I Heart Melie Bianco Handbags!

I first discovered Miss Melie Bianco’s handbags at a small boutique in my college town. After leaving my favorite shop and school behind for the west coast and my adventures abroad, I was worried I would never again find a store that carried my much beloved line. But, luckily I have become an Internet search maven and my endless and tireless search for these handbags has finally come to a (sigh of relief) end.
Melie Binaco Handbangs have a wide range of style and personality that I haven’t found in many of the more expensive name brand handbag lines, most of which rely largely on reformatting their print and color scheme for every new season. Bianco’s handbags line is diverse, both in type and style, and this variety allows one to shift through the styles and pick one that fits their personality and needs. With affordable pricing, ranging from $45- $70, these handbags will allow you to carry more cash in them than you spent on them.

My personal favorites? First and foremost, this patent leather shoulder bag in wine. The color is amazing and trumps the standard black and brown handbags that are so prevalent (though I am victim/investor to and in this trend as well). Colorful handbags, though they seem hard to match to clothing, should be not be over thought, but if you love the bag and not the color, it comes in cream, black, and white as well. Though, if you are looking for a bag that makes an impact utilizing colors that will match more of your wardrobe, consider this beige contrast tote. Already have something to tote all of you mini goodies (i.e. cell, lipgloss, etc.) during the day? Pick up one of her evening clutches to stylishly stash all your necessities. Her multicolor clutch in grey or camel is a great and unique (in a good great grand wonderful way) and has a removable chain, so you can either carry or tote your bag in your little hand or on your little shoulder, whichever you please.

Fun and Fancy Free Flats!

With Australia on the horizon, and a great deal of traveling ahead, I decided I had better find myself some comfortable, bright, and fun shoes to sport during my time down under. With leopard and cheetah dominating the printed shoe scene (guilty of owning flats in both prints), I decided to buy something a little less standard and a little more fun and fancy free to add some pop to my basics. First pair in my cart? A set of blue floral print mary janes. Made with basic cotton and rubber soles, these almost slipper-like shoes will add a girlish touch to my wardrobe and give some of my darker tops a little burst of color and fun. Paired with skirts or jeans, and also featured in black, red, and leopard prints, these fun and easy shoes will make an impact on my wardrobe, and for $14, they won’t make one on my bank account.
For those unaware, Australia and the U.S. have opposite seasons, which means that fall fashion is just hitting the stores there as we speak. Keeping this in mind, I chose a pair of navy ballet flats with a white polka dot print. With nautical inspired wear sailing into stores for our upcoming spring, these navy flats will suit the style of all you fashionable girls here in the US, while helping me to be stylish as the Aussies go back to school. At $40 dollars, these flats are mid-range price (mid-range for this lowly intern who works for free) and are so versatile and interchangeable with the seasons I would have paid more for this find.

For a girly girl as irrational as I am, I was very reluctant to pick up a pair of sneakers for my semester abroad. I don’t think I have worn a pair of tennis shoes outside the gym since high school! But, knowing that adorable (and practicable) sneakers were out there, I continued my search and was very happy for it. I found these pretty and fun 80/20 printed slip ons. With a heart printed on one shoe and the stripes continuing on the other, these original slip ons were perfect for this on-the go girl.

With my shoe quota now (almost ;) ) met for Australia, what will I search for next?

Low Prices, Mega Style Statements

If you New Year’s resolution was to save money, I have the style bargains the year. These versatile pieces work with a variety of outfits and styles, and for the fraction of the cost of designer wear. For flats that could have been crafted by Marc Jacobs, Delias designers bring to you a truly adorable and versatile flat. In either blue (take that leap, you’ll thank me later) and black, these bow topped toe touch-ups can be worn with a variety of outfits and occasions. For this lowly intern, these price savvy flats will work in the office with a pair of cuffed knee length slacks or, for those workin’ for the weekend, these $26 beauties match perfectly with this equally adorable floral woven shirt ($28) from forever21.com. Throw in this vintage satchel ($25) from alloy.com and a pair of dark or black skinny jeans and your outfit will be turning heads (esp. my favorite dirty skater boys) left, right, and around. Going out later? Throw on these purple ankle boots ($27) from wetseal.com, switch your satchel for this adorable reptile hard hinge clutch (12.50) also from wetseal.com, and pull on some tights/leggings and this Lux watercolors babydoll top ($60) from urbanoutfitters.com. Clothes can be cute and affordable, you just have to look...or read my blog.

The Must Have Dress

My New Years resolutions? 1. Eat my vegetables, 2. Make time for yoga, 3. And of course, add to my wardrobe! The first thing on my list? Day dresses! With Australia on my horizon and hot weather in my future I decided the best addition to my closet would be a bevy of day dresses. My dress obsession? Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent metallic jersey slip dress. But unfortunately for this lowly unpaid intern, the $145 price tag is a little out of my league. Adorable alternates are out there and my latest discovery, bluefly.com, had the perfect substitute, this BCBGirls grey jersey ‘Tania’ embellished dress. In a standard color, this dress has a number of style possibilities with the help of colorful tanks, accessories, and cropped jackets. Pick up one of these adorable day dresses and pair it with leggings, a cropped jacket and boots, and continue to sport it well into spring with colorful tanks and a pair of flats. With work, class, and going out on the town, these versatile dresses will take you from place to place with style, and with all the personality you choose to add.

New Year, New Dress

I showed you the shoes, now here are the dresses. New Year’s Eve is the perfect occasion for not only making those skater boys drool, but to also start a fresh new year with a daring new look. Daring and irrational at best, I have chosen a few gorgeous, cold weather un-friendly pieces for you to dress up in to dazzle and delight those dirty boys. From my newest obsession, mycatwalk.com (schooling me on the fashion of Australia), is this adorable Ruby Smallbone dress. It’s pink, shiny, but not overdone, and paired with some chunky gold bangles and a cropped jacket to ruff it up a bit, this piece will take you out on New Year’s and continue to be a great and versatile piece in your closet well into summer.
For those of you more daring with your hemline and with a darker sense of style, this short and cute bowed tunic from Nordstrom will help you outshine the rest. Paired with black tights, the cropped tuxedo jacket from Behnaz Sarafpour for Target, and closed toed shoes, this within budget outfit is perfect for ringing in the New Year and starting you off on the right path to creating a fashion forward wardrobe for this coming year.

Shine on New Years

Now that Christmas has come and gone, finding the perfect New Years outfit is next on your agenda (along with making those dirty skater boys who don’t deserve you drool with the dazzling outcome). For those who want to sparkle (literally) and shine and be the best and brightest style star of the night, consider wearing a pair of shimmer or glitter flats to ring in your new year. They will brighten your casual outfits in the year to come and be a style statement for the night paired with your chosen bowed, shift or otherwise dress. For amazing flats, I went straight to urbanoutfitters.com and I found adorable ballets called Shelly’s London Shimmer Ballet. They come in pink, blue, and black and will be perfect paired with your dress choice for the night as well as the simple styles of spring. For a girl who is known to be quite impracticable most of the time, these comfortable and cute flats with be the toe end of my look, helping me become the head of the class in style for a night, and head of the class as a lowly intern post-party.

Feel like a Ten when not dressed to the 'Nines'

With party season underway, all of those adorable and impracticable outfit-maker heels are probably doing damage to your recently, regularly pedicured toes. To give your feet a break during your downtime when you want to feel like a 10 when not ‘dressed to the nines’, slip on a pair of these adorable loafers by Ugg. Sooth those aching feet by slipping into a pair of these too cute loafers during the day, so those little feet of yours will be well rested and ready to dance the night away. Uggs have continued to revolutionize their line from boots, to slippers, resulting in these adorable loafers. With sheepskin inside and rubber soles, these indoor/outdoor must-haves come in a variety of styles. My favorite is the Ugg Dakota in tobacco or dusk. They have baby pink and baby blue drawstrings and mesh well with your favorite thermal or wrap sweater and jeans. Other styles include the buckled Thelma or the standard Louise. Drawstring or buckled, these cushy shoes will help ease the aching feet pain from the night before while adding a new element to your wardrobe. Both adorable and practical, these slippers are a must have this winter season so check them out at zappos.com and gift yourself something you need…right?