Invasion of the Stripes

Stripes have been found on the runway this season as one of the up and coming trends for this spring and summer. Granted, stripes have always been a trend, but I take this to mean that you will be seeing more striped products out in stores and boutiques. I'm all for it. This trend is one that I followed even before I discovered it as a trend this season. They add quite a bit of flare to an otherwise plain item. For example, a shirt is simple until you add some colorful horizontal or vertical stripes to it. Personally, I only wear horizontal stripes as a top simply because I feel like vertical stripes elongate my body's appearance and are hard to look at for a very long time. However, I love vertical stripes on shorts and pants.

They look nice, clean, and as previously mentioned, make boring pieces exciting. They're fun! And you can wear them on just about anything and look stylish. My favorite stripes items are accessories. The red tie picture above by Smith Street would look great with a white button-up and blue suit, giving a very simple look a bit of a nautical twist. Adding to the idea of flare, other accessories which look great in stripes include backpacks, shirts, and even some shoes if done properly. The boat shoes and espadrilles pictured above are examples of nicely constructed striped shoes. To you right, you can see how I personally wore stripes. I've paired my navy pinstriped shorts with a very eye-popping blue and a simple vintage brown leather belt. It's a classic look that has an added touch thanks to the patterning of the shorts. Take away the stripes and you have just another boring outfit. I don't like to mix more than one patterned detailing with outfits, so I personally wouldn't try adding another striped piece but that's just me. Feel free to mix it up and make them your own! And just as a quick style tip, I would suggest going nautical with navy blue or red stripes for this season to match that incoming summer feel. Thanks for reading and stay styling! :)

Denim Delight!

What was Mario's favorite fabric? ... Denim, denim, denim!

One thing that I never really expected was for all denim outfits to come back. Making its appearance on the runway this season from the likes of Valentino and Versace was a little unexpected to be honest, but I took the chance to go along with it. I mean, who knows better than these high end designers, right? So, with that I decided to try out an (almost) all denim outft myself. Using some simple things that I had in my closet like a denim jacket and jeans with matching wash, I was able to scrape together this number (right). Now, I personally think that this is the only outfit that I can pull off in all denim, but that doesn't mean I can't piece together different ones wearing this denim jacket that I got from Forever 21. It's such a light wash that it can go with just about any shade, color, or pattern (like polka dots!). It's nice to be able to have those options, too! Now, a lot of guys don't have jean jackets, so if you're one of them that doesn't mean you can't take part in this spring and summer trend. Mess around with what you already have! Try different outfits with the denim jeans you already own, and if you're feeling super adventurous, look into buying a denim shirt or backpack like the ones pictured above. Your only style limitation is yourself, so if you feel like trying something new, then why not? Also, if you're like me, you can't always afford to go out and buy trending items right away but if you have that urge, don't be afraid to thrift! Check your local thrift or consignment stores for lightly worn clothes similar to what you're looking for! It's well worth the hunt if you find just the right thing you're looking for. So again, denim is the word for this season! Try it out and see how it works for you :)

Trend Alert!

For this Spring & Summer, a large trend that's been seen on the runway is clothes with an ethnically inspired design. Pictured here are some examples of certain pieces that follow this style. What I love most about these styles are the geometric patterns, as well as the bold colors that they utilize. In my opinion, they are statement pieces that can be used in so many different ways. Personally, I would use very understated clothing (maybe a pair of dark denim jeans and a white button-down shirt) and then make the ethnic patterns contrast the simplicity and make it pop. Of the items pictured above, I really love the bowtie and patterned shorts most. They're very eye-catching without being too much. How do you feel about these ethnic / Aztec patterns? Are they are DO or a DON'T? 

St. Patrick's Day Style

St. Patrick's Day Style by anchoneze on Polyvore

It's always hard finding the right piece of clothing to wear on holidays. Even though we all want to be festive, it's a bit difficult when you can't seem to find the perfect outfit. I personally find solace in just adding a touch of holiday color to stay in tradition. So, this weekend's color trend is green for St. Patrick's Day. Since too much green can become a bit of overkill, I plan on pairing only one green article of clothing with a typical outfit. My choice article of clothing will probably be my forest green denim jeans that I love so much, but feel free to play around with what you own. Maybe a cool graphic tee (as pictured above) with those go-to denim jeans? Or, if you have extra confidence in yourself this time around, or if green is just your favorite color, feel free to wearing lots of green. Mix it up a bit! Forest green with mint green, or maybe army green with fluorescent green. It's your style and your choice, but "Irish you luck" in choosing your outfit tomorrow!