Steps to Style: Step 4: And then there was one...

The very last step! It's short sweet and to the point.
Be yourself!
Take risks in fashion. (this is true! Wear something normal humans don't normally wear, like suspenders; my favorite!)
Don't follow all the trends!
Keep an eye out for new fashion discoveries(random people who look really good and different pieces for your wardrobe)
Compliment people on their clothing/style. (It makes you seem fashion smart and most likely 98% of the time they'll compliment you back)
I think that's all I got. Oh, and embrace your own style, love it, live it, and breathe it.
More posts coming soon...

Steps to Style: Step 3: Introduction to Styles

Now that you know somewhat of what you like and who you are, I'll introduce you to some popular styles. Maybe you're not one of these, maybe you're a mix. Therefore, you could already have unique style. I'm a mix of styles, so don't worry. Vintage: Inspiration from vintage clothing, wearing vintage clothing, black, white, pearly pink, and royal colors are big. You could also have a style from a certain vintage era such as the 20s, 50s, 60s, etc. Vintage is a part of my own style. I love boyfriend blazers, pearls, ray bans and a lot of other vintage clothing or inspired clothing.

Boho:Inspiration definitely from Mexico, Spain, India, and America. Natural looking clothing. Bright colors are a key aspect to this style, bohemian braids, fringe. I have a friend who's style has a boho feel.

 Edgy:It's what it sounds like, this style has an edgy feel with darker colors, skulls, spikes, chains, and fringe. It's not 'goth' and it's not 'emo' either, there's always some femininity. My own style has some edgy elements.

Romantic: Very, very feminine. Light and soft colors, frills, floral patterns, basically just plain pretty. My own style has some romantic inspiration.

 

Hipster: Very modern. Don't care attitude, jesus sandals, sweaters, pop culture t-shirts from now or most likely the 90s, definitely owl aspects in the form of jewelry.

Street: Hip hop influenced, hi-top sneakers are a huge part of this style along with bright colors and modern shapes.Look up some more styles, I'm sure you'll find one you like. You can even mix styles and create your own. You won't just automatically have a style however. It happens over time, as you gradually find what you like and what timeless pieces you want for your closet. Step 4 coming soon...

Steps to Style: Step 2: Knowing yourself and what you like.

So style isn't fake. Obviously it has to be you. You can definitely be inspired by other people but you can't be them, you have to be you. So first let's follow some ground rules on style:

1. Be you. Of course.
2. Wearing generic label brands such as Hollister, American Eagle, Abercrombie, and so on does not qualify as style. And yes, they really are generic actually. Don't try proving me wrong.
3. Buying expensive clothing does not mean you have style. It means you're probably broke and could have bought some really ugly clothing. Being a recessionista(yes that cheesy term from TJ Max) and having style is just as awesome.
4. There really aren't too many rules. 

There's also a spoiler alert, before you set out on this journey. You're style will evolve, based on you, what inspires you, and what you like.

 Okay, let's get started. Go through your closet, go through all your clothes. Make separate piles. One is for clothes you like and wear. Another for clothes you aren't sure about. The last one is for clothes that don't fit you and clothes that you definitely don't like anymore. Put the clothes you like back in the closet. The pile you're unsure about, try them on. Decide if you like them or not. Finally take the clothes you don't like/don't fit you and bring them to good will or a local thrift shop. (Partly taken from Lauren Conrad's book of Style)

Next, find what inspires you. If you don't know what this means, here's what inspires me:
-People: Audrey Hepburn, Twiggy, Coco Chanel, Oscar de la Renta, Zooey Deschanel, etc.

         












Art: Vladimir Kush, Magritte, Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec, James Jaques Joseph Tissot, Giacomo Balla, etc.

Music: The Beatles, The Doors, Pink Floyd, Foster the People, Cage the Elephant, Never Shout Never, Green Day, Kid Cudi, Mac Miller, She & Him, The Downtown Fiction, Two Door Cinema Club, etc. etc. (There's too many to name)
The sixties(no not hippies), costume jewelry(pearls), other various vintage items, drawing, designing, painting, writing, some amount of edgyness.

So yes, now that you know a lot about me, find out who you are, what inspires you.

p.s: Find some describing words or words that you just like: I like snazzy(not like shnazzy), classy, jazzy, iridescent, fancy, cute, adore, aquamarine, multiple french words and phrases.
 Also what your favorite colors are: Aquamarine, Pearly pink, Red, Black, Silver, Gold, Mocha, White, etc.
And favorite patterns: Stripes, Polka-dots, Herring-Bone, etc.

Eventually you'll see this will all come together, I know I'm throwing a lot at you...Don't worry.

Steps to Style: Step 1: Gain the knowledge I'm throwing at you.

STYLE. What is that?

Style: noun, a particular, distinctive, or characteristic mode of action or manner of acting: They do these things in a grand style.(I like this definition from dictionary.com) 

NOT to get confused with a trend. 

What is a trend? 

Trend: noun, a direction of all aspects of pop culture at a certain time(In this case it's fashion.)

 

To gain your own style, you need to gain the knowledge.(Dramatic pause) The knowledge of knowing the difference between a style and a trend.  

I'll make this as simple as I can.

• A trend can be followed for days, weeks, months, or years.
• "Fashions(aka trends) fade, but style is eternal." -Yves Saint-Laurent
• Trends also go away, but they can come back.
• You can gain an individual style, you can get caught on a trend.
• There is such thing as trendy style: Someone who wears a lot of trends.  

These are/were trends:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are examples of style:

Vintage:                                                                                                                                         Romantic:

 

    Edgy:                                                                                                                                          Hipster:

                  

          

  Stay posted for the next step: Step 2: Knowing yourself, knowing what you like, what styles are out there.

Why do I wear pearls? It seems like everyone asks me this...

So, a lot of people wonder why I wear pearls everyday. Some people think it's weird.Pearls are a part of my style(steps to finding a style will be blogged about asap) and here is why, for all of you that question it.
My Story:
          Searching through my Aunt's house wasn't what I had planned to do the day after her funeral. I didn't know what I would possibly find  in a house that had been lived in for ages. As I rummaged through dresser drawers, a gleam caught my eye peeking from a jewelry box. It was a pearl necklace. It wasn't real; it was costume jewelry, but it was more than half a century old and perfect. There was more costume jewelry in the box, more glistening pearls and vintage beads. Soon after, I started wearing the jewelry that reflected my wardrobe. Everyday I wear a necklace from that box. Now you know all...hah
           

What Not to Wear This Summer

So I've been working on another post, which is going to be a long one. In the mean time, read my opinions on what should not be acceptable to wear during the summer:

-Socks with flip flops or sandals.Remember that old term: shoobie? You really want to be a shoobie? Did you know someone even invented certain socks to wear with flip flops? It's just wrong.

-Bra straps/and or cami straps showing from your racer back shirt, raglan tee, or any other. It's trashy, wear a strapless bra, or even a sports bra instead. Wearing a bra, cami, and a shirt could make you sweat even more.

-Wearing short shorts. I already did a post on this, read it, understand it, breathe it. Just please don't look like you should be standing on a street corner.

-Wearing weird bathing suits. You've seen them. I'm not even positive what they should be called. I've heard them called bikinis but...yeah...I don't get it....Tan lines in the wrong places much?

-Wearing all black. What is wrong with some of you? How can you step out of the house when it is 90 degrees out wearing black cargo pants and a black sweatshirt? Don't you wanna be comfortable? Do you realize you look like death?

-Shirts that fall above your stomach. Really, belly shirts are back? Cover up, please.

-Construction boots with your denim shorts. I only know one girl who can pull this off, and only her. On some girls it looks really pathetic and makes their feet look bigger.

-Wearing colored undergarments with white clothing. You all know you've seen some lady wearing a hot pink cheetah print bra under a very sheer white top. It's so bad, leave it for the trashy people.

-Uggs. Most of you(whoever reads this blog) know I despise Uggs. It's been a trend in the last few years to wear your Uggs in the summer and on the beach. Please don't.

-Oh Gosh. Wrap around sunglasses with the cord around your head. definitely do not wear these. This is for the guys out there. Find sunglasses that fit your head, it's not too hard. Otherwise, you absolutely look like a dweeb. You should feel like a dweeb too.

-Overalls. Caution stay away from the denim overalls. It's just not a pretty picture to see people wear them, there's the issue of going to the bathroom, and it's ugly.

-Finally, don't wear bad tan lines, when you're out to a super nice public place. There is clothing that covers up those lines or just plainly get rid of them.

Review

So in Maine, people dress normal most of the time. There was not one person I saw with a notable wardrobe malfunction. So instead of sniper photos to show all of you, I'm reviewing new and upandcoming trends.

Denim, Denim, Denim

Taken from Teen Vogue

New Trend is high-waisted(not your grandma's high-waisted) bell bottom jeans. The 70s style is back, and I have to say it's pretty cute, I think I'm gonna have to buy a pair when I'm school shopping(there will definitely be a blog on that).------->
All I ever wear is skinny jeans so this is a nice change.



However there's another trend, that I'm hoping won't get too popular. It's just like those denim coveralls from a few blogs back. Ew. In  my teen vogue, it states: "Docs(Doc Marten's) plus cropped jumpsuit equals tomboy perfection". You will be as confused as I was when you look at the picture...

Taken from Teen Vogue

<-----Seriously, what was the stylist on set of that photoshoot thinking? Do you think any of us could walk around anywhere wearing this? How is it 'tomboy perfection'. It looks more like toddler perfection to me.







The next trend is called "resin coated denim". I'm not too sure about this one, I think I'll have to try on a pair and see how they wear. They come in tons of color although I don't know if I like them.

Taken from Teen Vogue

More trends to consider:
-wool for winter is a trend forecast

-metallics are in,and so is playful patterns/designs; to see this in action you can watch the Dior fashion show here: http://www.diorcouture.com, the designs are pretty sweet, you might be shocked when you see the outfits(they will be bizarre) but that's how a haute couture catwalk is.The show begins with playful pieces and about halfway through you can see the metallic inspiration.

-my favorite trend, vintage, is becoming more popular, so I'll also keep an eye out for more comebacks from past decades.