Building a Wardrobe

Good morning!

As I mentioned last week, my sister Alaina, (who also pens her own blog) and I are jet-setting to Washington D.C. this summer to intern on "the Hill." And even though we're weeks away, there's still so much to do! Research the historical places peppered around D.C., read up on the hot-button issues circulating around Congress, creep on the major players on the hill, and lastly, put together a fabulous work/play wardrobe for my D.C. adventures!

I'll be the first to admit it - I love shopping. Probably a little too much. I know all the hot online clothing stores: Asos, Shopstyle, Tilly's, Modcloth... the list goes on. And so, I have put my useless knowledge to good use and I've put together a pretty comprehensive packing list.

Packing for a month can be a pretty daunting task. How does one cram all one's clothes, accessories, shoes, purses and toiletries into ONE suitcase? (Let's not kid ourselves, baggage fees are absurd nowadays.) Well I believe I've found a solution. The key is to pack basic pieces in a similar color scheme so you can mix and match the pieces and create several different looks. I've applied this formula to both my professional and casual wardrobe for this summer. I chose a color palette of white, black, olive and khacki accented by red and leopard print. The colors are basic, but the fun accents make the palette pop without going over the top.

Here's a work look I put together with some basics I'm using for my summer wardrobe. My style is usually sleek and minimalistic, with some architectural edge to it. I love edgy pieces like this thick gold cuff and the sculptural hoop earrings. Paired with basics like a black sheath dress and black wedges, they elevate the look to from common to chic.

Black Dresses by T Tahari
Sandals by Michael Antonio

Using other basics and tying in some similar pieces, I put together this casual look for weekend wear. The vibe is similar, but decidedly relaxed. The olive shirtdress is polished, but not pretentious and the leopard pattern on the satchel lends an air of classic refinement to the look. Black gladiator sandals are comfortable for long treks across the city, and the cross-body strap on the satchel create hands-free ease for juggling subway maps and museum brochures.

Day Dresses by DKNY
Sandals by Mossimo

Being able to mix and match pieces affords me countless options for day-to-day wear, and gives me the freedom to be flexible. As I start adding to my wardrobe, I'll be posting some more D.C. looks, so keep checking back. Until next time!

-Mallory

I suck at blogging, BUT...

Obviously I suck at blogging.


But I am hell-bent on making this sucker work. In my defense though, I've been maintaining a fashion blog for The Daily Reveille's entertainment site, LMFAO (an acronym for Life, Music, Fashion, Arts, Online. Cleverness, no?). Not to mention I've been juggling 15 hours of school, interning for a congressman, my work study, my regular job, all my extracurriculars, and on top of all that, trying to maintain a sliver of a social life, (Oh, that's a laugh). But nay fair readers, I shall not leave you in despair this summer. Especially since I have SO MUCH going on! Which brings me to my first big point...

I am working HERE!

That's right. CAPITOL HILL baby. Epicenter of politics. Birth place of democracy. And I am going to be right in the middle of it!  I seriously CANNOT wait! I'm already starting to creep on all the big political players. (Trolling twitter like a big shot.) I just want to make the most of this incredible chance. I want to squeeze every single drop out of it. But most importantly, I want to remember doing it. Which brings me to my second big point....

This blog is officially my new travel blog!

Yup. I'm converting this online journal into a log for all my D.C. adventures! My friend and role model, Aly, did this with her trip to Istanbul and Turkey. I was floored to read about all of the amazing things she saw and did in this exotic place. It was like seeing the world through her eyes. And so, inspired by her diligent blogging, I want to do something similar. I really want to document the work I do, the places I go, the things I see and the people I meet through this online blog. I may be the only one reading it, but at least it will be a great way for me to reflect on my time in our nation's capital.

I'm so excited to revive this blog and set a new pace for myself! Be sure to keep up with me as I update here in the next few weeks with my travel plans, research, and most importantly, my wardrobe! (I'm totally joking about that being the most important... sort of.)

-Mallory