The Alternative Canadian Tux

Because who doesn't love a good denim on denim lewk?

In collaboration with Tobi.

I know for a fact that I could potentially be named the number one fan AND wearer of the Canadian tuxedo—I've been working this baby at least three times a week for the past month. I've been a fanatic of denim for the past, well, my entire life. I've talked about it on here at least five times. So it's finally time to take the leap! The leap into double denim, that is. In the past, I've only slightly experimented with a double denim look, only using subtle denim combinations, like chambray tops tied around my waist with a denim skirt or pairing black denim with blue denim. Now, I go full on Bob from Twin Peaks.

Reference pic above, if you have no idea what I'm talking about. PSA: I'm planning on going as him for Halloween this year. Get excited.

I'm not sure if I blame my love for Twin Peaks or my half-Canadian blood, but the double denim is going strong! I usually just do the typical jeans and jacket combo, but this time, I wanted to ~mix~ things up. Still paying tribute to my man Bob, but doing so in a bit of a different (and less creepy) way. 

Slip (worn as a top) by Tobi. Jeans and shirt by Madewell. Shoes by & Other Stories.

I kept the jeans that are usually the key player in these looks, but swapped the typical jacket for a denim slip dress from Tobi that I transformed into a top. Sort of sad that I had to hide the fringe hem on this dress due to my pants, so maybe another day I'll try another denim-denim look by stripping the pants and layering a denim jacket over my shoulders. However, these jeans have been glued to my legs all summer (they are called the Perfect Summer Jean...), so they're not leaving my body anytime soon, even if it is 90 degrees outside. I layered a white tee under the slip and tied a bandana around my wrist to add a few non-denim pieces to the denim party, but wouldn't it be interesting if it were a denim tee and a denim bandana? Too much? 

If you wanna get even crazier, you could add a jean jacket to finish the look. In my opinion, you can never wear too much denim. Justin and Britney prove that theory correct (maybe this will be my Halloween costume instead?). So go ahead, experiment away! If the big bad from the most iconic Lynchian dream sequence could pull it off, you can, too.

Special thanks to Tobi for the slip.

Photos shot by Venesa.

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A Case for Denim Shorts: Part II

More than a month later!!

From the former post that is part I, that is.

While that part I was a tribute to spring and festival season (specifically Coachella), part II is a tribute to why I haven't been blogging for an entire month--summer! And also finals and my hectic dance and work schedule... but mostly summer. It's the season of laziness, of too much sweat, of no responsibilities*! The last thing I want to do is blog, or even dress to blog, unfortunately.

*The lack of responsibilities will end, however, when I'm interning at Obsessee in NYC this summer in just 10 days!

However, this season has made me realize that denim cutoffs will be my official uniform for this summer, as everywhere I'll be (NYC, D.C., and Atlanta) will be hotter than satan's fiery abode. Denim shorts, at least my version, make it feel like I'm not wearing pants at all, minus the sans-pants part (which I'd also love to partake in this summer, maybe with Reformation swim), and the whole camel crotch business has basically become an acceptable part of society, as vintage Levi's have seemed to take over every cool girl's wardrobe. They're the perfect summer staple, too; that super-high waist works with crop tops and drapey shirts with a partial tuck or even bathing suits that act as bodysuits (so practical when you're at the beach!).

Summer makes me dream of vacationing, even if it's nowhere in sight this specific year. So drumroll, please, for part II...

When all you want to do is go on a retreat somewhere in the South of France or in Santorini or anywhere in Europe that has sun, but (once again) you don't possess the funds or time to do so:

Shirt by Madewell. Shorts are thrifted Levi's that I later cut. Sandals by Urban Outfitters (or try these). Bandana and Coach purse are also thrifted.  

Ever since I went all over France last summer for two weeks, the summer only makes me dream of getaways that consist of strolling along old, stone alleyways, endless glasses of rosé, and spending 80% of my time eating. But that vacation sadly does not exist this season, unless you count working almost seven days a week (two jobs!) in NYC a vacation. So onto using fashion's ~transformative qualities~ to make me feel like I'm on a summer getaway! I paired the DIY Levi's with one of my favorite purchases from Madewell this season--their courier button-up shirt that's covered in embroidered cacti. Maybe there won't be a single cactus in sight in Europe (right?), but this shirt sure gives me summer vacationing vibes, maybe more fit for L.A., but my point still stands. Paired with my go-to summer shoes, aka my espadrille slides I bought exactly one year ago, I felt ready for a walk through an Italian market or a lunch with a view of the Seine. 

Something about this season makes getting dressed impossible, which is a statement I've been practically shouting for the past two years. Instead of trying to go against the presumed effortlessness of summer, we should be running straight in its direction. It's supposed to mean freedom and zero responsibilities, correct? Well, at least for some of us. Even if we're not all that lucky, it can at least feel as if we can spend the entire summer being carefree. I told you outfits can have transformative qualities! Buttoning only three out of eight of the top's buttons, literally sliding into my slides, and sloppily tying that bandana (the messy bow is hidden in the back!) was almost too easy; maybe fashion shouldn't be difficult this summer. Time to buy a few investment midi dresses and even more slides. 

Photos shot by Savannah outside the High Museum in Atlanta (peep my museum sticker on my shirt!)

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A Case for Denim Shorts: Part I

Suns out, legs out??

I know it's supposed to be suns out, guns out, or even buns out (correct?), but this one seems more appropriate, even if it lacks that fun rhyme.

D.C. has finally been blessed, or cursed, with the heat! This is partially bad news for many reasons: a) my sweat glands hate me b) society wants me to shave and c) turtlenecks are banned from my wardrobe for the next seven months. But there are also many good outcomes of this sunny paradise!! Like a) a surplus of vitamin D b) spending more time outside will scientifically increase my mood and c) I technically don't have to shave because societal norms are silly. And the fashion perks to this weather are even greater! Dresses that resemble Reformation's or & Other Stories' aesthetic (like this one or this one) can finally be worn, sunglasses can be used as both an eye-protector and a hair accessory, and thigh grazing shorts are acceptable!! Well, not at professional work environments and your grandmother's house, but I digress.

Denim cutoffs carry these confidence-boosting qualities that transform them into magical entities. Like how killer heels make you feel so much better, but minus the foot pain. So show off what you've got! And if you're afraid to show that much leg, go on and try it, because spring is about ~trying new things~. Right?

Because the denim shorts thing can be really hard to pull off in a ~fashionable~ manner, I'm doing yet another fashion experiment! How fun! This time, I'm trying a few looks with the same pair of cutoffs--a vintage pair of Levi's I thrifted and cut about four inches shorter to the very top of my thighs. Here's my first take:

When you can't afford to travel to the West Coast and attend Coachella (that lineup!!!) so you just dress like you're going:

Shorts by Levi's (thrifted and DIYed). Top and mules by & Other Stories. Tassel cuff by Madewell. Sunglasses by Urban Outfitters. Lipstick by NARS.

I visited the & Other Stories store in its new Georgetown location a few days ago, and my L.A. cool girl dreams came true (and for half the price of Reformation!!). This weather makes me want to immediately fly out to California to pretend to be a surfer even though I'm hopelessly terrible at it and to attend Coachella to see Radiohead for the third time. Unfortunately, my limited funds and time make this an impossible dream (at least I'll be attending Shaky Knees for the fourth time in May!). So why not dress the part! The sun practically forced me to. I decided to purchase this tie-front crop top that reminds me of something Shay Mitchell would wear at the festival; she always has the best style at Coachella (just look at her!!):

Because I wanted to emulate this similar ~care free~ attitude, I decided to pair the top with my DIY Levi's and these suede + heeled mules I also bought at & Other Stories. Definitely not a pair of shoes I would wear to a music festival (I'd immediately swap them for sneakers), but definitely a pair of shoes I'd wear to look like I was ~famous~ at a music festival. Or to look like THE L.A. Cool Girl™ Courtney Trop, as seen below:

Stripes to match my sunburn 😫🦑

A post shared by Courtney Trop (@alwaysjudging) on Apr 2, 2017 at 5:46pm PDT

I continued this look by smearing NARS matte lipstick over my lips, something I haven't done in a while but would like to start doing every day this summer. I also dabbed on some Glossier Cloud Paint (in Haze, if you were wondering) to get that classic summer flush that matches my lipstick and my festival ready 'fit. And I already feel like it's June 21st, even though spring just started! It's all in the magic of denim cutoffs, I tell you. Try it for yourself.

Check back on the blog in the next few days for part II of this post.

Photos shot by Maddie.

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I'm Bringing Denim Back

Denim jeans, specifically.

There's been this concept going around for the past few months that jeans are dead. Even pants have made it to this list!! My ex jeans-hating self loved this idea--I finally won't be the only one who dreads putting leg-restraining articles of denim on in the morning.

But then this strange phenomena occurred and I actually started to like jeans! This started with my white cropped jeans from Mango I bought almost a year ago. I never put them in the "jeans" category because a) they're white and b) I never felt like I was wearing jeans--I felt more like I was on vacation in the Bahamas.

So cue my next pair! I bought these wide-leg jeans from Madewell last summer, which came a step closer to real jeans because they were made of blue denim, but also were a step further from real jeans because 2/3 of my legs felt like they weren't wearing pants. Wide-leg pants are so liberating!

And then I finally bought my first real pair of jeans that I actually adored (and still do!). Levi's, of course, specifically the wedgie-cut style, which sounds unappealing but actually is the complete opposite--they're extremely flattering on the top and also let my calves ~breathe~ without being flares or boot-cut or wide-leg. Amazing, right? I'm going to end my Levi's spokesperson rant and note that these jeans saved my life and also transferred me to a beautiful jeans wonderland that allowed me to actually enjoy having my legs clad in a rigid fabric that is seemingly uncomfortable (but is really not!!).

So now, I go against the norm that is anti-jeans. Isn't that what I normally do in fashion, though? While many of you agree with me and cherish your jeans with all your heart, most are all aboard the jean hating train. Which part of me understands--is it some sort of movement that's all about freeing the legs, sporting short skirts and flowing dresses to act as some sort of feminist movement (like the opposite of girls beginning to wear pants in the '20s and 30's)? Or even just a movement against denim pants; denim feels so overrated and maybe we should all begin wearing pants of different fabrics and styles, like velvet or of the side-slitted type. I completely agree with the latter argument, but then I think about all of the styling options that come with wearing jeans and I get overwhelmed in the best way possible. Pair them with dresses, with your favorite turtleneck layered under that going-out top, with a chunky sweater and neck scarf. And the shoes! Ankle boots, over-the-knee boots (if that's your forte), clogs, loafer mules.

THEN I started working for Madewell, which is obsessed with jeans almost as much as Lucky Brand, so my infatuation with jeans grew even more because I can scientifically prove that Madewell denim is made for the Gods (and I'm not just saying this because I work for the company). And here's photographic proof:

Sweater by Zara. Jeans and socks by Madewell. Clogs by Anthropologie (or try these other Anthro ones).

Madewell has now forced me to own not one, but two, pairs of their black denim, which I have decided is ten times better than traditional blue denim. They're not only more ~business professional~, but they also pair well with denim jackets without doing that Canadian tuxedo thing that I don't always wish to pull off. The ones I'm wearing in the above two photos are their demi-boot style, which are so similar to straight-leg jeans but are so much more flattering and seem to be only fit for a cool-girl aesthetic that I do wish to pull off. There's a preconceived notion about jeans that you have to approach the look with a more is more attitude to make sure that overly-simple aspect of denim is eliminated. But what about embracing that simplicity? All I did to complete this look was to pair a ruffle sweater that imitates a pirate shirt (I now own two!!) with the cropped jeans and combine socks plus clogs, a combo I've been sporting since 2014. And... I'm already done. My usual self would frantically tie a neck scarf around my neck or wrist, or fit a turtleneck under that ruffle sweater, or ditch the sweater completely and pair a maxi button-up dress, buttoned up halfway (from top to middle) with the jeans. 

But instead I wanted to challenge myself from constantly adding items to a) make it easier on me and b) prove that I can make an outfit work with only four items (socks included!). Jean haters feel that they need to overdo their denim look to make it acceptable in this evolving fashion world, but I think its the opposite--let jeans be simple. That's why they were made. Maybe loving them will make your mornings that much easier.

Photos shot by Linnea.

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All Aboard the Denim Train

Summer is almost over! Well, not in the weather sense, but in the sense that productivity will finally return to our normal routines and the excuse of "But it's summer!!!!" will not be used when we're just too lazy to complete any task. This new feeling of efficacy and being motivated to actually do something has allowed me to return to my blog (It's been more than two weeks!!! I'm not even on vacation!!) and also return to a fabric that I will always come running back to when my ideas are depleted due to the hot, draining sun. You guessed it: denim!! I called this the magic fabric a year ago, which I still claim to be true 365 days later. I've taken a break from it due to all the other wonderful fabrics out there: corduroy! Wool! Jacquard! Velvet! I didn't want to make any fabrics feel left out, obviously. But there comes a time when the familiar is good, when we need to revisit what we love to remind ourselves that it will always be there for us when we're feeling down. Denim is my pint of ice cream after a breakup, my best friend to talk to after a rough day. And that breakup is summer. I still blame everything less than decent in my life on this season.

I call what you're about to see in the next few seconds "denim two ways," like that thing chef's do when they make a dish like seared Ahi tuna with a tuna salad as an appetizer and they call it "tuna two ways." I've been watching too much Chopped.

Dress by Anthropologie (or try this dress from Topshop). Shorts by Gap (or try a similar pair from Mango). Shoes by Urban Outfitters. Bucket bag by J. Crew (similar here).

In this first denim scenario I wanted to wear a ~fancy~ piece but didn't want to actually look fancy for a casual evening downtown, so I let denim save the day. I've sort of attempted the shorts + dress look here but my "dress" wasn't really a dress, so here's round two. And instead of pairing cut-offs with a mini, I opted for a midi to make the trend look even more dramatic. I'm serious this time. The trick to this take on denim is to only show a peek of denim, maybe even a touch of tummy, to de-sophisticate the dress. I buttoned one of my favorite dresses (that actually belongs to my mother) only halfway, leaving the bottom open to show off the goods (which are either my legs or the denim. you decide.) It's like a reverse mullet: business in the back, party in the front. Someone following me would never know that my legs are actually bare on the other side. I guess I like to reserve a lot to the imagination. I slid into my slides, not solely because they would help the outfit but because they're literally glued to my feet (it's summer!!!). And that's it for denim 1st way, or the way that involves almost little to no denim. The next way is on the opposite side of the spectrum.

Jumpsuit by Madewell (similar here). Neck scarf by Urban Outfitters.

I've taken a complete 180 and went from little denim to ALL denim. The first example was the whipped cream + cherry on top of the ice cream, but this is the whole gallon of your favorite flavor (chocolate chip cookie dough, please). I've been searching for a piece that requires nothing but said piece and that is also 100% denim, and I've found it! This one from Madewell came with a chambray belt to tie around the waist which I switched for my favorite floral scarf (but it's on my neck instead!) that also seems to be glued to my body just like the slides. Here I actually strived to be ~fancy~, unlike the above look, which is why denim has felt so magical to me all these years. Add denim to be more casual, or wear it to be the opposite. I felt fancy enough to add a red lip, and I'm not even in Paris anymore. 

Maybe I'll go for denim three ways next time and try the perfect amount of the fabric to be, well, in between fancy and casual. Like the Goldilocks of denim.

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How to Wear Denim Cut-offs without Looking Like a Festival-Goer

I feel like I'm known for extremely, almost unnecessarily, long titles, but I think this one may win first prize for largest number of characters in a single post title.

And the abundant amount of words really works with the subject I'm about to bring up -- it took me an entire month to plan this. Well, at least subconsciously.

Whether we like it or not, we're likely to look like festival-goers if we slip on a pair of denim shorts. Not of the knee-length, or even mid-thigh, variety, but the kind that fall from the beginning of your thigh to maybe the 1/3 mark of your thigh. Technicalities aside, they are a festival necessity. Which makes it that much harder to get dressed in the morning without looking #coachellaready.

I tried this a few days ago, and I thought that sequins would make any outfit more formal and festivals are the furthest away from formal. But then the sequined tank I paired with the shorts you're about to see in a few short (pun intended) moments made me look like I was going to Shaky Boots, aka the country music festival in Atlanta that I never ever want to resemble or attend. Attempt 1: failed. In the beginning of this experiment, I wanted to wear one of those Victorian, long-sleeved blouses, maybe like this one by Alexa Chung's new collection, which I desperately need but have not been able to purchase just yet. 2/2 attempts failed. I don't like the sound of that.

Then I thought, maybe, just maybe, if I paired something that one would never wear with shorts, especially of the denim-material, I wouldn't look like a festival-goer. And maybe it should be an item that one would never even think about wearing to a festival because it could a) get destroyed b) have too much excess material or c) cause too much body heat due to previously-stated excess material. Like, a dress, maybe?

Shorts by Gap. Shirt/Dress by Urban Outfitters (or try something like this). Tank by Gap. Shoes by Steve Madden (similar here).

Or just a shirt-dress-type-thing, that is too long to be a shirt but too long to be an actual dress? Even better. I've worn this item hundreds of times, usually under sweaters or dresses or even over a turtleneck and under a sweater at the same time (the things we do for NYC winters...). This piece has gotten me through a lot, so I thought it'd be fitting to bring it back for this fashion experiment I was obviously struggling with. And do I look like I'm going to a festival in this? 

Absolutely not.

Anything that actually travels past the hem of your shorts would just be silly for a music festival, and also, why would anyone want to wear more than two layers (do you see my tank from Gap peeking out through the sheer material?) to an event where you'll probably strip off the top one in the first five minutes? 

A success rate of 1/3 is better than 0. 

The key to this method is to preferably get a dress/long shirt that has buttons all the way from the top to bottom so you can play with tucking in different sides, showing off the shorts, or showing the under layer on top if you'd like. This one from Madewell would also do the trick. I simply buttoned half of the top, then left the bottom unbuttoned so I could tuck in one side to the shorts and leave the other side hanging below my cutoffs. Playing with dimensions and looking like you actually tried further takes away from that care-free festival feel. 

Figuring out which shoes to wear is also a crucial part in making a non-festival look. Stray away from comfy sandals or Adidas or anything that would be comfortable to stand in for ten hours straight. I went for my chelsea boots, and not the kind that also act as rain boots because those would so work for a rainy festival day.

Even though these shorts from Gap have floral embroidery on them, which seems to define festival fashion in one clothing item, the way I styled them created the opposite of festival fashion. I mean, they were covered all day due to the dress, but you get my point. It's a bit funny because I plan on wearing these to Shaky Knees Festival in May and even showcasing them on the blog to show how to wear denim-cutoffs to look like a festival-goer. This is proof that practically every item in our closets can transform into new styles depending on how we wear them. In fashion, it's not the what, it's the how. 

Tip: wearing shorts with dresses makes it possible to jump without accidentally flashing anyone. How practical. 

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Summer Layers (feat. denim!)

I've talked about fall and winter layers several times, and I've even talked about spring layers. But what about the summer, when it can be 80 or 90 degrees all day? For me, I hate being hot. I dread the summer, and sometimes, I dread picking out fashion choices for this season. Fall and winter come so easily to me. The colder it gets, the more layers you add. Pretty simple. But with summer, it's hard to create diversity in your wardrobe when wearing more than a tank top and shorts will only cause a sweaty mess. Yes, there's always dresses, but only very few people own a dress for every day of the summer, and I'm not one of those people. Some will use this hot weather as an excuse to just give up this season, even when lazy lake days begin to vanish and we have to actually do things with our lives. But for me, I'm too driven with fashion to give up. I use every day as a means to grow in fashion, and sometimes it will result in experimenting, which led me to this -- summer layers. It's basically a paradox, but I know it's possible. The best thing about some layers is that you don't have to keep them on all day. That's the choice that is forced to be made in the summer -- find layers that can easily be removed, but that can still add diversity to your wardrobe.

As you all should know by now, denim is my favorite staple. It's so versatile, can be worn year round, and makes any outfit just look 10 times cooler. The denim jacket is probably one of the best ways to layer in the summer, maybe next to the chambray shirt, which is a lighter alternative, but that's about all I wore this summer. I wanted to mix things up, so I went for an unlikely combination. I paired the preppiest piece of clothing I own, which is the striped T-shirt dress by Fred Perry, with a staple item

that completely contrasts with the stripes -- the jean jacket. This dress is probably one of my favorites, so I've worn it hundreds of times, usually in the same way. It got to a point to where I had two options: stop wearing the dress, or start wearing it differently. Because it's my favorite summer item, I had to go with the second choice. I started to think that there was absolutely no way I could wear it in a unique fashion because my go-to for "outfit diversity" is layers, and I thought layers couldn't work in the summer. But then I thought again -- maybe they could. I grabbed the vintage denim jacket and completely changed the "Parisian preppy" look to a cooler, more stylish version, because that's the magic that denim holds. Only once did I have to take off the jacket because of the heat, and that's when I sat outside for lunch. Denim seems like a heavy fabric, but in reality, many forms of the fabric are super light, like the jacket I wore in this outfit. Some say that the jean jacket is the warm-weather version of the leather alternative, and that's completely true. Stop trying to force layers with bulky sweaters and flannels in hot weather. Layering is simpler when denim is involved, but isn't it true that denim makes everything better? It's obvious by now that I'm a huge denim enthusiast, but it's just one of those fashion things I'm going through, like how I went through a "collars peeking out under sweaters" phase last winter. When winter comes, leather and heavy knits will be taking over. But for now, I'll stick with the magic fabric.

Dress by Fred Perry from Urban Outfitters. Jacket is vintage Juicy Couture. Shoes by Topshop.

Photos taken by me (as always!)

Double Denim

Yes, the time has come for me to do some experimentation. This month's denim issue of Nylon came out a few days ago, and I read the entire thing from front cover to back. I was inspired. Maybe it was the provoking cover story on Zoe Kravitz, aka the coolest girl ever, maybe it was the excessive amounts of fashion spreads that fit every style ever imagined. Maybe it was the fact that Nylon inspires me every month I get it in the mail, but I do believe it was the concentration on denim. Every year, Nylon has a denim issue (just like how they have a music issue the month before), and the magazine manages to make almost everything in the issue about the beloved fabric. Nylon devoted some stories to how denim has changed over the decades, how Nylon staff experimented with DIY denim projects, and how the high fashion world is dealing with this fabric. They even somehow managed to incorporate denim into every photoshoot, from Kravitz's wardrobe to the fashion incorporated in "The Scenic Route" spread. All of my regular readers should know by now that I am obsessed with denim, but honestly, who isn't? Obviously I would love an issue devoted to "the magic fabric" (as Nylon says), so I wanted to make my own tribute to this issue and the wonder that is denim.

Two nights ago, I went to the 5th Harmony concert at Cobb Energy Center in Atlanta. This was the first pop concert I have ever been to, and it was either filled with middle school aged fangirls or the parents that drove them there. It was a little strange because I was probably the only one there that actually drove myself, but it ended up being a really good concert -- the girls are so talented, and they even had their own choreography. I'm used to seeing a band play instruments and just sing into a microphone, so it was a cool experience. Because it was a "girl group" concert, I decided to channel my inner cool '90s girl. And to incorporate denim into this look, I mastered the look a lot of people are too scared to pull off -- denim on denim. I don't know who decided this look was tacky because I have seen so many examples of people who really worked it. Once again, this comes down to an inner confidence (like I talked about in my jumpsuit post). If you feel great in it, you will look great. It's just that simple. However, in the fashion world, there are a few rules to follow. It'd be a bad idea to look just like Britney and Justin in their coordinating denim disaster (see here). Sure, use this iconic look (iconic does not always mean good) as an inspiration to do all things denim, but don't completely follow their looks unless you want to end up on the "what not to wear" section of every tabloid magazine. Instead of literally following the head-to-toe denim trend, start out by being more subtle. The biggest thing I achieved in this look was contrast. I took my light-wash denim skirt and paired it with something that was dark wash, which ended up being a dark chambray shirt. And yes, chambray is still considered denim if you don't want to be too drastic in your denim on denim look. The contrast between the two made the look more appealing to the eye but also less tacky to try for the first time. I could have paired the skirt with my light chambray top, but I wanted to try double denim in a subtle way. As I

continue denim on denim, I'll probably try pairing two denim items in the same wash. It is achievable, but it's definitely a reach. To make this outfit "concert appropriate" and still follow the cool 90s girl look, I only used this chambray top as a layer and wore a halter crop top. Simply tying the shirt around my waist still carried that denim on denim look. I completed the look with my grid socks peeking out of my cut-out boots and thick, winged-eyeliner. Also, if you haven't noticed, I dyed my hair lighter a week ago, which definitely fits in with the look I was trying to achieve.  

Halter top from Urban Outfitters, skirt from American Apparel, chambray top from Gap, socks from American Apparel, and boots from Asos.

Light Wash Denim

From the clothes I've been wearing for the past year, it's obvious that I have a thing for light wash denim. Almost every pair of jeans I own (except one) is lighter than the average pair of blue jeans, and I didn't really realize this until I noticed that I only own a few denim things that come in a darker shade. Maybe it's that I simply like the color more, or that it's extremely versatile and can be matched with almost anything. No matter what the reason, light wash is definitely coming back in style. We might remember seeing the cringeworthy mom jeans from the '90s that were always in a lighter shade, so this resurgence may not bring excitement to our new wardrobes. However, it definitely should. If we look past that dark time, we would see a more unique way of handling the universal fabric. Instead of going for the average, medium blue tint, designers and manufacturers are finding the edgy way to make denim more interesting -- making clothes out of lighter, almost pale, denim. These washes may be even lighter than the ones we saw in the '90s, so fashion history is basically being made. What I like about this wash is that at times, it may not even look like blue denim because it is so light, but it still gives off the familiar feel we all love from the popular material. With this new style coming out, it may seem impossible to fulfill your fashion needs while also dressing for the weather. This brings me to my next favorite fashion resurgence -- the denim skirt. I did make a post about the denim skirt a few months ago, but that skirt was made of a chambray-like material, not the stiff denim we find in jeans. Recently, it has been okay to bring back the a-line denim skirt that was a hit in the '90s. This news made me get up and go out to American Apparel (the store with the best basics and definitely the best denim) to go find one. I wanted to go with something different from the traditional denim skirt, so I found one with buttons that line up in the front. It came in a light wash and a dark wash, so of course I had to choose the lighter of the two. The light wash of this skirt takes away the potential tackiness that could come with the comeback of denim skirts. Instead of looking like a '90s wannabe (no pun intended), I was able to transform this skirt to look like a modern fashionista. Because the blue is so pale, I paired it with a simple blue striped tank from Anthropologie. (Sidenote: This shirt was on sale four times, so I bought it for only $10. From Anthropologie, one of the most expensive stores I shop at. It used to be $60.) I completed the look with my favorite pair of sandals from Topshop. The unique nature of the skirt made a simple outfit an interesting look that used two up-and-coming trends in one item. This outfit is proof that light wash denim is better and that denim doesn't just belong in pants.

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Trend of the Week: Denim (NOT jeans!) Part II

(sweater -- Urban Outfitters; skirt -- Topshop; sandals -- Topshop)

As I said yesterday, this week’s “trend of the week” comes in two parts. Denim that comes in different forms other than jeans is such a huge trend right now that I had to dedicate this style to two days. Yesterday was the jacket, and today it’s the skirt. While the denim skirt is usually seen in the form of a mini, other styles do exist, like the one I’m wearing today. The material may not be actual denim, but it definitely gives off the look of denim (like a chambray shirt), and the lighter, more flexible material makes the midi looser and more shapeless. This style can also be seen as extremely tacky along with the jean jacket. However, denim skirts can create super cool looks if worn with the right tops and shoes. With this skirt, it can create an outfit that a grandma would wear if not done properly. That’s literally what someone told me when I bought the skirt, but I knew right when I tried it on that I would make it work. The fact that it’s both a longer skirt and it’s made of a denim-like material only gives off old, hippie vibes, so choosing a top and shoes is the most important part in this process. The top must be tighter and have more edge than the skirt. I chose my simple, white mesh sweater that can be tied at the waist really easily (anything tucked into this skirt just looks bad), and I accessorized with my favorite gold necklace. The white in the top worked perfectly with the lace accents at the hem of the skirt. For the shoes, again, they have to be fashionable, edgy, and work with the length of the skirt. I chose chunky sandals for this outfit, but low boots, like my cutout ones, would work on a chillier day. With this skirt, or any denim skirt, it’s crucial to put the most thought into the items being worn with the skirt. By doing this, it can create an extremely fashionable and trendy outfit. 

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Trend of the Week: Denim (NOT jeans!) Part I

(skirt -- Asos; top -- Asos; jacket -- goodwill)

This week, I'm having a two day trend special. Today I used alternative styles of denim in the form of a jacket, and tomorrow, it will be with a skirt (more details with that look on tomorrow's post!). I decided that because I love denim so much, I had to dedicate two days to this lovely trend. First -- the denim jacket. It's so strange bringing this style back because I remember wearing it all the time in 2nd grade, but it is definitely acceptable now in this fashion age of a resurgence of 90's/early 2000's trends. This jacket actually isn't mine; it's my sister's that she let me borrow today. I haven't yet invested in one for myself because I was scared I would never wear it, but after today, I could wear this jacket with literally anything. This one came from goodwill that already has a few patches sewn onto it, and my sister put a few band pins (like Vampire Weekend and Arcade Fire) on the chest pockets to personalize it. Personally, I would like to get a nicer one for myself, specifically the one from Madewell, that actually fits my body type, but the one I wore still worked -- it had a boyfriend jean kind of fit, just for my upper body. The biggest reason people don't wear these jackets anymore is that they seem to be tacky. However, it is possible to pull off the jean jacket look without looking like either a tacky 90's mom or a typical 1975 fan (I apologize to the people that actually like that band, but you do have to admit that the hardcore fans have a certain look that just doesn't work). For me, I wanted to pull off an edgy look without going over the top, so I wore my velvet mini skirt from Asos paired with my striped crop tee also from Asos. Instead of looking like an obnoxious groupie, I gave off cool 90's-girl vibes without looking like I just stepped out of My So Called Life (although I must admit that that show does have an awesome style, but that's beside the point). The jean jacket was the perfect accessory to make the simple skirt-and-top outfit way more appealing, and it's light nature was perfect for the slight breeze we had today. Depending on how it's worn, the denim jacket can give off tons of different styles. It can be paired with black denim for a grungey, badass look, or it can be layered on top of a sundress for a breezy summer day. I'll be sure to invest in an actual one that I can call my own so I can try out all the looks that are possible with this versatile item.

As for my beauty today, I added a few loose waves to my already naturally wavy hair to create a messier look. My new, bright blonde hair already works so well with this outfit, so I felt like I didn't have to do much with my hair. To accentuate the outfit and my new hair, I applied Eyeko liquid pen eyeliner to create a thick, winged shape, and I wore a lipstick by Revlon in a wine shade. The bold colors and accents in my hair and face made the outfit ten times cooler. Also, ever since I dyed my hair, I'll probably be wearing bold lipstick everyday because bright lips look so much better with a brighter hair color.