Fashion News Roundup

Happy new year! I thought I'd try out something new on the blog in celebration of a new year. I just completed a retailing class at my university. I fell harder in love with retailing, my future career, and my mind has become the mind of a retailer in business. My course emphasized staying up to date on what's happening in the industry and my commitment to this is what helped me earn my stellar grade. Class is over, but my dedication has remained the same.
I've come across a few articles about retailing lately that have really peaked my interest.
So here's my first fashion news roundup!

Fit Predictor Fan

*Guys, this is my 50th post!* Thanks for reading everybody :) now onto the blog post...

So, I was browsing through Nordstrom Rack online as one is apt to do during the holiday season. I came across the coziest looking pair of fleece joggers.

Buying pants is usually kind of a struggle for me because I'm pretty tall at almost 5'8. Pajama pants especially seem to always shrink on me. So I typically hold off from buying them online.
However, as I was clicking through the different color options, I noticed that there was a Fit Predictor with my best size displayed. When I clicked Your Best Size it showed that it chose a Small as my best size because of my past Nordstrom Rack purchases.

Marley Lilly Love

I was so excited to be approached by Marley Lilly again this year to be a part of their Blogger Review Program. Last year I participated in the program, where I reviewed a cozy houndstooth print scarf. You can see my scarf review here!

Chic Charging

Guys, have you seen Kate Spade's new charging purses? I think I just found something to add to my Christmas list...

Newest Obsession: Gucci Blooms

When I visited the Gucci museum in Florence, Italy I signed up for the Gucci emailing list. This was both the best and worst decision all at the same time.

I got an email sent to me introducing the new gg blooms collection a few weeks ago. I immediately fell in love.

Shop For A Cure

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. I'm a long time supporter of cancer research. Since 6th grade I've participated in Relay for Life as a team captain and was on my school's Colleges Against Cancer Committee freshman year. As a Trendsetter for Trend Tribe I have planned a jewelry trunk show on my campus next week where a percentage of the profit goes to a philanthropy of my choice. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month I chose Susan G. Komen as my philanthropy.

This week I got an email from Tory Burch announcing their Shop for a Cure collection, which donates a percentage of purchases to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. This got me thinking, how many other retailers so similar philanthropic donations in the month of October? I did some research to compile a list and hopefully inspire my readers to combine their love of shopping with a good deed. How amazing is it that by buying products we'd typically purchase anyway we can actually be doing good for the world? So shop on my fashionistas! Shower for the Cure body wash or Glossy Gloss lipstick is calling your name!

Shop My Closet

I'm selling my closet on Poshmark! All items posted are either never worn or worn a maximum of 2 times. I have Lilly Pulitzer, Tory Burch, Coach, Steve Madden, North Face and more! I'm posting more products every week!!

I'd love for you to check it out!

Shop my closet here: Brianna's closet.

LC Runway

Lauren Conrad is one of my icons. It has nothing to do with her being on Laguna Beach or the Hills. What I admire most about Lauren is the career she's made for herself. I am a frequent buyer of her collection at Kohl's so when I found out she was doing a runway collection I was psyched!

                                     

Bootie Bootie Bootie

I have a confession. I'm in love with the bootie.
No joke, booties are having a major moment right now and I'm all for it.
My bootie collection is growing exponentially fast, from 0 to 60 real quick.

For that reason, I thought I'd blog about a peak into my shoe closet for a look at my favorite booties.

Lilly for Target Favorites

In case you didn't already know, the Lilly Pulitzer for Target Lookbook is live! And if you didn't know that, have you been living under a rock?
Here are my favorites from the lookbook.

Easter Style

Easter is only a few weeks away! Obviously I started looking for a dress to wear already.
Today I bought a Nanette Lepore dress from Nordstrom Rack. There was only 1 left, it was in my size, and it was 71% off. I would have been insane not to buy it, right???

Nanette Lepore Exotic Bloom Dress in Mint

Top It Off with a Hat

Floppy hats are so in right now. Wow, I never thought I'd be saying that. While I'm sure everyone's seen floppy fats all over Instagram if you're following any fashion blogs at all, how practical is this trend in real life? Honestly, I don't think it's something I'd wear to class but I would definitely wear it while shopping on Newbury Street.

Have Heart

Valentines Day is just around the corner and with that comes the inevitable Valentines Day outfit decision. There was once a time when wearing as much pink and red as you could was acceptable. This was around the same time you gave and received valentines from every person in your third grade class. So as an adult, how do you dress for the occasion without coming across as juvenile?

Picks from the Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale

It's one of the most wonderful times of the year...when Lilly Pulitzer goes on sale. The After Party Sale started today with site delays and Lilly mania as usual. To maybe make the shopping easier or just to compare Lilly loving, I've compiled a list of my favorite items from the sale.

Pretty as a Present

I've wanted to make a DIY Christmas bow skirt for EVER now. Finally, I had an excuse to make it when my cousin invited me to an ugly Christmas sweater open house. Okay, so I know you're supposed to wear a sweater but I decided to wear a skirt instead. And I know it was supposed to be ugly, but I think it looks really cute.

Not only was this skirt cute, but it was so easy to make. I got the skirt from Old Navy for a reasonable price since I was never going to be able to wear it again. To make the skirt, I super glued the bows onto the skirt and used double sided tape to keep the garland stuck around the hem. The garland was honestly the hardest part because with the super glue it just wouldn't stick. This is where I thank my mom for figuring out a way to make it stick, and supergluing her fingerprints off in the process!

I would definitely advise not moving around too much if you make a skirt like this. You don't want to lose a bow, after all. Despite having to be cautious about the decorations, the outfit was really comfortable and fun to wear. It was a great conversation starter, too. You can't walk into a room wearing a skirt like this without people staring.

Monogram Mania featuring Marley Lilly

Outfit of the day

An old ancient proverb declares if it's not moving, monogram it. Okay so maybe not an ancient proverb, but definitely a modern saying made popular by Marley Lilly that I like to live by.

Mixing Metals

Last night at a jewelry trunk show I hosted at my school, there was a gorgeous silver and gold bracelet and I got to thinking about mixing metals. The trunk show was put on by Trend Tribe, which is a super cool NYC based fashion-start up that has an awesome collection of statement and dainty jewelry in both silver and gold. I started chatting with the founder about mixing metals and we came to the conclusion that it is so in right now!

I used to be weary about mixing metals but this left a lot of my jewelry unused since I would gravitate toward gold and feel trapped in my own form of metal segregation.
I'm still working on it but slowly feeling more comfortable and confident in mixing metals!

Here's the bracelet we were discussing, in case you wanted to see for yourself. It's awesome because its adjustable and I always have a problem with bracelets being too big for my wrist! I highly suggest going to check out Trend Tribe's website for cute and affordable jewelry!

Trend Tribe Laura bracelet

What are your thoughts on mixing metals? And who wants to buy everything from Trend Tribe right now??

xoxo,

Bri

Life's Too Short To Wear Boring Shoes

Saturday I made the greatest shoe purchase to date. I fell in love with (and ultimately bought) the Steve Madden Suzzana Sandal from Nordstrom. Shoe heaven. It is a gorgeous strappy stiletto with beaded rhinestone accents.

High Fashion, Low Price

The Altuzarra line for Target has arrived!
Fashion is quickly moving toward becoming more accessible. New York Fashion week has begun to feature brands that the everyday person can afford instead of solely luxury high fashion. Case and point, the J.Crew fashion show this year.
So what does this mean for consumers? Luckily, this is great news. Retail stores like Target have pioneered the luxury brand-retail store partnership bringing designers like Philip Lim and Oscar De La Renta into the closest Target near you with a Target price tag. I love my Oscar De La Renta for Target purse I got a few years ago and my mother loves the Philip Lim for Target gorgeous Christmas ornaments I got her. The designer-retailer relationship now includes Altuzarra and Target. A match made in high fashion, low price heaven.

Image Source

Here's my question for you Fashionistas, what do you think of these designer-retailer relationships? And are you going to buy anything from the Altuzarra for Target line?

Leave your answers in the comments!

Summer Style featuring Old Navy

This summer I rediscovered Old Navy. It's always been there at nearly every surrounding mall but in the past few years it hasn't been a store I regularly shop in. That changed this summer.
Some of my favorite summer purchases have been from Old Navy.

Printed Maxi Dress

I wore this outfit on my birthday. The blue and white maxi is flattering with a cinched waist and a slit up the leg. I paired it with a floral statement necklace in different shades of blue from Francesca's and diamond studs. My hair was done in a casual braided up do. The braid started at the front and around the bun for a beachy look. Seeing as I was at my beach house for my birthday, a beachy look was exactly the right look for the occasion!

Black Maxi Dress

In my last post, Take A Walk On The Darkside, I talked about how I had been unsure about maxi dresses until recently and talked about how I styled my black Old Navy tank top maxi dress. This maxi is the most comfortable dress and most versatile dress! This time I paired my dress with my Marley Lilly monogrammed denim shirt and Tory Burch sandals. The denim shirt looks great tied up or left open with the top. It is a casual and comfortable outfit that I wouldn't mind wearing every day! The look was perfect for a night out to dinner by the sea because the length of the dress and lightweight shirt save you from the chilly ocean breeze. 

White Paisley Shift Dress with Dark Wash Denim Jacket

This look was an outfit I wanted to wear as much as possible. The dress is super flattering because while it doesn't hug your curves, it also doesn't hide them either. I usually steer clear from shift type dresses but this one is amazing. It has a high neckline which allows for minimal accessorizing and makes its own statement. I loved wearing it with the denim jacket even more than wearing it on its own. I paired it with black sandals and my Michael Kors crossbody bag. I kept the makeup simple with just a pop of coral lip gloss and my hair in a simple side braid. It was a cute outfit for dinner on the dock.

 I'm going to try to wear these outfits as much as possible before the summer is over! Stay stylish everyone!