Happy New Year! I hope you are having a wonderful start to 2012. I thought I would share with you my seven staples in my wardrobe. The older I became, the more effort it took to figure out what worked for me. I have a teen daughter and as I mentioned I did not want to dress like a teen, nor did I want to dress like my grandmother (she however does look fab every day and still makes an effort to pull herself together. Go Gram!) So I find a balance every day that works for me. I apologize in advance as this post will be heavy on content. I hope you find something here that helps you too!
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| image via Pinterest |
1. Shower and get ready EVERY day. I know this seems basic but I know alot of women who throw on sweats, toss up the hair, pass on the make up and go about their day. They wonder why they lack energy, motivation and never feel good about themselves. You can't feel good if you don't take care of yourself! Toss the hoodies and yoga pants aside (don't stress, you can still use them at the end of the day if you want). Remember work out wear is for working out. Take that shower, fix that hair, and put on a little make up. Trust me, if you do this every day you will feel much better about yourself! It does not matter if you work in an office, a factory or are a stay at home mom, put your best foot forward in all that you do.
2. Boots. I love my boots. I tend to cycle from boots to sandals back to boots. I honestly don't think I own many pairs of regular shoes. If you have to pick one, I would say go for the riding boots. You can use these in so many ways and in all types of weather. I bought the Mia Elisa boot in brown from DSW. I have worn these a ton! Some other boots I can't live without are my Hunter Huntress boots in black and Uggs. If you live anywhere where you actually get winter weather, these are a must. I will say Target did have some really cute boots this year to choose from and the prices were great! You do not have to spend alot of money to look and feel good.
3. A Great Handbag. Whatever you choose, make it something you love. A benefit of going neutral is the bag will go with so much more. It is not necessary to be matchy-matchy here, you will know what works for you. Size comes first for me. I have to have enough room to fit what I need, but not so much that I have to fish for something. Lets be honest, we probably do not need the entire make up bag, pharmacy and weeks worth of mail in here. There are so many great bags out there to pick from so have so fun with it. If there is one thing you can splurge a little on, I would make it your handbag.
4. Skinny Jeans & Leggings. I don't think I even own a normal pair of jeans anymore. I live in boots, so these have been a blessing!! No more tucking bulky jeans into the boots or stepping on the cuffs of your jeans. I am in no way against a great pair of jeans, it's just for me these are great! For boots I tend to go with more of a jegging, the leg is cut a bit slimmer, I do however usually buy a size up as these things can run tight. I pair them with tops that are not really fitted or wear a blazer or cardigan with them. I go for dark denim or black. Leggings are a great addition to any wardrobe. However, leggings are not pants. At no time should your bum not be covered when wearing them. Leggings are great with shorter dresses and tunics. They are also incredibly comfortable, which rates high on my list! Most legs do not resemble the model above, but its the finished look you are going for here.
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| image via j crew |
5. Stripes. I love stripes. I have them on my shirts, sweaters, dresses and skirts. I do not have a huge amount of striped items, but I have enough great pieces to mix it up. Stripes right now are all the rage but don't let that worry you, they are timeless. I have worn them for years and have no plans to stop. You can find stripes just about anywhere you shop.
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| image via j crew |
6. Layers. You can mix tops, a blazer or cardigan. I do layers pretty much every day. I like a more conservative look and this is a great way to accomplish that. I am not a fan of just a tank under something. I see too much clevage these days, come on girls, put those away! Layers are ideal for mixing up pieces you have and getting a different look each time. You can layer just a basic tee or a gorgeous blouse. Adding a scarf is a fun way to change the look too.
7. Statement Jewelry. Please don't over-do on this one. Find one great piece to pair with your look and keep any other jewelry to a minimum. Maybe its a chunky necklace or a big watch, then keep the earrings small. One great piece I purchased this fall was a large gold watch from fossil. It is versatile when going casual or more dressed up. I like to keep most of my jewelry pieces on the inexpensive side. A couple great places for this are Charlotte Russe and Windsor. Their stuff is fun and seeing you are not spending alot on it, its an easy way to change up a look.
Just remember to make your look your own. You really don't have to spend alot of money to look great! There are so many fabulous resources these days, take advantage of them. I challenge you to go to your closet and put something together that you have not done before.. Have fun!!
