“I wanted to become a certain kind of woman. I became that kind of woman.” -Diane von Furstenberg

For this last post, I am going to reveal to you my style throughout the years– all 18 of them. While the first 5 were definitely influenced by my mom, the rest were all me. Let’s get started!

Years 0-2 were marked by frilly bonnets and tiny dresses. Plaid was a main staple along with baby ponytails right in the middle of my mostly bald head.

Year three was a good one. Rocking this super chic watermelon dress, it was quite clear that from a young age my mind was in the style game. Complete with a Pokemon party hat, this outfit was a toddlers dream.

Year four was interesting for sure. Now that my sister was big enough to match with me, the supply of twinning outfits was definitely not low. These maroon plaid pants aren’t something you would see me wearing today, but I’m sure in 2002 they were to die for.

Year five was where my style really began to shine. Throwing around sass, I rocked pink as often as possible, wide sleeved shirts and paired skorts my kindergarten go to.

Year six was one of luxury. Cozy turtle necks and wide legged pants were perfect for impromptu spa days. Definitely channeling the seventies, my new style was totally rad.

When I turned seven, I turned the fashion game up another notch. Keeping it fun and vibrant, I rocked this super chic polka dot dress. Nothing better for a night out at the beach. Also take a look at the watermelon collar on my sister’s dress. Notice a trend?

Being eight was pretty cool. I had recently learned about Limited Too as well as cropped jackets and matching undershirts. I remember I was super psyched to rock jean bermudas and those brand new fly white sneakers. Let’s also take a moment to admire my sisters jean skort. Paired with those adorable floral sandals, we were the queens of elementary school.

Nine years old was about the same. Pink tops and jean shorts were still in, but I upgraded from bermudas into something a bit shorter. From this picture you can see that floral was all the rage.

Ten years old was when I started to make some style changes. Choppy bangs and Under Armour sweatshirts were the new trend. I even rocked the athleisure look before it was cool.

When I turned eleven, I learned about travel softball and french braids. I loved to wear tournament T-shirts with flare jeans and my under armor sneakers. I also loved getting my hair done, adorning it with ribbons and ponytails the color of my team.

Twelve years old was an adventure. After spending the summer hiking through New Hampshire with my family, my new attire included thick brown socks, boots, and a new backpack. (Under Armour of course)

Thirteen years old was about as awkward as it gets. While I appreciate the white dress I had chosen, I wish I had picked out shoes that actually matched. Those softball tan lines were a killer.

When I was fourteen, my style began to evolve to country club prep. Shopping at mostly Abercrombie, I loved anything that was plaid or had a collar, the outfit below a prime example.

At fifteen, I became more chic. Pencil skirts and matching tops were a definite favorite. I also loved to wear dresses with cardigans and keds sneakers.

When I was sixteen, I adopted a love for boho dresses, sunglasses, and floppy hats. My style was more relaxed and carefree. This was also the year that I learned about the ever so wonderful leggings.

At seventeen, fashion became a part of my life. I began to rock bolder outfits and set a style that was all my own. This outfit is one of my favorites ever. The peacock skirt with the plaid top emulates everything about me.

Last but not least, eighteen! My college life begins! This picture not only emulates my college style, but also throws some blue and white in there! Oh, and take a look at the shoes– my sister and I still match sometimes.

I really enjoyed writing all of these posts about different aspects of fashion! Whether it be through the decades or through the years of my life, I’m glad I got to share a bit about something I really do love. If you take anything from this blog, just remember that “Style is timeless. It transcends generations – it’s enduring. If you’re thinking about fashion, it’s of the moment. And that doesn’t mean that it’s not important at times to embrace trends and that type of thing, but style is less about trends than it is about how you carry yourself.” -John Varvatos

“Whoever said that money can’t buy happiness, simply didn’t know where to go shopping.” — Bo Derek

I am super excited for this week’s blog post! I’m going to be talking about my spring/summer fashion wist list! Being in college, I haven’t been out to the mall recently, but I have been able to spot a few key items online that I believe are must haves for my wardrobe.

The first item is from Kate Spade. (The first few are actually, Kate Spade is my favorite brand!)

These brown strappy sandals are perfect for spring and summer! While they may not match with a lot of typical warm weather outfits, they are still a great accent piece to flair up your look. These shoes run for $178, and you can get them at Macy’s.

I am really excited about this next item! I just recently found out the Kate Spade and Keds collaborated, making a new collection of fashion sneakers. I need a new pair of white Keds –  mine unfortunately were ruined by the mud, and when I went online to check out a new pair I was pleasantly surprised by the selection!

There are a wide variety of adorable sneakers on the Keds X Kate Spade website, but these plain white and gold ones are my favorite. Elegant yet relaxed, these sneakers are perfect for dressing up a casual outfit or dressing down a fancy one. You can get them on the Keds website for $70.

The next item (and the final Kate Spade item) is the new Cameron Street Little Babe Bag.

This bag is convertible and can be worn across the body or in hand. I chose to display the pink sunset color, but they also have the bag in black, tan, tiffany blue, and coral. I love the versatility with this item, and it is definitely perfect for spring or summer! I recommend checking out some of the other colors and designs on the Kate Spade website if you are interested! This one runs for $298.

Switching things up a bit, the next item is from Aerie!

I am in love with this one piece swimsuit! Scoop neck suits have definitely been on the rise lately, and this one from Aerie is simple and flattering. They have so many colors and designs on the website, I am definitely going to head in stores soon and try some on! This one currently costs $40.

When it comes to clothing, this Chambray Off-Shoulder Dress from Banana Republic screams Spring 2017.

 

Off the shoulder is a look you will be seeing everywhere this season, and it is definitely one I support. This dress is feminine, elegant, and flows beautifully. I could definitely see this dress being worn to picnics or end of season events. It is on sale right now for $89.50.

The final thing on my wishlist is this cute pineapple baseball cap!

I need a hat for summer, and I love this color of this one as well as the little pineapple accent! I found it on etsy for $12!

I’m glad I was able to provide some more insight into my own personal style and hope that this post was enjoyable! Happy Shopping!

“Oh my god, I am totally buggin’.”

As the semester draws to a close, I thought I would begin to wrap up the original topic of my blog, fashion through the decades! While this blog post is about the 90’s, I am going to present the decade in a unique way — through my favorite movie, Clueless! Clueless was a major high point for nineties fashion, highlighting virtually all of the major trends through students at a Beverly Hills high school. I will be presenting multiple characters, analyzing their styles and connecting them to the looks of the 90’s! Enjoy!

url

The first character we will start with is Cher. My favorite character, Cher owns her style, each day handpicking an outfit from a machine in her closet. (I would totally invest in one of these if I knew where to get one.)

url

Cher’s style is one I envy. Very posh and always put together, Cher is classic cool never faltering even when it comes to work out clothes.

Cher perfectly emulates the typical Beverly Hills rich kid, but she does so with class, bringing together smart styles with timeless 90’s pieces such as scrunchies and cropped shirts.

050814-clueless-2-567_0.jpg

050814-clueless-12-567_0.jpg

Cher also knows how to rock a beret, a few times throughout the movie bringing the French staple to the streets of California. The following outfit is one my favorites from the movie.

The next character I want to talk about is Dionne, Cher’s equally fashionable best friend. Dionne sets the stage with a matching plaid skirt suit and a bold hat. Definitely a risk, but she pulls it off effortlessly.

url

Continuing with the hat trend, Dionne has her own unique style. While still semi preppy, Dionne is more daring in her fashion, wearing brighter colors and vibrant prints.

While Cher is more country club chic, Dionne is vivid and striking, her outfits often perfectly reflecting her personality. Dionne’s crop tops, headbands, and stylish mom jeans pay tribute to 90’s staples, another reason why Clueless perfectly emulates the trends of this decade.

The last character I will be talking about is Tai, Cher and Dionne’s “fashion project”. Tai underwent a major style transformation during the movie. Coming in as a typical skater girl, Cher and Dionne turned Tai into a Beverly Hills prepster. While her style identity changed, some of Tai’s style elements still maintain a grungy feel.

Tai’s style evolution is definitely underrated. While Cher tried a little too hard to make Tai into something she wasn’t, Tai was able to combine elements of both lifestyles, making collared shirts and cropped sweaters a part of her tom-girl wardrobe.

Overall, Clueless was a monumental fashion conglomeration, inspiring and continuing 90’s trends that have even resurfaced today! For all of you who haven’t watched Clueless, I highly recommend it. If the style isn’t your thing, you may enjoy some of the humor and entertainment the movie brings.

 

 

“Fashion looks better when you feel good on the inside”

This week I am sticking with a similar topic as last and providing a conglomerate of different outfits that I styled with my own clothes! My sister kindly agreed to be my model again, and we came up with the idea of fashioning the same pair of leggings a bunch of different ways. Leggings are my favorite type of pants! They are so comfortable and versatile, and there are so many different styles and designs that exist! For this blog we just stuck with a basic pair of long black leggings, but any of these outfits could be recreated with any type of legging that you like. Let’s begin!

The first outfit we created is very sporty –  typical athleisure! For those unfamiliar, athleisure is a type of outfit that can be sported for exercise or everyday wear. We took the black compression leggings and paired them with a purple Nike hoodie with a rose gold swoosh. To match, we also incorporated some black Nike sneakers with the same rose gold accent. The color combination is a win in my opinion, and I love how this outfit can be worn to the gym, class or out on a shopping spree!

The next outfit caused quite a debate. I wanted to pair another athleisure outfit with an accent that couldn’t be worn to the gym, in this case a blanket scarf. My sister hated it, but I wear this outfit all the time in the winter, and I love how comfortable it is. I really think a chunky scarf creates an added flair that can enhance your athleisure and transform it into something unique.

  

The next outfit turns away from the sporty side and more into something you would wear to a relaxed Sunday brunch or to class during the week. This time the leggings were paired with two different T-shirts, and two different jackets, both from Old Navy. The first outfit incorporates Sperry sneakers, taking it up a notch in fanciness as compared to the Nike shoes. The second outfit utilizes a pair of violet lace up flats, also from Old Navy. This was an interesting look, because the strings ended up typing around the legging material. It doesn’t look bad, but I think I would prefer cropped leggings so that the shoes could be tied around the ankles instead. (My sister and I don’t have an Old Navy near us at home, so going to the one in State College was a lot of fun.)

  

The next outfit is definitely my favorite! We took the leggings and added a long lace up peasant top and the same Sperry sneakers. We also incorporated a velvet choker which adds a lot of dimension to the look. You can wear this outfit virtually anywhere, and you can change the shoes to dress it up even more. This outfit is perfect for when you need something comfortable and cute to wear, but you don’t feel like putting a lot of effort into the look.

The final look is winter chic, taking leggings and pairing them with a sweater and a cardigan to stay warm during the cold weather! These sweaters are both from American Eagle, and they are so wonderful to wear on snowy days! I gave my sister some black ankle boots to wear in the first picture, and for the second she chose some custom maroon Vans, but these outfits can be worn with basically any shoe. Snow boots or Hunter rain boots would be really cute with either combination!

  

Just like last time, this entire process was a blast, and creating fun outfit combinations was exciting, but also sometimes a challenge! If fashion excites you, I recommend to take a day to sift through your closet and try on some clothes that you may have thought never looked good together. Experimenting with new styles is a great way to expand your wardrobe without having to buy any more clothes. Let me know if you have any suggestions for future blog posts!

 

“People will stare. Make it worth their while.” -Harry Winston

Last week I received a few suggestions for possible blog topics, encouraging me to highlight some styles that I have created or come across on a daily basis. This week I have decided to take the challenge and navigate through some of my all time favorite clothing combinations. Over spring break I asked my sister to model for me, dressing her up in a mix of her clothes and mine. We had a pretty entertaining fashion shoot, and decided on an overall theme: school versus street. This blog shows you how to create an outfit that you can wear to class and then take it up a notch and rock it on a night out with your friends. Hope you enjoy!

This first outfit is pretty simple. Just a loose sleeveless dress with a collared shirt popped over for a preppy effect. Pair it with some of your favorite sneakers and now you have a chic but practical outfit you can wear all day.

Now for the transformation! Replace the collared shirt with a fun jacket! I highly recommend faux fur or something dramatic. Additionally, replace the sneakers with some strappy heels and add a cute clutch or an over the shoulder bag. In three easy moves you’ve gone from preppy to party!

This next outfit is one of my favorites. Take a simple dress or skirt and throw over a sheer blouse with some buttons. A ruffled collar or additional touches are an added bonus. Creating the unique look it up to you! Pair it with a long necklace and some cute black flats and you have another striking day time look.

For the transformation, loose the cover up and add another fun flair. For this outfit we tied on a cheetah print belt and went with the same lace up black heels.

For the next outfit, we changed up the color palette, switching from black to brown. A striped tee was paired with a front button brown skirt and an army green cardigan. We stuck with the same black flats, but a pair of keds or another dressy sneaker could be substituted. Also, if dresses and skirts aren’t your thing you can always wear pants or shorts instead! Making these looks your own is really the best part.

To take this outfit to the next level we switched up the shirt to a tight cutout long sleeve paired with a long necklace. If your shirt doesn’t come up around your neck like this one, a velvet choker is another fun option! We also went for some violet lace up flats with a pointed toe. In my opinion this style of shoe always adds a level of fierce to the look.

For the final outfit we stuck with a similar concept, pairing a black dress with a lace up sweater, some ankle boots, a choker, and a long necklace. In this outfit, a combination of short and long layers is key.

We kept the same dress, boots, and choker, ditching the sweater and throwing on a preppy moto army jacket.

The best part of this look is the back.

We took the belt of the jacket which usually ties in front and pulled it in a large bow in the back, allowing the front to be open while also creating a unique element!

All of these looks were created with clothes we already had in our closets, and the process itself was extremely fun! When creating your own outfit combinations, draw inspiration from outside sources that you love, but don’t be afraid to put your own spin on things!

“The joy of dressing is an art.” — John Galliano

For this post I’m going to be sounding off on some of the newest Spring 2017 fashion trends. Paris fashion week is happening right now, and New York fashion week was February 9-17. For those unfamiliar, fashion week is an industry wide event where different designers showcase their clothing and essentially set the trends for the upcoming season. I’m first going to report on New York fashion week, highlighting major showcase moments and styles that you will definitely be seeing in stores and on the streets!

The first designer I’m going to focus on is Marc Jacobs. Almost every model wearing Marc Jacobs was also wearing a big hat that highlighted the color palette and combo they were representing. Marc Jacobs’ show was mostly focused on revolutionary street style and making casual wear unique. The styles represent those of the seventies, chunky sweaters and mustard colors are prominent feature.

hbz-nyfw-fw17-best-looks-marc-jacobs-29-imaxtree.jpg

Next up is Ralph Lauren. In this show, floral was the main feature, the stage beautifully adorned with orchids. The styles were very soft, cream and buttery yellow common colors in addition to flowing floral dresses and kimonos.

hbz-nyfw-fw17-best-looks-ralph-lauren-36-getty.jpg

Ralph Lauren also brought some biker chic to the stage, black fringe and moto jackets among popular items worn by the models.

 1640 × 2460 – theskinnybeep.com 

Bringing more fresh floral to the stage was Marchesa, styles including draping dresses embellished with beautiful embroidered designs and feather accents. All of the gowns pay extreme attention to detail, ornate accents a main feature. My personal favorite is the dress shown below. I love how the tulle brings a dramatic feature without completely overtaking the model’s legs. Also the green and purple detail underneath really adds to the complexity of the dress giving it a layered feel.

hbz-nyfw-fw17-best-looks-marchesa-13-getty.jpg

While the runway is a prominent feature of fashion week, the street style also is a huge part of the experience and an example of fresh trends at work. A huge trend this year was the off the shoulder coat, the puffer style making its way back into the mainstream. Bold statement pieces are usually typical in fashion on the streets, and an oversized coat is the perfect way to achieve this effect.

street-style-NYFW-day8-16.nocrop.w1800.h1330.2x.jpg

Vibrant primary colors were also in full force, reds, blues, and yellows top choices in boxy color blocked outfits. These shoes are a perfect example of how to incorporate a spring vibe into every day wear.

street-style-NYFW-day7-01.nocrop.w1800.h1330.2x.jpg

Another powerful ensemble was the pantsuit. While pantsuits have definitely proven to be a timeless selection, patterns and eccentric colors added flair, encouraging women to take their panache to the workplace.

new_york_fashion_week_2017_pantsuits.jpg

Pants suits were also seen on the runway, ramping up the intensity with brighter bolder colors.

new_york_fashion_week_2017_pantsuits.jpg

I would totally wear that pink pantsuit, plus the high waist looks like it could be comfortable. This year I honestly wasn’t that shocked or extremely enthralled with any designs in particular, but I am definitely loving the Marchesa collection. Flowing floral pieces are a great way to get into the spring mood. This spring, wear something that makes you happy, whether on trend or not because “Fashion is what you’re offered four times a year by designers. And style is what you choose.” — Lauren Hutton

(more…)

“We live not according to reason, bot according to fashion” -Seneca the younger

This week I’m bringing to life a bold, bright, and beautiful decade: the 80’s! When you think of the 80’s, crazy styles probably come to mind. I’ve heard horror stories involving hairspray, achieving that big hair wasn’t always easy! But the 80’s were also a time of high fashion, bringing back the luxury designs that weren’t sought after in the seventies. We will take a look at all aspects of this radical decade, so pull on your leg warmers and lets get started!

url

Due to a large economic boom, the 80’s began with a bang. More money meant more luxury, and men and women deviated from flower child styles, instead going after high end designer brands. Trendy boutiques were common, bringing together styles from Paris and New York.

1982: Hawaiian born model, Marie Helvin, with the American model and wife of Mick Jagger, Jerry Hall, at Royal Ascot. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) url

Even though the trends were fashionable, that doesn’t always mean they weren’t outrageous (in a good way of course)!

Designer styles included thick shoulder pads, large accessories, and lots of velvet and velour. Everything was extra, and almost everything was high-waisted. url

The 80’s were also home to the punk era. Spiky hair, dip dye, all black clothing, and chunky accessories weren’t unusual. This trend was a counter culture to the bright blocky prints we normally associated with the 80’s.

url

Of course, the 80’s were also host to a rainbow of neon colors and tight, bright clothing. A popular trend was a puffy sweatshirt or top with spandex bottoms. The 80’s ushered in my favorite article of clothing, the legging. Leggings were versatile and comfortable, and they could be worn with any top in any color. Usually neon colors were mixed and matched, paired with blocky prints.

url

With leggings came leg warmers! Tube like socks open on both ends were commonly worn around the calf, adding flair to an already eye-catching outfit. Leg warmers were popular with exercise, as they were a key feature in many of the famous 80’s workout videos. Leg warmers are also making a slight comeback today, but now in toned down nude colors.

url

MTV was another prominent influence in 80’s fashion. With music came music videos, and with music videos came a slew of unique outfits and styles created by famous pop stars.

 url

Items such as acid washed jeans and bright headbands were popular, artists such as Madonna and Olivia Newton John inspiring the trends. Cyndi Lauper was another huge icon, bringing about vibrant styles and a girls just wanna have fun attitude.

 600 × 290 – schoolofstyle.com 

Overall, the 80’s were a wild era with some outlandish trends, but as Coco Chanel once said, “Fashion is made to become unfashionable”.

(more…)

“If I want to knock a story off the front page, I just change my hairstyle.” -Hillary Clinton

Hey y’all! So this week I have decided to really switch things up. Instead of talking about the fashion of clothes, I’m going to be talking about the fashion of hair! For the first post of the semester, I talked about my own fashion inspirations and what drives my daily style. I thought I would continue a similar trend and talk about some of the hairstyles that I enjoy wearing. I will also include some how to’s for some simple everyday looks. Let’s get started!

url

Whenever I do my own hair, I tend to incorporate a lot of braids, mostly because when I was younger my mom always braided my hair for softball tournaments! This first look incorporates braids, but not in the conventional way!

Beachy Waves:

  900 × 1262 – barefootblonde.com 

This look is perfect for really any occasion, and although the preparation may seem a bit tedious, the morning results are really worth it!

The first step to achieving this look is washing your hair. You want your hair to be wet and straight from the shower before you begin. Next, prep your wet hair with a spritz of leave in conditioning spray to tame any wild pieces.

url (I prefer John Frieda Frizz Ease)

Afterwards, brush your hair and using a blow dryer, blow dry the roots of your hair and any places that tend to take longer to air dry (if you sleep with an certain side of your head on the pillow, it is best to dry this side more). Only blow dry for a maximum of 3-5 minutes, just targeting a few areas that tend to dry slower. Your hair should still be fairly wet who you are done. (You can also use a heat protectant spray if you would like)

 url

Next, prep your hair with a spritz of sea salt spray, and if you like, rub in a bit of sea salt pomade near the ends of your hair. This step is not absolutely vital for the creation of the waves, but it helps create defined strands that last longer.

 url

For the next and second to last step, create a very tight inside out french braid (also known as a dutch braid) down the back of your head. The following infographic shows a how-to, and I also included a youtube video that provides the steps. Unlike the video, don’t pull the braid loosely at the end, just keep it set tightly and in place.

 

url

After the braid is complete, go to bed! Or wait approximately 8 hours for your hair to fully dry and create the wavy look. Once you wake up or you are done waiting, undo the braid loosely, shake out the pieces, and you should have beautiful beachy waves! If you want the braids to last longer, spray them with some hair spray, and you are ready to go! You can also weave in some braids on the sides and pin them back in the middle for a bohemian look.

url

My next look is one I brought up in my personal style blog, milkmaid braids!

 url

These braids are actually very easy to achieve! You just need some bobby pins, two mini hair ties, and medium/long hair.

To create the look, separate your hair into two equal sections down the middle. Take one of the sections and bring it just behind your ear. Begin to make a braid, and then lift the piece of hair up and continue the braid upward. Tie the end with a hair tie and place the braid across the top of your hair like a headband. With bobby pins, pin down the side of the braid, using about 5 pins. Repeat the process on the other side, this time crossing the new braid over the old one and pinning it down how you would like. An option after this is to create a soft windswept look by pulling side strands of hair down around your ears and let them hang free. You could also curl these pieces if you would like. For another option, as you make the braids, feel free to pull tightly or to pull pieces out, making them as loose or as neat as you want. The essence of the look is up to you! Below is another video instructing you how to make the braids step by step!

I hope you enjoyed this blog and learned a few new hair techniques! Let me know if you would like more how-to posts like this, or more about the history of the fashion! XX

“The sexiest people are thinkers. Nobody’s interested in someone who’s just vain with a hole in their head, talking about the latest thing- there is no latest thing. It’s all rubbish.” -Vivienne Westwood

For this blog post I decided to continue the trend of fashion throughout the decades, and today I am going to introduce you to some of the styles of the seventies!

url

The seventies were essentially an extension of sixties counter culture, but this time ramped up to the max! Many styles that represented the hippie ideology were embraced, most notably wide sleeves and pant legs– think bell bottom jeans!

url

Lots of vibrant colors were incorporated as well as bright floral patterns. Examples of these trends were seen mostly on dresses or wide flowing skirts. Women still held the mini skirt near and dear to their hearts as a classic staple, but during this decade much more breathable clothing was encouraged, bohemian bottoms a common item in many closets throughout the nation.

url

Continuing with the bohemian theme, many women opted for peasant blouses, maxi skirts, and floppy hats. These carefree looks resembled the happy go lucky attitude of the time, individuals not caring about “fashion rules” or staying within confined boundaries. Women tended to create natural makeup looks as well as long loose and center parted hair.

url

The seventies also inspired a unisex movement, women straying from the norm and wearing pieces such as pants suits and blazers. This trend helped to reveal a strong sense of female empowerment that occurred throughout the decade in addition to strong willed attitudes all across the board. In the seventies, anything went, and this allowed individuals to freely express theirselves whether that be through a track suit or a frilled chiffon dress.

00720c0f021d1eb2034951c297baeee5.jpg

Another subset of societally inspired fashion includes the disco culture, a celebratory outlet for people after the Vietnam war.  Men and women now craved a must have disco outfit, crafted from glistening polyester material. These ensembles usually included tight fitting pants (with a wide bottom of course), thick platform shoes, and a sequin top. Party garb was also a bit more revealing than everyday wear, again emphasizing the feeling of empowerment as it pertains to female sexuality.

   

url  url

I also want to highlight a few fashion icons from the seventies, as their personal style helped to pave the way for the rest of the nation.

First up is Joni Mitchell, a female singer who’s songs often highlighted the social movements of the time. Her looks were always true to the “flower child” style, wavy brushed out hair, colorful maxi skirts, and a care free attitude.

joni201.jpg

Next we have Diana Ross. A powerful musical artist and a style queen, her signature wrap dresses and bold and beautiful makeup looks always stole the show. Her style was fierce and  retro, encouraging females to rock striking outfits like no other.

dr02.jpg  Diana-Ross-Face.jpg

The seventies truly were a fashion revolution, throwing all of the old rules out the window. No longer did women have to wear skirts or clothes that highlighted femininty, but they could choose between sharp suits, athletic wear, bohemian bottoms, or even flashy disco attire. By day or by night, there was not a lack of style variability or inspiration in any corner. As Sonia Rykiel said, “Clothes have become ornaments again. Catalysts. It is up to each women to protect herself!”

Kass, Allison. “The 20th Century of American Fashion: 1900 – 2000.” Requirements for a Degree in Writing Journalism and Freelance (2011): I-37. Web.

Armine Karapetyan – http://www.fashionisers.com/style-tips/70s-fashion-trend-decoding-the-seventies-style

“1970s Fashion: The Moments That Defined Seventies Style.” Marie Claire. N.p., 12 Oct. 2016. Web. 01 Feb. 2017.

“I don’t do fashion. I am fashion” -Coco Chanel

Welcome back y’all! I’ve returned, readier than ever to deliver to you a comprehensive history of American fashion, but this time we are going to switch things up a bit. I will still continue to post about fashion during different decades, but I am also going to incorporate contemporary style reports, as well as feature posts on some of my all time favorite style icons.

Today’s post is extra special. I am going to talk all about me… my favorite trends, outfits, and what inspires my daily style. Here we go!

All throughout high school, I was interested in clothing, putting different pieces together, and creating outfits that I felt comfortable enough in to strut down the halls, but it wasn’t until senior year when my dedication to creating a “personal brand” ran deep. Every day of my senior year I would document in a spiral bound notebook everything I wore that day, including my hair style as well as accessories! It may seem a bit excessive, but this was the first time that I felt as if I could really express myself and do so through a way that would stick with me forever.

So where did my sudden inspiration for fashion as well as my style persona come from? You heard it here first folks, my favorite television character and essential soul sister, Lydia Martin, from Teen Wolf.

66c24c8caefda9da1c1ddf4ba9bf1967.j

Lydia is extremely strong, smart, beautiful, and maintains an east coast prep look even when contrasted with the west coast vibe of Beacon Hills. Her looks are always well put together, and no matter what struggle she faces, give her an air of confidence. I chose Lydia as my ultimate role model not only because she has great taste in clothing, but also because she owns her intelligence and emphasizes the fact that it is okay to be good at math and still rock a cute v-neck and skirt combo!

url

url

I’ve tried to recreate some of Lydia’s most iconic looks, including plaid skirts, brown ankle boots, collared shirts, and of course her flawless milkmaid braids.

url

(My sister, Macy, modeling her new hairstyle)

My daily look is somewhat like Lydia’s, but usually more relaxed (I don’t have a television show budget). I try to piece in different elements to create a unique looks that convey sophistication, clarity, and confidence. My winter go to now tends to be black leggings, tall Hunter rain boots, and a chunky sweater or a loose long sleeve – with a heavy, parka of course! No matter what the season though, I always radiate towards boyfriend jeans with low rise converse or ankle boots, and a comfy top, my favorite are black and white horizontal striped tees!

(That’s me on the far left! Twinning with my mom and my cousin)

I also like to take it up a notch though and really mimic the outfits and styles that Lydia wears on Teen Wolf, particularly her dresses and laid back skirts! In this particular look, I went with a loose fitting sleeveless dress and blue Keds sneakers. I also tried to achieve Lydia’s soft curls to enhance the rest of the outfit.

url

Lydia has even inspired various Polyvore boards and Pinterest pages, dedicated to finding and recreating her timeless looks. The example below is a personal favorite of mine, mostly because of the plaid skirt. I really enjoy looks that have a preppy feel, in particular button up shirts, peter pan dresses, and of course this lovely plaid. I recently bought a red skirt very similar to the one in the picture from Gap.

 640 × 640 – uk.pinterest.com    490 × 401 – pinterest.com 

Honestly, if it weren’t for Lydia and her seemingly endless barrage of chic outfits, my personal style would be a mess. It is nice to have someone to model outfits after and look to as a guide for new fashion risks and precarious trends. Ultimately having my own personal style allows me to not only have a hobby, but also connect me with other people who love fashion and grow my personal confidence. Never be afraid to use clothes to express who you are, and never be afraid to wear what you want. Be who you want to be and don’t let the fashion define you, define it yourself.

url

 

1 2