How to Wear Fashion in Style

Although all of the neutral colors are in right now, it is important to keep a pop of color or a pattern in your outfit to give a little flair and grab attention. Confidence is key: If you are proud, then own your outfit! All other women will be able to say is, “Wow, I wish I could do that…”

For example:

However, a word of caution: too many patterns can look cheap or trashy, so those traditional solid colors are great companions.

Note: This also applies to leather, metallic and some denim. Think about what our mothers used to tell us about makeup as children. (Too much of a good thing, is no longer a good thing).

In addition, it is also a good idea to mix textures to create dynamic contrast, such as lace and leather to add an edge to the classic feminine look or silk and jeans to add a boyfriend feel.

Check out these women:

Then we have the return of longer, pleated, A-line skirts, which bring back the classy nature of past eras. Sometimes it is better to show less skin and leave more to the imagination. In fact, it was Marilyn Monroe who said, “Your clothes should be tight enough to show that you’re a woman, but loose enough to show that you are a lady.”

Images are from the Forever 21 Website

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So, let’s talk jeans. A fall favorite for sure. But, there are so many styles to choose from! How do I decide?

Really, a woman needs to be honest with herself about three things:  personal style, size and season. When buying jeans, make sure you choose pairs that represent your individuality, because trying to completely blend in is overrated. As women in a Western media world with an almost unattainable ideal body type, we all have body-shaming issues. However, being bigger than a size 00 is nothing to be ashamed of! Take it from me, trying to squeeze yourself into a smaller pair of jeans does not do your beauty justice. The most important thing is to love who you are, because in this life there will never be another you. (End soapbox rant.) While the fashion scene may be promoting ripped/torn jeans with gaping holes, with fall already upon us, these will only be good to wear until the heat and humidity utterly abandon us.

But, I do have some general tips:

1) The higher the shoes you wear, the longer the jeans should be. The reason for this is that high heels often make short garments look even shorter. (This is why the fashion industry is pairing up flare jeans and block heels; they are aiming for the longer look).

2) Flare jeans can be good looking on both tall/skinny and short/curvy girls, because they give the body a nice curve, while on shorter women this has a balancing effect for thicker hourglass figures.

3) Boyfriend jeans are often bigger and more stretchy, creating a more casual look. This is not to say that these jeans can’t be dressed up, because they most definitely can. But, as a general rule, the name speaks for itself.

4) Distressed jeans give off an artsy and creative feel, which communicates to others a more relaxed and open attitude.

5) Lastly, I recommend owning multiple colors of jeans including gray, black, and every shade of blue. Shade really DOES make a difference when trying to combine pieces!

Images are from the Forever 21 Website

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SHOES! Let’s get some shoes! Booties, pumps, block heels, platforms, loafers, oxfords, oh la la!

What’s the difference between all these types of shoes? And how do I wear them?

Booties are perfect for jeans and can be dressed up or down. Pumps are normally date/girls night out and work attire. Block heels and platforms are meant to add height and depth to a look (obviously) and are best worn with jeans and for fashion shows, or small amounts of time. Loafers and oxfords are both back from the 70’s with comfort in mind. These shoes may seem plain, but certainly add a retro piece giving homage to the past.

While leather is a classic in shoes, suede and fur have made a comeback adding a unique texture to any outfit.

Images are from the Forever 21 Website

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Last but NEVER least: jewelry. This is the most essential aspect of any outfit in my opinion. Jewelry either highlights certain aspects of you or your outfit, or stands in blatant contradiction to your intended message.

There are two styles running simultaneously at this moment: minimalistic and statement pieces. Both have their correct place and should be used carefully. Statement pieces are best with traditional solid garments to embellish an outfit and create a more noticeable effect. Minimalist pieces are often used to tone down outfits with patterns, or draw attention to your features. The idea is simply to create a balance in which the minimalist pieces are not totally lost, and the statement pieces do not overwhelm the elegant simplicity of the clothing. 

Minimalist v. Statement:

Remember: “In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.” Coco Chanel <3