This Week's Wardrobe

On Sunday evenings, if I am feeling overly ambitious or just have some extra time, I like to decide what outfits I'll wear in the week ahead.  Not only does it save time, but it helps me look through my closet and make new combinations that I wouldn't have otherwise thought of.  Here's What I'm wearing this week:

Monday

I keep it casual on Mondays.  A pair of saturated skinny jeans, nude flats, and a cute top patterned top (navy with tan cats!) fit the bill perfectly.  Jeans from Gap, flats by Steve Madden, top from Gap Outlet.

Tuesday

I work on Tuesdays, but I also have morning classes.  The dress code at work is business casual, so I try to create looks that are appropriate for both work and school.  Navy blazer from Gap, polka dot Natasha top from J. Crew, Café capri  from J. Crew,  pink pointed-toe flats from Gap

Wednesday

Wednesdays are my busy days.  I'm at school all day, so I like to dress comfortably...and in layers!  This week, I'm wearing a long cardigan from Madewell, a navy v-neck from J. Crew, a printed scarf from Madewell, skinny jeans by Paige Premium Denim, and penny loafers from Madewell.  In the cardigan pocket are some accessories - a teal rope and crystal bracelet from J.Crew and a Timex watch with a neon strap.

Thursday

I work on Thursdays, also.  Printed blouse from Madewell, cardigan from Madewell, Pixie pant from J. Crew, and black patent flats by Tory Burch.

 

Friday

I love Fridays - no work, short day of school, and the beginning of the weekend.  This Friday's outfit is full of bright colors to start the weekend off on the right note.  Red-orange Jackie cardigan from J. Crew, printed T-shirt from Madewell, Skinny Skinny Ankle Jeans from Madewell, and penny loafers from Madewell.

 

 

 

What will you be wearing this week?

Birthday Wishlist

My 21st birthday is coming up, and I've been counting down the days (only 15 left!).  I've had a hard time coming up with a wishlist this year, but here are a few things I've been coveting.

1) A New Camera

I've had my digital camera for a while, and although I love it, it is definitely time to update my technology.  I want a good quality camera, but I still want something compact that I can through in a cross-body bag or clutch. I've looked around and I've decided the Nikon COOLPIX S8200 will fit my needs perfectly.

2) Super Panama Sunglasses

I have a fetish for sunglasses, though I'm not a fan of oversized, Jackie O glasses.  They're just too big for my small face.  I usually stick to Ray Ban's Clubmaster or Wayfarer II, but when I saw the Super's Panama Sunglasses on Madewell's site, I knew I had to have them.

4) A Statement Bracelet

When I saw this frog clasp in J. Crew's March catalog, I didn't think I could live it without it.

Unfortunately, I am going to have to live without this addition to my wardrobe because it sold out almost immediately.  I was disappointed (and I still am!) but I decided I really like the Enameled Ram Bangle, also seen in J. Crew's March catalog.  It's not the frog, but I love that it is a ram - the perfect birthday gift for an Aries!

5) A New Yoga Mat

For some odd reason, my cat loves my yoga mat.  Whenever I roll it out, he quickly runs to it to stretch and knead.  It wouldn't be such a bad thing, but when he kneads, out come his claws, and purple foam gets ripped off and all over the floor.  It doesn't make the mat unusable, but I would be embarrassed to roll out my cat-tethered mat in a Bikram class (those people are serious about their yoga).  I've never had a mat from Lululemon, but I've only heard good things about The Mat which is why it's made its way onto my list.  I'll be sure to only use this in class, so it will never learn the wrath of my feline friend.

Regardless of what I receive or don't receive for my birthday - I'm pretty excited to just be 21 finally!  Let the countdown continue (but quickly, please)!

Spring Forward in Style

Normally I'm not too fond of the month of March - it's usually cold, rainy, and mucky (in other words, not good weather for cute clothes and shoes).  That being said, I can't complain about the weather we've been having this season! While thermometers might be hitting 85 degrees, it's still March in Massachusetts, and something about that makes me reluctant to wear shorts just yet.  Shorts this time of year are fine for guys, but girls have the option of wearing skirts, dresses, and crops - something I have been taking full advantage of!

I did some extensive shopping over Spring Break, and here is one of my favorite weather-appropriate looks that I've put together with my new purchases:

I am in love with my new crocheted skirt from Club Monaco.  It looks great with everything! I like how it looks when paired with a top crocheted in a different pattern but in the same color (like this Madewell sweater I just bought).  It also looks great with just about any chambray shirt and penny loafers (my new Spring-staple for footwear!).

 

What are you wearing in this uncharacteristically warm Spring weather?

Makeup Musts

I have what some people might call an excessive amount of makeup.  That being said, I like to keep my daily makeup routine simple by using the same, basic products each day.  I clearly have an obsession with Stila - it started when I bought the hot pink (self-adjusting!) blush pictured below, and I slowly added more and more of their products to my makeup bag.

 I begin with Stila's Perfect & Correct Foundation in Medium.  I like it because it covers more than a tinted moisturizer, yet is not as heavy as other liquid foundations (it's also great for oily skin!).  Then, I brush on just a bit of Stila's Shade 1 bronzer.  I have light skin, but this bronze is perfect for me all year round - whether I'm tan or not.  Something I love about all of Stila's products is that the color/shade/darkness of the product is dependent on how much you apply.  This is also true for their Custom Color Blush in Pink.  At first, the brightness of the pink looks intimidating, but this is the best blush I have ever used and it looks great on every skin-tone.

After applying my face makeup, I move onto eyes.  I don't always wear eyeshadow during the day, but if I do, I use either Stila's Kitten (pictured) or Oasis depending on what colors I am wearing.  Both are very sheer shimmer eyeshadows; Kitten is on the pearly side while Oasis is a nude-gold.  After shadow, I swipe on some of Stila's Stay All Day waterproof liquid eyeliner (in Intense Black).  A lot of products claim to be waterproof, but this eyeliner truly holds up to that claim.  It has the perfect tip for creating thin lines, thick lines, and cat eyes.  I am BIG on mascara and very picky about it.  I have experimented with almost every brand I could find - from Dior to CoverGirl - but I have found that Benefit's They're Real! is the best mascara on the market.  It creates thickness, length, and curl - a girl couldn't ask for more!

Finally, I gloss my lips with Stila's Lip Glaze in Grapefruit.  I like bold lip colors, but for daytime looks, I find that this is appropriate and goes fabulously with my skin-tone and natural lip color. 



What are some of your Makeup Musts?

Laid-back Lace

Polyvore is my latest love interest.  It is a tool for creating collages of clothing and accessories (outfits, really, or "sets" as the site calls these collages).  It's very user-friendly - you can look up clothing on the site by store, brand color, style, etc., and it suggests similar items (for example, if you click on a lace top, three other similar lace tops will be suggested below).  Links are provided so that you can buy the item(s) online (this is probably a very dangerous feature for shopaholics like myself).  Another feature I love is that you can pin your own ensembles to Pinterest and let me tell you, it is a real ego-booster when other people re-pin the look you've created (within 15 minutes, my outfit already had 7 likes and 18 re-pins!).  I always have outfit ideas in my head, and Polyvore is the perfect instrument for me to create a portfolio of looks without tearing apart my closet or spending hours browsing different clothing sites.

Below is the first set I've published since joining the Polyvore, called "Laid-back Lace."  The look was inspired by my search for the perfect pair of boyfriend jeans, a lace top that I recently purchased from Madewell, and my overwhelming desire to dress for spring.

Do any of you have Polyvore accounts? If you do, follow me: shannon-oneill! :)