Blog Swap {The College Prepster}

I love getting to know other bloggers (ahem, The Design Dialogues) and it's especially fun to learn they're my age and balancing blogging with life as a full-time college student. This was precisely the case with 21-year-old Carly of The College Prepster, the wildly popular blog of style advice for the well-clad collegiate. I was thrilled when she suggested that we swap blogs for a day and immediately decided to write about the essentials of the preppy young professional (a subject near and dear to my heart as I begin to think seriously about where I'd like to be next year). Well, great minds think alike, because Carly's post is all about her secrets of dressing for success! Enjoy!

Dress for success.

Yes, it’s cliché. But for good reason – it works.

I have a theory around the idea of power outfits. We all have them. That dress you slip into and feel like you’re in total control of everything or a pair of shoes that makes you stand two inches taller. Somewhere buried in each of our closets is this power outfit.

Doing a little research (okay, okay, stalking) on Mackenzie, I came to the conclusion that she is an extremely driven and successful 21-year-old. Being 21 myself, I am realizing more and more that real life is just around the corner. Internships and job interviews await us all.

Something I’ve been working on this semester is growing up my wardrobe. I want to express myself, my goals, my beliefs, my ambitions through how I dress. I want to walk into a room and have people know a little bit about me without having to utter a word – and for them to want to know more!

This is not something that can occur overnight… that much I know. Besides the inevitable financial investment, doing a major wardrobe overhaul needs to be carefully calculated and taken slow. Spending a ton of money in a super short period of time will only lead to one thing: a bunch of clothes that you probably will wear once or twice. I think the process is most effective if done in collective shifts, not unlike a diet. (We all know how well crash dieting works….)  

While each individual person has specific needs (and tastes) as far as wardrobes go, here are my top ten picks for what every girl should own as she makes her way into the real world:

1. Navy blazer
2. Dressy ballet flats
3. Perfectly fitted black slacks
4. Oxford shirts
5. A simple, yet bold, stack
6. Blouse tank tops for layering
7. Dress up or down skirts
8. Colorful cardigans
9. Age-appropriate business dress
10. Jeans that you can be proud of

Wherever you’re heading in life, put your best foot (and outfit) forward!

xoxo

The College Prepster

- - - 

Thank you so much, Carly! Don't forget to pop over to The College Prepster to see my picks for the preppy young professional's closet and home. 

I love getting to know other bloggers (ahem, The Design Dialogues) and it's especially fun to learn they're my age and balancing blogging with life as a full-time college student. This was precisely the case with 21-year-old Carly of The College Prepster, the wildly popular blog of style advice for the well-clad collegiate. I was thrilled when she suggested that we swap blogs for a day and immediately decided to write about the essentials of the preppy young professional (a subject near and dear to my heart as I begin to think seriously about where I'd like to be next year). Well, great minds think alike, because Carly's post is all about her secrets of dressing for success! Enjoy!

Dress for success.

Yes, it’s cliché. But for good reason – it works.

I have a theory around the idea of power outfits. We all have them. That dress you slip into and feel like you’re in total control of everything or a pair of shoes that makes you stand two inches taller. Somewhere buried in each of our closets is this power outfit.

Doing a little research (okay, okay, stalking) on Mackenzie, I came to the conclusion that she is an extremely driven and successful 21-year-old. Being 21 myself, I am realizing more and more that real life is just around the corner. Internships and job interviews await us all.

Something I’ve been working on this semester is growing up my wardrobe. I want to express myself, my goals, my beliefs, my ambitions through how I dress. I want to walk into a room and have people know a little bit about me without having to utter a word – and for them to want to know more!

This is not something that can occur overnight… that much I know. Besides the inevitable financial investment, doing a major wardrobe overhaul needs to be carefully calculated and taken slow. Spending a ton of money in a super short period of time will only lead to one thing: a bunch of clothes that you probably will wear once or twice. I think the process is most effective if done in collective shifts, not unlike a diet. (We all know how well crash dieting works….)  

While each individual person has specific needs (and tastes) as far as wardrobes go, here are my top ten picks for what every girl should own as she makes her way into the real world:

1. Navy blazer
2. Dressy ballet flats
3. Perfectly fitted black slacks
4. Oxford shirts
5. A simple, yet bold, stack
6. Blouse tank tops for layering
7. Dress up or down skirts
8. Colorful cardigans
9. Age-appropriate business dress
10. Jeans that you can be proud of

Wherever you’re heading in life, put your best foot (and outfit) forward!

xoxo

The College Prepster

- - - 

Thank you so much, Carly! Don't forget to pop over to The College Prepster to see my picks for the preppy young professional's closet and home. 

Here, There, and Everywhere

If you're like me, you can't get enough.

Vince Camuto pumps, $98 / Cory Renee clutch, $52

H&H Home chair, $795 / Tory Burch flats, $225

If you're like me, you can't get enough.

Vince Camuto pumps, $98 / Cory Renee clutch, $52

H&H Home chair, $795 / Tory Burch flats, $225

The Bare Necessities

The genius mind behind The Coveteur (formerly known as The Coveted) recently shot a story for Vogue Daily profiling New York Fashion Week essentials of various attendees. The styling is brilliant — hello, martini glasses! — and that hot pink Matthew Williamson cape is killing me. 

The genius mind behind The Coveteur (formerly known as The Coveted) recently shot a story for Vogue Daily profiling New York Fashion Week essentials of various attendees. The styling is brilliant — hello, martini glasses! — and that hot pink Matthew Williamson cape is killing me. 

Olivia Palermo For Tibi

I'm liking what I see in this sneak peek of Olivia Palermo's campaign for Tibi. I love the versatility of her long bob; it looks great whether it's in a bun, loose waves, or blown straight. And the clothes! Oh, the clothes...

I'm liking what I see in this sneak peek of Olivia Palermo's campaign for Tibi. I love the versatility of her long bob; it looks great whether it's in a bun, loose waves, or blown straight. And the clothes! Oh, the clothes...

Dinner Date

My boyfriend and I will most definitely not be joining the legions of Bucknell couples in one of Lewisburg's few acceptable restaurants this evening. Instead he's planned a little surprise that I'm hoping involves cooking something simple and yummy. The above would work well if you swapped out the wine for champagne, don't you think?

{image source}

My boyfriend and I will most definitely not be joining the legions of Bucknell couples in one of Lewisburg's few acceptable restaurants this evening. Instead he's planned a little surprise that I'm hoping involves cooking something simple and yummy. The above would work well if you swapped out the wine for champagne, don't you think?

{image source}

Boho Glam

I'm a little obsessed with this metallic floral dress by Jules Reid. The nipped waist and floor-skimming length are super flattering and the print would add some much-needed panache to my wardrobe of solid colors. The good news? It's on sale. The bad? It's still $477.

I'm a little obsessed with this metallic floral dress by Jules Reid. The nipped waist and floor-skimming length are super flattering and the print would add some much-needed panache to my wardrobe of solid colors. The good news? It's on sale. The bad? It's still $477.

Turning Heads Red

Happy Valentine's Day! Whether you're a lover or a cynic of this over-the-top holiday, I hope you'll join me in wearing a little more pink and red than this time of year ordinarily warrants. If you won't spring for the pink dress, how about a red manicure?

Dress, $78 / Nail polish, $8 / Earrings, $128

Bracelet, $65 / Clutch, $345 / Shoes, $275 

Happy Valentine's Day! Whether you're a lover or a cynic of this over-the-top holiday, I hope you'll join me in wearing a little more pink and red than this time of year ordinarily warrants. If you won't spring for the pink dress, how about a red manicure?

Dress, $78 / Nail polish, $8 / Earrings, $128

Bracelet, $65 / Clutch, $345 / Shoes, $275 

Idea Board {Home Office}

I always love this sort of post on other people's blogs so I'm making an effort to publish more of them around here! Idea boards (inspiration boards, mood boards, what have you) definitely take more time to assemble but it's exciting to see it all come together. What do you think of this imaginary home office I designed? The colors remind me of the outfit I styled here.

Mirror, $295 / Desk, $2750 / Chandelier, $399 / Coral, $25+ / Rug, $550

Chair, $79 / Pillow, $175 / Lamp, $550 / Laptop, $1199+

I always love this sort of post on other people's blogs so I'm making an effort to publish more of them around here! Idea boards (inspiration boards, mood boards, what have you) definitely take more time to assemble but it's exciting to see it all come together. What do you think of this imaginary home office I designed? The colors remind me of the outfit I styled here.

Mirror, $295 / Desk, $2750 / Chandelier, $399 / Coral, $25+ / Rug, $550

Chair, $79 / Pillow, $175 / Lamp, $550 / Laptop, $1199+

No. 3 + 4

Number three on my 101 in 1001 list is to move into my first apartment. As many of you know, I am graduating from college in May and have no idea where life will take me this next year. I'll likely live at home for a few months to save up for my own first place, which brings me to number four: to have my first apartment published on a major blog or in an online magazine. You have to aim high!

{rest of my list here, image via here}

Number three on my 101 in 1001 list is to move into my first apartment. As many of you know, I am graduating from college in May and have no idea where life will take me this next year. I'll likely live at home for a few months to save up for my own first place, which brings me to number four: to have my first apartment published on a major blog or in an online magazine. You have to aim high!

{rest of my list here, image via here}

Be My Valentine

How do you celebrate Valentine's Day? A cocktail party with the girls or a lovey-dovey dinner date? I'm thinking les deux — a little soirée at our house and a table for two to exchange this year's gift: love letters. I would love to hear your plans!

Bra, $48 / Pom, $4 / Heels, $27

Lipstick, $45 / Photograph, $20+ / Soap, $4

How do you celebrate Valentine's Day? A cocktail party with the girls or a lovey-dovey dinner date? I'm thinking les deux — a little soirée at our house and a table for two to exchange this year's gift: love letters. I would love to hear your plans!

Bra, $48 / Pom, $4 / Heels, $27

Lipstick, $45 / Photograph, $20+ / Soap, $4