The Basics: Part 2

Yes, I know it's Thursday. Let me just tell you that having a break on President's Day has just entirely thrown off my week. So since we didn't have school on Monday, its really Wednesday today, right? :) I figured better late than never though. So apologies to those of you that thought I would be posting yesterday.

Time for another lesson on a basic article of clothing that we should probably all have in our wardrobe. I'm talking about military jackets. They seriously look great on everyone- no matter what body type they have. And let me tell you why- it's all about STRUCTURE. Clothing with structure is always better that clothing without it. It fits you better- or at least appears to, making you look better. Military inspired jackets come in many different types. I've shown multiple different kinds below. One common thread among them all though are the structured shoulders. They give you a more clean cut look and lead to a more fashionable style.

Notice how this girl is wearing one simply with jeans. Any casual outfit of jeans and a tee can quickly be turned into a high fashion look by simply putting on a structured jacket. It's not hard to put them on, making your ability to look your best that much easier. You can also wear them in a more dressy way as well. They go great with dresses, skirts, dress pants, etc. This also makes them extremely versatile- which is why you NEED one in your wardrobe- if not multiple. I personally own 4 or 5 and I am always on the look out for more.

Military style coats are also great for when its a little colder outside. This girl is wearing a fantastic coat and she looks great. By changing simple things about your wardrobe, you can easily feel better about yourself because you are looking better. Choosing a military jacket or coat over a fleece hoodie or zip up is an excellent example of this. You look good while still remaining warm.

Military jackets are also not gender specific- both guys and girls looks amazing in them. I find that wearing a military jacket always makes me look so much more fashionable than I really am- and that goes for everyone else as well. Whenever I wear one, I get endless compliments on my outfit. If I had been wearing that same outfit without the jacket, I would argue that it would be just an ordinary outfit that most people would overlook.

Military jackets look good on all genders, body types, and for all occasions, whether casual or dressy. They also come in so many different styles, that you can choose one that fits to your personal style while still looking structured and fashionable. They also come in many different fabrics- making them good for all seasons as well. So if you don't already have a jacket or coat of this kind- I strongly suggest getting one if your goal is becoming a better and more fashionable you!

Dispelling a Fashion Myth

So many, if not most people in America at least think that under no circumstances can you wear brown and black together. And let me just tell you- it's simply not true! Brown and black are both neutrals, and can therefore be worn together. Now don't get me wrong, some black and brown combinations look better than others- but isn't that true of any color matching that we do? I actually love the combination of black and brown- I think it's quite classy. When I went to Europe a few years ago, I noticed that everyone was wearing brown and black together and I couldn't believe it! I had always been under the impression that in the rules of fashion, this was an absolute no-no. But as I looked around Paris, I saw that everyone wearing the combination looked great and classy- and from that moment on I was converted. Check out these pictures of people wearing brown and black together and it working:

There are so many other ways you can mix up your browns and blacks. Camel or tan browns also work really well against black. Wearing brown boots with a black dress or pants is actually ok! Don't be afraid to be bold and mix these two colors that in your mind don't seem to go. I just wore brown boots with a black dress and brown cardigan the other Sunday and I looked and felt great! And you can too. Go ahead and try it. Maybe it's not for you, and that's fine. But all I'm saying is that this supposed "fashion myth" is simply that- a myth.

Your Style with Style

There are many people that are simply opposed to this whole idea of being stylish and fashionable. They usually say that they either don't care about how they look and that people shouldn't judge them (which I disagree with) or that they just don't like the things that are in fashion these days and that it just isn't their style. This is why I'd like to tell everyone out there with that argument that being fashionable or having style doesn't mean that you have to conform to wearing what everyone else is wearing. You can have your own style and yet still be stylish. Are you starting to understand yet? Fashion isn't about wearing stilettos and brand name clothing. It's about wearing clothes that make you look good and as said before- it's about wearing things that fit. Let me give you an example:

This girl has a certain style, as you can see. She obviously likes comfort and for some reason is wearing a ridiculous hat. haha. She looks like a "geek" as some may say. I am not saying being a geek is bad thing- just for the record! But what if she was able to hold onto her "geeky" style and still look good, leading to a more confident life? She might look something more like this:

Call it geek chic if you will. This new girl still holds to the original idea of a similar look as the first one, but pulls it off in a much more refined, good looking way. She doesn't look like the average fashionista, and yet still looks confident, trendy, and chic. See how you can keep to your style while still being stylish? If you aren't one to wear a skirt in public, that's fine. Imagine this same outfit with a great pair of jeans on. Still a great look. Just use your imagination!

Guys- of course this applies to you as well. By adjusting your wardrobe just a little bit, you can make a world of difference. Notice the different between wearing a hoodie this way:

And this way:

Both of these guys are wearing comfortable outfits including a hoodie. One looks so much better than the other though. See what I mean? You don't have to give up your comfy style, or geeky style, or emo style, or whatever style you may have. You can still have style while maintaining your own personal one. By just switching up a few little things you can look and feel better!

Shoes!

Shoes. One of my personal favorites. Here's my thought in one simple sentence: Shoes make or break an outfit. No I did not come up with that, but that doesn't make it any less true! I could leave it at that, but lucky for you, I will expound.

There is nothing worse than an almost amazing outfit. Why almost you ask? Because of the shoes. Let me give an example.

Both of these women have cute dresses on and then it all goes downhill from there. I'd also like to take the opportunity to say how much I absolutely hate Uggs - or any off brand boot that looks somewhat like them. They are ok for snow activities, such as sledding, and it pretty much ends there. They aren't flattering AT ALL. The only thing they do is ruin outfits world wide. :) If you want to wear boots, you don't have to wear something super uncomfortable, but you CAN wear something like this:

They look much better, but still keep you warm! This goes with all shoes. If you are daring enough to wear heels, then that is awesome! I love heels, but I do understand that they aren't the best thing to wear everywhere, especially if you have to walk a lot or stand all day. There are plenty of cute shoes though that are also cute and fashionable. Try ballet flats instead of tennis shoes. You will look great, and if you get the right flats, they will keep your feet comfy all day.

Guys- this goes for you too. There are plenty of options out there for guys to wear that aren't tennis shoes- or at least ugly tennis shoes. :) Any of these are good options to wear with jeans. So look nice, why don't you?