Transformation

Would you believe me if I told you this shirt...was a dress?

Remember this dress? I wore it here.

I really wanted to pair the dress with these mint pants, but when I put them on, the flare of the dress didn't go well with the skinny jeans. I've never been into the dress over pants look. However, I still felt determined to make the two go together...with a little rolling and tying, I turned the dress into a shirt! I put on a blazer to cover up some of the pinning in the back and keep myself warm - perfect for a spring day.

Outfit details: Blazer: Gap / Pants: American Eagle / Top (dress): H&M / Sandals: Franco Sarto / Earrings: Native American shop in North Carolina 

Have you ever gotten creative with your clothes and transformed them? I'm going to try to learn how to sew this summer with my grandmother so I can create my own designs! 

Balancing Act

This outfit was an experiment in balancing the masculine and the feminine. My style tends to sit on the fence - neither super feminine nor very masculine. Simply put, I wear what makes me feel comfortable, so that may be plaid shirts or lace dresses. In putting together this outfit, I thought about ways to balance out the boyfriend jeans, brown leather belt, and boat shoes with the floral blouse, grass green sweater, and bow clip. In the end, I created an outfit that's sweet and simple. 

Outfit details: Sweater: Abercrombie and Fitch / Blouse: Abercrombie and Fitch / Cami: Gap / Jeans: American Eagle / Belt: Vintage (gift from mom) / Shoes: Sperry / Earrings: Museum of Native American History / Necklace: Gifted

Hair: Parted on the side, Dutch braided, and clipped. This bow clip is one of my favorite hair accessories. It adds a touch of prep to any outfit! 

Here's a nice quote on balance - so true. 

Hope you're finding your own balance, whether it's in style, or in life!

Color Theory

Sorry I haven't been posting lately! Most days, I don't get a chance to take photos of my outfits. I'm working on getting better at that!

When I put this outfit together, I thought about color values. Although the shirt, pants, and boots are different colors, they represent medium, light, and dark colors. I like outfits that have a bit of contrast. I find that if I wear an outfit that is all dark or all light (not including dresses - those can usually work in just one color) the outfit doesn't look as nice. Instead, mixing up colors or prints can make a big impact when done the right way.

Outfit Details: Shirt: American Eagle/ Pants: American Eagle/ Boots: Luxury Rebel / Scarf: Adrienne Landau / Earrings: American Museum of Native American History

Since I'm tall, I used the different values to break up my long body. The scarf, a gift from my grandmother, pulls it all together with the combination of purple to go with the chambray of my shirt, teal to go with the aqua of my pants, and black to go with the black of my boots. It's not too matchy-matchy, but it's got a rhyme and reason to it. This is one of many scarves - I have a pretty substantial collection, and I'm always looking for new ways to wear my scarves.

This was a photo of me with my sophomore year biology teacher - we were holding something up and I liked the light in this photo. We took it in the greenhouse, so we're surrounded by plants. 

Hair: Clipped back with hardshell clip, Earrings: Sterling silver leaf earrings

Eyeliner: Physician's Formula Eye BOOSTER in Ultra Black

I have a good deal of Native American-inspired jewelry, and a lot of the jewelry I wear is pieces I have made. I'll do a few features on my DIY jewelry!

This last one is just for fun. I'm looking quite pensive. I think it's cute how the wall was the same color as my pants, and that border by the floor is the same color as my boots. 

Hope you're having a great day and enjoyed learning more about my style philosophy (with a mini art lesson as well)!

Style has nothing to do with fashion

This weekend I was away on a college visit but I had time to style my first outfit featured in this blog. My style philosophy has always been about a balance of colors and comfort. I tend to lean toward classic styles rather than trendy ones, and find that certain pieces have become staples in my closet. Take this dress, for example. Guess when I got it? Seventh grade, for a semiformal dance. I love the tunic length, which lengthens my legs; the 3/4 sleeves, which don't cut my long arms off in an awkward place like so many dresses I've tried on, and the babydoll shape, which is soo comfortable. Over the years, I've found this dress to work really well in casual outfits.

Outfit details: Dress: H&M/ Leggings: Aerie/ Coat: Hollister/ Earrings: Gift shop in North Carolina/ Mittens: American Eagle/ Boots: Nine West/ Purse: Dooney & Burke

Being tall (I'm 5'8'') it can be hard to find clothes that fit me well. Advice for other tall ladies out there: Don't sell yourself short! (pun intended) :) Those shorts may look great on the hanger, but if you try them out and they make you look like you're not wearing any pants, don't buy them. Same goes for dresses and skirts. I believe looking classy should always be a priority.

These Native American-inspired earrings are so pretty. I'll show a better photo of them in a future post - I wear them pretty often in the spring, which is (thankfully) coming soon. I love the winter, but the cold and drying weather can get tiring! I love finding unique pieces of jewelry. I've never really gotten into the statement jewelry style - I prefer small and dainty pieces that complement my outfits instead of drawing all the attention.

This purse was a gift from my lovely mother. I love how spacious yet streamlined it is. I could never carry just a tiny crossbody purse because I carry a ton with me - all "just in case" items such as Advil, tissues, Chapstick, hand cream, water bottle, Neosporin, bandaids, hand sanitizer, sunscreen... Seriously, I should be on a survival show or something, even though I'd probably only last a few days! I like wearing this crossbody on just one side instead of across my body. That's where my height comes to an advantage :)

Here I am with two of my friends. 

I hope this post finds you well and here is a quote for your day. So true! What do you think about this quote? Do you agree or disagree? 

via fixatedonfashion.tumblr.com