Summer Breeze Makes Me Feel Fine

This editorial from Elle Italia's June issue features Bar Rafaeli (Leonardo Dicaprio's swimsuit model girlfriend). I like for a change that it's so laidback from the non high-fashion clothes to the beachy backdrop. The images depict exactly how I'd love to spend my summer; by the shore, catching up on my reading, and wearing carefree ensembles (check out those sneakers)!

How are you spending your summer days?

xoxo, lauren

The Elle Questionnaire: La Petite Fashionista Style

Ever since reading Carrie's questionnaire on her blog and reading the answers of other bloggers I love I decided I wanted to fill one out for myself

Who is your favorite designer?
Right now Alexander Wang & Proenza Schouler are my favorite! Both are young, innovative, and create insanely wearable pieces. I’m so inspired by them going after what they want and not waiting until they’re “grown up”

If you could come back as a dress, what would it be?
Something colorful and feminine yet a bit of a fashion risk. Probably a dress like Michelle Williams’ 06 Oscar’s Vera Wang dress. I have a penchant for yellow!

If you could come back as a model, who would it be?
One of the 90’s supermodel legends like Christy Turlington.

If you could come back with someone else’s body, whose would it be?
I adore Rachel Bilson’s petite frame! She looks like a doll in everything she wears.

Junk food?
I have the worst sweet tooth! Cupcakes and ice cream are my guilty pleasures.. and I probably indulge more often than I should!

Underwear?

I'd love to rock these pretty neon Alexander Wang

Who are your fantasy dinner-party guests?
Carine Roitfeld, Edward Cullen, Mary- Kate Olsen, Edith Head, and Diane von Furstenburg.

Fantasy celebrity one-night stand?
Adam Brody! I still haven’t given up on him since the O.C. days!

Favorite place to have a drink?
A pina colada at a tiki bar at the beach! Mmmm paradise!

What can’t you travel without?
Something to read! I will die of boredom without reading material.

Last book you read?
“It’s Called Break-Up because It’s Broken” by Greg Berendht (the guy who wrote “He’s Just Not That Into You”. It seriously changed my life. I reallyyy recommend it to anyone recovering from a painful breakup.

At age seven, you wanted to be…
An actress! I was in an acting troupe & singing lessons. I wanted nothing more than to be in movies or the next big girl pop group! I’ve always wanted to do something creative

What’s the thing you find easiest to forgive?
When people are truly sorry for what they’ve done

What’s the thing you find impossible to forgive?
Cheating significant others. No one worth your time should hurt you like that!

Biggest self-indulgence?
Like I said above, I have an unreasonable addiction to Starbucks. (I’m actually sitting there as I write this!) I also love nothing more than sleeping in reallyyyyy late.

Favorite place to shop?
I love vintage stores for finding something really unique that no one else has. I run into Forever 21 for a quick item every now an then. I love looking at the displays and pretty clothes in stores like Bloomingales & Neiman Marcus but admittedly don’t do much buying!

Favorite place to shop online?
Online boutiques like shopbop.com, chickdowntown.com and nasty gal vintage! It’s amazing how much an online vs. Brick and mortar store can hold!

Whose diary would you most like to read?
Anna Wintour! She’s such a private person with such an envied job!

If you were an inventor, what would you invent?
A mechanically operated closet & computer that creates outfits like me like Cher’s in Clueless. Would that not be amazing??!

Who are your favorite furniture designers?
Eames! His furniture his decades old and still looks so modern! My gramma actually owns a lounge chair that I’m super envious of.

Car?
I wouldn’t trade anything for my yellow truck! It’s so ME! Bright and fun and stands out on the road. Plus I can see above all the other cars which comes in handy when you’re as tiny as me!

What was your childhood nickname?
My dad used to call me “Laurney Toons”? haha

When and where are you happiest?
At fashion shows! I really feel like I’m in my element. I can’t help but be insanely happy surrounded by beautiful clothes and stylish people! It's an intoxicating atmosphere.

What piece of art would you most like to own?
I love Salvador Dali’s painting, Meditative Rose

What are your favorite vacation spots?
The North Shore of Hawaii (I’d loveee to live there someday), Paris, Tuscany, and my grandparent’s lake house in Wisconsin.

Most treasured possession?
My pictures. Things that I really can’t put a price on.

Favorite fictional character?
Blair Waldorf in the Gossip Girl books!

If you had another profession beside your own, what would it be?
I will be the happiest girl alive to work in the fashion industry in any facet when I get older. I’d really love to own a boutique slash coffee shop and hand pick vintage items for it and other beautiful labels!

What current trends would you like to see disappear?
Not a fan of the dresses with banded stretchy hems on the bottom. They’re just not flattering on anyone!

Favorite trend of all time?
I love my black leather jacket I splurged on in Italy. I feel like a female version of James Dean in it!

Always…
Follow your heart.

Never…
Let the negative things people say break your spirit!

xoxo, lauren

My Go-To Summer Shirt

In every article ever written about wardrobe staples a classic white button down is almost always listed. Honestly though when I thought of oxford shirts visions of working in an office or super conservative outfits crossed my mind. It isn't until recently that I've seen them in a whole new light! A loose fitting white button down is my go-to look this summer.

I prefer a cuffed style in a lightweight cotton or breezy linen. Their being sold at every price point this season or you can borrow a pair from your boyfriend or dad for a perfectly oversize look. Pair with denim shorts & oversized sunglasses for a truly effortless celeb-worthy style.

xoxo, lauren

Mad for Monokinis

This swimsuit season I can't get enough of monikinis. They may not be the most conducive to tan lines, but they're high fashion for the beach an pool! It's a look best pulled off on a slim, athletic figure to give the illusion of curviness or on a hourglass shape it can show off the ones you already have. I unfortunately can't pull it off, but I'm jealous of those who can!

This hot little number by L.A. swimwear line BECCA, comes with a bottle of caress to keep skin smooth and moisturized during the summer. Check out BECCA's swimwear designer, Rebecca Virtue's tips on her must have summer beach items at Vogue!

Will you be sporting a monokini this summer?

xoxo, lauren

The Fashion Wizard of Oz

I always feel like I'm the last one to find out about cool "in the know" websites. I stumbled upon the Selby & spent what seemed like forever poring over all the fantastic photography. The site gives a peek inside fashionable & artsy insiders' homes and has them do pen & ink questionnaires! I hope to someday live in a home that inspires such as the ones they feature on the site.

I particularly was loving the home of Sydney indie fashion designer Natalie Wood. Her home in Oz (aussie slang for Australia) is full of pretty in pink decor & a closet to die for!

xoxo, lauren

What's Your Sign?

Whether you believe in horoscopes or think they're a bunch of nonsense, it's pretty neat that they're so unique to each person. I'm a tried and true Pisces: creative, hopeless romantic, water lover. Lately the zodiac has been making its mark on products ranging from candy bars to candles to clothing. Anna Sui's S/S 09 collection even had some zodiac prints in it & Donna Karan swears by astrology has named a whole line of handbags after the different signs.

I found my "fashion horoscope" & thought it was pretty perfect for my sign. (75% of the time i'm wearing dresses and skirts!) Check yours out here and see how accurate it is.

Pisces (Feb. 19 to March 20)

These daydreamers prefer floating chiffon and shimmering silk to durable wool and cotton. Females often pick dresses or skirts instead of pants, and males dress more for comfort than style. All Pisces love shoes, and will have a stunning variety stuffed in their closets, under the bed, and behind the couch. This sign loves the color blue.

Do you ever read your horoscope for fun & do you fit the description of your sign?

xoxo, lauren

P.S. Don't forget to enter the B.B. Dakota/ChickDowntown.com contest !

A Walk in Her Shoes

I would not mind taking a walk in Oliva Palermo's sky high platforms one bit! The City's resident "mean girl" has been looking super chic lately. I'm a big fan of her always polished style, although I suppose you should expect nothing else from a social scenester. I love this menswear inspired look on her; though I have no idea how much walking one could withstand in NYC wearing those gorgeous (albeit painful) heels!

xoxo, lauren

Get Inspired!

After reading a post on La Belle Vie I was motivated to make good use out of my huge stash of fashion magazines and create an inspiration board of my own. I've always kept a composition book of my favorite outfits, make-up tips, and editorials but it was fun to do a giant poster for my wall. This particular one is everything that's inspiring me lately: tropical beaches, bright colors, slouchy shirts, and nature inspired prints.

It's a great rainy day/boring day activity. Check out some of these for more inspiration!

Anna Sui's inspiration

erin wasson's board

Do you have an inspiration board or book? If so, do share!

xoxo, lauren

My Summer Wishlist & B.B. Dakota Floral Blouse Giveaway!

Ah, I'm really excited about this post! I love any opportunity to give back to the readers. These are some of my current obsessions for summer:

• Embroidered Tunic: It can easily be taken from the beach to the streets. Throw it on over a bathing suit for a dressier look to grab lunch or hit up some local shops.


• Floral Top: The floral design is super trendy this summer, ruffles add a feminine touch, and is flattering on every body type. (read below on details on how to win this blouse!)


• Boyfriend Shorts: I have a pair that I've been living in lately. Choose a loose fit for a slouchy look and pair with a tucked in tank & long necklace.


• Turquoise Jewelry: I'm accumulating so much turquoise! I love piling on all my bracelets, or sporting my chandelier earrings solo for a bold look.
  

So, here's the details on winning the silk B.B. Dakota top from ChickDowntown.com! Make sure to check out their store they've got a terrific selection of dresses, tops, denim, and accessories from designers like Alice & Olivia, Lorick, Black Halo Dresses, and Elizabeth and James.

All you need to do to win is leave a comment below telling me 3 things on your wishlist this summer. A winner will be picked at random. Unforunately it's only open to US & Canada residents (sorry!) The giveaway ends in 2 Weeks on June 2nd. I'm looking forward to reading your answers!

xoxo, lauren

On the Coast of Somewhere Beautiful

This weekend I went on a relaxing getaway to a small gulf coast town named Apalachicola with my mom for some bonding time. We stayed in a gorgeous bed and breakfast named the Coombs House Inn, the owner was super accomodating and made us feel right at home. We had fresh baked cookies when we arrived, an adorable room with it's own porch, and bikes to borrow to ride around the historic district.

Just wanted to share some of my favorite pictures from my trip!

xoxo, lauren

Real Life Gossip Girls of NYC

Dove Go Fresh sponsored these weekly installments profiling 4 of New York City's twenty-something Upper East Siders during Gosip Girl Commericals each Monday. The girls all are following their dreams; from being a well traveled philanthropist, to being a filmmaker,to being creative director at Nylon, to starting a clothing line! It really is inspiring hearing their stories and see them balance life just like those of us who are striving to be in their shoes!

I tried out Dove's Go Fresh Burst Body Wash & Soap and loved the yummy nectarine & whiteinger scent. It was not overpoweringly sweet like some can be. It had a thick texture & a nice bubbly lather. The pricetag is "recessionista-friendly" as well!

My favorite profile so far has been that of Chrissie Miller, designer of clothing line Sophomore. I love that she's been an entrepreneur from a young age & uses her own friends as models! I really recommend checking out the rest of the videos on the site as well too see each girl's story.

Check out the last installment Monday night during Gossip Girl @ 8 P.M. eastern time featuring Nylon Magazine's Dani Stall (I'm really excited to see this one)!

xoxo, lauren

Que Sera Sera

Photo from Quiksilver Women's Blog

Que Sera, Sera,

Whatever will be, will be

The future's not ours, to see

Que Sera, Sera

What will be, will be.

This has sort of been my latest outlook on life! Taking life for the adventure that it is & enjoying each day :)

xoxo, lauren

Viva la Venice

Even though Chanel just showed their Cruise collection a mere hours ago in Venice, Italy, WWD already has images up & twitterers were giving live updates! Such a fast paced fashion world we live in; I love it! The clothes are absolutely gorgeous and so ornate. There is an obvious thirties inspiration with the Paul Poiret-eqsue lines of the clothing, layered necklaces, and curly cropped wigs.

The locale is breathtaking;although not what you'd expect from Venice (not the typical canal/ St. Mark's and gondola scene). As if the pictures didn't make me jealous enough; model Heidi Mount live twitters: "the show was beautiful!!! it was on the beach at sunset. amazing."

Do you spy the tiny Chanel logo on the windshield? Seems the Chanel entourage is traveling Venice's canals in style!

The boardwalk runway & sandy seating!

xoxo, lauren

"Let's Get Some Shoes..!"

Fulfulled my retail therapy urge yesterday at Marshalls in their CUBE section which is like a boutique within the store. I scored this adorable black & white gingham shirt dress for $16 and studded stilettos for only $15 (two of my favorite summer trends)! I switched from gladiator sandals during the day to my new heels at night. I paired the look with pouty pink lipstick!

A close-up of the new shoes; They're just the perfect mix of punky and pretty!

I think it's so funny how people are just discovering how great discount stores can be while I've been getting good deals in them forever! It's a great place to shop when you need a new summer outfit but don't want to blow your budget. Call me a shopaholic but there's no better feeling than getting a really good deal on cute clothes:)

xoxo, lauren

Summer Lovin', had me a Blast

How happy and in love does Kate Bosworth look? She looks carefree & cute in her vintage looking romper and sandals & the eternally chic wayfarer sunglasses. It doesn't hurt having an equally as stylish boyfriend either! Ah, Where are you my stylish summer fling counterpart?

xoxo, lauren

Where in the World?

This post is really for my dad; he calls me almost every day at work to give me an update of where my latest blog visitor hails from. He thinks it's so remarkable how these people all over the world have something in common, their love of fashion & being a visitor of my blog!

It really is amazing; I have such a global audience and I think it's so cool that people across the globe are interested in what I have to say! While I'm writing out of a college town in Florida, I have visitors from places as diverse as Wisconsin to China to the U.K! And let me tell you, I appreciate you all :)

Where are you reading my blog from?

xoxo, lauren

Enchanté Chambray

Chambray is a supersoft twill fabric with white threads woven through; it's almost a lightweight denim fabric. It's super comfy and the button down shirts that were once known only to prepsters have expanded their popularity due to Alexander Wang! Who also is getting a collection for GAP if you haven't heard yet.. very exciting!

His Spring/Summer 09 collection seems so long ago but is perfectly fitting considering it's the season were in now! I'm absolutely loving the look of an unbuttoned chambray shirt with a white tee underneath for a very easy go-to summer outfit! There are shirts to satisfy literally every price range (Walmart?!). It's at the top of my wish list right now!

xoxo, lauren

Sunshine, Blue Skies, and Waves to Ride

As a lot of you know, I'm a surfer girl at heart. I don't get to go nearly enough but, there is nowhere I feel more relaxed and happy than on a surfboard. I've been a fan of Roxy's surf style since I was about 12 and their style has evolved alongside with me, especially with the new Women's Quiksilver line.

Their ads are pure summer bliss and just looking at them makes me crave sunshine, blue skies, and waves to ride! I see a road trip to surf the east coast of FL on the horizon..!

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what are your summer plans??

xoxo, lauren

Escape Artists: Traveling in Style

I'd hardly refer to myself as a "jetsetter" considering my travels are usually in coach not first class or on family vacations instead of carribean islands. But, I really love the term and the images of glamour and luxury it evokes! Traveling is one of my favorite pastimes. I'm anxiously counting down the days until I leave for my study abroad trip! (and saving up my paychecks for some international splurges!)

One of the most common issues people run into while traveling whether an experienced first class passenger or a first time flier is what to wear on board and in the airport. Comfort is key, although there are much more stylish options than sweats and a zip-up hoodie!

• A lightweight sundress made out of jersey material will travel well & stay wrinkle free.
• A cozy pair of flats in case you need to dash across the airport to make a connecting flight.
• A sleeping mask comes in handy during daytime flights; a nap can help you adjust to time changes.
• Scarves are great if the air conditioning on board is too high, or your hair gets flat and you need something to tie it back with.
• Smith's rosebud salve is perfect for dry skin from traveling it can be used on everything from hands to lips!

What are your travel essentials?

xoxo, lauren

Cinco de Mayo in Style

Cinco de Mayo is another one of those "holidays" a.k.a. excuses to party that is usually overlooked in high school but turns into a huge deal once you reach college. Any excuse to don a sombrero, eat Mexican food, drink icy drinks and celebrate the end of school eh?

I would certainly love to wear one of these gorgeous Mexican inspired looks from Anna Sui's S/S 09 collection. It would definitely be the most stylish outfit among celebrators. I love the bright colors, beaded accessories, and summery sundresses in the collection. I suppose for now I'll just have to wear the embroidered dress I bought in Cozumel while on a cruise a few years ago!

xoxo, lauren