karma's a bitch

Yesterday after school, I hopped in to my car with my good friend Claire prepared but a nice long catch-up chat on the drive home. When I tried to turn the keys, the wheel and ignition wouldn't budge. I called my mom who informed me that "you're 18! Figure it out!" and was of little help. My age has no bearing on my ability to diagnose car troubles. I flagged down my friend Caleb and he helped me unlock my steering wheel. No big deal right? Wrong. When I got to Claire's house, I noticed a note under my windshield that read "bumper accidint, call ###-###-####". Several things were wrong. The back right side of my was badly damaged, the dumbass misspelled accident, and the phone number wasn't valid. Well that's just awesome. How the idiot managed to slam his car in to my mine in a nearly empty parking lot is beyond me and the illegit number was annoying. But I just told myself that karma will come get him with nuclear weapons. Enter my Dogeared Karma Necklace. My friends got this for me as part of my 18th birthday group gift and I rarely take it off. Hand made and gold dipped, the perfect circle reprsents the old saying "what goes around comes around.". I'm a huge fan of karma. Seriously. I turn tails-up pennies heads up so they're lucky for some one else. Yeah, I'm that much of a dork. But if karma isn't your forte, you can find plenty of other adorable pieces. Friendship, Mothers, New Beginnings, Birthdays, Make A Wish, Sisters, Sweet Sixteen, Success, Commitment, Graduation, Follow Your Dreams, and the list goes on. Maybe I'm biased having gotten mine as a gift, but I really think that they are the perfect present for any occasion. Maybe I keep coming up with gifts because I'm in grad season mode. Who knows. But either way, I'll be wearing mine for awhile now...or at least until I can hunt down Mr. Moron who crushed my car. Cheers!

if he weren't gay, i'd marry him.

So this blog is about fashion, shopping, and everything else I find fabulous. But I have to make one social/political issue very clear. I fully and completely support gay marriage. Just as an fyi. And consequently, I'm in love with a gay man: the one and only Marc Jacobs. Seriously, the title says it all. We're soul mates. Yeah that's him in the picture modeling for LV. See how amazing he is? If an inked, buff, semi-nude designer isn't enough to fuel your love, maybe the MARC by Marc Jacob's accessory collection that's in stores right now will ignite the fire. I'll admit I own only a few things from MJ (a necklace, perfume, a wallet, a t-shirt, a pair of shoes, a bag, and two pairs of sunglasses). Ok well typed out it looks like alot. So maybe I lied. But I guess the point is that I don't own enough stuff from him when you consider the fact that we're getting married. As graduation (and grad party and gift) seasons approaches, I've been looking for tangible items to suggest as gifts. When planning this post, I was just going to highlight a few pieces...but I got a little carried away

1. Glitter and hardware bracelets
2. Classic bow/label necklaces.
3. Monogram enamel bracelets
4. Pretty Nylon Little Tate
5. Graphic Print shoulder bag
6. Bow-toe Flats
7. Pretty Nylon Cosmetic Case
I'm loving the modern bows, the glitter, and the use of hardware. The enamel bracelets are modern with a twist; I'd take any of them in a heartbeat. And I'm a HUGE fan on the Pretty Nylon line. I have the large hobo in royal blue and I'm obsessed with it. All in all, I love the edgeiness of the MARC by Marc Jacob's line. It's young and hip, but still sophisticated. Not to mention it usually runs a little cheaper than the name brand line. Score. Got a grad who needs a gift? She'd be crazy to not flip for an MJ present.

And thank you all so much for reading, commenting, and following! I love hearing from everyone.

fine by design

Today was our Speech & Debate Banquet. I've been on the team for 3 years and I'm going to miss it so much next year. I figured I might as well look super cute on such a bitter sweet occasion. Here's what I wore.

I'm obsessed with this ruffled pleather jacket from Macy's. I was out with friends and saw it on sale for $60 and HAD to have it. It's warm, goes with everything, and doesn't feel cheap or fake at all. Score. The skirt is a different story. My gave me a great pink toile skirt a few years ago that I wear all the time with a tucked in tshirt and belt. Upon further inspection, I realized it would be super easy to make an elastic waist skirt just like it. And here's the finished product. My friends loved it so much that I've been cranking them out for them. If they buy me the fabric, I'll make the skirt. All in all, it was a great morning and a wonderful end to an incredible career on the team.



On a semi related note, I stopped by BCBG Max Azria yesterday...and my dream dress isn't in stores yet. Gr. I want to try it on before I buy it. I'm just so ahead of the curve.

broadway boogie woogie

Ok sorry for the ridiculous title...I've got modern art and Modrian on my mind. And sorry for the exceedingly terse and rather plain post of late. AP Art History and English Lit are eating me alive and come Friday 7th period I will be a MUCH happier person. >But despite my ability to procrastinate everything school related until the very last second, I have begun my graduation dress hunt early. And I am pleased to say I found a winner. Convincing my mom to get it for me is going to be an entirely different issue. I want this dress from BCBG Max Azria. I'm in love with it. The rouching on the sides, the one shoulder look, the detailed stitching down the front...gorgeous. I'm speaking at my graduation in front of 10,000 people. No big deal. I'll be wearing a traditional white gown, but underneath I need something killer to hit up the parties in afterwards. I envision it with a glossy blowout, modern color-blocked necklace and really fun wedges. No heels, they'll stick in the grass when we walk. I'm determined to win my mom over on this one. Bluefly has a great dress sale going on, so I am considering that as another option, but I want this little number. Only 18 more days of high school, and just 20 some days till graduation. I can't wait.

patience is NOT my virtue

Let's make one thing very clear; I HATE waiting. I'm extremely impatient. Lines at the store? No thanks. Wait at a restaurant? Nope. Back ordered dresses? Agonizing. I was looking at the Nordstrom website and I came across a dress I just HAD to have. This pretty little number from French Connection. I'm positively in love. I immediately added it to my bag, whipped out my card...and was informed that the expected ship date was JUNE 24TH! That means I won't be prancing around in this baby until July. Dammit. The beauty of this dress it that it will look rockin' with t-strap sandals and sunglasses for summer but I can also pair it with tights, riding boots and a cute trench coat for winter. So basically, it's the perfect dress and I'm really really annoyed that it's back ordered. Hopefully it's an under-promise, over-deliver kind of thing. I really hope it is. Anyway, I just wanted to thank everyone for reading. I know I'm a little new on the scene but I promise I have plenty to say.

TOMS Style Your Sole

WOW. What an amazing time. I'm co-president of a club at my school called Big Sisters and on Friday we hosted a TOMS Style Your Sole Party. Not familiar with TOMS? It's one of the most inspiring companies around today. This video tells the story of how the movement started watch. Watch it.

Amazing right? The one for one model is probably the coolest thing the fashion industry has ever seen. For our party, over 100 kids parcticpated. We orderd plan white TOMS shoes, bought paint, and went to town. Spatter paint, sharpie doodles, stencils and song lyrics, no two shoes were the same. Every is planning to wear them tomorrow. I can't WAIT to host one of these parties again. If you have any questions about how to have one or about TOMS, let me know. Check out the photos I snapped.

These are mine: gold, silver and purple splatter paint.






The afternoon was a huge success and everyone's shoes turned out amazing!!! I'm now a diehard fan of the company and movement. Think these shoes aren't high end? Nordstrom carries them, if that says anything. Want your own pair? Check out the website to snag a pair of your own. I have my eye on a pair of the gold glitter ones. Fashion with a cause...what could be better? Keep the love coming and follow me if you love it!

the sounds of summer

Summer just can't quite come fast enough. Why? Because the music scene in Denver is going to be RED HOT. It may not be til August, but the 3rd year of the Mile High Music Festival promises to be a good one. Check out the AMAZING lineup.

Incredible right? I'm a huge music fan. More than anything, I'm dying to see Phoenix play at MHMF. Their song 1901 never gets old. For more info, check out the website. If you're anywhere near Denver...these two days will be worth the trip. Tomorrow I'm going to see Taylor Swift. I'll write about it asap. Plus I've got a gorgeous Alice+Olivia dress I'm dying to show off. Stay tuned! And if you like what you see, please follow me! I've got lots planned for this blog. Get excited!

Step 1.5: go green, get green

I haven't even shipped in my electronics (see post below if you're confused) but I've already started envisioing what I could buy with that check. Go green, get some green...I'm a fan. My potential purchases are as followed. First are these stunning Kate Spade earrings. My friends got me a pair in an orangey-red color as part of my birthday gift and I'm obessed with them. I want another pair or two or five right now. Perfect touch of bling for any basic outfit. They're pretty big in diameter. It takes a bigger ear to pull them off, but they are beautiful nonetheless. My friends know me so well. What a fabulous gift (hint hint!). Next...ok I'll admit it. I'm a sucker for anything by Marc Jacobs. I don't know why there isn't a store in Denver. I'd work there in a heartbeat. If he weren't gay, I'd marry him. The new Pretty Nylon line is incredible. My mom got me a large hobo bag (to be featured in a later post; I'm a bag whore) and it's amazing. Super durable, super cute and goes just about anywhere. Now enter this pretty little pouch. I just want to own it to hold all my useless junk that I carry around with me at all times. Something men will never understand, the need for a large purse. I'll have to write about that soon, shed a little light on the maxi-bag trend. Last but not least, this pretty little headband from Jcrew. JCrew always has the sweetest accessories. Maybe it's the upper eastside snob within me, but I love headbands. Classy. Oddly enough though, I have an mishapen head or so it seems because very few headbands lay flat against my hair. Awesome. I've created a few clever ways to disguise this though. If I weren't so awful at doing hair I'd conisder posting about it. Maybe I still will. And as I learned from Blair Waldorf, the bow always goes on the right. Good to know. But all that aside...I guess recycling can really pay off!

Step 1: out with the old

Some call it spring cleaning. I call it...a disaster. Why? For me cleaning means making an even bigger mess than before. But to make things a little easier, I tackled my nightstands and bookshelves first. Interestingly, I came up with a lot of electronics. I got my first iPod in 7th grade and my first camera in 5th. Believe it or not, I STILL have them. I read about Gazelle in a magazine and decided to give it a try. The company will literally pay you if you send in old electronics. I came up with 3 iPods, 2 cell phones and 2 cameras that totaled at $63. Not too bad. A box for me to mail in my stuff is on it's way. Not only am I getting rid of junk and getting paid to do it, I'm going green. Instead of ending up in landfills, my devices will be recycled and and reused. Stylish? I think yes. I definitely recommend checking out the site. If you do, let me know what you think! Now...on to the my closet. Wish me luck.

The day after yesterday...

April 2nd. The day after college decisions are sent out to millions of hopeful high school seniors. CU Boulder sent me a nice welcome package, USC was loaded with information for prospective students, Boston College was a classic "congrats" and Yale sent a lovely rejection letter. But none of that matters because I'm going to GEOREGTOWN. The Hilltop. Home of the Hoyas. I can't wait. But after a weekend spent exploring the school, town and dorms, I came to a realization. My closet simply won't fit. Now let me introduce myself. My name is Hillary. I'm a 4th quarter high school senior living in Denver, Colorado. I hate math (Why am I taking an 8th hour Calculus class? Good question), I can't snap my fingers no matter how hard I try (No really, I swear I can't), and I'm a complete and total shopaholic. Pretty typical I suppose, but the amount of clothes I hope to bring to school next year is not. And that apocolyptic problem got me thinking... Welcome to Collegiate Couture, one girl's journey through the end of senior year, the last summer and college with a hefty wardrobe in tow.
I figured I can't be the only one on the planet with this issue (misery loves company right?). If you have any tips, please share them with me. I'm sure I'll figure it out along the way. And as I do so, I'll document it all here. Uncensored. Uncut. Fully couture. Because when you think about it, fashion is what you wear; style is how you live your life. And people, I'm setting out to fashionable live it up in style.