I’m going to move to Dallas in about a month in search of fame and fortune and I’m freaking out a little bit. It’s going to be great to live in a big city finally and hopefully get a good job and not have to travel at least three hours if I want to see some form of art that isn’t landscapes, but I’m worried that it’s going to be too hot and the people will be weird and I’m going to miss my family like crazy. I’ve just learned to like Utah and now I’m leaving. Isn’t that the way of things? But it’s going to be good. And exciting. I’m ready to experiment with city living.

Anywho, onto the fashion because this is a fashion blog after all. Maybe you’ve noticed the upswing of button up shirts popularity (seriously they’re everywhere), also brightly colored shorts are hotty hot hot this season and what could be better than bringing those two things together? It feels a little bit like a Gap ad via mid-nineties but I think I’m okay with that. You could wear the shirt tucked in, or with a belt, or just free and flowy.

Outfit total cost = $72

Urban Outfitters Breezy Twill Yoke Blouse

Forever 21 Box Braided Belt

J.Crew 9" Chinos

Urbanog Bamboo T-Strap Flats

These are the taupe sandals, btw. I don’t like the gold over much but that’s what automatically comes up when you click on the picture.

I got the CD for Christmas and listened to it pretty much everyday. Here’s a picture of fourteen year old me on Christmas day with the CD.

Me in 1997 with my Double Plaidinum CD

After that I fell in love with Lagwagon. Joey Cape is amazing.

In the nineties I really hated goth fashion but elements of it are creeping back into the fashion scene and I have to say that I love the way it’s being revamped. It’s so chic and almost elegant but still really open to being played around with. It’s fun.

Outfit total cost = $92

Urban Outfitters Wonderer Tee

Akira Sheer Skirt

Urban Outfitters Asymmetrical Wedge

Counting Crows was my favorite band from age 11 all the way through high school. Their first CD, August and Everything After, was the first CD I ever owned. The lead singer Adam Duritz is a true artist. Their first hit was Mr. Jones, a song about Adam and his friend who would spend time together dreaming about being famous. When I went to see them in concert after their third CD came out instead of singing the original lyrics Adam changed them to reflect the fact that he had achieved his dream and left Mr. Jones behind and how much he missed that friendship. Even though I’m sure there were more than few fans who were upset by the new rendition of the song I thought it was incredibly cool that he would stay true to himself like that.

Adam’s lyrics never fail to knock me out and although I’ve outgrown their musical style I still keep at least one of their first three CD’s in my playlist at all times. This song, Murder of One, always reminds me of being a lovesick middle schooler.

And now for some fashion. These pieces are from a few shops that I always manage to forget about but they really have great, inexpensive stuff sometimes. Outfit total cost = $55. Don’t you love summer and how awesomely cheap the clothes can be?

Madewell Shrug Tee

Papaya Floral Long Skirt w/Belt

And don’t go hating on these Jellies! Talk about nostalgia, I had these when I was a little girl and when I was in high school, and now they’re back again. Plus I love the color.

TopShop Harbour Jellies

I’m feeling slightly obsessed with maxi dresses worn with crop tops. I know I just did an outfit with a crop top/maxi combo but for realsies every time I look at clothes on the web this look draws me to it like a magnet. I just want to wear it while I go on an art walk or peruse a farmer’s market or twirl around in my bedroom.

Outfit total cost = $92

UO Lacy Edge Floppy Straw Hat

Forever 21 Ethnic Print Maxi Dress

Delias Crop Top

Urban Outfitters Sandal

Happy summer everyone!

For you who are unfamiliar with steampunk, it’s a sub-genre of fantasy and sci-fi set in the Victorian era when steam power was widely used. To really understand what it’s all about you need to see it so here’s a clip from the cop show Castle from an episode that featured the underground world of steampunk. It sums up the style pretty well.

But how do you fuse everyday fashion with a style that’s so over the top and fantastical? First you have to break it down into its simplest elements. The colors are rich and warm, the fabrics are velvet, lace, wool, felt and tweed, the clothes are fitted and romantic, and metals like gold, brass and copper are essential to the aesthetic.

Accessories are the easiest to directly translate. There are several Etsy shops devoted entirely to steampunk and these are some of my favorite (and most affordable) items that I found.

Antique Button Ring from pixie 14320

Vintage Engraved Brass Steampunk Skeleton Mechanical Pocket Watch Chain

And here’s the outfit to go with them. I used a bowler hat but an aviator cap would have worked as well, the shirt is romantic and ruffled, the pants are tweed, the vest is fitted and features a little lace, and the shoes have corset style lace-ups and buckles. So it has many elements of a steampunk costume but comes in the guise of modern fashion.

Urban Outfitters Bowler Hat

Forever 21 Polka Dot Ruffle Top

Charlotte Russe Lace Trimmed Racer Back Vest

Urban Outfitters Tweed Pant

Forever 21 leatherette heel work boot

Now for the pirates. I’m assuming you’re all familiar with those guys. So, to break it down, pirate fashion is closely related to steampunk in that it has Victorian elements and gold plays an important part in the aesthetic (arrr, me treasure! haha, I’m such a nerd) but the fabrics are less lush and the fit of the clothes is much more loose and utilitarian. I’ve decided to do a guy’s outfit for this one so I’m going to skip the ruffles (but if this were a girl’s outfit I’d say go for it) and instead favor stripes. So maybe this outfit is less of a pirate captain and more of a pirate deck hand.

Urban Outfitters Wool Stripe Beanie

Urban Outfitters Ruby Stripe Tee

21 Men Pinstripe Woven Vest

AE Jean

ALDO Luy boots

AMEX jewelry skull biker ring

And guys, if you wear rings keep it to one per hand and, unless it’s a wedding ring, wear it on your thumb or middle finger. Pinky rings are for pimps, football players, and class rings. And wearing a ring on your index finger can sometimes make you look like a hippy. But that’s just a weird rule that I believe in. To each his own…

Nixon Score watch

And that’s it! A fun, modern approach to pirate fashion. If there are any other styles you’d like me to interpret just leave a comment.

That’s exactly how I feel about feminism and the cause for changing the way media portrays women. I love fashion, obviously, but the rigidity with which the fashion world holds onto this “ideal beauty” is seriously messed up. People are different and it’s awesome but we are conditioned every time we turn on the television or go to the movies to think that those differences are actually flaws. The inequality in the representation of women is staggering. Don’t believe me? Go to this website and read all about it: http://www.apa.org/pi/women/programs/girls/report.aspx

Here’s an excerpt: “While alone in a dressing room, college students were asked to try on and evaluate either a swimsuit or a sweater. While they waited for 10 minutes wearing the garment, they completed a math test. The results revealed that young women in swimsuits performed significantly worse on the math problems than did those wearing sweaters. No differences were found for young men. In other words, thinking about the body and comparing it to sexualized cultural ideals disrupted mental capacity. In the emotional domain, sexualization and objectification undermine confidence in and comfort with one’s own body, leading to a host of negative emotional consequences, such as shame, anxiety, and even self-disgust. The association between self-objectification and anxiety about appearance and feelings of shame has been found in adolescent girls (12–13-year-olds) (Slater & Tiggemann, 2002) as well as in adult women.”

So when I read something like that, something that reflects my personal experience perfectly and makes me realize that women everywhere are dealing with these same soul crushing problems, then yes, inaction seems completely unethical.

So here’s an outfit that I think any woman would look amazing in plus it’s modest and cheap. Unfortunately the models are scary thin but what choice do I have?

Outfit total cost = $80

Urban Outfitters Hat

ModCloth Pick of the Crop Top

Forever 21 Ikat Maxi Dress

Wild Diva Buckle Side Canvas Combat Boot

And if you wear these boots with scrunchy socks then the outfit will just be so stinking cool.

Of course the first thing that caught my eye was the unbelievably awesome, pearl studded, oh so trendy red, chunky knit, scallop trimmed, dolman sleeved, could I find more ways to describe it (no?) cardigan. I immediately put this picture in my fashion inspiration folder because one day I’m going to find a way to replicate this object of perfection. And I’ve found another way to describe it. Perfect.

Anyway, I’ve peeked back at this pic about a million times and gradually I started noticing the awesomeness of the rest of this look. The navy blue, fifties style swim suit. The gold bangle bracelets. The fisherman-like hat with the bell-flipped brim. (If you have a more accurate description of this hat please send it my way. I can’t find anything like it on the internets but I think that maybe due to the fact that I have no idea what to call it.) And the more subtle bits, the white painted toenails and matching-but-not-matchy-matchy pearl painted fingernails. The strong brows and ruby red lips.

Sigh.

What would it have been like to live in So Cal in the fifties? In my mind it’s exactly like that picture: all boat trips and picnics and fashion so good my grand daughters yearn for it.

Anywho, I tried to replicate this look. I’ve been trying for weeks. But there’s nothing like it anywhere. The swimsuits are all forties rather than fifties inspired, no cardigan can come close to that one (perfection is rare after all), and all the hats are fedoras. So instead I’ll continue to save this picture for inspiration when (and a huge if) I have my own fashion label.

How are you planning to dress for the beach this year? Do you think it’s time that we ditch the board shorts and sarongs in favor of an awesome cardi so we can show off our legs and update our look?

I am about to impart all of the wisdom that I have picked up as an apple shaped girl. The best thing about carrying your weight on top is that we apple shaped girls have great racks. Call me crass, but there’s no bones about it. We are women and we carry it out front for all to see. As such we have to take care of those girls with a really well structured bra. In my experience Victoria’s Secret and the Cacique bras from Lane Bryant have been the most supportive and comfortable but you have to shop around and see what works best for you. Also, it’s absolutely essential that you get a fitting. Victoria’s Secret and all the high end department stores like Nordstrom have people who are trained to take your measurements and can point you in the right direction for a bra. If you’d feel more comfortable doing it at home click here for a link that will give you instructions for a DIY bra fitting.

So now that you’ve put the girls in their proper place it’s time to think about shirts. It’s tempting when you have a tummy to wear shirts that are loose and flowy (a temptation that I’ve succumbed to many, many times) but this can make you look bigger than you are. Instead look for shirts that either have some sort of darting (little sewn in folds or seams that create curves in a garment) or have a waist line with some gathering so the shirt pulls away from the tummy. Button up shirts can be a great option because they are often cut in such a way that they are very flattering for girls with a tummy and they’re made of a stiffer fabric so they hold their structure well. Plus, button up shirts with a slightly western or “prairie” feel are an emerging trend so if you buy one get ready to be the coolest girl on the block. Here’s an example and an outfit to go with it:

Nordstrom button up

To create even more of a waist try putting a belt over the shirt at the thinnest part of your torso.

Anthropologie Shining Double Strand Belt

You’ll also want to emphasize the thinnest part of you which is your legs. A great way to do this is with a pencil skirt. Remember, if it doesn’t fit properly you can always get it tailored. Just buy it so that it fits the largest part of you and then have the rest of it sized down.

Talbots Triomphe jacquard pencil skirt

Wearing fun socks is very trendy and looks super cute when you’re going with a more classic, preppy look.

Urban Outfitters Pointelle Sock

ModCloth Small College Town Wedge

Another thing to watch out for is shirts that make you look pregnant. You want to find shirts that have either a high natural waist or empire waist and pull away from your stomach, but aren’t so loose that you look like you bought the shirt with a growing tummy in mind. Make sure the fabric just skims your body. Here’s a great shirt that has a high, natural waist and gently gathers without looking tented.

ModCloth A Bushel and a Dress

I’ve heard a lot of people say that they don’t think bigger girls or apple shaped girls can pull off skinny jeans but I don’t think that’s right. It’s true that if you’re not careful you can end up looking like humpty dumpty but I think if you wear a long shirt (or short dress) that hits at the mid to upper thigh then you can get away with it. (Like the shirt above.) But if you’re like me then you probably have a hard time finding jeans that fit. There are companies that do custom made jeans but they can be pricey. Jeggings are a pretty good option because they have a lot of stretch. And you can always try companies like Lane Bryant and Levi’s that have different fit options. The important thing is to try stuff on and see what works for you, and again you can always get them tailored.

Also, white jeans are fun right now but can look a little bit like you’re trying too hard to be a Gossip Girl so try rolling them up a few times in a sort of messy way, not a clean cuff, so they look beachy and modern.

Levi's Slight Curve White Jeans

As far as cardigans go, in my opinion the cardigans that are made of thicker fabric or have too many folds or lots of ruffles can ad girth that you don’t have. Also, if you’re not careful they can make you look boxy. My advice is to wear thin sweaters that hit no lower than mid hip or if they’re longer they need to have a sloped hem rather than a rectangular one. For example:

J Crew Cadabra Cardigan

Urban Outfitters Aztec Print Lace Up

Jackets are the best structural pieces you can have in your wardrobe (and by now you should know that I’m all about structure!) but you need to be careful about the cut. Look for jackets that are cut for a womanly shape, rather than being menswear inspired, and preferably find jackets with a strong shoulder. Why? Because strong shoulders can trick the eye into thinking that your waist is smaller than it is. By strong I mean it has a detail that will make your shoulders look bigger and straighter, like a particularly stiff seam or some kind of gathering. Also, if you can find shirts with strong shoulders then that’s awesome too, but please avoid shoulder pads unless you want to look like a linebacker.

Urban Outfitters Sparkle & Fade Maximilian Leather Blazer

For an apple shaped girl, finding pants and jeans can be its own special kind of torture so consider wearing more skirts and dresses on an everyday basis. They’re a great way to show off your awesome legs and they can be super comfortable. The principles for finding a great dress are the same as finding a great shirt: Look for extra seams and darting or a waist that hits you at your natural waist or higher, it needs to pull away from your tummy without being too loose (so as to avoid the pregnancy look), and try to find pieces with a strong shoulder if you can.

ModCloth Sketching Memories Dress

Urban Outfitters Over the Knee Pointelle Cuff Sock

Steve Madden Hitchike Boot

Here’s a fun fact for you, did you know that during the Northern and Italian Renaissance period it was actually fashionable to look pregnant? In this portrait by Van Eyck the bride to be is holding her dress in a way that makes her look like she’s got a baby bump. Maybe someday the tides will turn and that dreaded pregnancy question will become a compliment rather than an insult.

Van Eyck the Arnolfini Marriage

And the person they were with nodded in agreement.

Because this made so much sense the first person got caught up in the idea that people look like fruit so he continued on and said, “People who carry their weight on top kind of look like apples. You know, because pears are bottom heavy and apples are top heavy.”

The second person scratched his head and thought to himself, Some apples are just round, though. And some of them are pretty lopsided. Right? But in the end they remained silent.

The first person took this silence as encouragement and, caught up in his own brilliance exclaimed, “And if bottom heavy people are pears, and top heavy people are apples, then people who carry their weight evenly are bananas!”

And the second person said, “Now you’ve gone too far.”

But the damage was done and the first person went throughout the world spreading this idea about people as fruits. And just like the second man most people were with him at the idea of people looking like pears, and they were even willing to except the idea that top heavy people could be called apple shaped, but where most people drew the line was at bananas. Nobody really looks like a banana. We don’t curve that way. So instead they theorized that these people could be called rectangle. This is why fashion magazines are always writing stories about two fruits and a quadrilateral. So just to save anyone from future confusion, they are talking about how to dress your body type, not telling you a children’s story meant to introduce young’uns to the world of geometry.

Anywho, I would imagine that being rectangle (or straight) shaped is kind of awesome. Because this shape is in the middle you can really get away with any trend and look fine. But what I’m talking about in this series of posts is how to look awesome. So, let’s get started.

As with all body types the number one thing to remember is that if you want your body to look a certain way, you need to find garments that are structured to provide that shape. The common complaint among straight shaped women is that they can look a bit boyish so you want to look for garments that will increase the appearance of your hips and bust and be form fitting around your waist.

Jackets and blazers can be great structural pieces to add to a wardrobe but they can be cut in a highly masculine way. Try to look for something with princess seams or darts. This will give the appearance of a more womanly figure. Here’s a good example of one such jacket. It has darts in the front and princess seams in the back, and it has a ruffled yoke below the waistline which gives the appearance of hips so this one gets an A+.

This was hard to deal with as a teenager because all I wanted to wear were baggy pants and tight t-shirts with cool graphics on them. I was so envious of those girls who could wear low slung pants that showed off just a little bit of their perfect tummies every time they moved. (Come on, I know you all remember the fashions of the late nineties. It was all about giving people a sneak peak of your abs)

Luckily my ideas about fashion changed. I opened my mind to skirts and dresses for every day wear because they fit me so much better than pants and I became willing to wear other things besides graphic tees and sweatshirts (although I still wear them around the house for comfiness sake). I also quit shopping in stores because it makes my heart hurt a little bit every time I go to a store and am forced to sift through all the beautiful clothes I’ll never wear in order to find the stuff that will fit oddly shaped me. Now I can get online and do localized searches for what I need and it brings back some of the fun. That way I’m focused on what makes me look good as I am, rather than wishing that I looked like someone else so that I could fit into certain styles. And isn’t that how life should be?

So for my next few posts I’m going to put up outfits that are specialized for certain body types. I’ll be ignoring price for the most part just because these are more to give you an idea of how to highlight the awesomeness of you, rather than show you awesome internet deals like I usually do.

The first body type I want to talk about is the pear shape. This is actually a great shape to have because it’s the most common shape for a woman, thus most clothes are designed with a smaller waist and larger hip in mind. Plus, butts are in! There aren’t too many rappers out there talking about how they like a jiggly belly. No, instead they are praising the apple bottomed girls. Frankly, I think my life would be easier if I were one of them.

Anywho, what you want to keep in mind when pulling together an outfit is de-emphasizing the parts of yourself you’re not crazy about and highlighting what you do like. So for pear shapes you’ll want to wear clothes that are tighter on top and looser on bottom. Dresses and skirts that hit at the natural waist and are gathered or pleated are a good way to achieve that. Most people believe in the old adage that a-line skirts are the most flattering but I would disagree simply because they tend to lack structure, and when you’re trying to hide a flaw you need something that holds its own shape.

Also, wearing heels is a good idea because it thins out and lengthens the leg. Even just a kitten heel can make a huge difference.

Here’s an example outfit:

Talbots Belle flower full skirt

J Crew Sequin Mist cardigan

ModCloth hours at the library heel

Another great way to slim and lengthen the leg is with a wide leg trouser. Make sure you’re looking at pants that are either relaxed or straight through the hip and thigh rather than fitted otherwise you’ll have major bell bottom action going on. Also, wear the type of shoes you’ll be wearing with the pants when you try them on and make certain you don’t get them too short. They should be about an inch from the floor when you wear them with your shoes (longer if you’re worried the material might shrink). Also avoid whiskered distressing whenever you buy pants because that will make the leg look wider.

Ann Taylor Signature Bergman Tweed Trouser

ModCloth Served With a Side of Character sweater

Steve Madden Dynastee Wedge

And of course there’s always the option of wearing a long sweater or jacket to cover things up. If you do this you can get away with most styles, even pencil skirts and skinny jeans. For skinny jeans try wearing jeggings or going to a store like Levi’s that make jeans for girls with different body types. Just remember, if it doesn’t fit in a certain area don’t be afraid to go a size up and then get the item tailored. I know that it feels like a sucker punch to the gut when you try on something in the size that’s supposed to fit you and it doesn’t, but wearing clothes that are too tight will make you look bigger than you actually are.

Anthropologie Twisting and Turning Cardigan

ModCloth Whitecap Waters Tunic

Levi's Bold Curve jeans

Forever 21 Buckle Up Combat Boots

Lastly, you can always just embrace your curves and wear whatever the heck you want! It’s hard enough being a woman in this world without being forced into these rules so feel free to forget everything I’ve said and just do your own thing. If you love it, wear it!