SUM SEPTEMBER STAPLES

AH, The Midwest...always toying with my emotions and testing my body's ability at adjusting to drastic temperature change.

As September has come into full effect, so has this need for cinnamon apple scented candles in my home and blankets and dogs and cuddles.

Another need?

A closet swap.

Summer is still lingering here on a sunny afternoon, but these 7am mornings I meet and greet hang out at a mild 40 degrees as of late.  This calls for a few things:

1. Thigh high socks

2. Flannel

3. Lots of black

Who doesn't love running around in tall socks and playing in drapey fabrics?

 

U may love or hate the flannel at the waist.  i love it because it is practical for the change in temperatures throughout a Kansas day... and i feel like Hey Arnold.

k. bye<3

KAWAII CUTE

Sometimes you just want to be cute!  Fashion can be cute!

I like wearing my "you ain't kawaii, bitch" white t with something a little more dressed up--like a structured skirt, like so.

That's all.

<3

A MIX: GREY SKIES & SUNNY DAYS

Ahhh...summers in Kansas (technically i'm kcmo now, but forever indebted to the sunflower state...in the very literal sense of my student loans, of course)  

U_N_P_R_E_D_I_C_T_A_B_L_E_?  

ALWAYS.

And, as a typical human being (I think)  I am never completely in tune with the current weather forecast.  If you are reading and not a Kansan or even a Midwesterner, you may not have a good picture of what this unpredictability in the weather entails.  Let's just say I wore a sweater yesterday and it's been raining for 3 days straight and the high has been somewhere in the 60s.  All being said... it was nearing mid-90s here last week *___* u feel me?

So, of course, I can't dress myself.  Thank God I can use the weather as my excuse.

Thankfully, I've created my "early-june-2014 suit"

It is all grey because...you know, I'M THE ONE THAT'S PREDICTABLE

As temps fluctuate, oh, 30 degrees or so my go-to outfit has worked well 

tank top + ankle-length pants

the perfect solution to cover up your legs you haven't shaved yet for the summer, while allowing you to sweat it all out when the sun decides to make it's undoubted appearance.

Statement things like...oh, silver birks are my cup of tea and we are still sticking to a beautiful color palette, you see? 

Intricate details are fun in a monochromatic look, like the zips on my pants 

and the weaving around the arms of this tank

Man, I need to wash these pieces...but what settings do I use for grey, Mom?

<3

Alex

BEDSIDE: THE EASIEST DIY NIGHTSTAND

As I've posted a bit about it before,  I've recently moved into my own studio apartment.  It's my first time living alone...(with my pet rat, of course) and it's been really lovely!  It's amazing what a mess I can create within minutes of sifting through my closet!  And the kitchen?!  I'm incredible at dirtying ALL of my dishes in one quick session.  But knowing you're the sole creator of the mess....makes you a bit of a clean freak, so thankfully if you come on a good day, it's pretty tidy.

Since this is my first time living sans-roommates, I had a weird amalgamation of items in my possession...and did not have a single pot or pan...man, was I a shitty roommate?  Nonetheless, I've been trying to slowwwlyy add to my collection of crap, in a thoughtful and more minimal manner this time around.

So when I realized I had no furniture and that I was going to still be picky about it...I lived in a very empty apartment for the first month.  Only now is it looking a bit more liveable.  My newest acquisition(s) are what I'm going to show you today!

One thing that is nice to have are side tables.  One thing that is expensive when you go looking for them is...side tables.  I'm not loaded here, and hey, I already had to splurge on some pots and pans recently!

THE SOLUTION:

A T.V. TRAY + A TRAY

FOR WHAT? $8-10 for a tv tray? SOLD

IT WAS SO EASY. I don't even need to explain.

The tray is nice to add because all your little odds and ends (DEAR LAWD the amount of bobby pins lurking in my apartment) are contained.  I was so lucky to stumble upon this tray too...it's heavy and ceramic and was on sale <3___<3

The maybe even greater thing about doing this is that you can use the tray for BREAKFAST IN BED

And you can not feel like a piece of scum for eating in bed, but instead, feel really cool...cuz yr cool

So...with that...who wants to come make me breakfast?  I'll be in bed.

<3

Alex

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   

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

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