The Purge Before The Splurge

I love summer as much as the next girl, but I must admit that I’ve been yearning to layer chunky sweaters over skinny jeans with my Steven Madden riding boots! And so, my weekend was spent with hours filtering through Pinterest and the pre-fall look books of my favorite designers, and daydreaming of how perfect the new Burberry line would look in my closet. And then I looked at my closet, and noticed the tank I have been holding onto all summer because there might be a time when it would look perfect, and the dress that I definitely remember wearing to a BBQ when I was in high school, then there are the brown wedges circa 2009 that were a questionable impulse purchase at the time and definitely have no room in my fashion future. It’s time to purge – and I know I’m not alone.

Knowing myself, and my strange attachment to clothing, I’ve decided to take charge with this new desire to minimize and have given myself a tight timeline to go through my closet (and my shoe racks!!) by the end of the week, putting everything into separate piles: Keep, Sell, Donate, Trash.

Here are my thoughts on when you know it’s time to pitch an item: If it hasn’t been worn in over a year; If it has an Abercrombie or Hollister tag and you’re over the age of 19; If it’s been through the wash so many times that you can no longer read the care instructions; If you’ve ever thought “I can sew that back on” and still haven’t. I promise that there is an upside to downsizing!

After you’ve gone through your wardrobe and have everything out of your room that you no longer want or need, decide what is OK to sell and what is OK to donate. If you’re unsure whether something holds value to resell, take it to your local consignment shop and ask! If you don’t have a preferred non-profit to donate clothing to, check out Buffalo Exchange! They have a network of amazing local non-profits, and can donate anything they are unable to purchase from you.

Here’s the fun part… give yourself a goal and a reward for all of your hard work! My goal is to sell enough to be able to reward myself with a pair of Steve Madden boots – something practical for fall, and exciting enough to actually WANT to go through my closet. It’s ground breaking.

Have fun and GET AT IT!!

XOXO,

Lauren

Transitions to FALL For

As the leaves begin to change, and the air gets crisp, I can’t help but feel a sense of longing to be able to wear some of my favorite looks from summer – the frilly dress, high wasted shorts, tight skirts, maxi dresses, and strappy wedges. Fortunately, this woe-begotten feeling is completely unnecessary. With a few simple alterations, with pieces you probably already have in your fall repertoire, these summer staples can be worn well into the chilling fall months.

For that frilly, feminine dress that you wore all summer long, and are desperately trying to sport to class or on a dinner date, simply add a belt and a blazer and you’re golden for the next few months! Add dark tights and heeled booties to dress it up, or keep it casual with boots and cable-knit socks. **Insider tip: for a great pair of legwarmers to wear with boots, check out a dance wear store and pick up a pair of long ballet legwarmers!

Shorts, an obvious go-to for summer, can still be your obvious go-to for fall with a few quick and fun variations. For a funky vibe, layer the shorts on top of patterned or colored tights with socks and boots! Or keep it classic with black opaque tights and a pair of lace-up oxfords. Either way, you’ll be sure to start some trends with this chic shorts saver. Target always has fun options for colored and patterned tights, and check out these oxfords from Forever 21 for only $25!

Forever21

.

.

.

.

.

.

This past summer, almost every ensemble revolved around the tight high-wasted skirt that practically every fashionista invested in – in every color. I don’t know about you, but I’m not ready to pack those pieces into my clothing storage. Ready for the quick fix? Grab a chunky sweater and a skinny belt and start layering! Mix and match bright colors with fun patterns to keep with the F/W trends. See how H&M pulls of this look here:

H&M

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Maxi dresses and floor length skirts stole the summer scene, and with a simple addition to your shoe rack, you can keep on rockin’ this look as long as the sidewalks are cleared of snow! Instead of pairing this piece with the strappy sandal like you have been all summer, go for a chunky ankle boot instead. It’s bold, it’s bohemian – it’s completely fabulous! I love this look with the Lita from Jeffrey Campbell, but if you’re not willing to drop $160 on a pair of booties, try this other style on for size for $50!

Jeffrey Campbell

"Rocky"

.

Typically, I don’t condone favoritism, but when it comes to my shoe rack, I feel as if I’m unable to control the fact that I have a clear favorite. A pair of strappy wedges was my summer shoe staple – I seriously wore them at least once per week. To integrate them into my fall wardrobe, I love pairing them with socks folded down to the ankle. It’s a super chic and feminine way to warm up a pair of summery heels! Check out the Marc Jacobs FW11 RTW collection for some inspiration…

Marc Jacobs

Heels and Socks

.

.

So walk on, be chic, and continue to make the world your runway.

XOXO,

Lauren

Launching YF-B

Fall… could there be a more perfect time to start a blog about fashion? I didn’t think so. With the legendary September Issue of Vogue coming out in just a few short weeks, and designers debuting their masterpieces after months of slaving over design desks, I’m proud to also be presenting my brain-child: Young Fabulous and Baroque.

As every young chicette-in-training knows, staying educated in current trends is simple; creating a wardrobe out of current trends on a college or entry-level salary, however, can sometimes prove to be too challenging. Well, challenge accepted – after all, you’re talking to a seasoned professional, here!

This blog is dedicated to the fashion addicts, and the DIY enthusiasts. To all the women out there who have ever eaten top-ramen for a month straight in order to afford a Diane Von Furstenberg tote, or chosen shoes over dinner, I understand. And now is the time to rise up and say, I WILL eat my cake and have my Jimmy Choo’s too!

Here is the place where you can find news to fuel your fashion craving, DIY’s to supplement your need to re-vamp your jewelry collection, and steals on look-a-likes that could fool Anna Wintour herself… or maybe just that cute guy at the bar. Nevertheless, this will be the perfect stepping stone to get you from last year’s drab to this year’s fab – without ruining your credit score.

Stay tuned dolls!

Xoxo,

Lauren