Fall Finds: Moto Jackets Under $100

Throwing on a good jacket is one of the easiest ways to take your wardrobe from summer into fall. Last year, I wore my L.L.Bean olive green utility jacket to death, and I know I'll be bringing it back out in a couple week's time. This season I found a very similar version (with a hood!) at H&M for only $50, and it also comes in a beautiful blush shade.

One piece that I've been on the hunt for is a good faux leather or suede jacket. Personally, I think it's the perfect piece to layer over an outfit for a night out, and it's definitely more chic than the fleece I've been using for the past few years. Although I would ideally like to invest in a real leather or suede jacket that will stand the test of time, I know I'd just be paranoid about it getting spilled on or ruined at a house party, and I'd be too afraid to actually wear it.

Here are some of my favorite options I've come across in my search, all of which are under $100.

Collective Haul + Catch-up!

This post is loooong overdue. The end of July and beginning of August were a bit of a whirlwind for me. I went on a family vacation to upstate New York (which included a visit to Niagara Falls), wrapped up a full-time internship, packed my things, and arrived back home in Florida last week for a bit of R&R before the school year starts back up again. Attempting to keep up a blogging schedule was definitely difficult with a 9-5 job, but after navigating through my internship this summer I know I’ll be that much more prepared going forward, especially come college graduation and full-time employment.

Now that I’ve had some time to unwind, I wanted to share a collective haul of some of the new fashion and beauty things I’ve accumulated over the past month or so. I’ve had a chance to wear or use most of these items, so I’ll include some first impressions as well.

Red/White/Blue

The 4th of July is quickly approaching (*Lana Del Ray's 'National Anthem' plays in background*), so I thought I would put together a patriotic look for today's post. This outfit is perfect for your typical 4th festivities: casual get-togethers, barbecues, firework-watching, etc. It's cute, comfy, and put-together, and details like the scalloped skirt hem and the embroidered hat keep things fun/festive without being over-the-top.

TBT: Two Timeless Pieces

As it is Thursday, I thought it would be fun to write a little "tbt" fashion post. Back in high school, I took my senior pictures with one of my favorite teachers, who also happens to be an amazing photographer. I remember spending a lot of time thinking about the clothing I would wear, not wanting to look back on the photos in the future regretting my fashion choices. Thankfully, four years later, I still love (and wear!) the pieces I decided on. The floral maxi dress is a perfect spring/summer staple, and the simple silhouette makes it timeless. And you can't go wrong with a little black dress- this one is made of the comfiest cotton, and the v-neck and fit-and-flare style are flattering on so many body types. At the end of this post I've linked some current options similar to these two timeless staples. Enjoy!

Tropical Jumpsuit

I wanted to put together one more quick outfit post from my visit to St. Simons Island. The weather was beautiful and sunny, and seeing as I was on an island, I thought this tropical jumpsuit that I found at Marshalls, paired with my favorite J.Crew metallic sandals, was the perfect outfit for the trip. First of all, a jumpsuit is super easy to throw on in a hurry, and second of all, it's a great day-to-night piece- I wore it when we went shopping during the day and also in the evening to dinner. I linked some similar options at the end of this post. Enjoy!

May Pinspiration

One of my favorite things to do when I'm feeling particularly uninspired is to go back through my pins on Pinterest. Aside from Instagram, it's my favorite social media platform, feeding me ideas on anything and everything. I'll visit the site searching for a couple pictures to give to my hairdresser before an appointment, and wind up spending hours browsing pictures of chic celebrities, impeccably organized laundry rooms, and adorable bunnies. Regardless,  I've accumulated some great summer inspo lately, so I thought I'd share my favorites from the past month in this post. Enjoy!

Wishing I had an occasion to wear a dress like one of these...

St. Simons Island

Over Memorial Day weekend, I got the chance to visit St. Simons Island, GA. As I had only been there once before for a brief day-trip, I had such a wonderful time exploring the Island, biking to the beach, and eating some great seafood.

Affordable One Piece Swimsuits

With Memorial Day Weekend officially kicking off the summer season, I thought it would be appropriate to share some of my top swimwear picks. One pieces are everything right now, and I'm definitely looking to try the trend when I hit the beach over the next few months.

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9

Intern Diaries Vol. III: First Week Fashion

It's safe to say that the first few days of a new job or internship are the most stressful. You'll likely be occupied with things like navigating the office, figuring out your role, and meeting your coworkers, just to name a few. The last thing you want to be worried about is how you look. It's so important, especially in that first week, to wear something you feel 100% comfortable and confident in. For me, I've learned that my fool-proof outfit, especially if I'm not entirely sure how formal the office will be, is a dress (I particularly love shift and fit-and-flare silhouettes) paired with a structured blazer and comfortable, broken-in leather flats.

Clockwise from top left:

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10

Fun Finds for Summer

Now that I'm back home in Florida, I've been shopping around for some new pieces for the summer season, from clothing to swimsuits to accessories. For me, summer is all about tropical prints and bright colors, so I wanted to round up some of my favorite items that are more playful and unique than your everyday basics (without being too over the top).

Blooming in Blush

If you can't already tell by the name of my blog, I'm a little obsessed with blush. I found this midi skirt from Charlotte Russe for only $15 (this shimmery one also caught my eye), and it's such a great statement piece to have on hand for spring and summer. Even just paired with a simple black t-shirt and some nude flats, the pleats and structure of the skirt make for a chic, put-together look. On this particular spring day, my friend/photographer Taylor and I decided to do a little house-hunting in Brookline ;) Enjoy!

OOTD: Classic Blues

I'm taking advantage of the beautiful spring scenery yet again for another OOTD. Even though finals are around the corner, it's easy for my spirits to be lifted when there are tulips and cherry blossoms blooming on nearly every block. That's one of my favorite things about Boston- it's certainly a bustling city, but you don't have to venture far to connect with nature.

Intern Diaries Vol. II: Totes Prepared

After launching my "Intern Diaries" series, I've had a lot of fun brainstorming tips and advice to share with you all based on my own personal experience. In the first volume of the series, I gave the low-down on getting the internship, but in this post I want to touch on how to prepare for life on the job- more specifically, what to pack in your work bag to cover your day-to-day needs. Keep reading to see some chic yet functional tote bag recommendations, as well as what I plan to have on hand in my bag this summer.

OOTD: Denim & Florals

It's finally spring here in Boston! With the weather getting warmer and the flowers beginning to bloom, I decided to take advantage of the scenery at a nearby park.

Easter Dress Finds Under $50

I can't believe how quickly Easter is approaching! Whether you celebrate the holiday or not, it's the perfect time to treat yourself to some candy (bring on the Cadbury Mini Eggs!) and a new dress. I've rounded up some of my favorite finds for the occasion, from florals to gingham to pastels. Most importantly, all are under $50. Enjoy!

LuLu's Give Me a Print Light Blue Shift Dress ($48)
Also comes in pink, yellow, and gray!

OOTD: Jumpsuits & Bows

I recently rediscovered this jumpsuit that I purchased from Uniqlo last summer. It's super affordable, chic, and comfortable, yet I only wore it a handful of times. Looking back, I have no idea why... I think at the time I didn't realize how versatile it could be, and thought I could only reserve it for "dressier" occasions. Regardless, I'm glad I finally decided to be a bit more experimental, because it turns out it pairs really nicely with a blouse or even a simple t-shirt underneath.

The weather here hasn't been very spring-like (it was 35 and rainy yesterday :/ ), so layering has been my best friend. I love the way this cream and black long sleeve Forever 21 blouse looks as a base layer, and the bow adds a cute touch. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention- the jumpsuit looks great with both heels and flats!

Jumpsuit: Uniqlo (this year they have a sleeved and a camisole version!) // Blouse: Forever 21 (similar) // Flats: Banana Republic (newest version)

Victoria Beckham for Target

The Victoria Beckham x Target collection launches in just 6 short days! After seeing previews online and on Victoria's social media accounts for the past month or so, I cannot wait to get my hands on some of her pieces. I've always admired her style (tbt to when she was never seen without heels on... truly inspirational), and I was so impressed with how seamlessly she transitioned from Spice Girl to elite fashion designer when she launched her brand almost 10 years ago. I've browsed her collections on occasion for inspiration, but even her ready-to-wear pieces cost a minimum of around $1,000. On the contrary, most of her Target items are only $30-$40, and I can see many of them making great workwear staples (while still being different and fun). Keep reading to see my favorites from the collection...

Loafer Love

As you may have been able to tell from some of my previous posts, I've been on the hunt for a good pair of loafers this season. I was absolutely obsessed with this pair from J.Crew, but I couldn't justify shelling out that much cash. Luckily, when I was browsing the DSW website a few weeks ago, I stumbled across this pair of mules for only $40. Given that they looked much more expensive (ahem @Gucci), on top of they fact that I happened to have a $10 certificate, I placed an order within minutes.

Spring Wishlist

Happy Spring!! In honor of the start of a new season, I thought I'd put together a quick post sharing some of the fashion pieces I have my eye on. There's something about the "spring cleaning" mentality that makes me want to refresh my wardrobe by mixing in a few new items. Because a couple of my picks are from J.Crew (their spring collection is irresistible), I wanted to let you know that they are currently offering 30% off everything until Friday! Enjoy!

ASOS Petite Skater Dress with Cotton Lace Trim

Pink Gingham

After writing my "What I Packed for Spring Break" post, I wanted to share one of the looks I put together with the pieces I brought with me to Florida. I have to admit that looking at these pictures is pretty painful considering I'm currently back in Boston with record low temps and a foot of snow on the ground :( Nonetheless, spring has to be just around the corner (right...?), and I know this white skirt/button down shirt combo will be a recurring theme in my wardrobe over the spring & summer seasons.