Long Beach Living

Hey Lovelies!

It's been awhile since I've posted. I got a job at UCLA and had to scramble to move to California a week sooner than anticipated. It's my fifth day in beautiful sunny Southern California and I am loving it! I'm currently staying in Long Beach (which I LOVE) and commuting to work (8 hours a day....it's awful) by bus and metro until I get a car. But I'm moving within walking distance of work this week!!!

Since I've had the longest busiest work week, I decided to revel in the weekends. Yesterday my friends and I went to a pirate/mermaid festival at the Belmont Pier. So I threw on this bandeau bikini top from Victoria's Secret and my favorite maxi skirt. I added these vintage earrings to emphasize the mermaid inspired look. I had the best time, and I feel really lucky to be living right next to the ocean.

I hope you're all enjoying the summer and having new adventures! I'm hoping to post more often now that things feel less chaotic. Thanks for checking in!
xo,
Maddie

Outfit Details:
bikini top: Victoria's Secret
maxi skirt: H&M
earrings: Vintage

Day2Night

Hey Folks!
Last weekend I had the absolute pleasure of working with my dear friend Katya McCoy and her cousin Rachel Crane for some new products by Day2Night, a collection of multi-purpose and convertible fashion apparel and accessories.

Day2Night's accessories are my favorite. They're incredibly practical and versatile. The highlight of this shoot was modeling this Convertible Handbag/Backpack. In just seconds it can go from a cute handbag to a backpack and vice versa. By pulling up the straps it becomes a handbag and pulling down the straps it turns into a backpack. Personally, I love wearing it as a backpack because I do a lot of walking and shopping. It's also 100% vegan leather!

Some other super useful accessories by Day2Night are the Bangle Bracelet with Hidden Hair Elastic and Convertible Ring Hair Elastics. The bangle bracelet comes in silver and gold and in the center of the bangle is where the hair tie is hidden. It's incredibly convenient because we all know how tacky or unprofessional a hair tie can sometimes look around your wrist. And let's face it, the desire to tie your hair up when it's hot/humid or just unmanageable is nearly unavoidable. The ring comes in a variety of colors and styles and it's just as simple as pulling out the band to turn it into a hair tie! 

The D2N Belt with Hidden Pocket is another accessory that's perfect! Say for instance you're going out and you want to wear a dress that doesn't have pockets or you don't want to carry your enormous handbag all night...you could just throw on this belt and keep your cash/lighter/cards/gum in the hidden pocket! GENIUS!

Thank you again Katya and Rachel for letting me be a part of this shoot! If you're interested in their other products like the convertible high heel or skirt then check out the Day2Night website!

Thanks for checking in!

xo,

Maddie

Grey Day, Grey Dress

Hey Folks!

It's pretty grey in Pittsburgh today so I feel like it's appropriate for me to post these photos from a dreary day last week. I went out to this new wine bar and tap room called Allegheny Wine Mixer in my neighborhood with my dear friends Jade and Todd. Jade and I are always looking for an excuse to put on a dress and heels and get "fancy." I decided to wear my favorite dress. I love that it has this high neckline, it's sleeveless, has a beautiful cutout detail on the chest, and fits perfectly. Since the dress is a solid color I felt like I could get away with wearing these floral patterned heels from Forever 21 that Jade gave me a couple weeks ago (she is the greatest). For accessories, I wore these chandelier earrings (also from Forever 21) and I felt like they're bold enough to be the only jewelry for this outfit.

What are some of your favorite "fancy" pieces?

Thank you for checking in!
xo,
Maddie

Outfit Details:
Dress: H&M
Heels: Forever 21
Earrings: Forever 21 

Brick House

Hey lovelies!!!

So do you ever just have those days where you're feeling so good and you want the way you dress to reflect just how damn amazing you're feeling? This is that look for me. Just give me a body hugging pencil skirt, high heeled sandal, and a casual top and I feel like I can conquer anything. I've been experiencing a lot of changes recently and they're all for the better...they've given me a new found confidence.

I've been wearing heels a LOT lately, especially this pretty pair by GUESS? because they're sexy, comfortable, and go with just about everything! I bought them while I was in Florida at Burlington Coat Factory (only $20!!!). I love how well they go with this floral printed pencil skirt I got last year from H&M's sale rack. I wanted to keep the top simple and casual since there's so much going on with the skirt so I went with this gray t-shirt from H&M (also the sale rack). I finished off the look with a pair of blue earrings to match the skirt and some of my new favorite accessories: this vintage red Coach bag and a silver cicada ring (both of which I bought while thrifting in Florida). I love bargains! Everything in this outfit was either on the sale rack or something I picked up at a thrift store....but I feel like a million bucks when I'm wearing it.

Thanks for checking in!
xo,
Maddie

Outfit Details:
Heels: GUESS?
Skirt: H&M
Shirt: H&M
Purse: Vintage Coach | MISRED Outfitters
Ring: Vintage

Happy Birthday Lin

Hey there!

I hope you're all having a beautiful weekend so far! Friday my best friend, Lin, came into town for her birthday and I couldn't have been happier to see her!! For our day out, I decided to wear this strapless dress I bought at Urban Outfitters a few years ago. It's waaaay too short so I threw on this vintage high-waisted skirt. I love the crochet detail of the dress and how it plays off the pattern of the skirt. I topped the look off with this mint green statement necklace, floral t-strap wedges, and my vintage Coach bag I bought at a thrift store in Tampa, FL.

We started Friday off by taking her to get a tattoo! She's been wanting the Soot Sprite from Miyazaki's Spirited Away and it turned out amaaaaazing. Then we headed to our favorite Thai restaurant, ate our "usual" (spicy basil noodles) and walked around the South Side. After basking in the sun for awhile we saw Maleficent which I thought was really cute...Sleeping Beauty was always one of my favorite Disney film's growing up. After the movies we made our way to see our friends at Stage AE, they gave us tickets to see The Head and The Heart and Luscious concert! To top it all off we went out for drinks later in the night at a trendy bar in East Liberty called Livermore where we drank bourbon, daiquiris, and made Lin blow out her birthday candle.

Saturday we went roller skating and a bar near my house that has "down and derby" nights. There's neon tape everywhere, a DJ (I'm talking remixes of "Heard It Through The Grapevine" and "No Diggity"--so good!!), and alcohol. the best of everything. It was terrifying to skate at first by by the end of the night I was able to skate while dancing and skate backwards and only fell once hahaha.

There's really nothing better than reuniting with your best friend, picking up exactly where you left off, and making new memories by sharing new experiences together.

Thanks for checking in!
xo,
Maddie

Outfit Details:
Dress: Urban Outfitters (old)
Skirt: Vintage
Wedges: Forever 21 (similar)
Necklace: Rainbow
Vintage Coach Purse: MISRED Outfitters