Styled Stripes

Instagram: liz.doit "Chic happens."

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20 of My Favorites

1. Boxers/VS lingerie/Big tshirts

2. Hockey fights

3. Goodfellas

4. Anything preppy

5. The color Navy

6. Chicago: the Gold Coast, the museums, everything..

7. Classical music

8. Gossip Girl

9. Playoff games

10. Dressing up

11. Concerts

12. Gourmet chocolate cake

13. People thinking I’m funny (because I am)

14. Rom com type books

15. History museums 

16. Dogs

17. Ripped jeans

18. Sour gummy worms (blue and red or get out)

19. Good contour

20. Outlet stores

BDAY DETAILS

Blazer: American Eagle

Top: J.Crew

Pants: American Eagle

Accessories: 

Bracelets: Charming Charlie’s

Rings: American Eagle and Kate Spade

Shoes: Steve Madden

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Week From My Closet

PJ’s

T-shirt: Aeropostale

Cami and short set: VS

Boxers: J.Crew

Target is also a really place to find preppy boxers.

Monday

Top: Brooks Brothers

Pants: American Eagle

Accessories: Charming Charlie’s

Shoes: Sperry 

Tuesday

Top: Vineyard Vines: Men’s

Shorts: American Eagle

Accessories: Charming Charlie’s

Shoes: Sperry

Wednesday

Top: American Eagle

Shorts: American Eagle

Accessories: Charming Charlie’s

Shoes: Sperry

Thursday

Top: Hollister

Tank top: American Eagle

Shorts: J.Crew

Accessories: Charming Charlie’s

Shoes: Sperry

Friday

Top: Chicago Blackhawks store

Shorts/Pants: American Eagle

Accessories: Charming Charlie’s

Shoes: Vans

I usually wear hockey apparel during the week since the season started (god bless) and switch so I won’t be cold at the game. I wore the vans at a playoff hawk’s game, the parade, hawk’s game, and Michigan State vs Wisco. We won every game, so they’re sacred shoes at this point.

Any Day

Top: VS

Bottoms: VS (one is black and the other is purple)

Hat: Michigan State (GO GREEN GO WHITE)

Sunglasses: American Eagle

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Why I Want to Be a Lawyer

I feel like my interest in law started after I switched into a class called Street Law second semester of senior year. I loved the class and how it focused on criminal law. I should have known when we discussed serial killers that criminal law was it for me because we barely covered the topic and I was mad. This class was full of people who were all class clowns and very outspoken and then there was me. I never said anything unless I absolutely had to, so naturally I was terrified when we had to do a fishbowl. We were given one sheet to write down our arguments on and mine was covered with information, so I was ready minus the whole speaking in front of the entire class part. I was prepared to make a comment and then leave as quickly as possible. Instead, I ended up arguing with a guy that pretty much ran the entire class. I guess I knew how to argue because when I got my grade back, my teacher had complimented me on going after this kid. I was always really quiet in high school, but this class forced me to act like a lawyer and I loved it. It made me think, what if I could shadow or intern over the summer somewhere? I looked up various firms and called, but most of them turned me down. Fast forward a couple weeks later and I got a letter in the mail. One firm in my hometown had said they only hire third year law students, however, they would be more than happy to let me shadow for a day or two if I was still interested. I received much more than that and I’m so grateful. I ended up spending the entire summer watching divorce cases, meeting a Criminal Judge (shout-out to Judge White, miss you) and speaking with him one on one, watching criminal proceedings, and getting introduced to numerous attorneys and employees at the courthouse. I was only 18 when I started, yet all of the adults treated me like one of them. Every day that I shadowed, I was introduced and the judge would tell the entire courtroom that I was going to college to become a lawyer before any proceedings began. I mean like who does that for an intern? On top of that, I’m still with the firm back home. I get lunch with them every time I come back from school. I get the chance to shadow divorce meditations and they take me on when they deal with criminal cases because they know I love criminal, even though the firm is primarily civil. Getting to see how the attorneys and mediator work and really learn what it takes to be successful is crazy. It just makes me want to go after law school even more. I’ve had 3 shadowing/internships at this point and I’m about to start a 4th one at college. My Homicide and Serial Killer class is almost over for the semester and it just reminded me of how much I want to do criminal for the rest of my life. I don’t want to end this on a sappy note though so I’m going to include some highlights:

1.     The cell-phone incident (mentioned in my Q & A) ugh that will never not be embarrassing

2.     Making the metal detectors go off every time I entered the courthouse

3.     The security guards thinking I was the attorney’s daughter like 2 or 3 times and the attorney actually argued with the guard for like 5 mins because he didn’t believe him

4.     Got hit on by a client that I was assisting with a civil attorney in Chicago

5.     Almost throwing up at lunch with a firm

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Sale Secrets

1. Outlets Save Lives

I know, how is this a secret? It’s literally all sales, all the time. The secret is going to the right ones. Just go to an outlet that has the stores you want and you will never be disappointed with the sales you get. This past year I’ve been shopping almost completely at outlets only. If you’re from my hometown, you need to go to Pleasant Prairie in Wisconsin. It has all of my favorites: Michael Kors, Kate Spade, Ralph Lauren, J. Crew, and Brooks Brothers. Right now, the Kate Spade outlets are having a 60% off sale with an additional 20% through October 10th. Just remember the stores aren’t going to have exactly what’s online or at a flagship store, but it’s all in season and what’s trending.

2. Follow brands on social media

Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat are all really simple ways to stay up to date with brands you really like. You already check the apps multiple times during the day and now you’ll be one of the first to know about a sale. This morning, I was watching VS’s story and saw the 7 for $27.50 sale was back which I always seem to miss. I still haven’t gotten an email about it, so I would have never known. It’s super easy and brands often do limited time promotions or special events in certain cities as well. 

3. Know what you’re looking for and where/Low key Holidays

It’s so much easier for me now to find good sales because I know what stores I want to shop at and what I want to buy. VS’s does a semi-annual sale twice a year with insane deals on everything. Kate Spade has sales about two to three times a month. Vineyard Vines does a sale once or twice every 2 months or so. Focus on the stores you want and you would be surprised how much you can get for less. Everybody always thinks of Black Friday or Cyber Monday, but there are a lot of other holidays you could be saving. Be on the lookout every month for lesser-known holidays or ones that happen around a new season like Labor Day. A lot of stores will have really good deals on things that just went out of season or on what’s new. You can normally get free or discounted shipping and score multiple discounts at once.

4. Other Websites/Stores

I was recently told about this website: Ruelala.com. It has all the designer brands you want at an outlet price. Everything on the website is new and the sales are consistently good. The website features travel, home, accessories, clothes, and bags. You can search by brand or what you’re looking for. Also, don’t forget about stores that have something really similiar to the designer piece you want. I noticed this when I was shopping for school. Watches are really in right now and I would kill for a rose gold Michael Kors. I don’t wear watches very often though, so I couldn’t justify spending almost $300 on one. I ended up finding one for under $25 at Charming Charlie’s that numerous girls on campus have asked about. Everyone assumed it was a Michael Kors and they all were obsessed with it and the deal I got. What you save could be money spent somewhere else. 

5. Sign up for emails at your favorites

Again, this seems like a given. Not everybody agrees to enter in their email or sign up for rewards at checkout when the associate asks and you really should. Obviously, you don’t want to get spammed with a thousand emails, so only make sure you’re getting the stores you really want. Most of the time, stores will send out emails right before a sale starts or when the sale is starting/ending. It’s a nice reminder when you’re busy or you might not have the funds. Being a reward member can have perks as well because you might get early access to a sale. You probably don’t visit a store’s website unless you’re online shopping, but now you don’t have to worry about missing any sales, promotions, or special events. PSA: Outlet stores have an email sign-up too, so use that to your advantage. Kate Spade outlet sales never disappoint. Ever.

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Q & A

Social Media:

Twitter: @lizdoit

Instagram: @liz.doit

Snapchat: elizabeth0234

1. Favorite brand?

If I want to dress up, Brooks Brothers or Ralph Lauren. If I want to dress casual, J. Crew, American Eagle, or Vineyard Vines.

2. Most embarrassing moment?

The first day that I was shadowing with a firm back home I didn’t think to leave my phone in the car, so I took it to the courthouse. The attorney was nice enough to put it in his briefcase, but of course my phone decided to start going off super loud for at least 3 mins in front of a really mean judge. I had to leave the courtroom with the attorney to go shut my phone off, so I always leave my phone in the car now.

3. Favorite moment from 2016?

That’s so hard! It would be a tie between meeting G-Eazy (with a beard, so sexy af) or going to FL for a vaca where I stayed at Hilton Grand Vacations at Tuscany Village. I ended up getting to go to Universal Studios and shop all day, so best trip ever basically.

4. Favorite place?

I am so bias, any answer would be in Chicago. I’m torn between the Field Museum which looks like a mansion btw or the United Center.

5. Guilty pleasure?

Hockey fights. A really good burger. Big t-shirts. Long showers.

6. Favorite song at the moment?

Trust Issues with the Weekend, Tumblr Girls by G-Eazy, and Everything Will Be OK by G-Eazy.

7. What am I looking forward to in 2017?

Coachella. I have finals and then get Weekend 2, so RIP to Liz. Maybe this blog will take off. 

8. Biggest fear?

Not getting into a good law school. Or ending up single.

9. Turn-ons?

 There’s a couple: 6’0 or taller (sorry I’m 5’8, height is key), dresses well, funny (bonus if you have a good laugh or cute smile), confident, good cologne, athletic.

10. Pet-peeves?

When people act over-confident, entitled, or rude. VS canceling their swim line.

11. If I could eat one food for the rest of my life?

Pasta and bread, really predictable Sicilian answer but whatever.

12. Where do I want to be in 10 years?

Graduated from Northwestern and living on the Gold Coast as a criminal lawyer or divorce mediator with season tickets.

13. Best thing that’s ever happened to me?

Going to a playoff game right before the Hawks won the Stanley Cup and watching the Parade with millions of people (while getting rained on and almost trampled). Or the internships and shadowing I’ve done because I realized I want to do law for the rest of my life.  

14. Favorite thing to do when I’m free?

 Shop, go to museums or a concert, watch college/NHL, and volunteer.

15. Something you might not know about me

I would love to model and I’m finally about to pursue it. I also really like horror movies, but you would never think that by the way I hide and get close to tears. Shout-out to Conjuring 2, worst/best movie ever. The movie made me close to tears 4 or 5 times.

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5 posts!

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Here are a few favorites from the show. Brb, heading to Michael Kors.com, so I’m ready when the Spring collection comes out because those platforms are a need not a want. 

-Liz

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NYFW: Michael Kors

You already know the Michael Kors show is about to be good when they start posting runway pictures on Instagram and you have VS angels walking. At this point, when I see Taylor Hill or Romee Strijd, I feel like a proud best friend. When you think of spring, it comes down to colors rather than patterns. Pastels are always in and you want something that brings an edge to your outfit without being too much. This year, Michael Kors took what we thought was old and overused and made it into something we have to have. Every outfit on the runway was classic colors, floral patterns, polka dots, or solids. I originally thought as I was scrolling through the pictures on my feed that this year was going to be bland. I’ve seen all of these ideas before, why isn’t it better? Ugh, I was so wrong. Not only were the clothes something I needed, but the shoes and purses that were brought out, I mean come on. Every outfit was styled with heels or platforms that took the look to a “she looks like she has everything together and isn’t bothered by guys or school, can I just borrow all of that outfit,please?” level. Of course, we’re all in love with pretty much any bag that has a MK on it, so the accessories didn’t disappoint. The theme of his show was less of the more traditional, slightly “stuffy” focus on sophistication and elegance of preppy brands and dove straight into class with a touch of “Go do you and look damn good doing it”. I really enjoyed watching his show and adding Polaroids was actual genius. If you see Polaroids of models having the time of their life at the show, it only makes you want the collection even more. Like always, I’ll be sure to make a stop in the Michael Kors store next season. It’s not like those platforms are going to buy themselves. I included a few pictures of my fav from the show, but go follow Michael Kors because you’ll want the whole feed. 

-Liz

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Just a few of my favorites from Oscar De La Renta’s SS17 show because let’s face it, I want the entire collection.

-Liz

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NYFW: Oscar De La Renta

Ugh, New York Fashion Week will always be my favorite time of the year. Who needs birthdays or Christmas when you get runways and insane shows twice a year, right? Unfortunately, I missed Oscar De La Renta’s show because I had class and was doing hw for college but the Instagram account gave me major FOMO. It’s hard to comment on just one thing, I mean the colors that were chosen, the designs, the whole essence of SS17 blew me away. It was a show that in under 30 mins had me hooked, I wanted everything for my closet whether I had an event to wear the dress to or not. I loved that they focused on classics for SS17. They only worked with solid colors like red, gold, and the ever classic white and black. Without patterns, each outfit paired with an accessory and texture said everything with minimum work. I mean every piece was basically a work of art. You can take one look at a dress and it just gave you this overwhelming and intoxicating feeling of elegance and charm. You never wanted to look away. I still remember the day I heard Oscar De La Renta had passed. Among models and fashion industry favorites, I was so sad. How could we possibly have a fashion week without him? Nobody knew what would happen to his work or the brand that captured all of us. How can you not be proud of the team that continues to make us speechless with his collection? Major credits to everyone that stepped up and took over the show. I wanted to include a couple favorites from the show, even though that’s like choosing what bag you want more over another. Credits go to the Oscar De La Renta account on Instagram which you should seriously follow if you don’t already. You won’t regret it, promise. 

-Liz

[itsvaldour]

boys and girls.

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Hey! Liz here, I’m going to be launching a prep blog soon. So, if you want to see outfit inspiration, when your favorite brands are having sales, dorm and apartment ideas, travel, college life advice and more go ahead and click the follow button. Can’t wait, see you guys soon!