Springing Into Style

Warm weather is on its way, and you know what that means! New clothes, new styles. But the same old struggles. Here's what I always have problems with when it's time to refresh my spring wardrobe:

1) Finding a pair of shorts that are not booty shorts, aka Daisy Dukes, aka denim underwear, but are still chic

2) Finding ANYTHING at all to wear on top that's not a crop top

3) Finding cute sundresses that come down far enough 

It's tough. But I'm going to share a few tips with you that will hopefully help!

Tip #1: 

Many stores offer shorts in a "midi" length. These are a personal favorite of mine. 

Just be sure that they fit snugly (but not too tightly) because baggy shorts don't flatter anyone. If you're taller or have longer legs, this length may still be too short for you. 

Tip #2:

Solve the crop top issue by pairing one with a pair of high waisted shorts or jeans. 

Sometimes layering underneath one works, but sometimes it just looks messy. 

Tip #3: 

As for dresses, there are modest ones out there, I promise. One of my favorites is the shirt dress, which is majorly "in" this season. 

These are super simple, so be sure to glam yours up with statement jewelry and fabulous shoes!

Spring can be difficult when you don't want to bare a ton of skin. But follow these basic tips, and make up your own! Happy spring shopping!

What Is Your Style?

Have you ever wondered exactly what your personal style is? Here are 6 simple questions to help determine your style. Add up your answers, and you'll find some general guidelines for each result. Ready? Here we go!

1. Your mom gives you $50, but you have to spend it on clothes. What do you buy?

A) A cute cardigan and coordinating blouse

B) A dress, skirt, or really anything girly

C) Something I have seen my friends wearing 

D) Do I HAVE to spend it on clothes?

2. Girls' night out! What are you wearing?

A) Colored jeans and a v-neck sweater 

B) A casual dress and wedges

C) Leggings, a denim shirt, and boots 

D) Whatever is clean, probably jeans and a t-shirt

3. Consider your favorite piece of clothing. What's the best thing about it?

A) It looks very elegant and when I wear it, I feel very well put-together 

B) It's very feminine

C) It shows that I know what's up in fashion 

D) Um... it doesn't smell bad or have stains on it?

4. Prom is coming up! What do you envision for your dress?

A) Something classic and timeless

B) Something girly and flirty 

C) Something a little different, maybe with some edge

D) If there is any way I could get out of wearing a dress to prom, I would

5. Think about your wardrobe. Which colors do you have the most of?

A) Black, white, and other neutrals 

B) Pastels

C) Bright colors

D) I don't know... a little of everything?

6. When it comes to your clothes, what do you get the most compliments on?

A) My classic tastes

B) My cute dresses

C) My ability to put outfits together 

D) My fandom t-shirts

Okay! Time to tally up your answers.

IF YOU GOT 3 OR MORE A'S:

Your style is preppy. 

You tend to gravitate towards classic, timeless pieces. You love looking somewhat professional. Be careful not to dress TOO professionally, though. Integrate a fun piece once in a while! 

IF YOU GOT 3 OR MORE B'S:

Your style is romantic. 

You love looking girly. You're drawn to ruffles, lace, and anything feminine. But let me warn you, there is such a thing as too much girly. Try throwing in something to offset it. 

IF YOU GOT 3 OR MORE C'S:

Your style is trendy. 

You wear whatever is currently in style. You probably scour Pinterest and magazines for the latest, hottest looks. Dressing in style is awesome, but trends don't last forever, so I encourage you to add some classic pieces to your wardrobe. Don't get rid of old clothes, though. Who knows, they might come back around some day!

IF YOU GOT 3 OR MORE D'S:

Your style is casual. 

Okay, so fashion isn't really your thing. You feel more comfortable in denim than dresses any day. You can be fashionable and casual at the same time! Search for comfortable yet cute clothes (I promise they do exist!)

IF YOU GOT A COMBINATION OF TWO OR MORE LETTERS:

Your style is a fusion. 

Congratulations! You have a very unique style that is simply you. You have a wide variety of clothing, and you're drawn to many different things. My advice to you is to not overdo it. 

There you go! I hope this quiz helped you somewhat. Thanks for reading!

Dressing to Flatter Yourself

"This makes me look fat."

"I'm too tall to find anything long enough."

"I'm so petite; everything swallows me whole."

We're girls. We have insecurities. That's just the way things are. And more often than not, clothing seems to play on those insecurities and make us feel worse. Most girls are unsatisfied with their bodies for one reason or another. 

But you don't have to give in to pressure to conform to every trend. Just because something is trending and everyone else is wearing it doesn't mean you have to. 

I'm going to repeat that because it's very important:

JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING IS TRENDING AND EVERYONE ELSE IS WEARING IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO. 

A lot of girls feel that they are overweight. There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of if you are plus sized. There is a way to dress that will flatter your body, though. Skintight clothes are not the answer, however.

If you are plus sized, here is a good example of how to dress:

Always look for something that accentuates the smallest part of your waist, rather than your midsection. Rouching, flare, and ruffles are often good ways to flatter your body. 

Or maybe you're short. I am rather vertically challenged myself, so I can speak to this on a personal level. Here's what not to wear if you are short:

Maybe at first glance, there's nothing wrong with this outfit. But let me pick it apart for you. First of all, I would not leave the sweater untucked. It hides most of the skirt, giving somewhat of a stumpy look. Next, if you're going with a flowy top, try a more form fitting bottom, and vice versa. Too much flowy just makes a short girl look wide. Lastly,

if you want your leg line to appear longer, don't wear black flats and black tights. A great trick is to wear tights and heels of the same color, and it gives the illusion of a longer leg line. This doesn't mean you have to wear high heels all of the time. A wedged bootie like this one is a versatile and adorable option:

Just for reference, here's a great alternative to the outfit above:

Notice the tucked top, heels, and contrast of the loose skirt to the slightly more form fitting blouse. 

See? You can dress to flatter your body. Look for part two of this post soon!

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Okay, so one of the hardest things to do is dress for the weather in the winter. Sometimes you feel like you have to pile on the layers just to keep warm, and then you end up feeling like this kid:

But there is a way to layer without resembling s'more filler. Try a cardigan, leggings, maybe even a scarf:

But we might want to have a chat about leggings. A pretty hot topic these days is "LEGGINGS ARE NOT PANTS!" I've even seen a flow chart to help you determine if you're wearing pants or leggings. 

This doesn't mean, however, that leggings are forbidden. I love leggings! But I would recommend following two very basic rules when wearing leggings:

Rule #1: Make sure they cover your rear end. Do not be this girl:

Rule #2: If they look painted on, no. Just no. Don't be this girl, either:

Also be wary of Leggings' tricky cousin, Tights. Tights are kind of deceiving, because you think "Hey, I'm wearing tights, so it doesn't matter how short my dress/skirt is since my legs are covered!" Not true. A VERY simple rule for tights is, if what you're wearing over it is too short to wear without tights, it's too short to wear with tights. 

Also, don't wear tights with booty shorts:

But back to leggings. What CAN you wear with them? Two of my favorites are the tunic and the oversized sweater:

And don't forget the importance of a good coat. Don't mismatch styles and coats- don't wear a raincoat with a dress or a dressy coat with sweatpants. Be careful matching colors, also. That's why a good, neutral colored coat is important. It will rarely clash with the rest of your outfit. Here's a lovely, neutral pea coat that you could rock with jeans or a dressier ensemble:

So in conclusion, winter doesn't have to be an obstacle for fashion! You just have to be smart about it. Thanks for reading!

Getting started!

Hi, internet!

Okay, I must admit, I've never blogged before (so bear with me.) 

I'm going to be writing about fashion, but not the "This Is How to Be Sexy and Attract Guys" kind of fashion. It's more of "How to be a Lady and Attract Respect. But Still Look Fabulous." Sometimes it seems like fashion is at two extremes: skanky hooker clothes, and shapeless garments that look like they came from the nineteenth century. Or the eighties.

But there is hope! You can be feminine without baring skin. And you can be modest without borrowing from your grandma's closet. 

For a Christian girl, fashion doesn't have to be off limits. But there are some guidelines to follow, and that's why I'm here! Hopefully, I can share what I know with you, and it will help you in some way.

I'm so excited to be starting this journey with you. Look for my next post soon!