The Key to my Heart

Hello lovies, I'm sorry I've been away longer than I anticipated, but after getting back from Michigan on Tuesday I came down with a nasty cold that I am still battling. So as I sit here surrounded by tissues, cough drops and a nice hot mug of green tea, I will update you on some basics and hopefully be up on my feet and sharing my style again soon.
First of all, I am leaving a week from tomorrow for San Franciso where I will be for the next six weeks. Hurrah! As excited as I am, I'm a little stressed...okay maybe a lot. My To Do list is page after page, and with so many people to see, places to be, and goodbyes to say before the "Big Day", the task of packing for a month and a half is increasingly daunting.
However, even with the craziness and head cold I did squeeze in time to shop and came across the book Style by Lauren Conrad.

If you haven't looked at this book, you should. I've read the first bit and it already has helped me with two realizations. 1) I should start buying more versatile pieces to maximize possible ensemble combinations. 2) Packing will be made easier with said versatile pieces.
The first chapter focuses in key pieces and after some thinking I narrowed down to a few key things that I absolutely need for San Francisco.
The first:
My anchor cardigan from Urban Outfitters.

I literally pair this with everything. It's comfy and light enough for warmer days, but also has long sleeves for cool evening. And it goes with everything without being bland or boring.

Second comes my Franco Sarto pump sandals

They're surprisingly comfy and have a great pattern to them. I wear them with nearly everything and of my collection, they rank first when it comes to likelihood of being able to wear them walking the streets of SF without feeling like my feet may fall off.

My Urban Outfitters long white skirt

SO comfy. I wear it all the time and it looks great with simple tshirts as well as structured blazers, in addition to being a neutral color, making it so I can wear it anytime....admittedly it's hard not to wear it twice a week. It will also be nice to wear a feminine skirt during some of the colder days of SF weather since the skirt is long and has thick fabric.

My oversized white button up

Stolen from my moms closet and far to big for me, this shirt is perfect for belting and pairing with anything from skirts to denim for a classic look. It's easy and simple and timeless.

Also while shopping today I snagged some totally adorable espadrille wedges from Aldo that I've been dying for since they're so summery (and will complete a boho look I'm working on for y'all)

Much love, hoping to be back to normal soon!

As always, keep it classy and may the prada be with you!

xoxo

Leah



Good bye, farewell-be back soon!

Hello lovies-sadly what with violin recitals, SAT Subject Tests and the packing frenzy betwixt vacations, I wasn't able to get some new ensemble shots-though you should be very excited for when I do! In a couple hours I will leave for Michigan, and will not only be computer deprived, but also cell phone deprived! Scary, I know. Anyways, that means for one week I will not be able to post...again. I'm sorry and I swear on my dog's life that as soon as I get back I will be SO much better about it! But don't worry! You will indeed have something to read! My dear friend who went to Boca with me, Alie, and I started another joint blog called Cross Country Couture to keep everyone updated on the ups, the downs, and the fashionable of our adventurous summers, with these two initial trips and then we split across the country: Me to San Francisco and she to New York, both for pre college programs. To read more about it and get more details on our fabulous time in Florida click the following link:
Cross Country Couture
Come on, click it, you know you want to:)

Leah and Alie

Anyways I will be back soon and updating both blogs so I hope all you lovies have a great week and I can't wait to hear from you soon!

xoxo

Leah

Boca was a Little Blonder

Hello my sweets! I apologize for being gone for so long again-I really am going to be better! You see, my dear friend surprised me with a trip to Boca Raton Florida for five days and it was simply fabulous! I got to relax on the beach, drink some yummy strawberry daquiri's and try out some new ensembles-which will be posted very soon. We forgot to bring the cord to connect the camera to the laptop so we were unable to update blogs. But now I'm back yay!

Seeing as our first day of travel was a whopping seven hours thanks to connecting flights, my friend and I stocked up on as many magazines as possible and combined with a few extras we snagged on the way back-it ended at a whopping 16. I got so many ideas from them that I tabbed a few of  my favorite pages and looks and whipped up a couple inspirational collages. Enjoy!

The theme for this was classic, minimalist and feminine. I was obsessed with the stark collars and feminine lace and skirts. This was more editorial based I found, whereas my next two collages leaned toward commercial-interesting indeed! This is one of my current themes for summer: clean, simple, elegant, timeless...

more collages and outfits to come! Thank you for reading and commenting:)

May the Prada be with you!

xoxo

Leah

5 Things (But Really Six)

Hello all! Sorry to have been so absent the last week. I just finished up my finals and was overwhelmed with work so I didn't get a chance to post:( but I'm done! Hurrah! So to celebrate the good things of the last month of school and welcome new good things to come this summer, here are my five things:
1. My manicure with my wonderful YL leader Kara before she left. I love the pretty pink pastel color and manicures always make me feel super glamorous!

2. I got a blackberry!  I had a really old phone for many years and my mom and I both got new smart phones. I'm so in love with it!

3. New sunglasses-finally since mine broke ages ago-from Anthropologie that I love for their vintage vibe and unique shape.

 4. A bracelet from my dear friend Alie from Seattle-super cute and earthy for summer.

 5. Classy new Papyrus stationary to write letters to my friends who are across the state and country.

Hope everyone's enjoying the start of summer!

May the Prada be with you

xoxo

Leah

Momma's Girl

 A few months ago my mom bought me this nice shirt and ever since has been asking when I would wear it. I do like it, however when worn buttoned up with jeans it looks exceedingly business formal for a fifteen year old. Finally I found the perfect way to wear it, over a dress. I belted it to keep the waist and liked how the bright colors contrast with the neutral tones of the blouse. I also love the applique flowers on my shirt.
As you can see, everything is super green from all the rain we've been getting. I wasn't able to wear what I talked about in the last post because of this chilly weather but plan to soon!

Dress-Forever XXI, Shirt-NY&Co, Belt-Anthropologie, Shoes-Jessica Simpson

Here's to hoping that good weather will come soon and that the next week goes by quickly-then finals and I'm free!

xoxo

Leah

Ramblings of a Teenage Fashionista

I wish people understood that fashion isn't just about looking cute, but is about being creative and expressive. It's innovative, new and not what most people wear. I wish people understood it's how I express myself. I wish people didn't laugh at what they don't understand. I wish I was in New York or San Francisco with other fashionistas rather than stuck in Boulder, CO with people who only wear Uggs, jeans and tshirts. Very judgmental Ugg, jean and tshirt wearers. I like flair, couture, high heels, swishy tulle skirts, vintage clothes, layers, bright accent pieces, clothes that send a message.

I generally get nice compliments on my shoes, my outfits and my hair, but I always tone down my ideas for school because I know what I do is already way different than what everyone else does. Even wearing what I consider pretty average outfits I get looks in the hall and people tease me on days I don't wear heels because they expect it so often, but also tell me how they don't get how or why I do it. They don't know that there are so many more cool and expressive and interesting pieces and combinations I want to wear, that might not get so many compliments.

Tavi from The Style Rookie blogged: "I'm starting to think I know an outfit is my favorite when I get made fun of by high school boys in cars."

I concur.

However, I lack the self assurance and confidence Tavi seems to possess. So I usually wear not what I want but instead what I know appeals to everyone else.

Now you might say: "But Leah, if you love fashion as much as you say you do, then why would you not wear something totally awesome instead of what the blandly dressed general public finds suitable and pleasant?"

And I reply: "Indeed I do love fashion, however this blandly dressed general public isn't always so nice and for someone as self conscious as me this causes some inner turmoil and a high level of discomfort."

I think all the teenage fashionistas should revolt.

Yes, let's have a fashion revolution.

"All for crazy and awesomely stylish innovative outfits, and awesomely stylish innovative outifts for all!"

Catch phrase, yes?

ANTM couture shoot
This is what  I want to wear. Left for formal, right for school.
Don't know how the land of the jeantshirtuggs would take that

Well, thank God I have a blog and you people. I'll show you what I want to wear tomorrow...or whenever I get around to blogging it. Finals are coming up ya know.

xoxo

Leah

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

In fashion you always have to be one step ahead, just to stay current. Fashion in itself is exerimenting and trying for something novel, new, original and unique, and it always keeps you on your toes. However, sometimes for the inspiration to make these advances forward, looking to the past and in vintage magazines can be exactly the trick! Have any of you seen the British show Dr. Who? No? It's great. My friend Olivya introduced me and it's about an immortal doctor who travels through time and space with his comrades. He has this thing called a tardus that transports him, which looks like a little telephone booth but actually is a huge time and space machine.

Please watch the informational video above.
Great, now you have a better understanding. What would I do with a tardus? Duh, go back in time and go shopping. My favorite era is the 1950's-the dresses and femininity is to die for. Not to mention the great full skirts, modest but oh so vintage appealing swimsuits and the glamour. Was I born in the wrong era? Possibly.

Photographer: Norman Parkinson, Paris Vogue 1950

Charm Magazine June 1959
via: MVV

Modess 1953, Model: Dorian Leigh
via: pinterest

R&K Originals 1959, Model: Jan Rylander
Via: MVV



1956 via MVV

 Several old magazine shoots for magazines like Vogue. The women are so classy-and if I could find a swimsuit like the one in Modess from 1953, I would wear it all summer long! Also-on my last post a ton of comments got deleted and I'm sorry to those people! If you comment again I'd enjoy viewing your blogs:)

 If you could have a tardus and travel back to any time period what would it be?

 xoxo

Leah