Fashion. Let’s talk about it. Don’t get me wrong; I am completely and utterly grateful for what fashion has allowed me to do and become, but sometimes, I look into my closet and feel like no matter how many clothes I have, I still don’t get it right. After a lot of trial and error, I have accumulated a few tips and tricks that have helped me in my day-to-day fashion dilemmas and I want to share them with you!
- Monday Madness
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For Mondays specifically, TIP #1 is to KEEP IT SIMPLE! If you’ve been snoozing your alarm clock, you definitely won’t have time to think of and try on everything in your wardrobe! Put on some denim shorts, grab your favorite oversized graphic tee, put on some boots or sneakers, and YOU ARE ON YOUR WAY! I do this every Monday morning, and I PROMISE you; this will save so much time in the morning. I also never have time to do makeup on Mondays, so I literally come to class with the darkest circles and my hair all wonky, but one other tip that has helped me look a little less zombie-like is pairing the outfit with some statement earrings and a necklace. I’m a sucker for gold jewelry, so on Mondays I always grab my big, black band tee, slip into my denim shorts, put on my combat boots, and make sure to grab my chunky gold hoops and my gold necklace. It often helps to put up your hair in a messy bun or a tight low ponytail on these days, so no one will notice whether you brushed your hair or not that morning and focus on your jewelry instead of your eye bags.
- One Step Past Sweatpants
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Sweatpants: every girl’s first choice in her wardrobe once she gets back to her room. I love them as much as the next girl and, if given the option, would literally wear them everywhere, but sometimes, it’s not “appropriate” for specific occasions. SO, I go to my second option! TIP #2: Flowy pants, which are just as comfortable as my sweats and look as if I put in so much more effort! These kinds of pants are incredibly flattering, especially with the flare in the bottom that gives your outfit that little “pizzazz,”. The waistband is also a little stretchier than the usual sweatpants, so it gives you that much more space to EAT! It is also an extremely versatile piece that can easily be dressed up with a cute blouse or dressed down with a standard basic crop top or t-shirt. Again, I am a sucker for gold jewelry but depending on the color of the flowy pants, you can pair them with anything. Worth. Every. Penny.
- C’mon Memphis. Get It Together!
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Going into the fall season, I cannot explain how all over the place my body temperature has been! I wake up for my 9 am and I AM FREEZING as I walk out of my dorm with a shirt and shorts, but when I change into a sweater and jeans for my 1 p.m. class, it’s suddenly 100 degrees outside. I don’t even know. So to combat these dramatic changes in weather, TIP #3 is to pair a sweater with either shorts or a skirt! You’ll be able to snuggle up in the sleeves while you’re walking to class and still be cool enough to step out of the building without dying from a heat stroke. I also love this combo because it, again, looks like you put in SO much effort into your outfit when, in reality, any sweater and skirt combo 99.9% most likely matches even if you picked both articles of clothing with your eyes closed. Pair the outfit with some cute loafers or sandals, and you are good to go!
- Dressing Down A Dress
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Please let me know if I am the only one who has this problem, but I can never find the “right” time to wear my dresses. There is always one or two that always seem to be “too much” or “inappropriate” for class, so it ends up just sitting there in the back of my closet, and it just breaks my heart. If you also have this issue, I think I may have found a way that we can give those dresses the praise and worship that they deserve. Tip #4: Dressing down a dress! So I’ve noticed that the main reason why dresses seem more dressy than others is because of the SHOES you pair with it. Ditch the heels and go with some sneakers! They will instantly make your dress look like casual streetwear, and for once in your life, you will actually be able to WALK while wearing a dress like that. Another helpful trick that I often do is throwing an everyday/basic sweater over the dress. This makes the outfit look more laid back and “slouchy,” providing you with both comfort and style!
- Wrangling In The Risky;)
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Let’s be honest, ladies. We all know there are days when we are feeling a wee-bit frisky, possibly wanting to show a little more skin than usual without making it too obvious that we’re trying to do so. Being from Hawaii with a culture that revolves around girls wearing bikinis that are too small for them and finding every and any reason to not have to wear clothes, I definitely have had to learn how to tone it down a little. TIP #5: Throw a cardigan over it. When you’re exposing one of the 3 B’s (boobs, butt, or belly), putting on a cardigan makes it a little more socially acceptable! (we LOVE patriarchy and societal standards of women) Any cardigan will do, just so long as it’s comfortable for you to wear all day and night enough to not make you sweat too badly. If it works on the beach then I promise you it will work in school!
Being a girl is difficult enough so dressing ourselves should be the least of our problems. Hope these 5 tips help you in your next fashion dilemma!