flora & fauna

this heat wave is still sucking the life out of me... luckily i've had this little floral dress for every unbearably humid occasion.  

{ topshop dress, bdg wedges }

{ roberto coin key necklace, j.crew crystal necklace, michael kors watch, david yurman bracelet }

II emily

falling forward

as you might imagine, i am suffering the same dreaded temptations to shop for the newest fall items as my rueful twin. i chalk it up to the fact that we share a wardrobe and are both a bit hopelessly sick of the warm-weather essentials for which we had once pined... it's a curse, isn't it? - we complain about the exquisite form of torture that only Indiana humidity could provide, but once the temperatures fall below 50, we kick ourselves for ever taking the warmth and sunshine for granted.  well, whatever.  i'm not in the mood to be mature and change my perspective on the world in the context of mother nature, sooo here's my fall wish-list! just a random sampling of items, really... eek. so much fun to be had! tights and boots and dolman sleeves, oh my!
p.s. just so you know, i WILL own this shearling coat. and i WILL wear it to class. i am way, way too obsessed with it. that and turband headbands.

xo, 

liz

desperate times

it's 100 degree days like today that make me crave fall weather.  a crisp breeze, golden leaves (yeah, i can rhyme) and oversized sweaters are all i can think about lately -- and what better way to embrace the new season than to peruse the latest offerings of boots? preferably {ankle boots} with chunky heels, neutral colors and unexpected details (like buckles and two-tone elastic siding):

1. Cream America Off White Ankle Buckle Riding Boots, Topshop, $150

2. Admiral Black Cross Strap Ankle Boots, Topshop, $140

3. Aim Black Suede Cut Out Ankle Boots, Topshop, $160

4. Antonia Chocolate Elasticated Side Heeled Ankle Boots, Topshop, $124

5. Alexandra Stud Cut-Out Boots, Topshop, $160

6. Antelope Animal Print Wedge Platform Boots, Topshop, $160

7. Desert Boot, American Eagle Outfitters, $59.50

8. Side Zip Bootie, American Eagle Outfitters, $59.50

II emily

seriously... SERIOUSLY?!

okay, i apologize for the dramatic title. but as i perused the stella & dot website, i honestly was stunned by how beautifully awesome their newest items are.  ever since my aunt began selling their jewelry, i've relied on S&D (resist the urge to swap the "&" for the word "my" right there...) for reasonably priced, unique jewelry. a self-proclaimed jewelry addict (peep a now very out-of-date collection here), it takes a lot to excite me accessory-wise; but let me tell you, stella & dot has done it! they've done it, i say! 


by now i find it hard to believe that all my friends haven't caught on to the company's immortal genius, so i figured i better enlighten ye of obliviousness rather than keep these goodies to myself. here are the pieces that i just really, reallllllyyyyy! want:

{marchesa - the awesomest mix of chains, antique-looking crystals, and earthy turquoise beads. obsessed to an absolutely unhealthy level.}

{bamboleo - pink jade, more turquoise stones, antique chains AND crystals?! NOOOO. but yes.}

{btw, upon seeing this necklace i uttered aloud, "seriously?!" to my mother and em. hence the title for this post.}

{metropolitan mixed chains - love the chains and LOVE the flowers. i will never, ever retire my florals, despite my edgiest and most noble efforts.}

{renegade cluster - absolutely needed for future arm parties... i love this subtle take on the violent spike trend!}

P.S. if you're trying to get at any of the above bangin items (or anything else from stelladot.com, for that matter), let me know! you can order through my stylin' aunt!

xo,

liz

coral crush

as you're fully aware after reading this recent post, my go-to summer uniform has lately included loose, high-waisted shorts.  one of my favorite pairs in my growing collection is this chiffon coral pair from topshop -- they almost look like a skirt when i stand still! besides the easy, breezy fit, i love this color -- coral has long been a favorite of mine, especially in warmer months.  and when paired with nautical stripes, bright shoes, and lots of contrasting accessories, the cheery color really pops.

{ worn with chanel sunglasses, topshop sandals, and urban outfitters tee }

{my favorite marc by marc jacobs tortoiseshell barrette} 

{ arm party! from left: david yurman bangle, topshop ottoman hands bracelet, forever 21 chain necklace [worn as a bracelet], vintage crystal bracelet, j.crew bangle }

II emily

a new spectrum

a few years ago, my best friend betsy and i decided we wanted to change up our boring brown hair.  enter:  one packet of grape kool-aid, a tea kettle, and 15 minutes of dunking our hair into boiling water.  


before you freak out and resolve to never trust my taste or judgment again, i'll assure you that no, we did not dye our entire heads purple! (we weren't that bored.) we just chose 1 strand - mine was behind my left ear so i could conceal it if need be.  the result wasn't a shocking purple (since we didn't bleach the hair first); instead, we had a noticeably bright pop of color that we could choose to hide under the rest of our hair or expose in a messy ponytail.


after re-dying the purple strand several times, i eventually got lazy and let it grow out. (that kool-aid is permanent, contrary to popular belief!) similarly, the thought of putting color back in my hair hadn't crossed my mind for over a year -- until now.  i recently spotted the images below and was intrigued by what seemed to be the next step for the ombré hair trend (which you know i'm a huge fan of). while the rainbow tips at first seem a bit shocking, i really just can't get over how downright pretty they are; pretty in a refreshingly different way.  i can assure you that if i was blonde i would have already painted my hair with pastels like aqua and pink - it works so well for pale blonde hair! sadly i don't think this trend  would work quite as well on brunettes like me... what do you think? 

{images via the beauty department and dream cassette}

color on!

II emily

get shorty

the best things in life are ironic, which explains my sudden craving for shorts. after becoming thoroughly dissatisfied with my collection of tiny denim cut-offs and subpar cotton styles, i'd given up and decided that was it. shorts were just not my thing.  i vowed i would only allow myself to wear flattering skirts and dresses for the entirety of the (90-degree) summer season.

...that is, until i stumbled upon a pair of loose floral shorts at topshop (which are now almost worn out). the chiffon material, flowy shape, scalloped edges, and high-waisted silhouette made them the perfect pair.  i stood stunned in the dressing room - these were nothing like the leg-shortening shorts of years past.  these were actually... chic.

since then, i've acquired 3 similar varieties and even went a little overboard and wrote an antire article about shorts over at college magazine. check out the article for two easy looks i put together - and see some more of my favorite shorty options below:

1. these are the mint scallop shorts by lush i wore in this recent post - they're perfect for girly tops & accessories, and the material is so soft i almost feel like i'm wearing pajamas.

2. these blue silk shorts from topshop beg to be color-blocked with a bright shirt & flats - bonus points for anything neon.

3. the camel suede and edgy zippers on this topshop pair are both sophisticated and edgy - try pairing these with a simple feminine blouse. 

4. these urban outfitters shorts are the perfect floral bottoms - love them with a basic slouchy tee.

5. these boucle shorts from topshop remind me of a classic chanel jacket - but the leather trim makes them modern.

6. these punchy red j.crew shorts go with nearly every other color in your closet - and they look even better paired with graphic patterns.

II emily