Friday, August 28, 2015

All. The. Fashion. Pressure! Why Do We Fall Into The Fashion Trap Every Season and How Do We Stop It?

Hello All!

  I know I said I was back and I guess I sorta am.  I'm still trying to figure out what I want this blog to be about.  I still love fashion, but it isn't the most important thing to me.  Not by a long shot.  In fact, I'm a little perturbed by the fashion game.  I'm tired honestly.  I tired of the pressure, of the time and money spent.  I'm tired of having pieces in my closet become fashion faux pas within a few months.

  I stared receiving In Style magazine several months ago.  I did not sign up to receive it, nor did I pay for it.  It's a mystery.  Anyways, I am NOT interested in these high fashion, a shirt costs more than my mortgage payment, type of mags.  I usually just give them to my neighbor (who is a hair stylist) and she takes them to her salon for her clients to thumb through.  This month however, I decided to look through the magazine.  I guess I wanted to see what the latest fall trends would be.  As I thumbed through the ages, I started seeing what all the 'must haves' for fall were going to be.  I started thinking that I needed to start looking for similar pieces to add to my wardrobe. Why???  Why did I instantly feel like I needed to do this?  I have PLENTY of clothes.  Why should I add more to my already too stuffed closet?  Because some magazine told me to?  Well, I'm not going to follow the fashion rat race anymore!

  So you want to know what is on trend for Fall 2015???  Let me show you.


First, we have leather.  Not just leather, but lace, silver, spiky high heels as well.  


Second, we have the wide legged trouser.  If you're 6 feet tall this look may work on you.  On my 5'3" frame however, I'd look completely ridiculous!  I do have a pair of somewhat wider legged jeans in my closet.  Just not sure about this width though.


OMG!!!  Can you believe turtle necks are making a comeback this fall?  I know I can't!  But, I do have a dark purple one still hanging in my closet from a few years back so...I guess I am on trend?


I honestly tried to find the most ridiculous pictures I could so here ya go.  The trend is Artsy.  It's bold prints mixed together and long flowy pieces.  


The name of this trend is in the picture.  Geek Chic.  Basically just goto your local Goodwill and buy a few chunky cable sweaters, an old blazer, and a gawdy polyester skirt and you've got the trend mastered.


This is probably my least favorite...pastel.  I HATE pastels!!!  The dress with the seashell looking top was in this month's In Style magazine.  If pastels are your thing, well I'm sorry more power to ya. 


This last look is Urban Nomad.  Basically lots of leather, wool and sever lines.  I don't love it, but I don't hate it either.

  A few other trendy materials for this fall are:

Fuzzy faux-fur


Sparkly pieces


Tweed

Suede (I really LOVE this jacket!)


 Patent Leather (Dear God, make it STOP!!!)

  I wanted to show you what will be trendy this season for one reason.  It wasn't so you'd know what you need to go out and buy (if you want to remain trendy).  I wanted to show you this because trends come back around every few years.  I wore crap like this when I was in middle school.  I had a suede jacket (I also had one of those horrible quilted license plate vest, but we won't talk about that).  I've had patent leather pumps, tweed skirts, turtlenecks.  The list goes on and on.  So what happens when you go out and buy the must have pieces for the season???  By the next season or so, they are completely out of style.  Then what do you do?  Well I get rid of those un-trendy items.  You probably do the same,  just to have them to come back around in a few years from now.  When that happens I always get mad at myself.  I think, "Why did I ever get rid of that piece?  Now I have to go out and buy it again".

  This my friends is the fashion rat race.  Well, I'm done with it.  I am focusing now on on building my wardrobe with classic pieces.  I want to buy quality pieces that will last me for decades.  Pieces that will not go out of style.  I want quality so that I don't have fabric fading, pilling or stretching.  Quality doesn't mean that you have to go out and buy designer.  NO NO NO!!!  I have two pairs of high end designer shoes (Marc Jacobs and Ferragamo) and let me tell you, they are both the most uncomfortable shoes I've ever worn!   

  Full disclosure here, I will probably still buy one or two seasonally trendy pieces at times, but I'm no longer going to feel the pressure to go out and buy several new outfits when every new season rolls around.  I believe that if you're stocked up with the classically stylish pieces, then you will always be 'in style'.  For the next few months I will be blogging about the new direction I am taking with my wardrobe.  I will also be sharing my outfits with you all once again so hopefully y'all enjoy that.  If you have any selfie perfecting tips please send them my way!

Christin   



Thursday, June 18, 2015

Playing with navy and white stripes

Playing with navy and white stripes

Playing with navy and white stripes

Playing with navy and white stripes

Paige Denim white jeans
$190 - mytheresa.com

TOMS navy shoes
$55 - office.co.uk

Playing with navy and white stripes

Playing with navy and white stripes

Playing with navy and white stripes

Playing with navy and white stripes

Playing with navy and white stripes

Playing with navy and white stripes

I'm Back!

Hello everyone!  I am back and ready to blog again!  I will keep this blog and title, but I am expanding my focus.  I will be blogging about anything and everything.  Plus, I have a great co-blogger, Zanne Willis.  She is my super cool friend that lives in L.A.  She'll be posting about all sorts of things too.

You may wonder where I've been and what I have been up to and why did I ever quit blogging in the first place.  Well, great ready for some down right righteous truth.  I quit in February 2014 because I was falling a-p-a-r-t!  Majorly.  I felt like my marriage was crumbling away.  I was having panic/anxiety attacks.  I felt so isolated and alone since moving to Colorado.  Having a special needs toddler kept me in the house for weeks at a time.  I didn't have any friends or any sort of social interaction with anyone besides my kids.  My husband was working 16-18 hour days and was miserable at his job and he was TDY every single month.  I had some very serious issues going on with my family in TX.  It was all just too much for me to handle at one time.  I became a shell of a person.  During those last few months of the blog, I'd get dressed just so I'd have a picture to post.  I spent my days in Yoga pants and t-shirts doing absolutely nothing expect what needed to be done for my children.  I was placed last.

I knew I needed to step away from the blog and get myself right again.  I really opened up to my Bible study group about what I was going through.  I prayed, I forgave and then I stared to rebuild.  My husband moved to another job (Praise GOD!).  Things were so much better at home when that happened.  He wasn't miserable, so I wasn't miserable.  Arianna started receiving speech and occupational therapy in our home.  Once she was diagnosed as special needs we knew what to do to help her and she stared blooming.  She also started preschool which gives me time to get out and run errands, get my hair done, shop and meet up with the friends I've made.  God's blessed me with a few great friends around here.  We meet up for shopping trips, breakfast, or just sit on my porch and drink tea.  I've also lost the weight I put on during my dark days.  11 pounds so far has melted off of my body thanks to the 21 Day Fix.  I am still going strong.  I have much higher physical goals for myself than just losing the weight I've gained.  I feel great and exercise really does make you happy.

Anyways, I just wanted to share what I've been up to.  I am excited to be back and I hope you all will follow along.

Christin