Doorway Series #1

Sweater: Isabel Marant (sold out, similar here) | Skirt: Aritzia (sold out, similar here) | Coat: Topshop (sold out, similar here) | Shoes: Dr. Martens | Bag: Forever 21 | Hat: Free People (sold out, similar here)

When one door closes, another door opens. Since I've started law school, I haven't had the time to blog like I've wanted to. Bits of Style took a necessary backseat for my very first semester. Yes, Elle Woods. Law school is hard. Instead of going on photoshoots around the city, I was studying Civil Procedure.

This blog has been my creative outlet for six years; a space to express myself and my passions for writing, fashion, and photography. Now that (I think) I get the general gist of how law school works, I want to post more this semester. Lately, I've been inspired by '50s and '60s fashion (thanks, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) and editorial styling. I want to share that inspiration with you.

When one door closes, another door opens. My latest photo series utilizes the doorways inside my apartment. I love the retro aesthetic and the way the doorframe frames the photographs. For this outfit, I drew inspiration from the editorial and retro styling I've been inspired by. The result is a bit British and a bit French.

Pairing red and green is my favorite way to color block. A sleek scarlet coat and an emerald '70s-influenced handbag with a bamboo handle (you'd never guess it is Forever 21) make the look vibrant. My mom gave me the handbag as a gift. She once had one just like it. Classic Doc Martens are my shoe of choice.

Here's to new doors opening in 2019.

~Bitsy

Business Casual

Blazer: J.Crew Factory (sold out, available in navy here) | T-shirt: Hanes | Jeans: LF (sold out, similar here) | Shoes: Topshop (sold out, similar here) | Bag: Kate Spade (sold out, similar here) | Necklace: BCBGeneration | Earrings: BCBGeneration | Watch: Michael Kors

I couldn't wear this to the office, because, ripped jeans, but I'm still going to call this outfit business casual. A blazer can make any look polished. I hadn't worn blazers in so long until I started working in a professional environment. Now I like to style them on days off. A blazer, jeans, and a T-shirt can take you anywhere, from meetings, to running errands and dinner out. You can't go wrong. 

I paired my blazer with a boys Hanes T-shirt I got at Walmart for $4. Seriously, buy boys/mens T-shirts to layer with. They're affordable, durable, comfortable, and classic. My favorite jeans I got at the LF sale last year add a laid-back edge to the look. To counter the ripped denim, I wore ankle boots and minimalistic gold jewelry. A mini bag adds the finishing touch. 

~Bitsy

Feminist Oliver Twist

Coat: Topshop (sold out, similar here) | Top: American Apparel (sold out, similar here) | Jeans: Brandy Melville (sold out, similar here) | Shoes: Topshop (sold out, similar here) | Hat: Free People (sold out, similar here) | Bag: Rebecca Minkoff | Glasses: Warby Parker | Earrings: H&M

"Please, sir. May I have some more respect for women?" - Feminist Oliver Twist. 

It's Women's History Month; a time to celebrate and reflect on the advances women of all ages, backgrounds, identities, and abilities have made in society. Women are revolutionaries. We are movers, shakers, thinkers, creators, entrepreneurs, and so much more. We're strong and vulnerable, clever and scrappy. We persist and defy expectations. We raise our voices. We say #MeToo and Time's Up. We demand positive social change.

I love the color red. It's a power color. Red lipstick colors the words I speak with a stroke of strength and passion. A red coat keeps my body warm that others have branded with a scarlet letter for being too vocal. Isn't it strange how women can seemingly never win? How people try to color us with their favorite shades? 

When someone tries to paint you with a broad brush, make your colors shine brighter. Be unapologetic in the showcase of the masterpiece you call your soul. Be kind to yourself. Celebrate yourself. Support your sisters. Be an ally for those who are not able or are hesitant to express their complete selves. Listen. Learn. Speak and stand up. We are women. 

~Bitsy

Stars and Stripes

Dress: Topshop (sold out, similar here) | Jacket: Hollister Co. (sold out, similar here) | Shoes: Converse | Bag: Brandy Melville (sold out, similar here) | Necklace: Brandy Melville | Earrings: Nordstrom Rack | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

Happy 2nd of July! Can you believe it?! We're only two days away from the 4th. I'll be delivering Fourth of July outfit inspo all long weekend long here on Bits of Style. My first look is a modern spin on Americana. I wore this same Topshop navy and white stripe midi dress around the holiday last summer. I've styled it a bit differently this time around. I paired the dress with my go-to white Converse to keep the look casual. A vintage wash denim jacket I've had in my closet for ages (I'm talking freshman year of high school) protects arms and shoulders that burn easily. It's lightweight enough that I won't overheat either. A faux leather backpack holds all my summer essentials: sunscreen, sunnies, baseball cap, and a water bottle. For accessories, I chose my favorite gold star choker to play up the stripes on my dress. Stars and stripes scream Independence Day. Gold hoop earrings keep the look well-rounded. Ray-Bans are the finishing touch. Enjoy the festivities, my fellow Americans! 🇺🇸 ⭐ 🎆 ❤️

~Bitsy

Photo credits to my fabulous sister, Maggie (@magsterpiece97).

Grunge Garb

Top: Topshop (sold out, similar here) | Skirt: Topshop (sold out, similar here) | Jacket: thrifted (similar here) | Shoes: Dr. Martens | Bag: Rebecca Minkoff (sold out, similar here) | Tights: ASOS | Choker: H&M | Earrings: Nordstrom Rack | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

This outfit couldn't be more '90s if it tried. All that's missing is a CD player. This look says both "give me your lunch money" and "give me your Hulu account info so I can watch The Handmaid's Tale." I'm, like, getting serious Spinelli from Recess and young Drew Barrymore vibes from this look. I love how effortlessly cool grunge garb is. A black denim button-front skirt paired with a mid-wash denim jacket creates a subtle double denim contrast. I've decked mine out in pins I've thrifted and been gifted. A lace-up tank, fishnets, Doc Martens, and '90s jewelry complete this wicked sweet look. 

~Bitsy

Shades of Cool

Jacket: Zara (sold out, similar here) | Top: ASOS (sold out, similar here) | Skirt: Topshop (sold out, similar here) | Shoes: Topshop (sold out, similar here) | Bag: Rebecca Minkoff (sold out, similar here) | Earrings: Nordstrom Rack (sold out, similar here) | Bracelet: Tiffany & Co. | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

It's been a bit chilly lately so outfits like these are still on rotation. Who knew it would be 50 degrees when spring is winding down? I'm not going to have summertime sadness, although a bit of sunshine would be nice. This look is one of my all-time favorites. I love how simple yet put together a denim skirt, turtleneck, and (faux) leather jacket is. I like to think the black tights and sock boots make me look taller, but I might be kidding myself. Someone who is barely 5' can only look so statuesque. If these low temps keep up, i'll be living in shades of cool for a while. 

~Bitsy

Dark Spring

Top: Nordstrom (sold out, similar here) | Skirt: Topshop (sold out, similar here) | Shoes: Dr. Martens | Bag: Rebecca Minkoff (sold out) | Choker: Forever 21 (sold out, similar here) | Tights: ASOS (sold out, similar here) 

Just because it's springtime doesn't mean I won't stop wearing all black. The sun is shining, clouds are in the big blue sky, but I prefer to be cloaked in darkness. (A bit dramatic, I know.) I don't care what season it is; I will wear black.

For this dark look, I wore a black denim skirt with an off the shoulder crop top, a favorite of mine. Fishnets and Dr. Martens make the look extra edgy. A velvet rhinestone choker and black mini bag accessorize the outfit. Dark spring is my thing.

~Bitsy

Deport Me, I'm Irish

T-shirt: Teespring | Jacket: Topshop (sold out, similar here) | Jeans: Brandy Melville (sold out, similar here) | Sneakers: Adidas | Bag: Kate Spade | Earrings: Nordstrom Rack (sold out, similar here) | Choker: Forever 21 (sold out, similar here) | Glasses: Warby Parker (sold out)

"Deport Me, I'm Irish." St. Patrick's Day is over, but the threat to 50,000 Irish immigrants living in the U.S. is not. My great grandparents immigrated to America from Ireland. As the saying goes, we are all immigrants. President Donald Trump's executive orders on immigration put many people in this country at risk of deportation. The President's intolerance towards those who are seeking a new life in the United States is incredibly disheartening and unconstitutional. That's why when you purchase any of the "Deport Me, I'm Irish" merch I designed, a portion of the proceeds benefits the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU has been working tirelessly to ensure the rights of all human beings are protected. Organizations like them need our support now more than ever. Get your "Deport Me, I'm Irish" merch today.  

~Bitsy

The Statement Coat

Coat: thrifted | Top: ASOS (sold out, similar here) | Jeans: H&M (sold out, similar here) | Shoes: Topshop (sold out, similar here) | Bag: Rebecca Minkoff (sold out) | Belt: ASOS | Earrings: Nordstrom Rack (sold out, similar here)

I've said it before and I'll say it again; thrifted finds are the best finds. My love for this vintage camel coat with a faux fur collar is everlasting. I found it at Urban Renewals in Allston, MA this past fall. It makes an outfit. There's just no way around it. This coat is a look in itself. Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen would totally rock it. This coat is shamelessly extra. I can't get enough.

To play off the '70s vibes of the dramatic piece, I paired it with my favorite flare jeans and a basic black turtleneck. For accessories, I chose silver oversized hoop earrings and a western belt. Simple black boots and a mini bag complete the outfit.

~Bitsy 

Blue Print

Dress: Topshop (sold out) | Top: ASOS (sold out, similar here) | Shoes: Dr. Martens | Bag: Kate Spade | Watch: Michael Kors | Glasses: Warby Parker

The alternate title to this post is "Grunge Librarian." (Fun fact: I worked in my hometown library throughout high school.) Honestly, the Docs are really the only element of this look that makes it grunge. I suppose the layering is a little rebellious though (at least I like to think it is). This blue, printed Topshop dress is one of my favorites. I love the fit and flare silhouette and geometric pattern. The yellow thread in it matches the stitching on my Docs, which I dig. Details are the cornerstone of my style blueprint. 

~Bitsy

French Stripes

Top: Brandy Melville (sold out, similar here) | Skirt: Topshop (sold out, similar here) | Shoes: Sam Edelman | Bag: Rebecca Minkoff (sold out) | Tights: ASOS (sold out, similar here) | Watch: Daniel Wellington 

The brick-paved streets of Boston's historic Beacon Hill are perfect for wandering down when you want to escape reality for a moment and pretend you're in a Parisian village far far away from the land of "the president who shall not be named." It's been very warm lately, and by very warm I mean in the 60s and 70s, which is both lovely and disturbing. As I mentioned in my last post, we can thank global warming for that. Fishnets and skirts have been my weird weather go-tos. For this look, I paired them with a black and white stripe mock neck top, loafers, and mini bag for French-inspired flair. 

~Bitsy

Angst

Dress: Tularosa | Top: ASOS (sold out, similar here) | Jacket: Zara (sold out, similar here) | Tights: ASOS (sold out, similar here) | Shoes: Topshop (sold out, similar here) Bag: Rebecca Minkoff (sold out) | Earrings: Nordstrom Rack

Boston is melting! It's bizarre that it has been in the high 50s and 60s lately, especially since we had a blizzard about two weeks ago and over a foot of snow. It's only February! Global warming is not being subtle. I figured I might as well take advantage of the angsty weather by wearing an angsty outfit. I haven't worn my denim dress since October so it was nice being able to wake it up from wardrobe hibernation. I paired the frock with fishnets and layered a simple black turtleneck underneath since it's certainly not sleeveless weather quite yet. My trusty faux leather jacket is the perfect topper piece. Ankle boots, a mini bag, and oversized silver hoops complete the edgy look. 

~Bitsy 

City Shadows

Sweater: c/o Tobi (sold out, similar here) | Skirt: Free People | Boots: Topshop (sold out, similar here) | Earrings: Nordstrom Rack | Necklace: BCBGeneration (sold out, similar here) | Glasses: Warby Parker

Ah..shadows and the city. I'm a fan of playing with light and dark in both my photography and fashion choices. Although this look is very dark since it's all black with the exception of the navy blue corduroy mini, the gold accessories add a bit of light. I'm  really into oversized hoops right now and these catch the sun's rays nicely and frame my face. I added a long gold bolo necklace to the look, which is something different for me. I haven't worn a long necklace in a very long time. Honestly, I dig it.

~Bitsy