Summer’s Last Swim

It’s the first day of fall!!! I’d be sad, but I know the heat is going to linger a while longer in Texas. Summer is my favorite time of the year even though Texas is HOT. With being in school all summer and only having a 13-day break before the fall semester, I really didn’t spend as much time in the water as I would’ve liked. There’s always next summer, right? With that being said, finding a cute swimmy can have its challenges. I liked to shop Victoria’s Secret swim collection, but now that their swim line is discontinued, I’ve had to look else where. Luckily, I grabbed I a few pieces that were on super sale before they completely sold out!

I’d say I’m a girly girl and these ruffles and floral pattern were perfect for the feminine look I was going for. Because these VS swim pieces are separates, they can go with a variety of other tops and bottoms. The floral front-closure top has bits of lavender, mint, blush, and burgundy colors and would have paired well with any of those, but the blush bottom complimented the top pretty well in this case!

With fall already here and winter fast approaching, there are SO many swim sales going on. Now is the best time to stock up on swim wear, especially if summer comes to your state early the way it does in Texas. I’m linking some separates that are similar and budget friendly. Hope you’re enjoying the first weekend of fall!

XO, Vivian

This set: top and bottom – peachy paisley set, but also comes in a smokin’ black!
This set: top and bottom – the florals on these pieces are so pretty and also come in a few different colors
The style of this top is nearly identical to the one I’m wearing and would look great with this bottom!
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My Hair Guy

When I first moved to Dallas, I didn’t have anyone to cut my hair.  I had someone in my hometown, but booking was always a problem when I’d have last minute trips home. My big sister has cut her hair at various Toni & Guy locations for as long as I can remember, so it was the logical choice when deciding to select a place for the rest of my Dallas-living years.

Up until November 2015 I had virgin hair. I never met anyone that convinced me that I could trust them to color my hair. I was scared at the time, and sort of brain washed into thinking that virgin hair was really special (sorry folks, it’s just hair), but then I met Kevin. I had a couple scary dreams and anxiety the night before I went in for my color appointment, but then Kevin said the smartest thing I’ve EVER heard, “If the Kardashians still have hair after everything they put it through, you will too.” And just like that, I’ve lost track of how many times I have colored my hair with Kevin!

This time I went in with 22 inches of long, heavy hair, and left with a sassy but *charming* 14 inches. As much as I love having long hair, I currently do not have the time to care for a Rapunzel-like mane. Unless I’m going to be styling my hair 3 times a week, there’s no reason for me to have long hair. I’m getting ready to face a tough fall semester in graduate school and I can’t help but think of all the time I can spend studying and sleeping rather than brushing and styling!

I hope this post has been helpful for anyone that has anxiety when they go in for a cut and color. How do you know when you’ve found THE person you want to care for your hair care?

XO, Vivian

P.S. This post was not sponsored. I just really love Kevin’s work and with my hair being photographed in every single blog post, I thought he deserved some credit.

UPDATE 10/25/2020:

I am so so proud to say that my good friend and colorist, Kevin opened up his own salon! After all this time I continue to love his work. Salon Perspective is beautiful and I am so excited to continue to support him wherever he goes. Make an appointment with him here. Congratulations, Kevin!

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Joggers, No Jogging

Happy Monday, friends! How was your weekend? I had my first margarita ever, which was pretty tasty, and then I took the party on over to the movie theater to watch IT. It was so good! I never saw the original, but if you like scary movies, I know you’ll enjoy it.

I wore this dressed down look out to breakfast with a friend and for some reason, even though I wear workout leggings to class almost every day, I felt more sporty than usual in these joggers. They kind of give off a vibe that says, “I’m trying to look put together but not that much,” which is totally me most mornings! This top is pretty cool ya’ll. It’s asymmetrical with the ties on the side of the shirt that can be left hanging down, tied to the side, tied in the front, or tied in the back for a crop top style. It’s that versatile(!) but I decided to tie it in the front. Unfortunately the top is an old one, so I linked similar asymmetrical ones that can be tied similarly. Also, I did an entire post earlier on how to keep clean shoes, and here I am wearing the same pair again because I like them that much. White shoes are an easy pairing for a lot of looks and I think everyone needs a pair of white sneaks. They match with nearly everything and are easy to walk in so it’s a win-win! Hope your week is off to a great start!

XO, Vivian

Top – BCBG Maxazria (similar and similar)
Joggers – Urban Outfitters (similar and similar)
Shoes – Guess (similar and popular)
Crossbody – Kate Spade (similar)
Watch – Marc Jacobs (similar and scalloped)
Sunnies – Prada (similar)
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Paperbag Shorts

You always think you know everything about yourself, until you don’t. In this case, I had yet to own anything in an olive color for fear of looking like I belonged in the army (it’s pretty obvious I’m not in the army, but someone might get confused with these big biceps of mine!). Well, these paper bag style shorts were too cute to pass up on! I’ve seen them in so many different colors, but it seems to me that the pleats and bow details of these shorts were more visible in a lighter color like this olive versus black for example. With this shade of green appearing a little more masculine, I opted for a neutral tank with a beaded neckline of alternating pearls and rhinestones for a softer look. The tank is a little low and I could’ve added a necklace, but the details on the neckline are pretty enough as is! This look was shot in the hot Texas summer, but as a transition into fall, I can totally see myself rocking these shorts in this neutral sweater and these bootiesWhat are your favorite olive colored pieces in your wardrobe?

XO, Vivian

Tank – Bebe (similar)
Shorts – Abercrombie (similar)
Crossbody – Kate Spade (similar)
Watch – Kapten & Son
Bracelet – Kendra Scott
Sunnies – Gucci (similar and similar)
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Twist Back

End of season sales are the best thing to happen to women. If you’re anything like me, you probably purchase a few items that you can’t wear till the following year so it just sits in your closet with tags on until the new season rolls around. Sorry, I might just be talking about myself at this point haha. Point is, that’s exactly what happened to me with this H&M top. This top was an absolute steal at $12 and I couldn’t pass up on such a cute twisted back! I’m already looking forward to this year’s end of summer sales. What are you hoping to find at a bargain price?

XO, Vivian

Top – H&M (similar and cute)
Jeans – Abercrombie
Wedges – Steve Madden (similar)
Crossbody – Louis Vuitton
Watch – Kapten & Son
Earrings – Thalia Sodi for Macy’s (similar)
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How to Keep Clean Shoes

If I’m judged on the cleanliness of my athletic shoes, you’d probably think I jump in muddy puddles and roll around in dirt. Then, you’d take a look at my sneaks and be impressed with how clean they are! White platforms on sneakers have been in for a while and I really like the trend, but if your platforms are dirty, they give a “less put together” appearance.

We’ve all tossed shoes into the washer before and let them air dry, but there’s always a chance that this method will shrink your shoes if you’re not careful. That being said, I’m really not the kind of person that is easily persuaded by sales people, but I was feeling particularly open to listening to an employee’s spiel about a shoe cleaner at an Aldo shoe store. After listening to this guy I felt like I had to buy the product, so I took it home and didn’t use it for months. Eventually my sneaks got really dirty and I pulled out the shoe product as a last resort and it worked! I love it! I felt so silly for not having used it sooner! I hope this method works for you the same as it has worked for me.

Here’s a step by step of my process:
  • Fill a container with a 1/2 inch of warm, soapy water. This should be just enough to cover the soles of the shoes.
  • Place shoes in the container and allow them to sit and loosen dirt for 10 minutes
  • Remove shoes from the water and apply this shoe cleaner 
  • Use the cleaner’s brush applicator to work in the product
  • No need to rinse off the product! Just pat your shoes dry and that’s it!

XO, Vivian

Tank – J Crew (similar)
Skirt – Abercrombie (similar and cute)
Shoes – Guess (similar and popular)
Crossbody – Tory Burch (similar)
Watch – Marc Jacobs (similar and scalloped)
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Pink Princess Party

My niece’s first birthday party was a beautiful success! Classes were cancelled for 3 days since Hurricane Harvey posed a threat to the area I’m located. This gave me a chance to escape to my home town and help my sister decorate. Let’s just say she couldn’t have done it without me (ok ok she probably could have). I was so excited to put up pink and white decorations and make everything look princess worthy.  I have 5 nieces and nephews but this niece is special because I was present the day of her birth. I held her tiny little body in my arms just a couple hours after she was born and now here I am celebrating her first year of life!

The party was initially a Mexican Fiesta theme with bold colors and I was stressing over what to wear. Later, I get an update that the party theme changed to Pink Princess and I had a sigh of relief. There just so happens to be an excess of pink in my closet and I think this pink ruffle top makes me look like a responsible aunt. These white jeans were sooo stretchy and allowed me to bend down to pick up my niece and also eat all the birthday cake I wanted. Hope ya’ll enjoy this girly look!

XO, Vivian

Top – Bebe (similar)
Jeans – Abercrombie & Fitch (similar)
Sandals – Steve Madden (similar)
Handbag – Louis Vuitton (similar)
Necklace – Tiffany & Co.
Bracelets – Banana Republic (similar), Kendra Scott
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Freshmen Feels

Welcome to A Chance of Charm! I’m ready to take on this blogging world and have felt somewhat overwhelmed and in need of guidance with all my thoughts reminiscent of my freshmen year in high school (glad those days are over!). I talk a little about myself here, but I figured there’s so much more to know about me, so let’s kick this off with a few Vivian facts:

  • I am most proud of my athletic accomplishments. I have completed a sprint triathlon and a half marathon!
  • My diet lacks variety. I’m a terribly picky eater and don’t eat any veggies but I’m working on it.
  • When I grow up I want to be a dog lady
  • I’m 5’0” tall and it’s the furthest thing from my mind until I see a photo of myself next to people of average height
  • Coffee smells amazing, but I don’t drink it. If I’m ever holding a coffee cup, it’s a prop!
  • I’ve competed in 14 pageants and have loved every competition (including my losses)!
  • My siblings are 10, 14, and 18 years older than I am
  • The coolest thing I’ve ever done? Fell out of a plane on purpose to skydive!
  • I love scrapbooking! It’s a cool way to see the highlights of my life.
  • You can find me listening to Maroon 5 and Coldplay most days
  • Using reusable bags at the grocery store makes me feel like a good person

That’s me in a nutshell, thank you so much for reading! Don’t forget to subscribe for new blog posts every Wednesday 🙂

XO, Vivian
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