The Minimalist's Guide to Jewelry

My everyday jewelry look consists of four basic pieces, all of the same color (choose either gold or silver based on your personal preference): a watch (Peugeot), bracelet (Alex and Ani), earrings (n/a), and necklace (n/a). I don't really like wearing rings, but they're certainly an option for your basic look. 

All of these pieces were actually given to me. That isn't to say that I wear every piece of jewelry ever given to me. These have just conveniently made themselves into my everyday look. 

1 My dad gave me this watch. It was a gift from his workplace for being a loyal employee. Because the watch was too big for my wrist, I actually had to get it cut, but it only cost $5 at a pop-up store at my local mall. If a watch is the only thing you'll be wearing on your wrist, then you might as well go for a nicer one for your minimalist look. The same advice applies for all these pieces because the minimalist's guide is all about quality over quantity. Just make sure it goes well with the rest of your jewelry. 

2 My friends/roommates gave me this bracelet for my 22nd birthday. I really like how each Alex and Ani charm bracelet has a different meaning and cause (20% of the proceeds from this bracelet have gone/will go to Women & Infants Hospital). Here's the description of this bracelet courtesy of Alex and Ani's website:

A celebration of the female spirit, the Lotus Blossom is a symbol of beauty, strength, and grace. The strong stem's connection to the flower represents an eternal, unbreakable bond between two people. Spiritually enlightening and divinely beautiful, the Lotus Blossom Charm reminds us that our relationships and shared hearts are the key to happiness.

I don't know if my friends chose this bracelet because of its description or not, but I think it suits me. I never wore bracelets before, but this one is simplistic and goes well with my watch and the rest of my minimalist jewelry. Look for a bracelet/watch or bracelet/bracelet combination in matching colors for you minimalist look.   

3 These earrings are actually the original ones from my first, well second, ear piercing. My first piercings closed after I stopped wearing earrings after an irritation from fake earrings (it hurt too much to put in earrings). Because these earrings are real, I can wear them every day without them bothering me. Look for gold, silver, or combination ball stud or regular gold, diamond, or combination stud earrings for your minimalist look.

4 This necklace was a gift from my aunt (my dad's brother's wife) in Vietnam. My sister has a similar one. Unfortunately, our aunt passed away from cancer a few years after our visit to Vietnam in 2002, but her memory still lives on through our necklaces. Look for an 18" or 20" chain with a simple pendant in either gold or silver or a combination of both (there are diamond studs in each of the petals and in the center of the flower of my necklace) for your minimalist look (the chain should be the same color as your pendant).

Maybe one day I'll add a ring to my everyday jewelry look, and maybe it'll have a sentimental meaning too i.e. a wedding band lmao. JK I can get a gold class ring. #strongindependentwomanwhodontneednoman 

How to Look Good While Cheering on Your Favorite Team

Today I’m featuring three looks found in my summer look book. They’re outfits I like to wear on game day when I’m not actually at the game, to show school spirit, because let’s be real, oversized t-shirts aren’t really stylish. Now these outfits are UVA themed, but these style tips can work with any college or athletic team.

For my first look, I’ve paired a fitted v-neck T in one of my team's colors with a pair of shorts in another one of my team’s colors. The heathered orange color makes the outfit versatile and not just something I can wear on game day. I've also tucked in my shirt for a more fitted look. 

For my second look, I incorporated my team's colors using an accessory and the main component of my outfit, my shirt. The white pants neutralize the look and hide my loyalty when needed. E.g. when my team is embarrassing itself on national television. In my previous look, I didn’t need a statement necklace because the v-neck provided enough definition for my outfit, but for this look, a statement necklace is needed to define an otherwise plain shirt.

Lastly, I paired a dress in one of my team's colors with a cardigan in another team color. The red and orange pattern on this dress gives the outfit an added dimension (and once again makes it more versatile and less obvious that I'm rooting for UVA), which wouldn’t be present or possible in a plain orange dress.

And if you’re looking for a more casual, yet stylish outfit for the game, look for a more fitted t-shirt in the kid’s or women's section of the university bookstore. For example, I have a white v-neck tee with VIRGINIA printed across the front of the shirt and a long-sleeved navy Virginia t-shirt from the women’s section of the UVA bookstore.  

Now you're ready to cheer on your favorite team on Saturdays: Go Hoos!

P.S. At UVA, it’s actually a tradition for guys in ties and girls in pearls to dress up for football games. However, no one dresses up for basketball games, so the good ole t-shirt and jeans combo is totally fine and socially acceptable at UVA basketball games.

Summer Lookbook