Fashion No No's

As I was researching what some of the top fashion no, no's this fall were, surprisingly enough I got lucky to find a recent article in the Cosmopolitan. But during the search, I found an article online through Ambition Magazine. One thing in particular caught my eye that I wanted to share with you wonderful people. It noted that one of the biggest fashion fads from 2012 to throw out this year was leggings.
 "Whether its under, skirts, dresses, or with boots, leggings need to be retired. Fashion stylist and consultant Keith Grant thought they were the worst fashion trend ever and specifically states, it all looks the same and so predictable." Credit goes to Ambition Magazine
 I am actually surprised this was said because I still see people wearing leggings with boots and over sized sweaters actually quite often. Even myself, I wear leggings quite often, maybe not often as a fashion trend, but to be comfy. If I were to wear them to make a fashion statement, I'd be wearing them with leg warmers, boots and a big sweater. I don't think that leggings should necessarily be thrown out of style, however, I do feel that they are maybe not for everyone just like high-waisted shorts and crop tops. Just like a lot of other types of clothing, they might just not be for you and that's something that you have to watch out for. My final opinion on wearing leggings as a fashion fad, is be careful, but if you can pull it off and put the right outfit together, work it.

A few other things I found when researching what to throw out of my closet from last year came from a Cosmopolitan article. One obvious thing they were saying to throw out was flare jeans. I completely 100% agree with that statement. I haven't worn jeans that weren't skinny jeans in over a year and I plan to keep it that way. My personal opinion when wearing jeans, is that skinny jeans are not only more fashionable, but tend to be a lot easier to work with as well. For instance, when wearing them with a boot, you don't have crunch the extra jean material in order for it to fit into your boots. Another is that when wearing them, they are easy to roll and at no point will you have to hassle of stepping on the bottoms and ruining them like you do with any flare pant.
They also said that chunky necklaces weren't the thing to be wearing anymore. I on the other hand feel that with the right outfit, the chunky necklace can be the finishing touch. For example with a plain colored shirt, or with a high neckline shirt. I'm not all that huge with the chunky necklaces, but if you can wear it with the right thing I think that they are something to keep around, at least for the mean time.
 They had mentioned multiple other things such as high waisted underwear and wrap dresses, but I felt those were a little irrelevant to mention. Why they would need to mention to someone that high waisted underwear is not longer in and "not sexy", is beyond me. I don't think they have been in since my mom was at the age of 20.

These are just a things I found and my thoughts on them. I'd love to hear what everyone else is thinking.

What are your thoughts/comments about leggings, flare jeans and chunky necklaces going out of style?
Please share!

 

25 Ways to Tie a Scarf

As we know fall weather has arrived and winter isn't far behind, which means wearing scarves is the biggest accessory this time of year. I usually struggle with how to tie my scarf, so below I have posted a video of 25 different ways to tie a scarf.

Enjoy!

Freepeople: Boho Fashion Line

As I have been writing these blogs about fashion, I have been keeping my an eye out for inspiration in any way possible, not only for me, but for my lovely readers to get more inspirational insight on the latest fashion fads. One brand in specific has really caught my eye lately. It all started with a simple follow on instagram and escalated from there. I then started looking them up online, trying to figure out what their style was all about. Their name "Free People" says it all. 

Freepeople is a brand name clothing line that allows women the chance to dress free through their fashion line. Some of you may be curious what exactly I mean when I say dress "free" through clothing. Like I mentioned in a few of my latest blog posts, fashion lies in the hands of the beholder. Yes, there are fashion no, nos, but using the knowledge provided to you, how you dress yourself can express who you are based on what you know. Fashion in this case is "free," you are free to dress the unique style based on who you are. The  line is a unique boho style brand made for women to express their lives through different pieces of clothing. They have their website at which you can buy freepeople brand clothes, as well as a blog to get the latest insight on not only fashion, but beauty, music, food, and decor.

blog.freepeople.com

www.freepeople.com

As I have been trying to stress before, fashion is one of the greatest ways to express yourself and show people who you really are. I grew up on in small town on a pig farm, but on the inside I wasn't a true farm girl. Yes, I appreciate where and how I grew up, but if you haven't noticed my motto is "small town girl, big city dreams." So although I am from where I am, on the inside I'm a girl with big dreams to live in a big city and eventually have a job in the fashion industry. I can express who I really am through the clothes I choose to wear. For instance, I went home a couple weekends ago, going out to small town bars I wore causal jeans, my converse, long sleeve with a "weekender button down," a grey beanie and my big glasses in which are actually prescription. I love the boho/hipster look when I am going out to be casual, but as I had mentioned that I was from a small town everyone looked at me like "what are you wearing," in fact I had someone tell me that I looked like a gypsy. Personally I didn't care, I knew going into the whole scene that things would be said. It is one of the ways I can express who I am and you can too.

Check out the blog and website for +Free People. They also have a great instagram and twitter page where you can see their latest updates on their clothing line. Let me know what you guys think on this newly outed fashion line. 

21 Days of Layers

To go hand and hand with my last post of fall fashion, I figured I would follow with the 21 days of layers that I briefly talked about. As it has already started, and in fact ended a few days ago it is a great way to check out how to layer your clothes. If you have an instagram account type in the hash tags I give you below and you can see all of the pictures that were posted for the contest. If you just want to see the winners go to +Forever 21 home instagram page.

Rules for the contest consisted of:

1. Have an Instagram Account
2. Once you have your account, go follow +Forever 21 
3. Upload a picture based on the daily callout
4. When uploading the picture use hash tags #21DaysofLayers & #ShopLayerRepeat

If you are followed all of the rules, daily winners will get a $5 USD gift card for ever layer they wore on their post that day to Forever 21 (maximum 5 layers). The grand prize consists of a $1,000 USD gift card to Forever 21 and a fall fashion swag bag.

Even though this has ended, go checkout the winners and get insight on how to layer up this fall!

The Hottest of your Fall Fashion - Big Sweaters and Beanies

 

 Fall fashion is in and at full swing, sadly, but quite gradually moving toward the warmer winter clothes as the week goes on. But before the weather turned Iowa into the tundra, I had a beautiful fall day with all colors of leaves falling and the sun out to capture the hot new trends in for fall.

 

 

 

 

 According to stores all over the United States, +Forever 21, +PacSun, +American Eagle Outfitters and many others, big sweaters and cardigans are the hot commodity this year for fall. In fact, if you check out Forever 21 they are currently doing an Instagram challenge of 21 days of layers, where you can check out how to pair your large sweater and cardigans with many layers to fit in with the hottest new trend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had an absolute blast photographing Cassie. She was a natural and knows how to work it. Cassie wore a large speckled cardigan, with a plain black long sleeved shirt and black leggings. At first this might sound plain and boring, but when she wore a long thick necklace and tall black combat boots, to me it tied it all together. Perfect outfit, for a perfect fall day. The only thing that could make this exact outfit even hotter, is throwing on a burgundy beanie just to give it a pop of color. Now, I know some people aren't fond of the beanie look, which is perfectly fine because without the beanie the outfit is still adorable and if you are looking to add in color, you can change the shoes to a cognac brown boot which I had Cassie do later in the shoot. Although, I am fully in love with wearing beanies; I think it almost gives it a totally different look.

 

 

Even though big sweaters and beanies are only a few of the hottest commodities this fall, doesn't mean you have to wear it the way Cassie did, or someone else told you to. Make it your own style and wear it how you want. Fashion is one of the best ways to express YOURSELF! Have fun with it!






Huge thanks to my naturally beautiful model Cassie Sorensen. One of the easiest and most fun I've had with taking pictures. Check her out on twitter at @Cassie91S!

#TBT- They put the NERD in nerdy

Sneaked a few gems of my mom back in the day with her giant nerd glasses. She may or may not take a wooden spoon to my booty after seeing me post these beauties of her! She had better just be glad I didn't grab the ones when she had a massive fro along with the "nerd" glasses!

 Also take a look at what they are wearing. All denim and big sweaters, and look at what we are wearing today! Hope you enjoyed these and got a little laugh! Happy Thursday! Let me see your throwback pics!!

Nerd Glasses, in to Stay

Nerd glasses are no longer a look for just the brainiacs, people everywhere have been using them as a fashion trend for sometime now and as far as I'm concerned they aren't leaving anytime soon. Both girls and guys, even celebs have been putting on the vintage nerd look.

I can remember growing up looking through old pictures of my Mom and Dad when they were in high school giving them grief about how "nerdy" they looked with their fros, mullets and giant glasses. To think the same thing I was making fun of 10 or less years ago is now back as a fashion trend, along with high waisted shorts and crop tops is simply crazy to me.

I love the vintage nerd look. Whether you wear them with a big sweater, leggings and boots, or with a skater skirt in heels. It really can go either way. Unfortunately, I am not the girl who can pull off big glasses, so I again asked a favor of my beautiful friends to model for me.

There are so many different types of the nerd glasses these days. Lexi, whose glasses are a little bit smaller than Channing's, wore a big sweater, leggings and Converse went for more of the casual fall look where Channing took more of the "punk" look direction. If you're a fortunate soul that can pull of the glasses and don't have a pair, get out there and get them while they're hot, even if they're not prescription (no one will know). Ready. Set. Go.

Big thanks again to Channing (left) and Lexi (right) for being my models. 

8 Ways to Wear a Black Maxi Skirt

 

Found this gem while scrolling through my Pinterest page last night before bed. Thought it was kind of interesting and would be helpful for all you fashionistas out there. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

Don't Be a "Hater", Rock the "Skater"

Those things that we use to call cheerleader skirts are now back, but not for school spirit. Girls have been calling those cheerleader skirts "skater" skirts and wearing them day and night. Just like any other piece of clothing, the skater skirt can be dressed up for night life downtown or just for a day at the mall.

If you're not quite sure what I might be referring to; I'm talking about those flowy skirts you yanked up to your belly button to make just short enough to catch a look from one of those high-school athletes while cheering from the sidelines. Well, yeah those, they're back, but not quite as you imagine. 

I have featured a couple different looks to pair with the skater skirt. The first being a night look. Printed aztec turquoise skirt, from +PacSun, paired with a plain black long sleeve shirt, chunky black heels and a jacket, either blazer or leather coat. Along with the outfit I had Lexi keep the jewelry pretty simple, studded earrings and a few rings. 

For a little more casual look with the skater skirt. Lexi rocked her skirt with a casual crop, again from +PacSun, with her white low cut +Converse. For jewelry this time, she wore two long gold necklaces, a chunky gold bracelet and gold stud earrings.

At first I wasn't sure what to think of these skirts I squeezed into back in high school coming in as a fashion trend, but now, especially after this intriguing shoot I did with Lexi, I feel that I love them. In fact, I went out and bout a couple for myself today, but dont tell my dad, and we will just hope he won't be reading this. 

Photographs again taken by yours truly. Big thanks and shout out to my beautiful model and friend Lexi Blosch for being my guinea pig, even though I think she enjoyed it more than I did. ;) You can check her out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or all of the above @lexiblosch02.

They're BACK- high-waisted shorts that is.

 Who would have ever guessed high-waisted shorts would make a come back in the fashion industry? Summer is slowly, but surely coming to an end. Which means high-waisted shorts will be put to rest, at least till next summer. As soon as the trend hit the markets girls all over the world were rocking this trend coming from as far back as the 70's.

I don't know about you, but as soon as the high-waisted shorts came back into style the first thing I heard was, "I wore those back in my day." I bet you can only guess who that came from, yes the mother. Along with the high-waisted shorts came crop tops, big glasses, and high tops.

Loving the new trend. It's one that you can definitely make you're own. Believe it or not, the shorts were jeans bought from Goodwill that she cut herself. So many great things that can happen with the high-wasited trend, there's no limit! I love making the style your own with these shorts. From a classier look to a hipster/hobo look, it's all in your hands ladies!

I love the next look she has going on. The combat boots with the leg warmers took this hippie look off the top.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personally I love the hipster/hobo look, but when needed to class it up a little bit high-waisted shorts are a definite go to for me. Thoughts or comments on the outfits, more specifically high-waisted shorts?Like the trend, love it, or hate it?

 

 

Photographs taken by yours truly. Model :Channing Paulsen. You can check her out on twitter at @cmpaulsen22.