A Cinderella Moment with Lotus Boutique!!

This past week, I attended Birmingham Fashion Week for the first time…as a blogger!!!  Last year I attended simply as a guest, and the experience was much different than it was this time.  I had so much fun this year; it was super exciting and so amazing!!  In preparation for Fashion Week, I wanted to make sure I planned fun outfits for each night.  Cue: Lotus Boutique!!

Lotus Boutique was amazingly gracious!  I was able to wear three looks from their current in-store collection!  It started out with a visit to the Lotus Boutique at the Summit to pick out some outfits. For those of you who haven’t been to the Lotus store at the Summit in a while, be aware that they are no longer located over by Sephora and Gus Mayer, but rather next to Gap, and in the same suite as the Halcyon Day Salon & Spa!

041714102304171410250417141025aSo, I got started! Selecting only three outfits was by no means an easy task!  There was so much to choose from!  Check out some of the cute things I saw:

0417141028b 0417141032a 0417141031 0417141030c 0417141030a 0417141029d 0417141029b 0417141029 0417141028 0417141027c 0417141026a 0417141026 0417141025b0417141033 0417141034 IMG_20140417_121939I made my choices based on uniqueness if you will.  I wanted pieces that people wouldn’t think to pair with a metallic jacket, or with a peplum top.  I also wanted pieces that spoke to my style, which is fun and feminine.  In the end, I selected a few things:

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All of the outfits were so fun to wear and fit so well!!  I am SOOOOO grateful to Lotus Boutique for making this experience such a memorable one!!  I had so much fun styling all three different looks!  Here are the three looks I put together with pieces from the Lotus collection:

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BFW – Night 2 (This outfit was also featured on al.com!!)

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BFW – Night 1 (LOVED this outfit…this dress is one of my all-time favorites. I’m planning to wear it ALL summer!!)

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BFW – Night 4 (Loved, loved, loved this skirt!! Loved that it was a stretchy pencil skirt, so very flattering for curvy-figures!

What do you think??  I could fill my closet with Lotus clothing and accessories!!  Couldn’t you??

Follow me on Instagram to see more outtakes from Birmingham Fashion Week, and my blog, Chic in Academia, for work-appropriate outfit inspirations, as well as tips on how to mix high and low fashion!

Stay Chic! 💋

Exclusive Preview of LOTUS BOUTIQUE’s New Spring Line

Anyone who has ever gone shopping with me knows that Lotus Boutique is one of my go-to for unique, affordable clothes and accessories in the Birmingham area. I am ESPECIALLY fond of their earring, belts, bracelets, and statement necklace inventory! Check out some of my previous purchases:

Chaus Bow Blouse) I inherited from @sarasab! Happy Tuesday! // Belt: @lotusboutiqueonline Shoes: Paolo @nordstromrack // Skirt: Norma Kamali #Walmart // Hanger: @pearlsandpastries

Chaus Bow Blouse, from @sarasab // Belt: @lotusboutiqueonline // Shoes: Paolo @nordstromrack // Skirt: Norma Kamali #Walmart // Hanger: @pearlsandpastries

Skirt: Lotus Boutique // Top: Vince via @tjmaxx // Blazer:   boutique in LA // necklace: @ellandemm // shoes: marc jacobs via @eBay

Skirt: Lotus Boutique // Top: Vince via @tjmaxx // Blazer: boutique in LA // necklace: @ellandemm // shoes: marc jacobs via @eBay

Until recently, I had no idea that they also had an online store! What’s more, the online sales are crazy good! It is not uncommon for them to have 40% off flash sales, which includes clearance items. Here are a couple of things that I have purchased for next to nothing during these flash sales:

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Lotus recently received new merchandise for the Spring and you are among the first to get a preview of their new Spring Lookbook!! Here’s a look at what they have in store this Spring:

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I am loving some of these pieces, so naturally, I have put together a list of my top picks from their current, Spring Lookbook! Here are my picks:

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Love these looks??  There are even more on the Lotus Boutique website!  Lotus Boutique has been incredibly generous and is offering one of my lucky readers a $15 gift card to use on your next online purchase!!!  Just comment below with your thoughts on the Spring line and a winner be chosen at random and announced Monday morning!!

Last, but not least, I am excited to report that I will be styling and wearing Lotus Boutique outfits during Birmingham Fashion Week!! Birmingham Fashion Week will take place Saturday, April 19th- Saturday, April 26th at Pepperplace Mart in Birmingham, AL. Follow me on Instragram to see what I’ll be wearing! I’ll also be posting updates on Twitter for those who are tweeting-inclined. 😉

Stay chic!!

Finding style with Kleenex!

Disclaimer:  This post is a compensated post in collaboration with Kleenex and Linqia.  However, opinions expressed in this post are my own and have not been modified by the sponsors or any other third parties.

I was recently offered the opportunity to check out the new packaging for Kleenex®, and naturally, I was super excited!  As you probably know by now, I get excited about most things related to fashion, including collaborations between Kleenex and fashion designers! I’ve been a fan of Kleenex for years and, I don’t know if you are guilty of this, but I will often catch myself saying, “Can you hand me a Kleenex?”, instead of “Can you hand me a tissue?”!  Do you do that??  Fine, don’t ‘fess up.  I do. 🙂  That’s probably because they have been around forever, though (not that I have…I haven’t been around that long, hee hee)!!  In fact, Kleenex is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year…can you believe the have been around that long?!  To celebrate, they created an innovative first: The Kleenex® Style Studio. It’s a fun way to learn more about the Kleenex Brand designs and products. Here’s a sneak peak at some of their new designs, including a collaboration with Isaac Mizrahi!

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Anyhow, I do love how cute their new packaging is!  As a recent aficionado of Instagram, I look for every opportunity to “cutesy” up my belongings (okay, ‘cutesy’ may not in fact be a word, but it’s my word, so, just nod and smile :)), including items that are part of my home decor or my handbag!

Take for example the new Kleenex decorative tissue box:

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It is adorably designed and even matches my makeup bag!  They have tons of other decorative styles, of course, all of which can be seen on the Kleenex Style Finder Studio website.

In addition to the decorative tissue boxes, Kleenex also debuted individual pouches to carry in your makeup bag, purse, or if you’re like me, your diaper bag (not pictured…it’s late, I’m writing in the dark, so you will just have to imagine it for now :))!

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There were several designs to choose from, but I settled on these three individual pouches, which included this black/white floral pouch to match the makeup bag I carry in my purse!

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Cute, right?!  Check out all of their new designs on the Kleenex Style Finder Studio site, in their new Catwalk or Kleenex? video, or by taking the quiz to earn a coupon for your new purchase!

Thanks for reading along and allowing me to share with you the news about this exciting new collaboration and debut of the new and fashionable Kleenex designs!

Finally, I hope you are in need of these NOT because you’re at home sick with the flu (ahem, did you GET the flu vaccine this year?! #publichealthadvocate), or a cold (can’t yell at you here, except maybe because you should sneeze into the inside of your elbow and wash your hands frequently, tisk, tisk!!), but rather because you have other, more practical uses for them. 🙂

Stay chic!!