Hey guys! I'm super excited to share the outfit I wore today!

Dress + Headband- The Stone Flower

Necklace + Earrings- Forever 21

FlipFlops- Old Navy

When I was in Boston last week I found this store in Quincy Market called The Stone Flower. The sparkly jewelry caught my eye, so I thought I'd take a peak. As I got closer I noticed the store had a lot of pink in it and two floral outfits displayed out front. This was it, I knew I had to go in!  

When I walked in I was greeted with rows and rows of headbands ranging from sparkly ones to floral ones and even some with bows on them. If you know me, you know that headbands are sort of a staple accessory for me, I'm always wearing them! On the sides of the store there were many displays filled with all types of jewelry. There were gorgeous earrings, simple and statement necklaces and beautiful barrettes. It was all so eye catching! I didn't think it could get much better than this until I walked upstairs and saw the walls of the store lined with hundreds of floral dresses, there was one in every color! I knew I had to buy one, so the hunt for the perfect dress began! It was hard to narrow it down, but I ended up trying on three dresses and bought the one I'm wearing above! I'm slightly convinced this store was made for me and to top all off, Taylor Swift started playing when I went into the dressing room! 

The one odd thing about The Stone Flower is the sizing. It's odd because there isn't any! All of the dresses are marked free size. Even though this isn't what you'd expect, I think it's really interesting that they size this way because it shows that their dresses are meant for every body type! I didn't have any big issues with the sizing. I think this works because all off the dresses have adjustable straps and stretchy backs. The really neat thing about The Stone Flower is the fact that all of the items are hand made. I think this is so neat and it adds a unique touch to your item!  

It looks like I have found my new favorite store! Check out their website www.thestoneflower.com for more info and locations! 

How the Teen Vogue Hand Book Inspired Me

During the long 6 hour car ride back from Boston today, I was flipping through my Teen Vogue Hand Book, reading some of the sections I haven't had a chance to read yet. The book is a collection of interviews, stories and advice from some of the best designers, photographers, stylists and models in the fashion and beauty industry, and most importantly, advice from the editors of Teen Vogue!

Working for a fashion magazine has been a dream job of mine for years and I found this book extremely inspiring! It's very interesting to read about how people like Amy Astley, Elaine Welteroth and Marina Larroude got to where they are today. I loved reading about the assistants and the girls who work in the fashion closet. It's so neat to read about their journey of how they got to where they are now since that's where I would have to start if I work at a fashion magazine.

One thing that stuck out to me though was Elaine Welteroth's story. She talked about how she sent hand written letters, emails and made a countless number of phone calls to her favorite editor, Harriette Cole, to secure a meeting with her, which led to and internship and an assistant position. To me, this shows how persistent and passionate you have to be to make it in the industry. Elaine's story really inspired me and showed me that you need to be passionate and have a lot of drive to go out and prove that this is something you really want. You can't just sit back and expect all of the opportunities to come to you.

Elaine's beauty checklist is another thing that stuck out while I was reading her section. The checklist is:

" 1. Never underestimate the importance of sleeping week, eating well, and exercising often. No     amount of makeup can substitute for not taking proper care of yourself. And you hair, skin and nails will tell if you don't!

   2. SPF is an absolute must every single day, year round-whether the sun is out or not. Look for a moisturizer with a built in broad spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen. One formulated with zinc oxide are best for sensitive skin.

   3. Don't compare yourself to other people. Whether it's freckles, curly hair or curves, find what makes you stand out and accentuate it. Confidence will turn heads quicker than any lipstick."
                                                                                                            -Elaine Welteroth (TV Handbook)

These tips may sound cliche, but I think they're very important, especially the 3rd one! Because of everything we're bombarded with on Twitter and Instagram, it's hard not to compare ourselves to other people, I'm guilty of doing this too. However, I believe it's crucial to find something you love about your body. It could be anything from your eyes, legs or smile. Learn how to show it off in the right way and your confidence will sky rocket! Once you stop comparing yourself to others you
will be on your way to a happier and healthier lifestyle!

If you have read the book, was there something that stuck out to you? Let me know!

Paris Couture Week 2015

There is nothing more magical than Paris and beautifully designed couture garments. When you put these two things together, you create the most magical week in Paris, Couture Fashion Week.

This past week marked the end of the Fall 2015 Haute-Couture week in Paris. I am always left in awe after looking at the gorgeous designs from Chanel, Christian Dior, Atelier Versace and many others, but there is one designer that always sticks out to me. Elie Saab.

Elie Saab's garments look like they are straight out of a fairytale and leave me wonderstruck every time I see a new design. His past Fall 2015 collection was nothing less than spectacular! Between blushed pinks, golden hues and deep jewel tones, Saab showcased his signature lace and hand beaded ensembles. All of his designs are extremely breathtaking. I'm very curious to know the inspiration behind his pieces and how his design/construction process works.

Below are a few of my favorite pieces from this collection and trust me, it was SO difficult to pick out just a few. To see his entire collection along with the rest of the designers that were shown throughout Couture Fashion Week, head over to style.com

*all photos are from style.com 

Who were some of your favorite designers at couture week? 

Which Bathing Suit is Best for Your Body Shape?

It's that time of year again when the sun comes out, the weather warms up and all you want to do is go in the water. Whether you're taking a trip to the beach or having a stay-cation in your backyard pool, both situations are screaming for a new bathing suit!
Most girls dread bathing suit shopping, but there is no need to fear! With a little knowledge of what types of bathing suits are best for your body, you're sure to walk out of the fitting room feeling confident in your new flattering suit!

Triangle:

So you may be a little curvier on the bottom than you are on top? The trick is to balance out the top and bottom half of your body.


Do:
- draw attention to your top with a plunging neckline, printed or intricate top (for one and two pieces)
- find a top with ruffles or an overlay - it will draw attention to this area and make your chest appear bigger (works for ladies with a small bust too)
- choose a skirted bottom if you'd like to mask this area completely: make sure the skirt falls right below the widest part of your thigh

 Avoid:
- thick banded and boy short bottoms: the extra fabric will draw attention to your bottom half and hips


Large Bust:

It might be tricky for you to find a top you're secure in, but look no further for a perfect solution!

Do:
- choose a bra style tops with padding and underwire for the most support: these suits often are sized like your bras
- wear any bottom you'd like!

Avoid:
- ruffles and embellished tops: they will only make your bust appear larger
- unpadded / little to no support tops (this one is obvious)


Rectangle:

These ladies may have more of an athletic built body and you probably have few curves. Be sure to find a suit that shows off your figure. That sounds like the opposite of what you would think you should do, but showing more skin creates the illusion of a curvy shape.

Do:
- wear a top with ruffles or embellishments to enhance the illusion of a curvy top
-choose a triangle shaped top to create an illusion of a curvy top
- opt for a cheeky bottom: this creates an illusion of a curvier/larger bottom

Avoid:
-full coverage once piece bathing suits


Circle:

If you carry most of your weight in your waist area, try finding a one piece suit with shirring. Shirring is a great way to cover up unwanted curves in your mid section, it's extremely flattering!

Do:
-wear a one piece suit with shirring: like I said above, this is very flattering since it defines your waist
-find a high waisted bottom if your weight is mostly in your lower stomach: this helps conceal the area
-choose a tankini to conceal your mid section

Avoid:
-small scale prints, they will only make your mid section appear larger: instead choose larger scale prints


Hourglass:

You're the lucky ladies! You have a perfectly proportioned body which means you can pull off any style you want!

Do:
-whatever you want!

Avoid:
-nothing at all!