Braided Bun

This is one of my week two outfits. I paired my cut out Drake concert tee with some jeans and my pink boyfriend blazer. I thought the light shades in my flats and jacket went well with the darker tone of the shirt, making it an ideal summer to fall transition outfit.

I couldn't decide what to do with my hair since I didn't have the time to straighten it out, so I decided to do a bun that I saw on Pinterest awhile back. Of course, I can't find it anywhere right now, but if I do, I'll be sure to update the post!

All you do for the bun is 

1. Put your hair up in a high ponytail
2. Separate your hair into three sections
3. Braid each section to the end of the hair
4. Take one braid and wrap it loosely clockwise around the base of the ponytail, securing it with either a bobby pin or by putting the end of the braid into the elastic
5. Take one braid and wrap it counter-clockwise around the base of the ponytail, securing it in the same fashion
6. Take the last braid and wrap it so it goes on top of the other secured braids.
7. Finally, take sections of hair in the bun and make the braid looser, making the bun have more volume

Voila! Braided bun! Hopefully the picture along with the description will be enough until I find that darn pin!

Classy French Fashion

This was the first week I had for my classes here at the Universite Rennes 2 in Rennes, France. Since arriving week ago, I've been slowly observing how people typically dress around the campus. As I had assumed, people were dressed a lot more formally than they would back home. Actually, since I've arrived here, I haven't seen not one pair of yoga pants/leggings worn as pants/sweats. At all.

I talked with one of my new friends I've made since arriving, and when she asked about what I saw differently, I described to her the typical uniform of people on my campus. She was nearly in shock when I described to her how informal we Americans are for class. But there's no use changing it; we just feel more comfortable, I suppose. 

At any rate, here are some pictures from my first two days of classes.

Besides people dressing more formally, I also noticed another thing with fashion: layers. Black tights, a blazer, and a scarf are essential to fitting in fashion wise here. Luckily I came with plenty in stock, and for my first outfit, I put together a T.J. Maxx dress and Zara blazer (both bought while I was in Atlanta) with a scarf my grandmother had bought me for Christmas and tights I already owned. Of course, I couldn't come here without my beloved oxfords, even though a few of the studs have begun to fall off one of the shoes. In this pic, you can also see my ombre hair in curls. 

Oh, and about dyed hair: I have yet to see a French person with it. The only people on campus who have dyed hair (as in with color that they were definitely not born with) have been American or people from the U.K. I'll get back to you as soon as I figure that out. 

This outfit was made with my ruffle blouse, Zara blazer and skirt, and of course my oxfords. Pretty preppy and a little more monotone than my usual outfits, but I still love how it came out.

Studying Abroad!

I have probably mentioned this before, but now its super official: I'm in Rennes, France for the semester!

I know I mentioned all the awesome clothes I got when I was here last time, but budgeting is a little different when you're here on a school trip compared to actually trying to live here. Not sure when I'll have any haul (probably not til October when I can figure out finances and such), but eventually, I'll put up pics of new clothes. 

I went out tonight with some other students and wore this outfit.

I combined my Macy's top with a scarf I got from NY&C for the last time I was here (seriously, everyone wears scarfs) and a new pair of pants that fit perfect from (of all places) Sears. Yeah, Sears. Nearly embarrassed to say it, but whatever. It's hard finding pants these days that re decently priced straight legs and not skinnys. These were parfait perfect. 

I've mostly been doing French braids while I was here, mainly because I was petrified to plug my straighter in. Last time, even with my adapters and voltage convertors, it blew out. Just plugged it in and *knock on wood* the light is on! Let's hope nothing awful happens...

New Hair: Red Ombre

 

If you weren't already aware of this, I have never had my hair dyed. Ever. But getting prepared to study abroad this semester (leaving in six days!) made me feel like I wanted to do something different. Even though the ombre trend seems to be slowly dying out, I couldn't help but still want it. At first, I was going to go the popular route and get blonde on the ends, but my older sister insisted I get red. So voila, here it is!

My sis did a great job on it. She separated my hair in half (top to bottom) and then separated those sections again (left to right). She inserted hair bands where I wanted the ombre to stop, and then separated the portions in thirds that were to be dyed. Working from the bottom to the top, she applied the dye and let it sit about twenty minutes and washed it out.

I love how it came out. It's something subtle, which was what I wanted.

My sister did a lot of research for the process, and here are some tutorials that were helpful:



Even though I did not dye my whole head red, it gave good tips on dying the dark hair read without bleaching it. I did not have to do it twice, though, since my hair had never been dyed before and the dark color lifted easier than hers. 



I first found this video on Pinterest after seeing her after pictures and adoring them. I used the same brand (L'Oreal HiColor) as she did for my ombre.

Rockstar Part II

Meeting Fall Out Boy AND going to a Panic! at the Disco concert in one summer? My 14 year old would be squealing. My now 20 year old self just feels lucky she has access to a car.

Rock concerts are notorious for making you feel like you're going deaf, that you can't possibly get physically closer to the people next to you (but somehow you do), and walking out with your hair and make-up looking disgusting. The latter is a fashionista's worst nightmare.

Regardless, I made sure to go in style. I got a semi-sheer black top from Zara in Atlanta and paired it with the pants I wore to the FOB concert. I knew that wearing heels or open toe shoes was a no-no for a standing concert, so I instead went with my purple high tops. 

For my hair, I did a simple braid around a high ponytail. I eventually made it into a bun when it got suffocating at the concert since my hair was getting stuck to my neck, but at least my hair is growing!

If interested, head on over to my Instagram (iluvme21) to see more pics from the concert!

ABW Challenge: Day 54

Day 54

I was pretty sick yesterday, so no pictures. You wouldn't want to see them. It would just be scary.

I originally got this dress from TJ Maxx last year for a graduation ceremony, and I still enjoy it. I love the small cut outs at the top around the neck line. It also has a great cinched pull string waist that makes it very flattering.

I also decided to go curly for a week. I do this a few times a year just to give my hair a break from all the heating processes I put it throughout the year. I make sure to use a leave in conditioner in my hair to keep the curls frizz free. I also use hair gel on top to keep my hair from looking like it's an explosion.

While my hair is wet and after I put in the gel and conditioner, I wrap my hair and put a cloth over it. I feel like this lengthens the curls and prevents my thick hair from making it seem short. 

ABW Challenge: Day 45

Day 45

Black and white and leopard all over!

This color depleted outfit came together last minute thanks to the Easter Weekend (as in I may have overslept). Nevertheless, I really like this ensemble. I originally was going to pair some bright violet tights with the skirt, but I wanted to mix prints instead of a color pop. The seashell necklace went perfect with the monotone coloring. The hair is similar to Day 8, and I definitely recommend it as a quick and easy 'do. It has the pretty factor of a sock bun, but nearly as effortless as a messy one.

ABW Challenge: Day 42

 Day 42

Today was my fun outfit. I have been saving this top to wear for while, and although it was still a bit chilly outside, I decided to wear it. The long sleeves make it weather appropriate while the mint color is very much in the tune of the spring season. Because the top and bottom are solid and plain in the front, I decided to add the pear necklace to give it some texture.

Pinspiration!

A majority of this outfit was made using pictures from Pinterest.

I got this backless top from Pink by Victoria's Secret. It is normally $24.50, but it was on sale for $15. You know how I am with a good deal like that! I also got the bralette at VS awhie a go, but have not used it yet. I love how pretty it is in the back! I also like that it has some lining in the front so I feel more comfortable wearing it.

I was originally hesitant about trying this hairstyle out. My hair isn't that long, and I thought it may look weird. But I went for it anyways. This "Lace Braid" as it is called, came out pretty. For some of my hair that wouldn't reach around to the ponytail, I attached the flower clip in order to keep it in.

ABW Challenge: Day 30

A month's worth of outfits!

Day 30

I didn't realize how 80s themed this outfit was until I took the picture, but there's nothing wrong with a good theme day; I was kind of punk when I wore the Joker shirt, so maybe this is just in line with that. 

I don't own a lot of sweatshirts or hoodies, but this is one that I adore. It is a comfy crewneck that I usually throw on if I'm on my way to the dance studio or if I have a doctor's appointment. Last semester, I dressed it up with a skirt and loved how it came out, and did the same thing today. The long socks were something I found at Sears, of all places. It's usually hard for me to find over the knee socks that fit comfortably, but these work out great. To keep them up, I safety pin the sock to the tights.

The hair took zero effort. Because of the curls I had yesterday, all I did at night was twist my hair back on either side, pin it with bobbies, and wrap my hair. I took the pins out and had waves! It was a quick and easy way to make sure I didn't heat my hair again

Shopping List:

• Socks: Sears
• Crewneck: Pink by Victoria's Secret

ABW Challenge: Day 29

Day 29

Today was the ACTUAL day for my presentation, in which I led a discussion about PETA, social media, and DKNY. I believe I did well, even though people were not readily participating. But, hey, that's life.

There are many reasons why I love this dress; the color, the cutout, the swingy skirt. It's just a fun dress to wear!

Because I woke up early to work on my online course, I had enough time to curl my hair with a wand. I thank my sister for the idea to do a waterfall braid with wavy hair. I love the way it came out. The curls were defined enough that they were noticeable, but not coiled so tight that I had to brush them out.

Shopping List

• Blue cutout dress: TJ Maxx

ABW Challenge: Day 22

Day 22

This was a cute little outfit I put together. I just recently found this longer body con/fitted pencil skirt in the back of my drawers from Forever 21, and forgot how versatile it can be. It has a floral print all over it, but the colors allows the print to become a part of the skirt rather than the center piece of the outfit. I loved adding the cardigan blue cardigan as a a little color pop from the grey and black of the rest of the outfit.

The highlight of today's outfit was actually the quick, five minute hairstyle I came up with on a whim. Drawing from a few Pintrest pictures, I went with a little braid and bun combination. 

I first parted my hair on the left, and made a small braid on either side of the part. I then put my hair up in a high ponytail, and gathered the hair together and gently rolled it clockwise around the base of the ponytail. Then, I pinned the bun so that it was secure. I then pinned the braids at the back of my head. I just added a clip to the 'do, and voila!






Shopping List:

• Body con skirt: Forever 21
• Tank top: JC Penney's

ABW Challenge: Day 18

Made it by 2 minutes!

Day 19

This is one of my favorite shirts that I thought years ago was lost in the abyss that is my room back home. Luckily, my mother came across it in the laundry, and I knew I had to try and incorporate it in an outfit this week. 

I was inspired by the shirt to go with more of a punk rocker looker. I tucked the large shirt into my black body con, with a little going over the top to give it a little volume. You may not be able to tell in the pictures, but the tights have a great leopard print that I found at Target awhile back. I put the look together with some arm candy and a Jac Vanek bracelet (Alex DeLeon of The Cab). 

Shopping List:

• INSPIRE Bracelet: Jac Vanek
• Joker tee shirt: Hot Topic

Pinterest Inspiration

 

                                                                              Source: elisamclaughlin.com via Noelle on Pinterest

I love the idea of tucking hair into a headband. I decide to make it look more like a ponytail as opposed to a bun. The headband also gave the hair volume, which I definitely liked.

ABW Challenge: Day 17

Day 17

There seems to be something magical about this skirt that pictures are not able to capture. If you look closely, you can see that the pink skirt has a gold hue to it that makes it shimmer when the light hits it. When I originally purchased it, I was not aware of this (awesome) effect. Every single time I have worn it, I have received compliments from people, from my boss at work to random people in the hallway.

Because the skirt is so unique, I chose to pair it with simple pieces that would not take away from the skirt itself. Wearing a black sweater and pairing it with dark tights was an easy way to draw eyes to the skirt. I also put my pearl necklace with the outfit, just to add something to the black crew neck.

Shopping List:

• Short Lame Skirt: Forever 21

Pinterest Inspiration

                                                                      Source: model-mode.tumblr.com via Noelle on Pinterest

I love this model's curls and pushed back headband. It reminds me of the Disney cartoon of Alice in Wonderland and her black bow headband. As opposed to doing the soft curls above, I went with pincurls I left in my hair overnight (see this entry for pin).

ABW Challenge: Day 16

So comes to a close Week 4!

Day 16

This not-quite-a-poncho top is one of the oddest, but favorite items I own. I think I mostly like it because I have never seen anything like it. I found it on sale at Rainbow a few years ago, and was a bit confused as to what to make of it. But it was on sale, and I was eager to buy something, so I went with it. 

The top has dolman sleeves and made of a sweater knit material. I sometimes like to pair it with a waist belt, making the top into a cute tunic. It's comfy, but not to the point where I feel like I look sloppy. I thought it worked great with the long necklace and combat boots I wore with it. 

I did a quick version of the vintage hair. This time, I french braided one half of my hair, and didn't leave the curls in as long as I normally would. The first few pictures were taken by the time my hair was a little flatter because I had to tie it back to dance, but you can see in the other pictures that the curls had a lot of volume!

Shopping List:

• Leggings: Pink by Victoria's Secret
• Dolman top: Rainbow

ABW Challenge: Day 15

Day 15

Today, I had a presention in my Public Relations class. Even though the class wasn't until 6pm, it gave me an excuse to dress even better than usual. 

This outfit came out great! Both the skirt and the top are from Forever 21 (bought on two seperate occasions), and I think they are both pieces that can work with a number of different pieces in my closet. The knife pleated skirt can be paired with a tee shirt, blouse, or sweater in any color because of the black coloring. When it's cooler, I opt not to wear tights with it. Seeing as its about 20 degrees outside, I went with the opaque tights. 

Similarly, the shirt works out great because of the black and white print. I can definitely see pairing some burgundy bottoms or even my moto vest I got to make a little color pop. Plus I love the open bow back (When I bought it, I didn't even though it was there; great surprise!).

 

The necklace was something I got from Rainbow awhile ago that wasn't more than two bucks, but I still get compliments on it. I love the seashell and medallion look to it that goes great with the black and white outfit. 

The hair, on the other hand... Didn't love. Tried the flat iron technique I found on polyvore, and although it did come out curly, the curls didn't stay and ended up just making my hair poofy. An easy fix for this was to put my hair in a casual low bun and stick in a pretty flower clip to dress up the outfit as well as put more concentration on the accessory as opposed to the no fuss bun.

Shopping List:

• Ruched Geo Print Top: Forever 21
• Knife Pleater Skirt: Forever 21
• Shell necklace: Rainbow