Houndstooth

Trends are leaning towards some awesome prints right now. It is really something to take advantage of. Especially since it isn't just floral. Not to put floral print down since it is in my top ten of everything, but it definately is not for everyone.

I've shown you plaid, but that is not the only trend. I've got to give in and show you houndstooth. I don't own much of this print in my closet yet. But I have multiple yards of fabric waiting to be made into some pieces. But I do own some pants that are black and grey instead of the typically, white and black. It is also my nook case right now.

I love the looks offered with houndstooth and actually had a hard time limiting what I featured. Because there is a lot that you can find. But I had to limit my pictures, so let's begin.

sears.com $4.99

Now, if you can't tell what these ar, they are one of the best things that you can ever buy yourself. Fuzzy socks! They are warm, comfy, and just plain amazing. 

Forever 21.com $22.80

This little dress is absolutely adorable. The whole jumper dress/overall  look is finally back and that is really something to celebrate. It is easy to pair a top under any of these styles and look awesome.

But if a dress is not your style, I understand. So how about some pants? I personally love wearing a printed pant and thing that it is the easiest way to try out a print.

forever21.com $22.80

This pants are a great thing to have if you are trying to be a little more conscious about how the print will look. Pairing this with black or red will make a greatm , casual look. My pair looks great even with the fabric stretched just a teeny bit. It's not the kind of print that has to be worn on a model body. Which is just, a great thing. Because who really has that body?

I was able to find a lot of little accessories to go with this print all from Forever 21. From hair bows to make up cases, they have the little things that you need. If you would like to see these accessories, comment below and I will give you a post all about hounds tooth accessories.

Plaid

I hope your ready to take a step and try a print. And not just a print, one of the trending prints right now. It has a history, but will always make a statement. One of my personal favorites, plaid. 

Now, I love forever 21 amd their choices for anything plaid. They have it all and them some. Now, I don't want to say they have the best but instead a more affordable choice. They are really worth looking at.

But before I show you anything super fashionable, I found those amazing pajamas on the target website. 

Target.com $14.98

These are fun and also come in red with Elmo's face instead mix Cookie monster. And these are not kids. They are in women's sizes.

But if you aren't looking for a pair of footies, I understand. But I looked at more than just this. 

I really want to say that Forever 21 has a great selection. And they offer free shipping after $50.00. Why am I pointing that out? Whenever I go to their store, I have trouble finding some of these things in the store. They have a great return policy, so don't shy away from buying on their site. 

Here is some of their plaid options. They are all on the Forever21.com.

Now, anything plaid witll be great for you to follow this trend. Whether you check your thrift store for a plaid button down, or hit the mall, you're going to find what you need to make this pattern fit into your wardrobe. But if you are the type of person who has trouble commiting to that much of your body covered in plaid, then something like this might be for you.

claires.com

Now, a bit of a more professional piece is found on target.com but is an online only option.

Target.com $22.49

I hope that you can enjoy this trend as much as I have. I have a lot of plaid in my closet. There is everything from a basic button down shirt to a skirt held together by two giant safety pins. It's a great look that you can range from soft to hard. There are many patterns that are trending right now, but this one has to be my favorite. 

Apology

Hey Readers!
I want to say a huge sorry for the past week. My goal is about 4 posts a week and, well, it didn't happen. Between illness and a massive english project, I've had a busy week. Well, not busy for some. Just flat out sick as a dog.
BUT! There is a positive. While sick, I got a bunch of ideas for posts. I tried to write but was too weak so I kept some drafts. I'm looking up pictures and will try my very best to post at least 2 topics on Sunday.
Also, I have legit shopping planned for Saturday that will be a great kinda product review/bargain hunting/ trend seeing event. So. Looking forward to sharing what I find.
Aside from that, I have a package coming from Forever 21 and I ordered some variety of product. I buy the clothes a lot. Love their range. I buy earrings and necklaces a lot. Love the price. But that's it. So I am excited to look at quality for their product.
If you have any suggestions please comment below and I will rack my brain until I find the perfect way to present what you want to see.
Thanks for being understanding! Hope to have a lot more soon!

Bumming It!

Let's be honest, we don't all want to dress up every day of the week. Sometimes, wearing a pair of jeans is too much. The silky blouse that shoulder slips is getting on your nerves. Don't push yourself. Part of making an outfit look great is the positive attitude you tie to it.

So let's talking bumming it. I'm going head to toe here. 

First off, I don't know who said a messy bun is easy. Keep a ponytail. Okay, those buns drive me crazy. If I'm not wearing jeans, I'm not spending more than a second on my hair. So pony tail and go. (Or just go all natural)

Personally, I'm a girl who can go without make up. But I do respect that some girls can't. So keep it basic. No foundation or blush or concealor. I stick with eyeshadow and mascarra to keep me looking somewhat alert. I also hate my eyelashes. This takes me no more than 5 minutes to do, often time a half of that. 

I guess after eyes come ears. So for jewlery (because stopping at the nexk and wrist and fingers would be too much) it's unnecessary to wear metals. What do I mean? Fun jewlery (like loom bracelets!) Go fine. I sleep in mine. If you wear earrings, keep it to basic studs. Nothing fancy.

Now it's time for my big fess up. I love guys clothes. I steal my brothers all the time and they are amazing comfortable. Get a few. Okay, just trust me. Be a guy and buy something you can throw on and go with. Cause a girl's tshirt is complicated most of the time. 

I have a go to tshirt from a clam shack. No, I didn't go their. It's just cool. And you can dress it up (which might be the next post....) or go with it. 

Another option is a cami and sweatshirt. Tshirts under a hoodie feels awkward to me. It's also hot. For hoodies, just don't spend a bunch of money. You can get solid colors at JoAnn's fabrics for  $16.99. Not bad. They have about 10 colors if I remember right. Also, Aeropostale has sales for around $10.00 periodicly. But I do not recommend thrifting for hoodies. They are normally associated with something you've never heard of, or have someone else's name on it.
And I bet you can't guess what I'm going to say for bottoms.
Take a guess.
.
..
....
Did you say sweatpants?
Oh my! You got it right!
Okay, I know everyone loves yoga pants. I don't. They are cold. They cause static. They show your panties. Yes I went there but I can't help it. Sweatpants are the way to go. I have a pair from Kohls that were a gift. They are gray and I love them. I will be buying more next weekend. So that's going to be great.
Anyway, I really like the brand SO at Kohls and I recommend looking there for sweats. They have really good prices and nothing from that brand has ever disappointed me. Right now, there flare legged sweatpants are $16.99. I did scroll through the selection in the Juniors active and found a lot of cute pairs. I also looked in womens and found the exact same pair for $1 less. They really do look identical.

So why did I write this? Because bumming it is a fashion statement. It really is and I feel like some people look at it as that strange cousin drooling in the corner that only the crazy adults like. It's a weird metaphor, I know. But it's ignored and shouldn't be. I bum it and so should you.

Outerwear: Hat? Gloves? yes, you need them

Grandma's knitted mittens are very much appreciated, but not the cutest option. Sometimes, you want a sparkley, printed, or querky addition to your coat. The choice is yours. But I highly recommend that you keep a hat, scarve, and gloves handy through the season.
I do realize that hats lead to bad hairdays, so I keep mine in my purse. That way it's there if I need it, and my hair still looks good. But you never know when the parking lot may be full and you'll have to walk a little ways. And don't even start with "I have a hood." A hat is 1000 times better.
I have 2 go to hats. One i have a red beanie that matches all of my coats. It is always in my purse and can also be worn indoors which is a huge plus. I also have an animal hat. If you don't know what I mean, I will show a husky one. There are multiple websites that sell just these hats. There is also a large selction on etsy.com and amazon.com. These hats are great for a fun event outdoors or a day out with friends. They are not formal AT ALL. So do not try to wear these anywhere formal or professional. It's not going to look right.

Animalhats.us $11.99

Beanies are a great hat to have for all seasons. I just ordered two from forever21.com last night. I paid under $5 for the two together. Though they are not super warm sometimes, it's a cute look. Here's one that I purchased.

Forever21.com $2.80

But there is an alternative to a hat if your totally against it. Earmuffs! I do not personally own a pair, but I have a friend that does. She has perfect hair when she takes them off and looks adorable with them one. The purpose of a hat is to keep your ears warm after all. I don't recall seeing any at the mall last week but I'm sure they would sell in department stores. I was able to find some for $15.00 on target.com but they are currently sold out. I might check their store since these have built in headphones.
As an artist and sewing student, I have to be very careful with my hands. Arthritis is a scary thought. So gloves are important. My grandma is in the medical field and made it clear that cold weather can, and will ruin my joints. Right now, I have a little red pair but might go out shopping tonight.
A big fear with gloves is using your smartphone. Don't fear, they solved the problem. These gloves are affordable and widely sold. The fingertips of the thumb and first finger are made to be used on a touch screen.

Target.com $3.00

Another great option is fingerless gloves. I want to buy a pair soon. These can be cute and used while shopping. They are great if you need off and on use of your fingers in the cold, for drive through eating, and drinking hot chocolated. I am showing one of  the options on rue21.com that are currently buy one get one free.

Rue21.com $6.99

As for scarves, I think we all own them. If you don't, well, buy some. I like going to walmart, target, and sale areas in department stores to buy fashion scarves. But I am actually making my own now which is way cheaper.

Anyway, winter scarves are a little different. I have two that I really like. One I got from the Dream On by Selena Gomez collection at the end of the season sale a few years ago. It's black with a knitted print and tassles. Super cute. It's easy to tie and stuff in my coats. It also matches good with my favorite black pea coat. But I also have a black and grey striped scarve with a sock monket decal. It's fun! You don't have to go 100% professional with these things. I really encourage you to wait til you see a sale. They mark scarves up a lot and they take them way down too. If you need one right now, lots of stores have outerwear sales right now. It's just not a huge discount. Also, check your thrift stores. I wouldn't buy a hat there, but I have purchased many scarves with no problem. Just remember to wash it first!

So here is just a few shopping tips that apply to everything that I did not want to repeat over and over again:

1. Remember your coat when buying accessories: this is one reason that I recommended having more than one coat. You want to match. 
2. Wait if you can: a pair of gloves is pair of gloves, a hat is a hat. In the end, it won't matter if you bought them last year. 
3. Don't buy thick if you can't handle it: if you are a warmer person, stick with a lighter fabric. This way, you can still use the protection a hat and gloves offer without sweating to death.
4. Store when spring comes: do not shove your winter appareal into a garage in a random box. Pick a shelf or box then up in your closet. That's wasting money.

Please feel free to share or comment!

Outerwear: Coats

With cold ather sweeping across the United States, it's time to bundle up. You can still be 100% fashionable even at 10 below. I'm going to split winter wear up a little since I have a busy life right now. So please keep coming back as the tempature drops!

I very rarely see people in warm coats. Now, I love my two petticoats to death. They are great for the upper 30's or 40's. Not 15°. If you live in an area that experiences cooler tempatures annually, invest in a few coats. I have 4 coats and two heavy jackets. I'm probally adding another coat (or 2) at the end of the season sales. That really is the best time to buy.
First, I have my go to red puffy coat. This was purchased at Walmart 2 years ago. I find that these coats are best insulated for a budget.

$19.96 at Walmart.com and in stores

This coat comes in a variety of colors but is widely sold out on line.
If you are looking for a little bit more expensive puffy, here are an option from Aeropostale. I will give you the list price and 'price now.'

Aeropostale stores and online
List: $129.00
Current online price: $38.85 

But  puffer might not be the most fashionable of coats. But there are trends involving coats! Trench. Leather. Millitary. Oversize. These are the "in" coats. The coats you'll see on celeberties (they get cold two guys.) The key to these is findindg one in budget. Stores like Walmart will have an option for trench, but you'll end up in your local mall.
Personally, I avoid department stores. They always have high prices with the same quality as other stores.
I went on an online coat search and saw some three digit numbers. Over $100 for a coat? No. I was highly impressed with the selection on oldnavy.com. I'll have to watch for a sale to pick some up.
I wish I could put about 10 on here, but I won't. Though I definately encourage you to head to their site and check out the outerwear.
Now, I want to say that a leather jacket can make a good cold air deflector. I purchased mine at Burlington Coat Factory. It was around $40 I believe. I alway s get compliments! I wore mine to walk to school, unzipped it in class, and was comfortable in both instanses. I honestly want to include a leather jacket as a wardrobe staple.
Checking Burlington is always number 1 on my list when it comes to popular trends. (I'm about due for my seasonal spree!" But Aeropostale, Old Navy, Forever 21, and American Eagle all sell this garment. Look around first. Chances are, you won't have a love at first sight moment like I did with mine.
I will give mention to the millitary style. I really don't like the structured look, but it doesn't match my body type.
And last... Pea Coats!
If you don't have one then, Shame. On. You. I have two. One is a solid, black, thrift store find. It's not very warm, but it is a very fashionable piece. My other coat is white and black stitcbed. It only has two buttons so I often layer with it. It makes a statement and I love pairing it with colored jeans. You can find these absolutely ANYWHERE. So don't say you can't find one.
That's it for coats. I will try to get outerwear accesories up tomorrow.
Please comment about your favorite coat, place to buy coats, or any suggestion for another post!

Loom Fad

It's time for an inexpensive, casual, color pop. 

Loom Bracelets!

These bracelets are a go to accessory right now. And, they are DIY. This makes it double awesome because your making what you wear. There is room for bragging here.
Now, there is a huge range of bracelets and to make sure that nobody blows these off as unsophisticated pieces of jewlery, check this out:

So there is a variety of designs that you can make and at a relatively cheap. But we'll get to buying later. 

So far I have found 17 different designs for these bracelets. I've made two. A basic one, and a fishtail. They take patience and a bit of time, but worth it. I wear mine everyday! They match multiple styles of clothing and with the range of colors, they will really go with your wardrobe. 

If you are looking for ways to make these bracelets, you can go to youtube and ban. There is a tutorial for every design. Most of the videos are clear and easy to follow.

But you need the tolls: loom kit, rubberbands, and time. 

You can purchase the looms at the local grocery, pharmacy, craftstore, or at rainbowloom.com. I have also seen an infomercial. Mine was a Christmas present. But my brother did purchase his for $10. He also received a few hundred rubberbands with it. He also has a rubber and storage piece that I'm considering buying one myself.
Most loom kits are around $10 or $15. A package of rubberbands are $2 - $5. This is a great trend for everyone. I hope it stays a while.