What was once a symbol of the hopelessly preppy and traditionally southern has reclaimed itself as a trendy style accepted by minimalists and the downtown crowd—so the opposite of Lilly Pulitzer.

The cursive swirlydoo this is not. Though I love a sratty loop-de-loop monogram on tote bags and water bottles, the monogram of today's top fashion brands is sleek and simple; usually a sans serif font and either engraved or embroidered in a small, non-disruptive manner.

Madewell, Equipment, and others now have personalization services where you can get a minimal initial design emblazoned onto your favorite sweater, shirt, or bag. Perhaps the number one leader of the monogram revitalization movement? Burberry, who made waves with their monogrammed ponchos that everyone from Olivia Palermo to Cara Delevingne wore last fall.

Since the Burberry poncho, monograms seem to be back, and why wouldn't they be? In a world where normcore and minimalism still seems to reign supreme, personalization is challenging. How can you dress like the masses but still show off your individuality? A monogram is an easy and not-too-obvious way to add a personal touch to your outfit without sacrificing your affinity for simple clothes and minimal decoration.

I live for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, not gonna lie. It's a sale where new items are introduced at a lower price before being raised to their regular retail price, aka the best kind of sale. Sure, you have to be a bit of a planner to be purchasing boots and coats in the hot July heat, but $100 off an Equipment sweater is totally worth having to wait a while to actually wear it.

Here are my favorite pieces from the sale:

The Anniversary Sale doesn't officially start until the 17th of July, but if you're a Nordstrom cardholder early access is available now! So go ahead, treat yourself to something stylish as we gear up for a fall full of fashion successes.

Poppy Delevingne is a true style star, with a chameleon-like style that somehow always stays true to her personal style. Sometimes ladylike, sometimes more rock-n-roll, and always delightfully British and prim, the elder Delevingne sister brings an inventive approach to street style fashion wherever she goes, and her looks are just the right balance between innovative and attainable. They are creative, but not so out there that the everyday woman (aka you and I) has no chance of re-creating such looks.

Poppy is one of my current style icons, and I appreciate her ability to flow between different trends and styles. She shows that we don't have to be bogged down by style labels, that you can be preppy one day and bohemian the next, and that it's okay to experiment with fashion and not feel held back by the confines of a personal style label. 

Sometimes even the most stylish of individuals will fall into a style rut of sorts, relying on the designers and outfits that they are comfortable with instead of experimenting with new and exciting things. I love a well-designed fashion "uniform"as much as the next person, but it's nice to break free every once in a while and just have fun with fashion. Poppy Delevingne is one lady who definitely understands the magic of playing with fashion.

1. An easy, breezy shirtdress in a bold hue; Equipment shirtdress

2. A carry-all tote; BCBG lazer-cut leather tote bag

3. A polished, heat-proof top; Kate Spade Saturday "Sexy-Back" top

4. A graphic print skirt; Madewell wrap-around skirt

5. Statement jewelry; J. Crew rainbow necklace

Summertime is upon us, my friends, and finally this girl is free from the shackles of 16 units and insane finals weeks and ready to celebrate a glorious summer. 

For me, summer is about looking fresh, laid-back, but still poised and polished, and finding pieces that can work wherever the day takes you. Bold, bright colors are perfect for sunny days, and tote bags are necessary when bopping around town. Plus, it gives you plenty of room to stash an emergency swimsuit - my only summer secret: never go anywhere without a swimsuit in your bag, just in case.

And, add some trendiness to your summer wardrobe by adding a graphic black-and-white piece inspired by the mod looks at Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton this spring.