Leggings: Dos and Don'ts

I'm in a major love hate relationship with leggings.  On one hand, so comfy. On the other hand, leggings can go bad so fast. Like, lightning speed fast.

For those of us in college, leggings are a staple! Leggings, riding boots, and a nice flannel are the perfect combination for a long day of classes.

My favorite leggings are from Zara, check them out here!

 sweater || scarf || boots 

*only similar products, originals are old*

plain tee || flannel || boots

Thoughts on leggings?
xox
Char

Christmas in the dorms

As my friends slowly pack their bags and take their finals, I've started to notice how the dorms are emptying! It's weird to think that these people that I have spent every single moment of the past five months with won't be anywhere near me for the next month!

Obviously, with my anxiety, I had to get my christmas shopping done. As soon as possible.  I started with Caroline, Erin, and Kaela, then on to Caroline and Julia, then Jenny, then the family. And for those of you reading this in one of those groups, don't think I'll be giving anything away. (sorry bout it) 

The minute Jenny and I got our emails from the student packaging center, we rushed over to Russell.  After walking home in the cold, we went to my dorm room and immediately swapped gifts.

This is where it gets weird. We both got each other bracelets. Mine from C.Wonder and hers from Kate Spade.

The results couldn't be anything but beautiful.

From Char to Jenny

 Equestrian Stirrup Link Bracelet || C.Wonder

Horse Head Bangle || C.Wonder

From Jenny to Char

 Partners in Crime idiom bangle || Kate Spade

Partners in Crime idiom bangle || Kate Spade

The best part of my christmas present is that Jenny got the matching one in gold for herself and Taylor! It's true, we are partners in crime.  

What are you getting for your friends and family?

xox

Char

Style (with a twist)

Yeah, so basically, I'm a walking accident. 

In the past year, I've worn two different slings, gone to three physical therapists, and had shoulder surgery.  Now, I am wearing a nice black ankle brace.  It's ridiculous how it happened, especially since I tripped and rolled over my ankle over absolutely nothing.  I swear, nothing can be blamed for my clumsiness.  (is that even a word? just go with it.)

So, for those of you who are as accident prone as myself, here are some pictures on how I've styled my many braces!

Love this picture because cheering was such a struggle but a good source

of entertainment!

black dress, black sling, what else do you need?

*Happy Birthday Wyatt*

 I could wear a button up, leggings, and boots everyday.

Day after surgery, on to the blue sling

Luke Bryan Concert

Because I'm obsessed with Garnet and the Gamecocks 

Long day of classes requires a big sweater 

First night of Lamp lighting for DZ!

Right now, it is super frustrating not being able to wear my boots especially since it's getting cold out.   I cannot wait to get out of this ankle brace!! 

xox 

Char

The art of Gameday Dresses

Gameday in the south is quite an event.
Whether you're tailgating in the frat lots or watching the parade of players into the stadium, eating your heart out or drinking it down, watching from the student section or on a small television hooked up to a generator, it's an experience to experience.

A girls biggest concern on a saturday morning is what to wear. Isn't that always a concern? 

Here at South Carolina, tradition is to wear black dresses and cowboy boots. Why, you may ask? Nobody actually knows.  At this point, I've been through about 5 black dresses, worn one twice, spilled god knows what on my cowboy boots, and scrubbed off too many tattoos from my face.

Sorry for the picture overload in advance...

 || Stacy ||

 || J.Schamay & Carol at UGA ||

|| Taylor & Jenny ||

 || Future roomies and Caroline's dad ||

|| Kaela, Caroline & Erin ||

My favorite dresses are from Hope's, Tobi, and J.Crew.

Any suggestions?

xox

Char

The art of Halloween: college freshmen

Questions you may ask yourself:

In highschool: 

When is my mom going to drop me off? Who is going to throw a party?  What should I wear from the costume store? 

In College:

Which frat party should I go to? Which bra is the prettiest to wear without my shirt? Slutty cat or just slut? When should I start drinking? What is the least amount of clothes I can get away with?

Now, for me, I'm somewhere in between high school and college still.  I'm not quite comfortable bearing all, nor do I want to wear a costume from Party City.  

Here are some of the ideas that I actually consider good costumes.

 beanie babies

social media icons

And what Caroline and I were last year...

Trailer Trash and Lumberjack 

 Cat and Mouse

Baby Juleigh

Slightly wishing I was at home trick or treating with Juleigh Jeanette, but I'm gonna make the most of my first college halloween!

What are you being for halloween?

xox

Char

What one day of rush has taught me

1. Wear comfortable shoes.  

Yes, those new Tory Burchs are adorable, but breaking them in the first day of rush is not the best idea.  Take it from the idiot who tried.  Also, everyone will be wearing some form of Jack Rogers or Lilly Pulitzer sandals or Tory Burch or any major designer.  That's what the sorority girls are expecting! You aren't special in that sense so just go with the most comfortable pair.  

2. No short-shorts.

You are trying to represent in the best way possible in a short 20 minutes.  If you wouldn't get away with them in high school, don't try to get away with them now.  Try sticking with fingertip length or brands that run longer such as J. Crew or Lilly Pulitzer.  I would avoid denim at all costs, it just looks cheap.  

3. Bring a rain jacket.

Here, in Columbia, it rains at least once a day.  Just go with the safe bet and bring a rain jacket or umbrella.  Don't mess up your hair just because you hoped it wouldn't rain!

4. Water, water, water.

Don't be that girl who passes out from dehydration.  Just don't.

5. Don't be nervous.

That first house will be the worst.  The butterflies and nausea will kick in right as your Pi Chis or Gamma Chis yell "one minute"! Ask the girls around you to check your makeup, straighten your name tag, and rock it.  The girls inside are just as nervous as you because you could be their future little! Be yourself and you'll end up in the right place.

James Avery Rings

I am a sucker for pretty much all things James Avery, but when it comes to the rings... I refuse to take them off!  For the three I own, I coveted them for about 6 months before convincing my mother that I needed them. And I did! I wear them everyday!

but now, the new catalog has come out, and here I am again.  Coveting. 

What I want:

James Avery Bow Ring

What I have:

James Avery Twisted Wire Ring

 from JW

James Avery Abounding Heart Ring

 from my mother

James Avery Blossom Ring with Pearl (not on sale anymore)

from my mother

Anyone else have a James Avery problem?

xox

Char

Make me over

I am absolutely hopeless when it comes to makeup. Like mascara is about the extent of my abilities and even then I have to clean around my eye with a q-tip and makeup remover before leaving the house. It's really bad.  I can't do my hair either, I either straighten it or leave it as it dried after my shower with some wave. 

LUCKILY...

My beautiful best friend KT is a real whiz with a makeup brush and hair tools.  She is an angel and does my hair and makeup every day we are together. 

KT after a plane ride, looking flawless as usual

KT has decided that I must learn to do my own makeup so we went shopping at Sephora and Macy's for her favorite simple products. I'll let you know how the progress with my makeup goes later on in the week. Keep your fingers crossed! 

KT in her natural habitat 

|| insta ||

Couldn't resist the duck face selfie, I just love my hair curled!

KT did it with a straightener, I told you! Genius!

Any makeup tips for the beauty challenged?

xox

Char

The art of a good tailgate

Oh, how we love country concerts down here in the south. 

Whether you are a freshmen being dropped off by by your momma or tailgating for hours with random strangers, country concerts are a part of growing up in the south.  From Toby Keith and Rascal Flatts on the Lakewood Lawn to the Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw stadium tours, everyone saves up for tickets to summer long concert series.

A good tailgate needs good people, good food, good music, and good outfits.
Here's what J.Schamay and I wore to Luke Bryan last night!

Char: J.Crew Tiki shorts || white tube top || cowboy boots || sling
Julia: Levi's homemade thrift shop shorts || Lizard Thicket tube top || cowboy boots

Any country lovers out there?!
xox
Char

Scallop Obsession

My obsession: Scalloped edging

Lately, whenever I walk into a store or boutique, I naturally gravitate to anything and everything scalloped. I just can't get enough! I think it all started around a year ago when a little tradition consumed my shopping habits.  On the first day of senior year, all the seniors wear black and white.  No one knows when the tradition began or why we keep it going, but it's there and you follow it.  Other high schools have similar traditions such as the girls wearing black dresses with leis with the boys wearing hawaiian shirts.  Although the tradition is silly, it starts off the year with all of the seniors bonding and coming together to get dressed up. 

ANYWAYS... rambling... I had never been in a Lilly Pulitzer store and I was desperate to find a dress that was different than all the other girls.  The minute I walked in, I fell in love with a pair of white linen scalloped shorts. They were perfect and different and my mother just couldn't say no. 

American Eagle top (similar here and here) || Lilly Pulitzer shorts (similar here) || Steve Madden wedges (similar here and here)

Now that I'm absolutely enamored by all things Lilly, these are my favorites!

Resort White Sunkissed With Glow || Flutter Blue Lucky Seersucker || Glenda Green Pretty Gingham

What are your favorite scalloped clothes?

xox

Char

Just Walk It Off

A good friend is one who pushes you to be a better you.  In a little under 24 hours, I will be having surgery on a labral tear on the backside of my shoulder.  As a person who despises sweat and a flushed face, this surgery will prevent me from what few exercises I do, and limit me to a strict walking-only exercise for the unforseeable future.  So, to get me off my lazy behind, J.Schamay is going to make me get up early and walk.  That's what a good friend is. 

Usually my workout gear consists of one of my brothers old t-shirts, spandex, and old cheer shoes.  But if I need a little motivation, I really dress myself up.

Summer

Spandex || Tank Top || Mizunos || Target Sports Bra

Winter

Running Spandex || Sports Bra || Pullover || Mizunos

What do you wear to workout? Any specific brands?

Rue La La: The Summer Edit dresses

Favorite dresses on Rue right now

Akiko Royal Blue Draped Silk Dress

ABS by Allen Scwartz Black Silk Sheath Dress

Susana Monaco Glam Peplum Dress

All three are under $100 and you can get them on Rue La La. 

Not a member? click here

Which ones are your favorite?

J.Crew Round 2

Here I am getting ready for coffee with an old teacher and a fellow publication editor from high school and suddenly I realize what I have chosen to wear.  Another navy blue and neon pink ensemble from J.Crew...

Vintage Cotton Tank || Tiki Short 

Out and About: J. Crew Style

Most of my summer days are filled with sun bathing and reading, but there also comes the days when I need to be productive.  On these days, I don't tempt myself with a bathing suit under a t-shirt but head for my more casual J.Crew items.  I love the pairing of navy blue and neon pink, and you can't forget sunnies and a cute clutch wallet!

J.Crew striped top similar || J. Crew factory chinos here || C Wonder sunnies here || Kate Spade Carmine Street Stacy wallet here

What do you wear to inspire productivity?

The Skinny on Sizing

My BIGGEST pet peeve is when people buy clothing strictly by the number or letter on the tag, not by how the clothing fits.  I have some friends who refuse to have anything but a size small in their closets, when in reality some of these girls need larges.  Personally, I love things to be a little loose, you know,for the *gasp* fat days.

My closet ranges from a size 2 short to a size 12 dress (for my spectacularly annoying giant rib cage) to an extra small tank to an extra extra large sweater. I am not a tag-ist. A person who buys clothes solely by the tag, not by actual fit. Tag-ists do not understand that it really doesn't matter what the tag says, especially considering no one actually ever sees your tag. *Unless you are like me and tend to forget to cut off tags so someone else usually ends up ripping them off and showing me* 

So please ladies, don't be a tagist.  Buy clothing by what looks and feels good, not buy a number or letter. 

Thoughts? comments? Tagists who need interventions?

Travel Essentials: San Fran edition

I love love love to travel

But then again, who doesn't? Just yesterday I returned from San Francisco with my best friend after wondering the city and nearby suburbs for a week.  Being in San Anselmo, who would have known I could feel so out of place in such a friendly environment.  Common were the hemp skirts and braless crop tops, but I'm sorry.  I will never be a hippie or aspire to dress like one. I just can't pull it off.  So as we wondered through the endless amounts of granola people, I carried my travel staples. 

At top left: Kate Spade Carmine Street Stacy Wallet

At top left: J.Crew Factory iPhone 4s case

At right: Longchamp Le Pilage in Cobalt

The Longchamp is the perfect travel companion due to the size and durability.  The leather is not the kind you are constantly worrying about but still looks incredibly new after a week dragged around a city.

My newest obsession is my Kate Spade wallet.  I love the bright color and the many credit card slots and ID slip.  

I always need a new iPhone case, this one I have bought multiple times on sale because it matches a new manicure perfectly.  And why not use a new phone case as a reason to get a good gel mani?

Hopefully this is the beginning of a summer of travel before off to Columbia in the fall!