Inspo of the Week: Mindy Kaling

I am obsessed with Mindy Kaling. I read her book Is Everyone Hanging out Without Me after my friend Nikki recommended it, which made me laugh out loud probably too much. Then her tv show, "The Mindy Project," made me realize that if I have a spirit animal, it's Mindy Kaling/her on-screen alter ego, Mindy Lahiri. Let me lay out for you why I'm so enamored with the Lady Kaling. 

1) She's smart as hell. Girl went to Dartmouth, wrote for "The Office" and has written for SNL, her own book... you get the picture. 

2) She's ambitious. I mean, she has her own tv show. Enough said. 

3) She's cool with who she is. She exudes confidence. She recognizes her flaws, and says, "But hey, I'm awesome anyway." I think all of us ladies, and probably some guys too, could take a lesson from that mentality. 

4) She's hilarious. Most guys don't get her humor, but let me just say I do. She speaks to me on a level very few other ladies in the public eye have. Girl knows what's up. 

5) Her style. I mean for realsies here, I want to raid not only the on-set closet of The Mindy Project, but also her IRL closet.  Follow her on Instagram and you'll see what I mean. Also, her character, Mindy Lahiri, knows a thing or two about color blocking, layering, and peter pan collars, and loves Kate Spade and Chanel. Like I said, she's my spirit animal. The above selection doesn't even begin to do justice to her wardrobe, as I literally want to steal everything she wears in every episode of the show.  I'd probably even wear the scrubs. Just saying. 

But seriously, if ever there was a girl to love, it's Mindy. She's smart, funny, confident and has great style.  In other words, she's awesome :)  

Until next time, 

xo 

T

Tory Burch Inspired

My mom's dogs would *not* get out of the picture... 

Such attention whores! 

Dress: Milly; Shirt: Equipment; Jacket: Kenna-T; Shoes: Joie; Bag: Rebecca Minkoff; rings: Baublebar and Jennifer Zeuner; Sunglasses: Karen Walker

So I'm *kind of* obsessed with the SS14 Tory Burch line, especially the ready to wear. Needless to say, though, most of it is out of my price range. But there was one dress that I could not get out of my head, a red shift with a white collar. So I decided to forgo the $600 price tag and life-hack my own version, using a simple Milly shift dress and a sleeveless Equipment top layered underneath. Super easy! And it's a great look for work, and can totally go day-to-night by adding a leather jacket like the cream number I wore here! 

Until next time, 

xo 

T

Springtime Black and White

Jacket: Joie; Dress: Tibi; Shoes: Sam Edleman; Bag: Rebecca Minkoff; Sunglasses: Karen Walker

I bought this graphic black and white Tibi shift last spring in New York, not knowing how trendy black and white would be this spring! I barely wore it last year, but I've barely taken it off in the last month or so. I love shift dresses because they are so easy to wear - they are incredibly comfortable and versatile. I'd love to get some cute ankle strap sandals to wear with this number, or maybe a pastel cross body. Decisions, decisions... 

Until next time, 

xo 

T

Lime Green

Shirt: JCrew; Skirt: JCrew; Shoes: Tory Burch; Bag: Rebecca Minkoff; Necklace: BaubleBar; Ring: Jennifer Zeuner

I had been meaning to buy one of JCrew's city mini skirts in linen for the past few summers, I just never got around to it. But this most recent iteration in lime green basically had to be mine.  I'm not usually one for neons, I find them a little trendy for my taste, but paired with simple staples and in an equally simple silhouette I think it strikes just the right note.  

Until next time, 

xo 

T

Kate Spade Jewels

Top: Kate Spade; Jacket: Joie; Jeans: JBrand; Shoes: Chanel

This Kate Spade blouse is one of my favorites: between the candy-colored beading and the black contrast collar, I honestly look forward to nights when I get to wear it. Because it's so girly, though, I like to pair it with edgier pieces, like a leather jacket.  I also like to keep the rest of the outfit fairly monochromatic, since there are so many colors in the top! 

Happy Saturday night :) 

Until next time, 

xo 

T

Inspo of the Week: Kate Middelton Down Under

Anyone who knows me knows that pretty much my life motto is "What Would Kate Middleton Do." She is so chic and just impeccable in everything from her dress to her behavior. Her recent tour in New Zealand with her husband, Prince William, and son, George, were nothing short of the standard she's set so high for herself.  While some of her looks were a little lackluster, both the Tory Burch dress she wore for a play date with Prince George, as well as a DVF wrap dress she wore, sold out in a matter of hours. Above are some of my absolute favorite looks from the trip, my top three being the bright green coat at bottom, the cream lace Zimmerman dress she wore on the beach, and the navy blazer and breton stripes she wore for sailing. So chic! 

Until next time, 

xo

T

Currently Craving: Mara Hoffman

I have recently become completely obsessed with Mara Hoffman. The New York based, Parsons and Saint Martins educated designer caught my eye a few years ago, when I first saw her designs on Shopbop and other sites. But her silhouettes have been absolutely killing it as of late. Between simple shift and shirt dresses, to intricately embroidered maxi dresses, often with cut-outs in the back, they sound like just your average pieces. However, it's the textile designs and details that really make her pieces something special. They are all influenced by a global kind of lifestyle, drawing inspiration from the Middle East and Asia, creating a truly bohemian blend that is perfect for summer and festival season.  Talk about vacation ready! My favorite pieces of late can be found at revolve.com and shopbop.com, as well as marahoffman.com, of course!

Until next time, 

xo 

T

Makeup Adventures: Benefit Brow Bar

Before, During, and After! 

The other day, I went with my friend Anna to get her brows done at the Benefit Brow Bar at the Benefit store near my mom's house. I had never gotten mine done, and decided to go for it.  I'm incredibly fair, as in my eyebrows and eyelashes are basically see-through when I wake up in the morning before I put on my makeup.  Seriously, I look about 10 years younger.  It's drastic.  My mom has always tinted her brows and her lashes for that reason, but I was always skeptical because I had heard horror stories from my Grandmother about her eyelashes falling out after she tried to tint them. So, needless to say, I was hesitant. But, regardless, I bit the bullet, and I'm so pleased with the results! 

The great thing about a Benefit Brow Bar is the atmosphere.  The aestheticians are so cool and easy going.  And, they completely know what they're doing. They start by "mapping" your brows, a process where they line up the ends and arch with other points on your face, so you get the most flattering, natural look for your face. To be fair, I don't have very thick eyebrows, so the waxing part wasn't that painful. It was probably 10 or so real hairs total. But it was certainly a lot faster than plucking! 

Next, they applied the tint, which we matched to the darkest shade of my natural hair color (aka the gross underside of my hair... it's mousy!).  I sat with the tint on my brows for about 5 to 10 minutes, and just chatted with the Benefit girls about makeup and reality tv stars while I waited. Then she wiped it off, smoothed on some calming cream to ease any redness from the waxing, and I was done! 

The ladies gave us free makeup touch-ups before we paid, and we left looking more gorgeous than ever! I'm so excited to not have to pencil in my eyebrows every morning, I think that I'll try a lash tint next! 

Until next time, 

xo 

T

Merci Beaucoup!

Jacket: AG Jeans; Sweater: Banana Republic; Shorts: Banana Republic; Shoes: Tory Burch; Bag: Rebecca Minkoff; Sunglasses: Karen Walker; Bracelets and Watch: Kate Spade

I bought this sweater on sale at Banana Republic last year, and I wear it constantly throughout the spring in summer, which is crazy because I don't normally shop at Banana, as I have a weird body type and their clothes don't fit me well because of it. But seriously, I love this sweater and the matching shorts - it makes me feel so cute! And that's always the sign of the best outfits, right? 

Until next time, 

xo 

T

Spring Stripes

Jacket: AG Jeans; Dress: Pim and Larkin via Piperlime; Shoes: Tory Burch; Bag: Rebecca Minkoff; Necklace: BaubleBar

I recently bought this dress from Piperlime, and I'm obsessed.  It's such an easy silhouette with the drop waist, so you don't have to worry about the waist getting too tight as the day goes on, which always seems to happen to me! Paired with a lightweight denim jacket, flats and a statement bright statement necklace, and I think I have my new go-to spring look! 

Until next time, 

xo

T