All That Glitters Isn't Gold

gentleman's hat ... uncle's

jumper ... charity shop

creepers ... New Look

This little shoot ended up with me having some pretty dead and creepy expressions... my apologies if I scare you ! 

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This outfit is actually one of my recent go-to's. The jumper is so easy to throw on, along with some tights and any shoes my little heart desires. Skull flats, boots, heels, or in this case, my creepers. I'd been wanting creepers for ages, and I was just about to buy a fifty dollar pair on Urban Outfitters, but on my most recent trip to the United Kingdom I found them in New Look, and on sale as well ! I was beyond thrilled and I scooped them up immediately. Happy camper indeed :) That hat has become quite an outfit staple of mine. So simple to throw on, and so classy with any outfit. Thank you Uncle Thomas; rest in peace.

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On a side note, I'm not sure if anyone knows this, but I have been battling acne for years. And by years, I mean it started arond eighth grade, and I'm nineteen and a freshman in college right now. You can only imagine the frustration. I have of course mastered basically concealing it completely, but as you can see in some of the above photos, it's there. I've had a dermatologist since sophomore year of high school, and even then I only saw my face get worse. Why do I tell you all this ? Because I am cautiously happy to say that at the moment, my face is actually improving. The spots are fading, the actual blemishes are beginning to slow in frequency. Basically, I my face might actually be getting better ? Fingers crossed, toes crossed, every body part that can cross crossed. So, those that have skin problems and feel icky and like it will never go away, trust me, I've been there, I am still there, and it will get better. Stick to your regiments, and drink as much water as possible. It truly does help. 

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Stay classy guys and gals. 

ShoeDazzle Haul !

A few months back I was browsing shoedazzle.com. I happened to find not one but two different styles of shoes that I'd been wanting quite badly: studded loafers and western-style boots. They happened to be having a BOGO sale, so I thought why not ? The site is very well put together and features many on-trend and attractive styles of shoes. The prices are also all very similar. Most pairs go for about forty-two dollars, and average price for shoes. With the BOGO deal going on, I decided to give them a shot. 

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When they came in the post a few weeks later, I opened the box and was so thrilled ! They came neatly packaged in bright pink shoe boxes. Opening their lids revealed crisp ShoeDazzle printed tissue paper, and underneath that was my new prized possessions. The studded loafers even had a little suede pouch included for future storage ! 

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As for the actual quality of the shoes, I was impressed. The western boots have pretty impeccable stitching and strong sturdy soles. They were excellent for trekking around Central Park; I personally am a fan of climbing those huge slabs of stone, and these boots do not prevent me from doing so ! The studded loafers are my favourite of the two pairs. I'm a big sucker for studs, so these had been on my list for ages. When I saw these, what really got me was the color. Black studded flats are the typical choice, but these came in fun bright colors. I initially purchased the shoes thinking they were teal. They are clearly a light mossy greenish color, which I was at first disappointed with. After one wear though, I fell in love with them all over again. The green is interesting and unexpected, a pleasant pop with skinny jeans or black tights. These shoes are also extremely comfortable; the studded loafers feel like slippers when I wear them. 

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I give Shoe Dazzle an A + + ! Many different kinds of shoes for a price that doesn't hurt !

Shoe lovers unite.

:)

Gold On the Ceiling

hat ... uncle's

sweater ... Calvin Klein, charity shop

pants ... G by Guess, gbyguess.com

This was my birfday outfit. I turned the oh-so-magcal nineteen on December seventeenth. Don't I look like I've grown so much since my last birthday ? 

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While that last statement seemed like a joke, I'm going to say a few things. It's definitely true. Between senior year of high school and graduating into college, I feel like I have grown so very much in a matter of months. I finally feel like I'm in a place where (mostly) everyone else is on the same level as me, academically and mentally. Being back home for these couple of weeks, I have seen a few of my past classmates in passing, people that never acknowledged me because they were above me. When I got to college, I looked back on high school with even more anger and frustration than I already had, simply because I saw what I could have had if people had just given me a chance, rather than putting me off as that weird awkward quiet girl for all four years. While I received smiles and hellos from most, which makes me hope that going to the next level of schooling has helped them mature as well, I still have to hide my smug grin. Now I never ever think highly of myself, but there is one thing I do know about this whole high school popularity thing. If you love love loved high school, you will likely be disappointed with college. You lose your popularity, your massive friend base, your ability to emit 'cool' wherever you walk. I, on the other hand, who struggled to find any enjoyment in high school at all, which then made me - in my opinion - pretty humble when it comes to people being nice and actually givig you their time of day, went to college and fell in love with it. I am the one with the massive friend base, who have people that actually look for me and want to spend time with me. I have never felt more appreciated, and happy, and so extremely lucky to be where I am.

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Now, if you read this and said "Hey ! I loved high school, and I love college ! You're silly !" I'm sorry. I'm merely telling you how I feel based off of my particular experience, at my particular school. I love in the middle of no where in an area with very particular mind set that's years behind the rest of the country. Perks of living in the boondocks. I'm sorry if I offended, I only know what I see and have experienced here. 

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Now, the maturity and growing up rant is over ! On to some outfit notes. As I said, I wore this for my birthday to a lovely sea food restaurant in my town that I actually work at as well. I got to take a break from washing dishes and actually eat the food I'm normally sneaking some bites of scraping into the garbage can. I had a mexican salad with big chunks of lobster, and of course some oysters on the half shell. Absolutely. Delectable.  The banana cream pie desert couldn't even compare to my actual meal ! The outfit I just kind of threw together without much thought, but I loved the way it turned out ! The metallic trend is still pretty big, and I somehow managed to incorporate that into every pice of this ensemble. My sweater is a thrift store find, and I love it. Sweaters are my thing, and when I stumbled upon this Calvin Klein baby, I was sold. Since it was at a thrift store, it was a measly FIVE DOLLARS. Yeah, I know. How. The pantaloons were something I had saved on my online shopping list for a long time. I saw they were on sale on day, and I scooped them up. You can actually still get them here for only twenty-five dollars ! That's a better sale than I got as well ! I've had these ankle booties for ages. Kohl's is definitely a treasure chest for me that everyone casts off as cheap. I manage to find so many things there that are gracing the runways, and for a huge fraction of the price.  Kohl's for life. 

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On a sentimental note, the gentleman's hat is my uncle's. When he passed away, I some of his movie collection, a lot of his record collection, and this simple brown hat. I love hats, but it's rare that I purchase them. When this hat came into my l life, I was extremely sad, but every time I wear it I think of him. I 'carry him with me.'  

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Rest in Peace Uncle Thomas 

Two Zero One Three

shirt ... stolen from a friend

skirt ... Billabong, tillys.com

shoes ... Zara

2013 is officially upon us. This means setting New Years resolutions. Sometimes they're simple, other times they're ridiculously hard to achieve, to the point where we give up half way through.  Even when you try to commit, trying to stick to them seems to be the biggest challenge. Next year comes and you look back at the resolution you thought of last year that is now a distant memory. If you stuck to it, great ! Most of us though... not so much. 

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Let's make this the year to commit to what we want to do. Start small, and then begin to aim larger and larger ! Example of starting small: I want to read more. A small activity, and one that I love, but something that I rarely do. Then in the meantime, also set that one big (reasonable) goal that you'd like to accomplish. I'll use the classic 'drop fifty pounds' example. Rather than actually attempting that and most likely not accomplishing it, switch the goal to 'eating healthier.' It's an easy, healthy task that may result in some weight loss, and/or lead to other things like taking a run three times a week or going to the gym every afternoon. When you start small, those big goals actually become attainable !

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So make your self a smoothie, order a Jillian Michaels DVD, take a deep breath, and relax. We can do this ! As for me, I got The Great Gatsby in the post yesterday. Cannot wait to dive into that novel again.  I also just got back from a Zumba class. Yay for fitness ! 

Trying Out the Wet Hair Trend

Product Used ... L.A. Looks Absolute Styling Wet Look Slicking Gel

I bought this gel a while ago, as the trend began hitting the runways, a while ago. Always one to try out new things, I thought it looked interesting. Seeing other people try to take it off the runways and into their everyday looks made me want to attempt it as well ! 

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The gel itself it just a slick clear substance. I just squeezed a glob into my hand and went to town on the top of my head, sliding my hands over my hair to smooth it all down. I had to stick in a few bobby pins to keep my bangs in place, and then I was done. I didn't go past the shoulders as I didn't want that severe of a look. It's definitely an interesting style, and not for everyone. The first time I did it I thought it more of a greasy look if anything, but practice smoothing my hair down and styling it made me begin to see it as wearable. It's definitely not something I'm going to wear everyday, but its an interesting way to switch up your everyday hair-down style. 

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Don't be afraid to be daring ! 

Thanks a lot.

jumper ... charity shop

tights ... mommy's

flats ... Zara

Happy happy New Year's

and,

thank you for reading !

xx

Deanne

College

jacket ... motorcylce expo

blouse ... Xhileration, Target

belt ... Daddy's

cutoffs ... Forever 21

tights ... Topshop

shoes ... Candie's, Kohl's

various rings ... Grandma's

necklace ... antique shop

Featured on Collegefashionista.com.

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Aloha ! I don't know about you, but it's absolutely freezing where I live right now. At thirty-two degrees. It's quite literally freezing. Stay warm if you're in the cold areas ! Drink up that cocoa and snuggle in warm pjs and blankets ! 

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This past Friday into Saturday I was actually in Atlantic City for a concert. I unfortunately didn't get to see the show since it was a twenty-one and older event, but I did get to lay in a hotel room watching TV for a few hours, something that I normally never do. The next morning my mom took us out to Caesar's Casino for shopping. As I walked past the Louis Vuitton and Gucci and Burberry, I lusted for everything, but couldn't help but mentally belt out Thrift Shop in my head. I long for the day that I can walk into these stores and buy luxurious pieces. Who knows if that day will ever even come. However, nothing will ever beat finding that thing you've seen trending the runways in a thrift store, and for oodles upon oodles cheaper. That feeling of accomplishment is the best; cheating the system right there ! 

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This outfit I wore at the beginning of my college school year. Yes, I did say I was finally caught up with outfit posts, and I AM. I only just posted this to lookbook a few days ago ! I was waiting so everything would be synced up, lookbook and blog. Marvelous ! Anywho... I was actually spotted in the cafeteria by a lovely fellow student, who interns for the website collegefashionista.com (link posted above). She asked me if she could interview me and snap a few photos (all of the photographs above). Of course I gladly accepted ! A small dream of mine has always been to be streetstyle photographed by someone, anyone. And it happened within the first few weeks of school ! As if school couldn't get any better, it's awesome to feel appreciated here, rather than outcasted like I always felt in high school. Moving on and up ! Definitely check the website out, it features many many different styles of students all over the nation. It's great for outfit inspiration !

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This leather jacket is literally the best jacket I own. When my dad bought it for me for motorcycle riding many years ago, I thought it was ugly and stowed it away. When I stumbled upon it, it was like finding buryed treasure. It still has that awesome leathery scent, is soft as ever, and looks great with virtually everything. I know leather jackets are quite costly for good quality, so thank you dad for this amazing gift ! I finally appreciate it :) As usual the jewelry is all vintage. My grandma has the best jewelry collection I have ever seen, and when she gives me the occasional ring or bracelet, it's basically Christmas all over again. As for that necklace, I found it while working at my local antique shop, and the lovely shop keeper gave it to me for two dollars. TWO DOLLARS. That's more than a deal, perhaps more than a steal. Best gift ever :)

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Sheesh I have typed a lot ! I used to think I  typed to little. Now I need to find stopping places in my writing so I don't overdo it ! That's what I call writing progress. 

Happy New Years my lovelies !