Go [Rebekah] Green!

It's true diamonds are a girl's best friend, but let's be realistic.. . on my college budget, cubic zirconia and gems are a bit more in my price range! Rebekah Green's earrings are hand made out of recycled 14k and 18k gold and fair trade gemstones. The classic but modern designs are affordable too and could easily make their way into the every day jewelry rotation. The styles use clean lines and many are inspired by nature (like the cherry blossoms and plumeria flowers pictured above).

While reading the designer, Rebekah's, biography I thought it was so cool that she is no newbie to the "green" movement. She was the little elementary school kid educating her classmates about recycling and remodeling homes into eco friendly living places in her twenties. Her entrepreneurial and passion for making the world a better enviroment for everyone is truly inspiring!

xoxo, lauren

Secret Garden

This weekend, my mom came to visit and we made a trip to a local gardens. It used to be a southern vacation home for a family during the victorian era and now is open to the public. The wrought iron gates, magnolias, ivy covered brick, and trees dripping with moss had an enchanting feel. I wore my vintage boyfriend shorts, pink coverses, and pink cardigan with a rose print tank.

I love getting out and seeing the cultural sights in my area! Especially when the weather has been as beautiful as it has been lately!

xoxo, lauren

Channel Your Inner: Grunge Goddess

When I saw this shot of Lydia Hearst from the editorial "Renaissance of Grunge" out of Russian Harper's Bazaar I was instantly drawn to it. It has the perfect gritty darkness to it & all of the 90's grunge wardrobe essentials. It's so easy to channel your inner grunge goddess, it's easy to wear one of the pieces on their own to get the look. I like to wear a flannel plaid unbuttoned with a tank underneath, or some rocker leggings with a pair of killer heels.

The grunge period in nineties fashion was in rebellion to the minimalism look that was so popular at the time. It emerged in Seattle along with grunge bands like Nirvana. People flocked to thrift stores for baggy and androgynous plaid flannel shirts. It didn't mean to start a fashion revolution, but the look has lasted for the past two decades.

Will you be sporting any plaid shirts, band tees, or crocheted scarves this winter?

xoxo, lauren

Cocktail Dresses with a Kick

I fell in love with these not so basic cocktail dresses by Olivia Rubin. The lookbook, shot by Alstair Guy with the splattered paint artist's workplace as the backdrop has the perfect air of creativity. The nerd glasses and hot pink lipstick gives it an art student gone fashion designer feel. All the garments have a youthful energy, any of these dresses would have a happy home in my closet(and those lace up boots too)!!

xoxo, lauren

Project Reconstruction: Eco Luxe

Last night was my college fashion club's annual fashion show; Project Reconstruction. It's a fashion show featuring garments made from recycled and reconstructed materials. I'm always amazed at the creativity & talent of our university's apparel design students. This year's theme was "Eco Luxe".

The garments are made out of everything from cut up sweaters to tin foil to sushi paper. I helped set up in the morning and it's always so rewarding to see all the hard work come to life when the first model walks out. I loved the Marie Antoinette picture in the background and lit tea lights at the edge of the stage.

Does your school have a fashion club or annual fashion show? I organized a couple of them in high school; it's hard work, but a ton of fun!

xoxo, lauren

Photoshoots, Styling, Male Models.. Oh My!

Loving the mini online series of behind the scenes video at Armani Exchange TV! It's a great sneak peek of how they develop concepts for the photo shoots, styling the clothes, and hair & make-up. I love the dark, industrial looking background juxtaposed against pretty designer clothes.

Not to mention the male models are really ridiculously good looking.. did you see those abs (brings me back to my time in Milan this summer, where I swear every guy on the street could have been a model) ?!

xoxo, lauren

"Girl, You Look Fierce!"

I got SO excited when the weather dipped below 60 today that I took full advantage and threw on my dotted tights under my cutoff denim. When I was walking to class these two girls stopped me on the street and told me they just wanted to let me know how "fierce" I looked! It definitely started the morning off right!

Dotted Tights have been spotted all over fashion editorials & stylish celebs like Alexa Chung and I can't help but love them. Pair them under denim shorts, sparkly mini dresses, or a tough leather skirt.They're definitely going to be a huge trend for fall/winter and it's a great change from the usual black opaque tights we were all rocking last year!

What do you think about the dotted tights trend?

xoxo, lauren

Natural Beauty

Let me begin by telling you that although I'm a huge clothes junkie, i'm pretty low maintenance when it comes to my beauty routine. In the morning I just want to dust on some bronzer & add some mascara and chapstick and be out the door.

So, when I found out that i'd have the opportunity to try out RAWMinerals weightless foundation I was pretty excited. As any beauty product that can make me feel like I'm wearing less make-up is a winner in my book. Another plus, is that it doesn't contain the harmful chemicals that most beauty products contain-- it's important to think about what you're putting on your body!

You start off by finding out which foundation shade suits you best, afterwards I brushed on the mineral glow which works like a bronzer giving you sunkissed cheeks. I decided to try it out for a night out. I was pleased with how easy to apply and how it really felt like I wasn't wearing any make-up at all. The picture above was taken showing off my glowing skin. I felt confident and didn't worry about my make-up coming off at all.

If you're interested in the starter kit pictured above you can use coupon code DISCOVERY50 for 50 % off the $180 retail price. The individual mineral make-up starts at $25!

xoxo, lauren

La Petite Fashionista Likey: Closet Confidential

When I found out one of my longtime favorite fashion bloggers, Winona, (of Daddy Likey fashion blog fame) was writing a book I was SO excited for her. There are few bloggers that can make me laugh like her posts do. When I found out I would have the chance to read a copy of Closet Confidential I was even more excited!

How could you not adore a book that begins with its acknowledgements giving props to the Backstreet boys and their social studies teacher (a page out of her 2nd grade journal). Winona's book shares the same type of hilarious anecdotes as her blog as well as fashion wisdom. This is no ordinary "how-to-dress-fabulously" kind of book. Her "Style Lessons" are hysterical and quite useful too.

Her book talks about everything from the best bottoms for your body type (beautiful Grecian goddess; Marilyn Monroe; stellar soft siren) to how to tell if your graphic tee is ironic or just lame. Everyone needs style tips for occasions like dressing for travel. For example: "If you don't wear your leopard print trench coat here, you will not wear it in Europe."

This book is seriously a must have for any fashionista and it's great to support a fellow fashion blogger. Buy it in bookstores or online! Congrats on the book Winona!

xoxo, lauren

High Fashion Halloween Costumes

While dreaming up my new Halloween costume post, I got to thinking how often times designers' avant garde creations can turn out almost costume-y. Runway shows are the epitome of conjured up themed looks.

Looking at Spring/Summer 2010 collections, these were some of my favorite costume inspirations: Barbie at Versace, Wilma Flimstone at Jeremy Scott, Zombie Brides at Rodarte, Dorothy at Christopher Kane, and Jocks at Alexander Wang. How perfect hmm? I definitely wouldn't mind rocking this runway garb to a halloween party!

What are you going to dress up as for Halloween?

xoxo, lauren