Style Inspiration

Hey all!

Today's style inspiration comes from a photo I came across on Pinterest.  As you may already know, Pinterest is one of my favorite places to "get inspired".  Everything you could possibly ever be interested in from food, fashion, makeup, home ideas, etc. can be found there.  At last count, I have over 12 thousand pins spread across my different boards.  If you haven't tried Pinterest yet, you need to GET.  INTO. IT. 

So, as I was searching through various fashion pins, I came across one that really spoke to me:

Something as simple as olive green pants and a white button down can get your creative juices flowing.  This may be anything to you, but to me, it really made me giddy.  As I sat and stared at this photo, I began to realize I have similar pieces already in my closet.  Which made me even more excited because I didn't have to go out and buy anything to recreate this look.  Saving money is definitely a plus when it comes to looking stylish.

This is my recreation of the style inspiration look:

At first, I was not going to wear my black hat because I thought it would throw the entire look off.  But, since I paired the outfit with my leopard cross body clutch, the hat got to stay as part of the look.  I'm definitely on the hunt for a sharp tan/brown hat because hats are my jam! 

And to think I already had all of these items in my closet, wearing them separately.  You would think as simple as these pieces are, putting them together in an outfit would naturally be a no-brainer.   Oftentimes, you need to see how someone else puts an outfit together to get inspired and see how it can work for you and what's in your closet. 

You are probably like most people:  reaching for those same handful of items/outfits in your closet day after day because they're comfortable and they seem to be working for you.  That, my friends, is how you get into a style rut and it can be difficult to get out of.  But, if you're ready for a change and are tired of the same old thing.  My suggestion to you is get on Pinterest and create a board of the outfits you like.  Even if you don't ever see yourself wearing what the person is wearing, it can help spark your creativity and take you out of your comfort zone.  You can even put your own spin on how you'd wear what you see.  That's the great thing about style:  it's what YOU make it.  Not what fashion designers, celebrities, or fashion magazines say it is.  

Inspiration can be found in lots of places; some you may not even realize.  But it's up to you to get inspired by what you see.  Until next time...

Hat:  J.C.Penney; Button down shirt:  Lane Bryant; Olive green pants:  Lane Bryant; Shoes:  Guess; Cross body clutch:  The Crow's Nest; Gold necklace:  Target

Easy Like Sunday

Hello everyone!:

So, I had a birthday a couple weeks ago, and I came to a realization.  As I get older, I'm leaning more toward simple things.  And the way I dress is no exception to this.  Now, this doesn't mean I don't like to go all out or get fancy.  But, what it does mean is that getting dressed doesn't have to be a big production of sorts.  I've always believed you can look really put together with a good mix of simple, inexpensive clothing pieces and accessories.  It's all in how you put your spin on them that puts the icing on the cake. 

Take for example my outfit of the day.  I'm basically wearing a black tank and jeans with black heels.  But what makes it more than just a tank, jeans, and heels are my accessories and this fabulous kimono.  

This kimono was a birthday gift from my sister and it was less than $20.  I spotted this beauty while we were shopping a couple weeks ago.  I didn't have any plans for it once I got it home but I knew it could be worked into my wardrobe.  Outfit ideas come to me in various ways.  The main way my looks come together are through visualization (don't judge me.) Most of the time they look great; other times, I need a do over.  

But that's the great thing about style.  It's all about how you can take something and make it work for you.  And you don't have to spend a fortune to look like one.  I'm a single mom and I can't afford to spend goo gobs of money on clothes and shoes (for myself or my son).  I love shopping at discount stores and any where else I can get a great deal.  

Social media will have you feeling like a failure if you can't buy the latest in designer goods.  The majority of those people you see wearing that stuff didn't actually buy it in the first place.  They're basically walking advertising for those companies and it either given or lended to them.  But, I digress...

You have to keep your budget in mind when it comes to shopping.  You may even have to resort to online shopping if you can't find anything on the ground where you live.  Shopping for great clothes, shoes, and accessories should definitely be an easy and carefree experience. Over extending your budget should be the last thing for you to worry about.  The most expensive items in this look are the shoes and the jeans.  There's nothing wrong with splurging on certain items if you can afford to do it.

  
Look for a blog post in the near future about where I go to find great deals.  Until next time...



Turban:  Local BSS; Gold Necklace:  Funky Shoes Boutique;  Kimono:  Cotton Plant Boutique;  Black tank:  Old Navy; Jeans:  Lane Bryant; Clutch:  TJ Maxx; Shoes:  TJ Maxx;  Gold Ring:  Lane Bryant; Black belt:  Target

Thinking Outside the Box

Hello all!

Today's outfit inspiration centers around this cute black dress I got from my local Belk store.  I believe Belk stores are mostly located in the South, so there may not be one in your area.  My Ma, sister, and I ventured into the clearance section which has items priced up to 80% off their retail price.  So, it's really hard not to find something you like.  If you don't find something, just wasn't meant to be.

After looking through several racks of goodies, and trying on a handful of items, I was able to settle on this black sleeveless dress.  Usually, I try to stay away from ruffles, especially from the waist down. Now don't me wrong, I really like ruffles; mostly on other people, though.  The dress is really simple and can be paired with different accessories which can give you a different look every time you wear it. It just really depends on how you're feeling on a particular day. That's mostly the reason why I was drawn to it.  My sister referred to it as "not saying anything", but I feel you can let your accessories do the talking for you.

It took me a while to finally decide on what to wear with the dress.  After a lot of back and forth with myself, I decided to pair it with my leopard print clutch and red fuzzy heels.  To keep from freezing to death at church, my denim jacket made the perfect cover up.  The dress is kinda flowy, so I belted it to show my shape.  

For my jewelry I wore 2 gold rings, my black bracelet, and my black and gold ear cuff with matching stud.  Once I finally made my mind up, I think this look came together perfectly.  I can't wait to see how many different ways I can style this dress.  Would you believe the dress cost a whopping $14.95 with a regular price of $110? Just goes to show you don't have to have a lot of money to look like you spent a lot money.  

Dress:  Belk, Shoes:  TJ Maxx, Clutch:  The Crow's Nest, Bracelet:  Cato Fashions, Rings:  Old Navy and Lane Bryant, Earrings:  Claire's

Until next time...