Friday, December 20, 2013

Christmas List For the Men

Buying for guys can be the easiest or the hardest task for Christmas! Either they tell you exactly what they want/need, so it's super easy, or they don't tell you anything and you're completely stuck. To help all of my fellow girls out, I've given you a couple stylish Christmas gift ideas that I've gathered from the men in my life! Some are more expensive than others, but you can find some more affordable options just by Googling (there are so many smoking slippers out in stores now, so you're bound to find a few alternatives... I just prefer the pair from Brooks Brothers). I've put all the links in the pictures for easy shopping. Enjoy! 

PS: If you're stuck inside by this ice storm Iowa is experiencing, stay safe! I'm staying inside all day and enjoying family :)

Slim Rustic Merino Elbow Patch Half-Zip Sweater - $118.00


I've tried to get the men in my life to wear cardigans with elbow patches for the last year, but none will bite. Instead, I'm loving these elbow-patch pullovers because they feel like a sweatshirt and are casual enough for him but are stylish enough to wear out and about. 


Merona Men's Messenger Bag - $16.00 ON SALE!

ON SALE ON SALE ON SALE. Great for the college guy who doesn't want to carry around his books and laptop in a backpack. 

Original Penguin Pocket Square - $24.00

Pocket squares are stylish and fun because there are so many different styles out in stores, so you can really find one that will work with any guy's style. I love this one because it's festive for the Christmas season. 

Brooks Brothers Velvet Smoking Slipper - $248

Smoking slippers are my over-the-top gift this year, simply because your guy will probably only wear them inside or with a suit for nice occasions. He probably won't wear them all the time, but they add some serious class and style to an outfit. 

Personalized Cuff links - $23.99

My parents have given these as gifts for years and they are SO GREAT for graduation, birthdays, holidays, etc. All guys will need cuff links for their suits, but this adds a personalized touch to your gift. I've never seen a guy not like this gift, and they are surprisingly reasonable in price. 

Have a great weekend! See you Monday!

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Christmas Wish List 2013

Hey everyone! Happy finals week! Students at all the state universities in Iowa are in the midst of their finals, however I am lucky enough to be done with my 1st semester early! I'm excited to share with you all my Christmas wish-list as a study-break for the girls, and tomorrow I'll be posting a Christmas wish-list for the guys! These are all definitely "want, not need" items, however all of these items I know I would wear over and over again (I would probably wear the Celfie shirt for weeks at a time...). Good luck to all of you who are taking tests this week, and happy shopping! Click the pictures for direct links!

Sincerely, Jules - $39
J.Crew - $98

Marc by Marc Jacobs - $198

Baublebar - $36

Sole Society - $29

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Love Me Some Leggings




I love wearing leggings, especially on the weekends. They're comfortable, easy to wear and can be very flattering with the appropriate piece. Note the word appropriate. As much as I love leggings, there is one obvious rule that I will not break, and that is to wear something with leggings that will always cover my butt. Leggings are not the same as pants, ladies! A lot of leggings out on the market can be very revealing! That's why I tend to be picky when shopping for leggings. I won't just buy them from anywhere, and I happen to feel that it's OK to splurge (a little) when buying leggings. You know you'll wear them a ton anyway, so why not spend a little extra on quality leggings?? I've linked a couple of my favorite leggings below! See you Friday!

// leggings \\// leggings \\// leggings \\// leggings \\

Leggings: Ann Taylor Loft (second link)
Sweater: Forever 21, similar here 
T-Shirt: Target
Boots: Ecco
Purse: Philip Lim for Target (sold out) 

Monday, November 18, 2013

Fashion for Charity Event Recap

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Fashion for Charity Event that was hosted by the Fashion Management Club at the University of Iowa. I had the best time watching all the models walk down the runway and meeting all the members of FMC. All of clothes worn in the fashion show were donated to Johnson County's United Action for Youth! Check out all the pictures from the fashion show! I'll have a new outfit post on Wednesday. See you then!  

*All of these pictures were taken on my phone, so I apologize for the poor quality of some of them!

The runway before the models strutted their stuff..
Sam from The Brunette One and I. Sam was the featured speaker and had great advice for a newbie-blogger like myself!

Sam, myself and Mary, President of Fashion Management Club before the fashion show
All the models after the show

Hanging out with the ASOS campus reps 

All the awesome raffle prizes!

With a representative from United Action for Youth 
My Outfit: 
Vest: Forever 21
Blouse: Target
Leather Pants: Forever 21
Boots: White Mountain
Necklace: Groopdealz, similar here 
Watch: Francesca's 

Friday, November 15, 2013

Tailgating Necessities






Today I'm excited to share with you all my favorite pieces to wear when I'm out tailgating and cheering on my Hawkeyes! And for all of you Cyclones, I wore the red lipstick just for you :) Tailgating is supposed to be crazy, fun and exciting, and I harbor that energy when I'm dressing up for a game! Below are some of my faves..

  • Bow: I wear this yellow bow to all the games! It's a cute accessory that classes-up the tailgate, and it also keeps some of the hair out of my face when it's windy. 
  • Flannel: These are incredibly warm and (bonus!) add a pattern to my outfit. They don't make too many college t-shirts with a pattern on them, so I think it adds a little oomph to my tailgate outfit.
  • NorthFace Vest: Also incredibly warm, and they are actually slimming. I love wearing my vest with a boxy flannel because I get the best of both worlds! Comfortable and flattering.
  • Some sparkle: I love wearing a necklace under any collared shirt, so I couldn't help but wear a understated, gray necklace with this shirt. I also wear my spiked bracelet just in case I need to shove my way through the beer line (slightly kidding...). The point is that you shouldn't skimp on the accessories even though you're tailgating! If you feel like wearing a statement necklace, by all means go for it. 
  • Painted lips: WHY NOT? Lipstick can be a flirty outlet to adding color to your outfit. And if your school colors are red/orange/pink then even better reason to throw some on your lips.

I've linked below all of my must-have tailgating pieces for you, so shop away! And GO HAWKS! Have a great weekend!

Vest: NorthFace
Flannel: TJ Maxx, similar here
Jeans: BCBG, similar here
Boots: White Mountain
Bow: American Apparel 
Necklace: Francesca's, similar here 
Bracelet: Groopdealz, similar here  
Lips: MAC in Viva Glam 1
  


Monday, November 11, 2013

Mixed and Matched







Sooooo before going out of town this weekend, I checked my closet and realized I desperately needed to do laundry. I have a bad habit of only doing laundry once a month (sorry Mom!), so naturally I have a hard time finding pieces of clothing that match. As a college student, it can be tough to find that extra time during our busy schedules to keep up with chores, so instead I've attempted to master finding articles of clothing that don't necessarily match but still "go together". All of these colors - black, tan, olive, red - are all darker hues, however they still compliment each other. The key to this is somehow making the hues look warm together, and with the help of a tan, shimmery scarf and some red lips, this outfit looks put together and looks/feels warm! 

Make sure to come out and see me at tomorrow's Fashion for Charity Event! I'm excited to see some stylish outfits and raise money for children in need. Tickets are $10. Can't wait to see you all there! Have a great day!

Wrap Sweater: Francesca's
Jeans: Gap 
Scarf: Forever 21
Shoes: Tahari
Bag: Philip Lim for Target
Bow Ring: Francesca's
Kite Ring: Theta Store
Spiked Bangle: Groopdealz
Watch: Francesca's
Lipstick: MAC - Viva Glam 1 

Friday, November 8, 2013

Complimenting Accessories








TGIF! The weekend is calling my name! What are all of your plans for the weekend? Today's outfit is a perfect lounge-around, Saturday afternoon outfit with just the right amount of accessories and sparkle to put it all together.  I'm a big fan of accessories - I always say the more, the better! However that doesn't mean put every bangle you own on your wrist. I try to keep a routine system. If I'm wearing a necklace, I will usually ditch the large earrings and just wear studs. If I decide to wear statement earrings, I go for a simple neckline... you get the picture. This also applies to bracelets. If one arm has a lot of bling, the other arm is a lot more simple. Scarves are also an accessory in my opinion, so when wearing a scarf, I occasionally try to find a complimenting necklace like the one I'm wearing from Groopdealz! Can you believe this was $5? My sparkly spiked bracelet is also from Groopdealz too... If you haven't been to Groopdealz yet, I highly suggest you check it out! They have some of the best accessories at an affordable price. See their page here. 

Also, if you're in the Iowa City area, please come out and support children in need and the ladies from the University of Iowa's Fashion Management Club at their Fashion Charity Event. It will be a fun-filled event, and fellow blogger Sam from The Brunette One will also be there! Check out my post from yesterday, or FMC's event page here to for more details. I can't wait to see you all there! Have a great weekend everyone!

Sweater: TJ Maxx
Pants: Ann Taylor Loft
Scarf: Home-ology - mom found it for me at the best boutique in Arnold's Park, IA 
Boots: Francesca's
Necklace: Groopdealz
Bracelet: Groopdealz
Watch: Francesca's
Ring: Theta Ring
Bag: Philip Lim for Target 



Thursday, November 7, 2013

Announcement...

I am so happy to announce that I am partnering up with the University of Iowa's Fashion Management Club for their Fashion for Charity Event! Check out some stylish outfits during their fashion show and donate to kids in need. This event will take place on Tuesday, November 12th from 7:30pm-9:00pm in the 2nd Floor Ballroom of the Iowa Memorial Union in Iowa City. Tickets are $10 and are available at the link below. Come out and support some stylish members from the Fashion Management Club and chat with me about style! I can't wait to see you all there!

Ticket link
Facebook Page

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Bye-Bye Basic Blazers..






I'm mixing it up today with a black and white striped blazer, and I did it without looking like a jailbird (that was actually my biggest concern when I bought the blazer!). Black blazers are always a must-have in your closet, but sometimes it's nice to be able to throw on a piece that just makes a statement, and this blazer from TJ Maxx definitely helped pull my almost-all-black outfit together. The key to any blazer is definitely the fit. Never should a blazer be too loose or baggy! Structure is the key. This striped blazer doesn't have any buttons on the front, however it does have shoulder pads that keep it from being too slouchy. Aside from my striped blazer, I've seen a lot of patterned blazers at Target and Forever 21! How do you all feel about patterned blazers? Be sure to let me know in the comments below or Tweet / Instagram your thoughts! Have a great Wednesday..

Blazer: TJ Maxx
Scarf: J.Crew Factory
Tank: Forever 21
Faux Leather Pants: Forever 21
Boots: Ecco
Sunnies: Francesca's
Bag: Philip Lim for Target 


Monday, November 4, 2013

Sweater Weather








Happy Monday! How was every one's weekend? I spent the weekend in Iowa City tailgating with friends and family and celebrating Halloween. It was a great weekend in so many ways! My necklace from Francesca's is my new favorite, simply because it goes with everything and it doesn't hang as long as some of my other necklaces. Many necklaces this season have shorter chains to wear with collared shirts that are buttoned all the way, a fun trend I'm excited to explore! Besides the accessories, you'll notice this entire outfit was purchased at TJ Maxx. I am definitely turning into a Maxinista.. I go there at least once a week! I've also bought lots of furniture there, so no matter what you're looking for you're bound to find something, and their prices are always reasonable. See you Wednesday!

Sweater: French Connection via TJ Maxx
Pants: TJ Maxx
Flats: Tahari via TJ Maxx
Necklace: Francesca's
Watch: Francesca's
Sunnies: Francesca's
Ring: Theta store
Bag: Philip Lim for Target


Friday, November 1, 2013

Friday Florals










Happy Friday! It was super warm last weekend, and I don't normally wear florals in the fall but the weather was so nice I couldn't resist. Its especially dreary this morning in the Corridor, so I thought everyone I could use a little sunshine (and my pup Boji) this Friday! I found this blazer on a sale rack at Dillard's a month ago, and it has a tendency to go with everything. I've worn it with a bright pink scarf and a green silk shirt and they have all paired together nicely. I'm excited to transition the blazer into the spring!

These pictures were taken in my parents backyard, and our dog Boji couldn't help but be included in the photo-taking. What's every one's Halloween plans? My Instagram has been blowing up with people's costumes! Happy Halloween! 

Blazer: Dillard's ($23!!)
Shirt: TJ Maxx
Jeans: TJ Maxx
Boots: Ecco
Bag: Philip Lim for Target (I refuse to change bags.... I'm obsessed!)
Watch: Francesca's
Spiked Bangle: Groopdealz  

PS: Thanks to Coffeesmiths in Cedar Rapids, IA for having wifi during my blogging emergency this morning!