A Walk in the Park

Styling 3 Summer Staples from Pretty Little Thing

2019-07-02T21:53:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone! Today I'm making an appearance to talk about my 3 favorite summer staples and how I styled them for this 2019 scorcher here in Florida! I picked 3 items from Pretty Little Thing that I found to be summer necessities. That included a casual everyday dress, a dress for going out, and versatile top for the many pairs of shorts and skirts I'll be wearing!

For my first item, we've got the casual everyday summer dress. I picked this lovely little blue floral dress, with a dainty print and feminine neckline and sleeve detailing that keeps this dress cute while still being that flowy, lightweight dress that I need in my life for these Florida summers! The color and style of this dress makes it really just so easy to style. Here I wore it with chunky sneakers and gold accessories, but I would also pair it with wedges or nude sandals if I were wearing it out to hang with friends! You can even shop this dress in different color options, or even opt for this dress with no print!

The second item I picked was this white crop top with it's gorgeous big sleeves and front hook closures. I love these style tops, they are my favorite trend I've seen come into style lately. It has so much detail and holds such a vintage, delicate look and isn't too revealing, which is mostly why I don't buy cropped tops too often. I was worried about the sleeves in this near 100 degree weather, but surprisingly, they were quite airy! With the right balance on the rest of the outfit, this was quite the cool, comfy outfit. I balanced it out with some black lightweight biker shorts from Femme Luxe Finery and some lace up sandals because I think the detail in the sandals complimented the detail from the top very well! I would of course also style this top with a bright color or even printed shorts or skirts, and of course, just a good ol' pair of denim shorts or jeans.

This last dress pick here has color, detail, and is a great dress if you're looking to go out and show off your legs! I think this dress has to be one of my favorites I've had in quite a while, the lace up back and the colors are just amazing. I'm a sucker for anything with a cute fruit print also doing the summer, and this dress of course has that gorgeous lemon print on it as well. If you like this print but this particular dress style isn't your thing, don't worry, they have a few different dress styles with the print! I thought it would be great to keep the color going through my earrings, and I wore my hair up in a messy pony to show off the back as much as I could! I can't wait to wear this one more, it's a great look for hanging out at beach bars and going to summer parties!

Winter White-Out

2018-12-16T15:36:00.001-05:00

I don't give these white jeans enough credit, they are beautiful and can be styled perfectly all year long!

Today was a not-so-cold winter day, so I opted for a look that showed a little more skin! I couldn't wait to rock my tie-front black and white polka dot top from Sans Souci, so I threw it on and paired it with my white denim from Bluefaith. Some over-the-knee boots completed this winter look, and I kept the colors light around the top to balance out the look and make this adorable top stand out!

While putting together this outfit I was thinking of so many other ways I could style this top! It would look cute tied over a dress, a bodycon skirt, or a flowy maxi skirt as well. I definitely think that's how I'll style it next!

Wearing:

Sans Souci tie-front top
Bluefaith white denim
Violet Ray mauve bag
Bauble Bar "Lissandra" Statement Necklace

Holiday Party Snack Must-Haves!

2018-12-14T03:06:00.000-05:00

When it comes down to the holidays, I can talk about a lot more than just a cute outfit. I know all of the best holiday music, movies, and snacks, too! Those three together make for a perfect holiday party, and right now I'd love to focus in on a snack that I've brought to the table as one of my favorites for this holiday season.

This little snack is the Craize arepa crisp, a light, thin wafer that is so very thin but so very flavorful. This is a great treat all year long, but being the fan of hummus that I am, this has become my favorite snack pairing for any hummus dish! This holiday season I've paired my favorite two Craize cracker flavors, seeded and sweet, on a plate with veggies and fruits as a variety of treats to snack on! My friends and family are already obsessed too, and thankfully I had a few extra containers handy on me because they all went home with my loved ones as their newfound favorite thin wafer treat!

The Craize crips come in six different flavors, sweet, which is a sweet corn taste, platano, a sweet plantain crisp, seeded, made with a variety of textured grains and seeds, guava, which simply put is a very sweet guava crisp, coconut, a coconut crisp that I found so delicious the containers I received didn't even make it in time for the photos, and roasted, a more savory corn crisp. They are all delicious in their own way, but as I previously mentioned, the coconut crisps were hands down the absolute best!

What makes these treats even better is that they're guilt free. They're vegan, gluten free, kosher, and soy free! All of the ingredients included can be pronounced, which is key in my diet! I am a huge snacker and try to be conscious of the things I'm really eating, and these tasty treats are made with clean, fresh foods, and no artificial mess! I really recommend you all pick some up and serve them at your holiday parties, your guests will truly thank you for it!

A Plaid Piece to Make Your Winter Wardrobe Complete

2018-12-12T14:38:00.000-05:00

Every winter I look forward to many things, but one thing in particular that I can't wait for is to wear plaid. Is that crazy?! Truth is, I am just mad for prints and plaid has always been a print that I love for so many reasons.

First reason being that you can buy any color variation of this print! Lighter color plaids, darker color plaids, it's all amazing. It also styles perfectly with different colors and textures, and can be worn so many different ways. Today I wore my plaid pants here from Sans Souci with a detailed sweater, one of my favorite vintage jackets that I thrifted a few years ago, and my timeless little lace-up booties that have been seen on this blog so many times... and no, I will never retire them!

Like my little old booties, I revisited some other old accessories that have been featured in my outfits a time or two and that I will never tire of, my vintage Dooney & Bourke bag (which I'll never quite be sure if it's authentic or not), and my little black hat here! This outfit is one of my favorites in quite sometime that's for sure. Most of the outfits that I style I think are cute, but some just have something about them that stand out and are incredibly eye-catching to me. For this one, I believe it's the mixture of colors and textures. And the fact that I ROCKED those trendy grandpa pants! All jokes aside though, they're pretty cool and I've been wanting a pair for quite some time now. They will without a doubt be making a few appearances at some upcoming holiday parties!

Outfit deets:

Cord Jacket - Thrifted (Vintage Guess)

Sweater - Shein (Old)
Plaid Pants - Sans Souci
All accessories - Super old
Watch - Elixa

Returning From YEAR LONG HIATUS (!!!) With Fall Knits + Prints

2018-11-06T22:03:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it, but here I am, finally back here posting on my blog! I have battled my thoughts and the pros and cons of running this blog for a full year as well, but my much needed break is over and I feel refreshed and ready to focus into my favorite hobby again.

This blog has really helped define who I am ever since 2012 when I started it. Through the years I've gotten caught up in wanting to make money off of it, and when that didn't happen often for me, it drew me away from it. As well as comparing myself to big bloggers, being upset that I could never afford that brand new Louis Vuitton bag or that I was never going to be"cool" enough to be gifted some Gucci sneakers. However, I've had a year to think things over. I love blogging because it's my outlet to share every outfit I put together, and that's how I express myself!

My outfit here isn't anything I was gifted recently, as I am starting back from the basics with this post. I love fall fashion and am always so eager to put together a cozy layered look during the cooler months. Today I paired this burgundy vintage-inspired sweater top that I received last year from Voodoo Vixen, I can't believe I found it online still all this time later, but it's an outlet piece on the site now and still available in most sizes!

The skirt is thrifted, the tights are from Target and are a few years old now but they matched perfectly with my top so I had to wear them! My front lace-up boots are actually a comfy pair of heeled boots and I can't quite remember where they're from, but don't worry, I've searched the internets and found a similar pair from Dolls Kill for you to take a look at! I also added in a little shine at the end by throwing over this cute rose gold metallic crossbody from Violet Ray, it helped keep my outfit a little modern!

My beanie / beret thing is actually EONS old from JC Penney, and surprisingly enough I've never worn it because I never could quite figure it out. Now that berets are the cute thing to wear, I've finally put this knit beanie on my head and rocked it as a beret... because I think that's always how it wanted to be worn.

Outfit details:

Sweater top // Voodoo Vixen

Houndstooth skirt // Thrifted

Tights // Target
Metallic Crossbody // Violet Ray

Boots // (not sure) similar from Dolls Kill

My Fall Skincare Routine + Eliminating Dry Skin

2017-11-08T15:28:00.001-05:00

This post is sponsored by Clarisonic and Her Campus Media. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make A Walk in the Park possible!

During the summer, my skin is usually fresh, glowing, and I don't so much have a skincare routine, but more like, I just use one face wash product everyday in the shower and I'll try out a new mask once a month. However, during the fall and winter months, and especially now being in NYC, the air is so dry and harsh against my skin that it dries up my skin around my mouth and chin, which are my trouble areas for blemishes anyways.

I've been looking for products to help this problem, and I come across the opportunity to try out the Clarisonic Mia 1, which is a sonic cleansing tool that moves back and forth on the skin, to open up the pores and gently flush water and cleanser into them for cleaner and more radiating skin. I've never tried any product like this before, and after using it for about 12 days I can already see the difference!

My fall skincare routine with this product is just using it once a day like I would my face wash, or sometimes twice a day, once in the morning and once at night, if I feel like my face is extra dry or broken out. To use this product, you just wet your face, take the Mia 1, wet it a little, put a small dimes worth of the Pore + Blemish or Refreshing Gel Cleanser on it, and gently start moving it around your face with a strong focus on your trouble areas. I usually do this for about 3 minutes and I wash my face off and gently pat dry it.

Over on the blog today I'm talking about my fall skincare routine that costs less than 63 cents a day + how I fight my chin blemishes + dry skin! I also have a 15% off code for the @clarisonic Mia 1 sonic cleanser! Swipe left to see more of this product and visit my blog to view the full post! 💕 #GiftFromClarisonic
A post shared by Carly Maddox (@carlymaddox) on Nov 8, 2017 at 12:38pm PST

The Mia 1 is an investment piece that is $129, but the brush heads last 3 months so after the initial investment of this sonic cleansing tool, it hardly costs anything as the months go by, to be perfect exact it costs less than 63 cents a DAY. Isn't that amazing?! Even if you can't afford the $129 payment, Clarisonic offers payment plans so you can still achieve clear skin now even if you don't have the $129 to buy it. It's actually quite affordable considering that the the cleanser and brush heads last such a long time, and this product really cleanses the pores in a way that cannot be done with just your hands and regular face wash. After washing, my skin always feels so soft, almost as if it's already made that much of an impact on my pores!

If any of you are looking to switch up your facial cleansing routine this season, I definitely recommend the Clarisonic Mia 1! I've even got a 15% off code for you all to use when you pick up your products here, and you can receive this discount using code HERCAMPUS.

Autumn is Always Fun When You've Got A Cozy Sweatshirt!

2017-11-07T16:28:00.000-05:00

This might sound crazy, but I don't own any sweatshirts. I have one New York sweatshirt that I bought at a tacky gift shop (I promise it's cute though), but I wear that thing all the time. It's so cozy but I don't know why it is that I only have that one sweatshirt... maybe I'm just extremely picky? I don't know, but I've finally added super cute cozy sweatshirt #2 to my wardrobe!

This sweatshirt from Tees and Tank You is simple, but the color scheme and graphic is so cute and so fitting for me! I wore it out and about in Brooklyn this weekend, it was a laid back day which called for a laid back outfit. I wore jeans and my favorite brown booties, and I had to layer a flannel underneath this sweatshirt because I thought that made my super casual outfit stand out a tad bit more. This fall has truly been one of the best I've ever had, I love seeing the leaves change and the temperatures drop... but my mind will change once they've dropped too much, because I'm still a Florida girl, after all.

Wearing: Tees and Tank You sweatshirt, Target denim + flannel, Steve Madden booties.

#CollegeFashionWeek + Primark Fall Must-Haves!

2017-10-10T01:39:00.000-04:00

This post is sponsored by Primark and Her Campus Media. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make A Walk in the Park possible!

Recently I had the pleasure of attending Her Campus' annual College Fashion Week here in NYC! It was such a wonderful night filled with many other fabulous bloggers, some of my favorite brands, and of course an amazing fashion show put on with many popular clothing brands. There are so many reasons why I had such a wonderful time, but most importantly, I loved how real this event was. The brands in the fashion show were Primark, Chaser, Avec Les Filles, and Vici. These brands truly are the perfect price point for college students and the models were real girls who looked absolutely radiant in all of the clothes!

I got to bring my fiance along to see his first fashion show and even he was impressed. We had such a great time snacking on amazing treats, connecting with the other brands and bloggers, and watching the amazing show. The fun lasted all the way until I got home and took a peek inside my goodie bag, because it was hands down the most epic goodie bag ever!

Check out the highlights for #CFW here!

For College Fashion Week I teamed up with Primark to style some of my own fall college looks. Here are some photos of the two looks I styled, and you can easily and affordably style some of your own, so make sure you check out their new arrivals!
For my first look, I took some navy culottes with a ring zipper detail and paired it with a sheer floral top! It was an easy look with a modern appeal, and I paired it with my grommet oxfords and a choker to add some edge.

My second look, the one I wore to the show, was a few super simple pieces which layered together so nicely to create a comfy yet eye-catching outfit! I wore a black ribbed bodysuit, a floral kimono, my light wash jeans, and some over-the-knee boots! It was a light, feminine look with lots of movement created through the kimono.

These looks were so easy to create and the pieces were all so inexpensive but yet such great quality! I love finally having access to a Primark here in the city, and it's definitely worth the trip to Staten Island to go visit it!

Forever Longing for Lace Dresses

2017-09-19T12:01:00.000-04:00

No matter how old I get, I still love to throw on a fun vintage-inspired dress every once in a while!

Oh, how I love cute and quirky dresses! If you've been following me since the beginning, you'd know that I wore one almost every post! I'm not gonna lie here, Zooey Deschanel used to be my biggest style inspiration! I try to have a more mature style these days, and that means sometimes looking at my boldly colored tights and resisting, but hey, every once in a while is okay, right? I think I'll be breaking out those bad boys soon, but that's besides the point here.

The moment I spotted this mustard lace fit-and-flare beauty on Metisu I knew I had to have it! Along with other items, because they have so many unique pieces. I like different, I don't usually like to wear anything too trendy because I feel like I look like everyone else, which I hate. This dress definitely stood out to me, and the black detailing around the collar and buttons is so cute! My fiance thought I looked like a Disney princess, which is a pretty solid compliment to me!

For this dress I kept the accessorizing simple, but I wanted to make sure it still looked very fall! I hesitated pairing it with brown because of the bits of black detailing in the dress, but I think my favorite comfy old lace-up booties from Steve Madden and my leather crossbody from Foley + Corinna

Wearing: Metisu mustard lace dress, Foley + Corinna leather crossbody, Steve Madden lace-up booties (shop similar).

Glam Jumpsuits and Old-School Vans

2017-09-08T16:16:00.003-04:00

I love the combination of a glam outfit and a rusty old car. It makes me feel like I live in a different time period, which is all I could ever want.

Red is my color forever and always, and I've already worn this red Entourage Clothing jumpsuit about 10 times since I got it. It's comfy, flattering, and light! A leather jacket and black patent boots would make it look super cool for fall.

I glammed it up even more with this darling sparkling cut-out statement necklace from Baublebar and threw on my favorite clogs to keep it a good mix of glam and casual. I tied in a fun print by carrying along my giraffe printed leather crossbody from The Foundry Design -- I definitely recommend you all checking them out if you're on the hunt for a long lasting leather bag! They have tons of crossbodies and totes and hobos - all efficient bags and classic silhouettes that will stay in style for years. Maybe you've noticed that I've worn this clutch a few times now, but it also comes with a strap to turn it into a crossbody, which is amazing!

Wearing: Entourage Clothing red ruffled jumpsuit, The Foundry Design leather clutch, Call It Spring beige clogs (old, shop similar) Baublebar Brielle cut-out statement necklace.

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Spindrift - The Sparkling Water for Everyone

2017-08-29T14:09:00.002-04:00

This post is sponsored by Spindrift and Her Campus Media. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make A Walk in the Park possible!

Sparkling water seems to be the trendiest thing to drink lately, and with good reason! It's carbonated and without large amounts of calories, if any at all. You can get all different "flavors", but for some people like me, that just isn't enough.

I'll admit, I HATE sparkling water. It has no flavor to me, flavored or not. It's a weird craze to me and I just can't understand it. Maybe I don't have mature enough tastebuds, but I'd usually just rather drink regular water all the time than "treat" myself to sparkling water. So, before you read any further, just know that I know there's others out there who hate sparkling water as well, and this post is for you.I think I've fallen victim to wanting to try sparkling water because, well, it usually always has cute packaging! The bottles and cans are always cute and colorful, and that's the reason alone that made me want to try out Spindrift. It is also made with real, squeezed fruit, so with those words I was sold. Spindrift is filled with real, genuine goodness. It's just sparkling water and real fruit. That's why I've come to love this amazing drink so much - it is so hydrating and gives me life throughout the day! I really encourage you all to try it, sparkling water lover or not! You can purchase them on the Spindrift website or you can locate a store nearby that sells it!

So with that said, since I love this product so much I want to share the love and hold a little 2-day giveaway for your own Spindrift treats! This giveaway is awesome and super easy! All you have to do is head over to my Instagram (@carlymaddox), follow me and like my giveaway photo, and then follow Spindrift (@spindriftfresh) to enter! Please make sure you leave a comment once you enter, and you're all set! Here's what you'll win:

1 lemon cooler bag

1 can of each of the following Spindrift flavors: Lemon, Raspberry, Lime, Orange, Mango, Strawberry, Grapefruit, Blackberry

1 key chain

2 Spindrift glasses

1 strawberry pin

3 coupons (each for a free 4-pack or 8-pack of Spindrift at Trader Joe’s or Target)

So head over and enter now! Giveaway only lasts 2 DAYS! Good luck!

Creating Two Easy 90's-Inspired Looks With Rocketdog!

2017-08-27T02:19:00.001-04:00

This post is sponsored by Stylinity, however, all opinions are my own. Thank you so much to all of my sponsors and readers who make AWITP possible!

This summer 90s looks have been my absolute favorite to wear and today I’ve teamed up with Rocketdog and Stylinity to bring you two perfect summer looks! Rocketdog has really brought some major 90s throwbacks lately with their platform sandals, and they really are the perfect summer sole-mates. I remember being a little kid and owning a pair of platform sandals like these, so I just had to get my hands on a pair now that they’re back in style and hotter than ever! The chunky heel is so eye-catching and yet still so comfy! I’m so excited to share with you all the major sale they have right now, if you head over to their website you can get 50% off all sale items with the code “RDLABOR50”.

Look #1 -- Edgy Rocker

I am always looking for a reason to dress my rock ‘n’ roll best, and these striped platform Rocketdog sandals really brought this outfit together and made the fun edgy look happen! All black doesn’t have to be hot, this sheer top and shorts were really breezy in the hot summer air and my feet couldn’t have been happier from a day walking around in NYC.

Outfit details: Kersh Clothing sheer black top, Zara Rolling Stones distressed high-waisted shorts, A’GACI white round sunglasses.

Shop this look here!

Look #2 -- Casual Cool

For this outfit, I went for a cool and casual laid back look with just a simple tank dress and vintage denim jacket. These simple black flower-sequined sandals went perfectly with this look, because they were subtle with just the right amount of detail. This pair has been my favorite go-to, I’ve been wearing them with jeans, skirts, even workout pants. They’re. Just. That. Good.

Outfit details: A’GACI mauve tank dress, (Vtg) Levi’s denim jacket, The Foundry Design calf-hair clutch, A’GACI white round sunglasses.

Shop this look here!

I hope you love these outfits as much as I do! I’m not kidding, y’all, ever since I’ve moved here and don’t wear heels as often, I’m always looking for a pair of shoes that can elevate my 5’3” frame while still being comfy, and I’ve found my summer solution in these amazing (and surprisingly versatile!) Rocketdog platform sandals! If that 50% code above wasn’t enough to convince you, then I know visiting the coupon page on Stylinity will, because you can shop shoes for under $50, which is pretty much impossible!

Girl Power: Take Charge With an Empowering Graphic Tee + A Good Podcast!

2017-08-20T15:37:00.000-04:00

So, basically, females are pretty awesome. Also, so is this tee!

I love myself a good ringer tee, they always make me feel some serious 70s vibes! I recently discovered the brand Tees and Tank You and not only do they have the most clever name ever, but their cleverness shows in the tees, too! Every shirt on their site is so fun and unique, which is all I ever look for when I'm searching for new tees.

This tee was so special to me not only because of those cool 70s vibes but also because of the message on it. Simply put, it just says female, but that one word says so much to me! I definitely would call myself a feminist (more of in the uplifting way, and not in a bashing men kind of way), and I truly love and am proud of the fact that I'm a woman! Women are so powerful and amazing in so many ways, and I'm constantly becoming inspired by more and more girlbosses everyday.

I'm a big fan of podcasts, and in my spare time I love listening to Lena Dunham's podcast, Women of the Hour, as well as Sophia Amoruso's podcast, Girlboss Radio. These podcasts have a focus on nothing but influential women in our society, and I can't get enough! It's so motivational to hear the stories of other women, and I love thinking about my life and how I can work even harder towards my goals as well as try to be an uplifting figure for any lovely ladies who may be coming to read my blog. I thrive off of spreading the love and support to women who have the same goals as me, because it shouldn't be seen as a competition when I know for a fact there's always going to be room at the top for one more girlboss! Sorry about going into the rant -- this is just something I believe in and I see far too much negativity towards women on social media not to share my thoughts!

Going back to the outfit, I naturally had to pair these bright red cropped flare jeans from Zara with my tee. I went for my favorite pair of mules and this fun little boho backpack from T-Shirt & Jeans to complete my look! Oh, and red lipstick, of course.

Wearing: Tees and Tank You graphic ringer t-shirt (you can also get it on a basic white tee), Zara cropped flare denim (shop this similar pair for only $40.99!), ASOS black mules (shop similar), T-Shirt & Jeans brown boho backpack (it's a must have!).

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Pre-Fall Boho With My Favorite Simple Jewelry Pieces // Launching My New Shop Section!

2017-08-18T17:38:00.001-04:00

Fall is getting closer and closer, and I'm wearing more and more browns and oranges!

Today I'm keeping this post short and sweet, but firstly I am SO excited to announce the launch of my new shop section here on my blog thanks to the amazing team over at Look Ave. You can now shop my exact items of each outfit on my post and browse through all of my shoppable outfits on the shop section here on my blog. It is going live right now so go ahead and check it out and tell me what you think in the comments!

For my outfit, here I wore a ribbed crop top from Shein which I love so much because it's light and comfy but still a great color for this pre-fall transitioning time. I wore it with my floral bell flares from Forever 21 and it matched perfectly and brought out the rusted orange color in my pants. I accessorized with a subtle stone necklace and gold bracelets from Charming Charlie. These bracelets are my new everyday wear bracelets because they are simple and versatile but very classy and also motivational! These bracelets have little messages engraved in them, and mine say "free spirit" and "girl power". You can get these bracelets in rose gold and silver as well, and they are only $10 each!

Shop my look:

The Classic Pair of Denim We All Need To Have

2017-08-14T20:01:00.001-04:00

I used to be the kind of girl who would choose a dress or skirt over denim any day. I would think, whats so great about wearing a pair of jeans? If I want to stand out, it's not gonna be by wear denim and a top. However, my now slightly older self knows, that denim can be dressed up, and it's an essential that we should always invest in.

So now, this old me only owned like one pair of jeans that I would purchase from the $10 selection at Forever 21 because I simply did not care. Now, I'm not saying they were bad because they were actually pretty good fitting for a pair of jeggings (which is all they were), but they weren't denim. I had to chunk them after I had them for a year because by that time they would be faded, wouldn't fit right, and just not not what they once were. Denim should be good quality, long lasting, and a good pair of denim should just fit you in all the right places and make you feel good!

The pair I just described I have found now, and it's this dark classic pair mid-rise Jane skinnies from Mott & Bow. They have just the perfect amount of stretch to fit perfectly without getting stretched out. They keep their shape all day long which is all we could ever want in a pair of skinny jeans, am I right?

I got this classic pair in a darker wash because I wanted a pair that I could wear all year long. For some reason lighter jeans aren't really as flattering on me, and I don't typically wear a light wash in the cooler months, but it's all in personal preference, of course.

I paired my Mott & Bow jeans with a very thin, light beige zip up jacket top from Wallflower and my beige clogs from Call It Spring. I kept the brown toned theme by wearing a fun little brown backpack from T-Shirt & Jeans and it was all such a comfy look for a day out in Williamsburg.

Wearing: Wallflower top, Mott & Bow denim ($108), Call It Spring clogs (shop similar), T-Shirt & Jeans bag.

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Dorm Life: Decorating in Style, and On A Budget!

2017-08-11T15:01:00.001-04:00

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by eBay, however, all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own!

It's August, that crucial month when Fall classes are about to begin and as college students, we are all scrambling around trying to pay for everything in this pricey time of our lives, from buying textbooks, school supplies, tuition costs, and all of the little things in between.

For the large amount of college students living on campus, the cost of dorm living and furnishing is just another added stress! Your dorm is your temporary living space while you are in college, but it is also your focus space and an escape for when you're cracking down on the books and trying to find that peaceful place in your mind. So for this reason, it should look the way you want it to and you shouldn't have to settle for less!

Luckily, I did all the hard work so you won't have to, and I've found some stylish dorm decor and accessories to style up your living space without breaking the bank! When buying for your dorm space, all you'll have to do is simply move a finger and head over to eBay, and by the way, 67% of the items listed on eBay ship for free, so that's even less work and worry on your part. eBay has made everything convenient for the dorm room shopper by narrowing down all of your back to college right here on their website. However, if you're not quite sure where to start in your shopping, no need to worry, it's all right here in this college checklist!

The truth is, it's only takes a few items to make that big difference in your dorm space. I've styled up my room with a mandala printed wall tapestry (which can usually be found for under $20) and I purchased this nuLOOM versatile gray rug (you can get a 4 x 6 size for around $50) to add some detail and warmth as well. I opted to go with this rather simplistic rug so that if I ever change up and re-decorate, my rug will still match everything! With those two things alone, I've already added so much of a personal touch to my room!

After adding the big statement pieces, it's time to find some little detail pieces to add in more color and make your dorm space more you. Over on eBay I found this Target lamp base and shade to fit in with my gray color scheme, and for a pop of color this Lal Haveli handmade Indian candle holder as well, which is not only decorative, but will help add extra dim light and even help make my room smell good when I light my favorite scented tea light candles in it.

Instead of investing in expensive and luxurious bedding, I think for a college dorm it's better to just buy a bed in a bag and then decorate with fun throw pillows and a cozy blanket. In addition, to save extra money, forget buying a bunch of picture frames and just buy a big bulletin board to tack up all of your memories on! On eBay I purchased this Quartet 17" x 23" cork bulletin board (for only $12.73) and it's made for a great addition to my personal space as I tack up more and more of my cherished photos and memories!

I know first hand how it is to try hard to cut corners and save money in every little way that I can. It is possible to get room decor for only around $150, because here I have done it! Browsing around on eBay and finding simple things like inexpensive tapestries, sheer curtains, and white Christmas lights can really add a lot and make your dorm room feel so much more cozy! With that said, I hope you all find my tips and links helpful! If you all have any inexpensive ways to decorate your dorm room or living space let me know in the comments, I'd love to hear all about it!

The Wrap Dress: Easy, Chic, + Effortlessly Romantic

2017-08-09T10:56:00.000-04:00

I think it's safe to say, when we find a dress that is easy breezy and extremely comfy, yet still makes us look dressed up, it's a true inner achievement. This exact feeling is how I felt upon acquiring this gorgeous blue wrap dress! I encourage you all to feel my same feeling of victory and grab one for yourself, too.

So to start, here's a little of my input on the wrap dress: the classic DVF wrap dress may have always seemed to be a great choice for the older, more mature group of women, but the love shown for the wrap dress by young women in the past few years has expanded the range of styles made available for this silhouette. We all wanted in on this wonderful article of clothing, and now we've got it, made in all different materials, colors, styles, and other details to refresh this style and give it a more modern and younger feel.

To anyone who doesn't own a wrap dress, YOU NEED TO GET ONE! This dress is perfect because it can be Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter. Whenever you want to wear it, you can wear it, and style it accordingly to the weather and styles of the season. You can buy them mini, maxi, or in a beautiful waterfall style like this blue beauty from Sans Souci. This dress was so perfect during the summer because of how light it was, but I can't wait to style it for fall as well. It's an effortlessly romantic dress and is a great go-to piece for when you can't decide what to wear.

If blue isn't quite your thing, you can pick up this style in red, or you can even shop other wrap dress styles here on Sans Souci. I genuinely love this brand and every piece from Sans Souci always looks flattering on me and is a piece that ends up being often revisited in my wardrobe (and I'm quite picky), so I recommend you all to browse around on their site if you love beautiful clothes but don't like spending much like I do! 😅

Wearing: Sans Souci blue maxi wrap dress, Banana Republic Madison 12-hour pumps, Forever 21 boater hat (shop similar).

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One Last Tropical Look - It's Finally August, and You Know What That Means...

2017-08-01T01:26:00.002-04:00

August is here... and I am saying goodbye to fashion's summer months with one last outfit that makes me look like a walking talking colorful paradise!

This dress will most definitely make an appearance next summer, but for now, I had to make sure I wore it at least once before the fall months come into full swing! I love palm prints and they make me feel like I can somewhat escape to my inner tropical island now that I live in NYC. This colorful maxi dress from PinkBlush is so comfy and it. has. POCKETS! So that's obviously a total WIN!

I styled my dress simply, with just some beige clogs and a straw hat. The dress speaks for itself, so I kept the focus on the dress with those neutral accessories.

So now that August is officially here, transitional outfits are coming out to play and fall is slowly approaching. I'm so thankful also -- I can't tell you all how excited I am to finally be wearing dark lipstick and chunky scarves! In fact, now that I no longer live in Florida, I'll actually be able to enjoy my fall clothes and wear them without sweating profusely, which is a big deal for me.

Anyways, stay tuned for many fun transitional outfits in the coming weeks! Thanks so much for reading, happy August! 💕

Wearing: PinkBlush palm print maxi ($58, also in navy!), Forever 21 hat (similar here, $29), Call it Spring clogs.

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On Trend: Using Tassels to Create the Ultimate Summer Look!

2017-07-14T15:38:00.000-04:00

What makes a summery white top, or a straw bag even better? The answer here is most definitely gonna be TASSELS!

A recent summer trend that everyone has grown to love are tassels. Tassels are literally on EVERYTHING now and this makes me so happy, because they are so much fun! There's so many reasons why this trend has my heart but firstly, they are just little added bits of color and detail to add extra texture to bags, clothes, and even accessories (LOVE tassel earrings right now!) and make your outfit a little more fun.

Today my outfit was composed of sophisticated silhouettes featuring a black wrap skirt from Sans Souci and a white tasseled top from Shein. You all know how much I look for versatility in anything I choose to wear, because honestly, most of us aren't rich and we like to have clothes we can style multiple different ways and create new outfits out of. Both pieces of my outfit were very versatile today and I am excited to see how many ways I can style them!

Back to tassels, though. This top was classy yet summer fun-friendly with the colorful tassel detailing along the hem of the sleeves! While my outfit today was worn to a meeting, and most of my summer days are spending either working, at meetings, or running errands, it's nice to still at least feel the tropical vibes with some tassels! Also, they're super fun if you're fidgety like I am and ALWAYS need something to do with your hands.

With this top, if you're a lover of color, to play it safe I suggest picking one of the colors in the tassels and pairing either a pair of shoes or even a cute pair of pants with one of those colors! For instance, I love red the most so I wore red heels to make my top stand out even more! I do, however, think a color like green or blue would work well with the colors in the tassels as well! It's all a matter of playing around and mix-matching until you find the perfect look!

I'd love to hear what you all think about tassels -- do you love them or are they too much for your style? Let me know in the comments! And if you LOVE them -- check out my wishlist below of some of the cutest tasseled clothes and accessories trending this season! Thanks for reading!

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Wearing: Shein top (multiple colors / $15), Sans Souci wrap skirt (also in yellow / $34), Call it Spring heels (old / shop this similar style), oNecklace personlized bar necklace ($44.95)

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Bold Colored Tops Are Amazing, and Here's Why We Should All Own One

2017-07-12T15:56:00.001-04:00

Some of us happen to enjoy colors a little more than others, but that's no reason why we all shouldn't own at least one colorful top in our wardrobes!

So for all of my current blog readers -- I'm trying out something new! I want my blog to serve purpose, I want to be able to share style tips and give more insight into why I wear what I wear and the thought that went into me putting each of my outfits together. Sure, I have a "fashion" blog, but I want to be able to fully share why I style my clothes the way I do and provide tips to help others. That was what my blog was initially meant to be, but I will admit I have been getting lazy with it the past few years in the midst of the growth of Instagram and the loss of views to actual blogs.

However, I want to keep my blog strong and write what I love to write about! So today, this outfit is super simple but full of color. I go through phases of being into different styles a little more than others, after all I'm a total style chameleon and I like a little of everything! But lately for me it's been color - being in NYC is allowing me to be myself style-wise, I can be as colorful and bold as I want and I don't get stared at like I would in Florida.

I've been slowly acquiring more and more colored tops - I recently got a yellow one, now I've got this hot pink one. It's weird, but I've never had many tops in my closet. Mostly dresses and my only options for a top would be a band tee or a striped tee. Both things that I don't necessarily want to blog about all the time. But a colorful top is something we should all own, even if you're not the biggest fan of color! I love all colors, but this hot pink off-the-shoulder top from Sans Souci really stood out to me. It's perfectly fitted and has a nice ruffled detail up top. But if you don't know what color you'd be a fan of, just think about colors that flatter your eyes or the color of your hair. You can't go wrong with blues in my opinion, it's a color that almost everyone agrees with!

My pink top really dressed up my ripped up light wash denim from Wallflower, and that leads me to the second reason why we all need a good colored top! With a solid, boldly colored top, the styling possibilities are endless! I wore mine today with jeans, but I can't wait to pair it with my black wrap skirt, white cutoff shorts, and even my light wash overalls! A colored top with no print allows for it to be paired with prints, so printed pants and skirts would look perfect as well! Since I was just wearing jeans, I wore some light pink wedges from AMI Clubwear with lots of detail in the floral embroidery-styled detailing on the side.

I'm trying to keep my love for color here short, so I'll end it after this one last point. When I am putting effort into styling together an outfit, I like to make sure I stand out! I love when I catch everyone's attention and get constant compliments on an outfit I put time and thought into, it just makes me feel good and is motivation to me, and I'm sure you can all agree with me on that. Color is always going to stand out, so if I'm going somewhere special or have any reason to dress up in general, I'm heading straight for ways that I can incorporate some color into my outfit. This usually ends up either being in my top, my shoes, or both!

Colored tops make for such a great eye-catching statement piece and can be worn with anything, so I can't see why anyone wouldn't invest in one colored top for their closet! What do you all think? I'd love to hear your thoughts on your favorite tops to wear when you're trying to make a statement in the comments! Hope you're all having a great week! 💖

BTW, this outfit will not break the bank at all and nothing is over $50! SHOP BELOW!

Wearing: Sans Souci top ($18), Wallflower jeans ($24.99), AMI Clubwear wedges ($17.99), T-Shirt & Jeans bag ($42).

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Bright, Bold, Yellow!

2017-07-06T13:14:00.002-04:00

I don't know if it's just the excitement of the summer in me, but I'm obsessed with anything and everything color lately! I'm using every opportunity I can lately to incorporate pops of color into all of my outfits.

Another thing to add to the reasons of why I love New York is that with every colorful outfit, there's a colorful wall or location to take pictures in front of! This spot is just a block away from my apartment in Brooklyn and it made the colors in my outfit pop so well!

I don't think I have ever owned the first yellow piece in my wardrobe, but this yellow top from Sans Souci was a perfect first! When I get colored tops like this, I always find a printed monochromatic bottom to pair with it. This striped skirt from Aeropostale I've owned for years now, but it's still a great go-to, and here it made my outfit a little more bold and added some shape as well so I'd say it's the perfect attention grabber! So I wouldn't feel like a bumble bee (not that that's a bad thing lol!) I put on my comfortable magenta pumps from Banana Republic and my cute new crossbody from Poppy Lovers and my outfit was complete!

Wearing: Sans Souci top, Aeropostale skirt, Banana Republic pumps, Poppy Lovers bag.

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Feeling "Brazilian Glam" with Tone Skin Care

2017-06-30T15:09:00.002-04:00

This post is sponsored by Tone Skin Care, however, all thoughts and opinions included are my own.

This summer I'm getting #MyBrazilianGlam on with my favorite body washes for the summer season!

Being the true Florida girl that I am, Summer is always such a great time of the year for me and the highlight events of my years always come from this warm and sunny time season. The tropical scents, vibrant colors all around, and the happiness I associate with these two things put me in a state of pure bliss. This is my first summer spent in my new city, NYC, and I'll admit I'm a little homesick for that Florida summer feeling. It's funny how something as simple as switching up a body wash can help, but it does. Tone Skin Care's new fun and colorful Brazilian Glam brings that essence of summer scents and vibrant-ness together in a body wash that is simply #FragranceMadeFun! I love smelling like the sweet scent of summer, and my new secret throughout the year will be smelling like summer all year long as I use these amazingly fun body washes throughout every season!

On The Boardwalk

2017-06-28T13:48:00.000-04:00

Coney Island is amazing... the beach makes me feel like I'm right at home!

When I got this new gorgeous one piece swimsuit in the mail from AMI Clubwear I knew it was finally time to go visit Coney Island since I never been. I'm already ready to go back, because even though I've never been much of a beach-goer, being at the beach here in NYC makes me feel like I'm back home in Florida. This swimsuit is probably my favorite that I've worn in years... it's got all of the perfect details and the red florals on the front are so beautiful! It's also very flattering to my curves which is another win for me!

Wearing: AMI Clubwear black lace-up floral swimsuit

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Dark Denim

2017-06-23T13:19:00.001-04:00

Ever since I found a denim brand that flatters my figure instead of flattens it, jeans have become my best friend...

After years of trying to hide how my body naturally looks, I now work out more than I ever have and enjoy building strength and toning the parts of my body that I once thought were "huge" and being obsessed with fashion, I never thought I could be "fashionable" with thicker thighs. I embrace my legs and bum now, and but most jeans are made in a way that flattens my natural curves and I've looked and looked for the perfect pair of jeans that fits my body in the most flattering way. I discovered Wallflower Jeans earlier this year and now my wardrobe is filled with different colors and styles of their wide collection of denim! I just had to mention them here in a post because I know so many other ladies out there face the same problem I was having! If you own any jeans from Wallflower, comment below and tell me your thoughts!

Wearing: Poppy Lovers top, Wallflower Jeans cropped skinny denim (only $19.99!), ASOS mules, T-Shirt & Jeans bag.

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City Streets

2017-06-13T12:28:00.000-04:00

I haven't worn a pair of overalls probably since I was 4 years old... but hey, isn't everyone nowadays dressing as their 90s child-selves?

When I first put this thing on, my fiance thought it was pretty man repelling, but I knew I looked pretty awesome and I totally owned those overalls, and by the end of the day he came to finally agree with me and admitted that he completely changed his mind on them. When you feel good in something, your confidence always leaves you looking radiant, no matter what you're wearing.

I paired these Sans Souci overalls with a graphic cropped sweatshirt from Sans Souci as well. I love the easy, urban look it gave off all while still feeling comfy and fab!

Wearing: Sans Souci top, Sans Souci overalls, Zara boots, Michael Kors bag, ASOS choker.

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