Honestly, I’ve never felt more like “me” than during this shoot. For so long, I put myself in a box of what I thought people wanted to see from me, but now I’m allowing myself to be creative & take risks & create content that I truly love. What can you expect to see from me moving forward…bold makeup, creative florals, fun accessories…& as always fearless, feminine fashion. I’m still going to be showcasing affordable fashion, just with a more creative flair. I hope you guys enjoy the new content as much as I do! <3
A great way to wear your spring & summer dresses while it’s still a bit chilly out is by layering fun, feminine blouses underneath. This maxi dress features the purple color I can’t get enough of this season. It’s everywhere & honestly all I want to wear ATM. I has so much fun putting this look together with the mixing prints, textures, & bright colors. Little details I love include the watercolor blush (inspired by this video), & my gold hoops.
This past year, I’ve loved exploring & playing more with print mixing. We’ve talked about the basics, we’ve played around with mixing pieces in the same print, & also played around with florals & stripes. Today’s look features 6 prints & textures with one common factor: they are all black & white. I love the statement this look makes while still remaining so neutral. Another reason why these pieces play so well together is because the prints are all different sizes. The large polka dots combined with the medium stripes & the smaller houndstooth & check prints create a perfect balance.
Shop Wisely
If you are wanting to start playing around with mixing prints or even just mixing more items within your wardrobe, it all comes down to shopping wisely & knowing your personal style. What colors do you wear most? (I recently re-organized my closets in color order & it has been life changing!) When adding more prints into your wardrobe, think about the colors that comprise the print. Do you own several pieces in those colors? If so, that item is likely to fit into your wardrobe in a more seamless manner. Shopping wisely is key to having a well curated closet without excess.
Get Creative
I was actually so nervous about putting together this look. In my head it seemed like there was a lot going on & it would look too cluttered, but honestly I’m obsessed with this look & cannot wait to wear it out again! All it took was a little bit of courage for me to step out of my comfort zone & create one of my favorite outfits ever. Be fearless. Don’t be afraid to try something new. You might just love it!
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved fashion. In fact, even before that, when I was just a tiny thing, I was known to say things like, “I really neeeeed jewelry.” (when asked what I wanted for Christmas), & I always chose a dress over pants or leggings when given the option because I always needed to “spin”.
In high school, I had a couple of friends with whom I decided to make a true fashion statement everyday at school & not care what anyone else thought. We would look through fashion magazines & find trends or accessories that we thought we could DIY at home, since we didn’t have any money. We sewed buttons on shirts, made hair clips & headbands, distressed our own jeans, etc. I’m sure people thought we were ridiculous (my boyfriend at the time definitely did), but we didn’t care. Fashion was a bond we shared. It gave us confidence to be whoever we wanted to be. Of course, I have had my share of terrible outfits, but that’s all part of the process.
This is why I love this beautiful thing we call fashion. It shapes you, expresses your mood & feelings, as well as holds that moment to a time in history.
My Daily Masterpiece
How cool is it that we can literally wear art on our bodies every single day?! Not only do we get to wear art, but we get to create art by piecing a look together bit by bit. Each accessory creating more depth & meaning to the daily masterpiece. A new creation each day! Isn’t that an amazing thing? Choosing colors by mood or season to make a statement.
I love that an outfit can say so much with no words at all. Your daily look can say, “Look at me”, “Don’t look at me”, “I’m so happy”, “I’m quite sad”, “I just want to be cozy”, “Don’t take your eyes off me”, or it can even be the most subtle & perfect form of rebellion. Even not trying to make a statement is making a statement. Whether you think so or not, YOU are an artist, cultivating your craft one day & one outfit at a time.
No End In Sight
Another huge reason why I love fashion is that it is always evolving & changing. There are always more colors & prints to mix, more ways to combine what I already own, more accessories to play with, & more silhouettes to discover. I love that while some pieces are classic & timeless that will be worn year after year, others are trends that fade with each new year. There is literally no end in sight for fashion & what will come next.
Fashion gives so much room for play & individuality, while also being a common ground for each & every one of us. I love that just switching one article of clothing like a coat, a handbag, or a pair of shoes, can completely transform a look. There is always more to discover, rules to learn & then to break, trends to love & trends to hate, a time to purchase & a time to donate.
Overall, I love fashion because of the joy & confidence it brings me. Each day I choose to dress up for me. A fun & bold outfit makes me walk proudly, laugh often, & be the best version of me that I can be.
Lately my eye is drawn to one thing, & one thing only…pearls! It’s safe to say, if any accessory or any item of clothing has pearls on it, I want it (or I already have it!). Pearls are the epitome of classic elegance. They are timeless, & therefore it is a no brainer that my wardrobe has gladly welcomed a few new pieces I know I will wear for years & years to come. This look came together like a dream & just begged for one pearl detail after another.
Live A Little!
Maybe it was the pink suede mini skirt, or the fluttery sleeves, but these gorgeous Chicwish pieces gave me new life! I was dancing on the streets, feeling confident, & even a bit sassy. This outfit gave me the much needed reminder to just live a little sometimes. I know how easy it is to get in a rut & stick to what you know, but fashion is a great way to step out! It’s just clothes! You don’t even have to wear an outfit for an entire day if you don’t want to! Take the risk. Be someone else. Our better yet, be your true self. Dress exactly how you’re feeling & just live a little…pearls & all!
Do you ever look at someone & just notice a radiance about them? Their eyes are bright, cheekbones are glistening, & all while not looking greasy or artificial. They just glow. I want that look too! So along with drinking extra water, I’ve been trying to recreate that look, lately, with a few of my very favorite makeup products & it’s my new obsession. I mean, who doesn’t love that “glow from within” look?
How I Get The “Glow From Within” Look
To get this look, I truly believe Hourglass does it best. They just get it so right time and time again. Their products give my face all the glow with no unwanted shine or grease. Lately, I’ve exclusively used their powders on my face. They last all day & transform my skin in a way no other product has done before.
I can’t help but use this palette every single day. Whether I’m going full glam, or for a more minimal look, it’s safe to say that I used this palette in some way, shape, or form. Nothing lights up my face like this little gem does. My favorite way to use this product is after I’ve applied my foundation or tinted moisturizer & my concealer. I take a natural haired tapered brush, mix the two lighter shades together & apply them to the center of my face. Lately, I’ve also been using the darkest shade as a pre-bronzer. I apply this on the perimeter of my face. The finish of these powders on the face is absolutely flawless.
This is my most recent Hourglass purchase, & it’s just perfect for summer. It builds beautifully for a natural looking golden goddess effect. This bronzer does have a sheen, but any shimmer seen is so soft & lovely. It’s never choppy or patchy. My favorite shade in this range is the Luminous Bronze Light.
It seems only natural to finish off my face with an Hourglass blush! I own a blush palette that was unfortunately limited edition, but all of their colors are gorgeous. The same rave reviews apply to these lovelies: long-lasting, perfect pigmentation, & all the right kind of glow. My two favorite shades are Luminous Flush & Mood Exposure.
Are you loving this glowing skin look as much as I am?
I found the most lovely cherry blossoms right around the corner from where I live & knew I had to shoot an equally lovely look there. As I was searching to find the perfect outfit, I came across these super fun & happy polka dot pants. Their pattern brought a pop that makes a statement amongst the pastel pink heaven surrounding me.
How To Wear Them
These polka dot pants are an ideal spring pant option to have in your wardrobe. Their neutral colors make them very wearable & easy to pair with a variety of tops & accessories. I love that you can easily dress a pair of pants like these up or down. In the future, I can see myself wearing these same pants with a chambray top & a pair of loafers or ballet flats, or with an embroidered t-shirt with my favorite taupe mules. I also want to play more with print mixing (read my challenge to myself here), & these pants are the perfect guinea pigs for just that. Would you guys like to see another print mixing post featuring these pants? I’m thinking I have some gingham & floral tops that might look really cool with these babies! Yes? Let me know in the comments below.
How I’ve Styled Them
I purchased this gorgeous crisp white top in the same ASOS order as my happy polka dot pants, not even planning on wearing them together. When they arrived, during my normal “try-on” (would you guys like to see my “try-ons” in my Instagram stories, btw???), I ended up having both of these pieces on at the same time, & it just worked! I absolutely love this look, & I think the tie detail on the top really helps bring the look together. Without the tie, I would feel like I needed a necklace or a scarf to balance it all out, but the sweet tie does a great job of doing it on it’s own.
Knowing I would be in this pastel pink heaven, I jumped at the opportunity to finally wear my pretty pink heels that I know I will be wearing time & time again this spring/summer. Since I can’t quite leave the house without a jacket yet, I draped my classic denim jacket over my shoulders for a warm, chic look. To finish up this look, I quickly grabbed my current favorite spring bag that ticks all the right boxes. It’s pink, straw, & has gold hardware! What’s not to love? (Oh, & did I mention it’s under $25?!)
I just love how this look turned out, & I know I’ll be wearing it again soon!
