Quick outfit post today - wanted to do a closeup of the earrings! I made a striped yellow top that's more suited for summer work for winter by pairing it with a scarf, a navy parka, and brown wax-coated skinnies. It's crazy to think this is my last outfit post of 2012!
I can't believe this is the last day of 2012! This year really flew by. Over the year, I have transitioned my outfit posts from inside my apartment (like this outfit or this outfit) to outside. I like outdoor backdrops better than my fluorescent-lit hallway...haha. Here are 10 of my favorite outfits from earlier this year!
Thank you all for stopping by this blog, whether it is just one time or every day! (Also a big thank you to my friends who take these outfit photos for me! You guys are the best.) Love you all.
Here's to 2013! Have a fun day and stay safe tonight!
I went to Lululemon today with the intention of exchanging leggings for the blue pair in the photo above....and walked out with a tank and jacket! #Typical
I was so excited with my purchases that I just had to share them on the blog! The blue crop leggings are the Run: Inspire Crop IIs and will be perfect for running. I have a pair of the Wunder Under crops and these are tighter and lighter, but still just as comfortable. They also make my legs slightly resemble an avatar :) haha.
The No Limits tank has an attached sports bra so it's basically two-in-one! The tank is made of a mesh, sweat-wicking material and the bra is basically like the Free to Be sports bras they have. This will be perfect to wear when I teach Zumba classes - doesn't show sweat, looks cute, and is super comfy! I also love how the sides dip low so it shows off the sports bra.
Andddd finally, the neon pink Forme Jacket. I usually either wear my Nike dance team jacket, my North Face fleece, or a crew neck sweatshirt as my "outerwear" for the gym. (Usually I need to wear a combo of the three in the winter - it gets cold in Spokane!) Now I have the perfect jacket! I like starting my cardio with a light jacket on anyways and this bright pink one will make my workouts all the more fun.
What do you wear when you work out? Are you a Lululemon fan too?
I just got my nails done today! I even had little rhinestones put on the ring finger nails. :) Love me some sparkle in any way possible. My toes are purple sparkles too but you can't see them because it's winter and I'm wearing flats. I'm so sick of winter. I'm also sick of these jeans - have you noticed I've been rocking this pair quite a lot lately? Wellllll, it's the only pair of jeans I brought home. (Besides my brown skinnies, which, don't go with everything). The more I wear these jeans, the more I question why I only brought one skirt so I don't have to wear jeans, then question if I should wear a dress, then end up deciding to wear these jeans.
It's basically a whole lot of indecision going on inside my head.
2 1/2 more weeks, then I'll be back at school with my full closet.
xo-ally
PS - here's a closeup of my nails:
A dose of sparkle is never too much!
This week's Friday's Fancies theme with long distance loving is New Year's Finest. I can't believe it's almost 2013!!! When I think of New Year's attire, the typical black or gold sequined body-con dress with a fur vest comes to mind. Here's a fun, totally glam outfit to wear while ringing in the new year that stands out from the black-and-gold crowd:
I got this scarf for Christmas and was so excited to wear it! It matches my purple sweater perfectly. I added a link bracelet, tweed jacket, skinny jeans, and brown riding boots to complete the look. I'm also wearing the Tory Burch stud earrings I got for Christmas, but you can't really see them (forgot to do a close-up photo! Will try to remember next time).
I cannot believe 2012 is almost over. Throughout the year, I've always been like, "I can't believe it's already May!" or "I can't believe it's already October!" Now it is literally just days into the new year and I've been looking back through my posts from 2012. A separate post is coming soon on my favorite outfit posts, but here is a list of my favorite non-outfit posts from 2012!
I love a good watch + bracelet combo, and right now arm candy is super trendy. I wear my tortoise and gold Michael Kors watch almost daily, either solo or paired with a bangle or two. Here are four trendy watches paired with bracelets:
I've been looking for a versatile skirt lately, and I was happy to find one a few days ago! The subtle stripes make it easy to mix prints, like I did with the purple dotted tights. To add more color, I wore my coral-red colored Kate Spade necklace. Now I'm off to see The Nutcracker! I saw the professional one in Seattle earlier this week and now I'm going to see one with the girls I used to babysit. Two Nutcrackers in one holiday season = a happy Ally. :)
I can't believe it's already Friday! This week really flew by. Being on break from school really threw me off my routine.
This week's theme with long distance loving is holiday best. I chose a jewel dress from Kate Spade that I just adore with red tights, classic black heels, and a simple, sparkly necklace. Here's my outfit:
During my Christmas shopping lately I've come across some fun jewelry from Kate Spade and Tory Burch. (I love their accessories!) Below are some of my favorite picks from the two designers. I am just imagining all the perfect "arm party" jewelry stacks you could do with the Kate Spade bangles and the perfect, complementary, metallic accents from Tory Burch.
I was very pleased with the series finale of Gossip Girl. In my opinion, it was the perfect ending to my favorite show. (Read a recap of the finale here.) Gossip Girl has been known for its fashion ever since it first aired six years ago, and the finale did not disappoint! Below is an outfit inspired by Blair's Elie Saab wedding dress.
I could see this outfit worn to a fun party! I wanted to bring in Upper East Side shopping by choosing a headband from Bendels and strappy heels from Bergdorfs. Oh, am I going to miss this show now that it's over! Good thing it's on Netflix. :)
xo-ally
PS - see costume designer Eric Dahman's favorite Blair outfits of all time here
My SLR camera battery died today so I took my photos with my phone and a mirror. Haha. The lighting makes my tank look white but it's actually light pink! I kept the look casual today as I was Christmas shopping and walking in the city.
What a crazy week. I feel drained in pretty much every way possible, but a new scarf find from H&M (for only $5!), a few iced mochas, and some good friends helped me through it. Now I'm going to enjoy the break from classes, get a massage, and read a book tonight. Tomorrow I am beyond incredibly excited for the series finale of Gossip Girl (ahhh!!!!) and finally do some Christmas shopping.
Yesterday morning my roommates got together to make a pre-Christmas breakfast before we leave after finals! We made eggs, hashbrowns, and coffee cake while listening to my Christmas playlist from last year. While I like the Pandora Christmas station, I always go back to these faves of mine - some of which have been on my Christmas playlist for literally years and years.
You can't go wrong with The Beach Boys or Michael Buble! And I love Christmas Eve by Celine Dion - it reminds me of our family friends' house at Christmas time :)
The Greatest Time of Year has been a staple on this playlist since junior high, partially for the nostalgia and partially for the exciting holiday spirit I get into when I hear it.
Have you listened to Drummer Boy by Justin Bieber and Busta Rhymes? It's actually pretty cool. He puts a modern spin on the song by both singing and rapping.
Watch this awesome hip hop dance to it. THEY ARE SO GOOD.
(I also prefer "Drummer Boy" over "Mistletoe." I can't take the line "Shawty will you, oh, oh, oh" 40+ times seriously in a Christmas song. Haha.)
Maybe This Christmas and Hey Guys! It's Christmas Time are two of my indie Christmas faves. Sufjan Stevens's whole Christmas album is great, but this one by him is so upbeat and exciting!
Maybe This Christmas has been on every holiday episode of The OC so I've favorited that one over the years as well.
What is your favorite Christmas song?
xo-ally
PS - sorry for the lack of outfit posts lately! I've literally been wearing leggings and gym clothes all week. Because either I'm studying for finals or at the gym. Haha. Maybe I'll decide to put on a decent outfit soon :)
I love the hints of holiday that are everywhere during the Christmas season. In high school my friend Liz and I would always get excited on the day Starbucks put up Christmas decorations and started using Christmas cups. At lunch I would get a slice of the gingerbread cake and Liz would get a cranberry bliss bar. I haven't had a gingerbread slice this year, but when I saw the adorable snowman cookies I just had to try one!
On a different Starbucks run after Thanksgiving, I was with my dad and he said, "If they had these snowman cookies when you were little you would've said daddy daddy can I please get one?" Aww. The cookie is really good though - I thought it was just a sugar cookie but it actually is a frosted graham cracker cookie.
My favorite store has holiday bags. I really like them! I like the colors and the design. It makes shopping even more special :)
What are your favorite hints of holiday this season? Have you been Instagramming pics of holiday happiness? (I wish I had Instagram...there's not an app for my phone yet....I know...totally out of the loop...I wish I could see thousands of the same pics of red Starbucks cups. Haha. But really.)
Sorry for the short post! But.....it's finals week and it snowed. If you know me, these two things aren't really my favorite things when they occur at the same time.....blahh I will hopefully be better at posting after today haha.
I totally spaced on Friday's Fancies yesterday. Yesterday was an interesting day - I had gone to a meeting at 7am (running on less than 5 hours of sleep...) and then came home and had the longest nap ever. I slept for three hours! When I woke up it felt like a different day. Finals are starting to get to me...Anyways, this week's theme with long distance loving is Pretty in Plaid. Here is my outfit:
Creamy, chocolately, goodness. So so so good and the perfect study break snack. Worth every bite, worth being an exception of eating paleo....
Organic, cage-free eggs with sliced avocado and tomatoes
My lunch almost every day this week. Avocado on pretty much any food makes it taste 100x better.
My new peplum dress
YAY! I wrote about it/wore it yesterday. So happy I was able to go back to H&M and find it in my size!
Thai Dinner
My media law class went to a Thai food restaurant with our professor tonight. Not only was the food delicious, but the professor was so nice and bought us appetizers and dessert! It was a fun way to chat and get to know each other outside of class.
Weekend
It starts tomorrow. I. Am. So. Ready. For. The. Weekend. #FinalsAreUponUs
Dress H&M Heels Nine West similar Peacoat Martin & Osa (old) Sunglasses Chanel Earrings Nordstrom Ring was a gift from Italy
I shot today's outfit photos in front of the music mansion on campus. The music mansion is gorgeous on the inside and out! Ashli (my photographer today!) suggested it. :)
Remember this post where I wrote about how much I fell in love with the peplum dress from H&M, but they didn't have it in my size?
I went back to H&M a couple weeks later. And it was still in stock. And they had my size. I did a happy dance in the store and bought it. YAY :D
I wore it today to class and will probably wear it this Friday for a networking event, and Monday for a group presentation. Yes, I will re-wear it in the same week (maybe switch up some accessories or add tights) so to those of you that know me in real life, well, you'll be seeing this dress again soon. Haha!
Today was also a day where I decided to wear a skirt.
Today was a day I did not realize it was windy until I stepped outside wearing said skirt.
Today was a day where I had to hold my skirt, due to almost Marilyn moments. (Almost!)
And then to make things even more awkward, the part of the skirt that I had sewn up had re-ripped. I blame Forever 21's cheap material not my lack of sewing skills. Haha. :)
Hope you are having a wonderful start to the week!
I'd like to use this post to thank the wonderful friends I have for taking my outfit photos! Even though it only takes a few minutes, I really appreciate you all for going out of your way to photograph me awkwardly posing in my outfit in public. :)
The photographers and a few of the looks they have shot:
