March 29, 2012

Luck O' the Irish

Outfit Details:
Top-(giveaway) Stylemint
Skirt-H&M
Necklace-Forever 21
Tights-Nordstrom
Bangles-(giveaway) InPink
Heels-Tahari @ Lord and Taylor
Cuff-Attachments LLC


This shirt is one of my most recent giveaway wins. For those of you who don't know, a giveaway is exactly what it sounds like: a blogger giving away sponsored items in order to gain followers or because they're being compensated. They're really fun--it's always great to be rewarded for following a blog that you're normally following anyway!

On to this tee: after seeing infamous blogger after infamous blogger wear coveted "Stylemint" tees designed by none other than M-K & Ashley Olsen, it was exciting to win two tees from the brand! These tees are real quality: soft, not clingy, perfect looseness, and impeccably designed. I've probably worn this shirt 5 times since I got it (2 weeks ago). Safe to say I REALLY like Stylemint :)

Maybe it's because I'm Irish, or perhaps I always comment at the right time, but I've been extremely lucky when it comes to winning giveaways. I've won more than I can count on BOTH of my hands since I discovered fashion blogs (about a year ago!). Crazy, right?? 

Recently, I've won tights (thanks Jess!) which you'll see me style soon, a Free People top that's perfect for Spring, 2 Stylemint Tees, a Shabby Apple dress, and two Vedette tops. And that's in the past MONTH.

It all started in June, when I won my first giveaway. It was a set of magnets, of all things! I was SO excited....I was new to following blogs then, so the idea of getting something for free blew my mind! Then, winning became more frequent. In the summer I won a ring from Manic Trout, Ettika bracelets, a gift card to RUTTISH (who is now one of my sponsors!), two leather bags (both of which I sold on Ebay), a bodysuit, and two pairs of shoes from Sole Society. In the fall, my wins included: a necklace from El Vintage, a chambray shirt, and two gift cards to InPink. I also scored a credit for a pair of Blowfish shoes (which I have yet to redeem).

That is a grand total of EIGHTEEN (18) GIVEAWAY WINS (!!!!!!!!!!!!!). And I'm sure I've left out one or two! It's not like I enter millions and millions of giveaways, either. Only the blogs that I follow!

Have any of you had luck like me? Tell me in the comments what sorts of giveaways you've won before! :)

Now all that's left to do is to go out tomorrow and buy a lottery ticket. How much do you think I'd win? :)


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March 26, 2012

Bloom

Outfit Details:
Dress (slip not included)-American Rag @ Macy's
Jacket-American Rag @ Macy's
Wedges- Bandolino @ TJMaxx
Belt-Banana Republic
Cuffs-H&M


Although it's back to cold this week, last week's almost summer-like heat had me wearing shorts and sandals! This look is the epitome of Spring for me: although it's not loaded with happy, bright colors, I believe a white dress can do wonders. Of course it could do much MORE wonders against tanned skin, but you'll have to live with my pasty legs (and feet...GAH) for now. In the Summer, I get very dark and all sorts of light colors look great against my skin. But Spring is about light and bright colors, too: pastels, neon brights, and stark whites. This isn't stark but it's lace and it's white and if that doesn't scream Spring, I don't know what does. Well, maybe wedges. And bare legs. Still, this white lace dress is going to be an essential for me in Spring 2012 because a) it's versatile b) it's easy to wear c) it's the perfect style and texture for Spring!

And I've got something I'd REALLY love for you all to do for me. In fact, I've added  2 new entries to my giveaway (where you can win a chance to promote your business, blog, or shop!) worth TEN ENTRIES and FIVE ENTRIES. All you have to do is FAVORITE and VOTE FOR my submission to Chictopia's SPRING BLOOM contest. It would mean the world to me! And I promise if I win (or get a runner-up), I'll be sure to have a giveaway that's better than any I've done before! So help me win and head over and VOTE and FAVORITE my LOOK now! :) And if you do, enter my giveaway for a chance to gain 15 EXTRA ENTRIES!!!!

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For now, back to tights. My sandals and summer dresses return to hibernation until (hopefully soon) I can take them out again bare-legged!








March 24, 2012

Batwings (+ a giveaway!)

Outfit Details:
Shirt-H&M
Necklace-(giveaway) InPink
Skirt-thrifted Express
Loafers-(gifted) Call It Spring
Tights-(gifted) Simply Vera Vera Wang @ Kohl's


My Spring Break is over in two days. This means homework (boo), waking up early (boo), and having to endure gym class three days a week (boo boo BOO). But, there's one thing to wake up for every day and even get through gym class for. FASHION. I get to dazzle the halls with my super style skills!!! (I'm only sort of kidding :P) And another thing.....a GIVEAWAY!

This time up for grabs is a prime-space ad on Wear Abouts (scroll down to "Sponsors" on the right hand side...your ad could be the first one listed!!!) You'll get your business, blog, or social page advertised on Wear Abouts for a full month! Gain a greater follower base or prospective buyers from Wear Abouts readers! Entering is easy--just fill out the form below to enter. The winner will be randomly drawn two weeks from today and contacted within a day.
If you need help entering or are not sure how to use Rafflecopter, please EMAIL ME: rory@wearaboutsblog.com


P.S. Also, this is another "In the Mixx" feature! Check out how (and what!) I've remixed!




March 23, 2012

Refreshed

Outfit Details:
Crop Blazer-c/o Ruttish Clothing
Skirt-Pacsun
Necklace-Rice's Market
Boots-Joe Fresh
Top-Urban Outfitters

There is something so pleasing about a look with not much going on. The saying, "Less is more" is not one that I often use. For me, more is more. More ice cream? Yes please! More sleep? Yes please! More clothes? Yes please! This is an exception. No colors, little accessorizing, no makeup, no nail polish. You'll never hear me say it again, but it's refreshing, to dress so minimalistically and with so few accessories. Coming from the girl who loves rings, large obnoxious necklaces, bracelets, etc. The more believable answer to why I was dressed like this: maybe I was just lazy.



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March 21, 2012

Dreaming in Leopard

Outfit Details:
Dress-Forever 21 (last worn HERE)
Scarf-Banana Republic
Belt-Gap
Wedges-Kohls


Do you ever want a certain item SO BAD and then you can NEVER find it? That happens to me a LOT. This scarf was one of those things. I'd been searching for a leopard scarf everywhere, and I couldn't find one wherever I went. I browsed the giant department stores, the smaller/cheaper stores, sale racks...I mean EVERYWHERE. When I finally found this one, it's hefty price tag turned me away. I was convinced I'd never find my perfect leopard print scarf.....

But then, it went on sale. I LOVE sales. Sales, coupons, free shipping...those words are golden to my ears ;)

So, I bought the scarf for half of what it was originally. And got free shipping. And now that I have my perfect leopard scarf, I seem to see so many other leopard print scarfs in every store I go in. But MINE is the best of all of them.

Does that ever happen to you?

See me wear LEOPARD:

HERE, HERE, and HERE


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March 19, 2012

Sparkly Sunset (+answers)

Outfit Details:
Dress-Macy's
Sweater-H&M
Socks-Hue via Lord and Taylor
Belt-Gap
Bracelet-gifted
Necklace-vintage (my grandma's)
Earrings- TJMaxx
Pumps- Tahari


I find that the best time to shoot my pictures is in the late afternoon as the sun is setting, casting a soft glow to the photos. Rather than the harsh white light of midday, the light cast is much more flattering! I've taken pictures in all lights and made every mistake in the book. I'm still making them but learning as I go!

Thank you to everyone who left their questions on this post. Here are the answers (+ a little link love for those with questions!) :)

Vivi asked:

What camera do you use?

I use my dad's Nikon D40x with the 18-50mm lens it came with.

Who takes your photos?

99 % of the time, I take my own photos. I use a tripod and remote control! Rarely my mom will take my photos, and my brother's done it ONCE. I will indicate in the post if someone other than myself has taken my photos!

Rebecca asked:

What time of day do you find best to take photos?

Read the beginning of this post. I've already answered! :)

How do you choose your backdrop?

I try and choose a background that's as UN-busy as possible, whether it be an open field, trees WAY in the distant, or something equivalent. If a background is busy, a reader is more likely to focus on the background or find it harder to focus on the outfit. The first time I ever took outfit photos (you do NOT want to see those), there was a trash can, a house, a fence, some flowers, and anything and everything that could possibly be in the picture in the picture. My dad told me immediately that those pictures were bad and I needed the focus of the picture to be on my outfit. It's the sort of thing you say "DUH" too once you're told, but it's easy to not know that.

Linda asked:

What are some of your favorite hobbies?

The two main things I do outside of looooving fashion and shopping in general are soccer and writing. I like to write fiction, but don't have much time to do that outside of school. As for soccer goes, I'm the Varsity goalkeeper for my high school team in the Fall and play pretty much for the rest of the year, excluding winter. I'm also a vacation-lover (who isn't?). My family has gone to lots of fun places: Puerto Rico, California, Arizona, Florida, and Hawaii (THREE times!). But I've never been abroad or even outside of the US's borders except to go to Puerto Rico! I'm also a fan of NYC's Broadway plays (I've seen 15 since age 9!) and an avid reader.

Marianne asked:

Tell us a little bit about your life.

Outside of the hobbies and things I enjoy from above....I'm a student, first and foremost. A sophomore in high school, to be exact. In the summer, I'm a lifeguard (I gave a kid a Band-Aid once) and in the fall and spring I referee club soccer. I have a dog (the cutest thing EVER) who is 11 months and a brother who is 15. My mom and dad would rather not have their ages named ;) but they are pretty cool too. And as I'm sure every fashion blogger on the planet looooves to do, I shop at every opportunity that I can. Shop til you drop, is my motto! (<my mom can't wait til I can drive).

You can find out more about me in THIS POST (which basically sums up my life) or my ABOUT ME (which also basically sums up my life).

What are your dreams regarding the future?

As a 16-year-old girl, my dream first and foremost is to go to a college that I love and meet wonderful people there whom I can connect with. I love writing and fashion, and would love to incorporate those in a job somehow. Fashion writing sounds fun, and who wouldn't want to be a professional fashion blogger??

What made you start your blog in the first place?

Other fashion bloggers, really. I loved to shop and to look nice, like most girls do. I didn't dress to impress everyone else, I dressed for myself. On that level I could really connect with them. I was so inspired by seeing what they were wearing, and intrigued by all of the fun they seemed to be having blogging. So, I decided I just HAD to have one! Once I make up my mind about something, it's hard to change it!

Why don't you have a Facebook page or something similar?

As a student who does other things, I don't have time to maintain many social networks. I'd spend way too much time on blogging and not enough time doing the most important things: schoolwork and spending time with my friends and family. Perhaps in the summer, when I have more free time, I'll get a Facebook or a Twitter or something but for now, just having a blog is quite a bit of work! :)

Mica asked:

What would make your favorite outfit?

Sequins and bright color. I love sparkly things! Also, I'd throw in a collar necklace or something else totally statement. There would have to be killer shoes, of course. Whatever the outfit would be, it'd be something that was totally wacky! My mom has similar style to mine, and she often "keeps me in check", you could say. If she didn't approve my outfits before I walked out the door, half of the time I'd look like a clown to the rest of the world! It's good to get another point of view, from someone a bit more conservative in terms of style no less, so that you don't go too far over the edge! So to actually answer the question: my favorite outfit would include a Topshop dress, a pair of cool expensive designer heels that I don't actually own (Alexander Wang, anyone?), a jacket of some sorts, a pop of leopard, a funky necklace, and some awesome tights. Basically, THIS outfit sums it up.

Well, that's all for today. If you actually read this entire thing, I commend you. How long did it take for this entire novel to load? And did you make it through without a bathroom break? Just kidding ;) But good job on making it through! Also, I've got a fun giveaway in store in the next week!




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March 17, 2012

Fall for Spring

Outfit Details:
High/Low Sweater-c/o Wholesale-Dress.net
Necklace-(giveaway) ElVintage
Boots-Vince Camuto via Lord & TaylorScarf-Quiksilver c/o Chictopia (Chic Rewards)
Watch-gifted

This look feels very FALL to me. Maybe it's the colors--maybe it's the bare trees--or maybe it's the crisp, cool (not cold) weather we've had around here as of late. Whatever it is, I'm just glad it's not actually Fall! In my tip-top seasonal analysis here, I told you all about how the heat of Summer comes after Spring. Well, the chill of Winter comes after Fall. Therefore, Spring>Fall>Winter. And I'm not sure how I feel about Summer. What I've learned? I should start another blog on the four seasons and how they make me feel...I seriously need to stop boring you with my opinions on seasonal matters! :)

On another note, this is LOOK 2 in my new feature, "In the Mixx" (see the full LOOK 1 here). Hurray! Which look do you guys like better?


p.s Use exclusive coupon code "Rory20" at Sheinside to get 20 % off of your first order!