Fashion Faves of 2011

Since next Monday will be a new year and a fresh start, I wanted to corral my fave fashion images and trends I've collected this year on my Pinterest board. Enjoy, and happy Friday!

Sequins for day.

Kimono inspired jackets.

Denim on denim on denim on denim.

Lots of neutral layers.

Cowboy boho. Via B Jones Style.

The rebirth of a love for the American flag.

Graphic prints and sheer layers.

This color. It blows my mind.

Slinky silhouettes.

Celestial inspired everything. This one is Christopher Kane.

All of these images are on my Pinterest board. Click here for some more! I hope everyone enters the New Year healthy, happy, and ready for 2012!

New Years Resolutionizing

Do you guys always make a New Years Resolution? Do you make only one or a whole list? I've sort of sworn off the resolution thing because I simply don't trust myself to keep up with it. I mean, I never did follow through when I made resolutions when I was in high school or whatever. Then again, they were always that I was going to lose like a zillion pounds or something silly that sets myself up to fail.

I think I will take up a New Years motto instead of a resolution. "Quality over quantity." Seriously. I've been applying this idea to all aspects of my life recently and I'm realizing that I need a serious overhaul. Critical life organization and curation. I am resolved to only invest my life, my time, my emotions, and my hard earned wages on quality. Forsaking the cheapo trends and quick fixes to only bring in things that have staying power in my wardrobe and life. I've been so much happier lately when I simply just think 'quality'. It's basically the final say, and I've already cut out a few (would be) bad decisions.

Via my Pinterest

It makes sense! And it's also my longest ongoing 'project' ever! Haha. I will probably be at Buffalo Exchange this weekend. Me and my gigantor suitcase. I have a lot of clothing to donate.

What are you all thinking for the new year?

Happy Holidays

Hi everyone, I just wanted to wish you all the best this holiday season. I'm going home to the Adirondacks with my man for Christmas. I'm really excited as this is the first time he'll be visiting my hometown in our (almost) 4 years of being together! I hope there's a little snow, it makes everything so much prettier.

The Adirondacks, via my Pinterest

I'm really looking forward to seeing my mom and brothers, my best friend and her fiance, and my grandparents and the rest of my family. I just with I could have brought our Whiskey girl! Sadly, she is in the kennel until Tuesday. We got her a pretty new collar and a slew of bones for an early Christmas present! Between you and me, I don't think she liked the collar all that much. Haha.

And FINALLY, I will be joining the smartphone generation (yea, I haven't yet. I know.) and getting myself a spankin' new iPhone this weekend. Really excited! So excited in fact, that I ordered myself an even earlier Christmas gift. And that would be a pretty case for my iPhone to be! Really, I'm in love with this case.

SOB by sobapparel on Etsy. Love everything they sell!

Hope your holidays are awesome! Do something heartwarming and cozy! My family almost always watches the Snow Queen animated (circa 1987) version. I cannot WAIT for Christmas at my grandparent's house!

Outfit Post: Company Holiday Party

Hey all! Hope everyone is having a great holiday season so far! We've had a relatively mild 'winter' so far in NYC but it's become rather cold these past few days. I wanted to make an outfit post because I was particularly happy with my ensemble for the company holiday party where I work. Now obviously black is the NYC staple and is almost always occasion appropriate. Usually I have an issue with corporate events because I find my wardrobe to either be very dressy (or at least a definite look), or very casual. I'm not one to wear all over sequins or tons of embellishments, though I love it on other girls! I needed something that was funky, slightly festive, yet (fashion forward) office appropriate.

Jacket, Collection B. Dress with embellished collar, H&M. Leopard Rhinestone Necklace, a random jewelry shop in NYC. Gold studs, Jewelmint. Tights, H&M. Shoes, Woodies by Jeffrey Campbell. Lipstick, Rasberry Bright by Revlon.

This is what I put together! I actually really love this look and will use it again I'm sure. The necklace and collar of my dress were really sparkly under the lighting at the party and offered just the right amount of festive feel for me. This jacket I love and wear almost all the time. I have to wear layers always. Check out a very similar one here (It's also half off, which is so great). I'm a fiend for a good deal.
This is also the first official image on my blog of my dreadlocks. They're about 2 weeks old. I love them, and will be doing a post on them shortly. Don't freak out too much! Haha.

Here are three pretty items that can't go wrong as part of any festive look. Just don't wear them all together!

Star crown by Giant Dwarf

Latest Love Dress in Evergreen via Modcloth.com

Metallic clutch by Danielle Nicole

What are your holiday party faves?

An Unexpected Color Trend Fave

If you love fashion like I do, you tend to check your go-to fashion sites on the regular. I happened to be on refinery29.com the other day (as if I'm not on there like 20 times a day) and really loved their trend report on Spring 2012 color trends. I think every trend they noted was spot on and was not surprised that I was taken with them... most of them at least.
I don't know why, but I am completely loving the coming pastel trend for spring! This is simply because I have never taken myself as a 'girly-girl' though I'm much more girly than I try to let on (hello, just look at my blog colors. haha). But who cares! I'm throwing caution to the wind with this one and am just outright saying, I love these colors! The question is, how am I going to ease my way into pastels without going all cupcakey? I mean, pastels and dreadlocks does sound like an odd combination...

Image via refinery29.com

Image via fashionsquad.com

I think this clutch is my answer! By Danielle Nicole

Please feel free to check out my Pastel Pretties Pinterest board (all unspecified images are on there) for more inspiration on this trend! I'm excited to give it a try! How do you guys plan to put color into your spring? Accessories? Dresses? Shoes? Hair?!?

Oh My

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to stop by and let you know that I'm still alive. I happen to be really sick right now and keeping up with normal life has become exhausting, which is why I haven't been by lately with anything worth noting. Hoping my cold/sinus infection/flu/whateveritis will go away very soon so I can function again. Ugh. Hope your holidays are wonderful!

Image via Pinterest

A Love Letter to Karl

Dear Karl,

I love you. I love your Pre-Fall 2012 show. I love it so much I will most likely pin every single look in the show to my Pinterest boards. I love that you brought dreadlocks (albeit fake ones) into high fashion to a point never done before, but if they become the new hair craze of the masses, I will never forgive you. Assuming it wont, I will continue to worship you. Amazing show.

Love,
Aly

Side note: I must let you all know that I'm obsessed with India. I have been ever since I watched my first Bollywood movie in middle school. It's also the reason I have my nose pierced. I thought it looked so beautiful on an Indian woman I saw one day. I've always wanted a sari. Always. But a CHANEL sari... I think I would die of happiness.

All images via style.com