The Secret Place - 20 of 30

Outfit Details:

Top: NY&CO

Skirt: H&M

Tights: Marshalls

Mary Jane's: Aerosoles

Belt: F21

Each year, my family gets a real tree. We had a period of darkness during the '90's where we succumbed to the prefabricated, manipulated fake tree. I'm glad those days are behind us.

There's been this silly little tradition since real trees have been reinstated to our family: The kids don't know where my mom and dad get the tree. It always took them 2 hours to get it and we started dreaming up places in our head. They started calling it "The Secret Place."

We were in awe the first year because they brought home an 8 foot tree! We have cathedral ceilings in our home and it was majestic & stately. We were in such delight & interest - but they wouldn't tell us where they got this tall tree.

Another year passed - and the trees seemed to get a little smaller and smaller each year. They would just say, "The Secret Place didn't have any tall trees. I guess it's a short year."

Until this year.

Since I live in Chicago and wouldn't be back until too close to Christmas, we broke the tradition and went with my parents to The Secret Place during my Thanksgiving Break. My sister and I were so hyped up to finally see this place! I imagined it was in Pennsylvania somewhere...we'd be cutting down our own tree... 

Boy, was I wrong. Turns out The Secret Place was HOME DEPOT!

I asked my parents why it took them so long to get the tree and come home and they admitted that it was because they would wander around the store for awhile and drive home very, very slowly.

I was shocked. 

Shocked.

Yes, yes, I would compare it to finding out about Santa Claus. That much of a blow.

This year, we got a 9 foot tree and it is beautiful. I am longing to be back home. So soon.

My roommate and I followed suit and got our lovely tree from Home Depot, too. Turns out they do have a pretty great selection... :)

Fashionably Yours,

It's Not Always a Day at the Beach::Fashion Faux Pas on the Jersey Shore, Part II

2. Botched Up Beach Cover Up

Warning! The following photo is extremely unflattering and may cause you to gasp. 

What went wrong?

                   I think it's obvious, right? The bathing suit cover up isn't doing its job! It is exposing exactly what needs to be unexposed. 

What should've been worn...

Why this outfit works:
               Simple, it covers me up! It is great for a walk on the boardwalk, a walk down the beach, or a walk right off of the sand into a beachside restaurant. Remember, just because things are more relaxed on vacation, doesn't mean that fashion or style has to be.
              In these photos, I am using this garment as a bathing suit cover up. However, this piece is very versatile. The elastic waste band in the middle allows the garment to be pulled up into a shirt! I paired it with these shorts and a little tank underneath and wore it to a barbeque while on vacation.

My floppy hat fought with me to cooperate most of the time!

Tip: Look for pieces that can serve more than one purpose - including the one they were intended for (to actually cover you up)

Outfit Details:
Floppy Hat - H&M, $10.00
Cover up/Shirt - Forever 21, $20.00
Sandals - H&M

Stay tuned for Part 3!

G J A

It's Not Always a Day at the Beach::Fashion Faux Pas on the Jersey Shore, Part I

While our family vacation itself was great, it's not always a "day at the beach" with beachwear fashion. All week long, I had my eye out for fashion offenders. Unfortunately (or fortunately for the purposes of this post), the infamous Seaside Boardwalk is a breeding ground for faux pas. Through a series of posts, I'm going to show you three distinctly common Jersey Shore fashion flops - then I'll show you what they should've worn.

1. Vintage Boardwalk Disaster

What went wrong?
                   The entire outfit is a miss from head to toe. The ever true mantra that "shoes make an outfit" - yeah, these shoes will ruin any outfit. The short boot is back in style, however, the shape and style of the come back trend is much more sleek and modern and less combat boot.

                  Also, summer is the wrong season and the boardwalk is the wrong scene to be wearing a black, lace-up, closed toe ankle boot. If you want to rock the boot, try it with a pair of skinny jeans...in the fall...or winter.
                  As for the outfit itself, it is clear to see that her shorts don't flatter her figure. They are too tight around the toosh. The shirt and vest look like they are straight out of a 1990's bar in Texas. The fringe on the vest and worn leather should only be on a saddle bag of a motorcycle. Usually a floral pattern that repeats a series of small flowers dates a garment. And black on the boardwalk in July?

Here's what should have been worn...

Why this outfit works:
                 My roman style sandals are definitely summer boardwalk appropriate. They are really comfy (after breaking them in and one bad blister...) and are a neutral color that grounds my outfit and can be worn with most colors.
                 My shorts have a wide band bottom cuff which help to create a nice shape that is figure flattering.
                 The "western" style collared shirt is lightweight enough to wear on a warm day, but also kept me warm from the breeze off of the ocean. It is a perfect updated way to wear the 3/4 length sleeve shirt like our masquerade mishap from above.
                 Finally, the colors of my outfit are definitely seasonally appropriate. Purples and greens are the most flattering colors on me, so this shirt is something I wear a lot...a lot.
                 I'm obsessed with that bag! I use it every day and take it everywhere. I love the neutral color and its size. Its over the shoulder ability makes it unobtrusive and easy to carry.

Here's a closer look at some essential pieces of my outfit AND a view of Lake Michigan near my new apartment!

Outfit Details
Sunglasses:: ?
Sandals:: H&M
Collared Shirt:: Forever 21
Shorts:: NY & Co
Satchel:: H&M

Stay tuned for Part 2!

G J A