SUIT UP!

Any other How I Met Your Mother fans out there?

While I'm not entirely referring to one of the Barney Stinson catchphrases, I'm more talking about finding a suit. Today I have a mock interview for one of my assignments for a business class, and it's basically a staged, practice interview with a real company but it just has no real job! It's supposed to be a great way to practice for real interviews and a HUGE career EXPO we have coming up next week. I'm wearing this great structured black, tweed Tahari dress that my mom picked up for me a while back: 

I'm adding black tights and plain black heels to make it dressier. It runs a little longer on me than this model, but you get the idea. Anyway, I am now a junior in the business school which means that it's officially time to start looking at REAL business wear: AKA SUITS. I've found a few that are more "me" and less "suit-y" than most:

Ann Taylor Loft

(it even comes in tall--a major PRO for me!)

Tahari

I just love that bow--too bad I can only find it in navy!

Victoria's Secret

You're probably like WHAT--let me just say, their skirts and jackets are SO LONG that I'd just have to try it to test it out and see!

Tahari

This one even has the TINIEST bit of pink in it!

So to all my fellow business scholars out there, do you just stick to structured dresses or have you gone with a skirt suit? I have friends who have done both, but nearly everyone owns at least one of both just to make sure that she's covered in every situation! This is one of the ONLY times I wish I was a boy because getting ready would be so easy!! To my business power women out there, what do you recommend?

Please let us know! This is very real life for many of us!

xxKatie

Does That Make Scents?

I used to not really care about perfume. In like 8th grade, "my scent" (along with probably every other middle schooler out there...) was Ralph Lauren: Cool. Anyone else out there with me?

In doing some research for this post, I think I've come to the conclusion that it's been discontinued (I'm taking motions to dispute this claim though...) and RL isn't making it anymore. I'm slightly disappointed, but I'm also happy that no more middle school girls can bathe in this any longer. I think every girl I knew wore RLC and we all thought it was "ours" and we wore it first. I think it was always "pricey" at like $38 or something along those lines. I'm sure this was some sort of gift that I got for Christmas or a birthday!

My own preferences have changed quite a bit since then and I consider "my scent" now to be Flowerbomb by Viktor and Rolf:

I just LOVE this perfume! I've worn in consistently since spring break of senior year in high school until now. My mom's not a huge fan of it since it is on the strong side, and I think it's a bit heavy for the summer myself. (Read: I also don't have much left so I'm trying to conserve a bit.) Instead, I wear "Beachy" by Lilly Pulitzer for the summer months:

This is a lot lighter and much more appropriate for the summer! I also just adore the bottle and top that comes with it! I also have "Wink" and still have the fabulous printed ribbons that originally came with the swanky bottles.

I also really like Victoria's Secret Very Sexy Now Mist from a few summers ago. I have a HUGE bottle of it just like this one and I swear it replicates because I use it pretty often. It's nice because it's got a great smell but doesn't last long so it's ideal for freshening up or wearing something light to work. 

What are your scents? Anything you consider to be "yours"? Let me know, and leave some suggestions for me to try this summer please and thank you!

xxKatie

Spring Break: The Bag

I love packing, but for beach vacations, a good beach bag is essential. How else would you cart everything that you need AT the beach TO the beach? Carry it, I think not. I have a few bags that I consistently rely on as beach bags!

L.L. Bean Boat and Tote, Open Top, XL

These bags are great. You really can't go wrong with any of the Boat and Totes from LLB. I have the XL and it's great for fitting towels, snacks, books, everything that you'd need for a quality day at the beach with you!

Victoria's Secret Leopard Tote

I got this tote for FREE! Using the FREESWIM coupon code I found online, I snagged this tote along with free shipping (now you can't combine codes...sorry). It's a canvas bag that's been treated with a plastic outside so it's great if you're plopping in the sand all day. All you need to do is brush it off and you're good to go!

Vineyard Vines 

I use one of my VV totes that's pretty old on vacations. It's almost 6 years old and is fraying where the straps hit the silk. The inside has all kinds of pen marks inside, and I don't feel bad lugging it around on the beach. If it was brand new, I certainly wouldn't waste it with the salty air and sandy surface!

I know I always bring a ton to the beach, so I have to be well prepared! Do you  have any good bags for the beach??

xxKatie

Christmas Recap

The fam and I had quite the Christmas! First, Christmas Eve rolled around. We went to 6:00 mass (which was packed more than I've ever seen in Church).

My sis and I got pretty dressed up (excuse my no shoes...) and I wore a ruffle top from J. Crew and a shirred metallic skirt from H&M--they're having FAB sales so hop over there ASAP. I wore tall black heels (the ones I've worn for birthdays) that have trendy little zips on them. After Church we went to dinner with some family friends (and a future Gamecock!!) that lasted until almost 11, so we were all pretty tuckered out from it being Christmas Eve and all!

On Christmas morning, we got up around 9 and everything was unwapped by 9:30! All of us were extremely excited with our gifts! Here were some highlights:

Monster Mile NASCAR Tickets for Daddy!

+

Nook and matching Lilly case for Momma

My sister and I got some great stuff too! I got sunglasses (Tortoise shell Wayfarers and Costas!), a Patagonia fleece, the cutest retro bathing suit from VS, Lilly (of course...), pajamas, a VV shift and tote and long sleeve t-shirt and croakies, and lots of other stuff! I was so thankful for all of it and can't wait to add it to my existing wardrobe! 

After the unwrapping process, we headed North to New York for (what we thought would be) three or four days. We went straight to the family Christmas party at my mom's oldest sister's house (there are 7 sisters and 1 brother...) and met everyone there. It was a blast to see everyone, all the aunts, uncles, cousins, and all the relatives. We crashed at another sister's house after hearing all about the snowpocalypse that was about to hit the entire east coast. 

We woke up and heard that Long Island could be getting up to 16 inches of snow and decided to high-tail it back South to MD. My dad and sister left early early early on Sunday and my mom and I stayed until about 11am and then left. What normally takes between 3.5-5 hours took us almost 7 hours driving through snow and icy and slush (dear NJ, please start salting your roads.). It was scary and very nerve-wracking, so I'm glad we're finally home!!

I hope everyone had wonderful Christmases this year and are looking forward to the New Year!! Just a few days left!

xxKatie

NYE Statement Picks

New Year's Eve says one thing to me: go big or go home. Events are big, lights are sparkly, everyone's a little bit more bubbly from the bubbly. I think that if you're attending a NYE party or event, your outfit should speak all about it. Here are my choices for NYE dresses:

Lulu's

ModCloth

J. Crew

Adrianna Papell

ModCloth

Aidan Mattox 

J. Crew

ModCloth

Lulu's

Victoria's Secret

J. Crew

Numph

Eliza J

Lulu's

Victoria's Secret

J. Crew

If you hadn't already guessed, I'm a big fan of sparkles for the holidays! I would love to wear some of these dresses, but I rarely get dressed up for NYE! It's always chilly whenever my friends and I decide what we want to do!! 

What will you be wearing? Anyone have any fabulous plans to share?

xxKatie

Big Clean and a Glimpse of My Closet

It's officially November (and we're still in shorts...) and so I did a HUGE clean of my room and organized my closet. I brought out my fall-winter-ish stuff and hung it all up. I had to make my way over to Target to get some hangers and hanger clips for skirts and stuff. I've never done one of these posts, but this is what my closet looks like:

(sorry about the graininess it's from my phone...my camera's downstairs and I'm pretty lazy tonight)

Everything is finally hanging up. I think I have over 100 hangers in there. In order:

1. Black dresses

2. Fall dresses

3. Lilly dresses

4. Knit dresses (mainly VS and American Apparel)

5. Summer going out tops

6. Summer skirts (VV and Lilly and some Target)

7. Fall skirts

8. Fall going out tops/turtle necks/rugbies

9. Blazers

10. Oxfords

11. Sweaters

12. Work/VC Clothes

The bottom of the closet is my accessories holder and my laundry (sorry...that's a little gross that I included that), and then my shoes are in my storage closet. That also has my coats, workout clothes and pajamas! I thought I'd do my own closet post since it's quite popular!

xxKatie

Outfit of the Day: A Year in the Making

I know I've been blowing the blog up with OOTD posts, but I thought this was a funny coincidence. I looked back at my first polyvore set when I didn't really know what was going on...it just happened to be right around this time last year! Funnier than that, the weather was CLEARLY very different.

October 16, 2009:

October 16 by letsbepreppy featuring sterling silver bracelets

Notice I was wearing a quilted coat...I wouldn't dream of breaking this out yet. It was humid in fall yet again...sweaty Tervis Tumbler humid. GROSS. Instead of jeans and my Lilly quilted coat, I wore this on the 27th:

October 27 by letsbepreppy featuring sterling silver earrings

Obviously the weather was very different. It was hot, I was really much too hot in a long sleeve white tee shirt. I couldn't believe the difference. They're still calling for 70's through the weekend, so the whole fall thing in October...yeah kinda out the window...I'm still keeping my fingers crossed though.

Lucky for me though I guess is how I should be viewing it. I don't really own winter clothes, but instead wear summery things with sweaters. I'm BIG on polos/button downs and cable knits. I have 10 different colored RL button downs...excessive. Do they all get worn...easily. I stick with what I like and I treat it well so I don't have to worry too too much. I may invest in a new pair of jeans this season if Victoria's Secret puts them on a good sale and I get a good email coupon...we'll see about that though. I type this as I lay out my outfit for tomorrow...a shirtdress and Target Miss Trish of Capri flat seahorse sandals...craziness!! 

xxKatie

Fall Dresses...I Can't Even Believe I'm Saying That

So it's not even the end of July yet, and I'm already thinking about fall and my fall wardrobe (which doesn't  even really kick in until about November...). I feel like as soon as the 4th of July hit, my summer was basically over. I'll be back at school around the beginning of August, so my home summer is winding down. I was thinking about all the fun fall wardrobe things I can wear to class and everything, and I feel like I'm going back to elementary school because I want to wear dresses and even wear them "jumper-style".

I love this dress from VS! I think sweaterdresses are a great look for all kinds of gals. The banded bottom would be a new look for me, and I'd probably forgo the studded bracelt, but I really like the cowl neck look too.

This basic black sweater dress from Old Navy could be dressed up or down so many different ways. You could wear it with great boots and tights or flats. Add a belt or long necklace and it's a great ready-made look!

 

This dress from Lulu's would look great with black tights and a great pair of black shoes for going out. The garnet color is always a great addition too!!

This one shoulder dress from Lulu's (another one...am I sensing a trend?) is cute and again would be great for going out. It is such a fun shape and idea!

 

I found so many fun dresses on Lulu's and I'm not even a regular shopper there! The back is so much fun and would be great for going out (again)!

I'm not sure if this is ideal for fall or not, but I couldn't resist posting it. It's such a cute shape and from Anthropologie. I don't usually shop there since it's not my typical look, but this is a very cute pick!

 

Yet another cute grey dress with a great back! The back of this dress from South Moon Under would be a total departure from my style, but I adore ponte knit dresses. They're so comfy and look great on all shapes. The material isn't too clingy but still soft and stretchy!

Love this Lilly option! I'd pair this with a navy turtleneck underneath and I feel like it would be perfect! I have a great pair of brown boots to wear with it!

Target is featuring this black dress. It seems nice for something like an interview. I know it's Target, but I've recently been named the Target Mistress since I'm always there (and writing about it). It definitely seems like it would be worth trying on, plus the little button is very cute! I'd totally try the pink to wear with black tights for going out. I'd wear it with a black turtleneck to go to class and wear "jumper-style"!

This is another sweater dress from Target. I rarely wear brown, because if I'm wearing something dark, I often opt for black since I have more black than brown. This looks super cozy though and a look I've love to try!

What do you guys wear (as in dresses) for the fall? Any go-to looks? Is jumper-style too "first grader" for a college sophomore?

xxKatie