Mad Men Style

I just finished the first season of Mad Men and I can now say that I am officially addicted. Even though the morals are all over the place and everything is so hush hush that it makes me want to scream and punch someone, I absolutely cannot stop watching it. I find it almost refreshing to go back to a completely different era, where things we wouldn't even dream of were considered the norm, and everyday was an occasion to dress up. The costume design is exquisite and the hair and makeup is equally impressive. I already have the first 2 discs of season 2 that I can't wait to start up tonight!

I love character Joan Holloway's simple yet sexy sheath dresses. Being the confident siren, she proves that a little goes a long way. If you notice, she wears this same gold pen on a chain throughout the show and works it into every outfit magically.

Character Betty Draper's style is more elegant and refined. She paints the perfect picture of the ideal housewife at the time. Even when going to bed she always looks flawless and Grace Kelly-esque. This look is from an upcoming season and I cannot wait to see it on screen.

This beautiful burnt orange brocade dress I bought at Anthropologie years ago reminds me of something they'd wear in Mad Men. To complete the look, I'd add a pair of my new vintage clip on earrings and a pretty clutch and some pumps and I could transport myself into the show.

Unfortunately, the back is missing a button, which is why I have put off breaking it out, but watching the show has inspired me to find a solution so that I can rock it Man Men style soon!

If you're a Mad Men fan or just want to read up on the amazing style featured in the show, check out the Mad Men fashion file blog on http://blogs.amctv.com/mad-men/fashion-file/

My Vision Board

This week has been huge for me. I learned that my dream of living in South Africa for a year has become a reality and that I leave next January to teach art and culture and possibly history to kids ages 12-18 in an incredible boarding school! What perfect timing to work on my last assignment in a 5-week money management class of creating a vision board for my life. We were each given poster board and were told to past pictures and whatever else we wanted of things that we vision for our life, whether they be things that inspire us, intrigue us, or things we have been dreaming about since childhood. I was dragging my feet at first, looking at it more as homework than a fun project, but soon after I got started I found myself having so much fun tearing things out of magazines and printing things out and pasting them all together on my board. I have always been a huge dreamer, so finding things to put on the board came very easily. In fact, what I struggled with the most in the end was not having enough room to squeeze in a few more dreams and visions. At least I know that my future isn't contained in a little poster board.

Africa is the start of my dreams coming to life, so I thought it appropriate to place my Africa cluster on first.

Then the hopeless romantic in me was unleashed when I pasted all these things on, which include my dream husband, Robert Redford (unfortunately it's several decades too late for that), and my dream wedding gown, and a lavender field which is my dream location for my wedding. I told you, I'm a big dreamer.

Stay tuned for part 2 of my vision board.

Turquoise for a Hot Summer Day

Top: H&M, skirt: Forever 21, belt: Urban Outfitters, shoes: Guess.

Reminds me of...

Remember that scene in The Devil Wears Prada where Andy comments that the turquoise belts look exactly the same to her and Miranda then gives her a big lecture about her cerulean sweater?

Double Vision

Months ago I saw this photo of Sarah Jessica Parker in this amazing Marchesa masterpiece and saved the image just because I loved it so much. Just recently, I spotted Taylor Swift in the same dress in this month's issue of Marie Claire. Who do you think rocks it better?

Patriotic Expression

"Free at last; free at last; thank God Almighty we are free at last." --Martin Luther King, Jr.

Happy 4th of July everyone! For the 4th I decided to pull put my Zac Posen for Target blue dress with snap details.

I went all out on my nails this year. I achieved this patriotic look by alternating every other nail with blue and red, and then taking a nail art white and using the thin brush to paint horizontal stripes across the red and small dots on the blue. I was actually surprised how well they turned out, given how clumpy the white polish was.

Right now I am watching The Patriot, my recommendation for the perfect 4th of July movie. Enjoy the beautiful fireworks and stay safe!

The Floral Dress

In my opinion, everyone should own at least one floral dress for spring and into summer. The look is classic and can be worked with different accents and accessories depending on the season. This week I decided to pull out my floral dress, which is actually sheer lingerie that I got from Victoria's Secret a few years ago. I put a black slip underneath and sinched the waist with a white studded waist belt from H&M and voila! I had my own floral look for summer.

I paired this gold layered chain necklace and white studded belt to give the look a more modern edge.

Here are a few recent floral dress looks I've been loving: