5 Ways to Revamp Your Wardrobe

“Ooh look at me I’m so fashionable, take a picture and put it on instagram. White t-shit and jeans, no one has thought of this before!”
Image via http://taylor-lovespaperfaces.tumblr.com/

We all want to look fashionable, or at the very least, put together. Yet, in this age of beauty gurus and everyday fashionistas, it sometimes feels as though we’re always falling short. These days, anyone who looks decent more than once a week is calling herself a stylist, but she is not doing anything you can’t do in your own closet. Here are few tips on how to become a little more stylish and look better in your clothes without completely changing your wardrobe.

5. Doing the Opposite: Do you like to wear really bright colors? Do you stick to muted tones? Well instead of sticking to the usual, during your next purchase, make a point to pick and item that goes out of your realm of style. Do black or nude instead of hot pink. Go for a nice mint color instead of the usual brown. Pick something different (it doesn’t have to be expensive) and incorporate it into something that you usually wear. This way, you can make a change that does not feel like someone body snatched you and played dress up.

4.  Sizing: This is very important. Have you ever gone into a store and picked out a pair of pants or maybe even a shirt and realized they didn’t have it in your size, so you went up or down a size? Don’t do this. Fit is very important when it comes to looking good in your clothes. Personally, I would rather wait for them to get the item in my size (or search for it elsewhere) than to wear something that does not fit me well. You will feel more comfortable and you will look better. It’s worth it.

3. Thrifting (In Your Closet): So many people talk about thrifting all the time, myself included. However, before I go out hunting down every thrift shop in the city, I start with my own closet. I look through it and say to myself “have I worn this lately?” or “do I really like this?” Soon, I realize I have a lot of clothing that I may see in a completely different, positive light or I may have a pile of hate clothes. The clothes I like, I find a new way to wear. What do I do with the clothes I hate? I start by scavenging. I cut them up, taking bits and pieces of fabric and incorporate them into other pieces. For example, I’ll make printed pockets on shirts and jeans. You don’t event have to be an expert in sewing for this. Give it a try.

2.  Quality Undergarments: THIS MAY BE THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE! If your bra or panties are the right fit, your outfit will come down like a house of cards. Panty lines, saggy bras, indentations in your clothes. Size yourself or go get sized professionally so that you are sure that you are wearing the appropriate underclothes. Many women do not know their true bra size and it affects the way they look in their clothing. Do it. Go get sized.

1. SHOES: A good shoe can make a dull outfit look fantastic. I think it’s silly to spend exorbitant amounts of money on shirts and pants, but some items you should really invest in. Shoes are one of them (as well as bras, do not skimp on these two). I’m not saying go out and spend like crazy on shoes. But instead of ten pairs of okay shoes, have five really awesome ones. Make your shoes a statement piece, that way, even if you feel like you’re having a bad fashion day, your shoes are pulling it together.

Hope these tips helped!

Animal Print (Pt.2)

Yesterday, I published a post about animal print and how it can go oh so wrong. Here’s a second installment dressing down animal print. The model above is wearing a nude and black zebra print belted sweater. Because the of the animal print, I dressed her down by having her wear solids underneath. She has on a plain, black fitted tee, black skinny jeans, a brown belt and matching brown boots. To make the outfit fun, in the photo on the far left I added a black beanie with muted sequin accents. Incorporating animal print into ones outfit can be done easily when it functions as a statement piece. If she wanted to dress it up she could easily throw on a pair of black/ nude heels. Do you like the outfit? What do you think?

Hat: Thrifted

Sweater: Forever 21

Tee: Forever 21

Jeans: Old Navy (Sweetheart Skinny, Black)

Boots: Mossimo

Model: Amber Davy

Big Girls Love Leopard (and other jungle animals)

Or so they say. I’m calling bullshit on that saying. I’m already prepared to get some riled up feedback on this one, but I have to be honest: leopard/animal print isn’t for everyone. No matter how many times it is said, people will look at those leopard pants on some Forever 21 mannequin and scurry away to the dressing room with high hopes. Two things will happen:

1. She will try on those pants and be sorely disappointed or
2. She will be in complete denial and buy them anyway, only to be mocked later.

Of course there is always the rare, perfect leopard find that will look amazing, but again that is RARE.

I was shopping with a friend of mine a while ago and she wanted something in leopard print really badly. It was her goal when we went out shopping to find a leopard dress or skirt of some sort to wear to a party that night. We reached Forever 21 (of course) and she saw this metallic looking, skin tight leopard jersey dress on a mannequin and knew she had to have it. We got to the dressing room, she tried it on and it was a fail. She knew before even coming out of the room that it was a miss. Don’t get me wrong, she is gorgeous, but leopard print has that clever way of making most people look terrible in it. So here are a few tips:

1. Go for an A-Line or flirty bottom. A skirt or dress that flares out will look more flattering than
something skin tight that hides nothing.

2. Tight top- loose bottom combination. Or vise versa. This goes beyond wearing leopard, I like to apply to nearly everything I wear. If you’re wearing a tight top, go for a looser bottom, if you’re wearing a looser top, go for a tighter bottom. That way you still look fun, sexy and presentable. Keyword: PRESENTABLE.

3. Use leopard print as an accent. Do not go for the leopard bodysuit. Instead, do something like my friend did. We found a pair of leopard flats for her to wear. I paired it with a baby pink loose top and a dark wash jean. She looked amazing. It was simple and she felt comfortable. Perhaps find a leopard clutch, or even a top that has muted leopard. For example, a blouse that has a leopard collar, or the leopard print is in black so that the print does not come off as loud.

Hope these tips helped! Happy Leopard Hunting!

[The picture above shows the metallic dress my friend wanted to buy, she ended up convincing me to get it. It was the first (and last) time that I wore it. Even still, I paired it with a black jacket because the material fit too closely.]