Crop tops and the modest girl

Fablogie.com

It's no secret to those who know me to understand my style.  Eclectic and timeless, trends are fun but keeping up with them tends to break my bank account.  Honestly, if I were to follow every trend I would look like a disaster (case and point high-low skirts).  Believe it or not you don't have to follow all the trends, for instance I don't follow the crop top top trend.  At least not the same way a lot of fashion columns encourage.

apieceapart.com

As a future fashion designer I really think it's cool
to see a cropped sweater with a pencil skirt, classy and fabulous.  But as a modest girl it doesn't send the message I work really hard to cultivate.  People tend to assume modesty is outdated and boring, I'm not saying buy out Laura Ingalls Express but perhaps lower the hemlines so I can't count the dimples on your butt.  I'm not modest because I'm scared of boys I do it because I would rather have the respect of a man than the drool of a boy.  I'm not modest because I'm ashamed of my body or rather boring.  A. I have a great figure, B. boring?  Don't make me laugh.


I do wear crop tops but I don't show much if any skin at all.  Like most people I choose a full skirt that hits the natural waist with a cropped shirt that has flow rather than a skin tight crop top.  Actually wearing thing at the natural waist elongates the body as well as slimming the figure, it's a win win really.  Allowing the top to graze the edge keeps tones allow for a covered look as well as a nice breeze through out the day.

I suggest a very snug tank under most crop tops, yes I can hear the excused already but hear me out.  I paired my red top with a rose bud patterned tank underneath for a little surprise underneath.  It doesn't have to be a solid color but this is a cool way to play with patterns and color block.

Monday

Brace yourselves:

If we're being honest the hardest part of Monday's is choosing my outfit for the day.  Besides the fact that I wasn't nearly as productive as I thought I would be all weekend meaning roll-over tasks Yea!  The way I see it everyone is half awake so they only half notice your outfit.  This is the day to try out a completely fussless look.

Step one: pick a basic, and another, and one cute little piece.  People may be half asleep but the other half is wide awake.  Those two halves equals a whole list of people who will remember your fashion disaster. Never mistake casual Monday for casual Friday, Monday's set the tone for the rest of the week. 

 

I'm throwing it back to a look I've sported about a year ago.  Basic tank top, basic shorts with a plaid blazer and white Moccasins.  Basics all around until you put them together and sprinkle my personality makes for magic. 

If this is too dressed for your taste substitute the shorts for a great pair of jeans.  Leave the holes for a Saturday.  Add a fitted, basic t-shirt under a navy cardigan, throw on some flats and charge that Monday head on. 

Cold weather friends opt for a cape as that can become a whole outfit all on its own.

fabulousmag.co.uk

Honestly keep the look light by forgoing statement pieces and chunky jewelry.  The half asleep part of the body won't care and full awake part of the body won't care.  Hoops and a simple necklace work for me.  Perhaps a stud and one strand of beads work for you?  I love scarves, I will find a reason to wear one whenever so it only makes sense for me to wrap my hair in one.  Fedora's are played out today so I'll recommend a chic little beret if you have one.  If the hair is not up for a Monday a little beret is a cute little surprise, or a beret is just cute.

Finish with some comfy foot wear.  Flat's all the way!  Depending on whether or not you got that pedicure closed or open toed shoes is your best option.


Let me know your go-to Monday style and I'll be back tomorrow with Coachella inspired looks.

Calling All Heroes

Wanted: Hero
Special x-ray for the ability to see past a front, super strength for days when mine are not enough, sturdy shoulders for sharing burdens and the occasional cry, super speed, able to come by your side when trouble calls.  All casual "friends" need not apply.

I know I'm not alone when it comes to needing a hero therefore I bear no judgement but rather shockingly, a fashion advice.  We as people are not designed to handle every problem that comes our way in fact we are to help each other seeing how we are designed to naturally love.  All that aside why is it the lot of us are constantly apprehensive to accept help or even ask for it?  On Friday I was in desperate need of a hero and I was blessed with two friends who sat and encouraged me as I cried in the middle of the cafe at my school.  Friday Funday!  Oh how easy a wanted ad would be to print out but, we are not all blessed with great friends, it took me 20 years to find mine, therefore most of us have learned to save ourselves.  Honestly I applaud you for that but remember there are heroes out there for you, just be patient and always know who you're talking to.  

DKNY-Pinterest

While you're saving yourself arm yourself with a cape this great season!  If you're head is spinning don't worry mine isn't.  Think about it, fall is moving at a snails pace in SoCal, but I used to live in Illinois and I know they have already welcomed in the fall.  Tricky thing about fall is the quick change of mind that happens all day forcing us to prepare for change when we don't see it coming.  A great piece of outerwear is a cape, no don't borrow Superman's but rather from Stella McCartney and DKNY.

Alexander Wang-Pinterest 

Living out in the Midwest you learn a thing or two about outerwear, first you need to be warm, second you need to be cute because it really is the thing people see you most in.  Since moving out to SOCal a cape is the perfect outerwear so I don't die of heat but can still bring a little Chicago charm for all my warm-blooded friends.

Never wear a cape as just a cape, make it part of your outfit or just the outfit, so pick a great color.  My recommendations for a great color: Cayenne from the new 2014 spring color from Pantone, a deep mustard yellow, a crisp white and something with a great design like the Alexander Wang. Remember what I said about it being what people see you in most?  Primp up the hair even more because we all know how those fall winds can be rowdy.  Amp up the lip color even more than you would and not just for special occasions.  The excuse I like to tell myself is colder weather equals chapped lips, works right?  A great visual that works is the one of Lily Collins to the right.

Proportions are girl's best friend, a long cape is great for keeping yourself warm but short can be sassy especially holding a bag like Lilly Collins.  Keep your clothes uncomplicated on the inside, as much we love to layer pick the days carefully.  If you need to wear bulky clothes like knitted sweaters perhaps a cape isn't going to work that day seeing as how it can add unnecessary padding.  And finally don't make the mistake of thinking your blazer can do just as good of a job because it won't and you'll just be cold.


Tell me friends what are your secrets for keeping warm, or what would you're hero ad say?

Negative X Negative

Etoday.ru

Back in the days of torture, I mean algebra, we are taught the rules of positives and negatives.  Two positives equal positives, negative+positive can equal a negative or positive depending on the bigger number and two negatives equal a positive.  In a nutshell a teacher stood in front of a classroom and declared the age old truth that opposites attract, I could have watched a Nicholas Sparks movie and saved myself the trouble.  This isn't algebra and I'm not a math teacher what I am is bored of math but in fact I do need it in the world of fashion, who would have thought.

Lolobu.com

Nypost.com

Black and pink are sworn enemies, polka dots and stripes never mingle, having on more than one print is too "busy," I could go on and on but that would require me remembering all the rules.  And with the new rules of today why should I?  The new thing is being bold and brave with your clothes and forging a new path.  Even if fashion can be subjective (I use that lightly)  it is very obvious when it is done wrong.


Rule #1: Make sure the clothes you are wearing actually fit.  If you look on the right over-sized dress, over-sized coat and a bag just hanging off the wrist are cool on the runway but never on the sidewalk.  Look on the left and that girl has a nice fitted pair of pants, and a jacket with enough room for movement yet still gives her a figure.  This isn't just a rule for mixing prints but for every piece of clothing the reason I stress this now is because with prints sometimes it adds weight and to just have useless fabric flapping in the wind makes it seem like a whole lot more flaps in the wind.

Rule #2: Patterns are fun, patterns are creative and they are also expressive, patterns are also very loud.  Imagine being in a room full of kids none of them should have their voices louder than a three but if two or more of them start screaming your ears bleed.  In fashion when two pieces start competing it makes the eyes bleed and confuses the brain as to where it should really be paying attention to.  With all that said if you're going to mix pieces make sure it's complimentary not aggressive with the other pieces.  Find like colors that are complimentary or secondary, if you have a bold print don't add another bold print that's just a battle waiting to happen and you will emerge the fashion loser.

Rule #3: When mixing don't find different prints in the same size, look for different ones in different sizes.  Maybe I'm a broken record but I really can't stress the fact that competition is bad with clothes there should be a harmony not a knockout in an outfit.

Coffeerooms.com

 Something ladies should remember is to bring life into the clothes, so many times patterns are done in really dark materials with really easy prints.  That shouldn't be the case because if you're going to be bold then by all means be bold!