Clothes in Bloom

Clothes in Bloom by rachelheisen featuring tortoise cat eye sunglasses

For my post today, I've decided to make an outfit that highlights both a trend I covered in one of my latest posts for College Fashionista and the lovely clutch from my giveaway. I've been dreaming about getting a pair of floral pants all season, but unfortunately I haven't found one that I like that is also in my price range. 

However, I am considering these new BDG jeans that Urban Outfitters just released for fall. They're not exactly the floral I desired, but I do like all the patterns they come in. I'll do a dreaming about post on them a little later...maybe tomorrow? 

I was inspired to write this floral post by this girl I spotted on the Haight a couple weeks ago. She was wearing this adorable outfit with mint green shorts and a floral top, so I ended up like running after/mildly stalking her so I could take her picture. Honestly, taking street style pictures of people is so hard! I always end up looking like/feeling like a total creep. 

Don't forget to check out my post on College Fashionista on this floral trend and my floral inspired Pinterest board! 

Seeing Spots: Polka Dots

Seeing Spots by rachelheisen featuring a cropped jacket

Bustier top / Alexander Wang cropped jacket / J.Crew long pencil skirt / Lanvin choker necklace

So today is yet another Polyvore day. Because I have to wear business casual clothing to my job at Banana Republic about five times a week and my business casual wardrobe is limited, I have not been coming up with a lot of different Outfit Post worthy outfits. And whenever I do, I'm always running late and don't have time to take pictures with the appropriate lighting and angles that would be worthy of your readership. In fact, I've had my parents take pictures of two of my outfits this week, but they sucked at getting the lighting right and I didn't even bother posting them. We're bumping up the quality in this joint and we can't have any poor lighting!!
Now, I've decided that every Monday I'm probably going to end up presenting you with a Polyvore. Why? you may ask. Well, every Monday my post for College Fashionista is published on my STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK. And I figure that presenting you with an outfit highlighting the trend I documented on the street and discussed in my post would be perfect. Yea? Ultimately this will make these posts pretty short because you'll have a 500 word article on College Fashionista to read instead! YEYYYYY!!!!

The picture from my article. It's hard to get a good picture in the middle of downtown SF!

But as you might have guessed based on my Polyvore collage, my style advice of the week is on polka dots. Despite apparently originating from England, the polka dot just seems so American to me. And I'm honestly not that completely off-base in connecting those two (despite what my editor told me). The polka dot first gained traction in the 1920s when the Minnnie Mouse illustration was presented in her signature polka dot dress. Later on, celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe donned the dots and they also became the staple in Lucille Ball's wardrobe for I Love Lucy. Today, polka dots are just as popular as ever and a great pattern to play with to add some youth and playfulness to any outfit! Check out more of my advice and musings over polka dots in my post at College Fashionista. Also, check out my Pinterest Board focusing on polka dots for more visual ideas on how to wear them.
Ok I need to go to bed right now which you probably could've guessed because my writing right now is atrocious. But I promise I'll be back soon with a more legitimate post than this.

Outfits of Our Dreams: Stripes Get a Makeover

Organic by John Patrick merino wool sweater / 3.1 Phillip Lim crepe pants / Loeffler Randall clogs shoes / Stella & Dot chain jewelry

In case you haven't noticed, I'm a little obsessed with stripes. Now if you haven't picked up on that pattern, I invite you to look down at my last outfit post and then to your right to my lookbook.nu feed. Stripes, stripes, stripes everywhere! There are many reasons why today seemed like the perfect time to post about stripes. 1) I'm wearing stripes today 2) Fourth of July is coming up with all its stars and stripes 3) Today my post about stripes went live on CollegeFashionista. When I was doing my little research for my post, I found this lovely quote from J.Crew's Fashion Director, Gayle Spannaus. "For me, stripes are a neutral--I pair them with everything." I loved this quote because it opened up a world of opportunity to my favorites stripes. 

Above, I have posted my very first set from polyvore. I joined the site 6 months ago, but I didn't really do anything with the site until today. After I read that quote from Gayle Spannaus, I instantly wanted to pair my stripes with some of this summers favorite trends: patterned pants and neon. Unfortunately, I don't have either. Coming to the conclusion that I need to go shopping (surprise) and that I cannot do an outfit post on my imaginary outfit, it hit me: Polyvore.
Tell me what you think of it and maybe follow me? I don't really understand how that site works still. Also don't forget to check out my post on CollegeFashionista! I've linked you to some more amazing striped items!