Bluebell.

My wardrobe here in New York hasn't felt very 'me.' I've always been the worst at packing clothes for trips or moves. I try to plan it all out rationally and, admittingly, somewhat obsess over it...only to feel like I didn't bring anything right when it's all said and done.

The clothes I packed for my move to NYC are a lot of versions of me that I've tried out over the last few years. Trendy Lauren, Boho Lauren, Minimalist Lauren, Edgy Lauren...none of it is really cohesive and none of it makes me feel like myself. What you wear can have a big impact on your life. It boosts your confidence and makes you feel better. When you feel your best, you perform your best. It's like when I was a competitive swimmer. I wouldn't wear my practice suits with holes and faded patterns to the biggest meet of the season: I would wear a tight, sleek, new suit to help me physically and mentally beat the competition.

I haven't had that 'pep' in my step when I get dressed in the morning for work and, it was taking a toll on my confidence. I know clothes probably shouldn't sway my self-worth so easily, but for someone who's always had trouble showing who she was on the inside, it's detrimental I show it on the outside.

After work last Friday I tried to cure my blues with a little looking around at the usual NYC budget shops like H&M and Forever21. Even with the big mid-summer sales as stores gear up for back-to-school, nothing caught my eye. It was still all too over priced, too generic, too uninspiring. I took the train back to Brooklyn exasperated and disappointed, but only to remember previously spotting a Goodwill a few stops from where I usually get off.

I decided to give it a go even though I've shyed away from the thrift stores here in NYC because I didn't want disappointment. I knew it would never be like home, most likely being over priced and picked over. At this point I didn't have anything to lose, and I was so, so pleasantly surprised. I found some amazing stuff at this thrift store and yes, it was more than I pay back home, but it was still a lot less than I would pay in any store. When I started sifting through those racks and piling things into my cart, I felt a rush of excitement and familiarity. I felt like me again. I love to thrift. I love to search for my clothes and find special unique items that define who I am. I will always love vintage. No matter all the hats I try on (metaphorically and literally) I will always come back to my vintage roots. This dress makes me feel amazing and confident and like the best version of myself. Every piece of clothing you put on in the morning should make you feel like that. Build a wardrobe of pieces you love. x

With much love,

Lauren

Outfit Details:

Dress (similar with boat neck line & subtle pattern for $40) Thrifted.

J Crew Flats (similar at J. Crew now): Thrifted.

Floral Mural in Brooklyn.

Hello everyone!

The first week at my new job is ✔️. It was a great first week and I've loved what I've been doing so far. I have a lot of creative freedom to put posts together, but there is an aspect of the job that's quite like piecing together a puzzle.  I have to work with all the departments in order to make sure the post is accurate, representational, and  legal. It makes the job very multi-dimensional because I get to see so many sides of the clothing production business. Often times I feel like I'm seeing the four years of my education come to life all in one building. It's fascinating and exciting to see all I learned come together. If you'd like to follow along with what I'm doing, you can like our Facebook page. I'm also in the midst of working on launching a blog and newsletter for the company, so I'll keep you all updated on that!

Another thing that's been pretty exciting is that I was in The Cleveland Plain Dealer today: Ohio's largest newspaper! Back when I was still living in Ohio, I went to Cleveland to do a fun shoot and interview with the fashion editor. I styled up five outfits, one from each decade, and it was my first time being shot in a studio. I haven't seen the printed version of my feature yet, but it was amazing to see it all come together for the online one.

With all the excitement and change that's been going on lately, it was nice to have just a relaxing day at the apartment today. I did laundry for the first time since being here, which I'd been putting off since I'd never used a laundromat! I had nothing to worry about and it's really not any different than doing laundry at college (can't say at home because my mom still does it there; lol). Only difference? My purse is now weighed down with $20 in quarters!

Love you all! Thanks for always reading and visiting. x

With much love,

Lauren

Outfit Details:

Blouse (very similar): Forever21.

Suede Skirt (very similar from ASOS): Thrifted.

Flats (mine are sold out, but I have my eye on these next!) : c/o Loly in the Sky.

Hat: c/o OASAP.

Belt (similar): Thrifted.

Off the Shoulder.

Hello everyone!

I started my job yesterday! It felt great to finally have something solidifying my life here. To be honest, the past three weeks have just felt like a vacation of some sorts. New York IS great, but I've felt lacking in purpose and direction. You can only drink coffee in Bryant Park and window shop in soho so long before it all becomes rather empty. I've been going through a sort of identity crisis, as well, as I realize my pursuit of education is completely finished. I went to school for 16 years where I always had an end goal. Finish this paper. Take these exams. Complete this grade. Move to high school. Go through college. I worked really well with having a plan set out for me and being able to tangibly see my goals in front of me.

Post grad life is...confusing. I don't know exactly what to do with myself now that I don't have those distinctive milestones laid out for me. After you graduate college, planning your life is up to you to take in any direction you please. I went in the direction of New York City like a lot of post-grad hopefuls do. Although I have a job, I still feel a lack of purpose because it's an endless abyss laid out before me with no end date. Doesn't mean it's a bad way to live. Just a way I'm not used to. Now is the time to flourish, set my own personal goals, and challenge myself. I don't need a higher education system to do that for me any longer. It can be daunting and scary because without having direction you just wander aimlessly until you get it figured out. But, as J.R.R. Tolkien states perfectly:

"Not all those who wander are lost" ♥

With much love,

Lauren

Outfit Details
Off the shoulder black top: H&M
Denim skirt: Thrifted
Black Heels: Payless
Scarf: Thrifted
Sunglasses: Thrifted

7 Tips for Scoring Great Pieces at the Thrift Store

Hey everyone!

It seems like I've had this post in the back of my mind forever to write up. How to find great pieces at the thrift store is probably the #1 question I get from you guys, so it's about time I spilled all my secrets! I shared my top seven tips and tricks on the lovely Wonder Forest-- a site of collective contributors writing about blogging, fashion, décor, lifestyle, and more. There's tons of helpful articles to check out (I especially loved this SEO one I took notes on for my new job), so feel free to drop by and explore around.

Happy thrifting guys-- go out there and get the goods. x

With much love,

Lauren

Landed a Job in NYC!

Exciting news guys...

I landed a job in NYC! I'm here to stay.

Relief is an understatement to finally close the door on 9 months of job searching. Ever since I left NYC last summer I've been trying to get back. It was a road filled with so much disappointment and discouragement at times... feeling like I wasn't qualified for anything, and watching my classmates line up careers before graduation even came around. I often thought to myself about how crazy I was. It's hard enough to get a job in fashion, let alone one in NYC. What was I thinking, trying to get back to NYC? I'm a small town girl from Ohio. Perhaps that's what I was always meant to be.

It's been a trying last year and I made the risky decision to move to NYC without a job. At this point I definitely realized I was crazy. You get to a point though that you figure you have nothing left to lose. I've been working on job leads the past two weeks here, going on interviews and pushing hard. I've had a few interviews with seriously great companies, but none of the work felt like what I was qualified to do. I'm a recent grad and I realize that you don't get your dream job right out of school. You have to work your way up the hard way, putting in the time and effort it takes to get you to where you want to be. I got a great offer from a company to do social media work, which is absolutely where I want to be. I didn't think I'd get the chance so soon, so I felt like it was really where I'm meant to be in my life right now.

So, I'm so excited I'll be working at Richard Leeds International as their Social Media Marketing Specialist! RLI is a sleepwear creator. A lot of the pajamas you see in Target, Wal-Mart, Torrid, Hot Topic? Made by Richard Leeds! In the fashion industry retailers don't always design their own products. They send the work out to private companies who do in house design work. Everything from concepting the garments, designing the silhouettes, drawing the characters, making samples and so on. My job in the company will be managing the social media networks and blog. Social media is a vital asset to companies because it directly connects you with the consumer. It's an extension of the brand and can influence customer opinions and sales. Social media as a career is not just playing around on Instagram and Facebook: it's serious, important work!

Monday is my start date and right now I'm a mixture of excitement and terror (admittingly). This is my first real job guys! In the big, big city. Sometimes I don't feel like this is my life. It has been a crazy, exhilarating roller coaster so far and I'm sure there's going to be plenty more twists and plunges ahead. No one ever said following and making your dreams happen was easy, but for me I can't imagine doing anything else.

With much love,

Lauren

Polka Dots in Prospect Park.

Hello there!

I've been trying to come up with a place to take outfit photos since I arrived in NYC two weeks ago. There's been a few failed attempts, but these are the first to come out somewhat decent. My blogging routine has just been sort of thrown for a loop because I had to get a new computer, tripod, and editing system in the past week. Nothing is how I am used to routinely shooting my blog photos, so it's taking me awhile to adjust. To be honest, it hasn't been as fun as usual to take my blog photos. It's exhausting trying to get to a location where I can safely take photos, and I haven't been satisfied with my outfits lately. They just don't feel like "me." My wardrobe is a mix mash of pieces, and I'm somewhere stuck in the middle of being an Ohio girl and an NYC girl. Trying to figure things out. Sometimes you just have to continue pushing through!

But, enough of the pity party I'm throwing for myself. New York City has been great and I've loved waking up to my new home every day. The craziest stuff just happens here. I was asked today while sitting in Union Square to give an interview for a casting director. They're casting real people for a fashion commercial (can't say the retailer's name, but it's one I shop at!), and they spotted me. The casters  did a video interview of me and it was just a pretty cool experience! Pretty sure I blushed the whole time. Highly doubt I'll be cast, but it's just fun experiences like this that make living in NYC always an adventure. x

With much love,

Lauren.

Outfit Details:

Top (similar solid color option): Aeropostale.

Dress (super similar + on sale!): Thrifted.

Purse(buy here): Forever21.

Sandals (almost identical from Jeffery Campbell): c/o Boohoo.

Outfit to Visit The Met.

Hey everyone!

One of the biggest perks of living in NYC now is having endless opportunities for exploration at my finger tips. I always felt like I was so limited when I lived here last summer because I had numbered days. I almost felt like I could never enjoy what I was doing because I was always rushing to see the next thing, trying not to waste a minute of my time in the city. Since living here permanently, it's such a nice feeling to come and go do things as I wished. Before I would have felt I had to spend ALL day at The Met because who knows if I would make it back. When I visited The Met the other day it was just a nice, relaxing few hours where I could really take the time to enjoy myself because I knew if I didn't see what I wanted, I can always come back.

Although this was my first time at The Met, I went specifically to see the Manus x Machina exhibit. Wow, wow, wow guys it was phenomenal. Not just the clothes, but the story behind the exhibit, as well. Manus means by hand and machina means by machine. In fashion, both are important. Haute Couture has always been highly valued because of its extreme hand work; however, more and more ateliers are looking to machines to take fashion to the next level that human hands cannot reach. One method is not greater over the other. The hand and machine are both vital to fashion's evolution and innovation of ideas. We may be living in the 'digital' age, but there is still nothing quite as breathtaking as hand embroidery or lacework. And although hand work is seen as superior, laser cutting, 3D printing, and so many other methods of design are unable to be ever done without machine.

If you're visiting NYC I highly recommend going to visit the museum. Although the Met suggests a donation of $25, not many people realize you actually can donate for your ticket as you feel comfortable with. Whether it be $100, $25, or $2, invest in the arts and the preservation of human creation!

With much love,

Lauren

Dress (very similar): TJ Maxx

Scarf (similar): Thrifted

Flats (similar): Thrifted

Beret(similar): Target

Exploring Greenpoint, Brooklyn + What I wore.

One of my favorite places to explore in Brooklyn is the Greenpoint neighborhood. I found it by accident back in December while visiting,  and fell in love with all its sweet charms. Greenpoint is a predominantly Polish neighborhood where most the signs and menus are in two languages. It makes for such a unique neighborhood that feels very authentic and welcoming. Like this adorable old man I met who was selling items to raise money for the homeless Polish. He sold me the cutest mini globe for $1, and introduced himself to me as Wes: then proceeded to kiss my hand! Greenpoint has an amazing selection of cafes, flower shops, boutiques, vintage stores, and local bakeries with Polish treats. It's also right by the water and gives an amazing view of Manhattan. I was feeling down the other day, so I decided to go to Greenpoint and explore around aimlessly. The best kind of adventuring if you ask me.

I've been struggling to get back into the swing of outfit photos. I was without a tripod for awhile, but now that I have one I'm trying to figure out a place to actually the photos. This outfit was the first one I've really 'tested out' in and things didn't go too well... the streets are just too busy and I'm incredibly nervous someone might steal my camera. Not to mention it's just awkward to have people staring at me and having to walk around my tripod! I know a lot of NYC bloggers have photographers to take their photos, but I would like to continue to do things on my own. It's what I've done for six and a half years now, and I have always found a way to make it work...so I'm sure I'll find a way to make it work here, too.

Hope to be back soon with more posts! I visited the Met today for the first time and it was amazing. I went for the Manus x Machina exhibit which was thought-provoking and inspiring. Will share photos soon. x

With much love,

Lauren

Outfit Details:

Sweater (similar): Thrifted.

Corduroy Skirt(similar): Thrifted.

Pointed Flats(similar): Thrifted.

Cameo Necklace(similar for $22): Thrifted.

Black Purse: Forever21.

Lipstick in MAC's "craving"