Almost 20.

Lace Blouse, Pink Blazer: Thrifted.

Floral Shorts: Forever21.

Oxfords: c/o Lulu*s.

Ring: Giveaway win.

Lipstick in MAC's 'Speed Dial.'

I am really scared to turn 20. I have one more day of being 19 and then on August 1st I'll enter a new decade of my life.

There's a lot of things about turning 20 that scare me. I wasn't scared to turn 16, 17, 18, or even 19. I welcomed those years and can still remember all of those birthdays from the past few years I've had this blog. But 20 is an age I guess I never imagined myself at. You look forward to the year you drive, the year you're legal, the last year of being a teen...but I never pictured myself at 20 and what I would be like. It just kind of snuck up on me like, "hey Lauren! You're going to be in your TWENTIES now." Like....what? My twenties? That's a category I don't feel like I fit in. I'm not ready to have a stable job and graduate college and get married and have kids and all of the other 'biggest life changes' that come in your twenties. To think that I'm even lumped in that category scares the living daylights out of me.

Just thinking about all that happening to ME in the next few years. That in this next decade I will probably go through all of the above and it's a lot to take in. I feel so young and inexperienced still. I remember a few years back saying to an anonymous commenter, "you're really going to pick on a little teenage girl?" That was back when I was 16. To think I'm no longer a little teenage girl but a woman (?) is insane to me. 

I know 20 isn't old at all. It's so young and a lot of you are probably rolling your eyes at me now but it just feels so old to me. To think that I am approximately 1/4 done with my life just....I don't know. Shocks me? How can I be so far into my life already and not feel like I've even really lived or seen anything or learned anything? Getting older gives me even more of the realization that I am aging, decaying, and dying each day. A thought none of us wants to think about, but it always is in the back of my mind every birthday as I think what turning a year older means. 

I just feel I have nothing figured out to be turning 20. I'm scared for what the next year,five years, and ten years will bring. I don't like uncertainty and when you're in your teen years--you know what will be happening. You'll go through junior high then high school and live at home with your parents then graduate...it's all planned out for you. But when you enter your twenties--it's all up to you. Everyone takes different paths and goes different routes. It's worrisome to think what route I will take.

Thursday will come whether I like it or not. I'm going to try to shake all of these thoughts and enjoy my birthday. I've never been one to like attention so birthdays are always pretty awkward for me, but I'm hoping to have a low key day of thrifting, coffee, my favorite meal, and cake in the evening. With a side of turning 20 ♥

With much love, Lauren.

New In The Store!

 

Swing Your Partner 1960's Skirt.

 

 White Not 1970's Jumpsuit.

For a Split Second Skirt.

 Black Velvet Fitted Dress.

Growing Garden Forever21 Dress. 

 

A Mess It Grows Romper.

 

You're My Shining Star Dress.

 

Coral Fixation Dress.

 

Split Second Maxi Skirt.

What a busy weekend I had! I ended up working every day since Thursday and last night I worked 9 hours doing a HUGE floorset for Aero. Probably the biggest one ever. Aero is relaunching themselves to being a more fashion forward brand and this line of back to school clothing is the big debut. I didn't think it would be a probably wanting to buy clothing at Aero (since I knew them as a t-shirts and sweats kind of place) but now they have so much cute stuff it's dangerous, ha. It's been very fun learning about merchandising and re-branding that Aero has been doing-- I feel so blessed to have come into the company at this monumental time! Anyways, that's just what I've been up to lately and why I haven't been blogging much. 

My 20th birthday is Thursday. Gulp. I am just dreading it. It's a long drawn out story and I think I'll write a post about it. 20....yikes.

Hope you all had a great weekend! And remember, I have a sale for 30% in my store right now with the code '50sales' if you'd care to use it. This will probably be my last update before I head back to school :)

With much love, Lauren.

Scaled Down.

1960's Shift Dress (for sale in my shop), Heels, Hat: Thrifted.

Brooch: c/o Style Queen.

Lipstick in MACs Russian Red.

Hello everyone!

I was very lucky to find this beautiful 1960's shift dress while thrifting the other day. What a beauty! I'm not a big shift dress wearer though so I thought I'd list it for the store so someone else can don it more often than I know I would. Since I'll be leaving for school in exactly one month from today, I need to start clearing the store out. I won't be running it from school because it's just too stressful + I don't have room for all the merchandise. 

So, since I need to start clearing it out why not have a sale? I hit 50 sales the other day which is a huge mile stone for me (and thank you!), so I thought I'd have a 30% sale of all items in the store with the code:

50sales

Just use it at checkout and the percentage will come right off. I've been listing a lot of my personal clothing lately since my closet is getting too full again. Check out all of the items I have if you'd care to here!

With much love, Lauren.

Casual Day Outfit.

Open Weave Sweater, Distressed Boyfriend Jeans: Aeropostale.

1960's Loafers: Inherited.

Brown Messenger Bag: Thrifted.

Key Necklace: Gift from my aunt.

Lipstick in MAC's 'Myth.'

Hello everyone!

I believe that this is the most casual outfit I have ever worn on my blog. College and working at Aeropostale have both taught me a lot about casual dress--in a good way. In high school I was obsessed with dressing up. I not once wore sweats and perhaps wore pants three times each year. Every day I wore high heels no matter how icy and snowy it was out, and woke up early to do my hair and makeup every day. Not only all that, but I was actually stressed out about what I was going to wear. I spent hours each night planning outfits in advance, trying to find the perfect one that would make all my classmates admire me and vote me for best dressed.

A lot of this was in my freshman and sophomore years, but there was still some of these thoughts and actions going on my last two years of high school, too. I thought that the only thing that made me stand out was my clothing and that I was too plain and ordinary looking without it to be special. Such a corrupt, toxic way of thinking I had.

It's strange but as soon as I hit college I just started to grow out of this childish way of thinking. Perhaps it was because I couldn't physically wear heels because my campus is so big. Or that most days I slept in till the last minute and didn't have time to get elaborately ready. Or perhaps it was just the fresh start and a place where no one knew me and I didn't have to impress anyone. I don't know. But I found myself starting to dress more casual this past year and it has been gaining speed in my style ever since.

Aeropostale is really know for their casual clothes and it has had a big impact on me, as well. It's allowed me to see that casual clothing can be made cute and unique to fit your style and there's no reason to be embarrassed of dressing down. I didn't think I would ever be sporting boyfriend jeans but here I am, proudly wearing them and feeling more confident than I do in some of my dresses.

My style will always involve dresses and heels and vintage elements. It's who I am. I think it's important to feel comfortable in your style, but also in casual clothing, too. Whatever you're wearing doesn't make you- YOU make you! x

With much love, Lauren.

City Heights.

Heart Cut Out Dress: c/o UStrendy.

Bunny Flats: Le Bunny Bleu.

Mint Purse: c/o Lulu*s.

Hello there! ♥

Here are some pictures of my last day with Erin overlooking the beautiful city of Pittsburgh. Just breathtaking, no? Nothing makes you feel like a more tiny human being than standing a top a hill looking down at an entire city with millions of people milling about. I think often times I get stuck in a mentality of feeling closed in and restricted. Even in Kent. But when I start to see other parts of the states and the world, my eyes are reopened to how big earth is. Huge. Enormous. I cannot even fathom. You can feel so alone and....big? Is that the word? Not in a conceited way, but like there's only you and the small sphere of people you know. You feel big. Like you know the world just because you have all the streets in your town memorized. But then you go somewhere and you don't know anything or anywhere or anyone. I don't understand high way driving. Or city mentality. Or even truthfully how to live like a real adult like these people do. But I do know other things and lessons are still coming. All it takes is getting out into the world to learn. x

With much love, Lauren.

P.S. Thank you all for being amazing. But really. Thank you for you.

Outfit Inspired By Aria from Pretty Little Liars!

Enchants Encounter Black Lace Dress (also shorter version)  c/o Lulu*s.

Jazz Hands Gold Harness Bracelet (sold out but more are coming!) c/o Lulu*s.

Black Spiked Heels (old): c/o Lulu*s.

Jewelery: Various thrifting.

Lipstick in Revlon's 'Berry Haute.'

Well I'm on my last post with Lulu*s.com styling up an outfit inspired by each Pretty Little Liar's girl! I saved Aria for last because she's my favorite character and favorite had my favorite style. 

I remember when season one air being so obsessed with Aria's style. Even though it's drastically different than my own...it's just so cool. I love how unique and multidimensional her style is unlike the other girl's on the show. When Aria wear's an outfit, it is her. She doesn't necessarily wear trendy items, but is a trendsetter in her own way. I love that although she's usually wearing black or dark colors, all of her outfits still stand out and have a voice. What struck me most about Aria's style is all of the jewlery she wears. She always piles it on and has the most interesting pieces. Not a big jewelery wearer myself, I decided to challenge that in this outfit and try out a more daring bracelet and an assortment of other arm candy, rings, and earrings. Something also very distinct about Aria's style is the fine details. Studs here and there, an out of the ordinary pattern, lace popping out in unexpected places. I just love it. To be inspired by that part of Aria's style I wanted this dress with a detailed lace neckline and a surprise peekaboo in the back. Bet Mr. Fitz (so dreamy...) would love it! ♥

Well that's it for my outfits inspired by the Pretty Little Liar's gals! Thank you so much for the opportunity, Lulu*s and here's a little over view of all of the girls :)

 Hannah. Emily. Spencer. Aria.

With much love, Lauren.