PhotoaDay//Fashion Inspiration

I decided to try one of those "photo a day" challenges this May, and have actually really enjoyed sharing a lot of my favorite things! I'm using ModlyChic.com's instagram plan and loving it (the challenges are fashion related, heres the link).

Here are some peeks at what kind of inspiration you'll see:

So follow me on instagram for your #FashionBloggerPhotoaday May pictures!

XOX -Marie

P.S. Be sure to email me or follow me on twitter, I love to talk!!
Count Down to NEW YORK CITY: 5 weeks!

Pre F/W 2013/14- Late Re-Cap

Am I the only one mad at that groundhog?

You know, the one that predicted an early spring? Fashionistas must look on the bright side, it's still chilly (and yes, I also check the weather in New York), but its a great time to take an early advantage on the Fall/Winter trends this year. The February shows were stunning as always and I can't believe I'm just now getting together my absolute favorites, better late than never!

My personal picks for 2013/2014:

Rag & Bone

Nicole Miller

Mara Hoffman

Diane von Furstenburg

Jason Wu

Anna Sui

(60's trend alert: I'm already dancing holes in my soles! love this era)

Louis Vuitton

London Fashion Week

Topshop Unique

Milan Fashion Week
Fendi

Paris Fashion Week

Valentino

Another Valentino highlight:

Betsey Johnson

Betsey's show was absolutely NUTS, I had no idea what I was watching, but I loved it. She never stops having fun; I really look up her independent creativity, she does what she wants! You must watch: 

Betsey Johnson Fall 2013

Thank you to everyone who takes time to even glimpse at my blog! Be on the lookout for a Spring post (finally) next! So excited, news and surprises to come. :)
 Have a diamond studded day XO

"How do you walk in those shoes?"

If you've worn heel-less shoes, you've been asked this question.

(and really, its not as hard as it looks!)

I saw them and had to have them. A while back I was scrolling through the priced-down shoes on makemechic.com,thanks to Seventeen magazine, and was enchanted by the vibrant royal blue. And now I'm finally getting to post about them.

dollhouse Shoes -$30 

Faux Fur Vest (essential if you don't own one, it will change your life) -Forever21

White Collar Button Down- Forever21

Dark Wash Jeggings- H&M

Watches and Gold Chain- Vintage

I added in my own personal photograph of the necklace I used in this shoot to give you a better look! 

One of my favorites

Blue Diamond Necklace- Vintage (circa 1950s)

Like K.I.D. Photography on Facebook to see more! All credit to my wonderful friend Kylie for these pictures and for always taking the time to go on adventure filled photo shoots with me. SO much fun!

Look out for my Fall/Winter 2013/14 fashion month recap, on the way! Then get ready for some spring posts! Millions of "thank yous" for reading. *air kisses*

XO

“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.” 

-Hal Borland Quotes

Educated Fashion//No Library Left Behind

Fashion Hungry?

Happens to me all the time! If you're anything like me (a twig) then you starve for style fulfillment and also for the resources to fill you! Well, if you are in fact starving, I know a little free fix. We often forget that libraries still exist, I mean all we need are our iPhones right? But they are, in fact, gold mines brimming with books overflowing with style advice, inspiring pictures, and everything to satisfy your fashion hunger.

Here's what I got on my last rainy-day visit (and I recommend each one):

• Cupcakes and Cashmere by the star blogger Emily Schuman

• Coco Chanel by Dennis Abrams - the most easy to read biography of this icon

• The Teen Vogue Handbook, which gives helpful advice on the many fields the fashion industry offers (a must have for students)

• I'm sure you've heard of The Style Strategy and The One Hundred both by one of your Project Runway faves Nina Garcia

• The Complete Book of Oscar Fashion (75 Years on the Red Carpet), I was so happy to find this, great preparation for the Oscars February 24, anticipation!

• Americas Next Top Model: Fierce Guide to Life Even though this one is a couple years old (2008) it had tons of great advice, plenty of suprises!

• The Fairchild Dictionary of Fashion this amazing book has every word you could ever hear relating fashion

I love fashion and art books, there's something very magical about them. I'm a visual person, so books full of illustrations, photography, and with creativity swirling on every page are (to me) plain delightful. But these factors also make many of them expeeeeensive. When I first looked into 'The Fairchild Dictionary of Fashion', I found it retailed for almost $50. But I'm now enjoying it, for free, from my lovely library :)

I hugely suggest only buying books you really cherish and will pass down, and that may not be available at your library but you still just have to have them. They are a good investment, and you can find some for a lot cheaper on amazon. Some faves on my shelf are: Influence by my favorites Mary-Kate and Ashley and Style A to Zoe by the legendary Rachel Zoe. I also have a beautiful Gianni Versace book, Lauren Conrad's Style book, and a few other amazing fashion books I've picked up along the way. 

When you can't learn everything hands on, books are so wonderful for learning more about fashion, fashion history, definitions, designers, simple style advice, organization advice, basic wardrobe advice, and skin and health advice. Branch out and read everyday for a well rounded view on fashion and a new spot in your brain full of ideas. I also enjoy the New York Times on my iPhone every morning!

Even if you aren't a big reader, if you are really passionate about clothes and fashion than you will enjoy these books, if not the provoking photographs, and hopefully they will spark inspiration!

Happy reading :) 

p.s. I finally received a new computer in the mail, so I'll be back to blogging regularly! Sorry for the delay, many outfits and pictures are coming soon twigs!

XO

A Weekends Escapade//Blk&Wht

Happy weekend fashionistas! 

How are you spending it? I promise tomorrow I will be doing a shoot so you will see another one of my personal outfits ASAP. Until then, I thought I'd give you some 'get un-bored' ideas that make you feel more accomplished, even if you're spending your night in doors (its still cold out). One of the best moments in life is when I'm inspired to sketch a design:

What do you twigs think? I am utterly obsessed with fur, so I really wanted to sketch a classic fur coat that I would wear myself. The skirt just came to me, and its more of a fashion statement but I really love how it turned out. Let inspiration just pop up and hit you in the face, never try to hard to go looking for it! 

I also enjoyed spending time doing some black and whites, all of these are my own photography; get really creative with some pictures! This is a different view of my closet:

I also love to relax and spend my time reading, but magazines are what I call 'entertainment' reading, they're just like dessert to me! Its worth it to get subscriptions to Teen Vogue and Seventeen, instead of going out to buy them every month:

These are just some easy ideas to get you started getting creative and find inspiration! Oh and before I forget, I got my first job at a consignment shop! So now I get to be surrounded by clothes all the time, a dream come true! *happy dance*

And dear twigs, if you're young and really interested in the fashion world but don't know where to start, or you live in a smaller town like me where there aren't as many opportunities, get a retail job. I promise you will learn so much about clothes, you can put it on college applications, plus you can make great connections!

Just another step to saving for the big city...

XO

Miss America 2013//The Beauty

Ms. America Re-cap

And this is what I wore to show my NY support (Mallory Hagan was the winner of course, repping my future home):

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"So proud of #MissNewYork , wearing this necklace in honor :) and she's even from Alabama! #MissAmerica #missamerica2013 #newyork #futurehome #necklace #beautiful #lasvegas #pageant #beauty #blondepower "

I instagramed this photo of my necklace after Mallorys win, I hope she carries the crown well!  She even went to FIT where I hope to go one day! Here were some of my favorites from yesterday:

Her dress looked fabulous on her, though it wasn't my favorite. But her answer on gun control was a big highlight to me, I love that she believes we can't fight violence with violence, I agreed with her completely. 

These were definitely some gorgeous girls! Miss NY, Miss South Carolina, Miss Maryland, Miss D.C.

                                 

 I loved Miss Illinois dress! Its to die for, totally a fave.

Miss Tennessee's singing though? I was embarrassed FOR her. It was tough..

                                       

But ill finish out positive because here is your runner up, Ali Rogers, looking STUNning. And repping South Carolina! Did you love her dress?

Are you proud of our new Miss America?

XO

Beauty Post//Loose & Lovely Hair

An easy hair idea?

(and fast, that's right.)

Girls, we all want to try something different and cute with our hair, and something not time consuming, but what to do? Or we get out of the shower and don't have time to blow dry, but we want to style something sweet..and fast. I came across this unique little do' through my own experimentation. My hair was wet and I took it from both sides behind my ears loosely and made a loose bun,  while leaving out a little of my longer hair at the bottom. Since this hair wasn't layered, I just made a quick fishtail and curled the front pieces that had fallen out. You get something interesting from the front and back!

You can take this even farther by putting a bunch of little flowers in your braid, or some bows or other decorations in your bun! 

In today's craze over the fishtail braid, and braids in general, I figure just about every girl knows how to do one, 'cause they're easy! And if you don't, no worries..Its easy! Here's a video from The Beauty Department so you can learn how: The Fishtail Braid