Recently while going thru my favorite local magazine I came across an article spotlighting 2 stylish young women that blog about their own passion for fashion. Intrigued, I emailed them about their blogging beginnings and brought up the idea for future collaborations here on 365daygirl.com. So let me happily introduce Gabi & Julia of The Slash Project:
photo credit: Helga Weber
In part 1 of How to Style Yourself in Fast Fashion I gave you a few easy ways to get yourself into a rockin outfit and out the door. Now that the weather is cooling down you’ve got even more options and can get into the whole layering thing. Thankfully more options doesn’t mean you’re spending more time to pull off a glam ensemble. It just means more ways to Quickstyle ;) So here’s some more ways to work it: (more…)
I recently left a comment on one of my favorite girly websites FabSugar about a celebrity whatshername’s so called inability to rock a high fashion outfit. Because of blah blah blah that and blah blah blah this. *Grrrr*
It really gets my panties in a bunch whenever I hear women bash on other women for not wearing the right shoes, or having the wrong hair, or liking an outfit but disliking the woman in it, etc. etc. etc.
Why?
I have a few reasons:
Reason 1) It’s a goddamn free country!
And we are blessedly free women too! Despite budget limitations or capabilities great fashion is available to us all and we all have the blissful right to explore it and find our own style. Whether you can sew it, buy it, borrow or DIY it you are free to wear whatever you damn well like!
Reason 2) Style is a practice
I nearly go through the roof when hearing that someone (usually a celebrity caught in public headlights) is deemed by others as not having the “chops” to pull off high fashion. How does one get that skill? Practice practice practice! And progression! That means NO girl or woman should be limited to training wheels or a soft served diet of “classics” & “basics”. Practicing & experimenting with wilder shit and soon enough a girl will be rockin her own trends.
Reason 3) An outfit works or it doesn’t
I mentioned this in my comment – and it’s super simple really. Celebrities get the brunt of it because they are under the microscope every damn day while five bajillion non-celeb people each take turns poking at every little thing about them with tweezers. But us behind the scenes chicks get it too. You can get told by anyone from your mother to the sales girl that you are “too skinny!” or “um your hair should be longer”…tsk tsk! UGH!!!Being barred from wearing certain things based on the “opinion” of others is really cruel. And sometimes an entire outfit (and along with it the woman often enough!) is deemed unsuitable based on a tiny thing like a girl’s hairstyle or the color of her shoes when she should still get kudos for getting everything just fine. OR pointed in a more beautifying direction with a different color choice, etc. That “works”.
An outfit “doesn’t work” when absolutely nothing in the ensemble harmonizes or it all overloads the senses in a garish way – and that takes a helluva lot actually.
I get that there are fashion faux pas (”misstep” in French actually) and there are some ugly catastrophes that can occur but as long as a girl keeps a cool head and learns something as she experiments there is no reason for her to limit herself even when she doesn’t get every single thing perfect.
I KNOW because I myself have suffered the bad perms, neon biker shorts, and hammer pants of yesteryear *shudder*. But I learned and took stock (Curly hair is still fun – just shape it; Skin tight can be sexy, just be careful; hammer pants were the old haram pants, go figure!)
So can you, and everyone else. Just pay attention.
Meanwhile I’ll say it again and so should you: Fashion police – step off!
That is all – I’ll return next week for a more…informative post ;)
Happy Styling!
photo credit: John Fraissinet
Most of you probably dash out the door nearly every day. How does a girl have up-to-date style AND get to where she’s going in time?
I’ve found there are a few great quickies you can turn to when making yourself look fabulous day in and day out. Here’s some to start with that you don’t have to invest minutes and minutes on:
Quickstyle Tip 1: Get Your Belt On!
I love this trick because putting a belt on provides instant shape and is oh so feminizing to your figure. Wide belts are hourglass making and turn heads. While thin tight belts look smart and oh so pro. Don’t have a belt to suit? Try cinching a silky textured scarf around that torso! Think of belts as big beautiful bracelets for your waist and you’ll be in a very fashionable frame of mind!
Quickstyle Tip 2: Heel!
Every girl with any amount of glamor in her soul has got to have some heels with height in her closet. They don’t need to be skyscraping stilettos either – kitten heels do just fine and come in easy slip on styles. If you know there’s not a lot of walking in your immediately busy future then don’t sweat it and get your toes into something feminine especially if you are wearing pants! And believe me there are plenty of “comfortable” heels out there to suite any stylish girl’s taste.
Quickstyle Tip 3: Bling Yourself!
You can go from drab to fab in seconds just by pairing up a super casual outfit with some elegant blingy jewels. So if you already threw on the boy beater and jeans make it lux with some chandelier earrings and a stack of metallic bracelets. Or dress up that denim and tee shirt you’re sporting with some metallic pumps. Add a dangling bejeweled pendant to solid colored tops or a belt with some sparkle to basic slacks. Whatever you choose to add oomph to that “basic” outfit should shine with this technique.
Okay so that’s all the tips I’ve got for now cause I too am out the door!
Happy (Quick)Styling!
Meet Stacy – a real cool girl in the fashion industry
It is said that the world of fashion is a very cutthroat industry filled with not the nicest or even “realest” of folks. Those of us outside of its arena seem to have the impression that designers are demanding geniuses and models are fluffbrained little princesses. What I have found in my recent adventures in this so called fashion world has been refreshing however. It is a world that holds some very genuine people, just like you and me. They just happen to work with a lot of fabric – from the artists that are inspired to create beautiful clothing to the graceful girls that carry the vision on the runway.
I was fortunate enough to meet one such genuine soul during a local fashion show last month – and I’ve been very impressed with both her work, her attitude, and her sense of self within this frantic and often misunderstood industry.
Stacy Rabideau: (photographed above by Jeets Photography)- fashion model and proud of it!
Along with the height, the body, and the beauty this girl has a great head on her shoulders. And she just happens to love the work of modeling, probably not for reasons you would think either.
Reason number one – she loves meeting people. Already an astute observer she learned quickly how to be a savvy and charming networker . She’s the first to tell you how important it is to go right up to people and tell them “hey, what’s your story? what do you do?” or “I love your work”. The results of having those conversations have definitely paid off too. In just one short year since starting this whole modeling gig she’s got a ton of shoots under her belt and even a bit of runway under her feet such walking for local designer Kish Carter.
Reason number two – she enjoys working with artists and creative people. Photographers, makeup artists, designers, writers, videographers, even other models. She has an arsenal of awesome friends within the industry which gives her no shortage of work. This alone makes it such a fun activity for her and has rapidly added to her portfolio and professionalism.
Reason number three – she’s always learning something new. From ways to style herself, take direction, to how to talk to industry leaders she gets to digest a lot of great information that is more than just putting on a fabulous garment. Though she has been learning a lot about fashion itself and now finds it an exciting challenge getting out of her “jeans & tshirt” comfort zone (though she’ll still probably stay addicted to her favorite shop, The Buckle).
She’s also learned to stay cool under pressure during the fast paced ever changing scenes at runway shows, etc. Despite nerves, crazy heavy hair, and last minute changes in runway she’s learned to focus, improvise and rock it with genuine confidence and poise.
I hope she does super well and we’ll see more of her awesome realness in the future. In the meantime it’s great to see someone bring those lofty heights of fashion down home for the rest of us to be inspired by day to day.
photo credit: Ed Yourdon
Hot weather putting you in a style rut? Don’t worry! Looking fab under the sun is easier than you think. And you’ve got more options than just tiny tops & shorts.
Fresh Style Option 1: Tshirts
Tshirts are a classic Summer fashion staple. And they really are awesome if you think about it. They don’t cost a bundle and also afford you easy instant style. Each year as the weather warms up you get the chance to celebrate this awesomeness – the trick and the fun of it is doing it in a fresh way. That means pairing them with more than just shorts every day of the week. Get that fresh style by wearing them:
Fresh Style Option 2: Maxi Dress
Another fabulous Summer item, the maxi dress lets you get your sultry goddess on in whatever way you choose. Whether you go for daring dark colors in the heat or a vibrant mix of bright patterns this gown is comfortably glamorous. Because of its elegant shape and voluminous fabric keep your accessories simple and your hair and makeup non-fussy. And don’t just wear it for the evening – add some daytime elegance while the sun is still out!
photo credit: i-live.gr Greek News magazine
Fresh Style Option 3: Short Shorts
If you have the legs for it – and I’ve found wearing tiny shorts does a fab job of lengthening those stems – short shorts are a great way to beat the heat and look hot too (pun intended ha!). The trick with coordinating an outfit with shorts is the fabric and cut of your top. Don’t go for just the super casual cut offs with your boy beater top. That just looks fashionably lazy day in and day out. Instead try satin shorts in a light color for a more dressy feel – and pair with either a casual tank top or something blousy & sheer. Or wear the snaggly cut offs with a dressy feminine top for a wildly elegant look. Add a cool belt, some chunky bangles or a stack of pretty bracelets, or even a hat like this one. Just add interest and don’t forget the details.
photo credit: Jef Harris
So try these three options in the next week and revive your style! Next #wearablewednesday I’ll bring you some more inspiration to keep your season in the sun fashionable with Pt 2 of “Fresh Summer Style”.
Happy Styling!
Let me make an attempt to explain this passion – one of which I share with many girls – old and young. Fashion is an experience.
It’s not just about clothes. It’s about who is wearing what, when, and where. It’s about what an outfit is made of, who created it, where it will stand out. It’s this wonderful little puzzle or game to play every week, every season. From sun up to sun down your own body gets to be a dynamic piece of art that’s saying something interesting about the world you are living in, right now.
When you realize the fun you could have with fashion it takes out the exhaustion of following trends. You need not “follow” fashion like a sheep in a flock, but rather let it guide you like a dance partner. Let it twirl you about and enjoy working up a sweat for it – snagging those bargains or hot of-the-moment-items before the magic of it evaporates. Or start your own trend by taking lead yourself with wonderful wild abandon!
So go out there and play! I am (so my dress form Bridget pictured above)!
Make sure to read the next Wearable Wednesday post where I’ll share with you how your Style is your own unique response to Fashion.
<3 Apryl
This my lovelies is the t-shirt appropriately titled “Lady Umbrella is away with the birds” which I thought was a perfectly “tweetable” fashion piece to purchase online at www.ladyumbrella.com. It was a snap to buy and a breeze to wear. For those of you who would also like to make fashionable online purchases here’s a few tips:
Fashion Tip 1: T-shirts are a low-risk, easy way to start purchasing clothes online. T-shirts are effortless to wear and usually found at an affordable price. Just make sure to get a color that compliments your skin tone & features. *I’m a brunette with pale skin so this bold true blue looks wonderful on me. Blondes would look stunning in the peachy pink “Lady Umbrella likes to strut” while dark and olive skinned girls would rock the cheeky yellow “What came first the chicken or the umbrella?”.
Fashion Tip 2: Check out the unique accessory options either from the same store or from another online store to add to the look. Scarves, bangles, & earrings can all be easily paired with your t-shirt and won’t cost a lot either. If you are really bold look at some hats or shoes! Or if you are really on a budget just look in your own closet for some fun accessories that can freshen up your look. *I choose pink instead of blue to add some punch as you’ll see below!
Fashion Tip 3: If available before you check out and put down payment information look at any reviews that are listed by other shoppers who have purchased the garment. You might save yourself some heartache or a wrong size choice. At Lady Umbrella though you can trust you’ll get a great garment since Rob & Elena have given all their shirts rigorous testing.
So are you ready to make your own awesome purchases online! Let me hear about it by commenting below. Also feel free to share your own tips for shopping online & off. And stay tuned for more fashion awesomeness next week ;)
Happy shopping!
photo credit: Adam Foster | Codefor
Fashion, my dears is not just about wearing clothes. It’s a whole lot more.
Everyday you get dressed you are affecting how well you get stuff done in the world, what you are saying about yourself, and showing others how much of a truly interesting person you are. Let me explain:
Of course clothing first has it’s function: Swimming suits for swimming, windbreakers for keeping out the chill, and hats to keep the sun out of your face on a bright day. Since the human animal gave up most of it’s protective furriness a long time ago it needed to layer itself in the skins of the critters it hunted instead. Eons later we’re still gallivanting across the world doing a number of things in a number of climates and environments if not so much hunting. However it’s not all about covering our bits from the elements. The clothing we choose to wear day to day must not only protect us but also enhance our movements, activities, and even the roles we perform right? Ballerina’s don’t leap elegantly in jeans. Eskimo’s don’t hunt in their skivvies. Navy seals aren’t stealth in orange tulle.
Same goes for you whether you are a receptionist, stripper, or housewife. The first order of the day when you get dressed is – “will I be able to [chase after a two year old in these shoes?] [walk down to the file room in this skirt?] [grip that pole with this feather boa on?]“. Usually this is all automatic and subconscious, which brings me to the next point:
Your clothing is talking about you. Are you doing a good job of putting words in it’s mouth? Or are you just letting your outfit babble on about you to everyone who lays eyes on you?
When you are a single girl and on the market you want to show some leg, a little (or a lot) of cleavage, and accentuate as much of your bodacious feminine bits as possible. You don’t dress in a suite and tie and you don’t wear a ring on your left hand. Why? Because it’s sooooo much easier to let your clothes speak for you instead of shouting out to the streets “ATTENTION MEN! I’M A HOT, SINGLE WOMAN! COME TALK TO ME!”. You also know that men are visual creatures and are looking for the female in her most feminine form.
Conversely when you return to the office the next morning your best professional bet is to tuck that man magnetizing cleavage away and lengthen that skirt for decidedly less leg. Otherwise instead of seriously discussing that business deal with you your male co-workers brains will be scrambled with sexy static as they stare at your halter top.
What you wear is going to say things about you even when you just want to stay mum and get your work done. So get the message right. Then you may ask: “What do I want my clothes to say about ME anyway?”. Well how awesome you are for a start, which leads us to the final point:
This is where you can leave the obsession to follow trends behind – You don’t have to keep up with the mad dash of who’s-wearing-what-now. Why not? Because YOU are your own person! YOU have your own style. I like to call it “signature style” since it’s how you stylishly leave your mark on the world. Sometimes people won’t remember your name, or what you said, but their vision of your style and charm will be emblazoned on their memory if you are genuinely dressing for yourself.
You get to be you and expressing that with fashion is genuinely fun and satisfying way to show the world. What this means is wearing your favorite colors, shapes, patterns, where you want and when you want in a stylish way. Cause you know your body and what makes it look great. It’s you showing off your sexy arms in tank tops while your best friend accentuates her long legs in shorts. Looking and feeling blithely fabulous in high heels when the IT shoe is ballet flats. Or vice versa! Whatever YOUR style happens to be.
So, what are you wearing today?
Why?
What does today’s outfit say about you?
Leave your fashionable comment!
Also feel free to follow me on Twitter (@365daygirl) for more fashion fun! :)
-Apryl keepin it really Real :)
365daygirl: All or Specific? Attitude&Lifestyle Beauty Fashion Work&Play Sex&Love All Girlness!
