Bits of Style Wears PrettyLittleThing

Cool town, evening in the city. Dressing so fine and looking so PrettyLittleThing! Isn't that how the song "Summer in the City" goes? PrettyLittleThing kindly reached out and invited me to take part in its Summer Style blog campaign. I chose three outfits, selecting pieces from PrettyLittleThing.com's summer in the city-ready dresses, rompers & playsuits, and tops. Even though I live in D.C., the outfits I put together are inspired by the NYC fashion scene in one of my favorite movies, The Devil Wears Prada. Clearly, PrettyLittleThing and I are on the same page of Runway Magazine because it sells a T-shirt featuring the legendary Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), and Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway). Speaking of Meryl Streep, can we talk about how fantastic she is in Big Little Lies? That's all.... Scroll onward to see how I styled my favorite PLT pieces into Miranda Priestly-approved looks that are on-trend, yet timeless. 

Look #1: PrettyLittleThing in Pink

Wearing the PrettyLittleThing Rose Strappy Satin Cowl Midi Dress

I had to say yes to the dress. Its name alone spoke to me. The rosy pink color and sheen of the satin are standouts. Miranda Priestly would want this dress on the cover of Runway. I can see Carrie Bradshaw, yet another fictitious NYC style icon, wearing it on the streets of Manhattan. Come to think of it, this dress reminds me of the one Carrie wears in her column's bus side advertisement. (Can you tell I'm watching Sex and the City as I write this?) I styled it with simple silver jewelry and barely-there nude heels for an evening look that's chic and summery. 

Look #2: Blazer Dress Business

Wearing the PrettyLittleThing Petite Black Gold Button Blazer Dress

I have wanted a blazer dress for ages, and PrettyLittleThing delivered. The gold button detailing on this one adds a vintage-inspired touch. Emily Blunt's The Devil Wears Prada character would wear this while lecturing pre-makeover Andy about how to be successful at Runway. Speaking of successful, you can probably tell by the hair this look is influenced by Ariana Grande, who just so happens to live in New York City. Inspired by Ari's music video for "Breathin'" filmed in Grand Central Station, I staged this photo shoot in D.C.'s Union Station, which is pretty grand itself. PLT's blazer dress means business, but is better suited for a night out than the office. I styled it with black suede lace-up sandals, gold hoops, and a mini bag. 

Look #3: Denim Devil 

Wearing the PrettyLittleThing White Devil Wears Prada Oversized T Shirt and Light Wash Denim Dungaree Dress

The Devil Wears Prada? On a T-shirt? Groundbreaking. I freaked out when I saw this tee on PrettyLittleThing's website. It's so me. Did you know the movie is now 13 years old? Hard to believe. I love layering a graphic tee under a denim jumper dress, and this light wash one is perfect for summer. Plus, it has pockets! Paired with canvas sneakers, a mini bag, and simple silver jewelry, this look is ready for the weekend. 

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Thank you, PrettyLittleThing, for helping me update my summer style. The PLT Petite collection (sizes 00-10) was the perfect place to find my blazer dress, and the straight size (sizes 0-16) pieces I selected fit my five-foot frame well. PrettyLittleThing also offers PLT Tall (sizes 2-12) , PLT Plus (sizes 12-22), and PLT Shape (sizes 4-16) collections. I like my pieces so much, I want to order from PrettyLittleThing for myself sometime. With PLT, my summer in the city is pretty chic. Let me know which look is your favorite!

-Bitsy 

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Disclaimer: This post is an advertisement sponsored by PrettyLittleThing. All PLT clothing is gifted in exchange for this review. All opinions are authentic and my own. 

Bits of Style x Gifts and Glam

On Thursday, December 8th, The Prudential Center in Boston hosted their annual Gifts and Glam event. It's an evening of style, snacks, and sips. The Prudential Center Marketing Team was so kind as to extend an invite to me and my fellow Boston bloggers: Elissa (@style_wire), Emily (@stylecubby), Jess (@whatjesswore), Meredith (@thoughtfulwish), and Thu (@justtututiny). I hadn't seen them since the summer at Back Bay Night Out and it was lovely catching up. Be sure to check out their amazing Instas and blogs! Each of us received a goodie bag with gifts from Shinola, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Under Armour. We spent the night visiting their stores and learning about the brands. 

Our first stop was Shinola, an American-made watch company with Detroit beginnings. All of their products from watches to journals are manufactured right here in the United States, which is wonderful. Their store embodies timeless quality with a minimalist aesthetic. I had my journal monogrammed in-store to add a personalized touch. It was so neat being able to watch the process happen right before my eyes. If you're looking for a nice gift to give anyone on your list this holiday season, Shinola is the place to go. 

Our second stop was Polo Ralph Lauren. The store had a festive boutique feel and I felt like I had been transported to New York City during the holidays. Holly, garland, and snow white accents were in abundance. Their clothes were impeccable as well. I was inspired at every turn. Polo Ralph Lauren had pieces suited for any occasion, from work, to weekend, to a night out. Tailored blazers, luxe fabrics, and elegant dresses were all around. Clothes in shades of winter white, black, and earthy neutrals suited my taste to a T. I wanted every piece to be hanging in my closet. If you're looking for an outfit to wear to countless holiday parties, look no further than Polo. 

Our final store stop was Under Armour. I was surprised to learn their Boston location is a flagship store. The closest flagship store to Boston is stationed in New York City. The breathtaking, fit-tech paradise has only been open for about one month. The layout is modern and perfect for browsing. Wall splashes clearly say which section is which, so you know where to go if you're looking for yoga clothes, running, and so on. My favorite parts of the store are their social wall, green wall, and UAS section. The social wall displays Instagram posts in real time featuring the hashtag #UABoston. It extends from floor to ceiling. The green wall is located on the second floor of the space and features live plants that are watered by a special team every few days. I'd never seen anything like either of these two walls in a store before. It was very refreshing and added life and dimension to the space. Under Armour's UAS section features a curated selection of minimalist ready to wear pieces with an athleisure twist for men and women. If you're looking for workout wear, Under Armour should be your first stop.

A big thank you again to the Prudential Center Marketing Team for having me. Thank you to the representatives from Shinola, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Under Armour for taking the time to share the stories of your brands. It was a wonderful night. 

Happy holidays!

~Bitsy

Bits of Style x Tobi

I'm excited to share that I have been working with Tobi to bring you a mini fall look book! The online-only fashion boutique always has the most unique pieces. They look like they came right off the runway and make for some fierce street style outfits. Tobi so kindly gifted me with a couple pieces of clothing and I'm showing you how I style them below.

Look #1: LBD Glamour 

Dress: Tobi (c/o) | Shoes: Topshop (sold out, similar here) | Coat: thrifted (similar here) | Bag: Kate Spade

 I am in love with this Valley Bolo Tie Bodycon Dress. It's not always easy to come across a chic long sleeved dress. I'm obsessed with the neckline and cutout detail. It adds a unique touch to the classic appeal of a little black dress. This LBD is just right for a night out, special occasion, or, if you're like me, whenever! Because the city is getting chilly, black tights are an essential. Sock boots give the look an edge.

A statement making dress deserves a statement making coat. I recently found this one at a thrift store in Allston, Massachusetts.  It has an old Hollywood vibe and is wonderfully over-the-top. The Olsen twins would definitely approve. It's 100% wool with a faux fur neckline, so it is very warm and well suited for Boston weather. When it comes to styling this coat, simplicity is key. This LBD is the perfect pairing.

Photo credits: Erin Swauger (@erinrose_)


Look #2: Fall Flare 

Sweater: Tobi (c/o) | Jeans: H&M (sold out, similar here) | Vest: Rachel Zoe (sold out, similar here) | Shoes: Topshop (sold out, similar here) | Bag: Rebecca Minkoff | Belt: ASOS 

This Benson Turtleneck Sweater is my new favorite piece of knitwear. The flared sleeves make it unlike any other sweater I own. I have an obsession with turtlenecks and this one makes me very happy. It's cropped, cute, and cozy. For a flare on flare look, I paired it with frayed hem flare jeans. You really can't go wrong with a sweater and jeans.

This outfit has a vintage, '70s inspired feel. A faux fur vest and western belt up the retro-luxe factor. Sock boots with a pointed toe are just the right shoe to keep my jeans from dragging. I'm really looking forward to styling this sweater many more ways throughout fall and winter. The possibilities are endless.


Thank you, Tobi, for completing my fall wardrobe!

~Bitsy

FTC: This post was sponsored by Tobi. All opinions are authentic and my own. 

Bits of Style x Clarisonic

The weather has been changing and so has my skin. Enter Clarisonic! I'm very excited to have had the opportunity to work with Her Campus and the revolutionary skincare brand. They kindly sent me the Clarisonic Deep Pore Mia 2 set to give a spin...get it, because the Clarisonic brush spins? This is my first time ever owning a Clarisonic and I couldn't be happier to welcome it to my skincare routine. I must admit, I was nervous to try it since my skin is super sensitive. On my first go-around, I spot tested my chin to see how my skin would react to the brush. I used a cleanser that's part of my daily routine instead of the Deep Pore one so I would know for sure if it was the brush that was bothering me. When I woke up the next morning and there was no reaction, I was overjoyed. 

I kept using the cleanser my skin is used to with the brush for about two weeks, then made the switch to the Deep Pore Daily Cleanser. I tried it on my face without the brush for a night or two at first to make sure my skin wouldn't break out, which it didn't. I definitely recommend always testing a new product out on a small part of your skin before you go all in. Long story short, I am very impressed with the Deep Pore Mia 2 set! I use it at night to cleanse after I have washed all my makeup off. I splash my face with warm water, apply a small amount of the Deep Pore Daily Cleanser, wet and turn on the Mia 2, and move the brush in circular motions around my skin. The brush itself beeps to tell you when it's time to move to a different area of your face, and the whole routine takes only one minute. I follow up with my favorite face moisturizer. The true gem of the Deep Pore set is the Detoxifying Clay Mask. It made a huge difference in my skin after just one use. 

The Deep Pore brush head is gentle, not harsh, and effectively cleanses my skin. In the few short weeks I've been using the Mia 2 system, my skin has become softer, less red, and had fewer breakouts. My makeup goes on smoother and sits nicely on my skin. It really is a miracle worker. I am confident the Clarisonic Mia 2 cleansing system is going to help me have healthy, glowing skin for life. Smooth skin is always in style. 

Get 15% off a Clarisonic device through November 20th with the code "HERCAMPUS." 

A big thank you again to Clarisonic and Her Campus for gifting me with the Deep Pore Mia 2 set! 

Featured Products:

Mia 2

Deep Pore Detoxifying Set

FTC: This post was sponsored by Clarisonic and Her Campus Media. All opinions are authentic and my own.

~Bitsy

Campus Chic at College Fashion Week: Year 3

On Saturday, September 24th, I attended Her Campus College Fashion Week Boston for the third time, which is so crazy to me! Being a junior in college is a weird feeling. It couldn't have been more fitting I was a VIP to the show and also Press this time around. Thanks to Her Campus, I was a Social Media Correspondent and took over the Her Campus Twitter account during the event. I had an incredible time tweeting all night long about the fashion, food, fun, and fantastic Beyonce, Rihanna, and Drake filled playlist. 

This year's CFW Boston was held at the cool and edgy Space 57 at The Revere Hotel. Sips were courtesy of Sparkling Ice and there were yummy treats like cupcakes and a candy bar. Before the fashion show started, I had the opportunity to interview co-founder of Her Campus Media, Stephanie Kaplan-Lewis, about her experience with Her Campus and advice she has for women who want to get ahead in the business world. 

Q: "What advice do you have for women who want to be in business when it's such a male dominated field?"
A: "Take advantage while you're a young woman of all the resources that are specifically available to young women who want to go into business. Many colleges have a women in business group or women in business conference. There are so many different business plan competitions and scholarships that are available only to women."

Q:"What advice would you give to people who are trying to get ahead in the fashion or business world, or whatever it is they're interested in, as far as networking?" 
A: "The first thing for your personal brand is having active social profiles on all of the major platforms and making sure that those are public platforms, not internal ones. When it comes to networking, take advantage of every opportunity you have to go hear a speaker, go to an event, and just go up and introduce yourself. Give them your business card, get their business card, and then follow up with them afterwards."

Q: "What trends are you really into right now?"
A: "I really like leather jackets, maxi dresses extending beyond summer and into fall, booties that have the peep toe, geo jewelry I'm really liking, and graphic tees and sweatshirts with all those fun sayings on them."

Q: "What is you favorite thing about Her Campus?"
A: "It's so hard to say. I think it's getting to interact with all the college women that are a part of Her Campus at all these campus chapters, especially when we get to see them in person at events like this.  To get to really have that interaction in person and meet all these women who Her Campus has been such a big part of their college careers is really cool."

Q: "Where do you hope to see Her Campus moving forward? What's next for Her Campus?"
A: "We really want to continue blowing out the Her Campus brand. We're doing a lot of hiring right now so if anyone lives in Boston they should check out our careers page. Our big picture vision for Her Campus is for it to be kind of "the" brand for college women across every platform. We've started doing some of that brand extension over these past few years. We would love to have a Her Campus line of dorm room merchandise sold at Target one day for example, and roll out more books. We started with the website because that is what made the most sense at the time, but really Her Campus is kind of a brand and community, rather than tied to any one platform, is how we think of it.  As college women evolve and where they're hanging out evolves, whether that's on a website, on social media, at events like this one, we want to have the Her Campus brand be there."


Thank you, Stephanie, for taking the time to interview! I will definitely be making some business cards up ASAP. Shortly after the interview, it was time for the fashion show, always a favorite of mine. There were four collections: Study Chic, Festival, Rush, and Girls' Night Out. Study Chic featured looks that are perfect for heading to class, Festival, my favorite collection, definitely took inspiration from Coachella, Rush reminded me of the outfits on Scream Queens, and Girls' Night Out was all about girl power. Clothes, handbags, and accessories for the show are from My Social Canvas, Foray Collective, Ali & Ariel, Frill Clothing, Bow & Drape, Rebecca Minkoff, Vince Camuto, and Fitbit. Check out the runway recap below! 

Collection 1: Study Chic 

Collection 2: Festival

Collection 3: Rush

Collection 4: Girl's Night Out

Shoutout to all the fierce college ladies who slayed the game on the runway!

I went for a classic meets modern look for this year's College Fashion Week. I wore a LBD with black heels, a black mini bag, and gold jewelry. The dress reminds me of one Claire Underwood from House of Cards would wear, which I'm totally down with. As for my makeup, I went glam with a smoky eye and dark plum lip in the shade 'Quelle Surprise' from MAC. Get the outfit details below!

pc: Yael Pesso (@yaeli29)

pc: Yael Pesso (@yaeli29)

Dress: Windsor | Heels: ASOS | Bag: Kate Spade | Necklace: BCBGeneration | Earrings: BCBGeneration (sold out, similar here)

Of course, College Fashion Week wouldn't be complete with the swag bag! The VIP goodies were on point this year. Thank you to all the sponsors!

College Fashion Week Boston 2016 was an incredible experience. I'm so happy I was able to work with Her Campus and cover the event. A big thank you to everyone at Her Campus Media for the opportunity. If there's a College Fashion Week in your area, definitely go! You're in for a chic, stylish, and inspiring evening.

Upcoming CFW Events:

CFW Chicago
Saturday, October 15th
6:00-9:00PM
1st Ward
2033 West North Ave
Chicago, IL 60647

CFW Los Angeles
Saturday, October 22nd
6:00-9:00PM
The Lazarus Experience
224 E 11th St, Loft 501
Los Angeles, CA 90015

See you next year!

~Bitsy