Dear Randi,
When I grow up, I want to be a creative genius just like you.
Love,
Mackenzie
Lots & Lots of Little White Dresses
You know all about the little black dress: the go-to, tried-and-true, perfect-for-every-occasion wardrobe staple. But what about its summery relative, the little white dress? There's nothing like the pop of a white dress against sun-kissed skin. Let's escape the winter blues with twelve pretty white dresses, shall we?
Do you prefer Malin Akerman and Jennifer Aniston's simple white shifts...
Diane Kruger's lace and Michelle Williams' ruffle...
Kristin Cavallari's leopard shoes and Jessica Alba's belted waistline...
Reese Witherspoon's head-to-toe take and Isla Fisher's bling bling...
Or Taylor Swift's bare-shouldered showstopper and Kate Beckinsdale's minimalist model?
Seafoam Sophistication
Twin beds never looked so good! The cushy white linens and the seafoam palette with splashes of lemon chiffon make this oldie but goodie from Veranda a forever favorite.
Daily Crushes
Just popping in to let you know that I'm sharing my daily crushes on, er, Daily Crush today! Katie is a total sweetheart and I think you'll really love her blog. Enjoy!
Accessories or Art?
As much as I would love to inject my wardrobe with Karen Walker sunglasses and floppy sun hats, I'm equally keen on the idea of displaying such possessions as art. Aren't the colors fantastic?
{this brilliance and more captured by The Coveteur}
A Bedroom After My Own Heart
Remember when I asked for help putting my personal style into words? (It's no. 10 on my 101 in 1001 list.) A few of you tossed around the words glamorous, lived-in, and traditional. While I still need to perfect the definition (lived-in glamour? traditional with a twist?), I definitely think you were onto something.
To me, this bedroom from new-to-me tumblr the house home embodies each of those three characteristics flawlessly. I get a lived-in vibe from the open door and unmade bed, which to some might look just messy but to me means comfortable and laid-back. The chandelier and the floor-skimming curtains are unapologetically glamorous, keeping out of the way and yet stealing the spotlight at the same time. Finally the balcony and the gold gilded mirror stand for time-honored tradition. My only change might be to swap out the bed for one of these platform beds — less vacuuming and more storage! What do you think of this space and my efforts to explain my aesthetic? Feel free to help : )
No. 11
The eleventh task on my list is to scrutinize the contents of my current closet and donate, store, or toss all the items I never wear. I feel like I do this fairly often but I'm not nearly discriminating enough because I definitely only wear about 50% of my wardrobe. Come to think of it, I ought to add an 11(b): buy only what I'll actually wear.
P.S. New to Design Darling? Welcome! I'm keeping a list of 101 things to accomplish in 1001 days. You catch up on the rest of the list by clicking here.
{photo}
Beautiful In Its Simplicity.
Style doesn't have to be complicated. It doesn't have to mean layers of patterns and textures. Sometimes it's just about color or just about fit. Sometimes style is beautiful in its simplicity. I think Diane Kruger gets it, don't you?
A Personal Favorite
Having personally uploaded all 200+ pictures from Rue's third issue to the online gallery, I am thrilled to be able to share my favorite space from what was undeniably their (our?) best issue yet. The black and white palette of Sketch 42 blogger Nicole Cohen's NYC apartment brings a little L.A. to the East Coast, don't you think? My favorite details are the lucite bench, the chrome lamp, and the lighting in the kitchen. Did you know that Nicole sells her abstract art (pieces like the one in the first photo) in her Etsy shop? Too cool for words.
Calm & Colorful
There is something about the combination of the unfussy photograph, traditional lighting, and modern chairs that draws me to this New York dining room designed by Iain Halliday.
I instantly recognized the print as the work of French photographer Christian Chaize. The above print, for sale by inexpensive art dealer 20x200, is part of a series in which Chaize photographed the same Portuguese beach at the same moment and from the same angle each day for the duration of his vacation. The result is at once calming and colorful — really, what's not to love?
A Brand New Week
Happy Monday! I'm up early to enjoy my morning latté and begin to tackle my to do list. I'm definitely burning the candle from both ends these days (what with three classes, my campus job in Alumni Relations, blogging here, interning for Rue, and applying to full-time positions for next year) but I'm crossing my fingers that the constant balancing act pays off in the end. Sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day, don't you think? Let's make this week count!
Happy {Unseasonably Warm} Weekend
It's winter in central Pennsylvania and there's still snow on the sidewalks — but today the temperature is topping off at a delightful 70 degrees. 70! In February! Instead of questioning this inexplicable miracle, I'm going to spend the afternoon enjoying the sunshine while it lasts. I hope you do the same and have a wonderful weekend!
{photo of groovy style blogger Ascot Friday}
The Well-Stocked Bar + No. 93
Did you all see Emily of Cupcakes & Cashmere's house tour the other day? I fell hard for this vignette with its styled bar and graphic art.
In related news, I think I need this perforated steel bar cart, new at Urban Outfitters. One tier for bottles and another for glasses — it's brilliant! No. 93 on my 101 in 1001 list is to find my signature cocktail. As a picky eater/drinker who doesn't care for wine or beer, this is easier said than done. Inspire me, readers! What's your alcoholic beverage of choice?
No. 79
It's hard to stay put in a Pennsylvania winter, particularly after spending last spring studying in France. My wanderlust is in full gear these days and I'm itching to take a trip to Montreal. In fact, it's no. 79 on my 101 in 1001 list. Have any of you been?
P.S. I have this camera and I adore it. It's responsible for all the pictures on my travel blog!
Good Things Come In Small Packages
Carly from College Prep has me hooked on the idea of trying on a few items from J.Crew's children's collection Crewcuts. Before you conjure up any images of grown women squeezing into kiddie clothes, know that the clothing sizes go up to girls' 14 and shoe sizes go up to women's 6 or 7 depending on the style! That's great news for those of us with tiny feet — and a tiny budget. Above are a few of the options I'm considering, particularly the desert boots which I'd pair with their lavender laces to make them a bit more feminine. Are you loving the bows and glitter as much as I am?
Two Guest Posts
Today I'm blogging about the essentials of the preppy young professional over at College Prep:
And talking Grammy fashion over on the Rue blog:
Please check them out if you have a moment! As always, you can find all my guest posts and press features on the press page of my newly redesigned site. Enjoy!
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:
- Navy blazer
- Dressy ballet flats
- Perfectly fitted black slacks
- Oxford shirts
- A simple, yet bold, stack
- Blouse tank tops for layering
- Dress up or down skirts
- Colorful cardigans
- Age-appropriate business dress
- Jeans that you can be proud of
Wherever you’re heading in life, put your best foot (and outfit) forward!
xoxo
- - -
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.
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