more spring

so obsessed with j.crew's spring collection. i want to pre-order everything!!
 j.crew has come so far from its ultra-preppy polos and chinos days... this stuff is pure glamour. jenna lyons, you are a genius. the spring line consists of uber-chic, beautifully made classics mixed in with the best of the current trends - now that's a formula for effortless style. peep a few of my favorite picks above.

II emily

current obsession

{images via cambridge satchel co., cupcakes & cashmere, fashion squad, jak & jil}

for those of us who can't reconcile spending a grand (or two) on a PS1 satchel, don't fret! per usual, i've dedicated myself to finding an equally-chic solution. enter: the cambridge satchel company.

famous for their sleek, minimalist designs, supreme functionality and variety of colors, cambridge satchels are a bit more sleek and structured than the PS1, but i think i prefer that rigid design! and the long straps mean you can carry these across your body if you feel the need. (or as a clutch, as emily shows you above.) and how cute are those little buckles!?

 in a variety of colors and shapes, cambridge satchels are the perfect fit for any girl's wardrobe. seriously. and they only cost about $145-$165. (straight out of my favorite city... london!)

there's classic brown and black, saturated mustard yellow, lipstick red, and even bold neons like pink and yellow. the brand's newest additions in particular - metallic silver and gold - have this girl a little bit obsessed. #wishlist #daydreaming

which color would you choose?

II emily

the art of contouring

in the world of beauty, i'm all about the eyes. it's so typical and girly; my desert-island product is mascara, i'm a sucker for shimmery shadow, and i've perfected swoopy cat-eye liner. 

but a recent rendezvous with a certain nars bronzer and stila highlighter have made me obsessed with contouring.

nothing's worse than seeing a beautifully made-up face that's completely flat; all one color, one texture, one tone. it looks like a mask! everyone needs some blush at the very least, and you can make even more of an impact by giving your features some highlights and lowlights. my contouring routine goes like this:

1) apply a thin layer of caudalie vinoperfect cream for an even, radiant glow.

2) smooth chanel vitalumiere foundation wherever necessary for a bit of coverage (with a shiseido foundation brush). 

3) dust almay clear complexion powder over t-zone (forehead, nose & chin).

4) using a dense kabuki brush (like this one), swirl nars bronzer in laguna below cheekbones, under the jaw, and at the temples/hairline for shading.

5) dip a fluffy fan brush into a highlighting powder (i sometimes use stila 'kitten' eyeshadow for this) and blend it over the apples of cheeks, over the top of cheekbones, down the bridge of the nose, and over the brow bones to counteract the shading.

result: a glowy, contoured complexion!

if you want to do all of the above with one product, the tom ford shade & illuminate is for you. it's pricy at $70 - but easily the best tool for contouring. try the products below for an equally flattering effect:

{highlight, clockwise from top left: rms living luminizer, stila 'kitten' eyeshadow, nars illuminator in copacobana, sonia kashuk fan brush, stila all over shimmer duo, madina chic & shine stick // shade: tom ford shade & illuminate, clinique true bronze pressed powder bronzer, nars bronzing powder brush, bobbi brown bronzing powder, nars bronzer in laguna}

II emily

how to layer

{urban outfitters skirt [similar here], j.crew tee [similar here], h&m sweater [similar here], j.crew belt, steve madden boots, michael kors watch, anthropologie hair pin // jewelry: forever 21, american eagle, hermés}

bloomington weather has been more temperamental than a prepubescent boy, but i can't really complain. seeing as i'm already craving spring (as evident here, here, and here... and about everywhere else on this blog) I've embraced the opportunity to layer up my ensembles with skirts/dresses, tights, and sweaters that don't normally see the light of day in february.

example a: liz opted for a black chiffon mini and nautical stripes, topping everything off with a neutral oversized cardi, a cheetah belt and our go-to combat boots.

the upcoming spring season offers the perfect opportunity for some transitional layered outfits. some simple tips:

1) black tights are your best friend. pair any of your favorite dresses with tights, then add boots or flats. you've got your foundation.

2) add a loose cardigan or jacket to further winterize the outfit.

3) belt everything, if necessary, to reel it all in; i like skinny belts the best.

4) add a scarf, jewelry, etc. to add a bit of interest. it doesn't get much better than in a perfectly-executed arm party. 

and voila! layers, perfected.

II emily

v-day

{look #1: miu miu tee, giulietta skirt, ban.do heart pin, anya hind march, topshop flats // look#2: adam tank, tibi maxi skirt, tinnlily bracelet, chloe bag, chloe flats}

forget what you know about valentine's day. 

whether you're a hopeless romantic or diehard cynic (i won't judge), i'm determined to make this much-anticipated holiday more stylish than ever. there's nothing wrong with filling your house with cute little heart candies or wearing a sweater that says "be mine?" on the big day... but if you're looking for a more subtle way to embrace the holiday, it's time to start planning your look.

seeing as pairing pink with red is suddenly a hot spring "trend," wearing a pink and red outfit doesn't seem quite as blatantly corny as it used to. for a delightfully festive outfit, try a magenta tee with a sweet red mini, then pile on girly details like black ballet flats and sparkly accessories. or, go a more laid-back route with a blush maxi and fuchsia tank, then add your everyday essentials: a camel bag and favorite nude flats. 

looking sweet and festive has never been so easy!! and don't forget about those little details like jewelry and makeup...

{clockwise from top left: nars 'new order' highlighting blush, essie 'pink parka' nail polish, ban.do pom poms, benefit 'bathina' body balm, anita ko earrings, nars 'schiap' semi matte lipstick}

II emily

jason wu x target

tomorrow is a very big day.

sure, it's the super bowl. but that's not what i'm talking about. tomorrow, at 8:00am sharp, target opens its doors to their latest cheap-chic collaboration: jason wu for target.

if you are somehow unaware of this gift from the heavens, let me give you a brief description:

who: jason wu, the latest "it" designer for feminine, ladylike silhouettes and thoughtful details. wu crafted michelle obama's famous white inaugural ball gown and has acquired a fan base of celebrities like natalie postman and january jones. 

what: a collection ranging from $19.99-$49.99 inspired by French New Wave and "an American girl in Paris"

where: target stores everywhere.

when: tomorrow, duh!

why: well, he's utterly fabulous.

as one of the newest additions to the indiana daily student newspaper, i'm maintaining a weekly fashion column called "style file" and this week's topic was none other than this very collaboration. read the article here for a more in-depth look at jason wu for target, and peep the photos below (try not to salivate) to see a preview of the line:

{image via harper's bazaar}

II emily

color on color

if you'd asked me last year how i felt about the idea of "matching" ensembles, i'd say i was firmly against it. that whole match-your-purse-to-your-belt-to-your-shoes adage seemed like something from the 80s, a horrible "rule" that had an inverse effect on your personal style. 

but now, matching your shoes to your bag looks just quirky and matchy enough - a clever touch that makes you look all at once modern and retro. nearly every outfit blair eadie wears has this matchy-matchy feel to it, and her outfits NEVER fail to amaze. she is the epitome of chic!

i love my collection of brightly hued shoes, but as a girl who strictly carries neutral bags (i've used this nearly every day for the past 4 years) it may take some serious shopping and wardrobe-adjusting to pull this trend together -- but i'm willing to make the sacrifice. 

this just goes to show that everything comes back at some point! next time you're thinking about throwing something away, reconsider. they make storage units for a reason.

{clockwise from top left // fuchsia: marc by marc jacobs bag, j.crew heels // blue: j.crew bag, topshop heels // camel&black: lanvin bag, french sole flats // orange: tory burch bag, j.crew wedges // green: marc by marc jacobs bag, repetto flats // hot pink: pucci bag, topshop flats // aqua: rebecca mink off bag, repetto flats // mustard: alexander wang clutch, j.crew wedges}

II emily