Playing Dress-Up

This outfit is a great mix of glamorous and funky, pairing a sweet beaded dress and shimmer-y gold tights with funky accessories and bright, jewel-toned colors.

Sequin Glam Headband, $32.00 @ Free People
Mint Jodi Arnold Wool Twill Coat, $693.00 @ Net-A-Porter
Antik Batik Dotis U Dress, $290.00 @ My Wardrobe
Goldenbleu Jordan Patent Satchel, $522.00 @ Bergdorf Goodman
Square Enamel Bangle Set, $44.00 @ Bebe
Wolford Versaille Metallic Tights, $40.00 @ Searle
Vivienne Westwood Red Label Patent Leather Shoes, $590.00 @ Net-A-Porter

Get the Look

Here are some ways for you to get in on the full-skirt look, ranging from $20 to $450, depending on your price range.

Pack It Up

How and What to Pack for Your Trips

Granted, most people are probably on their way back from their travels, but this might be a good how-to for future reference. Plus, I’m leaving for the time of my life (so far) in 5 days, so packing has been on my mind. My personal predicament: what clothes to pack when you’re going on a study abroad program for 3 months (I’m going to Rome!).

The Essentials

1) Check luggage restrictions for wherever you’re going
2) Know what the weather is going to be like
3) Keep in mind how long your trip will last

The Basics

1) Have good-quality, recognizable suitcases (imagine grabbing the wrong bag, or having your 40+ pound bag lose a wheel, fall apart, etc.)
2) Conserve space as much as you can (for example, socks/underwear can get stuffed into shoes rather than take up more space on their own)
3) Pack mostly low-maintenance clothing (i.e. non-wrinkling, easy to air-dry)
4) Don’t over pack (7 pairs of heels for a 2-day trip might count as too much… so might 7 pairs of heels for 3 months, if that time is going to be spent walking around a mile everyday)

Tips and Tricks

1) Bring clothing that will be appropriate for the places you’ll visit (miniskirts and the Vatican do not mix)
2) Look into how the locals dress (you probably won’t be able to blend in completely, but at least you’ll have an idea of how everyone else is going to look)
3) Go for clothing that you can easily mix-and-match to maximize outfit potential (in other words, don’t bring the bulky chartreuse sweater if you only ever wear it with one outfit)
4) Cram in as many accessories as you can (jewelry, scarves, etc. are great ways to jazz up outfits and make them your own—plus, they take up so little space)
5) Remember that you’ll be able to shop while you’re at your destination (I plan to do lots of this—just make sure there’s room in your suitcase for the trip back)

Steal a Piece of Sunshine – or is it Worth the Splurge?

I often experience love-at-first-sight with Catherine Malandrino’s designs, and her sunshine-yellow top [below, right] was no different. It’s so very sweet and feminine without relying on pinks or florals, and the color is absolutely amazing (especially for dreary winter days). Unfortunately, at almost $350, it’s a bit out of my price range.

If you love this top as much as I do and you’re in the same predicament money-wise, you’re (or rather, we’re) in luck! It turns out that Forever 21 has a similar, much-less-expensive top in stock [below, left] for about $23. Granted, there are differences in color (but only slightly) and shape, but given Forever 21’s past copycat problems, I’d say that’s probably a good thing.

In any case, the two tops (and their prices) are displayed below. You decide – splurge or steal?

Kavi Sleeveless Tunic, $22.80 @ Forever 21
Catherine Malandrino Cut-Out Trim Top, $345.00 @ Net-A-Porter