Styling Summer Denim

I have always loved some good denim. Even though many people tend to put their denim away for the summer, I love the way a good pair of wide-legged jeans or a cute denim skirt can look during the summer time. Today I will be sharing with you some of my favorite ways to style denim for the summer.

Photo of outfit: Jean skirt and orange blouse

Look #1: Cropped blouse and jean skirt

This beautiful blouse from Free People is one of my new summer staples. I am obsessed with the bright orange color and adorable flowy frilliness of this piece. I paired this beautiful top with my favorite jean skirt from 7 for all mankind. A jean skirt is a necessity for the summertime because it just goes perfectly with so many tops and outfits. It’s comfortable and chic all at the same time. Along with the jean skirt, I added a pair of low block heeled sandals from JustFab and my monogram necklace from Anthropologie. Together these pieces make the perfect summer denim outfit.

Outfit details:

outfit photo: denim on denim

Look #2: Denim on denim

For this look, I paired one of my favorite patterned crop tops with a jean skirt and jacket. This look is perfect for a 4th of July party or just a casual summer day. I styled this outfit with the same sandals from the last look. Sometimes denim on denim can be overwhelming but when paired with the right top and shoes it can create an adorable chic look.

Outfit details:

outfit: skort

Look #3: Denim skort

For this look, I went for a more casual day on the beach look. I started with my favorite little denim skort and paired it with a white bodysuit with a cropped plaid top over it. This look is super simple but fashionable, allowing you to be comfortable and confident all at the same time

Outfit details: .

outfit: colorblock jeans

Look #4: Color-block wide leg jeans

For this last outfit, I went with a casual white tank top paired with these cool color-block wide-leg jeans and a pop of color in the earrings. Although jeans can be a little heavy in the summer if you choose wide-leg jeans it allows more for your legs to breathe. I love wearing a wide-leg jean because it looks high-end despite being so comfortable and easy. I also always love pairing a cute statement piece in my outfits. These colorful earrings are my favorite summer accessory that adds a pop of color to any outfit!

Outfit details:

My Fake-Tan Routine

Hi guys! Today I am going to be sharing with you some of my tips and tricks when it comes to self-tanning. Along with my love for fashion, I also love self-care, and tanning has become one of my favorite self-care rituals that leaves me feeling confident after a hard week. I have been self-tanning for about 3 years now and have learned many hard lessons along the way. Self-tanning isn’t easy and it takes practice but once you get it down you’re good to go!

Step 1: Self-Tan Eraser

As shown in the video, I start with a self-tan remover. My favorite is Bondi-Sands Self Tan Eraser. It is important to get all of your old tan off before you apply a new one or else it will be super patchy and gross! You are going to want to let it sit for 15-20 minutes before hopping into the shower. If you have never tanned before you can skip this step and move straight to exfoliating.

Product Details:

Step 2: Exfoliating

Once you get into the shower you are going to want to give your skin a good scrub. You are going to want to get rid of all the dead skin and have a fresh slate to begin your tan with. I use my exfoliating mitt from Bondi-Sands and a good body scrub. You are also going to want to shave your legs the day before just to make sure the tan doesn’t seep into your pores leaving an unwanted look.

Product Details:

Step 3: Moisturizing 

Next, you are going to take your favorite moisturizer and rub it on all the tricky spots such as elbows, knees, back of knees, and your ankles. This is important because the tan will often stick to these areas and become splotchy so the moisturizer acts as a barrier and prevents this from happening.

Product Details:

Step 4: Apply Mousse

After your moisturizer, you are going to finally begin applying a tanning mousse to your skin. My favorite tanning mousses are Loving Tan’s Ultra Dark Mousse and Tanologist Extra Dark Self-Tan Mousse. When it comes to selecting your tanning mousse or water you are going to want to pick the higher end brands. I have tested almost every tanning product there is and the cheap ones always end up making you look orange, while the pricier ones make you look olive. Both of these products are amazing and they range from $17-40. When applying the mousse to your skin make sure you use a good tanning mitt and thoroughly go over every spot in circular motions. After you are done applying the mousse you want to put on some baggy clothes and let it sit overnight.

Product Details:

Step 5: Rinse Off

After you have let your tan sit overnight you are going to want to take a quick shower to rinse off the tan. When showering try to avoid any shampoos or soap and just do a quick in and out rinse. This will allow more tan to stick to your skin giving you the deepest tan possible. Then you’re done and you have a glowing beautiful tan!

Before you go! Here is one last pro tip: I also love to use the Drunk Elephant Sunshine Drops on my face every morning to keep my face glowing and tan! The tan usually fades the fastest on the face and hands so this helps maintain the face tan a little longer.

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One Pair of Pants, Three Looks

One of my favorite things to do when creating outfits is using one item of clothing and seeing how many different outfits I can create. I recently got these amazing plaid pants from Free People that I am obsessed with and I was just dying to get to styling them. I created three different looks for these pants, a casual day time look, evening look, and a comfy at home look. These pants are my new favorite and I am so excited to see all of the possible outfits I can get out of them this summer, so these are just the start!

Outfit #1: Evening

Photo of outfit

For this outfit, I wanted something subtle but cute. The pants are already bold enough, so I decided to pair them with an off the shoulder bodysuit and some pearl star earrings.

Details of the outfit:

  • Find the Free People pants here
  • Find the Free People bodysuit here

Outfit #2: Casual Daytime

Photo of outfit

For this look, I wanted something that would be comfortable and cute for a day on the town or even to the beach. I paired the pants with a rust orange bodysuit and my favorite oversized jean jacket, perfect for a warm day with a slight breeze. 

Details of the outfit:

  • Find the Free People pants here
  • Find the Free People bodysuit here
  • Find the Levis jean jacket here

Outfit #3: Comfy

photo of outfit

For this final look, I wanted something you could lounge around the house in. Although these pants are super bold and come off a little bit too fancy for lounge-wear, they are super comfy and breathable. I decided to pair the pants with my favorite stylish pullover, a monogram necklace, and some dangly earrings. Creating the perfect mix of lounge-wear and a more upscale look. 

Details of the outfit:

  • Find the Free People pants here
  • Find the Free People pullover here
  • Find the monogram necklace here

I love statement pieces like these pants because there are endless ways to style them. I can’t wait to find even more ways to style these amazing pants this summer! I highly suggest adding some statement pieces to your closet because it allows for so much variety within outfits and endless opportunities.

Transforming My Bedroom Into My Dream Space

Last summer I decided I wanted to transform my room to make it into a space that felt like home to me. My room has been through a lot of changes through the years but this has been the most drastic one by far! Your room is a place that should be special to you and make you feel comfortable and happy, so I wanted to make my room a place that reflected me and my style.
So stick by and read this post if you want to find out how I took my room from this:
Image of my room before transformation.
To this:

Step 1: Paint your room

Pain your room a color that makes you happy and that will easily adjust to any future changes. I painted the room a neutral white because I wanted a color that would go with anything.

Step 2: Change Furniture.

Next, I got rid of all the old furniture in my room. I wanted a complete restart so I decided to remove any old furniture and replace it with new items. Not everyone can do this so instead you could choose to simply refurbish your old furniture into something new! For my room, I wanted to go with all wood furniture for a bohemian chic aesthetic. I also wanted to add a cute fluffy chair to add more depth to the room and create a space that I could have a friend sit in, or I could just relax in.

  • My TV-Stand (wood bench) is from Marshalls, click here for a similar version from Wayfair.
  • My wood night-stand is also from Marshalls, click here for a similar version from The Home Depot.
  • The white fluffy bean-bag chair is from Amazon, click here.
Image of bed

Step 3: Redo your bed

For my bed, I wanted a low platform bed look. I like the feel of a low to the ground bed because for a small space I feel like it gives the allusion of a larger room. For my duvet, I wanted something simple yet boho that I could enhance with throw pillows and blankets. I chose a combo of blush colors for my decorations because I love the way the colors bring light into my room and make the room feel brighter.

  • My low bed-frame is from Amazon, click here.
  • My duvet cover is from Amazon, click here.
  • My throw pillows are from Urban, click here for the pink ones. Click here for the purple one. Click here for the body pillow.
  • My blanket is from Marshalls, click here for a similar one.

Step 4: Add Decorations

For my decorations, I wanted to continue with the bohemian chic aesthetic to pull the room together. I wanted to keep my decorations simple and minimalistic for a classy and clean look. I chose two tapestries for my walls, a cute peach clock, a body mirror, a wood shelf, fake succulents, candles through the room, a pastel rug and pom-pom curtains to match my pom-pom duvet cover.

  • My Peach clock is from Urban, click here.
  • My wood shelf is from Marshalls, click here for a similar one.
  • My two tapestries are from Urban, click here for the mountains, and here for a similar one for the sun and moon.
  • My pom-pom curtains are from Marshalls, click here for a similar one.
  • My favorite candle is Volcano by Capri Blue from Anthropologie, click here.
  • My pastel rug is from Marshalls, click here for a similar one.

Step 5: Redo Closet

When I redid my room I wanted to create an area in my room where I could display my clothes. The closet in my room is tiny and could hardly fit all my clothes so I decided to make one in the corner of my room, so I would have more space and also a place to showcase my love for fashion. I also added woven baskets to place my loungewear in while also adding to the boho look.

  • Click here for a similar version of these clothing shelves.
  • Click here for a similar version of these woven baskets.
Those are the 5 major steps I took to transform my boring room into my boho-chic dream room! I love my room and it’s now become my favorite place to spend time in. Transforming your room can be a rewarding and fun experience, so I suggest if you are currently unhappy with your room to take some time during this quarantine to change it up!

Youtube Channel Review: Bestdressed

Today I am going to be talking about one of my favorite Youtube channels Bestdressed. I love this channel because it explores fashion through a genuine and youthful lense. Her youtube channel explores everything from styling thrift clothes, thrifting tips and tricks, tips on confidence, look-books, and just everyday things in the life of a 22-year-old college graduate. Her youtube channel is a great place for people who are looking to get into fashion but are unsure of where to start.

One of my favorite videos of hers is “how to find your style + the confidence to wear it”. In this video, she talks about one of her most asked questions which is “how do I find my style and the confidence to wear what I want”. She breaks the process down into a few steps starting with looking at the clothes you already wear the most, finding some aesthetic inspo, and offers tips and tricks for shopping and styling the perfect outfits. She touches on how when it comes to fashion, perfecting your style comes with practice! Spend time putting together outfits and learning how to style your wardrobe, the more you do this the better you will get at making outfits that make you feel and look your best. My favorite part of this video is how she spreads light on confidence and building up your confidence so you can wear some of your favorite outfits from your closet. She talks about how wearing an outfit that you love and putting effort into your outfit can often feel vulnerable and how it takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there and rock it.

I highly suggest taking a look at her youtube channel and watching some of her videos if you’re looking for a way to ease your way into the fashion world.

Fighting Diet Culture on Social Media

(Analysis of Tik-Tok Videos and their impact)

Photo of my transformation through the years.
From sick and unhealthy to healthy and glowing.

Social media has become a place that heavily promotes diet culture and eating disorder behaviors. In recent years, this spike in diet culture on social media has been seen heavily through Instagram influencers and most recently, Tik-Tok. Many influencers prey on young girls and boys who have been taught by the world that they are not good enough. They use their platforms to promote products like weight loss teas and coffees that are supposed to be a “quick fix”.

I’ve experienced the allure of this diet culture and even participated in it for a while. It is hard to go through social media and see these picture-perfect people telling you that you need to lose weight, when you may already be struggling with this. It is important to understand that in order to be happy with yourself and your body you MUST learn to love your body at every shape and stage in life. A weight loss tea and coffee will never be the solution to your problems, I promise you.

When I scroll through Instagram and see these people promoting these unhealthy products I think of myself a few years ago, vulnerable and so unhappy with myself. I would buy products like these all the time hoping for a quick fix to my body image issues. Praying that this coffee would make me instantly skinny and that once I was skinny I could finally love myself. This toxicity on social media platforms has so many consequences and spikes eating disorders. The most recent place I’ve seen this unhealthy diet culture spike is on Tiktok.

Tiktok is filled with pro-eating disorder content, ranging from pro-ana (pro-anorexic) and thinspo accounts. Even on my for you page, I have come across countless videos that promote unhealthy eating disorder behaviors and relationships with food. As someone who has recovered from an eating disorder, it is extremely hard for me to see this kind of content on my page. Although there is a way to hide videos like these from my feed, it seems no matter what I do they still seem to pop up. The most recent surge of videos I have seen is these magical recipes for drinks that will help you lose 20 pounds in 4 weeks! 20 pounds in 4 weeks? That is insanely unhealthy. Click here to watch an example of this. These videos promote people to suppress their appetites and that there are easy fixes to weight loss. There is no quick fix to weight loss and videos like these just promote an unhealthy mindset and relationship with food. It is important to nourish your body with the right foods and to never deprive yourself or use “special” drinks to suppress your appetite.

Although Tiktok is filled with this negative content, one thing that has helped me greatly is learning to follow body positivity accounts that promote healthy relationships with eating and yourself. My favorite account is Mik Zazon’s, click here to watch one of her videos. It is so important to see these representations on social media platforms because it is what promotes positivity and steers people away from these negative mindsets.

It is important to recognize how toxic social media is and how it plays a negative role in body image. It is time to stand up against the promotion of diet and workout fads on Tiktok and other platforms. Your dream body is not going to come from a magical drink or a “15-day hourglass figure program”. Your dream body will come when you start to recognize that your body is beautiful in every shape and size because it gives you life and supports you. Your dream body will come when you take care of yourself mentally and physically and learn to nourish yourself with healthy foods and a balanced lifestyle. You don’t need to deprive yourself in order to be fit and beautiful. Life is about balance, not restriction. Life is so much more than what the scale says I promise you. I myself still struggle constantly but life is so much better now that I can eat a bag of chips and not feel the need to throw it up or starve myself for weeks after. Eat the cake, ice cream, chips, eat whatever you want! I am so happy that I am no longer the girl who would immediately try these magical drinks because I was so unhappy with myself and I wish i could go back and tell her that she was beautiful and worthy of love no matter what.

Join me in this fight against diet culture on social media. Stop following accounts that give you these unrealistic images of what your body “should” look like. Everyone’s bodies are different, unique, and beautiful in their own ways. Never make yourself feel like you have to look a certain way because the world tells you so. Start following people who promote healthy relationships with their body and food, it is seriously life-changing.

COVID-19 and Fashion

(Picture: Youtube)
Although we are in trying times, difficult times like these have in the past resulted in innovation among the masses. While the world is on lockdown, people have more time to be creative and test out new ideas that they normally wouldn’t. Although we might all currently be sitting in bed cuddled up in our pajamas on our 5th straight hour of a Netflix binge, the times that come after this will feel like no other.

When it comes to the fashion industry, the impact of COVID-19 is unpredictable. That being said, these times are extremely hard on retailers and this has already become apparent with several global store closures. Despite these hard times, the outcome of the COVID-19 on the fashion industry may be good, potentially resulting in innovation and new trends among consumers and designers.

Already with the extra spare time, people have been quick to hop on new fashion trends and at-home fashion DIYs. Over Tik-Tok especially we have seen a crazy upward trend of fashion videos and DIY fashion projects, such as the recent surge of tie-dye sweatsuits.

This new popular hobby of repurposing clothes that has come as a result of the pandemic could have great effects on the world. Repurposing clothes is great for the environment and also a great way to upscale your wardrobe while staying safe in your home.

Among the many people trying out this trend, popular influencer and YouTuber @LauraDiy (Lauren Riihimaki) posted a youtube tutorial of her tie-dying a bunch of items from her closet.

Check out her video here, and try some tie-dying at your home during this pandemic!

How I Edit My Instagram Photos

Click here to check out my Instagram!
I’ve always loved taking and editing photos and in recent years I’ve learned some new tricks to creating an aesthetically pleasing Instagram feed. In this post, I will show you step by step how I edit my photos in order to achieve a perfect Instagram!

Step by Step Guide:

  1. Purchase a Lightroom preset that fits your aesthetic. Although it isn’t necessary to purchase a set, I find that this is the easiest and quickest way to edit your photos. I purchase my sets on Etsy and they typically range from $5-10 and often include more than one preset. Click here to access the presets used in the video.
  2. Download Lightroom on your phone from the app store.
  3. After purchasing a preset you will have to download the presets into Lightroom (this is not shown in the video). Most preset purchases will send you a guide on how to do this right after you purchase them.
  4. Once you have your presets in Lightroom, select the preset you would like to use and copy the settings.
  5. Then click the photo you wish to edit and paste the settings.
  6. At first, the filter may look strange so you will have to adjust the settings slightly until you get the desired look that you are going for.
  7. Voilà! You are ready to take on Instagram!

Conversation with Fellow Fashion Lover Angela Malone

If you read my intro to this blog, you would know that I currently work as a sales associate at Anthropologie and it has played a major role in my fashion journey. I have made so many amazing friends from my time there and today I will be sharing an interview I had with one of my closest Anthro friends, Angela Malone. Angela is currently a Service and Selling Supervisor at Anthro and previously acted as a stylist, she is an expert in fashion and through this conversation she shares her journey.

When did you first find your love for fashion?

Growing up I always went shopping with my mom. I feel like I have always been influenced not only by our shopping trips but by my mother’s style as well. Once I hit middle school, I was sketching and creating outfits that soon accumulated into a book of my fashion sketches. One of my statement pieces as a middle schooler was of course huge hoop earrings. Didn’t matter if I was wearing a sweatshirt with leggings or a spring dress, the hoop earrings followed. Overall, I think I began designing and eyeing fashion trends in middle school.

How has your style transitioned through the years and has working at Anthropologie affected this? 

Before working at Anthropologie, I had worked in another retail boutique. The style of this store was the complete opposite of Anthro. Once I made the transition to an ‘Anthro Lifestyle’ as I like to look at it, I found myself gravitating towards how our models were styled as well as browsing through the companies’ sites (Anthropologie, Free People, Urban Outfitters). Throughout my time at Anthro, I believe that I have gained experience in outfitting completely instead of simply just choosing a top and bottom to wear. I think that I appreciate fashion more and the creative thinking behind how a designer or stylist puts pieces together versus when I was younger I didn’t really notice the smaller details. 

Do you have any major inspirations for your style currently? Celebrities or fashion icons? 

YES!! A lot of my fashion inspirations stem from the women of Anthropologie. There is one blogger named ‘myfavoritethings25’ who styles and blogs about Anthro products. She is on Instagram if anyone is interested in browsing her page; she has amazing and beautifully put together content for any fashion lover! What I love about her posts is that she puts together pieces that I would have never thought to try together. Through this, I am able to add to my own style and switch things up a bit when I’m feeling that urge to buy something new, which is often (lol). 

One other woman of Anthro is stylist Kesslie Williams or ‘dressedbykess’ on Instagram. She is a Senior Brand Stylist at Anthro and she often posts content that once again, drives that innovative idea of versatility in pairing uncommon pieces together to make one beautiful outfit. Some examples could be pairing a fabric belt as a headband instead of tying around your waist or even wearing the fabric belt as a necklace. Little changes like this can dress up or add some funky flare to any outfit.  

Lastly, shout out to my original day-one fashion icon, Carole Malone, aka Mama Malone. She truly influenced me with her amazing taste in fashion. I shop her closet often!  

What is your current favorite item of clothing or trend? 

Oh this is a tough one…hmm…well, throughout the year I am always obsessing over statement necklaces, studded earrings, as well as bracelets and rings but as of late I have been loving motto jackets. I think motto jackets are great for women who are planning to grab dinner or drinks with friends after work, who are looking for a transitional piece between seasons, or who simply want to add some edge to their fit. I know for me, I found a black snakeskin-patterned lightweight motto jacket not too long ago and have been pairing it with a flowy short-sleeve / sleeveless top, black skinny jeans, and booties. It has become one of my favorite outfits of the season.

What is your favorite thing about fashion and styling clothes? 

My favorite part about fashion and styling clothes is that you have the opportunity of making something your own. Whether that be adding a pop of color to an outfit or accessorizing it, you have the chance to influence someone else in what you envision. It’s a whole community of sharing and inspiring when it comes to fashion and styling. I know for me, as an artist, I really appreciate the feedback of other artists as well as those who I am styling. It helps me process and move forward in my next styling steps. Inspiring and impacting others is what I really love when I put on an outfit that I want to share with my community.

Do you have any styling tips for those just getting into fashion?

For those who are just getting into styling or the fashion world in general, I would say don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone or creative bubble. Try on styles that you wouldn’t normally wear, you would be surprised as to what you may fall in love with. I would also try layering, I know this was a big concept for me throughout my fashion journey. I was always hesitant to add layers whether that be a sweater, jacket, under piece, or even jewelry. These additions can truly separate you from the next fashionista!

How has fashion impacted your life? 

I think fashion has helped me in my own creative path as someone who has grown up painting, drawing, and building creations since I was a little girl. Fashion is a form of art that I think some people don’t always appreciate. It is a form of self. The clothes that you put on everyday have some sort of meaning to you whether they are gym clothes, work clothes, or simply a fun outfit that you have been dying to rock; you chose these pieces of clothing for a reason. They spoke to you. They should make you feel beautiful in some sort of way. Fashion has taught me that we all come in different shapes and sizes and you should wear whatever YOU feel good in. Follow the trend that you set for yourself, not the trend that others expect you to follow. Fashion has allowed me to appreciate myself and create my own trends through all the inspiration around me.

Final thoughts:

I believe fashion has connected me to some pretty incredible people. Whether that be through my team at Anthropologie or through the women I have personally styled one-on-one, fashion has allowed me to connect on an emotional level with people and for that I will always be grateful. You hear about the life stories of others and share small moments with others who you may have never met if it wasn’t for fashion. This is a beautiful thing all in all and something that I will always cherish. 

Angela’s responses resonate with me in the way that fashion can connect and inspire people. While everyone has their independent journeys with fashion, it still manages to bring people together from all walks of life to share a mutual love for fashion and the artistry involved with it. Angela herself has inspired me greatly during my time at Anthropologie, through not only her incredible eye for fashion but her amazing work ethic and love for helping others.
Fashion brings people together and I think that’s one of the most beautiful aspects of it. Fashion has brought me all of my amazing friends at Anthro, including Angela, and I am forever thankful for that! 

The High-Waisted Bikini Debate – Hot or Not?

Recently, there has been some controversy surrounding the topic of high waisted bikinis and the attractiveness of them. Many people in and outside of the fashion industry seem to believe that high waisted bikinis are unappealing and give off the appearance of grannie panties. While I do agree that a high-waisted bikini can sometimes give off this underwear look, I think when done correctly a high-waisted bikini can be super flattering and cute! 

When picking out swimwear it is all about what makes YOU comfortable and feel like your best self! High-waisted bikinis can be a great option for those who are a little bit more self-conscious of their stomach and want more coverage in this area. To avoid the stigma of looking as though you have “grannie panties” on I have gathered some tips on what to look for when picking a high-waisted bikini bottom: 
  1. No Saggy Butts:
    1. Sometimes the struggle of finding a high waisted bottom can be finding one that looks great in the front and the back. When picking your bottom, be sure to check all angles including the way your booty looks from the back! If you have a saggy bottom it will defeat the purpose of the high waisted bottom and give you an overall unflattering look!
  2. If you have a bigger tummy or longer torso:
    1. To avoid the look of a muffin top, make sure the bottoms extend over your belly button to keep everything tight and contained.
    2. This will also enhance your proportions if you have a longer torso!
  3. If you have a shorter torso:
    1. Choose a bottom that comes slightly below the belly button, this will create the illusion of a longer midsection.
  4. Curves up at the hips:
    1. My favorite thing about a high-waisted bottom is how it accentuates my hourglass figure. When I choose my high-waisted bikinis I always go for a bottom that curves up at a little at my hips, to make my waist appear smaller.
  5. Pick a style that speaks to you!
    1. When it comes to choosing a high-waisted bottom there are so many styles and variations! Be sure to pick the style that speaks to you the most and makes you feel beautiful and confident – because that is what’s most important!
Finding the perfect bathing suit can sometimes be a gruesome and tiring process, I know because I’ve been there so many times. I’ve struggled with my body through the years and when It comes to going to the beach and strutting your stuff its all about self-love and having the confidence to own your body. Finding this confidence takes a while and honestly took me years, but high-waisted bikini bottoms helped me feel a little bit more comfortable on my trips to the beach! So, I hope these tips can help you find your perfect bikini this coming summer and help you feel like your best self! 
Ps: Always remember that loving yourself is the first step in looking your best in any bikini!
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