STREET SAVY // SPORTY CHIC

Lately, I've had my eye on streetwear/urban apparel and it's ability to encompass the effortless "I'm trying to look cool without looking like I'm trying" as I've previously mentioned many-a-time.  For me, I'm focused on the way sporty pieces have recently been incorporated into street style fashion with more dressy or tailored pieces.  If you know me, I blab on and on about how Adidas slides are the future and THEY ARE. The beautiful thing is that we can translate this into so many more ways that express that idea.  Here's some of my favorite inspirations:

(ahhh, Ivania, my biggest inspiration always)

So here are a few of my suit-ups:

Sequin Jersey: Forever 21

Gray Zip-Ankle Jeans (hand-me-downs): J-Brand

Black Chelsea Boots: Kohl's

Loose Black Tee: H&M

Gray Sweatpants: H&M

Sequin Shoes: Converse

SNIP SNIP & A LITTLE TRIP

I am truly sorry for the delay in my posting as of late...but it's because I was back home in Kansas for a few days!  Today's post is both a "hair & beauty" type post but mostly a personal/life-in-general type post...hopefully one that's relatable to people who are currently facing that awkward stage (much like puberty) in which you are financially equivalent to how the poor kid who sat by himself at lunch feels in a middle school cafeteria.

So how was going back home, you ask?
There are many answers to that question in which you know I will describe in much too detail.  So, firstly, a better question(s): was it too soon to go back? what is the protocol?

It felt about right, and it worked out to get scheduled off five days in a row so I can't argue.  It's been almost three months since I moved to Chicago, and aside from being a whopping 2 hours away from home during college I haven't been gone from home that much longer than the span of 3 months or so.  And this time is weird because before I was knowingly coming home from studying abroad in London and a summer spent interning in Minneapolis.  So this is weird, and I think timing-wise it was good...you can't expect this homegirl to take too many giant steps yet!

Home was beautiful and I spent an abundance of time with my pets...living in pure luxury.  Home is great too because I was fed well and broke the beautiful streak I had going of eating peanut butter and jellys every day.  I took pictures ( "kinda artsy" ones, even), walked out to the pond and explored the woods north of our farm, and honestly just kinda sat around and watched football on the tv, too. Besides that and spending some quality time in Lawrence though I MOST IMPORTANTLY GOT MY HAIRCUT:

I KNOW RIGHT?

I HAVE BANGS

I STILL DON"T UNDERSTAND

But I'm glad I went ahead with it...my hair was really looking something of a mess, and with a really straight, blunt chop chop it was remedied.  As much as I loved the ombre trend when I ventured into it over 2 years ago...that trend has been beaten like a gat-damn dead horse and I'm so bored. Very aware the remenants of my sudo-ombre lingered on my scraggley ends I knew needed to send out an SOS.

So as an update, I think this small little inch or two of a very straight application of color makes it SO FRESH.  I wasn't going to go for straight bangs but it only felt right to push the look to another level. And I also have a secret! The undermost layer of bangs are in blonde, too!  I still feel weird and haven't fully accepted them but, hey, I'm one of those people who can't face her fears and waits months on end to go back home to her hairdresser she's had for 5 years to get it cut.

Here are some of the snaps I got the morning I went out to shoot--thanks to my momma for making a strong pot of coffee and waking me up before sunrise!:

YOU'RE DOING IT (OVERALLS) WRONG

I'll say it, If you are wearing overalls you probably look kinda stupid right now. OK OK Let's lay it all out on the table before (if not, already) I turn into a pretentious prick who seems too good for what's trending currently, this post is about the good and the bad of a trend and the topic if you haven't guessed is....

THE OVERALL

  

Let's face it, you can only pull overalls off if you time travel back to the late 80's and 90's.  Don't get me wrong, like any 22 year old I LOVE reminiscing back to my childhood where I didn't know what bills were and thought receiving mail meant I would be getting a $2 bill from my grandparents in a card. Honestly, my 8 year old self circa 1999 would applaud today's trending performance....but what does she know, she colored in the lines in her coloring book.

I feel stuck in this lack-luster state of mind when it comes to most trends lately, or because of their increasingly rapid changes and lack of growth and development, best described as "micro-trends". Dear God, save us all from the horrible future of more foreseeable micro-trends.

What could I hate about overalls?

There is nothing I hate about overalls.

The problem I have with today's resurgence of the beautiful contraption called the overall, is that upon it's comeback it has not completely evolved or moved forward.  Trends recycle, and show up a few decades later, but they are considered and adjusted to fit into their new time period.  We are treating overalls in a sentimental way, which has glossed our eyes and our ability to challenge perspective...we don't want to be perceived as that 35 year old guy who still acts like he's in high school, do we?  I'll be the first to admit that I still want to be a kid and sometimes dress like a kid, but that's probably some other personal deep-seeded issue.  More probable in defining my fear of this current trend is the fact that for the first time I'm seeing a trend reappear in the bredth of my own lifespan and it's w e i r d.

As much as this is in no way a real issue in the way of news, I want you to know that there is hope for the overall in my book.  I'm not condoning it's existence and have it's best interests in mind...I'm even excited about it lately.

After fumbling around on the internet like a fish flopping on dry land (the daily norm), I ran across a blog post that would change my mind about this whole internal conflict overalls had created in me.  Yes, there have been some adjustments made to the overall, one being an update of material in the creation of the leather-all (Thanks Phillip Lim, I'll always love you).  In a more tailored cut, we're seeing a stage of inbetween or similarly the skirt with suspender straps combo;  I feel like we're there but not just yet.  Finally on the verge of giving up and scrapping the trend and waiting for it to pass I found the answer in my quest for the holy grail.  THE OVERALL CROP TOP

As personal opinion, I find the Overall Crop Top as a success in the re-inventing of the overall itself.  Maybe it seems like too easy of an answer, but I think it's ballsy and with anything in life, taking that initial cut is the most important (luckily for us, it's just one and done and the best part is you can actually use the original overall in your world takeover).  The key to the crop top approach is that it is also a trend that is surfacing (which is being worn differently with full mid-length skirts or in matching top/bottom pairings).  Combining the Overall and the Crop Top you get something new.

After finding my solution to the future of overalls, I had to have my own.  Slowly plotting my attack, I envisioned a swift DIY.  Thankfully for me and my ability to procrastinate for month(s) on projects I came across an already cropped overall at the resale shop I work at.  When I got home with the piece, the real challenge was only beginning--HOW DO I WEAR THIS? I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THIS

Here's what I'd researched:

1. With a high-waisted skirt makes sense proportion-wise for 2013's standards and

2. Who doesn't love a little sideboob

(I like it, but I also felt a little too naked)

3.  Lounge/track pants are a beautiful thing and paired with a crop top and heels make a complete look

But how do I make an outfit for upcoming fall weather and still incorporate this piece?  I'll admit my attempt was just that- an attempt for now.  I'm feeling it but know the answer (like in my quest for the re-invented idea for the overall) is still out there- for the time being, here's my look:

Tell me your thoughts on the overall and/or other micro trends you are in fear of,

xx

Alex 

THE CASUAL MIX

 Lately I've been very into mixing casual items with dressy pieces, and I advise you to give it a shot! In this post today I'll tell you how I've gone about it, and in general, how to construct outfits thoughtfully and successfully:

 I'm really enjoying my new job working in a resale clothing shop...when I'm given the task to dress mannequins for display it's like I'm given the world's largest closet to stand in and choose from..all of the items are different...and sometimes it feels impossible to even begin to focus.  In my own closet the numbers are less substantial, but present a fun challenge all the same.  Creating something new from an existing wardrobe is exciting, and honestly sometimes more thrilling than adding new pieces to it.  I think the best way to start constructing an outfit is by picking one piece you really want...dedicate your outfit around it and know where you (or your model/mannequin) are going in it.  Today I picked this "ancient" Arcade Fire, Neon Bible T-shirt.  It's nice and graphic and as a slimmer fit it's easier to work with dressier items and I knew I wanted to look somewhat dressed up for work today.

Step two for this look was a bottom...although I tend to drift from the task at hand and go straight for shoes...creating the core for your outfit is the best way to add to it.  Pairing this khaki skater skirt with the t-shirt felt right, and in a cotton fabric it didn't feel too over-the-top (*be sure to make sure your textures and fabrics make sense because if they contrast too much the pieces will just be confusing unless you are willing to REALLY own it).  Knowing from previous outfit constructing in my wardrobe, I knew I liked to wear my black knee-high socks with this skirt...and for the unpredictable weather here they were a nice way to balance weather that's "not too hot & not too cold." I finished the look with my beat up grey Docs that echo back to the grungey idea of a band tee and the skater cut of a skirt.