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Sorry mom

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Before I left for college, my mom made me a scrapbook of my sister and me. I was showing it to one of my now dearest friends and she suddenly looked at me. “I get it now!” I was confused. “You get what now?” She pointed to a picture of Candace and I- we were both wearing leggings and tops with matching cardigans and even our little shoes matched. “The outfits.”

The outfits. Candace and I only wore jeans if we were going to get dirty. Graphic ts were for art camp because it was ok if we ruined them. Cotton reigned supreme, polyester didn’t exist in our house, and embroidery was certainly preferred over screen-print. We were adorable and well-dressed, thanks to our mom who made sure we wore the highest of quality clothing for kiddies.

When I finally got out of a uniform and could dress myself in high school, I admit that my style was lacking. Can you blame me though? It was, after all, the early 2000s and this is what was in. I remember a few outfits and I’m just like… sundress over cargo pants CAROLINE WHY? AND WHY DID YOU HAVE SO MANY COOKIE MONSTER T SHIRTS? AND WHY DID YOU PUT CHERRY SHOELACES IN YOUR SKATE SHOES THAT YOU HAD NO BUSINESS WEARING?

My style has certainly matured since then, deviating a little bit when I lost a lot of weight right after college and ran around half naked with a giant bow in my hair for most of the summer of 2012. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, a second eye is always good when trying on clothes. And my favorite second eye is my mom. There’s no bones about it- she’ll tell me if something looks cheap or awkward or ill-fitting, something I wish I would have realized back in 9th grade.

And she would hate these shoes. She wouldn’t like the mismatched laces, or the leather straps. When I was going through a bit of a scene kid phase in high school, I actually wore ballet slippers with skinny jeans, which is how Dana styled them in the post that made me swipe ’em. There’s literally no way I would ever buy the originals, because I don’t think I’d ever spend that much on shoes. But these were just too cute and too different to pass up the dupe version. In the cold, by the big City Center tree, I felt perfectly festive in a very Nutcracker Ballet sort of way.

The flats are kind of insane, but really comfy, and semi neutral (plus I can take out the ribbons if I want). I have skinny but long feet, so it’s sometimes really hard to find comfortable ballet flats, and these work! Because the pink is almost a tan-ish, I honestly feel like I can wear them with most of my winter wardrobe as long as it’s not too cold or wet out.  I wanted to wear them without tights, but since it was 43 degrees when I left my house, that seemed out of the question. Plus, the tights make the ballet flats seem more ballerina-y.

Mommy, I know you and I know you’re not going to care for these, but thank you for setting me up with a foundation of style and room to explore my own.

Note: I’m aware that my dress is wrinkled. I’ve said many times that most of my outfits are shot with a coworker during the business day and WELP this is what happens when you go from sitting in a cubical to a blustery day.

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Almond Toe Bow Decorated Lace-up Flats: SheIn||Black 3/4 Sleeve Ruffle Hem A Line Dress: SheIn||Coat [old]: SheIn||Alex Earrings in Black c/o Kendra Scott||Alice bag c/o Urban Expressions {use code CLOVE25 to get 25% off}

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Archival: Changed my mind

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Originally posted on Little Bitty City One 5/18/16

For the longest time, and I have no idea why, I was extremely anti-gingham. I think it started in about 5th grade, when the look du jour of the popular girls, at least at my school, became cami sets from Limited Too and t-shirts from Old Navy and Abercrombie.Up until this point, Downing girls only wore t-shirts to art camp and to play in the dirt, and Candace and I were getting away from the adorable outfits that my mom wanted us in. I started to turn away from “checks” in favor of sparkly shirts that said AMERICA and PRINCESS and sometimes AMERICAN PRINCESS. Not that there’s anything wrong with a little sparkle, but I’m glad that somewhere along the line I decided to get back to basics and give gingham another try.

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Shirt from Groopdealz but t+j has a really cute off the shoulder version [shop more pink gingham here, here, here]||Shop navy blazers here, here, here||The Pixie Mid-Rise Ankle Pants for Women||Shop pink bow ballet flats here, here, here||Cadence bag [get 25% off with the code LBC1]||Long strand pearls here, here, here||NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream

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The above post may contain affiliate links and I may receive compensation if you click on any of the above links and/ or make a purchase from those links. Opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that I love!



My little taste of NYFW

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So, first of all I’m sorry for being a bad blogger and kind of letting The CaroLøve fall by the wayside last week and into this week. Besides a post engagement euphoria, I’ve also come down with a nasty sinus infection situation. I spent a lot of last week struggling to breathe, pinning wedding everything, and, frankly, caring about little else than Kendall and starting our future together. I’ll probably be posting a lot of my wedding faves and likely I’ll have a bit of a harder time posting 5+ times a week. I ask you to bear with me and give me as much feedback as you want!

Second of all- I’m sorry I’m so late on my NYFW post! Now that I’ve gotten a taste of the experience, I’d love to go back! I was in the city for less than 24 hours, but getting to experience my first NYFW show was such an amazing experience, and I’m truly honored that I was even invited.

After a morning blowout at Drybar Midtown East with with an amazing stylist named Fernando, I hopped in a car and made my way to the Yuna Yang show at Gotham Comedy Club. There were only a few girls already there, and we quickly started chatting as we waited outside the club to get in. I mentioned how I’d brought along my camera to the city to have my friend take outfit pics for me before she left for brunch and I left for Drybar, but somehow lost my SD card. Juliette was kind enough to step in an do a quick shoot for me! As she said in her email when she sent the picture over- Not too bad for a three minute impromptu shoot in the rain!

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pictures c/o Juliette

Another lovely blogger I met in line was Lexie. Meeting her was like being a little kid and meeting your favorite princess at Disney World. This woman is a princess in real life and so incredibly sweet. I’ve been following her on Instagram for quit so I kind of fangirled when she was standing right in front of me.

Since it was my first taste of NYFW, I was trying so hard to keep an open mind about how things would run, but there is a bit of chaos that I found overwhelming. Half of our tickets had bar codes on them and half didn’t- which confused the team running the show as much as it did us. Juliette and I did not have bar codes so we were sent off to a side line and when we got into the show we weren’t sure if we would be able to see anything. Thank goodness she knew what she was doing, because despite having the “wrong” kind of ticket, we ended up with seats right where the models walked off the stage. I’m so glad we had the view we did because the clothes were incredible- such an amazing display of texture and color. Despite being totally exquisite, the styles were also accessible. I would wear anything in the collection! I’m not even going to pretend I have any idea what I’m talking about, but I simply loved the collection! I’ve said this before, I never studied fashion per say, but I know what I like and I love playing with style. My favorite piece- the mint green fur coat!

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I’m still not sure why I was invited to the Yuna Yang show, and I’m still so honored that I was. I don’t think I would last the whole New York Fashion Week, realistically, but in Fall I would love to go up for at least a few more days. I found Dana’s post about why she skipped it altogether this spring really on point, and I can totally understand where she’s coming from, even as a total newbie. While I could sit and appreciate a gorgeous collection from a designer I hadn’t heard of before, that I want to get to know better, I looked to my left and saw a girl having her photog take a picture of her next to the (at this point) empty stage. Why? To prove you were there? Can’t you just enjoy being in the space you were in with the incredible display you just witnessed? It just made my skin crawl a little.But I’m still so grateful that I was included and I do hope to be able to experience more NYFW in the future.

Have you ever been to NYFW? What do you love and what could you do without?

My Outfit Details:

Bar III Flyaway Faux-Leather Jacket: Macy’s||Lace Top Jumpsuit: Loft||The Sari c/o Pearl & Clasp||Ballet flats: SheIn||Pyramid Watch – Exotic: Stella & Dot||Cross-body c/o Urban Expressions||Triple Wrap Tassel Bracelet: Emily Kammeyer for E.Kammeyer Accessories

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The above post may contain affiliate links and I may receive compensation if you click on any of the above links and/ or make a purchase from those links. Opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that I love!



It’s All About The Accessories

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Accessories are important and everyone knows it. A simple outfit of jeans and a t-shirt is instantly jazzed with the addition of certain sparkly accessories or a splash of color. A gorgeous ballgown gets its pop from the accessories that enhance it. Everyone needs accessories in their life, whatever gender or age they are.

Gold Crystal Three Layer Deco Necklace

Accessories cover a lot of different categories, including handbags, jewelry, shoes and scarves. You can really be spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing accessories for your outfit. What you choose will vary depending on the outfit and occasion, of course, but accessories will still play an important part of your outfit choices. If there is one thing you will notice about highly fashionable women, it’s that they are not fashionable without the right accessories. The greatest style is in the details and while you can buy fantastic clothes online from here, you can also buy accessories to complement the outfit you have chosen. You can look like you’re a highly fashionable person if you have the right decoration and that is exactly what accessories are for. They decorate your outfit and they also make you feel great. Those earrings you love so much won’t just make your outfit look more sophisticated, they’ll draw attention to the color of your hair, the softness of your eyes. Accessories can change how people see you, right down to the type of shoes you wear on your feet. This makes them powerful.

One thing that is important to remember is that you have to make good choices when you accessorize. The shapes, colors and even the silhouette of the accessories you use will change over time. The accessories that you may have found in the Twenties will differ vastly from those that came in over the Swinging Sixties era. The best thing about the accessories you choose? You don’t have to stick to one era. A flapper’s dress with a beaded drop waist like this one, will always look amazing with long beaded necklaces in silver and jet. These aren’t just limited to the 1920s era, as long beaded necklaces pop in and out of fashion. The colours of 2017, for example, are bright yellows, fuchsia and tropical green. These may look a fright on a pair of trousers or a jacket, but emerald necklaces or chunky yellow and pink bangles would look far more fashionable without making your outfit too loud. Taking the time to go for a shopping trip and investing some money into funky, updated accessories isn’t just fun – it’s trendy and in season.

Straw Pom Pom & Tassel Tote

The handbag you choose has to be practical for what you need it for, but you also need to make sure that it goes with what you’re wearing. A bag isn’t just something to hold your purse and phone, it’s going to complete your overall look. You should ensure that you have more than one handbag in the wardrobe. A classic black bag like this is perfect for the office during the week, but you should definitely have something more fun and bright for the weekend. Don’t just settle for one handbag, either. Have a small clutch to match those formal dresses lurking in the back of the wardrobe for weddings. You could even have a different, chic clutch bag to make a simple jeans and plain white tee look fabulous.

The Things I’ve Seed Flat

Shoes are absolutely necessary for your wardrobe. Sneakers for the gym and for outdoor running. Ballet flats for casual outfits. Pumps for your work wardrobe and skyscraper Louboutin’s to make those skinny jeans look endless. The shoes you wear don’t just change up your outfit, they can make you feel fantastic. The confidence that comes with knowing your outfit looks amazing and you feel great wearing those brand-new heels is something that isn’t usually replicated elsewhere. The best thing about shoes, is that you can find the with studs, zips, buttons, laces and even jewels. They’re so versatile that accessorizing your outfit with gorgeous shoes is just an essential!

Faux Pearl Embellished Pinstriped Twilly Scarf

It’s the wintertime that sees the scarves, hats and gloves come out for most people. But scarves are never out of season and they’re for everyone. Jazzing up your outfit with a scarf from Hermes, like this one, is one way to make a simple casual outfit look far more chic. Loop the scarf through the belt holes on your jeans, or tie around the neck, or for something truly different, transform your scarf into a funky bracelet. Check out these ways you can wear scarves to make your whole outfit look different.

Gemstone Embellished Star And Moon Shaped Earrings

The best accessory for your outfits will always be jewelry. You don’t have to buy into 9-carat gold rings and earrings, especially when some of the most beautiful accessory pieces are costume jewelry pieces. Chunky, statement necklaces and charm bracelets that can be color matched to your outfit are very in right now. You can make an outfit look particularly classy with fine jewelry like pearls or delicate silver earrings, but never dismiss costume jewelry.

All in all, your whole outfit and demeanor can depend on the accessories that you choose. Dressing up a work outfit will be different from a casual outfit, but you can easily make it work. You may need a few shopping trips to make your accessories vary by color and outfit, but no one is going to turn the opportunity to shop down, are they?

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The above post may contain affiliate links and I may receive compensation if you click on any of the above links and/ or make a purchase from those links. Opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that I love!



Whoever said orange was the new pink was seriously disturbed

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Just like endorphins, pink makes me so happy. I was going though some of my old posts and I found the ASOS Cotton smock dress with frill detail and it honestly made me smile. Pink was always my signature color growing up- Candace in blue, Caroline in pink. That’s how it always went. My bedroom was pink-walled with pink carpeting, and my dorm room was periwinkle and all shades of pink. As for my home decor now, I’ve toned down the pink exponentially (because living with a boy) but we do have subtle pink accents in our bathroom.

I’ve done some research, and with the psychology of the color pink, it’s honestly not surprising that pink has always been a favorite of mine. It’s considered to be feminine and romantic, affectionate and intimate, thoughtful and caring. It tones down the physical passion of red replacing it with a gentle loving energy.

On the negative side (yes, there is a negative side to pink) it can be associated with being physically weak, over-emotional and over-cautious, having emotional neediness or unrealistic expectations, being naive, immature and girlish, lack of will power and lack of self worth. There you have it- the many faults of Caroline.

I’d rather focus on that good stuff though- pink represents empathy and sensitivity, which I think are two of my best traits. And I can wear them , literally, on my sleeve… or foot, or eyes…

ASOS always has a great selection of pink everything. I’m still eyeing the smock dress, but the other pink dresses I love are a little bit more formal (great for wedding guests!) Check out my other favorite ASOS pink bits and let me know- what is your signature color and why?

the carolove asos pink

ASOS Cotton Smock Dress with Frill Detail||PrettyLittleThing Embroidered Sheer Midi Dress||Chi Chi London Premium Lace Midi Prom Dress with Bardot Neck||Little Mistress Beaded Mid Dress with Tulle Skirt

New Look Metallic T Bar Loafer||Boohoo Espadrille Platform Sandal||ASOS PIPELINE Pointed Block High Heels||Adidas adidas Originals Haze Coral Stan Smith Sneakers||ASOS LORITA Ballet Flats

House of Holland Half Arsed Sqaure Sunglasses with Caged Half Frame||ASOS Oversized Square Embellished Sunglasses||AJ Morgan Plastic Aviator Sunglasses in Pink||ASOS Cat Eye Sunglasses with Metal Sandwich & Pink Colored Lens

New Look Lace Hem T-Shirt||Fila Oversized Rugby Top With V Neck And Contrast Stripes In Mesh||Pull&Bear Ruffle Flute Sleeve Tee||ASOS T-Shirt with Tropical Print in Block Candy Stripe

 

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The above post may contain affiliate links and I may receive compensation if you click on any of the above links and/ or make a purchase from those links. Opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that I love!







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