Showing posts with label fashion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fashion. Show all posts
I feel like I haven't really done a fun fashion post in a while, and I have accumulated some pretty great threads this season. As I have been living in the city for the past three months and have embraced all that is street style. My idea of street style is very casual and relaxed, yet trendy and sporty at the same time. As a college student, I have to be honest, what I think about my looks hasn't really been given as much thought as I did in high school, mainly because I'm not in classes for eight hours a day and can literally just get back in bed (which I don't normally do) whenever I want after.
I have really been inspired by Gigi Hadid and Lucy Hale because their laid-back fashion resonates with me so much. I don't think fashion has to be so luxurious or even formal to be considered stylish and trendy. I love pops of color and different textures; this outfit is probably my go-to city and college wear because it is so comfortable to wear and travel in.
The first component or piece of this outfit is the very vibrant, mustard sweater. I saw this Zara Sweater from a mile away. At first, I was like "I have too many mustard sweaters," but then I found myself going back to it everytime I went back to the mall and I just couldn't resist. I've worn it so much and think it's the perfect sweater for this time of year. It almost looks cropped, which I love because it looks so nice with high waisted jeans and trousers.
I paired this sweater with more of an edgier leather jacket that I bought from H&M a couple years ago. I couldn't actually find it on the website because I think I bought it on sale, but they have many other ones similar to it. I feel like a leather jacket can add so much to an outfit as casual and laid back as this one is.
My extremely comfortable Adidas joggers are probably my biggest staple clothing item this season. I think these pants are so trendy and many people are wearing jogger sweats as an everyday and normal clothing piece. Especially in the city, I'm seeing many women and men wearing them all over. The black and white contrast of these with the three stripes on the sides are very modern and simple. I love them paired with this look. It's so comfy!
The newest addition to my shoe collection is these Adidas Superstars. I call them my "cloud shoes" because I literally feel like I'm walking on clouds. I love that these shoes can be so versatile and paired with pretty much anything. They're the perfect commuter shoes and are actually more comfortable to walk in than my Nike sneakers are.
Fall is all about being cozy and comfortable because it's getting more towards the holidays and finals week is this week, so comfort is key. I am all for making an outfit look put together, while also keeping flexibility and movement throughout. This Thanksgiving week, I think I am going to take a break from the blog and spend time with my puppy and family, but will be back for many new Christmas and December themed posts shortly, so stay tuned! What are your plans for the holidays?
Follow Ashley's Instagram and check out her portfolio for more sweet pics!
📷: Ashley Brokaw Instagram: @ashley_brokaw
A regular trend I have been noticing throughout the fashion industry is lots and lots of patches on clothing, specifically florals. I have been attracted to the simple look of having just a basic tee with some really detailed embroidering.
I feel like my style is changing, and it constantly does. The more I have noticed in my wardrobe are basic tops with floral patches and stitching, more vibrant pieces, and very relaxed fit clothing. I have always enjoyed clothes that are just a little bit bigger on me: the boyfriend fit to be exact.
I have the freedom to move around and tuck my tops in without uncomfortably tight sleeves and necklines. I recently bought this rose applique tee from H&M. H&M and many other higher street retailers are getting on top of the current trends.
I have also been shamelessly obsessed with my John Lennon sunnies. For my face, in particular, these shades flatter round faces so much, if you can believe it. They're simple and edgy—I'm all about it.
I just paired these two with classic ripped black jeans and my brown leather Chelsea boots. My fall look this year isn't as berry lip or scarf filled as I had hoped because the weather is still 70 degrees. I think winter will let me get more into my fall wardrobe. It's been a struggle transitioning with my closet this year because the weather has been so unpredictable. Does anyone feel the same way?
Photo Credit: Lex Namy
Over this past week, it had reached up into the 90s, which is pretty uncommon for Chicago weather. However, Chicago weather is totally unpredictable anyway. I know I love talking about the weather more than anyone else, but it has really effected the way I dress. It's almost the first of October and on the first day of fall it was almost a hundred degrees. I knew I could stretch my dress and shorts wearing for another couple of weeks.
My lovely friend Wiktoria and I spent the afternoon one day after class exploring my college neighborhood, which is Lincoln Park, and found some hidden places that were great for photographing. I love Lincoln Park and all of its hidden treasures, so I will definitely be exploring more in the future.
I was at American Eagle a couple weeks ago and fell in love with this adorable cut-out floral dress. It's the perfect day or night dress and I have found that you can really dress it up with a leather jacket and heels if you need to. It has lavender and blush tones in it and the detailing on the top are what really drew me towards it. I paired it with basic, brown gladiators, but I can see this being layered with a sweater, boots, and a cute scarf maybe in the fall and colder months.
I'm a sucker for any floral print and I really think florals are coming back into style like on embellished jackets, appliquéd t-shirts and jeans, and many other pieces of clothing. I've seen multiple bloggers wear pieces with red roses and flowers, so I would definitely get on that cute bandwagon! Florals are so timeless and can be worn all year round in my opinion. It just depends on how you style them!
I normally don't follow the "no white after Labor Day" rule, so I have recently purchased a couple pieces that I love wearing around campus. It has surprisingly been cooler and fall-like here in Chicago, but I am hoping that it will warm up soon so I can wear some more of my summer clothes. It's a bummer when you bring all of your summer clothes and it ends up being 60 degrees on the first week of school.
The first item I got was about a month ago when I was shopping at American Eagle. They're these really cool and retro round shades. They have an awesome industrial detailing on the sides, which I love. I never thought I could pull them off, but I think they really flatter my face shape.
I actually bought this dress from Dry Goods and it was my first time going there. I was browsing and they had a lot of really cute tops and dresses. I found their sale racks and this really cute dress was on it for only twelve bucks. I tried it on and loved it. My favorite part is the little gold detailing on the ties.
For my birthday this past month, I really wanted a new pair of Adidas sneakers and I really wasn't sure which type I wanted. I knew people had these and my sister has them, but the Adidas Superstar sneakers are probably the most comfortable shoes I have owned because I have wide feet and they really support my arches. I was skeptical getting white, but since my school is in the city, I barely get them muddy or scuffed really. What has been you go-to, school outfit?
On a somewhat cloudy and overcast Monday, my best friend Ellaby and I decided to go take a trip downtown Chicago for a get together and also because she was gone for two months in Germany for an exchange program. Also, since Lollapalooza has just ended, the city was barren and pretty calm for a girl's day out.
My outfit was kind of grunge chic. I have been loving camo print and oversized shirts and jeans. My Zara shirt is actually a unisex tee and I love the relaxed cut. I paired it with an American Eagle Bralette that adds a bit of femininity to it as well as some layered necklaces. My bottoms are also American Eagle and my Birkenstocks which gave me hella blistered feet, but well worth the look.
Ellaby and I wanted to do some of the "touristy" like things and take a couple pictures in front of the Willis Tower and by The Bean. It's never a bad time for some Instagram photo ops with my bestie! We were happy that it never rained and shopped around before we headed to my main motivation, Bombobar.
While I love paying for aesthetically appealing food, it really did taste good. I have heard many and seen many posts about this cafe place before; I just couldn't resist. They have infused donuts and gelato. I chose pistachio gelato with sprinkles, Fruity Pebbles, and a maple cream infused donut. It was a flavor explosion! Ellaby had a matcha flavored gelato with Carmel and captain crunch. I would really recommend skipping lunch or dinner at the Bar Siena which is the main restaurant and go straight to dessert!
There are still many unknown treasures in the heart of the city that I have yet discovered and I am excited for living four years in the middle of it. I will never be bored or hungry! I had a lovely day and I was wondering what favorite cafes you have in your town? Instagramable? Delicious? Both?
Photo credentials to my lovely friend, Ellaby.
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Over this past weekend, my older sister and I decided to go downtown with my older sister and check out the Wicker Park Fest--consisting of music, food, art, and shopping. I have never really explored Wicker Park in Chicago, but I have passed through it on the way to DePaul University. Wicker Park is kind of known as the "art district" for its detailed murals, festivals, and creative residents. There wasn't going to be only one picture taken in front of a mural.
I wore a simple Adidas black and white tee, some high-rise shorts, and my Birks! This outfit probably is the definition of my style and how laid back I love to dress sometimes. It's comfy and casual.
I love exploring the city and I hope college will allow me to keep on discovering new things about it and I am ready to see how living downtown will immerse me more into the urban culture. Every city is unique and different in its own way. This festival is one of many I plan on attending in the future. What do you love about your city?
I love exploring the city and I hope college will allow me to keep on discovering new things about it and I am ready to see how living downtown will immerse me more into the urban culture. Every city is unique and different in its own way. This festival is one of many I plan on attending in the future. What do you love about your city?
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I am all about finding good deals, so when I heard that Old Navy was having a Bogo sale, I had to check it out. Amidst the clearance racks and all, I didn't find many things I really wanted, but I did score a couple items that I really love.
I also made the $1 flip flop sale which is always something my aunt and I look forward to because they have the best multi colored flip flops for the summer.
The first thing I found was this very minimal bracelet that came in a pack of three with gold, silver, and gunmetal. I love minimalistic jewelry and I gave the other ones to my friends. Three were only about three dollars and I was happy with this buy because I normally don't pick out any jewelry when I'm shopping.
The next thing I really fell in love with was this Fringe Hemmed Tank that also came in black and orange. I think fringe is totally back in style and is so subtle and chic on this summery top.
I stray away from white, but just couldn't because of the cute detailing. I bought this for ten bucks and have worn it way too many times already. It's a staple in any women's wardrobe. You can tuck it into some festival shorts or layer it with a patterned cardigan.
The last thing I couldn't manage to put down were these Lace Up Flats that were only four bucks! They're this beautiful periwinkle color and I have never owned shoes like these before. I am going to be adventurous with the pointy toe and see how it goes! They were so on sale that I couldn't pass 'em up.
I tried to find at least a match to what I bought because these were on clearance. The bracelet was hard to find. Old Navy always has hidden treasures and classic staples that really never go out of style. What do you love about Old Navy?
Happy late Easter for those of you who celebrate it and also I hope everyone has been having a nice spring. My family and I went to Richmond, Virginia to visit my older sister who is there for an internship and also my very close family friends, or "cousins", just moved out there, as well. It was forecasted to be mid 80s all Easter weekend which was AMAZING. It was in the 70s in Chicago, but no it's back to 50 and I have no idea why Chicago has terrible lake weather. I got to wear shorts every single day and I think I even got tan for prom which is also this upcoming Saturday. I wanted to share one outfit that I wore because I loved it so much.
I ended up wearing my Topshop Aviators, Target cactus tee, American Eagle shorts, Birkenstocks, and all paired with my Kate Spade Spencer Court crossbody bag that I love. I felt so light and springy in this outfit and loved the way the denim went with the cactus print.
Pictured above is my younger sister (left), close friend (right), and I posing at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello or basically his entire "mini mountain" of land. We explored the property or "TJ's" home as my friend and sister would say. We did a lot of touring around Virginia and we also got to visit the University of Virginia because that's where my friend's brother goes to college and it was very nice touring the campus and seeing all of the colonial architecture that it had to offer. We spent most of Easter weekend outside and enjoying each other's company; relaxing in between feasts by snacking on abundant ham and Easter candy.
I am always so amazed by the history that can be explored along the east coast and I love visiting everytime I go (even if it feels like a school field trip sometimes with all of the history lessons). It's amazing to see how much has changed since our founding fathers created this country and I'm glad I got to explore more parts of it. I hope everyone had a happy Easter weekend and is enjoying the nice spring weather! What were your Easter plans?
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It's usually not normal for me to purchase spring shoes early on in the season, but there have been a couple pairs that have really caught my eye over the past few months. I love shoes, and my obsession keeps on growing and growing. I've read the articles, seen the posts, watched the lookbooks, I've made my decision on only two pairs of shoes that I really wanted for this season. I purchased these Chanel-like, American Eagle Espadrille Flats and these Arizona Soft Footbed Birkenstocks as my splurges for this season.
I knew that I wanted a flat type shoe to wear during the spring and summer; one that would be cute enough to wear with a dress and casual enough to wear with shorts or capris. I love the look of espadrilles right now on all of the fashion bloggers and what not, so I was like "what the heck", and bought a nicer and less expensive pair to put to the test. After a couple wears and trotting around my house with them, they broke in nicely to my rather wide sized feet. I think they would fit perfectly on more narrower sized feet, but wearing socks with them every now and then inside can get the job done. They have another pair in black, but I loved the look of this nudey-taupe color.
The quality and thickness of the sole and base of the shoe is really nice and sturdy. It's not cheaply made and you can tell by just feeling it. I love how you can tie and zipper the shoe up so you don't have to constantly tie it all the time. I have never felt "squished" in these. I have never worn close toed, cut out flats before.
Then I finally gave in and had to buy a pair of Birks. I have been trying to convince myself that they are the ugliest shoes ever, but they're so comfortable and practical shoes to wear during this time of year. I caught onto the bandwagon and saved up my money for these. I love how I can adjust them and the arch helps with my wide feet.
I like the copper hardware on these and they are incredibly soft. At first, they gave me a little rug burn because they were brand new, but now I have also broken them in and love them so much. It's unfortunate that Chicago is still 40 degrees out! I am so ready to pair these with sundresses and rompers.
What spring shoes do you plan on wearing this season?
It's almost towards spring and I am incredibly excited for a major spring cleaning. I have already cleaned out my purse and that got me very psyched for more of the organizing and cleaning out that this new season brings. This will be a pretty short post, shorter than usual, but I thought it would be fun to share what I normally keep in my bag! I love reading these and finding out who puts what where and I always find new tips and tricks to keep my bag clean and easy to access my important goodz.
This purse was a Christmas present I got this year and it is a Kate Spade crossbody, I have no idea what the name or type it is, and I have no available link. However, I'm sure if you just type in "black crossbody" across the interweb, you should probably come pretty close to finding it (let me know if you do!). I normally love to have a nice, quality wallet in my purse so everything is safe and secure. I think a friend gave this Louis Vuitton wallet to me, so again, I have no available source to find it or purchase it (sorry). I'm a huge believer in finding the perfect bag; one that will be with you forever and will practically last forever. Not only are these styles pretty classic and timeless, they're great quality purses (even if they were a bit more pricier). I also love hand-me-down bags because I feel like you can tell if they're really going to last if they look brand new after someone has used them.
Some very valuable things I keep in here, besides my credentials and obviously money, are my Iphone 7, my car keys, a pair of my absolute favorite sunnies (these are from a cute boutique in Oklahoma), some Orbit chewing gum that I can't get enough of, bobby pins cuz ya know, a roller ball perfume, which I have also been loving recently. It's the Taylor Swift Wonderstruck rollerball perfume. It's very sweet and fruity. I also like to keep some Midol for cramps and other products like that, and I always make sure to have some type of stain remover. The Shout Remover Wipes are the bomb. You can use it wherever and whenever, give it to a friend, and just easily pack it for trips. Normally, I'll have some type of lip balm in my bag and I have been obsessed with the EOS Summer Fruit lip balm and have to resist from eating it (lol).
What's in your bag?
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Hello everyone and I hope you've had a great week! I'm trying to finish up a lot of school work before I go on Thanksgiving break and I am just so excited for a well-deserved time off. If you haven't read my last and most recent post, I will be out of town and blog-free for a week. It seems scary to just leave something you've been so consistent with but, I think it's for the best that I don't over do it.
So, today I have a mini OOTD post. I really enjoy doing these types of posts for you guys. I'll usually just take these when I'm out and about and "feeling ma outfit" for the day. Here's where everything is from:
Marble Jacket- Target
Striped Top- Zara
Rose Colored Jeggings- American Eagle Outfitters
Crossbody- Urban Outfitters
Sneakers- Platinum Nike Free Rn
A recent find was this marble jacket that I bought on clearance at Target. I love Target. Target has one of the best clothing collections, in my opinion. They cease to amaze me as I venture through their amazing store.
Marble has been a very popular trend lately and what more could you want with marble on a jacket?! It's a very light, wind-breaker type of athletic jacket; however, I love wearing it with jeans for everyday. If you couldn't tell already, I'm really into athleisure.
I feel like sneakers shouldn't just be used for working out and don't have to look really ugly and out of place when paired with jeans or jeggings. It's a very minimal and modern look-- I'm obsessed!
I am really liking this type of format for short OOTD posts and think they're really fun to read and see what everybody else has been wearing. Let me know if you guys like this format for some fashion posts I could do in the future.
See you all in a week and have a happy Thanksgiving! Xoxo, Nat
Normally, I do a back to school shop but, this year I didn't have time to do any of it so over the past couple months I have been collecting some new pieces for this season. Fall is my favorite time of year to really express my style; it's super easy to think of outfits because you don't have to deal with oppressing heat and sun all the time. Layering pieces and not wearing flip flops everyday is something that I always get excited about for this time of year.
I haven't worn colored pants since the sixth grade but, boy do these blushed AEO Denim X Jeggings look so cute! I know that pink is not normally a color you would wear in the fall but, I think this shade really works. Especially paired with a black and white flannel, it can add a nice touch of color without making you look like an Easter extravaganza. They're so comfortable and were only $20 at American Eagle!
I have always loved the look of booties and chelsea boots, specifically, look great paired with skinny jeans. I wanted a pair that would have a slight heel and were also a different color other than chestnut or black. The AEO D-Ring Western Bootie is quite the bootie! At first, they were a bit snug, probably due to the pointed toe, but I broke them in and they can really dress up any fall look, which I love. They're classic and timeless--a great fall shoe.
I have been obsessed by the look of a cute, woven pom pom hat lately. This one I actually got a while back at H&M is no longer on the website, but I linked one similar anyway. You can feel warm and snug while looking very cute and ready for winter!
Another thing that I found was this huge blanket scarf from the Target dollar section (of course). Whenever I go to Target they always seem to be out and this one happened to be there one day and I was like, "Uhhh why haven't I ever seen this before?!". It was only $7 and it's honestly one of the best scarves I have ever owned. I love the dark greens and blues in it instead of your usual reds and beige colors you seen in fall scarves; perfect for fall and winter, as well.
I have been loving the fall fashion trends lately and am always up for a change! Let me know what types of pieces or trends you guys have been loving this fall down below.
Xoxo, Nat
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