I Heart Animal Prints

It's never a bad idea to wear animal prints! Animal prints are such a fun way to add a print to basic outfits. Even if you're just wearing a white t-shirt and black leggings, a cheetah or animal print scarf can add a little something to an everyday outfit! I'm especially loving my friend Kaitlyn in her awesome leopard print high-waisted shorts. How cute are these?! 

I especially love that Kaitlyn kept everything else simple with her shorts. When I'm in the mood to wear animal print, I usually start with just one piece of clothing! You can always add on more cheetah if you're really feeling it! :) I'm excited to buy a pair of high-waisted shorts for the summer as well. They are literally everywhere in stores! Forever 21, Express, Target, Old Navy - everywhere! And if you're not looking to spend the money for new, you can always thrift shop some yourself. Goodwill runs can be like finding gold :)

Below is a message from Kaitlyn about her personal style: 

"My name is Kaitlyn and I am an Engineering and Graphic Design student at the University of Iowa. On top of being a double major, I'm also on the cheerleading squad. This means that when I get dressed in the morning, I know it has to be cute, comfortable and functional all day, since I don't have time to run home and change! When shopping, I look for basic pieces that I can spice up with fun accessories and cute shoes. These leopard high-waisted shorts just happen to be $3 at Forever 21, and I love how comfortable they are."

Remember to follow me on Twitter @StylinIowan, or follow me on Instagram at StylinIowan! 

Shorts: Forever 21 ($3!!!)

Tank: Target

Shoes: AE

Necklace: Forever 21

Sunglasses: Delias 

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My two true loves: Starbucks and Stylin' Iowan! Follow me on Twitter @StylinIowan and Instagram at styliniowan!

Striped Dresses

Stripes can sometimes be a tricky pattern to wear! I usually stay away from them, but this dress from Target really stood out to me. I like that the white and cobalt colors are actually pretty soft, rather than severe black and white stripes. When wearing stripes, I usually stick to two rules: either go with wider stripes with softer shades, or wear skinnier stripes in one area only, like sleeves on a shirt. 

This dress is very nautical to me...I'm looking forward to boating season at the lakes this summer! This dress could be easily transitioned into summer and early fall for cool nights by the water!

Side Note: On occasion, pups can make some of the best accessories! :) Hope everyone is having a fun and relaxing weekend!

Dress: Target

Necklace: Francesca's

Purse: Target

Sandals: DSW

Sunnies: Ray Bans

Dog: My very old but adorable pup Boji!

Rain boots for April Showers

If you live even remotely close to the state of Iowa, you might have noticed that it's been raining NON-STOP SINCE 5 AM TODAY. Usually I'm not a fan of the rain (hence the angry all-caps), however this monsoon outside is a good excuse for me, and about 95% of the female population, to break out our rain boots!

On rainy days like today, I dress for comfort. Walking to classes or work in the rain is never an easy task, especially when I'm worried about my hair getting wet or my laptop getting soaked. Rainy days call for leggings and over sized sweaters for me! For a girl who prides herself in being "put together" most days, inclement weather is a good enough excuse to dress down a little. Believe me when I say a little thrown together in the rain will look much better than a girl with water in her heels and makeup running down her cheeks.

During the winter months, I also use my rain boots as winter boots! You can find good liners for most rain boots that cost under $20 at places like Target, Forever 21 and most department stores. Look for them now on sale during the spring months, especially if you sport Hunter boots. I've seen them on sale for super cheap at Von Maur!

Rain boots: Coach (purchased at TJMaxx)
Sweater: VS Pink
Scarf: Forever 21
Leggings: LOFT
Umbrella: Victoria's Secret

Colorful Maxi Dresses

Hey everyone! Unfortunately for me I was sick today, probably a result of being worn down from school/internship/life. I definitely think it's important that when we know we are sick, we don't ignore our symptoms and take care of ourselves, especially while in college. It's so easy to get sick during college (trust me, I live with 55 girls...illnesses spread fast!), and it always seems to be when we are the most busy! Thankfully though, I've had the chance to regroup, rest and get a lot accomplished, including a new post featuring my good friend Emma for Stylin' Iowan :)

I'm in love with all of the colors in this maxi dress! There are so many neon yellow/pink/purple pieces out in stores right now, and I feel that this dress does neon right, without it being overwhelming. Don't get me wrong, I love neon! I just think it can be overdone quite easily. A little neon goes a long way!

Below is a message from Emma about this outfit and her own personal style:

"My name is Emma and I am a Social Work major at the University of Iowa. As you can see from this outfit, I am a huge fan of the maxi dress! I love the way you can dress it up for an event or wear it casually to class or lunch with friends. Nothing like a cute but also comfortable option to wear to a variety of different things! I also love chunky, colorful necklaces! These are so fun and really add to an already cute outfit.

When I am shopping, I look for staple items that are cute, versatile, and comfortable! I love stores like Target, Gap, Old Navy, and Forever 21 that have clothes that you can wear for lots of different occasions at a reasonable price! In stores, neutrals usually catch my eye but I love to spice them up with colorful accessories."

How do most of you feel about all the neon trending right now? I'm interested to know your thoughts! Make sure to comment below, or tweet me @StylinIowan!

Dress: Target

Cardigan: LOFT

Necklace: bought in India during study abroad trip (HOW COOL!)

Transitioning Denim Shirts

Happy Sunday! It is finally SPRING! I think most people in Iowa would agree that this winter has been brutally cold. I was extremely excited to move some of my sundresses to the front of my closet this weekend! We have been enjoying some 50 degree weather, and trust me when I say it's been almost a bit of a heat wave! :)

Denim and chambray shirts are definitely one of those items that I think will evolve into a timeless piece. They are extremely functional to wear, and you can find them in almost any store, whether you're shopping at Forever 21, department stores or even designer boutiques. You can dress them up with cute ankle dress slacks or pencil skirts, or like Annie, you can dress them down with a great pair of jeans and a scarf. Either way, you can't go wrong with denim and chambray shirts. 

Below is a message from Annie about her outfit: 

"My name is Annie and I am a Finance and Marketing major at the University of Iowa. I love a good bargain, and I swear by these rock star skinny jeans from Old Navy! You can find them on sale in any color for $25. My roommate also got me really into scarves, and I've realized that a cute scarf can make any outfit so much better!"

I have to agree with Annie that the rock star jeans from Old Navy are AWESOME! They have a little stretch in them so they're extremely comfortable. Perfect for running to classes or running to the bars.... :) Hope you all have a fab week! 

Denim Shirt: Old Navy
Jeans: Old Navy
Scarf: Old Navy
Earrings: Francesca's
Flats: Steve Madden (on sale at DSW!)