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You know that stylish friend of yours that dresses herself and her home in such an effortless mix that you never can quite put your finger on where her finds come from?  Yep, I want to be her too.  I think the first step is to search in unlikely sources…

A great place to start is in stores you aren’t the target market for.  Junior stores are technically aimed at high school aged girls, but that doesn’t mean the rest of us can’t still shop them.  They are gold mines for trend right pieces at after school job price points.  Here, a few ideas.  (Be warned: Edit ruthlessly at stores like this, you don’t want to overdo it and look like you’re literally forever 21).  

Nest: PB Teen (the preppy younger sibling to Pottery Barn at a slightly lower price point) happens to have some great finds.  Polka dot sheets under crisp white bedding would be super chic.  Mod shaped white ceramic lamps would look right at home on your Parsons desk.  I found these Jonathan Adler inspired needlepoint pillows at a comparative steal. 

Dressed:  A simple skirt shape gets an update with a sweet scalloped hem.  This black mini from Nordstrom Juniors  is the sort of un-boring basic you’ll end up wearing all the time.  Pair it with a chambray shirt and flats or a statement necklace and ankle strap heels.  

The Rest: This iPhone case from Charlotte Russe calls to mind carved stone when it’s really simple rubber in a hue that will brighten up even the dreariest of winter days.  While you’re there, check out their jewelry selection for similarly affordable additions.  

Apparently, in Southern California, Spring starts in January.  You won’t hear me complaining.  My weekend was spent in bare legs taking long walks on the beach and roaming around the downtown streets (which landed us upon this pretty little park).  Even though you may not have had the same weather I’m having, hopefully you still had the chance to explore a local area of your own and maybe even had the luck of finding something new.  

They say when in Rome, do as the Romans do.  So when in Silverlake (the quickly gentrified, hipster-y neighborhood of northern LA often compared to Brooklyn), I say do as the Brooklynites do…

For an afternoon spent browsing the record/vintage/cheese shops of Silverlake that meant a nineties style button down maxi dress (one of the most surprisingly versatile pieces I’ve bought in a long time), layered under a plaid button down (the calling card of hipsters on either coast), and a utility vest (ditto on the versatility of this piece).  This is one of those outfits that combines several pieces that aren’t typically my style (vests are few and far between in my closet and this is honestly the only maxi dress I own), but somehow manages to still work.  Just don’t try and get me to wear ripped tights.  

Dooney & Bourke Bag (Vintage)
Dolce Vita Shoes (old, similar here)
CrewCuts laces (old, similar here)

First it was in a mod inspired feature in Matchbook Magazine.  Then it was this post from blog ‘A Piece of Toast’.  And by the time I was browsing the Urban Outfitters bedding section, I officially felt like I was being watched.

Eyes, it seems, are the new lip.  While kiss prints seem to cycle through fashion fairly often, the eyes motif feels fairly novel.  From closed eyes on pillow cases to heavy lashes on loafers to cat eyes on a clutch, the key is to keep it bold in black and white (with maybe a touch of baby blues).  They’re the perfect accent to other bold pieces – carry that clutch with a houndstooth dress, hold that phone case while you text with glitter covered nails, and wear those flats while you sport swiss dot tights.  I promise, all eyes will be on you.

(1. Urban Outfitters pillowcases; 2. Kate Spade iPhone cover; 3. Modcloth flats; 4. Etsy notecard; 5. Kate Spade Clutch)