Things I Love: May [Vacation Edition]

Left Najana black lulus.com Right Ted Baker Safia asos.com

Strappy sandals! I love all these barley there sandals this season. They are a nice change from all the heavier wedges and chunky heels that have been around. You can pair them with basically anything. I love them with boyfriend jeans, body-con skirt and crop top, and shorts with a blazer. But, you really cannot go wrong. A nude pair or a black pair are a pretty safe bet because you will be able to wear them with everything in your closet. This black pair shown is from Lulu's, check them out and use PSW20 to get 20% off of them till June 13th. The pair on the right are Ted Baker from asos.com so as always use your 10% student discount that you can sign up for here. 

Left Nancy by Melie Bianco Right Beach bag by H&M

Oversized bags with cutouts! These are so great for trips to the beach. They're big and spacious and the cutouts give them eye appeal. You get the usability of having it be a solid color while adding interesting detail with the pattern. For the bag on the left use code MAKEMOMSDAY (case sensitive) to get 40% off site wide here. The bag on the right is from H&M and is only $7.95 (its plastic talk about beach ready). The only downside to the H&M bag is it will really only be useful for local adventures no fun to pack a plastic bag.

Unidays!

https://www.myunidays.com/r/CVBDW9JyhgY

Since I've been back and catching up with people somehow this has been getting brought up in tons of conversations. I am honestly amazed how many people have never heard of or are not signed up for this website. It's great you get discounts on tons of great brands like Levi's, ASOS, Karma Loop, and more. 

Basically it's a website for students, so even if your not technically a student you might still be able to sign up. I believe to verify all you have to do is long into your universities site. So even if you have graduated as long as you still have access to that you should good. 

Right now it's really great because usually you get 10% off at ASOS, but there running a special. So if you are not signed up get signed up TONIGHT because the 25% off is going on until tomorrow. 

WIW: Duster

It's finally MAY, I cannot believe how fast this year is going by. Since I have only been back for a few days I am half living out of a suitcase half living off stuff on the floor. My closet is completely chaotic so it has been about simplicity in my outfits since I have been back.








Right now my mind is fixated on jackets! Today I wore my ASOS Duster Coat  finally. I am absolutely obsessed with this jacket right now.

It so light weight an flowy and since I lightened my hair I have been venturing towards lighter colors and giving the harsher ones a break.

Side note: If your not signed up for Unidays click here and get on that. You could get this coat for 25% off today, and lots of other discounts too its great!

I spent the day at the mall with my niece so this outfit is just simple comfy easy. Paired the jacket with a cream H&M sweater, ASOS denim  (my favorite pair of jeans love the fit), and Steve Madden flats.


My accessories are simple (since most are still packed away) and include two different Juicy Couture necklaces many seasons past, Fossil watch I have had for ages and a Michael Kors bag (similar).

This jacket is starting to pop up everywhere,
click here to check out Kylie Jenner looking amazing in blue.

Also one of my favorite bloggers wearing it here in warmer weather.


Looking forward to it warming up to pair this with skirts and heeled sandals, shorts and converse. The possibilities are endless.


Now this Minnesota weather needs to cheer up..  xo

Virtual Garage Sale

So its about that time to start purging and transitioning my wardrobe. Anyone who has seen my closet knows that I tend to indulge in a shopping trip every once an awhile. Basically what I will be doing is going through my clothes when I get back to the states this week. Once everything is separated and organized I will be taking pictures and styling some looks with what I am getting rid of. Everything will be priced and then the sale can begin! This is also one more area I am trying to venture into, so if you are looking to have your closet cleaned and have a little help revamping old looks I will be more then happy to help.. xo

Breaking News: Primark meets USA

For anyone who has had the experience of shopping at Primark understands why this must be mentioned! Of course lets be honest these stores are filled to the top with things we do not need that are made pretty poorly. But its great for the basics or to get that one trendy piece you know your going to be so done with in a few months.

A little sad for us stuck from the Midwest on over, but the 70,000 square foot store will be opening in Boston by the end of 2015. If you don't know about this store make sure to go check them out online here

Some might say its just another youthful retailer but they really have a competitive price edge. Being an American shopping on the pound the clothes are obviously not the amazing deal we pretend they are. But, I believe the price will be something to be excited about once it is finally in dollars.

My best friend Makeba and I might have to grab all our girls and just start planning a trip to Boston and catch what I am sure will be one of the most insane store openings that has happened in awhile. Think Black Friday.. but scarier.

This is one of Primark's first steps to becoming a well known, successful global brand. So make sure you keep your eyes peeled and hopefully (while we're still youthful) a store will be coming close to you.. xo 

Things I Love: April

Left H&M Coat  and right Coat with pockets Zara

First off, the color yellow I cannot get enough especially the soft pastel shade. Zara and H&M both have some great yellow jackets right now that I highly recommend checking them out. Its the time of the year where you need a transitional jacket so why not make it a color right? The good thing about yellow is it looks good on women with dark and light hair. My recommendation if you want to try this color, go in to the stores and check out a few different shades against your skin then head online for a wider selection.

Left side H&M Patterned Blouse right side Asos Check Pencil Skirt with Mesh Hem

Black and white check prints are just too good. I love everything about this print because you can create so many different looks with it. For someone who finds there style to be a little harder, more grunge, throw on a skirt or even a pant in this print (Asos does one just like the skirt) and pair it with a great leather jacket and bold pink lip and you are good to go. Or for the girl who is a little more girly chic you can pair these prints with all the pastels that are out this spring. Add a little baby pink into the mix and you instantly soften this print.

Left side 'Free 5.0 TR Fit 4' & left side Nike Air Max Thea

Trainers, sneakers, tennis shoes, whatever you call them this is one trend that I think all women around the globe are saying hallelujah too. One of the very few times fashion is practical. Especially in London women need a shoe that can be on the go, most aren't just driving up to the door and hoping out, they are in an out of tube stations. This trend is easy to fit into your wardrobe. Personally I love them with a skinny jean a basic top and a great coat! You instantly looking fabulous while being completely comfortable, perfect for the weekend. 

   

Resurrection

After a long break, it is time to get back in the saddle. Spending the last few months in London has been very inspiring. Everyday I am surrounded by beautiful women of all different backgrounds expressing themselves through their own style. This is a breath of fresh air, since things tend to get pretty stale in Minneapolis. Since January I have been able to check out three major cities besides London: Stockholm, Budapest, and Krakow. Each place having its own unique flavor. So here is what I have been upto.. xo

Budapest:

After a long years wait I finally made it to Budapest! It was absolutely phenomenal. The weather was great, sun shining which as many know sun in London is not an everyday occurrence so I had to soak it all up when I could.When I use to image Budapest I thought of large buildings with amazing architecture and I was not disappointed. Everything just seemed so grand and filled with history. I also had an amazing guide for some of my stay named Bogi. She was one of the most down to earth people I think I have met on this journey. Hope I can cross paths with her again soon. She really proved to me a 9-5 is not the only option and to just live everyday to it's fullest. Fun fact that I did not know, Buda and Pest are two separate cities. Even though people refer to it as Budapest there truly each there own unique place.

Photos from left to right: me at Hero's square, view of  parliament from
Buda,  Lagos and amazing sweet snack, heavenly macaroons, parliament which is the 3rd largest in the world!

Krakow:

I have always found myself so intrigued by the Holocaust. When I was in middle school I got the opportunity to go to Washington DC and visit the Holocaust museum among others. I can't say that it is the trip that got me so interested but for as long as I can remember I have always been drawn to literature on it. I think it is because my mind so desperately wants to understand how such a thing could happen. So obviously Poland, one country of many, that was greatly devastated by this time in history was a place I have always wanted to visit. There is truly no words that I could write to express what it felt like to step on the grounds of Auschwitz and Birkenau..along with visit areas where they had created ghettos and Schindler's factory. On a lighter note in present day Krakow is truly a party city with bars and clubs staying open all night long, perfect weekend getaway.

Photos from left to right: Me standing at the start of the tracks as they entered into Birkenau, the last stop on the tracks where people were taken off the train and immediately sent to gas chambers, church in town square, perogies in beet soup, and a statue completely carved out of salt in the Wieliczka salt mines.

Stockholm:

Return to the homeland?  Turns out I'm 25% Swedish. So this trip was completely impulsive. I had such a good time in Budapest I knew I  had to try and make  one more happen before I head back to the states.  So as I laid in my bed on my last night in Budapest I bought my tickets to head to Stockholm the following weekend.  Thought I would reach out to my Facebook friends and see if I could get some good recommendations and I ended up getting something much better.  A friend I studied  Arabic with last spring who lives in Oslo said she would come meet me for the weekend!  We ended up having and amazing time eating everything in site and visiting endless vintage stores. It was the ultimate girls weekend. One nerd moment, I was so excited being in the birthing place of H&M, to see clothes from the brand Hennes which is H&M long before they got the M loving it! Also was able to go (outside) of the place where the creators of Black Power Mixtape work. My friend actually found it and it was really cool to see, wish they would have been there would have been interesting to just pop in.

Photos from left to right: Me outside Stockholm Palace, posters outside the creators office of Black Power Mixtape, Skeppsholmen bridge, view from a park, old town Stockholm.

Fridays are for Fashion

Friday's are good days, I think most people can attest to that. For me if I don't have to work I usually keep my Friday mornings and afternoons wide open to catch up on things from the week. These past few weeks have been especially busy and I haven't had any time to get through all of my November issues (and one October). 

The Elle October issue was amazing, the Personal Style Issue. I love seeing whats trending. When it comes to having great personal style it is important to find trends that align with you, but also trying things out of you comfort zone. Personal style is constantly evolving which is great. From the mouth of Wilhelmina Slater "Taste is having the courage of your own convictions." 

Be confident when it comes to your look, confidence is one accessory that can transform any outfit. 

Picked out a few of the trends that I am loving right now:

Suede: First off whats not to love right? Adds great texture and can have such a rich color which can really enhance any outfit.

• Panelope by Steve Madden
• Burberry Trench
• 'Betty' Shoulder Bag by Saint Laurent

Pattern: houndstooth, tartan, shepherds check, tweed I love them all. The best part about these prints are they are usually warm and practical. These have been seen all over this season including this great Prada handbag. 

• Checked Blazer by Zara 
• Houndstooth Print Trousers by Zara 
• Two- Sided Scarf by Zara

Isabel Marant: Who isn't talking about this right now? Isabel Marant for H&M and it is anything but a disappointment. One jacket in particular I cannot get off my mind (middle picture), but it is all beautiful.  

• Jacket with Beaded Embroidery 
• Boyfriend Jean
• Suede Shoes

Outfit of the day: Soldier Girl Tell Um

First the title of this post, credit given to one of my awesome friends Jackson. He saw me wearing this outfit on the left and that was the first thing that came out of his mouth. It made me smile so I had to roll with it.

Camouflage, such an interesting print. One trend that walks a fine line between forest friendly and fashion forward. If you're like me and kind of love it here are two of my personal twists on it.  I tried to pick looks that were pretty opposite from each other. Both looks are fun but, the left is much harder and the right is a much softer. Thats what is so great about these pants, they are extremely versatile. 

Outfit One:

• Pants, Zara
• Tank, Macy's
• Sweater, H&M,
• Jacket, SuperDry 
• Shoes, Steve Madden
• Beanie, Neff
• Bracelet, Nordstroms
• Watch, Fossil 

Outfit Two:

• Pants, Zara
• Sweater, Forever 21
• Shoes, Steve Madden
• Scarf, Heartbreaker

My advice is be careful with camouflage that has had little to no manipulation and uses cheap looking fabric. When the camouflage print looks like you actually got it from a hunting store, or the fabric is extremely low quality thats when camouflage can start getting really tacky. On my pants the colors are pretty mute and they have some feminine detailing on the bottom with the gold snaps. This helps them stray away from being to much of a literal translation. 

The definition of Camouflage is the use of any combination of materials, coloration or illumination for concealment. When it comes to your clothes you're not trying to hide! So when you're at the store stop and think, could I blend into a pile of leaves right now?   

Sunday How To's: Dress for Success

Everyone has that same image of the "sexy secretary" a hyper sexualized women in the work place wearing a skin tight pencil skirt with a slit up the back and a low cut top. This is not a good look. It is important, especially as women, to present ourselves properly in professional environments. Women before us have worked too hard for us to be able to come to professional arenas and be taken seriously. To disrespect that by dressing inappropriately really hurts me. Lately at a lot of events I have seen too many women dressing provocatively. That is what inspired me to do this how to. In these first images I am wearing a simple black dress that hits right at the knee and comes all the way up to my neck. Finding a perfect fitting black dress is an essential piece to your wardrobe. Depending on your body type different cuts and styles will flatter you best. It may take a lot of trying on but it is definitely worth it. DO NOT SETTLE. I know a lot of women enjoy feeling sexy. The perfect fitting black dress even though it is knee length and not baring cleavage can make you feel sexier than anything skimpy. Even more than sexy being dressed appropriately can truly make you feel beautiful and strong. This dress is so versatile, here I have it a little more dressed up, more of a work event versus everyday. But, I could easily dress it down and turn it into the perfect office dress. 

The Outfit: 

• Dress, Zara
• Jacket, Talbots
• Shoes, Steve Madden
• Necklace, Forever 21
• Watch, Fossil 
• Clutch, Steve Madden

Being dressed professionally does not always have to mean looking boring. That is a common thought I believe many people have. If you have a more eccentric personality there is a way to tie that into professional clothing and still make yourself presentable. Of course you must always keep in mind the crowd. If your at a law office where the most exciting thing you see is someone changing their suit from black to brown you probably do not want to wear a yellow dress. But, there is always business casual events that need attending right? This look I'm wearing once again is overall covering. It hits slightly above the knee but it is also not as form fitting. This dress is great for many things: a wedding, business casual event, and possible your job (depending on where you work). It is a really rich color but a classic cut.

The outfit:

• Dress, Zara
• Watch, Fossil
• Gold bracelet, Forever 21
• Earrings, from my mom
• Shoes, Me Too 
• Bag, 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target collection 

Note: I would suggest accessorizing different based on the event, you would not want this large bag at a wedding.

 Lastly pants, I know everyone doesn't like wearing dresses. Pants are nice because if you find a pair that fit you great they can be a base to many outfits. This means invest, like the black dress shop around and find a pair that fit great (get them tailored if necessary). It is easy to make a simple pair of black pants look different by changing the blouse or adding a jacket. If you decide to wear a shear blouse it is important to be very conscious of the undergarments that you choose. You do not want bra straps showing and you always want to make sure the tank top underneath is giving you enough coverage. 

The Outfit:

• Blouse, H&M
• Pants, Macy's
• Watch, Fossil
• Handbag, Dooney & Bourke
• Shoes, Steve Madden 

Note: Looking great and professional does not have to be expensive. Find versatile pieces that can be re-used in many outfits and practical shoes versus shoes that only go with one outfit. Also keep your eye out for sales. The black dress I am wearing was purchased during Zara's winter sale for $19.99. Since they offer free shipping both ways I was able to try on different sizes in the comfort of my own home. 

Outfit of the day: Comfy Casual

Photo credit: Jonathan Wirkus

Those days when you wake up and you just want to be comfortable, we all have them. The important thing to remember is on these days DO NOT reach for your favorite sweatpants. Even though it may seem harmless to have a scrubby day here and there you truly never know what a day holds for you, who you may meet, and what opportunities may be presented to you. First impressions hold a lot of weight and you want all the amazing qualities you have inside to be present properly outside. Unfortunately when someone see's us they make a judgement based on our appearance, and you do not want an off day to put a bad taste in the mouth of someone who could help you along your path.

Thats why its all about the balance. For me, my comfy day outfit always consists of a cozy sweater. Usually I prefer something oversized, the loose fit is why we all run to our sweatpants anyway right?

I am wearing a pair of 535 Levis in a grey, which can I say 535's are my life they are the best jeans and fit me like a glove guaranteed every time (highly suggest them), brown Steve Madden ankle boot, a pale yellow T-shirt, a Levi's denim button up, and an oversized sweater I acquired while in Morocco. For accessories I picked a slightly bigger slouchy Coach bag, a gold Fossil watch, and my favorite Ray-Ban's.

I will usually try and attach links to things I mention. A lot of my items are things I have acquired over the years so I will at least try to find similar up to date versions. :)

When A Little Retail Therapy Becomes an Addication

Let's all admit it, when we're feeling a little down, maybe a little upset, or even just bored, hitting up the mall is probably the best thing next to going into a 9 hour Netflix marathon surrounded by junk food and feeling sorry for yourself. Getting a little pick-me-up can really boost a girls' spirit and that's a fact. 

 But what happens when all those little trip start to add up? Trouble. Krystal and I are going through what we like to call a, "Shopping Detox." One month of no shopping. Here are the rules:

1) It's pretty simple, no shopping. Nothing can be bought that isn't a necessity  No clothes, shoes, makeup (outside of the everyday items: ex. Bright red lipstick if you do not already wear it), decor, etc.

2) This also includes food. After talking we realized we could get our fix of "New" by buying snacks and food. This includes, but not limited to: Starbucks, Caribou, Dining Out, Dining in, etc.

Just by having this discussion, we've realized our shopping habits and how they actually affect us. It's not a social activity anymore for us. The thrill of getting something new doesn't have the same thrill when it happens almost everyday. Conspicuous consumption is a very real thing we face in todays' society. It is something everyone should consider reading up about and then take a minute and say to yourself is this me? Frivolous spending really isn't that cute. If a month without shopping sounds to hard, consider all the things you could do to fill that time you would be at the mall. Volunteer in your community, exercise, take up a new hobby! I hope many of you will consider taking this detox along with us. 

  We'll occasionally post about our detox and keep everyone updated.

Links to Volunteer opportunities locally:

• Pillsbury United Communities 
• Girls in Action
• Feed My Starving Children 

The Beginning: Welcome to Suite337

Krystal (left) & Liv (right)

Welcome to Suite337

A lifestyle blog that has a little bit of something for everyone (we hope)! A one stop shop for two different fashion perspectives, cooking tips, cosmetic finds, travel advice, and more. Taking life as it comes and sharing our adventures. We both have been very inspired by different blogs over the years and look forward to bringing that same inspiration to you all through ours! We hope you enjoy and stay along for the ride :)