Aztec Tee

Remember a few years ago when 'aztec' prints were all the rage? Styles that are so trendy can feel a little passé after a few years, so what do we do with those pieces now? 

I decided to update my aztec tee by pairing it with distressed jeans and a leather jacket. This edgier vibe felt fresh and fun. With the tee partially hidden under the jacket the print becomes an more integrated aspect of the outfit instead of a bold in-your-face trend. I'll be honest, I mostly wear this tee just around the house, so it was nice to be able to incorporate it into a put-together look that felt both interesting and cool. Since the look is primarily black and white I brought out my baby blue clutch to add a little color. 

Tee: ModCloth (old). Jacket: Zara. Jeans: H&M. Booties: Steve Madden. Clutch: Rebecca Minkoff (similar). 

xoxo CC

Twilight

I loved this shoot on the rooftop at twilight so I wanted to share a few more photos from it. The glow over the rooftops creates a dreamy backdrop for highlighting an elegant outfit.
While this look was inspired by Las Vegas it works perfectly for a night in New York as well. Rooftop restaurants and bars are a fun destination in the city because you can get a phenomenal view of the buildings and skyline. When the weather is nice my friends and I like to go up to the rooftop of my apartment building and look out over all the lights of the city as well.

I love the color of this dress because it is bright and fun but it works in any season. The vibrant purple makes it an easy choice for warmer months but the crochet-lace is a heavy enough that it doesn't look out of place in winter either. With a blazer layered over it and pointed black heels it's a great choice for a dressy rooftop dinner--or even a holiday party!

Dress: ModCloth (similar 1/2/3) Blazer: Urban Outfitters. Shoes: Vince Camuto. Clutch: similar. Earrings: J. Crew (1/2/3). Lip: BareMinerals "Risk It All."

xoxo, CC

Grey Day and Gold

My latest obsession: these earrings. When I saw them I knew I had to have them. Not only are ear jackets currently trendy, but this pair is so delicate and yet modern. Designed in collaboration with Wendy of the infamous Wendy's Lookbook blog, these earrings are the perfect mix of feminine and edgy, timeless and of-the-moment. I love that they are not too dramatic, which suits my style perfectly. I paired them with a simple sweater-dress last week to accentuate their simple and delicate aspects, and really let the gold jewelry pop. 

Sweater dress: Etam (similar). Belt: Garnet Hill (similar). Boots: ModCloth. Tights: similar. Earrings: Baublebar. Necklaces: Baublebar and Dogeared.

xoxo, CC

Grandpa Sweater

Happy February!

 Sometimes I just want to wear a cute sleeveless silky top, even though the temps may try to persuade me otherwise. Luckily, this silk J. Crew top blends rich jewel tones with girly pastels so that it can easily be worked into my winter wardrobe: just add a cozy cardigan. This chunky grey sweater, my 'grandpa sweater' as I like to call it, is a lifesaver on the coldest days. I purchased this cardi during my semester in France when I was constantly cold in the third floor room at my host family's house, so it has a nostalgic quality too. Pairing the dressy top and relaxed sweater with drop earrings and cozy socks keeps the look balanced while spending the day curled up with a book on these darling refurbished benches. 

I've had these photos sitting by for a while, figured I might as well use them!

Top: J. Crew (similar). Sweater: Zara (1/2). Earrings: similar 1/2/3/4. Bracelets: J. Crew (similar). Gold hair clip: Target. Boots: ModCloth (similar on sale for $19.99!!). 

xoxo. CC

Not-So-Ugly Sweater

The holidays are fast approaching! I love that it is totally acceptable to get dressed up in glitter and sparkle this time of year, so I did just that when my roommates and I hosted an ugly sweater party at our apartment. I paired my not-so-ugly sweater (I like to think of it as a dorky sweater) with a gold sequined skirt and sparkly earrings for a festive look.

I spent the day cleaning and baking, so it was nice to finally change into my festive clothes and relax at the party. I wanted to find a sweater that was just "ugly" enough to be appropriate for the party theme, but still could be dressed up to create a cute outfit. ModCloth had many adorable options that fit the description, I wish I had an excuse to buy them all! Check out the fox sweater I linked to below, it's just so darn cute.

It was so much fun hosting our friends for an night of silly sweaters, delicious cookies, and of course, photos by the Christmas tree!

Sweater: ModCloth (also love 1/2/3/4). Skirt: Tulle. Earrings: Kate Spade. Bracelet: Kate Spade.

xoxo, CC

Red Orange

You know in the jumbo box of Crayola crayons how there is a color called "red orange" and one called "orange red"? I always wondered what the heck the difference was (and why they couldn't come up with more creative names), but this sweater dress definitely falls somewhere in the red/orange spectrum of shades. It's fun to wear dresses in the winter layered with tights and boots, as long as it's not too cold. Adding a touch of leopard breaks up the bright hue and vintage gold earrings keep it chic.

I love the effect of the textures in the tights with the fine-knit sweater dress and the sleek boots. A touch of red orange lip color to match makes a nice finishing touch.

Sweater dress: J Crew Factory (similar color). Tights: American Eagle (similar, leggings). Boots: ModCloth, old (similar). Belt: Garnet Hill. Earrings: vintage. Bracelet: Kate Spade. Lip gloss: Mary Kay "Mango Tango"

xoxo, CC

Leopard Meets Stripe

These shorts have so much attitude! I love how bold they are with stripes on the front and leopard on the back. Finding the right top to wear with them was a little challenging: I wanted something feminine that wouldn't clash with the bold shorts. I finally tried them with this lacy top, and it was just the combination I had been looking for! Keeping a neutral color palette was essential to let the patterned shorts shine without screaming, so to speak. And I know you just saw this clutch… but I'm so obsessed with it, it goes with everything and is the perfect mix of casual and chic! Plus, how cute are the stripes on stripes?

p.s. If you follow my blog, some big changes are taking place for me… Next time you hear from me I'll be posting from the big city!!

Shorts: Maison Scotch (similar, jeans). Top: American Eagle. Jacket: Nordstrom (similar). Clutch: Ruche. Shoes: Chocolate Schubar via ModCloth (love these).

xoxo, CC

New York

This past week I spent a few days in New York City exploring, since I have never seen anything beyond the busy Times Square area before. Since I knew we would be doing a lot of walking, packing light was key so that I could carry all of my luggage with me between trains and hotels. I managed to fit everything into my houndstooth backpack by deciding to re-wear some pieces, such as jewelry, shorts, and shoes, from one day to the next.  I had a fun trip including sightseeing, wandering, catching up with friends, and doing some window shopping. I was also excited to take my new Kate Spade cross-body bag for a spin in the city.

On the first day I wore this light chambray sleeveless dress, minimal jewelry, and after the initial walk to the hotel had to change into my matching light blue sneakers. (The second day I actually had to buy a pair of running sneakers to keep my feet happy, and they made such a difference!) My hair ended up super wavy after we got caught in a rain storm and I also spent much of the day battling the buttons on this dress which kept trying to come loose! But even so, this light easy dress was a good choice for a travel outfit and very comfortable for walking around the city. 

Dress: Gap (similar). Sneakers: Superga. Bag: Kate Spade. Backpack: ModCloth (similar at UO). Necklace: Kate Spade. Bracelets: Kate Spade and my own creation.

xoxo, CC