Monday, September 30, 2013

Same Script, Different Cast

The most common question that people ask me is "does this go with this" or what color shoes/accessories should I wear with this outfit. Everyone has a unique sense of style, so while most of us shop in ready-to-wear collections, we worry about having the same apparel items as others. In fashion, that matters not, execution counts the most, the way in which you accessorize and pull your look together. With this in mind, two weekends ago, I challenged myself to wear the same accessories all weekend long. I chose a pink Aldo clutch, a fuschia belt, a nude pair of classic Jessica Simpson pumps, and a handmade pair of giraffe print earrings. I paired these items with a different dress each day, for a different occasion (hence the post's title - same script, different cast).

 
 

 


 

On Friday, I met a friend from college at happy hour for drinks.
Dress: Macy's
Belt: Lane Bryant
Clutch: Aldo
Shoes: Jessica Simpson

On Saturday, I went to a fight party and bar-hopped the night away with my best friend Jasmine (pictured below).
Dress: Asos



On Sunday, I went to a lounge.
Dress: Asos
 
 
The challenge was fun and I really enjoyed it. The bottom line is that you can limit your accessories if necessary (i.e. when going on vacation or downsizing your fashion budget or living space) if you plan your outfits carefully, and you do not have to match your belt to your shoes (people still ask me if it is ok if your accessories do not match, and I actually prefer that mine do not match). Remember fashionistas, fashion is a matter of preference and opinion, not rules, so have fun and wear what you love!

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Farewell Summer....

The official first day of fall is not until September 21, but sadly Americans mourn the end of summer when public school resumes, when football season begins, or the day after Labor Day, depending on your lifestyle. I fall into the category with the day after Labor Day mourners. Since childhood I have religiously followed the no white after Labor Day rule (there are exceptions of course depending on the shade of white and fabric content of course), and adulthood has also lead me to expand that rule to limit my brights/pastels after the pre-fall holiday. I dream in color and I view the world through rose-colored lenses, so I definitely wear bright colors year-round, however, I will definitely limit my neon choices in the fall. Autumn has replaced neon green with avocado, emerald, and army green; bright orange has turned to rust, and shocking pink is now a raspberry tone. If I can offer one piece of advice regarding the season in which you should invest a greater portion of your fashion budget, it is definitely fall fashion. The colors of fall have different names on the pantone color wheel each year, however, they generally remain in the same family. If I asked you to help me think of colors for a fall wedding, most of you would suggest rust, eggplant, and a shade of green without having any knowledge of current trends. To further emphasize my point, I bought rust and emerald last year and I will be wearing those items again this upcoming season, and I have had jewel tone pieces for the past six years that are always relevant for fall and winter. One never knows what summer/spring fashions may bring and those are "the shortest seasons", making those two seasons the best time to partake in trends, while saving the investment pieces for fall/winter.

Now that I've spent more time than necessary giving you a scientific theory of seasonal fashion, let's check out what I wore during the summer months of Summer 2013. I spent the summer hanging out at boat parties, visiting the local resort, attending birthday dinners, fraternizing in the VIP section of Houston's hottest lounges, attending barbecues and kick backs, attending functions as a member of a wedding party, and primarily going to court hearings for work, but let us continue to name multiple isolated events that make my summer look ultra glam in hindsight.....


May 2013 - On my way to turn up in VIP with my sorority sister (line sister) for her birthday. I decided to mix stripes, leopard, electric blue, and neon yellow, with gold accessories and it worked!
Skirt - Asos
Top - Forever 21
Jacket - Forever 21
Belt - Evans
Booties - Vince Camuto
Clutch - Target
Necklace - Local boutique
Bracelet - Avenue
 


May 2013 - I headed to an exclusive lounge to end a Sunday Fun day. I only had a few minutes to get dressed so I threw a crop top on over a tank dress, belted at the waist, and headed out!
Dress - Asos
Top - Forever 21
Belt - Torrid
Clutch - Aldo
Pumps - Vince Camuto
Bracelet - local couture boutique
 
 
Memorial Day Weekend 2013 - I had a hard time getting good pics, so these are hardly clear. This is just a navy blue dress belted at the waist, accessorized with snakeskin pumps and a chestnut colored clutch.
Dress and Belt - Asos
Shoes - Vince Camuto
Clutch - Target
 
 
 
This is another picture from Memorial Day weekend 2013. I was getting ready to board the boat for the Omega boat party.
Dress - Gap
Clutch - TJ Maxx
Elephant Necklace - Forever 21
Leopard Sandals - Target
 
 
 
May 2013 - A weekend at the resort. I threw on this simple outfit to go to a casual dinner after a day of poolside libations with my line sisters.
Skirt - Asos
Top - H&M
Denim Vest - Forever 21
Sandals - Target
 
 
June 2013 - I took these pictures outside of one of my fave Mexican restaurants (Pappasitos), where we dined for my cousin's birthday dinner. I was in the mood to wear something new, so I decided to wear this dress that I ordered from a fellow blogger.
Dress - Curvy Chic Boutique
Heels - Nine West
 
 
 
 
This was one of my fave outfits from summer and can you fashionistas believe that I did not go anywhere in it? I wore it for my birthday, which was on a Thursday this year, the one day of personal leave that I was able to take from work for the entire year and I got glammed up and stayed indoors because I simply did not feel like celebrating. My lip color is RiRi Woo, from one of the most coveted MAC collections this year. I decided to wear all neon everything! The colors are probably not apparent from my iphonetography, however, I am wearing neon coral, yellow, and electric blue. Since I did not go anywhere, I admit that I was over-clad in accessories, this is the day when you apply the rule of 'taking one thing off before you leave the house' and I would have taken off the necklace. I own tons of necklaces but I rarely get to wear them because I love to belt at the waist and I find that you generally don't need both a belt and necklace.
Top - Forever 21
Skirt - Asos
Belt - Asos
Shoes - Nine West
Handbag - Michael Kors
Earrings - Legacy the Designer
Necklace - TJ Maxx
Bracelet - Avenue

 
Looking forward to fall with you fashionistas! Feel free to leave questions/comments below.