59 Days of Style Day 27-29: Balancing Volume

I love playing with volume! Ruffles, chunky knits and patterned skirts are lots of fun, however, it is easy to let them overwhelm your figure. 

On Friday, I wanted to wear something pretty, like this top. This is a very feminine top and, as you know, I'm not one to be girlie head-to-toe. I love this Anthropologie top, but I want to still look like me. By wearing some boyfriend, "broken in" jeans (Day 3), I am able to stay casual yet pretty. 

A chunky knit sweater and scarf are wonderful when going to be outside at night, (my brother's 30th birthday party) but easy to make sloppy. Skinnies (Day 13, Day 18 and  Day 23) and boots are the way to balance this look. It is also fun to play with colors. I knew I wanted to wear this scarf, so I chose neutral colors, then I realized I needed a jacket. Trying to still stay fun and fresh, I laid out my outfit and tried different jackets. Surprising to me, this mustard yellow jacket (Day 1, Day 13) is the perfect contrast.

This yellow and purple zebra dress is a bit out there, even for me. I bought it for a trip to Las Vegas and have been trying to figure out a way to wear it since. Minh Le, my stylist, taught me one of my new favorite tricks; pulling on a black crew neck (Day 3, Day 16). The dress is magically transformed into a cute skirt and the black sweater tidies up my silhouette. Nude shoes, awesome trick for elongating the legs and not drawing attention to light legs. I also busted out my vintage beetle brooch, which makes me happy.

Do you want to wear something chunky or full on the top or bottom? It's easy to do, just make sure you slim out the other half so you don't look like a cast member from the original Degrassi High.

59 Days of Style Days 15 & 16: Confidence and Pashmina

Yesterday was an all day work marathon as I prepared for a company-wide meeting that we had last night. Since most people were going to be dress casually, I didn’t want to look too out of place. I selected these wide-leg trouser jeans, an asymmetric patterned Ann Taylor red cow neck top with my chain cardigan. I have had a bit of a hard time figuring out how to wear this read top, since it is bold. By wearing a cardigan, I could show part of the pattern while not being over the top. 

Confidence is huge when it comes to running a meeting, meeting with clients or just to have a productive day. You have now seen me wear this cardigan three times (Day 9, Day 14 )there is a reason for this, it gives me confidence. Not sure if it is the slim fit, the soft material, the deep color or just the awesome chain but something about this sweater says to me “CONFIDENCE”! Everyone should have one go to item in their closet they know will give them this feeling, especially when they are having an off day. As I’m going through this journey I am becoming not only more thoughtful about what I chose to wear but the way I feel in my clothes. That is my challenge to you; ask yourself “how do I feel in this outfit?” Confident? Sexy? Happy? Or just “okay?” On our journey of wardrobe discovery, we might as well discover a thing or two about ourselves.

Today I am worn out, tired and a bit droopy feeling, time to get comfortable. Velour track suit??!?! Hmmmm? Not today, my friend. I pulled on my black crew-neck sweater,  (Day 3) favorite Gap jeans and sheepskin boots. I feel 100% comfortable and cozy. The only way I allowed myself to wear this as an actual outfit was by adding this gorgeous pashmina scarf my Grandma gave me. I also added two current trends: insect jewelry and berry lips. The brooch was in my Great-Grandmother’s “not special” jewelry box passed over by the matriarchs, so I got to adopt it. Berry lips are pretty but I’m not about to commit to a day of thick lipstick when I just want to take the day slow. This lip gloss by Arbonne is perfect, you can layer it on as light or as dark as you want and… it’s not sticky! I can’t stand sticky lip gloss, ick. 

 

Today’s lessons:
-Find out what in your wardrobe makes you feel confident and wear it!
-Have fun with scarves and spruce them up with a vintage or vintage looking, brooch
-Bust out a fun lip color

As always, thanks for reading.
<3
E

59 Days of Style Day 3

 

Who doesn't want a pair of slouchy, boyfriend jeans? These jeans are called "skinny slouchy" by Gap which means they are loose fitting and tapered. A bad combination for an inverted triangle shaped body. Minh, remember she is a genius, suggested I was wearing these too long. Not the difference between the above and below photos. No mater what your shape, experiment with different pant lengths trying to objectively see which looks best on you with different casual jeans. Don't be like me and keep things the way you buy them at the store or see them in a magazine; that just doesn't work for everyone.

I do also want to note that this crew neck black sweater from Forever 21 is a must have in everyone's closet. This is one of the pieces Minh had me add to my wardrobe. You will see much more of it to come. Since I'm not buying any more clothing, getting an infinity scarf or desert scarf was out of the question even though I've had a hankering for one. Well, my friends, its as simple as looping the scarf around twice and tucking in the ends. Yes, that easy and you too can have the look without buying another item. What if a little of the scarf ends dangle out of the back? Do not fret, 70's style fringe is a good thing.

 

Want to add some edge to a cozy outfit? Add a deer head ring! This one from H&M came in a pack of other animal head rings all for $7. Chictopia agrees.

Thank you, Chris for taking these photos for me on my iPhone! Also props to Max for being a nice accessory. 

Today's to do list:

-Work on rolling banners for my work's upcoming conference

-Go grocery shopping

-Checkout Old Navy's black leggings recommended to me by the lovely Cate