Repeat

ROMPER: Urban Outfitters // SANDALS: Pixie Market (more styles here) // SUNNIES: Urban Outfitters // BAG: Zara // WATCH: Daniel Wellington

This blog of mine is very enabling. I often use blogging as an excuse to shop and buy more items to wear and then feature on here. Well, as someone who is trying to build up her savings account this summer, I have been doing my best to utilize the wardrobe I already have. It's easy to constantly buy new items to feature in looks, but it is more realistic to see how I consistently wear and style pieces over and over. Rompers are such a summer staple for me because depending on the style, they are versatile and so easy to wear. This romper (previously featured here) has a small polkadot print pattern that is neutral in color. I can definitely dress this one up or down, depending on where I am wearing it. For a non-fuss summer look, I paired it will some cute gladiator sandals (previously featured here). Accessories were kept minimal, as usual. 

Hope you enjoy and have a lovely week! 

xx Michelle

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Twitter - @itsmemichelleg

Fine Shine

I was so fortunate to shoot with my beautiful friend Nicole Busch again. She is immensely talented so definitely go and check out her work here. Anyway, I thought I would post a dressier look which happens to feature a lot of my favorite pieces from my wardrobe currently. The skirt that I am wearing is actually a midi skirt that I purchased around this time last year. For this look, I rolled it up at the top to make it the length that I wanted. I am really loving turtleneck sweaters at the moment and this little black number is from Urban Outfitters. That pink furry bag I am wearing pretty much explains itself. I mean, what is not to love about a fluffy baby pink cross body? Black pointed pumps are such a closet staple and the ones I am wearing here are from Steve Madden. I just got my hair cut again and I am still absolutely loving the shorter length! The vampy lips can be attributed to Rebel by MAC. 

As this year is coming to a close, I just want to thank anyone who has ever read or viewed my blog! This site is such a positive outlet for me and it is always so nice to receive nice feedback about it. I really look forward to seeing where Life on Lotus takes me in the new year and I am already so inspired to post a lot of exciting content. This year, I started putting a lot more of myself into these posts and some of my thoughts come directly out of my journal. I have enjoyed sharing more of my opinions and feelings on here and I think this blog has slowly started to become a more accurate depiction of who I am. Here is a final thank you for reading and further inspiring me to do this and I will see you in the new year. Have fun and stay safe. 

xx Michelle

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instagram - lifeonlotus

twitter - @itsmemichelleg

A quote to guide you into the new year ~

"And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." - recently read in The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho 

Grey

The world is not simply black and white - it's extremely grey.

I just keep running into this idea when there is no right or wrong answer to anything. What is the "right" way to go about dating someone? Grey. What is the answer to social justice issues? Grey. What is the solution to all the material covered in my women studies class? Grey. This is sometimes really frustrating for me when I am looking for a particular answer, yet I also find it somewhat comforting. These "grey areas" are open for interpretation and there is always a different, perhaps better way to approach something. It is also quite comforting to know that there isn't really a wrong way to do something, you just attempted one of the methods possible in this vast "grey area" and you can always try again. 

In regards to this outfit, I think this look directly parallels my thoughts and feelings as of lately. I also dressed this way in response to the cold and rainy weather we have finally been given in Southern California! I think we all needed it...the lakes and riverbeds, our over-worn sandals, and our sanity. The grey chunky knit is from Urban Outfitters. We have been given sweater weather, and Urban Outfitters has responded people. The dark wash denim is my new favorite pair from Zara and the hat was thrown on because I didn't feel like washing my hair. The glorious boots are by Stuart Weitzman, which I have already featured here and here. 

I have learned so much in 2014 and I look forward to more lessons and experiences in 2015. You will be reading a lot more from me in the new year as well! Hold me to it. 

xx Michelle

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instagram - lifeonlotus

twitter - @itsmemichelleg

Songs on repeat lately: Afterlife - Arcade Fire. All of nostalgia, ULTRA by Frank Ocean. I Forget Where We Were - Ben Howard. Dreams - Fleetwood Mac. 

Smock Like

I am finally catching my breath and posting these photos. This school year, I am finding it difficult to even organize my thoughts. I know challenges force you to grow, but I feel like every time I get my head above water a new wave comes over and forces me under again. For everyone who actually knows my life, I am probably just being dramatic. But I am trying to really add more of my thoughts and opinions into these posts. I know it may just seem like I take some photos of my outfits, but standing in front of a camera showcasing my very insecurities makes me feel so incredibly vulnerable. Yes, this blog is an outlet for me to express myself, but it is also another challenge for me to grow and accept my body and mind. Moving on from that rather lengthly introduction, let's discuss my new university style must-have.

In busy times, the smock dress prospers. On my college campus, I have seen so many girls sporting this seasons Brandy Melville hit, the t-shirt dress. These types of dresses - the shapeless, patterned dress that you just throw on and don't have to think about, are the best thing for class. Do you know why? They are so simple to style and it makes it look like you tried to plan your outfit for the day. The reality is, I woke up 10 minutes before class and threw on a dress and a pair of booties. To subsidize for the lack of fall weather, I have been sporting a darker fall lip color. This dress I have been rambling on and on about was purchased from Urban Outfitters. My boots are the infamous Jeffrey Campbell Everly booties that I overwore last fall.

Now I am sharing some of my inspirations through internet links - content I have really enjoyed watching, listening, or reading. My beautiful friend, Hannah Renee, released her very own album recently and this is one of my favorite songs of hers. With fashion month having recently come to a close, check out this Paris Fashion Week Travel Diary by Chriselle Lim. It's a dream. Clueless is one of my favorite movies and Lisa Eldridge is one of the most admirable women in the make-up industry, so of course I was excited to see her do a "Make Up Moment" on Alan Friedman's work for the film.

That is all I would like to discuss for this one! Hope to talk to you soon. Thanks for reading.
xx Michelle

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twitter - @itsmemichelleg

Photos by Justine Solan.

Mountain Halls

On a recent family trip to Lake Tahoe, I took advantage of the scenery to showcase yet again, another unflattering pair of boyfriend jeans. Yes, they may make my butt look flat and they give me the stereotypical "mom" look, but I don't care. They are comfortable, chic, and they make me feel cool. This look may not have been the proper attire for climbing through trees, but let's get real, I wouldn't really describe myself as "granola". 

Alright, let's get down to the details. The boyfriend jeans I already discussed are from Topshop and feature a medium colored wash with all the rips I could ever wish to have, just to further perplex the older generation. The sweater has already been worn in this post, from Urban Outfitters but thrifted from a local Buffalo Exchange. It seems like a basic striped sweater, but it features two diagonal seams that shifts the stripes off course. Not so basic now, huh? I then added a black hat from Urban Outfitters and some flats from Steve Madden. My bag is my usual Kate Spade Saturday Mini A Satchel and my jewelry is a mix of my tortoise shell Fossil watch and a flea market stone bracelet. 

Remember, you should always dress for yourself and no one else. Hope you enjoyed!

xx Michelle

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instagram @michellegilbertson

twitter @itsmemichelleg

Check out this post on Teen Vogue Fashion Click here. 

Boy

Oh, boy. In this look, I was wearing boyfriend jeans while simultaneously wearing my favorite Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in the shade Boy. See what I did there?

My last few posts have really made me realize how basic my style is. When I mean basic, I mean a style made up of extremely wearable pieces. I do love a statement item, but I think you get so much more out of your wardrobe if you invest in items you can wear with so many different looks. Specifically for this outfit, I wore my new Topshop "Boyfriend" Jeans with a Nasty Gal blush tank top. I have always underestimated the importance of a good basic tee, especially in a wearable color like blush. It is so easy to style and instantly adds a casual-cool feel to an outfit. To balance out the not-so-figure-flattering ensemble on top, I paired the look with a more delicate shoe. These Steve Madden sandals with the stacked heel follow one of my favorite trends for the summer. Let's all thank Isabel Marant for introducing us to the "Carol" sandal last summer, which I think has inspired a lot of the shoes I've seen in stores this season. The look was topped with minimal jewelry and minimal make-up, strictly including glowing skin and supple lips. 

Hope you guys enjoyed this one! I especially loved the way these photos turned out. Thanks for reading.

xx Michelle

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instagram: michellegilbertson

twitter: @itsmemichelleg

Check out this post on Teen Vogue Fashion Click here. 

photos by virginia.