF!

1. Whether I am deciding on what to wear or how to decorate our home – finding inspiration from all corners of the world is very easy for me to do. One of my favorite and most simple ways to find inspiration are from catalogs and magazine that are delivered right to my doorstep. With fall fashion around the corner and our home forever a work in progress – the items below were a great way to spark inspiration.
   
2. Living and working in my hometown definitely has its perks. One of the many great reasons I enjoy it so much are the lunch dates I have with my mom almost everyday. Spending a short hour with her everyday is a highlight and something I am very lucky to have.
   
3. I started routinely attending yoga class. Attending twice a week – it is a great way to spend a relaxing hour, while also getting in a great workout.
   
4. During one of my lunch breaks this week, my mom passed along to me several of these delicious banana treats. She made these as a test and they turned out terrific! Sending me home with several for my house she now has these on hand almost all the time. The bananas dipped in honey greek yogurt and rolled in granola, cinnamon and nutmeg are a great dessert option.
   
5. My excitement and appreciation for Jeans Day at work.

 

 

No Fashion Faux Pas

Labor Day is just around the corner and I have already been reminded to wear all of my whites before its arrival. Usually feeling pressured by fashion trends, I have always tried my best to stay between the lines. Yet, this year I don’t feel the pressures of obligation to follow the rules. Even though I still have four days before I get a day off work and I see all other bloggers write about putting their whites away – I will be pairing white tops, jeans and even wizard cloaks (yes, I call them that)  continuously throughout fall.

All styles of white not only look great on all colors of skin and hair, but allows women to carry a very confident demeanor. [ see here ] No matter what time of year white should be a staple to the female wardrobe. At one end we have the ability to portray dominance – on the other a light and organic way of showing who we are [ like pictured ]. Why should a day that celebrates the social and economic achievements of workers dictate what I put away in storage for the cool months? Despite what the high-society of the late 1800s said, in 2014 there is no reason to follow fashion rules to depict our social class.

Carry on! Wear what you love –

May Obsessions

My May obsessions were inspired by the numerous events that took place throughout the past few weeks. These are my current favorites; products and fashion pieces I just can’t get enough of. From a stylish skirt, a convenient snack, amazing heels and a cute way to capture any memory, these products of May are all must-haves!

1. The Pome Blossom Skirt from Anthropologie was a piece I bought in April, but one that I have been able to wear on a few different occasions since its date of purchase. The skirt is vibrant and has a way of bringing in your waist, making the look even more flattering. There is a thin layer of tulle underneath the skirt that makes it, and the embroidery, pop. It is pictured most with a casual white tee, however my favorite look was pairing it with a matching peach color tee like the floral embroidery.

2. The FUJIFILM Instax Mini 7S is the modern-day Polaroid. On any occasion it is so fun and easy to carry in your purse to capture a moment and instantly relive it. This specific camera prints small photographs in color. I have noticed that everywhere and anywhere I take it, it is a hit. People love the idea of seeing the flash go off and watching the small print release from the camera. Not only is the camera a unique way of reliving moments, but the photos themselves make for great conversation starters, as well as a cute way to decorate a cork board!

3. Caitz by Steve Madden are a cognac strappy sandal heel that are ideal for the warm weather. The 3 1/2 leather heels are excellent with a pair of cropped jeans, but work well with a dress, or to dress up a pair of shorts. Their color and sexy look make the heel very feminine and chic; something that no matter what your style of fashion is, can be incorporated to upgrade all ensembles.

4. Uptown by Lia Sophia was a gracious graduation gift from my mother. Its versatility and loud statement is what really caught the attention of us both, and I knew it was something I had to have. It’s a heavy piece, but like mentioned, works with almost any outfit. Pearls are my absolute favorite jewelry piece and I love wearing colorful outfits and balance it out with all pearl accessories. This necklace was a great investment and gift from my mother. Currently and in the future, I will wear this casually, as well as, a piece to dress up in business attire.

5. “On the go” has really been the perfect theme of this month, thus far. Leaving school, traveling to Hollidaysburg, packing to move to my new house, traveling to Washington D.C. and more have been on the agenda, and easy and yummy snacks are a must. I was introduced to the many different trek mixes by Trader Joe’s but it wasn’t until my mom recommended the Breakfast Trek Mix that I knew I found my favorite. The individually wrapped pouches include: granola bites, almonds, yogurt chips and dried cranberries. When eaten all together the taste is delicious and the serving size is just right. Perfect for a quick breakfast or afternoon snack!

 

College Fashionista: “Sun Hat, Fun Hat”

College Fashionista is a website, http://www.collegefashionista.com/, that features the latest college fashion from campuses around the world. Not to mention, interviews with fashion entrepreneurs and awesome career advice.

Fall of my senior year I was Saint Vincent College’s Style Guru rep in which I posted STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK, to the College Fashionista site. This past spring semester, and throughout the upcoming summer, my best friend Olivia, has taken over as Saint Vincent College’s Style Guru, posting an ACCESSORIES REPORT each week.

Just last week her post, Sun Hat, Fun Hat, featured me, two of my May Obsessions, AND a hat that will be perfect for the entire summer. My two May Obsessions, (post to come soon) the white lace top from Anthropologie and cognac Steve Madden heels, were great for a casual look. Her post discussed how versatile sun hats can be; ladies are able to wear them with sundresses, bathing suits, button-downs and more, as well as, “a fashionable way to keep the bright rays out of your eyes and make a statement this summer.”

Olivia will continue her College Fashionista posts throughout the summer, so be sure to check out her weekly blog at: College Fashionista: Saint Vincent College!

Check out: Sun Hat, Fun Hat for Olivia’s entire blog post, pictures and more of her ACCESSORIES REPORT posts.

April Obsessions

April was a beautiful, yet stressful month, to say the least. However, the wonderful signs of spring were a great distraction from the amount of work that was piled up as the semester winds down. As it quickly comes to end and I have recently realized that it was throughout this month that I stumbled across a few of my current favorites.

Each spring I take part in the Estee Lauder free gift promotion and it is absolutely perfect that the gift is always a Lilly Pulitzer makeup bag. This year however, running low on cash and no real reason to purchase makeup, my mom made her $40 or more Estee Lauder purchase and re-gifted the Lilly bag to me. Perfect!

Another of my new favorite products are Luna Bars. Spending years in college I really have found a love for delicious on-the-go snacks, and protein/nutrition bars have become quite a favorite of mine.  Currently I am obsessed with the “Chocolate Dipped Coconut” flavor. So delicious!, and tastes just like a Somoa Girl Scout cookie!

Two of my previous posts have discussed the next few items on this list; my Donald J. Pliner Malibu wedge heels and Sally Hansen’s INSTA-DRI Petal Pusher nail polish. Both of these products are wonderful for the warm weather, and great to accent the feel of spring.

A last favorite is a blue and white striped Marin Dress by Tabitha from Anthropologie. I wore it to an event I had to cover on social media, paired it with the Malibu heels and added a colorful necklace; the look was to die for.

Each of the products and purchases not only were marvelous purchases for myself but, complemented the incoming warm weather. One thing I love about the changing of the seasons is how the weather is not the only transformation we see. Wardrobes, snacks, polish, activities and more all adapt to the season and temperature outside. Bright colors, easy snacks and floral prints are great signs of this transformation!

Warm Weather “Go-To”

With the warm weather beginning to slowly creep in and multiple social events in the near future I knew it was time to do a little shopping! Spring is such a beautiful time of year, for many it is a sign that summer is near, however, this year for me it is a sign of a new beginning. Graduation is about a month away and only two weeks later I will be beginning my first full-time position. In between now and then I have award banquets, graduation, graduation celebrations, a social media event and more which I have been rushing around to find the appropriate outfits, accessories and shoes for.

I visited Anthropologie, LOFT, TJ Maxx, Lia Sohpia and more to find all of the appropriate ensemble pieces, except for the the perfect shoes. After a Sunday trip to Pittsburgh I was able to find THE shoes. The perfect shoes that I will be able to wear with any outfit and to any occasion. MALIBU by Donald J Pliner. Can you say ABSOLUTE PERFECTION!?

 

The shoes caught my attention and were inspired by a pair of lamé shorts that I bought about an hour before at Anthropologie. However, while I knew they would be a perfect  match for those shorts, it was to my great surprise that I realized they would be ideal for any outfit!

These wedge heels are a product of Donald J Pliner. They are a 4 1/2 wedged heel with a Vachette leather strap around the the ankle. The kid crackle (looks like lamé) strap around the toes adds a little glam to the shoe. What is so absolutely wonderful about this shoe is the neutral leather strap which ultimately allows you to wear it with any color. This heel also has the ability to dress up any ensemble, a dress, jeans, skirt, or even shorts! No matter what you decide to pair them with they are a great spring/summer find. The wedge heel automatically makes anyone think of summer and with the neutral colors and little bit of sparkle, you got the perfect heel for the warm months ahead!

Superbowl Social Ad-ditions

While most were getting ready for the big game by putting on their favorite jersey, preparing food and drinks, and travelling to a friend’s house, I was charging all my tech gadgets (lab top, cell phone and tablet) and preparing not only to write my commercial analysis for class, but also to be totally overwhelmed, and involved, with the social media. Throughout the game I stayed totally engaged, both through the television and the internet. However, I was surprised, yet ecstatic, to find that I was more entertained by the social media buzz than I was with the television advertisements and the actual football game.

The internet was bombarded, with Twitter ads, hashtags, even Instagram pictures, and everyone was getting involved and engaged with the game no matter who they were rooting for. The Twittersphere was taken over by #EsuranceSave30 and the questionable marketing decisions by JC Penney and their drunk… I mean tweets made with mittens on. Whether the JC Penney stunt was considered a success or not, it got people talking and personally, I made my first visit to the retailer’s Twitter page, creating awareness that was before unnoticed. It’s marketing/advertising moves like this that really get us to notice which brands are indeed staying creative to be involved in what is said to be advertising’s biggest day.

With new way to advertise and promote other than television commercials throughout the Superbowl, you get a great sense of what creativity really is. This holds true to brands who use social media to engage with viewers, or how retail and other brands that have nothing to do with football are able to show their creative twist on their interest in the game.

An awesome use of social media was Esurance, who waited to advertise in the first spot AFTER the game was over. They poked fun at big brands who spent millions to advertise during the game. They then told viewers that because they waited, they saved about 30% of their money, which they were going to give away to someone who hashtagged ‘EsuranceSave30″. It was a great way for them to engage consumers and really provide proof of the importance and success ability of social media.

One of the coolest parts of the Superbowl is how brands who do not advertise on television for the game still find some way to show they are involved. Brands like Tide, Pepsi and Bud Light utilized Twitter to show that whether they advertised on TV or not, they weren’t going to let the game go by without engaging there customers. Bud Light incorporated a Vine video that played off of their television ad. Pepsi advertised on Twitter reminding viewers to stock up on Pepsi as they watched The Pepsi Half Time Show.

@Tide was able to advertise on Twitter promoting a ‘clean’ halftime show, while mentioning the sponsor @Pepsi. It’s really interesting to see how these brands remain creative by staying involved with what is going on in pop culture, even if they have nothing to do with the event. Great examples of this was also represented all over Instagram. Some of my favorite retailing brands did a great job of posting and engaging their customers, even though these fashion brands were pretty much irrelevant to the Superbowl. These brands include Free People, Tj Maxx, Kate Spade, Anthropologie, and The Limited. Some posted party ideas, recipe tips, and even models in different jerseys, insinuating they were getting ready for the big game too! These posts were obviously targeted to the female viewership of the game, but again, it totally intrigues me to see how all brands are continuing to stay creative in how they reach their audience and come together for a day most Americans consider a national holiday.