Fashion 101: Defining your personal style

For a long time, I had no personal style. 

Sure, I've always like clothes. At 18 months old, I told my mother that the outfit she had dressed me in did not match. In elementary school I lived in skirts and jelly shoes. And I went through a phase around 12 or 13 where I would only wear wide-leg jeans and tie dye shirts (it was the 90s). But I had no defining sense of style, and for most of my life my wardrobe looked like the ill-begotten lovechild of Mary Katherine Gallagher and Jessica Spano from Saved by the Bell (because I was never cool enough to be Kelly Kapowski, let's face it.) 

(I actually had that skirt. No joke.) (From Pinterest)

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(Like Jessie, I wore denim on denim before it was cool.) (From Pinterest)

When I got older, I started to do a lot of thrifting, which can be totally awesome if you know what you're looking for. I, however, settled for anything remotely cute and cheap, and thus ended up with a closet full of clothes that looked great - on somebody else. Just because something's a good deal doesn't mean it's good for you. 

So what's a girl to do? I did what I always do - I researched. I read magazines for starters - Glamour, Marie Claire, InStyle. Their glossy, ad filled pages taught me how to put outfits together, and that some clothes actually go in and out of style. Who knew? When the internet really got up and running, I read blogs. But you know what really changed my (fashion) life? The J.Crew catalog. 

I love J. Crew. Love love love it. If I could buy every scrap of clothing from J.Crew, I would. But I can't, and I probably wouldn't want to, because shopping in one place the rest of your life would be way weirder than sleeping next to the same person the rest of your life (that I rather like). 

But J.Crew helped me define my personal sense of style. Now, if I wouldn't see it in a J.Crew catalog, I won't buy it. This could be a 79-cent shirt from a thrift store, so I'm not talking expense here, just a general sense of style (I would definite it as preppy vintage with an international flair, but that's just me). 

(My muse)

A bow and a cardigan? * Swoon. * And that pop of color on the lip gets me every time.

If you know your style, you'll look more put together, confident, and you'll actually save money in the long run, since you won't be out buying clothes you won't wear.

And a note on fit - if it doesn't fit perfectly, don't buy it, or make sure it can be tailored. Get a good tailor, because two pairs of pants that fit you perfectly is way better than 12 that just kinda fit. I'd rather buy a $5 pair of pants at a thrift store and pay $14 to hem them perfectly, than end up with a pair of ill-fitting $50 trousers. 

So, your assignment for this installment of Fashion 101, is go find your personal sense of style. Go the bookstore or library and flip through some fashion magazines. Pick up a few catalogs from major retailers (I recommend J.Crew, White House/Black Market, Kate Spade, Banana Republic, Anthropologie - these all have fairly defined and unique aesthetics). Heck, just browse Pinterest, you'll find everything you could possibly want there, and more. Like vintage? Browse Etsy.com. 

And if you still need more help, check out three of my favorite web sites: 

www.pennychic.com - LOVE this girl. She's an entrepreneur/fashionblogger/bargainshopper. 

www.newdressaday.com - This gal takes old thrift store finds and makes masterpieces. Read this if you still don't think fashion can be done on a dime. 

http://www.thesartorialist.com/ - Pictures of people on the street = awesome. 

Lesson two: Have a personal style, and stick to it. 

Fashion 101: Why should I care?

If you know me at all, you know I like fashion. 

I like fashion blogs, fashion magazines, window-shopping, people watching - what people wear and how we present ourselves is beautiful and fascinating. 

(Is this what you think about when you think of fashion? Dictated by the powers at be?) 

Now, in the past I've had friends and acquaintances ask why I love clothes, why I would even bother keeping up with colors and trends and styles. In fact, living in the Bible belt, caring too much about appearances can be written off as a waste of money at best, and at worst downright heathenous. 

So why do I care? Because it's art - art that's touchable and changeable and has the power to change peoples perceptions and attitudes towards you in an instant. For instance, if you didn't know who this was, you'd think: 

Average chap, needs a shave, probably still lives in his mom's basement where he plays video games all day.  (from Pinterest)

Then you see this one:

Oh, a tailored suit, hair perfectly askew, this man must be a professional (maybe a Doctor?? Sorry, couldn't resist.) ;) (also from Pinterest)

I use David Tennant simply because the man's internet fodder, but you can compare the lady on the street, your Uncle Joe, whoever you want - and you get the idea. Your style says something about you whether you want it to or not. But you know what the good news is? You don't need Mr. Tennant's bank account to look smart and put-together. In fact, fashion is cheaper and more accessible than ever, and there's a huge variety to what looks are "in," so you don't have to fit into a little box full of pricey labels anymore. 

So thus begins my series of fashion posts - we'll call it Fashion 101. 

Lesson one: style is important whether you acknowledge it or not. 

Make it so: Paintings and pennant flags

Remember these?

Here's how they turned out! 

It is the easiest project ever but looks awesome! I bought vinyl letters from the school supplies section at Wal-mart, stuck them over the painted canvases, and spray painted the whole thing silver. When you pull the letters off, viola! Gradient word paintings! I loved them so much I decided to incorporate them into my bedroom redesign. 

Here's the finished bedroom project! Mostly I re-arranged the furniture and added some art to the walls. 

See my word paintings? I did them on scrap cardboard and framed it with a dollar store frame. Talk about cheap! I estimate that project cost less than $3 including the paint and vinyl letter stickers. 

Also this summer, I have made a TON of pennant flags! For the tables at my car presentation:

And as an adorable tiny cake topper: 

I love them! 

What is your favorite crafty project lately? 

My year in review

The most traumatic birthday for me, age wise, was 25. I remember thinking that everyone who had ever done anything remotely cool or noteworthy had done so while in their early 20s, and 25 seemed like the confirmation that I was officially NOT noteworthy. My life had not, in fact, turned out like a John Hughes movie (thank you, Olive Pendergrass for pointing out what all of us have been thinking all these years).

By the time you reach 28, though, you're pretty comfortable in your own skin. I know more about who I am now - I've found an awesome job that I want to do until I'm 80, I love my husband more than ever, and I'm ok with the fact that words like "flux capacitor" and "parallel universe" have a place in my daily vocabulary.

Twenty-seven was a pretty epic year. I replaced my income and left my full time job. I went to the Bahamas with my bestie on Arbonne's dime.

Got to go to California to see another best friend - twice. I get homesick for LA now.

Had Christmas at my house this year, thus proving I'm officially an adult. And I baked a figgy pudding, which actually was very tasty. No wonder carolers have been clamoring for it all these years!

I went to a great Area Managers conference in Pigeon Forge, where I learned from the best leaders in my business and got to wear my best "country" duds to the Dixie Stampede. 

Got to see my "other half" other Rachel from college in Greenville, SC, meet her new fiance, and road trip with Anna! (Getting Rachel and Anna to be adventurous with asian food)

Went to GTC training conference in Las Vegas, discovered the entirety of Sin City is actually one slutty, dirty strip mall. You know, classy sleazy is one thing (think Rat Pack era Vegas), but most of what I saw was trashy sleazy. GTC is in Vegas every year, though, so Vegas - you'll have lots more opportunities to change my mind. Here's hoping.

The highlight of my summer - went to Disney World with my bestie, my sister in law, and her bestie. Epic fun was had by all. And Disney gets my vote for best allergy-friendly destination EVER. Seriously, I ate better there than I have in a long time. There are friendly chefs everywhere just waiting to make your meal allergen-free!

  

My favorite ride ever. You can see the joy on my face. :)

We wear fezzes now. Fezzes are cool. 

Then, to top it all off, I got my Arbonne company car, a gorgeous white Merceedes Benz station wagon. It is obviously the nicest car I've ever owned, and I'm so grateful! I know it's just a car and everything, but it's a super. nice. car. I love my job. 

Then, to finish out my 27th year, I chopped all my hair off. Because I could. 

Here's to another year of incredible people, places, and crafty projects. I think this will be the best one yet! :)