Friday, July 4, 2014

Happy Fourth!


I honestly cannot believe we are already in July.  Just wanted to wish everybody a happy Independence  Day! I couldn't have asked to been born into a better country.  Have a great Holiday!


East Coast Class Co.


Friday, June 20, 2014

Get The Anthropologie Look For Less!

Anthropologie has to be one of my favorite stores, especially when shopping for dresses. Their boutique styled clothing is classic, yet different and offers customers a unique environment. However, being a college student, many times their prices can take a toll on my credit card, but I have found some small online boutiques that offer a similar style…Let's take a look!

1. Ruche
Basically a dupe for Anthropologie. I am obsessed with the dresses on this site and the design almost matches Anthropologie's vintage vibe. The price is about two times less expensive and the quality is fairly similar. 
Check out the website: Here

2. Lace Affair
Offers the same style as Ruche, but definitely has better jewelry. The statement necklaces at this site are drop dead gorgeous. They have an old Hollywood feel to them and remind me of someting that would be in The Great Gatsby or Titanic. The prices are great two, with similar styles to Bauble Bar, the jewelry is about half the price.

Check out the website: Here

3. Spotted Moth

Has some of the cutest tops and tunics. This website offers great prices and similar quality to Anthropologie with more of a modern flare.
Check out the website: Here

Which one is your favorite?



Thursday, June 12, 2014

My Summer Playlist

I have been obsessed with music lately (more than I normally am) and have created a playlist for summertime with my favorite new and old summer songs. 
Here they are:

1. John Mayer- XO (cover of Beyonce)
I love the original by Beyonce, however I am a country girl at heart and love the tone of the cover John Mayer did of this song. 

2. Lana Del Rey- Summertime Sadness
A classic for summer

3. Ed Sheeral- Sing
One of my favorite songs of the moment (although the music video is extremely strange), but it's one of those songs that are addicting to listen to. 

4&5. Ellie Goulding- Explosions & Dead in the Water 
Both of these songs were featured in movies and have become widely popular since the album's debut in 2012. Explosions is the perfect summer song, and Dead in the Water is a more calm song that is great to relax to.

6. Imagine Dragons- Working Man
Imagine Dragons is probably my favorite band because each of their songs is so different from one another. This song is a fast paced, upbeat song that is great for driving around with the windows open. 

7. Tim McGraw- Live Like You Were Dying
Probably my favorite song of all time and a classic. (Plus its Tim McGraw, how can you not love him!)

8. Lana Del Rey- Young and Beautiful
One of my favorite songs from one of my favorite movies. The scene that this song plays in my favorite scene from the movie and makes me just crave summer all year round. (Can I just marry Gatsby?)










Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Under the Sea- A week in Florida





Bathing Suit: Target
  
Top: Columbia PFG

Top: Charlotte Russe; Shorts: Hollister; Sandals: Hollister

Dress: Charlotte Russe; Shoes: Target


Dress: Anthropologie



Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Preppy On A Budget

I've had a couple of people ask me if there was any way to dress and style "preppy" on a budget. The first thing I have to say is the "preppy" style is all based on perspective. What looks one way to one person may be something completely different to another. It all depends on each individuals tastes and preferences. However, I have to say if I had to stereotype myself I would say I am preppy. That being said an ideal prep's style comes from money which not everyone has (especially college and high school students) so I have done my research and found some great ways to incorporate the "preppy" style into your wardrobe on a budget.

1. Outlet Malls
This might be the most obvious step, but I had to put it in this post. Outlet malls have great brands at amazing deals. However, most factory stores won't have as good of quality as their regular stores because they are charging less for the product itself. Nevertheless "preppy" stores such as Kate Spade, Ralph Lauren, J. Crew and more have Factory stores that have sales all year round that can range from 20%-70% off. (If you have a student ID they may give you another discount, usually from 10%-20% on top of the sales.

2. Factory/Discount Websites
Certain Brands and Companies have discounted websites that will sell brand products at a less expensive price. Like Outlets, the products may not be as good of quality products as the real stores, but they are still very nice. 
Basically the outlet online. J.Crew is a popular brand for prepsters and the factory stores has great pieces for better prices that the actual store. 
Kate Spade's newest line that has similar designs as the regular brand, but for a much better price!
Instead of purchasing Tory Burch. Try her ex-husband's brand C. Wonder. The brand has similar designs to Tory Burch pieces, but are less expensive.
Basically the outlets for the high-end department stores. 
Rue La La has recently been my favorite website because they have high end brands for really great prices. The only trick is that the sales are flash sales, meaning they only last for a little while and then go away, so if you want something you have to act quick. The company is great at having good brands such as Tory Burch, Lilly Pulitzer, Jack Rogers and more. So you have to make sure you are checking your e-mail to see what sales are going on!

3. Inexpensive Multi-Use Products!
Many preppy brands have products that are titled as one thing, but can be also used as something completely different, and you can get these things at a great price. Let me show you some examples…
Thirty dollars might be a little expensive for someone to just spend on a pencil case, but this one also comes with an eraser, two pencils, a ruler, and a sharpener. However, when I purchased this product I had a completely different use in mind. I have really been wanting a Kate Spade clutch for a long time but haven't wanted to spend $150+ on it. The pencil case can easily be used as a clutch, makeup bag, etc. (plus you get extra little goodies with it!)
Although this is just a tray there are many uses for it. This would look great in the center of a coffee table or on a vanity to display perfumes. It's a great price for Lilly and it can really be put anywhere you want to add a pop of color and pattern to any room!
These tumblers are more than just plastic cups, they are great for colorful decor. You can use them as cuts if you would like, however I personally use them to brighten up my vanity and desk. I put acrylic beads in two of them for my makeup brushes on my vanity and on my desk I have pens in one, and pencils in the other. And for the last two cups I use for drinking fruity beverages!

4. Monogram It Yourself!
One of the biggest thing in preppy style is Monograms. Many websites have monogram shirts, hats, jackets, etc. that you can purchase, but it can get kind of expensive. Instead I just head over to Joanne Fabrics or Target and purchase plain shirts for around $5-$10. Then I just look up the monogramming places in my area which usually costs from $5-$10 per item. A monogram shirt on websites usually costs about $35. That means by getting it monogramed yourself you are saving $15+. 

5. Purchase Children Sized Clothing

I am an extra small-small when it comes to Vineyard Vines women's clothing so I love the fact that I can purchased the children boy's t-shirts because they are basically half priced. There are many products that are very similar to what you could purchase in the Women's section, but the price in the kids section is hard to beat. I would recommend if you are looking for button downs and t-shirts to look in the kids section before the Women's because they are so similar. I normally purchase a medium-large in the Boys Section for shirts (for reference). You don't just have to do this for Vineyard Vines, it works for all different brands too! Just don't purchase online if you don't know your size, make sure you try on at least one item before making the purchase to know your sizing in the kids. 


I have found that these alternatives work well compared to spending a whole lot of money on one product. Yes, sometimes there is a compromise you have to make, but its is definitely worth it! Let me know what idea is your favorite!










Friday, January 17, 2014

Organize Your Life!

Organize Your Life!

So lately I have really been getting into organization. I have become obsessed with organizing everything in my life for the new year and I have to say I am really noticing a difference in how much it is helping me. Being a full time college student and working two jobs is a lot of work, so I thought to share my tips and tricks with you all in how I keep my life in order.

1. Lets start with the purse


Your purse should not be a jumbled up mess, everything should have a place. Bucket bags are a bad idea because it is just another place for you to deposit your unnecessary junk. An ideal bag would be a bag with a few pockets like this Kate Spade Tote. What I like about this bag is that it has three pockets. Two are zipped and one that act likes a bucket bag. I have a similar bag and find that the best way to organize this bag is to place items that you are not always looking for in the middle open section and use the two zipped sections for the more important sections. I use the left zipped section for placing my most used wallet. (yes! I split my wallets into two, one has my credit cards, license, passport card, and the other wallet is for gift cards, store cards, etc. *this one goes in the bucket bag section since I don't always use it*) I also keep my keys in this section so when I am in a hurry and don't want to take my whole bag I can quickly grab my wallet and keys with no hassle. In the second zipper I keep items that may not be important, but I find myself always digging into the bottom of my bag for (chapstick, small makeup bag, gum, sunglasses, agenda). The open section is where I keep "junk" (my second wallet, granola bar, notepad, tissues). Things that I many need but not every time I go into my bag.

2. Get an Agenda


I know this is probably overstated but agendas really help you organize the events in your life. My favorite one is the Lilly Pulitzer Large Agenda. This has daily pages where I record my goals and objectives of each day that I need to complete as well as monthly pages where I record upcoming events and projects that are due. I also use sticky note as "flags" on my daily pages where I will record additional important information that comes up!

3. Organize your Desktop


Most people don't take the time to unclutter their desktop. This is what mine looks like now. (Yes. My background is Vineyard Vines!) Its practically empty! Best way to organize your desktop is to create 5-10 folders centered around your life (mine are Transfer, Important, Fashion, Inspiration, Work and Semester 4). Each of these folders are a piece of my life and inside a folder I have subfolders where I organize each document by its relevance. This might now seem worth the 20 minutes to clean organize everything, but  I can honestly say it is. I can find anything I need within a few seconds compared to before where it took me a minute or two. Also DONT KEEP UNNECESSARY FILES! It just clutters your computer, if you haven't opened it within the last year ask yourself if you actually need it or not. 

4. Get a Filing Cabinet

This is basically your junk bin but it will be organized! I recommend the Ikea Helmer which is only $40 and does the job well. This is basically where all the junk of my room is stored. There are six drawers and each has a purpose. I used to have a drawer for computer manuals, warranty cards and excess cords and electronics, but now they all have their own space. Here is how I organize it!
Drawer 1- Remotes, iPod, extra iPhone cases, iPad
Drawer 2- electronic cords (chargers, headphones, HDMI cords, etc)
Drawer 3- electronic manuals, warranties 
Drawer 4- Packaging, boxes (incase something breaks and I have to send it back)
Drawer 5- Extra Pens, Pencils, Paperclips, Highlighters, Post-it notes
Drawer 6- Extra computer paper and notebooks

Thats it! This is what I have just completed within the new year. I hope to become more organized as the year goes on and will keep you all updated if anything changes!
Hope this Helped!
Stay Classy xoxo

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Preppy Girl Tag

Preppy Girl Tag

1. What is your definition of preppy?
I really don't think there is a perfect definition of preppy. However I see it as a lifestyle. Preppy to me means a person is traditional yet can put their own spin on things. A preppy person would have respect for others as well as their self and tend to dress more conservative. Lastly I see preppy as classic and timeless, style that will never get old.

2. What is your all time favorite brand?
My all time favorite brand would probably be Ralph Lauren. Kate Spade and J. Crew come in a close second, but I see Ralph Lauren to be more timeless. I love how the brand is focused around the preppy lifestyle and creates clothes that are versatile, meaning you can dress them up or dress them down. 

3. What is your favorite Lilly print?


My favorite Lilly Pulitzer print would have to be Tusk in the Sun. I love the red background with the blue elephants. It is a pattern that represents me. The red and the white are patriotic and I see the elephants representing my political party. 

4. Favorite Preppy Youtuber/Blogger?
I don't really watch many YouTube videos, but my favorite blogger is Sarah Vickers of Classy Girl Wears Pearls. I love her elegant, classic style and how she portrays herself in a respectable manner. 

5. Jack Rogers or Sperrys?
Sperrys all the way.  I live in Upstate New York so I can only wear Jack Rogers a few months of the year. Sperrys I can wear for probably half of the year. Plus I just think their cuter!

6. Jeans or Khaki's?
Jeans because there is such much more of a variety. Jeans come in different colors and styles and you can wear it with anything, and they are just so much more comfortable.

7. Duck Boots, Riding Boots, or Hunters?
Although I love the look of riding boots they are just not the most practical where I live. Hunter boots come in a close second but since I only have the tall Hunters, they sometimes restrict your movement. Duck boots are probably my favorite because they can withstand all different types of weather and are extremely durable. My favorite is the LL Bean: Bean Boots, I've had them for years and their perfect. My two favorite activities are archery and hiking, so they work perfectly for that too!

8. On a scale of 1-10 how much do you love J. Crew?
Infinity! I absolutely love everything about J. Crew. The one J. Crew where I live is a really tiny store, so I actually prefer J. Crew factory. The two J. Crew factory stores that are a little bit further away are huge. They always have a large selection plus great deals!

9. Opinion on Oxfords?
Love them! They are always a closet staple that you can dress up and dress down!

10. Favorite Ralph Lauren Clothing Item?



Ralph Lauren Cable-knit sweaters! I prefer the crew neckline because the v-neck ones can look somewhat boxy. They are the perfect item for any wardrobe because they can be worn so many different ways and they last so long.

11. Pearls or Bows?
As much as I love bows, pearls are classic, traditional and can be worn with anything so I am going to have to say pearls.

12. Navy or Black?
Besides hunter green navy is my favorite color, so I would probably have to say navy rather than black. But hunter green triumphs over any other color!

Thanks for stopping by
Stay Classy xoxo





Monday, January 6, 2014

DIY: Preppy Lilly Pulitzer Decor

DIY Lilly Pulitzer Decor

I am obsessed with Lilly Pulitzer but sometimes the brand can get quite expensive. The bright colors can really cheer up a room and I just adore the fun prints. One afternoon I was looking through interest and saw someone put wallpaper in picture frames thought that was a cute idea to add something extra to an empty wall, so I did something similar using Lilly Pulitzer prints. The best part was that I was able to do this in under $20.00.


What you need:

Picture Frame (with hooks to attach to wall)- $4-$10 each
Walmart, Target
Scotch Wall Putty- $3 Office Depot

Lilly Prints- Free- Google Lilly Pulitzer Backgrounds then print



What to do!
This part is really simple. All you have to do is print the Lilly Pulitzer backgrounds out from online onto a regular piece of paper or card-stock  After that cut out the pieces to fit the frame, and place them in the picture frame slots. From there apply putty to the back corners of the pictures so the pictures will not move around and replace the back of the frame. Then that's it! It is really that simple and it adds a lot of color to a room! I would suggest nailing it to the wall, which is what I did but if you live in a dorm or an apartment where you are not allowed to do that you can always pick up command strips at target or Walmart for around $5 that will not make marks on walls.  You can also do this with other patterns but I love Lilly because of the fun prints.

Hope this helped!
Stay Classy xoxo