My Relationship With Hats

TGIF everyone! After this first week back at school and work I feel like I need both a double shot of espresso and a whole bottle of wine right now. I'm definitely ready for a weekend of brunching and making the most of the spring like weather NYC is supposedly going to have for a little bit longer. Any of you with me?

Just a quick note about this outfit... I never wear hats, so when I bought this one from Abercrombie (I promise they actually have some great stuff now!) my sister looked at me and rolled her eyes and said I'd never wear it. So of course, to prove her wrong, I pulled it out the next day to take some photos and now it is one of my favorite accessories. Nothing like a good sibling rivalry to make me finally give hats another try... 

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Abercrombie Hat // Zara Scarf (similar) // Forever 21 Sweater (similar) 

STS Blue Jeans (similar) // BP Necklace // Report Boots

My Relationship With Hats

Friday, January 27, 2017

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Refresh

The last couple weeks have had some pretty big moments - the biggest being that Monday was my last first day of school (I graduate in May!) It's crazy to think that in just a few months time everything is going to change, so for now I'm trying to make the most of school and all the fun things that come with college. 

While some people love their spring cleaning or new years resolutions, I've always felt like a new school year or semester is really the time to hit refresh on everything. New notebooks, first day of school outfits, and filled out planners are my thing. So, as part of getting ready for school this year I knew I wanted to refresh both my wardrobe and bring back some life into my hair. Last Thursday not only did I find the perfect back to school dress, but I had gorgeous balayage highlights done by Tia Martinez at Varin Salon! It's amazing how adding a few highlights to your hair can really bring it back to life! If you're in the NYC area and thinking about switching up your hair I highly recommend Tia. Also, on a totally separate note, I'm so sick of pants (and I hate tights) so I've been pretending OTK boots can pass as pants any chance I get. If you have any clever ways to avoid pants until it's warm, please send them my way :)

SHOP THE POST: Leather Jacket // Dress // OTK Boots

Refresh

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

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One World Observatory

Back in September my friends all surprised me for my birthday with tickets to go to the One World Observatory and let me tell you it was one of the best gifts I've ever received. I didn't get to book my visit until late December and I ended up making it part of a sort of 'treat yourself' day after I finished finals.

I've been to the Top of the Rock a few times (see photos here and here), so I wasn't expecting this experience to be much different, but boy was I wrong. Every moment of your time at the observatory is a magical experience, starting with the elevator ride that shows a time lapse video of the history of New York City. We lucked out with a very clear day, so you could see not only all of Manhattan, but also the other boroughs, New Jersey, and the Statue of Liberty. It felt so special to be looking down on the NYU campus (look for the Washington Square Park arch in my photos below!) and I was even able to find the roof of my apartment building.

To really take in the view and experience everything the observatory has to offer I highly suggest getting a drink at the bar. While definitely a bit pricey it was the perfect way to extend our time at the observatory in a spot where there weren't ridiculous crowds or screaming kids.

Of course, I also had to take the typical shot sitting by the windows looking out at the city. The observatory doesn't make it easy though. They've put little metal city skylines on the edges, which are quite literally a pain in your butt. Definitely one of those 'do it for the gram' moments 😜.

One World Observatory

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

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Bell Sleeves & Booties

Happy (holiday) Monday! I'm still soaking up the last few days of my winter break before things get back to crazy with work and school next week, but couldn't be happier that a bunch of my friends have the day off! 

I mentioned in my last post, but I'm really trying to branch out a bit with my wardrobe by bringing different colors and trends in slowly. This look is the perfect combo of sticking to my tried and true favorites (denim and booties) while also branding out with bell sleeves and pink (a color I never ever wear). Even just the change from black accessories to brown ones has felt like the perfect refresh with all my pieces. I spent weeks trying to find these booties in my size for a good deal and finally pulled the trigger when the price dropped on Amazon. If you're looking for a new pair of booties these are not only the perfect suede color, but also have a super comfortable heel! 

Hope you're all having a fun long weekend! xx

SHOP THE POST: Bell Sleeve Sweater // STS Blue Jeans // Booties (also available here)

Bell Sleeves & Booties

Monday, January 16, 2017

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Caroline's Covets: Feminine Finds

There are three colors that make up about 80% off my wardrobe - black, white, and grey. While these colors will probably always be staples in my outfit rotation, lately I've been growing sick of my neutral (some might say boring?) color palette. 

Instead in my various shopping trips (I've been very bored this Winter Break) I've found myself drawn towards pieces in blush, beige, and olive with more feminine details. Maybe it's because I'm wishing spring was really just around the corner or because I finally have a spring break trip finalized, but all I've wanted to do is bring home lighter (both in color and weight) pieces.  Some, like this belle sleeve sweater I just picked up, are perfect for the colder months still ahead, while others like this chambray dress will have to wait for my trip to come out of the closet. 

I keep reading that a big trend of 2017 is going to be belle sleeves and other statement sleeves, and if that's truly the case you can sign me up. I love the statement sleeve sweater I already have and definitely see myself adding more blouses and sweaters with statements sleeves to the rotation in the next few months. I particularly love this blouse, this one, and this sweater!

Caroline's Covets: Feminine Finds

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

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Updated Leather Jacket

My winter wardrobe is all about great basics. Jeans and sweaters are pretty much always on rotation and seeing me in a skirt is pretty rare once the temperature drops below 30 degrees. If a try out a new trend it's usually one that isn't too far from my classics, like this ruffle sleeve sweater.  

So when I went out to spend a little of my Christmas money the first thing on my list was updating my (faux) leather jacket. My first leather jacket, that I bought almost four years ago, is pretty much falling apart so I knew it was time to finally replace it. Since buying this suede jacket earlier this fall BlankNYC has become one of my favorite brands, so I knew I wanted to stay within the brand when looking for a new leather jacket. This leather jacket is only $100 (and currently on sale for $60) and is the perfect leather jacket for anyone who wants something simple and doesn't want to drop their entire paycheck. The material is probably the best faux leather I've ever seen and it really feels heavy and keeps you warm. Plus, I love that the simple style can pair well with both edgier outfits and more feminine ones come spring. For now though I'm just throwing it over easy jeans and cozy sweaters to beat this freezing weather. This sweater is also on sale right now for only $20 and it is truly one of the coziest sweaters I own. 

Do you all have any brands that you swear by for leather jackets? I'm always looking for more things to add to my wishlist :)

SHOP THE POST : Leather Jacket // Beige Sweater // Similar Jeans // OTK Boots // Tote 

Updated Leather Jacket

Monday, January 9, 2017

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Out of Thin Air

My biggest piece of advice to everyone reading is to learn how to be an effective packer... because I am the w.o.r.s.t at it. Every time I pack to go home for Winter Break (~1 month long) I forget about key events I need to have outfits for, and this time was no different. I entirely forgot that I would need something somewhat dressy to wear for church Christmas eve and then family Christmas with my dad's side of my family on the 27th. 

Somehow, just this once I pulled an outfit I loved out of thin air (aka a horribly packed suitcase) and ended up wearing it for both events (ssh don't tell). I never would have thought to pair this jacket with this dress since they're both very swingy, but when you have zero options you try out some crazy pairings. Luckily, this crazy pairing worked out perfectly!

If you're looking for an easy layering piece for the rest of winter, I highly recommend this faux leather jacket. It's super thin, meaning you can easily layer a real coat on top, and comes in multiple colors perfect for every season!

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Vegan Leather Jacket // Short Necklace // Windowpane Dress (Under $50!) // OTK Boots

Out of Thin Air

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

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2017: Making Your Own Dream

I don't really know how to start this year except to say, damn I'm happy we've all made it to 2017.

I wrote a post last year at this time about how 2015 was a pretty rough year. It was a year of terrible work experiences, multiple let downs, and a lot of growing up. I started 2016 with so much uncertainty on everything in my life and I could feel my anxiety about the future starting to rip me apart. My anxiety was telling me "You can't do it. You will fail" and I was starting to believe it as I went through many internship interviews that didn't end in offers. As the winter ended I was more stressed than I have probably ever been in my life and it definitely wasn't healthy.

Luckily, I've always been surrounded by an incredibly supportive network of family and friends who made me realize that the reason for my anxiety and feeling of failure was because I was trying to do and be something that wasn't me. I was applying for jobs that I could never actually picture myself doing and I was forcing myself to try and to conform to this prescribed career path and life that wasn't what I really wanted. I realized that trying to fit into this mold wasn't working, and I had to find a way to do what would make me happy.

Now I wouldn't say the moment I had this realization all my anxiety fell away, but what did happen is that I found myself making choices that led to experiences and opportunities I was actually excited about. I left interviews raving about the people I'd met and imagining myself working for the company. I stopped doing things I didn't actually want to do and spent that time focusing on me and what I love. The changed I made led to two amazing internships that not only helped me figure out where I'd like my career to take me, but also made me confident in the fact that I can and will succeed. These experiences allowed me to meet people whom I truly admire and hope to be like someday, something that I'd never really had at work before. By pursuing the things I really love I was given opportunities like speaking on a panel of bloggers  and made some of the best memories on spontaneous trips (Example 1, 2 & 3).

Letting go of the fear of not doing what others wanted or expected and instead just focusing on my dreams and passions made 2016 one of my best years yet. So, instead of trying to make plans or goals for 2017 (because can we ever really predict the future?), I'm making a promise to myself to keep working hard to create a life that I love and making choices that are based on what I want, not what others expect.

For everyone out there, whether you're a senior in high school waiting on college decisions, a senior in college on the job hunt, or a 30-something feeling in a rut, I challenge you do the same. Believe in your ability to create a life for yourself and we'll all make 2017 an amazing year.

2017: Making Your Own Dream

Sunday, January 1, 2017

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