Monday, June 13, 2016

Summer Stylin'


It's almost here. Just a few more calendar days and we'll officially mark the start of summer! For many of us, though, it already feels like it's here. Sunny days, blazing temps, shorts, flip-flops, sandals...Summer is made for casual, chill, laid-back fun and fashion. But sometimes you need to dress things up a bit, like for a date or evening out with friends. What better way to do that than with a few statement accessories?

 Here's my take on a basic casual look kicked up just a notch. I took a simple loose-fitting Forever 21 white v-neck tee with 3/4 length sleeves and added a colorful beaded bib necklace found at Walmart. A pair of distressed Old Navy boyfriend jeans add to the non-fussy look. Metallics are an accent to almost any look and can jazz up a simple look with ease. Here I used an oversized clutch in gold to add that dressy feel. Open toe sandals in a shade to complement the necklace finishes off the ensemble. 

In this look, I took the same shirt and tucked it into a basic black pencil skirt. Once again, the accessories are what take an otherwise simple ensemble to another level. Same necklace and shoe are used to accentuate the look, but this time the addition of another pop of color, a bright orange clutch from Aldo, brings life to the outfit. 
This summer, you can keep the clothing basic, comfy and casual. Let your accessories do the work, adding color and personality to every look. Sun's up. Time to shine. 

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Fringe n Things

Jeans and a tee. It doesn't get too much more simple than that. Graphic, tank, v-neck, scoop neck, crew. There are a myriad of options when it comes to our t-shirts. And the jeans?? Skinny, boyfriend, wide leg, bell bottom, boot leg...You get the point. There's plenty to choose from.  I, for one, love each and the combination of the two would be my daily uniform if I could get away with it. I'm sure you agree. On the weekend when you want to run out for a few errands, what do you grab? More than likely, it's a t-shirt and a comfy pair of jeans. Of all the great ensembles available to us in fashion, I believe most would consider it their favorite too. Sweats may run a very close second, but for the sake of today's post we'll focus on the aforementioned.

The thing I love most about the pairing of jeans and t-shirt, though, besides the comfort factor, is that it can easily be dressed up or down, depending on the occasion and your mood. Trade in the flip-flops for a pair of trendy heels, add a blazer and some funky accessories and you've instantly gone from grocery store to an effortlessly stylish date night look (not that you couldn't also rock your heels to the grocery store...I've done that too ;). I also love that virtually anybody can wear it. It's just a matter of getting the proper fit for your body type.

This past Sunday I woke up and just wanted a non-fussy comfortable look to wear to church. The sky was kind of overcast and it just felt like an "easy like Sunday morning" kind of day. Not in the mood for a skirt or dress, I just wanted to be chill, yet still stylish. Always that:) My solution was this ensemble in muted, subtle tones to mimic the laid back weather.
I started with a classic white sleeveless tank from Target, paired with distressed Aeropostale skinnies found for $12 at Plato's Closet (www.platoscloset.com). To dress it up just a bit, I added a lightweight sweater duster found on clearance at Nordstrom a few years ago for $40. Something about it always makes me feel "gone with the wind" fabulous. Maybe it's the way it billows behind as you walk, making you feel like you're on a perpetual runway, a very cool feeling lol.



Now on to the accessories. Feeling just a little edgy, I added a muted gold and silver metallic fringe (is that a thing??) necklace that I got on clearance from Charming Charlie (www.charmingcharlie.com) for $5 and a spiked bracelet of the same finish found at my local beauty supply for about the same price. I finished off the look with Steve Madden Fringly heels snagged on eBay for $30. Love the way the fringe feels as it moves across your foot with each step! 

Classic aviator sunnies and a faux leather gray satchel help complete the look and tie it all together. I felt comfortable, stylish and ready for the day. Off to church and then brunch, ready to feed my soul and body in a simple pair of jeans and a tee. Amen to that!

How do YOU rock your jeans and tee? Holla back and let me know.