GivenChic Girl : A Style Blog by Kate O'Regan

sail away

2013-07-25T09:19:00.000-07:00

Shirt: J.Crew (on sale!) // Skirt: kate spade (2 years old, last seen here) // Flats: Valentino // Aviators: Ray-Ban // Jewelry: Tiffany & Co, David Yurman // Lipstick: kate spade

I've never worn a short sleeve button down shirt before but when I went to J.Crew & saw this one, I knew it would be an easy summer shirt that could be thrown on & paired with so many things like white denim or this bright yellow kate spade skirt. I am already mentally planning future outfits mixing & matching with a floral print skirt or pant too!
I decided to choose bright pink studded flats to give another dynamic to the outfit & make it fun, preppy & a tiny bit edgy!

tea party celebration

2013-07-24T14:41:00.003-07:00

Everyone that knows me & my mom well knows I we are huge Kate & Wills' fans! We just simply adore them, so to celebrate the new baby prince George, we went to Crown & Crumpet in San Francisco for a traditional British tea!

"London Calling" kate spade new york bracelet.

Gluten Free option for me!

Thanks Crown & Crumpet for a fabulous afternoon!

pleats + floral

2013-07-23T10:19:00.001-07:00

Top: Joie (old, last seen here) // Skirt: Banana Republic (old) // Belt: J.Crew // Heels: Louboutin

Off to San Francisco for tea & cookies to celebrate Kate + William + Baby so it's a short post today!
:)

navy

2013-07-19T12:24:00.000-07:00

Top: Madewell (on sale!) // Skirt: Banana Republic // Belt: Anthropologie // Wedges: LK Bennett

I bought this belt at Anthropologie with a gift card I received for my birthday back in April & to say I'm obsessed is an understatement! It adds the perfect amount of sparkle to any outfit & brings it from a casual daytime look to a night out.

In other news...
Out of all the thousands of people that entered the Sunglass Hut contest on Instagram, I can't believe how lucky I am to be one of the six finalists! They are only picking one winner & I would be so grateful if you helped me be that person! To vote click here! :)

pretty in pink

2013-07-17T08:57:00.002-07:00

Peplum: J.Crew // Skirt: Banana Republic (7 years old!) // Heels: Louboutin // Clutch: kate spade // Belt: J.Crew

I'm off to YogaWorks so it's a short post today but I hope everyone has a fantastic Wednesday!

playing with prints

2013-07-16T12:18:00.000-07:00

Top: Banana Republic // Skirt: J.Crew (old) // Shoes: Christian Louboutin // Purse: Coach // Belt: J.Crew

I am always a fan of mixing prints but it can be hard, so when I am shopping I try to keep in mind the key colors in my printed skirts to make it easier. I spotted this top at Banana Republic over the weekend & with my love of absolutely anything nautical, I knew it had to come home with me. To make these two prints work well together, I highlighted the blue paisley in the skirt, making it an easy & comfortable outfit!

I hope everyone is having a great week so far! :)

casual friday

2013-07-15T10:14:00.001-07:00

Top: Joie (old, similar here) // Skirt: Banana Republic // Sandals: Sam Edelman // Purse: Coach // Aviators: Ray-Ban // Earrings: kate spade // Lipstick: Bobbi Brown "Pink"

On Friday morning I woke up & did my very first TRX class at YogaWorks. Have any of you ever tried it? It was quite possibly the hardest exercise class I've ever taken! That being said, I didn't really want to do much after but had errands to run so a cozy Friday afternoon watching Friends reruns would have to wait! Wanting to get out of the house quickly, I went for my go to 5 minute hair, makeup & outfit, spending a total of only 15 minutes getting ready for the day!

Hair: A french braid & a ballerina bun, how easy & chic could it get? Especially in the hotter summer months, keeping my hair off my neck becomes a constant!

Makeup: My favorite quick & easy makeup is light foundation or tinted moisturizer with a bronzer & a bold lip. You look fresh for summer & not over done. The bonus is that it takes under 5 minutes to accomplish!

Outfit: A maxi skirt & a printed top, sounds easy right? Because it totally is & ridiculously comfortable for all day wear! To dress this up a bit for a summer night out, switch out the sandals for nude wedges throw on this Anthropologie belt & swap out the crossbody bag for this Clare Vivier clutch!

PS: You will be seeing this Coach bag all summer long, I am officially obsessed! (I love this color too!)

patriotic

2013-07-12T12:05:00.000-07:00

T-Shirt: J.Crew // Skirt: J.Crew // Heels: Louboutin // Necklace: J.Crew // Purse: Coach

Short post today but I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

day to night

2013-07-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

T-Shirt: Madewell // Skirt: Zara (2 years old) // Heels: Christian Louboutin // Aviators: Ray-Ban // Lipstick: Laura Mercier "Cranberry"

I got this skirt two years ago from Zara & have yet to feature it on GCG until now, which is crazy because I absolutely love the mod appeal it has with the white paneling down the sides, definitely something you don't see that often anymore! For these hotter summer months, it's a great day to night piece from Sunday brunches with girlfriends to date nights! I featured here a more dressed up version so for a casual look, swap out the heels for leopard print flats & throw on a chambray button down & you are set!

red oxfords

2013-07-10T13:50:00.000-07:00

Top: J.Crew // Skirt: J.Crew (last seen here) // Oxfords: From a boutique in Sweden // Purse: Coach // Lipstick: YSL #5

After a fabulous vacation with my mom, I am back to blogging! While wandering Stockholm, Sweden, we came across these oxfords & I was immediately in love (like really in love!) It was July 4th so my justification that it was only appropriate to buy red shoes, right!? I am a huge fan of menswear pieces & these are definitely not a disappointment!

Happy Wednesday all :)

snapshots from Northern Europe

2013-07-08T10:32:00.003-07:00

Oslo, Norway // Warnemünde, Germany // Tallin, Estonia // St. Petersburg, Russia // Helsinki, Finland // Stockholm, Sweden // Copenhagen, Denmark

Oslo, Norway

Warnemünde, Germany

we heard about this chocolate & couldn't resist!

Tallin, Estonia

St. Petersburg, Russia

wandering the Hermitage Museum.

we had dinner & dancing at Catherine Palace which was so wonderful!

Helsinki, Finland

farmers market we absolutely loved!

developed an obsession for macaroons.

Stockholm, Sweden

celebrated in our stylish flag scarves we found in Germany!

had a little bit of a "Canadian tuxedo" going on to avoid wearing my jacket again! none the less, we absolutely loved this cafe we found in the center of the old historic buildings.

Copenhagen, Denmark

told you I had an obsession! just had to pick up some macaroons in Paris before the flight home :)

lady in red + leather

2013-07-04T04:02:00.000-07:00

Leather Jacket: Vince (last seen here) // Silk Top: J.Crew (on sale!) // White Denim: J.Crew // Heels: Halogen // Aviators: Ray-Ban

white blazer + statement necklace

2013-07-02T07:01:00.000-07:00

Blazer: Zara // Tank: J.Crew // Skirt: Madewell // Purse: Coach // Necklace: J.Crew // Heels: Louboutin

One Year Blogoversary!

2013-06-28T06:10:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it has been 1 year (June 29th to be exact) since I started GivenChic Girl! The amount of support from everyone has been absolutely incredible & I wouldn't have been able to do it without you all. I have high hopes for GCG & can't wait to see what's in store for this next year!
In celebration of one year of blogging, I put together a few of my favorite pictures from the year!
Enjoy! xo

Photograph by: Alexandre Dorriz, Art Direction: Jessica Barr

Don't forget to follow me:
Instagram: kate_oregan
Facebook: GivenChic Girl
Pinterest: GivenChic Girl

skirt the rules

2013-06-27T06:15:00.000-07:00

Peplum Top: J.Crew // Skirt: BCBG // Clutch: kate spade // Heels: Christian Louboutin // Jewelry: J.Crew, David Yurman, Tiffany & Co. // Lipstick: YSL #5

To stay updated on my travels check out my instagram kate_oregan

packing stylishly in a carry on

2013-06-25T07:38:00.004-07:00

Things to Remember:

1. Don't pack outfits, pack a theme. For my trip, I chose my favorite pieces in my closet & then picked pieces that will double as casual or dressy. For example, the chambray button down can be worn as a shirt or a light cover up over a dress.

2. Make sure to use your cross body bag & shoes as storage for jewelry. When packing in a carry on you will have to utilize every inch of space!

3. Remember, you have your carry on suitcase as well as your carry on bag so make sure to utilize both. Put your electronics, toiletries & travel essentials like wallet, neck pillow, etc. in your purse.

4. Wear the very heavy stuff on the plane to save room in your suitcase!

travel style

2013-06-24T08:28:00.002-07:00

 Have you ever noticed how celebrities are always dressed in skin tight leather pants & 4 inch heels through airports? Well, if you are anything like me, that just doesn't seem comfortable so I decided to show you all what my absolute must haves for traveling are. This list will guarantee comfort & assures that you will arrive at your destination in style!

+ Lightweight Jacket: Find a piece in your closet that has a little stretch and won’t wrinkle easily. If you can wear it again on your trip, that's an added bonus, so definitely choose wisely!

+ Boyfriend Jeans: If you’re anything like me, the last thing I want on a long flight is pants that are too tight or extremely uncomfortable. To stay simple, stylish & comfortable, go for a boyfriend style jean.

+ Flats: There’s nothing worse than holding up the security line trying to get your shoes off while everyone behind you stares. To avoid this, go for a neutral pair of flats that are comfortable, easy to get on & off and can be worn again on your trip.

+ Scarf: To me, a scarf is the most important piece to have with you when traveling. I always keep it simple & go for a neutral yet classic scarf that keeps you stylish. Best part, is that it doubles as a great accessory, pillow, or blanket!

J.Crew jacket & jeans // Madewell T-Shirt // Gentle Soul Flats // Tarnish scarf via Nordstroms

For the latest updates on my trip, follow me on instagram: kate_oregan

crave or save: ballerina flats

2013-06-21T07:08:00.003-07:00

The ballerina inspired shoe style became immensely popular with these Chloe flats, but being a college student and not having a spare $485, doesn't allow for such splurges on such a trendy shoe.

Since seeing them & loving the style, I have been searching for an alternative. While looking around for a comfortable flat to wear on my upcoming vacation, I spotted these Gentle Souls by Kenneth Cole! They have received amazing reviews & I am so excited for them to be delivered to me today & not to mention the incredible price difference!

I leave on Monday for my trip but will be sharing some packing & beauty tips as well as my style as usual & showing some vacation pictures too!

For the latest updates, check out my instagram: kate_oregan

Happy Friday!

makeup brushes 101

2013-06-19T09:04:00.001-07:00

There is something so important about using the right brushes. It doesn't matter if they are from Target, or Bobbi Brown, using the correct brush will make all the difference in the way your makeup looks. I'm pretty sure I used the wrong brushes for years, so hopefully this helps anyone who is currently using a concealer brush all over your eyelids! Besides it making all the difference, the other great news is that brushes last years, so once you get a makeup routine, you are set for quite a long time!

five things

2013-06-18T10:47:00.000-07:00

I am coming up on my one year anniversary of starting my blog & figured that now would be perfect timing to share five things about me that you probably don't know!

1. I have the craziest fear of snakes, spiders, & bees...basically anything that can sting or bite, I am running away in a mad dash!

2. I can't believe I'm admitting it but I am completely obsessed with reality television. The Bachelor, Giuliana & Bill, The Kardashians, you name it, I am watching it!

3. I'm gluten free & crazy about doing yoga & pilates at YogaWorks. I've tried a thousand different types of workouts but finally found something I love so much, it's become a second home!

4. My family & friends know that I am a music fanatic! Some of my favorites include:
Mumford & Sons
The Civil Wars
Adele
Taylor Swift
Lana Del Ray
Ellie Goulding
Imagine Dragons
The Lumineers
(the list could go on & on!)

5. I graduate college in May of 2014 & would move to New York City or London in a heartbeat!

Hope you enjoyed learning a little bit more about me!

little house

2013-06-17T10:41:00.004-07:00

last photo is courtesy of my instagram: kate_oregan

Blazer: Zara // Sweater: Gap // Shorts: Lucky Brand // Heels: BCBGeneration // Clutch: kate spade // Aviators: Ray-Ban // Lipstick: YSL #5 (Sephora exclusive)

Although it's hot outside, there is something so fresh & summery about wearing a hot pink blazer with denim shorts! I decided to wear heels & carry a clutch, but for an even more casual look, swap those two pieces out for embellished sandals & a crossbody bag.

Happy Monday!

leather glam

2013-06-14T09:08:00.000-07:00

Leather Jacket: Vince // Dress: J.Crew (last seen here)

// Necklace: J.Crew (last seen here) // Heels: Louboutin

I'm come to find recently that I am a big fan of mixing & matching different styles. A silk dress in a vibrant color with a glam leather jacket was the perfect way to bring together my multiple style personalities! When packing up my room at school & going through my clothes, I came to terms with the fact that I love being classy, preppy, edgy & only with my leather jacket, a little rock n' roll!

What styles do you wear & represent the most?
Happy Friday & cheers to the weekend ahead!

sea of blue

2013-06-13T11:31:00.003-07:00

Dress: Madewell (last seen here in red) // Heels: Halogen // Necklace: J.Crew (on sale!) //

Handbag: kate spade

I've recently been wearing blue more than any other color in my wardrobe because it's bold,
bright, vibrant & makes my eye & hair color pop! Lately, people have asked me if it's hard to get dressed in a stylish way everyday & I've been telling most, that picking out daily outfits can be as simple as a comfy dress & a bold necklace like I did in this post. Simplicity makes developing your style & wardrobe so much easier. Stay comfortable in colors & styles you love & picking out your outfit every morning will be a breeze!

sunshine

2013-06-12T15:34:00.001-07:00

Dress: J.Crew (last seen here), Necklace: Anthropologie, Handbag: kate spade, Heels: Louboutin

short post today...hope everyone is having an amazing week!

timeless

2013-06-11T16:54:00.003-07:00

Sweater: J.Crew(old), Skirt: Madewell, Shoes: Louboutin, Clutch: kate spade(old), Bracelets: kate spade, Earrings: Tiffany & Co, Ring: David Yurman

I got back from Las Vegas on Sunday evening & what an amazing weekend it was with my girlfriends!

I wore bright colors all weekend in the 112 degree weather & it made me crave a classic black & white ensemble with a pop of pink! this skirt from Madewell is stretchy, cozy & classic & is so easy to pair with everything!