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Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Got A Love Like Denim










A jean jacket can be such an elegant or casual statement depending on how what you pair it with. It is so fun to play around with looks in the summertime, because the weather provides a lot more options! This summer, instead of clinging to my leather jackets, I stepped into the denim world. I had a lot of fun creating different looks and using it for both day time casual, and dressy evening looks! As you can see in the photos I took a casual approach with this look, but with the high end designer accessories and a change of my shoes this look could be dressy also.

A jean jacket can be such a statement, and for many years it was a sign of a casual look. I paired it with my white ripped jeggings, a lose tank, and my nude flats for a very trendy and yet still extremely casual ensemble. I always am on the go and sometimes I need to go from day to night in a heartbeat. Without the option to change entirely it is a good idea to have pieces that can easily be transferred to an evening look with just the change of your shoes.

If I had changed to my nude heels instead of my nude flats, this outfit would be acceptable in many different evening activities. Accessories are the secret to many outfits, but especially when creating a look you want to be versatile. I added signature designer pieces such as: my Gucci scarf, my Louis Vuitton handbag, and my Calvin Klein bra in order to make the look more high end even though the pieces I am wearing are casual.

You don’t need designer pieces to make this look sophisticated, however, and if you are not into flowing and draping tops a simple white t-shirt, and any simple scarf would make this look just as versatile. Style is simply your take on a look, so if you like a couple things, but dislike others use that when putting together your outfits. Jean jackets are fun because a lot of people are open to them verses pieces like blazers and leather jackets usually scare others.

Try it out! Put together your version of this look and play around with shoes to see how something so simple can turn into something so elegant and chic. In my shoot I stuck to casual, but with my polyvore.com outfit you see how I give options for footwear. As I said before it’s all about taking an outfit an applying it to your lifestyle, but also knowing the options available to you. Playing around with looks helps you when in those times where you need to grab and go without time to change. By preparing yourself ahead of time you know what shoes to grab and what accessories will help you accomplish the look you need for the occasion at hand. 

Let me know what you think of this look and what you might do differently! It is always fun to play with style since it is entirely about your interpretation. If you don’t like something I do that’s okay! You have a different body and different taste, so your outfit may be similar and completely different all in one! I am simply here as a guide to show you how I take fashion and turn it into style! 



created at https://www.polyvore.com


    Dsquared2 Tank Top

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Saturday, August 19, 2017

Quality vs. Quantity


It’s that time of year again… when the season has already changed in the world of retail! Sales are about to hit us in the face, scream our names, and call us into the stores! This is usually the time of year where we want lots and lots of new things to show off for the upcoming season. So of course we are all going to take full advantage of the sales that are hitting us in the face wherever we go!

But here is a thought… maybe we shouldn’t go sale crazy, step back, and think for a minute… do I really need this? Half way through the year we are going to think back to these first shopping experiences and do what we do best… regret. Regret putting down those perfect nude heels that were slightly above our budget, but perfect for our entire wardrobe!

We think about why we didn’t buy that perfect stupid shoe, and then we realize, oh yeah, I bought that cute top… wait I think that’s still in my closet with the tag on it, but I mean it was $10 how could I say no?! Oh yeah and I did buy those cute earrings 3 for $20, but I think I lost half of them by now… I am sure you get the point.

We tend to see the amount of things we can buy and get lost in the quantity and forget all about quality. Now a days shopping is so overwhelming because we can’t even walk into a store without being bombarded with SALE! We are humans, we like to save money, the world is an expensive place…trust me I get it! But I want you to try and beat your instincts and try to retrain your brain and do a little experiment.

Next time you go shopping instead of settling for three cheap items spend a little more time deciding on something that you might really want or need, but costs a little more! The other night my best friend came home with a big bag of goodies! She is notorious for buying lots and lots of lip makeup (lip liners, lipsticks, etc.). She was so excited to pull out her array of new matte lipsticks and see what all the colors looked like. As she applied she started making a pile of colors that did not suit her or had a funny quality to them.

I looked at her and said, “Ali why don’t you just figure out what colors you are looking for and instead of paying $4 for a bunch of slightly nice lips sticks? You always buy a bunch of cheap lipsticks or liners and you only end up liking two colors out of 10. Why don’t you just figure out what colors you want and spend a little more money on something you love vs. something you kinda like?”

She told me that she never thought of it that way before, and that is typically because it is a lot easier and more fun to buy a cheap pack of ten and try them on. But just like Ali half the time we end up hating half the pack, or even if we like the color you end up hating the quality.

This idea of Quality vs. Quantity can be applied to all forms of shopping, especially with shoes! Who doesn’t love to come home with five new pairs of shoes? But then you go to wear them ten minutes into the day and your feet are already bleeding, breaking, burning… you name it! I do know that shoes, especially heels need to be broken in, but most of the time you can tell when a shoe is going to hurt no matter what verses a shoe that just needs to stretch out a little bit.

Think before you spend, plan before you buy, and spend more money on items you love vs. buying just to buy! This season take on the sales instead of giving in to them, instead of over buying; see if the sales work to your advantage! Meaning instead of putting down those nude heels because they are too expensive see if there is a coupon or sale that discounts an item you have been waiting for!

Work with the sales instead of being consumed by them, and see if you don’t have to pardon with quality because they are much … look for those nude heels that were once $70.00 but our now $49.98! Quality is something that speaks for itself and the sooner you start spending more on items you will see that in the end you are actually saving yourself money! 

Buckle Heels:
GirlTalk11m Black by Anne Michelle, High Heel Stiletto Dress S...
Women's Topshop Rosalie Ankle Strap Sandal
Pointed Toe Heels:
Yoins Black Suede Pointed Toe Lace-up High Heels
$35 YOINS.COM
Saks Fifth Avenue Catalina Pointed Toe D'Orsay Pumps
Pink Purse:
Charlotte Russe Quilted Velvet Crossbody Bag
Jennifer Lopez Hailey Convertible Crossbody Bag
$55 KOHLS.COM
Nude Lip:
Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick Clay Crush 932
$6.46 WILKO.COM
Lipstick MAC Cosmetics Official Site
Plum Lip:
Avon True Color Perfectly Matte Lipstick | AVON
Lipstick Queen Women's King (Noble)
Teal Stone Earring:
Kim Rogers Gold-Tone Teal Resin Earrings
$4.19 BELK.COM
Lauren Ralph Lauren Gold-Tone Blue Stone Wire Drop Earrings
$34 MACYS.COM
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Sunday, June 19, 2016

Dress for Less



   
My Outfit: $117
Blazer: $42 ‪#‎DKNY‬
Crop Top: $12.99 ‪#‎charlotterusse‬
Shorts: $12 ‪#‎Gap‬
Gold Chain: $10 ‪#‎charmingcharlie‬
Shoes: $39.99 ‪#‎ninewest‬

Polyvore Outfit: $346

Blazer: $70 glamorous.com
Crop Top: $140 lanecrawford.com
Shorts: $65 YOOX.com
Gold Chain: $6 Charlotte Russe

Everyone wants to look luxurious and fashionable, yet so many times we make excuses or feel as though we will never fit that mold. I am here to tell you that is not true! I have had to teach myself how to “Dress for Less” meaning find inspiration from things I cannot afford, and find cheaper, similar versions of those outfits. It is a great way to feel fashionable without feeling broke.

The outfit I created only cost me $117 total, whereas the one created on Polyvore.com came to $346! It is easy to shop for outfits when you have already mapped them out. It gives you a shopping guide and helps you feel inspired. This makes your shopping trips less of an aimless wander, and more of a mission.

Having had worked in retail for many years, I often saw people come in not knowing what they want or how much they want to spend. So they end up doing either two things: one they come in and over buy without really getting anything they can use in their existing wardrobe, and end up returning it all (which is a waste of time, money, gas, etc.). Or people come in and leave feeling bad about themselves, unaccomplished, and unable to feel like they fit the “fashion mold.”

The funny thing is, we aren’t really supposed to fit the “fashion mold.” It is simply there as art to inspire retail designers for their accessible lines (meaning the clothes we buy in the stores). What really matters is the way you put outfits together to express who you are. That is Style! The problem is that people are usually unaware of their style, and if they are aware, a lot of the time they have a hard time relating that to their figure and/or lifestyle. So creating a mock version of outfits you might want helps one not only shop for less, but it also helps us map out a way to create fun looks that we enjoy wearing.

My outfit below is a bit more high fashion than a lot of people are comfortable with, but that is just my personal style. I take inspiration from many different elements, and have been styling myself for years, but that doesn’t mean you can’t train yourself to dress affordably with looks that fit your style.

Instead of putting yourself in an “I will never be fashionable” box think of yourself with a bit more pride. Learn what your style is: what patterns inspire you, what colors you like/look good on you. Then use those inspirations to create a shopping guide: how much do I want to spend, what items will be something I want to wear often, and what items can I buy to coordinate with items I already own?  

Take your map with you when you shop, and see how much more you will accomplish on your shopping trips. Style speaks wonders, and once you find your true style you feel more like your true self, so apply the map I created to yourself. What inspired me to create my dress for less look was the white blazer. I had seen it in the store DKNY I was currently working at, and wanted to see how I could apply it to not only my work wardrobe, but also my casual dress. I went on polyvore.com and played around with different ideas.

Once I created a look that I loved I went out searching for the pieces I needed to buy, and the pieces I already had in my wardrobe. I kept in mind that I wanted to keep my budget around $100 vs. the $346 look I created on polvore.com. Say you don’t know how to use that website as a map for a “dress for less.” What about using a photo of your favorite celebrity?

Even if the outfit isn’t exactly like the look you want it is another way to map out an idea. Obviously a celebrities’ ensemble is going to cost a lot more than what we will buy, so it is another great example of a dress for less tactic. Below I listed some outfits that are similar to the outfit that I created. Even though I didn’t use this tactic it still would have been an easy way to inspire myself.

I simply typed: “white blazer white shorts outfit” into google.com and found that so many celebrities sported a similar look! This is when you get to apply what you like aka your personal style. For example I wanted to add a snakeskin heel where as these women below all went with a nude or white heel. I love turtlenecks and crop tops so I replaced their white and nude shirts with the one I wanted. Style is in the details so having a base and modifying it helps you navigate your style.

So if you ever find yourself in a situation where you are trying to save money but love the look Jessica Parker wore on the red carpet, or you see the perfect piece but realize it’s just too expensive...apply either or both of these shopping guides to help you! Take a picture of that piece you love go shopping with it as a way to compare. Use polyvore.com to create a mock outfit so you can apply it to your current wardrobe, and pieces you might want to create a certain look.

Don’t be afraid of fashion; instead learn how to apply it to your style! It’s all about decoding yourself in order to navigate through the things you like or the things you don’t like. Learn how to apply what you like to your budget and your lifestyle, and how to inspire yourself to shop with a mission. This way you never walk into a store and spend too much money or buy things you won’t wear!

 

(all images found on google.com)

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