Style

Wearing 3.1 Phillip Lim dress / Forever 21 Coat (similar here)/ ASOS booties (similar here)/ Bag Forever 21 (similar here)/ H&M Sunnies / Cluse watch

 Comfort isn’t always plausible in fashion…heels pinch, spanx squeeze and strapless bras slide. We ladies deal with it because we love the way our legs look in heels and spanx helps us fake hours at the gym. Bottom line, we endure the physical discomfort because it helps many of us feel confident in our clothes.

But my comfort zone goes beyond FEELING physically comfortable, it’s about feeling secure and content with your own style. As much as I love oversized sweats and an old t-shirt (in the literal sense), I have discovered that I gravitate towards certain items, colors and shapes that will always be “comfortable”. For instance, I love black and will always be my go-to. If I don’t know what to wear to a dinner or party, black is the color I reach for because it makes me feel safe. Jeans and sleek coats are also main staples in my comfort zone as they make me self-assured. Relaxed and looser fitting items add a casual & effortless flare that is totally my aesthetic. Walking around in skin tight dresses & tops makes me too self conscious & can cause a bit of anxiety…the complete opposite of what you want in your comfort zone!

That being said, it’s important to push yourself to try new things — hey, you never know until you try! But finding what works for you and makes you feel like a million bucks is exactly what you should wear.

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Wearing BCBG vest / Madewell white dress / Calvin Klein shoes / Spctcl sunnies

Clean shapes & simple silhouettes is a great way to create statement-making looks without overthinking your closet. Though I love layering, keeping an outfit simple and sleek is another of my favorite ways to build an impactful look. A black and white combo is a chic way of packing an extra punch if you aren’t into wearing bold, bright colors.

Pairing this minimal vest with a white, detailed dress helps keep the overall shape relatively simple. Adding in easy, unfussy accessories helps the focus stay on crisp, simple lines.

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Embellishment has been everywhere lately from jeans to jacket to dresses. Though some of these colorful accents maybe a little too much, I prefer to keep them to a minimal and a bit subtle. This jacket is my perfect way to touch on this trend while still maintaining my love of subdued, mute colors and classic staples.

Pairing this with a plain, white tee and pleated skirt adds a hint of feminitity to an otherwise edgy look. This jacket is so versatile and can be paired with distressed jeans or a sexy dress for a wide variety of looks.

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Wearing Zara shirt / Articles of Society jeans / Zara shoes / Madewell Scarf / Old Navy bag / Sonix sunnies

 Spring is fast approaching and it couldn’t come soon enough. Days are slowly getting longer and I am in desperate in need of some sunshine! Does anyone else struggle with mild seasonal depression? Not that I’m in a horrible mood all winter, but my production level goes up (and does my happiness) when it’s sunny outside. Though I love to crawl up on the couch during rainy days, in my ideal world everyday would be a constant ray of sunshine. While I’m dreaming, I’d also love to live in a bungalow on the beach 🙂

I am loving the clean lines of this Zara shirt and my crisp, white jeans that are the perfect amount of crop for my legs. I added a pop of pattern in terms of a scarf around my neck. It’s one of my favorite ways to add interest to a minimal outfit. I need to invest in more white denim and colorful scarves because these are two items I will be wearing non-stop during the upcoming season!

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Wearing Forever 21 coat / Madewell shirt (similar here)/ Gap jeans / Dolce Vita booties (similar here)/ Sonix sunglasses

Coats are among my favorite ways to incorporate crisp silhouettes and structured shapes into a look. This Forever 21 camel piece has been one of my go-to’s through out the winter and it’s classic design will last through many more. Pairing it with a simple button down and cropped jeans is a minimal, yet bold look that I love to rock.

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I am a huge fan of light weight jackets that you can wear a large majority of the year. Since I am always cold, I usually bring something to throw on over my shoulders, even during the summertime. Restaurants and stores love to blast the AC, so layers are my best friend (even though I do sweat a good amount in my hot car attempting not to freeze during my meal). Makes total sense, right? 🙂

When I saw this leather beauty, I knew it was perfect fit for my closet. Ultra soft? Check. Under $200? Check. Understated embellishment? Check. This would be perfect to wear over a simple dress for an easy date night look or paired with a tee and shorts as a statement piece. Pop on a bit of red lipstick for that extra feminine flare and you’ve got yourself one hot look!

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Wearing Urban Outfitters Jacket (similar here) / Gap Shirt / Gap Jeans (similar here) / Dolce Vita booties / Stella & Dot necklaces

Accents and detailing can help spice up a number of pieces and zippers are one of my favorites…from jackets to shoes to bags. I like to keep these to a minimum to maximize their impact and this jacket is a great example. It has just zippers to keep it interesting while maintaining an appropriate amount of metal detail. Below are some of examples of zippers that adds a chic edge without going over the top.

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Lulu’s – $35

Zara Bag – $29.90

Dolce Vita – $180

Revolve – $168

Revolve – $99

Trying to find a flattering faux leather leggings without the hefty price tag can be tricky. It takes some trial and error in finding the right pair, but when you do, they can really take chicness to new heights. Here are a few tips to help guide your search.

1 . Look for a matte finish. The point of shopping for great looking faux feather is to find something that mimics the look and feel of the real deal. So you want to look for that dull, matte finish that is similar to leather’s signature soft & buttery texture.

2 . Avoid shiny faux fabric. When faux leather fabric is too shiny, it can look cheap. You don’t want every crease and wrinkle of the fabric to stand out and seem far from an authentic real leather feel.

3 . Go for a soft, medium weight material. Think of Goldilocks and the 3 Bears when trying to find great faux leather. You don’t want something too thick or too thin, just something just right..in the middle! Thick faux leather (though matte) can bend and crease in a way that appears too stiff & doesn’t conform to your curves properly. Thin faux leather, on the other hand, doesn’t have enough firmness and loses it’s sleek factor.

4 . Find the right fit. I have had some issues finding the right fit and cut of faux leather leggings recently. After trying several pairs from various online shopping sites, I concluded that if they are too baggy or bunch up too much, the fabulous factor goes down a bit. So I settled on a pair that are slightly tight fitting (while maintaining comfort) and found they are the most flattering on me. Try some out and decide what’s looks best on you!

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Do you have that cringe moment where you have to switch out your closet when the seasons change? Not only is it a pain and takes extra time to organize and sort, but sometimes I hate packing away my favorite items and think “I’m not going to see you for another 6 months”. Well, have no fear because today I am sharing some tips with you that might help you keep those seasonal pieces hanging in your closet a bit longer.

1 . Layer a blouse under a dress or jumpsuit. I picked up this pocketed black dress from the sale rack at Gap over the weekend and thought, “I don’t want to wait 4 months to wear this”. So I added my new favorite button up from Zara for a bit of extra arm coverage. (I ordered a medium and it shrunk quite a bit…but it fits perfect & still slightly oversized). Layering a sweater or blouse under a sleeveless piece can make it wearable longer and also can add an other style element. Case in point, if I would’ve added a printed flowy top under the dress above, it could take the look in a whole different direction.

2 . Wearing tights under shorts. Simple black tights can easily winterize almost any type of shorts. My personal favorite is to throw on a pair of wool or printed shorts, tights & finish off with black booties for a sleek, sophisticated look. Extra tip: Wearing black or muted color on top as well on bottom can really help your shorts take center stage.

3 . Add an over-the-knee boot with a mini skirt. Who doesn’t love the feminine flare of a mini skirt? Why not wear them year round, but keep warm and stylish with over-the-knee boots, which were so popular this fall season. Balance out the overall look by throwing on an oversized coat or sweater.

4. Try a fitted tee under a thin-strap tank. I have seen this particular look everywhere lately and it gives off major 90’s vibes (which I happen to love). Layering a white or black tee under a spaghetti strap tank is one way to expand it’s closet life and look stylish in the process. Pair it with distressed jean and flats for a modern twist on my favorite decade.

Extra note – If you are looking for a soft versatile bandana, Madewell has some great silk & cotton ones to chose from. The patterns are fun and I need to order a few more for the spring as a pop of color!

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I am always on the lookout for new online shop that offers a fresh crop of effortless pieces. Even though my regular go-tos like Zara, Mango and H&M never disappoint, it’s nice to find a new alternative. The Zoe Report recently had a review of The Frankie Shop and I feel in love it’s modern, luxe looking basics with a touch of casual coolness. The price points are a bit higher than the previous stores mentioned (mainly the outerwear), but they do have some unique pieces that I haven’t seen in other retailers.

Below are some of my top picks and unfortunately, a few of my absolute favorites were sold out (go figure). I am still going to include them just to give you an idea of they have to offer. (For those of you who live in NYC, they have a brick and mortar store on Stanton Street.) Check them out!

High Neck Open Sweater $219 

 Stripe Top $94 (Sold out)

Knit Skirt $85

Tall Ring Bag $185 (Sold Out)

Black Faux Fur Bag $128

Embossed Croc Bag $103