Never Say Never

When a lace up dress came across my desk at work a few months ago, my immediate reaction was "never," but now I'm trying to decide which one I want to buy. All it took was a little time for me to warm up to this trend, and I was sold. I've been told to keep an open mind when it comes to various different aspects of life, and I definitely think this can be applied to the world of fashion as well. You probably won't see anyone walking down the street wearing some of the bizarre styles seen on the runways, but you are likely to see people wearing more muted and practical variations of those styles. It just takes a little time for it to "trickle down" and make its way into the hearts of young fashionistas everywhere. Never say never, or you may end up missing out on something great. xoxo

A New Year's Thought

Happy New Year's Eve everyone! I hope tonight finds you surrounded by family and friends, champagne, and lots of excitement to ring in 2016.

When I first read this quote, I started to reflect on the past year of my life. 2015 was a year of transition for me, both exciting and very scary at the same time. I graduated with a degree in retail from the University of Wisconsin, moved to a new city, and started my first full time job as an assistant buyer for a major retailer. It was unbelievably hard leaving my best friends and the city that has given me so many memories to cherish (Madison will always have a piece of my heart), but it was time to start the next chapter of my life. I don't think I could have maintained the courage to do all of this without the support of my amazing family and friends along the way! I'm so grateful to have them in my life, so if you guys are reading this, thank you for everything you do!

I'm now looking forward to 2016 with much curiosity and excitement to see everything that it brings. Cheers to the endless possibilities!

The Real Fashion Show

This is a great quote from Bill Cunningham. For those of you who may not know who he is, I recommend following his life and work; it is truly fascinating. I was first introduced to his character while watching the documentary, Bill Cunningham New York, in my product development class at the University of Wisconsin. The documentary detailed his life as a fashion photographer on the streets of New York, describing his life in general, as well as his knack for catching awesome photos of the personal style and fashion of New Yorkers (along with the occasional celebrity shot). Many of Cunningham's photos have been published on the New York Times website (link below), where he creates short videos explaining the fashion trends he is currently seeing on the streets. Watching a few of these videos will validate this quote a thousand times over. Whether it's trends that are beginning to recycle themselves from earlier decades, or trends that embody the "trickle up" theory (emerge in the streets and are later adopted by designers, such as the t-shirt), you will see that the best fashion show start on the streets, showcasing how each individual expresses their personal style. Maybe you'll be lucky enough to be "spotted" next. 

http://www.nytimes.com/video/on-the-street

"Fashion Comes from Within"

I think for many people, fashion means wearing famous designer names from the runway, or following unrealistic trends that are often seen in couture magazines. In reality though, fashion is all about taking risks and trying new things. When was the last time you thought a pair of skinny jeans and a plain t-shirt was on the brink of the fashion scene? I'm guessing not recently; it's a safe outfit. When you find the drive to seek out and create fashion though, there are often great results. And that doesn't mean dropping hundreds of dollars on a dress. I've found many of my favorite pieces at H&M and TJ Maxx. It's all about the desire for something different, and the willingness to go find it.