How To Style: White Sneakers

I'm back again with another installment of my "How To Style" series, where I give my perspective on how I would style certain items of clothing. In my last post 5 Elements to Outfit-Planning Perfection, I talked about using one key wardrobe item that you love as the "focal point" of your outfit. By choosing one item to build upon it makes the process of attaining a "put-together" look much quicker and easier.

One item I have been seeing for awhile on Instagram which peaked my interest is the "sneakers" or "trainers" trend. In particular, I wanted white sneakers because they look so fresh and can literally be paired with any color. The ones I chose to purchase were the Adidas Neos which have amazing Cloud Foam insoles which make them the most comfortable shoe I've ever worn.

There are really no rules when adding white sneakers to your outfit but I find that wearing them with dressier items can be an unexpected twist and can dress down an otherwise more formal outfit. These shoes can totally be worn with jeans and a t-shirt as well, so if casual is what you crave then you've come to the right place.

On Monday, I was heading to Lansdowne Park for the day with my husband and kids so I knew for this look I would need a comfortable footwear option; enter the Adidas Neo. It was going to be a hot and sunny day so I opted for bare legs; this button-down, khaki skirt from Club Monaco has been in my closet for many years and I have been looking for an excuse to wear it again but I wanted to dress it down a bit. The top is actually a dress I purchased last summer from Old Navy, unfortunately there was a stain at the bottom of the dress that no amount of Oxyclean could fix so I decided to cut it shorter and wear it as a top. 

For the rest of the styling, I kept it simple. I used my plum Marc Jacobs Gotham bag but I hung it on the stroller while we were walking so it is absent from the photos. For jewellry I wore my "Golden Moon Tattoo" choker from Shop Coffee + Couture, my gold charm necklace from Poland and my two gold beaded bracelets (I believe they are from Ardene's) and lastly I added a wide belt which worked well with this skirt as it has very wide belt loops.

There you have it! I hope you enjoyed this post and please let me know if you did in the comments below!

Erin

5 Elements for Outfit Planning Perfection

We all have days when we don't like our clothes, where you can't bear to open up Instagram in the morning because you may die from #OOTD envy, (first world problems, I know) but sometimes we forget how lucky we are and end up with the wardrobe blahs. I wrote a post awhile ago about planning your outfits ahead, about doing a capsule wardrobe and about completing a Project 333 Challenge. All of these endeavors are great ways to take a step back from consumerism (I'm not in any way knocking shopping but moderation is key) and learn to love what we already have. Here are some tips to give your next outfit that special something, a look that you'll love, others will notice and that makes use of your existing items.

Forethought

"A goal without a plan is just a wish". - Antoine de Saint-Exupery This could not be more true, if you want to look put-together you must first think about how you will achieve the look you envision. Take a look through your closet,  an "inventory" if you will, because in order to plan your outfits you must first know what you are working with.

I find it helpful to have only "seasonally appropriate" items in my closet, less to look through is easier on the eyes and the mind. You can choose to spend time each Sunday planning looks for the upcoming week or before you go to bed at night. Either way, you will find it gets easier each time you do it and you outfits will look better because of it.

Primary Focus

So now you need to actually choose what you will wear. I recommend planning the look around a "specific piece" that you love and want to highlight. It could be a fun striped romper or a great floral kimono, whatever the piece may be, choose one and make that the jumping off point for the entire outfit. Think of your outfit as a spider; the main piece is the body and the rest of your look is the legs.

I really like choosing a colorful item like a floral top or dress for the "Primary Focus" and then adding items to the outfit that have the same or similar colors from the pattern. For example: I have a long, cotton kimono which has a colored floral pattern on it. This piece would be my Primary Focus because I love it and it is an interesting piece to build an outfit around.

Supporting Role

Once you have your "Primary Focus", it's time to add supporting pieces to your look in terms of clothing. So for my previous example I chose a black tank and coral eyelet shorts to go with the floral kimono, both colors were pulled from the floral pattern which helps to create a cohesive look.  I also may have chosen black shorts with a colored top or even all black to really let the kimono stand out. The key takeaway: by choosing supporting pieces in colors that go together, your outfit will make sense and you will look brilliant.

The Glitterati

Ah accessories; you make us so happy and our outfits wouldn't be the same without you.  The beauty thing about accessories is they can help create amazing and interesting looks from even the most neutral or basic wardrobe. You might even try keeping your clothing the same from season to season but adding new accessories to liven up outfits. By spending more money on solid, classic and quality clothing pieces you can get more mileage out of them and use trendy accessories to keep all your looks current and fresh.

In this example I added my "go-to" gold choker by Shop Coffee and Couture (an amazing jewelry company based in Montreal, love to support awesome local businesses), my gold charm bracelet from Poland (still looking into the brand of this one), my black espadrilles (flats are always my fav), my black RayBan Wayfarers (actually borrowed from my sis) and my orange/purple Marc Jacobs crossbody (for an extra pop of color). If I was wearing this look on a particularly hot, sunny day where I would be outside I would likely add my light green fedora by Sunday Afternoons (it would match the pattern but then I would switch to a more neutral purse).

Good Old Fashioned Confidence

This is the "pièce de résistance" the most remarkable feature of any outfit is how you feel when you are in it. Even if the outfit is a bit out there, when you are feeling good about yourself and let that confidence shine through, you can dare to be different. Another thing that can boost confidence when getting dressed is great hair, makeup and freshly polished nails; all these small details can stand out and make a big difference to your overall look. With all these elements working together and your own unique sense of style, you can't go wrong!

Thanks for reading and if you found this helpful please let me know in the comments below, I really appreciate feedback of any kind :)Also, please tag me in you #OOTD on Instagram (@fashionmamaaquarius) I'd love to see the amazing looks you come up with!

Erin

Your Style: Are You a Single-Statement or a Head to Toe Kind of Fashionista?

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Hello Friends! Please allow me to introduce this amazing guest post by fellow fashion blogger Sophia Smith. Enjoy!

If fashion is your passion, and you absolutely adore dressing up and showing your fabulous combos to the world – welcome to the club! Today we’re going to talk about two style authorities, two different ways of showing that you really mean business when it comes to fashion. Stay with us and find out if you’re a single statement or head-to-toe kind of fashionista, and learn how to come up with the ultimate fashionable combo this season. Enjoy!

One fabulous piece to rule them all vs. Go big or go home

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No matter which kind of a girl you are when it comes to fashion, one thing is certain – accessories matter more than you can possibly think! If, on the one hand, you don’t like owning too much clothes, the best way to come up with different yet really unique outfits is to introduce interesting jewellery and other accessories, like shoes and bags. This is one of the best methods if you love simplicity spiced up with some fabulous pieces.

On the other hand, if your motto is ‘go big or go home’, we’re sure that modesty definitely isn’t your thing. Statement, eccentric dressing is probably what you absolutely adore, and we can’t blame you for that – head-to-toe statement style is beyond gorgeous! Of course, we don’t say that you should go grocery shopping in such an outfit – there’s a time and a place for this kind of style.

Accessorizing as the key step towards the ultimate trendy outfit

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As already stated, accessories really have the power to transform literally any outfit – even the dullest one. Many fashionistas out there are all about matching everything in order to achieve the ultimate stylish look. That’s exactly why we can see so many girls who love picking one print and applying it to everything – from a wrist watch and a belt, to a bag and a pair of shoes. Floral and animal prints are always a good option, as well as stripes.

Of course, there are so many possible choices brought to us by the most prominent fashion houses, such as Moschino. This brand never fails to surprise us with their outstanding pieces. On the other hand, if you’re more of a single statement kind of gal, you probably always opt for one eye-catching detail that rules the whole combo. Many fashion-forward girls choose their shoes as a central part of their outfit for a good reason – a nice pair can be a real game changer. You can always get fabulous shoes online if you’re interested in good deals and some authentic models not many other girls will have.

Don’t be a slave to fashion – make it a cool game to play

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A true fashionista will never surf street style blogs in order to copy exactly the same outfit someone has already worn – no matter how cool that combo is. Of course, these can serve as a great source of inspiration, particularly when you’re in a rush, but there’s no need for you to be a slave of fashion and rock the same outfit just because it’s so popular. Instead, upgrade your own outfits with some statement jewelry, a stylish pair of shoes, or a beautiful bag, and you’re going to see that fashion is all about playing and matching the unmatchable. 

Trust us – no one needs to be a copycat when there are so many fabulous pieces available – both high-end and street style. Once you realize that, you’ll be able to come up with a fabulous combo everyone else will want to copy! As you can see, it really doesn’t matter if you’re a single statement or head-to –toe kind of fashionista, as long as you’re doing it right. Of course, you should always give your best to be unique and authentic, because that what counts when it comes to fashion. Just be yourself and you’re going to make it!

Author BIO:

Sophia Smith is Australian based beauty and style blogger. She is very passionate about latest fashion trends and graphic design projects. Sophia writes mostly in fashion related topics, mainly through blogs and articles. She has contributed to a number of publications including: LA Fashion, Viva Glam Magazine, Just Haves, How to Simplify and Carousel.

Find her on: Twitter  Google +