The Gould(ing) Standard

By Soraya

via Weheartit.com

Prince William and Princess Catherine have finally tied the knot!  I was so blown away by Kate's Sarah Burton wedding gown when I took a peek at the television this morning.  It was the perfect mix of classic and current.  What made me even more estatic was realizing that the very talented Miss Ellie Goulding was going to be singing the royal couple's wedding song, Elton John's "Your Song".  

In case you aren't familiar with this British songstress, she is most well known for her hit "Lights".  A few months ago, I learned some contemporary choreography for this song in my dance class and instantly fell in love with it.  The electronic beats infused with her sweet sounding voice created absolute perfection.  Her album  Lights was released in the United States in March.  Lights is a masterpiece and the royal couple have made an excellent decision by picking Goulding to provide the music for their first dance.  Keep your ears peeled for her because Ellie Goulding isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Royal Reception Look Pt. 2

By Soraya


Matthew Williamson Beaded Silk Gown- $2295
Yves Saint Laurent Peep Toes- $720

Alexander McQueen Leather Clutch
Devon Page McCleary diamond bracelet- $11800
Irene Neuwirth Teardrop Earring- $2420
Miss Dior Cherie Eau De Parfum Spray - $98

I'll definitely be watching the Royal Wedding courtesy of my DVR as soon as I get home from school.  If only Julia and I could attend the reception and wear the dresses of our dreams...

Royal Reception Look Pt.1

By Julia

1. Zac Posen draped dress
2. Steve Madden patent pumps, $100
3. Wendy Nichol circle bag, $575
4. David Yurman diamond jewelry, $2,100
5. David Yurman chain jewelry, $1,700
6. Jennifer Behr crystal hair accessory, $498

In honor of the royal wedding... Congratulations to Kate & William!

 

Shopping List

By Julia

Via: Nordstrom.com

James Perse T-shirt
The thin fabric of this tee is very laid back.

Via: Boutiques.com

N God We Trust bracelet
This fun polished hammered brass cuff with the attached chain is so easy to layer or wear alone.

Via: Urbanoutfitters.com

I love a reason to wear chambray and rompers; this piece makes putting together an outfit easy.

Via: Forever21.com

Forever 21 shirt
This is cheap and cute.  The ruffels are my favorite part.

Via: Anthropologie.com

Anthropologie skirt
A great, slimming pattern on a great summer skirt.

Top 5 Playlist - Week of 4.26.11

1. Flashes of Yellow by Augustine

2. Lisztomania by Phoenix

3. Great DJ by The Ting Tings
4. Everything's Magic by Angels & Airwaves
5. Giving Up the Gun by Vampire Weekend

Top 10 Beauty Essentials

By Soraya

I'm the type of girl who likes to look more natural.  I'm not very daring with my makeup at all.  The idea of waking up half an hour earlier than my normal wake-up time (7 AM) to do an expert makeup job is definitely out of the question.  I'll take more zzz's than pounds of makeup anyday;  however I do make sure that I look very presentable.  These are the products I swear by:

1. Origins No Puffery Cooling Eye Mask $22- For those mornings after almost pulling all-nighters.

2. Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler $30- The Chanel of all eyelash curlers; perfect for my long, yet pin straight eyelashes.

3. Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara  $15- Doesn't clump, separates, & keeps lashes curled

4. Rosebud Lip Salve $6- The best lip balm you could ever buy. period.

5. Bumble & Bumble Sunday Shampoo $20- I use this twice a week to get a deep clean.  It always leaves my hair feeling silky soft and smelling amazing.

6. Chloe Perfume $110- My new favorite scent: polished, not overpowering, and sweet smelling. Reminiscent of another favorite, Miss Dior Cherie.

7. Lancome Juicy Tubes (17 Fraise) $28- Sheer and adds the perfect amount of color.

8. Clinique 'Even Better' Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 20 $43- SPF for face is an absolute must-have.  Skin tone corrector evens out those little marks from blemish scars.

9. Murad Acne Spot Treatment $18- Zaps problem zits on the spot.

10. Bare Escentuals Bareminerals SPF 15 Foundation- Looks flawless on skin, a crowd pleaser (featured here.)

Link to Polyvore Set

Sweet Little Nothings: 4.24.2011

 By Julia

Via: Katespade.com
This Bag is great because it it's small size, messenger style, and the fun spring colors it comes in!

Via: Freepeople.com

These shorts look so comfortable and I want them in green!

Via: Weheartit.com

 The Easter bunny came to my house this morning, I got peeps and resses cups shaped like eggs. Tonight I'll make Easter smores with these items on the stove top.

I'm Falling in love with this remix

Austin City Limits: Dream Lineup

The release of 3-Day Passes to the general public for ACL is coming up in a couple of weeks.  We are beyond excited to hear the line-up for this year's festival.  Here are some of our choice picks (some veterans of ACL, some newcomers) as well as our favorite songs:

1. Sleigh Bells- "Riot Rhythm"

2. Two Door Cinema Club- "I Can Talk"

3. Hockey- "Curse This City"

4. Local Natives- "Sun Hands"

5. Matt & Kim- "Cut Down"

6. Deadmau5- "Hi Friend"

7. The Kills- "Sour Cherry"

8. Small Black- "Photojournalist"

9. Does It Offend You, Yeah?- "We Are Rockstars"

10. New Young Pony Club- "The Get Go"

11. Civil Wars- "Poison & Wine"

12. The Bloody Beetroots- "Warp 1.9 (feat. Steve Aoki)"

13. Florence + The Machine- "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)"

14. Yeah Yeah Yeahs- "Maps"

15. Bombay Bicycle Club- "Always Like This"

16. Band Of Horses- "The Funeral"

17. The Strokes- "Reptilia"

18. Kings of Leon- "Manhattan"

Shades of Summer

 By Soraya

Via rescuebeautylounge.com
'Bikini Bottom' by Rescue Beauty Lounge

 

Via Qualitybeautysupply.com
'Gargantuan Green Grape' by OPI



Via Counterculturebeauty.com
'Little Girl Type' by MAC



Via gosale.com
'Boathouse' by Essie

Via femalenetwork.com
'Boom Boom Pow' by Deborah Lippman

 

The Gray Area

By Soraya



H&M top, Lily White shorts, vintage bracelets, Coach gladiator sandals (circa 2009)



This season, there are a wide variety of color pallets to choose from, ranging from white on white to statement-making brights (no rhyme intended).  However, I chose to go for the muted neutral color pallet.

I wore this outfit on Monday as an attempt to look put together yet comfortable with a kick.  The tanktop I wore was extremely soft and my shorts were loose-fitting yet flattering.  Since I chose a subdued look, I decided to shake things up with a pair of edgy gladiator sandals that I've owned for a while.  The leather on them is still buttery soft and they're definitely one of my favorite pairs of shoes.  I constantly recieve compliments on this particular shoe and wanted to make them the highlight of the outfit. 

Nail Color: True Ab-Original by OPI
(My absolute favorite nailcolor; a darker bolder shade of coral)

Top 5 Playlist - Week of 4.19.11

1. Boy by Ra Ra Riot
2. Someone Like You by Adele

3. Material Things by Jake Troth

4. Pony Up by Kings of Leon

5. Blinding by Florence + The Machine



It's Getting Hot In Here...

By Julia

Via: Weheartit.com

We only have a couple more weeks till summe, so the countdown begins!  We're all looking for the perfect summer swimsuit, so here are some personal favorites:



Via: Luckybrand.com

Via: Oldnavy.com

Via: Poolswimwear.com

Via: Roxy.com

Via: Aerie.com

Via: Matches.com

Via: Vixswimwear.com

Via: Matches.com

Via: Jcrew.com
My personal swimsuit I wore during spring break... I love the Paisley.

Via: Jcrew.com

Via: Undrest.com

Sweet Little Nothings: 4.17.2011

By Soraya

A few things making me smile...

Picture via twenty2.com

Lauren Conrad, one of my style idols, on one of my favorite magazines.

My Bare Escentuals Feather Light Brush & SPF 15 Foundation, which have both done me justices this week- especially since I've had a three night run for dance performances.

Picture via weheartit.com
I am an extremely clumsy person and tend to be injury prone.  These band-aids are probably the story of my life.

picture via Madewell.com

Loving this new outfit from Madewell, especially the silk high-waisted shorts- they go with almost anything.

picture via weheartit.com
"Lights will guide you home. And ignite your bones. And I will try.. to fix you"
- Cold Play

Trend Watch: Lace

By Julia

Pieces (running left to right, from top to bottom):
1. Mesh lace leggings- My Diva's Closet   $19
2. Lace trim chiffon tunic- Forever 21   $20
3. Lace front cardi- Warehouse  $64
4. Suede lace-up shoes- VERO (@ Topshop)   $56
5. Cream lace halter crop blouse- Topshop   $64
6. Lace crop tank- Nasty Gal   $28
7. Lace dress- Kimchi Blue (@ Urban Outfitters)   $69
8. Metallic lace anklet socks- Antipast (@ Barney's)   $30
9. Lace Shorts-Nyheter 

Link to the collage

The Look Book

By Soraya

 Towards the end of every month, I'm always searching through piles of mail my family gets in hopes of finding my fresh new set of catalogues (Anthropologie, J. Crew, Free People, Urban Outfitters, etc.) and my favorite magazine (Teen Vogue).  Catalogues and magazines are probably the most valuable sources of inspiration for me as far as putting outfits together.  I think that taking the time to put yourself on the mailing list for your favorite store's catalogue is a really great idea- it's FREE, you get a great preview of what's coming up next, and sometimes you can find special offers or discounts inside!  Investing about $10-20 on a fashion magazine such as Elle would also be very beneficial to keep up with the latest trends out there.

However, I have a really hard time just keeping my magazines intact.  I usually tear them to pieces the moment I'm done reading them.  Why?  Because I keep a 'Look Book'.  I've been doing this since the beginning of middle school.  In the book, I organize and keep cutouts I've accumulated from my magazines and catalogues.  Everytime I'm stuck in a rut, trying to figure out a new way to wear my favorite top or incorporate a new scarf into an outfit, I just pull out the book and BAM!  Outfit embodying that idea on page 12.  I introduced this idea to Julia and she started a book of her own soon after.  Through out the course of this blog, we'll be putting some pages from our books online.

It's simple to create a 'Look Book'.  The only things required are magazine clippings, glue (Elmer's Extra Strength Glue Stick works the best- keeps pages from crinkling unlike liquid glue and has a strong hold), scissors, and a notebook.  One of my favorite things to do on Sunday afternoons or free weeknights is gather up a fresh pile of magazines and work for hours on end on my book.  I'm a perfectionist, so I'm really careful with how I cut things out and whatnot, but I definitely get lost in the clothes when I'm putting pages together. 

What scrapbooking means for some people is definitely look-booking for me.



Duck... Duck... DOONEY

By Julia

"A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous." ~ Coco Chanel

In my opinion, what can be more classy than Dooney & Bourke? 

First, a little history lesson on one of my favorite handbag designers: Peter Dooney and Frederic Bourke.  They started off with two introductory products: surcingle belts, which were popular due to their unique vibrant colors and stripes, and classic suspenders.



It! denim shorts, Minnetonka moccasins, vintage shirt, vintage Dooney & Bourke bag

This is a vintage Dooney and Bourke bag that my mom gave to me. It's my favorite bag because it works anywhere. It's a good color leather and has a crossbody strap which is a must (for me). I love the embossed oval duck logo on the purse front and a hanging metal "All Weather Leather" tag.… very preppy 80's.



Here are some D & B bags:





Medium Drawstring Bag
via Dooney & Bourke online store

'Saddle' Crossbody Bag
via Nordstrom.com

   

'Duck' Mini Crossbody Bag
via Nordstrom.com

 

Top 5 Playlist - Week of 4.12.11

1. "Soft Shock" By Yeah Yeah Yeahs

2. "Heatshock (Killabits Remix)" By Easy

3. "Riot Rhythm" By Sleighbells

4.  "Living In America" by Dom

5.  "Something Good Can Work" by Two Door Cinema

All That Glitters

By Soraya

Lately, the weather around Austin hasn't been the best- gray and humid.  A lot of people started giving up on creating outfits and opted for the 'tee-shirt and sweatpants' look.  A month ago, I bought a silver sequined vest on sale at Free People and instantly fell in love with it. 
This past weekend, things have finally started lightening up, but I've been inspired by pretty notes of sparkle to liven up an outfit on dreery days.

Here are some things you may want to try:

'Happy Birthday' by Deborah Lippman

Alice + Olivia for Keds sequined slip-ons

(A modern twist on a classic- the light pink ones are my favorite)

 'Glittering Lozenge Headband' @ Anthropologie

Pictures via Google Images

Sweet Little Nothings

Everyone has those little things that they appreciate.  We thought that introducing some of ours would give you an impression of who we are...


Julia:

'What You Know' is my favorite song, but a friend of mine told me about this band and it's been my favorite ever since.

'Cajun Shrimp'- Some like it hot.

My Go-to Scent.

What do I look for men? Sperry's.

 Soraya:

'Harajuku Lover's G'

Because I spent my middle and elementary school years in Hawaii, I'm obsessed with all things tropical.

"We gon' come together, We gon' celebrate.  We gon' gather round like it's your birthday"

Kings of Leon

I'm absolutely, undeniably in love with this look from Free People.

Red velvet cupcakes: the way to my heart.

Pictures via We <3 It

Google Images

Freepeople.com