My Life Styled :: #CosmopolitanChic

Vegas- you either love it or you hate it. But what many people fail to realize is that the wild partying and stories akin to The Hangover only make up one side of the city. I am most definitely not a party girl. I get nervous in crowds, lightheaded after one sip of a well made drink and, quite frankly, can't stand it when strange men try to talk to me. I had always just accepted the fact that Vegas would never be a place for me.

That was until I spoke with someone who was just like me and LOVED their trip to Vegas. I realized that Vegas has so much more to offer than a quick weekend you wish you could forget. Think spas, shopping, amazing restaurants and unique shows. This was a relief because I must confess that I have planned my "Vegas Trip" wardrobe in my head way too many times to not actually go and enjoy it myself. It's all about versatile pieces that you can transition from one activity to the next.

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas seems like a great place to stay. I would be able to enjoy everything on my check list without leaving the hotel! I could keep things casual and relaxing with one of their many restaurants or their in-house spa. I could also choose from three pool facilities, awesome modern art exhibits, and shopping. The unique New York-style towers are located right off of the strip- perfect in case I decide to venture out.

So in honor of all of those daydreams and imagined trips, I have styled a few looks that would be perfect for a quick weekend at The Cosmopolitan.

Day 1 :: Boulevard Pool + Secret Pizza

#ComsopolitanChic :: Boulevard Pool by mefrench featuring a black fedora hat

To kick off my weekend, I would begin by relaxing poolside with a great book. Of the three pools available at The Cosmopolitan, The Boulevard Pool sounded just right. With an atmosphere inspired by an upscale yacht club, cabanas and a full menu at the Overlook Grill, I could settle in for hours on end. I would want to keep things sleek and chic in a bold colored bikini, aviators and a hat. After I have had my fill of glamour and luxury, I would throw on this ruched maxi dress and set off in search of Secret Pizza, a standing-room only pizza shop hidden within The Cosmopolitan!

Day 1:: P3 Studio

#CosmopolitanChic :: P3 Studio by mefrench featuring vintage wedge shoes

While I might not be interested in the traditional Vegas nightlife, I was thrilled to find such a unique experience for an evening out. The glass walls and intimate setting allow you to really connect with the artist at work inside the studio. You even have the option of stepping inside and interacting with the artist! There is a rotation of artists-in residence so you can do your research and plan around the artist you want to see. P3 studio is also partnered with a non-profit, Art Production Fund. I couldn't think of a cooler way to spend my night!

Day 2 :: Sahra Spa & Hammam + Va Bene Caffe + The Shops at The Cosmopolitan

#CosmopolitanChic :: Sahra Spa, Va Bene Caffe, The Shops by mefrench featuring seychelles shoes

My second day would begin with (surprise, surprise) more relaxing at the Sahra Spa and Hammam. The spa boasts 50,000 square feet of pure relaxation and over 28 treatment rooms that draw from the serenity of the desert. I would then throw on a simple yet chic ensemble like the one shown above. The clean silhouette and fairly neutral color palette make for a fresh look that is suitable for all of my activities of the day. My next stop would be Va Bene Caffe. This little gem offers fresh pastries, paninis, salad and gelato. Let's be honest, who doesn't want to do a little re-toxing after a spa session? I would then burn off those calories with some retail therapy in The Shop at the Cosmopolitan. 

Day 2 :: Drinks and a Show

#CosmopolitanChic :: Drinks & A show by mefrench featuring a pink dress

If you can't let loose on your last night in Vegas, then when can you? My first stop of the evening would be the Vesper Bar (named after Bond's infamous drink). This outfit channels that powerful Bond girl with the sexy back, red lip and sleek heels. After I've had my fill with about half a drink, Golan and I would make our way to The Chelsea to catch a killer show. Fingers crossed for Bruno Mars still being around!

With the holidays approaching and the semester coming to an end, all I can think about is a good vacation. How would you plan your trip to Vegas? Let me know in the comments! Also, be sure to check out The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas for some stellar deals and a unique experience. Stay updated by following the Fashionably M. French Facebook page as well as my Twitter and Instagram! Feel free to get in touch- I'd love to hear from you! x

I was asked by the people at Vegas.com if I would show how I would style my ideal weekend in Vegas at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. That being said, all opinions and suggestions are my own. Thanks!

Back To School 2014 :: Agendas

One of my guilty pleasures in life is back-to-school shopping. It might be one of those things I do in life regardless of whether I am actually in school. I mean who doesn't need a fresh batch of pens and new organizational tools every now and then (Cue old soul jokes)? I have always loved personalized agendas for both school and work. It makes a planner look much more chic and professional. Below are a few of my favorites from Minted.com. I love that each of these agendas were designed by independent designers who submitted their creations in a design challenge! Take a look at all of the color and personalizing options by clicking the links below. The best part about these? They are perfectly priced for college students! {$16-26}

Top {L-R} 1. Blossoming Rainforest 2. Spring Floral Frame 3. Cape Cod

Bottom {L-R} 1. Hello Love 2. Fresh Flowers 3. The Pointillist

I usually use a weekly format so that each day has plenty of room. Between school, work and extra curricular activities I need every line I can get. What are your favorite school essentials? Let me know in the comments down below! 

Be sure to follow the Fashionably M. French Facebook page to stay updated. You can also find me on Twitter and Instagram. 

Thanks for reading! x

This is not a sponsored post. Some links may be affiliate links.

Style Inspiration :: Anthropologie August '14 Catalog

Each month I get a gem of a catalog in my mailbox courtesy of Anthropologie. With the seasons traditionally being in limbo during this time (even though the temperatures still feel very much like the thick of summer), most people are at a loss as far as how to dress. The fresh picks in the August 2014 Anthropologie catalog are the perfect solution. With light layers and a bold color palette that hints at fall, Anthropologie nails the transition for both casual looks and work appropriate ensembles. Below are some of my favorite items from the catalog. I will be keeping my eye on these while I do back-to-school shopping. If you are interested in any of these pieces simply click the image to be taken to Anthropologie.com (no affiliate links used). Look through the entire August 2014 catalog here and share your favorite looks in the comments!

While not all of these items are necessarily reasonably priced for a college student, there are some great investment pieces to be found. Each item that I have bought from Anthropologie in the past has lasted years and was definitely worth the price. Stay tuned for more back-to-school posts to come. Be sure to follow the Fashionably M. French Facebook page for updates. You can find me on Twitter and Instagram as well- give me a follow and get in touch. I'd love to hear from you! x

Note :: this is not a sponsored post

DIY :: Welcome Sign

I have always loved a bold front porch display. A home's curb appeal is your first impression to visitors and passerby alike. Because we live in a third floor walk up and our "porch" allows for just about enough room for a doormat, we had to get creative. I was initially inspired by this moss covered door monogram by The Chic Site.  While I still adore the H monogram, I wanted to make it my own a bit. I loved the idea of incorporating moss and decided to use my wood burning tool to create a rustic chic welcome sign of my own. 

You'll need the following items to complete the project: a wood burning tool with an angled tip, hot glue gun with glue sticks, wooden plaque (I chose a rectangular one with a beveled edge to allow the moss to taper off), ruler, tracing paper and one bag of moss. I used sheet moss that varied in color. This makes it look a little more natural... as natural as moss growing on a welcome sign for an apartment can be.

You can approach the first step in two different ways. If you have access to a printer, all you have to do is simply pick your favorite font and print it in the appropriate size. Then tape your printed font to your plaque and voila - you have a stencil to work over. As I do not have a working printer any longer, I chose to free hand my sign. First, take a piece of tracing paper and secure it over your plaque. Then free hand the desired sentiment onto the paper to serve as a stencil. 

I used an Old English font called Canterbury that I found on a free font site. No need to download anything if you are free handing it. You can preview each font right on the site. This is also where the ruler comes in handy. I made a grid on my stencil to ensure that the letters were uniform in height and width. You are now ready to being your wood burning!

I would definitely consider myself a novice when it comes to wood burning. I haven't really done research  on the proper form or procedure, I just sort of wing it. That being said, if I can do it you can do it! My tip would be to make long and smooth burn lines to avoid blotching and uneven depths. I did end up going over a few places to blend the burns and darken them. My finished product is below. Feel free to fill in the letters with a shading tip or add more designs along the plaque. 

Now comes the fun part- covering your plaque in moss. There is no exact science to this. Avoid burnt fingers by putting the glue directly onto the plaque and attach the moss using the end of a pencil to push it into place. Work your way around the plaque, securing pieces of moss in varying sizes. Use as little or as much as you'd like. This part does end up making quite the mess so be sure you are in an area that can easily be cleaned! I had to vacuum my carpet twice to get up all the tiny pieces of moss.

The final step is to hang the sign for all the neighbors to see. You can use a command hook, a wreath hook, etc. I already had a hole in my door from the previous owners just above the peep hole so I chose to use that instead. Drape the chain oover the nail to measure the approximate length (I ended up with about 24 inches) that would be best suited for your door. Once you have decided on the length, cut the chain with wire cutters. You can also use string, small rope, or twine. To secure the chain to the plaque, nail the ends of the chain into the back of the plaque, roughly an inch down from the top edge. If you choose to use another material, simply tie it around the nails instead.

After having the sign up for a few days, I have noticed that it bangs around against the door each time I enter or exit the apartment. I will be using a durable double sided tape to secure the back of the plaque to the door itself. Problem solved! 

Do you have any fun DIY projects for the front porch? If so, please leave them in the comments. If you try this DIY Welcome Sign project, post a photo of your finished product on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and tag me! Be sure to follow the Fashionably M. French Facebook page for updates and follow the blog via Bloglovin'.

Thanks for reading! x

A Passing Fancy

Hello and welcome to the second installment of "A Passing Fancy"! In this series, I post a list of my favorite links and such to share with all of you. This week, I have been doing a little bit of blog stalking and have been going through numerous posts by The College Prepster. I was lucky enough to be able to interact with Carly Heitlinger, the writer behind the site, through a #fashiontalk via Twitter with CollegeFashionista and have been a little obsessed ever since.

Image Sources [left to right] :: 1. source 2. source 3. source

1. Ten Mistakes to Make Before You're Twenty Five :: The College Prepster Not only was this article spot on, but I loved the humor in the writing. Numbers 2, 4 and 8 are all to familiar to me! Take and look and let me know in the comments if you have experienced any of these moments.

2. Gingham Shirt: Now and Later :: The College Prepster As if I wasn't already feeling the itch for fall fashion to return. What I wouldn't give to be walking in the countryside on a foggy morning in that "later" outfit *swoon*.

3. How to Set a Budget :: The College Prepster  This article, like the first on this week's list, was spot on. Each year, as fall semester creeps up on us, I begin my intense organization obsession. It might be short lived for the most part but I always feel much more productive and proactive. I am currently setting up a personal budget for myself to keep my random spending at bay and while there wasn't any groundbreaking information in this article in particular, I needed that little reminder of what to focus on. Love it!

That's all for this week! Let me know in the comments if you become as obsessed with The College Prepster as I am. Be sure to like the Fashionably M. French Facebook page to stay updated! You can also follow me on Twitter and Instagram for small life bits and such. Thanks for reading! x

A Passing Fancy

Hello There- Long time no see! Unfortunately, life got away from me these past few weeks and my blog took a back seat, but we are finally back in business! To start things off again, I wanted to introduce a new series called "A Passing Fancy". Once a week I will post a list of my favorite links and such to share with all of you. Without further ado, here are my favorites for this week...

Image Sources [left to right, top to bottom] :: 1. source 2. source 3. source 4. source

1. Strawberry Jam Muffins | Pinch of Yum I have been rather excited to try my hand at baking over the last few weeks. It all started when I found coconut flour at my local HomeGoods (of all places) for what I thought was a kick ass price. Little did I know that Costco would begin to stock the very same brand at double the size for only two dollars more. Anyways, this was the first recipe I tried. I swapped the strawberry jam for no sugar added blueberry jam and fresh blueberries and it was marvelous. Give it a try!

2. How To:: Shop Smart for Antiques You'll be seeing a lot of Camille Styles in "A Passing Fancy". I have had a long term obsession with the team over at Camille Styles and the wonderfully creative and fresh content they put out. This article in particular was right up my alley. I have been looking for lamps and such to DIY into the perfect bedside additions and this article gave me some great tips. Not only that, but I am also a mega fan of Antiques Roadshow ;)

3. The Morning Stitch As part of my long list of apartment updates, my little wooden dining chairs are in need of some additional comfort. After doing some research and scouring countless Pinterest pins, I found this awesome DIY chair cushion tutorial! Stay tuned for a blog post chronicling my project.

4. Vidcon Vlogs | More Zoella  Zoe Sugg is one of my all time favorite British YouTubers. Her vlogs throughout Vidcon in Anaheim were so great! Maybe I'm just a little odd but click through and find out for yourselves :) Careful, YouTube is more than a little addicting.

That's all for now! Let me know in the comments if you enjoy any of these links and feel free to include your own current favorites. Be sure to like the Fashionably M. French Facebook page to stay updated! If you try your hand at baking or antiquing, post photos on Instagram [@mefrench] and Twitter [@meagan_french] and be sure to tag me. Thanks for reading! x

Travel | NYC Summer '14

Since I was a little girl, my father has been planning to get my sisters and me to NYC one day. Well, that day finally came! Even though we were all spread out across the country, we came together for one hell of a weekend in the big apple. I will admit that my romantic notion of NYC (partially from films, partially from books and a whole lot of my own imagination growing up) was swiftly put to rest by grime and the unsettling energy of the city that never sleeps. 

But underneath the not-so-appealing truth lies something wonderful. While I cannot see myself living there, I intend to visit again and again to gain a more firm grasp on the pockets of NYC that I found so intriguing. NYC is a place so incredibly saturated with talent and creativity and life that it is hard to take in even the smallest portion. At one point, I found myself stowing away my camera before I had even taken any pictures because I felt as if there was no time to stop. That being said, I am determined to return one day and fall into step with the best of them. It was great NYC, we'll meet again. 

Have you been to NYC? If so, please leave some recommendations in the comments for my next trip! I'd love to hear from you. Also, be sure to like the Fashionably M.French Facebook page for regular updates. Thanks for reading! x

CollegeFashionista: Spring '14

As many of you might know, I spent my semester interning for CollegeFashionista, a college fashion trend reporting website. I really enjoyed my time with those lovely ladies and will be continuing my internship through the summer months as well! In case you missed any of my posts, I have compiled all of them below. If you see a post that you would like to read, simply click the link below the photo and you will be taken to the article. 

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Please let me know what you think! Leave a comment below with any suggestions or tips. Also, I'd love to hear if you have been inspired by any of the Fashionsta/os that I have featured on CollegeFashionista.com. Post any photos of your style on Instagram[@mefrench] or Twitter [@meagan_french] and tag me. Thanks for reading! x

Spring Styling: Flamingo Shift

One of my favorite pieces in my spring wardrobe is the Elornis shift dress from Anthropologie. The vibrant colors and bold pattern make it the perfect statement dress. Here I have shown you how to dress it down for everyday wear or dress it up for a night out. While Anthropologie no longer carries this dress, I have managed to find it on Ebay here!

Day

The cherry blossoms have finally bloomed! Jean Jacket: Old Navy (from about six years ago)

Wide Brim Hat: Gap

Watch: Anne Klein

Shoes: Madden Girl

Night

Spice things up by removing the jean jacket, adding a belt with accessories and swapping the sandals for a pair of heels in a bold color.

Belt: Banana Republic | Ring: James Avery | Pave silver bracelet: Michael Kors

Turquoise ring: Gift | Turquoise bracelet: Gift

Heels: Jason Wu for Target

Earrings: Gift

Let me know what you think in the comments! How would you wear these ensembles? How do you transition from day to night? I'd love to hear from you and read any suggestions you might have for future posts. Please subscribe via Bloglovin' in the sidebar and like the Fashionably M. French Facebook page. Thanks for reading! x