I want a girl with a mind like a diamond

I love my dog, and I love my boyfriend, but really, diamonds...they can really brighten your day can't they?

Thanks to a blog post on Lucky Magazine's website, I recently visited the highly addicting Langerman Diamonds website to scope out the huge diamond selection for myself. If you're in the market for some bling, you really should check it out, the range of prices and colors is amazing. I'm particularly smitten with their array of raw diamonds, which I always think are so unusually pretty. But I'm also a sucker for the shiny pretty cut ones. Like this one:


Photo via langerman-diamonds.com

An ORANGE diamond! Que bonita! This particular diamond is 425 dollars, I sorted them in prices low to high and didn't really dare look at the more expensive ones, but I think the heart cut is very sweet and the orange color is unexpected and cool. With diamonds, I love to drool over heavily encrusted pieces of jewelry, but when I have them in reality, I go for simplicity. This diamond made into a pendant and suspended on a super thin chain would be beautiful to me. Go pick out your own dream diamonds!

Getting in Touch with My Roots

So, boyfriend and I have a lovely plan in which I am going to be visiting him at his school over Valentine's Day weekend. I miss him quite a bit and it's going to be lovely, spending a weekend with my favorite boy! Besides our magical chemistry and beautiful love and all that, one of the great things about visiting him is that his friends are really awesome, and when he takes me to parties I feel super comfortable. One thing his friends are big on is theme parties, and there are two potential theme's for the weekend I visit. Either "Dress Like Your Culture" or "Ke$ha". Though I'm really really hoping for the latter (I love Tik Tok, judge me as you like), I googled the traditional garb my ancestors to get an idea of the best/funniest way to attire myself.

The traditional clothing of Russian or Polish women is just not going to happen. Though the colors are beautiful and vibrant, I don't own too many long dresses/long full skirts or the traditional Polish vests, and the Russian Kokoshnik is beautiful, but I have no idea how I'd go about imitating one.


An elaborate Kokoshnik.

So I decided that imitating the traditional garb of my Scottish and Irish ancestors would be easier. I was soon distracted by my discovery of Ghillies, which are the soft shoes that men and women traditionally wore in Ireland, and which are now part of the costume worn by Irish dancers. And I really really want a pair.


Split-sole dancing Ghillies.

Now, I love the white socks that they're worn with, but I'd probably wear them bare legged in the summer with shorts and drapey, casual tops, or maybe even filmy skirts and tank tops. I think it's kind of an interesting alternative to the flat (which I don't really love) and they're made for dancing, so they'll be super comfortable. What do you guys think? Am I crazy?

Photos via RusClothing.com and corrsirishshoes.com

DING DING DING!

Attention! Attention! The perfect romper has been found!


photo via urbanoutfitters.com


photo via Kaboodle

Tank top! Drapey! Really really cool back! Soft cotton! I love it! Brianna popped up on ichat and send me the link to this saying "Woah. I want this." I could've kissed her if she were here. She has found for me the perfect romper. Not to mention, it's only 38 dollars at urban. It comes in black, teal, and grey, but they only have my size left in the black and grey. I know I said I didn't want black butttttt, I actually really like this one in black. I've recently been applying for some jobs, so one of them needs to work out so I can purchase this.

And maybe this:


photo via urbanoutfitters.com

A really wonderful boyfriend blazer that I've had in my cart for weeks and which is on sale for 9.99, but I feel unjustified in buying. Oh college brokeness.

Evacuate the Dance Floor

Normally my policy is no going out on Friday nights, and I haven't really been feeling the vibe lately for going out in general. But then, Rob put us on the list for a closed party at his frat, and I got bit by the party bug. I even shaved my legs! Which meant I had to wear a skirt, even though it was freezing outside. Thank god for my gigantic coat.



Mandee skirt. Charlotte Russe Tank. Hot Kiss booties. Aldo earrings.

This tank was an impulse buy on a shopping trip with Brianna last year, and it has a really good track record for going to amazing parties. It's long with a hankerchief hem which you cannot see since it's tucked. The skirt is supposed to look bandage-like, but unfortunately it's actually a size up from what I usually wear and it's a bit loose at the top. I was lucky it fit fine with the tucked in tank. Same Hot Kiss booties that make my life complete.

The earrings...this summer I went through a heavy hoop phase (which I'm not totally out of) and I wanted sparkly rhinestone ones. Aldo's jewelry is really nice and often looks more expensive than their actual reasonable prices.

In any case, my night was lovely. Lots of dancing, lots of fun, and out REAL late. We got home after 3 AM. As a song that I hate to quote but secretly love goes: I love college.

Florals: Yay or Nay?

I am wary about jumping on the floral bandwagon. You see, sometimes I have a problem with certain prints. Sometimes...they make me look like I'm five. I don't know what it is. I don't know if it's the blonde hair, or the way I smile, or the dorky way my body is put together...I don't know. But sometimes things just don't translate on me. Those super cute bow headbands? I look like a child. Plaid is way tricky, I often look like I just came off the farm and I'm waiting for my boyfriend to come get me in his pickup and then we're going to go to a barn raising. I don't think they do barn raisings anymore, but I would kind of like to go to one like the one in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers that results in the dance/fight. As long as I get one of the tall gingers. And I'm rambling.

ANYWHOOOO, I'm not sure about the florals. I do own a floral sundress but I don't think it fits anymore. Bottom line is come the warm weather I'm going to need an entirely new Spring/Summer wardrobe, so I ask myself, flowers or no flowers? I engaged in an extensive internet search and this is what I liked of the floral variety. To be honest, it isn't a lot.





Top two floral dresses from ModCloth. The black one was a New Arrival maybe...last week? I've had my eye on it ever since. I want to run through a field with it on holding up the long skirt and laughing in slow motion. Or maybe I'll just wear it to the mall. That works too. But I really really want to buy it. The blue dress has a floral pattern that's been distorted, sort of "impressionized" and it's really cute.

Next two! Blouse on the left from Charlotte Russe, dress on the right from H&M. I like the color of the blouse and the modernity of the floral pattern, but the description said that there is "glitter" involved in there somewhere. I love the glitter, but I don't know if I'll love it on a floral blouse. The H&M dress...I like it, it looks totally girly and fun, but it might be too fussy. I haven't decided.

The final two pieces are both from Forever 21. The skirt intrigues me because I've never worn anything peplum and I'm dying to try it. I also like that it's a mini skirt with a peplum, very cute. I'm sold on the blue dress, this is how I usually feel florals should be worn, on a pretty simple sundress. Give me that vintage Dooney and Bourke purse, leather sandals, and an outdoor market, and I'll be happy.

Browsing Etsy: Vintage

Last night, when I should have been getting ahead on my mounds of college reading, or perhaps sleeping, I was wide awake and browsing etsy for some vintage finds. Now, I consider myself pretty savvy as far as technology goes. My phone has a touch screen, I'm typing on my macbook, I surf the internet on said touch screen phone, I have a digital camera, I have an ipod (WHEN IT'S NOT BROKEN FROM WATER DAMAGE), you know. But I've never used ebay or etsy until recently. This is NOT BECAUSE I didn't know how, but because I was totally wary of just buying random things from random people online.

Recently though, I scored a totally awesome birthday present for boyfriend for a totally awesome price on ebay (secrets secrets!), and I was sold. Now I'm on ebay constantly, although I refrain from engaging in all the bidding wars I want to join. So this led me to spend some more time on etsy, which has a large range of shops with some really great vintage finds. Thus, back to the point at hand. These were my favorite things that I found



This belt is from the 80s, and I love the bright colors and the gold bauble in the middle. I have a corset-esq elastic belt for cinching seen here and here, and though I like it quite a bit it doesn't always have the right look, and it's also a bit loose. I bought the smallest size, but it doesn't hug the body unless I'm wearing a few layers. I like that this one is a departure from the basic elastic belts we see around.

Vintage Dooney and Bourke Purse

Photos via Decades of Baltimore etsy shop

I recently got my own Dooney and Bourke bag (compliments of my wonderful God Mother!) and it's gorgeous, and I'm kind of obsessed with the classic nature of their bags. This little cross body bag is totally adorable, and though my friends and family would poke fun that it won't hold half of the stuff I normally lug around with me, I think it would be perfect with a sundress for going to fairs and browsing flea markets and the like. And when I imagine that I looks so happy and carefree! And my boyfriend is also wearing clothes of a much different era in my head, but that's another story.

60s dress

Picture via the StilettoGirl Vintage etsy store

This is the first thing that caught my eye. StilettoGirl Vintage has an amazing selection of vintage items, especially clothing, and I spent a good amount of time clicking through. I thought this dress was absolutely adorable and I had to restrain myself from purchasing it right then. My only qualm? It's Gettysburg colors! So I don't know if I could get away with wearing it in the burg, I might seem a little, over-spirited. Whatever, you know I'd wear it anyway. Love!


photo via PrettyRaccoon Clothing etsy store

At first I thought that PrettyRaccoon Clothing was a shop for contemporary clothes, but I'm silly and missed the Vintage link. They're selection of vintage is also pretty impressive, and it's definitely geared toward the younger buyer, so there were a lot of things I was interested in. my favorite piece was this pretty yellow dress though. In keeping with the Dooney and Bourke bag vision, I guess I'm into the idea of flowy, innocent looking sundresses for the upcoming summer. Let's see if I hold myself to it! In any case, the color is gorgeous, I like the tiny pleats, and I just want to wear it all the time. Oh summer, come soon.

Chill Factor

Oh So Sunny, But Oh So Cold! I think we're supposed to get snow this weekend. Bummer.




American Eagle Outfitters skinny cords. Shirt, random swap from Brianna. Kensie Girl sweater vest. Gifted bracelet. Fossil watch. Jessica Simpson boots. Necklace from random shop in South Carolina.

Another sweater vest that's a bit different from the usual sweater vest because I don't usually like to look like a prepster and I hate sweaters. Really comfy shirt that I got from Brianna in my favorite color! I know I wear these pants a lot, but they go great with these boots that I wear a lot, and they're comfortable, and I go to class people.

Necklace is a favorite. I got it at a shop on a family vacation to South Carolina. The place had a lot of other cool jewelry too, but this was my favorite piece. It looked really luxe and more expensive than it actually was to me. I also dig on gold in the summer time, I feel like it blends better with the pallet of summer colors that I wear.

What a Jersey Girl Wants.

Take note boyfriend and parents, this is something I would wear everyday and any day. I'm sure most of the Jersey girls I know would feel the same.


photo via mayabrenner.com

How cute is this!!?? Even though these are one sale on gilt today (yo gilt members, get on it!), I'm still not in a position to spend any money, but I long for this necklace. The diamond in the center is really sweet (though I wish you could customize it and move it closer to where you actually inhabit the state), but I don't need it. The plain sterling silver version is good enough for me, especially because then it wouldn't clash with the white gold and diamond heart necklace that I usually wear every day (when the chain wasn't snapped by me being stupid).

To be straight, even though I lovelovelove Jersey, I know I'm not going to spend the rest of my life there. You've read my posts people, I hate hate HATE the cold, and it can get realllyyyyyy chilly in the north dirty. I actually fell in love with California on a family visit there, and dream that that is where I will land, but you never know. Whatever happens, my home state will always be beloved to me, where people go down the shore, we eat amazing bagels and pizza, and if you don't move fast, you get lost in the shuffle.

P.S. lovers, check out Maya Brenner's website even if you're not digging the state charms (which come in all fifty, hello!). Her designs are super beautiful and delicate. I'm also loving her zodiac pendants.

EDIT: Erin says that if you read the website like a literate person, you find out that the diamond can be moved anywhere on the coast!

Apocalypse? We've All Been There.

Once More With Feeling soundtrack stuck in my head. Don't worry about it.


American Eagle Outfitters long-sleeve shirt and key necklace. Zara jeans. Target tank top. Joyce Leslie wool vest. Random tree necklace. Hot kiss booties.

You only get one photo today because my camera battery died, but I think it's quite a good photo and you see the outfit and that my hair didn't have a bad bad day, but it didn't have a good day either. I miss the water at home, it makes my hair so much shinier.

These Zara jeans may be the best jeans I have ever owned. They have a lot of stretch to them, but even if I wear them a bunch of times before I wash them (not that I would do that...) they don't stretch out and leave uncomfortable denim sag in the butt area. Glorious! This shirt is of the burnout genre, which looks really cool but...when it's cold you get a lot of draft. Cool but impractical. I've never been the practical type though. It's also a lot more purple than it photographs. My camera seems to be very bad with it's blues and purples. Loser.

I know you've seen this vest lots of times, but I love it. I love how this menswear inspired piece is actually totally awesome for showing off a tiny waist. It also makes a lot of my more basic clothes more interesting so I don't feel like I just went to class in a t shirt and jeans. I have to be practical at college, but I don't want to be totally boring (all the time). I recently had to give a couple of vests that weren't working for me anymore to a new home (some of my girlies and I do clothes swaps here and there, it's enjoyable), and I've been on the lookout for some new ones. Especially since this heavy wool one isn't going to work in the spring and summer.



pictures left to right via ae.com, revolveclothing.com, and guess.com.

I really like the pinstripe on the white vest, and the light color makes it very spring and summer. Plus, it's American Eagle, which means totally affordable. The faux snakeskin Guess vest is a little flashy, but I love flash, and the double layer styling looks neat compared to your standard vest. I really dig the long slouchy shape of the linen vest, and it would be perfect for pairing with some sparkly jewelry and denim for a date with boyfriend when it warms up.

Romper Room?

This romper might be the closest thing to what I like that I've seen yet:


photo via tobi.com

I really like the pleating, and I know I said I didn't want black, but this comes in a really amazing Aqua Marine color.

I recently joined Gilt, and found this Black Halo romper on it for 88 dollars! I think they only have size 2 and 0 left though. Alas, I'm still holding out for the perfect romper.

The Old Man is Snoring

I'm not going to lie to you. This is what I look like on rainy days:




Columbia jacket, Sperry wellies, and misery painted on my face. I don't like rain gear, but I don't like being drenched even more. The thing that did it for me was walking around in pants soaked up to my knees last year. I wanted to do without that. So I bought the wellies this summer and they serve their purpose. I do sort of wish I was more colorful, but honestly I'm really just glad that I'm dry. I also prefer the sporty type of rain coat because of the more protective hood and quick dry fabric that isn't rubbery thus making me sweat profusely. If I were to do it again, except not on the budget that I actually have, I would love these:


photo via zappos.com

Hunter boots, duh. I actually had hunter boots over the summer, I purchased them from zappos, and it was a fail. Maybe they'd fit my skinner calves now.


photo via altrec.com

Another Columbia jacket, because I like the design, but snazzier. I love the colors and the pattern. Pretty sweet

Now, here's the thing. I haven't yet caved as far as umbrellas go. I don't like them, I don't want to carry one. However, after walking to my saxophone lesson across campus today and arriving with legs soaked from the tops of my wellies to the seam of my rain jacket, I wondered if an umbrella might not be so bad. So I was off to umbrellas.net.

I loved the vintage section best, especially these plaid and tartan versions. And I loved the totally awesome handle of the green one.




photos via umbrellas.net

Still, these are way expensive, and clash with my already pretty bright color pallet. I do like the simplicity and functionality of the Davek umbrellas, but it's not like I can afford those either.

How do you stylishly (or, not so much so), stay dry on rainy days?

Dream Rolls and Green Tea

American Eagle Outfitter's skinny cords. Express cardigan. Mandee top. Wet Seal booties.

Went to Ping's with the girls and JR tonight for dinner. I was in my pajamas all day before this (slept until 11...was generally unproductive...) and I decided to look cute. I like the mix of greys in the outfit interlaced with some browns. Everything's neutral but put together I think it's subtle but interesting.

Curly hair! Since I didn't blow dry my naturally curly locks last night. I actually quite liked the change of pace.

(You Drive Me) Crazy.

Oh the sales, the sales, the salessalessalessales! My fingers itch to perform their deft dance of unsnapping my soccer mom wallet and pulling out my shiny white debit card. Swipe! Sign! Own! Oh sales, how you always come around when my funds are down.

Inadvertently led to shockboutique.com today. Inadvertently led to many many items under $30 that I want to own. Oh the agony. But I thought of a rather fab outfit while drooling over these two pieces.



First off, this screams Wolverine to me, and that's why I love it. In my mind I always want to be more of a badass than I actually am. Maybe this will make me look like one.



I love acid washed denim, and I always have. I like how it makes a traditional denim shirt look far more cute and cool. I think it would be perfect layered under the above jacket.


photos via shockboutique.com

I like the idea of these black studded leggings for the outfit, but I'd probably just pair them with the black skinny jeans I already own.

For the finishing touch, this outfit needs some good black boots. I think the standard go to boot for a rougher style like this would be some flat motorcycle boots, but I personally want to add in something a little more sexy. Preferably these:

photo via aldoshoes.com

P.S. These are one sale for 120 dollars online, and they're only left in sizes 10 and 11 if you're interested. How sad for size 8s like me.

They call me the genre spanner.

Maybe I don't span the genres like Howard Moon, I always fancied myself more of a Vince Noir, but I do span genres in fashion. Mostly because I don't really know how to pinpoint what "genre" my style is. People use words like "vintage" and "retro" and "edgy" and "glam" and...I just wear what I like. That suits me fine.

One fashion genre that I've just never ventured into before is the area of bag lady chic. Olsen twins, I'm looking at you. Yes, they're still the twins to me, I grew up watching their sing along videos at sleepovers okay! They wore matchy matchy clothes! And solved mysteries in little paperback books! I felt as if I KNEW them. Needless to say, I don't anymore. (P.S. always identified with Ashley more).

I digress. So, not too much venturing into the oversized, super layered, crazy prints world for me. It's just not my thing. But this is where things get blurry. I was visiting the ModLife Blog because yes, I am a Modcloth addict and have a wishlist a mile and a half long, and one of the writers posted about this spread. I was perusing it. I liked the photography and the styling as a whole, but it wasn't inspiring. But then I zeroed in on this photo:


photo via fashiongonerogue.com

The carpet bag on the ground by her feet. A carpet bag, with literal carpet, but yet...I was falling in love. So quickly. So then I enlarged the picture to find out the bag was made by Carmina Campus, went straight to their website, found out it was a Disarmy bag, found out that said bags are made out of recycled materials (awesome!)...found out that they're way out of my price range.

Sigh.

And here I was imagining how chic and unexpected I would look on campus carrying around such a bag with my books in it, while the masses lugged about their generic, not terribly aesthetically pleasing Longchamp bags (or fake ones). Well, it's still a really pleasing visual.

Cold As Ice.

Freezing rain on a Friday. Grey skies, wet sidewalks, iced over cars, slippery steps. It's bringing me down man. I also feel the need to say "man" after everything because my brother posted a favorite clip of ours from "The Big Lebowski" on my facebook wall. "Listen man, I had a rough day and I hate the f*@%#$& Eagles!" I love the Dude.

Anyway, back to topic. You know, the never ending glumness of winter. Today I decided to dress in the pallet of the landscape. That actually wasn't the plan, it just happened that way.




American Eagle Outfitters skinny jeans. Charlotte Russe ring. Gifted bracelet and earrings. Fossil watch. Vintage necklace. BCBG Max Azaria vest. Jessica Simpson boots.

I felt like, when I put on these clothes, it needed ice. I love an outfit that's simple and standard that's dripping with diamond accessories. Like, if I had tons of diamond jewelry, I would pile it on while just wearing a white tank and a good pair of skinny flares and Havianas, and I would feel like a princess. Unfortunately, the only real ice in this outfit are the diamonds in my ears, a graduation present from my parents. So i went with this vintage necklace instead. This is one of my favorites. I bought it at a flea market in Cape Cod this past summer from a woman who had loads of vintage costume jewelry, especially 40s era pieces like this one. I wear it with a lot of different things because I can't get enough of it.

This vest...I never know how to feel about it. Every time I put it on, I ask the same questions. Do the big buttons make me look like a clown? Does the trapeze cut make me look pregnant? But I guess I always decide it's at least acceptable and I wear it. I'm a fan of sweater vests like this because I hate actual sweaters for the most part, but I also have a tendency to feel quite cold. It's a bit of a compromise.

Where are You Summer?

Confession: You will not see an outfit of mine today, and you did not see one yesterday, because I am in a rut. A rut brought on by the cold. In case I haven't mentioned this before, I'm sure I have, I HATE THE COLD. And now it's getting bitter and windy and blahhhhhh I can't take it. So I pull on jeans and a cute but not well thought out top of some kind that will cover my arms. Oh, and there have been ponytails and bad hair days. Alas.

I am quite ready for the summer to return, right now would be ideal. A lot of people like Spring and I suppose I like it in the sense that's it's not winter, but transitional seasons don't really please me, just like transitions in general. They're not my thing.

So it's a good thing that all I want right now is clothes for my summer wardrobe, because that means I won't be tempted to spend any of my quarantined "cash money" as boyfriend says. Some things I want for this summer:


picture via fashiongonerouge.com

This entire look. Sparkly short shorts? Yes. Long hair with surfer waves? Yes. Clothes in various shades of glowy neutrals? Yes. Those shoes? Um, yes.


photo via victoriassecret.com
photos via revolveclothing.com

I always peruse Victoria's Bikinis when I long for summer. I can't really tell you that it does anything to quell my longing, but it can inspire me to work out extra hard that day. My bikini last summer was black and I loved it but it's too big now, so I was eyeing up this one as its replacement. Not one for cutesy details, I actually really like the swirly hearts, and my favorite part is the strappyness of the halter top. Maybe my tan lines will be a little funny but lets be honest, I don't exactly bronze.

And lastly, for now. Rompers.

Or Jumpers, Jumpsuits, whatever you want to call them. I was against them because I thought they'd be unflattering, I have a long torso and a healthy butt that I was sure would ruin the fit of the garment. Until I found one on sale at a random outlet shop, tried it on, and ended up snapping it up because it was so adorable. You'll see that in the summer months. But mine is a tube top one, and I was hoping to find one with a sort of drapey tank top shape. This is hard.





Searching the web today, these are the two options I found that I liked better than the rest, but still do not fit my criteria. See, I'm picky about how my rompers should be.

The top one is Juicy Couture and while I'm sure the velour is lush and soft and it looks very cute, I'm not sure what temperature I will be wearing a tank top and pants in (I find layering rompers to be a difficult task), and it's black. The second one is Madison Marcus, and it's also black. I like the pajama-like details, except I don't want to look like I left the house in my pajamas, and it's 100% silk. This is not exactly practical for a messy eating college girl. And I really didn't want black!

I'm going to continue looking for my cotton, drapey, tank top, not black, shorts romper. This is also probably post part one of a million of "Where are You Summer?" Fair warning.

Laundry Day

I liked my outfit today, and I have plenty of clothes that are clean so I don't need to do a load of laundry just yet, but I have run out of photo shoot places in the proper vicinity, and it was dreary and cold and sort of sprinkly today. Well then, to a laundry room!






American Eagle Outfitters skinny cords and flannel. Joyce Leslie wool vest. Wet Seal Necklace. Favorite Jessica Simpson boots.

The lighting was not great and neither was my hair (woke up too late to make it pretty before my classes) and neither was my face, apparently. So here are just some gooftastic shots of me. There are several old motels that were converted into off campus housing, and these pictures are taken in what was once a motel office which now holds laundry machines. You see me laying on the long motel desk, hiding in the cabinet beneath said desk, and talking to imaginary people on an abandoned corded phone.

Side note: I love corded phones. We have one in the kitchen at my house that has been there my entire life (even though we've lived in two different houses). When the power goes out it's the only phone that works and it's still my favorite thing in the whole world to talk on, even though you can't go far.