The Great Gatsby

I was lying in bed this morning for about an hour trying to figure out why in the world I'm an English major and what I was planning on doing with my life. Well, as it turns out, I have no clue what I want to do with my major since at the same time there are a million things I could do (journalism, PR, even marketing or advertisting, OR...I could just go to law school - they are always looking for humanities majors) and nothing I can do (besides teach, but I've already completely ruled that one out). On the plus side, I know that the reason I'm majoring in English is that I love to read (the thing that has kept me from posting anything in the last month - too many English classes at one time = having to read about 50 books at once). So I went back through my mental list of books I've read that have kept me going through the books that I've hated, and the first one I came up with was The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. As it turns out, the 1974 movie (which I based all of these outfits on) is being remade and is set to release in 2012 with Leo DiCaprio as Gatsby (need I say more?) and Carey Mulligan as Daisy. I'm pretty excited. If you skimmed this book in high school (like I did with pretty much every Dickens book assigned), here's the basic plot line: Jay Gatsby is in love with Daisy, he goes away to war, and comes back to find that she's married into old money - Tom Buchanan. He then spends all his time remaking himself and becoming part of the nouveau riche in East Egg, living in a house like this ------>

Then he and Daisy have a thing but she won't leave her jerk of a husband. If I go any farther, there'll be some major spoilers, but it's a really good book. (Also, Jake, Reinvented by Gordon Korman is a modern young adult fiction book based on Great Gatsby which I like just as much, and probably takes less time to read.)

"A phrase began to beat in my ears with a sort of heady excitement: 'There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy, and the tired.'"

Dress - Dorothy Perkins, Cardigan - Emily Temple, Necklace - Charm & Chain, Hat - Marks & Spencer, Shoes - Qupid

Pants - J. Crew, Blazer - J. Crew, Shirt - Jos A Bank, Tie - Jos A Bank, Shoes - Kenneth Cole, Hat - Kangol

"One thing's sure and nothing's surer. The rich get richer and the poor get - children."

Skirt - Ralph Lauren, Cardigan - Dorothy Perkins, Cami - People Tree, Shoes - Stuart Weitzman, Necklace - Rue 21, Hat - Juicy Couture

Pants - J. Crew, Cardigan - J. Crew, Shirt - J. Crew, Shoes - J. Crew

(I've found my new obsession.)

"It makes me sad because I've never seen such - such beautiful shirts before."

Dress - My Sugarland, Shoes - Dolce & Gabbana, Necklace - J. Crew, Earrings - CZC Pearl Blossom

Pants - Woolrich Woolen Mills, Shirt - Our Legacy, Shoes - Stacy Adams

And as a bonus...

Martini glass - Crate & Barrel, Picnic basket - Crate & Barrel, Blanket - JCJ Silver

Easy A

"Vengeance, adultery, crimes of passion" = best rap ever. I love Easy A... not just because it has Emma Stone, plays off of Nathaniel Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter and is wildly hilarious, but it openly calls attention to the fact that it's a movie.

WARNING: The rest of this post will contain some spoilers, so if you haven't seen the movie, just skip the words and look at the pictures.

After the rap, for instance, Mr. Griffith, says, "I'm not gonna rap for you because it's been done in every bad movie you've ever seen"... but that's what I love about this movie. Well.. that and the plethora of fantastic lines:

"We've had nine classes together, since kindergarten... ten if you count Religions of Other Cultures, which you didn't because you called it science fiction and refused to go."

"Are you really that repulsed by lady parts? What do you think I have down there? A gnome?"

"No judgment, but you kind of look like a stripper. A high-end stripper, for governors or athletes."

"Where are you from originally?"

"I had a horrible reputation... I slept with a whole bunch of people. Mostly guys."

and, of course...

"My apologies to Mark Twain."

"So what's with your new look? It's very whore couture." - Brandon

Jeans - Superfine, Corset - corsets-uk.com, Bag - Maison Martin Margiela, Sunglasses - Ray-Ban, Necklace - myjewelrybox.com, Earrings - Dower & Hall, Shoes - GLAM

"You're being pretty cavalier about this. Aren't you supposed to be eternally in love with him and shit?" - Rhiannon

"Yes... I believe so, if I was the Gossip Girl in Sweet Valley of the Traveling Pants." - Olive

Jeans - Current/Elliott, Cami - BKE, Vest - BB Dakota, Necklace - Lee Angel, Earrings - Alexis Bittar, Shoes - Christian Louboutin

"Oh my God! The illusion is shattered! This is exactly why they put you in the gas chamber if you take off your head at Disney World." - Olive

"Actually, I think they just, you know, they fire you. You're thinking of Disneyland. Disney World is much more liberal." - Todd

"Oh yeah! I always forget Disney World went blue in the last election." - Olive

Jeans - Current/Elliott, Tank top - Old Navy, Necklace - Lee Angel, Earrings - Amrita Singh, Bag - Rebecca Minkoff, Shoes - Schutz

"George is not a sexy name. George is like what you name your teddy bear, not the name you wanna scream out during climax." Rhiannon

Jeans - Current/Elliott, Cami - deb, Jacket - Speigel, Bag - Matt & Nat Miles, Earrings - Amrita Singh, Necklace - Brian Danielle, Flats - Jimmy Choo

God Save the Queen...

...well, future queen: Kate Middleton. This lucky girl from Berkshire met Prince William while they were both studying at the University of St. Andrews. The couple began dating in 2001, broke up for a few months in 2007, and have decided to take the plunge (or a really slow toe-dip into the matrimonial waters - I mean seriously, they've been dating for ten years!) on April 29. Countdown to the most exciting marriage this decade: 62 days. Unfortunately, that's right in the middle of exam week (not that I really have the money to fly to England for a wedding I wasn't invited to anyway), so to celebrate the royal nuptials, Hannah and I have decided to wear ostentatious hats while watching the wedding on TV. Kate does love hats...
She also seems to like wearing tweed, pumps, and did I mention lots of hats? I always wanted to be British, but I guess dressing like the future queen is the closest I'll get... for now.

Casual Kate

Jeans - Current/Elliott, Tank top - Mantu, Sweater - BB Dakota, Boots - Bruno Premi, Earrings - Kendra Scott, Bag - Topshop

Off to a Friend's Wedding

Dress - dELiAs, Jacket - Karen Millen, Shoes - Rupert Sanderson, Necklace - Goldsmiths, Bracelet - Lagos, Clutch - Tiffany & Co., Hat - Debenhams

Simple and Sophisticated

Jeans - Clemens en August, Cami - Vanity, Tweed Jacket - Yesstyle, Watch - Invicta, Bag - Topshop, Belt - H & M, Shoes - Mixx Manila

You Know That Other Woman is Jealous

Dress - Coast, Jacket - White House Black Market, Shoes - Rupert Sanderson, Clutch - Whiting & Davis, Watch - Invicta, Headband - Linea

Morning Dress: What Guests Are Expected to Wear to the Wedding

Dress - Azzedine Alaia, Coat - Victorian Trading Co., Shoes - Mango, Clutch - Dune Lossey, Hat - Suzannah

Meet the Roomies - Brittany

Brittany! (She made sure the exclamation point was there because "it describes her".) I met Brittany on my floor last year and she is always happy, bubbly and fun to be around :) Here's a basic rundown of Brittany's life/fashion:

Major: Exercise Science

Graduation date: December 2012

Favorite color: Teal

Favorite pattern: Zebra

Favorite article of clothing: "I love my pencil skirt."

Best accessory: "I just recently got into headbands, so let's go with that."

Go-to outfit: Jeans and a t-shirt - "I go comfy if I have nothing to go to."

Fashion icon inspiration: Brandi Crosmer :)

Three of her favorite songs: Sweet Child O' Mine (Guns N' Roses), Anyway (Martina McBride), and Dynamite (Taio Cruz)

"Where do we go now/Where do we go/Sweet child o' mine"

-"Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Roses

Jeans - Heirloom, Top - Unconditional, Bracelet - Alexis Bittar, Ring - Fallon, Shoes - Ivanka Trump, Earrings - Andea

"God is great/But sometimes life ain't good/And when I pray/It doesn't always turn out like I think it should/But I do it anyway"

-"Anyway" by Martina McBride

Skirt - Jane Norman, Top - Old Navy, Necklace - 2ols, Shoes - Rupert Sanderson, Earrings - Topshop

"We gon' rock this club/We gon' go all night/We gon' light it up/Like it's dynamite"

-"Dynamite" by Taio Cruz

Dress - Temperley London, Shoes - Speed Limit 98, Clutch - Kaliko, Earrings - LK Designs

Hearts, love and all that jazz

Valentine's Day is by far one of my favorite holidays - not because of the extreme commercialism that happens today, but because everyone is so happy and expresses his or her love. I mean, I understand that when you love someone, you should show your love all 365 days of the year, but sometimes the little extra push of a holiday that we don't get off of school for (even though I'm quite convinced we should get this most fantastic of all lovey-dovey days off) in order to do something a little more special than the usual DVD and take-out (not that I have anything against that - it's one of my favorite date plans). Even if you're single, celebrate Valentine's Day with friends! Everyone needs love - not just significant others :) However you plan to celebrate today, remember to tell all those you love how much you care about them!

Dress - Karen Millen, Shoes - Christian LouBoutin, Clutch - Menbur Zeuco, Ring - Samuel David, Earrings - Israel Rose

Dress - People Tree, Shoes - Christian LouBoutin, Bag - Coach, Bracelet - Cheryl Lynn, Necklace - Coach

Jeans - Roy Rogers, Tank top - American Eagle, Cardigan - Ann Taylor, Shoes - Giuseppe Zanotti, Bag - Kate Spade, Necklace - Rue 21

It's My Party...

...and I'll cry if I want to? I don't think so. It's my birthday! I finally made it through the teens and am now officially old. Since I'm a college student and can't exactly afford all of the fabulous clothes I wish I could buy myself for my birthday, I've put together 6 outfits based on my two current favorite trends: sequins and lace. (If I were really brave, I would have put them together, but right now, I'm in the mood for mixing colors, not textures.)

SEQUINS!

Dress - Ashish, Shoes - Mealy, Ring - Pippo Perez, Bracelet - Judith Jack, Clutch - Aspinal of London

Dress - AX Paris, Shoes - Betsey Johnson, Earrings - Fantasy Jewelry Box, Bracelet - Fantasy Jewelry Box, Clutch - Luella

Dress - Forever 21, Shoes - Ted Baker, Bracelet - Max & Chloe, Earrings - Overstock.com, Clutch - Borsa Rodeo

Lace

Dress - Rugby Ralph Lauren, Tights - Foot Traffic, Shoes - Restricted Rumble, Hat - Free People, Bracelet - Forever 21

Dress - ASOS, Shoes - H Williams, Bracelet - Forever 21, Earrings - Pret-A-Beaute

Dress - ASOS, Shoes - Underground Station, Clutch - Valentino Garavani, Earrings - Erikson Beamon

SUPER BOWL

Unless you've recently dropped off the face of the earth, you're aware that today is Super Bowl XLV! It's going to be a match up between the Green Bay Packers (the team I loved for about 10 years, so if you don't have a team, root for the Packers!) and the Pittsburgh Steelers. I'm not going to explain the logistics of this epic game (mostly because I still really don't understand football), so if you don't understand what's going on, just watch for the commercials like most people do. So whether you're watching the game for the football or for the cute boys sitting next to you, here are some outfit inspirations for however you're celebrating tonight.

Green Bay Packers

Tshirt - Junk Food, Jeans - Harvey Nichols, Shoes - Wild Diva, Bracelet - BKE, Bag - Betsey Johnson

Shirt - American Vintage, Jeans - 1921, Sweater - Victoria's Secret, Shoes - Dollhouse

Dress - Yesstyle, Shoes - BC, Bracelet - Alexis Bittar, Bow - eBay, Bag - Kate Spade

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tshirt - Junk Food, Jeans - Luisaviaroma, Shoes - Arden B., Bracelet - Tarina Tarantino, Bag - JPK

Top - Urban Outfitters, Tank top - Elie Tahari, Jeans - J Brand, Shoes - Cri de Coeur, Bracelet - Marc Jacobs, Necklace - All Saints, Bag - Furla

Dress - Dorothy Perkins, Shoes - FAHRENHEIT, Bracelets - Circa Sixty Three, Bow - Unbowlievable, Bag - Baldini