Tuesday, December 22, 2015

My Beauty Essentials


Beauty products are not one size fits all. Today, I want to share my favorite beauty essentials that will suit anyone and any budget. This isn't going be the type of post you're expecting. 

Makeup is expensive.

 Being a beautiful person is free. 

I love makeup as much as the next Sephora Beauty Insider, but there are so many more important ways to be beautiful besides applying plastic-packaged products to your skin. 

Kindness is free. An open mind is free. Embracing diversity is free. Respect is free. Caring is free. Helping someone is free. Love is free. All of these beauty essentials are guaranteed to erase unwanted and unnecessary hate from this world we all live in. 

The world does not feel beautiful or loved right now. It is hurting inside and out. We need beautiful people to remind this planet how beautiful and loved it really is. 

~Bitsy

Friday, December 18, 2015

Light and Dark



Denim Jacket: H&M  | Sweater: Forever 21 (similar) | Jeans: Zara  | Sneakers: Vans | 
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff  | Watch: Fossil

There's something I love about pairing black jeans with a light denim jacket. It adds a brighter feel to an otherwise dark outfit. The pale blue wash of the jacket goes nicely with the silver zipper detailing on my biker jeans. I kept my jewelry silver as well to keep the outfit cool toned. The white rubber soles of my black leather Vans add another touch of brightness to the look. I will definitely be playing with the balance of light and dark in my outfits this winter.

~Bitsy

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Bits of Style x Primark

Primark opened its first U.S. store in Boston this September. In honor of the grand event, they kindly sent me a $50 gift card to go shopping. I could not wait to shop 'til I dropped!


What I love about Primark is that it is both on trend and affordable. I used every penny of my gift card to purchase four cozy sweaters for the chilly Boston weather. Where else can you get four pieces of knitwear for $50?! It just blows my mind. Bravo, Primark. 

The burgundy turtleneck sweater cost me $16, as did the blue ribbed knit. The navy and gray turtlenecks were $9 each. They are incredibly soft, comfortable and versatile. I can't wait to style them!



What are your favorite pieces to purchase at Primark? As much as I love their knits, they have an incredible selection of hats and scarves as well. If you don't have a Primark near you yet, don't worry! The brand recently opened their second U.S. store in Philadelphia, PA. That can only mean there are more to come. 

~Bitsy

Friday, November 13, 2015

Going Faux




Vest: Rachel Zoe (similar) | Sweater: H&M (similar) | Jeans: Topshop | Shoes: Sam Edelman | Bag: Rebecca Minkoff | Hat: Forever 21 (similar)

This is my all-time favorite outfit. Faux real. Day, night, doesn't matter; I will wear it any time. I love each piece of the look so much, from my hat to my ankle boots. This outfit sums up my sense of style perfectly. I love mixing classic pieces, like turtleneck sweaters and skinny jeans, with more trendy ones like a faux fur vest and wide brim fedora. Everything being black keeps the look sleek and cohesive. I added a pop of color by wearing MAC's 'Quelle Surprise' on my lips. 

I am so glad faux fur is in this year. I've always been a fan, but it's nice to get some style inspiration from other bloggers and celebrities who have embraced the fuzzy fabric. I really only wear this vest with my Topshop Petite Joni jeans, (which I highly recommend if you're short like me and looking for a pair of high waisted skinny jeans you'll want to wear everyday). I definitely want to branch out a bit and try the vest with a skirt or dress. It's the perfect layering piece, so why not take advantage of all the styling options? I'm going full faux and not looking back.

~Bitsy

Friday, November 6, 2015

Still Spooky


Top: Brandy Melville | Pinafore dress: Tj Maxx (similar) | Shoes: Steve Madden (similar) | Bag: MCM (similar) | Hat: Forever 21 (similar) | Choker: Brandy Melville (similar)

The weather in Boston has been surprisingly warm, so lately I've been able to wear lighter layers. I paired my black pinafore dress with a striped top from Brandy Melville, tights and ballet flats for a fall look that's perfect for days that aren't very chilly. My MCM tambourine bag, velvet choker and fedora hat add give the look vintage edge. As usual, I look like I belong in a coven. Just because Halloween is over doesn't mean you still can't be a bit spooky with your style. 

~Bitsy 

Monday, November 2, 2015

What Iris Apfel Taught Me


This year, I went as fashion icon Iris Apfel for Halloween. She is one of my biggest inspirations when it comes to personal style. I love how Iris isn't afraid to take risks and has created her own, unique identity using clothes and accessories. Big, round glasses, layered necklaces and bangles stacked up and down each arm are her trademarks. It's no surprise Iris' clothing and jewelry collection is recognized as one of the best in the world. If you haven't watched her documentary on Netflix, I highly recommend it.

I recreated Iris' look by pulling from my own closet, my mom's treasure trove of a jewelry box and thrifting at Savers. I removed the lenses from of a pair of sunglasses I found at Marshall's to complete the persona. Becoming Iris Apfel made me think about the way I see fashion. The base of my costume, a simple black turtleneck and jeans, were a blank canvas to color myself in statement-making jewelry. With each bangle and necklace, I was adding another element to the canvas. I made sure each component of my outfit served a creative purpose. Dressing up became an art form. 


I think the artistry to getting dressed has been somewhat lost. We're so focused on following the latest trends and trying to recreate celebrity looks, that we've lost sight of individuality. There's really no fun in wearing what everybody else is wearing all the time. I think everyone should try to channel their inner Iris Apfel and be more spontaneous with their style. I'd like to close this post with some of my favorite Iris quotes:

"Fashion you can buy, but style you possess."

"There's no how-to road map to style. It's about self-expression and, above all, attitude."

"If you make a mistake in what you put together, the fashion police are not going to haul you into jail."

"When you don't dress like everyone else, you don't have to think like everyone else."

"I say, dress for yourself. Listen to your inner muse and take a chance. Wear something that says, 'here I am' today." 

~Bitsy

Friday, October 30, 2015

1-800-HATLINEBLING

When hat season's in full swing, that can only mean one thing...wearing more hats. This was the caption to my latest Instagram post, which inspired me to write this blog post on how to style hats for fall. Hats are the accessory equivalent to Drake's hit single, "Hotline Bling," which has taken over the music world. I jam to it on Spotify 24/7 and it's the unofficial soundtrack to Boston's city streets. I can't count how many times I've heard the song blasting from someone's car stereo. Similarly, I have seen a lot of hats both on the street and on social media and blogs. It's safe to say stylish headwear is dominating the world of fashion right now and I say hats off to that! 


I am a hat lady. My hat collection keeps growing. Fedora, floppy, bowler, beret, beanie; nothing is off limits when it comes to my obsession. I buy most of mine from Forever 21 and H&M as I find they have the best selection for the best price. Why pay a lot for an expensive hat from Rag and Bone or Free People when you can find them for a fraction of the price at these fast-fashion superstar stores? H&M and Forever 21 know how to make quality headwear.


I've put together a few outfits to show you how I style my favorite hats this time of year. I hope this gives you a bit of inspiration.



For more information, dial 1-800-HATLINEBLING. 

~Bitsy

Sunday, October 25, 2015

That Bowler Hat



Jacket: Zara | Sweater: H&M (similar) | Skirt: Tj Maxx (similar) | Hat: Forever 21 (similar) | Bag: Rebecca Minkoff | Shoes: Sam Edelman | Necklace: Tiffany & Co. 

When it comes to my personal style, the outfits I love to wear most are classic and simple with a modern twist. I think this look is the perfect balance of fashion from the past and present. A leather jacket, flouncy black skirt and knit sweater are always in style. The leather ankle boots and structured mini bag make the outfit on trend. The standout piece is the burgundy bowler hat. I bought it last year  at Forever 21 and it has become one of my favorite hats in my growing collection. My look wouldn't be complete without some red lipstick to tie everything together. 

~Bitsy