Leather Sleeves

Well...this is starting to get awkward. At this rate, I'll only post blog 12 times in 2012. SO not okay with that. New year's resolution = blog more! For real though I miss blogging. I've used the excuse of being busy for not blogging tons of times, but every blogger is busy. I think I've come to the realization that an important part of being a successful blogger is making time for it, not just using extra time to blog. So, with that said, I'm going to try oh so hard to make more time for my blog. I already have so many posts that I'm itching to do. :)

Now that that's out of the way, I wore this outfit an embarrassingly long time ago. Like...week of Thanksgiving if I remember correctly. This outfit would not work for the current winter temperatures. I wore this when I was in a bit of a fashion rut, so I went for a completely different look than I usually wear. I hardly ever wear flares or completely tucked in shirts so putting them together was super new for me. I've loved it on so many bloggers so I just had to try it for myself. I wore this out to dinner with my family, and the first thing my older brother said to me was "...are those leather sleeves?" Yes. Yes they are. This coat may be a bit of a man repeller, but I still love it. Plus, I replenish/update my brother's wardrobe twice a year on his birthday and Christmas so he can't even talk. He should be thanking me.

Last thing...I absolutely love how these photos turned out. Me and my roommate/fellow blogger Mary found this amazing light right behind our apartment. I'm picturing a winter outfit shoot with this light when we finally get some snow up here.

I hope that those of you who celebrate Christmas had an amazing time with your family! My Christmas outfit post will be posted very shortly :)

Coat: Forever 21

Shirt: TJ Maxx

Jeans: Forever 21

Bracelets: Forever 21, Target, H&M

Necklace: American Eagle

Belt: Michael Kors via TJ Maxx

Shoes: DSW

PS - I need to get a new go-to pose. Hand-on-the-hip is being seriously overused here.

Insta-update: New things & dropping temperatures.

Hi everyone! Long time, no blog, huh? Whoopsie. With moving and school, my life has been pretty jam packed. I love being busy, but it's been a bit ridiculous. Thankfully, I am oh so close to finishing this semester(two days away!). I knew that I wanted to blog, but with a video and outfit shoot that still need to be edited and no time for it, I settled for an Instagram post. Lots of bloggers do these weekly, and I love reading them for two reasons. 1. I love Instagram. 2. I love seeing little tidbits of my favorite bloggers' daily lives. I hope you like these posts too, because I'd love to do them more often. Also, it's unfortunately all I have the time or energy for before classes are over. :) I cannot WAIT until winter break so I can finally get back to blogging...and get as much sleep as I possibly can. 

This was the first super cold day this winter. I love winter accessories, but I don't think I'll ever get used to the temperatures we get in Wisconsin. 

New Tulle coat. Amazing find at my first ever sample sale in Chicago. Going to a sample sale and wearing samples make me feel like such a blogger, and I love it. Also, cameo by my Missoni for Target mug. My two addictions: coffee and my phone...Could be worse.

Thanksgiving appetizer. Smoked Pacu ribs...aka fish ribs. Yes, those came from a fish. A gigantic fish. My brother works at a water institute where he raises, breeds, and studies fish so that's where this fish came from. Pacu are some of the weirdest fish I've ever seen because they have teeth that looks like ours since they eat primarily nuts and vegetation. Creepy right? Still delicious.

My awesome new sweater for my daily Caribou Coffee drinks when I have class. Only a true coffee lover gets their drinks a sweater.

Sitting on the wrong side of the train started out as annoyingly blinding and quickly turned into an Instagram photo session on one of my many commutes home from class.

My new car that I'm completely in love with. For some reason, one of my favorite features is the lighting beneath the handles. So unnecessary but awesome at the same time.

Let me know if Instagram posts are something you'd be interested in seeing on my blog!  Also, let me know your Instagram name so I can follow you, and feel free to go follow me too! My username is sarabil1.

Talk to you soon!...and by soon I mean in a few days as opposed to the current trend of monthly posts. No more!!

Fall Overload

I really went all out on the fall colors for this outfit. I knew I wanted to wear this new blazer/jacket from H&M but it was kind of cold so I added the scarf and thermal underneath and voila! Fall overload!

Admittedly this was a few weeks ago. I just moved in with Mary a few weeks ago and I'm still getting everything put in its place so I haven't really been on top of my fashion game. My next post is going to be something fun that me and Mary did together, so stay tuned for that! :)

Blazer: H&M

Thermal: Target

Jeans: BDG, from Urban Outfitters

Scarf: The Gap

Boots: River Island

Ring: H&M

Opposites Attract

For some reason when I wear a very feminine outfit, I feel the need to go in the opposite direction the next day. Example: these outfits. I love both, but if I had to choose to be more feminine or more masculine in how I dress, there's no doubt that I tend to gravitate towards my more masculine pieces. I just feel more myself in some kick-ass boots, black leather jacket, and jeans. What pieces do you feel most comfortable in?

PS - introducing my new hair color! The cooler seasons always make me want darker hair. :)

(no idea why it looks slightly purple in the first outfit photos..it's not purple) 

Leather Jacket: AE, from TJ Maxx

Dress: Forever 21

Tights: TJ Maxx

Scarf: H&M..I think?

Necklace: H&M

Boots: Zappos.com

 "Leather" Jacket: Zara

Gray Top: TJ Maxx

Red Shirt & Pants: H&M

Boots: Fergie(yeah, I was surprised too), DSW

Brights & Stripes

My, doesn't this color combination look familiar? Apparently I wasn't done with the whole yellow-green & blue combo quite yet. I changed it up by adding some stripes and a new blazer from Forever 21. I already have a black blazer, but this one has awesome gold buttons...totally different so I obviously had to get it.

About these pants.. I absolutely love the color of them, but I wouldn't recommend buying them. They stretched out like crazy. I was practically holding them up by the end of the day. Bit of a bummer.

PS - This is my last post with lighter hair. Stay tuned for my new fall do!

PPS - I won my first giveaway today!! I won this dress from Kate of O My Heart. Thanks Kate, can't wait to style it!

Blazer: Forever 21

Striped Top: Old Navy

Pants: H&M

Boots: Diba via DSW (SO old, need to be replaced badly..they hardly have soles)

Bracelets: Forever 21

Silk Scarf: Present from the travel agency we used in Vietnam

This or that?

Just a few things I've been trying to decide between... 

A perfect coat to transition from fall to winter:

                                        ASOS Premium Wool & Leather Parka  OR  ASOS Navajo Pattern Parka

 Shoes at TJ Maxx begging me to take them home:

           Sam Edelman Etiene Slip-On Loafer  OR  DV by Dolce Vita Paloma Bootie in Black

  ($50)                                                                                               ($60)

So hard to choose! Which ones would you pick?

Navy Over Neon

Funny story about this outfit: right after I put it on and was happy with it, I looked at the floor of my bedroom and saw the shirt I wore the day before...3/4 sleeve top from Forever 21 that's navy with yellow-green sleeves..the exact color of this sweater. I basically subconsciously copied the shirt I wore the day before. Hahah whoops. Oh well, I still like how it came out :)

Vest: Sears (randomly walked past it, and it was on sale for $7 or something like that..score!)

Sweater: Zara (probably more like "Zara" considering I bought it in Vietnam at a market)

Jeans: BDG, from Urban Outfitters

Boots: Nine West Vintage

Necklace: Forever 21

What's in my purse?

I've talked about my youtube channel briefly on my blog, and I thought some of you might find this video interesting if you're a super curious person like me. If you're into the whole youtube beauty/fashion community you know that there's a TON of 'What's in my bag?' videos out there. I always love watching them, so I thought I'd do one of my own! If you're not interested in what's in my purse, there's a quick outfit of the day at the end too. I also thought posting a video would be a fun change from just photos on here :)

Sheer Love

For some reason, these leggings get a lot of looks every time I wear them. It's not exactly normal to have (faux) leather paneling on leggings, but are they really that different?? I'm always so surprised at just how many people stare at these things! Whether they're staring because they love them or hate them, I love these leggings so much. They're just a great way to spice up any simple outfit.

I think this top is now my third or fourth sheer button up top. They're so easy to throw on for a warmer fall day. And I told you I couldn't stop wearing these boots. They go with everything. Can't stop, won't stop.

Also, thanks to my mom who took these in the middle of making dinner because the sun was going down super fast. Thanks mom!

Top, Leggings, & Spiked Bracelets: Forever 21 (accidental super cheap outfit!)

Other Bracelets & Necklace: Urban Outfitters

Boots: Dirty Laundry via TJ Maxx