Modest Clothing | Modest Outfits | Modest Fashion Blog | Clothed Much

Mix It Up by Shannon

2012-02-24T12:10:00.000-08:00

Kohl's sweater; Anthropologie skirt; Spanks tights; J.Crew shoes; De Estie jewelry

By now we all know stripes are here to stay. My question for you is do you prefer them in a classic form or is it time to have a little more fun with them? I still like the classic striped shirt if you pair it with a fun color pant or a floral skirt to give it some interest. I'm also loving all the different interpretation of stripes that are out there: different sizes and colors mixed together. Stripes are still big this spring but I challenge everyone to mix it up a little! Link up your stripey outfits below!

DIY Braided Leather Headband Tutorial by Kristina

2012-02-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

There are so many colors of leather available as well as brightly-colored suede strips, so you can really let your imagination run wild. I chose this bronze color because my braided tortoise headband was "accidentally" snapped in half by my daughter and I needed something to replace it. You can buy these cheap, metal headbands at most dollar stores.

Lazy Meets Office

2012-02-22T12:24:00.000-08:00

thrifted blazer, $3 (similar); thrifted white t-shirt, $5 (similar); Target sweatpants, $18; Target sandals, $8 (similar)

This post is brought to you by thrifting and Target. I got these sweatpants a couple weeks ago and they're all I've been wearing at home (with a t-shirt, gross! {..or is it?}). Can you tell I've been in a be-as-lazy-as-possible-but-still-look-put-together-with-the-least-amount-of-effort mood lately? Ahem. In fact, I'm so lazy that I wore this to work. I'm 97.4% sure that I wore this all weekend too. But that's the beauty of it all... Add high-heels and a blazer and you can't even tell they're sweatpants!! (Work with me here..)

Also, how to dress up cropped sweatpants to wear them to work (at least, my work).

Got my new shoes on..

2012-02-21T12:00:00.000-08:00

Vince Camuto Bello sandals, $76

My first pair of "expensive," "grown-up" heels. I've never spent more than $30 for heels so this was a big purchase. I saw them first on Pinterest a while ago but with a mint heel. The Nordstrom Rack I got these from didn't have the mint ones but I'm not bitter. (Maybe a little..) Kidding, these will match everything, including that clown suit I have in the back of my closet. I already love these like they are my babies. I think my husband may even be a little jealous.

Graham two-tone oxfords c/o Wanted Shoes

Wanted Shoes also sent me a pair of silver and white oxfords. An unusual color combo and not really "me" but the real me is boring so I thought I'd spice things up a bit in my shoe collection and add some metal. Let's rock.

As new shoes come in, old ones have to go. (Curse you, tiny closet.) Watch my shop for updates!

Your dress is crooked

2012-02-20T12:00:00.000-08:00

thrifted American Eagle denim jacket, $5 (similar); dress via ebay, $17 (similar); Old Navy boots (similar); Michael Kors purse (similar)

Just bought this dress on ebay a couple weeks ago and I haven't been able to stop wearing it since! (I know you can't see it but it's short-sleeved.) It's so comfy and I love the asymmetrical hem. I can also dress it up or down depending on my mood. And we all know it's mostly gonna be dressed down...

Another reason I love this dress? I feel like Super(wo)man when I wear it in the wind.

Dressing for Your Body Type by Katie

2012-02-20T06:03:00.000-08:00

This is not a blog post about losing weight or disguising your extra pounds. I am not going to tell you how to lose ten pounds in ten minutes or how to reduce the size of your waist in minutes a day. This is a post about loving your body the way it is now, embracing the shape that you have, and working it to your advantage.

Over at my blog Hems for Her, I show everyday women how I dress. I have run the weight gamut from thin to thick and everything in between. When I got pregnant, I was in the best shape of my life. I had just lost 55 pounds; I was working out 4-5 times a week; I looked great and felt great. After the baby, my body was different. My boobs and belly were bigger; I had no time to work out. I started a stressful job, and the pounds piled on. However, I have grown to love and appreciate my new fuller figure.

The most important part of looking good and feeling good is confidence! That’s the first thing you should put on everyday! If you don’t believe you look good, then how do you expect anyone else to? Rock it and flaunt it! By identifying your body shape and learning what kind of clothing is most flattering, you will have the confidence to feel beautiful and stylish at any size!

First things first: There’s no such thing as one size fits all! I am going to talk about the four most common body types, but they are not all encompassing; so if you don’t see “your body” among these shapes, don’t be discouraged. Pick the body type that most closely resembles yours and go with that!

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Apples

What they look like:

Overall “round” shape
Weight appears all over upper body
No defined waist, some “love handles”
Larger waist and bust
Shapely legs
Defined shoulders

Goals:

Balance larger upper half and slender legs
Define your waist
Show off great legs

Wear:

A-line and asymetrical skirts
Body-skimming tunic-length shirts and sweaters
Structured jackets and blazers
Wide-leg jeans and pants
Empire and maxi dresses with lower neckline
V-neck and embellished neck tops

eloquii: wide leg jeans, $89.90; v-neck belted tunic, $46.90; scroll print peasant blouse, $29.90; v-neck belted tunic, $49.90; pleated sleeve cowl cweater, $16.99; a-line skirt, $68.90; boyfriend jacket, $79.99; two in one belted box pleat dress, $108; pleated cowl neck dress, $59.90

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Pears

What they look like:

Small busts
Defined waists
Heavier hips and thighs (“bottom-heavy”)
Narrow shoulders, slim arms, defined waist

Goals:

Balance slimmer upper body with heavy bottom and legs
Add width to shoulders and bust

Wear:

Patterned tops
Knee-length skirts: a-line or pencil
Wrap tops or dresses
Straight leg jeans and pants
Pretty details on tops: ruffles, ruching, cowl neck, etc.

eloquii: straight leg pants, $79.90; plaid peasant top, $29.90; chiffon ruffle front shirt, $49.90; keyhole ruffle front shell, $49.90; eloquii ruched cuff bateau sweater, $24.99; below the knee crepe skirt, $69.90; gathered drape sleeve jacket, $138; printed tank dress, $110; two in one jaquard dress, $22.99; strapless party dress, $118

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Bananas

What they look like:

Boxy/rectangular shape
Very little definition, weight spread evenly between bust, waist, and hips
Bust and shoulders same width as hips
Small or medium bust
Slim legs and arms
Flat butt

Goals:

Add the illusion of curves
Define waistline
Show off slim arms and legs

Wear:

Flared/boot-cut jeans and pants
Tops with details: ruffles, ruching, etc.
Pencil skirts or full skirts
Belts or belted tops and jackets
Dresses with structure: full skirts, defined waists

eloquii: straight leg pant, $79.90; soft bow blouse, $29.90; banded halter neck top, $49.90; ruffle shell, $46.90; sleeveless ruffle neck top, $44.90; pencil skirt, $44.90; belted ruffle collar jacket, $128; dolman sleeve drop waist dress, $98; faux wrap dress, $98

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Hourglass

What they look like:

Full bust and full hips
Clearly defined waist (at least 8" smaller than bust and hips)
May be top or bottom heavy
Weight evenly distributed between bust and hips

Goals:

Considered “ideal” body shape, but very uncommon
Show off shape: don’t hide it under baggy layers
Slim neck and chest area

Wear:

Flared/boot-cut pants and jeans
V-neck and scoop neck tops (with camisole underneath if you are nervous about cleavage)
Halter-style dresses
Belted jackets and tops

eloquii: bootleg pant, $79.90; wrap front sweater, $19.99; two button ruched sleeve kacket, $108; cable v-neck sweater, $22.99; two in one cap sleeve dress, $118; printed knit wrap dress, $89.90; cowl drape top, $14.99; tulip skirt, $64.90; 3/4 sleeve shawl collar jacket, $138

The Super Comfy Bowl

2012-02-16T12:20:00.000-08:00

scarf, gift with purchase (similar); Gap dress I cut into a shirt, $8 (similar); pants via sample sale, $1 (similar); thrifted Forever 21 sandals, $8 (similar)

Wore this on Superbowl Sunday a couple weeks ago to a friend's house. Lounging around and eating all day meant comfy, casual clothes so my pajama pants it was! This was sooo comfy. Loved wearing this even if it makes my legs appear shorter than they really are which I didn't think was possible.

And look who else it is!! Melissa!!!! Watch for her outfit details soon! (And now you can all see how short-legged and big-butted I really am and how tall and lean Melissa is but we all already knew that.)

What size are you?

2012-02-15T10:57:00.000-08:00

Just saw this on Refinery 29 and thought it was too cool not to share even if you already saw it. At What Size Am I?, you put your bust, waist, and hip measurements in and it tells you what store sizes are your closest matches!! Mad props to computer programmer Anna Powell-Smith for this brilliant web app.

In Tangier

2012-02-14T12:18:00.000-08:00

Anthropologie necklace (similar {I actually like it better..}); secondhand shirt, $1 (similar); vintage culottes, $6 (similar); JCPenney pumps (similar); thrifted bag, $4 (similar)

This look was inspired by Desiree from Thread Ethic. I wore it to my work annual party a couple weeks ago. This year's theme was Tangier Escape with alcohol, gambling (BlackJack anyone?), cigars, and belly dancers. I didn't know what to do amidst all the worldliness. There were also huge snakes a la Britney circa 2001, which was pretty ~~scary!!!~~ cool.

Even though there wasn't a dress code this year (Thank goodness!!), I still wanted to dress up. I haven't been dressing up as much during the week because I have to play ping pong. (Yes, have to. It is not an option. Must. beat. the guys.) So I wore my vintage tiny-waist skants (= skirts + pants), platform heels (definitely not suitable for pong), and red lipstick! ..and apparently a sheet white face? P.S. I bought this lipstick at Walmart! (If you can brave the monster crowds, you can get some great deals on Walmart accessories, bags and shoes.)

For my hair, I did a faux bob again. It's a lot easier with my wavy hair so I'll have to do this hair style more often.

Also, what I wore to last year's party.

How to Wear Modest Skirts (Without Looking Frumpy) by Kristine

2012-02-13T06:10:00.000-08:00

Living in Japan, I was always in awe of everybody's fashion choices. Everyone looked so kawaii (cute) in their knit sweaters layered over button up shirts with shorts, tights, and heeled boots. I have envied Japanese fashion since I was in junior high school, and seeing it in real life was an absolute dream.

Just one problem: the fashionable Japanese girls that I admired were very keen on showing A LOT of leg. We're talking short-shorts and mini-skirts galore. And it looked great on them. Somehow, they found a way to balance out the amount of skin they were showing by covering up their top half. (I really saw zero cleavage while I was in Japan, which I very much appreciated.) However, because I was surrounded by these amazingly stylish, beautiful, leggy women, and because I have very high modesty standards when it comes to showing skin, every now and then I would find myself feeling so, so frumpy. I'd look at myself in my seemingly matronly knee-length skirts in the mirror and just frown.

But then I thought, just because I don't show a lot of skin, doesn't mean my body doesn't look good. Showing skin and being leggy does not automatically equal womanly. Sure, I may not ever be sexy...but I don't want to be seen like that anyway.

Over the years, I have figured out ways to wear modest skirts without looking frumpy. These ways work for me, but I'd love to hear your tips in the comments as well! Remember, modest outfits don't have to be frumpy! Think eye-catching skirts, tops, tights, shoes, and belts.

H&M shirt (similar); J.Crew belt (similar); vintage skirt;

Forever 21 shoes (similar)

1. Wear heels.

If you're petite like me (I'm 5'2''.), this is definitely a must. Lengthening your legs is a must to fight the frump, especially when wearing skirts! I'm talking 2'' heels or higher. I can't tell you how I feel when I put on heels after dressing up for the day: I finally feel complete.

J.Crew cardigan (similar); J.Crew Factory necklace;

Urban Outfitters top; Crossover skirt from Japan

2. Wear skirts at the waist, not the hip.

Wearing skirts at the waist definitely elongates your bottom half, which is what you want! I also feel as though it creates a very 1950s silhouette, which is very, very feminine. I have some skirts that actually fall at my hip naturally, but I belt them at my waist so they'll stay up. Just a trick of the trade ;)

Forever 21 hat (similar); Forever 21 top (similar);

Uniqlo skirt; We Love Colors tights; c/o Blowfish

shoes

3. Pay attention to where the hemline falls.

Supposedly, just above the knee is the ideal length for making your legs appear longer. I don't necessarily follow this rule, but it's good to keep in mind. For me, I usually wear skirts somewhere around the knee area.

What tips have you got to wear modest skirts without looking frumpy?

$75GC to MODERNMARY Giveaway

2012-02-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

MODERNMARY is a modest fashion brand and boutique started in 2008 outside of the D.C. area by Seema S. Sahin. I love finding out more and more of these modest fashion companies! Brands like MODERNMARY (and my blog, duh) prove that you don't need to sacrifice modesty for style. If you check out their clothes and style, you can see it's a unique modern take on traditional modesty. Their winter collection was even featured at the D.C. Fashion Week's International Couture Collection's 2011 show giving you clothing ranging from ready-to-wear to custom designed evening wear. And one of you lucky readers can win a $75 gift certificate to their store! All you have to do is like their Facebook page.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Clothed Much 2011 Survey Results

2012-02-10T06:02:00.000-08:00

And the results are in! Thanks to all of you who participated in my survey! And to those who didn't, it's a good thing it was anonymous because I would've done nothing anyway. But, seriously...you're not getting an iPad. (Also, I know this is hard to read with all these pie charts {mmmm, pie} so for them to make sense, please read the captions BELOW the pies. And if that didn't make sense, I should probably learn English.)

Gender

Age

When do you read CM?

Do you consciously dress modestly?

Do you like the recent changes?

How many times have you bought

something because of CM?

What would you like to see more of?

And even though the survey was anonymous, I didn't include the income and education level because I know for some people, they are sensitive subjects. So let's discuss the survey basics...

The gender and age of the majority of the CM readers haven't changed. The 18-24 range decreased and it looks like some of that percentage got kicked into the 25-30 range. Let's face it. We're getting old...er.
I didn't include the "How many times do you read CM?" question this time because I tried to make it more exciting for you and asked WHEN you read CM. Clever, right? Not really. Besides satisfying my curiousity, this information was useless. So thank you for answering a silly question.
I was very happy to see that the majority of you liked the new changes!!!! And for those who don't, I'm sorry but change is inevitable and I am lazy.
The results for purchases influenced by CM were the same. Understandable. This site is more about remixing your clothes than buying. But if you do buy something, let me know! I'd love to see your take on similar items.
Even though the results for the "more on CM" question was predictable, it was still a good reassurance for me to see it. Sometimes I forget you guys are here for the style and outfits...especially when the last thing I want to do in the morning is take pictures with baggy eyes, a pimpled face, and bedhead hair. Srsly, so pretty. I will try my best to incorporate more variety along with outfit posts!

And then the open ended questions....

What do you like most about CM?

I just loved reading these! I forgot how nice some of you guys are sometimes. A lot of comments were similar to last year's responses such as liking the style and outfits featured, modesty, remixing, fashion on a small budget, and MEMEME!!! You guys really like me!!!!!!! Because I'm so real and funny!!!!!!!!!!!!111111 No, but seriously, I am. No, really... Thank you for all your nice comments. *Virtualhugs* #okayletgoit'sgettingawkward I loved every single one of them. I actually have several favorites that I wanted to share but I didn't want to appear more narcissistic than I feel right now so shall we move on?

What would you like improved about CM?

I think it was good for me to keep this optional. For some reason, last year's responses were hard to read. This year wasn't too bad. Maybe because I am almost perfect? (Re: narcissism -- please see above paragraph.) But, really, thank you for all your suggestions. I've tucked them away and will take all of them into consideration if I haven't already.

A few things I'd like to address:

Guest bloggers. I know not everyone loves them but like I mentioned before, it's something I've thought and pondered about for a while and it is a direction I think will be good for CM. I'm still trying to figure out scheduling and spacing out guest bloggers and contributors so it doesn't seem so fractured. It's going to take some time and trial and error because I'm still learning but I'm feeling more confident about this direction and I hope you do too.
The new blog layout. Some of you have expressed your concerns about the new "click here" links. I promise it wasn't for the numbers or to make your lives harder. It was for organization. I realized my blog is more of an archive of outfits than anything else. To organize these outfits, I've created a label system on the right by clothing type. To sift through the hundreds of outfits on the blog, I liked the idea of smaller pictures on the side with a post snippet instead of posts of huge pictures to makes it easier to search for outfits. I hope this made sense. If you noticed, a lot of bigger websites have these links for the same or similar reason. It makes a website cleaner, more efficient, and loads faster.
Attitude/snottiness. A few of you have mentioned my attitude and snottiness. Honestly, I just come off that way, even in real life. I think it's because I'm an introvert. For example, I don't care for chit-chat or shallow conversations. I'm the type of person who will tell it to you straight. Unfortunately, some people don't understand that and/or don't like it. And that's fine. Not everyone does/will because we're all different.

What I've learned:

Similar to what I learned last year. I think it's fitting to repeat.

I can't please everyone. Somebody is going to like A about my blog and not B but someone else will like B more than A...like guest bloggers.
But the biggest thing I've learned is to not take things so personally. It's funny.... The one negative comment from the sea of positive would ruin my day. I would want to quit blogging and hide in my bed for the rest of the day. But I'm learning to develop a thick skin and I'd like to think I'm getting better at it.
And still.....I'm learning....more about me, more about people, more about the blog...and it's all because of you guys. Thank you!
(OMGz, so deep.)

I know this was a bore and a half to read. If you've made it this far, congratulations! More homework: I'd like to know your thoughts or questions or concerns. Thanks again for all of your responses!!!

In the Dark

2012-02-09T12:16:00.000-08:00

fur collar from sample sale, $5 (similar); Shade Clothing t-shirt (similar); pants from sample sale, $1 (similar); Target heels, $8 (similar)

Went for all darks here with black, gray, and brown. I am loving these pants! I can't get enough of 'em. And, yes, let's talk about my hair.. :) What? I was having a good hair day. YEAH, I SAID IT.

Yellow Second

2012-02-08T12:16:00.000-08:00

thrifted shirt, $1.50 (similar); scarf, gift with purchase (similar); Levi's black skinny jeans, $70; Target loafers, $25

Yellow again! I'm on a roll. Because this yellow is brighter and more neon, I went for my bright turquoise loafers because you only live once and I was feeling wild that day.

I snagged this scarf from my mom when she was buying expensive Korean face stuff and the counter girl gave her a million samples and a scarf of ~~her~~ my choice. Free stuff?? I was all over that!!! #cheapskate

And some extra shots...just for fun...AKA Chase kept taking pictures and I kind of liked how they turned out:

DIY L-O-V-E Sweater Tutorial by Kristina

2012-02-08T06:30:00.001-08:00

With Valentine's day just around the corner, I wanted to do a project perfect for the holiday. Chances are we all have an unused t-shirt or sweater taking up space in our dresser. I used an unloved, clearance sweater purchased from Gap (not unloved anymore, though). The felt only costs thirty cents and can be found at Walmart or any craft store.

You can use stencils for the letters; but if you don't have them, start each one with the same size block and draw your letters on the back before you cut out.

Sewing Tip: You can tell the letters here are slightly too close together. When you're working with stretchy fabrics, always do the placement step with the garment on. That way you'll know how much stretch there is. If you do this step with the garment flat, your letters will probably be too far apart when you put it on, which will make your word look distorted.

You could also use embroidery thread, but if you don't have any, several strands of regular thread work just fine.

Using a contrasting thread on the heart will make it stand out.

The Simplest, Easiest Uniform

2012-02-07T12:24:00.000-08:00

JCPenney necklace; H&M men's t-shirt, $3; thrifted and skinnied Target jeans, $8; JCPenney heels

Just a simple, colorful outfit for work. You can never go wrong with pops of color against dark jeans. But, seriously, this is such an easy outfit.: loose-fitted t-shirt, skinny jeans, statement necklace, and pumps. It's my go-to when I'm running late but still want to look decent...which is about 20% of the time.

I've worn this yellow t-shirt twice before with black here and stripes and denim here.

Maysaa

2012-02-07T11:13:00.000-08:00

Along with Seyma's guest post yesterday, the Thread Ethic girls also had a post dedicated to hijab fashion, which introduced me to the blog Style Covered, which introduced me to Hana's clothing line Maysaa. (WHEW, got all that?) I am loving her wonderfully modest clothes and I had to share some of my favorites.

T-Shirt and Boyfriend Jeans: 3 Ways

2012-02-06T12:23:00.000-08:00

fur collar via sample sale, $5 (similar); Gap dress I cut to be a top, $8 (similar); Gap Outlet boyfriend jeans, $26 (similar); Target strappy sandals, $8 (similar)

I loved wearing this! The fur collar/muffler instantly makes me feel fancy, and fancy I am not. I decided to cut off the brown ribbons at the end of it. The whole day the collar/muffler kept falling off my [round?] shoulders. Next time I'll have to remember to safety pin it to the collar of my shirt. The ribbons! I got it now.

I've done this blue shirt and bf jeans combo twice before here and here. I like to think of them as different fashion stages of my life even though they were taken not too long ago. I wouldn't wear the one on the left now -- it's just not my style anymore. But I still like the right outfit so I guess my style hasn't diverted too much since five months ago? It makes me wonder what else I'll come up with in another five months... Knowing me, probably something amazing.

Which outfit is your favorite?

Hijabi Fashion 101: Simplicty is Key! by Seyma

2012-02-06T06:18:00.000-08:00

Hi, my name is Seyma, and I am a 30-year-old blogger from Melbourne, Australia. My blog Hijab Revival is basically a photo diary of the clothes I like to wear, the places I love to go, and the things I like to eat.

Rule #1: When it comes to Hijabi style there are no rules other than modesty. You can wear whatever you want as long as it adheres to the guidelines set for both the men and women in Islam. Both sexes must preserve their modesty, but must do so in a presentable and clean way. We are encouraged to present ourselves in a pleasing manner and look, on the whole, well put together.

Women must cover their hair (with a Hijab), arms, legs, and wear non-see-through, loose clothing. As you can imagine, this can get a little tough when shopping in a western country. I have often been asked on my blog and in real life about where I purchase my clothing from. My usual answer is everywhere and anywhere! I cannot limit myself to one brand, one shop, or one look as it is already a challenge to find modest clothing to begin with.

My personal style changes all the time. Sometimes I love to look bright and flowy; other times I prefer the chic black colors favored by Melbournian women. One thing I have noticed as I got older is that I want my clothing to be less fussy and easy to wear. When I was younger, I used to love layering and accessorising with jewelry, color, and belts. Now my ideal look involves a long-sleeve maxi dress and a gorgeous scarf and bag - done.

I think that the key to a fabulous hijabi look is simplicity. Nobody wants to look over-the-top (OTT) or like they're trying too hard so it’s best to keep everything simple. This can be a little hard for covered girls due to the added look a hijab brings to the ensemble. As a hijab-wearer myself, I always struggle with matching my hijab to the whole ensemble, finding the right color, texture, and style can be a right pain in the butt, especially when in a rush! Imagine this: you throw on a pair of jeans. Sounds simple right? Well, as a hijabi, you must find a top that is long enough to cover your bottom and most of your legs in order to make it modest enough to suit our guidelines. Then, to top it off, you must then choose a hijab that not only matches your top but also suits the whole look! Arrghhh, not so simple anymore, is it?

This is why I say 'keep your clothing choices simple!' Now, when I go shopping, I try to steer clear of major trends, major prints or OTT looks. I like to stock my wardrobe with classic styles such as a neutral trenchcoat or a chic pair of black pumps. That way, when I need to get dressed, I can easily throw something on that looks good and accessories depending on the mood or occasion.

If I do dabble in a bit of majorly trendy looks, I make sure the rest of my look is as simple as possible. For example, tribal print top? Plain non-print hijab and plain non-print bottoms is required. Leopard print platform heels? Match my hijab to my shoes but keep the rest of my outfit mono-colored.

Another simple quirk I like to add is the way I wear my hijab. I like to change the style by pining it on in different ways to mix things up a little bit but still making sure my neck or chest are not showing. I love the way it adds some interest to my look without compromising on style or modesty.

Bedwear

2012-02-03T12:38:00.000-08:00

Forever 21 sweater cardigan (similar); Target shirt, $20; pants via sample sale, $1; Target strappy heels, $8

I wore my pajama pants again with a similarly dark color palette. It was extra comfy this time with the roomy tunic and cozy sweater. I could've slept in this the night before and gone to work and no one would've known. Maybe I have? Can't you tell from my hair??

Curvylicious

2012-02-02T12:30:00.000-08:00

Collection B faux leather jacket, $55 (similar); necklace via sample sale, $5; secondhand JCPenney shirt via yard sale, $1 (similar); Levi's modern demi curve skinny jeans, $70; We Love Colors socks; Franco Sarto wedge booties, $32 (similar)

And my black streak continues! I loved wearing this. Can you tell from the pictures? I think it's my NEW BLACK JEANS. Ahh!!!!! I finally retired my J Brands in my shop (Thanks, Lauren!) and bought a new pair of black skinnies.

I recently heard about Levi's new Curve ID jeans and had to try them out. I have small hips, a huge butt, and short legs so it's hard to find anything that fits me perfectly. I end up using the Instant Button on all my pants. So I was intrigued by these diverse curvylicious jeans. I went to a Levi's store and tried on a million pairs in various curve jeans because I didn't know which one I was. After an hour of frustration, I finally had someone measure me. Why I didn't do that before is a mystery even to me. Well, I found out I'm a Demi Curve! ..and my butt looks marvelous.

Verdict

The jeans aren't as skinny as I had wanted so I skinnied them myself.
The quality is no where near J Brands.
This pair fits me a lot better. My thighs are happy. My waist doesn't gape in the back.
My wallet thanks me.

So it's a lose-lose-win^2-win, which is still a win to me.

Have any of you tried out the Curve jeans? Which curve are you?

What's a sweater?

2012-02-01T12:28:00.000-08:00

JCPenney brooch (similar); leopard print scarf via eBay, $8 (similar); yellow cardigan, swapped from Meredith (similar); thrifted skirt, $3; Fitzwell flats, $76

I swapped this sweater from Meredith a while ago but L.A. doesn't know what sweaters are so by the end of the day, it was drenched in sweat. (Probably from my awesome ping pong skills.) Srsly, so cute! For the color combo, I was inspired by this look from Zara. I figured I'll never wear leopard print shorts (Never say never?) so I subbed it for my scarf instead.

And if your scarf is missing something, add a brooch! or a flower!

DIY Elbow Patches Tutorial by Ashley

2012-02-01T06:30:00.000-08:00

Hi, I'm Ashley from the blog Distractions. Do you have a hole in your sweater or are you just obsessed with elbow patches like I am? In either case, adding elbow patches to a sweater or cardigan is super easy and it can even be done without a sewing machine. Yup, you read right. No sewing machine needed and, nope, you don't need fabric glue or a glue gun. However, it will require a little hand sewing, which shouldn't be too bad because I know you all have a mending kit or minimergency kit, right?

To create your own elbow patches, here is a list of supplies you will need:

Hand sewing needle
rectangle of felt in the color of your choice (You can find felt at Walmart, Jo-Ann Fabric, or Michael's.)
Thread (to match or contrast the color of the felt)
Tailor's chalk or a non-permanent fabric marker (you can also use regular chalk or a regular washable marker instead)
Sharp scissors
Tall square tissue box
Pins or safety pins

Are you excited to make some elbow patches? I am! Let's get started!

Instructions:

1. Put your sweater/cardigan on and using a mirror and your chalk/marker, make an X on your elbow area.

Yes, I missed my elbow in the pic, but you get the idea...

2. Next take your scissors and cut off the top of the tissue box. Remove any plastic that may be around the opening of the box top.

3. Grab your felt rectangle and fold it in half (hamburger style) and pin it so that the fabric stays folded in half. Using your tissue box top as a template, trace an oval on the felt.

4. Pin your ovals over the X marks you made. Fold the sweater/cardigan in half to check and see if the oval are placed evenly in the same spot of each arm.

5. Begin hand sewing your patches and try to keep the fabric level and even as you sew. For this project I recommend using an overcast stitch. You can find great hand sewing instructions here.

6. After the patches are sewn down, you are done! If you can't get enough of elbow patches, you can also try making them in different shapes like I did here.

Are you faithful to your taste? by Kari

2012-01-31T12:00:00.000-08:00

Before (not pictured: my ear muffs!)

After

Uniqlo gray pea coat; green patterned scarf, gift from my sis-in-law; gray wool gloves; off-white J.Crew cardigan; off-white Gap button up; J.Crew gold skinny belt; J.Crew pencil skirt; royal blue Gap tights; Pour la Victoire gray patent oxfords; gold Timex watch; green vintage clutch

Lately, I've woken up every morning and just been so bummed by the sea of neutrals that inhabit my closet that I feel forced to wear especially in the winter time. I mean, come on, boots only come in like three colors. I didn't want NYC to change my bright, fun style, but I feel like over the past couple of months it has. I found myself not wearing my fun necklaces or gravitating more towards neutrals because I didn't want to look weird to my new co-workers or people at church. And then on Sunday, I had an epiphany. WHO CARES?! Like Kristine mentioned in her last post, bright clothes make ME happy and when you get dressed, you should dress for yourself. I posted a quote on my instagram (follow me!) the other day that helped me put it in perspective, "Be faithful to your own taste because nothing you really like is ever out of style." How awesome is that? I've always felt like this about stuff but sometimes we all just get knocked off our feet and we have to find our way back to what makes us happy, even if it's the tiniest thing like wearing fun and colorful outfits. So in honor of that quote and getting back to what brightens my day, I put together this outfit. I wanted to take a before and after pick so you guys get the idea of the amount of layers I have to wear. Seriously takes me 20 minutes to get suited up before I can go out!

Do you recognize that skirt? I wore it in my "farewell" post three months ago in sunny L.A. and by just adding tights and a chunky sweater it still works in winter even if it is mostly white! I felt totally confident and comfortable in this on Sunday and I got a lot of compliments from my new friends, which made me happy.

P.S. Can you guys believe that little clutch? I just got 'er from a cute vintage store we stumbled on here in our neighborhood. The handle even folds down into the purse if you don't want to use it. Clever, right?!

Four Ways To Wear a Black Turtleneck

2012-01-30T07:00:00.000-08:00

I tried out another experiment with a black turtleneck this time. I chose it because I've had such a difficult time styling it before, which is why I've only worn it five times. So at first I was kinda bummed about this experiment but then I got really into it with all these ideas!! I think I could've gotten a couple more outfits out of it but then I wouldn't have any posts. I know - my life is hard.

sample sale necklace, $5; Gap turtleneck, $19 (similar); Gap Outlet boyfriend jeans, $26 (similar); vintage bag, $5 (similar); JCPenney heels (similar)

For this outfit, I kept it casual with boyfriend jeans but dressed it up with a bauble necklace and colorful heels. This would be good for a lunch date or a casual office dress code (like mine!). Switch your shoes for colorful flats for a play date or school.

c/o sproos shop headband; Gap turtleneck, $19 (similar); skirt made from thrifted IKEA curtain, $3; JCPenney heels

I wore this outfit to church. I kept it simple again with my jeweled headband. It makes me feel so fancy! With my curtain maxi skirt, I'm basically ready for a ball. (Do they even exist anymore? If so, why am I never invited??)

MNG by Mango trenchcoat via JCPenney (similar); Gap turtleneck, $19 (similar); sample sale pants, $1; Old Navy boots (similar)

This outfit features my $1 pants I got at the sample sale too! They were really long so I hemmed them to be cropped pants. They have a weird drop-crotch to them but they were a $1 and they're super comfy I can sleep in them! I wouldn't be surprised if they are actually pajama bottoms. Oh, and they have pockets. Double score!

This is another spin on the dressy casual similar to the first outfit. The top half says 'I mean business' and the bottom half says 'but not really.' Since this was such a comfy cozy outfit, I'd wear this again for anything. Just swap the shoes depending on the event: flats for running a quick errand, chunky platform sandals for a slightly dressy casual look, or bright colorful heels for a dressier look.

hair clip from Korea; Gap turtleneck, $19 (similar); vintage skirt, $5; tights from Korea, $5 (similar); Ros Hommerson oxfords, $26 (similar)

This was another church look inspired by a pin on Pinterest. It looks like it's from ASOS. I was inspired by the black with a pop of color. I don't have a yellow skirt (yet) so I substituted my hot pink one. I also used this pin for my hairspiration.

Which look is your favorite? And how else would you wear a black turtleneck?