Some New Purchases

To celebrate the end of finals and the end of my first semester of college (thank goodness), I went to the mall and treated myself to some lovely new purchases. The first item I bought was a lovely red dress.  I fell in love with this dress the moment I laid eyes on it (as cliche as that sounds).  When I went to Macy's I really did not intend to buy anything because earlier in the day I stopped by Banana Republic and made an impulsive purchase on a black velvet blazer (that was on sale!).  So as I was wandering through the department store, past all the makeup and fragrance counters, I turned a corner and suddenly right in front of me was a gorgeous, bold red dress.  I have a huge inclination towards red dresses, so I immediately approached the dress to perform my usual routine for when I see an item of interest: feel the fabric, check the price tag, and then look the item over once more to decide if it's worth it. On sale for $118. Not bad for a dress of this quality, but there was one problem: I really wanted to get this dress but I had nowhere to wear it to.  My mind was telling me to keep walking and to leave the store without the beautiful dress, but my heart told me to try it on and then decide. I tried it on and decided that I needed a red dress in my life.  I ended up creating an occasion to wear this dress to by making my family dress up and go to a fancy restaurant for my birthday dinner this past weekend.  The above pictures don't really do the dress much justice, but you can also view this Taylor dress in white online at Macys. 

My second big purchase is a gold Michael Kors Chronograph watch that I have been lusting after for quite some time.  I feel like a chunky gold watch is the perfect accessory for any outfit. As I said in my previous post, I can't take off my new watch! Lastly, I found this pretty turquoise bracelet at Forever 21.  I don't have any turquoise jewelry, so I thought that this would be a good addition to my jewelry collection.

Floral Print in Winter

Shirt and Skirt, Forever 21; Belt and Watch, Michael Kors; Purse, JC Penny; Boots, Ciao Bella.

So I tried to take some pictures in my house to show you what I wore during the day...but as you can see, there are no good picture-taking locations in my house so I went with the plain white wall.  Also my photographer, my brother, was very unskilled with the camera and impatient with me, so this was the result. Haha!

Well anyways, I'm embracing the warm LA weather by wearing a flowy floral mini skirt and (gasp!) only one layer on top. I'm also sporting my new gold Michael Kors watch.  I just got it and I am obsessed with it! Like seriously, I can't take it off.  I feel like getting an expensive watch is a sign of maturity.  It's like when someone gets a Rolex, it serves as a status symbol.  Similarly, when a young person gets a nice watch, it's a sign of their new status as an adult person.  (Alright I know there are some spoiled little kids running around with Rolexes and Cartier watches, but those kids are exceptions to the rule, okay!?)

The bag that I'm wearing is one that I just recently bought over the holidays at JC Penny.  I don't normally shop at JC Penny, but I went with my mom to return some things, and I found this lovely little find on sale for $15. Of course I knew it had to be mine...and now it is!  I've actually been on the lookout for a bag with a long chain strap like this, and I finally found one.  I like it because it reminds me of those iconic Chanel handbags that all the LA fashionistas--like Lauren Conrad and Ashely Tisdale--run around the city with.  It's got the flap opening, the twist lock closure, and the gold hardware.  All it's missing are the Chanel symbol on the front and the classic quilted material.  However, I really like this brown leathery material with the colorful accents; it's so fun!

Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony

If you happen to be in New York City today (Saturday) you should stop by Opening Ceremony from 5-7pm to meet Chloe Sevigny, who will be in the city to debut her new collection for her line Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony.  Go meet the Big Love actress, splurge on a dress or perhaps a needed (or not needed) pair of shoes, and have fun!

The new collection is now available online at Opening Ceremony for viewing and, more importantly, purchasing.  The collection ranges from eccentric accessories, such as a paisley beret, leopard print tights, and round-rimmed sunglasses, to girly sweaters and dresses to some edgy footwear (hello platforms!).  Pictured below are my favorite picks from the Chloe Sevigny for OC collection:

1. Lesley Peter Pan collar flared dress in polka dot, $475.  I am very pleased that designers are embracing the Peter Pan collar this spring.  The collar adds such a girly touch that reminds us of the blissful days of our youth, running around in cute, tiny sweaters with even tinier Peter Pan collars.  This dress, featuring a tres feminin lace detail around the collar and front pockets, is very reminiscent of the 1950's, a style that is very in for this spring, according to the new feature on Asos called "All American Girl: Collegiate style meets flirty '50s shapes."

2. Cropped crew neck pullover, $205. What better way to show off your tres a la mode Peter Pan collar than by framing it with a petite sweater?  According to OC, this sweater is inspired by the 90's--so think denim, flannel, grunge, and more importantly, bare midriffs (as in Britney Spears circa "Hit Me Baby One More Time).  This sweater will add a cute, preppy feel to any outfit.

3. Boxy v-neck cardigan, $310. Another 90's-inspired piece of knitwear, this sweater would be a good addition to any wardrobe--especially my wardrobe.  I love the boxy structure of this cardigan, and I think it would look great over a feminine floral dress.

4. Sophie puff sleeve dress in paisley, $410.  I chose this dress because I really love the sleeves; lately, I've been searching for pieces with defined shoulders and shoulder pads. I'm not, however, normally a fan of paisley print, but I guess if you're going to wear any paisley at all, you might as well go all out and wear it everywhere--that is, everywhere on one piece of clothing per outfit.

5. Mary Jane, $395.  I love myself a good Mary Jane heel, but the thick platform on these make them all the more appealing.  The front bow on these shoes is detachable, so you can change up the look of the shoes whenever you feel like it!

6. Saigon reversible jacket, $785. Apparently Varsity letterman jackets are in right now, and, quite honestly, this is a trend that I would love to embrace--and no, not just because it reminds me of the good old days in high school.  What's even better about this jacket is that it's reversible!  When you flip it inside out, the jacket reveals a floral print. Two jackets in one--that explains the steep price tag!

7. Mapplethorpe cropped t-shirt, $185.  This cropped tee is so cute, and while I'm not sure yet what I would wear it with, I like the design on the front.  Enough said.

8. Barton Perreira Darling sunglasses in black, $325.  I have been on the hunt for a great, flattering pair of cat-eye glasses--albeit a reasonably priced pair--so I love the ones offered by Chloe Sevigny.  Out of all the glasses in the Chloe Sevigny for OC collection, this pair is definitely the least eccentric, but hey, classic is always a good thing.

When I first laid eyes on the collection, I wasn't thrilled. (Because, really, who actually needs an extremely over-priced t-shirt? The answer is no one needs an over-priced t-shirt...unless of course it says Chanel on it, then we'll reconsider.)  After spending some time looking at each individual piece, namely the ones above, I began to appreciate the eccentricity of the collection as a whole, as it complements Sevigny's personality--apparently, Chloe Sevigny is one sassy lady!  One major fault I found in the line, however is that it is so darn expensive!  So if you're like me and are a fashionista on a budget, then you will not be purchasing from this line, no matter how much you like those cat-eye sunglasses.  If you're not like me--lucky you!-- then I say go for it!  Splurge on something you never knew you needed until now.

Happy Weekend!

<3 Carly

Photos courtesy of FabSugar and Opening Ceremony.

Black Dresses by Asos

Needed Updates

Scarf, Asos; Skirt, Urban Outfitters; Boots, Hunter

First off, sorry I haven't blogged in FOREVER. Not writing on this blog is driving me crazy, but I've been super busy over the past couple of months with school work and other college-y things.  Right now I'm actually sneaking in a post during Finals Week. This is probably not the best time for me to start blogging again, but I wanted to share some updates with however few readers I have left. ;)

I don't know if you can tell in the above photos, but there's snow in Princeton!  Yesterday it snowed about 8 inches, and now the campus is covered in white and looks so beautiful! Today my roommates and I walked around campus taking pictures in the snow.  In the first picture, you can see how deep the snow was; it was nearly as high as my boots!  I have to admit that walking through the snow is definitely a challenge, but the LA girl in me is just so excited to have snow outside that it doesn't bother me.  I'm sure that will change when the snow is no longer soft and powdery, but until then, I'll enjoy it while I can.

As for other updates about my life, I just got a fancy new DSLR camera (Nikon D3100) that I am love with right now.  I actually used it to take the pictures in this post.  The camera works so well and takes really great pictures, although I'm still learning how to use it so that i can utilize all of the camera's features.  Right now I'm working on getting a tripod, so you can look forward to some outfit posts in the near future!

Also, I mentioned that I've been busy doing college-y things...well, one of those things is working on Princeton's fashion magazine, Stripe Magazine.  The magazine is a new publication on campus, and there is currently one issue out, which you can read here.  I am so excited to be a part of the magazine staff as a Staff Blogger because  I get to work with really talented and stylish people, meet influential people in the fashion industry, and share my opinion on style with the Princeton community.  So far, Stripe has hosted one event on campus that turned out to be really popular and very fun! It was a makeover event, so hair stylists and makeup artists from a nearby salon came to campus and provided free makeovers to students.  I'm really looking forward to more events with Stripe and to writing for their blog, so I will let you guys know when that happens!

Lastly, I wanted to ask for your opinion on the new header of the blog.  The building pictured is probably the most iconic building at Princeton, and I think it's really pretty, especially in the snow.  After all, the blog is called The Student Fashionista, so something on the blog needs to be about school! Let me know what you think!