Fall Clothes in a Hot Summer

Summer Dress + Structured Jacket

 

Forever 21 midi floral dress

Similar styles: -Forever 21 Denim Floral Crossback Dress, Forever 21 Dainty Rose Skater Dress and Forever 21 Passion Floral Chiffon Dress

Forever 21 3/4 sleeve jacket Similar styles: Forever 21 Mesh Paneled Quilted Jacket, H&M Textured Jacket

Forever 21 ankle strap heels

Similar styles: Shoemint "Brandi", Sole Society "Rachael" 
DKNY quilted leather bag Similar styles: Sole Society "Trichelle", Forever 21 Quilted Faux Leather Crossbody
Lips NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Morocco

I am so tired of my summer clothes. People are probably tired of seeing my summer clothes. September should give us reason to start dressing for Fall, but it's just TOO HOT. Over the last few weeks, I have been trying to find ways to incorporate my Fall pieces, while still wearing things cool enough for 100+ degree weather.

This trend is sort of a fresh take on the dress + cardigan trend I see a lot of women wear. This pairing can be incorporated into many different wardrobes, and can work for many different occasions (work, weekends, events etc...). The main idea being, take a summer dress (preferably one with some volume), and add a structured jacket (it could be a short, 3/4 sleeve jacket, or a blazer). As long as the dress (or skirt) as some "flounce" it should balance out the structure of the jacket. Also, the longer the skirt, the shorter the jacket needs to be. This jacket adds to the feeling of Fall with the tailoring and embellishments, while the closed-toe heels and quilted bag bring the whole look together. You can also substitute the heels for a flat loafer, or some ankle boots. 

Oh, and ditch the sandals, your feet will be better off anyway.

More examples:

 

View the outfit details here on Polyvore

Thanks for reading! Please be patient with me as the blog evolves (and features better photo backdrops). Let me know what you think!

Until tomorrow,

 Cali

My mom's closet clean out part I

I'm back finally, and I haven't posted a blog in a long time (over a year now) but that is over with!  Bare with me until I get my routine down and learn how to make this blog more visually interesting. Most of these pictures were taken a few months ago, but I am finally getting a chance to share them. We also haven't gotten through her entire closet yet so there will be many other topics added! Here's the first section of my mom's closet adventures, enjoy! 


My mom is very generous in letting me photograph her adventure as we clean out her MASSIVE black hole of a closet (she still finds Christmas presents she bought for us from years ago hidden below piles of clothes). We have only done a very small section of my mom's closet, but I thought I would start to go through things that work and why they work as well as things that don't work and specifically why they do not work. Also, keep in mind that my mom only buys things on sale and on clearance. She also doesn't shop at "high end" places. You don't need name brand labels to look up-to-date or have well-fitted garments!  First of all, this is how we prepared for this event:

Okay Mom explain yourself!

We's start with the good stuff! How is she57?! Love this tunic with the leggings.  The leggings are actually a stretch cotton fabric, (they're at Target right now!) which is the best way for older women to wear leggings. Plus, the tunic covers her butt VERY IMPORTANT 

If you have a midsection you are trying to cover, look for structure and dresses that define a waist for you. PS a bright belt will extenuate that!

Applying a trend to a woman in her 40's+ Finding items that aren't to literal to the trend (this one is obv. a military look, but the details are simple enough that it won't look dated right away and it looks age appropriate)

Draping is almost always a good thing! Shirts with draping usually create a nice neckline and  they look very elegant

This is a really simple hoodie from Old Navy. It fits well, and  the color and button detail make trendy! This can makes sweats for running errands look more "polished" 

This jewel tone is almost always flattering on someone, and it FITS. Button downs that fit are very important!!

Example #2 (I'll show bad ones later)

This one from Target is very cute! You make this shirt appropriate for winter by adding a vest and letting the collar and cuffs stick out

 Fashion Rules: Why is it a no?

#1 Things that are dated and are unfashionable

AHH!!! Yes, don't be alarmed, I am now showing the bad items in her closet. Now, this doesn't fit terribly, but that's not the point. That doesn't always have to be the reason you get rid of something. I feel like women my mom's age just eat this shit up. Its sparkly, it shows off their chest, and it literally SCREAMS Christmas Party! Right? 

Why its bad: First of all, the fabric looks very cheap. You can get nicer stuff for the same price. This is a slinky polyester shirt, a fabric that for the most part I wish was outlawed. It stretches out in weird places after a few washes, and it also clings to unwanted parts of your body. Also, the criss-cross neck makes your boobs look like to socks filled with sand, no matter the age!

Bogey looks better in it anyways.

If your dog looks better in it than you do, it has got to go.

Another sin!! Its shiny, its too short, the color is too much, the fabric is too much, it has decorated buttons, its just a NO. 

Although the 80's style blazers seem to be coming back in style, it can be hard for older women (who lived through that decade already) to make these trends look modern. The first step is not wearing things that are ACTUALLY from the 80's. However, I may take this and try to rework it for myself...

#2 Things that just plain DON'T FIT. My mom has lost weight since these pictures were taken, however shirts that are too short and too tight will, without a doubt, make you look bigger than you are. 

I hope that was helpful, there are so many other reasons to keep and throw out items in your closet, and slowly but surely, I will get to them.  

This is the pile we ended up with, and this was just the white, blue, green, and purple section of the shirts!

 More topics coming soon: 

*Favorite fall trends and looks

*How I reworked clothes from Savers to make them modern

*"Help! I buy the same clothes over and over again!"

*How to use seasonal items all year 'round

*How to dress in awkward weather

*How to reuse old trends (because they are already hanging in your closet)

*How to buy jewelry and make it work with all of your stuff

*The Battle of Khaki Pants: How to make them look less dowdy and matronly 

Also, I love ideas! If you have a good idea for my blog tell me!

Quick, cheap outfit ideas for business casual and just casual (oh and a thanksgiving day outfit)

Ok so my mom's closet is massive and we are only about 20% of the way through cleaning it out. However she has so many great clothes and with the holidays coming up I thought I would surprise her and pick out a few outfits for her while she is out of town. She has SO many cute clothes but says she doesn't know how to wear them.. I hear this ALL the time. All of her clothes are from Target, Learner NY, or Forever 21. Take a look! Steal ideas! Happy Holidays!

Here's how the final look turned out for Thanksgiving, she looks amazing!