MAY FLOWERS

As the month of May nears it's end, let me brighten your lives up a little with some May flowers!  Florals always seem relevant in the transition between spring and summer...floral to tropical.  This is my favorite time of year.

I have always loved bold prints and I feel like I can pull them off.  I know there's that huge stigma with prints...little ladies looking swallowed up by a print.  And although, this can happen, it's as rare as  getting swallowed up by the whale itself.  I think wearing print is all about owning it...as with anything you wear!

A few years ago I came across a small shift dress at a thrift store with an "on the verge of ugly" print.  I LOVED IT.  & THIS BITCH DIDN'T EVEN TRY IT ON.

It's still my favorite dress ever.  

So what did I do when I found a pair of leggings in a similar pattern?

SPENT WAY TOO MUCH $$ AT AMERICAN APPAREL ON THEM, THAT'S WHAT--

They are a thicker nylon fabric so I don't feel naked...a lot of the printed leggings at places like Forever21 might have decent prints but are as thin as that damn tp paper in public restrooms.

(lol...just trying to justify my purchase rn)

A simple black top and shoe pairing make these pants seem effortless.  This is probably the most practical way of wearing them

but what's the fun in 

p   r  a   c  t   i    c    a   l  ?

Wanna go on a picnic.. looking like a picnic?

This is that look.

Wanna stunt on your haters?

This is probably it.

Wanna run around in a field of...oh...idk....flowers?

THIS IS IT.

Wanna cover your entire body in everything you own that's a floral print?

THIS IS IT.

AND I AM VERY OKAY WITH ALL THESE THINGS<3

NEW FINDS: PHONE OR PURSE OR SOMETHING COOLER?

You know by now I'm not into anything "traditional" unless you are trying to feed me a Thanksgiving meal...then I have a set list of traditional items you do not want to forget.  So when it comes to what you would call "the traditional accessory" you think of necklaces on chains, a cuff bracelet or two and on special occasions you switch out your studs for dangley earrings-- maybe a hat if you are so daring. Shoes. Purses.  BUT I LIVE ON THE WILD SIDE.

Also, I feel very foreign wearing lots of jewelry. I feel like I have too many things to keep track of.

Also, I am too picky when it comes to purses so I never buy them.

Also I am all about a singular statement piece.

&

THEN

I

FOUND

_______wait 4 it_______

this rad-as-hell cell phone case

I stubbled across a similar case (obviously v. knock-off) on one of those microtrendy sites like NastyGal or whatever..of course for the newest iPhone...and for my beautifully broken Samsung (two or three...idk...versions behind the times) I cried a few tears.  Then ran (figuratively, this is after all, only the internet) to Ebay.

& now it's mine.

& I love love love it because phones these days are too big for pockets and we forget things that are in pockets anyway.  I'm not sure why I've never seen a case with a strap like a purse before but I am ALL ABOUT IT.  This will be great for going out when i don't want to drag along a purse :)  I'm thinking of maybe making a simple black case with a strap too for more ~casual~ situations.

 

^^fake af but w/e  

love u guys

thx 4 reading

i'll blog about my plants l8r

<3

Alex   

~*GIVEAWAY WINNER*~

THE TIME HAS COME

to

~ANNOUNCE~

the

GREATPLAINSTYLE

 *****GIVEAWAY WINNER*****

YAY! Erin, I will be emailing you in a matter of minutes! To all you l___o___s___e___r__s  I wish you the best if there's a next time!  I want to thank all of you that showed interest in the shirts, too,  because maybe...just maybe...they will be for sale (amongst more cute designs!)  If such a thing does arise, I will let you readers be the first to know... so keep checking up on my blog :P

I will posting many more exciting things this week....I WILL BE INTRODUCING YOU TO MY FRIENDS! (by this i mean MY HOUSE PLANTS) <3<3

Catch ya later

<3 

Alex

THE PERSONALITY OF AN OUTFIT (IN TIME & SPACE)

~*~*~*~**~**!*!!~~*~*~*!*~~

~*~*~*~~~*~!!~**~~**~*~*~~

Greetings! Today's post, (like many others) serves no rhyme or reason, but I hope you enjoy it all the same.  I was recently at a senior show for the KU graphic design kids (that is their official title).  Those dudes and dudettes blow my mind...and I know how fast they can crank out stuff...I can do a mediocre job on designing stuff but it takes me centuries compared to their mere minutes behind a computer.  Nonetheless, I was pleasantly surprised to come across a few familiar faces..ones I hadn't seen in much too long!  I stopped and chatted with a boy I'd had a technical drawing class with (he, M U C H better than I).  We flipped through his portfolio, something I didn't get to do with any of the other designers but by this point it was nearing the end of the night.  He showed me a project he did featuring objects of peoples rooms and then the rooms themselves.  It's always an interesting subject, and one that is often visited.  I liked his approach though, and he had told me he'd recently taken a pyschology course focusing on the study of personalities (a course I took my first year in school!).   It was nice that he also didn't include the people themselves in the images or design...but you know I can't resist including my stupid face on here :P

So, all this thinking (you know...~*being artsy*~) and then a few days pasted and I forgot.  And then I was like "Alex, you need to blog today" and in reply I told myself "Yeah maybe that skirt you've NEVER worn"

So in my own battle of multiple personalities, I bring you this outfit.  I didn't know what I was going to write to you about it, but upon seeing the images, I knew I must come back to this idea of the items we have and the spaces we occupy and how they more often than not reflect one another.  I think it goes without explaining...all black...all white...every...thing makes me happy

And hey, a note to myself...you should probably wear this skirt more often u dummy :)

One last thing!

If you didn't catch my last post on Sunday...I am doing a giveaway!!!!!  Click through the image below or here to get entered (it's very easy, I promise, and you might get a free t-shirt & we can be twins)

<3

A GIVEAWAY: IT'S A T-SHIRT, BITCH

OH. WHAT'S THAT?

WHAT IS THIS?

YES. U CAN OWN A ONE OF A KIND KAWAII T-SHIRT LIKE ME BECAUSE I'M GONNA GIVE ONE AWAY FOR FREEEEEE BECAUSE I GUESS I LUV YA'LL

So,

I hope you are as excited as I am.  But as exciting and easy as getting free shit is, I have simple requests to enter to win this bad boy:

--THERE R OPTIONS. PICK ONE (BUT I MEAN, U CAN DO ALL IF U RLY LUV ME)--

Share this blog post (image or link) via any form of social media that you have (i.e. "The Facebook", "The Twitter", "The Insta", Pinterest) please hashtag it #youaintkawaiibitch or #greatplainstyle so it doesn't get lost in the depths of the internet!

THEN PLZ:

Post a comment on this page including your name & email and the social media link you posted! (This way I can find you and stalk you on the internet...and also get you entered and in the case you are ~*THA WINNER*~ i can find you :)

CONTEST WILL END 1 WK FROM 2 DAY---> Sunday, May 18th!

I've only worn my shirt out once. TO THA CLUB, OF COURSE.  I got the best looks...bitches giving the most beautiful looks of bewilderment and cool kids throwing props.  Let's ride or die together.

I will also open up the opportunity to consider ^this^ printed shirt instead of the other, if you so desire.  (Sometimes we like to make a statement without words, and instead, real tears).  If you are the winner we can talk more about which design you prefer :)

U WILL TRY 2 HIDE IN IT BUT U CAN'T. OBVI

--------

if you have any questions about the contest or you're having any problems, post via a comment or email me at greatplainstyle@gmail.com

<3

<3

<3

BEFORE & AFTER: BLK ON BLK

Today's post is the first real post introducing you into the decorating of my new apartment!  

It is a bit of a DIY post...

 

Until about three years ago, this trunk had been out in the same outbuilding on my family's property...storing old knick-knacks of my dad's from his "younger days."  When I was finally released into the world as a sophomore in college, out of the dorm life and in a REAL HOUSE, I needed some furniture...some places to keep my ridiculous amount of clothes, if we're being honest here.

So upon a questionable level of trust in me not "ruining things",  my dad let me drag it around with me.  It made it all the way to Chicago this past year.  It's not too big for a trunk and I love that!  And you know what's also super rad about a trunk?  YOU CAN ALSO USE IT LIKE A TABLE i.e. PUT MORE OF YOUR CRAP ON TOP OF IT!

So this is what I was dragging around.  I will say my favorite color has been yellow for a while now until gray took it's place (because apparently I'm into sad things now).  A little rough on the edges and with the weirdest color scheme including brown, I once again cautiously asked my dad if I could paint it.  Now three years after my initial request, he must just be used to my crazy ideas, and hey, he didn't even hate the idea of painting it at all.

^^^SO THIS IS WHAT I DID ^^^

The trunk is a weird combination of metal and wood elements.  I sanded the roughest of parts with a medium-fine grit sandpaper.  Then painted the whole trunk a matte black and added a glossy layer to the details- like the hinges and handles.

Overall, I'm more than happy with the result!  For my boring desire for an all black & white apartment I am closer to my goals, and I think this piece is interesting with the different paint textures...black isn't too boring!  I will be using this more like a coffee table (and of course, all while storing my bulky sweaters inside!)

<3 Best,

Alex

FEATURED DESIGNER: CHANTÉ GOSSETT (ROUND #2)

Hey, remember that time when the lovely Chante Gossett graciously let me borrow her designs from her recent spring collection and I ran around in them and blogged about them and then told you I'd blog about them again?

TODAY IS THA DAY I DO THAT

<3

This week I latched on to a few more of the pieces I didn't featured the last post.  I decided to try and style them as "Alex" as I possibly could to show how beautifully versatile her designs are.  It was fun to create completely different vibes from pairing pieces from Chanté's collection with the weird findings of my very own closet.

Taking current influences from Sporty Spice and the like, I paired this amazing skirt of Chanté's with some shiny pink biker shorts, a high-neck cropped tank, and a pair of cRazY Nike Air Max kicks. I absolutely love that she included this light camel/tan color in her collection as a neutral, it is so interesting to play with.

Look two is a combination of one of Chanté's printed tops!  I chose to keep with the white and off-white palette, and added a "furry" skirt in the mix along with those trudgeworthy kicks.  I love this look maybe the most because it's so simple from the front, and then you get to see Chanté's beautiful print in the back, with a little high-to-low, too!

When I originally met with Chanté about featuring her designs, we talked about this jumpsuit, and weren't going to include it (for obviously some silly reason!)...but lucky for me she threw it in the batch.  Unfortunately for her I'm going to steal it.

As a one-piece, and one of perfection, I couldn't really think of a better way to show it off than just stunt a little harder in it.  And add some see-through accessories...

HI

Lastly, is this cute little number of a dress:

with some shiny boots, I had a hop in my step.  The cut of this dress is so very playful I couldn't stop twirling around like a little girl.  A VERY STYLISH ONE

Please be sure to check out Chanté's website if you haven't yet.  She is doing the loveliest of things!  I want to thank her again for letting me spend some quality time with her work and I hope you enjoyed seeing her designs in action :)

<3

Alex

SUMMER in the CITY

OH DEAR BLAWG,

it's been a long stint, has it not?

I am sorry to have left you, high and dry, but I will be back with lots and lots of goods the next few weeks to make up for it.  I recently got the opportunity two weeks ago to travel to Austin, Texas with a group of amazing photographers & models to shoot for a fall campaign (I can't really tell you too much...SECRETS R SECRETS!)  But I am using my being gone for that as an excuse.

OH.

and another excuse!

I moved last weekend to a new studio apartment in Hyde Park, here in Kansas City.  My things are finally finding their own spots here in the apartment, and I've got a lot to blog about.  Get ready to adventure with me soon into designing and decorating the place :)

Until then, I have a random post about shoes...because we all love shoes and they make us happy and also I didn't have to photograph my face.

So.

THE TOPIC:

~*SUMMER FOOTWEAR*~

I think it's the lack of socks, I don't know, but summer kicks are (in general) a pain!  I get so used to wearing the same pair of boots all winter...and NOW WHAT.  Nothing seems to go with the outfits I'm wearing and I am looking like a real hot mess (literally sweating).

PRAISE THE HEAVENS FOR BLACK FLATS.  

There are a lot of cute heels for the summer, a lot of ugly ass sandals for the summer, but most importantly there are the things that you'll want to actually wear out in public every day.

I recently snagged the above pair on sale and couldn't be happier.  They transition well from my work day, to my everyday, to everywhere in between.  Being open on the sides they are easy and breezy, too, so think about that when you are looking for a new summer pair!

And what else will you find me wearing this summer?

NOTHING BUT THESE THINGS. PER USUAL.

<3

with better material next time,

Alex