winter colors forever

I don't think I'm ready to hop on the "bright colors for spring" bandwagon just yet. Or ever, really.
Every year I try so hard to step out of my neutral-color comfort zone when the warm weather first hits but every article of clothing I buy that has a color found on the rainbow is an article of clothing that gets shoved to the very back (the abyss) of my closet. You just can't go wrong with black, white, brown, and gold. It's not possible.
But I mean there is a floral print going on here, so that counts for something, right?

Dress- c/o Nowistyle Japan
Shoes- Forever21 (I wish I had the real Wang's!)
Clutch- Forever21


xo Susie

staples

I'm generally not very good at dressing "casually." I like to throw on a dress and heels even if I'm just running to Walmart for coffee creamer. But I had the day off work and slept in 'til 2pm, so I decided to let myself go a bit (but not too much- hence the heels, ha).

I can't even begin to tell you how many black & white striped tops I have in my closet. Or leather jackets. Or denim cutoffs. If I had to make a list of my most-worn items, these would most likely be the top 3. I think I like them so much because you can turn a super lazy-girl outfit into something acceptable to be seen in. I'm just sad because I just brought home this perfect Zara leather moto jacket a few days ago and now the forecast is calling for 80 degree weather for weeks to come. Boo.
But I am excited to break out all of my spring dresses that have been sitting all alone in the back corner of my closet all winter! 

Sunglasses- Chanel
Top- c/o Nowistyle Japan
Shorts- Levi Strauss
Jacket- Zara
Bag- Forever21
Necklace- Handmade (but not by me...someone sold it to my store!)

xo Susie

in susie's shop (shop my closet!)

Growing up, there were few words I dreaded hearing more than "It's time for spring cleaning."
I am a hoarder by nature and I simply cannot help it. Try as I may, I cannot kick the fact that I have an emotional attachment to every single thing that crosses paths with me (who knows if I'll ever need that receipt from 3 years ago? I should keep it just in case). My absolute worst hoarding is found in the way I cannot untighten my grip on my clothing. You wouldn't believe the excuses I make in order to hold on to an article of clothing. Oh that ugly old thing from 9 years ago? I may need it for a costume party 7 years from now. Probably should hold onto it.
But as I'm growing older and my closet space is growing far more limited, I've been trying to find a new home for some of my gently used items! Thanks to a severe lack of sleep and a bit too much coffee, I found myself spring cleaning at 4:30am today.
Some new items are now up on my blog shop- check them out! :')

http://insusiesshop.bigcartel.com


xo Susie

mesh & maxi

First & foremost: three cheers to making it through my first semester of college! I didn't think I'd make it. Unfortunately I've still got 3.5 semesters to go.

Today I'm thankful for nice weather and a break from the crazy cold we've had lately. All year I wait for the day it turns cold, but after having a nice modern-day ice age a few weeks back, these past couple of 70 degree days have been nice (and perfect to get out and shoot!).
As I was scouring my closet for something to wear earlier, I found this maxi dress sitting at the very back, tags still attached. I remember thinking I couldn't live without this dress when I first tried it on, and as soon as I got home I thought "this shows too much skin, I'll never wear it."
Well, the time has come. I'm stepping out of my comfort zone (literally...check out that slit up the side) and trying new things.
Hope my dad doesn't see this post because he might just murder me (sorry, pops!)

• Jacket- c/o Nowistyle Japan
• Maxi- Image
• Heels- Michael Kors
• Necklace- vintage

xo Susie

'tis the season for wishlists

In the Gibson household, Christmas lists begin around the same time as Halloween. My mom has always been one to get her Christmas shopping done early (I applaud you, Mother, I really do) because she hasn't the patience for long lines and traffic-hell come December. While most people are still trying to decide what they're going to dress up as for Halloween, I'm trying to get my Christmas list together for fear of my mother verbally harassing me if I don't get it to her in a timely manner (first world problem, am I right?).
A few years back I began making visual wishlists for her because I found them so much more appealing than handing over a bland sheet of notebook paper with my hardly-legible chickenscratch all over the place. I would copy and paste a photo into Microsoft Word and underneath I would give a size, color, and link to the website where she could purchase said item. Technology is crazy, people. Absolutely crazy.
Ever since then, I have become a huge fan of making online wishlists, whether it be a Christmas list for my (super-freakin-awesome) mom, or just for me to cry penniless tears over things I love yet can't afford. I could spend hours doing this.
All of the items shown above can be found on PersunMall for crazy affordable prices.  Perfect for Christmas shopping :')

xo Susie

ice, ice baby

 

Bet ya think the title of this post is super original & creative, right? I know. So do I.

But here we are, in Texas, the land of wacky and unpredictable weather. It was nearly 80 degrees a few days ago, and now the ground is covered in a thin but sturdy layer of ice. I'm kind of hoping it stays so I don't have to go in to work tomorrow and I can continue my little "it's-cold-so-why-bother-getting-out-of-bed" thing I've got going (who needs money for rent, anyways?). My biggest concern right now is the fact that I am inhaling food so quickly that I might run out before this little ice age thing decides to end. When you're stranded at your house netflixing all day (still trying to make that a verb) there's nothing to do besides eat and not move. Which is fine and dandy until your food supply runs dry and suddenly you're just hungry and cold all day. Pray for me.

Stay icy, my friends.

• Jacket- c/o Nowistyle Japan
• Top- Free People
• Jeans- Bullhead Denim
• Booties/Scarf- Forever21

xo Susie

gift guide: cheap gifts that look expensive

There is nothing I despise more than clicking on a "Gifts Under $100" link only to find that everything is exactly $99.99. That in no way helps me. I am a poor college student working part-time to pay rent. I want cheap gifts that look expensive, not gifts that actually are expensive. So in effort to combat the extremely misleading "gift guide" posts who promise you nothing but inexpensive glory only to swallow your bank account whole in one swift swoop, I present to you an actual, legitimate inexpensive gift guide. Everything shown above is under $50. Seriously.

• Flat shoes
• $40modcloth.com

• Old Navy vegan boots
• $37oldnavy.gap.com

• Miss selfridge
• $50missselfridge.com

• Forever 21 crossbody purse
• $20forever21.com

• Asos watch
• $39asos.com

• Forever 21 snapback hat
• $11forever21.com

• TOKYOMILK body moisturizer
• $17sourpussclothing.com

• RGB beauty product
• $16beckleyboutique.com

• Primitives By Kathy scented candle
• $16nordstrom.com

• H&M Jacquard-weave cushion cover
• $16hm.com

• Field Notes Original 3-Pack Pocket Ruled Paper
• $10hypebeast.com

xo Susie

conquering the midi

 

For a really, really long time I have been terrified of midi-skirts. It's always either been maxi or mini for me. An in-between didn't exist (because it always appeared so dang unflattering). I simply could not figure out how to wear one without my ankles turning into cankle-y stumps. But when this black beauty showed up at my doorstep recently, I fell in love. How would I wear it? No clue. But did I love it? Heck ya I did.
Although I'm still not entirely sure how to avoid the cankle situation, I've decided I'm slightly less afraid of midi-skirts after actually wearing one in public.

• Sweater/skirt- Nowistyle Japan
• Bag- Uptown Cheapskate 
• Booties- Forever21
• Watch- Target

xo Susie

a blogger in her natural habitat

It's cold. It's rainy. And truth be told, I'm lovin' it.
But my blog, however, is not. Instead of attempting to venture out into the cold, wind-whipped rain to shoot photos, I've been sitting in this chair (or sprawled on the couch) downing coffee & tomato soup (guilty pleasure) in tshirts/sweatshirts/sweatpants/fuzzy socks and Netflixing my life away. (Also, if Netflixing is not yet considered a verb, I absolutely think it should be.)
This morning was still fairly rainy & cold, so I opted for the good-old tripod and snapped a few photos indoors. I hope everyone appreciates my mid-90's grunge boots as much as I do. I can't even begin to tell you how many cringes and horrified looks I've gotten whilst wearing them. Sorry I never grew out of my awkward-angsty-tween phase.

In other non-pressing life news: I dropped my college algebra class because that crap was ridiculous. Count me out (the only counting I will be doing the rest of the semester). I also don't understand anything that's going on in my Spanish class. Lo que está pasando en esta clase?
Annnnd I rarely wake up in time for Sociology. So three cheers to flunking out of college without even completing one semester. (Okay, I'm exaggerating a bit. But seriously, college is ridiculous. Don't do it.)
It's also Delta week, which I couldn't be more excited about! I'm beyond thrilled to finally be an active member of my sorority (the absolute best part of my college experience thus far). And to any other recent initiates, congrats!!

• Sweater- H&M
• Beanie- c/o MySocialOutlet
• Jeans- Forever21
• Ridiculous grunge 90's boots- thrifted

xo Susie

ornate

Lately I've become increasingly interested in the ornate details of a seemingly basic article of clothing. I love when a basic t-shirt has a dainty line of buttons down the back. Or a simple dress with a deep, plunging back. Or in the case of this sweater, a sheer back with flower appliques. From the front, you'd never see it coming. A simple black sweater. But turn the slightest bit to the side, and it's an entirely different sweater. I think you can relate that to people in a way, too. You see a person, and you see the simplicity in their being. And once you get to know them, you start noticing their buttons trailing down their back, or their flower appliques. I love that. Getting to see the ornate details. It's my favorite thing in a person. And in this case, clothing.

• Sweater- c/o Nowistyle Japan
• Skirt- Forever21 (ages ago)

xo Susie


PS- I opened up a blog shop! Come shop my closet! Oversized sweaters, high-waisted shorts, chelsea boots, & more!

crimson & curls

After somehow (magically) not having to go into work today, I got to shoot a bit of my fun fall/winter items I received from my good friends over at Nowistyle Japan! (And by not going into work I mean I did go in, things were slow so they said I didn't have to stay, and instead I ended up shopping for an hour while I'm trying to "save" money. Whoops.)
No work meant time to shoot these photos at the house really quickly, and then getting to go to my parents house for dinner and family time! After a day plagued with oversleeping & exams, I think it was just what the doctor ordered!

• Skirt/top/clutch- Nowistyle Japan
• Bracelet- Banana Republic (a gift from my perfect Big, Emily!)
• Booties- H&M

xo Susie

mid-semester blues

First off, let me apologize for my severe lack of posts lately! I just barely escaped midterm season. My first midterm experience. Needless to say, I definitely was not prepared for that. Can I exchange college-level coursework for highschool-level but keep the awesome social aspect of college? Please & thank you.

Now that I'm done with midterms, I'm going to try and be a little more active on here! I used to always go out and shoot/post whenever I had downtime...but now when I have downtime I pass the heck out because I need sleep. Time management never has been my strongsuit. I really should work on that.

In other news, FALL HIT TEXAS EARLY! Expect lots of sweaters and cozy outfits to come.

• Blouse- c/o Nowistyle Japan
• Clutch- c/o Nowistyle Japan
• Ripped jeans- Vanilla Star
• Shoes- Michael Kors

xo Susie

leather weather

Can't go anywhere without a few packs of Smarties. At this point it may qualify as an addiction.

As you can probably tell from my most recent posts, I'm a little overly-excited about the coming season change. So in the first photo I started out with a blazer, because you know, fall calls for blazers, right?
Then I realized I am still in Texas. And although the weather has gotten comfortable enough for leather skirts in the evenings, I definitely shouldn't opt for leather and a blazer.
So for now I think my only option is cranking the A/C down, turning on all the fans, and pretending I live up North where the weather actually suits me. It would be nice to actually get to wear all of my new sweaters and coats I've been accumulating outside of the house. So, northerners, count your blessings and know that I am infinitely jealous of you right now.

• Skirt/top/bag/blazer- Forever21 (a poor college student's heaven)
• Heels- Michael Kors
• Bracelet- BCBG
• Rings- Chinatown
• Necklace- Uptown Cheapskate

xo Susie

the city that never sleeps meets the girl that does

Although they say New York City is "the city that never sleeps," this girl is (quite unfortunately) back in Texas, and ready to crawl under some cosy blankets and have her first full night of sleep in days. But I can't say I wouldn't rather still be out exploring The City...coming home was tough, as it always seems to be.
I think every time I visit the people get more and more beautiful and it gets harder and harder to leave.
I couldn't help snapping endless photos of beautiful people and their beautiful outfits to keep as personal inspiration. Where else would be a better place to get inspo other than NYC only a day after NYFW?
Walking through A. Wang, Jil Sander, Kate Spade, and various other designer showrooms was one of the most surreal experiences of my life. My first thought was, "These clothes actually exist outside of tumblr. Real people are actually wearing them. I can actually touch them."
And then there were all of the crowded, too-small coffee shops and bakeries with smells so delightful that they dipped outside the door and pulled you right in. I think I spent just as much money on coffee as I did clothes, and I can't say I'm ashamed of it. I am a coffee lover through and through.
But what enticed me most of all was the oversized knit/leather jacket/long pants & boots weather. I could not get enough of it. I am one of those people who buys sweaters and jackets year-round, even though we only have about 2 full months of winter here. For us, "fall" is 70 degree weather that lasts for 2 weeks, so I never get the chance to walk around my autumn clothes in full comfort, but here I did. And in September, at that. September & October have always appeared to be the poster months for fall to me, but in Texas we generally don't experience any fall action until late November. Getting a September dose of it was a breath of fresh air.
Overall, whether I was roaming the bustling streets of Chinatown, gawking over spectacular showroom pieces, admiring the view from our hotel window overlooking Times Square, or mariachi dancing with boys from Brooklyn (yep...really happened), my trip certainly wasn't one to forget, and I'm already counting down the days until my next visit.

xo Susie