Hygge: A Meaningless Word to Some, a Fashion Statement to Others

Definitely easier to pull off than to pronounce correctly.

Just to clarify: hygge is a Danish concept, not a Swedish one. We have fika and even the term mysig (which is basically impossible to translate in English, but mostly means "cozy" that can only be visually described by being next to a blazing fire inside a Swedish cottage in the winter), but hygge is strictly a Danish thing. It feels that it can only be reserved for Denmark because it also, like mysig, has no direct English translation. Google Translate refers to it as "fun," which feels very, very wrong, especially as I visited Denmark earlier this month and "fun" is not the way to describe my experience.

Cozy? Exciting, but in a lowkey way? Happy-inducing, but again, in a lowkey way? A combination of all three? Hygge. That's better. Even if I can't put into words what my five-day long hygge adventure was like, I know that hygge is the proper term. Think warm coffee shops with friendly staff that you can spend hours in; cozy bars that specialize in the best Danish beer; even just spending hours of your vacation lying in bed because it's too cold outside, but without feeling severe amounts of fomo. That's hygge for ya, at least my perception of it. If you're Danish and think I'm completely wrong on this interpretation, please call me out on it. But otherwise, I'd like to bring hygge to my attitude every winter. It makes freezing temps and seasonal depression so much more fun!

The past two winters I've experienced have been more than miserable. Having to wear five different layers and dealing with little to no sunlight always put me in some sort of funk that only spring and summer would get me out of. Now, of course being in Sweden, this funk is heightened—it's way colder and the sun sets two hours earlier than back in the states (I'm writing this at 3:30pm and it is pitch black outside, btw). The past week has given me a glimpse of what seasonal depression is truly like, and folks, it's nothing I would wish on even my worst enemies. Getting myself to leave my (warm!) apartment just to see the sun for five or less hours feels futile, and attempting to enjoy my last month in this city is really, really hard. But for some odd reason, getting dressed in this sad, sad weather is one of the few things that I find exciting. Fall in Stockholm got me weirdly excited, which was already unexpected enough, but now winter? Honestly, I'm just confused. I've been a summer gal through and through; colorful vintage dresses and various mules have been my style saviors the past few years. But now that I'm forced to face the dark void that is Sweden, I guess I better embrace the Danish concept and bring hygge to everything I do, style included.

Sweater and jeans are vintage. Turtleneck by J. Crew (I will stand by the tissue turtleneck until my dying day, btw). Shoes are unknown, but I like these a lot.

Of course, my journey with hygge began in Denmark, of all places. The wind that literally blew me over multiple times forced me to wear a turtleneck under my thickest of sweaters and not touch anything but my tried and true vintage Levi's. I followed this outfit recipe for the next four days, half in Aarhus and half in Copenhagen, and I now call this trip my test run for how to dress for Swedish winters. I used to be against the idea of style uniforms, I embraced them for a bit when winter ruined me just one year ago, and now I realize that Scandinavia is a place that not only encourages, but requires a sartorial uniform. It's too cold to experiment! My months spent worrying about my fashion sense going down the drain from living here vanished as I realized that mixing and matching turtlenecks and sweaters is actually really fun. If I'm feeling more adventurous, I can swap a sweater for a button-up and leave it unbuttoned most of the way to show off my trusty turtleneck. I can switch my classic Levi's for a pair of purple corduroys I thrifted earlier this year to fight the stereotype that Swedes only wear black in the winter (which, by the fact, is very true). Hygge paved the way to a winter that can actually be fun in terms of style; outfit repeating is not frowned upon here. It's celebrated! Maybe I have worn this pair of jeans everyday for the past two weeks. But it's sad and cold and dark, we have better things to worry about than if we're wearing a pair of pants five times too many. 

This style epiphany has also translated to other parts of my Swedish experience; I've been more okay with spending time by myself, specifically in the confines of my warm apartment, than having to be busy 24/7. Getting out into the city just to enjoy an hour-long fika might be a minor accomplishment, but it's still an accomplishment! Hygge may directly translate to fun, but it could mean the opposite—taking time to decompress is the best thing for our mental clarity, especially when this lack of sunlight is driving me to week-long depressive episodes. So if all you can put together is a turtleneck under a sweater with the pair of jeans you wear way too often, congratulate yourself—winter is hard.

And then I couldn't help but wonder... can hygge even be translated to the warm summer months?

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Layer It Up, Baby

Feat. double red and double ruffles, just in time for the day after V-Day

It should come to no surprise that when it comes to layering, I am all. Over. It. This used to be the sole reason why I loved winter so much a few years ago—it's the only season of the year where layering two unrelated items on top of each other is acceptable, simply because it's too cold to wear one of them alone. Two is better than one, no? It gets even more fun when you introduce three or four items in one layering instance because even though you thought it to be impossible for a human to wear a turtleneck with a button-up finished with a denim jacket and a leather jacket to top it off, it actually is doable. Definitely a hassle to take off at the end of the day, but so worth it for those OOTD pics and cold-weather practicality.

My love of layers has stuck with me although my love of winter has not, which makes things a bit tricky—layering in the summer gets funky unless you're all about baby tees under slip dresses. This complicates my constant longing for summer when it's nearly impossible to layer in the aforementioned season. Fortunately, I've recently found a distinct personal style surrounding summer, including statement dresses, vintage jeans that hardly touch my skin, and mules. I seemed to forget the art of layering last summer, and when it got cold, I didn't take refuge in wearing far too many articles of clothing at once and instead went for chunky sweaters and heavy coats, a far easier alternative to the art of layering. My style rut didn't want to delve into this art—far too much time and effort.

But maybe the way to get out of a rut is to do what always saved you in the past. That seems feasible. Since I didn't actually intend on my layering frenzy to stop when it did, it shouldn't be too hard to get back into, right? Just go back to the basics, and it will evolve into what it used to be in no time. Fortunately, I was correct—a really cold day and a ruffled turtleneck would solve the problem.

Turtleneck by Madewell. Vintage blouse and vintage Levi's from The Break (aka my favorite vintage store in Greenpoint, Brooklyn). Shoes by Zara.

To dive back into layers, I immediately pulled out all of the turtlenecks I owned, which is a lot, if you already weren't aware of my obsession with the piece. I decided to opt for a neutral one, unlike the colorful nature of my tissue turtlenecks, so I could focus on the thing going over the turtleneck. This white one from Madewell has a lettuce-hem detail on the neck, making it the perfect layering tool to add a bit of detail to peek out from under that thing going over it. Now, what should that thing be? A short-sleeved button-up from Madewell that I own far too many of? Not really my style atm. Maybe a thick crew-neck sweater that will work extra hard to keep me warm? Not interesting enough. Maybe a bold vintage blouse that also has some ruffles to work with a potential frill theme the turtleneck began? Perfect. This top that definitely came straight from the '80s was my go-to in the summer and fall when wanting to wear vintage Levi's, but it got lost in my closet once temps dropped because the color seems to closely resemble parts of a summer sunset, something that we won't see again until at least June. I decided to bring it back into winter, because a) why the hell not and b) we love a pop of color to brighten our dull winter days! Speaking of Levi's, I brought those in to add a third piece, but new ones of a lighter wash and a longer inseam (aka me not cutting my jeans too short, as always) to change things up.

Not one but two items with ruffles made me feel fancier than usual, so I continued this trend by donning my pair of red ankle boots to complete the look. Something about this style felt v put-together. Much needed when my style (and potentially life?) is falling apart. Back in high school, I went to layering when I was stressed or felt out of control (no, really) to feel like something was going the way I wanted it to. Layering is hard! It requires a certain kind of confidence you can't get from only two items of clothing. So I dare you to go into your next layering endeavor with the same assertion as Veronica below:

But change "lick" to "layer," obviously.

Photos shot by Maddie.

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What to Wear When: You Dream of Summer for 14 Months Straight

Six more months, y'all.

It's been a few weeks after spending an entire post pining over the beauty that is summer, where I constantly rewatched '80s summer gay love stories over and over again to cope, and I'm still pining over summer. When will this end?! We're in the midst of winter where going out without a knee-length (or longer) coat and blanket scarf is not feasible, or possible, for that matter, yet I still dream of open-toed mules and breezy shirts and actually having to shave my legs so I can wear that midi wrap dress or that mini dress covered in cherries. I actually want to shave my legs! Now that's really saying something, coming from someone who hasn't touched a razor in months. Waiting for six months is just depressing, watching summer flicks to cope becomes futile after watch #7, but maybe working summer details into your winter 'fit is the perfect compromise. Want summer so badly but it's only January? Why not try both!

Shirt by Urban Outfitters (I like this one better though). Pants are Dickies by Urban Outfitters. Boots by Zara. Necklace by Mejuri. Coat by Madewell.

Although it makes the most sense to do the whole transitioning between seasons thing when a transition between seasons actually exists, you can fake it 'til you make it, especially when the weather feels like a transition in itself. As I type this, it is currently below freezing with harsh winds, making this outfit impossible to work today. But only three days ago, it was just below 50 and sunny! Although I despise this erratic weather, aka climate change, it comes in handy when you want to test the waters of summer for one day. Obviously 50 degrees isn't 80, meaning I couldn't jump head-first into summer clothing. Legs had to be covered; a coat had to be involved. So how exactly did I test drive summer when a coat was involved?

Incorporating summer into a winter outfit is actually really easy. The key is to look for things you admire about summer and restructure them to work for winter. Thanks to Call Me by Your Name, I would like to wear a breezy short-sleeved button-down for the rest of my life, unbuttoned most of the way, partially tucked into cut-offs or maybe even tied at the waist. I couldn't pull off shorts in January, but I could pull off the top—I found this oversized men's button-down from Urban Outfitters, of all places, that also happens to have sketches of naked women displayed all over the shirt. Probably meant to be styled by some dude-bro, unbuttoned all the way with a white tee under paired with baggy jeans and Vans, but I continued to purchase it because I imagined all of the outfits I could create with it that did not resemble the aforementioned dude-bro look. Instead, I tied it at the waist, added my new favorite jewelry brand's layered choker for a touch of feminine, and paired them with light pink Dickies, a staple I wore all summer long in 2017.  I typically would pair them with mules, but instead I went for my favorite red boots—still perfect for winter, but something about the color and exciting style screamed summer. And voila! There you have a perfect winter/summer 'fit, which I thought was an impossible pairing until I did some experimenting. 

If you want to feel more like you belong in winter, add a coat of any flavor; I chose my favorite classic wool one from Madewell so I wouldn't take away from the summer vibes, but would still keep warm. Strip that baby off when you're indoors to show off that you did, in fact, pull off a summer 'fit when there's still two more months left of winter. Congratulate yourself! And hopefully feel a little less desperate for summer. Maybe this will make things worse; having a taste of summer but not getting the real thing makes people long for it more, no?

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Can Sartorial Uniforms Work in the Winter?

... And be interesting? Let's find out.

Six months ago, if you can recall, I thought the concept of sartorial uniforms was, to put it lightly, absolute bullshit. Nothing angered me more than people, especially the type that cared about fashion, to take the easy route when it comes to style and clump their sartorial decisions in a uniform generator that stripped all free will. Was real style dead? Could even the most fashionable of people be incapable of using their own creativity to form their outfits, overall looks, or, more generally, personal style? Can personal style even be called personal anymore if it's only molded by others? The cynic in me asked myself these questions on a daily basis, as I reached into my closet and formed outfits completely on my own. Or so I thought. I realized soon after this style crisis that maybe, just maybe, all outfits we wear are some version of a style uniform (out of infinite style uniforms) that we have stored in our fashion memories, and sometimes we need to use this capsule more than other times, when we're feeling less creative. It happens to the best of us, really. And it's not necessarily a bad thing—not using others for style inspo or stating that you never have used a sartorial uniform is kind of like living in a style vacuum. Personal style is a social construct*, if you didn't know!

After I had determined that uniforms were not only okay, but an acceptable form of getting dressed that we will all, at some point or another, run into in our lives, I felt all those struggles associated with my fashion challenges dissolve, as I knew that I was not perfect. Whew. Glad we got that out of the way. But suddenly, fall semester came along and I started depending on these crutches a bit too much. It started with me wearing the same outfits I wore in the summer since a) my creativity to get dressed uniquely disappeared, b) I had zero time to even begin to think of new looks, and  c) it was still warm outside, so why not just repeat some award-winning looks? I thought things would change when the temps dropped, as this need to wear more clothing should result in my fashion creativity reviving, but I was wrong. The style uniform became my main method of getting dressed, especially when 55 degrees turned into 40, then 30. I'd slip on the same pair of jeans, rotate between three different sweaters, and typically finish the look with one of my two kinds of sneakers, of all the kinds of shoes in the world. Sneakers! I had truly given up. My lack of blogging this fall is proof that my fashion senses were just at an all-time-low. Although my New Year's Resolution is to get back into regular blogging, implying that sartorial uniforms should just cease to exist in my brain, I decided to end the year by reclaiming this term, proving that maybe, just maybe, even after months of looking like, to put it lightly, a piece of garbage, sartorial uniforms can work in the winter. 

Time for a test drive!

This feels interesting, right?

Jeans by Reformation. Sweater is vintage, bought from @courtyard_la. Jacket by Madewell (blue version here). Boots by Zara.

I had decided from day one of fall that I would solely wear pants during this season, and also well into winter. My days of tugging tights up my legs to only feel slightly warmer were long gone, so pants it is. Anyways, pants feel so in right now, or maybe they just feel very fitting with where my personal style is going, if I'm even allowed to say it exists anymore after this dreadful fall. After accepting that wearing pants was not off limits to get back into my top fashion game, things felt easier—pants were, in fact, an embedded part of my sartorial uniform for two seasons of the year. However, I told myself that I couldn't go back to the same pair I'd wear everyday for two weeks straight. Those worn out Levi's would not touch my body unless I was only trying to look bad (aka me all winter break). I would deem them equivalent to sweats, which was truly the only way to ween myself off of them. The no Levi's rule forced me to look for something else, maybe a pair that hardly imitated jeans but rather a really cool pair of pants that Emily Ratajkowski would wear. After months of pining for these beauts (that also clean 1,000 gallons of water after purchase, which applies to all Ref jeans!), my size came back in stock and I slipped these babies on the minute they were delivered. I felt my sense of style come rushing back to me in full force—I hate to use a new purchase to be the only thing to get me back on my feet, but in this case, I truly think these are what saved me. Thousands of 'fit ideas flooded my mind that were perfect for winter but also that transcended this season. I had never been more excited for an article of clothing since the summer!

To keep that uniform idea in mind, I paired them with the sweater I've been wearing twice a week for the past two months. This overuse made this magical (and vintage!) sweater lose its magic, but I felt that I could bring that magic back through the pants. And it worked! I layered my white denim jacket over it to make things more ~interesting~, as I said I would do in the beginning of this post, and instead of wearing the typical sneakers, I finished the look with brand spankin' new boots. You know that feeling you have when you get a new outfit and feel like you can rule the world? That's exactly how I felt. I had been able to reclaim this idea of sartorial uniforms to become something even greater than I had ever imagined.

So moral of the story: style uniforms are fun and games until you depend on them a bit too much, but it is possible to revive your style through the same method, especially when a new pair of Ref jeans is involved. My wearing habits with these bad boys is already turning into something unhealthy; will they lose its magic pretty soon? All we can do is wait and see, but in the meantime, it's comforting to know that I still got it.

*After my Philosophy of Race and Gender class, it's safe to say that almost all things are social constructs. Including style.

Photos shot by Kendall.

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Holiday Knits

It's like a sweater... but for your entire body!

Winter is approximately 13 days away! Time to start using the snowflake emoji in every Instagram caption, drinking a sickening amount of hot cocoa, and living in tissue turtlenecks and bulky sweaters. Sounds like a dream, if you ask me.

Unless that dream consists of below freezing temps. Count me out.

Unfortunately, I don't live in California or the Caribbean, where this thing I like to call winter weather magically does not occur, so I must face the freezing temps along with all my other East coasters. I used to love this weather a few years ago; it called for so many layering opportunities that just wouldn't be possible in any other season. Also, this was before I knew what cuffing season was. Oh, the glory days. Now, as I no longer have the privilege of being able to hop in my heated car to drive anywhere I please, winter has changed for me. The once inspiring dark skies are now depressing, the once beautiful snow is now annoying, and the creative layering opportunities are now just... hard. For the past month, I've been living in my old Levi's that are getting baggier by the minute and the same thick turtleneck I bought from my favorite vintage IG account that I've worn three times a week since I received it. I've even given up on shoes; my already too-worn Adidas are getting even more wear instead of all the statement boots that should be getting more wear but are nothing like the comfort of a pair of sneakers with too many memories to count. I've definitely hit a fashion rut. Should I blame winter, or is it really just my too-busy schedule that has prevented me from getting creative with my style? The latter reason is probably more accurate; I haven't even had time to blog more than three times this entire semester (which, by the way, will change next semester!). But instead, I'd rather blame winter. It's way easier.

So, what's the solution to stop wearing the same thing over and over again?

I could go the style uniform route and simply accept the fact that I'll wear the same thing over and over again this winter. Maybe make it more interesting, like with a blazer? These methods are too, well, easy. What's the point of being so into fashion if it's easy? That ruins the fun.

I remembered from earlier that all I want to do is wear sweaters the entire season. What if I took that idea a step further?

Jumpsuit and turtleneck by Madewell. Shoes by Sam Edelman. Sunglasses by Lisa Says Gah.

It seems as though designers have realized that not only I wish to be covered head to toe in sweaters all winter long, but that almost everyone would find this sensation more than appealing. Enter the knit jumpsuit: one part sweater, one part jumpsuit. Isn't that genius? I kind of felt like Gigi Hadid when she takes knitwear to the next level and only wears knits in a single outfit. Unlike Gigi, I don't have exuberant amounts of confidence and matching knits, but the jumpsuit made up for that. Instead of worrying about pulling together a matching sweater set, I just slipped on this bad boy over a simple turtleneck (also a knit!) and felt my winter dreams come true. Being fully immersed in a sweater is not just an experience, but one that feels too good to be true. Instead of wearing sweats and a raggedy sweater, just wear a sweater jumpsuit, and you'll get the exact same feeling. Plus a look that's too good to pass up!

As I said earlier, I was trying to find a styling method that actually stimulates my fashion sense and makes it a challenge, not just a routine that I follow every single day. Unfortunately, this was definitely too easy to accomplish, as it was a short, two step process of getting dressed that day. No zipper required. Yet this simplicity still resulted in something I haven't felt in a long time, a.k.a. a sense that my style is no longer in a rut, but is rather progressing into something even greater than I ever imagined. No one can stop me. Not even the winter blues.

Photos shot by Lucy.

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Business on the Bottom, Party on the Top

Like, an upside-down mullet, perhaps?

This is a really strange way to describe an outfit, but it looks exactly what it sounds like! You'll see in the next few minutes, or however long it takes you to read the next few sentences I am currently writing that are introducing my très chic look. ~Anyways~. One thing I always am attracted to when creating outfits, sometimes weeks in advance, are juxtapositions in styles, usually in the same outfit. A term I often use in my fashion show reviews, a term I also often use in everyday life. If you were curious to what the actual definition is, move your eyes to the below definition:

If you were unsure of the (usually) literary definition, now you're just a little bit smarter than you were ten seconds ago. Congrats! Juxtapositions are methods to make some concepts, like a) poetry/poetic or literary themes b) art and c) fashion, more interesting and to emphasize certain aspects of the art. Because contrast is key! It directs our eyes (and brains) to things we wouldn't necessarily notice if it weren't included. Literature/art history lesson over. Time to reveal my ~lewk~ that I wore to a DC fashion week event last weekend:

Velvet dress (wearing as a top) and neck scarf (wearing as a bracelet) by Urban Outfitters. Pants and mesh shirt (similar here) by Zara. Loafer mules by Madewell.

Shall we start with the business portion first? It's not as exciting as the top half, and saving that for last will be way more fun (and the party always comes last, right?). As for the bottom half, I grabbed my cropped trousers from Zara that I could definitely wear on many occasions, including a) a job interview b) Sunday brunch c) my shift at Madewell and d) leaving my room at 3 pm on a Sunday to finally start studying for midterms (they're so comfy!!). I continued the ~business lewk~ by slipping on my newest pair of loafer slides--a method to look both professional and easy at the same time. They've been glued to my feet for the past two weeks, kind of like how the summer version of these shoes were glued to me last summer. Ironically, because slides are the last type of soles that would be impossible to take off (get it? they literally slide off!). Really bad fashion jokes aside, this half of the outfit was a bit too 9-5 for me. So commence the party!

When I think of clothes fit for a party, I obviously think bright colors (think red, cobalt blue, emerald green) and glitter. Maybe heels, too? But if party is looked at in a more subtle, nonchalant manner, it can also mean lush fabrics. Velvet, obviously. Fur (of the faux type, of course). Silk. What about other interesting fabrics that don't necessarily fit into this category? Like mesh, for example. Not exactly "lush," but definitely party-worthy. So I combined the two! Well, velvet and mesh, that is. Layer a mesh, long sleeve top (which, by the way, is such an investment! It can be layered under practically anything on a warm(er) day, and can be worn on its own over a pretty (or not!) bra if you're really ~feeling yourself~) under a boatneck velvet dress that I'm wearing as a shirt for two reasons: the dress with pants look only works on few occasions, and this dress was a bit too short to wear sans trousers. To continue the party, I tied a floral neck scarf around my mesh clad wrist, because using clothing pieces for alternative uses that they weren't actually made for is so much fun! And rebellious. Just like a party.

Some may say these are just clashing styles, others might point out that it's a day-to-night look taken two steps too far. But clashing should be good; that's what fashion's all about--breaking barriers and leaving the :o emoji on people's face. Also, I could easily go dancing after a day of work in this. Maybe if I at least changed the shoes to heels?

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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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Tissue Turtleneck Three Ways: Phase III

All good things must come to an end.

Phase III is here! If you forgot and/or are wondering what the hell phase III means, don't worry! I almost forgot about it, too. I've been doing a turtleneck challenge with J. Crew's tissue turtlenecks because a) I now own three of them and b) I'm always down to promote these babies not because I'm a victim of corporate consumerism, but because they're just that good. Everyone needs one (or five) in their wardrobes!!! Two weeks ago I proved their embellishing nature in Phase I by only revealing a rust-tinted neck under a victorian lace blouse, one week ago I proved their necessity by not daring to layer anything over it and pairing it with a mini skirt in Phase II. So it's about time for phase III! And unfortunately the end of this wonderful challenge I've had a blast doing (I hope you had just as much fun reading about it). If I owned ten of these, I would be extending the challenge to ten turtlenecks, and I'd even be able to give the turtleneck ten separate qualities, one for each color. My limited amount of turtlenecks (and funds) forces me to put an end to this, so I'm going out with a bang and revealing the convenience of these staples.

Here's phase III:

Jumpsuit and tassel cuff by Madewell. Boots by Topshop.

Most people's initial gut reaction to the turtleneck is oh, yeah, I should definitely start wearing these more because it's really damn cold outside. I always attempted to forget this primary purpose, mostly because I wanted to assign more universality to these tops (wearing a turtleneck in 60 degrees should be allowed, right??). But now I'm reassigning the turtlenecks purpose today, because here, I actually did slip this hot pink baby on because it was really damn cold. My regular readers should know that I don't let the cold stop me from what I'm wearing (like here and here), so I decided to wear a velvet cami jumpsuit, which is definitely meant for winter (imagine wearing this to an NYE party!!), but the lack of sleeves say otherwise. So tissue turtleneck comes to the rescue! How convenient!!! I went for my pink one, not only because it was the last one left in the challenge, but also because I've learned that this bright hue of pink can really brighten up a freezing day. This tint of turtleneck alone could look like a 4th grader's dream, the velvet jumpsuit alone could resemble  Bianca Jagger's #ootd, but combined, they represent my personal style.

I told you these things were magical!!!

I finished the look with the same boots I've worn this entire challenge, mostly because I'm still in that honeymoon phase with them that is bound to end soon, once I get myself a pair of loafer mules. And to really make this last day of my challenge go out with a bang, I took photos on a roof with DC staring at me in the background. I'm not sure if it's the pop of pink or the bright sun making this outfit look truly ~entrancing~, but I am sure that the sensation of the softer-than-a-cloud material embracing my neck did make me feel the most me. And I'm sure you'll feel that same revelation, too.

Buy a few (or ten!) tissue turtlenecks here.

phase I | phase II

Photos shot by Brianna.

Psa: this post (or challenge) was not initiated because J. Crew (or affiliated companies) asked me to do so, and I am not being paid or sponsored to promote these turtlenecks. I just really, really like them! I hope you will, too. 

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Tissue Turtleneck Three Ways: Phase II

The wait is over!!!

A month ago, when I finally was able to state that I owned not one, but three, tissue turtlenecks, I decided to take on a fashion challenge, which I have done many times on here (exhibit a! exhibit b! exhibit c!). But this one carries a lot more schedule, a lot more structure, and definitely a lot more planning -- the planning officially started one month ago! I told myself I would wear my three different tissue turtlenecks, of all different colors, in three completely different ways.

Why does this matter, you may ask?

The turtleneck seems to carry so much more utility than just a neck warmer. And I'm here to prove that! I proved last week that they can simply be used as an embellishing factor, to brighten up a neutral outfit with a little peep of a colorful neck, in Phase I. I showcased the embellishing nature of the infamous tissue turtleneck, and now I'm about to reveal the necessary nature of them. Necessary, not only to keep me warm in this frigid winter, but to also stand alone, not as a layering piece, and still make an outfit look damn good.

Here's phase II:

I'm not wearing pants!!!

Just kidding. 

Skirt by Zara. Bandana from who knows where (I've owned this thing since I was ten, you can buy some here!). Boots by Topshop. Tassel cuff and wool coat by Madewell.

Phase II made me think about using the turtleneck as a top, standing by itself. What a rarity for me! Layering has become second nature, and I'm fairly certain this is my first time wearing a tissue turtleneck on its own. Trump is now the president, anything is possible. It's time to try new things, get out of our comfort zone. So I continued my fashion challenge, and unwillingly put on the periwinkle turtleneck and did not continue to layer anything over it. I paired this with a frill mini skirt from Zara that looks like it came straight out of the '80s to add something extra to the bland turtleneck, and unfortunately broke my layering rule by layering a bandana over my already covered neck, choker style, and a tassel cuff over my already covered wrist. Is it still layering if they're only accessories? I opted out of putting tights on my hot dogs because the turtleneck covered my upper half, and finished the look with my heeled ankle boots and wool duster that both make me seem very business professional (walking through the streets of D.C. with clacking shoes is scientifically proven to boost your confidence level).

Before attempting Phase II, I was afraid I'd have this feeling of emptiness. I was wrong! My views in fashion constantly shift from minimalism to maximalism, and although maximalism has been controlling my wardrobe these past few months, the less is more attitude may be my new mantra. And the challenge continues! Check back next week for Phase III.

phase I | phase III

Photos shot by Brianna.

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Tissue Turtleneck Three Ways: Phase I

It's the season of the turtleneck.

A few facts about me: I'm an avid film lover, I'm the type of person to wait 10 hours just to be front row for my favorite band, and my favorite article of clothing for the past three years has been the turtleneck. Will the last statement ever change, you ask? Probably not. They're ~*~magical~*~. Like the wool inside your cocoon coat that keeps you warm, like the embroidery on those new floral ankle boots that everyone now seems to own, like the perfect pair of jeans you can't seem to unglue from your unwilling legs.

Necessary, embellishing, and reliable. What more could anyone want?

Due to my undying love for the amazing neck-protectors, I decided to take on a little ~fashion challenge~. How exciting! Especially during the weeks around the dreaded inauguration, a mini endeavor into how I can wear turtlenecks can brighten up the depressing time ahead of us. And to make this time even brighter, I'm using J. Crew's tissue turtlenecks, which I used to own one of and now own three!!! I'm such a fan of these that I could practically be a salesperson for just the turtlenecks; I rave about them daily to my friends who most definitely do not care. They're a) super soft b) thin enough to fit under any article of clothing (sweaters! button-up dresses! slip tops!) and c) come in practically every color of the rainbow, plus more. They make layering so much easier (and more fun! who wouldn't want to layer a hot pink turtleneck under a black checkered dress?!), so I suggest purchasing at least three in both neutral and bright shades.

For this fashion challenge, I'm going to wear all three in completely different ways to prove the endless wonders of the tissue turtleneck. Here's phase I:

Top by Zara (similar here). Jeans by Madewell. Boots by Topshop.

In the first step of my endeavor, I wanted to use the turtleneck to simply embellish an existing outfit that could stand alone without the neck-protector, but at the same time could really use the rust-tinted neck to add a pop of color (and little warmth!). To simply add a turtleneck to a look that doesn't technically need one, reach for a long-sleeved blouse, preferably high-collared and Victorian, layer that over a turtleneck of your choosing (this orange one seems pretty fitting), roll your sleeves to show off that turtleneck a bit more, and slide on a pair of pants -- any will work, but I grabbed these wide-leg denim ones that work better in warmer temps but seem to work just fine with a covered neck and ankle boots (gold heel optional). My first attempt at the Tissue Turtleneck Challenge™ showcases how turtlenecks can add a pop of color, a pop of warmth, and really just a pop of cool, if you define cool to be something that can help on so many different levels and add some stylish flare to your outfit.

Check back in the next few weeks for the other two phases of my turtleneck adventure, and maybe, just maybe, you'll hop on the turtleneck train (if you haven't already).

phase II | phase III

Photos shot by Sydney. 

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Winter Inspo: SKAM

I introduce my FIRST post of 2017 (finally!!!) with a statement that is obvious yet extremely unwanted.

It's cold. VERY cold. I'm back at home in Georgia for winter break, a place that usually doesn't dip below 30, and it snowed a few days ago! Looking outside at my white backyard, wearing a billion layers and a hat, of all things, I realized that winter truly is the hardest month to dress for. In the past, I've denied this fact -- I assumed that dressing for cold temps created the most noteworthy outfits because anyone could layer whatever the hell they wanted to and call it fashion. This was my oblivious, Georgia-bound self, who only had to walk a few minutes outside when temps dropped to the teens. In one week I'll be back in D.C., having to walk everywhere in even colder temperatures, and I soon made the discovery that just a sweater over a turtleneck won't cut it. I could just give up on fashion altogether and wear my parka with snow boots everyday, but you all know I love fashion challenge. I actually have not yet taken up this challenge, but I know where to start...

Usually I draw inspiration from the runway, my favorite bloggers, and those famous street style shots floating around Tumblr, but now I'm finding inspiration from... a Norwegian teen drama by the name of SKAM, a show I have been obsessing over for the past week and that all of Norway has been obsessing over for the past few years. Not only is it one of the best high school-based shows I have seen in a while (even better than Skins!!), it shows off some impeccable fashion that glorifies the seemingly-dreadful act of getting dressed in the winter. I haven't been this inspired from a show since Twin Peaks. Along with its too-real dialogue and in-depth exploration of teen issues, these Norwegian teens really know how to dress. In a place where temps rarely get above freezing in the winter, the characters embrace this cold and make winter seem enjoyable with their styles (they spend a strangely large amount of time outside...). They even make me excited for this season! Here are a few tips they follow that will make any winter more bearable:

You can never own too many coats. When it's so cold outside that you wouldn't even dare to take off your coat just to show off the actually cute outfit under it for more than ten seconds, it's important to invest in a coat you actually like. Or two of them. Or three. Try different fabrics, like teddy, bouclé, or wool; try different colors, like neutrals, pastels, or even metallic silver. Oversized is always better; even a puffer coat will make winter more exciting (look at Stella McCartney!!).

Hats should now become our friends. I'm not sure why I spent my entire life hating the accessory that is crucial in keeping warm; maybe it's because I've always thought that my hair was my best feature and winter hats only hide this. Eva, the character who sports a different hat in almost every episode, forgets this stigma and believes they actually show off her hair. Not everyone has long, golden tresses like Eva (especially me with my short blonde locks), but she makes it look like almost anyone can pull them off. Looking warm (and 10x cuter) is a fashion statement in itself.

Look to Noora for inspiration that goes under your winter accessories. Most watchers lean towards Noora for all fashion tips, and I believe it's the simplicity in what she wears that seems so refreshing at a time where maximalism is ruling the runway. With all the heavy coats and scarves that the characters wear, Noora keeps it minimalistic with a uniform that usually consists of belted high waisted pants and a simple top. This androgynous take makes winter so much more appealing, and it makes me even a bigger fan of pants, which seem to be the only thing that can actually keep our legs warm. And when it's so cold that your face turns into a ghostly shade of white, just add a red lip.

Make knits a part of your daily routine. Sweater weather is definitely heightened in this show, where a knit material in practically any form can both add a unique twist to their personal styles and also literally save them from the cold. Scarves! Cropped sweaters! Turtlenecks! Even hoodies!! I think I found my new favorite fabric.

More is more. I just said earlier that Noora's minimalism is refreshing, but maximalism is such a great way to treat your winter! It just makes sense: we physically need more layers to keep warm, so why not make it fashionable while we're at it?

Five is greater than one. Dress warmly with all your friends and you'll immediately become warmer. This isn't proven by science, but for some reason they look so much better in a group. Maybe it's because they can huddle together for warmth?

It's definitely only October in this scene, but c'mon, look how cool they look!!!

Watch Skam with English subtitles here.

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