Serious in Stripes

Shoes: Similar from GoJane
Dress: Old Navy, similar from Mango
Necklace: Similar from Stella & Dot
Earrings: Similar from Charlotte Russe
Bag: Bark n Bag, similar from Lulu's
Nail polish: Similar from OASAP (color #71)

This outfit combines a little bit from this post about wearing whatever the hell you want and yesterday's post on being comfortable in your own skin. I wore this super-flattering horizontal striped dress and felt confident all day! I found myself standing up straighter, smiling more, and walking with more purpose. It's really amazing to find an outfit/look that makes you feel like conquering the world-- and it's certainly something to strive for in one's style.

Much thanks to Lauren Goldstein for the photos-- see more of her work here.

The Photoshop Issue

The use of Photoshop in advertisements, magazines, and other forms of media has been scrutinized fairly often in the last few years for promoting unhealthy and unrealistic "beauty". I'm sure you've all seen those crazy videos depicting just how easy it is to Photoshop a person into someone absolutely different. Just to reiterate, here are a couple that really blew my mind:

It's long-since been evident that the use of Photoshop to enhance models beyond realistic expectations is harmful to society, and companies have been responding by calling for a ban on retouching in advertisements (read my post on the subject to learn more). The next generation of young people will hopefully grow up in a world where they aren't constantly struggling with an unrealistic image of beauty, but for those of us who have grown up seeing the impossibly long legs and high cheek bones of modern media, it's hard to find comfort in one's natural beauty.

So, where does society stand on the issue of using Photoshop for one's personal use? Retouching personal pictures for Facebook, Instagram, and other social media certainly continues to promote the idea of unrealistic beauty expectations, if on a smaller level. I know that I can't post a picture without retouching my acne, fixing the colors and shadows, and applying a flattering filter to the picture. But doesn't this contribute to the problem of not appreciating natural beauty?

Though I have minimal knowledge of Photoshop (and it certainly shows), it wasn't too hard for me to make this right picture. Guess which picture of myself I like more? Though I know it's unrealistic, My thin thighs and Keira Knightley hair look more appealing to me.

Learning to love oneself is a hard enough road without feeling the constant comparison between reality and modern expectations of society. But does conforming to these expectations promote or demote self-love? There's certainly no correct answer, but it is an interesting thing to think about.

Grab & Go

Shoes: Similar from Romantic Soles
Dress: Similar from Forever 21
Necklace: Similar from Trifari
Bag: Similar from OASAP
Bracelet: Similar from Mango

Today was the day of the $1 sale at my favorite consignment store in Bend. It's one of my favorite parts of the summer. To prepare for the frantic trying-on of items before someone else grabs your pile of clothes, I wore a simple dress that could fit shirts over it and pants under it. This is basically my "lazy maxi"; I only ever wear it when I don't want to put any thought into my outfit.

Back to Black

Shirt: Similar from ASOS
Pants: Old Navy
Shoes: Similar from Nomad Footwear
Long necklace: Similar from Urban Outfitters
Short necklace: Similar from Lulu's
Earrings: Similar from GoJane

I've officially decided that Luxe is my cutest accessory. I am so glad and so lucky I get to have her accompany me every day! Getting to know a new dog is definitely an active thing to do, so I've been dressing almost exclusively in comfortable and easy-to-move-in clothing like these pants. The black shirt is cute and simple, and doesn't show Luxe's black hair on it.

Shop the items in this post on Shopcade

OOTD: National Dog Day

In honor of National Dog Day yesterday, I took my OOTD pics with the two most important pups in my life. Our family dog, Brandi the boxer, has been with us for nearly three years. She's the first pet I ever had, with the exception of a snake I once caught at the lake that escaped several days later. Luxe (or Lulu) is my beautiful Chihuahua-Spaniel mix that I just got on Sunday. She's the sweetest thing in the world and I'm so lucky to have found such a perfect match. Keep an eye out for her on the Seattle University campus this year!

Wear Whatever the Hell You Want

When I think about it, I feel like I've spent my whole life being told what I shouldn't wear. Don't wear more than 1 pattern at a time; never wear heels if you're taller than 5'5"; pastels are reserved for summer beach vacations; blah, blah, blah. Well, I recently decided to ignore all that nonsense. Unless what I like to wear is offensive, uncomfortable, or inappropriate for the setting, why shouldn't I just wear what I like? So what if someone else doesn't like it? So what if it's "against the rules of fashion"? So what if it's "not in style"? 

No matter how many tips and suggestions I post on this blog about what to wear, there's really only one rule of style I truly promote: 

Here's a couple examples of things I love to wear, even though they're "out of style" or "unattractive". I like them, and that's really all that matters. Do you wear whatever the hell you want? Tag me in your next ootd or hashtag #WWTHYW and I might put you on this blog!

What's New?

Since my last day at my summer job two weeks ago, I've thrown myself into improving and perfecting this blog. Of course, this is a task that will never be completed, but I am pretty proud of what I've accomplished in the last 12 days. In case any of you were wondering what some of my new features are/what they do, here you have them; in a nice, tidy list.

If any of you have ever wished you could shop directly from Wanelo, or if you've wished there was more variety on Fancy, then Shopcade is perfect for you. It combines the easy-to-use layout of Wanelo with the shopping features of Fancy, and can be used for entertainment like Pinterest. It's great for bloggers because with every purchase that someone makes at your recommendation, you make a small commission. The widget creator (as seen above) even allows you to post your recommendations directly to your blog so people can see what you're buying, ogling, and admiring. *Bonus*: if you join the site, it'll notify you when something you've favorited goes on sale or when there's a coupon that can apply for it. Savings without the effort? Yes, please!

I've been working on the background stuff for becoming a social media consultant for the last month now, and I'm excited that I've come so far. Tell your friends to check out my social media consultant page on this blog-- I work locally but am open to the idea of expanding!

I recently joined CJ Affiliate by Conversant and ShareASale, websites that act as the middle-man between bloggers and merchants' affiliate programs. After applying and being accepted, I've been able to partner with some of my favorite brands and stores; a real dream come true. They give me access to promotion codes and sale alerts that I can share with you and, when you click on their ads, the merchants will reward me with a commission! Here are some of my favorite sales going on right now:

    

So all about that: wearing white

It's almost Labor Day, which marks the end of the summer season and the start of the dark, neutral tones of Fall. While I do like to follow the "no whites after Labor Day" rule, I do so with a number of exceptions. Many whites are on-limits in my opinion, with the exception of the examples on this list. Wear these whites in the next week while you still can; after that, confine the color to cable knit sweaters and basic t-shirts.

So all about that: weekend sales

Did you by any chance wake up this morning and think, "what on Earth am I going to do today?"? Because I did. Everyone I know at home is gone-- most recently, my boyfriend left for Harvard-- and I don't have any immediate work to do. So, I decided to shop the sales at some of my favorite stores... And share them with you. Check out what I found on some of my favorite stores online for under $15!

Shop Francesca's Sale

Shop Mango Sale

Shop Nasty Gal Sale

Shop OASAP Sale

Shop JCPenney Sale

All Dressed Up

Dress: Zara, similar from Romwe

Belt: Similar from OASAP

Vest: Trouve, similar from Miss Guided

Necklace: Stella & Dot Sutton necklace, similar from Bijou Brigitte

By far one of my greatest consignment store finds of all time is this Zara dress that I got for $17. Sure, it was more than I usually spend on consignment clothing, but it was an absolute steal for such a beautiful piece from an amazing brand. I'm always hesitant to wear it because I want to do it the justice it deserves.

My blog, my rules: what to bring to college (pt. 4)

After growing up in a snowy mountain town in Oregon, one of my best childhood friends decided to move up to Spokane, Washington to face the snow for another four years. As a student at Gonzaga University, my friend Geneva has only perfected her approach to snowy weather. Read what she has to say about packing for college in a snowy environment!

My freshman year at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA taught me many valuable life lessons. Possibly the biggest lesson I learned was how to deal with the climate. We are North; North enough to encounter the clutches of my biggest enemy: snow. Now, don’t get me wrong-- I’m from the Pacific Northwest so I’ve experienced this frosty foe before, but Spokane took snow and cold to a whole new level. We are talking two layers of pants, people! And don’t be fooled by the coined term, “Spring” Semester. Spring doesn’t exist until the last month of school. Until then, it's still a brutal winter. So how do I deal with these Arctic conditions that last until the late months? Heated tissues to wipe my frozen tears. In all seriousness, I will give you a list of my top five must-haves in order to survive the frozen tundra of an arctic campus such as Gonzaga University.

1. Leggings: Besides the fact that they make any booty look great, they are perfect for layering. I remember days where I would compete with my friends to see how many pairs of leggings we could wear at the same time. Although this seems like a silly competition, it was mainly an act of survival. Layering is key in the cold and leggings are the perfect medium to do so. 

2. Rubber-sole snow boots: My favorite brands are Sorel, Merrell, Columbia, and even LL Bean. Ditch the Uggs. Seriously, those in the snow are just a wet, furry, death trap. At this point it's not about fashion, it's about function. What is going to get you across campus with the least amount of slipping on ice? Nobody will judge you for your clunky boots, but they may, however, laugh a little at the wet stain on your butt if you slipped on the way to class because you weren’t wearing appropriate footwear. 

3. Tank tops: This may seem weird, but it all goes back to the idea of layering. In the winter, professors tend to crank up the heaters a little excessively at times. I always found myself sweating by the time I walked three flights of stairs in all of my snow gear. This allows for you to not overheat during class. Just remember to layer up before you head outside again.

4. Sunscreen and sunglasses: Do you think I’m crazy yet? There is actually research showing that the UV rays from the sun can be more intense when it is overcast. I’m not going to get into the science of this, but just trust me from experience of being the girl to have many awkward goggle sunburns from skiing in the winter. Also, snow is white, so it reflects light, therefore you walk outside and are blinded. I saw more people wearing sunglasses during the winter than during shorts and flip flop weather. 

5. Moisturizing and waterproof makeup: Moisturize. A lot. The cold air dries you up, which can cause flaky skin and acne, so lather up. Same goes for your poor wind-burned lips. Get some good chapstick: my favorites are Maybelline Baby Lips, Dr. Rescue, and Burt’s Bees Refreshing Lip balm Grapefruit. The wind can cause me tear up so I always go for waterproof eye products.