Mackenzie's Spring 2015 Must Haves.

Winter can be fun, as long as you're kept busy shopping for spring. I know I'm not alone when I say I'm completely over chunky sweaters and flannels... bring on the sundresses. Baby Pink Bags: This spring you'll be seeing tons of pastels, neon won't be as poppin. Baby pink is THE color of the season, mainly because of its ability to work as a neutral when necessary. This particular one is Balenciaga and totally out of my price-range, but there will…

Charlotte Russe Flawlessly Replicates Designer Shoes.

LEts make one thing clear: I hate knockoffs. However, I have absolutely no problem with affordable retail stores providing shoppers with clothing that looks expensive and in-season. One store who has truly proven themselves in the replication game is Charlotte Russe. While I don't care for the "Lita" by Jeffrey Campbell, the shoe has become iconic over the past couple of years, and CR's interpretation is on point. Shoe game strong. Alexander McQueen cut-out booties / Jeffrey Campbell black high heel…

What makes a love story?

I couldn't compose a dream surreal as that night. We drank wine out of plastic cups, street performers played Jason Mraz. It was midsummer and we were on the Spanish Steps in Rome. Reality was beyond my imagination. But when raindrops fell too frequently to overlook we ran back to our hotel. That night we spent cross-legged on a hotel bed, spilling our hearts. I traveled to Italy expecting to fall in love; but with a city, not a boy. Yet…

Be The Girl Who Got Away

Do you have a reason to stay or an excuse not to leave? I'm lucky to have a loyal friend like Kali*. We've been friends for just over a year now, and I recently found out that each month she drives 8 hours to upstate New York to the military base her friend lives on to help her out with her baby. The father is a pill-popping cheater who probably wouldn't know the baby's middle name if put on the…

Alexa Chung for AG

Naturally at Sparkles & Secrets we LOVE professional fashionista Alexa Chung. As a functioning designer denim addict, AG makes some of my favorite pieces (s/o to "the Stilt.") Yesterday they released a line together and the fashion angels sang, bloggers rushed to get the first AC for AG goods, and I sat and perused my Instagram feed with envy (for the time being.) I've chosen to style two pieces my readers might be skeptical about. One particular piece I was…

Too Lazy For Love.

My mother inquires about my love life almost as often as I brush my teeth (which is twice a day on average.) When I attend family gatherings; aunts and cousins wait anxiously to hear about the bustling love life they assume I have in the big city of ~*Boston*~. Whenever I find myself looking at my own Facebook page, the hidden relationship status I set about two years ago insists I update it. Although I sleep like a starfish and…

WHITE for Winter!

  [caption id="attachment_4918" align="aligncenter" width="359"] Alessandra Ambrosio[/caption] Celebs strut down the red carpet dressed in all white, breaking fashion rule and taking names. However, every time you try pulling off white jeans you look like you're seasonally challenged and the words "labor day" can't seem to be removed from your conscience. Maybe not ALL fashion rules were meant to be broken, but there are ways to pull off typically taboo styles without looking like an alien. LWD (little white dress:)…

School Girl Inspired

More often than not I turn to my friends for blogspiration. This week, my friend Rachel expressed a desire to wear oxfords and high socks, but didn't think she could pull it off. First off-- as long as you rock something with confidence, the limitations of fashion become much smaller. In addition to covering the oxfords + high socks combination, I've covered a few school girl classics. High Socks + Oxfords: As long as you stick to dark or neutral…

Solve Your Jumpsuit Problem

Thin and 5'8? You've won the fashion lottery this decade. The beloved jumpsuit is the ultimate sleek statement, but it is impossible to pull off for many. Seriously, I've tried on countless and they are always a major disappointment. Solution? Create your own jumpsuit using the perfect top-bottom combos. Pair a cropped top with a wide-legged trouser (amazing ones from Brandy Melville) for a sophisticated yet sensual look. Body suits are also an ideal component of creating a faux jumpsuit.…

Style Your Sneakers

One of the most recent & controversial trends of the moment is wearing sneakers with otherwise more dressy outfits. Although it's easy to double-click an Instagram post of your favorite fashion blogger; implementing the look into your own wardrobe is more complicated.... until now. Incorporate sneakers into your lookbook: What is more rockstar than a badass fashion statement? Few things. The Rebecca Minkoff "mini mac" bag is the perfect badass statement to pair with high top sneakers that are (surprise) just…