Brunch

Brunch by tiaelam featuring owl jewelry

Longsleeve shirt
€214 - youheshe.com

Paige Denim skinny fit jeans
£165 - liberty.co.uk

Tory Burch ballet shoes
$195 - bergdorfgoodman.com

Miu Miu clutch bag
$1,295 - miumiu.com

Mango owl jewelry
£15 - mango.com

Boho Chic

Boho Chic by tiaelam featuring vintage shorts

Dorothy Perkins ivory blouse
$49 - dorothyperkins.com

AG Adriano Goldschmied vintage shorts
$220 - stylebop.com

Tory burch shoes
$225 - jildorshoes.com

AK Anne Klein string bag
$45 - macys.com

Love Rocks NY 14k jewelry
$1,450 - maxandchloe.com

AK Anne Klein gold tone jewelry
$65 - zappos.com

Vintage shopping

Do you want items that no one else has? Well, then vintage shops are the place for you to go! Not necessarily just vintage shops, you can find great steals in any second hand store, such as a consignment shop. Secondhand shopping is a great way to get awesome clothing inexpensively. Here are a few tips to help you in your search.

1. Belts. Belts are easy to try on in a secondhand store and you can find some real individual styles.

2. Bags. Bags are easily fixed if the strap is broken. Vintage pieces are very in!

3. Boots. Easy to slip on.

4. Etsy. Etsy has a lot of sellers with vintage pieces that they are selling. A lot of the sellers have the clothing on actual body forms, so you can see exactly how it will look on.

5. Mysisterscloset.com. Designers jewelry, clothing, and everything!

Thanksgiving chic

I'm going out to dinner this year for Thanksgiving instead of cooking at home, so I wanted to brainstorm some cute outfits to wear. Stretchy pants are a good idea for some extra room, but I thought it would be more appropriate to dress up a bit. Here is a Thanksgiving inspired outfit I put together on Polyvore. I love the coat and the dress! Happy Thanksgiving!

Wardrobe must haves

Trying to revamp your wardrobe and just don't know where to start? First of all, go through your entire closet and purge what doesn't fit and/or you haven't worn in a year. Next, fill in the holes with closet staples that never go out of style. Invest in these items and you will not be sorry.

1. Little Black Dress. We hear this all the time, but it is very essential for a woman. A simple black dress can go a long way and can be used for multiple occasions.

2. Black Blazer. Find the perfect one that flatters your body, pair it with jeans and a button down for a chic look.

3. White Button Down Shirt. Invest in a new one every season. You can never go wrong when you pair this with a pair of jeans, dress pants, or a skirt.

4. Trousers. Make sure they are cut perfectly for your shape. If you're only buying one pair, buy in black or navy. Make sure you match the length of the pants with the height of your shoe.

5. Beige Trench Coat. Or camel, which is hot this season. This goes with everything.

6. Big Black Bag. Or in camel. This holds everything and is perfect to shove things in when you have kids.

7. Great Pair of Jeans. You should have one pair that fits you perfectly. This can be worn with everything.

8. Perfect Pumps. Make sure they fit perfect and feel great. Peep toes are hot too.

9. Statement Jewelry. The focal point of an outfit. Pick one item to build your item around.

10. Diamond Studs. These are chic, timeless, and so beautiful. They don't really have to be diamonds, they can be fake! If buying fake, buy them smaller.

Halloween chic

Not dressing up in a costume and would rather have a hot outfit to wear for Halloween? I put together a Halloween inspired set on Polyvore. I love the sequin vest and those hot shoes. The vest is a little pricy, but the shoes are on sale for only $63...might have to snatch those up! Enjoy my set!

Think pink

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and what better way to support it than with the color pink? A little pink goes a long was with these products posted by Elle, each giving percentages of their proceeds going to help fight cancer. What better way to spend your money?

Elizabeth Arden's fragrance Pretty. Percentage of proceeds this month will go to Cancer and Careers, which helps working women fighting with cancer.

Estee Lauder will donate $500,000 in proceeds from its Pink Ribbon Collection to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

OPI Pink of Hearts 2010 polish. This month, OPI will donate $25,000 to Susan G. Komen for the cure.

Clinique's Great Lips, Great Cause limited-edition lip trio key ring. $4 from each sale will benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Happy shopping and helping fight for the cure!!

Magazine fiend

Reading is one of my favorite ways of escaping from the world. There really is nothing like the feeling of breaking open a new magazine. I usually save my magazine for the perfect moment. I get really excited when that moment finally comes, and I can sit and just read my new piece of material.

I read quite a few different magazines. I'm pretty dedicated to them and love learning new and interesting things. I especially love learning about fashion and what's going on with those celebrities. If you are looking for some great reading material, but don't know which ones are good, here is a list of the magazines I read on a normal basis.

1. Glamour. I love the combination of fashion, beauty, and advice that comes with this magazine. I am most devoted to this one, and read it every month.

2. Elle. There are some great fashion tips and articles of different sorts here.

3. People. I love celeb gossip, but the puzzler is probably my favorite part of this magazine. Read this one every week.

4. Cosmopolitan. Sure, this mag has a rep of being dirty, but it really has some great reads! They pretty much talk about everything that a woman would be interested in.

5. Allure. I love the beauty and hair advice and read this one on occasion.

6. Marie Claire. I read this on occasion, it has some great fashion and beauty ideas.

Most of their websites have great articles, etc. too! Happy reading!

Just the way you are

There's a song that's out on the radio that I love. I love the beat, his voice, and especially the message. It is one of the most romantic songs out right now, a great change from the other degrading songs currently out there. The song I am talking about is by Bruno Mars and is called "Just The Way You Are." I love the chorus to it, how sweetly he is talking about his woman. I decided to make a outfit on Polyvore to express the everyday woman and how we should love ourselves, just the way we are.

If you're not familiar with the song, here are the lyrics:
Oh, her eyes, her eyes, make the stars look like they're not shining
Her hair, her hair, falls perfectly without her trying
She's so beautiful, and I tell her everyday
Yeah, I know, I know, when I compliment her she won't believe me
And it's so, it's so, sad to think that she don't see what I see
But every time she asks me do I look okay, I say
When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change
Because you're amazing, just the way you are
And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while
Because girl you're amazing, just the way you are
Her lips, her lips, I could kiss them all day if she let me
Her laugh, her laugh, she hates but I think it's so sexy
She's so beautiful, and I tell her everyday
Oh, you know, you know, you know, I'd never ask you to change
If perfect's what you're searching for then just stay the same
So, don't even bother asking if you look okay, you know I'll say
When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change
Because you're amazing, just the way you are
And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while
Because girl you're amazing, just the way you are

Head over heels

I was browsing the internet and came across an interesting article by Time Magazine. A study was conducted by Northumbria University in the UK, who wondered if men noticed when women wore heels. While it changes a woman's posture by making her legs appear longer, accentuates the butt, and creates a slimmer physique, they wanted to figure out if this impacted men at all.

The answer? Nope.

I guess we can think about that next time we decide to buy a killer pair of stilettos. I find it hard to fully believe this study, but really it doesn't matter to me. I could really care less if guys like them or not. I know that when I'm rocking an awesome pair of shoes that I feel great about myself!

How about you? Do you care if this study is accurate?

All that glitters is gold

Being new to the Polyvore website, I couldn't wait until Fashion Forward Friday to show you another fashion collage I made. I'll have to come up with something brilliant for that post! Since my last one was more of an edgy style, I wanted something fun and flirty. "30, flirty, and thriving," would you. Like the first outfit, this is something I would totally wear in a heart beat, given I could afford any of the items.


I kept seeing a picture of this beautiful pink dress, and wanted to somehow use it. The shoes are just to die for...I need a pair of strappy metallic heels like that! Not want, NEED! I thought the picture of the two models kissing while holding balloons was too cute, plus it gave me the colors I was in search of. I added Bare Escentuals blush, because I am a recent Bare Minerals convert. Love that stuff! 

Enjoy my collage and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Don't feel bad for your shoes

I read an article recently about the purging of your shoes and it rang so true to me. If you're like me, you have a shoe obsession and can't pass up a good deal. Unfortunately, this leads to an ungodly amount of shoes, most of which you wear a couple of time to soon discover that there was a reason they were on sale in the first place. Although you spent money on them, got them as a gift, or they hold some sentimental feeling to you...don't feel bad for your shoes. If they are too tight, dingy, out of style, or hurt like a mother, there is no sense of keeping them! Clear out your closet pronto tonto!

Ridiculous T-Shirts

I spent the afternoon today shopping with my mom. One section of Beall's has the most ridiculous shirts ever. All about vampires and werewolf, and all things Twilight. I like Twilight as much as the next girl, but am by no means obsessive. These shirts are just getting so out of control. I kinda feel bad for whoever purchases such a thing. One of them said "Who's afraid of the big bad werewolf?" This shirt at the top was definitely my favorite in the ridiculous category. If you own one of these shirts, please re-gift or goodwill that bad boy right away.

10 Fashion Tips

I wouldn’t necessarily classify myself as a fashion expert, but going to school for Textiles/Merchandising and watching countless hours of What Not to Wear has taught me a great deal. So, I thought I would feed you some of my wisdom in the fashion world. Here are a few tips I thought would help anyone scrambling in the morning because they just don’t know what to wear.

1. If you have articles of clothing in your closet that are either faded from their original color, pilling (has little balls on worn areas), or contains holes that you are not going to ever get around to repairing, get rid of them immediately. And don’t donate these, no one wants your beyond used clothing.

2. Beige or nude colors only really look good on tan or dark skin. If you are pale, chances are that you can’t pull the color off without looking washed out. Do yourself a favor and wear a brighter color.

3. If you are attending a wedding, wearing black is only appropriate after 6pm, and DO NOT wear white. Word of advice for what to wear…look at the invitation. The style of the invitation sets the tone set for the event; if its more relaxed, you are clear to wear something more “fun,” if its elegant and says “black tie,” you are going to need a gown/tux.

4. Staple items are key to a good closet. These are items that will never seem to go out of style; they are timelessly chic. In this list is: a nice pair of jeans (a darker wash), a pair of nice neutral slacks (black or grey preferably), a crisp white buttoned down collared shirt, a little black dress (will always be stylish), a trench coat, and a cashmere cardigan.

5. Let’s talk about matching. First of all, it is not true that your belt, shoes, and bag all have to match; switch things up and use bold choices. Next, neutrals match. A neutral is classified as black, brown, grey, navy, and beige. They all match and are cohesive together, even black and brown.

6. Underwear. We all wear it, so get it right under your clothing. A visible panty line is never okay…they make briefs and boy-cut styles that are seamless, wear them! Also, ladies, you need to get fitted for your bra size. It is estimated that about 80% of women wear the wrong bra size. It’s not good when your spilling out or the back is so tight that you’re creating rolls that you wouldn’t have otherwise. They do it for free at the store, take them up on their free offer!

7. Scale is important. Prints should be scaled to your body…don’t wear loud big prints if you are larger. In addition, when choosing a bag or accessory, keep it in proportion to your size.

8. If you have some added weight in your midsection that you would LOVE to camouflage, wear a blouse that is cinched right under the bust line. This creates an illusion that the shirt is going out, not your body. Stay away from boxy shirts that don’t create shape (they only look good on super models). Also, a tiny belt goes a long way…if a shirt is a little big, put a belt on it and it will look great. Try different thicknesses.

9. Size doesn’t matter, fit does. Don’t hold onto that pair of jeans that you know you can never fit back into. Don’t try to force your body into them either. Spilling out over a pair of pants 2 sizes too small isn’t doing your body any justice. Just because you can button them does not mean they fit you. Stop denying the fact that you have a different body now, and go get yourself some new clothes that fit. If you’ve lost weight, congratulations! Go get yourself smaller clothing now!

10. It is important to dress for your shape. Everyone wishes they looked like someone else, but face the facts and love the body you have. Dress it accordingly and you will feel fabulous!