Probably the extent of my creativity

Unlike some other amazing bloggers, whose creativity skills are beyond comprehension to me, I basically suck at making things. I can basically make home made slushies and elephants out of play doh and that's it. Anyways, I had two items of clothing sitting in my closet that have been begging to be worn. The problem? individually, I'm not loving them. The skirt, which I bought a few weeks ago from Forever 21 but is too cutesy to incorporate into my daily wear, The shirt/dress was originally a skirt of my sisters that she was about to toss away. I've never worn either. However, last night, after playing around with a few different combos, I finally found my niche, both skirts together! Ta daaaaa!! so I put the skirt on as a dress and put the Forever 21 skirt on over top, and let the cute little fringe from the dress stick out underneath the skirt. To keep it less cutesy, I added a boyish slouchy black cardigan, and wore my Louboutin wannabes to toughen it up. The result? That's up for you to decide.











In other news, I just had to add this. My nephew is pretty much more fashionable than most guys that I know. He's four, check out this attitude.



What I'm wearing:
Cardigan: H&M, $30
"Dress": sister's old skirt
Skirt: Forever 21
Shoes: Oh Deer, $100ish

Reflections of an Urbanite two weeks after beginning a blogging adventure...

I know this is a fashion blog, and I should be posting looks and clothes, etc. but I just wanted to take a moment to relfect on the past two weeks since I began my blog. I've always loved fashion, in fact, I remember when I was about 8 years old and I was visiting my grandparents in Toronto and my mom yelled at me because all I brought in my suitcase were unitards, tights, and weird neon coloured bathing suits. When I decided to take the plunge and begin a blog, I never could have anticipated the support and friendliness of the blogging world. I've been shown nothing but warm welcomes thus far and geniunely appreciate every comment and reader. It's been such a blast, regardless of the late hours checking my comments and uploading photos onto photobucket. So, even though I haven't been around very long, I just wanted to say, first and foremost, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.

Ok, so because this is a personal fashion blog, I figured I'd tell you a bit about myself. As they say, you can't really know somebody until you know where they've been. So, my name is Michaela Maria Danielle Alexis, but cool people call me Mickie, which is my nickname. Even though I don't look it, I'm biracial, I'm half black and half white. My mom is Canadian, and my dad is from Trinidad. I spent my childhood vacations in Trinidad and Barbados, where almost all my family is from. I was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, which is the capital of Canada. I am currently a law student at Carleton University in Ottawa, and am entering my *sigh* fifth year of university. I have to maintain an A average for law school so it's been a struggle. My dream job would be to open my own clothing boutique.

My hair naturally curly but I always straighten it, because otherwise I tend to look like Simba from the Lion King. I bought my first pair of high heels last September (shocking, I know). I own an insane amount of stuff, yet can never find anything to wear. I'm 5'4, 120 pounds, and 22 years old. Throughout my life I've cheated on tests, worn skirts that were too short, had bad incidents involving cars and jacking during my "rebel years" in high school, cut class more often than not, dated people I'll deny I ever dated, fell in love with boys that never loved me back, fell in love with boys that did, snuck out when grounded to go party on mtl, which by the way, was definately worth it, snuck out of my house to go joyriding with the bad boys, danced with random strangers on drunken Canada Days, been nicknamed slutty heels by a mean homeless woman downtown, gotten stuck in revolving doors with my best friend, been handcuffed to my best friend, gotten stuck in those spinning chairs in food courts when reaching for ketchup, started bar fights, danced on tables, danced on cars, mooned a grade 4 class on a field trip BY ACCIDENT, eaten a glowstick, sat in brown wet paint, got my teeth knocked out in hockey, been caught in a hurricane, and been in a coma.

Alright then, on with the show!!

Michaela's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day...

Ew, it was definately one of those days when I should have stayed in bed. You know when one bad thing after another starts happening and you immediately wish you were curled up under your worn in comforter? Ya, it was one of those. I got really excited to dress up though, surprising my wardrobe is comprised of more than just v-necks and short shorts. Shocking, I know! I managed to do a mini photo shoot in the empty pool near my house, and I have to say, it was really, really, REALLY fun. I almost wished I had put on my big rubber boots and a raincoat on and splashed in the puddles. As much as I try to be grown up and all responsible, there are some things that never change, like my love of warm rainy days, dressing up, and those big, fat raindrops that splash in the middle of your head. Enjoy.

















What I'm wearing:
headband: forever 21, $10
Dress: H&M, $40
Tights: Walmart, $8
Shoes: Nine West, $115
Jacket: H&M, $50
Clutch: some Globo brand, I actually think it's brandless, $20

Today has been such a lazy day, I really didn't want to get out of bed, let alone get dressed. Apparently today I'm also super indecisive about what I should wear, since I changed about a bazillion times. The first thing I put on was my trusty flannel, which is basically a set up from full out pajamas, with my way too short shorts, and my Minnetonkas. As soon as I put it on though, I immediately felt that it was too safe, and I needed a little colour to brighten up my mood. Ya, so I pretty much went all out on that one. You may want to adjust the brightness level on your monitor before checking out these pics. Well, hey, neon is in, just probably not in obnoxious doses like this. And yes, my room is usually this messy, I have an abundance of material things that I routinely like to toss on the floor.





What I'm wearing:
Boots: Minnetonka, $50
Shorts: American Apparel, $25
Plaid Shirt: Forever 21, $20
Denim Jacket: Too old to recall

Take 2:


What I'm wearing:
Jacket: Adidas, $120
V-neck Tee: American Apparel, $10
Shorts: Forever 21, $20
Belt, H&M
Boots: Minnetonka, $50
Hat that I wear way too much: H&M, $10

My new obsessions and purchases

Ok, so I haven't been working for the past three weeks because of intense final exams, but that can't stop me from looking, right? First things first, I bought two new pairs of wayfarer sunglasses for the summer. Honestly, I really didn't want the expensive ray ban ones because I have too many expensive sunglasses that I'm afraid to wear. Plus, I'm going to Disney World in a few months and want something I'm not terrified to misplace. So I bought two pairs off of Ebay, one in black and these cuties:

I didn't even know they came in pink until seeing them on another blog, and I knew immediately I had to have them.

Next, for all you floral dress lovers, this one's for you:

To me, this is gorgeous, the cut, the colour, everything is on point. I especially love that it's not too cutesy, and I think it would look phenomenal with a leather jacket or brown Minnetonkas. I, unfortunately, can't get this one since it's only available on the American site, boooo. Any takers?

I've been watching these shorts for a while and wondering when somebody's going to be brave enough to rock em. It probably won't be me, since they're $48 plus $30 shipping to Canada, but they really are gorgeous and I think they would look AMAZING on the right lady. If you live near an Urban Outfitters, pleeeease at least try these on. Look how cute her shoes are! Ok moving on,

I know, I know, don't get too excited. I think they've changed the pictures on the American Apparel website, because I don't remember EVER seeing this dress before now. I've been looking for an off shoulder dress for what seems like ages, and this is just perfection. Do you guys remember in the Row video where the girl puts on the oversized black sweater, heels, and black fedora? I think this could be a great alternative to the sweater in the video. And look at those knee highs!! Race you to it!

**note: If you haven't seen the Row video yet, PLEASE search for it on youtube, I promise it'll brighten your day.

Knee Highs-Part II

I apologize in advance for subjecting you all to this bright plastic looking bag, but I was at my boyfriend's yesterday and so it's been my companion two days in a row. It's really starting to grow on me I think. I know I wore this hat yesterday too. C'est la vie. So walking through the bf's hood, I saw polos every colour of the rainbow today and subjected middle aged soccer moms and their youngins to a large dose of too pale thighs, hooker boots, and dark nail polish. Poor things. The suburbs also have some great shooting locations, but they still scare me. Everything looks exactly the same and that's just freaky. Anyone else have a suburb phobia? (don't leave me hanging)
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What I'm wearing:
Boots: Le Chateau, $120
Socks: American Apparel, $14
Shorts: Forever 21, $20
Belt: Part of H&M jacket
Top: American Apparel, $10
Cardigan: H&M, $30
Handbag: American Apparel, $37
Hat: H&M, $10
Nail Polish: Blue Satin, Chanel, $28

The Denim Jacket

I was eager to debut my new AA laptop bag, which, by the way, I can't imagine as a laptop bag at all, and stumbled across my late 90s denim jacket. I was pretty excited to wear it, seeing as it bought back memories from my youthful day of sketchers platform sneakers and Claire's "shopping sprees". The best part was getting on the bus and seeing two people FULLY decked out in head to toe denim. Something tells me they're not avid Nylon readers though. Anyways, here's my denim jacket look, and word to the wise, if you come from a small town like me (Ottawa), be prepared to have stares and snickers when you pair socks with sandals.

Oh, and I almost forgot, I had to buy a present for my boyfriend's sister's new baby girl, and I picked this up from Old Navy. It was just too cute not to post.


What I'm wearing:
Shoes: Nine West, $115
Socks: Random Costco Brand
Skirt: American Apparel, $25
Black Top: American Apparel, $13
Gray Top: American Apparel, $20
Denim Jacket: no clue, probably Stitches or seomthing equally gross
Handbag: American Apparel, $37
Hat: H&M, $10
Sunnies: M by MJ, $130
Nail Polish: Blue Satin, Chanel, $28

I've been tagged!

Tagged by Jordana of Clutch 22…

Here are six of my ‘quirks’

1. I can touch my nose with my tongue...and am oddly proud of it.
2. When I was younger I used to eat peanut butter sandwiches with doritos crushed inside, and I still love it.
3. I'm half black but somehow look whiter than most white people, argh.
4. I'll walk a mile just so that I don't have to jay walk
5. I have to sleep closest to the wall and furthest from the door or I won't sleep
6. I'm terrified of bridges, and that's not that weird, but the fact that I developed my phobia from a comedy called "Ghost Dad" starring Bill Cosby is.

I’m tagging…

1. Mahalo Fashion
2. Unwise Pedestrian
3. Everybody is Ugly
4. Childhood Flames
5. Fashion Blanket
6. Newly Inspired

The rules are as follows:

• Link the person who tagged you
• Mention the rules in your blog
• Tell about six unspectacular quirks of your’s
• Tag six following bloggers by linking them
• Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged

The T-Shirt Dress

Today was a slacker day. You know when you lag all day to get anything done at all? Story of my life. Anyways, I had to go drop off a paper at school today and really didn't feel like getting dressed up. Ta Daaaa in enters the lovely AA t-shirt dress. This dress seriously is my love. It's perfect for a fall back outfit, and like the perfect white tee, I think it's pretty versatile. I'll just have to remind myself not to eat spaghetti and meatballs while wearing it. Today was an important actually actually because it was the first time I got to wear my new Minnetonkas. I'm obsessed, so you'll probably see about a trillion more outfits like this. I had to practice using the self timer on my camera, and as you can see, I basically suck at it. I put up a few of the insanely terrible ones just for giggles.








What I'm wearing:
Canvas Coat, Le Chateau, $110
White T-shirt Dress, American Apparel, $30
Minnetonka boots, $50
Belt, H&M, part of jacket
Handbag, Linea Pelle, $350

Minnetonka Boots arrived!!!!

Just wanted to keep you guys updated. I managed to work things out with the owner of the company I bought the boots from, and they arrived today! They look like this:

I'm seriously in love and can't wait to start playing with them!

After my swimsuit fiasco I decided to try on my new Forever 21 skirt that I bought a few weeks ago. Here's what I came up with,

I'm actually glad I took these pics because I realized what a blogging amateur I am. It's a bazillion times easier to shoot outside. You live, you learn.

What I'm wearing:
Tube top, I have no clue, it's from my preteen years!
Belt, Le Chateau, $20
Pleated Taffeta skirt, $27.80
Shoes (you can't see), Dolce Vita, $100

Reflections of an Urbanite-Swimsuit Edition

As previously promised, I've compiled a few ideas for swimwear this year that may tickle your fancy.

First,

Yes I know I'm definately pulling a Lindsay Lohan in this picture but never mind that. Let's focus on the positive. I've created a swimsuit that is consistent with the high-waisted and retro swimsuit trend, and what's more is that this "swimsuit" makes me feel comfortable and unique. I showed a few swimsuits of this style in a previous post, but unlike those ones that cost around $100 or more, this one was only a teeny fraction of the price.

What I'm wearing:
American Apparel high-waisted shorts, $25
American Apparel Cotton Ruched Front Tube Bra, $13


Argh my nails look so naked. So this is a similar look to the first one except I switched the top for an actual retro style swimsuit top. I think I may like this style a bit better and again, I feel like this is a look I would be confident to wear by the pool. The funny thing about this top is that I got it in Montreal when I was staying at the Marriott and had forgotten to bring a bathing suit with me so I bought the cheapest one I could find in a store. I love this swimsuit to death, particularly because I'm easily impressed by ruffles.

What I'm wearing:
American Apparel high-waisted shorts, $25
Aqua Rose bikini top, $30 (with bottom)


This is just another variation on the same look, but I added a plaid shirt on top. Although this probably isn't the most practical swimwear look, it was really fun.

What I'm wearing:
American Apparel high-waisted shorts, $25
Aqua Rose bikini top, $30 (with bottom)
Roots red plaid shirt, $40



This is a way of covering up swimsuits that won't make you look like a complete nerd. Take an oversized cotton dress or a casual racerback dress like this one and add some sexy heels. I feel like this is the type of dress I'll be wearing everyday all day.

What I'm wearing:
Aqua Rose bikini, $30
American Apparel 2X1 Rib Racerback Dress, $28
Oh Deer Audrey Pumps, $100(ish)


Metallics are hot, but I feel like gold has been so overdone that every time I see gold shoes, handbags, etc., I seriously cringe. Silver is the forgotten one, and I'm not sure why. Although, to be fair, this swimsuit isn't exactly silver, but more of a shiny beige. Anywho, this is a swimsuit I got on sale from American Apparel a while back and immediately decided that I'd never wear it. Upon further inspection, however, it's not really THAT bad. It kind of has an odd shape and is a little revealing around the..um..upper area, but I felt once I added the belt it completely changed the suit and held everything in place properly.

What I'm wearing:
American Apparel Nylon Tricot Ruched Swimsuit, $18
Le Chateau(I know, I know) Belt, $20


Here's an alternative to laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame bathing suit cover ups and sarongs this summer, flimsy chiffon dresses. I found this one in the back of my closet collecting dust. My boyfriend bought it for me a few years ago and I've never worn because it has an awkward shape and is too short to turn into a dress, which was my original idea. However, it works fabulously as a cover up I think. I love how I'm giving my boyfriend the stink eye in this one. I feel like drinking tea and eating crumpets while wearing this, and that's pretty impressive considering that I don't know what a crumpet is. Ahhh the power of chiffon.

What I'm wearing:
Ok, try not to cringe...Urban Behaviour chiffon dress/top, $50
American Apparel nylon ruched swimsuit, $18


Haha, I love how you can actually see me getting more and more annoyed. I was literally asking "where's my chicken?". Ok, so this is my ode to a style I LOATHE. Colourblocking. This is the one way that I can condone it, because it usually tends to look cheesy and cheap. I always imagine Mariah Carey rocking the colour block even though I don't think she actually has. Anyways, I knwo I have a lot of lacoste. Actually this is a small fraction, I went through a year of Lacoste craziness where that all I'd buy. There is something nice about Lacoste polos though, when worn properly, they make things look a little classier, and they make most people look more attractive. Ha. Sorry about the NSFWness of some of these photos, most of the bottoms are Brazillian and literally cover...well nothing. I also apologize for the doucheness of the popped collar. But hopefully you get the gist of what I was going for.

What I'm wearing:
Lacoste shirts, $115 and up a piece(gotta love Canadian prices)
Brazilian Bottoms, $20 a swimsuit
Pink Lasenza bottom, $40 for swimsuit

So that's it, I have more, and had some cute bikinis for all those two-piece lovers out there, but seriously, this took a few hours and I really wanted that chicken. Hope I at least gave some ideas for not looking like a dweeb by the pool this summer. And if you're not going to follow my advice, that's cool, but at least promise me you won't order anything from the Sears catalogue;)Happy swimsuit shopping!!

American Apparel Junkie

Upon confirming my order on the American Apparel website, I began to realize just how many items I actually own from that store. It's a little gross. I bunched most of my clothes together so I wouldn't look completely obsessed. Anyways, here are my current American Apparel goods and what I consider to be the basics for any wardrobe.

These are all my American Apparel tank tops and beaters. I'm particularly fond of the U-shaped tanks because they're a little longer than average and feature an extremely flattering neck line. I usually use them for layering and hanging out, but they are a bit more dressy than the average beater which makes a valuable piece to piece with pretty skirts and the like. I own one in black, white, dark green, mint, and baby blue. The ones I use the most are the white and black ones(obviously). I also love the deep unisex v-neck and have one in black and white. They're extremely flattering and I tend to get a lot of compliments when I wear them. Works for me since they're so effortless. Many fashionistas will claim that they own this shirt in every colour and I can see why, they're just THAT good. Thanks to my girl Jordana for the heads up on this one. I also own the infamous tri-blend racerback tank. The material is wonderful, the cut is fabulous, and my only complaint about this shirt is that they don't make them in other colours. If you don't already have this, it would be one of my top choices. I also have a few more racerbacks and a wicked crew neck.



Ok, so just so that you know, that penis looking thing in the background is actually an unused ear plug. Ewww, I know, but at least its better than the former. This picture actually serves better as a reminder that I desperately need to clean. My poor innocent carpets. Anyways, I have about a bazillion bottoms from American Apparel, most of which still have the tags on them, haha. I have the high waisted pencil skirt in black, which I have yet to wear, but it's very comfy and flattering. The perfect basic for those who don't really like dressing up. I have those lame pants in black and they're amazing. I feel so Sandy when I put them on. If you considering buying them, I guarantee you'll want to wear these every day and can wear them so many different ways. I have high waisted shorts in black, which have been my favorite single item from AA thus far. I haven't gotten to wear them yet, but I'm really excited to start this summer. The best part is that you can fold the top down to make them normal shorts. I have the tulip skirt in navy blue, which I'll admit is because of Rumi on Fashion Toast but I feel like I could work it in a completely different way. Plus it's unbelievably comfy. Lastly I have those shiny Lindsay Lohan (argh) leggings in black. These leggings make your legs look hot like fire. A little pricey though I think. Oops, I forgot I also have interlock mini skirt in black. Absolutely essential to every wardrobe, even though I forgot to mention it just now...

Wow I have way too many AA dresses. I buy them in bulk off of an AMAZING fabulous seller on ebay, so if you're interested in AA dresses two for $20 and hoodies for $20 a piece for example, just let me know. Ok, so I have two rib racerback dresses, which I like, but I don't love. They're a bit too long and baggy even being a small, and so I keep putting them in the dryer, which seems to be coming along pretty well. They're fabulous as cover ups though and for lazy days. I have two fine jersey T dresses in black and gray and I LOOOOVE them. I got them two for $15 from that same seller. Kate Moss inspired me to try the black, and these dresses are perfection, the cut, the off shoulder looseness, the slight tightness on the bottom, they're really amazing. I have two double U neck dresses, one on black and one in royal blue. A lot of bloggers have these and it doesn't surprise me. Beware however that they are VERY form fitting and if you're not 100% comfortable with your curves, do not attempt this. You literally can see a girl's ovaries through this dress. I also have the cotton spandex tube dress in royal blue and I do love it because it's super fine, but definately not daywear, at least for me.

Yes, I even have American Apparel accessories, sick, I know. I told you. I have the fine jersey braided belt in black, which my boyfriend calls "a rope", which is obviously is, but it's a very pretty rope, and therefore, the $9 it costs is justified. At least that's what I keep telling myself. It is very handy though, I use it with a lot of my dresses, and as a headband. It's good for making me not look like a doofus when I've stayed up all night studying and my hair is mental. I actually have three headbands, but the black one is lost deep in the cervasses of my dungeon. Anywho, I love headbands, and although an American Apparel one is not necessary, they were the only place that had the perfect material, colours, and width. Always part of my university attire.

Last but not least, my hoodies. Everybody has these so I won't say much, except if you don't have at least one American Apparel hoodie, you're missing out. They're pricey but worth every penny to me since I wear mine on a regular basis. Remember to go a size down on the unisex items including the hoodies for the perfect fit.

I can see the light!!

So, after pulling a horrendous all nighter (again) last night, I finally finished my last exam! Well, that is, minus the take home that's glaring at me from my desk. Anyways, to celebrate an successful completion of a load of terrible exams, I decided to make a few minor purchases on the American Apparel site. I also had a 10% off promo code. I probably went way overboard, but this is what I bought:

I featured this one a while back. I'm in love. I figure I can pair this with my hopefully arriving soon Minnetonka boots and my trusty H&M black jacket. I don't really know why I'm so excited about an oversized, overpriced white t-shirt but hey.

I think I also featured these but in creme, but I saw these a loooong time on the infamous fashiontoast blog, and I haven't been able to get them out of my mind since.

The first one is for my upcoming post on swimwear, and I'll say no more because apparently I'm 12 years old and love surprises. The second one is mostly because I bought a tank top that is way too big for me and have had an obsession with neon (particularly neon green) as far back as I can remember. I'm hoping to do a post actually on the pops of neon trend that seems fun but almost imposible to pull off without looking tacky, which should be pretty easy considering the surprising abundance of neon in my wardrobe. We'll see how this one turns out.

It is at this point I realize I may have overspent once again. While I did need a laptop bag, or at least a slightly less nerdy one, this bag will probably end up NOT being used for what it's supposed to. Totally impractical and unnecessary. Ha, that basically sums up my style. What can I say, I'm a girl and I'm attracted to shiny things, geeze.

Swimsuit Dilemmas!!

If you're anything like me, summer equals swimsuit anxiety. It doesn't seem to matter what weight I am, when I was 98 pounds in high school or 138 pounds a few years ago, swimsuit shopping is almost always a scary experience. The one thing I've learned is don't go with the trends in swimwear, wear what makes you look good. If you have tummy issues, don't buy a brazilian, if you have big hips, don't buy something high-cut. Despite how simple this SEEMS, every year I seem to fall into what looks good on other people, and the result? I have over 20 swimsuits (I live in Canada, not Cali.) that are sitting in my overstuffed closet. Ok, so here's the plan. This year, I will not give in to temptations. Together, we're going to find some gorgeous swimwear that makes us look fabulous and supermodel-esque. I'm also putting together a mini swimsuit edition with my current swimsuits and trying to figure out ways to still look chic by the pool. That'll be up by Wednesday. For now, here are a few of my recommendations and favorite online buys. I'm particularly feeling the red love surf one and black lame one.

It's my blog and I'll rant if I want to...

Ok, so I know this blog is supposed to be all about fashion, but I also wanted to share a problem I've been having with online sellers. Fraud. Back when I first discovered Ebay, I bought all this big bright polka dot pink luggage from a woman whose name (thankfully) I've forgotten. Anyways, I waited patiently for a month and I still hadn't recieved it so I began a dispute on Paypal. The woman who hadn't returned my emails finally began talking to me. She told me her 4 year old daughter was in the hospital sick, and what kind of person was I to do this to her at a time like this. Obviously, being young(er) and naive, I felt awful, apologized and removed the dispute. After that, a week went by and no contact. I sent her another, to which she replied, this is her sister, she's in the hospital because she just got hit by a car. By this time I didn't believe it anymore, and now I was MAD, it wasn't the money that hurt, it was the lies and the guilt trips when I had turned out to be her victim. I felt....well...used. On top of that, Paypal wouldn't reopen the dispute, and so I lost out big time. That shopping experience has always bothered me. Ok, so then on Monday, I decided to buy some Minnetonka boots, and bought them off of a website online. I have a bad feeling. The sizing that I was quoted was wrong, when I tried to tell them about this error they haven't responded to my emails, the phone system hasn't worked, the shipping prices were all wrong, the tracking number given to me doesn't exist(I verified it with UPS), and the whole situation is just ultra sketchy. Since I've been waiting a week without any replies, I finally decided to open a dispute on paypal so we'll see how it goes. I guess I always assumed these things only happened on Ebay, but this is kind of like a warning to everyone to be very careful about what you purchase online. While it may be more convenient, that convenience definately seems to come with hefty cons. So please kids make sure that if you buy from Ebay and online that you be very careful. Has anyone else had a bad ebay/online shopping experience?

She's Real!

I finally got a little break in between studying and decided to try a few look with my new knee highs. I started off with a black cardigan and glasses, but ended up switching to a plaid button up. Much more ME. Also, the sunshine was out in full force, definitely a cause for celebration. Yay summer.

Skirt is from I have no clue, Gladiator sandals from Nine West, Knee Highs from Roots, Burn out tee is from Forever 21, plaid shirt is from Forever 21, cardigan is from H&M, and handbag is from Linea Pelle.

Style Finder

Ok, sooooo, I've only recently been exposed to some really incredible fashion blogs. One of them, Style Finder, is fantastic for cheap buys and average street style. A few of the glamorous ladies in the street style section I feel deserve mention here:

I know, I know, I JUST mentioned the red tights thing, but come on. I love the combination of the red tights with the converse. Which reminds me, I don't think I've ever even owned a pair of converse. I almost bought a pair a few months ago but my boyfriend persuaded me not to. Here's some advice for all you ladies out there. Do NOT always listen to the boyfriend's fashion advice. Think about it. Most likely, your boyfriend's ideal outfit for you is a lame bikini, high heels and a sponge washing his car. Not the most unbiased opinion if you asked me. Just saying:P Next!This lovely lady's jacket seriously ALMOST makes me wish it was winter again (I said almost). Some girls are "shoe girls", some are "purse girls", but I am 100% a jacket/coat lover. I've been looking for a jacket with a poofy tulip shape, in between length, and exaggerated collar for so long. Perfection.

Let's discuss. I'm not sure exactly what attracts me to this outfit so much, but I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the lovely slouchy topshop jacket, the gorgeous oversized marc by marc jacobs bag, the adorable subtle polka dots, or the casualness of the vans. It almost seems as if the outfit was organized around the handbag. Now that's dedication. And while I don't condone matchy matchy looks, this one seems more effortful and therefore intriguing.

There aren't too many OMG inspiring outfits on the website (more average casual looks), but it's always fun to see other people's outfits and see the brands that they're wearing. That reminds me, am I the only one that always wishes I'd get stopped in the street and get asked what I'm wearing for some really fab magazine? *sigh*

Red tights

I know I've been slow to notice the red tights trend, but in the midst of sleepless nights and excessive coffee consumption (aka exam season), its brought a small smile to my face. I've heard lots of people who've argued that the look is extremely hard to pull off, but I think I'm up to the challenge. Plus smack on the homepage for style.com is a whole lovely feature that really warms my heart. Here are my favorite pairings (I am particularly in lust with Agyness' version with the light denim jacket. Genius.)

SKIRTS SKIRTS SKIRTS

I am, just as most of you probably are, head-over-heels in love with the emergence of a variety of different skirt styles for the summer. I've already gone way overboard with the skirt shopping, yet I still want more...LOTS more. Here are a few of my Forever 21 favourites and recent purhases.

Ok, so this first one is called the burn out silk mini, and it's from Forever 21. I'm in love. The pleats, the pattern, the colour, everything is spot on for me. The $22.80 price tag doesn't hurt either! Unfortunately, they don't have this one on the Canadian site yet, boooo.

This is the satin mesh skirt, again from Forever 21. This skirt kind of reminds me of my younger ballet days, only a little more bad*ss. I want this bad, I'm just debating on what I would pair it with...

This one, I'm a little unsure about. I bought it knowing my boyfriend would like it (Definately a bad idea), but it reminds me of my Catholic high school days a liiiittle too much. However, maybe if I toughen it up with a leather jacket and AA deep V neck and boots, I'll change my mind. Regardless it is a cute skirt, and if you didn't have to wear something similar to this every day for school, it's definately purchase-worthy.
I bought this last skirt about three weeks ago thinking that it would look amazing with some mary-janes and knee highs. Wrong. I realized pretty quickly that the knee high look requires a casual top. Although you can still wear skirts and look fabulous, as modelled by the lovely Jordana from Clutch22, but my suggestion is to go with t-shirt dresses, bandage skirts, mini floral dresses, etc. Instead, I've decided to pair this baby with my new black gladiator shoes and maybe a pair of ankle socks. Let the skirt experimenting begin!

After frequently browsing/obsessing over people's blogs, I figured I'd give it my best shot. With my new camera in tow and my moderate taste in clothes, we're gonna give it a go. And what better way to commence the blogging expedition then with sharing my current online obsessions? This week, I'm focused on all things American Apparel.

Call me boring, but I must have this dress. I keep envisioning it with a big woven brown belt, grey knee highs and gladiator sandals or better yet, some black minnetonka boots. *Sigh*

I have an obsession. There's something about mary-janes, knee highs, etc. that is oh-so-appealing. Pairing them with leather jackets like I've seen a few girls do on their blogs is a lethal combo. I wish I had a leather jacket, which I've been desperating hunting for since last year, after my boyfriend insisted that mine was "too mannish". Oh well, like I really need an excuse to buy more jackets.

Lastly, these marvelous high-waisted shorts. I was hesitant when I bought my first pair a few weeks ago in black, but these shorts are amazing. AA really doesn't do them justice, they're actually way more conservative in real life. What can I say, I guess I wish I was a 50s pin-up girl and this is probably the closest I'll ever come. For those in doubt, I'll soon post a look featuring my original pair.

Oh, and I almost forgot.......