Inamorata

Although it is a highly commercialized holiday, I have a soft spot for Valentine's Day.
And this little dude....

I also dig the idea of giving someone cheesy gifts to show your love. Plus, it's an excuse to buy another outfit.

And while yes, those activities can be done any day, I think there's something to be said of holding the tradition of spending quality, facetime with your main squeeze - and I'm not referring to the app. With all the social media around us, I'm all about being with the one you love... or lust (depending on your situation).

Here's my three things about VD that don't sting:

1. Free dinner or not having to cook. If you're a lady, score. Dudes get a raw deal with having to pay for dinner. But then again, women burned their bras in liberation... However, on this day, the ladies get to rely on their femininity for a practically guaranteed meal. So yes, I'll have the lobster, please.

2. Buying embarrassing love paraphernalia at Spencer's with your friends and laughing your asses off. When else are you going to have an excuse for buying penis spaghetti...

3. If you're single, go out and use bad pick-up lines on people... and hopefully get away with it. Try that ish on any other day and see what happens.

No pick up lines for me... just a pair of obligatory heart tights (my most recent favorite purchase) to celebrate the day cupid became a commercialized pimp. Play on, playa.

Outfit:

Top - H&M

Belt - recycled throughout the years

Ruffled Skirt - Forever 21

Heart Embroidered Tights - H&M

Oxfords - Forever 21

Jacket - The Gap

Heart locket - Gift from my mother

I came, I saw, I blogged

I died and went to blogger heaven... and everyone was taking pictures of themselves.

As you've probably noticed, everything this week has been leading up to the the IFB Evolving Influence Conference that took place yesterday at Milk Studios in NYC. It all kicked off when the wind ruined my bangs on Wednesday night, but meeting contest winners and bloggers Krista from ProFreshStyle and Nubia from Nubia's Nonsense made up for it. I also met Jennine, founder of IFB and The Coveted, who is without a doubt one of the most bubbly, friendly and just all around down-to-earth ladies in the blogging business.

As part of winning the contest, I won a camera and the chance to participate in a produced video, which meant I interviewed fellow bloggers in uncomfortable shoes throughout the day on their thoughts on the future of fashion blogging. Plus, fellow contest winner, and my new favorite person from Michigan, Doni from LivLuxMag was my partner in crime.

Heavy stuff, right?

Among the many stylish bloggers I chatted with, and the panels, here'a a couple of highlights:
1. Boston loves blogging!

During the panels, I scoured the room for potential interviewees for my assignment. I happened to bump into Amy of StylishYear.com (at far right), who donned an adorable skirt from H&M... I knew I'd get a long with her immediately after sharing that my ensemble was also from the same store. She introduced me to Mara Does Makeup (ww.beso.com) and Nina of TheStyleGlossary.com (pictured at left).

2. Bloggers ain't playin' with their footwear. The Jeffrey Campbells were out in full effect... and I'm not complaining. The wedge was also a favorite.

3. The panels were amazing! There is an abunance of info that I didn't know was so accessable... and obtainable! Plus, I was somewhat surprised that the blogging community are a bunch of cool, down-to-earth women (assumingly) who are uber friendly and (obviously) blatently fashionable or epic fail clothing donners.

4. London has beautiful grassy landscapes... North Jersey has farms with dirty sheep.

Here's some other gems from the day:



Jennine and I from IFB & The Coveted



Proenze Schouler, the keynote speakers

Sarah of Effortless Cool (http://www.effortlesscool.wordpress.com/)



My Outfit

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Striped Tunic - H&M

Faux leather vest - Mandee

Ponte leggings - Forever21

Patent leather wedge boots - Modcloth.com

Oh, and check out some of the blogs I'm diggin' from the pleathora of cards I exchanged:

- Fashables Thanx Ryan for the blog love! And read about his IFB experience here

- http://fromme-toyou.tumblr.com/

- Tastesandstyle.blogspot.com

Luck be a lady

I can't believe I won a ticket! I am beyond thrilled and excited to be attending the IFB Evolving Influence Conference... to meeting so many other bloggers, to learning how to take my obsession with fashion to the next level, and to hear panels from some of the most esteemed bloggers in the fashion realm such as Keiko Lynn and Gala Darling!

But now comes the hard part - what am I going to wear!?!??

The weather in NYC currently is windy, and just last night, I saw snow flurries. I feel like I can't dress the way I'd like to when I go into New York - due to the fact that if you wear shoes that look good, your feet probably won't feel good after all the walking. I'm avoiding this Thursday and getting a cab.

But for the outfit... I'm at a crossroads between a beige and black striped tunic dress recently aquired from H&M, with black leggings, patent leather boots and a blazer.... Or go the black ruffled skirt route with black and red heart tights and some type of striped top.... Or a dress I got from Miss Selfridge in the UK during December. Who am I kidding? Stripes and probably black will be involved in some capacity.

If anyone is going, please let me know! I'd love to meet you, shake hands and say hello!

Dress - Forever 21

Woven leggings - Mandee

Shoes - Nine West

Blazer - Mandee

Be prepared!

At a certain point during the colder months, I get tired of buying winter clothes. I have a tendency to dislike much of what I've purchased from the year before, which results in purging a lot of my older clothes and replacing them with new lovies to don this year. But it's February, and I'm over the snow, sleet and miserable weather that's been hitting NJ.

Many of my most recent purchases have been shoes - platforms, flats and mary janes, oh my! My main stem wear inspiration comes from Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony.

I've always been a fan of her style, and in her collection, I think the Platform Mary Jane really make sense because they go with pretty much everything... and they are just all around uber amazing. Need, and want, these shoes!

Photo via OpeningCeremony.com

The outfit possibilities are limitless with these platforms!

Currently, two pairs of shoes, both from Forever21 are sitting in my closet, and are on deck for Spring! The leather mary janes have an ultra lightweight heel, and the floral slingbacks add a splash of color and go well with black and denim.

Plus, I'll be reviving my patent leather peep toe platform wedges from last season...

With my new shoes waiting to be worn, I'll just have to come up with some winter ways to sport these beauties... Spring - get here soon!

IFB Pick Me!

I had been planning on attending the Independent Fashion Blogger's Evolving Influence Conference.... until the tickets sold out. Immediately, a wave of disappointment washed over me as the thought of missing Proenza Schouler's key note speech and not being in the mix at a gaggle of panels with fellow bloggers and fashion lovers.

Now, IFB is giving reader's the chance to make a video and possibly, win a ticket! Here's my video - hope you (yes, you, IFB) like it!