Top 10 Wardrobe Essentials - Essential #

Wardrobe essential #9 - A Nice Tee

Here's where fashion/taste can really come to a head. This is the item people choose that can make or break a mix and match wardrobe. I say this because people tend to not pay attention to fit when they are purchasing a tee. They buy it too baggy or too tight... They buy it too low cut... or too high cut.

Some essential rules for the Tee:

• If you have a large chest, MAKE SURE you are purchasing a tee that has a low cut neckline. Either a vee-neck or a faux-wrap. It can be a scoop neck as well but it must expose as much neckline as possible without showing too much cleavage. If you try to wear a crew neck or turtle-neck, you will look even bigger.
• On the flip side, girls with small chests, DON'T SHOW WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE. I have seen MANY small girls try to wear low cut shirts. The only thing they succeeded in was proving that there was nothing there to see. However, crew-necks and turtle-necks will make you chest look bigger. Take Jennifer Aniston as an example. She has GREAT skinny/athletic girl style. Her necklines are sometimes VERY high and her sexy back exposed. Play up YOUR best features.
• Buy a universal tee. What I mean by this is, buy something you could wear to the office on Jean Friday or to a concert that night. It needs to be fun and it needs to be you.

I made the mistake of thinking I could put on a pair of jeans and any old tee a while ago. I bought plenty of the same tees in different colors. It made my style truly boring. I don't ever want to hear the words... "Oh that shirt again", come out of anyone's mouth again. (This being said by my own mother after I showed her some things I had purchased one day).

This is also where you will see all elements of your style come together... Let me show you what I mean...

 Here is a single tee with all of the elements we have covered so far. You see how the tee pairs well with the broken up suit in examples #1 and #3. Then in example #2 we have the A-Line skirt and the cardigan. I've even decided to throw in all the essential shoe types. This is how you build an "essentially" functional wardrobe. The only thing not shown here is essential #10 (well and technically #2) and that we will save for another day!!

How to Make Spring's Trends Work For You! Neon

And for the final trend of the season!

Trend #10 - NEON
Who doesn't love an 80's throwback! Harem-pants, neon, side-ponys, they have all made their fabulous come-back this season and in season's past. Now, I am not a fan of harem-pants (ehem, Hammer-pants) but the other two trends I have embraced fully. Even tights with skirts/dresses was embraced in the 80's.

For the luscious ladies - This trend can be EXTREMELY hazardous for you! Neon is not your friend. Anything you put a neon color on is going to look bigger! It will show EVERY lump and bump you have. Am I saying "Don't embrace this trend!"? Of course not. All I am saying is do not wear a solid neon top or pair of pants/skirt. Find patterns with neon colors! I right now am wearing a top with a neon green and black pattern. Also, do not forget, purses, shoes, even nail polish this season had been touched by neon. Above is some nail polish I purchased this season. The wonderful neon colors have infiltrated almost everything this season so keep your eye out for the patterned dress, the nail polish. And, DO NOT buy anything in neon that is clingy. Yes, that t-shirt is a wonderful shade of green and it looks fab with your skin tone, but also notice that where it clings is where the eye is going to go, all of your flaws will be showcased.

For the skinny girl - Wear neon EVERYTHING! Neon can give you the illusion of curves because it is a color that deflects light. With the rays bouncing off of you, you will have an amazing figure and people will be astonished at your overnight transformation. This is another chance for you to rock the color-block as well. See the skirt above? It's sexy, it's fabulous and you are the only one who can pull it off!

For the in-betweens - Use caution with this trend. It's a fun way to show off your flirtatious side. Keep the neon to the part of your body you are most comfortable with. A neon top on a small chest can make it look much bigger. Neon deflects light and therefore will make you look curvier than you really are. Big hips? Avoid the neon skirt/pants, it will only make them look bigger. Make this trend work for you. Again, I want to reiterate the thing I seem to say to YOU most often, DON'T let the clothes wear you, YOU wear the clothes. If you are comfortable with your body (and have no tummy, back fat or cellulite) try an all over, solid color. *See pink dress above

How to Make Spring's Trends Work for You! Peplum

Trend #8 - Peplum
This is a trend I truly never wished to see again. Why? Because it is so stinkin' adorable and it looks hideous on me. It is a retro-inspired trend that works great for girls who want curves but don't really have them. However, if you have curves... I will leave it up to you to decide how you feel about it. I have seen girls like Beyonce pull it off but I have to be honest, I think it is her confidence that makes it work for her.

For the thick girl- this is a trend that could work for you. It gives the illusion of an hourglass figure. However, if you have a large butt and/or hips, this trend will only exaggerate those areas. This is a great way to hide a bit of baby fat or even that little protrusion you can't seen to get rid of. Just make sure that if you are trying to hide a belly that the fabric goes PAST your largest point. You don't want to draw attention to that area by drawing a line in the middle of it. Note the tan pencil skirt above, even the white and pink dress, these items have a longer overhang. This could be perfect for you. Also, do not be afraid to try a pencil skirt. Yes it will hug your sexy curves but you have a womanly figure, use it to your advantage. And do not be afraid of shapewear, a pencil skirt in a light color may show a bit of that cellulite. Shapewear will fix that problem and you will look ravishing!

For the skinny girl- This trend will give you the hips you've been lusting after your whole life. If you have a boyish figure you can embrace this trend with open arms. The lady I have seen pull this trend off the best is Emma Watson. Her slim, slightly boyish physique, is complimented greatly by peplum. Her athletic body is hugged by the tight fabric that gives way to a rich fullness, ending mid-hip to give her the illusion of an hourglass figure.

For the in-betweens - This trend can work for you as well. Keep in mind the tips stated above for both thick and skinny girls. Know your problem areas and know the ones you want to showcase.

Trend #9- Metallic Heels
This is a trend for the masses! Metallic heels have been a classic item for a very long time. They are glamorous and make a girl feel absolutely stunning. I know when I wear my metallic heels I feel like the whole world is looking at me. It may just be me, because if I saw a pair of fabulous, sparkly shoes I would be fixated, but it is a great trend none-the-less.

My advice (and this is great advice) METALLICS ARE NEUTRAL! (this is actually advice from Stacey London but I believe it as well). Metallic colors, minus the sheen, would fall into either nude, grey, brown, tan or black. Why should a sparkly sheen change that?

Today's Outfit 3-28-12

I didn't get a chance to post yesterday's outfit so I am doing so now. This budget fashionista has a confession this week. I have a few very expensive items in y arsenal. But to be honest... who doesn't? See those precious pink studs? Well, mine are real and cost over $150. I have worn them for FOREVER. Actually they were part of a set I purchased for my wedding. I feel no qualms in wearing them alongside my $3 ring and $12 necklace either. No one has to know that some of my jewelry is fake and some is real. As for the rest of the outfit... My sweater was purchased at Dress Barn and it was $9. My tank was purchased at Rue21 and it was $3. My sandals were purchased at Wal-Mart 2 years ago so I don't remember how uch they actually cost. You can follow my link on Polyvore to find the jeans. And my accessories were purchased from the $1 jewelry store. (Other than the earrings... of course).

How to Make Springs Trends Work for You! Florals

Trend #6- Blue and Green Jewelry

The only thing I can say is be fabulous! Rock it!

Trend #7 - Florals

Ahh... Spring is in the air and flowers are blooming all around us. It only makes sense that we mimic those blossoms, right? Well this is an ongoing Spring trend. Just as the maxi dress and shorts also herald the beginning of warmer weather we all have that one dress that we put on to remind us Summer is on the horizon. I shared mine with you about a week ago. Wouldn't you know it POURED the next day but I got to wear it on the first warm day of the year ;) .

For the Luscious Ladies- Florals are fun at any size. No matter your cup size, waist size or jean size this trend can be pulled off. There will be no harsh words from me in this post because florals are a happy thing. I am not one to be ubber-girly but I love that florals hail summer weather. My advice for you is make sure the print is on the smaller side. I don't know about you but I have come to realize, a big flower on a big boob makes said boob look ENORMOUS! Print is relative but that doesn't mean a big girl should wear a big print. Also if you are self-conscious, an all-over print can hide flaws.

For the Thin-Ladies - Bolder is better! Bold print, bold colors, even big prints! This is a great way to showcase great legs, great arms, even a great rack :)

For the In-Betweens- This is where you need to be cautious. Print is always good for hiding flaws but a small print is better. If you are comfortable in your skin rock the big print but remember if you have problem areas, they will be showcased! If you have a large bottom and a small upper body, put the big print on your chest and find a spring colored skirt. If you have a large chest and are okay with your hips, buy the trendy floral pants and keep your top neutral. It's all about how you feel about your body. Never put the print on the part of your body you are most self-conscious about. You are drawing attention to that part of your body so make sure you are comfortable in your clothing. Never let your clothing wear you! (words to live by - Stacey London)

Florals Are Just Too Girly for You - Rock it anyway! No I am not saying put on that girly, flowing dress you've secretly fell in love with but don't want to admit it (ehem, I am pointing the finger at myself with that one) but find a piece that speaks to you. Wear that floral top under your biker jacket, nab those floral heels with the studs on the heel (see above), grab some earrings that are ubber-girly but will only be seen when you toss your hair back. There are ways to pull this trend off that won't hurt your feminist sensibilities. Trust me ;)

How to Make Spring's Trends Work for You! Leather

Okay, Trend #5 is Leather and like I said before it will be HOW you wear it that makes it trendy.

The Leather Blazer - We all love the way blazers shape our body. Regardless of shape they give us the illusion of an hour-glass figure. This trend is good for ANY body shape and you should play around with color. Don't simply go for the black or brown, how about hot pink, coral or even cream. It's a fun trend... have fun with it.

The Leather Mini- Big girls, PLEASE DON'T!! Leather is VERY unforgiving. This trend will only make you look bigger and you don't want that. Plus, big girls have cellulite! If you don't think you do you are fooling yourself. I know that is harsh but I am saving you and others around you from much embarrassment. Skinny girls, a word of caution to you as well, cellulite is not strictly on women who have bigger thighs. Be honest with yourself. Do you have killer gams? Do you have a fit physique? If not, don't do it. This trend is for the girls with toned, shapely legs. The longer the legs the better, although watch the length, we don't need to see your girly parts. And my last word of caution, girls with big booties, be careful! Just because it looks good from the front DOES NOT mean it does from the back. I know this to be a problem with most skirts and I ALWAYS have someone there to judge my backside (and someone who will tell me the truth, not someone who will compliment me no matter what).

The Leather Dress- My favorite of all the trends! This can be extremely tricky if you are not rail thin. As I have said before, leather is VERY unforgiving. I would only say this, find a cut you already know works for you and TRY IT ON! For the busty girl, honey I am sorry, but we are SOL. There isn't a leather dress out there that will be forgiving enough to accommodate unless you actually have it specially made.

The Leather Biker Jacket - Okay, this is a trend that never really seems to go out of style. This season, however, is about bold colors. Find a funky colored jacket and rock it. If you are skinny-average you can pull off the natural boxy shape of a biker jacket. (I will admit, I own one :) ) But, bigger girls, you need to find one with a little more structure! Note: Three of the ones above have nipped waists. Naturally, I chose these because they are what I am drawn to, but I am drawn to them because of the shape and I am a bigger girl. I know those are what would look best on me.

Faux Leather- Okay, here is my budget friendly tip H&M, Maurices and Burlington have the best selection of faux leather that I have seen. Sometimes Burlington can be pick and choose but it's still worth checking out.

Absent For A While

So before I post my next blog I want to apologize for being gone for a while... Life got a little hectic. I have been trying to get published and I realized 20 pages of my book is missing. That is never fun. And today I pulled the ultimate "MOM" no-no... I walked out the door looking like yesterday's garbage. Tank, jeans, sneakers, sports-bra, hair up, no make-up and glasses. I looked a hot mess. But even though that happened THIS MORNING I don't intend for it to happen again. You see, I am not a morning person, and I never will be, but after a few cups of coffee I am usually awake enough to know I probably shouldn't leave the house looking the same, if only slightly better, than I did when I woke up. However, today there was no creamer, no milk, no flavorings, nothing!!! This is awful because, even though I am fully capable of drinking black coffee, having a cup that strong first thing in the morning is like a slap in the face and I can't handle that much of a pick-me-up. So, to the store I went. No, not through the Starbucks drive-through, to the actual grocery store. I am telling you... brain-no-function-without-coffee (that was my non-coffee-drinking zombie impersonation). I realized my mistake when I saw a young mom in ubber-cute flats, skinny-jeans and a bright colored tee. I couldn't help but think how cute she and her daughter looked. Then it came crashing down on me. I left the house looking the way I did. Since the damage was done I decided to finish my shopping trip but before I left I grabbed a coffee (quad-grande latte to be exact). Now I am slightly embarrassed but the damage is done. Luckily I am married to the love of my life so there were no chances to run into him and face embarrassment (he's seen me at my worst) and I didn't run into any past rivals or future employers :).

My other apology is for not updating my 30 Days of FAB Hair... I cut it... I dyed it... now... I'm working with it. It's extremely layered so I am having trouble finding ways to fix it that don't have tons of fly-aways. But when I find something that works I will post it so you can see it. Oh... and I got rid of 3 inches... so braids are difficult.

Today's Outfit! 3-20-12

This outfit is my heralding spring/summer outfit! I have had a dress similar to this for a few years now and the second I put it on I truly feel as if spring has started! I purchased mine at Old Navy for $10, but like I said I have had it for a few years... My sandals were purchased at Wal-Mart for $10 and they are COMFY! And my jacket was actually from Maurice's so you can just follow the link given on polyvore.com
The jewelry is from the $1 jewelry store.

How to Make Spring's Trends Work for You! Mint Green

Trend #4- Mint Green
This trend has little to do with body shape and much more to do with skin-tone.

For the Dark Complexion- Go for the very light, almost white greens. These colors will look stunning on you and you are the ONLY one who could pull it off well. It's such a contrast to your skin color that it will make you look like you have been prepping all year for the moment you could wear white again. The darker hues will look great on you as well but they might steal the show from your amazing skin.

For the Light Complexion- Go BOLD! Look for mint-greens that are on the darker end on the spectrum, especially if you are blonde. Buy a dress or blouse with a saturated color and pair it with darker heels, stay away from the nudes or your will look completely washed out. Also, if you have brown eyes, try a shadow in a mint green. Anyone else may look completely silly but you could really pull it off.

For the Medium Complexion- This will be more about how much pink undertones you have in your skin. The more you have the lighter you can go. What medium complexions are going to have a problem with are the ladies with olive skin tones. Many ladies with olive skin tones would like to go for the bold mint green but this could work against you. Make sure that your mint leans closer to the blue side or you could look sickly. Always try things on and see how well they contrast with your skin-tone and make sure you get in a place with good lighting.

Trendy vs. Classic

Okay, so for the fashion challenged out there I am going to write a little bit on "trendy vs. classic" and what the two words actually mean. For example, a trendy bag in the 90's was the reinvented backpack, now it's the reinvented clutch. However, the clutch has NEVER gone out of style. This makes it a classic and I believe (big or small) it will continue to stay in fashion. Also, along those lines, leather... It NEVER goes out of style either. The way that it's worn has simply changed over the course of time. We've seen the leather mini, the bomber jacket, the biker jacket, the leather dress, leather pants. The trend would be (again) HOW it's worn. Even for a time leather jewelry was all the rage and I will admit I still own some.

Also, if you just can't bring yourself to wear something (like me, with the whole feathers in the hair trend) then it's probably a trend. Things become "classic" for a reason.

Some things that are trendy right now are color-blocking, day-clutches, mint green, leather, ankle straps and florals.

These pants are probably the greatest example of a TREND because they are the pants that get shoved to the back of your closet, all photos are burned and you pray to God that no one remembers once the trend is over. Funny thing, just because I remember my grandmother wearing this doesn't mean it's classic. (BTW I am old enough to remember Hammer pants and just because you've now deemed them harem pants DOES NOT MAKE THEM COOL or classic.)

Does this mean all trends will eventually become a bad thing? Of course not! It does mean that some things are seasonal, it does mean that some things will cause you future embarrassment, and it does mean that trends will come and go so don't invest too much money into those items.

Some things that are classic are pencil skirts, a-line skirts, structured jackets, wrap-dresses, boot-cut jeans and to be perfectly honest... classic isn't really about any particular item of clothing, it's about CUT!
What do I mean by this? ANYTHING that flatters the female figure ends up being CLASSIC.

Yes, the outfit I chose is a trendy item but I foresee this quickly becoming a classic item. Look at the way it fits her. You essentially have the classic pencil skirt with the classic ruffled top! (Busty girls, stay away from ruffled tops!!) And the belt creates the empire waistline.

The great thing about classic items is that they will complement your trendy items nicely. That sexy black pencil skirt will look amazing with your new neon colored top :). Also, this is what you'll want to invest your money into. Those killer stilettos, that great suit, that amazing wrap-dress, those jeans that fit JUST RIGHT are what you need to make a killer wardrobe 365 days a year!

*Both items are from Forever 21.

How to Make Spring's Trends Work for You! Ankle-Straps

Trend #2 - Day Clutches
Essentially these clutches are just bigger. You can't really go wrong with this trend. However, if you buy a neon handbag and tend to carry it near your belly, guess where the eye is going to go. Or, say you have a small chest and you tend to carry your bag under your arm... well, you get the point. Remember, handbags are where you should GO ALL OUT! Not that I am saying you should blow an entire paycheck (actually, the opposite might be smart) but you should make it a bold statement. The one above suited my personality well (which is why I chose it) but pick one that makes a statement!!

 Trend #3 - Ankle Straps!
This is a great trend for spring because we will all be wearing skirts, shorts, even cropped pants and what better way to showcase a stunning pair of legs :).

For the thick girl: This trend can definitely work for you. Don't shy away from it just because you are a bigger girl. Word of warning though, if you have cankles (and let's be honest, some bigger girls do) and you are embarrassed by them, this trend will only draw more attention to your problem area. For me, I have very defined ankles (chalk it up to the fact that I was a catcher my entire life) but I have large calves. I can never find boots that fit, so when spring/summer rolls around I am ready to wear my ankle-strap, sexy heels.

For the skinny girl: Again, this trend can work for you. However, if you have a lanky figure, this trend may not be the best idea. Bony ankles just look... bony with an ankle strap around them. But if you have defined calves and you have a thicker ankle, GO FOR IT! Remember, you can get away with bolder fashions so keep your accessories muted.

For the in-between girl: THIS trend was meant for you!!! Rock it! You have the ideal legs to pull this look off. Show off those sexy ankles! Don't you know the ankles were once considered the sexiest part of the female body? Show the world why!

Today's Outfit

Today's outfit was inspired by something I saw on Pinterest. I am in love with the navy and green! This is a trend I will def. be following :). My pea-coat was purchased at Rue 21 when they had their $19.99 coat sale. I am not sure if they even still have them but it's worth checking online. My undershirts are almost always purchased at Rue or Gordmans and I never spend over $10 on any of them. My jeans are NY and CO. and my shoes and sweater are from Cato. I am also giving you a two-for here because I am showcasing the hairstyle I chose for today :)

*The jeans, sweater, jewelry and shoes were mentioned in a previous post.

Today's Outfit

Today's outfit is inspired by the latest trends, and the lovely spring weather. I have added color-blocked heels and cropped skinnies. I couldn't find the actual jacket I bought today but the color is right and (me being a bigger girl with much bigger boobs) the tank is an actual tank but the colors are right. I added the brown to balance out all the bright colors.
My skinnies are just as dark but they were only $25. I got them when New York and Co. had their BOGO free pants sale. AND my heels came from Charlotte Russe and were only $50. My handbag came from a place down the street from me, deemed the $1 jewelry store, and was only $25. My shirt and jacket were purchased at Dress Barn and the shirt was $14, the jacket $10. I buy almost all of my accessories from Claire's or the Icing. 

30 Days of FAB Hair - Day 2 and 3

Sorry I didn't get to post yesterday but here it is! Day 2, I found some really cute headbands and I figured I would buy a few and try them out. This is a style I see a lot and I figured it can't be too hard. All I did was straighten my hair, pull it into a low, off-center pony and then put the headband in. For Day 3 I did a variation of this same style with high-pony and pinned my bangs back with the same headband.

How to Make Spring's Trends Work for You! Color-Blocking

According to People's Style Watch there are 10 must-have/must-try trends for spring! Over the course of the next week and a half I will cover each trend. I have to say I am on-board with the 80's throwbacks coming out this season, as well as the reintroduction of the platform (my 5'4" body loves this very much). I am drooling over the color-blocked platforms that are all over the fashion websites and magazines. I am even happy about leather's amazing return (as if it ever truly goes out of style!).

Now to address some of the problems with said trends and how to make them work for your specific body:

Trend #1 - COLOR-BLOCKING
Many of you may be wondering what color-blocking actually is. Well, remember those baseball tees everyone loved for so long? You know, the tees with the contrasting sleeves? That's color-blocking. This season everything from shoes, to handbags, to dresses are sporting this design.

For the thick girl: COLOR-BLOCKING CAN BE HAZARDOUS FOR YOU!!! (And me too!) This is where you have to be a bit creative. Mix and match colors. A bold colored top with a vibrant belt and contrasting skinnies could work well for you. However, if you have a large chest and you decide to wear a color-blocked top, guess what... You will look like you have an even larger chest! Same goes for skirts and big booties. On the flip side, finding a dress with a thick band of fabric running straight down the front can make you look skinnier. Always remember, vertical lines are your best friend :) If you are too afraid to try the bold combo of contrasting top and bottoms or even unsure of the dress option there is a solution! HANDBAGS AND SHOES!!! (See Above!!)

For the skinny girl: ROCK THE COLOR-BLOCK! Try it with EVERY item of clothing. This trend was meant for YOU! Anything from a skirt, to a top, to a dress! Keep your accessories simple and understated and let your outfit take center-stage. Jessica Simpson's Spring Collection was also meant for you! (Won't lie, gonna buy a dress from it myself!) Also, another great spring trend is neon! Mixing the two will work for you! Own it because this isn't a trend meant for the masses!

For the in-betweens: My only advice to you is keep color-blocking away from your problem areas. It will NOT mask it, it WILL exaggerate it. 

 

*The above picture is pulled from my Polyvore account.