When You Have Ten Minutes. And That's It

Even us fashionistas have mornings when you just can't. For me that's generally every morning. I usually plan what I'm wearing for posts ahead of time. For today's post I decided to show what I usually wear when I'm not thinking about it. Let's face it, everyone has that kind of morning. Like I said, most likely every day. As students we don't have that time to try hard on our looks and any extra time is for sleep. Sleep has become my favorite activity, which is ultimately sad. Some times we don't even have a choice but to fall asleep or nothing gets done. So today I'm sharing my 10 minute look!

I usually grab all black. It always matches and looks clean. It takes the "does this match" element out of dressing yourself. Here I have a black sweater and black jogger style, cotton pants. A simple black bootie take care of the shoe problem as well. Something flat and easy to slip on. If you only have a few minutes you don't want to delay yourself with heels, buckles and straps. I always throw on a blanket scarf. It's easy to throw on, keeps you warm and it's usually solid colored to plaid making it easy to match. I'd prefer to have a black one, which I haven't had time to find yet. I usually go to Zara for these because their's are perfect and about $25. If you catch it at the end of the winter season you can some times catch them on sale! This one is from Urban Outfitters, $15 on the 50% off sale weekend.

As for beauty, I think it's important to have a basic, go-to beauty routine. Just an easy look you can replicate. I do my foundation, fill my eyebrows, then I use a cream/white colored eye shadow to neutralize the lid skin tone, then I fill the left corner of the crease with a light gray up to mid-browbone. This just gives your eyes a little depth and shape. Then I finish off with mascara. I do this look everyday unless I'm feeling fancy or actually got my ass out of bed when my alarm went off. As hair, I have a hair cut that's not hard to style, it only can look one way. But some times I wake up and it's greasy, I should've washed it, couldn't shower because life happened, etc. I just pull it back and stick my cute, chic hat on. I tend to look like a dude when I do this, but one, I don't really have a choice and two, I don't care that much.

And that's the look! Do I look particularly good? Not really. But I look totally acceptable and I'm happy with it. That's all that matters. I hope this is helpful for your mornings!

- Mik
Photos: Shahnee Naftali

Grunge Girl

Lately the blog has been on hiatus because I was looking for a new photographer for the semester, so welcome Shahnee to my team!

Happy Valentines Day readers! While my outfit has nothing to do with the holiday, because who am I kidding, I don't own red or pink, it's still cute and totally me. I've been finding lots of outfit inspiration on instagram lately and one that I found inspired this simple look. Leggings, an H&M baseball tee and a Hollister fuzzy cardigan. "Grunge Girl" is the perfect description of my style and my personality. My dark style against my bubbly and outgoing personality! I'm not much of a girly girl, but that doesn't mean I can't love fashion and be a happy person! While the look is mostly black the fuzzy sweater gives it a warm, girly addition. I also wore these H&M boots for the first time, which fit really well and are an easy match for any look.

Enjoy your Valentines Day and love yourself!

- Mik
Photos by Shahnee Naftali

Trendy Hats: The Outfit Completer

I'm really late on the brimmed hat trend that took over in fall of 2014. That's only because it took me so long to find the perfect one. Personally, I have a narrow head so hats don't fit. But this hat has a few tricks underneath it, literally, and it's perfect for completing any outfit.

Brimmed hats come in a ton of different shapes, sizes, brims, loose or stiff. I've tried so many styles trying to find something that fit and eventually gave up. While exploring the Brooklyn Night Bazaar, the most hipster thing I've done since living in New York, I found a booth with a lot of these hats. What these hats had that none of the major retailer had is an adjustable elastic to tighten or loosen the hat to your head size. I wish the owner had given me a business card so I can share the company with you, these hats were truly awesome.

I find that a hat (aka not a beanie for once) really completes an outfit from head to toe. Especially if you're like me and don't particularly like to accessorize. It's also great if you're one that doesn't have a prominent facial feature, like myself as well, it really brings out your looks and face. They go with any style, which is great. For this post I was going to do a chicer, all black look, but then switched to a wintery boho. I paired my new head piece with a Brandy Melville plaid shirt, Hollister shall and H&M mom jeans. I felt cute, cozy and adorable!

Photos by Laura Rounds (click her name to check out more of her work)

- Mik

Girl Power!

On Tuesday October 7th I went to see the girl behind the oh so popular chorus to Iggy Azalea's "Fancy," Charli XCX. Her tickets were $30 and I wasn't about to pass that up, even though I went alone. The whole had this vibe on Girl Power ( Charli said it much more obscenely, but this blog if definitely PG13). I left the venue with this awesome feeling of empowerment, confidence and " heck yea!" attitude. Let me explain:

First up was Femme, I wasn't too into music so let's skip her. Next was Elphnt, this mysterious, Swedish solo artist that literally kicked butt. Singled handedly she got a crowd of people who have never heard her pumped up. She even walked on stage with a beer in her hand. Elphnt had this rapping, deep and kind of Jamacian voice that was really cool. Definitely check her out!
Charli then came out. Her theme was prom, so the room was filled with banners and balloons. This is where it get really girl power oriented. Her all girl band, Charli included, came out in black cheerleading uniforms with the title of her new album, "Sucker" across the front. The whole thing was very "Clueless" and 90's. Big barrettes, Baby Spice buns and thin braids set in your face. Along with some platforms and tennis shoes. As Charli performed she went nuts, I'm talking Miley Cyrus without all the props. She flashed the crowd, I saw her butt more then I needed to and she danced so hard, yet her tiara never moved an inch. I was at a 1990's prom with so crazy people!

Leaving the concert I had this scary amount of confidence, like I could be dangerous and awesome. Long story short here's my outfit featuring my Charli XCX "Sucker" concert tee, H&M joggers and Urban Outfitter's army jacket. I felt I could dress however, be bold and be confident. Charli's music isn't everyone, but I think her open and shear confidence is something everyone can take from her. It's okay to crazy, fun and bold. Everyone deserves to be a little bit of a bad ass.

If you're looking for a tune to go all 90's dance party to, try Chari XCX's new single London Queen!

- Mik
Photos by Megan Madden

Time for Sweaters, Still Time for Shorts

The weather is getting to that point where in the sun it's still hot! But in the shade it's getting chilly. There's time to wear shorts, but in a fall fashion sort of way. You can pair them with tights, socks like I did or thigh high boots. For a top you can choose a sweater, cute hoodie or long flowing blouse.
We know we aren't ready to give our shorts up, but we are totally ready for sweaters. That's why I put the two together!
I wore an H&M collared sweater with leather shorts from Plato's Closet. Adding some thigh high socks and an Urban Outfitters cargo jacket for extra warmth!
It was also a good day for a smoothie. The City Gourmet at the corner of my school makes so tasty sandwiches and healthy smoothies. I made my smoothie my little prop! My photographer, Megan, and I met some adorable puppies on this shoot too. One was a tiny, white Pomeranian named Thor! It was a beautiful day for lunch with friends and small shoot in the park!
Wear those shorts as long as possible!

- Mik
Photography: Megan Madden

Moderately Profesh

Normally I'm all about my casual and cool style. It just so happened on this day people from the new Topshop location on 5th ave came to meet students interested in working there. INTERESTED? Interested doesn't even describe how I felt hearing about this opportunity. I think it's time for me to get a new job. To prepare myself I took my edgy style and made it a little more classic.
I chose black H&M leggings, a fashion tee from a store in Italy and an H&M, hip-length blazer. The blazer added a pop of color to my usual all black look. Of course I didn't want to over do it because I still had a whole day of classes to get through comfortably. My fashion tee is actually a tee shirt dress that I tucked in in the front. It was way too long to wear with leggings. You can always make small modifications to make individual pieces work for you! It's it great trick to have to get more use out of one piece. My fashion tee also says "Dream Until Your Dreams Come True." It's a very important phrase to me because my dreams are HUGE. I think it's important to always work towards your dreams and what will make you happy. Luckily, I'm hoping my interview for Topshop is part of my path to my dreams! I don't say it in every post, but it's definitely implied; always follow your dreams.

- Mik
Photography: Megan Madden

Black and Bold

It's been quite hot in NYC, melting faces hot. If you're me, you only brought one pair of shorts to school, the heat can be quite a dilemma. Until I purchased some shorts on sale I went with my second BFF, leggings. This is the first mostly black look I've done in a while and I have to say it feels good to be black (pun intended). To cope with the heat I paired my leggings from H&M with a Forever 21 crop top that was literally $2.80 so it was worth the purchase. The the white button up just added some style to an otherwise active wear look, also from H&M. Let's face it I'm not going for a run. Lastly, some Doc Martens I purchased for $40! That's a steal for Doc's!
This was the "creepy look" outfit for sure. I got so many weird looks from people. I've definitely seen weirder outfits then mine so I'm not sure what the deal was (the city has been a bit extra creepy though). I still walk tall and proud because it's who I am. I made the decision to wear what I wanted so I OWN IT! Always own who you are. There's only one person like you: you, so be yourself no matter what. That's why this outfit is not just black, but bold!

- mik
Photography: Megan Madden

Last days of August, Hello September!

It's now Labor Day and into September. Let me tell you I love fall because layers layers layers! But for my last day of August I had to hit up a trend that's translating from summer to fall, overalls. These 90s-00s classics started to come to the scene with shorts overalls this summer and now stores are selling full overalls for fall. As Barney Stinson would say "They are Over-ALLS." They can be worn over anything!
It's been hot, muggy and darn right humid in NYC so I chose to pair my Target overalls with an H&M Epic Weekend crop top. It's a long weekend of course it's EPIC! Some motorcycle boots from Plato's Closet, a Pacsun Plaid Shirt and an H&M Bedazzled Beanie complete this look.
I kept singing Fancy while shooting with my awesome photographer Megan Madden because I felt ultimately badass in this outfit. I'm convinced she thinks in totally weird. Also while checking out the Urban Outfitters sale with my roomie the greeter said he loved my look!
We shot near a sweet graffiti wall we pass going to school. The artwork changes on it all time. I think of it like style, it changes depending on how you feel and what's out there.
I think it's fun to play with different looks and see how it makes you feel. Like I said I felt bad-ass and awesome wearing this look.
I also felt totally myself! Playing dress up is part of the game it's so much fun. Keep playing around with your style.
Now we are headed into fall and I can't wait to see what looks and trends are going to be out!

- Mik
Photography: Megan Madden