How To: Dress Festive Without Being Obvious

Happy Memorial Day Everyone! Today's How To is tailored to dressing for Holidays without being obnoxiously obvious about it.

I absolutely love to dress up for holidays regardless of how big or small they are. There is just something about going to my closet and having the challenge of dressing to a theme without looking like my parents dressed me for a 4th of July parade when I was a kid. I also love it when people point out that I dressed to theme and I can look at my outfit and act like I had no idea that that happened. I like live for that moment for some weird reason, but it really can be a challenge so here at The Glamorous Graduate, we tried to put together a how to so that you can have your moment too.

1. Go Off Hue: Just because Memorial Day's colors are classic crimson, navy and white doesn't mean that you have to dress in exactly those colors. Going off hue like the JCrew top below shows that you're being festive with your outfit choice, but you're not being a try hard. By doing this, it's like you just happened to be in theme for the day accidentally on purpose of course.

2. Play with Patterns: This is just a cardinal rule for every day, but it especially rings true when you're trying to effortlessly dress the part for a holiday. The high waisted skirt by Alex and Olivia has a nice blue to it that fits into Memorial Day's colors, but it doesn't scream that that is its sole purpose in your closet.

3. Accent Accordingly: Don't be too matchy-matchy. Even though you may be off hue, you don't want your accessories to be exactly in the same blue and red as you used in your outfit. Your accessories should hint at your colors, but not match them so well that it's obvious. The Chan Lu bracelet in this outfit accents the red of the top and the yellow of the clutch well, but doesn't match them perfectly.

4. Use Surprising Accessories: Just because the colors of today are Red, White and Blue doesn't mean you can't use accent colors outside of that palette like you would in your every day style choices. By using surprising accessories like the yellow BCBG Generation clutch, you are able to really look the part of Memorial Day, but actually be able to pretend like you weren't trying to.

"Oh! I guess I did dress in Memorial Day colors! I had no idea! I wasn't even trying to this morning" (Don't worry, your secret's safe with the girls at The Glamorous Graduate)

Memorial Day by theglamorousgraduate 

J.Crew evening top / Alice + Olivia a line cotton skirt, $280 / Chan Luu red bracelet / BCBG Generation Clutch/ Forever 21 Necklace

HOW TO: Still Being Yourself, While Still Being Polished and Professional

Although my preppy style is inherently pretty polished and professional, nothing is more disheartening than having to go out and buy something specifically for a professional purpose because professional in my mind has become synonymous with boring in many ways. Corporate America seems to be dominated by matching black leather,  shoes, belts, and handbags. An exciting day in this fashion world is when you get to switch out your black for your brown. Coming into this professional world from college, which is a place full of self expression, is kind of a spirit killer. Depending on the industry you're going into, certain things will and won't be acceptable, but that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your personality or unique style to look professional, in fact, it may help you!
The first time I had to do this will forever stick out in my mind because it was the first time I had to spend my hard earned cash on something that I wasn't necessarily in love with. The first purse I spent some cash on as I was growing up my style was a Dooney and Bourke that I had bought from Nordstrom in my junior year. I liked the bag enough to spend the money on it, but I would be fooling myself if I didn't admit to wanting something a little more...fun. Mostly I was trying to be responsible; I knew I would be needing something that would look more grown up when I went to events with future employers. What I found over time was that, although the bag had to be professional looking, the inside of it could be 100% me.
Every little cosmetic case, umbrella, coin purse, phone or laptop accessories and planner could say a whole lot about myself and my style. I absolutely love to fill my bag with pretty little things that scream Maddie. Even my keys speak to who I am to the point that when they get lost, no one even has to know what I drive to know that they're mine.

Deux Lux Daiquiri Cosmetic Pouch

One of my favorite places to get cosmetic cases is at Nordstrom. Their Trend Accessories department carries a brand that holds my glitter obsession as near and dear to their heart as I hold it to mine called Deux Lux. Their stuff is reasonable for pouches that hold up for as long as they do and nothing beats pulling out a $28 coin purse out and having it mistaken for a $78 Kate Spade one, which happens often. They are made so that they are easy to clean, and they make a purse that accommodates a wide variety of styles.

Vera Bradley Umbrella in Lemon Parfait

Umbrellas also happen to be a huge way in which I felt like I can express myself in a professional setting. While you may not be able to use them in the office, nothing brightens up a dark and rainy day like seeing someone with an amazing umbrella walking down the street. My personal favorite place to get umbrellas is from Vera Bradley. Because their patterns are always changing, you can always get something to reflect your style (or match your raincoat in my case). I love that they are bright without being overwhelming and they open at the push of a button, which is really handy when you're carrying a Starbucks. 

Planners by Greenroom Co. 

Last, but certainly not the end of your options for showing your style while still being professional, is a good old fashioned planner. I know we live in a tech world, but I just can't seem to move away from a traditional planner. While many companies make planners that are super cute, nothing beats a company called Greenroom Co, which is sold at Target. I literally can not get over how cute their planners are every time I'm there. I don't know how I get through an entire year without buying a new one half way through; Oh wait, I don't. Although they have a wide assortment of planners available, it shouldn't be a surprise by now that I loved the metallic gold series they did at the beginning of this year.

These are just a few of your options for expressing yourself in a professional environment that is so drab. The opportunities are truly endless from your wallet, to your sunglasses case, to your water bottle, these accessories speak volumes about your style and I can't tell you how many times I have taken something out of my bag and it started a conversation with a coworker. So go forth, and know that even if you have to buy a bag that's totally blah, the inside can still be as fabulous as your style is.

~Maddie

HOW TO: Find a Signature Scent

When it comes to perfume, there are a lot of ways to go wrong. Wearing too much, wearing too little, and the worst mistake of all: wearing the wrong scent. Perfumes are supposed to make you smell good, right? So how could you possibly go wrong? Well, it's easier than you think. Long gone are the days of drenching yourself in Abercrombie's headache-inducing perfumes or being first in line to snatch up a celebrity scent from Justin Bieber or Lady Gaga. Let's face it, when asked what perfume you wear, do you really want to respond with the name of a teenage pop star known for their off-stage antics? I certainly don't. Now that you're getting further into the world of adulthood, finding a signature scent is one of the most mature things you can do (in terms of your beauty routine, of course). There are a ton of great perfume options for girls our age and getting complimented on your scent will certainly give you a confidence boost. Now, finding a signature scent takes some experimenting, but believe us, in the end it is definitely worth it. Once you find the scent that you love, you can save so much time, money, and effort with your beauty routine. Signature scents and preferences are different for everyone but to get you started, we have come up with a list of 5 of our favorites including our own signature scents!

1. MADDIE'S SIGNATURE SCENT: Chanel Mademoiselle ($175 for .5 oz)

~I switched to this scent after high school and have loved it ever since! It has hints of orange and grapefruit as well as bourbon vanilla and white musk. It is feminine and classy and I feel like it matches my personality perfectly! It costs a pretty penny but the price is worth it for this timeless signature scent!

2. ERIN'S SIGNATURE SCENT: Marc Jacob's Woman ($95 for 3.4 oz)

~I stumbled upon this scent as a Christmas present from my Mom and I have been wearing it for 4 years now! It's a great scent enhanced by gardenias and I love it because it's light, which makes it feel elegant. I think it's perfect for any occasion and I always get compliments on it, so it's definitely worth a try! Marc Jacobs Daisy is also a great alternative that I use sometimes!

3. Euphoria Calvin Klein ($47 for 1 oz)

~Calvin Klein is known for their simple, yet classic designs and this perfume is no exception! It's a scent that seems to work for all ages. The pomegranate, black orchid, and mahogany notes will make you feel mysterious, yet classy!

4. Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb ($160 for 3.4 oz)

~Based on it's popularity, we trust that this perfume will definitely be worth a try! As the title implies, the scent is a burst of floral with notes of jasmine, rose, orchid, and freesia. It's on the pricey side, but popularity doesn't lie!

5. Juicy Couture ($70 for 1.7 oz)

~A fun brand like Juicy Couture has to have a fun fragrance, right? Right! This scent has notes of watermelon, passion fruit and a base note with vanilla. Sounds good enough to eat! You'll feel like an Upper East-Sider when you spritz on this fun and flirty scent!

Happy Hunting, Ladies!

~Erin & Maddie