Party With Preppies

Me- Dress: Vineyard Vines Shoes: Tory Burch

Mikey- Shirt: Gap Pants: Gap Tie: Gap 

Pop your collar?

Ever since the '80's its been the preppy thing to do to pop your collar. In the summer, when your sailing, the best way to prevent sunburn is to pop you collar. This look with sailors caught on with kids in prep schools and members of country clubs and I couldn't love the look of it more. 

It's not supposed to be perfect, but kind of messy in a styled way. 

Personally, I say yes, pop your collar. 

My Uniform

I have so many clothes in my closet and dressers that some days I don’t even know what to wear. We usually go for the most comfortable thing on these days, and I call that my uniform. It’s the outfit I go to when I cant think of anything else to wear.

This outfit consists of jeans, khakis or cords paired with L.L.Bean boots, a button up or flannel, and a sweater over that. This outfit is so simply classic and can be worn virtually anywhere. I love wearing this to school because it’s collegiate and put together without being uncomfortable or overdone. Plus classrooms are always freezing and the layers help you stay warm. 

Kiel James Patrick and Sadie Zucchi perfected this look. 

Staying Organized

Staying Organized

When your calendar is always full it can be hard to keep track of what is going on in your life. The most important thing to do when you are so busy is to stay organized.  Everyone has his or her way of doing this; my way is by keeping a Lilly Pulitzer agenda.

 

 This year I decided to purchase the large agenda in the print ‘Jellies Be Jammin’. I thought the pattern was so cute, but more importantly it was the perfect size.

It is important to keep track of all the events happening in your life from social events, to work, to school events.

The Lilly planner is really helpful because at the beginning of every month is a lay out of the whole month, calendar style.

This is where I write down major events to get an overview of the month. I can easily see what days I will be really busy and what days I have free.

Whenever I write an event in, I color code that event. So for example I try to keep all social events in a bright pink gel pen and all school events in a purple gel pen.

When you flip to the next page after the month overview, you have a more in depth calendar that is a weekly overview. This is where I write exactly what is happening that day or what needs to get done.

Color-coding your classes during the school year is an easy way to see what needs to get done for each class without getting confused. Highlighting the really important things like tests and quizzes will also keep you on top of things.

When you aren’t in school, it is still good to use your agenda for events like work, parties, doctor appointments and smaller tasks that need to get done. I still color-code to separate work and social events and keep things organized. I use my agenda everyday to keep myself organized, and make sure I never miss out on anything. 

My Current Stack

I love jewelry as much as any girl does, but I really love bracelets. I’ve been wearing the same Cape Cod bracelet for nearly 4 years now.

 It compliments all my outfits and it’s so classically timeless. I’ve summered on Cape Cod ever since I was little and its grown to be like a second home to me.

Over the summer I purchased two other bracelets that I’ve completely fallen in love with. They are both from the Red Owl Jewelry and Gift store in Cheshire, CT. They are both nautically themed, much like my style and also my way of living.

Being a competitive swimmer since I was 6 my love for water and all things ocean inspired began at an early age. I also lifeguard and teach swim lessons along with helping out at the middle school swim team practices locally. The bracelet I most recently purchased, which relates back to that history, is also from the Red Owl, by a brand called Chavez for charity.

They are a company that donates 25% of money made from the bracelet to a certain charity. I, of course, chose a charity that went towards water.org. My bracelets looks almost like water droplets and a little dove charm hangs from it. The bracelets are $10.00 each which is a small price to pay to really help out a good cause. 

Vineyard Vines 2014 Holiday Collection

Vineyard Vines products are always top notch. Not only is their saying ‘Everyday should feel this good’ but it seems to also be ‘every time we put out a new collection Erin goes broke”. The 2014 Holiday collection is no exception. Since I check their website weekly for new items, as soon as the Holiday collection came out I fell in love.

Fair isle prints, cashmere, fleece and tartan fill this collection and make it complete. Now last year, I became obsessed with a wool Fair Isle printed scarf completed with lobsters that I received as a Christmas gift from my parents. This year, anchors replace the lobsters making this scarf earn a spot on my Christmas list. If you love something, buy it in every color, right? (Or every print in my case.)

The one thing that was really the icing on the cake for me was the abundance of tartan. I’m OBSESSED with tartan. It has been a pattern made for the preppies of the world that seems to be given to us by God himself. Yes, its that good.

The tartan ankle pants completed with a bow near the ankles actually sold old before I could even type in my credit card number into the check out on the website. Have no fear, instead of tartan pants; I purchased a tartan strapless dress.

After receiving this dress in the mail, I decided that Shep and Ian have really outdone themselves. My obsession with Vineyard Vines got even worse (if that’s even possible) after I got this dress.

Of course the men’s collection is just as good as the women’s with cashmere ¾ zip jackets that can be paired perfectly with any of their Murray shirts and the right tie/bowtie.

This combo with cords looks so classically prep, you’ll be the best dressed at any holiday party you got to.

Once again Vineyard Vines has baffled me with yet another perfect collection to add to my closet. I know I’m already going to have to start saving my money for the spring collection. 

Ordering Online

Homecoming was exactly a week and a day away, I still had no dress. The only logical thing to do was order something online (except not because what if it didn't fit or I hated the length or it was totally the wrong color). Something I'd never seen in person before, never tried on before, but fallen completely in love with. 

I grabbed a tape measure and measured myself accordingly. I was between sizes. Picking up the phone, I dialed Vineyard Vines number, which is where the dress is from. 

I talked to Craig who I told my measurements and he told me exactly what to do. This all happened Monday. I ordered the dress that night, (along with a few other items that had been sitting in my wish list long enough). 

The dress came Wednesday. I anxiously opened the box and there it was. It was completely perfect. I loved it even more in person.

 But then came the moment of truth. I had to try it on. I unzipped it and stepped in and zipped it up, and it fit PERFECTLY. I don't think I'd ever been so happy about something fitting me, now I just can't wait to wear it!