Outfits Not Just Clothes

collar-ASOS(similar here ), dress-Uniqlo(similarish here ), loafers- G.H. Bass This navy shift, and my work-a-day weejuns are given a bit of personality with the addition of this sequined detachable collar from Asos . (check out their collection of bibs here !) I'll be the first to admit that this outfit fell a bit short of the mark. It's just not as polished/striking as I had hoped. Looking at these pics I feel a blazer was called for, either my classic white blazer, last seen here , or my lavender blazer, last exalted, here . Also, these brown loafers are a bit heavy for the whimsical vibe the collar brings forth, so maybe a different shoe as well.  But the MAIN lesson here today boys and girls, is that adding a collar (or bib) to a standard garment elevates said garment from clothes into an outfit, you just have to stick the landing on execution. 

Click to enlarge and check my silver collar tips! shirt-Nasty Gal(similar here ), "vest"-Banana Republic Factory Store(similar here ), pants- Uniqlo , heels-Hive & Honey via DSW (similar here ), "class" ring-Jewel Mint(more rings via Poshmark here ), hair color- Feria by Loreal Paris   In this post I talked about my relationship with purple, and how all its shades are the perfect color(s) for spring. Well now I'm practicing what I preach with my new smokey pastel hair color! I felt it was time for a bit of a change, and when better than spring (and summer) to switch things up on the hair front. 💇  My new do' plays into the chic color combo of navy and mauve in this outfit. The collar tips on the shirt and tone-on-tone dots in the "vest" are subtle, yet striking details to elevate the overall look. Also, this "vest" is actually a top. I've long been a fan of vests as alternative...

Another example of " All the Prints " cardi-J.Crew(similar here ), shirt-Mango(similar here ), dress-H&M(similar here ), loafers-Zara(similar here ) First, the "collar" on this dress is actually a sleeveless blouse layered underneath, which I featured in my " Discover Mango " post last summer. I love working in a collar, it can take a casual piece and make it more office-appropriate, while adding a bit of tomboy flair, as seen in yesterday's post .  Besides the collar, the silhouette of this dress and mix of prints captures the current vaguely 70's  Gucci aesthetic, as seen in this look from the Pre-Fall Collection: Gucci  A mad mix of prints and embellishments is very on-trend at the moment. The key to pulling off this look IRL, is to not overwhelm yourself with add-ons and overly quirky/cutesy elements. My outfit above is treading very close to the line of becoming costumey. If I had employed a...

sweatshirt-Forever 21 Men's(more options here ), shirt/ pants - Uniqlo (similar shirt here ), loafers-Zara(similar here ), cuff-Vintage Back to my more androgynous style after yesterday's boho break  with literal menswear. Yep, this amazing sweatshirt is from the men's department at Forever 21 . If you're in the market for unexpected prints and boxier cuts then browse on over to the "men" labeled pages and have a gander. I kept the androgynous vibe going with a collared shirt, trousers, and menswear-esque loafers.   PLUS, this is the perfect sweatshirt to go check out Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 , amiright? 

scarf-J.Crew Factory(more scarves here ), dress-Mango(similar here ), coatigan- Le Tote , boots- Lifestride via  DSW For someone who is more schoolboy-androgynous-punk in her personal style, I've been busting out boho-earth-mother looks on the reg as of late, as seen here , here , and here . Maybe I'm more naturally boho than I thought. Regardless of the aesthetic, print-mixing has been a go-to outfitting trick since this blog began, and this ensemble, with two different types of checks and paisleys galore, is firing on all sorts of patterned cylinders. Also, this may seem like more of an autumnal look (which I need to remember for fall), but it's been mighty chilly here in the 'Burgh these past few mornings, which makes outfitting in seasonally appropriate fabrics and prints very difficult. Hence, my "theory" that spring is not a solid season in terms of weather. It's basically three months of transition with cold and ...

dress- Porto via Dina Ellen , scarf- Thrifted , slides- Champion via Target This dress was an impulse purchase, but it checks almost all of my frock boxes. It fits and flatters, is easy to wear, machine washable, and is versatile, yet still interesting. The only thing it doesn't have is pockets, which is a shame because I love pockets. For a recent evening out I styled this dress somewhat haphazardly. Since, the dress has that "thrown-on-and-go" quality, I played into that with these slip-on athleisure-esque slides, and then loosely tided on a printed scarf as my "third piece".  I can also see this midi-number working with my trusty white blazer (last seen here ) and some heels for a summertime office look!