#OOTD: Shifting Into 2016 (Feat. SheIn)

Close friends coming together, popping the champagne, noise makers and resolutions galore, you guessed it, the new year is upon us. Now that all the festivities are over and we are all still in resolution mode, I thought I would not only share my dress from New Year's Eve, but also a look at one of my first style resolutions of this year (if you want to see all of them, click here)! 

My Grandmother's Vintage Fur

As I've mentioned in a past post, after my grandmother passed away in 2013, she left my two gorgeous silver fox fur coats. The one in this post is obviously the long one, however if you'd like to take a look at the short one, feel free to click here!

Now, I have to admit that this coat was the perfect choice to pair with my little shift dress while taking on the cold, for a night of gallivanting around down town!

The lush fur and silky lining of this coat literally feels like heaven to wear when it is winter time here in the 'Burgh. When I had this gorgeous piece on there was literally no shivering going on while I was walking through the busy heart of downtown. It also attracts so many complements, even if that means people ask if they can pet it, still totally worth it!

The SheIn Shift Dress

This adorably patterned shift dress is my most recent piece I received form my collaborators over at SheIn! My mother always told me that what you do on New Year's Eve/New Year's day is supposed to be a reflection of what the rest of your year will be like. This being said, the reason why I decided to wear this darling little dress for New Year's Eve is because I want this year to be fun, so I figured why not kick it off with a fun dress! Love this dress? You can get it here.

Style Resolution No. 3: Bold Colored Bag

Though this isn't the exact bag I mentioned in my style resolutions post, it is one of my few bold bags that has unfortunately just been sitting in my closet. So for the New Year I decided that it would be a good thing to get an early jump on my resolution by carrying my gorgeous pebbled leather London Fog purse.

One Last Look

What did you wear to ring in the new year? Tell me all about it in the comments below or tweet me about it at @StarkRavingChic, or if you're more visual tag me on Instagram @StarkRavingChic!

Later babes, keep it chic!

Xx, Bree

 

New Year's Resolutions

"The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things he will certainly do nothing effective."

-Gilbert K. Chesterton

Happy new year everyone! Considering today is the first day of 2016 (Is it just me or did 2015 just fly by?) I thought it would be fun to share my personal new year's resolutions with you all. Some of them, of course, will have to do with style (if you want to see my top five style resolutions for this year click here!) but most of these ones are about making 2016 my best year thus far by being healthier, happier, and less stressed! Ready to hear them?

1. Keep a Planner and Stay Better Organized

This is something I tried to do throughout 2015 by using the calendar on my phone, but failed miserably. So this year for Christmas my mum gifted me a lovely leather bound planner from Gallery Leather, and I cannot be more excited to start using it! The reason why this is so important to me is because in 2015, though it was great and all, due to not properly keeping a calendar I had a tendency to over extend myself leaving me completely stressed out. So in 2016 I will get better organized.

2. Eat Healthier, Exercise More, and Get Better Sleep (Hopefully lose a little weight too!)

The one thing that I wish would've stuck around about 2014 was my diet. Two years ago, I ate completely clean and was very committed to eating healthy and exercising regularly. In 2015? Not so much. With working long hours, writing, photographing, and of course blogging, I found myself going out to eat much too frequently and eating (and drinking) things that simply aren't good for me and on top of this I barely made it to the gym this year. Therefore in 2016 I'm going to begin eating better, drinking less, and exercising everyday again, because come bikini season, I will have a toned stomach even if it kills me!

3. Budgeting My Money Better

Yikes! If I learned one thing in 2015 it's that I need a personal accountant because I am terrible with money. 2015 is the first year that I have lived completely out on my own and though I'm fine with getting my bills paid, I never seem to be able to save, I think this is because I never set a budget for myself. For this year I have actually set a budget and I think it will really help me get a hefty nest egg in my savings account. Not to mention give me a good bit of money to have for spending when I visit the U.K. in October! (Wow, so weird not to be saying "next year"!)

4. Travel

Though I do have one huge trip coming up to visit my beau in October, I also plan on making a few smaller ones throughout the year within the states to visit friends and family. For instance my bestie lives right outside of St. Louis Missouri and I still have yet to visit her there and actually take a look around! I also plan on doing these via road trips in the spring and summer months so I can actually enjoy the scenery a little more. I love flying as much as the next lady, but nothing is more exciting than being on the open road!

5. Be a Bit More Thrifty

Yet another thing I miss about 2014-- thrifting. I used to look forward to spending every Saturday morning at Goodwill or The Red, White, and Blue Store with my mum just seeing what awesome stuff we can find! In 2015 I unfortunately haven't had time to head to the thrift store and honestly spent a questionable amount of money on Tradesy (It was worth it, I swear!). But this year I plan on getting back to my thrifty self!

6. Try Something New At Least Once A Month

This is a big one for me just because I've been itching for some excitement! Whether the new thing will be a different fashion trend, restaurant, museum, or just driving aimlessly to new places to take some photos, I want to live life to the fullest and have new experiences and make some seriously sweet memories!

7. Get Back To Photography--That Isn't Work

Some of you may or may not know that I am actually a professional photographer for the company Dick's Sporting Goods. However ever since I graduated college and got my degree the only photography I have done has only been work or blog related. Now, not that that's a bad thing but I would really like to get back to my creative roots this year and start some new projects! Love this photo? To check out more of my personal photography work, click here.

8. Take One Day A Week To Just Relax

This goes back to how I over extended myself all year long in 2015. So this year I am vowing to just take Sundays easy. No work, no blog (okay maybe not this one but I'll work up to it!), just relaxing and enjoying time with my furbabies and loved ones. And you know, when April comes around, Game of Thrones!

What are some of your New Year's Resolutions? Be sure to share them in the comments below!

I hope you all have a wonderful year in 2016, and just remember today is not just a new day, but a whole new year, and a blank slate. I'm sure everyone will do marvelous things this year and I can't wait to see what unfolds! And at that, I leave you with this:

"I hope in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're doing something."

-Neil Gaiman

Happy New Year Everyone!

Xx, Bree

#OOTD: Denim Days (Feat. Versona)

Happy New Year's Eve everyone! Though today's outfit isn't what I'll be wearing to watch the ball drop (don't worry dolls, I'll have a post with my pretty dress coming soon!), it's definitely worthy of being shared because this relaxed, laid back outfit is perfect for running party errands while still keeping me warm and looking stylish! Also as the title suggests, most of this darling denim outfit is from one of my more recent collaborators Versona!

Dolled Up In Denim

The reason I chose to run party errands in this outfit today is because lets face it: Party hosting is crazy stressful! So why make it more so by being uncomfortable while running errands? This being said, as much as I enjoy being the hostess with the mostess, I can't bring myself to run around in a dress and heels all day just to pick up champagne, food, and party favors!

So by throwing on a basic white blouse, cute scarf, some cozy jeans, and a well tailored jacket, I felt comfy enough to shop, warm enough to face the brisk winter air, and stylish enough to be seen in public! Now lets get the deets on the outfit shall we?

What's On Top?

Love my blouse? You can get it at Ralph Lauren

I've said it before and I'll say it again, one accessory every woman should have in her closet is a basic white blouse. The reason why is this piece is so versatile it can be dressed up and dressed down so easily. And something about this piece just adds a bit of effortless class to any outfit (even a jean jacket!).

Lets Accessorize!

One thing I love about the fall and winter seasons is that they're the two seasons where it's most acceptable to wear cute scarves as accessories-- I mean you have to be warm right? Scarves are also perfect to use as statement pieces and really can dress up a simple outfit. For instance, the reason why I like this elephant print scarf by Versona is because of it's fun and upbeat pattern! The design also helps break up the outfit a bit, making it look much less plain.  It also just pairs beautifully with my playful denim ensemble.

The Jacket

Last but not least for the top half of this outfit is my rustic jean jacket! I'm not gonna lie, up until this year I had no interest in owning a jean jacket, they always just seemed a bit too '70s for me. But when I seen this beauty at -- you guessed it-- Versona and tried it on I decided it was time to embrace my inner Debbie Harry and just go for it!

Perfect Patches

Flats by Frye Company
 

These adorable skinnies were the first thing I bought when I was at Versona because when it comes to unique looking jeans I just can't help myself! The reason I love these jeans is because they are soft, very well fitted, and the patch work on them is just absolutely perfect, giving them a carefree fun look.

One Last Look

What are you wearing before the big night? Do you prefer to dress down or do you like to be dressed up all day in preparation for the festivities? Tell me about it in the comments below or tweet me about it at @StarkRavingChic! And if you'd like to show me your outfit (I'd love to see it), tag me in your day before #OOTD on Instagram @StarkravingChic!

Until next time babes, keep it chic!

Xx, Bree