Daily Outfit: Merry and Bright

Merry Christmas Eve, everybody! I hope your holiday season has been relaxing and enjoyable, no matter what holiday you celebrate (or don't). I always love being able to take a break from responsibilities, see my family, and take in all the holiday sights.

We're staying at a hotel right now, which is so different than staying at my parent's house, but also refreshing. It's nice to let the hotel take care of the decorations and holiday entertainment so that all the focus can be on spending time with my family. We have a room overlooking all the Christmas decorations, so it's fun to just sit with some coffee and people watch. The days are so much slower during school breaks.

Clothing-wise, I packed almost all black and some shades of red. It's hard to tell with this lighting, but my top is actually a wine-red color. Black is just the easiest color to match in the winter - the warmest clothing seems to be available only in dark colors. But that's alright, it makes me feel like I'm constantly dressing up for a party.

Outfit Details

Varsity Jacket: Forever 21 (Similar) | Bodysuit: ModCloth 

 Skirt: Forever 21 (Similar) | Boots: ModCloth

Happy Holidays! 

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Daily Outfit: Starry-Eyed Surprise

I always find myself avoiding outfit posts when I'm wearing jeans. Part of me feels like when I post an outfit, it's a little arrogant. "You should be looking at me! I know what I'm doing!" But in reality, I post my outfits as a personal backlog - to improve, to see changes in myself and my style, and to offer to anyone on the internet interested. (Style blogs were a large part of me realizing it was okay to have an interest in clothes.) 

I think there's some element of being a style blogger that makes me feel like I have to be an expert, but really? I am definitely, definitely not. 

So here's an outfit with jeans and a shirt, a basic, tried-and-true combination that I have done nothing revolutionary with. And yet, I really dig this outfit. The galaxy shirt (which I thought was a sweater but is actually just a shirt) was calling my name, and what better to wear with it than my starry, silver sequinned hat? Paired with the bright pink lipstick I never know how to wear, I felt like an intergalactic cutie all day.

While I prefer skirts and dresses, jeans are part of my wardrobe, too, even if I always feel somewhat boring when I wear them.

Outfit Details

Hat: Plato's Closet (Similar) | Shirt: Target (Available in stores) | Jeans: Express 

Shoes: Steve Madden | Rings: Ebay, Ruche, Forever 21 | Lipstick: NYX

How do you make jeans exciting?

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Daily Outfit: Foxy

I LOVE animal print sweaters. They are so quirky-cute and I just can't handle it. I have been lusting after them for a while, but holding out for one at a lower price point. Enter: this Target sweaterdress.

Yes, it's a sweaterdress, but I bought it knowing I would probably never wear it by itself. My figure makes sweaterdresses incredibly short on me and I don't like the way they cling. Wearing a sweaterdress instead of a sweater has its advantages though! On cold days, though, this sweaterdress is a blessing -- an extra layer of warmth all the way to my legs.

I've worn this foxy sweater to work (with a more conservative skirt, alone or topped with a blazer) and casually, and I love it just the same for either situation. It's also a comfortable sweater -- not itchy or anything like that. I'm seriously in love.

Outfit Details:

Sweaterdress: Target | Necklace: Forever 21 | Skirt: Target | Tights: GAP | Boots: Chinese Laundry

Today, I paired it with pearls and a mullet skirt. I love mullet skirts so much that my first was actually a DIY one I made myself (tutorial here!) but I love the color and pleats of this Target skirt.

Other ways I have worn this skirt include with black for a party and with white, semi-casually.

Do you wear dresses as separate pieces?

What I Did: Mount Bonnell Mini-Date

The view from up there is simply incredible!

Mount Bonnell is the highest point in Austin and provides a breathtaking view of the lake and city. After our Valentine's Day date, Colby took me on the fairly short trek up the hill the following day.

The lake, the sky, the trees! All so gorgeous.

It is hard to capture in photos how serene this view really is. The weather was perfect -- a little chilly, but not too cold. We took my DSLR to take some nice photos from the summit and I am so glad we did. 

It is crazy how large some of the hillside houses are.

Colby and I at the top!

I definitely opted for comfy and easy to move in for this little hike. Aside from my gym shoes, these boots are actually easiest to walk in. I also wanted to be a little bundled up for the weather but not too hot, so the cardigan worked perfectly.

Me at the top of Mount Bonnell.

Outfit Details

Hat: Plato's Closet | Cardigan: Target | Sushi tank top: Forever 21 | Jeans: Express | Boots: DSW

I also took a short video at the summit to show the full view. Enjoy!

Daily Outfit: Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! I actually wore this last Saturday, but who's counting?

Since Colby and I live in different cities, we had to plan our Valentine's Day date a little bit early. Colby took me out to a nice dinner and to see  Master Pancake Theater! (If you are ever in Austin, you have to see them! It's like Mystery Science Theater 3000 but live, and they guys who run it are so funny!)

 

I decided to wear this cute, retro red dress I got from Saver's last month. I knew when I bought it that I would need to raise the hemline a little bit, but I didn't realize exactly how long it was till I saw these photos! (Or maybe Colby is just too much taller than I am?) Either way, I want to hem it before I wear it again.

Aside from that, it was the perfect breezy, cute outfit for dinner and walking to the theater, and appropriately festive for the holiday.

Outfit Details

Dress: Thrifted (originally Kenneth Cole Reaction) | Shoes: ModCloth

(P.S. -- If you have never shopped at ModCloth, you can get $15 off by using this link! Enjoy!)

Daily Outfit: Lolita Evolution

I am such a sassmaster in that top photo!

I wore this lolita outfit to hang out with a few friends in frills! 

I wasn't sure what to wear since I loved the outfit I wore to the last meetup so much. I find myself drifting away from super-saccharine lolita looks, but I like the way this plain white dress pairs with a few touches of pink. This dress is so versatile. I love remixing it for different styles of lolita. As an added bonus, my new sunglasses matched! 

It's sad, I have so many cute dresses going unworn in my closet -- it's time to go through and sell some older pieces soon. Style evolutions can be really fun and I love to try new things, but it's also really frustrating when you look in your closet and feel like you have nothing to wear! 

Outfit Details:

Wig: Arda Wigs | Bow: Purchased at a swap | Sunglasses: Forever 21 | Cardigan: Baby the Stars Shine Bright | Dress, bag: Bodyline | Pinkie Pie Necklace: Artist Alley vendor | Tights: Target | Shoes: Antaina

How do you cope with a style evolution?

Daily Outfit: Dressed in the Dark

I have a confession: I have extremely low lighting in my bedroom.

This is my balcony, it's cold outside!

My apartment this year does not have an overhead light in the bedroom. This is not usually an issue because I know what my clothes look like... but when I planned this outfit, I thought these (new) tights matched the top! It wasn't until I took these photos that I noticed they are completely different colors.

Whoops. Well, now you all know my secret. I get dressed in the dark.

Honestly, I can't tell how I feel about this outfit. I think the dress I chose was too bulky and the tights a little too bright. I liked it in theory, but I don't see myself wearing it again.

I have a bunch of new bright tights for the winter, but I'm honestly not sure how to wear them. In the next few weeks, you may see some experimental outfits!

This outfit remixed this yellow plaid shirt and this white dress (from my first-ever post!). 

Outfit Details:

Shirt: Target | Dress: Anthropologie | Tights: Gift | Shoes: ModCloth

How would you wear bright tights?

Daily Outfit: Last First Day

Monday was my last first day of school (for my undergraduate degree). It's sort of a bittersweet moment. I am graduating in only three years, so it feels like it flew by! At the same time, I think I have come so far in the past few years. 

When I started college, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, what my major would be... I hardly even had hobbies. Now, I feel like I have a plan and passion for so many different things. I'm so grateful that these past few years have treated me so well, and that I have grown so much as a person.

But enough of the sappy stuff! This little ensemb was again inspired by Ramona Flowers -- I feel like I've been channeling her a lot lately! She's way more punk than I will ever be, but I stole this leather jacket and dress combo from her. Having excellent outer layers is a completely new idea to me -- I've always been partial to cardigans and only recently have discovered blazers. Thank you, Ramona, for teaching me the magic of a leather jacket.

Paired with the world's largest, fluffiest, and warmest scarf and a poofy floral dress, this outfit was perfect for travelling around campus for the first day of classes. I had a big coat and convertible mittens on, too. It's been below freezing lately in North Texas. I am not pleased with the cold, but at least I've learned to layer a little better.

Outfit Details

Scarf: American Eagle | Jacket: Ebay | Dress: Thrifted | Tights: Urban Outfitters | Boots: DSW

What is your layer of choice? 

Cardigans, blazers, jackets? (Other?!)

What I Did: Touring St. Edward's University

The main building.

I've been spending some time relaxing in Austin before I head back for my final (!) semester as an undergraduate. I'm applying to a program at St. Edward's University in Austin, so while I was in town, I made an appointment to talk to someone in the admissions team.

I decided to bring my camera and take some photos. If you haven't seen photos of St. Ed's, you are missing out! The school looks like Hogwarts brought to life, and it is amazing. I'll let the photos do the talking.

That's the Austin skyline! St. Edward's is on a hill overlooking the city.

Instagram!

I wore something casual to my appointment and later shopping. I have been wearing versions of this outfit a lot this break! I will throw on a different pair of shoes or boots, add a scarf and hat if it's cold, or change out the pants for a skirt and tights. The white t-shirt and black cardigan have been incredible versatile, especially since the weather has been fluctuating from cold to warm.

Outfit Details
Bow: Claire's | Cardgian, shirt: Target | Jeans: Express | Shoes: Urban Outfitters (gift)

Rawr!

These tiger shoes were a Christmas gift from my grandmother! I adore them. They are exactly the right amount of quirky without being too much. 

I can't believe classes start again on Monday. Even though it feels like the break flew by, I am excited to start up my final semester as an undergraduate student!

Daily Outfit: Dressed to Kill (Zombies)

My first outfit post with my new camera! I wore this the last day of Ikkicon. 

I noticed after working on my Ramona costume that I am starting to dress like her more and more. I can wear her leather jacket and purse as regular street clothes, and I find myself being drawn to slightly edgier looks lately... I wonder if other people channel the characters they cosplay!

I got this awesome shirt from my friend Scully in a clothing swap I hosted a few weeks back. Scully has a weakness for buying rad graphic t-shirts and never wearing them, a trap I have fallen in many times. I adopted several of her awesome shirts and I am determined to wear them!

I usually don't like "Keep Calm" shirts/mugs/posters/whatever, but I can't say no to a shirt with both zombies and a blood splatter.

Outfit Details

Jacket: Ebay | Shirt: Swapped | Shorts: Target Clearance | Tights: Urban Outfitters | Boots: DSW

How do you wear a graphic t-shirt?

Throwback Thursday: Pink Plaid

It's been a while since I did a Throwback Thursday! This outfit is from almost two years ago now, and I wore it to classes, sorority recruitment, and Japanese conversation group. I still love wearing plaid button-ups on top of dresses, though I don't have this particular shirt anymore.

I miss my long hair! I haven't been able to braid my hair since I cut it a year and a half ago. I'm looking forward to being able to style it like this again.

Outfit Details

Headband: Gymboree | Necklace: Forever 21 | Plaid shirt: Wal-Mart | Dress: Urban Outfitters | Belt: Gap Tights: Urban Outfitters | Boots: Chinese Laundry