Greatest Hits

Here you'll find the most popular posts I wrote in 2013 and some of my favorites that I wrote besides those! I've had such a blast writing and I hope that you have as much fun exploring my posts from the past year as I did coming up with them.

Fashion Film Friday: Prada Gone Rushmore

Sparkling Snow

The Ultimate Christmas Movie Marathon

Christmas in London

The Rocky Road to Dublin

First Look: Warby Parker x Leith Clark

The Chris Messina Marathon

Midnight in Paris

September/October 2013 Movie Guide

Fashion Film Friday: D&G

city.ballet.

Monster Mash Part 2

Monster Mash Part 1

Style Icon: Keira Knightley

Sponsored Post: The Scoop on Ziftit

Good Reads

Pixar Short Film: The Blue Umbrella

Chanel Pre-Fall 2013

En Route to Primrose Hill

On the way to Primrose Hill - an amazing spot where you can see the beautiful sights of London laid out before your eyes, my friend and I walked across this awesomely colorful pedestrian bridge, and I couldn't resist stopping! It was the perfect fall day - the air was brisk and windy, and true to London fashion, a few drops of rain fell - but only a few! After climbing to the top of Primrose Hill we hit up a couple different bakeries to the delight of our stomachs. I ate a glittery cupcake and frolicked in a floral skirt. Read on for pictures and eventual outfit details, waaaaay at the bottom.

Favorite Looks: Emmy's 2013

The Emmy's were this past Sunday! I watched the broadcast a day late because I'm not home and was kind of disappointed this year in the actual show, but I did eat up all of the fashion that went down and was pleasantly surprised to see that some actual fun, exciting risks were taken! 

Amsterdam & Bruges

This weekend I took my second trip out of the UK! I went to Amsterdam, land of weed, prostitutes, and canals, and Bruges, home to the excellent movie with Colin, Brendan, and Ralph... my good friends. It was possibly the most fun I have had yet! Both cities were beautiful and I had my fair share of touristing (per usual).

Copenhagen

This past weekend I took an adventure with a few friends to Copenhagen. It was relatively spontaneous, and we didn't plan anything specific out. The general response when we told people what we were doing was "well what's in Copenhagen?" To tell the truth, we didn't really have an answer! However, we definitely found out once we got there and we had a blast.

Windsor, Bath, and Stonehenge

Sunday was approximately the longest day ever. It may even have felt longer than the day I arrived here. Combining a lack of sleep with minor illness (just a cold) and a 6AM wakeup time meant that I was dragging for most of the day and conking out on a bus as much as possible. It all paid off though as I saw some truly amazing sights!

A Tale of Two Markets

On Saturday we had our first exploration of two of London's many markets. The first was the notorious Portobello Market, which everyone has heard of and can't help but call to mind Hugh Grant and a quaint travel bookshop. The second was Broadway Market, much more off the beaten track and full of exciting pleasures and surprises.

Fall 2013 Nail Polish

Besides being a general shopaholic (lover of clothes, shoes, scarves, jewelry), I have the beauty bug. This has lately been all about nails! I am no nail art aficionado, but I do know my way around a good manicure. Fall is where I have the most fun (as with all fashion). I love how easy it is to take chances and how much a manicure adds to an outfit, whether it's a bold dark, an exuberant bright, or a blingy iridescent or glitter polish. Even pastels have an extra edge in fall, when they're normally put away; if brought out they seem as fresh as ever!

Royal Flush

Feeling obligated to be a massive tourist, I finally made my way to Buckingham Palace. Dusk has been a magical time of day for me here. My first visit to Kensington Gardens was made that much better by the mystical pink lighting surrounding everything. The same goes for this visit to Buckingham Palace! It was all tinged with the prettiest pink and orange light and there weren't so many people there that I couldn't breathe. After a relaxing walk around the Victoria Memorial, St. James' Park was the next stop! All of the luscious greenery and animals were impossible to resist and it was one of the most beautiful experiences I've had here to date.

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace

Touristing

I don't think it's truly hit me that I'm living here for a semester yet. My area is beautiful! I'm still a bit in a haze, but I'm slowly but surely gaining ground and figuring out where I am. In the past few days we have been touristing like the best of them! I've explored a couple of museums, the Natural History Museum, and its neighbor, the Victoria & Albert Museum. (For the record, Kensington is all for Albert - the V&A, many statues, Exhibition Road, the Royal Albert Music Hall, etc.). You've heard this before, but it's especially awesome if you've forked over $12.00 to visit the Met - museums (most) are free! Not only are they free, they're top notch! They're chock full with all the wonders you could possibly want to see. The V&A has a really stellar fashion exhibit too, which was the icing on the cake of a great day of museum-going. Aside from the museums, I've also done a couple tours. My program set up a coach tour for one morning so we got to see quite a lot of central London in a very comfortable way with a brilliantly funny tour guide. We continued on after the coach tour with a guided tour (by the fabulous Lucy and her dog Ollie) of the area. We learned some of the nooks and crannies of the area and saw more of the park and some of the beautiful buildings, memorials, and pieces of art that are plentiful in Kensington!

Outside the Natural History Museum

Natural History Museum

Natural History Museum

Natural History Museum

Too many more pictures after the break!

Kensington Gardens

So I'm in London... what? My study abroad experience has officially started and it's off to a beautiful start - this weather is insane! It's been over 70 degrees and sunny since we arrived and it's perfect. I've been getting acclimated to the general area lately, Kensington and Chelsea, and it's gorgeous. It's quite posh and my neighbors (well... I mean a few houses (streets) separate us) will be Wills & Kate once they move in to Kensington Palace! I kicked off my stay with an obligatory visit to Kensington Gardens and happened to be there during the most lovely dusk. It was a walk full of peace with a hint of magic and I wouldn't want it any other way! I can't believe that this is my home base for the semester, but I'm so excited to get out and truly explore the rest of the city! Stay tuned!

One of my first looks at the park.

The palace... such beautiful scaffolding!

For whatever reason it hasn't rained once yet and it has been BEAUTIFUL.

Dress the Part: Charlotte "Chuck" Charles

We all have our screen fashion icons! One of my absolute favorites and day-to-day style inspirations is Chuck from the short-lived show, Pushing Daisies. Every week I would obsess over the snappy dialogue, crazy premises, and the fashion. Oh my god. They put Anna Friel in the most amazing pieces! Everything had this crazy retro vibe that she just looked fabulous in and fit the character and the world of the show so well. The great part about the show is that it really happened in its own little world that had its own time frame. It wasn't the 50s but so much of the design pulls from that era. Chuck's wardrobe is feminine, super saturated, and witty too! Here's my take!

Sunnies: Kate Spade | Timepiece: Anthropologie | Shoes: Modcloth | Purse: Kate Spade | Belt: Tory Burch | Dress: Modcloth

Who are some of your best dressed characters?

Zenon Tech Accessories for your Laptop

Who says your technology can't be as fashionable and exuberant as you are? I certainly don't and there are as many laptop cases as there are styles. If your a minimalist, choose a Herschel. If you're a boho girl, go with bright colors, amazing texture, and details like tassels. Don't be afraid to take some risks, because if you can't do it with your laptop case, where will you ever? This is such an easy way to infuse another part of your life with style so take it!

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

London Calling: A Movie Marathon

In celebration of my upcoming semester abroad, I'm giving myself some homework and setting out on a London movie marathon of epic proportions! Now most of these aren't the small British films that are more likely to be accurate depictions of the city, but for the moment I'm sticking with these - my guilty pleasures, rom-coms, action movies, intimate dramas, and some sci-fi that will all get me in the mood for my temporary move across the pond.

Photo source

35% on Rotten Tomatoes
Directed by: Dennie Gordon
Starring: Amanda Bynes, Colin Firth, Kelly Preston, Eileen Atkins, Anna Chancellor, Jonathan Pryce, Oliver James, Christina Cole

Yes, it's pretty terrible by all standards, but it was when Amanda Bynes was normal and the girl everyone wanted to be best friends with! If you're a girl my age, chances are this was one of your favorites growing up and it gives you a sense of nostalgia whenever you watch it. This and Winning London. Plus, Colin Firth!

Pins of the Week: Style Secrets

Here are some great style tips that I've found on Pinterest this week to make you feel fresh and chic for fall! @trinacardamone

J. Lawr knows the secret to looking fresh - get a fabulous hair cut!

SYTYCD Top 8

Photo via Fox

Opening choreography by Mia Michaels.

Travel in Style

I will be heading off to London soon to study for the semester! In celebration (and a fit of anxiety) I've rounded up some of my favorite stars and their genius airport style in hopes that I can look as chic as they manage to!

Image via Glamour UK

Emma Stone's everyday style is amazingly relaxed, but polished and she translates this effortlessly to her airport style. Her Canadian tuxedo is comfortable but refined in a way that let's her breathe or be warm enough on the plane and hop right off and continue with her day. A hat, pop of red, and flats are simple. You won't look overdone and you won't be fumbling with anything going through security. This timeless style will allow you to hit the ground running. There are so many options even within an outfit like this now - Madewell has about a million different amazing chambrays. They have different washes, silhouettes, and even prints that will make this outfit pop even more and put a personal stamp on it! My latest obsession, d'Orsay flats, are another way to keep this style especially current and nothing says style like an Indiana Jones style fedora.

Hat: Urban Outfitters | Purse: Burberry | Jeans: Loft | Chambray: Madewell | Flats: Jenni Kayne

 More travel style stars after the break!

1 Look, 2 Jackets

With fall comes layers! The best part about this (besides cozy sweaters and cute hats) is jackets! A great jacket can make an outfit. Two great jackets can make, well two outfits! A jacket change can dramatically change any piece or outfit in your wardrobe, which gives you endless possibilities! Check out an outfit I changed up with two of my favorite jackets.

Jacket: Gap | Sweater: Urban Outfitters (similar) | Shirt: Loft (similar) | Jeans: Loft | Shoes: Thom Brown (similar)

Summer Movie Monday: The 2013 Finale!

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

Opening Wednesday, August 21st
Directed by: Harald Zwart
Starring: Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower, Kevin Zegers, Jemima West, Robert Sheehan, Robert Maillet, Kevin Durand, Godfrey Gao, Lena Headey, Harry Van Gorkum, CCH Pounder, Jared Harris, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Aidan Turner, Stephen R. Hart
16% on Rotten Tomatoes

The next Twilight? This is certainly being marketed as such and I hope for the sake of the movie that they only mean that in terms of box office and not quality of content. I do like Lily Collins (she's got killer brows) and the supporting cast is intriguing so maybe... Jury is definitely still out though, because this could just be a train wreck. I mean seriously - what's a shadowhunter? Hopefully it's not just YA fluff that's not worth our time.

Lee Daniels' The Butler, Short Term 12, Drinking Buddies, and The World's End after the break!