ZOot SuiT Riley

The last day of the spring semester at FIT is Monday, May 16th. For the month before that blessed Monday, both business and design majors are planning out the perfect finals prep schedule… and not sticking to it at all. I consider myself a professional procrastinator: I write 5 page papers the night before the due date and still finish with a 3.6 GPA. What can I say? I’ve had years of practice. Just because I fabricate citations at 3am, doesn’t mean I am completely horizontal

Most of my readers do not know that I have a special love for eveningwear/ special occasion looks. I think what a woman chooses to wear for a formal event says a lot about her, and I love how women look when they know they look absolutely beautiful. One thing I love about proms in particular is it is one of the first chances a young lady gets to really go all out and dress to impress, and I think it is a really empowering moment in a woman’s life. Prom dresses have a lot of s

Just because the temperatures are officially over sixty degrees doesn’t mean I am completely switching out my wardrobe’s staples. My go-to looks consist of button up shirts, fun knitwear, and cropped pants, so finding a way to incorporate skin covering pieces into a summer arsenal has proven to be a little challenging. Until I perfect my Summer outfit formula, my favorite pieces from the Winter are not going anywhere. Today I am wearing a silk button up that feels great again

The pressure is on to #WakeUpLikeThis and be able to walk down the street with a morning glow (even BEFORE you’ve had your morning coffee). Fashion and beauty right now is all about minimalism and “effortless chic.” Athleisure basically lets us wear our pajamas to work, and the “no makeup” makeup look is universally pretty. Thanks to celebrities and influencers like Alexa Chung, Lauren Conrad, Jessica Alba, and Leandra Medine, gently tousled hair is no longer being rejected t

This week’s trend definitely stimulates my Trypophobia (DO NOT GOOGLE), but it is definitely still a subtle accent that amps up a casual Spring look. As the replacement to studs, grommet detailing has been seen on runways for both Spring and Fall 2016, and is already translating to mass market retailing. Grommets are a cost effective way to enhance the lace up trend that I have talked about before on the blog, and otherwise adds an interesting, edgy detail to the hem of a dre

Every time I wear this outfit I get compliments on how chic and pulled together I look… which explains why I have worn it three times in the last month! This outfit receives high praise is because it mixes a lot of different design elements creating a cool composition. The cropped leather jacket compliments the high rise of the pants, the pop of color works well with the achromatic stripe, and the different fabrics and textures keep the eye moving. I love these high rise cro

I have over a dozen striped pieces in my closet including button ups, t-shirts, sweaters, and pants. Stripes are considered a classic for a reason and I don’t see myself not buying striped clothing any time soon. That’s why I am excited about the barcode stripes that have been seen on both tops and bottoms both on the runway, in the stores, and on the streets this Spring. Classified by multidimensional but symmetrical lines, this pattern is automatically eye catching, but ver

This week I am showing how to incorporate vintage into your wardrobe without looking like an Annie Hall or Velma street character. My first tactic is the “New Yorker” way—wear it with black. Throwing on black layers and accessories is an easy way to mute an otherwise loud print, and keep everything looking cohesive and chic. My second tactic is to play with proportions. If you have an oversized sweater or jacket, pairing it with form fitting bottoms and simple shoes is a good

There is no doubt that 2015 was the year of the Adidas Stan Smiths. The classic white sneaker added a polished, cool girl vibe to even the most conservative looks, and even established presence on the club scene thanks to It Girls Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid. The fashion sneaker is still a must-have for every closet, and for 2016 the sneaker to have is the Vans Sk8-Hi sneakers—just in time for Vans’ 50th Anniversary! These classic high-tops are a the perfect upgrade from th

Easter Sunday is one of my favorite holidays because it gives ladies of all ages an opportunity to dress in their best Spring looks. When it comes to Easter style, I push two main rules: no denim and no black. Easter is a day to celebrate family and the new beginnings of spring, so casual jeans and unenthusiastic black should be reserved for another day. Ultra feminine silhouettes decorated in pretty pastels, flirtatious florals, and romantic fabrics dominate church goers, br