I know what you did last summer.

If you love fashion and/or PR, you have to follow DKNY PR Girl's tumblr and twitter.  They provide insider info from a seasoned pro, and they're highly entertaining at that.  This picture from her blog pretty sums up how I have felt on my first few days of class.  Seriously.. who wants to rehash the details of their summer or give a piece of info "that no one else knows about you"?

where are you, Christmas?

Anyone else ready for Christmas? After going from store to store and seeing all of the new fall offerings, I'm in the spirit for my favorite holiday.
P.S. Those burlap stockings are running a close second for favorite in my mind-- right next to the needlepoint one my mother made me.  Love the natural texture and color with greenery and reds.

All photos via Pinterest.

high tories.

I repinned this picture on Pinterest, and I'm pretty sure it has been the #1 repinned picture from my "belle" board.  The Selma Riding Boot is THE perfect boot for fall, don't y'all think? And, from what I can see from my September issues that have been rolling in, riding boots aren't going anywhere this year-- except hopefully on my feet..

the oxford comma.

This makes me laugh, but this is really how I feel. I still think that comma is essential.  

when the sun goes down.

My mom took this picture on our most recent trip to the beach.  It was taken right at the bay bridge, and I think it's a perfect reminder on this Sunday of God's glory. 

peekaboo.

Have y'all seen the new Lilly website?? It's great, and I am loving it. So much easier to find things now! And what I have been trying to find are these amazing peep toe wedges.  These shoes are the first thing I noticed about the Evie dress that I posted a few days ago.  I searched high and low on the website trying to find them, and now they're finally up.  These are the perfect shoes for fall-- a great transition shoe with a pop of color. Love them!!

remind me.

Love this song, love the video even more, and I want to be Carrie Underwood..just look at those legs. Jealous.

purple, purple, purple.

I'm thinking that purple is my fall color of choice this year, in all the berry shades imaginable, and these Kate Spade pumps are no exception.  

these Kate pumps + an LBD + a turquoise necklace 

(click..seriously..you will be obsessed with that dress and this necklace) 

*If you are a Gilmore Girls fan, you understand this title. If not, then you just think I'm oddly obsessed with purple. 

here for the party

Arm parties are all the rage, and I'd like to go on record saying that Samford girls have been sporting this trend way before it hit the mainstream arena. In fact, my arm party was the subject of a puzzled demeanor from my Old South teacher last year.  There, there, it's not for everyone, but I love it, and it has majorly caught on.  And I love how Refinery 29 interviewed magazine editors, publicists, and the like around NYC to spill the details on their stack of the day.  My favorite look was one that Tory Burch tweeted about just in the nick of time for Tory Tuesday.  This stack is owned by Harper's Bazaar Senior Fashion Market Editor, Joanna Hillman, and it features the Tory wrap bracelet in orange. I have a slight obsession with her wrap bracelets, and they are an excellent addition to the party.  What's your favorite way to party?

old forester.

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I. Love. Forest. Green. I love a good sweater dress. And don't even get me started on how much I love leopard. Therefore, this look is as close to perfect as one stylist could get. This look is everything I adore about fall, rolled into one little package.

1. Dolman-sleeve sweater-dress.

2. Skinny calf hair belt.

3. Medium gingham Perfect shirt in artillery fatigue.

Now, where is my PSL*? 

*PSL=Pumpkin Spice Latte=fall in a cup=the official start of the.best.season.ever. 

pink is my signature color.*

Between summer and fall, bow blouses are running rampant in the fashion world.  This Prabal Gurung at J. Crew version might as well be called "b e l l e s & b o w s  x  J. Crew." Precious bow in my favorite shade of pink.  This would be so cute tucked into a white or navy skirt.  

*When I look at this, I can hear Julia Roberts & Sally Fields, over and over in my head: 

-"My colors are blush and bashful." 

-"Your colors are pink and pink!" 

this just in..

Alert the media:  J. Crew actually has cute stuff again.  ..It's only taken 3 years for that to happen.
I opened my J. Crew fall catalog and was pleasantly surprised to find adorable, perfect pieces that look like the pre-Jenna Lyons store I know and love (the store that I used to skip classes and go to Freshman year).  I'm loving the new color additions to the pencil skirt this fall-- aptly called the "No. 2 Pencil Skirt" (how cute is that?).  And it's as if they read my mind with the PERFECT and..wait for it..AFFORDABLE blazer--perfect cut, a myriad of colors, and only $188! These are just a few of my favorite things! I'm also so excited that leopard seems to be huge this fall, especially since it's a staple in my closet.  Pops of color+leopard have to be my favorite trends for fall.

I'm obsessed with this purple No. 2 Pencil skirt. Must have for sure.

What are your fall favorites?

All photos via J.Crew.

Tory Tuesday.

So, with the blessing of Twitterland, I'm going to try out something new that I'm calling "Tory Tuesday," which will just be a blurb about the day's obsession from one of my favorites.
So is anyone else obsessed with the new ladylike, Mad Men-inspired trend of longer skirts? TB does this so well, especially because of her 60s | 70s goddess-inspired style.  Love it.  And I'm especially loving this "Borner" dress.

Are y'all on board with this trend too?

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bow blouse.

Tory Burch "Waverly" blouse, $425.

Ok, I'm starting to think that I should trademark the phrase "slight obsession," because otherwise, I just use it way too much.  But this is how I feel about Tory Burch and her YouTube channel, blog, Twitter, website, etc.
Anyway, this video for how to style Tory's Signature bow blouse three different ways is so very cute.

Happy weekend!

stay cool.

brooks blazing.

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Loved this photo from the Social Primer for Brooks Brothers Tennis Hall of Fame bow tie launch party.  Blazer+bow tie headband is so cute.  A good navy blazer is the number one piece I reeeeally want this Fall, and since it's such a classic, I'm thinking I might as well go all out and get a perfectly tailored one from Brooks. 

Photo via All Dressed in Argyle.

in check.

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Gingham & checks are some of my favorite ways to add color to a man's wardrobe (and women's for that matter.)  They are versatile and perfect for summer as a shirt, and then bring the look into fall & winter with a coat.

All photos via Pinterest.

all about evie.

I am beyond, beyond, beyondddd obsessed with the Lilly Pulitzer Evie dress from the Fall 2011 collection. My favorite is the one pictured above, Cameo White Macrame Me, and the Pink Tomato Standing Ovation version screams Samford-- the perfect dress for cheering on the bulldogs. 

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