Monday, September 21, 2015

Autumn Lookbook: Part One (Dresses, Skirts, Blouses--Oh, My!)

Posted by Meghan at 5:14 AM 0 comments
Autumn is finally upon us! This is my favorite season of the year, and while I love pumpkin-flavored everything and the pretty candles, the best part is wearing all of my cute clothing!

As I was compiling pieces that I wanted to bring to the table in this lookbook, I realized that I had quite a few categories with quite a few styles in them! So, I thought why not split my Autumn lookbook into three parts?

So, today, you'll get a dose of dresses, skirts, and blouses that will help you ease into that fall spirit!


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First up is the ever-so versatile dress! I am in love with dresses, and this year, many stores are creating some great styles that make the transition from summer to fall quite easy!

Patterned dresses are a must-have for fall. They're so easy to dress up or down with a cardigan or jean jacket, and they often work in more than one season! Here are a few of my favorites:




(Old Navy has quite a few pattern options of this adorable tee dress, as well!)

These are nice transitional patterns that won't go out of style too soon. And, especially with the top dress option, you could certainly wear it in spring as well! The bottom one could be worn into winter, I'd wager!

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Plain dresses are perfect for fall as well--whether you're wearing them with a pair of practically patterned ballet flats or some edgy ankle booties, you're destined to look great!



Now, those are both on the pricier end, but Forever 21 + HM both have some pretty, plain dresses as well! Dresses are also a matter of opinion. It's hard to gauge what shape/style/color is versatile for everyone and what's not, but I tried to choose four options that seemed the best for the upcoming fall season. Now, onto skirts!

EDIT: I added the little yellow trapese dress because it was just too cute to pass up! Plus, it's relatively inexpensive! It also comes in black + teal.

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Skirts get overlooked quite often, I've found out! So, I'm going to try and bring them back into the spotlight this season!

We'll start with plain skirts this time around!




I love the looks of these skirts! I found it interesting, too, that they're all different textures. If there was one thing I wish I had more of in my closet, it's texture. Texture can really change an outfit, especially when you start combining textures that you haven't done before! I love played with them, and you all should definitely give it a go! Onto patterned skirts!

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A few patterned skirts will look great in your closet! Whether you pair them with a plain tee or a chambray shirt, you're sure to be comfortable and adorable!




Like I said above, patterned skirts are adorable--if you pick the right pattern and style! A lot of it will consist of trying different styles on, then finding a pattern in the best style for your body shape. I will say, A-line seems to look good on most women, but there are always exceptions!

And, finally for skirts, one last section--midi skirts.

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If you asked me a year ago if I liked midi skirts, I probably would have glared at you. I'm relatively short, so to me they seemed pointless, and that they'd make me look shorter. In reality, though, I've realized that it all depends on how you style them--duh!

So, without further ado, let's go!



They look great with ankle booties (which will be included in installment four of this series!) and ballet flats alike--you just need to decide what kind of look you're going for! Though they're a little out there and different, they make for a great year-long staple in your closet!

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Finally, we'll talk about blouses!

The thing I love most about fall is that it's cool enough that I don't have to go out in a tank and gym shorts every day to be comfy, but I also don't have to bundle up. With that being said, I'd like to start with the short-sleeve/sleeveless blouses in this category!




contrast-collar boxy top, $18.

These short-sleeve blouses are perfect for layering under cardigans or chic blazers, depending on where you're headed! They're fine as stand-alone pieces, too, which helps with that awkward transition period! Onto the long-sleeve blouses!

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Long-sleeve blouses probably aren't necessary until around November, but if there's a chilly day during September or October, a few long-sleeve, light-weight blouses are nice to have!





I'm extremely partial to the last blouse listed above, but they're all perfect for autumn! Like I've been saying, you can dress all of these up or down with just a change of shoes or jacket! These blouses (the first long-sleeve one in particular) are basics that everyone should have in their closets!

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So, there you have it--the first installment of my Autumn Lookbook! Next up: sweaters, sweaters, and more sweaters! Enjoy the cooler weather as it rolls in!

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Trendsetting... Or, Fad-setting? (Class Blogging #1)

Posted by Meghan at 1:43 PM 0 comments
I'm in an IMC class, which stands for Integrated Marketing Communication, and every few weeks we have to write a blog post based on a prompt. I think I might start posting them here!

Anyways, this week's prompt was 'Trends vs. Fads', meaning we had to write about both fads and trends we've participated in. So, here's my answer:

As someone who has been interested in fashion since freshman year of high school, I have gone through an outrageous number of fads. To try and find some to write about, I went digging through my Facebook profile (terrifying, I know) to try and dredge up something that wasn't entirely embarrassing to share. The only thing I could really find there was a slew of ridiculous graphic tees from Limited Too, circa 2006. I loved those shirts so badly, and though they were mass-produced monstrosities with glittery cartoons of monkeys, dogs, frogs, or cats on them, I had almost every single one the store made. It admittedly was not the height of my fashion sense, but it was what every girl at my junior high school wore. It really only lasted until junior high ended, and Limited Too fell out of business completely, which obviously put an end to those shirts that I'd saved up all of my allowance for. Justice replaced Limited Too soon afterwards, and little twelve-year old me couldn't find it in me to replace a store I once loved--and neither could the other girls in my junior high school.
Trends for me are a little more relevant, though I do cycle through quite a few of those as well. If you had asked me three or four years ago to wear a pair of plain, black leggings, I would have probably given you some choice words. I never was a fan of them in high school, thinking that they looked not-put-together and just not my style at all (I had just gotten my first job at Gap, mind you), so I ignored them and kept buying jeans and jeans and jeans. Almost as soon as I got to college, though, my perspective on fashion shifted quite a lot. I found it harder and harder to dress cute for classes at nine in the morning, and started resorting to gym shorts and a t-shirt or something similar. It wasn't until fall of freshman year that I realized I'd need something comfier and warmer to go to classes in, once the temperature dropped. And, thus, my love of leggings began. Now, I've got a slew of leggings in my sock drawer, in a multitude of colors. Like every other girl on campus, I'll break them out as soon as the temperature drops below 70 degrees, along with my flannel shirts and baggy sweatshirts. They've turned from a trend to a staple in my closet, which my roommates love to berate me for. Leggings are here to stay, people. At least for a few more years.

So, there's my answer! Let me know what fads + trends you've fallen victim to!
 

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