bows are the best gift in life!

Yay! I'm back! Sorry for not posting, but I had end of term exams. I won't be home for my holidays, but I should get up at least one post a week for you.

Now can we please take a moment to love and admire bows? They are adorable, and I am sure not one girl is without a bow somewhere in her cupboard. Bows can be on anything, and just as they finish off the wrapping of a present, they can pull your entire outfit together.

Without a doubt, J.Crew makes the BEST bow tops. Bow tank tops are an essential to any girls wardrobe. Whenever I  don't know what to wear with a skirt or pair of shorts, I just say "I guess I'll wear my bow top!" I have mine in the preppy girl's staple colours: white, navy and hot pink.
Meggyums got me this long sleeve bow top on sale and I love it! J.crew long sleeve tops are the comfiest. Basically the same rules apply to this top as the tank. This is a tad bit dressier and is an essential in all colours for anyone living in a cold place.

Bow belts and high waisted skirts go hand in hand. If you own one waist belt it should have a bow on it. I wear this nude one with ANYTHING. Forever 21 has a wide variety of the cutest bow belts, all under $5. I wish someone would buy all for me.
The first two bow hair-clips were homemade my me. Aren't they the most adorable things ever? Comment if you want me to show you how to make them. If you aren't that crafty, my sequin bow is from Forever 21. I don't usually wear black but I got this one because it bends my school uniform. (Shhhhh!)

Finally, Meggyums got me my ultra-cute tea-time bow earrings on etsy. I love how mismatched they are! My pearl and bow bracelet is super adorable and not to mention cheap.I got it from Forever 21. 

OOTD: Eyelet and polka dots

from left to right:
home-made, China Town ($10), home-made

Top: Justice $15
Skirt: Land's End (mine does not have the smocked waist) $30
Cardigan: New York & Co. $30
Sandals: Lands' End $10
Purse: J.Crew (gifted but similar ones can be found at Target)

I'm just glad I got through an entire outfit without pink (except the bracelet but that doesn't matter)
The point of this post was to show you that preppy fashion does not have to be expensive and CAN be bought at Target.

Comment if you want to see how to make the bracelets.

Fix your boxy dresses

Sometimes (mostly when shopping online) you see the cutest dress ever, buy it and when you try it on you realise it fits like a box. Sucks right? the solutions to your woes are easier than you think. Just head over to Forever 21 and pick up some skinny waist belts! Honestly, they have the best belts at the best prices. Three belts for $10, not on sale? 

Here are two examples of a box-turned-not dress

had this dress for a couple of years but never wore it. Love it now and just itching for an opportunity to wear it!

 Belt: J.Crew (paid about $5 for it during a sale, but if you're not as lucky, forever 21 has a similar one)
Dress: Roxy (love their dresses by the way)

 

 

Could only wear this with a cardigan, the bow belt dressed it up!

Belt: Forever 21

Dress: Lands' End (similar)

P.S. Don't you love the puppies that I added to the page?

cute DIY bracelet + how to use a calotte

Today's post is a DIY on a cute preppy ribbon and bead bracelet. It's super easy to make and looks great in a stack

from left to right:
what you are learning to make today, hand made, forever 21

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What you need:

• 1/4 inch ribbon 2-3 times the size of your hand
• elastic the size of your hand plus about 5 cm
• pliers (chain nose works best but any one will do)
  
  
  

 

•   Pearl beads of your choice (about 5mm in diametre)
• 2 callottes (optional)
• a clasp of your choice (optional if you are using elastic)
• a needle

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This first part is if you want to finish off your ends neatly and make it look more professional. You don't have to do it, but I recommend attempting it even if you are not crafty. It really isn't that hard. If you chose not to do this part, simply tie a knot at the end, leaving room to tie on the clasp/ tie the ends together and skip the next photo.

Thread on the callotte as shown and tie 1 or 2 knots at the end to prevent it from sliding off.

 Squeeze the two round parts of the callotte together as shown. That's it! You've just finished your ends and look at how neat they look.

Skip this step if you opted not to use a callotte.

 Thread the eye of the needle about 4 cm down the other side of the elastic. Thread the needle through one end of the ribbon.

 Thread one bead onto the needle and fold the ribbon over as shown. Repeat this step until you have about an inch short of your desired length. 

The easiest way to thread on the beads and ribbon is to not push the beat and ribbon down but simply push it off the needle just enough to thread on another bead. Does that make sense? It's hard to explain.

What it should look like when you have the length you want.

 To finish the bracelet, simple add your other callotte and connect the clasp. (Depending on the clasp you may need a couple jump rings.) If you didn't use a callotte, tie a knot at the and and then tie on your clasp.

When I was making mine I forgot to take into account the callotte and clasp and ended up making mine a bit long. To make up for that, I just attached the two callottes together and left out the clasp since it's elastic anyway.

how to wear leggings (under shorts, dresses and skirts) 2013 edition

Leggings, how can such a simple article of clothing be so difficult to style? However so, it is, so I'm going to break it down for you the way I like to style leggings.

I want to start off by saying that whatever you wear leggings with, you butt MUST be covered so that we see no panty lines.

I like capri leggings with tunics and short dresses.
If you ask me, you can wear ankle leggings with anything, dresses, skirts, tunics, I love it.

Shorts will be shorts and I really only like shorts on its own, or if its cold and you really miss your shorts, with tights. I suppose you could get away with leggings if you tucked them into boots.





Denim leggings are a touchy subject. Some say you can wear them like normal jeans, some say you can't. I am victim to wearing mine with a top that didn't cover your butt, but in my defense it was colder than expected and it was denim so it's thick.
Denim leggings could be worn with an ordinary top but the top should be loose fitting and longer than an average top (about mid-butt and long enough that it covers your hips when you raise your arms).
Denim leggings are skin tight so a tight top with it is a no-no unless you are going to work out. (Who works out in denim?)
That being said they look best with a tunic.

I think if you own one pair of leggings it should be a pair of denim leggings as they are the most versatile. They can be work like jeans with a long loose top, with a flowy tunic and can even pass as extra warm leggings under a dress.
Denim leggings are fairly inexpensive and can be picked up almost anywhere. I got my black pair at Macy's for between $20-$30.

I hope this post helped clear up the styling of leggings

(P.S. Jeggings (jean-leggings) and denim leggings are the same thing. I just really hate that word)

earth-conscious fashion

Bows, Cupcakes and babies

 

Let’s go to the beach, each Let’s go get away

that was one weird book I was reading!

My brother with all of his bake and sharks. Don't worry, he didn't eat all

On Monday I didn't have school, so what else would my entire family do but head to the beach! The water was cold but we all had a blast. It was nice to see a lot of my family members that don't live here.

Tankini top: Lands' End
Bikini bottom: Lilly Pulitzer
Dress: J.Crew

OOTN: sequins and stripes