Dinner Dress codes

𝓕or my last blog post, I will be talking about the dress code to 2 different types of dinner events ! But before we start,

What do you like to wear when going out to dinner?

𝒻𝑜𝓇𝓂𝒶𝓁 

When it comes to a more formal dinner experience, Fressange mentions to, "Bank on your basics" (54). I agree with her, because even if you end up over dressing, if you stuck to basics, you'll still look presentable. For my dinner on the town outfit, I decided to go for a neutral color dress that still looks dressy, especially with the lace and simple bows on the back, and a neutral colorurse. But for shoes, while a light pink is still pretty neutral, the silver heel and lace up feature really pulls together the entire look, especially since Fressange mentions that shoes are accessory that can transform your ensemble (54).

𝒾𝓃𝒻𝑜𝓇𝓂𝒶𝓁

For a more casual setting, such as a dinner date to a non-fancy restaurant, it's good to dress without looking desperate and revealing a lot of skin. For example, instead of a tight mini skirt with a plunging v neck top, opt for a skirt that's at least a bit past mid thigh, and go for a top without such a low neck. For my outfit, I decided to go for a nice cashmere mock neck, which looks more luxurious compared to polyester, and then a simple pair of jeans and a nice pair of flats. While it's simple and doesn't show off too much skin, it still looks well put together and more elegant compared to a more skin showing outfit. 

𝑀𝑒𝓇𝒸𝒾 𝐵𝑒𝒶𝓊𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓅 !

  𝒥𝑒𝓈𝓈𝒾𝒸𝒶 𝑀.

Fressange, Ines de la, et al. Parisian Chic: a Style Guide. Flammarion, 2011.

Shopping Coach

𝓛ots of people have a problem when shopping. They'll end up buying something that they don't need and waste it. Luckily, Fressange brings up this problem in her book. With this post, I'll be comparing two different items that I've bought. My red blazer is a outerwear I regret buying, meanwhile my pink trench coat is something I don't regret.

1. Think First

When it comes to certain clothes, think if you'll consider wearing the piece of clothing you're considering, later today or tonight. If the answer is no, or you're buying something because you might need it later, don't buy it!

⇒With my blazer, I thought I would wear it later in the year, or with something else I'd have to buy, but I haven't bought the top I was going to wear, which means my blazer has barely been touched at all.

⇒When it came to my pink trench, I wore it the following weekend. It's something that I can wear for a long time, since it matches with the rest of my closet, and it's useful to have a light fancier jacket.

2. Avoid Trends

Trends aren't bad, but if you buy something just because it's trendy, and not because you actually really like the clothes, then don't pay attention to trends!

⇒When I bought my blazer, red was a popular color, and blazers were slowly making a comeback as well. However, I didn't seem to care too much for it, but it was trendy so I decided to purchase it.

⇒Trench coats have their trendy moments, but since they're a classic piece, there's no right or wrong time to purchase one, since stores will almost always carry them. 

3. Avoid buying pieces that are "works of art"

"We love it (piece of clothing) as an object in its own right, for its bright colors, its witty details" (Fressange 17). You'll encounter pieces in your life where it seems too pretty to pass up, but in reality it's just pretty. It might look absolutely stunning, but be totally out of your comfort zone and not look good on you.

⇒I can relate to Fressange where we love an object for it's colors and details. I absolutely loved the bright red of my blazer, with its gold buttons, but it just doesn't fit my style. If I had gone for a neutral color, such as navy or black, I would have gotten more wear on it, since it would've fit into my current clothes much better than a bright red.

⇒While I do love my trench, I didn't buy it because it was pretty. I bought it because the colors matched my current clothes, it was dressy but also casual, it had a hood in case it rains, and it didn't look bad on me. 

𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝒹𝓈

I hope these 3 tips have helped in how to not waste your money on clothes you don't need! I think it's important to know that you can still follow all of these, and end up just not wearing what you bought.  Finally, are you guilty of buying something you never wear? What was it?

𝑀𝑒𝓇𝒸𝒾 𝐵𝑒𝒶𝓊𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓅 !

  𝒥𝑒𝓈𝓈𝒾𝒸𝒶 𝑀.

Fressange, Ines de la, et al. Parisian Chic: a Style Guide. Flammarion, 2011.

Traveling with Parisian Style

     𝒯raveling in style is a difficult thing to do, because if you wear something fashionable, you could get stuck being uncomfortable for the entire time ! Just as the Parisians have rules to normal day to day fashion, they have rules on what to pack and wear for traveling. But before I get into that, << What's your go to outfit when traveling? >>

    First thing you wan to wear are some comfy pants. This can include joggers or sweatpants. It's something that's easy to put on, and can look stylish and cute. However, "Never a skirt, never a dress" (Fressange 57).

    For tops, wear layers ! Start with a simple tank top, then a long sleeve tee, and a nice chunky sweater over the top. That way if you start feeling hot, you can just peel off a layer, but if you keep them all on, the chunky sweater can hide the other layers. Plus you'll feel better prepared, instead of having to change your shirt because you're too hot.

   Wear comfy shoes, especially if you are someone who likes to take off shoes on the ride to your destination. Avoid shoes such as boots and heels, as they can be annoying to have to put them back on, plus they aren't known to be the most comfortable. Instead, go for simple flats or a pair of sneakers.

   Finally, pack some essentials into a tote bag, like a laptop, books, magazines. Some things I like to bring along on top of that is a reusable water bottle, headphones, an extra pair of socks, and some lip balm.

𝐵𝑜𝓃 𝓋𝑜𝓎𝒶𝑔𝑒 !

𝑀𝑒𝓇𝒸𝒾 𝐵𝑒𝒶𝓊𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓅 !

  𝒥𝑒𝓈𝓈𝒾𝒸𝒶 𝑀.

Fressange, Ines de la, et al. Parisian Chic: a Style Guide. Flammarion, 2011.

Parisian Chic: LBD

"𝒯he little black dress is not simply an item of clothing, it's a concept." (Fressange 32). Fressange also mentions that's it's a universal thing, and the truth is, it is. It's something that you can find all around, a nice simple black dress, that can be dressed up or down depending on the person. 

Little black dresses are meant to be styled by yourself. While taking inspiration from other people is nice, it all depends on the person wearing it. "Everyone wears hers differently" (Fressange 32). 

For example, when I wear a LBD, I usually prefer to wear it to create a "neutral slate" and to bring out a statement piece to make it pop out more.

Here you can see that I paired the dress with gold heels, mainly to match the colors up with the hardware of the purse, but otherwise there's no other accessories, other than the bright blue purse, which is my statement item. 

But if you're someone who likes a more uniformed theme, you might go with accessories of the same metal, or that give off the same vibe.

With this outfit, I paired the dress with simple lace up flats, and a gold necklace with a pearl, and also a sea inspired gold charm bracelet. This ensemble matches metals (gold), and also nautical vibes. 

While you're free to style the dress however you want, it is preferred that it's simple, and without too many focus points.

Everything here is just too much. There's 3 different colors of metals (black, silver, and gold), the black ring will blend in with the dress, there's a different style of accessory on almost every body part, and with a bright purse and flashy necklace, which are 2 statement pieces and defeats the purpose of a statement piece. However, if you can somehow rock this look and this is the style you're going for, then go for it, because a LBD is about yourself and no one else. 

To everyone who owns a LBD, how do you like to style it? Do you ever style it based on how other people style theirs? 

𝑀𝑒𝓇𝒸𝒾 𝐵𝑒𝒶𝓊𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓅 !

  𝒥𝑒𝓈𝓈𝒾𝒸𝒶 𝑀.

Fressange, Ines de la, et al. Parisian Chic: a Style Guide. Flammarion, 2011.

Parisian Chic: Fashion Faux Pas !

𝓐ccording to Ines de la Fressange, a French model, obtaining the Parisian style without being born in Paris is quite simple, as there are a few golden rules to follow (Fressange 11)

For this post, we'll be talking about some of the "faux pas" to Parisian fashion. I'll be giving what she and myself have to say on almost each item.

 >> While you're reading, do you guys agree with what she says? Are any of you guilty of these faux pas?<<

1. Hair Scrunchies

• "Too girly" (Fressange 68)

2. Fishnet T-shirts (Also known as mesh t-shirts)

• "Difficult to see how these could possibly flatter anyone, apart from Madonna in Desperately Seeking Susan" (Fressange 69)

3. Leggings 

↳ My opinion: Honestly, when I read that leggings were a big no, I was kinda upset, because I feel like every single outfit I wear has leggings! They're such a comfortable and versatile piece of any closet, as you can dress them up or down, and too different styles. In these two pictures below, you can see that I'm wearing leggings in both!

 

4. Cropped t-shirts 

↳ My opinion: I feel like if you're a 25+ year old living in Paris, you probably wouldn't wear crop tops or see anyone wear them, but as for people our age, they're very trendy. While I do have very mixed opinions on them (I personally do not like them on myself if they're too cropped) I do think that they're appropriate in some places, but probably not in Paris if you're on the older end. 

5. Too many mixed materials

• "Satin + velvet + chiffon + tweed = textile overdose" (69).

↳ My opinion: Out of the entire 3 pages of faux pas, I feel like I agree with this the most. While it's good to have a variety of textures in your outfit, instead of having all the same fabric and texture (like double denim or wearing a leather jacket and leather pants!) Having too many different textures and fabrics is just too much going on at once, it's like mixing tons of bright colors or tons of different patterns. Sometimes just narrowing it down to two different textiles is the right thing to do.

⇾ 𝑀𝓎 𝒯𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈 ⇽

Style and fashion are both very flexible things. I am someone who does enjoy the Parisian style, but will I follow absolutely all of these rules? No ! I prefer to incorporate classic pieces from certain styles into my wardrobe, to create a more open ended wardrobe, that allows me to mix and match. What I got out of this section of the book, is that "oh, here are some rules, but you don't have to follow all of them as if your life depended on it, it's more for how Parisian you want to look, follow more rules if you want a more Parisian look, and the other way too". But, this section is actually quite helpful for knowing how to not look like a tourist for a trip to Paris, even if that wasn't the main goal for the book! 

𝑀𝑒𝓇𝒸𝒾 𝐵𝑒𝒶𝓊𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓅 !

  𝒥𝑒𝓈𝓈𝒾𝒸𝒶 𝑀.

Fressange, Ines de la, et al. Parisian Chic: a Style Guide. Flammarion, 2011.

Breaking the Rules!

“It’s a new era in fashion, there are no rules. It’s all about the individual personal style.” –Alexander McQueen

            Having a unique sense of style is what sets everyone’s dressing sense apart. Style is one thing that allows me to express myself freely. I do not follow any fashion “rules” that are set when I plan my outfits. Everywhere you look, there are rules. No U-turns. No personal calls at work. No running near the pool. Relatively, in the fashion industry there are many “rules” for how to dress and style an outfit. Luckily, fashion is all about breaking the rules!

           Some of most common fashion “don’ts” that are actually “dos” that Vazquez includes are: Don’t wear white after Labor Day/before Easter, don’t match your makeup to your outfit, don’t wear bright colors or pastels in the winter, don’t wear print from head to toe, don’t mix different styles, don’t wear brocade, lace, or sparkles in the daytime, don’t mix black and blue, don’t mix black and brown don’t wear pink if you’re a redhead and don’t wear two different shades of the same color (296-298).

          These “rules” are worthless if an individual knows how to work with them. I dislike almost all of the rules that are mentioned above. Vazquez also expresses, “…we learn a number of “rules” for how to dress that simply don’t make sense in this day and age-and some that never did!” (296).

          The fashion rule I chose to break is that last one: don’t wear two different shades of the same color. In this outfit, I chose the color blue to negate this statement. My outfit consists of the shirt as being a baby blue color along with jeans that are dark blue, pairing both of those with a light electric blue pair of shoes, as the author recommended to blend different tones of the same shade for a rich, polished finish (Vazquez 298).

Out of these fashion “rules” which one would you break first? Which ones would you prefer not to break?

Vazquez, Lilliana. The Cheap Chica's Guide to Style. New York: Penguin Group, 2013. Print.

Seasons Style!

“Fashion is what you’re offered four times a year by designers. Style is what you choose” -Lauren Hutton

            Seasons can tremendously effect on how an individual dresses, prominently unveiling the way style changes over the entire year as well. There are always clothes that we label as favorites for each season. Those pieces are simple, timeless, and classic pieces that never go out of style and can be mixed and matched with each other likewise with other busier, complex items.

In all of the seasons, there are some basic clothing pieces that may come to use overall. Vasquez states “If you invest wisely in these pieces, they can-and should-last for a long time” (102). Some shirts that are worth investing in include a simple tank in black and white, white button-down, neutral-colored camisoles, thin black turtleneck, cardigan, heavy knit sweater, short-sleeve and long-sleeve shirts in basic colors (Vazquez 103). Some pants and skirts include jeans, flat-front pants, white jeans, modest shorts, pencil skirts, maxi skirts, little black dress, A-line skirts, and various types of other dresses (Vazquez 104). Some jackets include fitted black blazer, leather jacket, pea coat, and a classic trench coat (Vazquez 105).

Regarding the seasons, Vasquez also states that the “majority of my list making happens at the start of a new season, when I’m reevaluating what I own and thinking about what I’d like to add with the latest styles in mind” (131). In the spring the three main pieces of clothing include the trench coat in any color, a maxi skirt which is great for any season overall (on chillier days you can just add tights and boots), an open-weave sweater, and sunglasses (Vazquez 131-132). In the summer, Vasquez recommends white jeans that look extremely crisp and new, nude flat sandals that can be worn with anything, bikini separates, and gold hoop earrings that are the go-to accessory for summer (132). In the fall, a tweed blazer to add sophistication to a wardrobe, boots in black or brown, printed scarf, and tights can create a great outfit (Vazquez 133). Lastly, in the winter a statement necklace can help with transforming a casual outfit to chic, sweaters in different colors, and something metallic to add a subtle sparkle to any outfit (Vazquez 134).

Taking some tips given by Vazquez, I decided to put together an outfit that she recommends for the winter. Focusing on just the upper part of the outfit, I chose a white sweater that I paired with a red statement necklace to further enhance the look. The two colors are extremely distinct which makes the mix and match look graceful.

Is there a specific season that you like to dress up more in than the other? What are some of your basic clothing pieces?

Vasquez, Lilliana. The Cheap Chica's Guide to Style. New York: Penguin Group, 2013. Print.

Must-Haves!

"The joy of dressing is an art" -John Galliano

Everyone has their own favorites and “must-haves” when it comes to shoes and bags. A lot of them may be common within a lot of people already. “For the most part, style is a very personal thing, tailored to the individual. But there are a few key pieces that every woman must have in her wardrobe without exception-go to pieces that will get you through any occasion” (Vasquez 289). For any type of style that you may have there are some things you most likely will need of each of the must haves Lilliana Vazquez mentions.

            In the five must-have shoes, Vazquez suggests to have nude pumps which go with everything and can be worn at almost any occasion, dressy metallic high-heel sandals that are suitable to wear at formal events and parties, high-heel black knee boots are a necessity in wintertime and can be worn with almost any outfit, flat riding boots that are very practical and comfortable, and casual flats or flat sandals which would be the staple shoes to be worn with anything in your wardrobe (290-291). In the five must-have bags, she recommends having a weekender/overnight bag which comes in handy for an overnight trip, a clutch that is cool for a formal occasion or a just a night out, a tote that you can throw many of your things which is perfect for running errands, a cross-body which is a great choice for concerts, shopping, or whenever you do not prefer something to be in your hands and a top-handle satchel that is practical and sophisticated making it a good choice for an everyday bag (Vasquez 291-292).

           Reading the list of things that Vazquez suggests to have for sure, I realized I had some of the things already such as the flat riding boots and casual flats or sandals from the shoes section and a cross-body, from the bags section. I also use them for almost the same functions as she recommends to use them for. I plan on expanding my list to match hers over time!

What shoes or bags do you carry the most? Which of the things in the list Vasquez recommends to have would you buy first?

Vasquez, Lilliana. The Cheap Chica's Guide to Style. New York: Penguin Group, 2013. Print.

Mini Banner

Hi bloggers! I hope you're enjoying your last days of winter break. For my last blog this month i will be creating a mini banner you can use for your locker or as accessory to your room.

Materials:

• colored duct tape ( 1 or more)
• 1/8 inch wide ribbon or string
• scissors
• permanent marker or paint pen                                                                                                                                         

First gather all the materials, then make and offset double side strip (Wallenfang, 7). Make sure the tape is four and half inches long (Wallenfang, 26)

                                                                                  

The second step is to trim away the 1/2 inch sticky side that's up, then fold over and stick the sticky side that's down to create the ribbon tunnel (Wallenfang, 26).                                                                                                                             

Third step; trim the pennant shape with scissors.

Repeat all three steps for the next pennants ( depending on what letters you want to put on the banner).

Fourth and final step, thread the pennants onto the ribbon/string; add the letters with a paint pen* in my case i'll be using a black sharpie* (Wallenfang, 26).

What kind of changes/alterations have you made in a craft work? if so were you successful?

 Wallenfang, Patti. Just Duct Tape It! Little Rock, AR: Leisure Arts, 2011. Print.

Details

“Luxury is in each detail” –Hubert De Givenchy

People often overlook the details in an outfit that can take it from being so-so to stunning. The key to looking as best as possible is in the details. The biggest thing going into styling an outfit focuses on how the details can enhance it. Some details include the fit of pants, skirts, shoes, shirts, and coats.

Fit in general is considered to be the most important detail when dressing. Vasquez states “if something is too big, small, long, short, or baggy, you run the risk of looking heavier, shorter…” (279). She recommends tossing something that is not able to be altered by a tailor. Shoes should comfortably fit the length of your foot comfortably without improper fitting at the toes, or the back of your feet. If you can fit a finger between the back of your heel and the back of the shoe, the shoe is too large (279). For pants, there are a variety of options available such as wide-leg, boot-cut, flare, straight-leg, skinny, etc. Different shapes suit different type of bodies. “But a good universal cut is one that hugs the hips and then falls straight to the floor, offering a little legroom without creating an overly baggy look” (281). For skirts, there are many types also including mini, pencil, knee-length, maxi, and midi. Specific body types would extremely fit into all these categories. No matter the shape however, skirts should always be well-fitted and comfortable at the waist (284). When choosing shirts, you want to pay attention mostly how the fit is in relation to your arms and waist. “If your arms are short, get sleeves taken up so they don’t puddle; if your arms are extra-long, you may need to get shirts custom-made or roll up sleeves to disguise the length” (286). When choosing coats, you should always make sure there is enough space for the coat to be slightly loose, since you will be wearing layers underneath.

               Using these tips from the author, I decided to apply them how the way I wear my button up shirt as well as my shoes. Before, I used to wear this button up shirt without rolling my sleeves up which would not cover my arms completely making it seem ill-fitted, however using her advice to roll up the sleeves to minimize the length, it makes it seem more professional. As with the shoes, the brown flats look extremely tight on me, I sometimes wear tight-fitting shoes because I never paid attention to how they would really look, but with the same type of shoes that fit me well such as the gray ones, I can see the difference the details for the shoes make in enhancing the outfit.

Which part of your outfit would you most focus on considering details? How can you style something differently detail-wise to enhance your outfit?

Vasquez, Lilliana. The Cheap Chica's Guide to Style. New York: Penguin Group, 2013. Print

Checks in Fashion

Hi guys! I hope your break is going great. I'm going to post two blogs today, but for the first one, I want to talk about checks. Check print was very popular in Christian Dior's day, and it still is now. In Christian Dior's, The Little Dictionary of Fashion, he states "I love checks. They can be fancy and simple; elegant and easy; young and always right." (21). When Dior wrote this book, checks were used in multiple ways, and were beloved by many women. In our current world of fashion, I think that checks aren't as popular, except for one specific piece of fashion; the checkered Vans ( as seen below).

Personally, I just got a pair of the checkered Vans for Christmas, and I love them. To me, they represent our generation, and the current style of the common teenager today. However, I am not saying anyone who has these shoes are just like everyone else, that's not true! Its all about what you wear the shoes with. In my case, I chose a pair of ripped black jeans (the rips are hard to see since they are on my knees), a fuzzy peach colored sweater, and a dark peach hat with the peach emoji on it. This is one of my most favorite outfits, and I think the Vans complete the look well. It's casual, and an easy look to wear going out with friends, or just a normal day.

Even though checks are not worn as much as they were in Dior's day, there are still a lot of different styles of them, suiting every age of people (Dior, 21). I've seen people mostly wear checkered shirts, or checkered shoes. Personally, I don't wear patterns, including checks, very often, except for my Vans. I think checks can be over worn, and worn in the wrong way. They can over power the person wearing the pattern, since if there is too much of the print, it creates a very busy outfit, which is never appealing to look at. However, if worn the right way, and not too much, the checkered print is a great go-to for a detailed and easy look. Even though most people probably won't love checks as much as Christian Dior did, it is still a great piece of fashion. In conclusion, do you agree that checks is still a popular style in today's fashion, or do you disagree? If so, why?