September 21, 2014

How to Style a Sweatshirt

September 21, 2014/ Alexandra Evjen

Nothing says fall and football season like a sweatshirt. It's the comfiest and coziest piece of clothing I own next to my plush bathrobe, and I can actually wear it out of the house. Anything with the word "sweat" in it doesn't sound fashion forward at all, but what if I told you that you could actually wear the most comfortable thing in your closet and look fashion forward? Are you listening?...

I bet you are! Here are two ways to style your sweatshirts - one of the tomboy and one for the feminine gal.

1. The tomboy option: Boyfriend jeans, button down shirt underneath, heels and a jeweled necklace. The heels and the necklace dresses up this very casual outfit - balancing the tomboy flair with some femininity.

Get this look from Shop & Apparel!

2. The femme option: Floral pencil skirt, button down shirt underneath, jeweled necklace and booties. Pencil skirts are everywhere right now, and I especially love this one with the sweatshirt. The addition of a colorful pattern is pleasing to the eye. You could wear heels with this or you could wear booties like I am. Either way it's a fashionable outfit that you could wear out with your friends.

Get the look: Sweatshirt, pencil skirt, necklace all from Shop & Apparel's latest fall collection. Make sure to go check them out. They have stylish closet staples for great prices!

Photos by Michelle Herrick.

August 27, 2014

Black, Brown and Gray

August 27, 2014/ Alexandra Evjen

This fall you can expect to see an unusual amount of gray, brown and black. It seems that muted color palettes and neutrals are the colors of choice this season. Maybe a pop of oxblood here and there and definitely pops of navy mixed with black, but other than that you won't see too many bright colors.

In the past autumn seasons we've seen a lot of gem tones and sequins. I don't think they will be completely out of stores by any means, but the more fashion forward palettes will be simple. Fashion always has a way of turning 180 degrees from what has been popular.

This outfit features the cropped sweater trend I talked about yesterday and the simple fall color palette. Polkadots and stripes always go together in my book, so I really enjoy this fun pairing with my striped Agnes and Dora pencil skirt.

Get the look: Cropped sweater, pencil skirt, shoes, necklace, belt

Photos by Michelle Herrick

August 26, 2014

Cropped Sweaters & Pencil Skirts

August 26, 2014/ Alexandra Evjen

If you had told me five months ago that I would be able to rock a crop top I would have told you that you were crazy. You have to like your stomach to wear a crop top, and I have never liked my stomach. Granted it can be just a sliver of skin, but even that amount was scary for me. Even as an 8 year old kid I preferred wearing one pieces to a bikini. My stomach is whiter than white even though I have olive skin and can tan in a second. So, this fall trend of cropped sweaters was scary, but I decided to try it.

I think I'm hooked on this fashion forward peekaboo trend. I found this striped cropped sweater at ZARA on sale the other day, and decided it would be so fun to pair it with my Agnes & Dora floral pencil skirt. Mixing patterns can be tricky, but trusty stripes won't steer you wrong, and they almost always go with floral prints.

Tomorrow I'll show you another cropped sweater version of this trend, but for now I want to know if you are intimidated by this trend. If you are, I'm challenge you to try it. You can always put it over a maxi dress if you don't want to bare your midriff.

Get the look: Pencil skirt, cropped sweater (ZARA no longer sells the one I'm wearing, but Nordstrom has a great one that is similar), shoes

Photos by Michelle Herrick

July 27, 2014

Mint & Florals

July 27, 2014/ Alexandra Evjen

I mentioned in a past post that I don't own very pieces of clothing with floral patterns. I generally stick to simple stripes, plaid or solid colors. This minty floral skirt by Shop and Apparel really caught my eye, and I couldn't pass up the chance for it to be mine.

Mint has been a popular color for awhile now, and it has really grown on me. One of the things I love most about the color is that it often makes people look tan. I haven't seen a skin tone that looks bad in this color. Also, you would think that a tight pencil skirt wouldn't be too comfortable, but this one will prove you wrong. It's machine washable and let's me move freely so I can chase after my two-year-old.

Because the skirt is so bright I paired it with a simple, fitted chambray shirt also from Shop and Apparel. It's incredibly comfortable as well. Chambray shirts have become one of those closet staples that can take you through every season of fashion. This one in particular is fitted and perfect for tucking into pants and skirts.

To add a bit of glam, I accessorized my outfit with a gold glitter belt, navy suede shoes with gold studs and gold spike earrings. I think a denim jacket, leather jacket, a white blazer and many other closet favorites would work well with this skirt. It's definitely my new favorite piece in my wardrobe.