Every week's the same

We can all try to deny it, but laziness is in human nature. Even the most ambitious of people procrastinate and become trifling sometimes. My own personal downfall of laziness is dressing myself during a long week of school. My intentions are always good, but by the end of the week, negligence gets the best of me. I've created a #shoesdaytuesday timeline with a week of shoes, depicting the rise and fall of my urge to impress via my feet. Lucky for you guys you get to see what I see and think every day from my not-so-tall point of view. (hold your applause) Try to read these thoughts as if they were your own, will you?

MONDAY:

booties: jennifer lopez @ kohl's

leggings: just one @ marshall's

"I'm excited for the week. I know this week is gonna be different from last week. I'm gonna get dressed up really cute every day and put a lot of thought into what I'm wearing. It's gonna be great!"

TUESDAY:

boots: alma en pena

tights: forever xxi

shorts: urban outfitters

"Still putting in the effort. These boots are cute and my outfit isn't too casual... I'm doing pretty good this week."

WEDNESDAY:

moccasin booties: target

leather pants: target

"My feet hurt and it's cold out and I think it's raining and if it isn't then there are leaves everywhere I don't feel like wearing heels and these are still cute too ok"

THURSDAY:

sneakers: pom d'api

pants: bdg @ urban outfitters

"Is it Friday yet?"

FRIDAY:

booties: free lance

jumper: cache cache fr

"OMG I'm so excited it's Friday yay yay yay I have to get all dressed up so I'm motivated for the rest of the day I have a great weekend ahead of me oMG"

SATURDAY:

heels: free lance
leggings: pink @victoria's secret
sweater:   liz claiborne @ savers

 "The club can't even handle me right now"

And then the cycle starts all over again. If you don't consciously do it, pay attention to the way you dress yourself this week and I'm 73% sure you do it too. Or you will now once you've read this. May all your days be Mondays. (;

- nali xo

Someone's always watching....

Ever wish you could have an extra set eyes on the back of your head? This #manicuremonday I have found you a fix for that. With Halloween just around the corner I bet you're looking for something spooky to adorn. Even if you aren't, you've come to the right place for Halloween-ready unearthly nails. 

Don't limit yourself to decals and decorations made specifically for nails. Think outside the box and try a craft store for nail enhancement. I've finally come up with the best way to dress up your nails, Halloween style, have the most creative nails at the costume party and freak out your friends all with one style.

Two words: googly eyes (although I'm not sure if that counts as two words because I'm not sure if googly is actually a word. oh well)

Eyeballs are this season's perfect charm, didn't you hear? Black and white nails can go with any costume, especially the scary ones, and no one else will have thought of this inventive ornament. If you're looking to match it with something other than a Halloween costume, black and white all over works fine,  but I took it to the next level and played with an eye theme.

sweater: forever xxi

shorts: h&m @ buffalo exchange

tights: urban outfitters

necklace: claire's

sneaks: converse

Think outside the box this Halloween and every day. Manicures are the easiest and most fun way to express and decorate yourself. Paint responsibly.

The past is so bright, we need shades

A very happy #flashbackfriday to all you beautiful people out there. The sun is shining, the air is warm and there's only one thing keeping you from having a perfect day: new shades. I say "new" but what I really mean is old masquerading as new. You see, my little darlings, almost every trend pasted on the pages of magazines or on billboards in New York City have been inspired by or redeveloped from trends that were huge decades ago. We are not responsible for coming up with anything from scratch because everything we think of is unconscious inspiration from something or someone else. 

One of these fabulous trends taken specifically from the 60's is the art of the sunglass. Sunglasses, like the people who wear them, come in all shapes and sizes and the more diverse the shape, the cooler the shades. Before you pick up those cat eye frames and anoint yourself a trend setter, take a minute and remember all the trailblazers who did it first. 

Style #1: The cat eye

You don't have to be a die hard Tiffany's fan to recognize this image. Miss Audrey should have been a spokeswoman for the cat eyes, she wore them so much, and she wore them well.

Although patterns are less simple and shapes can change subtly or not-so-subtly, the style is the same and they're flying off sunglass racks everywhere. Here are some modern examples of the cat eye frame.

Basic frame, wild pattern. (asos.com)

Sharper edges, grungier feel. (forever xxi)

Inventive design, oompa loompa imagery (in a good way) (nastygal.com)

A little color never hurt anyone, the minimalistic frame and naked underwire give a whole new look to a classic style. (nastygal.com)

Style #2: Circle glasses

                   

 The man, the myth, the Lennon. Another iconic image. This incredible man is remembered for many things, one being this look he created for himself with simple geometric shapes over his eyes. I personally think only John can pull off this exact model and lucky for me this is another frame that has been modified since it became popular. 

Peace, love, pearls. That was what Lennon said right? (nasty gal.com)

Surprisingly modern retro look. Round and somehow still cat eye-esque. (nastygal.com)

Widescreen view anyone? (nasty gal.com)

Classic and chic. The thin plastic rims surprisingly add a lot to a simple frame. (urban outfitters)

Cool kids only double bar tie dye frames. (nastygal.com)

Style #3: Square

The lovely Lesley "Twiggy" Hornby has been and will always be remembered for her teeny physique and huge sense of style. Such large glasses on such a little person is a perfect way to make a statement. You've probably never seen glasses quite as unique as these but the square shape remains in fashion in ways you may not even realize. 

This pair would probably suit Twiggy if she were still modeling now due to the twiglike characteristics of the frame. (asos.com)

A bit more chunky with pink lenses. (asos.com)

This square frame take on a cat eyed approach near the ears and give a combat feel with strong gold lines subtly running down the sides. These glasses mean war. (mango.com)

For the truly daring: this style has an out of this world, astronomical feel to them. Use with caution and for your safety do not take out of this galaxy. (yesstyle.com)

All the frames I posted today were under $50 on the websites and stores I found them from. High fashion doesn't necessarily have to mean high prices! Go fit your face today 

- nali xo

“Once you can accept the universe as being something expanding into an infinite nothing which is something, wearing stripes with plaid is easy.”

^ That fantastic line was quoted from the fabulous Albert Einstein who may or may not have been a closeted fashionista himself. Plaid is a huge design in all items of clothing this season and only the daring will use it as a statement paired with other patterns (i.e. stripes).  I highly encourage pushing the lines (and stripes) because plaid is such a basic pattern when left on it's own; I picture school girls or Scottish bagpipe players. I have nothing against school girls or bagpipe players but my point is the plaid on solid colors has already been done. It's your turn to STAND OUT. Of course plaid flannels or shirts can also be nice for casual days where you're not trying too hard, so I've assembled a few varieties of this CPO flannel from Buffalo Exchange I got for my Thursday thrift find this week to fit your plaid needs.

scarf: target

leggings: pink @ victoria's secret

leg warmers: wet seal

boots: sm @ sear's

Comfortable yet still lookin fresh. Anytime you add leg warmers/scarves to any kind of outfit, 90% of the time you're gonna look more put-together regardless of whether you're wearing leather pants or leggings. 

Now for some more daring plaid getups:

tank: it closet @ marshall's

necklaces:

pants: target

boots: sm @ sear's

The infamous plaid with stripes. Judge for yourself if you like it or think it's an eyesore. I personally think it's pretty rock & roll.

Last but not least a grungy/girly approach. Plaid doesn't always mean farmer, ladies. Over the knee leg warmers also do a great job at making legs look longer with skirts.

necklace:

skirt: one clothing @ t.j. maxx

watch: kohl's

bracelet: target

flats: candie's @ kohl's

leg warmers: target

 Give plaid a chance to be all it has potential to be. You wouldn't like it if the job of your dreams turned you down because of a first glance impression, would you? (;

- nali xo

How do two hipsters communicate?

They

 














Although I wish I could take credit for that joke I found it on tumblr/pinterest/all other sites that show tumblr posts and I assume it has been swimming around the internet for some time now. The point of that cheesy yet ingenious punch line is to introduce the one kind of American shoe that will always be relevant no matter how times and trends change. Converse has been lacing up sneakers since 1908 and I don't see their legacy ending any time soon. I've always been a huge converse fan because as you expand your collection, you don't just end up with a bunch of different colored sneakers that are worn only in casual situations. Converses are made in so many varieties of styles, heights and patterns that an entire outfit changes depending on which pair of converse you decide to wear that day. For each kind of personal style, there is a converse to match perfectly. Haven't made the transition yet? Here's a little guide to help you find the pair of converse that's right for you


For the beginner: Classic Chuck Taylors, found wherever Converse are sold (Journeys, Kohl's, Amazon, etc.)

For anyone just starting out on their Converse journey, I suggest you get at least one classic pair of Chuck Taylors. They're a subtle top-off to any kind of casual outfit and can always be used to dress down a skirt or dress. This style comes in every color imaginable and is made in high-top and low-top cut.

For the free and the brave: American flag line of high-top Chuck Taylors (converse outlet, converse.com, ebay)

This line has styles ranging from grungy to girly to sleek and geometric, making it easy for anyone to honor their country and their style.

For the studmuffins: Various styles of studded sneaks (farfetch.com, free people, zappos.com, forzieri.com)

People choose to express themselves in different ways, but one of the main trends in fashion since last year in all different kinds of styles are studs as an accessory. Studs have been making appearances on handbags, shoes and other outfit extensions for about a year now. Whether you're feeling high top, low top, platform, solid or patterned, Converse has you covered for your sharp addiction.

For the comic obsessed: Chuck Taylor superhero/comic line (ebay, custom-dunk.com, converseamerica.com)

This line speaks for itself. Make a fashion statement while you're out saving the world.

For the bored: Different patterns and materials Converse has played with (shoes.com, nordstrom, free people)

If you're anything like me, you get bored with the ordinary quickly. Converse has made it easy to want to wear their brand forever by creating thousands of different patterns and designs on their shoes to make having variety easy and choosing what shoes to wear that day very very difficult (That's good business). Remember: different stores carry different kinds of converse depending on what audience they're trying to attract so keep your eyes peeled no matter where you are; Converse is not the only place to buy converse shoes. 

For the classic: Converse has created many different styles made entirely or partially or leather (forzieri.com, psyche.com, zappos.com)

Sometimes it's nice to have leather sneakers you know will last you awhile without starting to look old. I personally think Converse are the kind of shoe that look better when they're a little beat up but that goes only for the cloth ones. These leather models are timeless and classy and give a much more dressed up look to your clothes than the other Converse styles could give. 

Last but not least...

For the girly: (macy's, office.com/uk, ebay)

Converse understands that some girls don't like sneakers, or that sneakers aren't made girly enough sometimes, so they came up with these alternatives: sneaker heels and gladiator style shoes. And if hot pink platforms aren't enough to convert you to sneakers, nothing ever will. These styles are creative and original, you will hardly find them on any other feet around town. 

Find your style and pick up a slip into your pair of Converse today. 

- nali xo