Baby Blues

We all have those pieces in our closet that we rarely wear but aren't willing to get rid of JUST yet because we'll totally wear them again. For me, that was this baby blue pair of pants from Club Monaco. I used to wear them all the time, but was in a rut for awhile and couldn't find anything to pair them with. This past weekend I finally worked it out as I headed to my friends baby shower (they're having a boy so pastel blue pants were highly appropriate). I paired them with this fluffy white sweater from Loft - this spring has been alternating between "is it summer yet?" hot and "I thought winter ended" cold so a sweater is still a solid option. I topped off the look with basic nude heels, not overly dressy but still enough to bring the look together. What pieces from your wardrobe are you still holding onto? Let me know in the comments below!

Wardrobe Essentials: Blazer

When building your wardrobe, it's always important to have a solid foundation in some classic staple pieces. Aside from the little black dress, my next favorite wardrobe essential is the blazer. This piece from Loft is definitely my new favorite addition to my wardrobe! I love that it's collarless and looks great with jeans, a dress, or a collarless button down. How do you like to style your blazers? Do you have a favorite cut or color? Let me know in the comments below!

Versatility

When you have a go to piece in your closet, you'll find a million different ways to wear it. Mine happens to be this sack dress from Gap. It may look like a basic black top, but it's a versatile shapeless super comfy piece. Sometimes I'll style it with knee high boots, a long necklace and no belt, or I'll cinch it in and wear some flats. Yesterday I decided to wear it as a top and paired it with some distressed jeans. I dressed the look up by adding a faux fur belt and some black wedges. Not overly dressy and not too casual, I was Easter dinner ready 👌🏼Tell me about some of your favorite versatile pieces in the comments below!

Getting Organized:

I don't know about the rest of you, but when it comes to organizing my clothing I have wonderful ideas but rarely put them into action. I know it's awful, I should be taking better care of everything I own, but sometimes with the hours I work it's a bit difficult. I just want to get home and do absolutely nothing.

Today, whilst working from home due to the "blizzard" I was motivated to start some reorganization. Not only did I need to find a neat way to pack everything away, but it needed to be in a way that was easily accessible and where I could still see each individual item.

The results are as follows:

For jeans and denim, I find it best to leave the waistband face up. This allows you to read the brand and give a clue as to the cut and style of the pant, beyond just the wash.

I also reorganized my athletic/swimsuit drawer from outerwear to tops and bottoms.

My skirts and shorts drawer is packed the same as my jean drawers, except for the fact that I have rolled up all of my tights and pantyhose and tucked them in the middle.

Personally, it is so hard to be motivated to do this revamping because sometimes it seems overwhelming (I still have two other dressers to fix as well as a shelving unit and my closet), but once you get started it is totally worth it. I can tell that it's going to be easier to get ready in the mornings and even to keep things this organized. Plus, sorting through everything allows me to decide what I don't need anymore and can donate to those in need!

What's your favorite method to stay organized? Let me know in the comments below!

All Hallows' Eve

Halloween, as some of you may know, is one of my all time favorite holidays. I love challenging myself to come up with a more unique costume every year and I am definitely content with how this one turned out! Particularly because my sash and cape are handmade :) It took hours to sew the cape together, and it wasn't the best job either, but it definitely completed the costume and I'm glad I put the effort in. 

I hope you all had a safe and fun halloween!! Tell me all about your own costumes in the comments below!😘

Want It Wednesday: Black & White

Black & White by fashionalli on Polyvore

'Michelle' Monochrome - Tiharose Boutique / White Wrap Shorts/Skirt - Tiharose Boutique / 'Nye' Fashion Block Wedge - Tiharose Boutique / Chunky Chain Necklace - Tiharose Boutique

Hello hello to all of my lovely readers! Today is the start of a new weekly post on the blog entitled "Want It Wednesday". Each Wednesday I'll be posting images and links to items that I am lusting over and why! In some cases I'll even post more affordable alternatives!

Currently I am obsessing over black and white pairings. Yes, I am a tad bit inspired by my obsession with Janelle Monae, but beyond this black and white is a classic pairing of colors that you just can't go wrong with. 

I love the look of this A-symmetrical skort that has been a popular trend lately and makes a style infinitely more wearable as you do not have to worry about your skirt riding up. 

Platforms are a favorite of mine and the ones pictured above are no exception. They take the look of a slim strappy heel and make it more edgy with the chunky ridged platform, super fun and easy to walk in if heels are a bit of a pain for you.

I love this striped dress as it is super flattering. The lines will give you an hourglass shape and make you appear slimmer in what may be a trouble spot for you. Paired with heels and a blazer, you're all set for a day at the office.

Last but not least, and admittedly a far cry from black and white, is this beautiful gold chunky necklace. You all know that I love pieces that mix femininity with an edgy/masculine appeal. Generally women's jewelry can be more dainty, but I love chunky pieces that can make a statement and change up a simple and classic look.

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This week is all about pieces that I've found on Tiharose Boutique, a cute little online boutique based in the UK that has chic items at affordable prices. AND you're all in luck! As a courtesy to each and every one of you I have a promo code so that you can take advantage of an 8% discount on your future purchases from the website! A little thank you for being such supportive and loving readers/followers<3 

Promo code: AllisonPromo

Enjoy, and as always, thanks for reading!

xxAlli

What's Trending: Camo

J. Crew Men's camo vest, Aerie sweater, H&M button down, Bullhead Black denim from PacSun, Converse

TGIF! Hello and Happy Friday!! I hope you all fared well this week. Thankfully the holidays are just around the corner so I'm sure many of you have begun your vacation until the new year. 

Today I am bringing to you a trend that I've always been a fan of, CAMO! Camouflage is a pattern that always comes in and out of style and it is back this season with a vengeance (I've seen it everywhere from PacSun to Express and J. Crew). As this particular pattern is a bit more rugged and edgy, it is seen more in menswear. I love the idea of a structured look with this print so I just had to steal this one from the guys. 

Not only is this vest a great layering piece for changing up a look, it's great for keeping you just a bit toastier on those cold winter nights. I chose to layer it over a button down/vest combination but you could throw it over any shirt or even a dress if you're feeling adventurous! Don't be afraid to experiment! Explore the mens side of your favorite store and see what treats are hiding. I found this beauty in the sale section of J. Crew, and I got a great deal if I do say so myself. Pieces like this offer unique assets that you might not find in the women's section, plus they come with tons of pockets which I kind of love in my clothing. Over the years I've noticed that men's clothing can sometimes have more of a balance of attractiveness and usefulness (i.e. pockets etc.) that women's clothing sometimes lacks. Don't get me wrong, I love what I'm seeing right now in fashion but sometimes it's nice to  wander around and see what treasures I can find. 

How would you rock camo this season? Let me know in the comments below!!

As always, thank you for reading! Until next time.

xxAlli

Little Black Dress

bebe faux leather jacket, bebe knit dress, uniqlo tights, H&M cheetah print heels - seen here, bebe watch

Hello hello! I hope you're all doing well! This week's post is inspired by the little black dress. I actually wore this look both to work and an alumni dinner that I had last week (I got to see all of my amazing brothers from Delta Sigma Pi Rho Tau Chapter!!) Little black dresses are great for all occasions and can be dressed up and down to suit your needs. In this instance I took a sleeveless knit dress and paired it with a faux leather jacket. This jacket is light enough to wear indoors and slip under a thick coat without you having to worry about getting hot and having to carry it around halfway through the night. I love the detail in this jacket, it has a mock neck along with a geometric mesh inset (you can get a really good look at it in the first photo). I added a pair of tights to keep me warm, but I chose an opaque pair because I didn't want to be dressed in solid black from head to toe. I added some detail into this look with the accessories: I wore my cheetah print heels from H&M as well as my gold watch from bebe because the colors really pop against the black without being too overwhelming.

I hope you liked this post! Tell me all about your favorite little black dress and how you like to wear it in the comments below!!

xxAlli

Happy Thanksgiving!

Uniqlo Heat Tech shirt, bebe maxi skirt, bebe mesh spike statement necklace - similar here, h&m swallow stretch belt - similar here

Hello and happy Black Friday!! Today's post details what I wore for Thanksgiving dinner yesterday :) 

When I think of Thanksgiving, I think of autumn leaves and all of the beautiful colors of the season and this skirt was the first piece that came to mind. I am in love with maxi skirts, they are beyond comfortable, easy to wear, and they dress up any outfit. I paired it with one of Uniqlo's heat tech shirts, so warm and comfortable. The technology is truly amazing and will help keep you warm on even the coldest of winter nights. To make the look more cohesive I wore my h&m swallow stretch belt and completed the look with my mesh and spike necklace from bebe. I love the necklace because it's unique in design and is both silver and gold so it goes with all of my jewelry.

While this is the season to dress up for family get togethers, it is the time spent with loved ones that truly makes this time of year special. Treasure the moments you spend with friends and family, even beyond the holiday season so that you have memories for a lifetime :)

xxAlli