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5/27/2023 0 Comments TIPS FOR BUYING CLOTHES SECONDHAND There are numerous reasons to shop secondhand. Some people love the affordable pricing of secondhand items and stellar thrift store discounts. Others shop secondhand to be environmentally conscious. Others value individuality and self-expression through fashion, admiring secondhand clothing’s uniqueness and one-of-a-kind feel. Whatever your shopping motives, this article provides the best tips for buying secondhand at thrift stores and online. EVALUATE YOUR CURRENT WARDROBEFirst and foremost, it is important to evaluate your current wardrobe. Peek inside your closet, dresser, and storage bins and take note of:
Taking inventory is useful when creating a shopping list. For example, maybe you just got into running but only own one workout outfit. This is a gap in your wardrobe and athletic shorts, a sports bra, and a Dri Fit tank top are all items you could add to your secondhand shopping list. KNOW YOUR MEASUREMENTS Another thrifting tip is to know your measurements. Many online thrift stores and secondhand marketplaces feature clothing where the sizing on the label is not accurate, and shoppers are encouraged to refer to the measurements of a garment. Vintage items in particular do not typically align with current sizing scales. Measurements to know:
To learn how to properly measure your body to know your clothing size, check out the website Size Charter. CLOSELY INSPECT ITEMS BEFORE BUYINGAnother thrift tip is to inspect items before purchasing. Buying pre-loved items means those garments had a prior life and likely endured some wear and tear. Be sure to check garments for stains, rips, runs in the fabric, and discoloration. Also check if an item has been tailored to custom fit the previous owner. When shopping secondhand on thrifting apps like Depop, Poshmark, and Mercari, zoom in on the images to check for imperfections. Sellers also often list the condition an item is in, such as “brand new,” “used,” and “fair condition.” SEARCH FOR SPECIFIC ITEMS ONLINEAnother tip for successfully shopping secondhand is to search for more specific items online rather than in physical thrift stores. Modern search engines are quite good at yielding results. Search “Selkie dress secondhand” on Google, for instance, and links to used Selkie dresses sold on Depop, The RealReal, Poshmark, and other secondhand sites pop up within seconds. Be sure to compare pieces across resale platforms to find the best deal. One of my favorite resale sites is eBay due to its friendly sellers, low prices, and wide variety of items for sale. BE WARY WHEN SHOPPING FOR DESIGNER ITEMS Shopping comes with the risk of getting scammed, especially when it comes to buying secondhand designer items. Sometimes thrift stores accidentally label a dupe as an original, and sometimes malicious online sellers purposely scam innocent shoppers for a fat profit. Here are a few tips to follow when buying designer items secondhand:
DON'T BE AFRAID TO BARGAINA final tip when shopping secondhand is to not be afraid to bargain. Typically, physical thrift stores have set prices, but online resale apps are known for their bargaining and price flexibility. Most secondhand shopping websites and apps have a “make an offer” button where users can send in an offer on an item. It is recommended to send an offer between 10-20% off the original price. The worst that can happen is your offer is rejected. Whether your secondhand shopping motives are sustainability-based, style-based, or savings-based, the above tips will ensure a stress-free and enjoyable shopping experience. SEE YOU NEXT SATURDAY WITH ANOTHER FASHION POST.
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 It's that time of year again; time for my quarterly fashion vision board post! I am very excited for spring and warm weather because my outfits will no longer be hidden under a bulky winter coat. Spring always feels like a time for new beginnings and fresh starts, and I am looking forward to falling in love with fashion again and creating some fun, colorful, comfy, and spring-inspired outfits. Below is a breakdown of the styles, trends, and clothing items I cannot wait to wear this season. COLORFUL/PATTERNED SOCKSI am not sure if this is too niche, but I am one of those people who just have "dirty" socks. I obviously wash them, but they inevitably become pilled and discolored after about two wears. This season, I want to invest in better socks to create a cleaner and prettier look. Since I will be investing in new socks, why not buy some fun, colorful, and patterned ones? I have been eyeing the Brandy Melville heart socks for probably six months now, so spring is the perfect time I will finally pull the trigger and add these adorable socks to my wardrobe. LONG SKIRTS + SWEATSHIRTSIn my "What I Wore In NYC" post I shared an edgy outfit consisting of a salmon-colored tulle skirt paired with an oversized Lady Gaga hoodie. Ever since that trip, I have been in love with this unique pairing of a long skirt and sweatshirt. Not only do I feel fashionable in this combo, but comfortable as well. I also love the look of long skirts paired with band tees and will be trying out this look later in spring when the weather is even warmer. COLORFUL KNIT SWEATERSColorful knit sweaters were previously mentioned in my "Fall 2022 Fashion Vision Board," but there is nothing wrong with enjoying a certain trend or article of clothing season after season. I honestly love the idea of having a "signature" look or signature item that people associate with me. For example, I always reach for my Ragged Priest colorful striped sweater and love having it as a tried-and-true item in my wardrobe. FUN JEWELRY/ACCESSORIESWhether scrolling through Pinterest or window shopping downtown, I always find myself gravitating towards colorful accessories, beaded bracelets, and funky rings. I recently began spring cleaning and reorganized my entire jewelry holder. Now I only own pieces that bring me joy and I am looking forward to styling my colorful statement jewelry this spring. I also ordered these cool shoe charms off of Etsy and cannot wait to wear them when there is finally no more snow, slush, or rain water on the ground! Follow my Instagram to see the outfits I end up wearing this spring! SEE YOU NEXT SATURDAY WITH ANOTHER FASHION POST.
3/11/2023 0 Comments WHAT I'M CURRENTLY PINNINGMY RECENT FASHION PINS ON PINTEREST. For nearly a decade I’ve turned to Pinterest for outfit inspiration and styling ideas. Pinterest might just be my favorite social media platform- it feels like a personal collection of beautiful pictures and ideas rather than a traditional social media site based on self-promotion and cultivating the perfect image for your followers. It is easy to get inspired on Pinterest when there are endless amounts of fashion and outfit photos. I enjoy finding and placing images into specific boards, whether it be a DIY board, outfit inspiration board, or celebrity style board. I thought it would be fun to make a collage of recently pinned images for some of my Pinterest fashion boards (a maximalist fashion collage, an outfit inspiration collage, etc.). Enjoy! OUTFIT INSPO Whenever I come across a new style or clothing combo I want to try out, I add the image to my "outfit inspo" board. Even though the weather is still quite cold in the Midwest, I am loving the look of grunge t-shirts layered over ruffle and tulle skirts. I am also loving the hoodie x skirt combination. While I do tend to reach for brightly colored clothing when getting ready each morning, I do enjoy the occasional black, white, and cream outfit. DREAM WARDROBE My "dream wardrobe" board is filled with articles of clothing I long to have in my own wardrobe one day. Exhibit A: the discontinued bubblegum pink Converse! This board also contains plenty of LoveShackFancy items, artist merch (peep the Harry Styles tote and Taylor Swift 1989 hoodie), and plenty of pretty pink clothing. My girly side really comes out in this particular Pinterest board. COLORFUL FASHION In my "How to Get Out of a Style Slump" article, I explain the importance of identifying keywords to describe your style. One of my keywords is "colorful," so naturally I created a Pinterest board titled "colorful fashion." This board focuses on colorful outfits but also features outfits involving funky prints and textures. MORE IS MORE Lately I have been very inspired by maximalism. While I would not define my style as maximalist, I do love getting inspiration from over-the-top and extravagant outfits. This "more is more" board also contains quite a few decora outfits (a Japanese style of dressing). This board is for all things colorful, fun, layered, and extra. Hopefully you enjoyed this exclusive peek into my fashion Pinterest boards. This was such a fun post to create! :) SEE YOU NEXT SATURDAY WITH ANOTHER FASHION POST.
2/18/2023 0 Comments WHAT I WORE IN NYC This past weekend I traveled to New York City with my best friend Alice and her super cool roomie Oksana and had the best time! The fashion, the food, the atmosphere; it was all incredible! While on this trip I documented some of my favorite outfits I wore to include in this week's blog post. Enjoy :) EXPLORING AT THE MET
One of our first stops in NYC was The Metropolitan Museum of Art. I wore the comfiest sweats on the plane and changed into this look (shown above) in the airport bathroom because there was no way my first official New York outfit was going to be sweatpants! I have started to gather a rather large collection of concert merch and wanted to bring a few of my new pieces on this vacation. I saw Blondshell in concert last month (amazing!) and styled her merch with a pink turtleneck, cargos, a black belt, and my favorite white chunky sneakers. A QUICK STOP AT ROLLER RABBIT
After exploring (and getting lost) at The Met, I threw on my favorite winter jacket (Celia B) and we headed to Roller Rabbit (my favorite store). I was determined to buy the NYC store exclusive pajamas, and as luck would have it the store just restocked them that morning! NIGHT NO. 1
I really wanted to step out of my comfort zone for my first night out in the city. I decided to channel Jaden Smith's style and pair an oversized sweatshirt with a skirt. I wore my Lady Gaga hoodie (another nod to my love of artist merch) and rounded out the look with vegan Doc Martens. You can't quite tell in the photos, but I fastened safety pins into my braids to make the look even edgier. AN AFTERNOON IN DUMBO
I was very excited to wear this look out in the city, and I even got a few compliments on my matching outfit! (It's so flattering when fashionable New Yorkers tell you they like your outfit!) This matching set is from Celia B, one of my favorite fashion brands. I added some colorful hair clips and my white chunky sneakers to complete the look. NIGHT NO. 2
I also packed my Suki Waterhouse tee to style for a night out in NYC. I wore the concert tee as a dress, added a white turtleneck underneath, threw on some tights, went for minimal jewelry, and rounded out the look with my Doc Martens. The beautiful purse in these photos is my friend Alice's :) NEW YORK FASHION WEEK
On Saturday we attended an afternoon show for New York Fashion Week. Let me tell you, this was such a good event for people watching! I've been to a few fashion shows in Chicago but never in New York and never for a fashion week, so it was such a new and fun experience. I wanted to wear something fun and colorful, so I went with this stunning Celia B dress paired with an orange turtleneck and pale pink tights. I've been wanting to try this Decora-inspired hairstyle and thought fashion week would be the perfect place to wear it. I bought regular and star shaped hair clips and added 10-15 of them on top of my head. We left on Sunday and my look consisted of the same green cargo pants from Thursday, a black Phoebe Bridgers concert tee, black belt, and white chunky sneakers. I absolutely adored New York City and I cannot wait to go back one day :) SEE YOU NEXT SATURDAY WITH ANOTHER FASHION POST.
1/14/2023 0 Comments 2023 Trend Predictions The start of a new year often feels like a new chapter beginning. A lot of people adopt the mindset of “out with the old, in with the new.” This mindset also applies to fashion trends. 2022 was marked by the uptown girl aesthetic, downtown girl aesthetic, platform Uggs, the Miu Miu mini skirt, adidas Samba shoes, the Urban Outfitters corset top, and tailored vests. It will be exciting to see what trends emerge in 2023. Below are five of my fashion trend predictions I’d like to have in writing on the off chance I correctly predict what ends up being cool and trendy this year. LEG WARMERS In 2023 we will witness the rise in popularity of leg warmers, especially during the winter months. My Pinterest and TikTok fyp have already been plastered with cool outfits featuring these leg accessories. While leg warmers seem to be taking social media by storm, I have yet to come across a person wearing them in real life. I believe this year leg warmers will no longer just be seen on influencers’ Instagram posts, but on regular people on the street as well. BOWS Another trend I see taking off this year is bows. Bows on clothing, bows in hair, bows on bags- you name it! I really enjoy the look of two braids with a neat, long bow tied at the end. This hairstyle also works for numerous aesthetics, including cottagecore, dark academia, and the coquette aesthetic. Bows on clothes make me think of Blair Waldorf and her numerous stunning dresses that featured bow details. FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS In Taylor Swift’s semi-recently released song, “You’re On Your Own, Kid,” she sings the line “So make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it.” Being the tastemaker that she is, I expect a large uptick in people wearing homemade jewelry or store bought, friendship-style bracelets. This is a fun trend to hop on, as you can create bracelets to trade with your best friends (see my blog post on how to make your own diy jewelry). *As I am typing this, I realize that this trend is very reminiscent of the iconic VSCO girl era* THE COLOR BLUE I have a gut feeling that this spring and summer will be marked by the popularity of the color blue. I’m picturing a bright, light blue; the kind that reminds you of childhood and lazy summer days by the pool. Pink and orange were popular colors in 2022, and I believe this year it is blue’s turn to shine. REVIVAL OF THE 2014 TUMBLR/GRUNGE AESTHETIC It is wild to think that 2014 was almost ten years ago! I cannot think about this fact for too long or I will begin to have an existential crisis. Anyways, I truly see the 2014 Tumblr/grunge aesthetic coming back in 2023. We’ve already seen the beginning of this with all the Matty Healy-inspired outfits on social media (the white button down, black tie, and leather jacket combo). The 1975, the band Matty is a member of, was popular during the 2014 Tumblr era, making this aesthetic all the more fitting now that they are touring again. SEE YOU NEXT SATURDAY WITH ANOTHER FASHION POST.
 There is always something so special about the start of a new year. Everyone is filled with optimism and a newfound sense of motivation to better themselves. There are the traditional New Year's resolutions of “eating more fruits and vegetables” and “working out more.” While these tasks are definitely on my to-do list, I also want to add a fashion-focused resolution to my list this year. In 2023, I am elevating my personal style. UPGRADING MY ACCESSORY GAME Accessories truly make an outfit feel complete. Adding a beret can turn a look from boring to interesting, while adding hot pink shoelaces to sneakers adds an eye-grabbing element to an outfit. This year I want to focus on finding accessories that match my sense of style and make my outfits feel complete. I love the diy beaded bracelet trend (I even have a blog post on how to make your own beaded jewelry). I also want to start wearing more rings and colorful jewelry in general. MIXING PRINTS & PATTERNS Growing up, I was obsessed with the fashion on Disney Channel’s Shake It Up. I know most people thought those outfits were horrid, but my younger self was so inspired by the costumes. One style choice they frequently made on the show was mixing patterns. I firmly believe it is possible to mix prints and patterns while still creating a cohesive look. Pairing contrasting plaid prints, for instance, creates such a cool and creative outfit. CREATING A TEMPORARY CAPSULE WARDROBE As you may have guessed, I own a lot of clothes. I have a whole closet and Ikea dresser filled with everything from coats to t-shirts to jeans to dresses. The ironic thing is, I often feel like I have nothing to wear. The problem is decision fatigue- I have so many options to choose from that I do not know where to start and get overwhelmed when trying to pick an outfit. A solution I came up with is creating a temporary capsule wardrobe. I believe getting rid of half my closet would not be helpful considering I’m still navigating my personal style, so instead I am opting for a temporary capsule wardrobe. I plan on selecting 15-25 clothing items in my wardrobe that speak to me and do not clash with one another. I will then hang these items on my clothing rack and use it as my capsule wardrobe for the next month. This way I can have fun creating outfits with cool pieces without experiencing decision fatigue. REMIXING TRENDS TO MATCH MY STYLE It is important to not let trends dictate your style. That being said, it is fun to participate in what is trending and try out new looks. This year, my goal is to experiment with trends in a way that stays true to my personal style. I am definitely an “all in” type of person, meaning if I’m trying something, I give it my all. If I do a trend, I’m not going to half ass it. The problem with this is when I try out trends, I often end up feeling like I am dressed as a character rather than myself. A good way to have fun with trends without compromising my identity is to add elements of a trend to an outfit I already love. For example, I love my American Apparel skirt set and Doc Martens. I can create a “dark academia” outfit by reworking this look and throwing on an oversized sweater, adding tall white socks, and braiding my hair. Keeping the skirt and shoes while changing up the top, socks, and hair is a good balance of trying a new look while maintaining elements of my own style. I am excited to see what 2023 will bring! One of my other New Year’s resolutions is to upload a blog post every single Saturday, so be sure to follow along this year as I share articles about fashion, sustainability, diys, and classic outfit of the day posts. Happy New Year :) SEE YOU NEXT SATURDAY WITH ANOTHER FASHION POST.
12/24/2022 0 Comments WHAT I WORE THIS WEEK I am home in Michigan for the holiday season and couldn’t be happier. Oftentimes when I travel home, however, my outfits aren’t too fashionable. It is impossible to pack up my entire wardrobe in a suitcase, and I haven’t always been the best at packing clothing. This trip home, however, I made sure to pack items that match my personal style and align with my winter fashion vision board. I brought home a variety of concert tees, colorful pants, fun accessories, and my new Doc Martens. I’ve documented my ootds this week and have included them in this blog post! monday
I started off the week channeling the 2014 Tumblr aesthetic. As you might know, 2014 is my favorite era fashion and pop culture-wise. What’s more Tumblr than The 1975?! For this look I styled my 1975 concert tee I got at their Chicago concert this month, pairing it with a turtleneck, my thrifted American Apparel skirt, and my new Doc Martens. I think my 2014 self would be jealous of this outfit. long sleeve- Princess Polly tee- The 1975 concert skirt- ThredUP (American Apparel) tights- Amazon shoes- Doc Martens TUESDAY
Tuesday’s look embodies my three style words of “colorful, comfortable, and accessorized.” This Madhappy crewneck is my thickest and comfiest sweatshirt I own, making it perfect for the freezing weather we’re having. The main color in this look is pink, from the pink corduroy pants to the pink Moon Boots to the pops of pink in my necklaces. WEDNESDAY
The key to packing clothes for a vacation is to pick pieces that go with one another and can be worn multiple times. On Wednesday I decided to rewear the Madhappy sweatshirt and turtleneck, but this time styled it with slightly different necklaces and a fun pair of colorful checkered pants. This outfit was even comfier than Tuesday’s. sweatshirt- Depop (Madhappy) pants- Depop (Urban Outfitters) shoes- Moon Boots jade necklace- gift cherry necklace- RBIllu on Etsy THURSDAY
On Thursday I styled my beabadoobee concert tee I got at her Chicago show in November. When I first started collecting band tees, I was nervous I would not be able to style them well, but I am proud of this look. I am obsessed with the layering and bright colors in this outfit. Wearing colorful clothes is a must when the days are gloomy and short. tee- beabadoobee concert turtleneck- Old Navy pants- Urban Outfitters shoes- Moon Boots necklace- gift FRIDAY
On Friday I wore the same shoes, pants, and jewelry as Tuesday, yet this looks like a completely different outfit. I decided to mix colors by wearing my green Wallows hoodie with my pink corduroy pants. I love this color combination because it reminds me of a watermelon. sweatshirt- Wallows merch pants- Urban Outfitters shoes- Moon Boots necklaces- RBIllu on Etsy jade necklace- gift bracelets- Nomination Italy and Tory Burch It was fun documenting my outfits of the week, and maybe I’ll make this a series in the new year! SEE YOU NEXT SATURDAY WITH ANOTHER FASHION POST.
 Creating seasonal fashion vision boards has become a quarterly practice for me. My fall 2022 vision board consisted of colorful knit sweaters, beaded jewelry, and lots of layering. My winter 2022-2023 fashion vision board contains many of the same features as last season's, as well as some fun new additions. When creating my winter board, I kept my style words in mind (colorful, comfortable, layered, accessorized). Because of this, my vision board features styles and trends that align with my personal style. (Learn more about style words in my How to Get Out of a Style Slump blog post!) Below is a breakdown of my style board for this season. COLORFUL CLOTHESI plan on continuing to wear bright colors, even when the temperatures drop and the days become short and gloomy. Since the trees are bare and sky is grey in winter, dressing in colorful garments is a fun way to brighten up my days. This season I am particularly drawn towards pinks and blues. COLORFUL BEANIESSpeaking of color, my go-to accessory this season will be colorful beanies. I recently bought a lovely hot pink beanie at Nordstrom, and I cannot wait to style it on cold winter days. Most outdoor winter looks consist of nude, grey, and black clothing, but I want bright accessories this season. OVERSIZED PIECESI have always associated December and January with being cozy. In my opinion, there is nothing cozier than an oversized hoodie or large sweater. From jackets to jeans to knitwear, I will be rocking the oversized fit this season. LOTS OF LAYERINGJust like the fall, my love for layering is still going strong. Winter is the perfect time to experiment with layering pieces on top of one another. I plan on layering sweaters over turtlenecks, scarves over jackets, and t-shirts over long sleeves. PLATFORM DOC MARTENSA new addition to my wardrobe is a pair of vegan platform Doc Martens. As many of you know, I have an individuality complex when it comes to my style, so I was hesitant to buy such a popular shoe. However, any trendy item can look unique when styled in a fun and different way. I plan to spend the winter months creating cool looks centered around my new platform Docs. SEE YOU NEXT SATURDAY WITH ANOTHER FASHION POST.
11/19/2022 0 Comments HOW TO GET OUT OF A STYLE SLUMP Even the most self-assured, fashionable people find themselves in style slumps from time to time. Sometimes you just aren’t happy with your look, and the outfits you wear feel off. I recently found myself in a style slump. I was struggling to create outfits I loved and felt the outfits I was wearing were not reflective of who I am. The tips outlined in this article are what helped me kick this style slump and get back to loving fashion. STEP 1: DESCRIBE YOUR STYLETo get out of a style slump, you first need to identify your unique sense of style. NYC stylist Allison Bornstein created a helpful method for pinpointing your specific style. Bornstein’s “three-word method” entails choosing three fashion keywords to describe your personal style. Here’s an example: Hailey Bieber loves her oversized blazers, sneakers, and crop tops, so her style can be described as oversized, sporty, and sexy. These three words do not have to describe how you are currently dressing; they can describe how you want to be dressing. Here are my three words as an example:
These words are not set in stone. Since I do not buy into the idea of having a single aesthetic, sometimes my style is “layered, comfortable, and accessorized” instead of “colorful, comfortable, and accessorized.” If you are feeling lost, look through your camera roll and find images of past outfits you’ve worn that you like. Compare these images and determine what the outfits have in common. Another way to find your three words is to pull out your favorite clothing items from your closet and figure out what these pieces have in common. STEP 2: KEEP TRACK OF WHAT YOU DO & DON'T LIKE ABOUT YOUR OUTFITSFor a week or so, keep a running list in your Notes app describing every outfit you wear and what you do and do not like about each outfit. For example, I used to love love love the preppy aesthetic, but the other day I wore a plaid pleated skirt, tights, and Ralph Lauren sweater, and the look just felt off. I was uncomfortable and did not feel like my outfit represented who I am or my sense of style. While out, I noticed a girl on the street wearing cargo pants, a cheetah long sleeve, and an oversized tee. I remember thinking it was the coolest look. I often dress in that same style (but swap out the cargo pants for jeans), and this encounter made me realize what silhouettes and styles I’m more drawn to. Another example: I feel cozy whenever I wear sweatpants outside of my apartment, but also self-conscious. I like casual outfits, but I’ve never really been a sweat set kind of girl. If I want to dress comfortably, I’ve learned that I prefer an oversized hoodie and loose jeans. STEP 3: CREATE 5 OUTFITS YOU LOVE FROM ITEMS ALREADY IN YOUR CLOSETOnce you have established your three words and learned a bit more about what you do and do not like, create five go-to outfits that you can wear when you are in a rush or having trouble picking an outfit. Make sure these looks stay true to the three words that describe your personal style. When creating these go-to looks, use clothing items already in your closet. So many times, “finding your style” or “getting out of a fashion slump” is associated with going out and buying new clothes. The root of the issue is not the clothes; it is the styling of the clothes. This exercise will also allow you to get creative with the pieces in your closet and perhaps discover some cool items you have forgotten about. When creating my outfits, I generated three “colorful, comfortable, and accessorized” outfits and two “layered, comfortable, and accessorized” looks to match my unique style. Some days I want colorful, fun looks, while other days I prefer layered, toned-down outfits.  STEP 4: CREATE A PINTEREST INSPO BOARDI was hesitant to recommend creating a Pinterest board, as this sometimes is more overwhelming than helpful if you are questioning your sense of style. Once you have figured out your three style words, however, creating a fashion board can be inspirational rather than overwhelming. My Fall 2022 Fashion Vision Board, for example, includes images from Pinterest that match my style words- colorful, comfortable, accessorized, and layered. Your Pinterest board will serve as a folder of your favorite looks, styles, silhouettes, colors, shapes, textures, and brands. STEP 5: FILL IN THE GAPS IN YOUR WARDROBEStyle slumps cannot be solved with shopping. However, you may be missing key items that will round out your wardrobe and help you regain your sense of style. Perhaps you just need one new, fun statement piece to get you excited about fashion again, or may you need a few plain shirts for layering purposes. Maybe you describe your style as “edgy” and feel a leather jacket will make a great addition to your closet. Yet another example is maybe you’ve been wearing the same beat-up Air Force 1s for three years and a shoe upgrade will automatically improve all of your outfits. The point of Step 5 is not to go out and buy a new wardrobe, but rather to fill in the gaps within your current wardrobe.  STEP 6: WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, EXPERIMENTIf you have tried all the tips above and are still not convinced you are out of a style slump, maybe you are playing it too safe with your outfits and style words. Test out different aesthetics, fabrics, textures, colors, and silhouettes to find what you like. Again, follow Step 3 and write down what you do and do not like about each new style you try out. For example, you may love the comfiness of the athleisure aesthetic, but not the oversized silhouette. Lastly, remember that style slumps happen to everyone. Take it as an opportunity to experiment with your looks, rediscover your style, and fall back in love with fashion. SEE YOU NEXT SATURDAY WITH ANOTHER FASHION POST.
10/15/2022 0 Comments HOW TO DIY YOUR OWN BEADED JEWELRY In my Fall 2022 Fashion Vision Board post, I wrote that one trend I want to incorporate into my outfits this season is beaded jewelry. There are plenty of beautiful, beaded bracelets and necklaces on the market, but I thought it would be cool to create my own. Not only is this jewelry one-of-a-kind, but creating jewelry is a fun and creative project. Even though creating bracelets is pretty self-explanatory, I have decided to create a step-by-step guide anyways. Below you will find a 7-step guide for creating beaded bracelets and necklaces. STEP 1: GATHER MATERIALS The first step of any good DIY project is to gather supplies. I bought my beads, elastic cord, and necklace clasps off Amazon, but you can also find these materials at your local craft store. Below are the links for the products I used in this blog post. STEP 2: MEASURE & CUT ELASTIC Measure the elastic around your wrist, leaving a few inches of extra cord. Once you have the desired length, cut the cord. STEP 3: STRETCH ELASTIC Before beading, give the elastic a gentle pull to stretch it out. STEP 4: TAPE OFF ONE END You want to make sure the beads do not fall off the elastic while you are making your bracelet. The best way to ensure the beads stay securely on the cord is to tape off one end with masking tape. STEP 5: SELECT BEADS Now comes the fun part where you get to be creative! If you are Type A like I am, you will separate all your beads and plan out cool patterns. Another approach is to randomly select beads and let the design form itself. I also purchased letter beads so I could make bracelets with my favorite bands' and artists' names on them. You can also spell out your own name, a quote or word that inspires you, or simply put your initials on a bracelet. STEP 6: STRING BEADS ON ELASTIC Next, I taped one end of the elastic to the table and strung the beads on through the other side. Stringing beads onto a bracelet is actually quite relaxing. STEP 7 (BRACELET): TIE OFF THE BRACELET Once your design is complete, it is time to tie off the ends of the elastic. I simply did a few double knots and called it good. So far, my bracelets have stayed intact with no issues. Some people prefer to add a dot of glue on top of the knot to ensure it never unties, but the choice is yours. STEP 7 (NECKLACE): ADD CLASP TO BOTH ENDS OF NECKLACE I made a few necklaces and decided to add a clasp so I wouldn't have to pull the necklaces over my head every time I want to wear them. Again, I am not an expert at tying off bracelets and necklaces, so I just double knotted these clasps to the end of the elastic and called it good. STEP 8: WEAR YOUR NEW BEADED JEWELRY THIS FALL The final step is to style and show off your DIY jewelry. These colorful bracelets really add some personality to your outfit. It is also fun to wear a unique piece of jewelry no one else has. I hope you found this DIY blog post helpful and inspirational. If you are craving more DIY posts, check out my piece on how to make your own custom jeans using iron-on patches! SEE YOU NEXT SATURDAY WITH ANOTHER FASHION POST.
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CategoriesAll Fashion Ootd STEFFI STYLES CategoriesAll Fashion Ootd STEFFI STYLES CategoriesAll Fashion Ootd STEFFI STYLES Authorhey it's Steffi, and this is my website where I post fashion, travel, and lifestyle blog posts. Enjoy! Archives
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