How To Wear Headbands

I have an interesting relationship with headbands. For the first seven or so years of my life I had a hair cut that my stylist dubbed "The Lanie"- Straight bangs and a bob that came about to my chin. (See photo below- I'm the blonde!)

Then when I was around eight I started dancing competitively and was required to have my hair be able to get styled into low pony tail and completely out of my face. Therefore, I had to grow out my beloved bangs. I don't know if y'all have ever been through the process of growing out blunt bangs but it is not an easy or quick task. This is where the headband enters the picture. For a year I wore a headband almost every day just to keep them out of my face. By the time my bangs had finally grown out I never wanted to see another headband again!

As I grew up I purchased the occasional headband on a whim here and there but never really loved them or gave the a real chance. Recently however, I have become obsessed. They really are the perfect hair accessory and add a polished look to any outfit. I can't get enough!

They can look sweet:

Or preppy and cool:

And there are so many great options:

From bows to tortoise shell to glitter and pearls there are styles to fit everyone's taste. I recently bought a bow headband in black from J. Crew (of course) and I am so in love! It adds the perfect dose of girlie-prep to every outfit that I just can't get enough of. How do y'all feel about headbands? Are you as crazy about them as I am?

Let me know what you think!

Lanie W.

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday Y'all! I am so so happy that I decided to start blogging again! So far I am loving every second of it! I am slowly but surely gaining readers and am incredibly grateful y'all like what I'm doing here on Southern Preppy Chic! To kick off my first series I thought I would join in on the "Friday Favorites" posts that seem to pop up so often in the blogosphere! Here we go!

Favorite Moment:

Rules For Belles doing a "What I'm loving Wednesday" post about me! Adore here and her blog!! <3

http://rulesforthesouthernlady.tumblr.com/post/28003314115/what-im-loving-this-wednesday

Favorite Quote:

Favorite Space: 

Favorite Art:

Favorite Look:

Favorite Polish:

I am moving out of my apartment tonight and I couldn't be more excited! I am so very ready to move into my new apartment and start decorating, one of my all time favorite things to do! My parents and brother are in town to help me pack everything up and move it into storage. I can't wait to see them and of course watch the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics! Go Team USA!

What are some of your favorite things? Have a great weekend y'all!

Lanie W.

Preppy must have with a modern twist

Loafers- The ultimate timeless shoe. There are not many things that survive the march of time, especially in the fashion world, but these simple yet elegant shoes are definitely one of those "everyone should have a pair" items.

Loafers have been on my radar for a while now. I keep putting them in my various online shopping baskets, then inevitably taking them out again when I feel like I just can't pull them off. I adore how they look on models (see photo below!) but I've always felt that I couldn't rock this preppy look without coming off as trying too hard. However, I've really begun to question that in the past few months.

J. Crew- you never fail to look perfectly effortless yet preppy and chic. Can I please be her?!

Lately when I shop I keep asking myself, "Is this an item I am going to want to wear 5 or 10 years from now?" The answer tends to be no but I know that loafers, like pearls, oxford shirts and blazers, will be in style endlessly. Which, essentially, is the cornerstone of the preppy style- timelessly elegant clothes that look even better with age and wear.

Grace Kelly in loafers circa 1955- just as chic then as they are now.

During my latest shopping endeavors I have noticed these shoes being featured more and more frequently. From the ultimate classic leather Bass Wejuns to this seasons unexpected take with a slimmer shape and pops of neon by on-trend stores like J. Crew and Target, it's hard to go wrong with this easy shoe.

So many options!

Loafers Fall 2012 by fashionista2010 featuring a stacked heel

Personally I plan to stick to a neutral color for my first pair but the bright colors and tassels are just so unexpected and fun! Have y'all jumped on the loafer band wagon yet? Which pair do you think I should get? 

Let me know what you think about this revamped classic!

Lanie W.

New York, I love you.

This happens every so often. It starts small, maybe a wishful thought here and there, but then the deep, unabridged yearning sets in and soon, it's all I can think about.

My love affair with New York started at age Eleven. My Dad, an architect, was taking a trip to the city to meet with some clients and he and my Mom decided they would bring me along. It was a trip full of firsts- my first plane ride, my first trip above the Mason-Dixon Line, and the first time I felt the indescribable energy that pulsates through the Big Apple. From the moment I stepped off the plane I was mesmerized, and a relationship began. While my Dad was in meetings my Mom and I jaunted around the city, shopping and exploring everything we possibly could. And once I saw my first Broadway Show (Beauty & the Beast, 2nd Row!) I knew I would be a faithful to New York for the rest of my life.

My second trip was even more magical than the first. It was Christmas Break and I was Thirteen. My parents told us that we were going on a pre-Christmas vacation to the mountains so we could see snow (we never ever get snow where I'm from!). Next thing I knew, we were pulling up to the airport and being told we were going to New York! I could not have been more shocked, happy or excited! Luckily, few days prior to our trip the Northeast had gotten hit with a major snowstorm so the entire city was blanketed in white fluffy snow. We had a ball in Central Park building snow men and having snowball fights for the first time in our lives. The highlights of our trip were seeing the Lion King and ice skating in Rockefeller Plaza underneath the giant Christmas Tree.

The third trip was a gift from my parents for my Sixteenth Birthday (they knew me well!). At this point in my life I had discovered Audrey Hepburn and Breakfast at Tiffany's so I was even more excited to go see the landmarks so beautifully captured in my favorite movie. That June my Mom, Aunt, Cousin, God-Mother, God-Sister and I hopped on a flight back to my favorite city on Earth. We shopped, ate amazing food, and further explored everything New York has to offer. The best parts of this trip included seeing Phantom of the Opera (third row, center!) and spending way too much time on Fifth Avenue.

My last trip to New York it was just me and my Mom. It was 2009 and my Senior year of High School. As one of the captains of our school's Varsity Cheerleading Squad I had been awarded the title of a Universal Cheerleading Association All Star after try-outs at our summer cheerleading camp. As an All-Star I was awarded the amazing opportunity to cheer in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and of course I jumped at the chance to spend over a week in my beloved city. We spent the week taking our time seeing old favorites and new discoveries, seeing Wicked and another show I had dreamed of seeing almost my whole life- the Radio City Rockettes! The ultimate thrill was being the opening number at Herald Square for the Macy's Parade and marching through the city's beautiful late-fall streets cheering to the thousands of happy parade-goers. It was such a bucket list item that I will remember for the rest of my life! Also, eating Thanksgiving dinner at an ages old private New York dining club off of Fifth with family friends wasn't so bad either! (Here's some pictures from that trip!)

All of these visits have inspired and fostered a deep, passionate love for New York inside of me and I hope to visit as soon as possible, or even intern there Summer 2013 (fingers crossed!!) For now, I will keep day-dreaming of strolling down Fifth in a chic outfit with a coffee in hand admiring store windows and the fall foliage. Sigh. Does anyone else share my love this glamourous and exciting city?

xo,

Lanie W.

Color Crush

Let me start by saying, I have never been a huge fan of the color green. Maybe an item here and there but green has never been a prevalent part of my wardrobe. Lately, however, for whatever reason, I can't get enough! Not just any green though- my obsession lies in olive green. This rich, mossy hue reminds me of everything good about Fall. It looks so classic and chic as a jacket, vest, or even an accessory.

1. Barbour Beadnell Jacket
2, J. Crew Downtown Field Jacket
3. Old Navy Military Jacket
4. Barbour Ladies Down Vest (similar)
5. Longchamp Le Pliage Large Tote
6. J. Crew Factory Lodge Puffer Vest

I dream of having a Barbour Jacket but with it's price I might have to wait a while before I can check it off of my wish list. I bought the same Longchamp bag that's featured while in Paris this past June and absolutely adore it! But I am having major cravings for that J. Crew jacket and vest! With the vest being on sale for just $69 I doubt I will be able to hold out very long before I break down and purchase it. (I want need a puffer vest for Fall, they are just so versatile!) Which of these pieces would you choose? Am I the only one obsessing over olive?

Let me know what you think!

Lanie W. 

Fall 2012 Looks for less

So I'm just going to let y'all know this right now- I am a J. Crew addict. Their clothes are the perfect mix of classic preppy and current trends that are undeniably chic and never fail to make me want to spend all of my money. That being said, some of their clothing tends to be a little much for this college girl's budget. However, during some of my daily after-work online shopping I noticed a striking similarity between the Fall 2012 lines for J. Crew and Old Navy. Usually Old Navy is hit and miss but their Fall collection is completely on point this year. Here are a items that I just might have to add to my wardrobe:

Obviously polka-dots are going to be huge again this fall, along with bold colors and clean lines. Fall possibly my favorite season for clothing and I can't wait to get some of these beauties in my closet! What are some items on your must have list for fall?

Happy Shopping!

Lanie W.

Hey y'all!

Hello and welcome to "Southern. Preppy. Chic."!

Let me introduce myself- My name is Lanie Woods and I am a 20 year old Junior at Clemson University in South Carolina. I have lived in the South my whole life and couldn't imagine being raised anywhere else! To get things started I thought I would break down what direction I want to take this blog in three parts, based on the three words in my blog title! Here we go!

Southern- I am a Southern girl born and bred. I was born in Charleston SC and lived there until we moved to my Dad's hometown of Ridgeland in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. Ridgeland is right on the border of SC and GA, about thirty minutes from both Savannah Georgia and Beaufort South Carolina. Needless to say, beautiful and historic Southern cities have been the backdrop of my life and I wouldn't have it any other way! From the places to the people the South is a truly special and magical place unlike anywhere else that I hope to represent well on this blog!

What's in store for the "Southern" aspect: Both modern and classic southern style, traditions, manners and etiquette, spotlights on beautiful Southern cities, and more!

Preppy- Being born in Charleston I have been around the "preppy" style and way of living my whole life. Wearing a certain brand of clothing or acting a certain way do not make you preppy. I truly believe that it is a lifestyle in which understated elegance, classic colors, simplistic but beautiful jewelry and timeless clothing and simple living are key. As I get older this style is becoming more and more prevalent in my closet and I find myself gravitating toward solid colored crew neck sweaters, breton stripes, ballet flats, oxford shirts, blazers, headbands, chinos and monograms on anything and everything. I plan to explore this style even more here on the blog!

What's in store for the "Preppy" aspect: My current preppy style obsessions, highlighting simple elegance, clothing that will be in style for many many years to come, and much more!

Chic- Merriam-Webster describes Chic as "A distinctive mode of dress or manner associated with fashionable lifestyle, ideology, or pursuit." I aspire to be fashionable in all aspects of life whether it is in my manners, my style, my decorating, and everything in between!

What's in store for the "Chic" aspect: Everything from decorating, to current beauty loves, and all of the random "chicness" in between!


I really hope y'all will enjoy my blog and come back often! I am very, very excited about getting it started! I plan on posting at least five times a week and I already have so many ideas that I can't wait to share!

Thanks for reading!

Lanie W.

Ps: If you have any advice or something you would like me to post about don't hesitate to leave it in a comment! I love feedback :)