Hello, Sunshine

It's already been almost a month since high school ended (ahh!!) but between working full time and starting college a few days after graduating (I'm getting some of my basics out of the way before starting school this fall) I finally found time to put together some snapshots of what I've been up to lately.

Snapshot 1: some of my artwork this year, 

With lots of determination, I finished this one in two days!                      ...and this Van Gogh took a bit longer. ;)

 Snapshot 2: making it through graduation,

We couldn't be very original given the strictly white guidelines (and the fact that your robe covers everything), but I'll still give you the anatomy of my ensemble:

Betsey Johnson Illusion Cutout Fit & Flare dress

I took some plain white heels I already had and added a few rhinestones (which I actually torn off another pair of old shoes). Heres the super simple DIY tutorial I used.

I was so lucky to have my grandpa hand me my diploma. :)

Snapshot 3: SUMMER! Which "started" today, so more to come...

While your here, why not check out two groups I've fallen in love with this summer, Purity Ring and CHVRCHES:

Thank you to whoever is reading this, I hope you continue to keep up as I start my college journey...

xo, Marie

Prom Perfect: The Last Dance

It's hard to believe it was just last Saturday that I got to experience a childhood dream: my senior prom! 

Below is the final reveal of my prom look (and the secrets behind it):

Prom secret #1: I designed my prom dress!

(Copy of my original design sketches, preliminary ideas)

After struggling to find a dress I liked (and also fit me) I sat down and sketched out my dream dress. 

I am by no means a seamstress, and contrary to popular belief I am not going into design, but we found an thoroughly talented friend to turn my design from paper to perfect. I got to pick out the fabric and everything!

Prom secret #2: I rented this stunning Tom Binns necklace.
(this was my first time using RTR, never looking back, need I say more?)

Prom secret #3: My matching bracelet was an heirloom! 

I had been dying to wear this bracelet since I was little, and promised myself one day I would wear it to prom. I discovered it the night before, only to find the clasp was broken; luckily we took it by a jeweler on the morning of prom who showed us an alternate way to wear it (there's clear twine holding it together, you couldn't even tell!)

Prom secret #4: My date had a wooden bow tie
(we were voted class fashionistas, perfect date? Yes!)

How was YOUR prom? 

xo Marie

Check it out on lookbook.nu :)

A special thanks goes to Michelle Roberts for taking my sketches and design and turning it into something tangible, and to Heather Parker for taking these fabulous photographs. 

No boys allowed!

As you all may know, this summer I got the chance to spend a week in NYC. On one of my shopping escapades I picked up this one of a kind, 1950's vintage prom dress (which I wore to my senior homecoming!) and also had the best experience at Shareen, a spectacular vintage shop. 

Tulle, lace, and soft pastel blue.. sigh, I'm a girly girl.

The shop is on 13 West and 17th Street and you have to ring the buzzer to get in, there's also a signature red/pink dress hanging outside so you know you're at the right place:

photo via NYtimes

One of Shareen's other cool factors is that the shop is strictly NO boys allowed. This means you can try on clothes wherever you want in the store! The girls there were super sweet and helpful; the dress I saw was just what I had been dreaming of...

Here's a final pic of the dress pre-homecoming! :)

I'm a sucker for vintage, it's always a great way to go if you want to break away from the sea of plastic rhinestones and cheap looking lamé, plus it gives the dress so much more meaning! 

P.S. A VERY special thanks to Anna Pociask for taking phenomenal senior pictures (I'll post some more later) she has become a great friend and such an inspiring role model to me, check out more of her work here: Anna Pociask Photography

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):

view full image

"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..

Are you proud of our new Miss America?

XO

Bring on the New Year//Style for 2013

Everyone enjoying January? I know New Years is one of my favorite moments! It's full of dresses and glitter and bubbly drinks with friends. This is a late post of my New Years outfit:  

I decided to not go with classic sequins and instead picked a nice tiny deep plum colored bodycon dress with a rich fur vest from Forever 21 and a turquoise necklace to pull it together.

 I did get my fill of glitter with sparkly eye liner and shadow though!

I really love the gold accents to this necklace, also from Forever 21, and it helped bring out the browns in the  faux fur. 

This year some of the things I hope to do are grow my blog, visit New York, and eat healthier. What are your New Years resolutions?

Xo

Butterfly Appliqué Dress//McQueen Inspiration

We saw this McQueen floral applique dress with its black tulle (both two of my favorite things) on the Fall runway this year, and I was immediately in LOVE.

 I idolize this dress; anything colorful and with 3D appeal is hard to find, and that's one reason why I love dresses with appliques that pop out at you, such as flowers and butterfly's. This dress is especially great because of all the different ways you could wear it, I think these celebrities agree: 

(and yes, almost all these pictures are on my bedroom wall).

Emma Stone

Victoria Justice 

Rita Ora 

Even before I saw this dress, I had loved the idea of mixed media dresses. It would be amazing to have a custom senior homecoming dress, one like no other, and one even more special if it was my own design. So I came up with one.

Imagine a high-low dress with maybe some tulle, definite volume, and beautiful silk butterfly's climbing up one strap. What do you all think? And what was your favorite 2012 runway look?

XO