{Back to School}

(Clockwise from top)

Eugenia Kim rabbit fur hat, $385, Selima Optique glass shades, £280, Pouch wallet, $15, J Crew tailored shirt, $78, Victoria s Secret double breasted pea coat, $128, Sam Edelman lace up boots, $250, DV by Dolce Vita flat shoes, $70, Longchamp Au Sultan Bag, €480, J Crew striped sweater, $78, J Brand skinny jeans, £200

For the first time in a long time (17 years, but who (aka all of my life past toddler-hood) September doesn't mark the start of a new school year. It took a long time for me to accept this fact. No school supply shopping, no first day outfit and no new planner to fill with assignments. So depressing!

No matter what age you are, September does mark the start of fall, and the changing of seasons always warrants changes in one's wardrobe. This fall I'm loving updated classics, like a button-down in sophisticated leopard print or a schoolboy loafer in blue patent leather. Paired with quirky accessories like a pair of tortoiseshell librarian glasses or a felt, feather-trimmed hat, these twists on the classics are sure to carry you through the season and bring new life to your closet standbys. Maybe I only ever got excited about the start of school because of the prospect of new clothes and outfits?

Just because I no longer have a need for toting around an assortment of pens, pencils and highlighters (hell, who am I kidding, I still carry them around!) doesn't mean I can't stash my lipgloss and bobby pins in a cute pencil case, instantly made geek-chic when tossed inside a luxe leather bag.

{Classic Style}

I read A LOT of magazines. Each month I look forward to I look forward to receiving my various subscriptions in the mail and carefully examining each and every page for any type of inspiration. I tear out the pages that have something that I am drawn to; a makeup look, hairstyle, certain outfit, color combination, home decor, etc., and save them for future reference.

In the May issue of American Vogue, I was ecstatic to find an entire fashion spread that I loved. Shot by the fabulous Mario Testino and styled by Marie-Amelie Sauve, I found myself drooling over the simple, chic elegance of the looks featured in the spread " Americans in Paris." And I can't forget to mention model Daria Werbowy's sultry smoky eye and long hair with choppy bangs. I always strive to incorporate the hottest trends into my wardrobe, but there is definitely something to be said for classic looks.

So perfect, in every way.

{Spring Layering}

Spring weather, especially here on the East coast, is never easy to predict. One day it is 80 degrees, the next day it is rainy and 50 degrees. It is during troubling weather times such as these that mastering the skill of layering really comes into play. The key is to mix lighter colors and warm weather fabrics with transitional pieces, such as blazers and fun accessories like ankle socks, scarves, short boots, and tights.

{Elle.com}

{Jak&Jil}

{The Sartorialist}

{J. Crew}

{J. Crew}

Layering is also a great way to extend the seasonal lives of pieces in your wardrobe, all while keeping you dressed appropriately in the ever-changing weather. Win-win!

{Easter Inspiration}

I love holidays. Seriously, give me any holiday and I will gladly take the challenge of decorating for it. Holidays really give you the chance, and excuse, to add a bit of whimsy to your decor. Obviously Christmas requires an overhaul of practically every room in the house. Smaller holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Easter, on the other hand, call for more subtle decorative additions that better fit in with the overall decor of the house. Holidays are also always a great time for crafting, another reason why I love them so much.

With that in mind, lately I have really been drawn to Easter-inspired decor and fashion. I am seriously loving pastels, florals, light spaces, and touches of greenery.

Elaine Griffin Interiors

House Beautiful

Pottery Barn

Shelter

via Absolutely Beautiful Things

Better Homes and Gardens

House and Home

via Life in the Fun Lane

Lonny

Lonny

Shelter

William Waldron

Burberry Prorsum, SS10

J. Crew

Harper's Bazaar

Country Living

J. Crew

{Feeling blue}

So, I have a total case of blogger-envy at the moment: Tavi, the 13-year-old style blogger. Thirteen! And she has an amazing, quirky sense of style, has been shot by Tommy Ton of Jak&Jil Blog for Vogue, gets invited to Chanel couture, and is sent look books by tons of designers. Her list of envious experiences goes on and on, and again, she is thirteen. I can only hope that my blog will get to be so well known. Oh, what I would do to get invited to Chanel couture!

Anyway, Tavi recently died her hair blue. Which reminded me of a photo of Ashley Olsen with blue streaks in her hair that I saw back in November that I absolutely loved. After seeing colored hair on a lot of the spring runways, such as Proenza and Giles, and on fashionistas such as Dree Hemingway, I am convinced that it is something I want to try. Not now, but maybe in a month or two as the weather gets warmer.

{Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen}

{Proenza Schouler, SS'10}

{Giles, SS'10}

{Dree Hemingway}

What do you think?

{New year, new beginnings}

I have been trying to start a blog for a little over a year now. I am an avid reader of blogs (I follow about 30 on a day-to-day basis) and I am constantly being inspired by the creative people and ideas that I discover online.

How perfect, then, that one of my classes for the Spring 2010 semester, Writing for Online Media with Professor Strate, requires that we create, maintain, and post onto our own blogs at least three times a week.

While some students might find an assignment like this, worth 50% of our final grade, mind you, overwhelming, daunting, and annoying, I find it to be an enjoyable challenge. I am beyond excited to *hopefully* join the ranks and the friendly community of bloggers that I already love and enjoy following.

I'm a little hesitant to put into words what I hope for this blog to be about, because I know it will end up being a mix of fashion, home decor, NYC, crafting, my daily life, and happenings in Fashion for Philanthropy as we lead up to our big spring fashion show. I guess, for the sake of narrowing my interests down, this blog, in short, will be about things that inspire me. And trust me when I say that all of this is subject to change.

So here goes, and I hope you enjoy!