Vest

The faux fur vest is this season's newest trend and will find it's way into many wardrobes. You can wear one over an all black outfit for a classy look, or toss one on over a white shirt and jeans. It is lightweight, yet warm. It is a great choice for temps that can change so drastically this season.

Layer the vest with turtlenecks, sweaters, blouses, jeans and slacks. If you have a short neck or a round face, wear a long necklace with your outfit to create a vertical line. Your shirt on the bottom layer should be long and worn out; a tucked-in blouse is too frumpy. It is okay to wear denim with denim vests, just make sure that one is darker or lighter than the other.

Don't be afraid to add a vest on top of dresses for more of a boho look.

You can also create quite the impact by adding three simple accessories to your layering: A necklace, a belt and a scarf.

NECKLACE - If you wear a plain top you can add a bold necklace. You can also create a slimming look with a long necklace.

BELT - If you decide to use a belt, make sure the vest is long enough. Adding a belt to the vest can create more curves and give you a defined waist. By keeping the vest unbuttoned, a vest that is too big will suddenly look as if it fits.

SCARF - Tying a scarf loosely around your neck and letting the ends hang from your sides can create a slimming effect. If you want something really different, you can trade the belt around your waist for a scarf.

Vests are an item that never seem to go out of style and will go with just about anything you wear. An outfit can look very different by just adding a vest. The vest can take an outfit from plain and boring to something that makes a statement.

Stear clear of Jumpsuits!

As Autumn  is coming up, the summer clothes are starting to hit the back of the closet.  The jumpsuits during the summer were very cute.  Shorts connected to a tube top of halter was cute.  Now that fall is coming, many people still want the jumpsuit look so they buy one that looks like an exterminator outfit, literally.


 The long sleeves connected with pants are bad enough to look at, but then the jumpsuits are loose and look odd.  The only half was descent way to wear jumpsuits with pants connected are the tanks, halters or the tube tops.  Nothing else works with jumpsuits that contain connecting pants.  I have also noticed long sleeves with shorts was starting to become popular which was scary.  Those do not even look right together when they are not attached, so why wear them when they are attached? Also, the whole one shoulder style is appealing on pretty much anyone, but not when they were wearing it as a jumpsuit.
    

Now sadly not only the idea of pants, but crops as well.  The crops looks like something Aladain would wear as a "street rat".  It makes the bottom look unpealing and baggy.  Almost like you bought 20 sizes too big.  The looseness of the clothing looks tacky and makes someone look heavier then they truly are.  The nice thing about the summer jumpsuits is they are loose, but are not covering your whole body like a blanket hiding your shape. 


The whole idea of a jumpsuit that involves pants or long sleeves just makes me cringe. Bottom line here is Jumpsuits are cute in the summer as short connected with tank, halters, or tube tops and nothing else otherwise you like an exterminator gone wrong. 

Fashion that says "YOU"

Looking around the halls in the high school, it is amazing how many people dress so much alike. There is so much pressure to match what the popular kids are wearing. The girls all talk about how much they love “fashion” when really they are purchasing from the mass-market retail world and have been told by them what style is all about. Style seems to be dictated by the big retailers and teenagers have fallen into their trap. Most teenagers really don't understand real style and just end up buying up whatever they see in the retail stores.

Sure, most teenage girls look cute and fashionable, and some do deserve the compliments they get. But most outfits are put together without much thought and the styles are totally boring. Wearing clothing from the big retailers makes you feel like you fit in, as if that label on the inside of the shirt you’re wearing makes you just a little bit cooler. But in reality, it’s much more rewarding to find your own sense of style, mixing and matching different labels, styles, and ideas to create something that’s uniquely YOU!

As nice as it is to be complimented on your mannequin copied outfit, it’s so much better when someone compliments you on a look that you worked to put together yourself with pieces from all over the place. That way, you know they’re complimenting your individual style and eye for fashion, not the “fashion” know-how of some merchandiser in a big retail store.

It’s not “a look” to wear nothing but one brand head to toe. If you see several girls wearing the same outfit as you in different colors, it’s time to really think about things, and get started expressing yourself through your clothes and not somebody else’s ideas.

How To Create Your Own Style:

Take a 30-day big retailer break – The next time you go to the mall try out another shop that you don’t go to so often and see if anything appeals to you. Better yet, check out cute accessories instead of buying more plain tops and jeans you don’t really need. Visit a local vintage store, a unique boutique downtown, or just raid your friend’s closet. Look at textures, colors and patterns, and find what really speaks to you. Make an effort to buy or borrow something that you really love: bonus points if it’s something that you wouldn’t normally wear!

Study style – I don’t mean memorize the latest trends or even try to copy high-fashion looks. Learn about real STYLE. Find photos of style you find appealing. Flip through Vogue and Elle magazines. Tear out pages of whatever YOU really like.

Follow or skip trends – Consider what works for you, your style and your body. For example, I think skinny jeans look cute on very thin girls, but I don’t like how they look on my body, so I stick to my boot-cuts. It’s always better to skip a trend than wear something that totally doesn’t look good on you. If, on the other hand, you LOVE one of the latest trends, then go for it!

Keep changing up your style – Throughout your life, your style is going to grow and change. Whatever you do, don’t wear the same looks over and over. Have fun with your look and don’t be afraid to shake things up!

Developing your own unique style is something that I believe everyone who cares about fashion should do. It might be more work to find unique pieces and work them into your wardrobe than it would be to just buy whatever’s new at the mall, but it’s so worth it. Don’t let a retail store define you: define yourself and show your personality off through what you wear! That’s what fashion is all about.

Accessorizing

Accessories can make or break a look. Using the right piece of jewelry can transform an outfit from boring to stunning. A t-shirt and shorts can be made into something interesting just by adding a chunky necklace or some show-stopping earrings. Mixing and matching pieces of jewelry is a way to show your personal style and flair. Adding a tassel necklace or an oversized ring can work but it is important that you absolutely love your look. Jewelry doesn’t have to be expensive, finding affordable jewelry that you love can make one outfit feel like it has multiple personalities. Invest in sparkle by buying fun pieces that you can.

Another option to consider when creating your outfit, are the many causes that market accessories so you can support a worthwhile cause while still being able to show your individual style.  

Put a Ring on It

Like any accessory, it can make or break an outfit.  One big way to simply dress up any look is to just put a big and glamorous ring on. One of the most popular people that the tabloids look to for fashion and what could possibly make a big hit is Kim Kardashian.  Others would be like Selena Gomez and Carrie Underwood.  Kim Kardashian though has her own clothing line at Sears.  It is a very fashionable, but affordable line.  It is great because it is hard to find bold rings that make a statement in a positive manner rather then look repulsive and cheesy.  Some of the most popular rings are about $20 each.  Below are a few of the most popular rings.                       


These rings are not just the same old, boring big stone.  These actually have some personality to them and make a statement.  People would probably more likely to notice your accessories because they are so unique.  If you do not like the more complex ring that are somewhat like the ones pictured above, Kim Kardashian has rings in her clothing line also that are simple, but yet make a statement.  Some are pictured below.

     

The last type of bold rings she sells in her clothing line are just small simple rings like normal, but have some personality so they stand out and do not look like just and ordinary ring.  For example, one of my favorites is the silver jaguar head.  
   
If you are interested in any of these rings or want to look at Kim's amazing clothing line that not only includes jewelry and clothing, but also belts, handbags, shoes, and more.  The link is listed below:
Kim Kardashian Kollection