Merry and Bright

Well y’all, the semester is over and I can now officially celebrate the HOLIDAY SEASON! Woo-hoo!

I love Christmas, by far my favorite holiday to celebrate! Although I’m not one of those people who gets into the holiday spirit the day after Halloween. I like to take my time and enjoy Thanksgiving and autumn before it’s officially time to bring out the ornaments. Though I’m not going to lie, it can be so damn hard to listen to a different radio station when another one is playing Christmas songs 24/7. It’s so tempting!

And even when Thanksgiving ends and it’s officially Christmastime, it’s still hard to enjoy when the semester comes to an end. I’ve been extremely busy with my final exams and all deadlines for my projects and assignments. I hardly even had time to watch Hallmark movies because I needed to focus on my studies. Even though the last few weeks have been stressful, I still managed to find ways to enjoy myself. I took time to relax and cleanse my mind, hang out with my friends before we all went on break, and to make sure I wasn’t stressing myself out too much. A few of my friends and I actually went to see John Mulaney perform stand-up at Kent State University after Thanksgiving. I was laughing so hard that my chest was hurting. Ironically, they say laughter is the best medicine! But it was still the perfect stress release. I freaking love John Mulaney!

But now that the semester is over, I’m officially in full Buddy the Elf mode! I’m craving hot cocoa and all things cozy! I always say every year gets better, but I really do mean it. I have a burning feeling that this Christmas is going to be the best one yet. My family and I have already decorated the tree, are spending cold nights indoors watching Christmas movies while drinking hot cocoa, and there are more traditional festivities to come!

What’s your favorite thing about the holiday season? Comment down below and share!

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go sleep in till 10 AM for the next month, except on Christmas Day because that’s the only day I’m a morning person! Hence the coffee mug 😉

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Straight Outta Hallmark

Happy December 1st! We are officially less than 25 days away from the most wonderful day of the year now! Besides my birthday 😉

One of my favorite holiday activities is to watch Christmas movies. I will admit, I’m a sucker for cheesy Hallmark movies. As predictable as they are, it’s nice to watch a cute movie with a happy ending every now and then! And with all the crazy things happening in this world, Hallmark movies definitely can help increase the level of positivity. Especially during Christmastime!

Every Hallmark movie has also the same type of girl, although their personalities are slightly different in every movie. They all have successful jobs, have a love for Christmas, have amazing hairstyles, and of course, own the most stylish wardrobes! For this season, Hallmark has influenced me to embrace Christmas the same way as those other girls. My favorite holiday dress right now is this beautiful red lace short dress from Altar’d State. It totally reminds me of a dress that one off the Hallmark leading ladies would wear. It’s so stunning, elegant, and bold. Red is my favorite color and perfect for this time of year. I’ve already gotten so many compliments from wearing this!

Altar’d State is my favorite retailer to shop from at the moment. It’s like an upgraded Christian version of Francesca’s (which is also another favorite of mine). They have the cutest collections of outfits, jewelry pieces, and home decor as well. It’s a bit expensive, but practically every item is worth the purchase. The best part is that a portion of sales get donated to local communities on Mondays. Stand out for good!

By the way, this post is NOT sponsored. I just love Altar’d State so much. But someday I would definitely love to collaborate with them if I get the opportunity!

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Dress: Altar’d State

Shoes: Steve Madden

Bomber on Velvet

When you combine a chic bomber black jacket with a killer velvet skirt, that outfit is quite the BOMB! See what I did there? 

This structured black bomber jacket from styleNmotion is my new favorite item in my wardrobe. It goes with everything, it's super comfortable, it's great for every season, and it makes me feel like Sandy Olsson! 

I'm obsessed with my midi pink velvet skirt, which I got on sale for $30 at Anthropologie. I saw it a few months ago when it was in store for $100 at full price. I fell in love with it immediately, but at that time I was like "hell, no" when I saw the price tag. I lucked out when I found out it was finally on sale, I didn't even hesitate to add it to my checkout! The material is so soft and I love the length. And the little triangular cutout on the bottom right adds a chic touch! 

And of course, you can't forget these bad boys - aka black riding boots - by my girl Lauren at LC Lauren Conrad. I also decided to make the look more unique with tortoise hoop earrings from J. Crew. You gotta mix a classy outfit with a little bit of spunk and boldness once in a while!

Also I want to let you know that tomorrow I am doing my first Instagram takeover for styleNmotion's account! I'm so excited, I've never done any kind of social media takeover before and I get to team up with one of my favorite boutiques. Even better! 

In case you don't know what styleNmotion is, it's a New York City boutique run by my good friend Caitlyn Nystrom, who also happens to be from Ohio! We collaborated back in November for the new winter collection in which I got to model some clothes for their website and keep some to use for my blog. It was a great opportunity, especially since it was first brand collaboration. Now I get to do an Instagram takeover for them! 

So be sure to go follow them at @stylenmotionshop to watch me do some Instagram stories of my outfits throughout the day and keep track with their future posts. You can also shop their clothes on their website right here! 

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Red Turtleneck

I'm pretty bummed that Christmas is over and 2017 is almost over as well. My favorite holiday was super special as always and I loved making more wonderful memories with my family. And as for this year, it was wonderful as well. There were a few downs but mostly ups, and I couldn't have asked for a more perfect year. And to celebrate the finale of all this, I would like to share an outfit featuring two new pieces! 

I few new things I got for Christmas to add to my wardrobe include this red turtleneck sweater from Anthropologie and layered necklace set from LOFT. I tried on the sweater while Black Friday shopping and I loved the way it looked, so it was a great surprise to get it! And I had asked for a layered necklace, which this one am I absolutely in love with. It's even better that the two pieces go perfect together! 

Also just a random weather alert, Cleveland is covered in snow and 10 degrees at the moment. So layers of clothes are highly recommended. Thank goodness for this stylish trench coat from ZARA!

And although you can't see the Steve Madden black booties that I have on, I can guarantee you that they look great with this outfit! 

What I love most about turtleneck sweaters is not only the comfiness but the loose neck collars, which make it great to tug on for cool Instagram and Pinterest pictures! Obviously not too hard though ... 

And what's a winter fashion photoshoot without a furry buddy like Max? Helps make the chilly weather less dreadful because dogs (especially golden retrievers) make everything better ❤️ Stay safe out there in the cold, my friends! 

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Holly Jolly Christmas (12 Days of Style + GIVEAWAY)

Did everyone have a wonderful holiday? I sure did, I love everything related to Christmas! Nothing warms my heart (and chilly body) more than Christmas trees with colorful ornaments, hot chocolate with extra marshmallows, romantic Hallmark movies, celebrating the birth of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and of course, winter fashion! 

I'm in love with this new flannel from L.L. Bean, which my mom originally bought for herself but decided she didn't want it anymore. I think the colors are perfect for the holiday season with the red, green, and white. It was only fair to wear my red lip stainer from RealHer to add more holiday spirit to the look. The shirt was also surprisingly cheap when my mom first bought it, only forty dollars!

This flannel also looks even more chic with my light brown fur vest from Target. No, I won’t tell you what kind of animal it’s made out of ... 

I added a little more holly jolly style to the outfit with my dark navy skinny jeans from American Eagle and tall black riding boots designed by LC Lauren Conrad. It gives the holiday look more chic and edgy quality. I also can't resist my favorite black hangbag from Matt and Nat, perfect for Christmas tree shopping (and smelling). 

S/O to my fellow photographer from Kent, Sarah Behm, for taking these awesome pictures at this super cute Christmas tree market farm located! You can check out her super amazing and creative photography by following her on Instagram (@p_e_a_c_h_y). 

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I also have exciting news ... I'm doing my first giveaway! I know the holidays are pretty much over now, but who says we should stop giving? Absolutely no one except for the Grinches!

I'm giving away a Starbucks gift card which is just perfect for this time of year and the rest of the winter season with the freezing outdoor weather. Nobody can turn down a free Starbucks gift card, am I right? It's super simple, all you have to do is like my latest Instagram post, follow me, and tag a friend OR comment one or a few favorite things about Christmas. You have from December 26th (today) to January 6th (the Ephipany) to enter. I'll announce the winner via Instagram story and message them directly on January 8th. I hope you enter to win, good luck! 

Happy Holidays babes, 

- Caroline XOXO 

Once Upon A December

There's something about the month of December that is so wondrous and enchanting, and that's not only because of the holiday season. Despite the fact that the cold weather can be irritating, it is still a beautiful month that must be cherished, especially since it's the last month of the year.

As 2017 comes around the corner and the chills start to grow, I'm taking my time to absorb the last days of December as much as possible. For Christmas, I got a lot of new outfits and accessories that I am very excited to share, and I want to show them soon before I go back to school in two weeks! 

One of the gifts I got, and probably my most favorite, is an open-shoulder dress from Anthropologie. I love the material, the color, and how comfortable it is, it's not super tight at all. I'm happy that I now have an open-shoulder outfit considering that it's one of the most popular trends in the fashion world right now. It's a perfect outfit for December and the rest of the winter, it might even be good to wear every season if it's not too hot! 

This jewelry may not be recently new, but it still looks fabulous with the dress. You don't want to go overboard with accessorizing, just keep it simple. Both the earrings and necklace are from Francesca's. 

I'm so in love with my new wedges from Anthropologie, great for the winter and perfect timing for when summer comes around! They are very comfortable and keep feet warm in the chilly weather. I'm relieved because these were the last shoes available and they came in my size, it was meant to be! There's many other similar shoes at the retail that you can find if you are interested, along with other stylish types of shoes as well. 

Dress: Anthropologie

Shoes: Anthropologie - similar shoes

Necklace: Francesca's - similar necklace

Earrings: Francesca's - similar earrings

Caroline in the City

New York City is considered one of the fashion capitals of the world and during my visit I certainly wanted to ensure that I fit in well and didn't necessarily look like I was a fashion laggard.  Therefore, I put quite a bit of thought into packing my outfits and what I was going to wear throughout my trip - both day and night.   Fashion is one of my favorite aspects of New York - and it seems as though pretty much anything goes as well as it is put together well from head to toe.  

Walking Through The Breezy City

Despite the weather being better than we expected, it was still pretty chilly. So instead of bringing regular jackets or scarves, I decided to go with a more stylish look and bring my black sleeveless poncho from Francesca's. It came in very handy, I wore it two days in a row. It feels like a blanket, but with the thickness of a scarf! 

Just in case the poncho wasn't warm enough, I wore my gray sweater from American Eagle to bundle up a little more. Other parts of my outfit include black Zella leggings, black Kohl's boots made by Lauren Conrad, black Ann Taylor sunglasses, and of course a brown crossbody bag from Fossil to carry my belongings! 

For beauty references, I didn't worry too much about it. There's no need to make your hair or makeup super fancy. So I just kept it simple with naturally straight hair, both up and down, and simple everyday makeup. It makes the outfit look even more classy and sweet! 

I think this outfit is perfect for any season except summer, and it fit in well with the New York trends and style! 

Poncho: Francesca's - similar poncho 

Sweater: American Eagle - similar sweater

Pants: Nordstrom

Boots: Kohls

Purse: Fossil

Sunglasses: Ann Taylor - similar frames

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Broadway Star

NYC is the perfect place to dress up anytime whatsoever! This is one of my absolute favorite dress that exists in this wardrobe. It is from Anthropologie, designed by Darla Tulle, and is perfect for any season. In my mind, it is a combination of Cinderella and Audrey Hepburn. It was perfect to wear for going to Broadway to see Aladdin. 

Along with the dress, I wore my North Face coat to bundle up for the crisp weather. I also wore my black Elsie suede pumps from J. Crew, my Gail Statement necklace from Francesca's, my brown crossbody bag from Fossil, and my pair of diamond dangly pearl earrings. I cannot remember where I bought them from exactly, but my guess is Charming Charlie's! 

It's a little hard to tell, but for my makeup I did black winged eyeliner, pink eyeshadow, and mauve cake-flavored lip gloss. I felt is was kind of a Princess Jasmine look, which made it relevant for the show we were seeing! 

I am extremely glad that I took this outfit to wear for the trip, it was super perfect for a Broadway show. I couldn't tell if I felt more like a princess or Audrey Hepburn from Breakfast at Tiffany's, or maybe a combination of them! 

Dress: Anthropologie

Shoes: J. Crew

Coat: North Face

Necklace: Francesca's 

Earrings: Charming Charlie's - similar earrings

Purse: Fossil

Eyeliner: Sephora 

Lip Gloss: Bare Escentuals

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Furalicious

For my final outfit, I picked a type of fashion that has been a large trend this past fall and winter: fur vests! 

I love furry vests so much! I know it seems a little weird considering I'm an animal lover, but I just think they are so stylish and comfortable. Plus, I like to keep up with fashion trends and try out whatever is in style.

The fur vest that I wore, pictured down below, is from Target, along with the white lace long-sleeve shirt/blouse (I got them both for very cheap deals!!!). Along with the shirt and vest, I chose to wear my new brown leather skirt from Ann Taylor, which I also got for a very good deal! I am in love with this skirt because it's perfect for nights out or for business/work occasions. 

The rest of my outfit included my black Lauren Conrad boots from Kohl's, a long gold necklace from Francesca's, my brown crossbody purse (which matched with the skirt perfectly!!), my North Face coat (in case the weather got too cold), and my pink studs from Francesca's. 

The back of my fur vest.

Since my outfit involved more neutral colors, I decided to make my makeup pop a little bit by using a royal raspberry lipstick from Sephora. If you ever feel like your outfit is too plain, feel free to add some bright color to the look! 

You want to know an ironic fun fact? The sign above me in the two pictures above says "Caroline"! It was so cool, it felt like it was named after me! Plus, it's relevant to the title of this blog! Well, I guess everyone should now refer to me as "Caroline in the City". :)

Purse: Fossil

Shirt/Blouse: Target - similar shirt

Vest: Target - similar vest

Skirt:  Ann Taylor

Boots: Kohls

Necklace: Francesca's - similar necklace

Earrings: Francesca's - similar earrings

Lipstick: Sephora

Coat: North Face

Classy & Sassy

I can't believe winter break is already over! I just moved back into my college dorm room last night and got everything situated. I feel very organized and I am on a good schedule with my classes so far, plus the best part was returning to all of my friends! It just feels weird that winter break just ended, it didn't even feel like three weeks! I do miss my home, family, and dogs. But I'm glad that I'm back at my second home, Malone University, and I am ready to tackle semester two! 

For Monday's fashion blog, I did a photoshoot on Saturday with my sister Lauren at her 21st birthday party. She is a photography minor, and her pictures are absolutely amazing. If you ever have some time, check out her photography blog: Bold Rose. 

For the party, I wore my new turtleneck tank from Anthropologie. This shirt is absolutely comfortable and snazzy. I used to not be a big fan of turtlenecks, but now I wish I had more! If you're looking to find a good turtleneck, I highly recommend Anthropologie. They have all the perfect ones you could imagine. 

My pants are from Ann Taylor. It's a little hard to tell but if you look closely, they are black leather.  They're a little uncomfortable to put on at first, but after a while they don't feel too tight. I even wore them to the movie theaters! 

I didn't go too crazy with my accessories. I just picked some simple and charming pieces. If you look closely in the picture below, I'm wearing a long, gold necklace which I think might be from Francesca's, but I may be wrong. When it comes to turtlenecks, I like wearing longer necklaces to fit perfectly on the neck piece. Plus, it focuses more on the shirt rather than the necklace. 

I also wore my favorite bracelet from Pandora. No description on why Pandora is awesome needed. 

I recently just bought a pair of black pumps from J. Crew, and it might be the best purchase I've ever made on any type of clothing! They were a bit pricy, but it was totally worth it to buy them. They literally go perfect with any dressy outfit. Dresses, pants, skirts, you name them! 

Finally, for my earrings, I chose my diamond studs. I've had them for a while, so I can't remember exactly where I bought them from. They were very cheap, I will say that. You can most definitely purchase a similar pair from Francesca's, Charming Charlie's, Claire's, or Icing for less than ten bucks. 

To sum up, I think this outfit is both classy and sassy, hence the title. It is very sophisticated, but has a sort of sexy tone to it. It's definitely perfect for parties and night outs, anywhere you go basically. Classy is the new sassy, and that's better than dressing trashy! (Don't mind my Dr. Seuss rhymes.) 

Shirt: Anthropologie - similar shirt

Pants: Ann Taylor - similar pants

Shoes: J. Crew 

Necklace: Francesca's - similar necklace 

Bracelet: Pandora

Haute Hippie

Hey, guys! I'm so relieved my first semester is over. I do miss all of my college friends, but I'm just enjoying my three-week break with no class assignments or anything too busy. Because I am less busy than normally, I have more time to make more blog posts! Yay! 

Yesterday my old high school had an alumni luncheon. I hadn't seen my friends and teachers in so long, so I wanted to dress to impress. Fashion has always been important to my identity, especially now that I'm in college and figuring out who I am. I want to be represented in my own confident way, and I believe everyone deserves to have their own kind of style that makes them unique and beautiful. I didn't want to show my high school friends and teachers that I changed but that I have grown. 

As you can tell by reading the title, my outfit is sort of hippie-like. Not considerably 1970's, but just very chic. My crochet dress comes from Francesca's, and it is currently my favorite dress that I own. It's super classy, sheek, and perfect for both warm weather and cold weather.

My favorite material of the dress would have to be the long and wide sleeves. I think they make the dress look very sophisticated, you can even spread them out and pretend to be a bird! Or a bat since it's black, but bats kind of scare me ... 

As for shoes and leg cover-up, I picked my black booties from Steve Madden and black tights from Target. I also wore my glasses as my main accessory. These three essentials definitely gave the outfit a very hip-kind of look. 

I honestly wouldn't wear too much accessories with this outfit, especially if you choose wear glasses like I did. If you choose not to wear glasses, a sparkly headband would look nice as well as small earrings and rings. Or you can also wear a large necklace instead of the headband as well.  

Here I am spreading my arms and trying to look like I have wings!

This outfit actually made me feel sexy in a modest tone. I believe classy is the best way to express your identity in an intelligent way. One of my favorite quotes from my favorite actress/role model/fashion icon/everything, Emma Watson, is, "My idea of sexy is that less is more. The less you reveal, the more people can wonder." That quote always intrigued me because I love the idea of having a sense of pride and sophistication when dressing up. Nothing is more beautiful than a girl who doesn't give herself limits. 

I hope this fashion post was interesting and inspiring in some way. I had a wonderful time dressing up and seeing everyone at my high school again! I can't wait to make more upcoming posts in the future over my three-week break, so stay tuned and thank you! :) 

Dress: Francesca's - similar dress 

Shoes: Steve Madden

Glasses: Banana Republic - similar frames

Tights: Target