♪ Macklemore feat Skylar Grey- Glorious♪

I've been meditating about a lot of stuff lately, but this happens every single fall I have to leave for university. This post is quite symbolic, because here you have the last summer dress I purchased and wore, the last photos I took with my long hair (head over to Instagram @marymanaila to see my new cut) and the last time I had my bff Simona snap photos for the blog..for the next three months. I can't stand the fact my family doesn't live in the same city as I do (gonna miss my god-daughter so much, she just turned 6 months yesterday) and that my bffs are attending college in Bucharest, but I know it in my heart that it's the best path to adulthood. I value the fact I've been on my own for three years, because it meant stepping out of my comfort zone a lot. And that's the key to growing up in my opinion. I will say there's place for improvement, there were many times I chose to buy a Zara dress instead of buying more expensive ingredients for my meal or the other way around...Being a leo, I'm really impulsive when it comes to buying lavish things and every year I promise I'll be more careful with my finances. Let's see if I can do better this year (although, after becoming obsessed with Benefit cosmetics, I highly doubt it!).

There are a lot of things going through my mind, and it all started from reading Lilly Singh's book "How to be a BAWSE" (twice!). She is honestly unstoppable, I admire how she hustles relentlessly, it's honestly the best motivational book I've ever read. I love following her journey on youtube, she truly is the definition of a SUPERWOMAN. Next on, another movie really touched my heart- "Carrie Pilby". I will admit I pressed "play" on Netflix only out of superficial reasons- William Mosley was on the poster (if you watch The Royals, you know what I'm talking about!) but I was so moved about this movie, and about one major part of it in particular: her favorite book is J.D, Salinger's "Franny & Zooey". I highly doubt there is one reader other than my mom who remembers that I wrote one passionate post about this book and even took photos of it 5 years ago haha. I won't give you any more spoilers, but it's one of those cute young adult movies which melts your heart and makes you realize some important things. On a totally opposite note, I also want to talk about the TV show "The Good Place", because for me it was mind-blowing! You think it's your average comedy sitcom, you watch it because you love Kristen Bell and you're intrigued about the concept: in the afterlife, you either make it to "The Good Place" or the bad place and Eleanor(Bell's character) was sent by accident in the good place- hence the drama and impossible situations. The action builds up, and at the end of season one, you get one major plot twist- like "Who is Gossip Girl" level of MAJOR. I should've expected it from the minute I saw Kristen Bell in the cast haha. To me this was so interesting because the creators of the show managed to turn this cute, funny comedy into a dark & deep show. It really puts things into perspective, I honestly recommend it!

Okay, rant about movies&books over, but I really felt inspired and I wanted to share this, maybe it will help you too. Wishing everyone an amazing weekend, although the weather is not really on our side.

The event we've all been planning finally took place this weekend. And it was so emotional, beautiful and tasteful that I had to share the details with you. Actually, there were two major events- marriage and the christening. The civil ceremony took place on Saturday, the religious ceremony, the christening and the party on Sunday. Aside from the fact that it's the middle of July and it rained a lot exactly during those two days, everything went completely as planned.

I'm also going to blog about the party, because my cousin always had an eye for detail and I knew her day would be about perfection in every little aspect. When her daughter (my god-daughter) will grow up and see these photos I'm sure she'll say she had the best christening party!

I've been thinking and I think the best way to blog about this is to tell you the story of each outfit I chose to wear for every occasion:

♪ B-A-B-Y - Carla Thomas ♪

I discovered my myopia when I was in 7th grade and ever since I got into Med School I keep needing stronger lenses ( I wonder if this will ever stop before I graduate!). I've also never been able to wear contact lenses because my eyes are super sensitive. Therefore, summer has always been a struggle. Because it's so sunny, yet the prescription sunglasses were so expensive that I couldn't make myself buy a pair. Needless to say, this also bothered me while I was driving. Every single year I would say I'd buy myself a pair for my birthday but my mom made a good point: what if you'll need stronger lenses next summer?

This year, as I'm turning 22, I thought life's too short to dream about prescription sunglasses haha. So I went and got myself a pair. From my favorite brand when it comes to eyewear: Carolina Herrera. I love the cat-eye shape and the golden details, it's just the perfect pair for me. I asked my bff Simona to take a couple shots of me so I can show them to you because I'm just so happy that I can finally see while it's super bright outside! I realized we never discussed this topic on this blog, how many of you wear glasses/ contact lenses? Do you find it hard in terms of fashion?

Another thing I absolutely LOVE these days- "Baby Driver" -the movie!! Honestly, it has everything I want from a movie- perfect cast, lots of action, good music, fine jokes, romance and a good ending.  I keep listening to the soundtrack and remembering all the scenes, it's one of those movies which goes straight to your soul. Did you see it? What did you think?

♪ Bam - Jay Z, Damian Marley ♪

Sorry for the lack of posts, I wanted to post regularly now that I'm on vacation, but I've had a really busy week with the christening of my goddaughter, I love helping with the party planning (&spending time with our little one)!

This summer has been treating me great, in terms of sales (my bank account strongly disagrees haha). One of the things I love most is this ZARA dotted jumpsuit I found on sale, and I'll tell you why it's my ideal purchase for summer:

1. It respects the "shoulderless top" summer trend, while those side ruffles also hide my arms which I tend to be insecure about sometimes.

2. It emphasizes my waist.

3. You can swear it's a dress, but you have the comfy benefit of pants.

4. I've always loved polka dots.

5. Its lenght is so chic & the fabric is so light!

6. It's super versatile- you can wear it on a daily basis, or you can pair it with some nude pumps& clutch and some statement earrings and it's perfect for a party.

 These are the reason why this statement jumpsuit has become my number one choice when I leave the house. Do you have one item in your closet that you just can't part ways with in the summer?  

Special thanks to my cousin Ioana for struggling to take these photos during the sunset, the light is super tricky.

♪ Hard Feelings/Loveless - Lorde ♪

I'm officially done with 50% of Med School! It has been a hell of a ride, especially this semester because our exams were programmed in an unfortunate manner. Still, this year was the best because we got to go into hospitals and the objects we studied were all intertwined. I was so happy about the summer ahead of me that I practically did tons of summer holidays activities in the span of my first free day. This photoshoot for the blog was not planned at all (nor were the other things I did) but I'm so happy about it because I get to show you my favorite bag in the best way!

I got this bag as a birthday gift from my aunt, uncle & cousins last year because I was attending the Untold festival and my aunt thought I should have the perfect festival bag: both fashionable and practical (yes, you can fit a bottle of water in it). It's from Accessorize and the really exciting thing about this beautiful floral print is the fact that it's hand-painted! The ZARA dress I'm wearing is also a gift from them, I got it this Easter and I love it so much!

Not to end this post on a sad note, but right now on my playlist you can find Lorde's "Hard Feelings/Loveless" song from her new album "Melodrama" because it touches the subject Aziz Ansari so accurately portrays in his book, "Modern Romance". Something's fundamentally changed with our generation and our perception of love, and I can't say it's for the better.

Special thanks to my awesome cousin Ioana for getting behind the lens for this post, she used to shoot most of my looks back when I started the blog and it was such a cool bonding activity!

ZARA dress, Accessorize bag, Musette flats, Jord watch, Pandora bracelet

♪ ScHoolboy Q, Kanye West - THat Part ♪

I got back from Sicily last week and it took me a while to get all my photos in order and decide how to write about this incredible experience. I decided to make my first post about the hotel we stayed in, because I truly believe the whole experience wouldn't have been the same without the hotel of my dreams, as I call it now.  Sicily (Sicilia in Italian) is an astonishing island, full of ancient history, breathtaking architecture and unique gastronomy (so many famous Italian dishes have been invented in Sicily like arancini, cannoli, granita- I'll make sure to post about the food in the near future).

I usually don't blog about the places I stay in, I use TripAdvisor to leave reviews, but I loved the place we stayed so much! My aunt and uncle read about agriturisimo (agritourism) being all the rage in Sicily lately and they found La Terra dei Sogni. Located in Fiumefreddo, it's a really cosy and intimate place to spend your holiday because there aren't so many rooms. The hotel is placed in the middle of citrus groves, hence the fresh orange and red orange juice at every single breakfast and the possibility to eat fresh orange or tangerine from the trees whenever you feel like. The room was so spacious, but what we ultimately loved most was the pool area. It was the best pool I've ever swum in, the water was so clean and warm and you could easily view Mount Etna. I need to set one thing straight- location wise, it's the perfect one as long as you have a car. We read a lot about Sicily before going there, and I strongly believe you can't visit the whole island without one (there were days when we'd go 400 km, it's a really big island) and I also heard the bus schedule can be unreliable in Sicily. Fiumefreddo is right next to Giardini Naxos ( the ultimate golden sand beach Sicily has) and Taormina- the best thing there is to visit in Sicily, in my opinion.

Outfit wise, I'm wearing my Zara bodysuit I blogged about in my last post. The shorts are from H&M, two days before leaving for Sicily I realized I didn't have any shorts so I went to my local store and found two perfect pairs for the holiday. I really love their print, they're so fun to wear! All the photos from this post were taken at the hotel.

♪ Pop Style - Drake & The Throne (a.k.a Jay Z & Kanye) ♪

We took these photos after my Microbiology exam. It was the 1st of June, International Children's Day and although I had only slept 3 hours prior to the exam, I couldn't help it...I had to take a photo with this funny garden gnome, because Drake's verse "All I do is hang with the young and heartless" kept popping into my mind. Still, I had 3% battery and no space in my Iphone, so my cousin Ioana had to work her magic with 10 shots before my phone refused to collaborate.

If you've been reading this blog for a while, then you must be familiar with one of my style obsessions: palazzo pants. I got most of them from Zara, and this polka dotted pair has earned its place in my heart. I'm one of those women who love to wear long skirts/dresses/pants in summer and I actually don't find it uncomfortable at all because I only buy them in light and breezy fabrics.

The second item in my outfit I would like to discuss today- it's been a big trend this spring in all the high street shops - THE BODYSUIT. Did Beyonce started the frenzy with her IVY PARK sold-out bodysuits or it was just high time for the bodysuits to make a comeback  and Beyonce just followed the trend set by the big fashion houses? The fact is, that every season I would complain to my mom and my friends "There are no bodysuits this season either!". My obsession with them came from the fact I love to wear skirts a lot, and some of them...well, tank tops don't always cut it, because they don't quite stay in place. But I kept faith..I knew there would be a day when Zara and H&M would be filled with them haha...Imagine my shock in April when I found them at Zara TRF in all the shapes and colors! The one I'm wearing in these photos has the best fabric I've come across so far, and I'm so sad it didn't come in more colors. It's so great on your skin and I love the fact it's like a backless top. 

I only bought three bodysuits so far, because I wanted to get a bigger picture of my closet- "What would I wear the pink one with? " "What about the tangerine orange? You never wear this shade"- but now that the sales have started I've come to the realization my beloved bodysuits are leaving forever (okay, for a few seasons, I have to stop being so melodramatic). Therefore, I'm going to stock up on bodysuits.  Tangerine orange, black lace, navy striped bodysuits, here I come!!

Photo Credit: Cristian Alexandrescu Photography

I hope you all had a jolly Christmas and that you enjoyed spending some quality time with your friends and family, I sure did! The holidays also gave me the opportunity to go through all the photos from Paris. Let me just say that having a photographer with you is really awesome and that I hope he doesn't mind I edited the photos, we always have different points of view on the lighting. 

Seeing me in a dress at +5 degrees , you might think we went crazy and I kept on taking my coat off at every corner! I wish, but long gone are the days when I would freeze at -15 Celsius degrees for the sake of the blog. This was the first shoot , so naturally there was this Paris hype in our souls and that's why we took so many photos. You should have seen us 6 hours later: "Just take one picture of me here, so mom can see I visited this as well" haha.

Now, the amount of things we visited in the first days is INSANE. Some people even wouldn't believe us when we told our story, but we managed so well because I've been planning this trip to Paris for two years and I already knew the location of the main sights and the main streets by heart (God bless Google maps!). I think there are around 100 (good) photos with me from the first day, so I chose to share 25 on this first post, when I was all full of energy and we visited the Esplanade des Invalides surroundings, including the famous Pont Alexandre III. For me, the bridge was breathtaking because I could feel the fashion vibe while walking on it ( all the Vogue Paris editorials shot here plus the editorials of my favourite fashion bloggers like Gary Pepper Girl) and also because it was also the first time we saw the Eiffel Tower while we were in Paris. In the next post I will give you the complete list of sights which we visited during that day and I will share my impressions.

I wrote couple weeks ago for a piece for Teenystyle.com on the revival of this marvelous shade we call tangerine. That was just about the time when the Chicnova team offered a collaboration and I couldn't resist choosing this vividly colorful clutch & a pink statement necklace which you will see soon on the blog.

And speaking about statement necklaces...how do you like the new teal one that I'm wearing in this post? I got it at an incredible price, plus it matches with most stuff in my closet.

But that's not the only amazing thing Chicnova had planned for this blog! As the first spring giveaway of TeenFashionDiary just ended, it's time for me to announce a new one: 

WIN A 30$ COUPON TO SPEND AT CHICNOVA!

Now, there are few steps to go through, and you'd better hurry up because this giveaway will only be open for 10 days! Here's what you have to do:

♪ Wild Belle- Another Girl ♪

I can't believe how long I've been holding back from posting these photos! The only reason is that I was hoping not to post these at all because it was a rainy day of spring when I took this and I am STILL waiting for the warm ones but guess what...it's going to snow this weekend! SNOW!  Just when I was just writing my manifesto/farewell to winter...

Oh well, there's another thing which I have been planning to blog about for a long time. It has been over debated , and yet I feel the need to write my thoughts on this as well: 

How come fashion bloggers only highlight the great parts and stories in their life and are more discreet and reserved when it comes to a personal crisis or deception?

First of all, lets remind ourselves that there are a lot of successful fashion bloggers who only write about the outfit they're wearing or simply state the labels. I'm just not that type. I tried to focus only on the fashion aspect for a while, but I feel like there are so many other things you should learn from this blog!

Now, about the main question: Many people say that we usually just want to build a perfect life, and therefore our disappointments are never a subject of discussion, but I would argue that there's more to the story. When you visit the sites you love and you happen to be in an amazing mood, wouldn't you be  a little sad and sympathetic to the issues exposed?  Or when you are sad and see a weeping post wouldn't that discourage you even more? Shouldn't you, as a reader, relax and enjoy the content of a blog in your free time?

Than, there comes another sensitive issue: friends and family usually read your blog and however sad and angry you might be, you shouldn't hurt them by writing an acid post. If you stilll feel like letting it all out, you should write about your concerns in an ambiguous style, maybe include a meaningful quote so that only the person in question can tell.

This is what I feel about blogging when you are angry or extremely dissapointed. It's your blog and you're allowed to express yourself however you feel like. Still, a little diplomacy wouldn't hurt. Who knows, maybe even a post about blogging when you're in a weird mood means that the writer herself is actually hurt and mad *wink wink*.

And now, finally a few words about my outfit: I bought this aviator jacket couple years ago, when it was a huge trend and although I love it, I don't wear it so much because its lenght is impractical.  As for the mint scarf, I know I should look for emerald green and neon yellow in the stores already and that mint is not the IT color anymore, but I love it and that's what really matters! This whole color trend concept means that for a few months you have more options to choose from in a certain shade. It doesn't imply you can't wear that color anymore once a new season settles in!

Dear friend, 

(You know you're super stressed and happy when you post super old pictures you were too lazy to post in January and you write a fictional letter to Snow, take it from me.)

On a brigther note, tomorrow is 1st of March! I won't be spending mine ideally because the circumstances are kind of bizarre this year but I love the sun and the spring air so much! And what a better day to post these photos than the last day of winter? Phhh..who am I kidding, it's still weird but I found this in my archive today and loved them so much!

I love you all , I wish you a blissful and magical spring!

♪ Lana del Rey - Miss America (Trash) ♪

Hello, my dear readers! I'm pretty sure this is actually the first time you see me wearing stripes, which is funny because I usually wear a lot of striped tops and sweaters. I actually chose this song by Lana because it has the word 'stripes' at some point, you know how I love to relate my song choice or a quote to the the post.  And in case you\re wondering what amazing piece I'm wearing, it's from the even more amazing brand CHOIES.  I chose this dress because:

1. I always wanted a sweater-dress (the fabric is knit actually, that's why I was able to bear the impossible temperature).

2. I can easily match it with my uniform and wear it on a daily basis.

3. This is the best shape for my body (I usually like to go for things which emphasize my waist).

4. Stripes are making a comeback!! I mean, I know what I saw at Marc Jacobs for the spring/summer 2013!

Plus, the arrival of the package was a total surprise! It usually takes three weeks for me to get one at the postal office, especially when it's not from Europe and I was so sad that I wouldn't be able to wear it in this beautiful scenery because everything is so white right now in Romania. Well, imagine my surprise yesterday, it arrived after 7 days sharp, so chapeau bas to their efficient way of handling things.

Now, this is a casual look which I actually wore at school and that's why I wasn't able to wear a statement necklace and went for such discreet jewellery. I love my PARIS necklace from H&M which I chose to wear as a bracelet, one of my best friends just came back from Austria and brought me this special gift. The other bracelet is from Fossil and I got from another best friend of mine (I really want to blog someday about best friends and how it is when you have more than one, just remind me because I don't want to bore you right now, after reading such a looong text).

♪ Asaf Avidan - One Day ♪

Long time, no see. Happy New Year!!! I warn you, this is going to be a long long post because I missed blogging so much! I spent my NYE out of town, with some amazing friends and I had such a blast, definetely the best party I attended in a very long time! Also, I took the liberty of shopping, quite a lot actually ( I don't currently have any savings, just to give you a hint haha) and I've seen so many movies and ate so many new & extraordinary things that I am just stunned at the moment! Back to the movies section, my favourite was 'Life of Pi' which is a must, such an artistic and profound movie about faith. You know how obssesed I am with 'Franny &Zooey' by J.D.Salinger which sends a similar message, this movie was just my cup of tea!

For NYE I chose to wear the same studded details you can see in this outfit post, proving that you can make this kind of statement jewelry work for both casual and formal attire. Of course, I went for a little black number from Zara, I've been looking for a LBD for literally ages and I am so happy to have found the perfect one!

Also, today is a very special day and I want to wish my lovely and thoughtful mother a warm "Happy Birthday!" . I couldn't wish for a more supportive and incredible mom, she has always been there for me, even at -10 Celsius degree to take these photos and so many others!

As for the outfit of the day, I'm a little in a black phase right now , hence the new black boots , pants and sweater. Don't even get me started on those boots, they were so out of my price range but after trying them on all the other boots in the whole mall seemed so dull and plain. They are also so comfy, and I figured they are a good investment and they won't go out of style. I am obsessed with the clutch and necklace from Zara (thank you, Santa! ) I would wear them everywhere if I could. The studs and the golden details are just fabulous, and you know me and my wide collection of nude shoes, I just needed a clutch to match them!

♪ Lana del Rey - Blue Jeans ♪

I have one major issue when it comes to clothes: I can't find a proper tailor who would actually understand what I want(my  once fabulous chiffon is living proof). So imagine my surprise when Tailor4Less wanted me to make my own shirt! I took care of everything(minus the sewing of course) and all from my very own cosy home! Fabric, shape (boyfriend type of shirt, so perfect for school days!), colour, even how I wanted the collar. I just had to know my measurements because Tailor4Less is an amazing company which makes custom shirts & not only!

It's so difficult to find woman shirts that would perfectly fit you and I was just lucky enough to get one! The ordering process is really engaging and the result is esquisite as you can see in the pictures. I really love this concept and it's definetely a site that I am keeping my mind on for the future as they can also dresses, pants, pretty much everything! Of course, I wanted to match my brand new amazing shirts with some jeans that are extremely loose and I somehow turned them into boyfriend jeans as well. Brown accents are the best, especially when you take a walk in the park and the color of the leaves is so stunning, I blended in!

Also, it's that time you've all been waiting for! The 2 winners of the 'SheInside 50$ coupon giveaway' are :

Farewell, my dear holiday! Oh, my summer holiday is officially OVER. I'm so sad, I mean it's been the best holiday I've had so far as it involved a lot of travelling, SHOPPING, making new friends, improving this blog, reading, cooking & even a little driving. And there is one more major thing that happened in this beloved holiday of mine: I got my (now) favourite fragrance , Gucci Guilty & a Givenchy bag from some family friends!

Yes, a Givenchy bag! I was over the moon! It's not made of leather or anything, it's more of the light and beach-appropriate type but it has golden details, a great size (perfect for school) and the most incredible shape!!! What more can a girl ask for?

I took it out for a walk and decided to match it with some grey and sandy yellow tones, I love how every detail works! Of course my outfit needed a splash of color, so I went for a mint (I know, such a surprise! haha)  scarf which I got for my birthday from my cousin.

 Also, note my incredible statement necklace I got from my friend Andreea, I love it! I really have amazing people in my life, thank you all for supporting me and always being so kind! Yes, I am talking about S. too , who took these stunning photos and also about M. who spoiled me today with the cutest navy top!

♪ Caro Emerald- That man ♪

Why, hello there! Sorry my beloved, school has taken me over and I'm now both physically and mentally exhausted. I had no time to post, neither the mood to stay online (you may have noticed that I didn't update the facebook page nor the Instragram profile- @marymanaila). I'm positive though, I'll get through this, especially after having such an amazing day- okay, the second half of it!

Time has come to present my favorite pants in the world! I know, I've been blogging for a year now and haven't got round to post pictures in them, such a paradox. They are called carrot pants because of the shape, they are super comfortable and I bought them from -wait for it, it's so super hard to guess- ZARA! I went for nude tones and pastels so I can emphasize my new statement necklace, which I find fabulous!

How would you like another outfit post on Monday, just to make it up for my absence? I wish you all have a fabulous week! Enjoy life, even at its hardest and this pretty little song!

If you are a regular reader you must know the way I styled this Oasap sweater for the first time: urban chic,  with some edgy accents. Well, I decided to go for a boho outfit this time, in nude tones. I felt amazing while wearing this ensemble, a little like a modern fairy. It's simple, yet with some fine accents like the fabulous belt which is my favorite.

Also, I am going through a little chrisis as I can't find anyone to take my pictures. These ones were taken with self-timer so believe me it's a first time on my blog when I'm dealing with the lack of photos, but I liked the outfit too much so I had to post it! I guess I am going to ask you to consider one point: sometimes quality over quantity is the best. 

Also , credits for the words of wisdom in the title go to the one and only Anna Dello Russo.