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)

Getting Lost in Fashion

Something you may have noticed is that I have been using this set of pictures for quite some time. One as a display picture, another as a contact image, and I'm sure there are countless other uses of them around my blog. However, I've never really explained WHY I use them as often as I do. There's something about this scenery that just gets me. Something that I love about it, as if I could build a cabin in the center of the field and openly call it my home. But, there's something else that I love.

When I was standing in the center of this field surrounded by trees, grass, and an overall openness of nature, it made me feel playful and almost like I wanted to frolic through it all. It was like the natural embodiment of my idea of fashion. When I wake up every morning, I just want to get lost in my wardrobe and really play around with everything I own. The polka dots, the yellow denim, the grey suede oxfords, sure they all make for a very eclectic outfit, but they reflect my attitude and just how playful I can or want to be at times. To me, style is a reflection of how you feel and who you are. Patterns are bold or playful for the days you feel the same. Sometimes you wear black to reflect your mood, even if it's unknowingly. Overall, there's a lot more that goes into what you wear than just what does or doesn't match. It's all how you see things and if you allow your outlook of fashion and style to go beyond those limitations. What's your take on it all?

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)

Spring Green

Waking up to great news this morning really set the mood for my day. After finding out that my fashion article submission was received well by the magazine I wrote for, my smile just never left my face. So, since I was feeling so chipper and ridiculously happy, I decided to wear an outfit that reflected that as well. To me, bright colors are truly what embody a very upbeat, lively feel. I mean, after all, isn't that what spring colors are all about? They reflect the life that has literally sprung up around us. Granted where I live, it feels more like summer, I still have until June 21st to flaunt the festive colors. 

Enough about why I wore it! Let's move on to what I am actually wearing. I always start off my mornings by picking out what shirt I want to wear, and since I found my stash of American Apparel tees the other day, I of course already had something in mind. After getting out of bed I stumbled into my closet and pulled out my Kelly green shirt and paired it with my all-white denim Levi's that I picked up last year. As far as my shoes go, since they're the last thing I pick out, I went ahead and chose my white canvas shoes from Lacoste since they match the white and green I chose to wear. The whole outfit is very bright and crisp in terms of color, so I traded out my signature black / burgundy bracelets for a nice stainless steel Emporio Armani watch. My best friend was gracious enough to give it to me as a gift and I've loved it ever since. What are some of your thoughts on color choices? Do you think they reflect a mood or am I just crazy? 

 (I got the shoes on sale so they were only around $35 when I bought them; cheaper than Converse!)    Kelly Green AA T-shirt, White Denim Levi's, White Lacoste L27s, Armani watch

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.

I'm Feeling Chunky

Today's outfit is again, a little more relaxed. I decided to finally wear a chunky Bill Cosby-esque sweater that I bought at the local thrift store a few months ago. Even though it's a little heavier for the season, the weather today called for more warmth. I paired the sweater with some basic charcoal denim jeans that I bought a few years ago (old but I love them) and my cherry red Justin roper boots. I'm a little itchy since the sweater is made of wool, but I think it's worth pushing through. :)

Spring Forward in Style!

Now that we've moved into daylight savings, you have more time to wear your favorite clothes during the day. Wear clothes that you love, like your favorite plaid shirt, with a pair of laid back denim jeans. Accessorize with a nicely accented watch and a belt to pick up the hues in your shirt. There's also something about this watch that just draws me in. The classic leather straps give the whole outfit a very simple, yet dapper touch that the look needs to stay well kempt (you can find a similar one here from +American Apparel). Don't forget to add the finishing touch of a few sprays of cologne before you head out for the day. I suggest one of my personal favorites, +Lacoste Essential for men - the scent is bold and lasts all day.