Seersucker & Blueberries

Yesterday afternoon a friend of mine came over and was fully equipped with a bubbly personality to match the other bubbly she brought. Gracing me with her presence (and some champagne) we decided to have a drink together before she met with her boyfriend. It was a great time and I even got a photographer for the day (sorry, iPhone). 

In the photo I'm wearing the same +H&M seersucker cotton shorts my boyfriend gave me. I paired them with an equally light colored blue to match the pastel striping in my shorts. There was no need for me to change into a different belt because I still very much like how the lighter brown looks with the outfit. It gives it a sort of detail and pop that another might not provide. Another thing that I really love about this look is just how summery it is. The fabrics are light, the colors are light, and everything just meshes to make for a great outfit. It was also very appropriate for the little boat outing my friend invited me along for. It was truly a fantastic day. We lost some blueberries in the making of this post, but I think it was well worth it.

Blue Button-down (H&M), Seersucker shorts (H&M), Brown belt (Thrifted), Emporio Armani watch, Cherry red loafers (Thrifted)

A Nautical Adventure

While still in Puerto Rico my family decided to go out into the older parts of the island and explore some of the more reputable historic and cultural areas of Old San Juan. It was an overall amazing time and it was great to explore and actually see a different side of the world that I would have otherwise never known about. Another great thing about the district is how ornate it is. Everything from the color of the buildings to the cobblestone roads was so beautiful. 

Since the trip was going to take such a large amount of walking and meant a lot of exposure to the humidity, I had to make sure that I was comfortable and in breathable fabrics. My bottoms are (again) chino shorts that I made from a pair of pants I found in my closet. The navy in the shorts are very complimenting to the light blue cotton my button-down is made of. The shirt has a contrasting navy & stripe detailing along the collar and the cuff, making for a perfect match with the shorts. As for the shoes, they proved to work well for the occasion. The navy and white detail in my canvas boat shoes (by ASOS) for a very nautical look, appropriate for the beachside environment throughout the entire island. Long story short, I'm embracing the nautical feel of this entire trip.

  Shirt by H&M, Chino shorts by Kohl's, Canvas shoes by ASOS

Keeping it Cool in Puerto Rico

My family and I decided to take a trip to La Concha Resort in San Juan, Puerto Rico as a post-wedding treat for my mother. The second I stepped foot out of the airport, the sun beat down on the back of my neck as the moisture caused my clothing to stick. Once I got back to the hotel I immediately changed from my charcoal skinny jeans and thick white / navy gingham button-down into the combination you'll find below. 

The beige chino shorts I'm wearing are very comfortable, light, and airy. As a mater of fact, they used to be pants before I got a little crazy with my best friend (a pair of scissors) and did away with all the extra fabric. What I like most about the shorts, at least for this occasion, is that they mimic the soft colors of the sand you find on the beaches; moreover, my powder blue +American Apparel shirt matches that of the Puerto Rican sky. I topped off the entire outfit with a contrasting chestnut leather belt my uncle owned in the 80's and a pair of navy +Sperry Top-Sider boat shoes which match the various shades of the ocean quite well. Over all, I decided to keep the look very simple, understated, and natural - even leaving out some of the black accessories I never seem to take off. An overwhelming amount of layering and dark coloring would be silly under these weather conditions as well. However, something that might work and that I may attempt later is utilizing neons and brighter colors as many of the residents in the area do. Perhaps a tangerine similar to that of the backdrop in my photos. What do you all think? 

Blue is the new Black

One thing that I'm very excited for is the extreme amount of blues that will be making its way in-store. There's already a ton of different variations of the color, but as a blue-enthusiast, I can't tell you enough how much I love it. You can wear blue with almost absolutely anything, that's why it's so perfect! Even more so than black in my opinion, because there are some things that you can't wear with black that you are able to wear with more specific shades of blue (such as chocolate brown). Furthermore, I think that blue as a color is more appealing than any other because it can be soft, gentle, bold, understated, a statement, and just pleases most people whenever its worn. Although it's associated with somberness and sadness in literature, in fashion I find that it's associated with a sort of playfulness and vibrance. For example, if you take a black and white striped shirt, it's automatically colorless and lifeless. Although the patterning of the stripes makes it a little fun, think of the shirt with royal blue stripes and the piece already has a different feel in your head.
The power of blue is incredible! The greatest thing about a trending color as opposed to a trending style is that you can find a color in any store, whereas a style is store-specific. On your right, you can see how I've recently worn it. Although the picture is a bit muddled by the lighting, you can still see the more muted shades of navy blue. My more modernly styled jacket is from a store in called Foreign Exchange (FE) and the striped shirt is from H&M. They're both some of my favorite pieces of clothing and I love the fact that I can wear them out and still be trending with the changing season's fashion. Another great part about blue is that you probably already have it in your closet in some way, shape, or form. Blue is everywhere and anywhere, and it's complemented very well by mostly every other color. Just think about it! But don't let me convince you, what do you think about it?

Let's go on a SAFARI!

Now, you've heard of big cities being called "Urban Jungles" but how about throwing an "Urban Safari" into the mix? That's right. Safari-like styles are beginning to make an appearance this Spring/Summer '13. However, don't think that safari styles mean you have to wear bold animal prints or crazy African-like patterns - it means just the opposite. This trend is aimed more toward men who aren't comfortable wearing those bold prints and flashy patterns. Having more of an earthy feel to it, this "urban safari" uprising is more focused on use of olive greens, khaki, or ochre (light yellow/brown/red) for it's clothing; natural fabrics, such as cotton or silk are also found heavily incorporated as well. Now I think that the earthy feel is what I enjoy most about this style. It kind of has a subtlety that is needed every now and then. Sure it's nice to stand out and maybe bring attention to what you're wearing, but sometimes it's best to stay under the radar and simply enjoy wearing an outfit for yourself and not for others.
Now, here's my attempt at this trend. In the photo you can see me wearing a khaki sleeveless coat with multi-pocket detail and a belted front. Some people are a little turned off by this style, but I personally loved it. Instead of the belt that the coat came with, I decided to kind of make it my own and use a vintage Christian Dior tie that I had lying around my room. I paired the coat with some navy blue chino shorts and a navy blue v-neck that I got from American Apparel. Overall it was a pretty simple look to throw together, and I wouldn't mind wearing a similar style again at some point. Now, if you're interested in trying it out or reading more about it, HERE is an article from Fashionbeans which contains the full story, plus some additional outfit inspirations. Thanks for dropping by!

Nautical but Nice

Today I'm wearing more of a nautically inspired outfit in some of my favorite pieces of clothing. Here I'm wearing my navy blue Foreign Exchange military jacket paired with more blue in my navy & white striped top from H&M (out of season). I've paired them with a simple styled skinny jean in charcoal grey and my white canvas Lacoste L27s (very comfortable for a lazy day). I always love wearing blue for the simple fact that the color can be worn so many different ways. It just never gets old to me. What about you? What's your idea of a timeless color?

Red, White, and Blue

Today I felt a little more playful and wore denim on denim. My entire outfit consisted of my denim jacket purchased at +Forever 21, paired with an almost salt & pepper-like hooded sweater from +H&M, as well as my favorite bright red denim jeans and brown +Steve Madden Troopa boots. It's one of my more laid-back outfits as opposed to the proper Oxford look I go for at times, but I love being able to dress up (or down) certain articles of clothing. Can't wait to rock this denim jacket for an edgier grunge look soon. Lately my style has been taking a turn for a bit of a retro 90's baby look and I love it. The denim jacket in this picture is the first step toward the style I have been trying to adopt. Now, I'm not looking to permanently alter my style, but add a different element to it so that I can remain playful in many different ways. Something fun that you might be interested in knowing about me is that I only like to wear colored denim jeans. Red, white, and blue are my go-tos. What do you think about my outfit? Pros? Cons? Don't be afraid to share!

Bold in Blue

One thing I'm excited for is wearing #bright , vibrant colors this season. With blue making a huge appearance in this year's SS13 #fashion , I'm going to have a lot of fun playing with the different shades that will be available in-store. This is probably one of my favorite #spring outfits - a more royal #blue pocket tee paired with my favorite (cuffed) white & navy pin-striped shorts and #thrifted deep maroon Jeffrey Campbell penny loafers. What's your favorite spring outfit? Feel free to share!

Loafers Leap into Spring Fashion

Loafers are making their appearance in this year's Spring and Summer fashion and I have absolutely no problems with it. I personally love a classic pair of loafers and they are actually go-to shoes for almost any occasion. Although you can wear them out easily and sometimes it's hard to find the right outfits to wear with them, loafers can be versatile if you have the right clothes to work with. Suits, shorts, jeans, you name it and you can probably find an outfit to pair them with. My personal favorites are the boldly colored velvet loafers, such as the mint green pair pictured above. (You can find cheaper alternatives to the pair on the American Apparel or ASOS websites.) Don't forget that you can play around with different styles, such as the more summer-themed woven loafers also pictured above. Style is something you should invest in every now and then, treating yourself to something nice and worthwhile. Although the styles change from year to year, the concept stays the same. With that, I would advise maybe investing in a nice pair of loafers, not just for this season, but for many others to come.

Sun Out, Sleeves Off

Sun Out, Sleeves Off by anchoneze featuring neon jewelry

Now that the weather is warming up here in California, you can now break out your favorite tanks. Pictured here is one of my personal favorites, the British flag graphic tank. Throwing in a nice pair of oxfords, like these with lightly matching blue detail, and pairing the outfit with a colorful watch can really make all the difference. Lastly, never forget to add the finish touch of a nice cologne; YSL's 'L'Homme' is one of my favorite scents for any occasion.