Yellow Shorts & Simple Style

Last week, I was having a little blogger's crisis and was panicking over having "nothing to wear' and many of us so often do. However, something that my friend said went something like, "It's what how much you have to wear, it's how many ways you can think of wearing it." This couldn't be more true. After replaying that saying through my head over and over again, I ventured into my "Neverending Closet" and fished out some simple shirts and shorts. Now, typically when I wear shorts I will pair them with loafers or tennis shoes, but not this time. The yellow corduroy shorts serve dual functionality, having the ability to be dressed up or dressed down. In today's case, I dressed down a bit. I threw on this 'Ain't No Thang!' tee shirt that I purchased at +H&M quite some time ago, and the funny thing is that I've only worn it once before. The shoes are by +Creative Recreation and couldn't be any more amazing in my eyes. I've never worn a pair like this, but my friend was gracious enough to let me borrow and use them for the sake of staying cool and casual. Now it might be a little weird seeing me outside of my combat boot and leather loafer comfort level, but who knows... Sneakers might be my new thing. What do you think of the sneakers? Would love to know!

Yellow Corduroy Shorts by Target (Similar), H&M Graphic Tee (Alternative), Creative Recs (Similar)

The Neverending Closet

Right now I'm living alone in my apartment and am lucky enough to have both rooms to myself until I find a suitable roommate. With that, I can't express how happy I am for both closets! Without them, my room would be such a mess and filled with more clothes than I know what to do with. Anyway, when I got out of bed this morning I walked into the empty room filled with clothes and started digging until I found a pair of bottoms that I found worth wearing. The weather outside seemed warmer, so I went ahead and sought a pair of shorts that I could wear. Well, when I was sifting through my neverending closet, I found a pair of black shorts in a suitcase that I have yet to unpack. The shorts are unworn so I could really pair them with anything and it would basically be a new outfit (kind of) to play around with.

My black shorts are ones that I made out of a pair of baggy chino pants that I bought for around $12 from +Kohl's last summer. I never wore them because, well, they were baggy. After cutting them into shorts in April, I put them away so that I could wear them this summer. I've paired them with a basic pocket tee from +H&M, the same one you saw me wearing in "Wake Up and Smell the Flowers", my post about floral prints for spring & summer. Once the shirt was picked out, I went with my vintage brown belt that I seem to be utilizing more lately. Shoes? Easy! The dual-tone oxfords from Generic Surplus. And since my shoes have grey tones in them and I was called out for not matching my watch with my shoes yesterday, I chose to wear a very simple watch with (matching!) grey straps. Overall the outfit was light, airy, and summer-appropriate. Feel free to share what you think! I'd love to know.

Green H&M Pocket Tee (Similar), Black Chino Shorts (Similar), Genric Surplus Oxfords (Similar), Brown Leather Belt (Similar), Grey Watch (Similar)

Royal Blue & Black, Too

This morning I woke up and realized I had been wearing essentially the same thing for the past three days, just in different colors. So, I felt the need to actually put something on that hasn't circulated my wardrobe about a dozen times. As you'll notice, I'm wearing the same watch as I did in my previous post, Powder Blue & Polka Dots, but that's because I feel like a classic black strapped watch goes well with anything. What you might notice is different though is my striped vest which used to be a long-sleeve shirt. It's probably one of the best (and only) things that I have crafted well. It was simple to make and didn't take more than 10 - 15 minutes. Anyway, I love the vest as a statement piece, similar to polka dots or floral prints, and I always pair the striped top with a solid colored undershirt. It's the easiest way to keep attention drawn toward the vest and nowhere else. As for the jeans, you can never go wrong with black denim. Oh! And don't forget the shoes. I can't express enough importance about shoes (and no, it's not just because I have a shoe fetish). The pair of shoes are what make or break your outfit when someone scans you from head to toe, the last thing they see is your shoes. Today I went with my scarcely worn pair of patent leather Chelsea boots. They're amazing! When I put them on, I automatically feel like a different person. But buyer beware, if worn the wrong way, you definitely can make yourself look like the Wicked Witch. Enough about me, I want to know what you think! What would you keep / change about this outfit? :)

Royal Blue +American Apparel Basic Tee (Here), Black RSQ Skinny Jeans (Similar), +ASOS Patent Leather Chelsea Boots (Similar) 

Skulls & Crosses

I recently worked up the courage to reach out to one of my favorite accesorry designers, Tevin Vincent, and asked him if he would be willing to allow me to feature his products on my blog. I had been following for months before I even started blogging and just felt an immediate connection with all of his products when I stumbled across them by chance on Instagram. They're fun, edgy, and have this sort of appeal that catches the attention of most people instantaneously. So, with that said, I sent him and email and to my surprise, he agreed to have me feature his products! We went back and forth for a bit and he asked me to choose some accessories from his site and in turn he would send them to me sample. When I got them, I immediately fell in love! Below are two sample bracelets he sent me. One is a black beaded bracelet with a silver skull; the other a jewel embellished cross with maroon beading. Once I saw them, I knew exactly what I wanted to wear them with. 

I pulled out my statement blazer since I felt that the maroon and black in the beads would complement the royal blue lining and tobacco color altogether. Then, I found some other simple blues and whites in my closet to pair it with. Since summer is starting, I felt my self-made shorts would be a nice fit for the weather; the white button-up was sort of a given since it would keep me coolest. Shortly after that, as I ransacked my room for accessories, I was lucky enough to find my vintage brown leather belt whose color was almost identical to my blazer. How lucky is that?! Shoes are usually the last thing that I choose for any outfit, so once I had the tops and bottoms chosen, the shoes were almost a no-brainer. I went with my Generic Surplus dual-toned oxfords and, as might see at the bottom, wore them without socks. (Sockless is allowed in the summer!) Overall, I love this outfit because it's casual and dapper and has the E-D-G-E that I am always dying to add, and it was all thanks to Tevin. As he would say... Thanks my dude!

To check out more of his merchandise, go to www.tevin-vinent.com. I can promise you that you won't regret it!

 

 

Cotton H&M Blazer (Similar), White H&M Shirt (Similar), Blue Chino Shorts (Similar), Skull Bracelet (Here), Cross Bracelet (Here)

Oversized Sweaters & Shoes of Leather

After last night's unexpected thunder storm here in Stockton and the hazy weather that followed, I decided to wear an oversized sweater I found buried under other piles of clothes in my apartment. What I love about this sweater is the kind of waffle knit detail in navy and beige. But! That's not the best part of it, the best part is that I found it at a thrift store for only $2.00. Tell me that isn't a deal! As previously mentioned in a few of my other posts (Like this one), thrift shopping is great to do if you'd like to find common items for a cheaper price. This sweater resembles one that I have been eying from +American Apparel for quite some time, but could never find it in myself to spend so much on a sweater. As far as the rest of the outfit, I kept it minimal with some plain black skinny jeans and my go-to cherry red Justin rider boots with kilties. What do you all think of the outfit? Too much? Too little? Not enough? Feel free to share! 

Thrifted Clubmaster Sunglasses (Similar), Thrifted Waffle Knit Sweater (Similar), Black RSQ Skinny Jeans (Similar), Cherry Red Justin Boots (Similar)

Tribal Trends Part Deux!

Following this week's previous post about ethnically inspired clothing for Spring & Summer, today's post focuses on more Native American & tribal styles. What I love most about Native American-inspired clothing is the patterning and how bold all of the colors look together. One online store that I know I can go to for many tribal styles is +ASOS which seems to always carry these types of clothing. 
However, what I was surprised to find is that +Dr. Martens has their Pendleton boots which are tailored specifically to match this Native American theme. I'd LOVE to have a pair for myself, but at over $100 for a pair, it just isn't practical on a college budget. But! That doesn't mean I can't find different clothing and accessories with similar style elsewhere. As mentioned, ASOS has tribal

clothes and accessories, like the bracelets pictured above, so if you're interested I would check them out. The button-down shirt in the collage is nice, but again, I'm on a college budget so I went ahead and improvised. I happened to have a plain brown +American Apparel t-shirt and I that I cut into a tribal-like design myself. I did this by slicing the sleeves and cutting out a triangle pattern around the collar (the shirt cost about $7 and took 20 minutes to cut). I think it looks great and I would definitely love to try it again in a different color! The Justin boots add a little flare with the kilties and give it a sort of edge that I'm always looking to have. What do you guys think? I'd love to know!

Passion for Pink!

Most men might be shied away from the mere thought of wearing pink, but as they say, only real men wear pink. This color trend is actually something that I am very excited for this spring and summer. As you can see (pictured above) I love color blocking and mixing different shades together to make one collective outfit. It's what you might call, "Fifty Shades of Pink." My most preferred articles of clothing to wear as pink are in the collage above - button-down shirts (from Ralph Lauren), loafers (from +ASOS & +Sperry Top-Sider), and shorts. All three forms of those are worn in the picture of my outfit below. Although the collage items are a bit more costly, there are some alternatives to the price.  

In my picture I am wearing a pink shirt found at +H&M for around $15. Can you believe it?! So cheap! The darker pink corduroy shorts I found at Target for around $20 and I paired them with a pair of dark pink (almost purple) loafers I found at Crossroads Trading Company for about $13. You don't always have to spend tons of money to look great! If you're not afraid of a little pink, I suggest you go out and try to find some for your wardrobe. If you're not into statement pieces, maybe try something subtle like a pair of wayfarer sunglasses of a watch like the one by ICE pictured above (available at +Macy's). Don't be afraid to be adventurous! Define your style, don't let your style define you.

Casual in Green

Today's weather was beautiful and the sun made every color around me pop, so I felt like I had to do the same. So, after searching through my closet for a number of minutes trying to find something nice, yet playful, I went ahead and wore this bright green cardigan for the first time. Now, green isn't really my color so I don't really know how to be as bold as I would like to be in it, so I dressed myself down a bit. Pairing the color-packed cardigan with a pair of self-made, distressed shorts and some light creams, I threw on this little outfit and went on with my day. Funny how something as simple as the weather can change your attitude for the entire day.

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?

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.

Summer Throwback!

 

I'm constantly posting pictures of outfit collages, but never any pictures of my own outfits. So, today I'm sharing one of my favorite Spring/Summer styles. Although it's a little dated, I can't help but love the pop of color from these turquoise corduroy shorts that I was lucky enough to find at Target. I bought them in every color they had in my size (not sorry) and knew they would go well with just about anything. I wanted to make sure the color popped, so I paired the shorts with a simple cotton button-down from H&M and my pair of Original Penguin Chukka Boots. I found that the brown hues went really well together and felt really good wearing the outfit out. And even though the weather here in Stockton isn't nice enough for me to get away with wearing this, I will definitely be bringing out a similar style in just a few weeks (fingers crossed!), you should all do the same. Also, be sure to check out some of two of my favorite go-to websites, ASOS and Topman, to find similar styles. Thanks for following! :)

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!

Spring Statements

Spring Statements by anchoneze featuring low heel shoes

Oftentimes I find myself afraid of wearing certain things because of how it might look to other people, but one thing I never hold back on is my shoes. Shoes are always a great staple piece for any outfit or occasion. Pictured here in bright hues, bold patterns, or accented souls, these shoes add a great touch to the outfits and accessories they are paired with. Sure, you could always go with a more simple look, but what fun is that? My personal favorite pairing is the Fossil all-black watch with the Unisex Dr. Marten 3-Eye Oxfords with the black denim jeans. Why? Well, since I love to wear blacks whites, and greys very often I find it best to add a touch of color or a pop of something special (in this case the pattern) in order to not seem too dull. Although I too am guilty of not always wearing what I want, I encourage you all to wear whatever your hearts desire. Stand out - and in this case, stand in style!

Rainy Day Apparel

The one thing that I love about this look is how simple it is. Some people might contest that the converse are a bit too childish for the sophistication of the coat and formal look of the dark denim, but I think that it would be TOO dressy if there were any other shoes with the outfit. The +Nixon Watches makes the outfit a bit more clean and crisp which I personally enjoy, and the same goes for the white button-down. Overall I think this outfit has a sort of air that resembles a "I tried, but not too hard" attitude which is perfect for rainy weather. Since the rain changes our attitude and desire to wear more relaxing clothing with a laid back attitude, I think that thing collection of clothing exudes just that.