Imagine this: you wake up and check the clock. It’s past time for you to get up, your alarm didn’t go off, and now you are going to be late to work/school/etc. What are you going to do? What are you going to wear? If you know your personal style, then hopefully you have some go to outfits in mind. And if you don’t, then it’s time to work on them.
For me, I always have several go to outfits in mind. Whether it’s a casual day, a work day, or a fancy event, I know exactly where to start with putting an outfit together.
One of my favorite go to outfits is a graphic tee or casual top with a midi/maxi skirt. I love the juxtaposition of a dressier item like a flow-y skirt with an everyday shirt like a slogan tee. I actually do this with just about every outfit I wear: chunky sneakers with cute little dresses, kitten heels with distressed boyfriend jeans, stuff like that. I feel like it adds an element of interest and you always look on trend.
Another stand by outfit is anything with wide leg pants. Not only do I feel like I’m wearing pajamas, but I look put together too. You can wear them casually with, you guessed it, graphic tees. Or you can dress them up with a button up or nicer shirt. I tend to create an outfit around one focus piece, typically a patterned or brightly colored piece. So if I am wearing patterned pants I’ll go for a simpler top and vice versa. This is one of the easiest ways to create outfits, by grounding them with one dynamic piece.
The simplest go to outfit I have is a dress. I prefer my dresses to have sleeves and be midi length so that they are easier to throw on and be comfortable without having to wear a strapless bra (you curvy girls get me). In a casual setting I love wearing dresses with sneakers or strappy sandals, and in fancier settings I almost always wear them with low heeled sandals. Dresses are great because they are basically an outfit in one piece. You can add things like shoes, purses, belts, and jackets but they are small additions to the overall look of the dress.
The most important thing to get from this post is that it is good to know how to build outfits around your personal style and keep them in mind when you have no idea what to wear. I hope you guys feel inspired to go through your closet and put outfits together around some of your favorite pieces. Let them be the star of the show, and always keep the “blue print” of your favorite outfits in mind so that you can recreate them whenever you need an outfit that you KNOW you love and look good in.
I want you to close your eyes and picture your wardrobe. What does it look like? What pieces immediately come to mind? Now imagine if something were to happen to your wardrobe, and you had to start all over. Where would you start? What pieces would you want to replace as soon as possible? Those are a good indication of your wardrobe staples.
Your wardrobe staples are the pieces you can’t live without, and they are a great indicator of your personal style! Below I am going to show you my wardrobe staples for the upcoming season as well as a few tips and tricks on finding your own wardrobe staples.
An important thing to consider when defining your personal style and wardrobe staples is your lifestyle. Things like climate and career will impact your style in various ways. For example, if you live in a warmer climate, your wardrobe staples may include denim shorts where as someone’s in a cooler climate may include a coat. If you work a 9 to 5 office job five days out of the week, your wardrobe will probably include more formal business wear than someone who works outdoors or someone who works at a hospital. Once you make up the guidelines for your wardrobe, your personal style will become much easier to define. However, it is important to note that our personal style doesn’t always line up with our lifestyle, and that’s okay! That’s what weekends and free time are for!
Here are some of my wardrobe staples:
Tops- If you know anything about me, then you probably know of my never ending love for a good graphic tee. Whether its from your favorite band or has a simple logo, is all black and white or super colorful, cropped or really oversized, any graphic tee is a good graphic tee in my book. They just go with everything. I also love dainty and feminine blouses, and striped button ups. One thing I don’t have enough of though is blouses and tops in simple solid colors, but they are definitely a staple.
Shoes- I am a big fan of comfortable shoes and for me that means sneakers and tennis shoes. My must haves include chunky dad tennis shoes and platform sneakers. I find that these are just the most flattering styles and I am always gravitating towards them. Other favorite styles include pointed toe ankle boots and strappy sandals in a staple color like black, grey, or brown.
Bottoms- A pair of well fitting jeans is a must in any wardrobe, and I am anti-skinny jeans! For years I forced myself to wear them because they were trendy. But now I know that not only are they the most uncomfortable thing in the world, they are also not flattering on me. Now I am all about straight leg, wide leg, or boyfriend style jeans. Add to this list a pair of striped linen trousers, plaid dress trousers, denim shorts, and all the midi to maxi length skirts you can imagine. So find a trusted friend, throw every idea of what’s “trendy” out the window, and find the jeans/pants/skirts that speak to you and make you feel good!
Dresses- The same rule for skirts tends to apply to dresses for me as well. I just love midi and maxi dresses to much! I find that not only are they incredibly comfortable, but they are also very flattering on me. I gravitate towards florals and stripes, but I also love a good denim dress or a solid color.
Outerwear- I used to be the kind of person that thought there was no such thing as “casual blazers,” but I have been proven wrong and I love blazers now. In fact, I am definitely on the hunt for some more. Other staples in my wardrobe include denim jackets, both covered in patches and pins and plain, and a cargo jacket.
Accessories- The accessories that I live by are dainty gold necklaces, hoop and statement earrings, and gold rings. I also love hair clips and barrettes, straw hats and berets, beaded bags, straw bags, silk scarves, and just about anything with a vintage flair.
I know that not all of these staples are everyone’s taste, and I am by no means saying that if you don’t have all of these things you need to go buy them. These are just the things in my wardrobe that I could not live without. These are my wardrobe staples, and I feel like they are an accurate representation of my personal style.
I hope this post has made it easier for you to label your wardrobe staples and ultimately define your personal style. There’s only one post left in this series, and I think it’s the best one yet.
Probably the most asked question I get is “How did you find your personal style?” And honestly, that question is a tough one to answer. Finding my personal style has always been a process, and it’s something that is constantly evolving. But I also believe that finding your personal style is an integral part of fashion.
If you don’t know your personal style you are more likely to succumb to every trend you see, have a closet bursting full of clothes, and yet still proclaim “I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR!”
So that is why I am starting Part 1 of a series here on the blog with steps to not only help determine your personal style, but to fine tune your wardrobe so that every day you look forward to getting dressed.
The first step to define your personal style is to find inspiration. This can be from magazines, bloggers, Youtube videos, street style, Instagram, Pinterest, or even Tumblr. By gathering images and people that inspire you, you can more easily discern patterns and things that are repeated in those images. For example, if you are constantly pinning images on Pinterest that have distressed jeans, flannel, leather jackets and Doc Martens you might be able to describe your style as grungy, edgy, or punk.
My favorite ways to get fashion inspiration are Pinterest, bloggers I follow on Instagram and YouTube, and of course magazines and online fashion media. While I find my style to generally be hard to categorize, I know that I am drawn to more feminine silhouettes, vintage inspired clothing, and classic prints. However, I also love juxtaposing masculine or edgy pieces with feminine or classy pieces. Therefore I have a hard time committing to just one word to describe my style. I know what I like, and I stick to it.
Maybe your personal style isn’t as obvious from the images that inspire you. Maybe, like me, you have multiple facets of your style. That’s totally fine! Definitions aren’t what’s important here. What’s important is knowing the things you are attracted to in your clothing items, and staying away from things that don’t fit into your style. If you are confident in your style, then you wont feel like you have to buy into every micro-trend the minute you walk into a Forever 21.
While I’ll never knock someone for trying something new, especially in fashion. Being aware and knowledgeable of your personal style will save you from a lot of the heartbreak and annoyance of finding something your bought forever ago in your closet with the tags still on it. Although this is not foolproof, even I mess up sometimes, it will cut down on the amount of wasted funds and wasted closet space. And who doesn’t want that?
So, what do you think? Have you found your personal style, or are you still just as lost as you were before? Hopefully this post has helped you get a start on narrowing in on your personal style. And if not, then you can look forward to the next installment in this series as further help. No matter what, always trust your gut and wear what makes you feel confident!
I can’t believe it’s 2019, and January is already almost over! Where has the time gone? If you’re anything like me, you probably started this year super motivated to make some lifestyle changes, like most people are at the beginning of a new year. However, the second I mess up or put things off for another day, I start to feel like a failure and tomorrow turns into next week or next month. I hate to say this, because it seems like lately everyone has their crap together, but I am a mess. I have sat down in an attempt to write this blog post several times over the past couple of weeks, but fear and anxiety of it not being good enough, kept me from accomplishing it and continuously putting it off.
But that’s not how I want my 2019 to go. So I’m going to focus on the positives today by sharing with you some of the things I have been loving lately. These things have inspired me, motivated me, and kept me entertained over the past couple of weeks.
Since chopping my hair into a bob, learning how to manage and style my new haircut has been a journey. I love the length and color, I think it comes off super chic and fashionable. However, my hair tends to lay flat and sticks to my head like an unflattering helmet, so movement, texture, and volume have been my biggest hair goals.
Thanks to my Sephora Beauty Insider points, I was able to get my hands on some samples from the hair care brand Ouai, and they have been life changing to say the least. The samples included a leave in conditioner that makes my hair look soft and healthy, a finishing creme that cuts my drying time in half, a hair oil that adds the perfect amount of shine, and the texturizing spray that is like my favorite dry shampoo and hair spray had a baby. A combination of these products has helped me learn exactly how to style my hair into the wavy bob of my dreams. I may have to repurchase all of these products in full sized bottles (that is if funds allow).
Speaking of styling my new hair, I have been loving the vintage touch of hair accessories lately. Whether it be the hint of glamour with a bejeweled hair clip, or the flash of pattern with a silk hair scarf. I am all about accessorizing, and hair accessories are my latest obsession. I feel like they complete a look, and add a fashionable detail to even the plainest outfits.
Last on my Beauty Favorites list will come as no surprise to those that know me. I have not been able to stop wearing them. I’m talking about the Fenty Beauty Gloss Bombs. We all know that Kylie Jenner helped add to the hype of matte liquid lipsticks. I used to wear them religiously. After a while though I got sick of the drying damage it did to my lips. Thus Fenty Beauty lip glosses walked into my life, and changed it forever. Now hardly a day goes by that I don’t have one of the shades on my lips. They are the perfect product to layer over any lipstick to add some of that glossy, moisturizing shine. Plus they give me early 2000s vibes in the best way!
If you follow me on Instagram, the items in this category will not surprise you at all because they have been repeatedly featured in my pictures. I never used to be a hat person. In fact, growing up I would always convince my mom to buy hats for me and then proceed to never wear them because “they didn’t look good on me.” I wanted to be the kind of person that looked good in hats, but I just wasn’t. That, however, has changed now. I’m not sure if it has more to do with my new hair cut and color, or the fact that I have grown into a much more confident adult, but I love wearing hats now. My absolute favorite hats are berets, but I also love my baker boy/newspaper boy hats. They add a finished look to a lot of my outfits, whether that be through a splash of color or pattern or just covering up my bad hair day.
Another Fashion Favorite of mine, as you can probably tell by the above photos, is my large, gold initial necklace. It’s almost an exact dupe for the old Celine one that everyone and their dog had late last year, but for a fraction of the price.
Speaking of fraction of the price, I have been super into thrifting lately! Not only is it great for the environment, but it’s great for the wallet too. I snagged this colorful Lucky Brand sweater while on vacation in Florida, and it has quickly become a staple in my winter wardrobe.
Another piece I haven’t been able to stop wearing? these wide leg, leopard print pants. I never would have thought that I’d fall in love with such a wild (ha, “wild” get it?) pair of pants, and yet here we are. They are beyond comfortable, and I feel amazing every time I wear them.
Although the blazer trend has been in the forefront of runways and street style alike, I was never one to hop on the train because I simply thought I didn’t look good in them. I would buy a professional looking blazer to wear to job interviews and the like, but then when I tried to style it any other way it just looked weird. Ever since, I had been on the hunt for a plaid blazer that I could wear everyday. Then I found this one, and the rest is history.
Purse: Karl Lagerfeld
Last but not least is my new designer baby. This purse was a Christmas gift, and I couldn’t be more in love with it. The quality is amazing, it goes well with everything in my closet, and I know it is going to be a forever item. This is the first purse that I own that I would consider “designer” and I plan to treasure it. You can definitely expect that this won’t be the last time you see her. (Side note: I’ve noticed a lot of people name their designer handbags. Is this totally weird or totally genius? What do you think I should name mine?)
This last category is for things that I have been loving lately that are technology, pop culture, or food related. Another gift I received for Christmas was a Fitbit Alta. I had been wanting a smart watch for awhile now, and when the Alta went on sale for Cyber Monday, I made sure to notify my parents. I absolutely love it, and because the style is slim and black, it goes with everything. Another technology item that has been changing my life recently is my WaterPik. I’ll admit, I have never been very consistent with my flossing. And with the advice of my dentist, I decided it was time to invest in a water flosser. Lucky for me, this particular model is cordless and relatively inexpensive. Needless to say, it has changed the game for me.
These last couple of things are pop culture related, and if you know me well you can probably already guess them because I haven’t been able to shut up about them. The first is the new movie Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse. If you haven’t seen this masterpiece of a film yet, then run (don’t walk) to your nearest theater and buy a ticket. I truly don’t think I can put into words how amazing this movie is. It even won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Film! Let me end by saying this, the second the end credits rolled, my brother and I wanted to buy tickets again and go see it the next day.
One more to go! Well technically two. These last two are both albums, and I have not been able to stop listening to them since they were released. The first one is Trench by Twenty-One Pilots and the second one is Sweetener by Ariana Grande. If you haven’t heard of either one of these albums, then I’m sorry but you must be living under a rock. In my opinion they are both of these artists greatest work. Cohesively, each song on these albums tells a story. If you have not listened to them, then I highly recommend you do so from start to finish. It’s the best way to enjoy them fully.
Well, I don’t know about you, but I feel like it’s been a long one. If you’re still reading this, congratulations, you made it to the end! I hope you enjoyed reading about some of the things that have gotten me through this New Year slump. What are some of the things you have been loving lately? I’d love to hear about them!
And don’t worry, I have tons of content planned for 2019. I appreciate your patience, and I can’t wait to share it all with you!
No, I’m not talking about Christmas necessarily. I’m talking about the time of the year where you and everyone you know put on your most festive and sparkly outfit and post cute pics on Instagram to stunt on all your haters, am I right?
Although that may not be your exact reasoning, the majority of people spend their holidays surrounding by family, friends, and holiday parties. And if you have any Instagram presence at all, you probably post a picture to commemorate the occasion. Or in my case, the outfit haha.
And if you are anything else like me, you probably wait until the very last minute to pick your holiday outfit. Well today, on Christmas Eve Eve, I am here to hopefully prevent the ill fated combination of procrastination, stress, and sequin covered clothing. Below I am going to share five of my favorite festive outfits that are perfect for all types of holiday occasions! Hopefully, these outfits inspire you to stop procrastinating on any future holiday outfits. Worst case scenario, at least I got to wear some super fun outfits, take cute pictures, and post them on Instagram.
Sweater: Old Navy Scarf: old Belt: DKNY Leggings: JCPenney Boots: Steve Madden
Outfit 1: Going to See Christmas Lights with Bae
I’m going to be honest with you for a second, I only added this outfit because I wanted an excuse to wear a big fluffy scarf. Problem is that I don’t like going outside, and I can promise that you will be way too hot if you wear this indoors. So this outfit, while cute, is for those rare occasions when you go look at the Christmas lights around town with your family, or when you go ice skating with your bae.
I will be doing none of those this year, mostly because when I post this I will be arriving in sunny Florida for the holidays. But ya know, if you’re looking for the perfect outfit to wear out in the cold that also gives you an excuse to snuggle with your man, I wouldn’t blame you. It’s the perfect combination of festive colors and comfortable fabrics. Plus the cinched in waist and all black pants makes your legs look long and your waist line more flattering. See? I got your back.
Shirt: Thrifted Skirt: Old Navy Shoes: Boots
Outfit 2: Christmas Dinner with the Family
If you’ve been following me and the blog for long enough, then you know that this skirt always makes it’s way out this time of the year. I love the bright red buffalo plaid and the warmth of the wool material. Since it’s a little on the mini side, and like me you probably have relatives that judge you for wearing ripped jeans let alone a short skirt, I suggest pairing it with opaque tights.
This look is a level above jeans and a shirt, but it’s still very comfortable. And considering how much food we are all bound to eat on Thanksgiving 2.0 aka Christmas Dinner, I opted for a loose shirt instead of a form fitting one. Whatever it takes to hide the food baby!
Sweater: Old Navy Skirt: JCPenney Shoes: Franco Sarto Purse: Vintage
Outfit 3: A Very “Corporate” Christmas
When most people thing of work holiday parties, they probably think of boring outfits and meaningless small talk. But that doesn’t have to be the case. I have always been a firm believer in wearing fashionable outfits to work. Maybe it’s the stylist in me, but professional clothing doesn’t have to be plain or boring, and as long as you are following the dress code it doesn’t hurt to stand out and be confident.
While this outfit is a little more on the “safe” side, the details are what really makes this outfit pop. I decided to keep the color palette of this simple with black and white and hints of gold. The added texture and shine of the leather skirt creates interest, and even though the heels are not very high the gold embroidery makes them stand out. The sweater adds pattern and warmth, and the the gold necklace stands out on the high neck of the sweater. My favorite piece, however, is the gold, beaded antique bag. I own many antique and vintage bags, and I love them because they are so different and unique. Definitely a conversation starter too!
Sweater: Thrifted Skirt: Burlington Shoes: Nine West Clutch: old
Outfit 4: That Fancy Holiday Party You Never Thought You’d Be Invited To
Am I the only one that thought when you became an adult you would always have super fancy holiday parties to go to? Maybe I just watched too many movies, or maybe I’m just not at that stage of life yet. Either way, I am highly disappointed. Maybe next year I’ll throw a fancy holiday party for all my friends. After all, sometimes we need to work for the things we want.
Until then, I’ll continue to be overdressed for all my “regular” holiday parties. Any excuse to wear this gorgeous floor length, pattered, silk skirt. Doesn’t it just scream “Merry Christmas!” Since the skirt is thin, I wore it with a red sweater to bring out the color in the skirt and add some warmth. Throw on some heels, gold jewelry, and an embroidered clutch, and you’re good to go! That is if you have somewhere to go haha.
Dress: Old Navy Shoes: Old Navy Turtleneck: Old Navy Fanny Pack: Amazon
Outfit 5: When You Just Want to be Extra for the Holidays
This last look doesn’t have a partially occasion attached to it. In fact it doesn’t really have a rhyme or reason to it, apart from me just wanting to look super cute and extra for the holidays. Also I just got this red beret and I think I’m in love.
Sometimes when the holiday spirit hits you just right you have to go all out with color, pattern, accessories, and even poses. I layered the striped turtleneck under the dress to add a little extra pattern, and personally I love the way plaid looks with stripes. The belt bag/fanny pack not only worked to cinch in my waist in an otherwise waistless dress, but it also added an element of fun with the gold beetle and lion studs. The red beret is really the finishing touch here, though. I feel like without it, the outfit just wouldn’t look complete. I must admit, my outfits don’t always turn out the way they look in my mind, but this one turned out even better than I could have imagined!
Well, I hate to the the bearer of bad news but that’s the end of the holiday content on the blog. I hope you got some fashion inspiration, holiday inspiration, or a little bit of both. Enjoy the holidays with your loved ones, and I’ll see you next time!
I know its’s not technically Christmas yet, but in exactly one week from today it will be, so that’s got to count for something right?
Anyways, today is the start of holiday content on the blog, and since I’ve been so inconsistent with posting lately (I know I’m the worst but I’m working on it!) I am planning on making this week a double post week! So you can expect this post today and another holiday themed post this weekend!
One of my favorite holiday traditions is when my family watches the movie White Christmas while we put up and decorate the tree. It’s been a tradition for as long as I can remember. My mom and I sing and dance to the “Sisters” song, and my brother and Dad pretend to care haha.
Needless to say that decorating the house for Christmas has always been one of my favorite things to do this time of the year, and I wanted to share that process with you, as well as a few tips on how to decorate your home on a budget!
1. Update Existing Decor with Holiday Touches
If you don’t know where to start when it comes to decorating for Christmas, besides the tree, I would suggest you focus on updating your coffee table, dinner room table, shelves, and other surfaces with holiday related items. This can be as simple as switching out a picture frame for a holiday saying, or adding a dish for holiday candy. If you have the space, clear off an entire dresser top, mantle, or accent table off and use it to create a nativity scene, display a winter village, arrange your holiday plates, or (like my mom always does) a show off of your collection of snowmen figurines.
2. Use What You Have
If you are on a budget, a great idea is to use Christmas cards as holiday decor. Just keep cards you really like, or go buy some, and frame them around your house. It’s super simple, and a whole lot cheaper than most holiday decorations at the store. Another easy tip is to use pine cones, holly, jingle bells, Christmas ornaments, and cinnamon sticks in your decorations. Not only are all of these things super affordable, but they are also incredibly versatile. Simply add any of them to a bowl, plate, or any other decorative container, and you’re good to go! Bonus points if you use multiple types of these items together.
3. Don’t be afraid to DIY
Even if you aren’t a self proclaimed DIY Queen, don’t be afraid to try a simple project, like a custom wreath. Get inspiration from sites like Pinterest if you’re wanting to follow directions, or come up with your own ideas. If you are able to incorporate things you already own, even better! Honestly, there’s nothing greater than creating your own decorations. You get to make something you could never find in store, and even though it may take some time and work, oftentimes it can be much cheaper than store bought alternatives. Plus you get the satisfaction that you made something you can proudly display in your own home.
The best thing about decorating for the holidays is your house never has to look the exact same way twice! Around here, we are constantly changing things up, adding new finds or creations, or just experimenting. I hope you take these tips and inspiration and use them to create your ideal Christmas home decor!
I’ll see you guys later this week for another holiday related post. Until then, Merry (early) Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Hi y’all! Can you believe it’s the most wonderful time of the year?! I’m not talking about Christmas, although I do love a good holiday. No, I’m talking about fall and winter! I realize this may be a controversial opinion, don’t attack me, but I definitely prefer cold weather to warm weather. There’s just something about that chill in the air, wrapping up in a cozy sweater, and wearing a bunch of layers, that really brings out my inner stylist. In fact, I currently have 10 or more outfits that I want to style and wear, so definitely check my Instagram for some outfit inspiration! (shameless plug)
In fact, most of my favorite outfits for this time of the year involve skirts and dresses that normal people would probably pack away with their spring and summer wardrobe. So today, I’m going to be showing you some of my favorite ways to wear my spring and summer pieces in the fall and winter while still staying warm!
Dress: Old Navy Suede Jacket: Old Navy Shoes: Dolce Vita Beret: Walt Disney World
1. Opaque tights are a must!
When it comes to wearing dresses and skirts in the cold, tights are essential. And the thicker the tights, the better. I own a wide variety of tights in different colors, prints, and opacity (thickness). You can pretty much buy them anywhere you go, and although I’ve never spent a lot of money on them, they almost always last.
Jumpsuit: Old Navy Turtleneck Sweater: Thrifted Shoes: Adidas Superstars
2. When in doubt, layer it up!
I originally bought this jumpsuit in the spring, and I quickly fell in love! Since it is sleeveless you wouldn’t think to wear it in the fall and winter, but with some simple layering it can quickly become cold weather appropriate. This trick can also be used on anything sleeveless that you want to wear this time of the year. Just add a sweater or long sleeved shirt under or on top, and you’re good to go!
Skirt: Vintage Sweater: Old Navy Boots: Steve Madden Hat: Target Purse: Anne Klein
3. Over the knee boots are your friends.
If you don’t own a pair of over the knee boots yet, then what are you doing with your life?? This style of boots has been in the spotlight for a few years now, and they are not going anywhere any time soon. I bought these as a Christmas gift to myself on sale from Steve Madden. I had been wanting them for awhile, but knew they were going to be an investment piece because I wanted a quality pair that would last. I’ve had these boots for almost two years now, and I would say not only have they held up, but they have also become a staple in my wardrobe. I love wearing them with skirts and dresses when it’s chilly (or I just haven’t shaved my legs in awhile. You feel me girls?) They help keep my legs covered and warm, plus they look incredibly stylish. I particularly love them peeking out of longer skirts, dresses, and cropped pants.
Whether or not you love the cold weather season, dressing warm is absolute essential. And if you’re anything like me, you want to look cute and stylish while your doing it. I hope these three tips help you brave the cold, and try to incorporate some of your favorite spring and summer pieces into your fall and winter wardrobe. Just remember to bundle up, and stay warm and cozy!
Hello everyone! It’s me again, and I’m here today with a post that has been a long time coming, literally. As you probably noticed, I went on a bit of a hiatus after graduating from college. Truth be told its been a rough couple of months. With the holidays and New Years just around the corner, the pressure to meet my goals and be successful is higher than ever. But life just kind of sucks right now, and I feel like I am no where closer to being where I want to be in life. The break has been much needed, and although I can’t promise that I’m back for good, I can say that I am focusing a lot more of my attention on blogging again. That’s because blogging and creating fashion related content brings me joy, and going into the New Year, I want to focus on things that bring me joy.
Speaking of things that bring me joy, I wanted to share with you some photos I took over the summer with my vintage film camera. I just got the negatives and scans back, and I can’t wait to show them to you. I must admit, when it comes to photography, I am pretty mediocre. But nevertheless these pictures take me back to fun memories made with my family. And I love that.
My extended family, uncle, aunt, and cousins, came to visit us this summer. It was a really great time full of quality family time, which was much needed considering we only get to see them once a year. My cousin Abbi helped me start my first roll of film, because she has been taking pictures on 35mm film for a while now (thanks Abbi!) So I started out by taking pictures of things around the house, to help get an idea of how it works. As you can see, I still haven’t really gotten the hang of it since most of these pictures are out of focus or dimly lit.
After the first couple of “test shots” for lack of a better word, I started taking my camera everywhere with me in case inspiration struck. I am by no means a professional photographer, so I mostly used this roll of film to capture memories, whether they were aesthetically pleasing or not. To me, taking pictures on film is very similar to taking pictures on your phone, but in a much more tangible way.
A lot of these pictures are from a trip to Crystal Bridges, an art museum in Arkansas, with the family. If you are a long time fan of the blog you may remember our last time going there. It is one of my favorite museums (I love museums!) and I wanted to take pictures of everything.
This picture of my brother is the last one on my roll of film. It was taken the day we moved him into his college dorm, and it signified the end of summer for our family. I miss him all the time, and he is one of my closest friends. I can’t wait to see him for the holidays! He also got into film photography this summer, and he has much more of an artistic eye than I do!
These final two pictures were taken by my cousin Abbi, who is definitely more experienced than I am. Also they make me look cute.
To me, film photography was such a unique experience. In a world where we can take out our phones and take pictures whenever we want to, it was nice to actually take the time to choose what I wanted to immortalize in my limited shots on my roll of film. There was a bit of pressure in making sure each shot was perfect, but the fact that I couldn’t tell if it came out the way I wanted until I got it developed made it so much more fun. If you ever have the chance to work with film, I highly recommend it. It can be so exciting, and the results will leave you so proud of yourself.
I know this post was a little different than usual today, but I hope you enjoyed it. Let me know if you have ever worked with film before, or if you want to try it someday!
Guys, it’s the day before Halloween, and we all know what that means. You’re still scrambling to come up with a costume in less than 24 hours, because you decided to wait until the last minute. To make matters worse, you need to spend as little money as possible. Don’t worry, this is a judgment free zone. We’ve all been there before, and sometimes procrastination still gets the better of us.
As someone who has most definitely been in the situation before, I have equipped myself with an arsenal of last minute Halloween costume ideas that I can put together with the contents of my closet. Below, I have selected four of those costumes to show you. So let’s get the creative juices flowing with some inspiration!
Holly Golightly – Breakfast at Tiffany’s
This is by far one of my favorite costume ideas, inspired by one of my all-time favorite movie and character! If you haven’t seen Breakfast at Tiffany’s, then stop whatever you are doing and watch it immediately. It is a cinematic masterpiece starring Audrey Hepburn as the darling Holly Golightly, a sophisticated women with a troubled past and a tendency to never put down roots. For this costume, which recreates the iconic opening scene, you need a little black dress, black heels, lots of pearls, and the biggest sunglasses you can find. Bonus points if you wear a tiara, long white gloves, and carry a coffee and breakfast pastry.
Lydia Deetz – Beetlejuice
This costume was so fun to put together, and it fits the Halloween theme so perfectly! Beetlejuice is a Halloween classic (at least to me it is) and this costume seemed only fitting considering it is the 25th anniversary of Beetlejuice. Lydia Deetz is played by a young Winona Ryder (one of her first movies, actually). She is the epitome of a goth queen. From her outfit, hair and makeup, and her witty one liners, recreating her look is simple! For this costume, you need an all black outfit, black choker, grunge makeup, and big teased hair. Bonus points if carry a vintage film camera, the Book For the Recently Deceased, or slick your bangs like Lydia.
A Hogwarts Student – Harry Potter Films
If you are a Harry Potter fan like me you probably know your Hogwarts house, and own the corresponding tie/scarf (no shame). If you do then this costume is a no brainer, and if not, don’t worry! This costume is still fairly easy to create, you just may need to buy/borrow a tie or scarf. For this costume, I went with the typical Gryffindor school uniform which consisted of a black skirt, black tights, black shoes, a white button down, and the Gryffindor tie. Bonus points if you add a gray sweater, school scarf, wand, or Harry Potter glasses and scar!
Edna Mode – The Incredibles
Okay y’all knew when I dyed my hair dark and cut it into a bob that I had to recreate a look by the Queen of Fashion herself, Miss Edna Mode. Honestly, if she’s not your favorite character in The Incredibles then I question your judgement. But for real though this look was so fun to do and I truly think she is a fan favorite this Halloween. For her super chic ensemble I wore another all black outfit, but this time with a skirt, collared shirt, and blazer. You can’t forget the black shoes and tights, and a red accent around the neck. I opted for a statement necklace, but a tie or ascot would also work. Bonus points for the Edna hairstyle and a rolled up magazine to beat some sense into your friends while screaming “GO, FIGHT WIN!” at them.
I hope you enjoyed my second Halloween blog post. What can I say? It’s my favorite time of the year! Now go run to your closet and create your own Halloween costume, whether it is inspired by my creations or something completely your own. Have a fun and safe Halloween! Boo to you!
Hello guys! Well it’s almost here. I can hardly believe it. Exactly one week from today, I will be graduating college.
While this time of my life has been full of congratulations, there has also been a lot of fear and anxiety. As a soon to be college graduate, I feel like I should have my life together, be moving out of my parent’s house, and working at a real “grown up” job. A lot of my friends are doing these things as I am typing this. And here I am faced with the unknown.
Jumpsuit: Old Navy Jacket: Old Navy Purse: Kate Spade (similar here) Shoes: Rampage Necklace: Kendra Scott Earrings: Lane Bryant Sunglasses: Old Navy
I’ve never been good at dealing with the unknown. I’m the type of person who has to have everything planned out. And if you had asked me a year ago I would be graduating without a job in line, I would have told you you were crazy. I had seen it happen to other people, and I just knew that I wasn’t going to let that happen to me. And yet here we are.
I am by no means discrediting the hard work of people who graduate college without a job right away. However, I am still learning that it is okay to move back home after you graduate and take some time to figure it out. At the end of the day, I am worried about what people may think of me. I’m afraid that people will think I am a failure or a disappointment. But the truth is, if they think that about me then they must not know or care about me well enough for their opinion to really matter.
Through all of this, my parents have been my rock. They have made sure that I know I have a safe place to come home to after this is all over. They know me better than anyone, and they know that sometimes I am my own worst enemy. I psych myself out, and never stop worrying about things. But every time I call them crying with a new concern, they talk some sense into me and help me calm down. I love them so much, and I don’t know what I would do without them. If you guys are reading this (and I’m sure you are) you guys are the best!
Whatever you guys are dealing with, I hope you know that you don’t have to face it alone. That’s what support systems are for. That’s what God is for. I know that it can be hard to ask for help sometimes, but no one is strong enough to handle everything on their own. Reach out to those around you, and you can get through anything.
Love, Kendall
P.S. Wish me luck guys! My last finals week is coming up.
Becoming Kendall 