The Look for Less: Jamie Chung

Image c/o Polyvore

I am constantly amazed by creative people. Designers, stylists, interior decorators – I wish I had a piece of their mind. While I fancy myself to have a sense of style, the things that I find truly inspiring I just end up copying instead of thinking of them myself. But you know what they say about flattery and all that jazz and blah blah blah.

My fandom of style, bargains, and collaging orbit within the same gravitational pull that is my soul. So when I found The Look for Less feature on Polyvore I’m sure my brain lit up on a fictitious CAT scan. A fabulous outfit for less is exactly what I always need. I by no means pay that close of attention to Jamie Chung (aside from the fact that I feel like everyone forgets she started out in one of the few The Real World seasons I actually watched) but she’s giving me fly vibes in this look.

I already spent my budget for this month, but these pants might sneak their way in for September.

Friday Find: Party Supplies

Image c/o Urban Outfitters

I plan ahead. That’s just what I do. Today I thought about purchasing a Christmas present for my sister. My mind is looking that far ahead. So when the Bachelorette party I’ve mentioned I’m planning a couple times here is just under a month away, to me it feels like it’s happening tomorrow.

Everywhere I turn I get a new idea. Yesterday afternoon at Bed Bath & Beyond almost sent my brain into a catatonic state. While you might not turn there for party supplies, I was so close to grabbing Bluetooth speakers so that I could play music throughout the apartment  when we’re sipping morning mimosas, or doily placemats for whatever you would need a placemat for. At Michael’s I practically pass out before I get in the door. The crafty aura is almost too much for me. I love it.

From paper straws to diamond ring ice trays, there is just so much I want to achieve to make this the best party ever. It will also be the first time I am really entertaining people in my apartment so I need to set the bar high. The day is almost here and I’m super jazzed, especially because I’ve been planning it since September 2012. I have the gchat to prove it.

I’m not even going to get started on the outfit planning. Your eyes will glaze over.

Happy Friday!

LLWD: Lace Little White Dress

As pre-fall fashion window displays continue popping up along Michigan Avenue, I want to politely tell them (because there’s no room for rudeness at Chanel) that it can’t possibly be time for that because we just got pre-summer weather. On Cupcakes & Cashmere a few days ago, the lace little white dress exuded an especially summery feeling. Unfortunately, the price tag gave me a “help me, I’m poor” feeling.

Image c/o Shopbop

{Dolce Vita Jeralyn Dress, Shopbop, $264}

No matter. With the help of my trusty virtual shopping buddy, Polyvore, I was able to find three very suitable alternatives.

Image c/o Forever21

{Floral Embroidered Mesh Dress, Forever21, $29.80}

Image c/o H&M

{Airy Dress, H&M, $19.95}

Image c/o Threadsence

{Wild Heart Crocheted Detail Dress, Threadsence, $39.00}

I’m in my own LLWD today and can’t help but fantasize about expanding my collection with any one of these gems. Come August when my personal online shopping embargo ends (yes, you read correctly. I am not online clothes shopping for all of July and doing very well, thank you, Doubting Thomas!), you can bet that I will be hunting for more.

Friday Find: Run Like the Fancy Wind

Image c/o Old Navy

{GoDRY Tank in Neon Alarm Clock, Old Navy, On Sale}

In my last post I mentioned my affinity for workout clothes. This part of my wardrobe has been neglected for quite some time, which creates a particular dilemma for me each time I open my dresser drawer: if you supposedly work out so much, why don’t you have enough (clean) clothes to wear?

In my pursuit of acquiring affordable pieces, (sorry, Lululemon, I desperately love you but I cannot buy you as often as I would like) I came across two fancy pants styles in the latest issue of Women’s Health. Then I did something I almost never do, I looked in the back of the magazine to actually see where the clothes could be purchased. Sure, I always note this factoid when it’s listed on the page in which it is featured, but having to scan to the back has been too laborious in my past life. Let me tell you, it’s worth it to look.

Taking a colorful top (which is all the rage right now) from Old Navy, I paired it with the pairs of leggings satisfying rule number uno of buying clothes: only buy pieces that go with others in your closet.

Images c/o Nux and Londo Mondo

{Left: Focus Capri in Hydrangea, Right: Hardtail Lowrise Capri in Dark Python}

They’re pretty wild, but I’m willing to go for a run on that side (too much/complicated for a Friday?).

Have a great weekend!

A Breather

{A goodbye view of Chicago from my seat to Atlanta}

Over the past few weeks I took a breather. Actually, three to be precise. Want me to list them out? Okay, Type A.

Week 1: I moved into a new apartment (which is still in a bit of a disaster, but I just bought a couch so I’ve at least started to try!)

Week 2: I went on vacation with my family to Hawaii.

Week 3: I went on a mini-vacation slash road trip with my boyfriend and his friends to Gulf Shores, AL.

While the month of May has been very active, I am still wishing that I could take Week 4 to organize my life (as in update my address on all my magazines) and shop for throw pillows. In the meantime, here is a collection of my favorite photos captured on my adventures. Take some time today for your own breather.

{HI: My liberated toes}

{HI: Victory at the top of Diamond Head Mountain}

{HI: A toast with my favorite bev, Iced Caramel Macchiato}

{AL: More lazy beach time}

{AL: Caught up on some reading with my fancy shades}

Stripes + Florals

Image c/o Atlantic-Pacific

For me, the saying holds true: A closet (dresser and under-the-bed storage) full of clothes and nothing to wear. Some days I truly struggle to dress myself. I don’t know if it’s because I’m in a funky mood or if I just don’t feel like I have a wardrobe that is truly the me I want to be. Cheesy, I know. However, when I get dressed it is usually an expression of how I’m feeling and/or how I want to portray myself to the world for that day. Who knows if anyone notices. I just like to think that my clothes are the first (and maybe only) impression a stranger may get and I want it to be a good one despite their feelings about my personal style. A simple, “She looks nice today” would suffice. And if you say it to my face, I may even remember you for a whole day! There’s your 15 minutes in my life.

I was trolling through Pinterest over the weekend and I came upon a new (to me) blog, Atlantic-Pacific. I’m always on the hunt for outfit inspiration that is a little bit daring but is still me. This is exactly what I found with this stripes and florals combination.

Image c/o Atlantic-Pacific

The mixture of patterns is very now. In this particular outfit, both the skirt and the top are in relatively the same color family. I actually attempted this same look today using an Oxford shirt with thin, light blue horizontal stripes and a floral chiffon skirt in a purple/pink/yellow/brown combination. It still works! If only I had a minion who was adept at photography that could chronicle my outfit adaptation for you. Taking it myself would be a disaster and I would not want to publish any of that.

Using similar items that you already have in your closet is key, especially if you’re like me and need to be in a “cleansing” phase versus an “adding” phase with said closet (dresser and/or under-the-bed storage). I have scrolled through a couple of the posts on this blog and find it perfectly suitable for imitating. She re-uses pieces (a la Kate Middleton), which is better for reality because I one shouldn’t be buying a new outfit every time I she sees someone looking fabulous on the bus street.

Will you be trying this outfit? Inquiring minds (mostly just mine) want to know!