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Spring Outfit Recap 2017

Published on June 20, 2017June 20, 2017 by PeculiarPorter8 Comments

Hello darling! Guess what day tomorrow is? The first day of summer. It is crazy how fast time flies. I’ve already graduated a little over a month ago… and guess what… yesterday, I accepted my first job. I’m incredibly thrilled and excited to start my new position as a social media coordinator in two weeks. I’m so happy I can finally delete the ZipRecruiter and LinkedIn apps off my phone. Bye-bye job search and hello working girl status.

Styling Jean Jacket

Billie Jean is Not My Lover

I was extremely excited to buy my first jean jacket. I know, it is probably super embarrassing that I’ve never had one before and I should hide all evidence that I never had one before. Luckily for you, I’m pretty open with you guys and I show how I made this jean jacket my own.

DIY Blake Lively Jeans

Okay, I’m completely biased but this post is 100% my favorite out of this spring collection… maybe even my favorite post on my blog. I show you how you can turn a cheap pair of jeans into this chic, boho pair of painted jeans. If you need some spunk in your current wardrobe definitely check out this post. You could even do it to a pair of shorts.

How to Get Away With Wearing Pastels, Pleats, and Polka-dots

If mint pants aren’t your cup of tea these ones are about to. Sometimes polka-dots can be tricked to pair with other elements, but I show you how you can add the perfect amount of sassy to your favorite polka-dot pair of jeans.

What I’ll Remember Most About Siena College

Okay, so if you click on that link be prepared for a tear jerker. I think back on all of the amazing times I had at Siena college and try not to cry my eyes out. Also, I show case all of my friends rocking their best formal gear.

Senior Cruise

This senior event was a little bit more casual than our formal but all the seniors still killed the game. I’m already counting down the day until the next time I can wear this blue dress. P.S. it is on sale right now and comes in black!

Siena College Champagne Toast

Take a sneak peak into one of the best traditions Siena College has. Plus, I show you a peak at all our graduation caps.

Siena College’s Graduation

Ahh, yes the dreaded moment where we all enter the real world. I’m not going to lie I balled my eyes out at graduation when they played a sappy video of all the moments the class of 2017 shared together. 63 days until 100 days post gradation where I get to see the lovely class again.

How To Spice Up a Graphic Tee

Let me show you a few of the tricks I have up my sleeve when it comes to styling a graphic tee. Graphic tees are definitely a key fashion piece for any fashionista.

Stripes that Flatter

I’ll admit, finding the right stripes for your body can be a tricky adventure. Check out a few of my tips on how I find the perfect stripes for my body.

Why You Need Pointed Flats in Your Life

If you don’t already own pointed flats in your life check out this post on why you’re making the biggest mistake of your life. Nuff said.

Now one of the biggest updates I did this spring was create a Facebook page where you can keep up to date on my blog posts. I’m going to start posting more on it so I’ll hopefully see you stay up to date on some of my fun posts coming up. But if you want to see the best inside scoop on what my day to day life is I would check out my Instagram. I’ve been on a following frenzy so I’ll be sure to check out your Instagram as well.

So what was your favorite look? I’m between my DIY post and my Graphic Tee post. Let me know in the comments down below.

As always,

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Why You Need Pointed Flats in Your Life

Published on June 15, 2017June 16, 2017 by PeculiarPorter8 Comments

Hello darling! What are you doing on this lovely Thursday? Since I missed out on posting last week thanks to my crazy interviews, I decided to make this week a double post.

Before finals, senior week, and (eek) graduation all occurred, my two closest friends and I decided to venture out to our favorite brunch place in Albany. The tears were edging off the tips of our eye lashes as we ordered our (dun..dun..dunnnnn) last brunch of senior year. If you haven’t already heard my heartfelt messages about brunch at Iron Gate Cafe… you’re missing out on a whole bunch. This quirky little shop is located in Albany, New York and is jam packed with spunk. The restaurant consists of four dining rooms that look as if they used to belong to an old 19th century owner who was obsessed with Elvis. I tastefully always get the Turkey B.L.A.T. with home fries. There is this incredible pesto mayo that just makes your heart quicken when you finally see the waiter bring out your food. Check out that picture on my old post about Iron Gate Cafe.

This is actually the second time my best friends and I ventured out a week before the Tulip Festival in Albany. Albany plants over 100,000 tulips and around the end of May, usually Mother’s day, they have a festival showcasing them. Luckily for us, the tulips are in full bloom the week before and we get to gawk at the rich colors.

As for my outfit, I decided sport this adorable cut out shirt from Marshall’s. Some of may older followers might remember this shirt from a quick little haul I did last summer. It was a pretty chilly day so I threw on my “Olivia Pope” cardigan over it. If you watch Scandal hopefully caught my reference. This cardigan is one of my favorite cardigans to throw on because it adds to much to an outfit just by putting it on. I’ve practically been living in these Garage jeans because of how comfy they are. I’ve actually never owned a pair before, but Garage was having a massive sale where most jeans were $15 each (originally $50). So naturally I bought three pairs. If you’re a fan of American Eagle jeans you’ll be equally as in love with Garage jeans.

Now, to get to why you might have clicked on this post. Why do you need pointed flats in your life? The real question is why don’t you. It doesn’t matter if you’re tall, short, curvy, athletic, or skinny… pointed flats will do wonders for you. They instantly make your legs look fierce. When I put them on, I feel as if I can do no wrong. Trust me, I’ve been wearing pointed flats to all my interviews and they’ve been giving me a good confidence boost. Okay, I know that sounds like I’m stretching the truth… but I swear, it’s true. If that isn’t enough reasoning on why you need them in your life here is a list on why you need a pair:

They’re super versatile! You can wear them with dress pants, jeans, skirts, shorts… you name it you can wear them with it.
They make your legs look fiercely long and lean.
If they’re nude they make them look even longer!
They’re comfy! The point may be intimidating because it looks like your toes might be squished but most people who wear pointed shoes go up a size. Make sure you try them on before you purchase them.
If you’re attacked you can use them as a weapon… protection first!
They’re incredibly fashionable and unique.
The pair I’m wearing has studs!

I admit, I was shopping online earlier and saw even more pairs to my shoe collection. These ones are currently in my shopping cart:

Shoe 1 (100% need)| Shoe 2 | Shoe 3 (& this one is just too perfect for summer)

So have I sold you on pointy flats or do you already own a pair? Let me know in the comments down below.

As always,

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Stripes That Flatter

Published on June 13, 2017June 13, 2017 by PeculiarPorter19 Comments

Hello darling! How is your day going? It is finally h-o-t in Connecticut. It is about time! The past month has been wishy-washy from low 50’s to low 70’s so you bet I’m ready for some nice 80° weather.

Earlier this spring, I interned with Saratoga Living Magazine. I wore this stripe J.Crew dress on one of my days in the office. I definitely have a love hate relationship with stripes and I have a few tips up my sleeve on how I pick the perfect stripe dress.

Tip: Look for pieces that incorporate vertical stripes alongside the horizontal stripes.

If you find a piece that has vertical stripes on your sleeves, near your legs, or on your waist line it will automatically make your silhouette look slimmer and leaner. One of the main reasons I love this dress so much is because the vertical stripes on my waist make my petite torso look so much longer than it actually is. The wide pleats below my waist line also elongate my hips making my waist look even smaller. So when you’re looking for a stripe dress find one that incorporates vertical stripes in your “trouble areas.”

Tip: don’t go overboard with stripes.

Stripes are a busy pattern. It might be wise to try and keep stripes as minimal as possible. If your want more stripes in your outfit try for a bigger pattern so that it doesn’t overwhelm the eye. Since this dress has very tiny stripes it was good that it was at a shorter length compared to a midi or maxi dress. The stripes would have been overwhelming with that amount of fabric.

Tip: Include a bold color in your outfit to break up the busy pattern.

My polo cardigan is the perfect addition to this outfit to break up the thin stripes. If you want to experiment with stripes in this warmer weather definitely try out a bright colored shoe, earrings, or necklace… maybe even a hat! They are all great additions that will incorporate not only your personality but some fun in your outfit.

Other than rocking some stripes I’ve been hunting down jobs. Some of you may be curious how I’m handling my post college life. I’m in this bittersweet faze where I’m happy that my four years are done but also sad that I’m not returning to my “home” this upcoming fall. I’ve been applying to jobs left and right on LinkedIn and Ziprecruiter. I’ve had a few bites here and there and I have a big interview today (fingers crossed that it goes well). My dreams and moral are high so it’s just up to the big guy to send me in the direction I’m needed.

Do I have any recent college graduates reading my blog? Let me know in the comments down below how you’re handling the post college life.

As always,

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Photo Credit: Blogger friend Alicia Bryan. Her blog.

How to Spice Up a Graphic Tee

Published on May 30, 2017May 30, 2017 by PeculiarPorter13 Comments

Hello darlings! Are you being hit by this miserable cold wave? I’m back in Connecticut and it has been in the low 50°’s all week AND it has been raining. Talk about a double-edge-sword.

On the brighter side, this outfit is always my go-to mood booster. This is something about a quirky, graphic tee and a bold, print skirt that puts on one of those feel good smiles on my face. (Speaking of which, my cacti obsession has not ended… I may have just received this cacti print shirt! I’m in love!)

Graphic tees can sometimes be tricky to style. Trust me, I went through a weird phase in middle school where I loved buying graphic tees but would only style them with dark wash skinny jeans. What is the fun in that?

Tip: Spice up that sassy tee with some equally sassy elements.

By adding more patterns and textures in your outfit, you automatically make it so that your outfit is more eye catching. The trick to adding either color or sassy bottoms into your graphic tee is looking at what the pieces have in common. Now, obviously white and black go with everything. Sorry, you caught me… I went for the easy way out. However, if this shirt was in same green the skirt has and still said this fun saying, it would still go perfectly. I love picking a color that is barely represented in a wild pattern like that green and wearing that color as a top. This makes the little color representation stand out and make it more alluring.

Tip: Tie the graphic tee in a knot to give the outfit more dimension. By doing this you automatically make your outfit look more flattering on your body.

The majority of this outfit (tee and skirt) is from Banana Republic. I admit, I rarely ever shop at Banana Republic. I might need to lurk their graphic tee section more because this tee has been on my body nonstop lately. I currently am dreaming about this shirt on sale and this shirt that would look great with high waisted green pants. I usually style this En Blanc En Noir shirt with a knot because it breaks down the material bulk. Plus, it gives my outfit even more sass.

What does your favorite graphic tee say/look? How do you normally style it? Let me know in the comments down below.

As always,

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Photo Credit

Senior Cruise

Published on May 16, 2017 by PeculiarPorter7 Comments

Hello darling! I wanted to highlight all of the fun I participated in during my last week at Siena College (tears falling quickly down the side of my face). After a jam packed day of bar hopping in Saratoga, the senior class of 2017 hopped on 9 buses to go on a Captain JP Cruise Line boat. The three-hour experience let us sight see Troy to Albany and then back again. We ate, danced, and slightly froze our butts off. Regardless of how cold it was, it was probably one of the most rememberable trips I had during my senior week.

The cruise ship consisted of three different floors. The third and second floors served food and the top floor had an opening to see the dance floor and exit outside the boat. There were also bars on each floor, which made many seniors very happy. During the cruise, we were given a buffet styled dinner that consisted of salted potatoes, salad, eggplant parmesan, bread rolls, and fried chicken. After people finished eating dinner, everyone gained enough courage to take pictures in the cold outdoors. We tried our hardest not to look as if we were freezing out butts off.

Everyone was dressed to the nines but not dressed for the weather. Oh, well! Despite being cold, I was super happy wearing this dress. I’m actually slightly obsessed… I cannot wait to wear it again. The little cutouts made this soft floral pattern so edgy and unique. Plus, the cap sleeves were another reason I was sold. My dress is currently on sale if you want to check that out! It also comes in black.

After the cruise, Siena hosted a “late night dinner” at the dining hall. We blasted music and danced on tables. If you remember High School Musical then you know exactly how the scene looked. One of my friends danced so hard he ripped his pants. If that isn’t rememberable, I don’t know what is.

Looking at these pictures and writing this post is making me sad beyond belief. But I’ll get to that in my upcoming graduation post. Keep your eyes and ears peeled because it may be a tear jerker… or nah.

As always,

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What I’ll Remember Most About Siena College

Published on May 2, 2017May 4, 2017 by PeculiarPorter7 Comments

Hello darling! This post is full of tear jerks and sappy stories… but would it be a college recap if it didn’t? Saturday I went to senior formal with all of the lovely friends I’ve made over the past four years and Monday was the last time I’ll walk out of a classroom at Siena college. It was my last college class… wow, that is scary to type! &Yesterday was when I finished my last undergrad assignment. So, yes, I’m feeling a boat load of emotions.

But how did I get to this point? Four years ago, I was not the person I am today. That may be cliche to say, but I’m a different person from who I was when I was awkwardly brought my belongings into my first dorm. I remember my father telling me that I had to register myself by myself. I was nervous and awkward but it was certainly something he needed to let me do by myself. I shyly got my handbook and saint card and knew this was going to be in interesting four years.

Over the years, I’ve met some incredible people. The Siena community has impacted my life with one open door at a time.

To making friends from the first night in college, to making friends in Italy. My perspective has changed due to these wonderful people. From expanding my horizons away from Dunkin’ Donut’s bagels to dreaming about when my friends come back with Long Island or New Jersey bagels. To realizing people actually say ‘aunt’ like ‘ant’ (still not over it). To realizing no one actually likes tequila (why?). To realize each and every one of us get a little bit home stick once in a while. Each person of the Siena community has changed my perspective to being more openminded and curious. Those are traits you cannot just learn magically over night. Hearing the Siena community’s unique perspectives has helped me become an overall more accepting person, and I wouldn’t change that for the world.

Mickey’s Dress | My dress |My Shoes | Courtney’s Dress

The Siena class of 2017 has given me memories I’ll cherish for years to come. I’ll remember yelling out the windows freshman year, cramming during midterm and finals week, getting lost in multiple countries, buying random fish tanks, being dragged to more Starbucks in foreign countries than in America, each trifecta, Chowderfest and Larkfest, Thursday nights, chucking jolly ranchers out the windows at passing freshman, tarpozia, dressing like creatures for theme parties and halloween, getting brunch at Iron gate, blowing up 300 balloons, Siena fest, losing my voice at basketball games, jumping in pools fully clothed, the list goes on and on and the memories do not stop. These people have created memories I’ll never forget because these people are unforgettable. (Cliche but relevant).

And the new friends that I’ve made just this year. You’ve made this year incredibly exciting and perplexing to how our livers are still existing (sorry mom and dad!). Thank you all for being remarkably you.

With each laugh and each tear shed, I know I made the best decision of my life four years ago. I’m glad to be a Siena alumna…. in 10 days. Not a day shorter or longer.

Senior week begins on Sunday and I look forward to showing you a little piece of my life. I’ll be going to Saratoga, on a cruise in Troy, a champaign toast, the ‘beach’ if it is nice, and actually graduating on the 14th with all these wonderful people. I hope to cling to every second of these last days. Look out for a few tear jerker posts coming soon.

As always,

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I Guess We Clean Up Nicely

Published on April 18, 2017April 18, 2017 by PeculiarPorter13 Comments

Helly darling! This post is a little bit different from my typical blog post. I love when bloggers give me a little glimpse into their lives, so I figured I’d do the same for you guys. The other week my college put on a little shindig for English major, members of our college magazine and newspaper, and the online publication Her Campus. Since I’m an English major and part of Her Campus I decided to go with my lovely friends.

Sadly, the only details I have on dresses are my friend Courtney’s dress and my dress (pictured above). Courtney’s dress and shoes were found at Nordstrom Rack a day prior to this event. I’m obsessed with the beautiful floral pattern on her dress.

My bright red dress was found at Urban Outfitters in September. Sadly they do not sell it anymore. It has this funky strappy back that I feel head over heels for. I might be super annoying for even saying that because I don’t actually have a picture of that detail. The necklace is a J.Crew Factory classic. It is currently on sale for $24.50 so buy it while it is on sale! I’m also obsessed with this similar necklace that is also on sale. Last but not least, my adorable, eye-catching shoes are from Off Broadway. I ended up getting a size up (I’m normally a 7.5 but I got an 8) because they were a little snug. You’ll be seeing these shoes more as the senior events progress (I have a senior formal next week! Eeek. How time flies).

I hope you have a great rest of your day! What is your favorite semi-formal look?

As always,

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