What's In My Closet?

This weekend, my closet underwent its annual Spring transformation. I weeded out all of the bulky, winter sweaters in my wardrobe at school and replaced them with the spring skirts and bermuda shorts that had been hibernating in the closet at my parent’s house. The pieces mixed great with some of the new clothes I’ve already bought this season and I’m having a blast making outfits for every occasion. Here are some of my wardrobe essentials for spring:

Sundresses. When I’m in a rush, I throw on a breezy sundress with a pair of sandals or flats, add a dash of accessory, and I’m ready to go. Layering a tank under a sundress with a deep neckline is also one of my favorite looks. Sundresses are simple, but stunningly flattering – not to mention, super comfortable. I always find cute, cheap sundresses at Forever 21 and Delia’s.

Bohemian skirts. I’m a bit of a hippie when I’m dressed down, so I live in flowy, boho skirts when the weather is warm. They look great with flats, sandals, and wedges and make perfect beach cover ups. I try to wear bohemian skirts with hemlines just below the knee because longer skirts accentuate my short stature and shorter skirts inevitably lead to wardrobe malfunctions.

Bermuda shorts. Initially, I was skeptical of bermuda shorts. In a day when capris and gaucho pants dominated my wardrobe, I was reluctant to give them a chance. To me, they looked boyish – like something Avril Lavigne would wear during her skater girl years. I finally gave bermuda shorts a shot last summer in the American Eagle dressing room. I expected to hate them, but they were surprisingly flattering and I instantly fell in love with the length. They’re great paired with t-shirts or tank tops and can even be sexified with a pair of stilettos. I’m addicted! I have solid colored, striped, and plaid bermuda shorts and I can’t wait to add more to my collection this season.


Lucky jeans. I love love love Lucky Brand. Their tie dye prints, peace signs, and boho theme perfectly reflect my style. I love everything from their fragrances to their accessories to their swimsuits. And don’t get me started on their jeans! I have four pairs of Lucky Jeans that I practically live in. The tattered and patched embellishings, sandblasted washes, worn in denim make Lucky jeans my ultimate weakness.


Tees. Gotta love your basic tees. Plain, printed, bold, and muted, T-shirts are simple enough to wear with anything. I’ll wear my Beatles tee with a flowy skirt for a carefree casual look, or accessorize a plain tee with tiers of necklaces to create a little spunk. Tees comfy and casual enough to wear everyday and are versatile enough to be dressed up or down. My XXL t-shirt from Pat’s Steaks (the absolute best place to get a cheese steak in Philly, by the way) was completely unwearable on my petite frame, so I used my sewing machine to transform it into a cute tee that fits in all the right places.


Flats. I wear flats with everything. Metallic flats, leopard print flats, and pointed flats are just a few pairs in my shoe collection. My mom gave me Michael Kors flats for Christmas and they’ve been my favorite ever since. In chocolate brown, they’re dark enough to wear for fall or can be paired with whites, brights, and cream for spring. And they were a total steal at Macy’s for $70.00.


My wardrobe is, by far, my most prized possession. Some students can’t be bothered sifting through their closet for an outfit and, instead, opt for a simple college tee with a pair of shorts. I, on the other hand, am the complete opposite. Sometimes I try on different clothes just for fun, even if it does turn my room into a total mess. To me, creating ensembles is worth the effort because looking like a million bucks makes me feel like a million bucks.


Cross-posted at University Chic

Step Into Spring in Style

Ladies, I don’t want to see another pair of Uggs until the next snowfall – it’s officially Spring! I know it’s hard to part with your beloved boots after developing such a close bond over the winter, but I promise I’ll help you find a Spring shoe to fill that wintertime void.

Might I suggest trying flats? There are so many styles to choose from: leopard print, patent leather, satin, pointed-toe... The varieties are endless, making it easy to match a pair of flats with almost any ensemble. Dress them up with a Springy sundress, or wear them more casually with jeans and miniskirts. Use flats to define your outfit. Pair satin flats with skirts and lace for a romantic look, or wear pointed-toe metallic skimmers with skinny jeans for a rock-star edge.

As the weather gets warmer, show some toe! Peep-toe wedges are very foot-flattering. Wedge soles thin out the foot and – who knew? – even disguise cankles! Best of all, wedges can be worn with just about everything. Bermuda shorts, gaucho pants, or any length dress or skirt are perfect for wedge sandals. And because they’re so much more comfortable than heels, wedges are ideal for walking in the city or dancing at the club.

For summer, throw away your inhibitions and expose those sexy feet! Whatever you do, please don’t put them in a pair of dirty, white flip flops. Or any rubber flip flops, for that matter. Instead, stand out from the crowd in a pair of leather thong sandals. "Gladiator" sandals with lots of buckles are the hot new style for summer, or opt for sandals with straw soles for a beachy look. Thong sandals look great with peasant skirts, cropped pants, miniskirts, and cuffed or flared jeans.

This Spring, designers are going bold and eccentric with footwear. Sky-high tapered heels, chunky platforms, and superflat sandals dominate the runway this season. 80’s-inspired metallic textures are paired with Lucite heels, and neutral colored leather and suede sandals are adorned with buckles and multi-straps. Prada tacked tiny kitten heels on the bottom of arched platform soles, Armani and Calvin Klein added Swarovski crystals to several styles, and Missoni embellished chunky heels with colorful ostrich feathers. When it comes to high fashion, anything flashy and different is chic for feet.

Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to spend hundreds of dollars on designer footwear. Luckily for us, inspiration is free of charge! Get the designer look with creative shoes that dominate your outfit. Don’t be afraid to be daring. This Spring is all about calling attention to your feet with unique textures, vivid colors, and funky styles. As long as you can walk without looking awkward or falling down, no shoe is too exotic. So put your best foot forward in the most fabulous shoe you can find!

Shoe shopping doesn’t have to break your bank, either. Hunt through the racks at TJ Maxx and raid the aisles of DSW shoes for unique styles and great deals on designer footwear. Designer outlet stores are great for bargains, too. If you’re an online shopper, try search engines like Froogle or Yahoo! Shopping to find the best online deals. It’s also not a bad idea to try shoes on for size and comfort in a department store before purchasing them from an online retailer.

But remember, no matter how hot your shoes may be, your feet won’t look sexy with dry, cracked heels or chipped polish. Pedicures – or at least painted toenails – are a must for spring and summer footwear. And, please, don’t forget to get rid of those hairs on your big toe!