Red in the Snow

Getting so sick of Wisconsin weather. Just the other day, I was getting out of my car to go to work and I realized I barely even needed my heavy coat. I heard birds chirping, the snow was starting to melt and make little puddles for me to dodge across the parking lot and the wind didn't feel like burning on my face. "How delightful, spring will be here soon!" I said to myself in my best Disney princess impression (not really) and went about my merry way.

Not five minutes into my shift a customer passingly mentioned the snow storm that was coming. I mean, I guess that's what I get for not watching the weather, but seriously? Make up your mind, Wisconsin.

I'm getting sick of boots and I'm getting sick of pants. I know, I know -- no one really wants to hear me complain. So I'll make note of some good news. If I were going to be stuck wearing the same pair of boots for four months straight, this pair from Nine West would be it. They're super comfy wedges, they're waterproof and they don't weigh 50 pounds like my last pair of boots so I don't take an extra 20 minutes lumbering to class. The best part? I got them at an outlet mall for only $24.99.

Outfit Details

Top: Ann Taylor

Jeans: Express

Boots: Nine West

Necklace: Express

Still, I have a rack full of cute flats that haven't been worn yet because I'm waiting for the slush to disappear. Keeping my fingers crossed for some warmer weather soon!

My Valentine's Day

I know a lot of people have some very strong feelings about Valentine's Day. Personally, I think obsessing over it too much is silly. If you don't have someone to celebrate with, it's really not the end of the world nor is it something that should make or break a couple. In the grand scheme of things, it's not worth getting upset or depressed over.

That said, this was actually my first Valentine's Day in years that I've been with someone (and High School doesn't really even count, right?) so it was pretty exciting for me this time around. My boyfriend brought me adorably well thought-out presents, including a book about octopuses. For those of you who don't know, I have a mild obsession with cephalopods though my favorite is actually the cuttlefish. He also made some keto-friendly cookies, and I got some tea that I can write about for next week's Tea Tuesday!

Outfit Details

Blouse: Modcloth

Cardigan: Target (similar) 

Skirt: Prabal Gurung for Target

Shoes: Nine West 

To be perfectly honest, I had no idea what I was going to wear until I had finished my makeup for the evening and was staring with eyes glazed over at my closet. I wanted to get a bombshell red dress similar to this one just for the occasion, but I had been searching for almost a month and hadn't found one I loved. So, strapped for time I scrambled to put together this outfit, utilizing a few new pieces in my wardrobe. I guess it didn't turn out too bad for something I threw together, the woman at the table next to us at the restaurant complimented me on it!

What did you do for Valentine's Day? Tell me in the comments!

International Perspective: Life and Style in Iceland

Two years ago, in my senior year of High School I became great friends with an exchange student from Iceland named Svanhvit (it's pronounced kind of like Svan-queet). Even though we only had a year together, she became one of my best friends. It had been two years until recently since the last time I saw her, she came back to visit this year and we spent almost every day together! Having a friend from another country has been one of the best experiences of my life, and I can't wait to turn the tables and go see her in Iceland some day. 

Since Iceland has such a small population and isn't often mentioned in the United States, I thought it would be interesting to do a small interview with her for my blog. She's also got a great sense of style! 

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

My name is Svanhvit, which probably to most of you sounds like my friend slammed the keyboard -- so most people here [in America] call me Svani or Squeet. I’m twenty, I’m double majoring in business and economics at Verslo (in Iceland.) I love traveling, I’ve been to about fifteen countries, mostly in Europe. I work in a store at the airport in Iceland. 

What is the biggest misconception people have about Iceland in America? 

How cold it is! They seem to think we have penguins and polar bears as pets. I’ve let some people believe I live in an Igloo!

So, how did Iceland get its name then?
The guy who found Iceland landed near a glacier so everything he saw was ice. He thought the entire island was a big glacier and left. Then came along Inglfur Arnarsson, who was the first person to settle Iceland in 800 something and well, he couldn’t change the name at that point. 

What is the most noticeable difference between culture in Iceland and in America? 

Actually they’re very similar, really. Iceland is Lutheran but we practice religion much less publicly than your average American Christian, I think.

Any foods in Iceland that would be weird to Americans, and any food you can find here but not back home? 
I wouldn’t say I eat it, but in the old calender we used to have in Iceland there used to be a month called Torri and in this month we eat special Torri food which include a sheep’s head, and sour sheep balls. I’ve never eaten them though! A lot of people also eat dried fish and shark. We don’t have beef as much as in America, but we eat a lot of lamb. I love Jell-o!

What are your favorite and least favorite things about life in America?

I like that I feel like I’m a part of a movie all the time, I feel like I end up a part of things that I see in movies. I also like speaking English. My least favorite thing is how common fast food places are, if I’m meeting a friend I don’t like to always go out for fast food. And it’s strange to me that if someone asks me to meet them at McDonald’s, I have to ask which McDonald’s because there are like, five in the area. 

How did you feel about being an exchange student in Wisconsin? Would you have preferred to have been in another state? 
I liked it a lot because I’m in a medium-sized city, and a big city would have been too much of a culture shock. Wisconsin is known for cheese and beer but unfortunately those are things I was not a fan of before I came here. However, I started to really like string cheese which we don’t have in Iceland. Wisconsin is the reason I fell in love with country music, and now I’m probably the biggest Icelandic Packers fan, even if that means watching a crappy stream online [of their games].

How would you describe your style? 
I don’t really like wearing things that are uncomfortable, well shoes are an exception… I love heels. But, I still want to look nice. I have a laid back style I guess. And I like mixing things, I love combining something girly with something tough.

What are your favorite clothing stores? 

I love H&M for my basics, since we don’t have them in Iceland. I love Topshop, Zara and Mango as well but my favorite online store is Nasty Gal. Shipping to Iceland is really expensive though! 

Are there any trends going on in Iceland right now that you haven't seen in America? 

Bowties on girls are popular in Iceland right now. 

Svanhvit bought this pocket watch necklace at the Bristol Renaissance Faire. 

How does the weather in Iceland determine how you dress? 

I can’t [wear as many] skirts or shorts without leggings underneath, I guess we don’t wear as many dresses on a daily basis because the wind would blow them up. People definitely wear jeans and coats more often. Winter is Iceland pretty much identical to winter in Wisconsin though, it didn’t get much colder in Iceland [the last time I was here.] We just don’t have the same amount of humidity, and our summers don’t get anywhere near as hot. 

How has being an exchange student affected your life? 

I was insanely shy before I came here, but being an exchange student forces you to leave your comfort zone. So now, I am a lot more outgoing than I ever was and I have more self-confidence. I would like to think my English has improved. And it’s always good to go to other places and see how other people live. 

What are your plans for the future? 

Well I have one year left of what we call “college” in Iceland, after which I have to go to a University to get my B.A degree. In my dream scenario I would go to the UK for University to double major in Business and Japanese. I would also love to take a year to study abroad in Japan. 

Svanhvit goes back home tomorrow, so I'd like to take the time to wish her a safe trip. If you're curious about Iceland or have any questions for Svanhvit, leave a comment and I'll be sure to forward them to her! You can also follow me (@snuggle_fish) and Svanhvit (@Squeet92) on Instagram, which happens to be our latest addiction. 

Top 5 Style Inspirations: Kim Kardashian

The following is a five-part series on my biggest style inspirations, real and fictional. I've never been one for spot-on trying to copy another person/character/celebrity's outfit, I tend to aim more for the realm of "close enough" because I believe that style should first and foremost be self expression. Of course, it's never a bad idea to draw inspiration from those you admire. Thus, in this series my aim so to create sample outfits that are influenced by my inspirations, but not exact copies of what they're wearing. 

Say what you will about her intelligence or reasons for being famous, I still think Kim Kardashian is absolutely gorgeous. I love seeing celebrities with killer curves, and I take a lot of inspiration from Kim's style because her body is much closer to mine than most other well-known celebrities. Snaps of Kim on the street often show her wearing high-waisted skirts paired with blouses but at special events she wears gorgeous dresses. Glamorous, sophisticated and sexy sum up Kim's style pretty well, all of which I strive to reflect in my style, which is why Kim is one of my top five style inspirations.

(Blouse, Shoes, Earrings, Belt, Skirt, Tights)

This outfit uses an entirely neutral palette and mixes dress pieces like diamond earrings and a shiny blouse with casual pieces like a slouchy bag and leather belt. It's definitely a versatile ensemble, and could easily be worn to class or a nice dinner.

(Earrings, Purse, Dress, Belt, Shoes)

Leopard print can be tricky to pull off without looking trashy, but when done right I think it's very glamorous looking. The key is to balance the rest of the outfit with another neutral (in this case, black) with a few hints of gold, but the print is still the star of the show.

What do you think of Kim's style? Or the Kardashian craze in general? Tell me in the comments!

Top 5 Style Inspirations: Joan Holloway, Mad Men (Christina Hendricks)

(Source)

The following is a five-part series on my biggest style inspirations, real and fictional. I've never been one for spot-on trying to copy another person/character/celebrity's outfit, I tend to aim more for the realm of "close enough" because I believe that style should first and foremost be self expression. Of course, it's never a bad idea to draw inspiration from those you admire. Thus, in this series my aim so to create sample outfits that are influenced by my inspirations, but not exact copies of what they're wearing. 

I'll admit I've only recently finished the first season of Mad Men, but the main thing that drew me in to the series was the style. Va-va-voom is literally the best way to describe Christina Hendricks and her character on the show, Joan Holloway. I love 50's and 60's retro style, and as a shapelier girl myself it's great to see women with curves for days on television.

The way Joan dresses suggests she knows she's got it, and flaunts it accordingly. Belts, wiggle dresses and pencil skirts all help to show off Joan's amazing hourglass figure. She's also not afraid to experiment with color, which is fantastic inspiration for women who feel like they need to hide their shape in black and grey. Of course, you don't have to have a body like Christina to work gorgeous retro inspired ensembles.

Joan dresses in fitted dresses or skit and blouse combinations, usually made of heavier looking material in rich colors like berry, cobalt, emerald and coral. Her jewelry is generally timeless and tastefully chosen so as not to overwhelm her own beauty. Here are some Joan-esque outfits for inspiration.

(Dress, Shoes, Brooch, Necklace, Earrings)

The color, shape and side bow of this dress is very reminiscent of Joan's style. I decided to go with a simple gold chain instead of the dangly piece that Joan is wearing in the picture due to the cowl neck of the dress. I think a simple pair of black pumps with a tiny bit of detail pulls the entire look together.

(Necklace, Blouse, Shoes, Skirt, Earrings)

In this look, Joan wears a pussy bow blouse with a camel colored, textured pencil skirt. The dangly necklace makes a reappearance (I think it's actually a pen) which I think is an interesting choice considering there is already quite a bit of detail in the neck area, but I left it in with inspiration outfit this time. I'm not sure about the exact shoes that Joan wore in this episode, but I took some artistic liberty and thought that a light red suede would look nice.

Who is your style inspiration? Tell me in the comments!

"Winterizing" a Summer Dress

My favorite dress is billowy, light and has a delicate red and pink rose pattern on it, very romantic and reminiscent of warm weather and gentle breezes. I've lamented not being able to wear it for the last few months since the weather began to turn bitter. However, today I set out to find a way to make it more winter appropriate, both in terms of aesthetics and in terms of me not acquiring frostbite. With a long winter coat on top, I actually managed to make this wearable outdoors for as long as it takes to walk to class, or from the car to a store. I probably wouldn't suggest it for extended outside Winter fun time, but if you want to be able to wear your summer dresses to class or out shopping this should be a good method to go about making it suitably warm.

Dress: Macy's

 Cardigan, Belt: Wet Seal

 Tights, Boots: Target

Find a Top and Bottom Layer
I wanted to put an extra layer between the thin fabric and my skin, so I found a good layering cami in my closet that matched one of the colors of the print to wear underneath. It's spandex, so it doesn't add much bulk, but the lace peeking out of the collar looks lovely. Next, I tried to match the colors to an outer layer cardigan. I chose a long cardigan in a burgundy color because it went well with the pink and red scheme of the roses, but made the color scheme seem a bit "warmer" to me.

Wear Thick Tights
Knit tights are actually pretty warm, and they're an absolute necessity if you're going to be wearing a dress in the Winter. I chose a cream colored pair to wear with this dress, since the print of the dress contains some white and it also matched a belt I wanted to use, which comes to the next tip...

Wear a Belt
I don't think this is a necessity like tights, but I always feel a little bit warmer when I have a thick piece of elastic hugging my waist. I also just love to wear belts in general to emphasize my waist and to tie an outfit together.

Wear Boots
I suppose this depends on how cold your region is, but boots will help keep your legs warm and keep your feet safe from snow and slush.

Add Accessories
This is a good rule regardless of what you're wearing or what season it is, accessories are the little details that take an outfit from good to great. I went with a knit hat in a cream color to tie in with the belt and tights, a pearl bracelet, a gold and coral colored cameo necklace and pink and gold earrings. Look through your accessories and try to find colors that are present somewhere else in the outfit. Hold them next to your clothes until you find something that works.

How do you make warm-weather clothes appropriate for Winter?