Fairgrounds & Flowers: Bloggers at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

I've finally gotten around to posting photos from my New York trip!  I met up with Kristina and Midge on two separate days; we went to McCarren Park in Brooklyn for a picnic on Saturday, and then we headed to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens on Sunday.  It was really nice to hang out with them and be in nature (especially in a city where green space is a precious commodity), and we had a lot of fun getting to know each other.  I didn't take any photos on Saturday, but have plenty from our botanical garden adventure!

Photo credit: Midge

I was cursing myself for not bringing along a floral print dress for this trip.  As a group, we had initially talked about heading to Coney Island later that day, which is why I brought this carnival print dress with me.  However, it was collectively decided that it was simply too long a schlep, so we instead had a delicious dinner at a Mexican restaurant Kristina recommended.  I'm still really undecided about what I want to do, as far as whether or not I want to move back to the New York area, but it's comforting to know that if I do decide to move, I'll have some friends waiting for me.  And I'm sure I'll make it to Coney Island someday.  :)

Photo credit: Midge

Even though nothing on my trip really went according to plan (i.e., we were a much smaller group than we'd anticipated, I got super-lost on my way to the park on Saturday, etc.), we still managed to have a great time together, and I'm glad that I decided to go.  Many thanks to Midge and Kristina for snapping pictures of me (and dealing with my ignorance when it comes to photography) -- and for being as lovely in real life as you are on the internet!  :)

Outfit Details

Hell Bunny dress: Amazon

Flats: DSW

Sunglasses: old

Have a sensational Saturday!

xox Sammi

Friday Favorites #62

Happy Friday!  Even though this was a short week, I'm very relieved it's the weekend -- especially because I actually have a weekend off, which is very rare!  I have today, tomorrow AND Sunday off, so I'm definitely going to savor sleeping in, among other things!  Anyway, here are some of my favorite finds this week:

Even though it's still fairly humid here, I'm starting to get a little more excited over the prospect of cooler weather... especially when these gorgeous pastel coats from Hell Bunny exist!

I'm dying to go back to Disney World, and I know I'd need at least a couple of these adorable, retro Disney sweatshirts!  I'm obsessed with the Daisy Duck ones (and she was always my favorite)!

a  //  b  //  c

Speaking of Disney, I sort of get a kick out of this tank:

I love the flamingo embroidery on this Coco Fennell dress:

I wasn't super blown-away by the Forever 21 + Barbie collaboration that came out yesterday, but I do adore these Barbie lipsticks - the shades are really perfect.

I need this sweet donut sweater!

And how darling is this sweet pea necklace?

These three green dresses are all on my wish list for this season.  I love the green plaid dress for fall, and the one on the right would be stunning for the holidays!  Oh, and the one in the middle has little embroidered planets on it.  They're all so great!

a  //  b  //  c

I'm always a sucker for kitty merch, and this purse is no exception:

I think most people of my generation watched Little Rascals a lot... I, for one, was totally obsessed and I had a huuuuge crush on Alfalfa.  The cast reunited for the 20th anniversary of the movie for a fantastic & nostalgic photoshoot, and surprise!, Bug Hall (who played Alfalfa) is now incredibly attractive.  I was apparently a very prolific child.  See the full set here.

So swoon-worthy!

And finally... the most adorable otter in the world, eating at the kitchen table:

Have a great Friday!

xox Sammi

Sky Blue Pink

If you're a regular follower of my blog, you know that my outfits are often thematic (and sometimes border on costume-y).  My ensembles are sometimes centered around a playful print or a kooky handbag, and then I build on those pieces to create a look that tickles my fancy.  There are times when I consciously and thoroughly plan an outfit around a specific item, and then there are other times where the pieces come together at the last second and make me ask myself, "why didn't I think of that before?!"  In either case, I love being able to be creative with what I wear, and I love drawing inspiration for my outfits from unexpected sources.  The surprising inspiration for today's outfit?  Furniture!

Image via Viesso

When the folks over at Viesso asked if I would be interested in doing a style collaboration, I was a little hesitant at first; I wasn't all that familiar with their company, and I wasn't sure if I'd be able to tie in their modern furniture to my own aesthetic (and have it make sense).  But after perusing their website, I stumbled upon their outdoor furniture -- specifically, their colorful bistro tables and chairs.  For some reason, I'm always drawn to these types of pieces.  I guess I just love the romantic café feel to them.  (I actually have a set of chairs and a table that are a little reminiscent of the ones on their site!)  The two items that really caught my eye were a hot pink round bistro table and a sky blue bistro chair.  This color combination seemed so girly, flirty and nostalgic.  Ever since I was little, my mom would point out specific summer sunsets that contained these colors, and would always describe them as "sky blue pink."  I think it was actually something that carried over from her own childhood.  But because summer is ending, I felt that using these pieces as an outfit inspiration would be a great way to bid (a reluctant) adieu to the season.  This color combo also immediately brought some of my favorite articles of clothing to mind:

I knew their pink table would be a perfect match for this gorgeous Trashy Diva dress and pink flowered headband from Pinup Girl Clothing.  For the blue elements, I wanted to incorporate this darling purse (no longer available, sadly) and matching shoes by Kling, and the flowery pink and blue sunglasses from Topshop were just the icing on this summery cake.

But to recreate this outfit in real life, I had to get a little more creative.  I don't own any of these pieces, so I rummaged through my wardrobe to find items that would work.  The style and color of this coral dress from Pinup Girl Clothing are very similar to the Trashy Diva dress I chose, and although I could have gone with a flower crown, I opted instead for a light blue vintage pillbox -- not only for the style, but to bring in the color as well.  Unfortunately, I didn't have shoes to match, but I improvised with my off-white vintage Mary Janes (in retrospect, they remind me of clouds!).  I also brought in the floral elements with this bracelet; it's actually supposed to be used as a decoration for a hair bun, but I think it looks darling this way!  I don't think I would have necessarily put these pieces together on my own, so it's refreshing when a challenge like this allows you to look at things in a different light and wear them in new ways!

Outfit Details

Dress: Pinup Girl Clothing

Hat and shoes: vintage

Flower garland: River Island (similar)

Many thanks to Viesso for allowing me to explore a whole new avenue of outfit inspiration!  

I hope you have a great Thursday!

xox Sammi

Green gingham

Oh summer, I'm not ready to say goodbye to you yet.  Gingham just seems like such a summery print to me, and this apple green gingham seems especially so.  Honestly, this dress fits a little strangely -- the boning on the sides can be really problematic, and the fabric on the bodice never lays the way I want it to.  But I have trouble getting rid of things, and in cases like this, the good (or at least, the potential) outweighs the bad.  So it's staying with me for now.

I had a bit of a headache to deal with this weekend when my bank notified me that there was suspicious activity on my account.  It turns out that someone got ahold of my debit card info (not my physical card, since I still had it) and was using it to go on a little shopping spree in Yonkers.  I have a feeling that whoever the person was, he/she got access to it at some point during my time in New York, which really irks me.  I paid cash for nearly everything, and used my card in only a couple of places (and not even at an ATM or to get a MetroCard!).  It's really troubling that it can happen anywhere.  Luckily, my bank was on top of it, and I was notified via text right after the person used it, and then someone from my bank called me to follow up on it.  I was really impressed, considering it was at 6PM on a Sunday night, and during a holiday weekend, no less (which I'm sure was part of the thief's thought process in choosing that time to use it).  I have to head to the bank this morning to finish straightening things out, but it seems like it won't be too bad of a process.  It's just disheartening that there are such dishonest people in the world.

Outfit Details

Dress: eShakti

Belt: ASOS (similar)

Boater hat: River Island (similar)

Shoes: Urban Outfitters (similar)

I don't have much else to say today, but I hope you have a nice Tuesday!

xox Sammi

Blogger Interview: Sarah of The Petite Pixie

I cannot believe it's already September 1st.  I really can't.  This summer went by way too quickly!!  Luckily, I have an interview with an adorable blogger to help ease the transition into September.  Meet Sarah from The Petite Pixie!  She's cute as a button (and a fellow actress!), and I guarantee you will fall head over heels for her sweet sense of style.

Name:  Sarah A. Garcia

Age:  Freshly 20!

Where do you blog?  I blog over at The Petite Pixie!  It's a personal style blog I started a year ago in efforts to reinvent myself and find somewhere I can share my love of dressing up and be unapologetically me!  I also run Elle Fanning Style, a blog dedicated to finding and sharing pieces from actress Elle Fanning's wardrobe. 

What are you studying in school?  I am currently studying Acting at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

What's your dream job?  The goal is to become a movie and/or television star, but I would be just as happy making YouTube videos or being in community theatre for the rest of my life, as long as I'm acting!

How did you get into blogging?  Many years ago in high school, I read blogs constantly and thought about how much fun it would be to start one.  After some trial and error over the span of a few years, I finally found an identity that suits me and that got me excited for what the future of blogging might hold!

What are some other blogs that you love?  Oh gosh, too many!  The Soubrette Brunette (obviously!), Scathingly Brilliant (which was the first blog I discovered that made me want to start blogging), Mermaidens, A Beautiful Mess, Briar Rose, Paige Joanna, The Clothes Horse... just to name a few!

Your favorite musical artist:  I've worshiped Stevie Nicks since I was a kid, and that hasn't stopped to this day.

Your favorite musical:  I know it's super cliché, but Les Misérables was the most beautiful thing I've had the privilege to see on stage thus far.

Your favorite movie?  Once, but I haven't seen the musical version yet!  That may replace Les Mis soon.  [Sammi's note: Such a good choice!!!]

Which actress would play you in the movie version of your life?  Either Carey Mulligan or Emma Stone, as I've been compared to them quite often.

One character from a movie or TV series with whom you identify:  Lily from How I Met Your Mother.  We are literally the same person.

Do you have a celebrity crush?  Nate Ruess, the lead singer of Fun.!  My friends and even my boyfriend know him as "my husband," and the second time I saw him in concert, he smiled at me, so you know our love is real.

Photo credit: Lauren Crow

Your favorite guilty pleasure?  Lately I'm kind of a little too obsessed with "Say Yes to the Dress."

Favorite book (from childhood or now):  My favorite book for years has been Running with Scissors but I've probably forgotten most of it by now!  The most recent book that I've read that was good enough to be deemed one of my favorites is (another cliché) The Fault in Our Stars.

Drink of choice:  I'm so boring, but water.  It's a magical potion, I tell you!

Favorite food in the world?  Macaroni and cheese, hands down.  Any kind, anywhere.

What's your favorite season and why?  I absolutely love autumn.  I've never lived where the leaves change color or anything like that, but I love the feeling of the school year starting and the holidays fast-approaching and the cool air.  It gives me the warm fuzzies inside!

How would you describe your personal style?  On most days, very feminine and girly, with influence from the 1950s and 1960s, but sometimes I like to experiment with different styles as well.

What's been your favorite post from your blog so far?  My favorite post would have to be Pixie Day!  Not only does it match the current layout of my blog (I am sort of a matching freak!), but it was so fun to be a pixie for a day.  That was kind of the true start to the blog, as well.

Do you have a style icon?  If so, who?  Oh, I have so many!  The first two that come to mind are Zooey Deschanel and Elle Fanning, even though she's so much younger than I!  Those two definitely inspired and shaped me to have the personal style I do today.

If you could live during any other time period, what would it be?  Entirely from a style point of view, the 1950s.  I love the 50's housewife look, but I'm not a fan of the whole not-having-rights part of it!

Your favorite place to shop or favorite clothing brand:  I'm a sucker for a good deal, so thrift stores and cheaper brands like Forever 21 and H&M, but when my pockets are feeling a bit fuller, I venture to American Apparel and Topshop.

Go-to accessory?  The pink pearl-banded watch that my boyfriend made me!  It's so perfect in every single way.

What's the most beloved article of clothing you own?  My grandmother's leather and fur coat from the 1960s that she gave me!  I haven't worn it yet because I cherish it so much!

If you could wear only one outfit every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?  It would have to be an A-line dress, belted at the waist, with a cardigan and a pair of comfortable flats.  It is really fit for any occasion and is still incredibly "me!"

Thanks so much to Sarah for being my September interview subject!  Don't forget to swing over to her blog and follow her!  She's such a doll, isn't she??  Have a wonderful first day of the month!

xox Sammi

Summertime Blues

I'm in absolute denial that August is almost over.  As much as I love the fall, I'm not ready to say goodbye to summer!  I feel like I didn't end up doing many summery things this season.  I didn't go to an amusement park or to a carnival... and I hadn't even gone swimming!  I figured I'd at least check that off my list while I still had the chance.

I really adore this swimsuit!  It's by Fables by Barrie, which is one of my favorite retro reproduction swimsuit brands.  This suit isn't available at ModCloth anymore, but you can still get it on the Fables by Barrie website -- and it's 30% off, along with all of their other swimsuits!  You can check out their full selection here.  As much as I love the design and fit of this suit, it definitely took some courage to go through with posting these photos.  It's hard for me not to pick apart my appearance (especially when there isn't a flowy dress to hide behind), but in the end, even though I'm not perfect, I like how I feel in this suit, and isn't that all that matters?

In short, I'm making more of a conscious effort to do things that scare me a little bit or take me out of my comfort zone.  Sometimes, it's better not to over-think things... and just jump in.

Outfit Details

Swimsuit: ModCloth (available here!)

Jelly wedges: Pinup Girl Clothing

Sunglasses: ModCloth

Have a wonderful weekend!

xox Sammi

Friday Favorites #61

This whole week has felt sort of wonky and I've been having trouble keeping my days straight, but at least I have Friday Favorites to get me back on track.  Here are some of the items I've been loving over the past couple of weeks:

a  //  b  //  c  //  d  //  e

Novelty purses abound!  I especially love the milkshake and donut ones from New Look (which I couldn't resist ordering).  I also like the ones below from Betsey Johnson, especially the one that looks like a little chalkboard.

a  //  b

And of course, I'm totally in love with these whimsical Olympia Le-Tan embroidered book clutches:

one  //  two  //  three

I really adore story-themed accessories, like these darling pieces of jewelry from ModCloth!  They're perfect for any logophile!

a   //   b

Belle is one of my favorite bookworms of all time, and this skirt (of the Beast's library!) is stunning.  It's from the Etsy shop Go Follow Rabbits, which has a ton of wonderful kitschy & geeky gear!

Glasses are the ultimate geek-chic accessory, and I'm dying over these cat-eyes from the Keiko Lynn + BonLook collaboration.  The bottom ones are my favorite pair!

I can't talk about cat-eyes without touching on these cute kitty cat items!  Lazy Oaf always has such fun stuff, and these paper clips from H&M are so adorable!

1   //   2

Unicorns are pretty high up there on my list of favorite creatures.  This pencil sharpener and necklace are just right for any mythological-loving gal:

1   //   2

I know it's way too early to be thinking about cold weather (I'm still in denial that August is almost over), but oh my gosh... these Hell Bunny coats!!!  I actually have this same coat in red, and it's unbelievably lovely... but the pastel pink and blue are just beyond!  They're the perfect mix of kawaii and retro.

a   //   b

This iPod speaker is so much fun!

And finally... these Irregular Choice shoes are insane, in the best way possible.  The heel is Elvis's face.  I can't handle how ridiculous and great these are.

Have a great weekend!

xox Sammi

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