Lost in a Sea of Skinnies and Boots

I can't seem to break the "skinnies and boots" habit, guys. Well, let's be honest - I'm not trying very hard.

This outfit follows all the rules I've already talked about so much that you're probably sick of them. So let's just enjoy the outfit and move on.

Here I made use of another button-down shirt, this time with a nice floral print. I brought out the orange flowers with an orange bow headband, too, which is nice, since as my sophomores recently learned, orange is my favorite color.

But today, I finally decided to wear something different. And by "different," I mean a different pair of boots:

Sorry, but I found something that is flattering and super comfortable. Just sit back and enjoy it - that's what I'm doing.

Trying Harder

I haven't been doing a good job lately of talking about the specific reasons I've been choosing my outfit pieces lately, nor giving good tips for your own wardrobe choices. For this, I apologize. I can only make the vague "Stuff has come up in my life!" excuse so many times before it starts to sound empty and meaningless. Instead, I will merely move on and attempt to do better in this post.

Thursday I decided I really had to break the sweater-skinnies-boots habit, so I opted for a skirt-blouse combo instead:

The weather was warming up a bit, so I didn't need the comfort and warmth of knee-high boots and sweaters anymore. This blouse is of a lightweight material, so it was weather-appropriate, and wearing the ankle boots kept more of my leg out to get air... Well, as much air as a leg clad in tights is going to get.

I've lost count of how many times I've talked, on this blog, about the importance of balancing your outfits; at the most simplified, it goes like this: tight on bottom means loose on top, and loose on bottom means tight on top. (Keep in mind there are still appropriate levels of "loose" and "tight" for different events/situations.) This outfit is a great example of that. The blouse is loose not only in the torso, but also in the ballooned-out sleeves, and the pencil skirt is well-fitted. The belt at the waist helps define the contrast between the top and bottom, cinching right in the middle.

In the same way that fit should be balanced, I'm a firm believer that prints should be balanced as well. You'll note that there are large polka dots on the top, a very bold print, but a solid colored skirt, solid tights, and solid colored booties to offset that print. You'll see I didn't include any kind of necklace with the top because the print is so... big. The bracelet and earrings are both very low-key as well.

I have no good excuse for having accidentally cut off the top of my head in this picture. Sorry about that.
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Friday was a jeans day at school (or a "blue and gold" day, but I had no gold in my outfit of choice), and I went with my favorite pair, my dark-wash skinny jeans. I opted for a classic white button-down top and my awesome statement necklace, with my fawn-colored flats to complete the look.

I think far too many people, both young and old, underestimate how awesome this combo can be: jeans and a button-down blouse. Do you know how much extra time it takes me to put on a button-down blouse rather than a t-shirt? A little, 'cause, you know... buttons and all. But really, it doesn't add all that much time, and the look in the end is great. The classic white and blue (jeans) combo was a great backdrop for my statement necklace that I love so much, too.

Do you only see button-down shirts as "formal" or "business" attire? Or would you wear them casually? If you wouldn't before, will you consider it now?

Boots and Sweaters and Boots and Sweaters

Well, I don't like being a one-trick pony, but let's be honest: When the fall weather hits, I am ALL ABOUT the sweaters and boots. Maybe I'll switch it up with dresses and tights soon, but for now, enjoy some more sweaters and boots:

(I have no idea why I look so angry.) This striped v-neck sweater is one of my favorites, both comfy and flattering, and it goes with all sorts of different pieces in my wardrobe. I realize that I have probably made a major faux-pas (to myself, and no one else, because I'm the only one who makes ridiculous fashion rules that apply to me and no others) by not only repeating the sweater-skinnies-boots combination two days in a row, but actually repeating THE SAME EXACT BOOTS with the outfit. How could I?!

Still, it was super comfortable and (in my opinion) cute, especially with my faux-leather jacket on top:

The next day, I decided I absolutely had to change things up. Instead of actually moving away from sweater-skinnies-boots, I merely changed the particular boots in question.

I call these my "pirate boots," because something about the rolled cuff at the top reminds me of, you know, pirate boots. I loved pairing my maroon pants with the maroon belt, though it took five of my junior girls to help me cinch it in the middle of the day. (Thanks, Emily, Brittany, Ishita, Noelle, and Nicole! The poor A-period boys were so confused...)

(Oh, and that reminds me that I owe B period a shout-out, because according to their data, they have the highest number of readers out of all my classes. So what's up, B period?! Hi!)

At any rate, I definitely liked the outcome of this outfit, even if it was more of the same. Maybe tomorrow I'll wear a dress? Or maybe a different pair of skinnies. And more boots.

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Okay, I need to know what you guys think of the "Get the look for yourself" sections on these posts. They take a pretty long time to put together, researching what's available online, etc. Do you like them? Are they useful? Or do you ignore them? If you ignore them, I'm totally not offended, but it means I'll stop including them and save myself the time. Let me know!

BUSY Gets the Best of Me

I don't want this blog to die out, but there are times when work and life take precedence. Sad, I know, but true. I have outfits from Thursday, Friday, Sunday, and today to go through, so this'll be as succinct as I can make it. Y'all forgive me, right?
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Thursday's outfit was very boring, but it was a good outfit in terms of fit and color:

Sadly, I actually don't have anything much to say about this outfit. Cap sleeves are flattering, as is the wide neckline with a slight V-dip. And... um... Yeah, like I said, boring.
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Friday was a staff in-service day, so we were allowed to go a little more casual:

I threw this outfit together at the last moment when I woke up, so I think I'm lucky it worked out as well as it did. These are my grubbier jeans, but I felt like the lighter wash would work better with the darker blue top. The top is from Target (available here), and I think it would almost always be better with a belt. (The only time I might consider leaving it loose would be with super-skinny pants and boots.) The creamy white belt breaks up the blue colors together, and also ties in the flowered headband.

Overall, I'd call it a win.
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I'll skip ahead to today's outfit before talking about Sunday, so we can stay on the "normal" clothes before jumping into semi-formal-wear.

I love chilly fall days, and I love the rain, so I was excited about today's weather. My rust orange sweater is a favorite of mine. I wore a white cami underneath and allowed it to hang below the sweater. I tend to prefer three colors in my clothes more than two (reference above where I referred to my red-and-black outfit as "boring"), so I like the extra strip of white in between the black pants and orange sweater. Along with my black skinnies, I wore my new tan boots, and I was so comfy.

The only thing I wished I'd had was a pair of boot socks, like these:

Available here.

They're on my November "wish list," so I'll have them soon, don't worry.
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 Last, but not least, let's look at my outfit for the Gala Sunday night:

Okay, if you've been reading for a while and paying attention, you can probably explain to me most of the reasons this dress is a great choice:

1. The color is a rich jewel tone, warm and vibrant.
2. The dress comes in with ruched material right at the narrowest part of the waist/ribs.
3. The skirt hugs the hips nicely, but modestly, emphasizing the hourglass figure.
4. The hem hits just at the knee, not too long and stumpifying.

I decided to go for a Mad Men kind of look, so I chose pearl and diamond accessories with my necklace, earrings, bracelet, and ring. Silver strappy shoes completed the basic ensemble.

This kind of semi-formal outfit really needs a clutch purse, rather than something with straps, so I chose my gray one to match the silver in the shoes.

I ADORE this coat. I wish I had more opportunities to wear it, although it might not feel as special if I did. Every time I get to wear it, I feel so glamorous and old-school gorgeous. With my hair up in a twist with loose strands around my face, the pearl necklace, and this retro-style coat, I completely felt like a classy lady from the 1940's:

LOVE it.
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So, there we have four outfits for you. Which was your favorite? You can reassure me that you forgive my long absence by answering in the comments...

Two Outfits for Three Days

Bad news, y'all: I forgot to take pictures on Monday. I tried to recreate it on Microsoft Paint, but it turns out that I stink at drawing, so... sorry. I guess that day is gone.

But there's no use mourning the past, so let's move on to Tuesday!

I love this leopard-print top because it's comfy, well-fitted, and a good way to spice up a neutral brown color palette. It is, however, sleeveless, so I put this 3/4 sleeve cardigan over it. On the bottom, I wore my white wide-leg pants and light tan flats.

Buttoning the last few buttons on the cardigan was a tactical choice, because leaving it open doesn't cinch at the waist quite as well, which makes it less flattering. Keep that in mind the next time you're wearing a cardigan - does it look better with some of it buttoned at the waist? Something to think about.

Get the look for yourself: 
Top - Target, available here.
Cardigan - Target; similar here.
Pants - New York and Company; similar here.
Shoes - Target, available here.
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This morning I was feeling sleepy, and when I'm feeling sleepy, I want to wear something comfy, and when I want to wear something comfy, it's usually pretty casual.

Even though I bought these skinny pants a couple months ago, I hadn't actually worn them yet, so the tags came off today. They're a shade that's hard to describe, somewhere between tan and gray, but it works well as a neutral. I decided to pair it with a rich pink belted sweater vest, and kept it simple with a plain white tee underneath. To avoid keeping it too simple, I added a long necklace and hoop earrings, with a pearlescent bracelet. Staying on point with casual and comfy, I wore my white Keds.

Like the buttoning of the cardigan on Tuesday, keeping the sweater vest belted was a purposeful choice to avoid having too much of a "boxy" outline at the torso. I considered a couple of my actual belts, but decided to stick with the sash that actually came with the vest. Either way, it was important to keep with a skinny belt/sash rather than a wide one, because a wide belt with the lower waistline of the pants would look too choppy; no belt, however, would have left the outfit too baggy overall. I'd say I was pleased with the outcome.

Get the look for yourself: 
T-shirt - Target, available here.
Sweater vest - Gap; similar here.
Pants - Express; similar here.
Shoes - Payless, available here.
Necklace - Target; similar here.
Earrings - Target; similar here.

Casual Tips, Per Request

Well, "Clarence Ford," whoever you are, here is a post dedicated to you. First, I'd like to say a few things about posts I've written in the past, because I think you may have missed a few things. Then, I will move on to a few targeted comments and pics for this post.

In your most recent comment you said, "I dislike the fact that you are always explaining and critiquing your own outfits without explicitly mentioning fashion advice for us. I understand that this is your blog, and you are the one that dresses up, but general advice (within a student's budget) concerning your current outfit would be beneficial. (e.g. Pair a ______ with a ______ for this stylized look.)" I think this indicates, however, a lack of close reading on your part, if we examine some past posts:

From August 23: "Combining loose tops with loose skirts makes the entire outfit seem like baggy and – let’s be honest – a little bit like you’re wearing a discarded circus tent. And combining fitted tops with fitted bottoms will, in most cases, just look cheap and trashy. Finding the right balance is important."
Summary: Pair fitted tops with looser bottoms, and vice versa.

From August 27: "Now, wide-leg pants can be dangerous, but white wide-leg pants can be especially dangerous, as there is a very real possibility of making yourself look larger than you are, especially around the hips and thighs. That's why it has to be paired with something fitted and flattering on the top."
Summary: Pair wide-leg pants (especially if they're white) with fitted, flattering tops.

From August 28: "Sticking mostly with neutrals - especially black and white, which is a classic combo - can sometimes seem too boring without some bright spot to liven it up. The easiest way to do a pop of color is usually with the shoes or the purse; if you want a heavier 'pop,' you can do both shoes and purse. (I hear you all gasping in amazement.) Other accessories you can use to add color to an outfit include scarves, hats, and belts."
Summary: Add a pop of color to a neutral outfit to avoid the "blah" phenomenon.

From September 13: "Look for pieces/items that accentuate the narrowest part of your waist to flatter your figure the most." 
AND "Look for v-neck shirts, blouses, and dresses to elongate the neck line and slim the face." 
AND "Find pieces that hit you at the right places for your body type, whatever that is."
Summary: Accentuate the waist, elongate the neck, and dress for your body.

From September 19: "Peplum, because of its placement, draws the eye to the waist and creates a wider look at the hips, which can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your body shape. For hourglass figures (which is what I have), it is great, because extending the hips out from the body makes the waist look narrower by comparison, and makes the 'hourglass' even more defined. If you have a 'pear' shape, however - larger hips and a smaller waist and bust - the peplum will only exaggerate the hips and exacerbate the natural imbalance."
Summary: If you have an hourglass figure, peplum will look good on you; if you have a pear shape, it will not.

From September 30: "In retrospect, I wish I'd chosen a long necklace rather than this shorter one; longer necklaces elongate the body, and I could have used that given the way I put this outfit together."
AND "See, this outfit, with the top of the skirt hitting significantly lower than my natural waist, shortens my frame considerably - in fact, I shortened it even further by putting a sash two inches even further below the top of the skirt, meaning I created a visual waistline about six to eight inches below my natural waist."
Summary: Long necklaces elongate the body, but creating a visual waistline way below your natural one stumpifies your body.

From October 2: "It's a very flattering cut, coming in at the narrowest part of the ribcage and then flaring out to an a-line skirt hitting just above the knee. Ties come from the waistline to cinch around the back and create an hourglass shape."
Summary: Dresses that cinch at or just above the waist and flare out to an A-line skirt are flattering. (Implication: You should consider buying those kind of dresses.)

From October 4: "I added a maroon lace-edged camisole under the blouse, partially for modesty (though I could have just buttoned the shirt up to the top), but more to add another color to the outfit besides just white and black; I think it worked well breaking up the otherwise block-y color palette."
Summary: Add colored camis under neutral-colored shirts to break up an otherwise color-blocked outfit (e.g. black-and-white).

From October 8: "Sometimes people who aren't very confident in their fashion choices get stuck thinking that everything in an outfit needs to match, but that's not true. As many fashion experts are fond of saying, 'It doesn't have to match; it has to GO.' And people who don't understand fashion are probably tempted to respond with something like, 'What in the name of all things chic is that supposed to mean?' Basically, it means that you can bring in a new color, as long as it doesn't clash with the rest of the outfit - it doesn't need to match, it just has to not MISmatch."
Summary: It doesn't have to match; it has to "go" with the rest of the outfit.

From October 11: "Outfits have to be carefully planned to showcase a statement piece like this, as they need to be almost entirely neutral to keep the focus on the jewelry."
Summary: Show off a statement piece by surrounding it with neutrals.

As you can see, there are at least 10 posts there with at least one piece of "fashion advice" per post. Plus, this post about accessories and this post about wearing t-shirts and jeans are pretty much entirely dedicated to fashion advice. And while most of my posts may not come out and directly say, "DO THIS," when I talk about why I chose things, you can read and draw inferences about what you should consider doing for yourself.

That all said, I will try to make it more obvious when I am giving advice, and I will try to talk more often about casual outfits to give advice that students could use.
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This is the outfit I wore on Friday, when I took a personal day from school to spend the day with my mom and sister, visiting from out of town:

As you can see, I'm wearing jeans, which makes this a non-work outfit for me and a plausible outfit for students. (Well, female students. Sorry, boys, but there is not really any fashion advice in this blog for you. "Clarence" - I've been assuming you're female...) I started with my favorite pair of skinny jeans, my new boots, and a well-loved long-sleeved tee:

Important tips for you to keep in mind about this outfit:

1. Skinny jeans work great with boots, and boots work well with skinnies. It's a very fashionable and practical pairing for chilly fall weather. The reason it is flattering to wear skinnies and boots is because the boots add a bit of width at the bottom of the legs, which helps to balance out the greater width of the hips (as compared to the narrowing in as the thighs taper towards the knees).
2. Dark wash jeans are more flattering than light wash, and because skinny jeans have more chance of showing extra weight than baggier jeans would, it's important to offset that with the darker color blue. Dark wash jeans also work better with tan or light brown boots. (Medium washes are better with black boots, though dark washes will still be fine.)
3. Long-sleeved tees follow the same rules as short-sleeved in terms of fit, so make sure it fits and isn't too baggy through the torso and/or sleeves.
4. With a fitted tee, you can afford to have the hem of the tee hit below the hips, untucked. If it were looser, it would be more important for it to hit no lower than the hips, and preferably closer to the waist of the jeans, because baggy + long = tent-like.

Because it was particularly chilly where we were going, I added both a scarf and a faux-leather jacket. It's important to note that I purposely chose a shorter jacket - hitting around the waist - to offset the longer shirt (BALANCE), and I purposely chose a darker brown scarf to avoid having my entire outfit blend together. It's one thing to wear shades of brown, but you want to avoid being awash in all of the same shade.

So, hopefully those tips will help some of you female students out there put together some cute "jeans and boots" outfits this fall.


Get the look for yourself:
Jeans - Target, available here.
Shirt - Target; similar here.
Jacket - New York and Company, available here. (Similar, but cheaper, here.)
Scarf - gift; similar here.
Boots - Amazon, available here.

New Statement Necklace

Another one of my October budget purchases was this fabulous new necklace:

 

This kind of necklace is usually referred to as a "statement necklace." Outfits have to be carefully planned to showcase a statement piece like this, as they need to be almost entirely neutral to keep the focus on the jewelry. I wanted a light top so that the blue would stand out more strongly, and I wore simple black skinnies on the bottom. My black Mary-Jane shoes kept the whole thing casual and understated.

So what do you think of the necklace? They're very "in" right now, and available in many colors at many locations...

The next day's outfit was not centered around one piece, however, so a number of pieces got to work together to create a great - in my opinion - look:

I did have some problems with the fact that my pants kept falling down through the day. I've lost a little weight lately, which is nice and all, but it's making some of my clothing options a bit... less than ideal. Once I was at school, I realized choosing a different belt and actually wearing it to hold up the pants would have been better than wearing the skinny black belt around my waist to nip the cardigan.

Upon looking at the pictures, I feel like I look a bit like a ringmaster at a circus, but not necessarily in a bad way. I suspect the outfit would have worked better with black pants than these cream-colored ones, but after Clarence Ford's comment on yesterday's post, I felt like maybe I should wear lighter colors.

SO... Which outfit do you like better? The statement necklace? Or the ringmaster ensemble?


Get the look for yourself:
Black skinnies - Gap, available here.
Blouse - Target; similar here.
Shoes - Payless, available here.
Necklace - Amazon, available here.
Ivory skinnies - Express; similar here.
Top - Target, available here.
Cardigan - Target, available here.
Belt - Amazon, available here.
Boots - Payless; similar here.