#tights: sheer and classy

The other day I was wearing tights (the few chilly days this winter in California) and had another girl negatively comment on them. Her reaction was that only old ladies wear tights or stockings. Well I am here to say what a load of B.S!
Thanks to the princess they are making a strong comeback and I think no matter the age look and make you feel fabulous.

Here are the few benefits:
1. Warmth:
If for nothing else, when it's chilly outside and you still want to wear a dress, tights are the best way to keep you legs warm. You do not have to expose people to your dry, white goosebumpy legs, which is not attractive especially if you are rocking a fabulous dress and pair of shoes.

2. Sculpting
No matter your age or body type, you will always need some sculpting help. Tights are the perfect assistant with that by sculpting you legs and tummy. I am a big fan of the control top tights and although that sounds unattractive, trust me they help smooth out unnecessary lines and lumps, making you look and feel confident and sexy.

3. Professional
Tights make you look professional. There is no need to bare you legs for the whole world to see all the time ladies. I am a big advocate for modesty and I when a professional setting tights are a must. Now I am not saying you need to wear them all the time, but when your skirt is right at your knee or above it and you seemed worried, a pair of tights will help make that skirt look for appropriate.

4. Tone evener
I tend to be clutsy, which as a result means I have a few scares on my legs, the perfect pair of tights, sheer or black, not only helps hide them but gives my legs an even skin tone. So no one ever has to know that I tripped over my own legs while walking up the stairs the night before.

5. Royalty
Not to bring more attention to Duchess Kate, but she definitely made tights modern, classy, and youthful again. She is the epitome of class and sophistication. I know we cannot all have her wardrobe but her sense of fashion and style is worth imitating.

Now that I bored you with my rant about my love for tights, I will share with you my favorite brands:
Calvin Klein: I have a pair and cannot express how much I love them! PLUS they are control top. My advice buy a pair in every color.
Nordstrom: You can never go wrong with the Nordstrom brand, and their French cut makes all legs supermodel beautiful!
Finally, lets not forget SPANX, If you want some added comfort and sculpting, then you want to stock up on the SPANX brand stocking. They look and making you feel great.

I've worn and own at least a pair from each brand. Plus I stock up from Nordstrom Rack since as I mentioned earlier, I am clutsy and clumsy, I go through pairs fairly quickly.

Hope everyone stays warm and classy.

XOXO

#It's the thought that counts

The next question is what you get that friend, that you care about and is important to you, but you don't have the income to buy them something big or elaborate?
I don't think that the bigger the gift the more you care about a person. I like to pay attention to what my friends say or mention, sometimes the perfect gift is something small and thoughtful that they will love, even if it didn't break the bank.

Here are some small and thoughtful gifts that will be sure to make that special friend smile on Christmas.

1. Luggage Tag: Amazon has great deals on sassy travel accessories.

2. Bracelet: Perfect amount of sparkle to complement any holiday outfit.

3. Mugs: As you can probably tell I like clever or sassy trinkets and Kate Spade is the perfect one stop shop for all things cute and sassy.
4. Gloves: As the weather drops it's important to always have some cute gloves on hand.
5. Beauty Set: Philosophy is a wonderful beauty company and this little gift set is a great introduction to their products.
6. Coin Holder: I love Michael Kors from handbags to coin holders.
7. Compact Mirror: I always feel like you never have a mirror when you most need it, this cute little piece would complement any purse.
8. Socks: Normally I would not recommend buying socks but these are to cute to pass by.

Hope this helps! Stay warm!

xoxo

#why are men so complicated?

So Christmas is just around the corner and I am currently in the middle of finals and racking my brain trying to find appropriate gifts for my favorite people. If I were a millionaire this time of year would be less of a struggle but since I am a student on a budget, every penny matters but I still want to make sure that I get special people a gift they deserve and that will show them how much they truly mean to me.

So there are options; you can either make a DIY gift or online shop like a crazy person (like I do) on your study breaks and look for the best bang for your buck.

I love DIY ideas but  I am not that crafty or artsy so the most DIY I do is the cards. I love making my own cards. I use either Walgreens or Walmart and make picture cards, from either my favorite pictures with myself and that individual or a comic or art work that I know they would love. It also allows you to write whatever you want inside. It's personal and perfect and a great addition to any gift.

So now to the big stuff, the gift ideas. This will be a series since I have been lacking on my posting but I figured I would help people out with my gift ideas. The first post will be about gift ideas for him. These are things I am looking at and are relatively affordable but still oh so classy and perfect for that important man in your life.

1. The Coin: this is awesome, although it only officially comes out next year it is great for any guy.

2. The Slimmy: for the guy that hates the lumpy wallets.

3. J.Crew Harry's Truman Shave Kit: a great stocking stuffer.

4. Banana Republic Wool Scarf: as the temperature drops make sure his next is warm.

5. J. Crew Usb Phone Charger: I don't know about you but my phone never has enough battery.

6. HUGO Tie: A business guy can never have enough ties!

7. Topman Skinny Fit Check Sportscoat: I love a good sports coat, keeps the guy warm and looking stylish.
And don't forget your kisses, a guy can never have enough kisses from a pretty lady.

I'll see you all soon for my next gift guide.

Kisses!

#it's harvest time!

This past weekend I went to a U-pick apple orchard and mini pumpkin patch. I went to Clearview Organic Orchard, it was so pretty and 100% organic. It was also a relatively warm day which was out of the ordinary for a Mid-October afternoon. This place is extremely friendly, the guy who greeted us  was very informative about the history of the orchard, the process the farmers take and to top it off they have beautiful picnic tables throughout so you can bring your own lunch and have a beautiful picnic in the orchard.  Best part is that you only pay for the apples you buy, no paying for parking or for the picnic, you can save your money for the amazing honey, juices and apples!

Now I was planning for it to be a but cooler but my outfit wasn't to warm and still very weather and event appropriate.
I wore a Chambray shit, skinny army green utility pants and brown oxfords. I accessorized with a brown belt and my rose gold Michael Kors watch.
Here are similar options of my outfit choice:
Chambray shirt:
J Crew's options are always a perfect fit and shade:

I also like Gap's Options, more affordable but just as stylish

Skinny Cargo Style pants:
The ones I purchased were from Old Navy, super comfy, stylish and the price was right:

Or you can invest in these beauties from Piperlime:

And Finally the shoe options: you can either wear booties or oxfords. I love my oxfords, they are worn in and light: I got mine over 2 years ago from Nordstrom but here are similar options:
The first two are from Nordstrom:
Franco Sarto "Tevi" flat:

Miz Mooz Oxford flat:

And Lastly from DSW Shoes: Mercanti Fiorentini Oxford

These are probably my favorite and the closest to the ones I own. I love the classic oxford look, makes any outfit a bit more polished.







I hope you liked my outfit and I will talk to you all soon!

#plaid is not just for lumberjacks

Plaid can be daunting, becuase the last thing you want to do is look like a lumberjack. However this fall season the trend is bring back the plaid once again! I am a little cautious about plaid shirts but I love a good plaid skirt. I saw this skirt on Atlantic Pacific from Tibi and just fell in love, the problem is that I can't find it anywhere to purchase. Therefore, I went on a the hunt for a similar piece!

Here is the shirt:

I am in love with the whole outfit and her style but cannot get over this skirt!!

Now here are some similar options I am contemplating, let me know what you think!

My first option is this sweater Plaid Skirt from Nordstrom:

Another Option from Nordstrom, that is a bit more pricey but absolutely lovely: This Elizabeth and James Pencil Skirt

Next is also a Black and White Plaid Combo, from White House Black Market, not my favorite but definitely a worthy contender.

Also this Grind Skirt

Lastly, this mini is the perfect plaid with a nice touch of color by Suno

I hope you all get the urge to go out and purchase a nice plaid piece to help complete your fall wardrobe! Until next time!

#One style fits all

Probably the most versatile item of clothing that any women can own is the pencil skirt. It is the one piece that can transition between formal professional attire to causal with a slight change in shoes. The pencil skirt is also the ultimate body shaper and perfect for all body types. I can honestly say that I have never seen a body type that a pencil skirt doesn't suit. For the minimal curvy women (I say minimal because all women have some curves, and curves are something to be proud of!) a pencil skirt can accent the curves in the right way and extend the length of the legs. Women with long legs are admired, but if you don't naturally have extra long runway model legs (which most girls don't) then a pencil skirt perfectly creates the illusion that you have the long legs. Pencil skirts go up past the hips and past the knees, paired with a nice heel you now have perfect runway model like legs. Women come in many shapes and sizes so it is difficult having a fashion blog that fits all. Hence why I am a firm believer in offering advice and options not pictures of myself wearing clothing that fit well on me and my body type. I love reading blogs and seeing what others wear but its not always feasible or probable for my body type. However there are a few staple items that are versatile and flattering for all. Just like investing in a nice black pump I am a firm believer in owning a good quality pencil skirt. I will warn you that once you experience the perfect pencil skirt and will get hooked and start going pencil skirt crazy, but I think everyone will approve that if there is one thing to go crazy about it's a classy style. So for one style fits all here are some of my favorite pencil skirt options: (I will admit I am a bit bias, BCBG makes my favorite bondage style pencil skirts that accent every curve so elegantly)

Such as this BCBG Knee Length Skirt

I know that most young ladies would not initially consider St. John but this skirt is something I could she the Duchess Kate wear, classy and timeless!

I've featured an A.L.C. item of clothing on this bog before and I stand by my recommendations, this skirt is another example of the brands quality!

Once you have mastered the black, you must dive into the various other colors and styles. I love colorful and fun pencil skirts such as this Diane von Furstenberg on and the Floral Etro print skirt, talk about spicing up an outfit!

I suggest you look for a pencil skirt that has a little bit of stretch, it allows for a bit for flexibility in sizes and does a superior job at accenting those lovely curves.
















Thank you for reading and talk to you all soon!

#I am a purse-son....

See what I did there? Many women have a love hate relationship with purses, they are stylish and can add character to an outfit but are a commitment and can be heavy burden to carry. Purses are not for ever women but I don't understand how those women carry anything. Our jeans are not designed to carry our wallets in the pockets nor are female wallets designed to fit in a pocket. Plus there are phones to carry and possibly a mirror and lipstick. So unless you wear bulky clothes all the time, purses are essential.
Now that I established that purses are essential, the next step is finding the one universal and timeless handbag!
The handbag that I dream about is this cross body Chanel bag,

Chanel shoulder bag (see more black quilted purses)

However, I don't have the disposable income to purchase it, so like many other things I am always on the look out for something comparable and a much more acceptable price point. The quilted shoulder bag is elegant and a perfect size, big enough to fit a wallet, phone, keys, and your favorite lipstick but not to big that the burden of carrying it around outweighs the benefits of having it. Since I am assuming most women cannot afford an original Chanel bag, there are many designers that make comparable ones. If you only want one bag then I suggest you invest in the cross bag, its elegant enough to wear at a special event but can also be dressed down with a pair of jeans and t-shirt. Here are some of my favorite alternatives, I own the Kate Spade one and I get constant compliments on it. (Is definitely one of my favorite purses!)

Tory Burch "Natalie" is also a great alternative, the quality and style is perfect.

 Coach has amazing classic styles and what is there not to love about this simple yet elegant "Poppy" Leather Flight bag?







If you are willing to spend a little more this Marc Jacobs bag from Neiman Marcus is a beautiful investment: 

If I haven't mentioned it before, I love purses and I am definitely a Purse-son!! For a Tuesday that is as witty as I can be. Have a wonderful day!

#sassy pants

I am sure everyone has those days when sniddy comments and a sassy attitude is the one way that you will be able to get through the day, especially around certain people.
Well I am firm believer that a sassy attitude is greatly complimented with a sassy outfit, particularly sassy pants.
Vibrant prints, animals prints and geometric shape prints are on everything lately and I love it. There is nothing like spicing up a simple work outfit with a bit of print. The print adds personality, style and just enough sass to get you through the day. Below I have a few pant options that are perfect for in and out of the office!
(FYI: Zara is having a sale and they have such amazing options for printed trousers!)

This printed trouser with the side stripe is perfect, with a simple, plain top it would be perfect in any office and for a night out with the girls!

I love these Banana Republic pants, affordable and sassy!

These Trina Turk "Mandie" Silk Pants look so comfortable and sassy, I need them!!

And finally these A.L.C. Sutro Pants that are on sale! I've been watching these for a while now!












I hope everyone has a fabulous Monday and a stylish week!

#flower child

Florals are in, and not the whole your-grandma's-old-couch florals, because, believe it or not, there is a way to make florals modern and fashionable, and I love the skirts and dresses that are popping up at all the stores near you!
The key to wearing florals successfully is not overdoing it--such as a floral skirt with a neutral top or a floral dress with subtle and neutral accessories and shoes.
This Sunday, while at church, I realized that my aunt was wearing florals correctly and boy did she look adorable!! (My aunt is only three years older than me so it's okay for me to like her outfit!)

Here are a few outfits and other comparables:

 Floral skirt with a nice neutral black top! Summery, comfy and stylish! (Isn't my auntie a doll?)

 DVF wedges are so adorable.

  Vince Camuto has some amazing floral skirts this season.

Dorothy Perkins has great dresses at affordable prices. Their dresses are fashionable and allow for the perfect transition from day to night! Check out this Carnation shift dress for the perfect amount of floral and neutral.















Also check out Nordstrom Rack for their amazing sales on dresses, like this one:

Stay sunny and have a great Wednesday!

#Bun in the "duchess" oven

Continuing from yesterday's post about starting the fashionistas young, going back even further, per the request of my best friend who is also has a phenomenal teaching blog at http://assistingdescubrimiento.blogspot.com/ (check her out), I want to talk about the lady duchess Catherine and her impeccable maternity style.
I am not pregnant and don't plan on being so any time soon, however, pregnant Lady Catherine's fashion choice is to die for. I mean, there are many women out there that are not pregnant and don't look as good as her. My best friend said it best: I love her so much I hate her. Granted it is easy to look fabulous when you are royalty, but it is not the brand of clothing she wears as much as it is the cut, shape and style. Now all stores, such as Forever 21, are replicating designer styles, so there is no excuse. Anyone can afford to be stylish, even on a budget.
If I haven't mentioned before, I am a law student, so trust me I am on a budget, but that doesn't stop me from dressing well while still being frugal.

So here is the lady of the post. It should probably be illegal to look this adorable but unfortunately the laws are different in England. I also have some affordable alternatives to create the same look on a reasonable budget....

I just about died of cuteness when I saw her in this polka dot dress!! The style is perfect--a flowy skater-style skirt with a higher waist band. It accentuates a thin frame while still accommodating the bun down below.
Asos has great clothing at an affordable price. This Polka Dot Skater Dress  is only $30.55. Add a little blazer and you are pregnant in style!

Maggy London from Nordstrom

I am sure there are nonpregnant women that can't pull off this dress as well as the royal lady does! The floral motif has definitely made a come back and this preggo duchess knows how to keep her bump in style.

From the Asos Maternity Section

An Asos Maternity Option or these two nonmaternity options that stretch and can be worn after the bun is out of the oven:

Asos Floral

Asos Mirror Floral

#mega trend

In continuance from yesterday's post, I wanted to continue by posting what trend I hope comes back that I am obsessed with.... elaborate hats and fascinators!!!
Like most people I swooned over the hats at the royal wedding a few years ago and the continuous collection the Duchess and the Queen showcase. I love going to consignment shops and finding the most beautiful over the top hat, if I could afford them and had more occasions to wear them to I would invest in hats like I invest in purses. Wearing a hat or fascinator screams sophistication and class, you look important, stylish and absolutely darling!

Weddings, tea parties and Kentucky derbies should definitely not be the only reasons to wear such an extraordinary head piece...so maybe I will just have to start this wishful mega trend.

Who knows maybe they will make a come back sooner than you know!

Here are some of my favorite pictures and finds!

I fell in love with these two pieces Catherine wore instantly, the Duchess is the epitome of elegance and sophistication!

Another Etsy find! One of my favorites from this site!! 

From Etsy, so many great options!

Nordstrom's Kentucky Derby style!

   

Who doesn't just adore the Audrey Hepburn look!

#four eyes

I remember when being called "four eyes" was an insult, however now the four eyed look is the new nerdy chic. Now a sassy pair of glasses is the best accessory because its one of the few things you can re-wear multiple times a week and not get weird looks for repeating so often.
The plus side is that you don't even have to have a prescription, recently I heard a statistic that 1 out of every 5 people that wear glasses don't actually need them but rather wear them as a fashion accessory.
I am one of the 4 that actually need glasses, only for distance, however that doesn't stop me from wearing them all the time. The nerdy, librarian, hipster look is all the rage and I definitely recommend getting a pair.
I recently got my glasses from Warby Parker and I adore them, they have an amazing selection of prescription and non-prescription glasses at an amazing price!
Here are some cute options to choose from:

Ainworth: these are the ones I got, Absolutely love them!

Urban Outfitters: Only $14!!








FE NY Faux Wood












H&M