Something to Wear

Thank you Blogginistas,

Thank you all so much for taking the time to read & share your thoughts on my blog. I hope that you all can take at least one thing with you & make it your own. While fashion is such a public & media-filled aspect of life, it’s also so personal & intimate. What you wear & how you wear a piece of clothing is entirely up to you. I have my strong opinions on what I believe to be fashionable or horrendous…as does everyone else who has a love for clothing. No matter what your thoughts are on anything related to what you wear every day, the most important thing to do is make it YOU. Confidence out shines any article of clothing & is far more important than any materialistic item.

I’ll be spending the next month of freedom recreating my wardrobe, just from what I learned from my own blog. I’ve personally learned so much about fashion & clothing just by observing everyone around me. Wardrobe staples are critical & I’ve come to the realization that I don’t really have any…so I think I’ll start there. With time I’ll hopefully be able to say that I have a closet full of clothes & something to wear.

Love always,

BR

An Added Touch of Fragrance

Okay Blogginistas…

I am a fragrance junkie, I have a fragrance from every family that exists & I have too many to keep track of. I am a big supporter of fragrance being a part of a person’s wardrobe…it completes an outfit. My personal favorite fragrances have citrus & floral notes…very feminine, flirty, youthful, & fun. Of course I have a wide variety of fragrances, but I have my signature scent.

Finding a signature scent could take years. What you enjoy smelling like every day is up to you…how strong you want a fragrance to be or how sweet or musky you want a scent to be …these are all questions that come with finding a staple fragrance. One of the biggest rules to finding a fragrance though is to find a scent that smells good on you…not a friend. Everyone’s body chemistry works differently with fragrances. So when you venture out to the fragrance world get help from a sales associate (because they KNOW what they’re talking about) & try the fragrances for yourself.

There are four types of fragrance families, all have similar notes which may lead you to liking more than one type of scent…but here are the basics:

-          Oriental. These fragrances tend to be deep floral notes. They can be described as exotic, sexy, & sensual. Typically used as evening fragrances or during the colder months.

-          Floral. These fragrances are soft scents. Clearly they contain floral notes, but aren’t necessarily overwhelming. Floral fragrances can be also described as romantic, feminine, & flirty. These are great everyday scents & of course during the spring season!

-          Citrus. These fragrances are light & refreshing. Prime during the summer months (I love D&G Light Blue) because the scents are simple & clean smelling.

-          Woody. Often times these scents can be described as too masculine, but when you get the right notes working together they make beautiful scents. Woody fragrances are more sophisticated (as is Oriental scents) simply because they’re deeper smelling fragrances. They can also be known as warm, cozy, & inviting fragrances.

Once you have found your fragrance or fragrances it is key to layer your scent. When you go into any fragrance store, whether it’s a specialty store like The Body Shop or Bath & Body Works or a department store such as Bloomingdales or Lord & Taylor…they sell fragrance in two or three forms: a shower product (gel or exfoliate), moisturizer (lotion, cream, or butter) & the actual fragrance (mist or perfume). The same way you have a skin routine, you want to have a fragrance routine…that way your fragrance lasts all day long!

Now that you are all smelling wonderful…what’s your favorite fragrance???

Love always,

BR

Dressing Down

Hey Blogginistas!!

So with life being hectic as the end of the semester is hear & retail world is madness my posts have been delayed…I’m going to give you my final thoughts into three different posts  & here’s my first: Dressing Down.

Besides dressing warm during the cold months I love to dress comfy & cozy, & I see this trend everywhere, every year once it hits 40 degrees. It’s an odd pet peeve of mine to wear sweats anywhere…especially a sweat suit. I think it’s sloppy & unattractive…but there is a way to wear them & look good. I understand that when running errands or going to the gym or grabbing coffee…there’s no reason to dress up…but at the same time it’s always good to look presentable.

When I purchase comfy clothes I’m very strategic especially when it comes to finding stuff that doesn’t make me look like a slob. So here’s how I dress comfy & still look appropriate to go out:

#1 Male or female own Hanes v-neck undershirts.  I have so many because they come in a pack of like four or six…they go with everything. They’re casual & with a bit of jewelry or such they look fabulous. I’ve actually gotten away with wearing them at work because I made them look professional! My favorite way to wear Hanes tees is with jeans & boots (not Uggs…that’s when it gets sloppy looking). I usually add a statement necklace & sometimes a sweater & bam! I’m comfy & can go anywhere (including work).

#2 Make sure your sweats fit. If your pants are too tight or too big & baggy things aren’t going to look so good. Now don’t get me wrong…I’ve got plenty of baggy sweats for hanging around the house NEVER for in public. I enjoy wearing Victoria’s Secret PINK pants; both yoga & classic sweats from PINK are appropriate to wear out.

#3 Take advantage of oversized sweaters. I’ve mentioned sweaters & cardigans & how I love them entirely too much, but the possibilities that come with own a few are endless. With jeans or nice look sweats a comfy sweater (especially the ones that can wrap or tie) are my favorite to wear out.

There you have it my dearest Blogginistas. There’s a way to make any type of clothing look good…how do you dress up when dressing down??

Love always,

BR

My Thoughts On: Black Friday & Holiday Shopping

Happy Holidays Blogginistas!!

So we have just ended an extended Cyber Monday week (I guess you can call it) full of steals & deals in stores & online. Since Black Friday, retailers have been packed with customers seeking savings & now the holiday shopping has officially begun!!

Like I’ve mentioned before, I work in retail…so the day after Turkey Day is my day…the day everyone in retail prepares all year for: Black Friday. It’s our kick off & countdown to the day AFTER Christmas (don’t forget about those post holiday deals!) I’ve always wanted to open a store on Black Friday & be there for the excited early morning shoppers…this year I got that chance. I arrived at work at 3AM. Yes, 3AM. I took a quick walk around the mall to see what was going on. Other stores had opened extra early since Macy’s had the genius idea to open at midnight. Let me just say, people are crazy! They were sleeping in the food court, waiting for stores to open. There were eager shoppers sitting against the windows of big name shops. By the time I had to open the doors of my store, customers were pressed up against the doors & I could barely get back into the store, for I was bombarded with bodies rushing in.

Anyways…enough about my experience. So now the holiday shopping has started, & I honestly am not the biggest fan. The malls & other shopping centers are beyond crowded…it just stresses me out. Dealing with last minute work from classes doesn’t help either. So how to get my holiday shopping done?…here’s my plan, hope it helps all of you!

-          Start NOW! There’s nothing like waiting until the last for anything…but when it comes to holiday shopping, the night before is probably the WORST time to venture off into a mall. If you start now, you won’t be spending all your $$$ at once & can get thoughtful gifts.

-          Make a List.(& check it twice) Before heading out to shop create a list of WHO you are buying for, WHAT you plan on buying & WHERE you plan to go. Staying organized & having an idea of what you want to accomplish makes your shopping experience much more pleasant.

-          Shop Online. I like to check out the deals that are happening on the web before I go to the stores. When you start early, you have the advantage of utilizing free shipping deals & not having to rush a gift to be overnight-ed. Also, I like to preview what the store has in stock by perusing the website so I know what I’m looking for.

-          Shop Smart. As much as a coupon is a way for retailers to get customers back into the store…coupons are also your best friends! A lot of stores allow you to combine their in-store promos with their coupons, which leads to awesome savings!

-          Treat Yourself! I know…this time of year is when we are all short on $$$, but probably one of the best feelings after a long day of shopping is knowing that you picked something up for yourself.

There you have it Blogginistas! I wish you all luck shopping for the holidays, we all know it’s a crazy time of year…but have fun! So…what are your shopping tips???

Love always,

BR

Baby it’s (really) Cold Outside! (Part Deux)

Hello Again Blogginistas!

As promised, here is the second part of my MUST-HAVES for this cold weather we are slowly but surely encountering with the BURR months ahead. So let’s get started!

First one of my favorites: flannel button-downs. If I could, I would wear plaid button-down shirts everyday of the week. I think men & women look great in them…they come in every color possible, every price point, and there are several ways to wear them. I typically like to wear them like a button-down shirt…as I see most people wear them the same way. But flannel button-down are also great to layer with graphic or classic tees!

Another one of my loves: cardigans. Again…if I could wear a cardigan with every outfit I would…I’ve owned so many cardis in my lifetime…& they don’t last me because I truly wear them out. Like flannels they are so universal that how could you not own one?! They make an outfit pop when they are printed or colored & are also professional looking. Keeping on the subject of cold weather clothes…cardigans are awesome to layer with & keep you warm! They’re also a great option when you know you’ll be in a place that may warm up, so you can easily take the cardi off! (you can’t do that with a sweater!)

Next, make sure you have jeans that aren’t ripped & distressed. Jeans get old, or you can buy them ripped…but who wants to feel the chilly breeze of winter on their knee? I think this goes without saying…make sure you have non-distressed jeans for the winter season. On the same line, for the women…tights, panty hose (they are coming back in-style thanks to Kate & Pippa Middleton), leg warmers, thigh-high socks, knee-high socks, etc. Get them in every color, style, print…these leg accessories are key to wearing dresses & skirts…it’s too cold out (& out of season) to be showing off bare legs.

Last, but certainly not least...stock up on classic tees. I personally hate long sleeve shirts, sweaters…I hate having something covering anything past my elbow…so I either don’t buy long-sleeve anything or I roll my sleeves up. But classic tees, whether they’re v-neck, scoop, or crew…they are awesome for layering with other shirts, sweaters, button-downs, etc.

Like my last post…I’ll ask you Blogginistas: What are your winter clothes MUST-HAVES? & also…how do you layer your outfits?

Love always,

BR

Baby it's (really) Cold Outside! (Part One)

Happy Hunting Blogginistas!!

First want to apologize for not posting the past few weeks…it’s that mid-cram time & in working in retail doesn’t help…as we are getting ready for the CRAZIEST shopping days of the year: Black Friday. Anyways, in the spirit of this cold weather frenzy I decided to give my clothing MUST-HAVES on dressing warm for winter. In this post I’ll let you all know about essential gear & my next post will talk about the clothes!

The east coast has already gotten their first snow of the season, but besides that one weather phenomenon, it hasn’t been until now that it is actually feeling like fall. So my first tip for dressing warm in these cold months is to invest in a good jacket/coat. It is physically impossible to get through the winter without a winter jacket, whether that is a North Face or a bomber or a pea coat, buy a good quality jacket…that’s going to last the winter! Jackets & coats are one of my guilty pleasures (I have seven or eight in total just for the winter)...they are a necessity & when picking the right one & spending the right amount of $$$, you end up with a coat that lasts you a decent amount of years.

Also thinking about outer wear…own either rain boots or snow boots & warm socks. I’ve ruined a few pairs of shoes (including a pair of Uggs) because I decided they would be okay to wear in the snow, slush, sleet…& all that these winter months have to offer. Last winter I wore my rain boots…they work fine but if you decide to find a second use for rain boots by wearing them in the snow…please have warm socks!! I can’t stress this enough. There is no insulation in most rain boots & your feet will not make it through the snow without the warmth of socks…I like to wear fun ankle socks or knee highs…for the guys a good pair of ankle socks will do you just fine too! If you want to spend the extra money on snow boots, get a pair that has grips on the bottom so you don’t slide on ice …& make sure they are waterproof…& keep your feet warm! Eddie Bauer & L.L.Bean make great winter boots!

Thirdly, get a pair of driving gloves. Think about it…how many times are you running late for class or work & you forget to maybe start your car early to warm up (I know I’ve been in this situation many times). The worst feeling ever besides driving in a cold car…is driving in a cold car with no gloves…the rest of your body seems to be warming up because of the layers you have on, but your poor hands have to hold the steering wheel. So, you can’t just have any old gloves, because they get slippery & that’s clearly not safe for driving…for the cold season it’s good to own either leather or suede gloves. Both leather & suede material allows for a nice grip in the wheel, they keep your hands warm, && they look classy & timeless. These types of gloves you can get at any price point, style, color, size, buttons or no buttons, etc.

& finally, the last of my MUST-HAVES for winter gear is a hat. Right now for women wool hats are in-style…just like fedoras & such were big last summer (oh, how I miss those warm days)…I personally, don’t believe they are very practical when you are outside in the cold…& it’s snowing. But hey! I’m not saying I don’t think you should say no to those hats, they’re just not going to keep the heat in. The two types of hats that go for both the ladies & gents are beanies & what I like to call hunting hats (I believe the technical term is trapper hats). I do own both types of hats, but I prefer the hats that do look like you are going hunting…I think they’re warm & I love the faux fur (so fun!). Both styles of hats are quite practical for cold weather as they keep the heat in & certainly keep your ears warm.

So those are my essentials for winter gear…my next post will focus on what’s underneath the gear. But for now…

What are your winter gear essentials?

Love always,

BR

Oh! It's vintage!

Hello Blogginistas.

This afternoon I discovered a new appreciate for vintage pieces on Free People. The cost of items & clothing here is quite up there so I resisted my impulses to buy anything. I questioned my mother who I know owns some antiques & has been passed down old pieces of valuable clothing. Luckily she had a few things…& from what I’ve learned my grandmother has TONS of vintage pieces!

I’m proud to say I’m the new owner of an antique trunk as well as a beautiful fur shawl complete with pockets! The actual type of fur the shawl is made from I have yet to find out…but what I do know is that it was owned by my great grandmother…& for being such an old piece of clothing it is in pretty amazing condition! I’m also in the process of doing research on the trunk. I want to say it was made in the late 1800’s or early 1900’s since that’s when most trunks were made. Pretty cool, right? More importantly, it will be my new storage for bags, scarves, & all those other accessories.

So the purpose of my post this week is to find appreciation in vintage pieces. I really want to find a quality vintage store where good pieces of clothing come through. From what I’ve been told, it’s very difficult to find great vintage clothes…& that it takes a lot of time & patience. I believe though, that the hard work put into finding a unique piece is well-worth it. The piece has a history, a story, & no one else will own it!!

While it may be hard to find vintage clothes that are worth wearing, imagine owning something from the 1920’s or 1940’s…or one of those awesome 80’s bands tees! Plus these decade pieces are very much in season for the fall & winter. Talk about a great addition to a wardrobe.

Anywho, what are your thoughts Blogginistas? Do you think shopping vintage is worth the time & $$$?

Love always,

BR

What’s underneath it all…?

To My Naughty Blogginistas,

Over the weekend I took time away from my typical studies of writing papers & such & saw the play Intimate Apparel. I won’t get into too much detail around the plot of the play, but it revolves around a thirty-five year old single seamstress. Her specialty with the ladies is her intimate apparel. The women she creates her pieces for are typically seen in corsets & garters. The setting was 1905, so the style was very romantic & delicate. Every time the women in Intimate Apparel put on their lingerie they felt empowered, confident & sexy.

I’ve read several times over the years that when you wear something pretty, feminine or sexy underneath your clothing you feel more confident about yourself. Think about it. On an average day figure you put on a dress or a pair of jeans with a sweater….pretty average right? Imagine if you wore a slip under that dress or a matching bra & panties set under the jeans & sweater…Imagine how much more confident you would feel!!

Everyday lingerie is something that every woman should treat themselves to every so often. Now I’m not saying you need to go stop at the sex store & pick up a nurses outfit… Free People & Urban Outfitters are great places to find something that suits you because the intimates are very casual, but flirtatious in both collections. Here are some starters for wearing lingerie every day & outside of the bedroom:

v  Slips. Free People designs slips where you may be able to wear them as street clothes, but ideally they are for underneath dresses. Slips are also great to sleep in or just hanging around the house. Similarly…

v  Chemises/Babydolls. I like to think of them as a flirty nightgown. Definitely something you can sleep in nightly.  

v  Garter belts. Very simple & they’re designed to hold up thigh high socks or hosiery. So…garters can be not only sexy, but quite practical.

v  Thigh high socks/hosiery. Sexy all on it’s on…also a great option if you prefer not to wear stockings.

 

v  Kimonos. I love these! Victoria’s Secret makes them in all kinds of colors & designs. If you are wearing one for someone else you would wear this over your lingerie. If you are wearing these everyday think of it like a satin robe…very luxurious!

What are your thoughts Blogginistas?? Yes or no to bringing lingerie to your every day style?

Love always,

BR

Black Tie…Optional

My dearest Blogginistas,

Finally! My glamorous affair arrived! A few months back my family & I received invitations to a wedding in which the attire was black tie (optional)…this past Saturday we attended. Such a wedding requirement isn’t all that common, so I did my research on what to wear. After reading a crazy amount of articles, I discovered basically this: for a black tie optional wedding you should dress in black tie attire…Women: floor length gown & an up-do…Men: tuxedo.

I was very weary of this advice, so I took to my own rules & thought about what was trending for the fall. I wore an olive green halter satin dress (that I luckily found in my closet); it was midi length, meaning it came just below the knees. I couldn’t go floor length (as did many) because it’s simply not in season & if I went too short it would appear as if I was going clubbing (as did many). My shoes were leopard/sequins platform pumps, which were to die for! & I did my hair in a messy up do. So I was dressed appropriately for a black tie (optional) wedding, but still made it my own.

While many of us don’t get the opportunity to attend black tie events, a black tie optional event is the closest thing we can get to…so if you’re ever invited, GO!!! It’s spectacular. The ceremony took place at a cathedral & the reception was at chateau that was built in the 1500’s. This place was complete with an indoor pool, several old wooden bars, & the most fairytale-like ballroom. I don’t think I have ever been to a place more magical in my life. The bride & groom even took inspiration from the Royal Wedding, complete with a public wave & kiss on a balcony during cocktail hour.

So on to the clothes. What I discovered from attending this wedding was that all the advice I found online was inaccurate & I was very thankful that I was smart enough NOT to follow the “rules.” The wedding party & only a few other guests wore floor length dresses & tuxes. While most men stuck with suits, they looked polished & appropriate for a black tie (optional) wedding. The women were 50/50; they either looked perfect or like they had no idea what they were doing. So, here are my tips from my experience:

WOMEN:

-          Do not take your shoes off on the dance floor. It’s not classy.

-          Do not wear a shawl. Sweaters are a better option.

-          Do wear a dress that is not black. A colored dress will help you stand out!

-          Do know the difference between a formal dress shoe & an everyday casual heel. (i.e. Buckles are not appropriate on a woman’s shoe at a very dressy wedding.)

-          Do something with your hair. Switch it up from your everyday look.

-          Do wear a dress that fits you. Pulling up a strapless dress isn’t attractive. Pulling down a way-too-short “dress” isn’t tasteful.

-          Do invest in Hollywood Tape. I swear by it!

MEN:

-          Do not take your shoes off on the dance floor. It’s not classy.

-          Do not spike your hair if that’s what you do. It’s not appropriate for any wedding.

-          Do invest in a bow tie or skinny black tie. Both are sleek & classy & sexy!

-          Do make sure your shoes are polished. No scuff marks please.

-          Do keep your shoe laces tied. Dangling laces looks sloppy.

-          Do know the difference between a fall/winter suit & a summer/spring suit.

-          Do wear nice cologne.

So there you go Blogginistas! I have to say, I enjoyed myself at this wedding & if you are ever invited to such an event make sure your RSVP marks yes. Black tie (optional) is a difficult attire to work with since it’s in between when it comes to dress code. Make sure when you find what to wear (& this goes for any other formal event) you respect the attire desired, shop wisely, but also follow your own rules & make it your own. Whether it’s a stand out bag or a purple pocket scarf make sure you add something that makes your outfit YOU!

Thinking about weddings…what are your DO’s & DON’T’s???

Love always,

BR

it’s not the shoes, but the people who sell them

Hey, Hey Blogginistas!!

This coming weekend I will be attending a black tie wedding. (I’ll be posting about that event next week!) Luckily I already have a dress that is appropriate & in-style for the season, so all I needed to do over this long & fabulous Columbus Day Weekend was find a killer pair of shoes. Knowing where to shop for shoes on such a high traffic weekend in retail I sought out Nordstrom’s. Now I’m not here to talk about the shoes that I bought (which are by the way a four inch heel with a one inch platform…& yes I have to wear them for at least four hours Saturday night)….I’m actually here to share my thoughts on the service I received…not exactly about fashion, but the purchase will lead to many fashionable outfits to come!

For those who don’t know, Nordstrom’s is an upscale department store, comparable to Bloomingdales, just not as commonly seen. What I love about Nordstrom’s though is that while it’s upscale, it’s not always overpriced; they definitely have affordable items for men & women of all ages & all budgets. Since I sadly have no concept of the value of the dollar, I can’t help but literally be sucked into purchasing a more expensive item over something “affordable.” After being helped by the most wonderful men ever, I found myself at the register with not one, but two new pairs of shoes. In my defense, if I did not receive the help & attention that I got from the men doing their job VERY well, I would not have purchased both pairs of shoes.

Because I work in retail, you would think I know the tricks any sales person can pull in order to get a customer to spend more money…well I do know these tricks & l was fully aware of what was going on. If anything, I was absolutely amazed by these men’s’ selling skills! I think what really got me as a customer was the compliments & the extra help I received from two or three men in the shoe department of Nordstrom’s. They were complimenting the dress I was going to wear to this upcoming wedding….& telling me how I can wear the shoes with other outfits. Then when they tried (& were successful) selling me a new pair of boots they shared every which way I could wear the boots. Yet while a man can’t give me a personal testimony on women’s shoes, this particular man was fully educated on the shoes that he was selling & shared practical details with me. The more I heard, the more I felt it was necessary for me to buy two pairs of shoes.

If you think about it, every store you walk in to, whether it’s Nordstrom’s, Abercrombie & Fitch, or the Apple store, the better the service, the better you feel about what you are spending your money on. It’s a tactic every single retail company uses…& guess what?!...it works! All of us can probably speak of a time where we found ourselves guilty of this scenario…but it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Just be aware & be smart about your purchase.

To all those frequent shoppers…tell us your story? Have you ever gotten sucked into buying something just because of the great customer service?

Love always,

BR

those boots they call shoes

G’day Blogginistas!

…and may I say, Happy Autumn!

I apologize for posting a little later than usual…I was house/pet sitting for my parents over the weekend & was consumed with trying to be an adult & never managed to find an inspiration to write. Luckily, after a discussion with my younger sister we came to the conclusion that I should blog about Uggs- to wear or not to wear?

It’s that time of year again & whether you like it or not you have to bring out those cold weather essentials. I hate to admit it but I’m still holding on to summer by wearing flip flops (for convenience purposes!) in this cooling weather, but I have brought out some actual shoes. I’ve also brought out my Uggs, like I’m sure many of you Blogginistas also have done. Ladies, who knows how many pairs that may be, but guys I’m sure if you own a pair it’s the Tasmans.

If you already couldn’t tell, I LOVE Uggs & I recommend them to everyone. I believe everyone should splurge on a pair no matter what style-your feet deserve the touch of sheepskin. It’s pure fluffiness. I remember getting my first pair of Uggs during my sophomore year of high school (SIDENOTE: it was “cool” at my high school to wear Uggs & North Face…I don’t know why I ever thought that was fashionable). Anyways, I wore those Uggs out; the heels were run down & the fur pretty much disappeared.

I recently started shopping for a new pair of Uggs that I will purchase for the upcoming winter season (I hear it’s a bad one for the northeast, so I’d like my feet to at least be warm); I also did some research, not knowing much about the men’s collection. I gladly clicked the link for men’s Uggs & to my surprise Tom Brady invaded my laptop screen…evidently he’s a fan. You can view his campaign for Uggs here. I also discovered that the men’s collection has a very nice selection of shoes that look like they’re worth the money…so check it out fellas!

While shopping online, I came to a realization: Uggs should not replace all the beautiful shoes that I own. Yes, Uggs can be worn with any outfit…they are comfy & if you let me, I can & will convince you to buy a pair, but they still shouldn’t be considered “everyday shoes.” Way back when, I thought Uggs were great boots for the snow…& then I actually wore them in a foot of snow. My socks were soaked! The same goes if it’s raining-Uggs = BIG no-no! Have you ever worn black or brown Uggs without socks? I have & my toes & heels were dyed- don’t do it…you were warned. I also remember questioning Uggs my freshman year of college when a friend of mind wore them with every outfit he wore (except basketball shorts). I couldn’t help but think Don’t you have a real pair of shoes?

Like anything else in the world of fashion, I can find the goods & the not-so-goods of anything…& Uggs aren’t an exception for they have both good & bad qualities. My words of advice would simply be to not wear Uggs every day. And to those who haven’t owned a pair of Uggs, spoil yourselves! Spurge & try them out- I promise you will love them. Especially you guys out there- every man should own Uggs. I even convinced my cheapo father to invest in a pair…he loves them!

So I can’t speak of Uggs without linking you to their page…here’s the link to Uggs Australia. Happy shopping!

Whether you’ve owned them or not Blogginistas: Yay! or Nay! to Uggs??

Love always,

BR

No Pants

Alright Blogginistas…

My original idea for my blog post this week was the Emmy’s…I actually took notes during the award show about all the cool trends that stood out: like men in suits with plaid shirts & women with mismatch nails…but then I changed my mind (the same way I change my outfit several times before I walk out the door in the morning).

Well I have to say Jane Lynch was great, the fashion had its ups & downs as always, & it was another award show.  So this week my inspiration came from a weekend class assignment. On Saturday I was required to attend a poetry festival in the northern part of NJ at Blair Academy. Not knowing where I was headed, I dressed casually in jeans, a plaid shirt, & a sweater. My mother joined me for the day & dressed as I, but a tad more “dressed-up.” I have to say, if the other attendees were judging our outfits, I think we dressed rather appropriate. If the high school students that boarded at Blair Academy were the judges, the score wouldn’t be so nice. When I got back to my part of the state I did my research on this apparent prestigious high school. What wowed me- tuition. For students that choose to board it costs nearly $48,000 for just one school year; those who commute it drops down to about $34,000. Wow! I can’t even image what the expectation for college is. Evidently these students come from $$$, but that doesn’t mean their style isn’t achievable.   

Anyways…like my dearest mother & I, those who were simply attending the festival were dressed casual, typical, nothing out of the norm. Those who live there, high school students, were dressed preppy & perfectly. Let’s just say I’m still in awe by what they were wearing. Two students that stood out to me were most likely in the latter half of their high school years- they had to be about 16 or 17 years young. As I said before, I was wearing jeans. These two students wore pants, yet they were still dressed casual like on any other Saturday afternoon. The girl was wearing pink pants cuffed with combat boots- very menswear. The guy wore cargo pants, but he didn’t look sloppy. I also happened to see a private tour for a future student & his parents dressed similar- she in yellow pants & he in khakis. After my fashion-watching eyes spotted these beautifully dressed people, my jaw pretty much dropped & my mother was annoyed with the fact that I didn’t stop talking about their pants. I shut up about their clothes for the rest of the afternoon & thought about it instead…& the same question kept popping into my head. Why don’t I have pants? Of course I have a countless number of jeans (& may I say that I am loyal to American Eagle denim), I have Hard Tail yoga pants & a few sweats …but I don’t own those J.Crew-like preppy pants.

From my never-ending reading up on what’s trending this season I’ve discovered that colored pants are TOTALLY in this season for both men & women. Also, breaking a “major” rule, white jeans are going to be found a lot heading into fall & winter this year. With my week off from work in front of me I’m definitely going to head out to the stores & find me some pants. Don’t know how bold I’ll be in color, but I’m open to the trend…because let me tell you…it looks first-class.

Thinking about that, tell me Blogginistas…would you trade in your everyday jeans for pants?

Love always,

BR

Hey Blogginistas!

Those who know me well know that fashion is my life. I made the mistake of not getting involved with it early on (like before I chose my college major)… so now it’s become more of a hobby until I graduate & I can explore my options. Everything about fashion has captivated me & basically consumed my life where on my days off you can find me at the mall. My blog title Closet Full of Clothes but Nothing to Wear defines my lifestyle, & the lifestyle of many other fashion forward people. How many times do you open your closet & there’s 20 pairs of jeans, a bunch of tees, sweatshirts, & such…yet you can’t possibly get an outfit out of it? Let’s just say I’ve been late to class because of that major dilemma. I’m hoping my blog can inspire you all to open your closet & actually find something to wear that’s fashionable & defines you.

About a week ago I had the privilege to see-two feet away from me, may I add- some of Victoria’s Secret corporate employees. Ahh! Yes! It was amazing to see the geniuses behind the brand in person. So, along with every other notable brand, VS was in for New York’s Fashion Week. Just at a glance anyone could tell they weren’t ordinary people. Men & women dressed in all black…& dressed to the nines! Having fashion constantly on my mind, after seeing them I wondered how do they make black look so good?!

Now we all know men, women…black is slimming, it’s the most flattering of all shades to pick from….but personally out of countless the times I’ve worn all black, I’ve never made it look that good! Of course with that image in my mind I had to seek out a way to make black look original. Here are my thoughts:

v  It’s ALL about the fabric & textures & styles. You’ve got sequins, lace, silk…don’t just stick with simple cotton. And this goes for men too! Guys- women don’t just want to see you in tee shirts everyday…try those button downs,  roll up the sleeves and you’re good to go!

v  Accessorize. You’ve heard it time & time again, but when it comes to all black, it’s key. For the gals, it’s quite simple. Add a colorful necklace, cocktail ring, or funky watch. And for the men, when you dress up the cuff links are important. Add color through them or throw on a classic watch.

So now let me ask you Blogginistas…How do you make black look good?

Love always,

BR