Summer Lists

Summer 2015 Fashion Tips:

1. White is always ideal for summer. Try a cute take on it with a white dress and bright accessories.

2.  Swim suits are a perfect piece to invest in. I've mentioned it before, but I love a good one piece - they're classic yet unexpected. This one (it's actually a two piece but has the flair of a one piece!) has had me swooning with it's unique silhouette and bright pops of colour.

3. Best way to beat the heat: dresses! Seriously, they're breezy but totally put together. Find one like this one and you can make it casual or put-together for the office.

Coming Soon (Music):

 1. July 10th - Owl City - Mobile Orchestra

2. July 17th - Jon Foreman - The Wonderlands: Shadows (EP)

3. August 28th - Sidewalk Prophets - Something Different

On My Reading List:

1. Donal Miller's Scary Close 

2. Lisa Velthouse's Craving Grace {I read this book every summer}

3. Judah Smith's Life Is ____

On A Random Note:
It's Sevenly's 4th Birthday! I've mentioned this website a few times on the blog and I'm 100% a fan. They have helped raise almost $4.5 million dollars for various charities in their 4 years, all the while promoting these amazing causes through they're fantastic t-shirts and products. Check them out!

Look of the Day: Grey Tee

I don't know what it is about grey t-shirts these days, but they seem to be what I have constantly been reaching for in my closet. Maybe it's the slightly-thicker-than-a-normal-tee fabric or the slightly faded graphic design advertising my favorite soccer team but ever since I got this bad boy for Christmas it's been my go-to for a lounging around day. And what do you know, I picked up another softer-than-air grey tee at a concert I was at this weekend. So now my challenge has become: what do I pair them with?

If you haven't noticed, grey is an unusual "colour". It's a neutral, but it's not as 'out there' as white or black or even brown. My grey tee outfits have constantly consisted of dark jeans and a blue zip sweater/black cardigan, and I'm ready for a change. Here are three different ways that I'm going to style my new wardrobe staples this spring - one for work, church and the weekend...

Work:

 A soft, casual gray tee gets a more polished look with a crisp white blazer, dark wash jeans (or dark blue dress pants if your work is more formal) and chunky gold jewelry.













Church:

Megan styles her grey shirt perfectly for a more formal/churchy outfit. Pair it with a flowy midi skirt and add a pop of pattern with a cute clutch or bag. I would not have thought to pair grey with this colour of peach, but it works beautifully.


























Weekend:

 This outfit is a more put-together look than my usual grey tee outfit. Keeping the colours all in neutral, but mixing within neutrals with a bit of black and brown, with a bit of colour in the scarf, makes this one a go-to for sure. Perfect for a spring day out, even if you have to shed the outer layer as the sun warms up!

Two Trends, One Outfit

Two Winter Trends
1. Winter Lace - - pair a summery lace dress or tunic with thick grey tights, boots, and a colourful cardigan to keep it in season.
2. Equestrian Boots - - these type of boots are popping up everywhere. Try them out with a pair of dark wash jeans and a bright winter sweater for a pulled together but cozy look.

One Winter Outfit
This season its all about juxtaposition (also known as pairing two things together than don't normally go). Like lace and winter, girly and tough, sparkles and tweed. Here's an example of a girly and tough outfit. A rockin' leather jacket can take you far, especially when paired with a cute skirt and a kicking pair of leopard flats.

Spring Trends 2013

Here are four trends that I keep spotting at the beginning of the beautiful Spring 2013 season!

They're things that can be easily integrated into any outfit and are pretty versatile as trends go!

1. Peplum Tops - If I'm being honest peplums are probably one of my least favorite things fashion wise. Nevertheless, they have been popping up time and time again in the blogs that I follow and on my pinterest pages, so some people must love 'em. And as long as you're going peplum, why not try a super cute striped one (this one's from Target)? Pair it with your favorite pair of jeans and sandals for a casual outfit, or with a straight skirt and a pair heels for a fancier version.

2. Blazers - These have been everywhere for the past year or so. For a spring version, why not try a blazer with a pop of colour like this lovely blue one? Pair it with a pair of jean capris, a white shirt and sandals for a school day, or try it over your LBD with some sparkly heels for a date night!

3. Cambray Shirts - I have never owned one of these little beauties but, again, this is a trend that has popped up everywhere. Layered under this and pair with that... Jessica of What I Wore loves to wear cambray and has some great outfits that are easy to replicate using it! I would try pairing it with a cute skirt and floral flats for a night on the town, and with a pair of white jeans and sneakers for a casual outfit.

4. Nude Shoes - Versatility is a key word when you're talking about nude shoes. They go with pretty much everything and they even elongate your legs! Pair them with a striped shirt and a pair of rolled up jeans for a school-appropriate outfit, or try them with a floral dress for a church-ready outfit.

Spring Has Sprung

Spring is almost here and I don't know about you but I'm ready pull some of my favorite warmer weather pieces out of the closet! The only problem is... it's still cold! Here are some tips to add some spring into your outfit while you wait for the warmer weather!

1) Layer up with Pastels!
Layering is key when transitioning into and out of winter but put a warm weather twist on things and pair pastels together. My favorite pairing is my blush leather jacket, a short sleeve green cardi and a black and white stripped shirt. Here's another version of my favorite:

2) Roll It Up!
Pair your favorite cozy sweater with a pair of rolled up jeans and a pair of flats or nude heels. Adding cuffs to your jeans helps you show a little skin  and adding a pair of nude heels can make your legs seem suuuuper long.


3) Color on Color on Color
Jessica on What I Wore has featured two outfits in the past few days where she has worn color on color on color (coral pictured here, find a purple outfit on her blog). Her tip for this is to ground it with a basic like dark wash jeans. Wearing a bunch of the same color is a great way to let everyone know that you're reading for spring! Try an outfit like the one pictured here - a cardigan, shirt and necklace - in your favorite color with your favorite pair of jeans!

Florals and Stripes

Just because it's winter doesn't mean that you need to shy away

from floral patterns. Here are three easy ways to pattern mix using stripes and florals

that are winter appropriate.

Stripes and Florals Level One

Pair a bold striped shirt with a subtle floral patterned scarf.

Top it off with a textured blazer for a put together look that is right on trend.

Level Two

A bold floral shirt goes really well with a neutral toned stripe. 

If you live in a colder area, try a pair of nude heels or brown boots instead

of the heels pictured above.

Level Three

Ready to go a bit bolder? Try a full on floral skirt and a bold 

striped shirt. Add neutral accessories to keep the outfit appropriate

and rock it!

Winter Weather

Here are some quick tips to help keep away the winter blues and create a few more choices for you to pick from on these cool winter mornings!

1) Neutrals, neutrals, neutrals
I know that I talk about mixing neutrals a lot but it's definitely a way that you can get some new life out of your old favorite pieces. Try mixing soft beige and greys like Kayley from Sidewalk Ready does in the photo below to create an outfit that will fit right into a winter wonderland. Or try pairing black and dark brown for a striking outfit that is classic and pulled together.

2) Scarves!
These lovely inventions are perfect for adding colour, pattern, texture and a bit of fun to any outfit. Check out this video here to see 27 ways to tie your scarves!

3) Summer Pieces
Yes, you read that right... summer pieces. Pull out your favorite tank tops and layer them with classic pieces from your winter wardrobe like a black long sleeved tee or a heavy, knit cardigan. Grab your favorite summer dress and pair it with some heavy tights or leggings and a sweater! Having some summer pieces in an outfit will help brighten your day and remind you of the sunshine to come!

4) Play with Patterns
Polka dots, stripes and leopard prints are huge right now in the fashion world. I also think they add a bit of fun and playfulness to an outfit which we sometimes need at this point in the winter. Try pairing two different types of polka dots like Jessica did on What I Wore for a whimsical, still very winter, outfit.

I hope that at least one of these tips was helpful to you. Click over to the two websites that I posted here for some more great outfit ideas!

Looks of the Day - Casual Christmas

Here's the last two Looks of the Day Christmas edition! (You can see the dressier one here and the other semi-casual one here)

For this Look of the Day, I wanted to give you ideas for something that you can decorate a tree in or cozy up by the fire in. I put these two together using basically the same staples, just in different colours: a sweater, a plaid shirt, flats, straight leg jeans and some Christmassy nail polish. I love the look of a cozy plaid under an equally cozy sweater and I think that black and green, and white and red play off each other really well. They are outfits that even if you don't have the specific pieces, they can be easily replicated.

Look of the Day - Dressy Christmas

Christmas Look #2!
(see look one here)

Like I said in my last "Look of the Day - Christmas Version" post, I want to help you all mix it up a little with your Christmas wardrobe. I want to help you get away from the regular LBD or red and green outfits that are awesome but can sometimes get a little tiring...

For this outfit, I wanted to take it a bit more dressier than last time. I love white dresses! I think they're super classy and cute. When I think of Christmas I think of snow and so white automatically becomes a Christmassy colour for me because it's associated with snow! Here I paired it with some grey tights to go with the winter wonderland theme I was creating. Next I added gold shoes and a silver necklace. "Hold up there!" You might be thinking... Gold and silver in one outfit. Yup! I love mixing metals at Christmas time. Any sparkle is good sparkle. The trick is not to go over board with it. These two pieces play off each other easily!

To add a bit more Christmas I added a cute green bow headband and why not add some red to the accessory that every girl forgets about... your nails.

Hope these tips are helpful and help you get more wear out of your wardrobe!

Look of the Day - Casual Christmas

I love getting dressed up for Christmas parties and events but after a while it seems like all I ever wear is red and green. While this is great and very festive, I have come up with a few ways of adding some twists to my festive outfits while keeping them true to the Christmas spirit and I want to share those with you throughout the coming weeks!

Christmas Look #1

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What to do, what to do... Maroon (or oxblood as they're calling it these days) is a beautiful version of the classic Christmas colour red. I love pairing it with gold because I think that they play off each other well. Here I added some soft green flats to add that second Christmassy colour into the outfit. You could also add a green headband or a dark green blazer/cardigan.
Tip... Try different shades of green and red - like maroon or dark, forest green. Gold jewelry goes amazingly well with both these colours and for some reason gold always makes me feel Christmassy :)

Inspired, not Confined

If you're like me then you've seen a picture of an outfit on Pinterest, a fashion blog or a fashion magazine and said "wow, I should do that!" This reaction is usually followed by a "how in the world do I replicate this out fit, I don't own any of those things!"

My trick to share with you is this: ask yourself why you like it. Is it the sparkle, the shape of the dress, the pattern mixing, the mixture of textures? When you pinpoint this you can look to your own closet for pieces that have the same idea as the one that you like in the picture.

Example #1:
 I may not have a white dress exactly like that in my closet, but I like the outfit because of the way it's put together not necessarily the dress. To recreate this look I might pull out my plain little black dress, a cute colorful clutch and mix together different accessories like she did here.


Example #2: 
Check out this next outfit on the right. You may take a quick glance at it and think it's cute and then say that you don't have the pieces to recreate this, but think again! All this one is is a cute patterned scarf, a patterned button down and a high waist skirt - definitely all staple wardrobe pieces. The trick about this outfit is that it's all in a similar color palate! I bet that you can make this outfit out of pieces in your own closet super easily.

sidewalkready.com

Example #3: 
When I pinned this on Pinterest I wrote the tagline: "white shirt, patterned maxi and sandals." If you think of an outfit for its pieces then it's easier to be able to create your own version. And if you have a maxi dress not a skirt, maybe try putting the t-shirt over top of the top of the dress and adding the belt to define your waist. It's all about using what you've got and being inspired, not confined, by the images that you see.
 

The trick is that you need to recreate not replicate. We don't all have hundreds of dollars to spend on clothes and we don't all get free gifts from designers like magazines and bloggers do. Take the time to figure out why you like the outfit and then translate that into something that is realistic with your own life!
 

Layers to add Length

Little Black Dress

Need a little bit of length added to your favourite skirt or dress? 

Add another skirt underneath to add length as well as texture, pattern or colour.

I tried it with a cute white dress layered over a chambray skirt. Experiment with it!

Fall Days

Over the past few weeks I've touched on a few tips and trends to do with Fall. Lately, I've been challenged with crisp Fall mornings and warm summer-like afternoons so I thought I'd share a few of my tips for surviving these days fashion wise!

1. Leather Jackets
I think that leather jackets should be a staple piece in every girls' wardrobe. They are great pieces that add enough warmth to get through a cold morning without going overboard during a warm afternoon. This morning I paired my dusty rose coloured jacket with an animal print long sleeved tee and jeans and went out like that. I find that mine adds just enough warmth for a cold morning and when it gets hot out I can easily slip it into my bag and carry it around because it's not as bulky as some of my sweaters.

2. Scarves
These little accessories are awesome for awkward-temperature days! They are easy to add to any outfit and are easy to slip into a bag later in the day if it gets too warm. The one pictured above is especially on trend because it's animal print. They are great for adding colour, pattern and texture to an outfit while being very practical.

3. Loafers
On Fall days like these I tend to shy away from wearing boots (leather or suede) because they are not as easy to wear during hot afternoons. Instead I go for my ballet flats or my Toms. A great new trend for this fall is loafers which add a different twist to the flat styles of old. I can see these transition throughout a fall day without being too far on the hot or cold side of things. They are comfy and cute and right on style!

A few more quick tips: Add light-weight tights to a skirt or shorts outfit for extra warmth. Go for sweaters and layering pieces that are easy to carry on your arm or in a bag later when it gets warm. Pull out some of your favourite winter pieces (like long sleeved tees) and start pairing them with your summer favourites (like shorts - with tights of course - or patterned tanks) to get more out of your clothes and to keep you at a nice temperature all day long!

Fall Trends 2012

Six Fall 2012 Trends For You!

1. Simple pieces with unique details like this blouse from Club Monaco are a great addition to your wardrobe. It's a way of looking professional and put-together with an added twist of fun.

2. Statement necklaces are huge right now! My personal favourites are large floral ones with vibrant colours, like this one from wetseal.com. Add it to a simple white tee and jeans to create a fun, easy outfit.

3. Floral has been trendy for the past little while but to be able to transition it into fall is a toughy. Look for pieces that are darker and contain more earth tones.

4. Blazers are a key trend this fall. Add one to a casual outfit or dress to make an outfit go from good to great. I love this one from Gap that is a vibrant colour with a great white trim!

5. Leopard print is a great print that has been coming up more and more this past little while. It's great for pattern mixing or adding a little bit of pizzaz to an outfit.

6. Ankle booties are super trendy right now. Wear them with your favourite flirty summer dress to get a bit more wear out of it. They are a great transition piece!

Transitioning to Fall

I love each season for different reasons. Spring is always so gorgeous with all its flowers and colours; summer is warm and there's no need to wear jeans all the time; winter allows for super cozy clothes and snow, which I love. I love fall because I love the crisp coldness of the mornings and the transition from hot to cold.
Fall is a tricky time to style, though, because it can be cold in the morning yet warm up throughout the day until you're sweating in your jeans and sweater. Here are a few tricks to transition your summer outfits to fall easily!

1. The classic blazer and cardigan!
Add a blazer or cardigan to an outfit of shorts and a t-shirt to add a bit of class and a bit of warmth. Plus, their light-weight, so if you end up having to take it off during the day you can carry it around easily. A structured blazer also adds double duty with giving you clean lines and sophistication, while a cardigan is great to put on over a super casual outfit. Layers are the best for fall because it allows you to be flexible.

2. Scarves, scarves, scarves
Scarves are a fashionable girl's best friend. You can get light-weight ones for summer and heavier, pashminas for the colder months. They're easy to incorporate into an outfit, they add colour and they are also a great way to make sure you're not showing off too much cleavage (modest=hottest and don't you forget it! :).


3. Change your shoes
Quickest way to transition: switch your shoes! Instead of sandals try a pair of knee height boots or ballet flats with a "warm" outfit (such as a tank top and skirt). If you're wearing a "colder" outfit (such as jeans and a cardi) pair it with some sandals.

4. Shorts and Tights
Add a pair of tights to your favourite shorts outfit. It's a great way to add a bit of warmth, add some colour and get extra wear out of your summer faves.  

I hope that these tips  help you get more wear out of your favourite clothes. I know that for me, I'm always reluctant to put away some of my tank tops because over the summer they become staples in my wardrobe. Feel free to comment with any of your own ideas or questions!

  

Pattern Mixing

Pattern mixing is a fantastic way to get more mileage out of your clothes. Here are to examples on how to wade into this great trend!
Stripe on Stripe
If you're not too sure about this trend, try starting out with a simple mixture of the same pattern. A smaller stripe with a bigger stripe looks great. It allows you to pair items that you wouldn't normally pair and wear your favorite pieces more often!

Be Bold!
Ready to dive right in? Try mixing two different patterned pieces (like this metallic stripe and animal print!). My favorite right now is pairing polka dots with floral.

Quick Tips for Summer Outfits

Tip #1 - Look for a high necked dress with a scooped neckline so that it doesn't feel too much like a turtleneck but it's totally chique. 

Tip #2 - Mint is the colour to wear right now. Pair it with pink and tan for a feminine outfit.

Tip #3 - Add a thin belt to any dress (or outfit for that matter) to create shape. Wear it at the smallest part of your waist for a sliming effect.

Tip #4 - High and low skirts are super popular right now. Find one in a bright hue and pair it with a white tank for an easy summer outfit.

Tip #5 - Bring an outfit together with a matching, light-weight scarf. Perfect for a cool summer day or chilly summer night.
Tip #6 - Want to make your legs look like they go forever? Try a pair of nude heels! And if you go for strappy sandals, less straps is more for a longer legged look.