Posh Thanksgiving

I channelled my inner Blair this Thanksgiving and wore classics with a pop of color. We didn't really do anything big- just lunch with family and then hanging out at my aunt and uncle's house. Regardless, I love the opportunity to dress up and take pictures... and eat a lot :) Big thanks to my sister, the resident photographer while I'm at home. Hope y'all had a happy holiday weekend! 

p.s. how cute is this fruit turkey? My dad did this all on
his own... what a guy.

0 to Christmas, Real Quick

Halloween is barely over, but the holidays are quickly approaching.

The gifts shops here at Purdue already have their Christmas trees up (not kidding), Starbucks has holiday drinks and cups, and... Burberry has done it again.

The past couple of years, Burberry has been making these holiday short films. They're the perfect way to get in the holiday spirit, which is sad and exciting at the same time. Because I'm so in love with the fashion house, I have to share.

Watch the Film Here

Don't worry, no Christmas music yet...

which makes it a little more appropriate :)

Burberry Prorsum Menswear A/W14

I'm here wishing for spring and summer, while the fashion world is focusing on fall and winter... crazy.

If you couldn't tell from my Twitter or Pinterest, today was the Burberry Menswear show for autumn/winter 2014. It's absolutely mad that we aren't even finished with this year's winter and we're on to the next... please slow down I hate the cold. Regardless, my love for the fashion house has me quite blind when it comes to watching these shows- they would be walking down in garbage bags and I'd probably cry because I thought Christopher Bailey was being "so innovative, OMG!" Okay so maybe that's a little dramatic, but I do love the historic, classic Burberry look. 

Plus, you can't go wrong with a good-looking man in a suit...

So, lots of geometric prints going on. And you can't tell from these images, but every model was wearing this fishnet-type shirt that I just don't know how I feel about it... I mean I'm sure sport coats and jackets and scarves are hot so if it keeps them comfortable... I'm also not sure how I like the tiny silk scarf tied at the front. I know it's a show but I'm all about practicality and that silk scarf in London winters just isn't going to cut it. Oh well, I can complain all I want but I know that Bailey knows what he's doing and the line does a very good job at balancing classic and trendy,

just what Burberry is known for. 

Holiday Cheer

Nothing gets me in the Christmas Spirit like holiday ads!

Burberry aka Perfection

Tiffany & Co.

BG Windows

And no holiday would be complete without Rockefeller Plaza! 

Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. I love looking through catalogues and drinking lots of hot chocolate! My Pinterest boards are currently full of baking ideas and pretty packages with big bows. Just looking at the pictures gets me so giddy and excited! 

Great Coats

I mentioned earlier that I somehow came to college without a big warm coat...

I've lived in the midwest my whole life, so it wouldn't be off to assume that I own a big, warm coat for the winter... but I don't. I guess I've always been resistant to the idea of coats. They're big, bulky, and just as hassle. But I've come to accept that a coat is a necessity... but that doesn't mean that it has to make me look like an eskimo. I've been on the hunt for a stylish and warm look, and I've managed to find a few contenders:

J. Crew

Barbour

Ralph Lauren

So it's apparent that I'm liking the "cocoon" look right now. Really, I just hate when my neck is cold. I always wear scarves and have recently fallen in love with turtlenecks and their endless layering options. Of course, if I had to pick the coat- you know, the one that would be my dream coat? Well, feast your eyes: 

The Burberry Trench. Coming in just under $2,000... it's certainly not practical for my currently lifestyle or position. I'm not counting on this showing up in my closet anytime soon, 

But, it sure is fun to dream.

Hometown Pride

I regularly find myself daydreaming of being somewhere else or doing something else...

And I know this isn't good... or healthy. It's to the point that I feel guilty for wishing that I'd grown up somewhere different or that I wasn't "stuck" in the midwest. I'm consciously trying to change this habit- love where I'm from and embrace my surroundings while they're I'm here. Honestly, it's extremely hard since the midwest doesn't always offer that big city excitement that I see in movies or in the lives of others. And my major has me pretty strapped down to my studies without much room for fulfilling "daydreams". I'll be the first to say that this is annoying and unbearable at times, but I'm trying to manage my place and my time to benefit my life in the greatest way possible. 

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I get most of my ideas and inspiration from other forms of media, so it was only a matter of time before I came across articles of Angela Ahrendts and her time at Burberry. Or, more importantly, the fact that she is from a small town 15 minutes away from my house. From New Palastine, Indiana to London and Burberry, I was inspired more than ever before. She went to college at Ball State and lived her dreams from there. Once I made all the connections and understood her path to "power", something in my settled. 

Contrary to what I'd read and seen everywhere else, I realized that I don't need to be anywhere else or study anything different to get where I want to be. I don't need to move and live in a tiny, expensive apartment. I don't need to dislike where I'm from or where I currently am, because success comes to those who work hard. And while Angela had to work a little harder to prove that her midwestern roots didn't hold her back from big-city lifestyle and fashion, she has surpassed many others who rely on their past to propel them into success. 

After that realization settled, I became incredibly excited. I remember the night well- I hardly slept as thoughts jumbled all around my head. How can I embrace where I'm from and use it to my career advantage? Who should I be networking with right now to ensure that I can reach my own personal equivalent to Angela's success? 

And, how can I get into contact with Angela?

okay, maybe I'm dreaming a little bit...

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But dreaming is what I'm good at. I've accepted that I like to think big. I embrace lofty goals and let them energize me. I refuse to not take advantage of my opportunities here at Purdue or in the Midwest. And, most importantly, I will not feel as if I'm trapped- because I'm preparing to do great things in this life. Just like Angela, I can be a shining star from my hometown; a big fish in a little pond who goes on to do great things...

that's what I strive for

5 Fun Things...

about this past week in my life.

1. Proper Kid Problems noticed Indiana! 

I about died when PKP announced the "North of the Mason Dixon Line" shirts. Then he offered a koozie and decal... my weakness. I was planning to buy the shirt anyways, but that sealed the deal! It's now happily hanging in my closet. 

2. I can wear Scarves again!

Scarves are hands-down my favorite accessory. They're easy and warm. My favorite it my Burberry Check scarf, but I have a great one from H&M that was $20. It's all about cute and functional. Funny story... Last fall we bought my dad a scarf in Amsterdam and he loved how warm it kept him! It's his fall/ winter staple now, too!

3. Google, or at least the food there, is great!

Ranked one of the greatest cafeterias in the business world, at least the eating is good at Google. At least, that's what this article says. I'm always curious to see how top companies are run and what's inside the buildings. Google is always talked about for having great opportunities and benefits. Naturally, the nerd in me found this article to be especially interesting. 

4. Pattern Indy

Guys, Pattern Indy followed me on Twitter! They're a fashion magazine based in Indianapolis.. my goodness if I could intern there or just write for them once my life would probably be made. Basically the Vogue of my hometown... and they followed me! Twitter is just as much a networking device as LinkedIn at this point, so here's to networking! 

5. Saving Money

Gosh, saving is so hard for me. It never used to be, but then I discovered so many different online shops and small boutiques online. Luckily, the holiday season is coming and I feel better when I buy other people soooo I'm stocking up on gifts now. But really, I'm trying to save as much as possible. 

Internet STOP taunting me! 

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So that's the roundup of what's been going on this past week.

In addition, I've been making more time for reading and being social. I'm trying my hardest to make school a priority but October Break didn't help with that very much. Exams start up again this week... eek! so basically I'm going to be MIA for a while. 

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

London Fashion Week

If I'm being honest, London Fashion Week is my favorite. 

I partially credit to my love of Harry Potter, thus my eternal desire to move to London and go to Hogwarts. But It's also because London has this crazy sense of style that I could never ever pull off. The crazy hair; the "I don't care what you think of me" mindset... it's all so intriguing. Naturally, my favorite shows were that of Burberry and Mulberry (I seem to have a thing for "-berry"s). Their classic exhibitions and gentle, feminine styles are what I live for. Tom Ford took "independent style" to the extremes, while Giles Deacon and Christopher Kane beautifully contradicted each other.

Burberry
My absolute favorite couture house. On the planet. I practically ran home from lecture to watch the show when it went live online and was not the least bit disappointed. First of all, Christopher Bailey is an artist in the greatest sense of the word. His looks were feminine and calm... like a garden of English Roses. The color scheme and lace details were the epitome of spring. The whole show was, in fact! From the music to the ivory coloring. I watched the show three more times, that's how much I loved it. But those addition watches pointed out a few flaws in the collection. Number one, those skirts. Who in their right mind would wear a see-through lace skirt? Okay if you're 95 pounds and 6 feet tall, they look fabulous. But for even the fittest clients, those skirts are just... risky. Number two, no trench coats! I loved the outerwear, but not one classic Burberry trench? Not so sure about that. Luckily for Bailey, his final look was his saving grace. The see through jacket with complete with shiny embellishments? I'd sell my soul for that jacket (and I'm pretty sure that'd be the asking price).

Tom Ford

The eclectic, shocking Tom Ford. As to be expected, I could never ever pull off any of Tom Ford's looks. But, that's what makes him so.. London. The impractical heels and suits channel the chic rocker chick... if that demographic even exists. Completely different from the white, bright feel of many other LFW shows, Ford's show was harsh. The runway was full of mirrors and spotlights on a black backdrop. It sure made his metallic and black & white looks pop, but makes me feel uncomfortable. Probably because it's so not my style. The saving grace for Tom Ford is his personality. I read an article by Rita Wilson that profiled the man behind the clothing, and I fell in love! He seems like such a charming, down-to-earth, yet frightening man- an intriguing combination of traits to say the least. But then I looked back at the collection after the article, and I saw Ford in his show. If we take the stance that high fashion is a work of art (which I 100% do), the artist is reflected in the art. In that sense, Tom's classic, gentle self is reflected in his classic pieces: the coats and jackets. His modern, fashion-forward self is reflected in the patterns and geometric angles. All becomes right again, as the art reflects the artist. I still could never wear any of his collection, but I've gained a new appreciation.

Mulberry
Mulberry is new to me. I'd heard the name but never really thought twice... until now. I was looking through all of the Vogue coverage on LFW and found the looks to be charming. A little more research told me why I hadn't paid much attention before- Mulberry is rather new to the Ready-to-Wear scene. With me being new to the "smaller" high fashion brands, it all adds up. What I loved was the simplicity in the looks. They all had very feminine colors and silhouettes without looking too ordinary. Thanks to the lace and prints, the show was a fresh and sunny contrast to the rainy London weather... almost like a garden walking down the catwalk. And the best part? The looks are actually practical [read: can be recreated, for those of us who don't have a couture budget]. I'll definitely keep an eye out for Mulberry in the future. 

Cara in the Burberry clear coat!

The shows all expressed the individual artists behind the brand, making for an artistically diverse week. All the differing looks and colors made the one constant stand out: Cara Delevingne. LFW's golden girl. Those eyebrows. That bod. And the best part? Her awesome personality. Just search her name in Youtube and you'll see what I mean. She's crazy. That's a fact, but that craziness is balanced by her elegance and poise on the runway. If only I could be that graceful and that bubbly. Can I just be Cara? 

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My favorite of all the Fashion Weeks, I kept up with London the closest. I love seeing the Tom Ford-like designers push the boundaries, but I love the British classics even more. This spring collection was infused with feminine colors, pretty beading and patterns, and practical looks (for the most part). Burberry was my favorite, but I'm a bit biased. I tried to branch out my interests and really soak in the art and ideas provided by the many, many intriguing shows, which I think gave me an even better appreciation for the week. Watching all of the street coverage and interviews gave me serious wanderlust...

Add London Fashion Week to my never-ending Bucket List.

What's In My [Longchamp] Bag?

This is the mess that was my Longchamp

It's been a while since I've done a post like this,

and I've seen multiple questions get asked about Longchamp Bags on Twitter and other social media sites.

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 I am known as the Queen of Longchamp among my friends at Purdue- I love mine and use them almost every day. That being said, I thought it appropriate to write a little bit about what I carry in my bag on a daily basis. From the "giant" to "mom bag", my poor 'Champ bags go through quite a lot, but they never let me down! Through spills and pen stains, traveling and study dates, I love having these big totes to hold everything and look cute! Since I'm currently on October Break (thank Goodness!) my bag is sans- textbooks. Not to worry! I still carry a ridiculous amount of stuff with me on a daily basis... in fact, this post helped me to actually clean out my bag too. 

The best part about Longchamps is their functionality and versatility. They're cute, yet simple and the colors available can make them the statement piece of an outfit or blend in. My first purchase was a neutral, grey-blue color. I love it for when I'm wearing colors or am not in a bight and cheery mood- that's what my red bag is for! I take full advantage of the tote and it's ability to become a full-fledged Mary Poppins bag! 

As I'm sure you have, I have my daily must-haves. I carry my wallet, sunglasses, hand sanitizer and mints, and an assortment of lip colors year round. Headphones, when I remember to throw them in, are perfect and help me calm down in unexpected, stressful situations as well as make me feel really cool as a I walk around to this personal soundtrack to my life. Thanks to iOS 7, I now have to carry around my phone charger, as well. sigh. The things we do to have the latest & greatest. More recently, I've begun to carry a notebook and pens for on-the-go jotting down of ideas, and a book or magazine. Having material with me at all times to read and gather ideas is one way that I've been able to make the blog more of a daily focus. It's become something that I'm always thinking about, rather than just an afterthought, and that's reflected in the amount of prep that I carry with me everywhere. 

More specific to fall, I carry a [giant] lotion, a scarf, and tea. I've been cursed with dry lips and skin- hence the lotion and excessive lip products. I love carrying my Burberry scarf around with me because it goes with pretty much everything and it perfect in a bind. It's large enough to drape over me as a blanket, but can be folded into a traditional scarf. It's also just fun to know that I'm carrying around such a nice product- definitely worth the splurge! Okay so I know you're thinking it, and yes- that is a box of tea. I used to just carry around a few bags but I'd always forget to replace them when I ran out so I started carrying around a box. It may be a security blanket at this point, but I always like to have access to a hot drink. Since hot water isn't all that hard to access, and I almost always have a travel mug with me, I found that carrying my own tea was a huge money saver. I still like to buy drinks sometimes, but it's nice to have this option. 

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I love my Longchamp[s] and their ability to hold everything I could ever need and then some, but the product isn't flawless. The bags only have one, rather small pocket on the inside. Luckily for me, I don't find it that much of a pain to dig around for whatever it is I'm looking for. Some people, though, like my mom, can't stand not having the compartmentalization opportunity. If that's you, you will not enjoy this bag. For an everyday, relatively inexpensive bag that's cute and functional, these bags work wonders. The nylon material is easy to clean and the bags can seemingly hold pounds of stuff without breaking. The fact that they bags can be easily folded and stored [read: no more giant bags of bags in boxes at the top of your closet] is wonderful for changing out colors on the fly or for saving room in you tiny dorm closet (my life). I still credit Carly for introducing me to the great bag, and I am a convert!

Sure, pretty, expensive bags are fun. 

But Longchamp is practical and cute. Perfect for a college girl on a budget 

Evolution of Burberry

From the 70's, yet so classy

A Beckham in Burberry- could it get
any more British, or fantastic?

The Emma Watson Era

The next Face of Burberry? I can see it. 

If this tells you nothing more, Burberry has remained a classic. As Harry Styles said at this year's LFW, "[Burberry is] Just understated cool" and that's exactly right. I am in love with the British luxury brand and would have a closet full if my bank account could afford it! 

I just absolutely love the old ads!

Fall Fashion Favorites

...anyone who said I wasn't good at alliteration is lying :)

Anyways, regardless of how anti-fall the weather has been lately, I think that everyone is ready for fall. From the colorful trees to the crisp air to the football. I love hot apple cider and going to the apple orchard. I love that my birthday is in October. I love Thanksgiving and bonfires and scarves. 

I love everything about fall, really. 

I think that Indiana is it's prettiest in the fall. I think that fashion is at it's peak in fall. I seriously can't wait to bring out my Burberry scarves and my riding boots. I love wearing dresses with tights and booties. I could go on and on about what makes me excited for fall. But, being the girl that I am- the fashion stands out. Designers love fall. The colors are so much fun and I think that everyone can make a fashionable, classy fall wardrobe no matter what their budget. 

I've thrown together all of my favorite designer looks this fall and put them into one huge collage-

inspiration for you and me!

Get Dressed Up!

- PurduePrep

Wish List Wednesday

I love Wednesdays.

They're the halfway point of the week;

the point at which I can breathe. 

They're also the wonderful day where I get to organize what's currently on my never ending wish list.

The week where I can't post a wish list, because I don't have one, is the week that I've possibly reached sanity. But until then...

this bike. I saw it at my local C. Wonder and just died a little bit inside. Firstly, it took me back to the coolest place I've ever been- Amsterdam. Then I just thought about how fun it'd be to have at Purdue... until someone stole it or something. And then my heart broke: I looked at the price tag. I mean it's not out-of-this-world crazy expensive, but it's not so little that I can buy it and not worry that I might only ride it once before someone at school steals it. So I left the store, and decided to think about it. Five days later, it's still on my mind.

The J. Crew excursion vest. I've been coveting this vest since I saw it on Pinterest in around February. I know, a little bit late. But I love it so much and can't wait to see the colors and options for this Fall/Winter. You best believe that I will have 1... or all... of these.

This shirt is just so much fun! It costs about as much as the bike does... so not cheap. But c'mon! It's Burberry! And so fun. If I splurge on anything, it'll probably be this shirt. I've been in love with it since Burberry sent out their fall preview e-mail. It's wish list worthy- definitely!

A shorter list this week, but it's definitely a pricier week.

Oh well- a girl can dream can't she?

Burberry Kisses

I'm always one to find the most inspiration in the most random things. 

I'm on Burberry's mailing list, so this came to my e-mail. When it did I found it so charming! How cute of an idea to send your actual lip-print (?) to your loved one! Technology allows us to be so connected without even needing any physical interaction- I find this to be wonderful and terrifying at the same time. Regardless, this short video was so cute. It reminded me just how important it is to keep in touch and to show others you love them... no matter the distance of time difference.

I'll be taking advantage of this adorable feature!