Hey Mickey

Hey Lovelies!

I did a photo shoot with my beautiful and talented friend Katya earlier this week. She's been working on a fashion magazine that shows style throughout the decades. Her project turned out AMAZING! I was lucky enough to have her ask me to style the '80s for her. I have to admit...I don't own very many '80s pieces but I rummaged through my closet and found this Mickey Mouse sweater, tennis skirt, and these super funky Thigh Highs in Snowcone from StockingNoir x Streetheart Collection. I added these light blue Vans to emphasize the sporty vibe.

Nothing is more fun than doing a collaboration and photo shoot with an incredibly dear friend. Thank you Katya for the opportunity and lovely photos!!

You should check out the rest of Kat's photography at her website!!

Outfit Details:
Mickey Mouse Sweater: Vintage
Tennis Skirt: Vintage
Earrings: Vintage
Tights: StockingNoir
Sneakers: Vans

Liebster Award

I wasn't entirely aware of the Liebster Award until Kim from Pretty Slick Chick nominated me, thank you so much pretty lady!! Since I wasn't all that familiar with the award I headed over to her blog to find out the details. Basically, the Liebster Award is a blogger recognizing another newer blogger for inspiring them and commending them on having an enjoyable blog! I am so thrilled and honored to have receive this award!

Here are the Rules:
1. Acknowledge the blogger who nominated you and display the award
2. Answer the eleven questions the blogger gives you
3. Give eleven random facts about you, they can be anything!
4. Nominated eleven blogs that you think are deserving of the award (they must have less than 200 followers)
5. Let the bloggers know you nominated them
6. Give them eleven questions to answer

QUESTIONS FROM KIM:

Why did you start blogging?
When I was a freshman in college I would watch Youtube beauty gurus and frequent fashion blogs and lookbook.nu and became totally inspired by everyone's style and confidence to put themselves out there. I started blogging back in the fall of 2013 as a way to explore my personal style, utilize a creative outlet, and network with other fashion lovers like myself! It's honestly opened up so many opportunities for me, has given me more confidence, and has been so much fun! 

Describe your style in three words.
Chic, whimsical, ecclectic

What is your favorite guilty pleasure?
So I really love J-Lo as an actress...I could watch Monster in Law and Maid in Manhattan and the Wedding Planner again and again. 

If your life were made into a movie, who would you cast to play you?
I've always identified more with French New Wave actresses, perhaps because the characters are always so lost and passionate. So let's go with Anna Karina. 

What do you like to do on the weekends?
I love sleeping in! I always have to wake up early Monday-Friday so my weekends are when I can stay up as late as I want and go dancing or see friends and then sleep past 11am the next day. 

Favorite TV show right now.
I don't have cable in my house so I tend to watch shows on Netflix. I've been really into the original series of Star Trek right now haha. It has the perfect mixture of science, technology, and mystery (kind of like The Twilight Zone). And it's all about adventures and friendship!

Heels or Flats?
Flats. I'm usually late wherever I go and need to be prepared to run. I'm also pretty clumsy.

What is your biggest pet-peeve?
The public transportation in Pittsburgh...the buses either aren't running or they're late or early. It's so frustrating!

If you could travel back in time where/when would you go?
I want to say the 1960s when movies were incredible, YSL came out with Le Smoking, art and music was so progressive and influential or to the Library of Alexandria before it burnt down or at any point when I could have met Carl Sagan. But honestly, I'd go back to my senior year of high school and spend more time with my grandmother before she passed away and let her know how much I loved her and appreciated her. 

What's on your shopping wish list right now?
Jelly shoes, dresses, and high-waisted shorts! I am in complete Spring/Summer mode right now. Anything that isn't pants or boots I am excited for!

Would you rather be a wizard or a super hero?
I watched a lot of witch movies when I was little...you know "Teen Witch" or the Mary Kate and Ashley "Double Double Toil and Trouble" or "Practical Magic" and "Hocus Pocus." So I'd have to say wizard.  

ELEVEN RANDOM FACTS:
1. I like my coffee black 
2. I'm obsessed with anything Space or Carl Sagan related
3. My favorite poets are e.e. cummings and Pablo Neruda
4. I changed my major three times before I stuck with Global Cultural Studies
5. I love love love shoes
6. I have three tattoos
7. I'm a natural redhead 
8. I have one younger sister...we're only 16 months apart
9. I love animals, especially dogs
10. I'm moving to LA in June (!!!!!)
11. I love the ocean and swimming

MY NOMINATIONS:
Highland Fling
I AM ALEENA 
Bang Blitz 
Lazy Obsession 
Feel the Beat 
M&M Fashion Bites 
Melodic Thrifty & Chic 
this is screaming photo opportunity 
really literal 
The Style Bender 
Style Voyage 

QUESTIONS FOR THEM:
1. What's the story behind your blog name?
2. Where are your favorite places to shop?
3. If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?
4. What is your "go-to" outfit?
5. What book(s) are you currently reading?
6. Who is your favorite fashion icon?
7. Coffee or Tea?
8. What are your plans for Summer?
9. What beauty product do you splurge the most on?
10. What is the last concert you've been to?
11. What do you look for in a blog?

Thank you so much again Kim for the nomination! I am so honored and I look forward to seeing what the bloggers I've nominated have to say!
xo,
maddie

Floppy Hat Fever

So today is officially the first day of Spring, although it's grey and dreary as can be in Pittsburgh. However, the last couple days have been so temperate and reassuring that the worst is over. I love this time of year because it feels like a new start: the days are longer, flowering plants bloom, icy rivers begin to melt and streams start to swell with the excess water. I also feel more productive and inspired during Spring. I'm looking forward to everything Spring has to offer this next few months and I'm working towards a big change that will happen in the Summer!

These photos were taken last week when it was GORGEOUS outside...I'm talking so sunny that I barely even needed this cardigan. The photographs were taken by my dearest friend Remington Brooks of The Indigo Project. He's also a brilliant designer and actually did the design work for the StockingNoir lookbook in my Lunar Gala Fashion Show Post. I met Remington my freshman year of college when we were both photography majors (right before I changed my major, oops) and we've been amazing friends ever since. As you can see, he's incredibly talented. I had the so much fun posing for him and he knew exactly how to capture what I wanted from this look!

I've been obsessing over this floppy hat lately. I bought it at a cute boutique near my house called Pavement. Anytime there's sunshine I just feel like building an outfit around this gorgeous hat. My hair is also always terrible so throwing a hat over it makes me feel so much better. I bought these beautiful patterned silky pants last summer from Forever 21 and I'm so happy the weather is finally warming up and I can bust them out! The sheer white tank is also from Forever 21 and the cardigan is BCBG that I discovered at a local thrift store. My rings (and heels) are a part of the secondhand collection that I got from my good friend. I got this funky triangular necklace from Burlington Coat Factory. Sometimes the triangles just want to do their own thing...as you can see haha.

Enjoy the first day of Spring! I hope it's warm and sunny wherever you are!
xo,
maddie

Outfit Details:
Pants: Forever 21
Tank: Forever 21
Hat: Pavement
Cardigan: BCBG/ Avalon Exchange
Necklace: Burlington Coat Factory
Shoes: Secondhand
Rings: Secondhand
Heels: Secondhand

NYC Weekend Adventure (Part 2)

 

Hey Hey!
Here are just a few more photos from my weekend in NYC with Lin, my best friend. Images were taken at Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Madison Ave, and the Whitney Museum of American Art! It's sometimes really fun to hit up the tourist attractions and take advantage of all the incredible and innovative museums in New York City.

Thanks for stopping by!
xo,
maddie

NYC Weekend Adventure (Part I)

Happy Monday Everyone!
I'm back in Pittsburgh and at the office today after having an incredible weekend in NYC! It's always a little weird to be back to the routine but the weather is gorgeous and I can really feel Spring coming finally! I had so much fun with my best friend this weekend. I arrived on Friday and met her at her office in Williamsburg. Then we spent the rest of the night in Manhattan hitting up all the major tourist spots. On Saturday we had brunch at the Whitney Museum of American Art, checked out the exhibits (by far my favorite museum I've visited) and spent the rest of the day/night in Brooklyn. These photos were taken on Saturday. It was a nice 50 degrees out and I decided to wear this denim shirt with this pair of blue jeans....I'm actually becoming a big fan of "denim on denim" and I never ever thought I would admit it. Since the weather was milder I went with these amazing Deena and Ozzy cut out boots from Urban Outfitters which I've been wearing a lot lately. I also wore a cardigan and green parka (not pictured) in case it got colder during the night.

I have so many photos from this trip so I'm going to make a "Part II" soon. I hope you all had a lovely weekend as well!

Outfit Details:
Shirt: H&M
Jeans: H&M
Boots: Urban Outfitters
Moon Earrings: Brandy Melville
Blue Earrings and Rings: Secondhand

Forever Lace

Hey hey!!
Spring is so close I can feel it!!! the days are seeming longer and the weather is getting milder. I don't know about you, but I am SO ready to start wearing more lace and more dresses! For Elyse generously sent me this stunning Solemio Forever Lace Dress from their new arrivals and I think I am in love. This dress has alluring lace bell sleeves, a gorgeous crochet heart detail on the back, a sweetheart neckline, and it's incredibly form fitting. I was wearing khakis and a button up today for work and changed into this when I got home...oh my gosh did I feel so good putting this little black dress on! I chose to wear these nude heels my beautiful friend Jade handed down to me. For jewelry I decided to go with these turquoise rings and seafoam colored earrings.

I'm heading to NYC city in the wee hours of the morning tomorrow and I seriously cannot wait!!! You can follow me on my Instagram and Facebook page to follow my adventures this weekend. I have yet to pack though....so until next time...I hope you all have the loveliest weekend!!

xo,
maddie

Outfit Details:
Solemio Forever Lace Dress: c/o For Elyse
Jewelry & Heels: Secondhand

Mystic Tantalizing Tutu Dress

Hey lovelies!
A few weeks ago For Elyse sent me this beautiful dress!! I love love love how girly it is with the lace overlay, satin bow, and tons of tulle!!  I feel like I need to attend a tea party when I wear this dress which is totally okay with me...I mean who doesn't want to be a little fancy sometimes? Since this dress is so precious I decided to toughen it up a bit with this black leather jacket I bought a few years back at Forever 21 and these incredible cut out boots I recently purchased at Urban Outfitters. The rings and earrings are from my beautiful friend Jade, thank you girl!!

For Elyse has soooo many cute new arrivals for Spring!! You should check out their website for gorgeous LBDs, crop tops, and kimonos just in time for warmer weather! I cannot wait for all of this snow and ice to melt in Pittsburgh so I can wear this dress on it's own with a gorgeous pair of heels and bright statement jewelry!

I received another gorgeous LBD from For Elyse in the mail as well which I will be styling and posting in the next few days so stay tuned!! I hope you're all having a beautiful week so far! I'll be in NYC this coming weekend to visit my best friend and I cannot wait!! It's going to be so nice to have best friend time, get away from Pittsburgh for a few days, and have an adventure! 

Outfit Details:
Dress: c/o For Elyse
Jacket: Forever 21
Boots: Urban Outfitters
Purse: H&M