Sex in the City: Two Ways To Do It

 

 

 

So, here it is. The post I promised would make you feel like you are right in the middle of a scene from Sex in the City. I've been dying to put this tutu on but I felt it deserved more than just being thrown into a mediocre lookbook in Richmond. I knew after buying this piece, I would have to keep it tucked away till it was time to pack for my anticipated two months in the big city. The second Ali and I decided to plan our first individual lookbook here in New York, I immediately was inspired by this pink mess of layered tulle. As Ali previously mentioned, I live in a teeny tiny box that New Yorkers like to call an apartment here in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Don't get me wrong, its a beautiful location right across from Central Park (which can be seen effortlessly from my building's rooftop) but words such as spacious and large will never be used to describe my cute Manhattan apartment. We decided to explore familiar streets since the setting and vibe of the area I reside in was nothing less than perfect for the look I chose to create. 

I decided it would only make sense to show you guys two different ways to do the tutu since it can sometimes be a pretty difficult piece of clothing to wear. It does take an initial wave of confidence to dedicate to a pink, girly tutu; especially, when you feel most comfortable in your newest sneaks, a Calvin Klein sports bra, and active leggings like me. But, I promise if you do the tutu right, it will make you feel like you're on top of the world. For my first look, we decided to take a stroll through Central Park and stop at any location we felt could cater to my extremely feminine yet ironically tomboy-ish attire. The best part about Look #1 was that ideally, I could have transitioned from my favorite pair of boyfriend jeans into this tutu and not have changed a single aspect of my outfit. The muscle band tank, white chucks, and a sporty backpack looks just as great together and not awkward like most would foresee. What I enjoyed most about Look #2 was the natural Parisian aesthetic that still was completely in sync with the city girl sense. I feel it's also important to mention that I purchased all of these pieces, with exception of the sunglasses, for under $30. 

Look #1:

R.E.M Band Tank || Thrifted/Stole from Ali's closet

Tutu || AmericasMart Atlanta

White Converse || Taylor's Closet

Quay x Shay Mitchell Sunglasses || Urban Outfitters

Backpack || Urban Outfitters

Look #2:

Cross Crop Top || Tobi

Tutu || AmericasMart Atlanta

Lace Up Heels || Lulu's

Box Purse || AmericasMart Atlanta

Quay x Shay Mitchell Sunglasses || Urban Outfitters

Made in Manhattan

We’re baaaaaaaack! As some of you may know, the two of us NotSoBGC fashion bloggers have been dreaming of acquiring a summer internship in NYC. Thanks to lots of hard work and endless applications, we are here- amongst many other VCU fashion majors- following our dreams! Take a look at our very first NYC blog post for a better look at our life here!

We arrived in New York City on Saturday, May 30^th and have been overwhelmed ever since. Kayci is currently working at the HATCh showroom in Soho, and Ali at the fashion forecasting company Fashion Snoops in Midtown. We’d both like to give all of our readers a disclaimer: NYC life is not as glamorous as you picture at first!! We’ve experienced the VIP treatment and the typical hey-you’re-pretty-here’s-a-free-brownie, but also the hectic dash to the train station and wrong turns underground on the subway. This lifestyle is a bit of an adjustment and culture shock, but we both agree we could get used to this.

We decided to do our very first post on the rooftop of Kayci and Taylor Brunson’s apartment building on Central Park West in the Upper East Side. The view of the city was breathtaking- and it’s even better at night. For this lookbook’s outfits we chose an upscale casual look, in which we paired button-down shirts and pointed-toe heels with distressed denim and shorts for a more laid back and girly feel. The look is unexpected; it gives off an air of casual sophistication. We also love the idea of pairing gold accessories and contrasting stripes. The more outrageous elements to your outfit- the better!

To conclude, we’d just like to give a special shoutout to everyone who has helped the two of us arrive here in NYC- whether it be our parents, relatives, professors, or even just those of you who take the time to read this post! It is because of you all that we can follow our dreams and pursue the lifestyle that was “Made in Manhattan.”

Ali:

Button-down shirt || Madewell

Destroyed Denim Jeans || Forever 21

Black Heels || Nine West

White Briefs || Calvin Klein

Gold Necklace || ALDO

Aviators || Ray Ban

Kayci:

Button-down Shirt || J Crew

White Shorts || Need Supply Co.

Cropped Tank || American Eagle

Bronze Heels || BCBG

Aviators || Urban Outfitters

Il Mio Giorno al Castello di Verrazzano

I had to write about my experience in Chianti, Tuscany while the sense of awe was still fresh in my memory. We arrived at the Castello di Verrazzano early in the afternoon and were given a tour of the amazing castle that had been turned into a winery and farm. The castle was home to many people that had lived there their whole lives; it was their home! We were taken into the wine cellars and given some information about how each wine barrel holds tons and tons of grapes- making thousands of bottles of delicious wine. The winery takes pride in the making of their wine. We were told that wine should not be thought of as just a drink; it is culture and passion as well. .

After the tour we sat down to a divine lunch, featuring 4 different kinds of wine including Chianti Rosso and Chianti Classico. I could have sat down at this meal all day long. For Italians, having a meal is all about the appreciation of the work that goes into every detail. For all of you venturing to Italy in the future- some helpful tips:

-Tasting wine is a process: hold the glass at a 45 degree angle to see the color. Next, twirl your glass on the table (holding it by the stem!) and then smell the aroma of the wine. Take a sip and savor the taste before swallowing.

-Never dip your bread in olive oil. Every drop is precious, so gently pour it onto the bread.

-There is never only one course, so don’t over indulge on the first- there is more coming!!

Regrettably, this trip was less fashion-focused. However, during our stay in Chianti I did try to take a lot of photos that appreciated both the scenery and my well-dressed fashion classmates. I wore sheer pants from Tobi and my new top from Brandy Melville, along with some platform sandals from Shoemint.com. Note- always dress nicely for wine tastings! It is a classy atmosphere that requires you to dress up. As Tom Ford would say- “Dressing well is a form of good manners.”

Also featured in my pictures is my lovely friend Jaquelyn who is wearing a Chianti Rosso colored hat, a classic LBD from Need Supply, and Jeffrey Campbell heels. You can never go wrong with a floppy hat and a red lip! We had so much fun taking pictures against this beautiful landscape.

More to come soon! Only a week left in this beautiful country!

Bonnaroo Music Festival: Capturing Culture in Unexpected Places

Hello my loves,

It has been quite awhile hasn’t it? I apologize for the lack of posting on my behalf and I will make sure to neglect you guys no longer. My summer schedule has definitely been keeping me on my toes and downtime is very rare lately. I am currently juggling two jobs while interning for Jules Reid here in Virginia Beach so it has been hectic. 

Although I do miss Ali dearly while she is on her travels in the beautiful city of Florence, she is not the only one getting enriched with vast culture. I was lucky enough to have scored a ticket to the Bonnaroo music festival in Tennessee- courtesy of my amazing roommate, Camila. She is also who I previously traveled with to New York a few months ago. We work well together on long ventures. 

Some of you may not know, but I am very invested in music. It is a major part of my life and I use it to accomplish and cope with

anything life throws at me. No, I am not cool enough to play the guitar or blessed with the voice of an angel, but, I would like to think I am still “musically inclined” with the way I use music to express myself. Receiving this ticket was a perfect summer getaway for me because I adore music festivals and I was lucky to be given it for free because I really could not afford it this year since I am saving to study abroad in London.

If any of you have ever been to a music festival, you know how great the atmosphere and people are. Music was not the only thing that Bonnaroovians were using to channel their personalities but, fashion stood by music’s side and the two became a pair that was oh-so overwhelming for me. But don’t get me wrong- this overwhelming feeling was everything I wanted in a vacation and more.

As I scoped out the festival each day, I noticed music enthusiasts dressing in one of two ways: practicality vs. fashion forward. Tennessee can reach temperatures of great heights during the summer season so it only made sense to plan an outfit around the weather and activities occurring that day. I saw many festival goers in light colors, lightweight fabrics such as cotton, closed toed shoes, and large sun hats. These individuals had the right idea when it came to being comfortable and cool on those hot days. Another trend I saw amongst the festival (which I partook in as well) would be galoshes. The forecast called for rain most of the trip and not to mention "The Farm" was quite muddy after thousands of people had been trotting its grounds. Let me tell ya, there are more styles of rain boots than you thought there were!

On the other end of the spectrum, there were the fashion leaders of Bonnaroo. As I people watched, (something I often do to pass time), I began to notice a common trend among the individuals that were not so worried about the weather or mud but instead took pride in their outfit choice. These fashion gurus were often spotted in intricate kimonos, knee high gladiator sandals, cute jumpers, and unique hats. I have to say, for how hot the weather is, these ladies and gents did not mind adding on the layers. Also, cute pixie cuts on women and bright colored dyes were seen amongst the hair of the fashion forward crowd as well. I found the abundance of lightweight layers and beautiful accessories the most common trend that pushed these leaders to the front of the pack in the Bonnaroo fashion world. 

To wrap this blog post up, I would like to say to all my followers; if you don't currently have the cash to take your travels overseas or even across the country, save for a music festival close to where you reside. It might not be totally what you were thinking of when you told yourself you wanted to experience culture, great food, and new people but, music festivals will definitely grant you all three. Whether you're a fashion junkie or music freak, Bonnaroo was a world of its own and has a place for everyone.

Aih...Cuanto cuesta?!

Ciao belle!
My italian is getting so much better now that I am submersed in the Italian culture and I am so excited. However, apparently Florence is the WORST Italian city to practice your Italian because there are so many Americans and English-speaking Italians! (lots of study abroad kids as well).

I wanted to dedicate a single post to the SHOPPING. I am thrilled to be surrounded by other fashion majors during my stay here because- trust and believe- none of my friends or family members would be able to tolerate our endless hours of shopping!

The pictures above include the following: Gucci sneakers from the Gucci outlet, a Zara jumper in the dressing room of the Firenze Zara, Ruco Sneakers (to DIE for), and a Zara mannequin display. I wanted to show a mix of the clothing that I have been seeing in stores. For example, there are many chain stores like Zara, H&M, and Brandy Melville here in Firenze, but the real shopping is in the European brand stores. As I walk around the streets of Florence, it is hard to refrain from getting distracted by the well-known brands that I am familiar with, but- just like life- style begins at the end of your comfort zone!! Places like Ruco and Cos feature European-based brands that you can't find in the states. That is the beauty of traveling abroad.

The Gucci sneakers, however, are a whole other story. Here in Florence, there is a designer outlet mall titled,"The Mall." I don't want to bore you with the details, but the mall had the shops of designers including Prada, Gucci, Dior, Balenciaga, Ferragamo, YSL, Valentino, Ermano Scervino, and Moschino. The best part was- all of the designs were sold at a discounted price! And, by the way, by discounted I mean taken down from 500 euro to 200... My favorites were Dior and Valentino because of their craftsmanship, but as you all know, in NotSoBGC we take pride in staying away from designer brands. If you can't afford it, why buy it right? So, needless to say, I didn't buy a single thing. But I did learn a whole lot.

As I continue to live and shop in the country of Italy, I will make sure to document my experiences about customer service, originality, merchandising tactics, pricing, and so on. There is nothing like being submersed in the very industry you wish to work in and I intend to make the most of it.

I must get to sleep- I'm off to Cinque Terre at 7am tomorrow morning! Ciao!

Benvenuto a Italia!

Ciao ragazzi!! So here it is, my first blog post from Firenze, just like I promised! It is 11:28pm here (5:28pm your time) and I could not be more exhausted! Now I know why all these Italians are so skinny- they walk everywhere!

So, considering my exhaustion and prolonged jet lag, this blog post will be a brief one. The following are just a few snapshots of my favorite moments within my first 48 hours in Italy. I captured the best drinks: a Spritz (1st picture) and the classic cappuccino (last picture). The other pictures consist of myself and my classmates exploring the city.

Despite our delayed flight and LOST LUGGAGE, we were still lucky enough to make it to the Pitti Uomo trade show on the day we arrived in Florence (pictures 2 and 3)- talk about wardrobe envy! This trade show was probably the most awe-inspiring glimpse into the undercover world of the fashion industry that I had ever experienced. I came dressed in a polyester maxi skirt and lace-embroidered shirt, and I have never felt so under-dressed in my life. People-watching was at its prime here. The most beautifully dressed Italians glided through the trade show venue as if they were royalty- dressed in the most bizarre but brilliant designer clothing. I'm talking girls in dresses with new balance sneakers, men decked out in suits consisting of 3 different patterns, couples matching in cream silk outfits...

The trade show consisted of designers show-casing their lines for the 2016 fall/winter and spring/summer collections. This was their time to show buyers that they had the next best thing, and everyone brought their A game.

The following pictures show what I did today- my second day in Firenze. We had time to explore the city- the Duomo, various markets, and of course our apartments! (Picture 7). 

Every moment I spend here could not be any more valuable to me, so I am soaking up every second of every day. As for tomorrow- I am waking up at 6:30 to visit the central market and go on an early morning run around the city! A presto!