Her Campus: Investing in Fashion

I have another post up at HerCampus--This time, I'm focusing on wardrobe pieces that are worth a little extra cash. In my top five:

Designer denim

Durable tote bag

Comfortable, well-made shoes

Little Black Dress

Chic Outerwear 

Click here for the full article!

(Photo Credits: Shopbop, Longchamp, Tory Burch, Bloomingdales, Shopbop)

Links to Beat the Monday Blues: June 28

I feel like I'm the only person who hasn't seen Toy Story 3. Hopefully I'll get a chance to catch up with Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang soon. In the mean time, I'll have to settle with looking at these cake pops from Bakerella.

The show doesn't premiere until tonight, but I can't help but nervously chuckle every the commercial comes on. Really ABC Family? You're going to name a show about fat camp, Huge? Does that make anyone else kind of uncomfortable? Maybe it's just me.

I'm a self proclaimed "Janeite," with an affection for Earl Grey. This Etsy seller must be my kindred spirit.

Looking for a way to help those affected by Gulf Coast oil spill? Kenneth Cole recently launched a line of custom t-shirts with 100% of the proceeds going to disaster relief. Click over to his Facebook page for more details. The shirts are only $35 and feature slogans like, "I clean up well."

Lucky Magazine reported on the ladies of the Twilight series and their fashion choices for the Eclipse premiere. Who do you think looked the best on the red carpet? My vote goes to Ashley Greene.

These new arrivals from Anthropologie are swoon-worthy.

I'm considering making this post a weekly thing. Readers-what do you think?  Let me know in the comments if you'd like to see more of this series. Happy Monday :)

Inspired By: Michelle Obama

Yesterday, Mrs. O, the blog devoted to Michelle Obama's fashion, posted this pic of the first lady rocking Moschino at the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition. Even if you disagree with her husband's politics, you can't deny the woman manages to look fierce while jumping rope. If you want to get her look on a less-than-presidential budget, here are two pieces from Anthropologie that fit the bill:

Left: Pearly Glow Tank ($68), Right: Citizens of Humanity Kelly Bootcut ($99.95)

In Remembrance

One year ago today, the world lost a revolutionary entertainer in Michael Jackson. This artwork from Stuff No One Told Me, as cute and comical as it may be, clearly illustrates that the King of Pop's moon walking shoes can never be filled.

Anchors Away!

Left- Lilly Pulitzer ($118) Right- Anthropologie ($29.95)

Something about nautical-themed clothing just screams summer. I'm loving these anchor-print bottoms-they'd look equally as cute with a crisp white blouse as they would with a v-neck tee.

Wake Forest Exposes Tanning Addiction

I mentioned in an earlier post that my complexion is rather pale. In fact, my skin is so fair I could easily pass as a member of the Cullen family, if it weren't for that whole sparkle-in-the-sun thing. I've come to terms with my coloring and steer clear of tanning beds, which is why this talk of legitimate tanning addiction intrigues me.

Yesterday, my computer came home after making a full recovery from its virus. Naturally, I spent my evening catching up on some of my favorite blogs. This article on Bella Sugar caught my eye when it mentioned my alma mater: "Wake Forest found that frequent tanners actually went through withdrawal when given medicine that blocks the pleasure centers that narcotics usually affect."

Wake Forest researchers? I never knew my school was so interested in the psychologically effects of visiting the tanning bed. If they need any more subjects for their study I know quite a few girls on campus more than qualified to participate.

Readers- do y'all frequent the tanning bed? Do you embrace a Snow White complexion? Or is a fake tan more your style?

Twilight-Inspired Scarves

The Twilight series is my guilty pleasure. For a while I tried to deny it, but I can no longer hide my allegiance to Team Edward. Sure, the films are cheesy and the books are less than Pulitzer Prize worthy, but I have to give the wardrobe stylist some credit. I absolute love this look of Alice's from New Moon. Eclipse doesn't premiere for another week, so I've been getting my Twilight fix scouring the web for an Alice-inspired scarf. Check out my picks below:

1. Madewell ($38)
2. Hermes ($375)
3. Vintage Vera Neumann ($12)
4. Anthropologie ($28)
5. Otrera ($195)

Readers--Are you all excited about Eclipse? Do you consider yourself Team Edward or Team Jacob?  

(Alice Image Credit: Fan Pop)

Daisy Dukes, Bikinis on Top

I would never be mistaken as a Californian. My hair, a rich dark brown, is a far cry from beachy blond and my skin is so pale I've actually used foundation titled "porcelain." Not to mention I was raised in the South and attend school only slightly east of my hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. Despite my appearance and general upbringing, I am obsessed with Katy Perry's newest single, "California Gurls."


The song's video features Katy wearing  a pair of custom-embellished Diesel Daisy Dukes. If you want to get the look and have some extra time on your hands this summer, dust off your bedazzler. The shorts unadorned are available here for $160.

Readers- What's your 2010 summer anthem?

(Photo Credit: People)

Make The Uniform Project Dress Your Own

Sheena Matheiken committed the ultimate faux pas when she wore the same dress 365 days in a row. Fortunately, fashion police looked past her slight indiscretion and were blown away by this stylista's philanthropic experiment in sustainable fashion. From May 2009 to May 2010, Matheiken committed herself to The Uniform Project, a year-long fundraiser for the Akanksha Foundation, which is an organization focused on improving the education of impoverished children in India. Matheiken wore the same dress every day, but don't think that means her outfits were monotonous. She constantly reinvented the look with vintage or hand-made accessories, jewelry and layering pieces.

This spring Matheiken retired her signature LBD after raising just over $103,000 for her cause, but this dress isn't out of the spotlight quite yet. The original designer, Eliza Starbuck of Bright Young Things, is selling a limited-edition run of the style for $185 on her website. The dress is clearly versatile, but if you need more proof, check out Matheiken's slideshow of all 365 inspirational looks. My personal favorites: June 7, July 3, September 24, October 27, February 21, April 19.

(Photo Credit: Bright Young Things)

Foot-ball Fashion

With the exception of that obnoxious horn noise and one horrible call during the US vs. Slovenia game, I have been loving every minute of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Combine my new-found love of soccer with a longstanding obsession with flip flops, and you come up with Havaianas' line of World Cup-inspired sandals. Show your team loyalty between your toes with these limited edition styles--but shop quickly, the nationally-themed shoes are only available through July 11, and many teams are already sold out. If your size isn't available on the Havaianas website, try Saks, or Barneys. A bit pricey for flip flops, these Havaianas cost $24 a pair, but rest assured, they're simultaniously super comfortable and durable enough to last multiple seasons.  Hopefully my size will come back in-stock!

(Photo Credit: Jaunted)

PS Happy Late Father's Day Dad!!!

Don't Judge A Book

I tend to steer away from graphic tees. My sorority provides me with enough t-shirts to outfit a small country, leaving little room in my wardrobe for additions to the collection. However, I might have to make an exception for Out of Print Clothing. This philanthropic brand, recently featured in the July issue of Lucky Magazine, partners with Books for Africa to provide, obviously enough, books for children in Africa. For every shirt sold through the website, one book is donated to Books for Africa in an effort to end the book shortage many communities face throughout the world. Each shirt sold features the cover art of a classic novel making it that much more appealing to English nerds like myself. Check out my favorites below:

Tales of the Jazz Age ($28)

Catcher in the Rye ($28)

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings ($28)

(Image Credit: Out of Print)

PS Sorry for the lack of posts lately--Being sick and having a broken computer make it slightly more difficult. Hopefully both of those situations will be remedied soon! 

Arnold Myint to Compete on Bravo's Top Chef

Nashville readers-- one of our local restaurateurs is competing on season 7 of Bravo's Top Chef. Arnold Myint, the chef/owner of PM, Cha Chah and Suzy Wong's House of Yum is one of 17 contestants on this year's televised cooking competition. The newest season of Top Chef starts tonight at 9/8 central, so throw together a viewing party, whip up a feast suitable for Padma, and give Arnold some well-deserved hometown support!

Countdown to True Blood Season 3

I thought this day would never arrive. Season 3 of HBO's vampire hit, True Blood, premieres tonight at 8:45/7:45 central. Unfortunately, I'll have to wait until tomorrow night to watch it--My sister is DVRing it for me since we don't have HBO at my house. What a lifesaver!

Over the last year, HBO released promotional posters, like the one pictured above, and mini-episodes on their website to keep fan's interest peaked. The employee's in their marketing department deserve a raise, or at least a round of applause for their work--all the publicity had me counting down the days!

If you aren't a loyal True Blood fan, I highly recommend watching this video to catch up before tonight's episode, but let me warn you, some images in the video may be a little graphic.

True Blood fans--With rumors of werewolves and a romantic plotline for Eric and Sookie are you as excited for Season 3 as I am? All I can say is I remain a loyal member of Team Bill!

Summer Trends on Her Campus

In addition to my blog posts here on Style of a 20 Something, I regularly contribute to HerCampus, an online magazine for college students. This week, my article focuses on this summer's hottest trends. I'll give y'all a teaser, but click here for the full post!

Summer's Heating Up: This Season's Hottest Trends

In the eternal words of Alice Cooper, “School’s out for summer.” Unfortunately, the rock god never offered much in the way of fashion advice. That’s where I come in. Consider me your guide to this summer’s hottest trends. So toss aside Wake’s unofficial uniform—come on, we all know there is one—and get ready to turn up the heat on your wardrobe.

This summer, designers are going native. No, Marc Jacobs isn’t roaming the streets of New York in a loin cloth; instead, summer collections illustrate the influence of African culture and art on modern fashion. From tribal-print fabrics to exotic statement necklaces, this trend infiltrates all categories of clothing from casual loungewear to cocktail attire and accessories. If you’re hesitant about styling this look, start small. Carry an ikat clutch with jeans and a tee or throw a brightly-colored stone necklace over a little black dress. For the more adventurous among you, a bold printed blouse looks great in contrast to a sleek pencil skirt and minimal jewelry.

If you haven’t been outside recently, it’s hot. So hot, in fact, that underwear is now appropriate for outerwear. Tap shorts, corsets, and yards of lace could be found on the runways of heavy hitters Christian Dior and Dolce and Gabbana, but ladies, please keep your outfits PG. Pair lingerie-inspired tops with wide-leg trousers to reduce the hooch factor, and make sure tap shorts are long enough to cover your rear...

For the rest of my article and more styles for summer, head over to HerCampus Wake Forest!

Splurge or Save? The It Bag

Splurge?

Louis Vuitton Speedy 30 ($690)

or Save?

nosideup Etsy It Bag ($25)

When I saw this Etsy bag featured on I am a Greedy Girl, I thought it's cheeky design was darling. While I don't support counterfitting or abuse of copyright, I feel this bag demonstrates the designer's hilarious aptitude for artistic liscence. At 25 dollars, it's much easier on the budget than the original, and the bag is made of 100% unbleached cotton so it's vegan friendly!

(Image Credits: Louis Vuitton, nosideup Etsy)

Waka Waka: The World Cup Begins

The World Cup opening ceremony is today, and in honor of the international tournament, I thought I'd post these videos:



Seriously--how great is Bono? A rock-star humanitarian who loves soccer? Awesome.



Shakira's song "Waka Waka" was chosen as the official theme song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton recently posted Roberto Cavalli's sketches of Shakira's outfit for her performance at the opening ceremony. Check them out here.



The Colombian singer beat out K'Naan's Waving Flag to be the 2010 anthem.

If you're a futbol fan, be sure to tune in to the competition all this month!

Mulberry to Collaborate with Target

Budget fashionistas, mark your calendars. Yesterday, Target announced their collaboration with British handbag designer Mulberry. A limited edition line of purses will debut online and in stores on October 10, and the collection will run through late December. If you have money burning a hole in your pocket, check out Target's other upcoming collaborations. Jewelry by Temple St. Clair Carr will make its way into Target stores on August 29 and Tucker for Target becomes available in early September.

Can We Get a Drumroll Please?

Last night, a hush fell over the fashion world. Thankfully, it was only for a moment as winners were announced at the 29th annual Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards. The who's who of style gathered in New York's Lincoln Center to celebrate the achievements of their peers and do what they do best: look fabulous. Winners included Marc Jacobs for Womenswear Designer of the Year and David Neville and Marcus Wainwright of Rag & Bone for Menswear Designer(s) of the Year. Ralph Lauren snagged the L'Oréal Popular Vote while designer Michael Kors was honored with a lifetime achievement award and Kim Hastreiter, editor and publisher of Paper magazine, received recognition for her excellence in fashion journalism. The program also included a heartfelt tribute to the late Alexander McQueen.

Supermodel Iman, pictured above in a form-fitting mermaid gown, was given the honor of Fashion Icon by the CDFA during last night's ceremony.

(Image Credit: FabSugar)

Alexa Chung for Madewell

Fans of J. Crew's sister company Madewell muttered, "It's about time" when the brand launched their online store earlier this month. Not only does the site offer the brand's signature relaxed denim, comfortable tees and unique accessories, but it also previews Madewell's upcoming collaboration with Alexa Chung. The British T.V. personality's line debuts this fall and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

(Image Credit: Madewell)

Girls in White Dresses...

My cousin's graduation this past weekend got me thinking about my own graduation ceremony. I went to a small all-girls prep school where tradition reigned supreme--No caps and gowns, my classmates and I all wore long white dresses. While I missed out on moving my tassel and tossing my cap, at least my outfit was stylish! Right behind flip flops, sunglasses, and SPF 15, the perfect little white dress is high on my list of summer fashion essentials. I picked some of my favorite LWDs from around the web:

Urban Outfitters BDG Knit Tank Swing Dress ($32): Casual, simple and effortlessly chic, this Urban Outfitters swing dress would be perfect to throw on for a trip to the pool or walking around campus--And at only 32 dollars, the price is right!

Banana Republic Deep Vee Back-Zip Dress ($150): The touch of black makes this cocktail dress oh so classy--and I love Banana Republic's styling in this photo.

Gap Convertible Maxi Dress ($98): This easy-breezy maxi dress is right on-trend for this season, but make sure you style it more beachy and less bride. Pair it with simple leather sandals, a chunky necklace and a wavy hairstyle for a flawless boho-chic look.

Anthropologie's In A Twinkling Dress ($138): The blog world has been giving this dress mixed reviews. It's cute and flattering, but word on the street is that those gorgeous metallic dots are itchy to the point of skin irritation. I haven't tried it on myself, but it's high on my wish-list despite the bad press. I'll have to trek over to my local Anthro and give it a try.

Shoshanna Bustier Eyelet Sundress ($330): 330 dollars is a bit more than I can afford to spend on a sundress these days, but this Shoshanna number is gorgeous if you have the cash!

Flea Market Dress from Spool 72 ($64): I stumbled upon Spool 72 when it showed up as an ad on Facebook. I clicked the link on a whim, and I'm so glad I did. This vintage-inspired shop has great on-trend pieces at affordable prices like this off the shoulder piece. I love the sash and scalloped hem.

Tom's Wedges

Earlier today, every fashionista's favorite humanitarian brand, Tom's Shoes, launched their take on the summertime classic: the wedge. If you're unfamiliar with Tom's, the business runs on the premise "one for one," meaning that for every pair of shoes purchased, a pair will be given to a child in need. Tom's, a for-profit company, partners with Friends of Tom's ,a non-profit organization, to combat podoconiosis through shoe drops in Haiti, South America, Africa and right here in the USA. Tom's first line of wedges comes in 6 colors, 3 stripes and 3 solids and boasts the tag-line "Heels with Heart." How clever is that?

Yellow Calypso Canvas Wedges ($69)
I don't normally wear yellow, but the model shot makes these shoes look so summery and fun-- I'll have to try them on to make sure they look alright.

Black Calypso Canvas Wedges ($69)
I'm more inclined to stick with basic black. For less than 70 bucks, I think these shoes are a great summertime investment!

If you're not sure about the wedges, pick up a pair of Tom's originals. Here's a pic of me rockin' my favorite pair of Tom's: the light blue Bridgeport linen classics ($48) They're super cute, unbelievably comfortable, and you'd be hardpressed to find an easier way to help those who are less fortunate!

Tomorrow morning I head out of town for a cousin's graduation, so this will be my last post of the week. Have a great weekend!

(Photo Credits: Tom's Shoes and me)

Jack Rogers Launches Clothing Line

On my college campus, you can't walk 10 feet without seeing someone carrying their books in a Longchamp tote and rocking a pair of Jack Rogers sandals. It's kind of like our school's uniform. Not gonna lie, I jumped on the Navajo-inspired shoe bandwagon my freshman year, and I haven't looked back. I've worn out my original pair of gold Jack Rogers, and I'm looking to replace them, but when I visited the company's website, I found much more than cute shoes. This summer, Jack Rogers USA launched a line of woman's clothing including cute dresses, tunics and casual skirts perfect for a night out or just lounging by the pool. Here are my top picks from the company's new line, or check out the whole collection here.

Bab's Favorite Floral Top ($148)

Cami's Deck Striped Skirt ($168)

Midge's Tank ($98)

(Image Credit: Jack Rogers USA)

American Apparel Going Out of Business?

The blog world has been aflutter with American Apparel's recent financial problems. The Frisky reported that the socially-aware company is $91 million dollars in debt, and quoted the following public statement from the company: "There can be no assurance that if either or both of these events [restructuring deals] were to take place, that the company would be able to obtain the additional sources of liquidity required to continue operations." American Apparel is well-known for its risque ad campaigns and notorious CEO, but if you look past the sexy advertising tactics, the company boasts a vertically integrated manufacturing plan and cute, American-made basics at an affordable price point. Though I don't adhere to a "hipster" lifestyle, I'll be sorely disappointed if the company folds. Here is my favorite American Apparel purchase, the Cotton Spandex Jersey Bandeau Dress ($43) styled a few different ways:


If you're in love with any American Apparel staples, I suggest stocking up soon!