Self Motivation, Is The Best Motivation

Last year my mom asked me why I don't "try" anymore. 

In high school I was always trying new trends, trying new ways to wing my eyeliner,  just trying. Though freshman year of college I stopped. 

Before this year I didn't know how to answer my moms question, but lately I've realized  that my friends and room mate are all fairly casual. Based on their effortless beauty routines, I started doing the same, emulating the people and the styles around me. I didn't see this pattern until I started hanging with a crowd of girls who are the exact opposite than my other group of friends. They try for everything! Going to class, dressed to the nines. Going to the dining hall, hair still looks good. Going to the library at 11pm, even their sweats are cute. I knew I had to do better, but it shouldn't have taken me this long to be myself. With that being said. Clearly don't fall victim to your surrounding like I once did. even if someone may think you're doing too much just to grab a sandwich, who cares! You're doing you! I envy the people who are always fashionable on my campus, yet never actually put forth the type of effort that they do. So I challenge you budding fashionista's and fashionisto's to for a week, don't just roll out of bed and throw on jeans and a T. Motivate yourself to be the best you that you can be, because after all, self motivation is what's key! #rhymes4dayz 

Stay Swanky, 

Xoxo

College Style 101

Back in High school it was extraordinarily difficult for me to accept the fact that I was into fashion. As stated in my previous entries, There was a certain uniform that a Quaker school boy and girl wore on a daily basis. Now breaking from that particular high school role was not that nerve wracking, but more so a social suicide. Honestly no one really knew what to say when I wore anything besides Sperrys and a vineyard vines Shep shirt, and I found that being myself eventually caused me to become a bit more ostracized, merely based on the fact that my peers kind of thought we had nothing in common. That a person who possess the type of personality which allows them to dress in this sort of way, could be a person whose personalty would not blend with theirs. In general, High School was an odd balance of constants regularities, with the occasionally pop of who I am surfacing through a shoe, or changing my hair color. 

In college I found that there are more people who totally understand the struggles of a suburban fashionista, and I also learned a lot about every day fashion too. I once though that my every day look had to emulate Blake Lively walking down the streets of the upper east side while portraying Serena Van der Woodsen. eehhhhhhn, wrong answer. There is a way to be casuy cute, and still manage to rock campus at the same time. Theres even ways to to go to dressy events, and not technically be in a dress. Woah, mind eruption right? I know. 

With all that said, here are a few of my outfit discoveries. Yes I know we all wish we could be best friends with, or even be Blair Waldorf herself, its important to remember you can be just as chić in your everyday life!

 Forever 21 patterned mini skirt

thrifted red skinny belt
vintage express crop top
Urban Outfitters, ecoté sandals
Urban Outfitters, pins and needles short sleeved sweater

Urban Outfitters, silence and noise sequined mini dress
Hollister mens denim shirt and for pizzazz.... my grandpas truck

Thrifted sweat shirt I cut off to be a mini top
J Brand low rise jeans
Vans

 Urban outfitters, 3/4  shirtt style dress
Nine west leather boot
Lucky Brand, fold over cross body

H&M dress (belted underneath for the old over look)
Vintage patterned fishnet
thrifted tie heels

Urban outfitters bowl hat
Urban outfitters, hometown heros graphic tee
Levi's daisy duke cut off shorts

Super casual, and comfy, everyday look!

Anthropologie knit bow beanie hat
bronze infinity scarf
Michael Stars ruffle shoulder 3/4 tee
Free people, visible seam, 3 button bell bottom
Lucky Brand, fold over cross body

Anthropologie, collared, oversized sweater 

AG corduroy

Coach gold booties  

Oregon sweatshirt
Thrifted, yellow body con skirt
Ralph Lauren patterned tight
Dr. Martens




















Free People Black Jeggings
H&M graphic tee - which I cut so it would be more flattering
Levi's Jean jacket (one of my favorite accessories)
Lucky Brand, fold over cross body (aka my child)



These Styles are a little more dresses up, but can also be used in a casual setting as well!






Fall fleece Zara Jacket with collar
Cut out circle tights (personal fave, made by Ralph Lauren)
Dolce Vita polka dot collared shirt style dress

Kimchi Blue, Urban Outfitters, pink skater dress

Vintage Italian Silk, pink floral, ankle tie wedges 

Jeggings
Jessica Simpson mini 3/4 blazer
White tank
Sam Edelman wooden cross heel

Urban Outfitters Floral, cut out, dress
BCBG pointed toe heel
(this was my easter outfit!)

 At prom I didn't want the average $500 beaded bust prom dress, but instead got a brides made dress exclusive to Anthropologie. Let me tel you, I lovvvvvved it!

This outfit was for a college tour in Philly:

Free People knit mini dress
Tory Burch riding boots
Calvin Klein maroon tights
Material Girl, 2 -toned fleece jacket
Echo infinity scarf

Theory silk dress
Material Girl, 2 -toned fleece jacket
black footed tights
BCBG peep-toe suede booties

Back At It: A Letter To The Viewers

Dear you, 

I'm screaming bonjour to my fellow style mavens, as I write my vey first blog post in over two years! Why the break? Well it quite frankly, it should have never happened to begin with, but senior year of high school and freshman year of college can certainly manage to sink its teeth in. Though all that matters now is that I'm back! With new trend I've spotted, and even a few I have adapted as well. 

Currently I am a Journalism major (surprise, surprise) at this super spunky little liberal arts college in Ithaca New York. Sadly I must admit that my own personal fashion sense slowly plummeted after freshman year wrapped me up in its ball of tension and stress. I quickly became a girl who once wore a skater skirt and oxfords as a casual look, to .... dare I say it.....  strictly leggings AND oversized hoodies. I know you all are probably just as ashamed of me as I was of myself. Though never fret! new year, new me, and a new outlook on my future as well.

Hopefully this little blog will not only help you viewers realize its ok to express your fashionable side, even if everyone else is wearing leggings everyday, but also help me in the do what I love most, write about fashion. Yay simultaneously helping each other, woo hoo!  

I will be posting a few of my everyday outfits on the blog as well as my usual fashion inner monolog that I finally decided to express to the world, rather than blabbing to my mom about (which by the was she told me she's sick of hearing). No this doesn't mean you all are the newest addition to my family, but you are the newest edition to my thoughts and dreams; so please treat them with care :) Can't wait to see what this new year has to bring, and you will certainly be the first ones to hear about it 

As always stay swanky!!!

xoxo 

A glympse

Some could say that my looks are for the minimalist. I rarely have a bag, jewelry, or really anything that is considered an accessory. To me, shoes are my accessory, and they're what can bring a pop of color or tie the entire outfit together. 

 This is my very first outfit post, so lets see how this goes....
First off, this entire outfit (I'm proud to say) is a product of thrifting! i love thrifting, its amazing. You can get things that are cooler than some things in retail, and they save you a some money, so you can buy more cute stuff!
The crop top is vintage express, and the high waisted, thick, cotton skirt is vintage as well. Then lastly the shoe is an older model of the popular Seychelles.
Clearly this photo was not taken two days before Christmas, but its one of my favorites. It was taken on a cool day in April, and is a fun outfit to sport when the weather calls for it.

Stay Swanky, Xoxo

new look

So my mom was taling to me the other day about fashion blogs. Although my words about being alternative in a place where everyone conformes to a specific idea of whats hot and not, i felt as though maybe i should post what i wear on a daily. so... THIS JUST IN: BLOG SHIFT! there will most likely be my opinions on here as well, yet we al know that can get a little tedious. now this will be something i love to do, and also helping with common fashion problems and techniques. (which is something i also love to do) So watch out world!! here i come.

Swank, xoxo

Staring is Caring

Today. February 13th, 2013. I did the unthinkable. 
Dare I say it.... but I wore overalls to school, which is major gasp status, and oddly results in a lot of either unintentional, or uncontrollable stares.  The stares come from the people that dont really talk to like that, but the people who do speak with somehow feel obligated to share with me how "trendy" me are. First, I hate that word "trendy", it reminds me of a movie based in like the 60's or something where people wore a bunch of hairspray, had pigtails, and wore dresses all the time as if we're living in a never ending church vortex. Secondly, I wouldn't mind the word, and would, with even more excitement then I already have, reply with an immense of joy IF the didn't say it with a look of utter pain and disgust on their face! im like its okay, I'd rather you not say anything at all, than watch you almost spontaneously combust just trying to tell me a forced compliment that you really don't want to say. 

I've come to the conclusion that most of my friends try to be supportive of my "interesting" fashion choices. But feel as though they just dont understand this little thing called: not caring. In my school there are only a few acceptable things, and when you stop fitting the mold you stop being cool, you stop benig popular. I for one, have somehow successfully managed to stay eccentric, and still have friends! Its as if anyone who has ANY alternate form of self expression, are then ostracized from the community and made to look like "weirdos."(another word I dislike.. I personally prefer unique) The singers are still cool, the artists, and musicians, and actors, are still cool, but once I start showing you my art form its not accepted? But honestly Im blabbering at this point. The only people who are obnoxious like that are the lax brooooos and football players so I digress . everyone else seems like they want to try to be expressive through fashion, but are just scared of those two groups of peoples thoughts. I've been told numerous times that I have "mad balls" and I thank you for my new found compliment. But you see, there's another thing I call "the appreciation of abnormality."

 I dont desire, at all, to be like everyone else. And when people stare, give me forced compliments, and then question my reasonings for what I wear, it gives me even more confidence. No girl or guy should EVER think anything of staring. People generally stare because you're doing something out of the ordinary.... which is awesome. You should thank the starers. They're your biggest fans, because they are the ones who care enough to bring you your attention. As if you are a measly word on a boring page page and they are the highlighter. They chose you to put the emphasis on, and not only did they do that, but they told their friends! So now everyones highlighted you, so shine bright. 

The fact that I stand out, the fact that people are paying attention to me creates this never ending hootspa that I continue to carry with me inorder to influence others; and communicate to them that hey, if you want to dress like a modern version of someone out of a 90's TLC music video with overals, and a big sweatshirt,and some type of hat.............  You're not alone. 

Swank, xoxo

First and foremost

Swanky, sixteen, and and totally submerged into the world of fashion. Im just a regular high school girl(at a Quaker school), and with regular high school comes, of course, the *dun dun dun*..... regular fashion.Lets be honest. we're all kinda over cami's under v necks, wearing those oh so fabulous classic camel Uggs EVERY day, and the immensely glorified... wait for it.... North. Face. Jacket. Like com'mon people, lets think outside the box? or maybe even cut a hole in it and peer through like a window. Im fine with peering. Peering is good.

Although... speaking of a box reminds me of my fabulous life motto: "always keep one foot out of the box" now, you're probably wondering what sense this makes.. so let me explain. The one foot inside gives you room to wear your Uggs, be part of whats hip in school, and follow up with those trends that everyone is involved with. The one foot out is whats interesting. That one little foot, is your foot of dreams, your foot of fun, experiment, and wonder, and individuality. we love that foot. embrace the foot.  Sometimes you just have to be the trend setter, the one that does something (heaven forbid) different! Just try it.. and tell me how it goes. you'll get a kick from finding out who your biggest fans are. 

I really dont have a perfectly drawn out plan for this blog. As of now it's sort of an etch A sketch whose horizontals and verticals don't make perfect sense. It could go anywhere from how a rando chick dressed in school that day... to my ideas of how I'll hopefully intern for Vogue one of these days. Right now I just can't wait to see who listens :)

Swank, xoxo