Incorporating Color into Your Wardrobe

Hello! If you were to step into the bedroom in my home that I've dedicated specifically to serve as a closet, a variety of vibrant colors would jump out at you almost immediately. Years ago, countless black dresses would have greeted you if you stepped into my wardrobe. I used to favor dark, neutral hues; black was a go-to and only subtle hints of color resided in my wardrobe. For me, wearing color meant wearing a deep olive green top or pale blush pink dress. Far from the eye-catching, vibrant colors that fill my wardrobe today. 

For me, fashion revolves around one simple principle: it should be fun- and unapologetically true to yourself. I don't believe in following fashion "rules" and encourage you to write your own style rules.  Find your style confidence, embrace it and it will continue to flourish. When you put together a look that you really love, look in the mirror and tell yourself that you look damn good. After all, you always look your best when you're wearing what you really love. 

My love for color emerged shortly after I graduated from college- did my aesthetic tastes change or did perhaps a newfound confidence inspire me to embrace my true personal style and thus, also color in fashion? I've incorporated my fondness for color not just in what I wear but also in my lifestyle. Dreamy seventies hues welcome you the second that you step into my home and preside in every room. The bedroom in my home that serves as my "closet" has tangerine orange walls, a built-in bookshelf in a matching hue and a bright pink mod 60's TV table that serves to display an array of colorful sunglasses. I believe that surrounding yourself with vibrant colors- and ones that you really love at that- will inspire happiness and serve to create positive energy in your life. 

And when to comes to how to wear color? I suggest that you just go for it. Simple as that.  Confidence truly is key here. Try experimenting with different shades to find your favorites hues; for me, I prefer warm colors- think pinks, oranges, yellows and reds. And if it feels overwhelming at first, take baby steps. I'm not suggesting giving up your black dresses but encouraging you to have fun when getting dressed because that's what fashion is all about. And a brick red clutch or peachy orange cat eye sunglasses will always pop much more nicely against a little black dress than dark alternatives will. 

Photos by Belinda Farmer. You can browse more of her work here. 

On me:

Yellow dress: Vintage

Yellow star sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage

"Tori" necklace: c/o Personal Necklace

Platform heels: Jeffrey Campbell

On Mika:

Blue dress: Vintage

White statement sunglasses: Rumors

White mod sunglasses: Nasty Gal

Printed scarf: Vintage

Pink purse: Vintage

Purple romper: Asos 

Follow

Red Hot American Summer '18 Editorial

Hello! LA Retro Girl, a secondhand fashion e-commerce brand, recently sent me a surprise package of vintage clothing and accessories including this red and white printed skirt. I've been loving red and white color combinations lately so I was delighted to pull it out of the box. I immediately started thinking about all of the different ways to style it and knew I wanted to play up its retro all-American vibes for an editorial shoot. Summer fashion from the fifties and late seventies inspired my styling for the look and I drew inspiration from the cult film, Wet Hot American Summer, in particular. 

I selected a palette of red, white, blue and yellow hues to give it that patriotic American look.  SheIn recently sent me this mustard yellow crop top to incorporate into my summer wardrobe and I love how its cropped silhouette looks with the high-rise silhouette of the skirt. I accessorized with a vintage red purse, blue bandana neck scarf, mod sunglasses and a golden watch. A bold pop of red lipstick and denim platform heels perfected the look. 

Photos shot by Elissa Rumford and edited by myself. 

Red and white skirt: Vintage c/o LA Retro Girl

Red purse: Vintage c/o LA Retro Girl

Mustard yellow top: c/o SheIn 

White "clout" sunglasses: Wish

Denim platform heels: Jeffrey Campbell via Poshmark 

Golden watch: Vintage 

Follow

9 Reasons Why You Should Shop Secondhand Fashion

Hello! Think about the last item of clothing or accessory that you bought. Where did you buy it? How much did it cost? How much did it truly cost? How much value has it added to your wardrobe? I advocate shopping secondhand fashion rather than shopping fast fashion and think it's important to stop and ask yourself those questions from time to time as you examine your shopping habits. Shopping fast fashion comes with much higher costs than the prices that you see on the tags. I could go on for and on for days about the evils of fast fashion but I've decided to compile a list of reasons why you should shop secondhand fashion instead: 

1. Shopping secondhand fashion is better for the environment. Feel good knowing that you're saving perfectly fine garments and accessories from being thrown into a landfill! 

2. You can often find more unique pieces when shopping secondhand fashion. Because what's worse than spotting someone rocking the same dress as you? 

3. You're supporting smaller businesses, local individuals and non-profits when you shop secondhand rather than supporting large corporations. 

4. Shopping secondhand fashion will save you $$$. And who doesn't like to save money? Think about how much you could buy at a thrift shop for $50 versus how much you could buy at the mall for $50. 

5. You can typically afford higher-quality secondhand pieces due to affordable thrift store price tags. I've thrifted a Juicy Couture dress for $10, a vintage Christian Dior suit for $15, a Guess bag for $1 and many, many other high-end pieces for practically pennies. And let me tell you- there's no better feeling than rocking a designer piece that you scored secondhand for less than half of the original retail price. Cue "Bad and Boujee."

6. Deciding to shop secondhand rather than fast fashion means that you aren't supporting the negative implications of fast fashion. 

7. The rise of e-commerce has made shopping stylish secondhand fashion much easier in the past few years. There are SO many options for where to shop secondhand online nowadays. I typically shop secondhand fashion through Poshmark, Unitiques and Etsy. But I recently discovered a new fave: Swap.com

Swap.com, an online consignment and thrift shop, makes shopping secondhand fashion much easier. They have a wide selection of brands, styles and designs to choose from- all at very affordable prices. In collaboration with Swap.com, I received $30 in credit to shop away. And for just $30, I was able to afford two dresses, a crop top and a belt. I scored the floral Jason Wu dress I'm rocking above on Swap.com for just $10 so when I say that you can't beat their prices, you know it's the truth. I also bought the belt I'm wearing above on Swap.com for just $4. $4?! I would definitely recommend checking out Swap.com here. 

8. Authentic vintage styles are ALWAYS better than new retro-inspired copycat designs and you can only shop true vintage garments secondhand.  

9. There's more of a thrill in the hunt of shopping secondhand fashion rather than shopping new.  

Photos by Rachel Dwyer Photography. You can browse more of her work on her website here or her Instagram here. 

Blue floral dress: Jason Wu c/o Swap.com

Basket bag: Vintage

Cozy yellow sweater: c/o Shein

Jewelry: Assorted, vintage

Red sunglasses: Thrifted

Yellow star sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage

Boho belt: c/o Swap.com

Platform heels: Nasty Gal via Poshmark

Follow

How to Curate your Perfect Wardrobe

Hello! The journey to discovering your signature personal style and curating your perfect wardrobe can be a long one but well worth it. Fashion constantly changes but style doesn't. I've worked hard on getting my signature sense of style ~just right~ and have built my perfect wardrobe in the process. It's taken a lot of work to get there but it makes getting ready in the mornings much, MUCH easier. 

The key to curating your perfect wardrobe? Editing your wardrobe- and often. I go through my wardrobe on a monthly basis (sometimes even more frequently!) to edit it down to MY essentials. It's important to note that everyone's wardrobe "essentials" will be different. 

There's nothing that I hate more than those lists of "wardrobe essentials for everyone." You know what lists I mean- the ones that list the most B-O-R-I-N-G garments that everyone "needs." The writers behind these lists act like everyone dresses the same and usually suggest pieces like a white tee shirt, dressy flats, a denim jacket, etc. as wardrobe essentials. Basics shouldn't be your wardrobe essentials (unless that's your style- then you do you.) Please never let anyone tell you what pieces you "need" in your wardrobe. Like nah, boo, wardrobe essentials differ from person to person. Editing and curating your perfect wardrobe will help you discover which pieces are YOUR wardrobe essentials. 

Schedule a couple of hours to go through your wardrobe and delve into your own journey to your perfect wardrobe. Do your laundry before you start editing so you can see truly everything in your wardrobe. If you haven't gone through your wardrobe in a while, this initial edit will be a lot of work. A lot of work but work damn well worth it. You're going to want to look at every single item in your wardrobe. If this seems intimidating at first because you haven't gone through your wardrobe in a while, try breaking it up into categories and work on those categories at different times. 

As you're going through the items in your wardrobe, there are a few questions to ask yourself: when did I last wear this? am I excited to wear this again? does it fit? do I like how I look/feel when I wear it? It's wise to try on items that you aren't sure about either. Put items that you haven't worn in months, aren't excited to wear again or items that don't fit to the side. Try taking them to a local consignment shop, selling them online or donating them to a thrift shop. 

It's great to be practical but you should LOVE every single item in your wardrobe. Don't hold on to items solely because you feel like you ~need~ it in your wardrobe as an essential. If you don't love it, it's not a wardrobe essential for you. Get rid of those pieces that you don't love and replace them with garments that make you feel like a million bucks every time you wear them. 

You'll probably notice patterns as you edit your wardrobe. Maybe you're getting rid of a lot of a specific color or style of garment. Take note of this and buy less like those pieces. You'll probably also notice that you have more of a certain style, color or print in your wardrobe. Those pieces are YOUR wardrobe essentials. Editing your wardrobe frequently enough will allow you to create your perfect wardrobe. And do you know how much easier it is to pick out an outfit in the morning when you're in love with your own wardrobe? Much, much easier! 

My wardrobe essentials include sky-high platform heels, printed mini dresses, garments in pretty pink hues and obnoxious sunglasses. They might not work as essentials for a lot of people but hey, they work for me. What are some of your wardrobe essentials? 

Photos by Rachel Dwyer Photography. You can browse through more of her work on her website here or her Instagram here. 

Bell sleeve top: c/o SheIn

Black and white star skirt: Shop Evolve

Pink jacket: Vintage, c/o LA Retro Girl

Statement bag: Thrifted Guess

Statement sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage

Black heels: Jeffrey Campbell via Poshmark

Follow