Rekindling my love for Ann Taylor...

It's been a while since I'd shopped at Ann Taylor, but was brought right back to it when they had their 50% off sale once again! I ended up getting this pretty green dress, as well as a teal-ish pencil skirt that will be in a future outfit post. I'm planning to get creative with this dress, because I love the color for summer and I don't just want to wear it one way. Suggestions are welcome. :)


Dress: Ann Taylor, sz 4P (cinched in a bit with the belt)
Cardigan: Merona for Target
Belt: Target
Flats: Tory Burch 'Caroline'
Bag: H&M




I found this lovely bag at H&M this weekend for $25. I, of course, added my favorite anchor scarf. :)

I bought this dress in petite because the regular sizes were all sold out online. I followed the petite size chart and bought the 4P, but it turned out to be just a tad bit too big for me. The length is perfect, but I could have probably gone with a 2P. It's not much of an issue though, because I almost always wear a belt and cardigan/blazer at work!

Don't you all just love a three-day weekend and then a four-day week? Enjoy!

Vacation Brights

It's been a few days since I've had a post up, but that's because I was on a much needed vacation! My family and friends headed up to Phoenix for the weekend and just enjoyed the amazing weather and soaked up the sun. I loved it! If you follow me on Twitter, you probably saw quite a few Instagrams from the trip.

Anyway, here's an outfit I wore to go shopping, and it's also one of the dresses from The Webster for Target collection! I can't seem to get enough coral these days, and I probably bought about four different pieces of clothing that are coral-colored this past weekend. I absolutely LOVE it for summer time!



Dress: The Webster for Target, sz XS
Belt: From another skirt
Shoes: Merona for Target


And here's my best friend Regina, who I'm always talking about on Twitter (haha)! She wore a sheer black top from Marshall's with a black bandeau underneath, as well as light wash shorts. It's right on trend for summer, which I assume will be full of sheer fabrics.

The photos turned out a little grainy because I had the settings wrong on my camera. I hope you don't mind! :)
I will have a new beauty video up on my YouTube channel within the week, so be on the look out for that!

Enjoy the rest of Memorial Day weekend, everyone! I hope you had a chance to relax!

Old Florals

I've been wearing these flats every day since Monday. I am in love! Here's an outfit from yesterday, which includes a floral shirt that I've had since I was a sophomore in high school. It never fails to get compliments!




Shirt: American Eagle Outfitters (old)
Skirt: J. Crew (old)
Cardigan: Merona for Target
Belt: Target
Bag: Merona for Target
Scarf on bag: eBay
Flats: Tory Burch "Caroline"

I'll be away on vacation all weekend, so I might not have a post up, but there will definitely be vacation outfit posts (as well as a couple videos) next week!
Enjoy the long weekend, everyone! :)

Review: Tory Burch Caroline Flats

If you follow me on Twitter, you may have noticed that I've been raving about my new flats. I bought these Tory Burch Caroline flats as my first investment piece and I don't feel an ounce of buyer's regret. I'm so glad I bought these, and look forward to wearing them for years to come! Read about my investment-piece-decision-process here, if you haven't already. :)

I just wanted to share a quick review and some detailed pics of the flats, just in case you're interested!



Tory Burch "Caroline" Flats, sz 8

These are THE most comfortable flats I've ever worn. I own over twenty pairs of flats, and nothing compares to these!
Pros:
-All leather (upper, sole, and insole)
-Soft and comfy
-Elastic band around the top, which allows for some stretch
-Classic Tory Burch logo isn't too big or flashy
-Versatile color goes with anything
-Can be dressed up or down

Cons:
-Price... An expensive pair of flats, but you really do get what you pay for.
-Needs one day to break-in, which could be uncomfortable at first
-Not much of an issue, but it is more like a ballerina flat than a structured one.




And as for how they wear...
I wore these for the first time yesterday at work, where I walk around all day. I found that it did need a break-in period like any shoe, but it's not terribly uncomfortable. Since these shoes come "rounded" like in the third picture (and like any other ballerina flat), it takes some walking to flatten the shoe to suit your feet. My feet were a bit sore after a ten-hour day, but it was not too bad at all. Today, I wore them again and had no problems. There is absolutely no rubbing at the heel or slipping anywhere within the shoe. The elastic band really does allow for some stretch, so it makes them super comfy, and the leather is so buttery and soft. These shoes are heavenly and well-made, from what I can see.

At first I was hesitant to pay so much for a pair of flats, but it is so worth the money. These shoes also come in black patent, but the nude color goes with absolutely everything, making these a keeper for years and years!




An outfit post with these shoes will be up within the next two days. Please share your favorite investment pieces! I'd love to know. :)
Also, don't forget to check out my new YouTube channel for beauty videos every week!


Disclaimer: I purchased these shoes with my own money. I am not affiliated with Nordstrom or Tory Burch, and all opinions are my own.

My YouTube Debut!

I want to introduce my first ever YouTube video! At first I was hesitant to do so, because I've seen how harsh people can be on YouTube, but I decided that no matter what you do, someone will love it and someone will hate it. You just have to do what you think is right and makes you happy. So here we are!

For my first video I decided to show you all my top ten nail polish picks for Spring and Summer 2012. From now on, I'll be doing beauty videos on YouTube and everything fashion related here on my blog. So now you can get your daily dose of fashion and beauty from Long Live Classy!

I'm still trying to get used to talking to the camera and the whole set up, so please bear with me as I figure it out! :)

Don't forget to leave me some suggestions/requests as to what kind of beauty videos you'd like to see in the future! I'd like to post one or more every week if possible. :)
And as always, I want to thank each and every one of you who support me on Long Live Classy. I really wouldn't be here if it weren't for you!

My First Investment Piece + The Decision Process

I am not a heavy spender, nor have I ever been. But sometimes, you have to take into consideration the pieces you use most often and the quality of them. Do you find yourself buying new versions over and over again because they wear out over time and just don't look good anymore? I have!

Just a couple days ago I decided to buy myself a pair of Tory Burch Caroline flats in a nude color, which turned out to be my most expensive purchase for one item ever. They haven't come in the mail yet, so pictures will be up then, but for now I wanted to share my decision process before I buy an expensive piece. Here is a sneak peek of what they look like on the Nordstrom website:




I decided to buy these flats because I find myself reaching for my nude Target flats quite often-- They go with absolutely everything, from jeans, fancy and casual dresses/skirts, to work attire. My only issue was the quality of the flats. I bought them at a great price ($12!), but they're made of fake leather and just aren't as comfortable, especially with their shape (Think Tory Burch Revas make of pleather and without the logo). While there is absolutely nothing wrong with cheap shoes (I love them!), I wanted a nude pair that I could wear over and over again and not worry too much about quick wear and tear. I recently saw these on a YouTube beauty guru in one of her OOTD vids, and knew these were the ones! However, for such an expensive purchase, I had to go through a process.

This is my method of deciding when to splurge. Everyone is different, but these are just my suggestions. I encourage you to buy whatever feels right to you!

1. Ask yourself: Do I really need these? How often will I wear them?
I know that I wear my Target flats all the time, and while I may not need these TB flats, they would definitely be better quality and last for quite a while. They are timeless. The amount of times that I'd wear them would make up for the hefty price tag. I also used this same process when buying my Ray-Ban Aviators and my rose gold Fossil watch-- they are my only daily accessories and I wear them almost every single day.

2. Decide which color is right for you and the situation.
That pricey turquoise bag might look great this season, but how often will you use it throughout the year? And will you still love it two years from now? Pick a color that is timeless and will go with anything for years to come, even if your style changes a bit. I knew that these flats would go with anything and everything, and I'll probably love them for years to come.

3. Can I afford this at the moment? Is this an impulse buy?
This is an important question to ask yourself. I'm sure we've all had our impulse-buy-moments that we regret. If you simply cannot afford to buy it at the moment, I suggest you don't. Save up for it. There's a certain kind of feeling you get when you know you can afford to buy something; You lose the "guilty" feeling of wasting the money you could have used for something else you really need. Speaking of preventing impulse buys...

4. Look at it a couple times during the day, and let it "sit" for a week or so.
This is the best way to prevent impulse buys. We're always tempted to buy right then and there when we absolutely love something, but when it comes to something on the expensive side, it's best to stop and think. See how you feel about that item one or two days after, and then a week after your "first encounter" with the lovely piece of clothing/accessory. If you just cannot get it off your mind, then it's probably right to buy. I've found that sometimes I see something I love, but two days afterwards, I decide I really don't need it or love it. This was not the case with my flats!
Here's another scenario though: Sometimes you just can't leave the item there while you sit and think about it, because it might be taken by someone else or sold out. If this is the case, sometimes its okay to buy the item right there... but let it sit in your closet for a while as you think about it. If you find yourself not loving your expensive purchase, then return it ASAP! I've done that a couple times!

5. Lastly, go with your own gut feeling.
You may have your own "splurging" decision process, or you may just buy whenever you feel the need to. Whichever it is, remember to always go with your gut feeling. When you know the time is right to buy that expensive piece, by all means, go for it! I always say, "Retail therapy never fails, so long as its done in moderation."

The Bottom Line: Just think of classic, expensive pieces as investments. It must be something you'll cherish for quite a while, otherwise you're just wasting your money. Buy the trendy stuff cheaply and the classic stuff in full quality! :)

I hope that I could be of some use with my advice! I've never written a post like this before, and I kinda like it. I love giving fashion and shopping advice when possible!

Please let me know what you think, and maybe some tips for your investment decision process as well!

Sunny Yellow

Happy Mother's Day to all you great moms out there! Here's an outfit from yesterday, which I wore to a photo shoot and going out with some friends. I am loving yellow this year, which a big change! I've always thought that yellow looked unflattering on me, but now I love it! It's time to add some more color to my spring and summer wardrobe. :)



Shirt: Old Navy, sz XS
Cardigan: Merona for Target (Similar)
Shorts: J. Crew Chino City Short, sz 0
Belt: Target
Watch: Fossil "Stella"

I didn't show the shoes in this post because I was out taking pictures and I was wearing sneakers when these pics were taken. I did, however, wear my cognac Merona for Target sandals with this outfit when I went out.

Enjoy your week!

Wear It Four Ways: The White Cardigan (Red, White, and Navy Edition!)

A crisp white cardigan-- Such a basic essential in any girl's spring wardrobe! You've either known exactly what to wear it with, or you have no idea (like me!). There are so many different outfits that could use a white cardigan, so I decided to narrow it down to a theme: Red and navy. Big surprise there, huh, considering my love for nautical colors! :)
Here I'll show you four different ways (work, weekend, a party, and a fancy event!) to wear a white cardigan, with a red, white, and navy theme.

For reference, I'm wearing a Merona for Target v-neck cardigan in size XS! I'm also debuting shorter hair, which is hardly styled in these pics.

For work...

Shirt: Target (similar)
Skirt: Ann Taylor Tropical Wool, sz 2 (altered, similar w/ stripes)
Shoes: Steve Madden Ulltra, sz 8

Worn Casually...

Shirt: J. Crew Vintage Cotton, sz S
Skirt + Belt: Forever 21, sz S
Sandals: Merona for Target

For a party...

Dress: Target (old)
Belt: J. Crew (old)
Shoes: Dillard's (old)
Bag: Mark.

For a fancier event...

Dress + Belt: Dillard's (old)
Bag: OC Styles on Etsy
Shoes: Dillard's (old)

I hope you all received even just a little bit of inspiration from this post! Happy Friday to you all, and enjoy your weekend! :)

Seeing Green

Dress w/belt: Target (old)
Sandals: Merona for Target, sz 8
Bag: Merona for Target

I never usually wear green, but lately I've been wanting to add some other colors to my wardrobe other than navy, pink, and red. I absolutely love the fit and feel of this dress. The silhouette is exactly what I love, and the jersey knit fabric makes it super comfortable. This is what I look for in easy summer dresses!

Of course, no summer outfit is complete without some nautical touches, so I added my new anchor earrings and anchor necklace!

Earrings: Ana and Ava (Dillards; Identical pair here)
Necklace: by Junghwa from Etsy

How does green look on me? Any other colors I should add to my wardrobe this summer? :)

Red, White, and Neutrals

Dress: Mark. (old)
Cardigan: Merona for Target, sz XS
Belt: From another skirt
Shoes: Merona for Target, sz 8


Pictures don't lie-- and this is one of those outfits that you see in the mirror and love, but by looking at a photo of it, you notice it isn't what you expected it to be. The only thing I find "off" with this outfit is the fit of the cardigan over the belted dress. I feel like it should be cinched in with the dress, but maybe that's just me! I wore this outfit to church on Thursday night (it's one of those churches where everyone dresses casually), but this outfit could be worn for more casual occasions as well! I love adding a pop of classic red to neutral outfits.

I also wore a new, bold color on my nails... Essie Turquoise and Caicos, which Nick hated and asked me to remove it promptly. Men just don't understand! :)



Enjoy the rest of your weekend :)

Nautical Stripes and Basic White

Every woman should own three different blazers-- A black one, a navy one, and a white one. Yes... White! I was hesitant at first to wear a crisp white blazer, but I'm loving it more and more every day. It is absolutely perfect for spring and can be easily dressed up or down, from the office pencil skirt to a pretty sundress to jeans. Today I wore it with (what else?) my nautical striped tee and my favorite Gap jeans. I'm looking forward to wearing it more this summer!





Shirt: H&M (Similar here and here)
Blazer: H&M (Similar)
Jeans: Gap Real Straight Jeans, sz 26a
Shoes: Lands End (Similar)

Classic Navy and Beige (and gold)

This is a complete repeat outfit, but there's nothing wrong with that! (I usually go about two weeks before re-wearing the same outfit :]) I wanted to show you all a color combination that you just cannot go wrong with-- Navy blue and Beige. Navy is one of my favorite colors for anything! It's a bit bolder than basic black but still very classic and subdued. You can see this same outfit styled a bit more on the brighter side here. A cardigan and a skirt are all you need for spring! ;)




Skirt: Lands' End Canvas (old)
Cardigan: Merona for Target, sz XS
Cami: Forever 21
Belt: Target
Shoes: Lands End Canvas (old)

Enjoy the rest of the week, everyone! May is finally here... and summer is right around the corner. I can't wait!