The Versatility of Two Piece Suits

Published on June 18, 2019October 23, 2019 by kendallshea22Leave a comment

“Cause girls go crazy about a sharp dressed man!” Well I say, people also go crazy about a sharp dressed woman too. Especially if said woman is wearing a blazer and/or suit. I don’t know why, but lately I have been on a huge suit kick. Actually, I’ve been loving blazers and suits for a very long time, but I always felt like (as a plus sized woman) they never looked good on me. I thought that masculine pieces like blazers and suits were meant for women with a more androgynous frame, but boy way I wrong!

Honestly it all started with my mom going through her closet and giving me a pair of navy pinstripe pants with a matching vest. She didn’t want it anymore, and thought I might want to try it on. And there it hung in my closet for weeks until I remembered to try it on and I fell in love. I felt powerful and beautiful and I wanted to wear it immediately. So I wore it for my birthday, and thus began my newfound love for suits.

The next day I went shopping with my family, because I had birthday money that was burning a hole in my pocket. Miraculously, I found two very different but equally amazing suits and I ended up taking both of them home. Today, I am going to be showing you guys how versatile suits can be by creating a total of six outfits with my two new suits.

Of course the most obvious way to wear a suit is to wear the two pieces together. It’s a no-brainer, right? Although that may seem easy, I wanted to show two very different ways to wear a full on suit and two different ways to wear them as separates: dressy vs casual.

Wearing Them Together-

Dressing it up: The best way to make a statement in a two piece suit is to pick a color palette, and stick to it! This makes the look more cohesive and more impactful. Plus, you look like you actually know what you’re doing! A pair of statement earrings, shoes, and bag complete the look, and make it seem intentional, and makes you look confident.

Dressing it down: It may not seem like the most obvious choice, but a suit and sneakers are a match made in heaven. When I lived in New York you would see women walking around in their 9 to 5 wardrobe and tennis shoes, most likely to change into their nice shoes once they got where they were going. But for me, New York re-ignited my love for sneakers and comfortable shoes. Forget changing into heels, I love the juxtaposition of making a suit casual. Just throw on a graphic tee and some sneakers and you have yourself an outfit!

Wearing Them as Separates-

Dressing it down: When wearing wide legged pants, the best and most flattering thing to pair them with is a form fitting top. I ended up tying up this tank top to add a more relaxed and causal vibe and to also show a little bit more of my waist. I added some height with these espadrille wedges, because lets face it, these pants are too long to wear with flats. And again, I just love pairing blazers with chunky sneakers and a graphic tee, and when you add a pair of distressed denim shorts it becomes the perfect casual spring look!

Dressing it up: My tips for dressing up suit separates is basically the same for a full suit: stick to a color palette. I wore a blue and white gingham wrap top with these baby blue pants, and I think the colors work so well together. I completed the look with dainty and feminine accessories in none other than white to go with the shirt. In contrast to that, I decided to do something a little unexpected and change up a classic little black dress with this structured blue blazer. I think it completely changes up the look and adds a whole other element of color. And the hair clips add a nice touch.

Well there you have it! Those are my tips on how to make a two piece suit versatile for any wardrobe. Honestly, you can apply this to any matching set, or something that you think might be too much of a statement piece, to make it more applicable to your life and your style. I know that I am 100% on the suit train, and I don’t plan on getting off any time soon!

Love, Kendall

Finding Your Personal Style Part 3: Go To Outfits

Published on May 2, 2019October 23, 2019 by kendallshea22Leave a comment

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.

Love, Kendall

Finding Your Personal Style Part 1: Fashion Inspiration

Published on March 14, 2019October 23, 2019 by kendallshea22Leave a comment

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!

See you guys next time!

Love, Kendall

How To Stay Warm in Skirts and Dresses During the Winter

Published on November 26, 2018October 23, 2019 by kendallshea22Leave a comment

Hi y’all! Can you believe it’s the most wonderful time of the year?! I’m not talking about Christmas, although I do love a good holiday. No, I’m talking about fall and winter! I realize this may be a controversial opinion, don’t attack me, but I definitely prefer cold weather to warm weather. There’s just something about that chill in the air, wrapping up in a cozy sweater, and wearing a bunch of layers, that really brings out my inner stylist. In fact, I currently have 10 or more outfits that I want to style and wear, so definitely check my Instagram for some outfit inspiration! (shameless plug)

In fact, most of my favorite outfits for this time of the year involve skirts and dresses that normal people would probably pack away with their spring and summer wardrobe. So today, I’m going to be showing you some of my favorite ways to wear my spring and summer pieces in the fall and winter while still staying warm!

Dress: Old Navy Suede Jacket: Old Navy Shoes: Dolce Vita Beret: Walt Disney World

1. Opaque tights are a must!

When it comes to wearing dresses and skirts in the cold, tights are essential. And the thicker the tights, the better. I own a wide variety of tights in different colors, prints, and opacity (thickness). You can pretty much buy them anywhere you go, and although I’ve never spent a lot of money on them, they almost always last.

Jumpsuit: Old Navy Turtleneck Sweater: Thrifted Shoes: Adidas Superstars

2. When in doubt, layer it up!

I originally bought this jumpsuit in the spring, and I quickly fell in love! Since it is sleeveless you wouldn’t think to wear it in the fall and winter, but with some simple layering it can quickly become cold weather appropriate. This trick can also be used on anything sleeveless that you want to wear this time of the year. Just add a sweater or long sleeved shirt under or on top, and you’re good to go!

Skirt: Vintage Sweater: Old Navy Boots: Steve Madden Hat: Target Purse: Anne Klein

3. Over the knee boots are your friends.

If you don’t own a pair of over the knee boots yet, then what are you doing with your life?? This style of boots has been in the spotlight for a few years now, and they are not going anywhere any time soon. I bought these as a Christmas gift to myself on sale from Steve Madden. I had been wanting them for awhile, but knew they were going to be an investment piece because I wanted a quality pair that would last. I’ve had these boots for almost two years now, and I would say not only have they held up, but they have also become a staple in my wardrobe. I love wearing them with skirts and dresses when it’s chilly (or I just haven’t shaved my legs in awhile. You feel me girls?) They help keep my legs covered and warm, plus they look incredibly stylish. I particularly love them peeking out of longer skirts, dresses, and cropped pants.

Whether or not you love the cold weather season, dressing warm is absolute essential. And if you’re anything like me, you want to look cute and stylish while your doing it. I hope these three tips help you brave the cold, and try to incorporate some of your favorite spring and summer pieces into your fall and winter wardrobe. Just remember to bundle up, and stay warm and cozy!

Love, Kendall

My Go To Spring Makeup Look

Published on April 16, 2018 by kendallshea22Leave a comment

Hello everyone and happy Monday! Does anyone else feel like the weekend flew by?? Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like I didn’t have much of a weekend. Either way, it’s time to hit the ground running and get stuff done this week.

Today I want to show you the makeup look that I have not been able to stop wearing.

Eye shadow: Kat Von D Pastel Goth Palette Eyeliner: Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner Lipstick: Kylie Cosmetics Liquid Lipstick in Exposed

When it comes to makeup, I have always been a bit of an experimenter. I have always been the first one to try new colors, brands, products, and trends. But lately I’ve found myself in a bit of a makeup rut. I got too comfortable and ended up stuck in a routine of the same products, the same colors, and the same look. And you know what? I’m sick of it. So as soon as spring came around, I knew it was time to change things up and add a little (or a lot of) color to my makeup routine.

Top: H&M Kimono: Target Jeans: Old Navy Shoes: Restricted Bag: Vintage

I received the Kat Von D Pastel Goth palette as a gift last summer, and honestly I had no idea what to do with it. It was one of those things that had been in the back of my mind, but once presented with it, I was clueless. The palette itself is absolutely beautiful. From the shades to the packaging, it is very aesthetically appealing. In case the name didn’t already give it away, the main colors in the palette are pastels; yellow, peach, pink, lavender, blue, green, white, and black/gray. The pigmentation is unbelievable. And while I loved having it in my collection, it remained untouched for the better part of a year. I kept reaching for it, opening it up, and admiring the aesthetic beauty of it, but I could never bring myself to use it.

I know I said I was an experimenter when it comes to makeup, and that is very true, but I also like to have a look in mind when I’m doing my makeup. If I don’t have that inspiration in my head then I resort to something I’ve done in the past. And since I hadn’t come up with any looks that involved the colors in this palette, I continued not to use it.

I don’t remember who it was that first introduced me to this idea, but I started seeing girls on social media wearing bright yellow eye shadow with thick black liner. The contrast of those two colors is what drew me to the look, and I think it looks very editorial. I tried it out and haven’t gone back since.

I love this look, and I am so glad I have finally started using this palette. The best part is the same principal works with all the other colors in the palette too! I’ve done peach, purple, and blue eye looks with it. However I don’t see myself doing a green based eye shadow look anytime soon! This palette is definitely made for spring, and I can’t wait to use it more regularly.

Whether you love it, hate it, or plan on trying it for yourself, I hope this look has at least encouraged you to branch out of your comfort zone and try something new. So often we find ourselves stuck in the same routine, and frankly that can get pretty boring. So take this week to find something in your life that has become routine and replace it with something out of your comfort zone. I promise you won’t regret it.

Love, Kendall

Today’s Look: Waiting for Spring

Published on March 15, 2018October 23, 2019 by kendallshea22Leave a comment

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.

Until next week!

Love, Kendall

Today’s Look: Happy Valentine’s Day!

Published on February 14, 2018 by kendallshea221 Comment

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?

I’ll see y’all next week!

Love, Kendall

Three Items You Can Transition from Winter to Spring

Published on February 9, 2018 by kendallshea222 Comments

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!

Until next time!

Love, Kendall