white wash

image via pinterest

surprise, surprise - spring has sprung (woo!) and all i want to wear is white. this happens to me every year for a few reasons: first of all, white is flattering! it makes you look tanner, thinner, and fresher. it wakes up your face! and it's effortlessly chic; much like i live in black during the fall and winter, i live in white during the summer (especially once august hits and i want to burn all the glaring bright colors in my closet). third, i consider a white blouse one of my all-time staples (this outfit is basically my dream uniform) - when i don't know what to wear, i reach for a white blouse.  done. i have about a dozen in my wardrobe, but i recently picked up this silky tank from joe fresh with the cutest ruffled sleeves and am considering stocking up on a few more. (also, completely random find: this sheer-sleeved blouse from american eagle is adorable!) 

i'm also pining for more white jewelry in my life - i have a pair of chunky white-and-crystal chandelier earrings that i probably wear too frequently, and a few white-stone (or pearl) bracelets would look great with a tan. and, finally: white sunnies are back. my tip? choose a glam, oversized shape - wayfarers or mirrored lenses just look cheesy. i'm really into these, which i already own in tortoise, and the quality is amazing.

{gemma redux chain bracelet, j.crew stretch bracelet, j.crew pearl cuff, joe fresh tank, madewell sunnies}

shoesday tuesday: fall edition

just a few shoes i'm loving right now... chic little go-with-everything leopard pumps, the perfect black ankle boots (mine are starting to look pretty bad), high-shine scalloped sandals for next spring, and edgy pumps that look comfortable enough for a day at the office or a night on the town.

II emily

between the lines

after yesterday's post, i went a little stripe crazy and quickly found a winning combination at madewell. the crimson, navy and ivory stripes look even better when you add another bold pattern into the mix (although i'm pretty sure everyone has agreed that leopard is now a neutral) and i love the final result. sleek, no-fuss accessories are the finishing touch for a modern, endlessly chic ensemble.

{ madewell top, madewell skirt, thierry lasry sunglasses, j.crew clutch (on sale), ginette_ny diamond earrings, michael kors signet ring, j.crew pumps }

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

oh you flouncy, huh?

{pictured: madewell chiffon cascade skirt & log cabin pullover}

if i could choose one thing to splurge on this season, it would undoubtedly be this flouncy, ruffly skirt. yes, it's expensive.... but i honestly think i would wear it every day (or at least i would try... i'm pretty sure liz would put a stop to that madness right away. mostly because she hates to see me repeat outfits but also so that she could wear it.)

i was recently inspired by this post at cupcakes and cashmere. i love how emily paired her chunky zara sweater with a full ballerina skirt! i've always been into juxtaposition, and while i've done my fair share of pairing big sweaters/tops with slim bottoms and tight minis, the full-skirt idea really struck a chord in me. i love how it looks with this fairisle sweater and am dreamily picturing wearing it with all of my chunkiest, slouchiest sweaters - possibly with some tights and boots?

the hardest part will be choosing black or cream. what do you think?

happy mixing!

II emily

the new face of fashion

i don't know if you've seen/heard about the alexa chung collaboration for madewell, but if not i strongly encourage you to go check it out right this instant. alexa chung embodies almost everything i love about fashion, and i'm always inspired by the interesting combinations she comes up with. the "fisherman" cable-knit sweater i was dying for sold out before i could even attempt to buy it, but i'm equally tempted by almost everything she's put out on the website.

chung's most inspirational pieces are undoubtedly the high-waisted "christian" skinny jeans, which come in 5 different washes like this dusty gray pair. i've really been wanting to try something new in the denim arena, and this might be my golden opportunity. i'm already imagining these slimming jeans with one of madewell's flowy silk blouses or loose tees, maybe with a skinny belt, colorful flats, and a thick scarf... and at night these would be great with platform heels, a tucked-in silk tank and sharp blazer.

plus, with free shipping on all madewell jeans, the offer is almost too good to pass up! happy shopping!

II emily