get sporty

the other day i was wearing this black nixon watch when my friend said, "that's so unlike you! you usually dress so girly." wait... what?

this, i realized, is indeed an accurate statement. i may be the proud owner of spiky bracelets, combat boots and black pleather pants, but i always mix in some undoubtedly girly-girl items to balance out the toughness. (plus, just look at this post... and this one... and this one. i rest my case.)

i naturally gravitate towards girly styles, but going outside your comfort zone is good for the soul - just take the alexander wang spring 2012 runway for example. wet hair, nylon bombers, and NASCAR-inspired prints are so, so not me. but i love it. that ultra-edgy, super sporty vibe is the freshest trend of the season, and i can't wait to try it out once the weather warms up.

read a more extensive look at trend over at college magazine, or just peep the corresponding lust list right here:

{top row: alexander wang tee, APC jacket, pierre hardy wedge

middle row: DVF skirt, lisa marie fernandez rubberized bikini, alexander wang tote

bottom row: alexander wang shorts, chloe bangle, marc by marc jacobs bangle, anya hindmarch rubber clutch}

II emily

postimpressionist denim

{paige premium denim verdugo ultra-skinny jeans in tumble, clash, and ember}

i'm sure you thought the tie-dye denim phase was over after this lust-worthy post... but i'm happy to report about a new crop of enviable and totally groooovy show-stoppers by paige premium denim.

the bold verdugo ultra-skinny jeans {above} are from paige's new "toulouse" collection, inspired by artist henri de toulouse-lautrec.  blogs everywhere are buzzing about the art-inspired prints, and while toulouse-lautrec was not as "abstract" as many of them are claiming (i think these look more like fauve-era matisse), the messy, imperfect brushstrokes and bold colors that made him famous have translated oh-so perfectly to denim. 

as winter continues to alienate my wardrobe and make my daily sartorial choices that much more frustrating, i'm getting anxious for spring with each passing minute. and while these beauties would look major right now with a simple oversized sweater or crisp boy blazer, i'm imagining them in the warmer months with loose slub-cotton tanks and trapeze tees for that easy-breezy, yes-i-painted-these-myself vibe. and click on over to because i'm addicted to win yourself a pair of "tumble" wash verdugo jeans (my personal favorite).

II emily

madewell spring 2012 lookbook

you already know i'm a huge fan of madewell and that i'm their indiana campus representative, so it will come as no surprise to you that i'm head over heels for their new spring collection. what will be a surprise, however, is how swiftly you're going to hop onto their website and unconsciously spend hundreds of dollars on these amazing new pieces. seriously, prepare yourself.

bold colors like fuschia, kelly green and neon yellow spice up madewell's streamlined, feminine basics while mixed prints and clever pairings make it all feel current and unique (and so, so madewell). i love the retro floral patterns, subtle colorblocking, and quirky touches -- like that faux-denim t-shirt or the green engineer-stripe jeans. and the bold footwear -- from rainbow-hued flats to rugged suede booties and 70s-inspired chunky t-straps -- are the perfect finishing touches. 

consider yourself warned; i've already hidden my wallet to avoid an unstoppable urge to pre-order everything.

II emily

up close

{all images via fashion squad}

although carolina engman's outfits are always so, so, SO amazing, they become even more drop-dead-genius when you look a little closer. i love how she frequently includes zoomed-in photos of the little details (like texture, pattern, color, studs, chains, and embellishments) that play so nicely together in her ensemble.

II emily

street style

when it comes to fashion, there's nothing more inspirational than street style. the majority of blogs out there focus on bloggers' everyday outfits as well as street style photographs of women around the world, and that's where the real talent lies! 

i don't need to talk too much about my love for blogs; my blogroll {at right} grows every day, and i have my own blog, after all! they're pretty special to me. i'd much rather peruse the internet for chic women around the globe than, say, get inspired by a celebrity look. celebrities have teams of stylists; bloggers do not. (some of them are actually stylists, though!)

these are some of my favorite street style looks right now...

1 / i love kendi's updated "geek chic" look: thick glasses, a schoolboy blazer, loafer wedges, and a bow-tie blouse. adorable!

2 / this beauty from berlin combines some of my very favorite things: a leopard jacket, leather pants, a pop of hot pink, and moto boots.

3 / tuula's take on color blocking is so soft and simple with shades of mint green - and her sleek black bag and sandals create the perfect contrast.

4 / blair looks pretty in pink, with crisp breton stripes breaking up the cotton-candy hues.

5 / i'm literally obsessed miroslava duma's look here, even though it's extra matchy-matchy (which is now a total "do") - even her mismatched creepers are perfect!

6 / the ultimate in chic neutrals; a camel leather skirt, crisp blouse, and messy braid all communicate that carefree, effortless vibe.

7 / looove this girl's ensemble - a chambray shirt, red cardigan, cap-toe heels and structured satchel all come together to update the classic prep look.

8 / blair never fails to amaze; i have a bit of a girl crush. this look is practically the opposite of #3 - it's a bit rock 'n roll, even. i love how she layered her military jacket and blouse, piled on the chains, and those shoes! sigh.

9 / jules is the ultimate mix master - her ultra-casual cardigan gets an elegant twist with strappy black heels and a giant metallic clutch.

feeling inspired yet?

II emily

textile e&j

despite how you may feel about acid wash/tie-dye denim (totally 90s, yes, but i'm going to go ahead and let you know i give it my biggest stamp of approval), it's hard to resist the ultra-colorful and casual pieces from textile elizabeth & james' spring 2012 line.  even the preppiest of prim-and-preppy dressers can find something they like in this collection, from baby pink jeans to a classic navy-and-yellow dyed crewneck.

textile's emphasis on denim is always refreshing, and their current take on the standard t-shirt + jeans combination is a (huge) breath of fresh air. i'll be trading in my go-to light skinny jeans and cutoffs for pieces that are a bit brighter and more interesting (those studded shorts would look extra cute in lilac, wouldn't they? a girl can dream...) and i suggest you do the same.

II emily 

cf

{wearing a zara dress, j.crew shirt, forever21 scarf, dv dolce vita wedges [similar here], j.crew purse [scored on sale!], and michael kors watch. jewelry: david yurman, j.crew, handmade, marc by marc jacobs. nail polish: butter london "teddy girl"}

as the newest addition to the IU CollegeFashionista team of "style gurus," i thought i'd share some outtakes from my first article -- a personal style biography (see the real thing here).  

CollegeFashionista is a national site that was started here at IU (!!!) by amy levin. the premise of the site is kind of like a street style blog (think jak & jil, the sartorialist, etc) but more structured and editorial.  "gurus" like me take photos of stylish boys and girls around our campus and write about them for the site -- whether it's a particular item they're wearing or their chic look as a whole. sounds amazing, right? 

i'm the "all about beauty" guru, so instead of shooting inspirational fashion, i'll be on the lookout for the coolest makeup, nail, and hair trends on campus. get your hands on some neon nail polish or master the fishtail braid and you may just find yourself featured on the site one day :) i publish on thursdays, so mark your calendars for my weekly musings!

II emily