Hello my dears! Can you believe it's already the end of April because I seriously can't. It's just about time for graduations and parties and all that good stuff so I thought I'd bring to you a gift guide for those high school/college grads in your life! I'm also having a hard time finding the perfect gift and figured that I can't be the only one struggling. Whether you have a lot of money or don't have much at all, here is a nice variety of items that may work for you.

If you have any other gift ideas, please let me know down below!

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UNDER $50: "I'm eating-from-the-dollar-menu broke"
(1) Magical Thinking Good Vibes Pillow (2) Personalized Tumbler (3) Inspirational Calendar (4) Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Camera Case (5) Brushed Steel & Leather Business Card Holder (6) Garden Custom Stamp
These gifts are great whether your friend or family member is dorming after high school or getting a new apartment after college. Fun pillows and calendars as well as any other general home decor item can be a wonderful gift. They'll think of you every time they use it! Items like business card holders can also be great for networking through clubs or through work. For the photographer in your life who wants to document special memories, a cute instax carrier is perfect! Last but not least, my favorite, personalized stamps are a beautiful present because he or she can use it to send letters and packages back home. It's also really nice if they have moved to a new city or place to add a personal touch to all kinds of mail and commemorate the move!

UNDER $100: "I make a few extra bucks on the side"
(1) Bose Soundlink Bluetooth Speaker (2) Cheero 6000 mAh Danboard Power Bank (3) Beats by Dr. Dre In-Ear Headphones (4) Personalized Rocks Glasses (5) Kate Spade Cedar Street Rose Passport Holder (6) Herschel Novel Duffel Bag
My sister actually has the Bose speakers and I can safely say that they were the best gift. She loves using it to listen to music in her dorm room, jamming out with her friends. Along the same lines of music, good quality headphones can be a great gift. It can be used in the library to zone out other students studying or used on the commute to work or school. And of course, if he or she is using it to listen to music on a phone or tablet, a power bank might come in handy! This cute one can charge two devices...perfect for tech savvy graduates and also great for making friends. Know a guy who loves drinking? Just graduated and now has his own place? Personalized glassware can be so posh (also useful so other people don't drink out of your glass). For those who are planning to study abroad or travel a lot for work, a passport holder can be a wonderful present. It's functional but also pretty! Duffel bags also make great traveling items (or double as a gym bag/laundry bag/weekend bag).

OVER $100: "I'm balling and flaunting it"
(1) Movado BOLD Watch 25mm (2) Vitamix Pro 750 (3) Salvatore Ferragamo Tramezza Bifold Wallet (4) Ted Baker Adira Colour Block Shopper Bag (5) Ted Baker Alanie Hanging Gardens Suitcase (6) Fitbit Blaze
There are certain accessories that can really amp up your professional game and watches are one of them. I like this sleek silver one because it's not too thick of a band and it's a color that works with every outfit. Next, a good blender is all the rage. Eating healthy is so important whether you are living on your own or tempted by the endless meals in the cafeteria. A fancy leather wallet can also be a great gift because it's something that can be used everyday and it looks so chic! Same with a good tote bag. Carry it to class with notebooks or to work with files...it's a staple. A suitcase can be a bit of a splurge item but having one handy makes traveling a breeze. I especially like carry-on sized suitcases because checking in luggage is a nightmare. Lastly...gotta work off those extra pounds put on by freshman fifteen or because you (or your graduate friend) has been binging on takeout food. A fitbit is great for the grad who likes working out or needs motivation to work out!

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Are you considering buying any of these for your friends who are graduating? Or maybe you are about to reach that milestone and would like one of these gifts for yourself. I'd love to hear your thoughts so leave it below as always :)

Hello my dears! I'm posting a bit earlier than usual since I have some time to sit down and write. This week, I ventured into uncharted territory (at least for me). Menswear has always been something I admired but never talked about. Truthfully, I don't know much but I would like to try and give my honest review on a collection that I fell in love with: Michael Bastian's Fall 2016 line. Maybe you'll fall in love, too.

If I had to describe the general feel of the collection, I would say that it's quirky but also preppy? It's pleasing to the eye and actually very wearable as far as designer pieces go. I think it's also fun to look at menswear for inspiration! It can be nice to change your perspective from always scrolling through women's clothing to seeing what's hip and happening for the guys. There's one look in particular that I think would be stunning with heels (you'll see what I mean).

All of these looks can be found here: click me!

With that, please enjoy the review (and the handsome models).

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LOOK 3: I love the model's hairstyle. It's sleek but not overly done. The brown of the leather jacket and the blue of the button-up shirt makes it a very warm look. I think the contrast of the jacket and the unbuttoned shirt also gives it a fun, sexy flair. What really surprises me, however, is the grey pants! The cool tones work unexpectedly well with the warm tones.


LOOK 6: This outfit is great. I can see a lot of guys wearing this because it's pretty casual but there are a very elements that pull it all together. The jacket? Perfect. It's simple. There aren't a lot of unnecessary details or bright colors, which means that it will work with whatever you wear underneath. The pants? Awesome. The olive color can be a different neutral to add to the wardrobe and it's more versatile than you think! The boots? Amazing. I'd love to find the women's equivalent.


LOOK 8: I really like the plain black sunglasses. I think it toughens the outfit a bit. The blazer, turtleneck, and bottoms all look very soft and I don't mean just the texture. The whole look is very mild (compared to something hard like leather). This is the outfit I was talking about in the beginning! I think pairing a slouchy turtleneck with a soft blazer and skinny pants would be a really lovely outfit with heels. It's chic but just slightly masculine. Anyway, back to this. I do have mixed feelings about the pockets on the pants. I feel like it kind of ruins the outfit but maybe it's just me??


LOOK 9: The color of the beanie works well with the other colors here. It lightens up the darker tones like the gray sweats and navy top. Actually I really don't like sweatpants on guys because it can look sloppy but the fit of these aren't bad. It goes with the less structured jacket and beanie. Last but not least are the boots. I love brown boots. They're so down to earth and functional.


LOOK 15: I thought this was such a fun look because of all the layers! Turtleneck under a collared shirt isn't something I would have personally styled but it's pretty nice. Since they're all darker colors, it's also not that noticeable. The lighter grey vest? Probably my favorite piece from this outfit. It pops out against everything else... a very stylish item to have for Fall. But what is happening with the shoes??? No socks?! Seems a bit out of place, to be honest.


LOOK 19: I have nothing against bow ties! They're super cute and more playful than neckties but because this outfit seemed borderline school-uniform, it might have looked better with a sleek tie...without the sweater. But it's a pretty classic combo and I do think it's a versatile outfit for colder months. I think the designer made a good decision to pair with black pants and black boots because it looks more mature that way. I would have also considered pairing some kind of wool coat to brighten the ensemble but otherwise, it's a solid look.
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What did you guys think? Which look was your favorite?

As per request, I am thinking of styling outfits based on The Divergent Series: Allegiant for my next post so be on the lookout for it!

Hi everyone!

Today, we're gonna talk about the latest handbags and shoes from Dolce & Gabbana's shop. I've paired them together for your viewing pleasure (and also because I think it looks pretty and that's what it's all about, right?). Let me know which combo was your favorite. I personally love all of these because they're just really beautifully designed. Some are a bit ornate and some are a bit playful but they're all super gorgeous and I'd love to own them all (Santa, please let me win the lottery).

Okay but enough about my sad dreams. Let's look at these beauties.

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Left/Right

Left/Right

Left/Right

Left/Right

Left/Right

I hope you enjoyed this post. See you all in my next one~


Bye for now,
Jenn

Happy 2016, everyone! I don't want to sound cliche but 2015 really did fly by. I almost can't believe that we've made it to the new year already. This year, I'd like to continue improving myself as well as asmallbit. Resolutions aren't really my thing because I find it more effective to accomplish smaller tasks. It can be overwhelming if you start off with major goals, especially if you don't know how to get from A to B. Similarly, when I want to freshen up my space, I like to take it step by step.

Here are some tips that I've found helpful if you're like me and you've accumulated a lot of items in your wardrobe over time but aren't sure how to fully utilize those pieces.











Do you have any tips on how to freshen up your wardrobe? Share them down below :)


Bye for now,
Jenn

We're back with the second part of the Runway to Real Life series. They're personally one of my favorite posts to do because it challenges my styling abilities, coming up with wearable outfits that still embody the trends. Let me know which one below is your favorite and how you would style things differently!

All of these are based on looks from Spring 2016 shows. I know it's only December but since the designs are out, I thought I'd give you guys a head start on freshening up your wardrobe for the upcoming year :) Enjoy!

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From left to right, I created a chic version of the runway design with the black leather jacket, denim midi skirt, and a fishnet white top, finished with strappy black heels to match the similar vibe of the shoes shown. Then I went with a more luxurious feel, using a velvet bomber jacket, beige turtleneck, and a tighter fitted skirt. Instead of a brown belt, I chose a watch with a brown leather strap. Finally, I decided to go with a sporty, laid-back look with a classic sport jacket, a shimmery T-shirt to offset the casual vibes, and a modern A-line denim skirt with sneaker wedges.





The key thing to remember is that these are all INSPIRATIONS! The fun part isn't replicating the look but recreating it to fit your own style. So here, I've taken elements like the pops of red, the sequins, and the white pants to develop 3 outfits: classy office, modern chill, and glam.





First up, we have a contemporary look, followed by a more feminine outfit. Finally, I added a bit of a twist to the last one, with a caged neckline rather than a lace-up and paired it with floral pants instead of a skirt. It's a bolder look, definitely more suitable for the club or a night out!





This is personally my favorite one. I've put together a look using similar colors but without the vest to keep it light for spring. Then I decided to create an outfit that appears the most similar to the designer's. Finally, I thought I'd include a look that is best worn when it's still a bit chilly outside. I think army green and light pink is such an unexpected combo but super pretty for spring!


There you have it! Which one was your fave?? Leave it down below!


Bye for now,
Jenn