STYLE: Varsity Team

Dress- Forever21 | Jacket-Express | Watch- Thrifted | Necklace- Forever21 | Shoes- Lucky Brand 

This is one of those outfits that I just threw two things together and said "ok, well, I guess this is what I'm wearing today" because I looked at the clock and realized I was already running late. Then when I walked into the office, Mary (my so lovely and talented photographer) asked me "So we're taking blog pictures today?" So if you've ever wondered if I really dress like I do in my pictures, the answer is yup, because sometimes I don't even plan on taking pictures and they still somehow end up on here.

xoxo, Katie

OOTD: Do I really need a title?

Long time, no blog, yeah? It's mostly due to a general lack of inspiration and crappy weather. Occasionally it stops raining and I can run outside, however this outfit isn't my favorite, and actually spurred me to get myself back on track with food/working out.  I'm always surprised by how I look in pictures compared to what I think I look like. Sometimes it's good, sometimes...not so much.

Dress- Timo Weiland

Jacket: Forever 21

If anyone cares about my life outside of the clothes I wear, it's been getting harder and harder to find structure in my life as the summer progresses. My job is frustratingly wonderful, because while I actually love the career I'm going in to, my team continues to give me next to no responsibilities. It's mostly because a new assistant merchant started at the exact same time as me, and they've been giving her pretty much any job that would be appropriate for an intern. It doesn't help that my desk is no where near my team, so I pretty much have no way of knowing what's going in unless they go out of their way to clue me in...

But enough complaining. I've been learning a lot and I wouldn't go back and change anything. The last 7 weeks have solidified in my mind that I really do want to go into this field, which is valuable in itself. I have no reason to complain (especially since I'm getting paid).

In the style of Elana from Room334, I'll tell you what I've been watching lately (although I promise it's much less cultured). Sex and the City was completely under my radar until earlier this summer. Of course I'd heard of it, but never actually sat down to watch it. Boy, have I been missing out. It is the perfect guilty pleasure chick-flick style show that I love to indulge in occasionally. Have you been watching anything great recently, old or new?

xoxo, Katie

OOTD: I Feel Naked

It's a weird thing, posting a picture of your wearing clothes on a fashion blog because you feel naked. I mean, does it defeat the purpose? Or am I just so hipster that wearing clothing that makes me feel clothed is too mainstream? Oh, the many questions that come with this post.

Dress- LUXE

Shoes- Steve Madden

Purse- Kate Spade

Sunglasses- Target

But in all seriousness- this "dress" is supposed to be a dress. Again, I'm not making much sense. However, it's because I'm so tall (and the fact that it's designed after what I can only presume is a toddler's dress from the 1960's) that this dress is more like a tunic, but really too long to be a tunic and much too long to be a shirt. So I just told myself I was channeling my inner 1970s plane stewardess and went for it.

I lasted about two hours. It's just so uncomfortable to feel this exposed! Even with shorts on underneath I felt like every eye was on me (my Millennial mentality is kicking in there) and the back of my legs. It was super fun while it lasted, though. It almost makes me wish I'd been a teen in the 60s and 70s-almost.

And before I go, I'm pretty sure the lady across the street from me hates me after taking that last picture. I didn't realize it was her actual driveway because it leads into this run down shack-like building that I NEVER see cars in. I just assumed it wasn't in use anymore. Fair game, right? Wrong, apparently, because as I was snapping this last picture her car came tearing around the corner and almost ran me over. As if taking pictures of yourself in public wasn't awkward enough...

xoxo, Katie

PS- Let's all just take a minute to look at my purse. I'm pretty obsessed with it at the moment- so much so that I'm going to do a review post about it sometime in the coming week. My love for quality leather goods knows no bounds.

OOTD: Sporty Spice

Jacket- Express

Top- H&M

Skirt- Thrifted

Watch- Swatch

Shoes- JCP

 

I'm currently sitting at my desk, eating lunch, and trying not to get anything on this jacket, because I am that in love with it. Although I suppose if I really loved it that much I might have planned ahead better to not bring spaghetti on a day I wore it...

 

I snagged it in the sale Express had on their clearance items two weeks ago, and it was totally worth that whopping $14 I spent on it. I never buy anything from Express unless it is on sale because I really find that it isn't worth the extreme markup they put on everything. I could have found a jacket like this at Forever21 for $25, and this one was originally $50.

 

Lame assessment of the brand aside, I've been obsessing over anything sport inspired as of late. Varsity jackets, tennis skirts, sneakers, sports bras....ok I haven't gone far enough to wear a sports bra for anything other than working out, but at this rate I wouldn't put it past me. There is just something so fun (and comfortable) and wearing girly clothes with a pair of tennis shoes or a varsity jacket. Has anyone else been feeling the love lately?

xoxo, Katie

 



ps- you can check out the runway look that inspired my outfit and how I recommend styling it in my CollegeFashionista article this week! 

OOTD: Terribly Awkward and Uneventful Milestones

Top- Thrifted

Jeans- Hollister

Shoes- Giveaway prize

Watch- Express

Necklace- Thrifted

Somehow I've come to this 2-year anniversary of blogging and I still haven't figured out how to pose adequately in front of a tripod. 

That's right, it's somehow come to be two whole years since I've started this little guy. Where does the time go? If it was a baby it would be walking, talking, and learning to pee in a toilet by now. (ok that was a little unnecessary, sorry)

So while this blog might not be out of diapers yet (ie, I'm not internet famous), I really do enjoy sharing content and thoughts. It's a great outlet for me, and maybe it's better that companies aren't emailing me about being sponsored or doing promos or anything else of that nature. Without all of that, I'm free to post whatever I'm really thinking about or feeling. I don't have to worry about deadlines or required content or legalities.

That isn't to say that I wouldn't love to have all those perks. Companies, don't hesitate to email me, because even though I just spent an entire paragraph bitching, I'm more than happy to take those "downfalls" and turn them into positives. I'm a very "glass half full" type of person.

So this is really just a random post to celebrate having made it this far without giving up yet. I don't have a fancy giveaway to offer my readers (we have to remember that I'm a poor college student/intern), I want to make sure that you readers know how much I appreciate you. I can't be completely selfless and say that I don't partially do this because I love hearing back from everyone. It's one of the major perks of blogging, and I'm forever grateful to those who have stayed around, and I can't wait to see who comes along in the next to years.

Cheers to you, blog.

xoxo, Katie

OOTD: I'm a Grown Up

Sweater- H&M

Blouse-H&M

Jeans- Gap

Watch- Vintage

Heels- Target

Necklace- Thrifted

I'm writing this in my delusional late night stupor, but I knew that if I didn't force myself to get back into a schedule then I'd go another month without posting anything regularly.

This outfit just seems very...adult? I mean, layering a button up shirt and a sweater is more than enough maturity for me. So adding polka-dots seemed like the most logical solution to avoiding adulthood and trying to fly to Neverland. 

Sorry for the very short wordage. I just can't force my eyes open any longer. They're starting to do that very annoying and painful burning/prickling thing, which means I better listen for once.

xoxo, Katie

OOTD: Sophisticated Graphics

Tank- Nordstrom

Pants- H&M

Vest- Bill Blass

Heels- H&M

So this summer, CollegeFashionista assigned me to style MYSELF for my posts each week. I thought, "this is great! It's going to be a piece of cake considering I do that already!" Wrong. So wrong. Taking pictures by myself with my tripod is much more difficult than I anticipated. The focus is almost always off, the lighting is hard to set, and running back and forth to check the angles and set the timer just get annoying after two shots. I really should invest in a camera remote. Any suggestions?

On another note, this outfit was inspired by Burberry's s/s 2014 runway shows where they paired graphic t-shirts with dress pants. Fancy, huh? Well considering I really own very few graphic t-shirts (I had to dig through my closet to even find this one), I threw on a denim vest to dress it down even more. So what's the verdict- are we feeling it? I'm a fan, I think. I'm probably going to at least actually buy a shirt that doesn't look like it was attacked by wolverine after this.

xo, Katie

OOTD: Katz Dress

Dress- H&M (borrowed)

Cardigan- French Connection

Necklace- H&M

Shoes- Lucky Brand

Bag- DIY

Ring- Forever21

This is probably the last set of pictures you'll see of my campus for a little while. I am officially back home and soaking up a couple days of freedom before heading off to work for my old summer job for a couple of weeks. After that begins the intern journey! I'm so nervous and excited at the same time. I have so many diy and decorating ideas for my room, so get ready for those as soon as I get them into place.

I'm really going to miss having Mary and Elana (whom I borrowed this dress from) around to always be ready to take some outfit pictures. When I'm home I practically have to get on my knees and beg my sister to take them, and I have absolutely no clue what Wisconsin holds for me. I'm just hoping that someone there will also have a fashion blog (or photography background) and I can bribe them with baked goods. I mean, that always works for me.

PS- I pulled this cardigan out of the back of my closet and I just fell in love with it again. Why didn't I discover this earlier back in the fall when mauve and cardigans were much more appropriate? Oh well. Also, I'm realizing I have no idea what to do with a cardigan. My experience with them is minimal at best. Tips for styling, anyone?

PPS- I'm realizing that I ALWAYS seem to have a PS. Maybe I just need to make this a real thing from now on.

xoxo, Katie

OOTD: Your Boyfriend's T-shirt

Jacket- Forever21

Tshirt- Boyfriend :p

Jeans- JBrand

Boots- Baker's

Necklace- Thrifted

Bracelet- Tiffany's

Bag- Thrifted

Now before anyone starts to go all crazy on me and I get hate mail and stalkers at my dorm building- this isn't YOUR boyfriend's t-shirt. It's MY boyfriend's t-shirt. But I wanted to show everyone how easy it can be to take something super comfy and turn it into a fashion statement. The day I wore this outfit a random woman on the bus stopped me to tell me I looked very glamorous. That was the first (and probably last) time anyone has told me that and, gosh. It really made my day.

I can't think of anything I'd rather be called than glamorous. Beautiful, pretty, stylish, and fashionable are all wonderful compliments, but there is just something quite special about the idea of glamor that makes me all happy and tingly inside. Maybe it's because that is one word that I really aim to embody with my clothing regardless of the genre of style. I can be grunge-y one day and then be wearing silk the next, but I always want to find a way to keep things on trend but still stylish, classy, and coherent. Is that the best way to define glamor? I'm not 100% sure, but it's the best I could come up with. How do you define it?

So I supposed the bottom line comes down to this: somehow I manage to take a t-shirt my boyfriend doesn't like anymore and turn it into a "glamor" piece? Fashion is so incredible. I love my 'job'.

xoxo, Katie

OOTD: Livin' the Casual Life

If you are looking at these photos thinking "Why are you showing us old pictures from the fall?", you would be mistaken. Although it looks quite like November here, it is indeed mid-April and snowing as I type this post. Gosh, the Midwest is lovely.

Top- H&M

Cardigan- H&M

Jeans- Old Navy DIY

Necklaces- Thrifted

Rings- Forever21/eBay

Shoes- TOMS

There are a couple of things to be said about this outfit.

1- If you watched my Youtube video (which you totally should because not only do you see FIVE outfits not posted here, but there's some rockin' music) you will notice that this is the same outfit as the very last one in the video. I felt pretty crappy about the quality of that filming the last day so I decided to just take some pictures of it as well.

2- Having said that, I'm not sure it was worth taking pictures of. It is also painfully obvious to me that my eyebrows need some work STAT.

This outfit is super casual, and although it does feature my newest favorite necklace layering combination, I can't say I'm very fond of it. The crop length is slightly awkward (hence the absence of standing photographs) and I was having a peculiarly blasé day. Nothing bad happened, but nothing very wonderful happened either. I'm going to blame it on the perpetually grey skies at the moment. We had one fleeting day of beautiful 75 degree weather, and I would give anything to have that back. Thankfully I did get out that day for some pictures and girl time (aka coffee and ranting), so those should be up later this week with a special surprise.

In life news, I started training for my new position as the Opinions section editor for my college newspaper! I think I'll even write a lifestyle post on it. I'm all about those lately, and I can't stop watching people's daily vlogs on Youtube and reading little life snippets in their blogs. Do you have any favorite vloggers/bloggers? What are some of your favorite things they post? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo, Katie

OOTD: Transition to Spring x2!

Just like Marionberry has said before, there really are a few phrases that bloggers need to ban from their vocabulary. "Transition to spring" may be one of them, but I'll make it a point in my future posts not to use it :p

Does it get any easier than overalls? They combine the easy of a dress without the hassle of worrying about crossing your legs or your skirt flying up! They're more versatile than a romper since overalls can be combined with different shirts underneath, and don't even get me started on the possible shoe and jewelry combinations.

Can you tell I'm a fan of overalls coming back?

I can remember a pair of hot pink Rugrats overalls I had in first grade, and there may or may not be a home video stashed away somewhere of me doing a "ballerina routine" in the living room with those on...I digress.

I paired these with a crop top for an unexpected twist, and it helps to get some of that breeze in there! It's been beautifully warm the last couple of day (at least when the sun decides to come out) and I'm taking every chance I can get to feel the sun on my skin. I didn't quite soak up enough of it in California. For when the sun ISN'T shining, however, I threw on my white leather jacket from Forever21. I didn't get the chance to get any pictures with it, but trust me when I say it looks pretty darn cool.

Speaking of California, we have a little surprise in store with this post today! Out on the West Coast, the lovely Joyce of "Joyful Outfits"(yup, the same Joyce who designed my layout!) has so splendid come up with another way to move away from the chill, but in a different climate. Her bay area expertise might come in handy some day if I ever finally move my butt out there. Take a peek over at her blog for a little bit of inspiration as well. Maybe you'll find a clever way to combine the two!

OOTD: A Week of Class Outfits | March

Over the month of March I thought I would try something a little different. On the days that I didn't have time to find someone to help me take pictures, I just set up my camera in my room and filmed my outfit to compile them into one little video. I had some fun with this, and if this is well received I think I would like to keep it up! Be sure to let me know what you think of this either on here or on the comments of the Youtube video.

OOTD: What Is A Window?

Top- H&M

Jacket- H&M

Pants- Goodwill

Bracelet- Urban Outfitters

Shoes- Converse

Hat- Gift

Have I mentioned yet how much I love the track pants trend? I'm seriously hoping that this one is going to stick around for a little while because I want to jump for joy every time I remember that it's actually fashionable to wear elastic waist pants. Does life get any better than this?

This pair happens to be from Goodwill last summer when my best friend and I were searching for pieces for her to take to Israel with her. So not only do these pants allow me to eat as much as I want, but they've also been half way across the globe. Sisterhood of the traveling pants fashion blogger edition. 

Sadly, this is also the last time you will be seeing these Converse. They were officially trashed last weekend in a night involving far too much walking, a sprained ankle, and some mud. At least it was memorable. However, these have lasted me a solid 5 years and were ripped down the sides from refusing to undo the laces before putting them on. RIP, high school freshman Converse, you were a good pair of sneakers.

I also would like to share this hilarious photo of me from the photoshoot. I know it doesn't match the rest of the pictures in size, but it was just too funny not to share. Apparently I'm confused by windows and their panes. 

California...Pineapples?

I was going to save this outfit to potentially use for the 3rd round of CollegeFashionista March Madness but it isn't looking promising at this point..I'm behind almost 20 votes in this round so I'm just going to go ahead and post these. It's been since TUESDAY that I even made a post last! Time flies when you're super busy!

Top- Forever21

Skirt- H&M

Necklace- Borrowed

Sunglasses- Kohl's

Sandals- Thrifted

This was the day we went to LA over spring break and let me tell you, I stood out. Not because my outfit was too wild, but because it happened to be a pleasant 65 degrees that day and everyone around me was in jeans, long sleeves, boots! I can't imagine what they would have done in the -30 weather we had last month!

That day in LA held it's fair share of shopping, so I'm hoping that soon I will have the lighting and space to take pictures for a haul or maybe film one? I haven't quite decided yet. Let me know in the comments which you would prefer!

xoxo, Katie