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! 

SHOP THE LOOK

Springing Into Spring: Winter to Spring Style Transition

I’m very happy right now for two reasons. First of all, I’m teaming up with Vionic Shoes to be a part of their “Style Squad” and spread the word for comfortable shoes, like these red sneakers I’m obsessed with! Aren't they darling? Vionic also happens to be one of Oprah's favorite shoe brands. Just throwing that out there because that's pretty awesome. 

Second of all, spring is almost here finally! I love spring ... the flowers are blooming, the sun is shining more, AND it's my birthday season! (May 20th in case ya want to write that down in your calendar 😉) But even though we're one step closer to summer, it's still not exactly warm outside yet - at least in Ohio. Some days are chillier, some days are more mild. It's kind of a tricky transition. 

Transitioning into a new season means transitioning into new clothes, am I right? The sun is finally shining and the flowers are blooming, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be a hundred percent warm right away (depending on where you live). So make sure to layer up, but feel free to wear something more summery if the weather is cooperative (ex. crop top with a cardigan and ripped jeans). 

Also be sure you wear whatever feels most comfortable. Like Vionic’s new spring shoes, they’re so comfy and easy to walk around in. And they’re super chic!

But also don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone with your signature style. Bring out the bright colors, pop like the tulips! Also it’s not a bad idea to add some colorful jewelry. Goodbye chunky scarves, hello chunky necklaces! Whatever you choose, be as confident as one can be with their style! Confidence is the best look anyone can wear. That's my spring style secret. 

I want to give a huge thank you to Vionic for these amazing new shoes. They're literally the most comfortable pairs of shoes I've ever owned! I guarantee I'll be wear them quite often this spring and summer. Goodbye, stilettos! 

Wanna know a little secret? Style doesn't have to hurt ... Check out Vionic's Style Squad website right here and join the movement! 

SHOP THE LOOK

A Unique Watch for a Unique Valentine

Thank you to JORD Watches for sponsoring this post. All opinions/reviews are mine. 

It's now February and Valentine's Day, the most romantic day of the year, is just around the corner. Have you thought about the gift you want to give to your special someone? If you're still looking for sweet ideas, I have just the solution for you ... a wooden watch from JORD Watches!

JORD provides a variety of unique wooden watches for both men and women. They were so kind enough to reach out and ask me to partner with them for their Valentine's Day campaign. I, of course, couldn't resist such an amazing opportunity with an amazing brand. Plus, I got a beautiful wooden watch!

The watches come in all different types of wood - from  maple to ebony, you name it! I got a cool watch from the Fieldcrest series by JORD. This one is a maple wood and fits my wrist just right, not too big or small. It's so beautiful, I recieved it in the mail not too long ago and I've already gotten a ton of compliments on it!

I'm also excited to tell y'all that JORD Watches and I are holding a Valentine's giveaway, and we want YOU to enter! The contest allows you to have the chance to win a $100 gift code to use on JORD's website. If you win, you can buy a wooden watch as a gift for your special someone! Or if you're single, you can even buy one for yourself because you're freaking awesome! 

Click here to enter the contest! 

The contest closes on February 25th and the winner's gift code will expire on March 11th if not used sooner. But don't worry, no rush at all ❤️ I should also mention that all entrants get a 10% off discount on watches, so it’s a win-win for everybody! 

And whether you win or not, you can click the links down below to JORD's collections of watches, including my fieldcrest wooden watch. Good luck!  

Shop Men's Watches

Shop Women's Watches

Shop My Watch

Luxury Wooden Watch

New Trends for the New Year

One of the biggest questions that normally comes up around New Years is, "What are going to be the biggest new trends this year?" It's a curious thought. The beauty of fashion is that once something goes trending, everyone wants to try it out. It can go from the most simple look to something so unique and bizarre yet everyone want to wear it, that's just how trends work! But as of right now, no one is really sure of what's going to be a huge style breakout in 2018 except for fashion experts.

So as a fashion blogger, I did my research as well as came up with my own predictions. Some of them may not be true, but we can still try them out even if that is the case! 

More Hoodies  

Hoodies have been around for a long time and are quite a popular fashion choice. However, it seems it is now trending big time with more style. Like this hooded cardigan, could it be any cuter?! Most fashion trends from the past few years have been combinations of cute and cozy (boyfriend jeans, bralettes, even sweatpants!), so I wouldn't be surprised if hoodies become a a more popular choice when going out in style. 

More Off-The-Shoulder ... and Shoulder Pads?  

We all are very aware of how popular the off-the-shoulder trend has become, it's one of the most stylish looks out there. First it started with the shirts and dresses, and now it looks like off-the-shoulder sweaters are making a huge breakout. And we're one-hundred percent okay with that!

I also read on Vogue that stated 80s shoulder pads are making a comeback. Honestly, I don’t know if I can picture that considering most styles from the 80s are long gone. But hey, what’s wrong with being a little wacky every now and then? The 1980s is one of my favorite fashion eras, so I wouldn’t mind bringing a little bit from it back! 

More Platforms (and the color red) 

Most platform shoes used to be mainly just heels and never very comfortable to wear. But over the past few years, most platform shoes have become more walkable and comfier, like these BP Monika platform mule slip-ons. They're so comfortable, and chic! It doesn't matter what height they are, I could walk around downtown all day with these shoes on!

Another upcoming trend I read on Vogue was that the color red is going to become more popular. That makes me super excited, especially since red is one of my favorite colors and a bold color I can pull off well. I can't wait to see it become more bold in the new year! 

So those were my predictions for the biggest fashion trends of 2018, what are yours? Comment down below and share! 

Cardigan: Hello Mae

Sweater: Poppy Apparel

Jeans: Anthropologie - similar jeans

Shoes: Nordstrom

Necklace: Francesca's - similar necklace

C.H.I.C. (Creating Happiness, Inspiring Confidence)

When most people think of the word chic, they immediately think about fashion and style. But when I think of the word, I have a different definition in my head. As a visionary fashion guru, chic can have many different empowering meanings. I saw a quote on Pinterest with the word and below it said, "Creating Happiness, Inspiring Confidence", and I thought that was a better definition than using it as a fashion term! It's like how math stands for "Mental Abuse To Humans", but that's a whole opposite story. 

What I'm trying to say is that the word chic has more meaning than we think. And now that I know what it really stands for, I want to use it more often! When we tell someone that their outfit is chic, it's like we're telling them that they're the definition of happiness and confidence. And a good outfit is full of happiness and confidence combined, amirite? Let's take this opportunity to use this word more often and spread the other words! If that makes any sense. 

Now you're probably wondering why I'm ranting about just one simple word (and a few other words). Well, if you saw the picture above, I'm sharing with you this new sweatshirt with the word "chic" on it ... and a few other new outfit pieces to go along with it! 

I'm absolutely in love with this sweatshirt, which I got at Anthropologie for $98. There's so many ways you can style it: with a white long-sleeved collar blouse, a maxi dress, or with casual jeans and shoes just like in these pictures.

When I saw it, it reminded me of a black sweatshirt kinda like this one (but instead said Cindy Crawford) I saw Karlie Kloss wearing in some paparazzi photos and it looked so good on her. Now I have one of my own and I love it, and it has an even cooler word on it! Don't get me wrong, Cindy Crawford is amazing and one of my fashion icons ... 

I also need to brag about these new jeans, also from Anthropologie, and shoes from Nine West. I got these sparkly denim bell-bottom pants the same day I got the sweatshirt. I've always wanted bell-bottom pants that we're comfy and made me feel like a cool 70s hippie. Now I have a pair of my own, and they have triangle sequins at the bottom! I bought the pants right before New Years Eve, so I got to wear them to my friend's party and they looked superb! As for the burgundy block heels, I got those for Christmas from my parents. I love the style of these shoes because they're very classic and hip, perfect for both modern times and old-fashioned times! 

If chic truly stands for "Creating Happiness, Inspiring Confidence", then we should try to use it in our vocabulary more often. Even though it is technically a fashion term, using it to define someone's personality could make a positive influence. So next time you meet someone who deserves a little mood booster, tell them that they're looking chic. That doesn't even have to imply just for their outfit, it can also mean that their creating happiness and inspiring confidence! Isn't that every person's main goal in life?

It was kind of random for me to make a new outfit blog post sound super deep, but I think sweet words are important for my readers. I know I feel good now that I've written this whole post for that reason. Have a wonderful weekend and don't forget to tell someone you love that they look (and are) chic!

SHOP THE LOOK

10 Best Dressed at 2018 Golden Globes

Happy Tuesday! 

Did anyone get a chance to watch the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday? It was very enjoyable to sit back in my bed with a cup of tangerine tea and watch Seth Meyers crack jokes and see many of my favorite celebrities in one room together (and Oprah's speech was amazing, oh my word!). This year's show, compared to the ones in the past, was much different, but in a powerful way. You are probably aware of the #TimesUp movement and how Hollywood is spreading the awareness of sexual harassment big time. So for that reason, everyone (literally everyone) wore all black on the red carpet and during the awards show. At first I wasn't sure how it was going to play out for a big event such as this, but it did and it worked very well. I am proud of all the celebrities, especially the women, who stood up for such an important awareness and having the courage to speak up for what is right and to empower the lives of others. The movement is strong and I love it! I’m proud to be a member of the girl gang 🎀 Let's keep uplifting one another and let's make this world a kinder place! 

I wasn't sure about writing a red carpet blog post for the Golden Globes since everyone dressed in all black and I thought they were all going to look the same 😂 But I loved so many of the outfits I saw, they were so beautiful. Plus, black looks goes with everything! So now the moment you've been waiting for, here are my top ten picks for best dressed at the Golden Globes! 

1.) Reese Witherspoon

Designer: Zac Posen

2.) Gal Gabot

Designer: Tom Ford

3.) Dakota Johnson 

Designer: Gucci 

 4.) Renee Bargh

Designer: Rachel Gilbert  

5.) Mandy Moore

Designer: Rosie Assoulin

6.) Jessica Chastain

 7.) Emma Stone

Designer: Louis Vuitton

8.) Jessica Biel  

Designer: Dior

9.) Margot Robbie  

Designer: Gucci 

10.) Emma Watson and Marai Larasi

Designer: Ronald van der Kemp

Who were your top picks for best dressed? Comment down below and share!

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! 

SHOP THE LOOK

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). 

SHOP THE LOOK

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 

Kent Stop. Won’t Stop.

Well, I just finished all my final exams and I am officially done with my first semester at Kent State University ... It flew by so fast! 

It really was a wonderful semester. It's amazing to see how far I've come since the beginning, especially coming in as a transfer student. At the start of the semester, I felt very overwhelmed with anxiety of the unknown. It was a little rough at times since I was living in my parents' and commuting fifteen minutes away from campus. While of course I love my family, my dogs and it was helpful to save money, I still felt a lack of independency and I barely had anyone at Kent to hang out with or talk to. I really missed my Malone friends and hanging out with them every day. They were and still are the most amazing group of friends I've ever had. I also wasn't in any fashion classes for the first semester, despite the fact that fashion was the reason I transferred to Kent. Even though I felt brave for making the bold decision to switch universities, I was nervous as hell. 

However, everything turned out better than I had expected. I joined CHAARG, a health & fitness chapter for college girls, and made so many friends from that. All the girls are incredibly kind, confident, and some of the coolest girls I know. From retreat camp to hiking in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, I've made endless memories with these amazing women! And even though I haven't started any fashion classes officially, I became a member of FSO (Fashion Student Organization) and got to go to two super fun costume parties. I passed every class I took this semester and finished with a great GPA score, and I'm super proud of that! Also me, one of my CHAARG friends and her roommate joined Delight Ministries at the University of Akron, a Christ-centered community for college women that meets every Friday. We made beautiful and kind friends through that and even got to volunteer all together for a human trafficking gala in Downtown Akron. It was such an amazing opportunity! And this we're still on the topic of exciting news, I've managed to grow my blog/Instagram feed and it's starting to get more attention! I've worked with a few brands such as styleNmotion, Fate Crew, Brush Me, and I have a few more future collaborations coming up!

Speaking of collaborating, I want to take a moment to talk about a few of my recent collaborations with Unsalted Boutique and MONAT.

I just got this unisex 3/4 sleeve tee from Unsalted Boutique (which you can check out and shop right here), a boutique business located in Sandusky, Ohio. What I love about it is that it's the home state with a collage of Kent's campus and community, from black squirrels to Potterfest. It's a dream come true because I've always wanted a collage of my college like this! My parents and sister all share a red portrait of Miami University in the house, which has a collage of all the things their college is best known for. I was jealous when I saw they had one representing such an awesome university, but now I have one of my own representing MY awesome university!

MONAT offers nature based hair products that help give hair super vibrant and healthy texture. All of their products are vegan, gluten free, and cruelty free. One of their Market Partners sent me a few samples to try out and blog about. I gotta say, MONAT has to be one of my top favorite hair care brands now! The products are perfect for long, thick hair like mine. I received two shampoos to try out at the same time since I have a lot of hair (the first one is called "Renew" and the second is called "Revive"). I also tried out a hair masque and finished off with a texturizing conditioner. Since trying MONAT out, my hair has felt super healthy and radiant. I'm definitely going to keep using their products! If you're interested in trying MONAT out yourself, I suggest you contact with a Market Partner who gets customers hooked up with some good products. For instance, you can contact Julia Schilling, who sent me the samples, at juliaschilling.mymonat.com or via Instagram message (@monatwithjulia). 

Anyway, I'm very happy with the outcome of this semester. Despite the lack of independence I felt coming in, I believe I gained more independency coming out of it. God has truly blessed me much more than I deserve. I can't wait to see what next spring semester has in store. Go Flashes! ⚡️💙