Imagine this: you wake up and check the clock. It’s past time for you to get up, your alarm didn’t go off, and now you are going to be late to work/school/etc. What are you going to do? What are you going to wear? If you know your personal style, then hopefully you have some go to outfits in mind. And if you don’t, then it’s time to work on them.
For me, I always have several go to outfits in mind. Whether it’s a casual day, a work day, or a fancy event, I know exactly where to start with putting an outfit together.
One of my favorite go to outfits is a graphic tee or casual top with a midi/maxi skirt. I love the juxtaposition of a dressier item like a flow-y skirt with an everyday shirt like a slogan tee. I actually do this with just about every outfit I wear: chunky sneakers with cute little dresses, kitten heels with distressed boyfriend jeans, stuff like that. I feel like it adds an element of interest and you always look on trend.
Another stand by outfit is anything with wide leg pants. Not only do I feel like I’m wearing pajamas, but I look put together too. You can wear them casually with, you guessed it, graphic tees. Or you can dress them up with a button up or nicer shirt. I tend to create an outfit around one focus piece, typically a patterned or brightly colored piece. So if I am wearing patterned pants I’ll go for a simpler top and vice versa. This is one of the easiest ways to create outfits, by grounding them with one dynamic piece.
The simplest go to outfit I have is a dress. I prefer my dresses to have sleeves and be midi length so that they are easier to throw on and be comfortable without having to wear a strapless bra (you curvy girls get me). In a casual setting I love wearing dresses with sneakers or strappy sandals, and in fancier settings I almost always wear them with low heeled sandals. Dresses are great because they are basically an outfit in one piece. You can add things like shoes, purses, belts, and jackets but they are small additions to the overall look of the dress.
The most important thing to get from this post is that it is good to know how to build outfits around your personal style and keep them in mind when you have no idea what to wear. I hope you guys feel inspired to go through your closet and put outfits together around some of your favorite pieces. Let them be the star of the show, and always keep the “blue print” of your favorite outfits in mind so that you can recreate them whenever you need an outfit that you KNOW you love and look good in.
Probably the most asked question I get is “How did you find your personal style?” And honestly, that question is a tough one to answer. Finding my personal style has always been a process, and it’s something that is constantly evolving. But I also believe that finding your personal style is an integral part of fashion.
If you don’t know your personal style you are more likely to succumb to every trend you see, have a closet bursting full of clothes, and yet still proclaim “I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR!”
So that is why I am starting Part 1 of a series here on the blog with steps to not only help determine your personal style, but to fine tune your wardrobe so that every day you look forward to getting dressed.
The first step to define your personal style is to find inspiration. This can be from magazines, bloggers, Youtube videos, street style, Instagram, Pinterest, or even Tumblr. By gathering images and people that inspire you, you can more easily discern patterns and things that are repeated in those images. For example, if you are constantly pinning images on Pinterest that have distressed jeans, flannel, leather jackets and Doc Martens you might be able to describe your style as grungy, edgy, or punk.
My favorite ways to get fashion inspiration are Pinterest, bloggers I follow on Instagram and YouTube, and of course magazines and online fashion media. While I find my style to generally be hard to categorize, I know that I am drawn to more feminine silhouettes, vintage inspired clothing, and classic prints. However, I also love juxtaposing masculine or edgy pieces with feminine or classy pieces. Therefore I have a hard time committing to just one word to describe my style. I know what I like, and I stick to it.
Maybe your personal style isn’t as obvious from the images that inspire you. Maybe, like me, you have multiple facets of your style. That’s totally fine! Definitions aren’t what’s important here. What’s important is knowing the things you are attracted to in your clothing items, and staying away from things that don’t fit into your style. If you are confident in your style, then you wont feel like you have to buy into every micro-trend the minute you walk into a Forever 21.
While I’ll never knock someone for trying something new, especially in fashion. Being aware and knowledgeable of your personal style will save you from a lot of the heartbreak and annoyance of finding something your bought forever ago in your closet with the tags still on it. Although this is not foolproof, even I mess up sometimes, it will cut down on the amount of wasted funds and wasted closet space. And who doesn’t want that?
So, what do you think? Have you found your personal style, or are you still just as lost as you were before? Hopefully this post has helped you get a start on narrowing in on your personal style. And if not, then you can look forward to the next installment in this series as further help. No matter what, always trust your gut and wear what makes you feel confident!
I can’t believe it’s 2019, and January is already almost over! Where has the time gone? If you’re anything like me, you probably started this year super motivated to make some lifestyle changes, like most people are at the beginning of a new year. However, the second I mess up or put things off for another day, I start to feel like a failure and tomorrow turns into next week or next month. I hate to say this, because it seems like lately everyone has their crap together, but I am a mess. I have sat down in an attempt to write this blog post several times over the past couple of weeks, but fear and anxiety of it not being good enough, kept me from accomplishing it and continuously putting it off.
But that’s not how I want my 2019 to go. So I’m going to focus on the positives today by sharing with you some of the things I have been loving lately. These things have inspired me, motivated me, and kept me entertained over the past couple of weeks.
Since chopping my hair into a bob, learning how to manage and style my new haircut has been a journey. I love the length and color, I think it comes off super chic and fashionable. However, my hair tends to lay flat and sticks to my head like an unflattering helmet, so movement, texture, and volume have been my biggest hair goals.
Thanks to my Sephora Beauty Insider points, I was able to get my hands on some samples from the hair care brand Ouai, and they have been life changing to say the least. The samples included a leave in conditioner that makes my hair look soft and healthy, a finishing creme that cuts my drying time in half, a hair oil that adds the perfect amount of shine, and the texturizing spray that is like my favorite dry shampoo and hair spray had a baby. A combination of these products has helped me learn exactly how to style my hair into the wavy bob of my dreams. I may have to repurchase all of these products in full sized bottles (that is if funds allow).
Speaking of styling my new hair, I have been loving the vintage touch of hair accessories lately. Whether it be the hint of glamour with a bejeweled hair clip, or the flash of pattern with a silk hair scarf. I am all about accessorizing, and hair accessories are my latest obsession. I feel like they complete a look, and add a fashionable detail to even the plainest outfits.
Last on my Beauty Favorites list will come as no surprise to those that know me. I have not been able to stop wearing them. I’m talking about the Fenty Beauty Gloss Bombs. We all know that Kylie Jenner helped add to the hype of matte liquid lipsticks. I used to wear them religiously. After a while though I got sick of the drying damage it did to my lips. Thus Fenty Beauty lip glosses walked into my life, and changed it forever. Now hardly a day goes by that I don’t have one of the shades on my lips. They are the perfect product to layer over any lipstick to add some of that glossy, moisturizing shine. Plus they give me early 2000s vibes in the best way!
If you follow me on Instagram, the items in this category will not surprise you at all because they have been repeatedly featured in my pictures. I never used to be a hat person. In fact, growing up I would always convince my mom to buy hats for me and then proceed to never wear them because “they didn’t look good on me.” I wanted to be the kind of person that looked good in hats, but I just wasn’t. That, however, has changed now. I’m not sure if it has more to do with my new hair cut and color, or the fact that I have grown into a much more confident adult, but I love wearing hats now. My absolute favorite hats are berets, but I also love my baker boy/newspaper boy hats. They add a finished look to a lot of my outfits, whether that be through a splash of color or pattern or just covering up my bad hair day.
Another Fashion Favorite of mine, as you can probably tell by the above photos, is my large, gold initial necklace. It’s almost an exact dupe for the old Celine one that everyone and their dog had late last year, but for a fraction of the price.
Speaking of fraction of the price, I have been super into thrifting lately! Not only is it great for the environment, but it’s great for the wallet too. I snagged this colorful Lucky Brand sweater while on vacation in Florida, and it has quickly become a staple in my winter wardrobe.
Another piece I haven’t been able to stop wearing? these wide leg, leopard print pants. I never would have thought that I’d fall in love with such a wild (ha, “wild” get it?) pair of pants, and yet here we are. They are beyond comfortable, and I feel amazing every time I wear them.
Although the blazer trend has been in the forefront of runways and street style alike, I was never one to hop on the train because I simply thought I didn’t look good in them. I would buy a professional looking blazer to wear to job interviews and the like, but then when I tried to style it any other way it just looked weird. Ever since, I had been on the hunt for a plaid blazer that I could wear everyday. Then I found this one, and the rest is history.
Purse: Karl Lagerfeld
Last but not least is my new designer baby. This purse was a Christmas gift, and I couldn’t be more in love with it. The quality is amazing, it goes well with everything in my closet, and I know it is going to be a forever item. This is the first purse that I own that I would consider “designer” and I plan to treasure it. You can definitely expect that this won’t be the last time you see her. (Side note: I’ve noticed a lot of people name their designer handbags. Is this totally weird or totally genius? What do you think I should name mine?)
This last category is for things that I have been loving lately that are technology, pop culture, or food related. Another gift I received for Christmas was a Fitbit Alta. I had been wanting a smart watch for awhile now, and when the Alta went on sale for Cyber Monday, I made sure to notify my parents. I absolutely love it, and because the style is slim and black, it goes with everything. Another technology item that has been changing my life recently is my WaterPik. I’ll admit, I have never been very consistent with my flossing. And with the advice of my dentist, I decided it was time to invest in a water flosser. Lucky for me, this particular model is cordless and relatively inexpensive. Needless to say, it has changed the game for me.
These last couple of things are pop culture related, and if you know me well you can probably already guess them because I haven’t been able to shut up about them. The first is the new movie Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse. If you haven’t seen this masterpiece of a film yet, then run (don’t walk) to your nearest theater and buy a ticket. I truly don’t think I can put into words how amazing this movie is. It even won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Film! Let me end by saying this, the second the end credits rolled, my brother and I wanted to buy tickets again and go see it the next day.
One more to go! Well technically two. These last two are both albums, and I have not been able to stop listening to them since they were released. The first one is Trench by Twenty-One Pilots and the second one is Sweetener by Ariana Grande. If you haven’t heard of either one of these albums, then I’m sorry but you must be living under a rock. In my opinion they are both of these artists greatest work. Cohesively, each song on these albums tells a story. If you have not listened to them, then I highly recommend you do so from start to finish. It’s the best way to enjoy them fully.
Well, I don’t know about you, but I feel like it’s been a long one. If you’re still reading this, congratulations, you made it to the end! I hope you enjoyed reading about some of the things that have gotten me through this New Year slump. What are some of the things you have been loving lately? I’d love to hear about them!
And don’t worry, I have tons of content planned for 2019. I appreciate your patience, and I can’t wait to share it all with you!
I know its’s not technically Christmas yet, but in exactly one week from today it will be, so that’s got to count for something right?
Anyways, today is the start of holiday content on the blog, and since I’ve been so inconsistent with posting lately (I know I’m the worst but I’m working on it!) I am planning on making this week a double post week! So you can expect this post today and another holiday themed post this weekend!
One of my favorite holiday traditions is when my family watches the movie White Christmas while we put up and decorate the tree. It’s been a tradition for as long as I can remember. My mom and I sing and dance to the “Sisters” song, and my brother and Dad pretend to care haha.
Needless to say that decorating the house for Christmas has always been one of my favorite things to do this time of the year, and I wanted to share that process with you, as well as a few tips on how to decorate your home on a budget!
1. Update Existing Decor with Holiday Touches
If you don’t know where to start when it comes to decorating for Christmas, besides the tree, I would suggest you focus on updating your coffee table, dinner room table, shelves, and other surfaces with holiday related items. This can be as simple as switching out a picture frame for a holiday saying, or adding a dish for holiday candy. If you have the space, clear off an entire dresser top, mantle, or accent table off and use it to create a nativity scene, display a winter village, arrange your holiday plates, or (like my mom always does) a show off of your collection of snowmen figurines.
2. Use What You Have
If you are on a budget, a great idea is to use Christmas cards as holiday decor. Just keep cards you really like, or go buy some, and frame them around your house. It’s super simple, and a whole lot cheaper than most holiday decorations at the store. Another easy tip is to use pine cones, holly, jingle bells, Christmas ornaments, and cinnamon sticks in your decorations. Not only are all of these things super affordable, but they are also incredibly versatile. Simply add any of them to a bowl, plate, or any other decorative container, and you’re good to go! Bonus points if you use multiple types of these items together.
3. Don’t be afraid to DIY
Even if you aren’t a self proclaimed DIY Queen, don’t be afraid to try a simple project, like a custom wreath. Get inspiration from sites like Pinterest if you’re wanting to follow directions, or come up with your own ideas. If you are able to incorporate things you already own, even better! Honestly, there’s nothing greater than creating your own decorations. You get to make something you could never find in store, and even though it may take some time and work, oftentimes it can be much cheaper than store bought alternatives. Plus you get the satisfaction that you made something you can proudly display in your own home.
The best thing about decorating for the holidays is your house never has to look the exact same way twice! Around here, we are constantly changing things up, adding new finds or creations, or just experimenting. I hope you take these tips and inspiration and use them to create your ideal Christmas home decor!
I’ll see you guys later this week for another holiday related post. Until then, Merry (early) Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Hello everyone! It’s me again, and I’m here today with a post that has been a long time coming, literally. As you probably noticed, I went on a bit of a hiatus after graduating from college. Truth be told its been a rough couple of months. With the holidays and New Years just around the corner, the pressure to meet my goals and be successful is higher than ever. But life just kind of sucks right now, and I feel like I am no where closer to being where I want to be in life. The break has been much needed, and although I can’t promise that I’m back for good, I can say that I am focusing a lot more of my attention on blogging again. That’s because blogging and creating fashion related content brings me joy, and going into the New Year, I want to focus on things that bring me joy.
Speaking of things that bring me joy, I wanted to share with you some photos I took over the summer with my vintage film camera. I just got the negatives and scans back, and I can’t wait to show them to you. I must admit, when it comes to photography, I am pretty mediocre. But nevertheless these pictures take me back to fun memories made with my family. And I love that.
My extended family, uncle, aunt, and cousins, came to visit us this summer. It was a really great time full of quality family time, which was much needed considering we only get to see them once a year. My cousin Abbi helped me start my first roll of film, because she has been taking pictures on 35mm film for a while now (thanks Abbi!) So I started out by taking pictures of things around the house, to help get an idea of how it works. As you can see, I still haven’t really gotten the hang of it since most of these pictures are out of focus or dimly lit.
After the first couple of “test shots” for lack of a better word, I started taking my camera everywhere with me in case inspiration struck. I am by no means a professional photographer, so I mostly used this roll of film to capture memories, whether they were aesthetically pleasing or not. To me, taking pictures on film is very similar to taking pictures on your phone, but in a much more tangible way.
A lot of these pictures are from a trip to Crystal Bridges, an art museum in Arkansas, with the family. If you are a long time fan of the blog you may remember our last time going there. It is one of my favorite museums (I love museums!) and I wanted to take pictures of everything.
This picture of my brother is the last one on my roll of film. It was taken the day we moved him into his college dorm, and it signified the end of summer for our family. I miss him all the time, and he is one of my closest friends. I can’t wait to see him for the holidays! He also got into film photography this summer, and he has much more of an artistic eye than I do!
These final two pictures were taken by my cousin Abbi, who is definitely more experienced than I am. Also they make me look cute.
To me, film photography was such a unique experience. In a world where we can take out our phones and take pictures whenever we want to, it was nice to actually take the time to choose what I wanted to immortalize in my limited shots on my roll of film. There was a bit of pressure in making sure each shot was perfect, but the fact that I couldn’t tell if it came out the way I wanted until I got it developed made it so much more fun. If you ever have the chance to work with film, I highly recommend it. It can be so exciting, and the results will leave you so proud of yourself.
I know this post was a little different than usual today, but I hope you enjoyed it. Let me know if you have ever worked with film before, or if you want to try it someday!
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again; I’m ready for spring. I know it feels like it’s right around the corner, and technically it is because the spring equinox is next week. But some days are still too cold to whip out the floral dresses and sandals. If you are like me, and you just can’t wait until it stays warm so you can start wearing dresses and skirts then look no further. Today’s look is about just that; how to wear a dress or skirt in early spring.
Sweater: Old Navy (old)(similar here and here) Skirt: TJ Maxx (similar here and here) Bag: Vintage Belt: Ann Klein
For this outfit, I wore this amazing, brightly striped sweater that has been on repeat since I got it. The colors in this sweater make it the perfect piece to wear in the fall and winter, but also in early spring. Now when the whole midi length trend started I wasn’t sure how I felt about it, but now I am a full supporter. This long, flowy skirt style is very flattering and girly. It honestly makes me feel like a princess. My inner child comes out, and I just want to twirl all day. While the thin material of the skirt doesn’t offer much protection from the cold winds, the thick knit sweater definitely helps balance it out. You could also add some tights or leggings under the skirt, or even a pair of tall boots; I love the 70s vibes of that look!
Because the sweater is such a bold print and color, I toned it down by taking one of the neutral colors in the stripes and used that for the color of my skirt. I thought about wearing this skirt with the sweater untucked, which is a huge trend right now, but decided that it didn’t look very flattering on me. So I resorted to tucking the sweater into the skirt and belting it to further emphasize my waist. I thought the brown in the belt really complimented the rich tones in the sweater, and pulled the whole look together. Honestly, if you only listen to one clothing recommendation from me, please get yourself a sweater like this that can be worn almost all year round. Add some color, or keep it neutral, but definitely pick one that reflects your style and is versatile!
(Side note: we took some of these pictures inside the cutest little mansion in my home town. It was built in the early 1900’s and is now a museum/restaurant. How adorable is this bathroom!?)
Finally, to enhance the spring vibes of the outfit I wore these blush pink, tassel earrings which also pull out the pink stripes in the sweater. Because the sweater is so bold, I only wore a simple and delicate necklace with a hexagonal charm. I completed the look with this vintage, straw bag to add some texture, interest, and vintage charm. I know that straw bags were a huge trend all last spring and summer, and I doubt they will be going away anytime soon. If you are still on the hunt for one I would definitely check out Etsy. They have a ton of unique and cheaper alternatives. I stole this one from my mom who got it at a flea market, and it has quickly become my spring staple bag (sorry not sorry, mom!). If you do happen to get your hands on a straw bag, especially if it is vintage, keep in mind that they aren’t the most durable. But if you take care of them, they can last you a lifetime.
That’s all I have for this week, guys! Also, my Spring Break starts this weekend so if you want to keep up on all the adventures be sure to follow me on Instagram (@kendallshea22). My roommate and I are planning on going to Orlando for Universal Studios and Disney World. We couldn’t be more excited!
What are your plans for Spring Break? Are you just as excited for spring as me? Let me know in the comments down below.
Hello guys! It’s been a bit since I last updated the blog. This delay is actually part of the reason I decided to talk about today’s topic: inspiration. More specially, feeling UN-inspired. These past couple of weeks have been busy, stressful, and exhausting. All of these things resulted in me feeling lost, uninspired, and in a bit of a rut.
Because of all of this, I decided to go on a bit on a social media black out. I knew I needed to get my life sorted and find my inspiration again. Below, I’ll be sharing with you the things I learned that helped me get my groove back.
Bedding: Target Jacket (without patches and pins): Old Navy Patches and Pins: Etsy Camera: Vintage
1. Relax! Don’t Stress About It.
One of the biggest problems I encountered during my rut, was that I was constantly getting in my own head and stressing myself out in unnecessary ways. I felt like as a blogger and content creator, I needed to be constantly posting, both on the blog and on social media. So if I wasn’t posting, or my posts weren’t as successful as I thought they should be, then I was failing. This mentality is never healthy, but especially not when you are trying to find that spark that got you started in the first place. So my advice, learn from my mistakes. You are not required to be in a state of constant success. In fact, it is perfectly healthy and understandable to take breaks when needed. Your mental and emotional well being is more important than the amount of likes you get on Instagram. It took a while for me to fully realize and accept this, but once I did I knew I wasn’t going to forget it anytime soon.
2. Ask Questions And Get Advice.
Another thing that I am always struggling with is learning to ask for help and taking criticism and advice. In this industry it is very important to be open to opportunities to learn and grow. As someone who is fairly new to the world of blogging and content creating, I am constantly learning from my mistakes. However, it is also important for me to learn from the mistakes of those who have been here before.
It took me awhile but once I realized that I wasn’t going to get out of this inspiration rut by myself, I started asking family, friends, people who read my blog, and fellow bloggers for advice. The thing about advice is that it can either be general or specific depending on your relationship with the advice giver. But regardless of the specificity of the advice, you always have something to be gained. The people around you are there to help for a reason, and when you feel like you are lost in a tunnel and you can’t see the way out, they are able to see things that you can’t and offer insight from a different perspective.
3. Don’t Compare Yourself To Others.
On a different note, it is important to consider that you are not the person next to you. According to that self deprecating voice in your head there will always be someone better at it than you. I know it’s hard to get out of this mindset, and we are all capable of backsliding, but we need to remember that no one is perfect. You are your own person; no matter how hard you try you will never be them. It’s okay to take inspiration from the people that you admire and look up to, but you have to remember that at the end of the day you are you. And there’s nothing wrong with being you.
Comparing yourself to others will only end badly for you. It will leave you feeling inadequate, and nothing will ever compare to that image you have in your head. We are our own worst critics, and I think it’s time that we start looking at everything through the lens of reality instead of the lens of societal expectations and ideals. I’ll leave you with this: be successful on your own terms and not anyone else’s.
4. Surround Yourself With Things That Encourage Creativity.
If you see something that inspires you, save it. Pin it on a board. Take a picture. Make sure you look at it everyday. I have started doing this, and it is amazing how inspired and creative I started feeling when I focused on the things that made me happy, instead of the things I thought I had to do in order to be successful. Suddenly I knew what I wanted to do, I knew what content I wanted to focus on, and I had all of these ideas. I was starting to feel inspired again, and it was amazing!
5. Be True To Yourself!
The final point I am going to talk about is being true to yourself and your personality. Focus on the things that make you happy and people will relate to it. Being yourself will make others want to do the same. I guess what I’m trying to say is that if you truly understand who you are as a person, the things that motivate you, and the things that bring you joy, inspiration will follow. It may not be as simple as it sounds, and it’s going to be different for everyone, but I promise that if you focus on this the rest will eventually fall into place.
I hope that this helps anyone who may be feeling stressed, or like your life is in a rut and that no matter what you do you are still uninspired. You are not alone.
I know that I focused on inspiration and how it relates to the life of a blogger, but I feel like these are basic life lessons that can be relevant to any walk of life. If you have any tips of your own for when you are feeling uninspired, let me know in the comments down below!
Hello everyone! I know that Valentine’s Day is such a polarizing subject; you either love it or you hate. But for me, regardless of my relationship status, I tend to be pretty neutral. Valentine’s Day is a great time to be with loved ones, romantic or not, and treat yourself and those around you to something special. For me, today is a pretty normal day full of work, class, and blogging. However, I plan on treating myself to one of my favorite meals and a night of relaxing and watching some of my favorite shows. There’s also something special about telling those closest to you how much you love them and what they mean to you. Regardless of your feelings on Valentine’s Day, I hope you enjoy today’s post.
Sweater: H&M Jeans: Old Navy Booties: Old Navy (similar here) Silk Scarf: Vintage Purse: BCBG Max Azria Glasses: Kenneth Cole
I’m sure if you have been on social media at all today you have probably seen tons of sappy posts full of the colors pink and red. When I was planning this shoot I realized I don’t really have a lot of pink or red, and to be honest, it’s not really my style. So instead, I came up with this casual, toned down look that takes a little inspiration from today’s romantic holiday.
Okay but this scarf! I was antiquing with my family in Arkansas one day, and I fell in love with it. It’s made in Italy and has a beautiful, romantic Victorian scene on it with a blush pink outline. I knew that even if I didn’t find the courage to wear it, it would be worth it just to own and admire.
But I decided I couldn’t leave it at that. It felt like a great disservice to this beautifully made scarf to sit in my closet and not show it off. So I decided to style it. This required a lot of research on Pinterest about what to wear it with and how to tie it. I ended up tying the scarf in a very French inspired way and went with a simple outfit, because I wanted the scarf to be the statement piece.
Here’s how I tied this scarf, in case you were wondering.
Start with a square scarf
Fold the square in half to form a triangle
Roll the bottom of the triangle in 1-1 1/2 inch folds until about half way up the scarf
Take the long folded ends, and with the remaining triangle in the front of your neck, wrap the ends around the back of your neck
Pull the ends in front of your neck, and tie them in a knot over the triangle
Adjust and tighten as needed
Sorry if that is confusing to you. I tried to explain it as best as possible. Just think of it like a fancy bandanna!
I paired this scarf with this cream sweater from H&M. I thought about wearing it with a striped sweater, but decided this solid one looked better with the colors in the scarf. To keep the colors in the outfit light and pastel, I wore my light blue denim jeans with distressing at the ankle. This little detail, along with these snakeskin booties, really pulled the look together. I just love the subtlety of the muted colors and little details. For me, its a simple outfit that really packs a stylistic and unexpected punch.
Although I’m not the biggest fan of Valentine’s Day, or bright pink and red outfits, I feel like this look accomplishes the task of being a slightly festive Valentine’s outfit, while also being something you could wear any other day of the year and no one would find it outrageous. Like me, this outfit celebrates Valentine’s Day in the most neutral way possible. Maybe that’s why I love it so much…
I wish you all a wonderful Valentine’s Day, whether you are as single as a Pringle, or happily in a relationship. Hold the ones you love a little tighter than normal today, and carry that love on passed today. Because the ones we love deserve more than just one day a year, am I right?
It’s that time of the year again! The time of the year when one day feels like we are in the middle of winter, and the next day feels like spring is in the air. It can be very difficult to know what to wear this time of the year, especially when you want to wear something cute and trendy without freezing. Below I am going to show you three of my favorite items, how I style them now, and how I’ll be wearing them once it’s warmer.
Shirt: Old Navy Skirt Old Navy (similar here) Purse: BCBG Hat: Target (similar here) Booties: Old Navy (similar here)
First off, this skirt! I have been obsessed with this skirt all fall and winter, and I just know that I’m going to get some more use out of it once spring starts. I love pairing it with black and white. I’ve never been one to shy away from pairing neutrals together, and when done right, black and brown can look very chic. I wore it with tights to help keep me warm, and these black ankle booties. When it starts getting warmer, I plan on wearing it with graphic tees and sneakers or ankle booties (sans tights), or even light weight blouses. Even though the skirt is (faux) suede, the material is quite thin and comfortable, and I think when paired with colors like cream, blush pink, or even light blue it will instantly look more spring-y.
To me this silky shirt is an instant classic in my wardrobe. I know most people would say that a white button down is a must have, but for me a pin stripe button down is just as versatile and much more my personal style. I’ve always been a fan of stripes, and the vertical stripes on this blouse are flattering on any body type! The material has a silky finish that gives it a vintage 60s and 70s vibe. I paired it with my suede button down skirt to play off of that vintage look. In the spring, I plan on wearing this shirt with a denim skirt, shorts, or boyfriend jeans and then sandals or mules.
The last piece in this outfit is this newsboy/baker boy/caddy hat. This style of hat has been such a huge trend lately, and the funniest thing is that I’ve had this hat for years! When I was younger, I was constantly buying hats and then never wearing them because I was too worried about what people would think. It has taken a lot of conscious effort, but I have slowly started to erase this mindset. So when this look started making it’s rounds on Instagram and fashion blogs, I knew I had to break this old hat out. Plus it saved me some money! Even though this hat has a very fall and winter look to it, I plan on wearing it throughout the early stages of spring with graphic tees, boyfriend jeans, denim skirts, and sneakers. If styled correctly, this hat can add an interesting element to a casual outfit.
I styled the rest of this look with these delicate, dangly earrings, and vintage, gold bow necklace. This necklace is actually my Grandma’s! She gave it to me recently when she noticed me admiring it. I love the statement it adds to every outfit. My Grandma certainly has style. Thanks Grandma!
I know Groundhog’s Day has come and gone, and according to the groundhog we are supposed to have more winter weather coming our way, but I can’t stop thinking of all the spring outfits I want to wear. Guess, we will all have to wait. Hopefully this post helped you see your winter faves in a new light, so you can style them in spring as transitional outfits!
I am so excited to share today’s post with you guys. This is a subject that has been on my mind for a very long time, but I only just found the right words for it. As you know, I just finished my second to last semester of college, and it was the toughest one yet. Earlier in the semester I severely injured my knee, and required surgery. As a result of this, I missed so much school that I spent the rest of the semester playing catch up. The work load just kept piling on, and the stress was almost too much to handle. Almost. But I am here to tell you that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I survived what has been the hardest year of my life, and I came out a much stronger person.
Below, I am going to share with you the three lessons I learned from my personal experiences of 2017, and how I grew as a result. I hope this will encourage you to look back on your year and focus on the things that grew you as a person. And if you feel like you didn’t achieve the level of growth you wanted, then work on it this upcoming year.
Sweater: Old Navy Jeans: Old Navy Jacket: Old Navy (available in navy here) Booties: MIA (available in black too! and on sale for $34!) Glasses: Kenneth Cole
Disclaimer: I know what you are thinking. “Kendall, do you only shop at Old Navy?” The answer is…pretty much. I work there so I get a nice discount, but all of my opinions are honest and my own.
1)Don’t Be Afraid to Speak Up!
Whether it be in an office setting or within a friend group, you should never be afraid to voice your concerns and speak your mind. This was one of the biggest lessons I learned during my internship in New York. While working for a magazine, I had so many questions about the work behind the scenes. Why did we do the things we did? What affect did it have on the production? Who made those decisions, and what was the thought process behind them? I wanted to understand it all on a deeper level, and my superiors knew that. So when I asked these questions, they answered them. In fact, as the internship continued, they encouraged these learning sessions and enjoyed my enthusiasm towards my job. I understand this may not be the case in every situation, and that’s where the ability to discern whether your voice is appropriate in that setting comes in handy.
For example, if your friends are making plans without you and you feel left out, you should let them know. It may change nothing, or it may help them realize that they were leaving you out and hurting your feelings unintentionally. Or if you are applying for a job, it is good to be consistent when you check on the status of your application. You don’t have to do this everyday, in fact you definitely shouldn’t, but if you haven’t heard anything back for 10-12 days, it may be worth another call or email. No matter the scenario, you can make a lot more opportunities for yourself if you learn to speak up.
2) Achievement is Relative
Now this one may sound a bit weird, but let me explain. When I was unable to walk because of my knee injury, I felt helpless. I couldn’t do anything on my own. I was constantly having to ask for help from those around me. It was truly a humbling experience. And something I learned from this is that we need to celebrate the little things. When you are injured, or stressed, or having a rough day, the littlest things are achievements. Getting up out of bed and going to class. Getting a big project done early. Drinking enough water. All of these things are achievements, and should be celebrated. Not everyone is able to climb Mount Everest or run a marathon. And sometimes the simple act of getting out of bed, can feel as big as Everest.
3) I am Stronger Than I Think
If there is one thing this year has taught me, it is this. I am so much stronger than I ever thought I was. In 2017, I moved to New York on my own to pursue my dream internship. I lived in the big city for about three months and I loved every minute of it. I survived a surgery, which five months ago I never would have imagined I could do. I am terrified of needles, a fear which did everything it could to prevent me from going through with the surgery. But with the help and strength of those I love, I was able to overcome this fear. Not only did I go through with the surgery, but I also worked hard in physical therapy for weeks to get my mobility and strength back. After all of that, I had to put my nose to the grindstone and work hard to catch back up on all that I missed, while also getting my grades up.
At the beginning of the year, I never could have imagined that I would be able to face all of the things that were thrown at me this year. But by the grace of God, the love of my family, and my own personal growth, I was able to get through 2017. I only hope that this post allowed you to reflect on your year in a positive way, and to look back on all the ways you grew. I wish you all a Happy New Year and I hope that 2018 is filled with even more growth and happiness for the both of us.
