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I have absolutely no clue what brands I am wearing, sorry.

The past few days have been crazy! I spent the weekend in Manhattan for work, and had lots of time to hang out with friends all weekend. On Thursday, I stayed at the Sanctuary Hotel in Times Square, and my friends Grace and Serena came over for dinner and a fun night on the crazy cool rooftop. We ended up going out and about around the East Village, before my inner mom came out and I had to go back and crash around 1 AM. I don’t know how people stay out until 4 or 5 in the morning, I can barely stay awake past midnight!

On Friday, I had a few meetings with British Airways to plan next week in London shooting with St. Giles and Samsung for their new campaign (I’m so excited!!) and then we went back to The Redbury Hotel and hung out there for a bit before heading to dinner. More about my sleepovers at these hotels coming up shortly…

On Saturday, I met up with one of my friends Kerri, who I went to acting camp years ago with. Thanks to the power of social media, we reconnected through Instagram and realized we’re basically *twins*! We met up at 9 AM on Saturday for barre class, before going to Juice Press to grab a healthy brunch. I filmed that experience, so catch it here!

For the remainder of the day, I caught up with some other friends and then met up with Kerri again to head to Vandal for dinner with our other friend from camp and a few other girls we know in NYC!

In New York, you can go out wearing whatever you want without being judged, so I figured I’d rock this sexy jumpsuit with my vintage high-waisted pants for a night on the town. In New York, you might as well give 100% all of the time- you never know who is watching 😉

Xo,

Miss Fashionista

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Aldo shoes, Free People top, Dior via Shade Station sunglasses, Lauren Conrad at Kohl’s shorts

I have one too many pieces in my wardrobe that don’t match with anything. Or, they only match with one other item. Yet, I still feel inclined to buy pieces that are cool and unusual simply for that reason. Like this shirt and these shorts. I couldn’t wear this short with anything besides jeans, though yesterday I was in the mood to take a risk with fashion.

Before leaving to Manhattan, I got my friend Kate to snap some pics of me in this unusual outfit by my apartment. I’ve been wearing these Aldo sneakers nonstop: I’m not sure I really like them either, BUT, then I also totally adore the clunky and huge platform style. What do you think? They’re a very very bright white, so matching them with neutral and low-key colors is pretty important.

We all have one part of our body that we like more than other parts. For me, it’s my legs. I try and accentuate them as much as possible, because my legs make me feel like the most confident and beautiful version of myself. No makeup needed, either! I can’t always get away with wearing heels or huge platforms when I’m going out or to a meeting because I instantly go from 5’10 to 6’1 and that’s a tad tall, but during my free time I love experimenting with different shoes and heel heights because that’s what fashion is all about!

I’m in NYC for the next few days planning with British Airways, Samsung and St. Giles before heading to London next week…I can’t WAIT to tell you more!

Xo,

Miss Fashionista

Twitter || Instagram

Jack Wills dress, O Bag Boston bags, Rouvalis flowers

I find myself always secretly jealous of my friends who have an unlimited selection of designer jewelry and handbags. I have a Rebecca Minkoff handbag I’ve been using since my sister gave it to me ages ago, and even though I totally adore it’s stylish and worn-down look, I wouldn’t mind a new Balenciaga or Chanel bag getting placed in my lap.

Since designers handbags are a little unreasonable for many people, I’ve tried to find as many affordable and accessible lines to showcase on my blog. I don’t want to be remembered as the girl who only wears Chanel and Prada on here: because the majority of people have no interest in obnoxiously overpriced clothing they wear once. Am I right?

I came across O Bag when I was in Venice in May, and wandered through their store interested in what clothing and handbags Italian women purchase. I have to say, those Europeans know what good quality is, and they rarely spend copious amounts of money on one item. When I got back to Boston, I found out that O Bag was getting ready to launch their first Boston store, and I knew I had to be on the forefront of the company taking over Newbury Street.

On Saturday, I put together an event at 128 Newbury Street for bloggers, media, and the general public to get an idea about what O Bag is about, as well as leave the event with cute goodie bags, champagne, and snacks.  Rouvalis flowers in Boston was kind enough to give us a fantastic selection of beautiful flowers to showcase in the store, and Sangria Lolea sent us some beautiful sangria (for those above 21) to sample.

What is O Bag exactly? Design your own custom handbag (many of them are vegan) for under $200. The concept is genius, and they even have watches, bracelets, and more. You can adjust the straps and the lining to match the mood or season, so you never have to be worried about your bag not matching with your wardrobe.

It was a lovely night in Boston, especially since I got to wear my new Jack Wills dress!

Make sure to stop by O Bag at 128 Newbury Street!

Xo,

Miss Fashionista

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Last week, I decided to spontaneously bring my best friend along to Washington with me for 24 hours for my shoot with Great Day Washington. The last time Gabe had been to the city was during a school trip we took in middle school, and he wasn’t super keen on the idea of going back. I convinced him that school trips ALWAYS suck, and that he had to give it one last shot before totally deciding against one of my favorite places in the world.

Well, I think I managed to convince him that D.C. is a rad city. We stayed just outside the city at the Hyatt in Tyson’s Corner, which is an insanely cool hotel located inside the center of a massive shopping plaza. I’ve never been to Tyson’s Corner before, so I had a blast roaming around the mall for an hour, going in and out of stores like Aldo and Tesla. The hotel itself is beautiful: we were lucky enough to be in one of their massive penthouses, and had a sick view of the city and morning sunrise.

Gabe and I ate lunch upon flying in at Barrel & Bushel, which is the restaurant located downstairs. I hate hotel restaurants because the food is always crappy and the service sucks, but I was shocked at how cool the Hyatt restaurant was. We feasted on cheddar cheese totes, pork belly, avocado and crab toast, along with much more for our *light* lunch. Everything was to.die.for. Plus, the interior of B&B is my favorite aesthetic: wooden decor with a vintage vibe. I was as obsessed with the lights hanging from the ceiling as I was with the tater tots!

We ended up taking Megabus back to Manhattan from D.C. instead of flying, and then drove from New Haven to Mansfield with Hy’s Limo. Sometimes, it’s so nice to travel on the ground. You don’t have to turn your cell phone off, or eat shitty airplane food, or deal with TSA…

If you haven’t seen my YouTube BTS video, check it out here! We were in room 935 😉

Xo,

Miss Fashionista

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Those of you that have been following me for a while know that I’m really not into beauty. I don’t blog about beauty products, and I definitely don’t film myself putting on makeup. What’s the reason for that? I can’t put makeup on myself without looking like a clown, so I’m not about to film myself attempting because y’all would totally laugh.

For TV segments, I have so much makeup put on my face that I don’t feel like myself. I mean, I look fantastic and every flaw disappears, but it’s not reality. Once I’m off set and trying to *live a normal life* I take all of the makeup off, and I’ve had to become comfortable with who I am without set makeup. Social media has enabled so many people to transform into something they aren’t, and looking at pictures of people makes it hard for you to truly know who they are. I may look amazing on camera, but 9 times out of 10, I’d rather have 1/2 the makeup on and be in sweatpants and Converse.

I love my job, I just don’t love how easy it is for you guys to not feel as confident when you see other bloggers, models and celebrities dressed up in fancy clothes wearing elegant and phenomenal makeup. That’s not the way we wake up: it’s simply our job. No one wakes up looking like a model. Not even models wake up looking like models! 

There’s a few rules I live by to stay sane when I travel (at least) 2 weeks out of the month. I always make time for a workout. I didn’t have time on Thursday because I literally was traveling all day, but I made up for it yesterday and today. I don’t workout to lose weight or get a 6-pack, I simply workout because it makes me feel really damn good. Yes, if I have an intense workout I’ll feel even better about eating one or two cupcakes, but more importantly, I workout for the rush. The harder the workout, the stronger I feel.

I always eat as clean as possible. Even clean desserts! I took a picture above of one of my favorite items to order at Juice Press, which vary, but above is a gluten-free, paleo acai bowl and rose water. Juice Press is opening two new downtown Boston locations, so I’ve already started saving money in a separate bank account since I know I’ll be there literally every other day (just kidding, but I actually should do this). I love their on the go and healthy options.

Since I don’t wear a lot of makeup, I stick with a few essentials just to keep my skin rejuvenated and soft. Right now, I’m obsessed with GP’s line, Goop, who recently teamed up with Juice Beauty to release a line of facial products that are perfect for the minimalist. The eye cream and moisturizer are totally natural, and both leave your skin feeling totally hydrated and fresh.

If you’re curious what I usually eat in a full day, check out the video I recently uploaded here. 

Remember, makeup will never make you more beautiful than you are, and eating a cupcake will not ruin you. Confidence comes from within.

Xo,

Miss Fashionista

Twitter || Instagram

Shara Porter bag, Jack Wills outfit

Fourth of July in Mystic was a blast. Being with my best friends, riding bikes and eating ice cream, was enough to make me wish I was a “normal” teen again. People always ask me what I look for in a guy, and I always say someone who can 1) make me forget I’m working when I’m with them 2) make me laugh. I haven’t found a guy yet who can manage to do both simultaneously, but I’ll keep looking until I do…

A few weeks ago, I headed to a popular outdoor market in Boston called SoWa, which is a huge market every Sunday in South Boston. I walked there from my apartment in the North End, which took a good hour, but was totally worth it. Boston doesn’t have nearly as good of food as Manhattan, though when it comes to markets, you’d feel overwhelmed with the selection of options offered. After digging into some hella good tacos, I started walking around the stands with a few of my girlfriends. One stand I walked by was Shara Porter‘s, and I stopped to take a look at her cute and quirky designs. Shara has managed to find a middle ground between feminine and masculine, taking elegant silhouettes and putting stamps on them like tires and ladders. I just had to email her after the market to see if she could send me a bag for me to feature and show y’all. I’m all for women being at the top of the game, whether you’re stronger than the guys in your crossfit class, or simply winning over all of the men in your office. Women have to stick together, not against each other. What can I/we do to change women from feeling intimidated by each other, instead of wanting to see every lady jump to the top of her field? That question definitely keeps me up at night…

I chose this blue bag with the arrows to wear on July 4th with my new Jack Wills outfit. This shirt is soooooo soft omg. I wish you could touch it.

See a BTS look at my shoot with Great Day Washington HERE

and check out my new FB page for a personal look into my life. 

Xo,

Miss Fashionista

Twitter || Instagram

Jack Wills clothing, Aldo shoes, Express jewelry

HAIR AND MAKEUP BY THE AMAZING LAUREN DIANA IN DC. She’s one of my favorite girls in the entire world, and is always so professional and on time. I couldn’t ask for a better glam girl when I’m in town. 

I just wrapped up a shoot on summer essentials with Great Day Washington! You can see it here.

I wore clothing from three brands that I’m slowly falling in love with: Jack Wills, Aldo and Express. Jack Wills is a fantastic European brand that also has flagships across the U.S. I went into their Newbury Street store last week in Boston and picked out a few new outfits, including what I wore above. I’m not one to love wearing a white Easter style dress like the one above, but immediately after trying it on in their store, I fell in love. The beautiful lace print mixed with the elegant long length is a recipe for success. Right before I walked on set, I almost put the striped blue blazer on, but decided to take it off because I didn’t totally feel 100% myself with the blazer on. My best advice for dressing is to always wear what makes you feel amazing. If you don’t feel like the beautiful person you are with what you’re wearing, than you should take off the piece and switch it out. You’d be surprised at how much more confident a few simple outfit changes can make you.

Brands I discussed were Crispy Green, Style Edit, Travalo, Mr. Swim, Zeel, Spray Perfect and Cassette Company. These brands are some of my beach favs, from fun sunglasses to swim shorts (for the guys!) and perfect dry shampoo. You don’t have to spend a ton to look chic and give chic gifts to your friends/summer brides!

Zeel and Mr. Swim NY gave me a discount code for you to use, too! For Zeel: use code GREATDAY and the code for Mr. Swim is GDW20. 

See more on a YouTube video airing tomorrow!

Xo,

Miss Fashionista

Twitter || Instagram

Shara Porter bag, Forever 21 shorts, Express bodysuit/hat/vest

I’m not super big into holidays. I can deal with Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter, mainly because I grew up celebrating them. When it comes to Valentines Day, July 4th, National Chocolate Day…I don’t have any interest in cooking and putting on a celebration for nothing.

This year, I decided to get in the spirit since my best friends love the holiday. I booked us a room  at the Inn at Mystic, located about 40 minutes from where I’m originally from in CT. I’ve featured the Inn at Mystic on my blog before, but the last time I stayed there was over a year ago and it was winter. They have a fabulous restaurant and pool, so booking a room at the property in the summer is much more ideal.

I went shopping in Boston on Sunday at Express with a gift card they sent me to buy some new items for summer, and I left knowing Express had become my new favorite store within a matter of minutes. They’re having a huge sale right now, but of course, I ended up picking everything that wasn’t on sale (their summer collection is SO CUTE) so I would’ve left with 3x the amount of clothing if I wanted to be reasonable and buy from the sale. Oh well. I’ve never worn a bodysuit before, but the minute I picked up this sexy lace piece above, I knew I had to have it. The concept of bodysuits is kind of odd to me, because they’re like bathing suits but actual clothing. I think of a bodysuit as something more suited for a music festival. This summer season, girls have been wearing them with everything, and not just at music festivals. I seriously hope bodysuits stay in style for more than just the summer!

Hope you had a lovely 4th- I’m headed to DC tomorrow for a quick trip to appear on Great Day Washington Thursday morning. I hope you’re tuning in!

Xo,

Miss Fashionista

Twitter || Instagram

Joie clothing, Express sandals

There’s a few places in Manhattan that I can go to more than once and not get bored of. During the summer, you can find me at literally any rooftop (in Brooklyn OR Manhattan) or any place with a pool. A few weeks ago, the Dream Downtown invited me to stay over for a few nights in their swanky Chelsea hotel. During the summer, the place is swamped with models, fashionistas, and cute boys hanging by the pool at staying upstairs. PHD, which is a popular nightclub, is located inside the Dream too, so once 9 PM hits, the place is a madhouse. If I’m not hitting up PHD with my girls, you can catch me sitting by the pool (avoiding people at all costs LOL).

Joie has been providing a selection of clothing for me to wear throughout the summer, and my girl Samantha (we interned together at Guest of a Guest) put this outfit together when I was way too lazy to do any styling. I’m obsessed with these silk pants and the classy jacket: they go together perfectly. I love Joie because you can literally wear the line anywhere. If you’re sitting by the pool, wear Joie. If you have a business meeting, wear this blazer and top. If you’re going out with your girls or have a date night, wear one of their pretty and breezy frocks. Can you tell how obsessed I am with the brand?

For more 4th of July outfit inspiration, click here. 

Also, check out my latest post on Guest of a Guest featuring 5 of my favorite new jewelry designers!

Xo,

Miss Fashionista

Twitter || Instagram

Francesca’s dress, flats and headband

Do you ever get into a mood where you want to shop and buy absolutely everything? On Monday, I convinced my best friend Gabe to join me for a morning bootcamp class, and then I proceeded to go into Francesca’s (I couldn’t help myself!) and splurge on this look. I needed a few new summer dresses, along with a glitzy headband, so I didn’t feel bad treating myself a bit. The majority of clothing I end up getting is free or worn simply for a work occasion, which is why treating myself is even more important. The amount of times I’ve had to say to myself “Alexa, this plate of french fries is not a treat to yourself” is enough to make you laugh.

In case you missed it, I was featured in a quick VH1 roundup last week:

It’s always fun when someone sends me something like this because it’s a nice little perk if you find yourself down one week. Being an entrepreanur comes with many perks and many not so great aspects, which is why I work so hard to make sure that people continue to follow their dreams and always love themselves.

Life is too short to not do what you love.

Xo,

Miss Fashionista

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