So, now that I have made my (probably abysmal) attempt at delving into the mind of one Laura J. M. , it is now my turn to defend why I not only own a few maxi dresses myself, but find they can be quite the fashion statement to a wardrobe. To begin, I am even shorter than our average 5'4" lady, coming in at a nice 5'2.5" so if any fashion is going to make a girl look shorter, that would be me to a T. Also, I am very susceptible to being swallowed by a pattern being of a petite size. But this does give me a firm advantage in the realm of maxi dresses (not to sound conceited). Maxi Dresses must be worn very carefully; if not done so, they will look completely unflattering unless you are in that 1% anorexic model section of the population. Yes, I am petite, but again that leads to being overwhelmed by a pattern. That in mind, let's take a look at a few of the key points in finding the right maxi dress for you.
Confidence
This is the most important factor to rocking any outfit, as I am sure Laura would tell you any day, being the front-runner of the Fabulous (yes, this is now a noun). If you have confidence in your body (the one you actually have, not the one you *think* you *should* have) you can rock almost anything. Of course, you should be prudent. There are just some things no one can pull off, and it is important to recognize a losing battle when you see one. But if you are confident in your body, you WILL carry yourself differently and have a much better chance at succeeding in that fashion adventure you chose. Personally, I truly love wearing an outfit that pushes the boundaries of accepted norms. So be bold, chose that dress that brings out the sexy in you... But in order to truly do this, you must begin with confidence and love of yourself. I knew a girl in college who could rock anything she wanted to, just by the fierceness of her self-confidence. And she was 5'0" and had some amazing curves.
Next, you want to make sure you aren't being lost in a pattern or print. This is especially important for those of us that are short. I own two maxi dresses and both have prints. Again, I am short. The trick here is the kind of pattern you have chosen. If you are planning on doing an all-over pattern, make sure it isn't a "zoomed-in" pattern. It needs to be a smaller pattern for it to be okay when enveloping your entire body. If it is too much, you will just be lost in a sea of kaleidoscopes. My other dress is a solid colored dress with one big flower print on it. The flower print is large yes, but not all-encompassing. So you notice the print but I am not lost in the midst.
Silhouette is also very important to pay attention to. Should you go with an empire waist? More likely than not, no. I frequently run into the issue of not wanting to appear pregnant. If you feel this way as well, be careful which empire-waisted dress you choose. This is frequently a by-product... If you are pregnant, however, go for the completely-boho-mama look and work the empire waist! Neckline is also a big player here. Halter, strapless, spaghetti straps... the list goes on. Know what flatters your body the best and go with that. Frequently, the ladies who are a little top-heavy need some additional support. So go with a halter top (not deep-V) and be confident in the curves God gave you. If you are wanting to show off that narrow waist of yours, be sure to pick a bust line that will assist with this, and by all means - add a belt! What if you have "boy-hips"? Well, why not try a dropped waist? Show off the body you do have, and add a little fun to the hips you have.
Find a pattern or print that not only suits your body, but your personality as well. Clothes should be a megaphone for the kind of persona we are attempting to portray. If you are being subtly sexy, why not try a dark colored maxi dress with no pattern or print at all? Let your body and confidence do the talking. I guarantee you will be noticed. If you are going for drama, try an understated animal print. And everyone loves some variety... try a different neckline or a dropped back. There are so many options out there, but don't settle for one you are not confident in. Chose a dress that shows off the features you are most proud of (albeit not too much) and a pattern that is fun and flirty.
Also, my personal favorite trait of the maxi dress:
They are incredibly Boho!!!
So what, exactly does this mean? Well to explain that would mean to explain the meaning of "boho". I'm not sure this is something that can be explained so much as felt. It is a spirit of adventure and freedom. The idea of not being tied down by the world, but taking up challenges and risks with a fiery passion. It is the love of nature and the smell of honeysuckles. It is truly owning a sense of self and having pride in who you are. But most of all, it is a free spirit, one living life to the fullest and never tainted by the cares of this world. Living every moment in the hand of an Almighty God and feeling blessed by every life-giving breath. Knowing that each day is a gift, not to be squandered but to make the most of. That is what it truly means to me to be Livin' Boho Chic. (Not to mention having a great fashion sense!)
If this doesn't make sense to you; well, are you really Livin' Boho Chic?
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Blog Challenge: Maxi Dresses
So, my best friend and I - the illustrious Laura (author of thefabulousisland.blogspot.com) have decided we should each write two blog entries (or two sections at least). Each one of these will be on my point of view and one on her point of view. The challenge is making an attempt to write not only our own viewpoint, but write another from the other's point of view. So here goes...
Blog Challenge Part 1:
Being Fabulous (with a capital F mind you) it is part of my responsibility to society to point out when they are dead wrong about fashion. I mean, please, haven't you ever watched What Not To Wear?! I have had a long standing hatred of maxi dresses and I am now being called to justify this. Why, I am not entirely sure, but I will not disappoint. Let's look at this from a Fabulous stand point.
The entire purpose of clothing is to flatter your body right? Does a maxi dress really do that for you? Okay, lets subtract the 1% of the population that this actually works on (like the amazingly gorgeous Christine...) Now, does this actually FLATTER your body shape? 99% of the time, the answer is a complete NO. Most dresses are designed so that the silhouette of the dress itself flatters the body. Not so with the maxi dress. Most of the time they are clingy, and in all the wrong places. Is it really wise to allow so much fabric to cling to all of those body parts that really need a little bit of love? Let's face it, we all have that area we are not so proud of and don't really want to emphasize. The truth of the matter is that we just need to learn to love our bodies, but do we? Be honest. So, while we are learning to truly love ourselves, we might as well give our bodies as much help and flattering silhouettes as we can. This certainly does not include a floor length dress clinging to all the wrong places. A properly fitting dress should be slimming at the waist line, and flare in an A-line skirt before cutting off slightly below the knees. What does a maxi dress do? While many certainly slim at the waist, they do not have an A-line skirt (assisting the image that your waist is the smallest part of you) and in fact emphasize the bootylicous-ness you actually have going on.
Next complaint: a floor length dress that isn' a gown? Really?
All this does is make short people look shorter. Sure, a tall, freakishly skinny model can pull this off. But the average citizen? Umm, no. If you are short, or the average female height of 5'4", the dress is just going to make you look shorter. Isn't one of the fashion goals to elongate your body? Maxi dresses do absolutely nothing for this goal unless you are hiding 5" heels underneath (which of course I would approve of). Also, most maxi dresses are supposed to be a bold fashion statement, so they also come with a bold (frequently overwhelming) pattern. So let's take our average 5'4" lady, and stick a floor length dress with an all-over pattern on her. Want to know what affect this has? Making her look short and entirely swallowed by said pattern. Not flattering at all. And if she has a few curves, it probably isn't helping that area much either...
Bottom Line: Maxi dresses are flattering on approximately 1% of the population. And the majority of those women are tall and anorexic. I would much rather be confident in the body I have, and flatter the curves God gave me, than be able to rock a maxi dress and looking like I haven't eaten in months.
Sincerely, The Fabulous Laura
Blog Challenge Part 1:
Being Fabulous (with a capital F mind you) it is part of my responsibility to society to point out when they are dead wrong about fashion. I mean, please, haven't you ever watched What Not To Wear?! I have had a long standing hatred of maxi dresses and I am now being called to justify this. Why, I am not entirely sure, but I will not disappoint. Let's look at this from a Fabulous stand point.
The entire purpose of clothing is to flatter your body right? Does a maxi dress really do that for you? Okay, lets subtract the 1% of the population that this actually works on (like the amazingly gorgeous Christine...) Now, does this actually FLATTER your body shape? 99% of the time, the answer is a complete NO. Most dresses are designed so that the silhouette of the dress itself flatters the body. Not so with the maxi dress. Most of the time they are clingy, and in all the wrong places. Is it really wise to allow so much fabric to cling to all of those body parts that really need a little bit of love? Let's face it, we all have that area we are not so proud of and don't really want to emphasize. The truth of the matter is that we just need to learn to love our bodies, but do we? Be honest. So, while we are learning to truly love ourselves, we might as well give our bodies as much help and flattering silhouettes as we can. This certainly does not include a floor length dress clinging to all the wrong places. A properly fitting dress should be slimming at the waist line, and flare in an A-line skirt before cutting off slightly below the knees. What does a maxi dress do? While many certainly slim at the waist, they do not have an A-line skirt (assisting the image that your waist is the smallest part of you) and in fact emphasize the bootylicous-ness you actually have going on.
Next complaint: a floor length dress that isn' a gown? Really?
All this does is make short people look shorter. Sure, a tall, freakishly skinny model can pull this off. But the average citizen? Umm, no. If you are short, or the average female height of 5'4", the dress is just going to make you look shorter. Isn't one of the fashion goals to elongate your body? Maxi dresses do absolutely nothing for this goal unless you are hiding 5" heels underneath (which of course I would approve of). Also, most maxi dresses are supposed to be a bold fashion statement, so they also come with a bold (frequently overwhelming) pattern. So let's take our average 5'4" lady, and stick a floor length dress with an all-over pattern on her. Want to know what affect this has? Making her look short and entirely swallowed by said pattern. Not flattering at all. And if she has a few curves, it probably isn't helping that area much either...
Bottom Line: Maxi dresses are flattering on approximately 1% of the population. And the majority of those women are tall and anorexic. I would much rather be confident in the body I have, and flatter the curves God gave me, than be able to rock a maxi dress and looking like I haven't eaten in months.
Sincerely, The Fabulous Laura
Monday, August 1, 2011
TOMS shoes
It really doesn't get better than this.
Comfort. Style. One for One.
So I think TOMS shoes rank up there with my all time favorite shoes... They are simply adorable and super comfy. Very Bohochic... I have recently bought my third pair; and had I fallen in love with them sooner, I am quite sure they would have been my "something blue" wedding shoes. My favorite pairs are the ones that usually aren't in stores and can only be found online... They have such amazing styles... I'm just going to post a few of my favs :)
Can we say ROLL TIDE?! http://www.toms.com/womens/scottish-houndstooth-women-s-classics
My cousin just got these, I am def in love. Sadly, they sold out of my size :( http://www.toms.com/womens/journey-is-the-destination-women-s-classics
I'm not personally a huge fan of the corduroy pairs, but they have several great colors in these styles. Also, I am usually a purest, but the cordones styles are really starting to grow on me... They are different from the classic style so add a little bit of variety to your everyday TOMS. You can check them out here: http://www.toms.com/womens/cordones?view=all
Initially, I was not at all a fan of the TOMS wedges. But I think they are really starting to make some very cute styles. Taking a look, I think these might be my current favorites, but I do also love the red canvas wedge... http://www.toms.com/womens/wedges/metallic-tweed-women-s-wedges
Also, I always love the "artist" styles. They are specifically designed by an artist for TOMS and are almost always very unique. I bought a pair several months ago that I really love. And not only are they a part of the One for One movement (see below for more info), but part of the proceeds for this specific shoe also went to the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project. So you get a great shoe, and are able to contribute to amazing charities! I actually had been admiring this shoe for several seasons, (in burnt orange) but they kept on selling out on me. And that was even with being placed on the early alert list. So when I saw these on their website, I jumped on it. Totally worth it too... And that's not to mention the fact that by the next WEEK (no joke) they were already sold out of my size.
And now we will move on to my most recent purchase: the Vegan Wrap Boot... sheer amazingness. I had been lusting after these for a long time before finally breaking down and buying them. I finally had enough fun money and the inclination to actually go forth with the purchase (they are rather more expensive than your standard TOMS shoe). But I must say, I am sooo glad I got these!!! They are amazingly cute and super comfy! Not only that, but you can change the style! These boots are designed to be wrapped up or down, like an ace bandage but cute :) I haven't quite figured out the best way to wrap them short, but once I do, rest assured a picture will be forthcoming! After I decided to actually buy them the debate became: Which Color?! I was very torn between the red and the olive green. I loved the boldness of the red, but knew that they just wouldn't go with that much in my wardrobe. The green was the contender knowing that they would match pretty much everything I own. But then one day it occurred to me (as I was wearing my brand new olive green romper - another blog for another day) that I own a LOT of clothing that is olive green in color. To include: a romper, dress, multiple shirts, as well as at least two pairs of shoes in the exact same color. This presented itself as a problem for my decision making process... I remembered seeing the rust colored pair on the "last chance" section of the website and thinking how cute that color was too. Thus my compromise: still a bold color, but will also go with everything I own without being the exact same color! Huzzah! And here we have it :D
LOVE!
Now for a little background on TOMS shoes themselves... The company is designed on the principle of
One for One
What does this mean, you ask. Well, for every pair of shoe you buy, they give one pair of shoes to a child in need. They set up shoe drops all around the word in impoverished communities. But they don't stop there. The company actually tailors the shoe they are giving to the community it is going to. They are specifically designed with that communities needs in mind. If it is a particularly rocky location, they beef up the soles a bit. Also, they carefully select the community in which the shoe drop will occur. Learn more about the giving process here: http://www.toms.com/how-we-give Also, as we all know, children grow. A lot. So TOMS returns to those same communities (or at least that is the goal) to provide shoes to the children as they grow older. Shoes are the current leader in the donations, reason being it is very important to have shoes to protect from injury and disease. It is also vital for these children to have shoes so that they can attend school. Read more here: http://www.toms.com/our-movement-why
The latest endeavor of TOMS is: eyewear! For every pair of sunglasses purchased, TOMS will help give one person sight. This is done through medical treatment, prescription glasses, or sight saving surgery. And the sunglasses are pretty cute too! Once again, you can find out more information here: http://www.toms.com/eyewear/our-movement/
All in all, I think this is an amazing company. I love getting to support such amazing causes through purchasing the things I love anyways. TOMS shoes are also a great conversation piece. I have on several occasions had a random stranger ask me about my TOMS and shared the story with them, pointing them in the right direction to purchase their own pair. And lets not forget that TOMS makes mens' and youth styles too! For your shopping pleasure: http://www.toms.com/
Wear them with:
Everything!!! Remember that outfit from the Christina Perri Concert? http://livinbohochic.blogspot.com/2011/07/concerts-best-of-fashion-worst-of.html
Well, after I took off my super-cute-but-not-so-fun-to-stand-in-all-night wedges, I swapped them for my TOMS stashed away in my purse... TOMS look cute with almost everything, esp skinny jeans. And I can't wait to try out my new wrap boots!! So go ahead, try them out for yourself! Oh, something to keep in mind: TOMS stretch. Notoriously. If they fit completely perfectly, you might want to consider going down a size due to the amount of stretch. I have learned the hard way though, that different styles stretch a different amount. The last pair I bought, I probably could have done with going up a size. The result: a hole at my big toe... oh well... So when I bought my boots, I made sure to go up a size, especially considering I might want to wear them with socks one day. This turned out to be a great decision, I think if they had been any smaller they wouldn't have fit at all. But there is definitely a stretching-out period to allow for...
What are you waiting for?! Go check them out and learn more about the movement!
Comfort. Style. One for One.
So I think TOMS shoes rank up there with my all time favorite shoes... They are simply adorable and super comfy. Very Bohochic... I have recently bought my third pair; and had I fallen in love with them sooner, I am quite sure they would have been my "something blue" wedding shoes. My favorite pairs are the ones that usually aren't in stores and can only be found online... They have such amazing styles... I'm just going to post a few of my favs :)
Can we say ROLL TIDE?! http://www.toms.com/womens/scottish-houndstooth-women-s-classics
My cousin just got these, I am def in love. Sadly, they sold out of my size :( http://www.toms.com/womens/journey-is-the-destination-women-s-classics
I'm not personally a huge fan of the corduroy pairs, but they have several great colors in these styles. Also, I am usually a purest, but the cordones styles are really starting to grow on me... They are different from the classic style so add a little bit of variety to your everyday TOMS. You can check them out here: http://www.toms.com/womens/cordones?view=all
Initially, I was not at all a fan of the TOMS wedges. But I think they are really starting to make some very cute styles. Taking a look, I think these might be my current favorites, but I do also love the red canvas wedge... http://www.toms.com/womens/wedges/metallic-tweed-women-s-wedges
Also, I always love the "artist" styles. They are specifically designed by an artist for TOMS and are almost always very unique. I bought a pair several months ago that I really love. And not only are they a part of the One for One movement (see below for more info), but part of the proceeds for this specific shoe also went to the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project. So you get a great shoe, and are able to contribute to amazing charities! I actually had been admiring this shoe for several seasons, (in burnt orange) but they kept on selling out on me. And that was even with being placed on the early alert list. So when I saw these on their website, I jumped on it. Totally worth it too... And that's not to mention the fact that by the next WEEK (no joke) they were already sold out of my size.
And now we will move on to my most recent purchase: the Vegan Wrap Boot... sheer amazingness. I had been lusting after these for a long time before finally breaking down and buying them. I finally had enough fun money and the inclination to actually go forth with the purchase (they are rather more expensive than your standard TOMS shoe). But I must say, I am sooo glad I got these!!! They are amazingly cute and super comfy! Not only that, but you can change the style! These boots are designed to be wrapped up or down, like an ace bandage but cute :) I haven't quite figured out the best way to wrap them short, but once I do, rest assured a picture will be forthcoming! After I decided to actually buy them the debate became: Which Color?! I was very torn between the red and the olive green. I loved the boldness of the red, but knew that they just wouldn't go with that much in my wardrobe. The green was the contender knowing that they would match pretty much everything I own. But then one day it occurred to me (as I was wearing my brand new olive green romper - another blog for another day) that I own a LOT of clothing that is olive green in color. To include: a romper, dress, multiple shirts, as well as at least two pairs of shoes in the exact same color. This presented itself as a problem for my decision making process... I remembered seeing the rust colored pair on the "last chance" section of the website and thinking how cute that color was too. Thus my compromise: still a bold color, but will also go with everything I own without being the exact same color! Huzzah! And here we have it :DLOVE!
Now for a little background on TOMS shoes themselves... The company is designed on the principle of
One for One
What does this mean, you ask. Well, for every pair of shoe you buy, they give one pair of shoes to a child in need. They set up shoe drops all around the word in impoverished communities. But they don't stop there. The company actually tailors the shoe they are giving to the community it is going to. They are specifically designed with that communities needs in mind. If it is a particularly rocky location, they beef up the soles a bit. Also, they carefully select the community in which the shoe drop will occur. Learn more about the giving process here: http://www.toms.com/how-we-give Also, as we all know, children grow. A lot. So TOMS returns to those same communities (or at least that is the goal) to provide shoes to the children as they grow older. Shoes are the current leader in the donations, reason being it is very important to have shoes to protect from injury and disease. It is also vital for these children to have shoes so that they can attend school. Read more here: http://www.toms.com/our-movement-why
The latest endeavor of TOMS is: eyewear! For every pair of sunglasses purchased, TOMS will help give one person sight. This is done through medical treatment, prescription glasses, or sight saving surgery. And the sunglasses are pretty cute too! Once again, you can find out more information here: http://www.toms.com/eyewear/our-movement/
All in all, I think this is an amazing company. I love getting to support such amazing causes through purchasing the things I love anyways. TOMS shoes are also a great conversation piece. I have on several occasions had a random stranger ask me about my TOMS and shared the story with them, pointing them in the right direction to purchase their own pair. And lets not forget that TOMS makes mens' and youth styles too! For your shopping pleasure: http://www.toms.com/
Wear them with:
Everything!!! Remember that outfit from the Christina Perri Concert? http://livinbohochic.blogspot.com/2011/07/concerts-best-of-fashion-worst-of.html
Well, after I took off my super-cute-but-not-so-fun-to-stand-in-all-night wedges, I swapped them for my TOMS stashed away in my purse... TOMS look cute with almost everything, esp skinny jeans. And I can't wait to try out my new wrap boots!! So go ahead, try them out for yourself! Oh, something to keep in mind: TOMS stretch. Notoriously. If they fit completely perfectly, you might want to consider going down a size due to the amount of stretch. I have learned the hard way though, that different styles stretch a different amount. The last pair I bought, I probably could have done with going up a size. The result: a hole at my big toe... oh well... So when I bought my boots, I made sure to go up a size, especially considering I might want to wear them with socks one day. This turned out to be a great decision, I think if they had been any smaller they wouldn't have fit at all. But there is definitely a stretching-out period to allow for...
What are you waiting for?! Go check them out and learn more about the movement!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Concerts: The BEST of Fashion, The WORST of Fashion
 |
| Yes, that is me with Christina Perri!!! She was feeling sick that night, so kept a distance but I still got a picture with her! Eeee!!! |
Christina Perri!!! AAAAHHHH!!!! I love her so much!
(Okay, now that I have that out of my system...)
We also went to a country music concert featuring Craig Morgan and Joe Nichols. Unfortunately, I didn't take nearly as many creeper pics at this event so you will have to take my word on some of the outfits.
In my opinion there are three categories of fashion at concert: "absolutely amazing", "tried so hard, but fell so short" and "why did you leave the house wearing that?!"
Absolutely Amazing
I really adored some of the outfits I saw at the Christina Perri concert. As it was early May (in Colorado) it was still rather chilly so most chose to wear warmer clothes, maybe layered w tights or jeans and a cute top. We will start off with some creeper pics I took of some of my favs.
She has definitely achieved boho chic status.
Next on our list:
(Sorry this is the best pic I could get...)
Check out her jacket!!! Love.
and I really loved her dress too, it was just very tasteful. I love the simple style in a good material. I give her a 8 out of 10.
Reason for being bumped down a notch: I think she could have worn some cuter boots (although these are practical seeing as how she would be standing all evening). And I'm not entirely crazy about the color of the tights. Its a lot of neutral in one outfit, but she is definitely making it work. (I'm not one to speak against neutrals, personally I love the earth tones.)
I would like to think I made the cut for "absolutely amazing" in my outfit for the Christina Perri concert. You can see the white blousy cotton shirt I wore, paired with skinny jeans and some amazing burnt orange wedges (which I ultimately swapped for my TOMS I packed in my purse). I kept my hair and makeup fairly simple but still sexy, and paired with some fun accessories: very boho scarf and flower in my hair :) I added some fun bangle bracelets, big metal earrings and a leather bomber jacket. Not going to lie, I really loved my outfit that night ;)
And in case you are curious, Christina Perri's outfit for the night: oversized red boyfriend cardigan, dark skinny jeans, military-style boots and lots of bangles. Simple but still adorable :)
At the Craig Morgan & Joe Nichols concert there were some incredibly cute outfits. Most of my favorites consisted of a cute dress paired with cowboy boots. Looking back on it, I probably fell into the "tried so hard" category on this one. I mean, I didn't look bad, but I could have done better...
Moving on...
Tried so hard, but fell so short:
We are going to begin with a lady who broke the cardinal legging rule: "never wear leggings as pants"
I mean truthfully the top isn't THAT bad, but look at what the leggings are doing to her figure. They are bunching right at her butt. And white? not the best choice here. It would have been so much better if she had worn this top with dark skinny jeans. She is obviously really making an effort to look awesome here, she's just not quite making it. And the hair needs a bit of an update, still a couple of decades behind on that one... I'm giving this one a 3/10...
This next lady also clearly thinks she is doing pretty well. Unfortunately, some people are under the impression that just because you are wearing animal prints you look like a knock out.
Sorry for the wake up call.This is WAY too much leopard print. And the bag? I'm not even sure what kind of print this is, but it clashes with the jacket. Her next prominent mistake is wearing such a bulky jacket with bulky shoes. It just adds too much volume. She isn't a bulky person, she added that much with her outfit choices. No part of this is slimming, and let's face it, isn't that what we are all really going for? Tried so hard.... 3/10
There are two main people I want to look at in this picture. First, the girl wearing the patterned top, cami underneath, and jeans. This girl was actually really cute. She had great taste in style, hair, and makeup as well as shoes (if I remember correctly).
So you may be asking yourself, "why is she in this category?"
Well because she made the all-too-common mistake of not dressing her body and her true size. All of her clothing pieces were too small. Even this top (which should be very flowy) was pulling in areas I am quite sure she didn't want accentuated. Her cami and jeans were again too tight and unflattering. If all of this had been the right size, I would have put her in our "absolutely amazing" category... but as is I am forced to give her a 6/10.
The next example of poor fashion is the girl you can barely see just the past our other subject. See her shoulder? Can you see the "clear" bra straps she is wearing?! This girl is in her late 20s early 30s. She should really know by now that "clear" bra straps are not clear at all. In fact, they are very visible and only point out the fact that you can't wear a truly strapless bra, making you look about 12. Her other major flaw: not dressing age-appropriate. The top isn't that bad but take a look at how short her skirt is. (I think it was a skirt; maybe they are shorts, but regardless....) All things considered, I give her attempt a 4/10 and I think that's generous.
We are going to take a side-tour for a minute while I ask the question why do some people make the cut of going back stage? This girl was chosen by a band member to get to go downstairs and hang with the band. Now my question, is why her? She really isn't that hott, and seeing as how she doesn't have a back-stage pass she was obviously selected as someone "special". I know it isn't a great picture (again, sorry about that. I tried...) but she's wearing a black top with off the shoulder sleeves, a belt at her waist, skinny jeans, and heels. But it really isn't that great of an outfit. I mean, white spaghetti straps? Its distracting from the top, which wasn't that cute to begin with. It was an awkward outfit all around, and didn't really work for her. I definitely put her in the category of "tried so hard, fell so short" and yet I envy her for getting to hang with the band... I give it a 5/10 at most......and now for my favorite category...
Why did you leave the house wearing that?!
Most of the ladies entered into this category simply aren't wearing enough clothing. I am going to save my favorite for last hehe...
The country concert was an outdoor event, which always leads to far less clothing than necessary.
The first girl I am going to discuss, I don't have a picture of, but if you can imagine....
She was a bigger girl, well endowed (if you know what I mean). So what did she do? Wear a dress quite a few sizes too small so that the girls were completely hanging out of the top. And I don't just mean it was too low, no they were not even contained in the least. It was so bad... and not only that but the dress was so small and so tight in this area that it practically sectioned off her boobs. Oh man... I just wish I had a picture. And the worst part? You know she thought she looked drop down sexy.
And then there is the entire crowd of girls wearing shorts/skirts so tiny they barely cover the essentials.
Sometimes, though, your actions put you in this category more than anything else. There was a lady at the country concert wearing a dress (not distasteful in itself) who was trashed before the concert ever began. She was so drunk, she had to lean against her husband (? at least 5-10 years younger than she was) in order to stand/try to grind up on him. She started getting more attention than the bands on stage, which is really quite a feat. at one point, she lifted up her dress and gave everyone a nice drawn out flashing of her underwear. Oh man... why didn't you just stay home?! I know she didn't remember an ounce of that concert the next day...
Cardinal error: Wearing clothing that is far too small.
I mean, come on! The shorts can barely be seen from underneath her jacket!!! The jacket is cute though... not so much the shoes (you can't see them well at all in the pic). But at least she made a pretense of putting something more on her legs, albeit sheer tights. None the less, she is doing better than our next lovely lady... I give her a 2/10.
Last but certainly least:
Monday, April 25, 2011
The Art of Wearing Leggings
So in the fashion world, the wearing of leggings is a very tricky subject.
It is most frequently performed incorrectly, where leggings are worn as pants. I am guilty of this indiscretion on only one occasion.... driving to go snowboarding and wore just leggings which were promptly covered with ski pants. Well, so I have done that a few times, but ONLY when going snowboarding! Again, covered with pants... Unfortunately, however, most women do not seem to realize this is a fashion indiscretion. Most women seem to think it is a perfectly fine thing to wear leggings as pants. This is just not true, and whoever invented "jeggings" should be hung and quartered. I mean, what a terrible idea... they look good on no one. And does anyone actually think those "pockets" belong there?! Seriously... not okay.
Okay, now lets take a look at WHY leggings as pants is a terrible idea.
One: They flatter no one (except a very minuscule portion of the population, and even then it is still unacceptable as proper clothing). Leggings show too much, allow flaws to be seen, as well as outlining size and flab you normally try to conceal...
Don't believe me? This is a picture of the actress Olivia Wilde (House)
It is most frequently performed incorrectly, where leggings are worn as pants. I am guilty of this indiscretion on only one occasion.... driving to go snowboarding and wore just leggings which were promptly covered with ski pants. Well, so I have done that a few times, but ONLY when going snowboarding! Again, covered with pants... Unfortunately, however, most women do not seem to realize this is a fashion indiscretion. Most women seem to think it is a perfectly fine thing to wear leggings as pants. This is just not true, and whoever invented "jeggings" should be hung and quartered. I mean, what a terrible idea... they look good on no one. And does anyone actually think those "pockets" belong there?! Seriously... not okay.
Okay, now lets take a look at WHY leggings as pants is a terrible idea.
One: They flatter no one (except a very minuscule portion of the population, and even then it is still unacceptable as proper clothing). Leggings show too much, allow flaws to be seen, as well as outlining size and flab you normally try to conceal...
Don't believe me? This is a picture of the actress Olivia Wilde (House)
 |
| What does this do, except make her thighs look wide? And other unfortunate things... |
Two: Most women end up having a muffin top in leggings no matter how tiny your waist might actually be. So, we are accentuating the one area that most women are self-conscious about? Really? Have you ever noticed how when you put those leggings on, your stomach will pooch out over the top? Every time. This is best concealed with a SKIRT or DRESS. Because that is how leggings were intended to be worn.
Three: Leggings are not acceptable as pants in public. Period.
(Not to mention most of the time they are pretty sheer...)
How Leggings SHOULD be worn:
Underneath dresses and skirts! Leggings can be an awesome accessory to the boho life! I personally love wearing leggings and tights as a fun accessory. They are so versatile and can allow you to wear that really fun skirt in colder weather. They can also be really fun when added underneath a pair of shorts! But be careful where and when you attempt this fashion statement, sometimes it is just too much...
Time to look at examples of tights being a fun accessory...
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| Leggings worn with fun skirt, adds a little warmth! |
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| Tights with sexy heels, ready for a night on the town! Showin' leg! ;) |
 |
| Each of these lovely ladies is using proper tight ettiqeutte :) |
 |
| And for special occasions in the winter, who really wants to wear pants? Why not wear that dress you love with some tights?! |
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Accessorize your life
Some people say that over-accessorizing is a fashion faux pas.
I say it has to be carefully done, but can be your best friend. Some days, boho chic is all about your accessories! Besides, what fun is an outfit if you can't put some great accessories with it?! Not only that, but accessories can come in many forms. Some people choose to accessorize with tattoos or piercings. Over-done, you look like a freak. Carefully done, you look like a person living a full life. Some of the most boho-chic people out there have a tattoo or fun piercing. Take Christina Perri for example, she is absolutely gorgeous, incredibly talented and has a few well placed tattoos...
Hair today, Gone tomorrow!
Hair is another amazing accessory. You can play with it all day long. Up, down, black, red... it all can be easily overdone or tastefully incorporated into your life. And the great thing about hair as an accessory is that you can change it if you don't like it! Obviously some things take a bit longer to come back from, like cutting your hair in a bob, but most are relatively easy to change. Personally, I enjoy changing my hair color. I recently dyed my hair black, I feel like it looks more exotic. I have also enjoyed a stint as a red-head. The problem with dying your hair red (if a natural brunette) is that it tends to fade to a nice orangey color. This is especially true if you are cheap (like your's truly) and don't want to have to pay for the expensive up-keep. Thus the ease of dying black, easy and easy to re-dye but more difficult to go back natural... I'm sure we can all think of the girl who changes her hair every week. The true question is if it looks good or not... So whatever you decide to do with your hair, have fun with it!
Jewelry...
The first thing that comes to mind when you think of an accessory. Also, jewelry is one of the best things to over-accessorize with; because it is (usually) a smaller statement, it can be quite fun to add a lot of small jewelry pieces to make a big statement. My all time favorite jewelry pieces are handmade by local artists. I absolutely LOVE going to farmer's markets, street festivals, etc. in order to find amazing, unique and well priced jewelry. A great website for this is etsy.com; everything on Etsy is either handmade or vintage and you can get some really great finds on there. My most boho jewelry pieces are all handmade. In fact, one of my favorite pairs of earrings is from a girl I had a college class with. I was telling her how much I loved her earrings, and turns out her 11 year old sister had made them... I bought them on the spot and have worn them countless times. Another of my favorites is a metal work bracelet I bought for $4 at a farmer's market. Proof that not all accessories for your boho life need to be pricey!
My all time favorite accessory is... well, I think I will save that for another day ;)
SHOES!!!
How could anyone possibly have a blog about boho accessories without including a bit about shoes?! Truth be told, I have not always been much of a shoe person. There is no denying that once upon a time, I was one of those girls that just thought shoes were shoes. Fortunately, I have been shown the light by my dearest friend (check out her blog and my inspiration! thefabulousisland.blogspot.com) and am proud to say that I am now a shoe lover :) Shoes are a great way to add a little boho to an otherwise average outfit. Not only that, but you can change the way an outfit looks by just changing the shoes you are wearing. Take a great dress for example, try paring it with a pair of gladiator flats. Now put it with a pair of amazing pumps. And how could we possibly forget boots?! Boots are an amazing addition to the boho wardrobe, and one that should not be forgotten. Slouchy boots, booties, cowboy boots, the choices are endless! I truly love the look of a above-the-knee length dress with a pair of great cowboy boots (my next boho purchase!) I think I could probably go on for days about the amazingness that is a wonderful pair of shoes...
How are you going to accessorize your life?! Add a little spice of boho and see if it doesn't put a smile on your face and a spring in your step!
I say it has to be carefully done, but can be your best friend. Some days, boho chic is all about your accessories! Besides, what fun is an outfit if you can't put some great accessories with it?! Not only that, but accessories can come in many forms. Some people choose to accessorize with tattoos or piercings. Over-done, you look like a freak. Carefully done, you look like a person living a full life. Some of the most boho-chic people out there have a tattoo or fun piercing. Take Christina Perri for example, she is absolutely gorgeous, incredibly talented and has a few well placed tattoos...
Hair today, Gone tomorrow!
Hair is another amazing accessory. You can play with it all day long. Up, down, black, red... it all can be easily overdone or tastefully incorporated into your life. And the great thing about hair as an accessory is that you can change it if you don't like it! Obviously some things take a bit longer to come back from, like cutting your hair in a bob, but most are relatively easy to change. Personally, I enjoy changing my hair color. I recently dyed my hair black, I feel like it looks more exotic. I have also enjoyed a stint as a red-head. The problem with dying your hair red (if a natural brunette) is that it tends to fade to a nice orangey color. This is especially true if you are cheap (like your's truly) and don't want to have to pay for the expensive up-keep. Thus the ease of dying black, easy and easy to re-dye but more difficult to go back natural... I'm sure we can all think of the girl who changes her hair every week. The true question is if it looks good or not... So whatever you decide to do with your hair, have fun with it!
Jewelry...
The first thing that comes to mind when you think of an accessory. Also, jewelry is one of the best things to over-accessorize with; because it is (usually) a smaller statement, it can be quite fun to add a lot of small jewelry pieces to make a big statement. My all time favorite jewelry pieces are handmade by local artists. I absolutely LOVE going to farmer's markets, street festivals, etc. in order to find amazing, unique and well priced jewelry. A great website for this is etsy.com; everything on Etsy is either handmade or vintage and you can get some really great finds on there. My most boho jewelry pieces are all handmade. In fact, one of my favorite pairs of earrings is from a girl I had a college class with. I was telling her how much I loved her earrings, and turns out her 11 year old sister had made them... I bought them on the spot and have worn them countless times. Another of my favorites is a metal work bracelet I bought for $4 at a farmer's market. Proof that not all accessories for your boho life need to be pricey!
My all time favorite accessory is... well, I think I will save that for another day ;)
SHOES!!!
How could anyone possibly have a blog about boho accessories without including a bit about shoes?! Truth be told, I have not always been much of a shoe person. There is no denying that once upon a time, I was one of those girls that just thought shoes were shoes. Fortunately, I have been shown the light by my dearest friend (check out her blog and my inspiration! thefabulousisland.blogspot.com) and am proud to say that I am now a shoe lover :) Shoes are a great way to add a little boho to an otherwise average outfit. Not only that, but you can change the way an outfit looks by just changing the shoes you are wearing. Take a great dress for example, try paring it with a pair of gladiator flats. Now put it with a pair of amazing pumps. And how could we possibly forget boots?! Boots are an amazing addition to the boho wardrobe, and one that should not be forgotten. Slouchy boots, booties, cowboy boots, the choices are endless! I truly love the look of a above-the-knee length dress with a pair of great cowboy boots (my next boho purchase!) I think I could probably go on for days about the amazingness that is a wonderful pair of shoes...
How are you going to accessorize your life?! Add a little spice of boho and see if it doesn't put a smile on your face and a spring in your step!
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