CK Staying Warm

New Beginnings...

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:49:04 -0400

For the past few weeks, my incredibly creative PR-minded sister and I have been coming up with ways to revamp ‘ckstayingwarm’. The biggest change I wanted to make was to keep my blog relevant to whatever is going on in my life. Not simply adapting to the winter weather in Pittsburgh, but adapting to all of those major changes in a twenty-something’s life. In addition, I wanted to open my blog up for collaborations with my fabulous sister, Margaret. She is also a twenty-something and like me, trying to figure out her life. To us, it’s so important to have a place where we can both express ourselves creatively.

With that in mind, I’m so happy to announce LYCLY: Love Your Clothes, Love Yourself (click HERE to be redirected to my new blog!!). I hope you enjoy it as much as I already do.

This new medium keeps my love of clothes in the forefront but also will talk more about my life and daily experiences. For the past few years, I have been in a time full of change, transition, and big choices. I’ve been making discoveries about myself and learning a lot about how I want my life to be. I think that it is so important to love yourself and love what you are doing on a daily basis – which sometimes can be pretty hard. While I don’t think loving your clothes is mutually exclusive with loving your life (or yourself), I find that my clothes are a great way to express how I’m feeling at the moment; tough, vulnerable, romantic, hardcore, professional, artistic, etc. My outfits reflect how my life is constantly changing – one look in my sock drawer will show you how drastically my life has transformed from even just last year.

For the past seven months, ckstayingwarm has been a wonderful place to express myself and my personal style and I’m so excited to continue this journey with you through LYCLY.

Love Your Clothes, Love Yourself.

<3
CK

To see more of this outfit (and those awesome shoes!!!!), click on through to my new blog!

In the trenches...

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:28:01 -0400

Since moving to Pittsburgh, I’ve been incredibly thankful for my trench coat. It’s appropriate for every occasion - from work to saturday errands - and not to mention perfect for those chilly drizzly mornings when a real coat would just be too much but you def need SOMETHING to cut the wet.

Mine is a classic version from London Fog. I got it years ago from Burlington Coat Factory curtsey of my mom and her insisting that “every woman needs a classic trench coat” (the older I get the more I realize how right my mom always is).

Since I’ve determined just how integral this coat is in my wardrobe, I’ve been lusting over the Burberry versions (go big or go home right?). Their spring collection is just to die for (neon! leather sleeves! studs! EXPENSIVE!).

Since it will be years and years until I can afford my own Burberry treasure, I’ve been looking into ways to revamp my classic trench. Yesterday, I was inspired by this Japanese Vogue cover:

Adding a thick statement belt turned out to be the easiest way possible to update my trench. This is how it turned out:

I paired it with leopard and red accents - some big earrings and a bun added to the lady-with-an-attitude vibe.

What do you guys think? Does it work well or is it a lame attempt at ‘runway to real life’?

Happy Wednesday everyone! We’re more than halfway through now. :)

xoxo
CK

trench: london fog, belt: forever 21, scarf: francesca’s, dress: target, blazer: limited, tights: hue, shoes: steve madden, earrings and sunnies: gift.

A quick one...

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 12:20:00 -0400

Just time for a quick post as I run to class! Hope you are having a fabulous day!

xoxo
CK

pants: gap, shirt, cuff, and sweater: h&m, belt: forever 21, booties: crap - some super cheap store like wet seal but not wet seal, necklace: street vendor in italy, headband: Etizzle’s closet, sunnies: gift.

Back to it...

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:17:00 -0400

I had a fabulous weekend full of happy hour Blue Moons, late night dancing (and gyros mmmm), shopping with girlfriends, wine waxing and laughter (don’t ask), an amazing brunch with my brother and his girlfriend, phone calls with some of my long-distance BFFs, sleeping in late both days, a wonderful OCD-full-on cleaning of my apartment (so satisfying), and watching the amazing Game of Thrones premiere with some other die-hard fans.

You may notice that homework was not on that list at all - which is why I’m ready to tackle my week! Lots to do…which is just the way I like it.

Speaking of lots to do, I wore this outfit last week after work to hit the library. The weather has been kind of chilly with random warm/hot patches. To combat the schizophrenic temps, I’ve taken to wearing a ton of comfy layers…comfy being key - especially when I’m going to hit the books.

I can’t get over how pretty the flowering trees are here! You can see an awesome fushia one in the waaaaay background. The petals float all over when the breeze blows by - and the ground looks covered in pale confetti. I feel like I definitely earned this Spring (even though EVERYONE keeps telling me we ‘skipped’ winter this year…yeah, yeah, I’m a wimp). ;)

Exciting things to come this week on the blog! I’ll keep you posted as things unfold.

xoxo

jeans: wet seal, tee: organic cotton from tj maxx, hoodie: mossomo from target, jacket: arden b, scarf: my sister’s talented knitting skills, boots: jessica simpson, bag: francesca’s, sunnies: gift.

Bringing it back...

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:44:30 -0400

I used to wear this head scarf ALL the time in college. Any given night of the week, you could find me and Goblet down at the Tavern - me usually in this head scarf, a bright sun dress, and my cowboy boots - Gaby always in something super fabulous with 6 inch heels. We would typically be dancing (and singing) to country songs, Journey, hardcore rap, or Hanson (which for some reason was always on the Tavern playlist) and drinking watered down beer. Siiigggghhh - the good ol’ days.

Since this headscarf was also a present from Gaby for surviving ‘Terrible Tuesday’ (I’ll tell you that story another time), it brings up some fantastic and ~~truly terrible~~ hilarious memories.

This week, I decided I was bringing this headscarf back. It’s the perfect way to add a little glam to a grunged up outfit and cover-up a bad hairday. I paired it with some bejeweled flats for a quick trip to the mall for some much needed spring shoe shopping.

Wait until you see the turquoise heels I bought - AHHH mazing.

Happy Friday everyone! We made it!

xoxo

jeans: sorority jean sale, jacket: cabi, tank: forever 21, flats: shoedazzle.com (old), head scarf: gift from the Goblet.

Une femme...

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:25:00 -0400

There’s nothing that makes me feel more feminine than polka dots, lace, and a flouncy skirt. Since the weather has been kind of schizophrenic up here, I added this spring coat to keep the chill away.

I love the muted paisly - and how there is a burst of neon in the lining.

I added some color with my rose purse and some bright lipstick. Pearls keep up with the lady-like theme.

These ruffled shoes always make me want to dance…or at least strut around a bit. My dancing is better left unphotographed, as my sister got all the dancing/coordination genes out of us three siblings (Matt you know this is true).

But I can still TWIRL!!!

Sooo happy it’s Thursday, bring on the weekend already. :)

xoxo

skirt and top: zara, shoes: shoedazzle.com (old), pearls: burrlington coat factory, purse: gift, coat: 3 sisters (gift).

Insta-blog: Some fun pictures I’ve taken in the past week...

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:22:12 -0400

Insta-blog: Some fun pictures I’ve taken in the past week or two.

1. My outfit today - black and blue (shirt and sweater: h&m, necklace: francesca’s)

2. Celebrating my brother’s birthday with margarita’s!

3. Reflections on the water at my Dad’s farm.

4. The warm weather already seems like a memory (shorts and tee: forever 21, bag: francesca’s, sunnies: gift)

5. Oh yes we did! Girls vrs Boys bowling night - who had the more creative names?

6. Fake eyelashes for the win!

7. Rainy day style with mud colors and chains (jacket: michael by michael kors, sweater: h&m, necklace: ann taylor loft)

8. The best part of living in Pittsburgh’s Little Italy is having the best pizza right outside your front door.

Happy Humpday everyone! We’re half way there :)

xoxo
CK

The day before humpday...is pre-humpday?

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:52:49 -0400

I wore this over the weekend, before the weather returned to it’s regularly scheduled programming and I had to pull my winter coat back out (siggggh). I seriously love the mix of colors and patterns here though - for someone who has been traditionally afraid of animal prints, I really have embraced them now.

Although I definitely have on my ‘bored face’, I think these pants are anything but boring. I’ve paired them with basics (and not-so-basic skulls) before, here and here and here oh and here and even here (man I’ve worn these pants a lot!). But I love how springy the mix of patterns make them look in this outfit.

The gold zipper down the back of this tee is one of my favorite details!

These wedges are awesome - but sooooooo sooooo sooo uncomfortable. Like oh-my-god-my-foot-bones-might-be-breaking-this-is-ALMOST-not-worth-how-cute-these-shoes-are-please-ryan-gosling-save-me-with-your-beauty kind of uncomfortable. The only time I can wear them is when I plan on driving to my destination, parking extremely close, and doing plenty of sitting.

But man…they are SO CUTE.

I wanted to give you a close-up of the necklace I was wearing - it’s hard to tell in the pictures. My grandfather bought this for my grandmother when he was traveling overseas.

It still has the picture of them inside the locket - making it one of my absolutely favorite pieces.

It’s always nice to keep family close to your heart. Happy Tuesday everyone!

xoxo
CK

jeans: thrifted, top: h&m, shoes: sam edleman, belt: j crew, purse: miami somewhere, sunnies: gift, locket: from my grandmother.

Getting a little personal...

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:27:32 -0400

I am a smart girl. I excel in logic. I can argue either side of an issue, and I bet by the end I can make you agree with me.

On the flip side, I am a hopeless romantic (emphasis on hopeless). I listen to my heart over my head Every…Single…Time. I put myself out there more than I ‘should’. I usually give people more chances then they logically deserve. I see things through to the bitter end because I hold out hope things will work out.

I believe that the right person can overcome the worst circumstances. I believe that if you care about someone, you will help them follow their dreams, whatever they may be, and wherever they may take them…even if it’s away from you. I believe that people are generally good, and that our flaws - those sometimes ugly parts of us - do not define all of who we are but make us more interesting.

I believe that doing what makes you happy is always worth it – and that you should never make a decision based on fear. I believe that the fear of suffering is always worse than the suffering itself.

I’m definitely not perfect – I mess things up just as much as the next person; I worry about making the right choices; I make the wrong ones; I get depressed when things don’t work out. I’m sure my friends and family would rather I listen to my head (and them) more, especially since they have to listen to my tears first hand when things don’t work out.

But I will continue to listen to my heart. Even if people think it’s stupid, even if sometimes I KNOW I’m being stupid, even if it ends up hurting.

By listening to my heart instead of my head, I have probably given myself more trouble than if I ‘played it safe’. When you look at it that way, it’s definitely not so logical. But you know what? I have lived much more deeply, learned so much…and have absolutely no regrets.

pants: super old from macy’s, top: h&m, necklace and bangle forever 21, wedges: steve madden, purse: francesca’s, scarf: target, sunnies and earrings: gift.

Pinspiration...

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:37:42 -0400

I couldn’t understand why I woke up in the morning and pulled this awesome outfit right out of my closet without any true thought about how I was going to put it together. I figured it was just my own spring-style-amazingness.

Then, later, when I was looking through my pins, I realized that I pinned pretty much this exact same outfit on Pinterest the day before (and proceeded to eat some humble pie).

The blazer and animal print belt were my touch…and I also busted out this awesome starburst-sun-flava-flav-esque necklace I thrifted a while back (awesome right??!).

But all-in-all? I owe this outfit to this uber stylish chic via Pinterest. Thank you ‘J’s every day fashion’, for helping me make it to work on time (for once!).

Happy Friday everyone!

xoxo

skirt: forever 21, shirt: h&m, necklace and blazer: thrifted, pumps: steve madden, sunnies: gift.

Nude...

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:25:00 -0400

I know this season is all about the bright shoe (and I’m not going to lie…I’m totally jumping on that bandwagon - I’m on a quest for the perfect pair of turquoise heels)…but I have to say I love a good nude pump. They make your legs look longer, match every outfit, and can be worn for pretty much any occasion (except scaling mountains..and if were being honset fire fighting…annnd if you were participating in the hunger games [anyone else SUPER excited for the movie??]).

But thankfully, none of those things are on my to-do list this week.

Add in some pretty bows and a sling-back and I’m sold.

I’m also obsessed with this necklace. The triangle shape is unlike anything else I own, but the blue fits in seemlessly with my other accessories (like this ring I wear almost every day).

I’m looking forward to wearing it next with a buttoned up shirt. Love.

xoxo

dress: arden b, blazer: h&m, pumps: guess, necklace and ring: francesca’s, nail polish: essie’s ‘turquoise and caicos’, sunnies: gift.

Living the questions...

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:35:00 -0400

Last week I posted an inspirational quote on Tuesday, and it seemed like some of you liked it! I figured I’d keep with the tradition and post another one this week.

Today’s is rather poetic:

Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will find them gradually, without noticing it, and live along some distant day into the answer. ~Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet

“Live the questions now” - I love that. This outfit was my version of casual Friday - comfy shoes, loose maxi dress, and a jean jacket. One might say I was living the question, ’how casual can I go to work’. Turns out when you’re in research and don’t have any patient visits scheduled…you can go pretty casual. ;)

xoxo
CK

dress and leather cuff: h&m, slippers: lucky brand, jean jacket: SUPER old - like I’m talking middle school I had to pull off rhinestones old, scarf: gift, purse: francesca’s.

Stud...

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:01:00 -0400

Friday night I wanted to be comfy but still wear something special. My trusty boyfriend jeans (worn out to perfection), pink blouse, and some badass studded heels fit the bill.

You can tell I was feeling hardcore by my I’m-in-a-leather-jacket-don’t-mess-with-me face.

I’m trying to roll over that attitude into my Monday. Bring it on week!

xoxo

jeans: sorority jean sale in college, shoes: shoedazzle, sunglasses and blouse: forever 21, jacket: arden b.

Instagram Friday: 1. Orange and stripes (h&m scarf and...

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 11:10:00 -0400

Instagram Friday:

1. Orange and stripes (h&m scarf and sweater).

2. View of Pittsburgh from Mt. Washington.

3. Turquoise - my fav color for accessories (francesca’s ring, essie turquoise and caicos, super old necklace from ‘the mart’)

4. Pink and orange color blocking (forever 21 skirt, love quotes scarf, thrifted boyfriend blazer, and banana republic button down)

5. Braid on braid (h&m scarf, gifted earrings)

6. My newest accessory (francesca’s necklace, h&m blazer)

Dance face...

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:38:42 -0400

I was wondering why ALL my pictures came out with really awkward faces - and then I realized I was listening to music and laughed out loud (I lol’d for real). Music was a fun idea, except that I ended up making what my sister terms my ‘dance-face’…which apparently happens when my body can’t concentrate on both dancing AND keeping my features uncontorted. I wasn’t sure it actually existed - my family likes to tease to show affection - but here it is. In the flesh, so to speak.

These were the best of the bunch - which tells you something since this next one doesn’t show much of my face. It makes me wonder what I look like when I’m REALLY dancing. ;)

Happy Humpday!

xoxo

dress: j crew, tights: hue, blazer: ann taylor loft (thrifted), necklace: old, ring and purse: francesca’s, booties: michael antonio, iphone case: otter box.

Feeling blue...

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:33:59 -0400

Beware: today I’m going a little existential with this post.

Somedays you just feel a little blue for no really good reason. When that happens to me, I try to look for inspiring quotes. Sometimes the ones that resonate with me that particular day, also surprise me.

Today it was,

Every day, God gives us, as well as the sun, a moment when it is possible to change anything that is causing us unhappiness. The magic moment is the moment when a “yes” or a “no” can change our whole existence. Every day, we try to pretend that we do not see that moment, that it does not exist, that today is the same as yesterday and that tomorrow will be the same too. However, anyone who pays close attention to his day will discover the magic moment. It might be hidden in the instant that we put the key in the door in the morning, in the moment of silence after supper, in the thousand and one things that appear to us to be the same. This moment exists, a moment in which all the strength of the stars flows through us and allows us to perform miracles.

- Paulo Coelho

Here’s to recognizing those moments - and hoping they exist.

xoxo

dress: zara, shoes: shoedazzle, leather cuff: h&m, bangle: forever 21, metal cuff: gift, sunnies: kenneth cole.

A beautiful day for a drive...

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:59:21 -0400

Sunday was the most beautiful day. It was warm enough for bare legs (finally!) and a gorgeous drive through the ‘burgh. A little shopping and an amazing dinner with family made it a wonderful end to the weekend and my ‘spring break’.

The layers in this outfit were key - as the day warmed up the jacket and scarf went into my bag - but after the sun went down, they went right back on.

You can’t really see the tiered lace skirt due to all the sunlight - but you can find it in this post here. I love how it adds a little femininity to the rugged boots, jean shirt, and camp jacket.

Now back to the grind!

xoxo

Go Big or Go Home...

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 14:59:58 -0500

I’m historically bad at wearing color. My closet is full of black, grey, white and navy blue. I am much more comfortable in neutrals with a pop or two in an accessory or nail polish. However, maybe it’s because I’m living in a place that actually has seasons, but I find myself super obsessed with all the amazing spring colors out there. Light mint green, hot pink, coral - I’m practically craving them.

I see all these awesome bloggers and regular folk mixing lots of these colors in amazing new, creative ways. I can’t ‘pin’ enough of these outfits (Pinterest is so addicting). I decided to give it a shot in real life. Go big or go home, right?

I tried to tie things together with the scarf but basically this is just a big spring color explosion.

As bright and sunny as the day is today. Happy Friday people!!

xoxo

jeans and blouse: forever 21, shoes: carlos santana, scarf: francesca’s, clutch: guess.

Cold shoulder...

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 11:38:17 -0500

There is nothing more flattering and comfortable than a classic wrap dress. Shoulder cut-outs and leopard print make this one anything but ordinary.

Add in the fact that I got it for $15 buckaroos at a sample sale - and it’s pretty much perfect.

I have tomorrow off of work (woohoo!), it’s so warm out that I didn’t have to wear tights today, and I’m having a big, delicious reuben for lunch (handsdown my favorite sandwich). ‘Friday’ at its best.

Hope you are having a great day too!

xoxo

dress: hale bob (via ruelala), boots: michael antonio, watch: guess, fish bracelet and bangles: gifts, sparkly bracelet: macy’s, sunnies and ring: forever 21.

Muted...

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 11:59:00 -0500

This outfit was sort of a grab-whatever-you-can-find-you’re-running-late kind of outfit but I ended up really liking the muted mix of blush and brown.

The basic trousers are dressed up a bit with a lace blouse. I kept it work appropriate by adding the blazer and scarf.

I wore this yesterday with my big winter coat, but I wanted to point out that this morning I had to take off my coat half way through my walk to work because I was TOO WARM. Siggghhh…spring is def pushing winter around a bit!

Happy Humpday!

xoxo
CK

trousers: victoriassecret.com ‘Christie fit’ - ha!, lace top: francesca’s, blazer: forever 21, scarf and boots: h&m, watch: fossil, pink bracelet: gift from the Goblet from Italy, sparkly bracelet: gift from ET from j crew, purse: unknown brand from t j maxx.