I'm baaaaaack, and ready for fall!

I know, I know, I know. I'm horrible. But let's just say that I took a summer vaca from this blog? Shall we? I hope you will all forgive me because I really am ready to throw myself back into this blog. Especially since my favorite season for fashion is coming upon us- FALL! This time of year is the best time of year for shopping. It's the back-to-school/ready for fall time of year and all the stores are full of fabulous fall fashions. Here's why I love Fall- you can dress up different pieces by layering. Layering is such a great thing, especially when Fall is like it is where I'm living. Sometimes the day will start of cold and then warm up and vice versa, so layers are the perfect answer to that. And aside from the practicality, layers just look great as well. This lady looks great for so many reasons. She is layering with a jacket and a scarf. The jacket is a great fallish orange. Just because the weather is starting to cool off doesn't mean you have to start dressing in all blacks and browns! And this is a perfect example of that. Scarves are also a great accessory to keep you warm and make you look great.

Layering works for guys too- as you see this guys has done. He has a great jacket over a cardigan, over a shirt. And it looks great. He could get rid of the jacket or the cardigan and still look great. And notice once again that the cardigan is red- another great fall color.
So as you go and get your back to school or fall shopping done, keep these things in mind. And don't forget to only buy things that you feel amazing in and absolutely love. And of course- buy and wear things that fit! Be on the lookout for more fall fashion blog posts soon!

A Tip for Shopping

Sorry- no pictures this week!

Today we are talking about something we all relate to- money. Looking good is not always free, unfortunately, especially since some of us are trying to improve our look and simply don't have the means to do so. Looking good is not about shopping at the most expensive stores. You can find clothes that look good on you anywhere- including thrift stores. To prove my point I'm actually giving myself a challenge- I am going to go buy a fashionable outfit entirely from a thrift store to show you what I mean. I will then take pictures and post them up on this blog. In the mean time, let's discuss this. If something fits you, and makes you feel good about yourself, it doesn't matter where you got it from.

Don't get caught in the trap of thinking that you have to buy hundreds of dollars worth of clothes at once either. A wardrobe is something that takes time to build up. I have been working on mine for years- literally. When you first start out, buy the basics that will start to give you that refined look. They need to be neutrals so they will go with most everything- at least at first. You also don't need to get into the mindset that you are shopping for an entire outfit when you go out in search of clothing. If you do that, the money really adds up. Look for one item to begin with- whether that be a jacket, a skirt, some shoes, etc. Focus on what you need most to look your best and buy that, without worrying about buying the rest of an outfit. Incorporate pieces into your wardrobe as opposed to outfits. If you do this, you can mix and match, and your wardrobe will naturally be bigger than it would be if you only kept certain items with certain outfits. If you switch up the different pieces enough, you might not have to ever wear the same outfit again! If that is your goal at least... Remember you can have tons of different outfits with different combinations of different pieces that you buy.

Don't let money intimidate you. Save up for specific pieces and have patience. In due time, you will have a fabulous wardrobe that makes you look and feel your best. And don't forget that buying a simple accessory can change an outfit entirely- bringing even more variety into your life. Think outside of the box when it comes to the clothes that you already have- and you might be surprised what you can come up with.

More Springtime advice

Today's post is directed at my female readers. Don't worry guys- a post just for you is coming soon! If you can't tell, I'm really into shoes. At least I find myself blogging about them a lot. I used to be much worse than I am now. But I still love them. So I want to talk about sandals! Especially since its going to be warm outside now, and every girl is going to want to show their feet! Is it too drastic of me to try and dissuade you all to not wear flip flops? They are just so.... not feminine, usually very dirty looking, and just not fashionable. Try wearing something more like this:

They are still flat, so they wont hurt your feet, and yet they are feminine and will help you in looking your best. These look super cute with any spring time or summer outfit. They look great with skirts, dresses, capris, shorts, or even jeans. You really can't go wrong. And if you get them in a neutral color, like the ones above, you can pretty much wear them with whatever color you are wearing. I just bought some sandals from Target that lean away from the flip flop and I love them. They are still comfy, keep my feet cool, and are so cute! They are once again a little detail of your outfit to making you look even more beautiful. And while you have your toes showing- paint your toes a fun color to add more jazz and femininity. And cute sandals are available everywhere, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding them!

Looking Good- It's more than just clothes

I've spent a great deal of time discussing how you can look better by making a few simple changes to your wardrobe. Fashion and looking good isn't just about your clothes though. There is bit more to it. Looking good also includes things like how you do your hair, make up for the ladies, and accessories. Don't let the word accessories scare you away boys! This woman here is in a fashionable outfit, but she also has a simple make up job and hairstyle that makes her even more beautiful and confident looking. Her hair isn't greasy or frizzy, but it's also not in some crazy style that would take a lot of time. Take the time to make your face and hair look great. You can still wear your hair up, just make it look sleek and clean. And here's my plug for make up. To all of the women out there- you DO look better with make up on. Even if you don't think it makes a difference, it does! I'm not saying you have to wear a lot of makeup, because usually a little goes a long way. Simply wearing mascara alone will do wonders for your look. Take the time to take care of yourself! You will feel better!

And guys- don't be sloppy. Take the time to be clean looking and sharp. Fix your hair in a way that looks best on you. If you have facial hair, keep it neatly trimmed and don't have a beard just because you think it is funny or cool. You aren't doing anyone any favors! :) I chose this picture because there are subtle things about this look aside from the clothes themselves that make him look very chic. First of all, he is wearing cuff links, which add a huge level of sophistication. Then he is also wearing thick rimmed glasses (love!) and a nice watch. These are the kind of accessories that work well with a look for men. Even if you aren't dressed up, you can still have a nice watch on, or belt. The little things will make you look more polished and lead to a more confident you.
I know many of you are thinking that no one will notice these little "dumb" things like make up or accessories. And does that matter? The point is that you will know, and you will therefore know that you look better. People might not notice why you look better, but they will notice that you do. And it will be because of those small little things. They aren't hard to do!

Time for Spring, Time for Color

Well spring is finally here! (In Utah at least) And that means it's time for spring fashions! Spring fashion is about a lot of things, and one of those things is COLOR. Don't continue to wear the dull grays, blacks, and neutrals of winter if you can help it. Go for bold colors that you look good in. You can use color in your fashion in multiple ways. One way is to take a dramatic bold piece with a solid color, like all of the dresses below. The dresses are a bold color while the accessories, shoes, and purses are a neutral color. It makes a statement and if done right, can lead to more confidence.

Another way to use color is to use it as an accent against an outfit made up of mostly neutral colors. These guys aren't really dressed for spring... but the principle still applies. Notice the first guy is wearing a bright red pant and a bold colored shirt with the black coat being the main article of clothing. Since it is spring, you can wear a cardigan instead. Or a light jacket. The second guy is wearing a red scarf against a mostly neutral outfit. If scarves aren't your thing, you can wear a red shirt or coat instead. And then the last guy has his accent color in his shoes. Notice how the blue doesn't really match anything else that he is wearing, and yet it still goes. Keep that in mind when you are looking to use an accent color.

You don't need to wear colors that are matchy matchy. But you should be wearing color! Wearing a bold colored shoe is a great way to add color to an outfit- whether you are a guy or girl. Pretty much all of the color rules go for either sex. A really popular color right now is mustard yellow. It looks good paired with pretty much any color- my personal favorite is when it is paired with navy blue. So remember to be colorful, be bold, and be confident. It's spring!

Comfort and Style- they aren't enemies!

Ah comfort. I can't tell you how many times I have heard someone excuse their horrible fashion with saying something along the lines of "Oh but Grace, it is just so comfortable!" or "I dress for comfort, not style." That's all fine and dandy- but I think you are selling yourself short if you believe in either of these excuses. I enjoy being comfortable just as much as the next person, but you don't see me walking around like this:

And neither should you. Wearing sweatsuits is something that NO ONE and I will repeat, NO ONE should be wearing in public. I don't care how "comfortable" they are. Are regular pants really that uncomfortable? Did I miss something? If your pants are really THAT uncomfortable, I would suggest that maybe you need to get some new pants. Don't give up looking good for the idea of being comfortable because feeling good about yourself definitely outweighs feeling warm and comfy in your favorite pair of sweat pants. If you don't believe me, then hey try it! There are a ton of options out there that are a) comfortable and b) stylish. So I don't want to hear these excuses any longer! Let me give you an example of how I feel about a certain "comfortable" product out there right now:

Everyone tells me that these shoes are so comfy, and therefore people think they are wearable. Is anyone looking at these shoes? They are simply not ok, no matter how cushioned they are. Did you know that there are actually stylish and comfy shoes out there? Call me crazy, but it's true! Ladies, I understand that you don't want to wear shoes that are pointy, or high heeled, etc because they make your feet hurt. And that's fine! But look for a cute ballet flat or some oxfords (see last post) which are flat and will be kind to your feet. Guys- there are tons of stylish shoes you can wear that aren't nasty running/tennis shoes. Try some casual leather shoes for a change. Wrap your mind around the fact that you can have more than just a Sunday pair of shoes and a casual pair of shoes. If you get stuck in this mind trap, then you end up having a fancy pair of shoes that you feel you can only wear to church or formal occasions and a pair of tennis shoes that get beaten up and nasty extremely quickly because you wear them all of the time. Tennis shoes should be used for exercising. It's ok to have 3 or 4 pairs of shoes!

I understand that people want to be comfortable, I just want them to also understand that you don't have to give up comfort to be stylish and you don't have to give up style to be comfortable. The sooner we all realize this, the better. If nothing else, never wear sweat suits or crocs in public. You will feel better in a good looking outfit than you would in a fuzzy sweatshirt. Just imagine the possibilities!

Current Love

I have a current obsession. And that obsession is oxford, wing-tipped shoes. For men and women. They are soooo classy and just great all around. I actually just bought a pair online, and I can't wait to get them! They are the perfect trend right now because you can dress them up or wear them casually- and both guys and girls can wear them. See how this woman is wearing them in a more dressed up manor. Doesn't she just look classy?

And then here are some women- celebs wearing them in a more casual manor. Notice how you can wear them with skirts or pants- dressy or casual. And they are flats, so they won't hurt to wear them around all day. More proof that you don't have to wear heels to look classy and fashionable, ladies!

And guys- there is nothing more attractive (at least to me right now) than guys wearing wing tip oxfords. So classy and shows the sign of a true gentleman that knows how to dress. Here are some shots that I got from thesartorialist.blogspot.com. I also got the woman in red oxfords from that site too. It's a blog that I definitely love and you should check out. I love this older gentleman in his outfit and oxfords. Notice his ability to wear them with jeans, so casually, and yet still look classy. This doesn't just go for older guys!

And I absolutely LOVE this picture. There's something amazing about it. And they are wearing oxfords! There are all sorts of oxfords, so go ahead and find some that are fitting to your style, if you feel! I just bought some for only $25 so you don't need to spend a lot of money, if that's what you are worried about. Guys- these shoes work really great with a suit too, in case you are needing to upgrade your Sunday/business shoes to something more fashionable and classy.
So happy oxford season! I love this trend and I hope you can learn to love it as much as I do.

I also hope that you all like the new design! I spent quite some time on it, and I absolutely love it. I also added an "about me" tab at the top, if you want to check that one out! I will be adding more tabs in the future, so keep your eye out for that!