Current Obsession: Lilly Pulitzer iPhone Case

I'm always on the lookout for new phone cases, but I never actually get any. It's just like I see them and go "Oh, that's so cute!" and never follow through. I shattered my Tory Burch striped one that I loved in the airport in Orlando coming home from Nationals and I've been using a silicone case from Kate Spade that, while it's super cute, has become super stretched out, to the point where people have started to ask me "Is this a case for a 5?" No, it's not, and I have an iPhone 4, y'all. These have been desperate times.

The other day, I got a pretty big shipment in from Lilly (squeee!! More on that later!). Included was a new case in the Chin Chin print, which I am in love with.

So much pink and green = happy Gabbi. And how presh are the pink elephants? My favorite animal in my favorite color. Sigh.

{Sidenote} While we're loving the case, let's love on the Chin Chin print. It's like a secondary obsession.

{Nina Dress}

{January Skort}

Besides the cute print, there are more reasons this is possibly the best case ever. It's all one piece, like your typical soft case, but hard and super protective. It's also lined with silicone for extra protection, but because it also has a hard shell, it won't stretch out! Best of both worlds, no? I love that it's one piece because that means it's super easy to take off and change out. A one piece case also means that I won't have to deal with gathering multiple pieces when I drop it (on the reg, mind you). And speaking of dropping it, the case has passed the drop test and seems to be durable and relatively shock absorbent without chipping. Win!

I'm seriously considering getting a second one in the Water Wings print:

Soo summery! It just makes me want to be on a beach!! Weird feelings from a phone case but I'll take it.

What's your favorite case? Do you love Lilly cases too?

XO

Current Obsession: A-Line Skirts

Happy Friday, y'all!! This week, despite being shortened because of Labor Day, has seemed to just drag by. Getting up in the morning was something of a challenge and every class I attended felt like it would never end. Lucky for me, it's gameday and we're facing our rival school! I'm so excited!!

Lately, I've been wearing a lot more skirts than I used to. I'm definitely more of a skirt/dress girl, but for whatever reason, I used to favor pants a lot more. That being said, since the school year has started, I've probably worn a skirt or dress to school every other day. Love it! I've recently been looking around to expand my selection of skirts, and have been super drawn to fuller, a-line skirts than usual. They're such a fresh and welcome change from my old standby of pencil skirts and more fitted minis. And they just make me want to twirl. Instant mood booster.

Black with Bow | Pink | Nude + Coral | Bows | Light Gray | Black

Normally I'd pick a favorite out of these, but they're all so perfect. I am actually loving every single one of these skirts. They're so fun and flirty!

What's your current obsession? Are you loving the a-line skirt too?

XO

The New Go-To

When getting dressed for school, I try my best to be put together and well-dressed the majority of the time. I know it's "just school," but I strongly feel that I actually learn better and am more focused when I have put some effort into my appearance and I know that I look nice. That being said, I don't have the time or patience in the mornings before school to stand in my closet and stare at my clothes wondering what to wear. I normally try to pick something out the night before, or at least go to bed with an idea of what I'll be wearing the next day (i.e.: if it's a Thursday, something super-comfy, like leggings and a big sweater, will be on the agenda). Even so, sometimes I get stumped. Especially with the weather lately. It's still hot out, like summery hot, but I can't just wear tank tops and chino shorts (my summer go-to) to class all the time! Or at all, really. And it's obviously too hot for skinny jeans and sweaters. I've had to find a new "go-to" outfit, and I've definitely stumbled on something golden.

Shirt | Skirt | Flats

It strikes the perfect balance between school-appropriate and fun. It's become my favorite because there are simply so many options–OCBDs and popovers in so many colors and minis in so many fun prints–that you could follow this formula for days on end and never repeat an outfit. Even in my own closet right now, I could probably make seven or eight variations of this outfit! Lately, I've been frequenting Lilly skirts and Jacks, but when it gets a little chillier, I'll just wear flats and wool minis from J.Crew!

Here's my personal favorite variation of the OCBD/printed mini combo!

I love this outfit so much, that not only did I wear it in California, but I also wore it Thursday for my first day of school!

What's your go-to outfit?

XO

My First Lilly Sale!

Yesterday morning was quite the morning for me. I was up at six-thirty with the sounds of my younger sister getting up and ready for school. I didn't even wake up grouchy; I was just excited to shop my first Lilly Pulitzer Endless Summer Sale! I parked myself on my bed with my laptop and opened up the Lilly website, patiently waiting and watching the live countdown on the homepage. At seven on the dot, I refreshed the page, looking for the sale tab. As it reloaded, no sale tab.

 What?!?!?

Of course, this was not the end for me. I opened another tab, reopened the site, and, praise the Lord, the sale tab was there! Having heard all the stories about the site crashing in the past, I worked quickly, picking my way through dresses, tops, sweaters, and skirts. Even with the huge sale prices, my original cart still came out to about $700. No way I was getting Mama to pay for $700 of Lilly goodies, no matter how much I begged, pleaded, and promised years of servitude and meticulous housework. Not that I was really up for groveling at seven in the morning. So instead, I started whittling, keeping in mind that I really didn't want to blow my entire fall budget, regardless of how much I wanted everything.

Here's what I ended up with:

Tate Skirt in Hotty Pink Seersucker: $108 $29

Jarvey Skort in Resort White Fresh Cut: $88 $19

Patricia Sweater in Hotty Pink Argyle AND True Navy Argyle: $128 $25 each

I placed my order with no problem, and within a minute or two, my phone dinged with the familiar sound of a confirmation email. Success! I was so glad I didn't have any problems, because the minute I got my email, the site totally crashed! My heart goes out to all of y'all who had problems with the site, I know how rough that must have been!

I had originally wanted to get a dress or two, but since I wasn't really in looove with any dresses from this past season (except the Adelson, which I already have in the Lilly State of Mind print!), I skipped on that. Plus I'm already pushing to wear Lilly for Homecoming...

Did you luck out at the sale yet? Or did you have some tech issues?

XO

Lilly Pulitzer Spring 2012

I'd been anticipating the arrival of the Lilly Pulitzer Spring 2012 collection since Resort 2012 was launched. Finally, the wait is over!!

This season's dresses–especially the shifts!–are my absolute favorite part of the collection. The Ricci Shift (above) is probably my favorite, but it's really so hard to choose!

But then again, there's also the Adelson Shift...in two gorgeous prints!

I love, love, love the vintage feel the pieces have. It's classic Lilly at her finest.

The Mariana Dress is a bit dressier, but still retains the classic Lilly Shift vibe.

The Whinnie Dress would be perfect for a dressy spring or summer party!

It's definitely a contender for my Sweet Sixteen!

And don't even get me started on the Lottie Dress! This one is the perfect winter-to-spring transition piece. I could totally wear this for the Turnabout dance in early spring.

The Roslyn and Tate skirts are simply precious! 

I'm sure y'all can tell at this point that the Lilly's State of Mind Patch print is my favorite of the season!

As the weather heats up, these Callahan Shorts need to find their way into my closet, ASAP.

For cooler spring days, the Patricia Sweater is perfect with shorts or a skirt.

Pink and green argyle = any prepster's dream combo!

How darling are the flowers and ruffles on the Allison Top?

Of course, spring isn't complete without a great tunic!

On a totally unrelated side-note, there are only three days until I leave with Poms for the UDA National Dance Team Championship! I'm so excited!!

What are your favorites from Lilly?

XO

North Shore Prep

Skirt Alert

It's no secret that I love skirts. Putting on a good skirt can turn an "eh" sort of day into a "YAY!" day. And besides, what feels more girlie and classy than a great skirt in a great color? Yep. Nothing.

I bought this skirt from BCBG in early March to wear at the after-party of the annual Poms Fashion Show at my school. Needless to say, it's become a huge part of my wardrobe. The thing I love most about this skirt is its versatility. I wear this skirt with everything, from oxford shirts to long-sleeved striped tissue tees from J.Crew. I even wore it to a leadership conference Monday and wore the t-shirt they gave us! The other best part of this skirt is that it doesn't move, like many other stretchy bandage-type skirts. I'm not sure how it works, but once this skirt is on, it doesn't move. At all. I love not having to worry about tugging my skirt down or pulling it back up to where I want it.

I saw a mini similar to this one a few weeks ago on F.E. Castleberry's (incredible) blog, Unabashedly Prep. The post featured Carly Heitlinger, of my very favorite College Prep.

After seeing this picture, I made it my mission to find a skirt that delivered a similar fit and a perfect pop of color like the one in the picture. I think I did a pretty good job, if I do say so myself.

From Lulu's, this one is fun and trendy, and–as is always important with a super trendy item–easy on my wallet.

I've always been a firm believer in the sentiment that every girl should have a closet stocked with good pencil skirts. J.Crew's pencil skirts totally fulfill this need. They come in a variety of solids, prints, and textures to suit any mood and are the perfect length for just about everything. Basic black is a must, of course, and then collect the colors and textures that pique your interest, like this gorgeous bright blue.

Polka dots are so fun! That's why I love this skirt from ShopBop.

Words really don't describe how much I love this skirt from Anthropologie. The print is just gorgeous and the ombre effect is just irresistible. How I haven't been shopping at Anthropologie is just crazy, but that's another post altogether.

XO

North Shore Prep

Forever Plaid

Sometimes I find myself feeling that plaid is hard to wear without looking like a cowboy or a uniform-wearing student at a private school. But then I come across pieces like these that put all my fears at ease.

Here's the same plaid skirt styled three different ways.

I think the trick to keeping the plaid skirt current is by mixing up how you present it. A sweater, skirt and flats is predictable. A sweater, skirt and riding boots, on the other hand is fun and unexpected. The blazer and skirt and button-down and skirt combinations are a little traditional, but the colors keep them fresh and effortlessly chic. The subdued colors in the skirt's pattern are especially important here in place of a more dated bright red plaid.


More looks I like:

Boy Shirt in Quincy Tartan with Sash Skirt in Dark Navy

Tartan Hobo

Jetway Plaid Hartford Dress

Madras Plaid Silk Halter Dress

XO

North Shore Prep