High-waisted Jeans and Crop Top

It took me years to find a pair of high-waisted jeans like this that fit well and then to develop the confidence needed to wear them. I've had a weird obsessions with them for years, and it was even on my bucket list to buy and wear a pair of these things. I picked them up at Goodwill for like $2 a few summers ago, and have just now started wearing them. Besides the fact that moving and sitting are difficult (literally NO stretch) I love them. They go perfectly with the 90s inspired fashion kick I've been on lately.  

This crop top was a total steal from Asos. I seriously wish I had, like, ten of them. It's the perfect length to pair with high-waisted bottoms; not too long or too short. And it's the best motivation to stay in shape! I've realized crop tops are the key to keeping high-waisted jeans from looking like "mom jeans."

While buying all of my work-inappropriate clothing last week, I also picked up these aviators from Forever21. I reckoned it's not a bad idea to own a backup pair of sunglasses -- especially when they're only $5!

Can't go anywhere without my Slytherin necklace and some black eyeshadow!

Floral Dress, Combat Boots and DIY Studded Jacket

Floral dress + combat boots. I have coveted this look all spring, but, alas did not own a floral dress and have been rather hesitant about buying one. When you've trained yourself to be drawn to all things black and studded and edgy with patterns of skulls and stripes, suddenly trying to look for something as feminine as floral becomes a foreign task. I also feel ridiculous in anything too girly, so I didn't think I could pull it off. But then, a miracle happened...

The complete look.

I've been on the hunt for a casual summer dress, and figured if I could find a floral one I might as well kill two birds with one stone. I discovered this dress at H&M last week when I tried (and epic failed) to buy a work-appropriate summer wardrobe. Check out this pattern! It's black, floral, AND it has skulls. And the flowy, lightweight material makes it the perfect summer dress! Even better? It was only $10. Score!

Close-up of the dress.

I'm still on my DIY kick, and decide this little cropped denim jacket needed an update. I love all the studded denim vests and jackets that are out right now (obviously, I have a denim obsession since I incorporate it into just about every outfit...), but I figured it was something I could do myself instead of spending the money on a new one. 

Before.

I used the same conical studs from Studsandspikes.com to stud the jacket as I did my boots a few weeks ago. I studded the front of the collar, a line down each shoulder, and around the top of the sleeve. It probably took me less than an hour, and it gave me something to do while I listened to the Harry Potter books on tape! Yes, like cassette tape. Not only am I in denial about growing up, but also that it is the 21st century, apparently...

The finished vest.

The last few items to complete the outfit: fishnet tights, a cuff bracelet, skinny black belt, and my trusty combat boots. I picked up the tights on sale at Hot Topic; I can never bring myself to pay full price for tights because I can rarely wear them more than once or twice without managing to get caught on something. I adore fishnets -- they're another accessory that adds instant edge to any outfit -- and I thought the little details on the back were super cute!

I've worn this skull cuff bracelet in a few other posts, but I've never done a close-up. It is my favorite accessory. I picked it up in Paris a year ago, despite my friend trying to talk me out of it because it was too extreme. Maybe I have this bracelet to blame for finally indulging in my love of edgy fashion. :)

Skull cuff bracelet and black nails.

 

Casual Crewneck and Jeans: Slytherin Style

It's raining. It's poring. But that doesn't mean my outfit has to be boring! Yikes, ok, I promise I'll never rhyme on this blog again. Anyway...

Crappy weather like today calls for comfortable chic. It's been my new year's resolution the past two years to never leave the house in sweats or anything I would wear for sleeping or working out. Obviously, I make the exception if I am going to/coming from the gym, but I am highly disapproving of the college uniform of t-shirt and yoga pants that I saw on campus day in and day out. I also was lucky enough to spend a week in Paris, France for spring break a year ago, and people always looked pulled together there. I never once saw someone wearing sweatpants or sloppy attire. It was inspiring! Also, skull scarves, 90s grunge, combat boots, and denim jackets were everywhere, so I was pretty much in fashion heaven. But I digress...

So, here is my alternative to the sweatpants look and my rules for days of wearing comfortable clothing while still maintaining a sense of personal style.

I think too many people confuse "comfortable" with "oversized" or "sloppy," but this doesn't have to be the case. I've chosen cozy pieces that fit for this outfit...my favorite crewneck sweater, nice jeggings (ones that are too thin should be BANNED), and Converse. I also like to play with my makeup and give new looks a test run when I'm dressing down, like the emerald and gray smoky eye I'm wearing today.

I swear by jeggings (once again, they need to be good quality ones that could pass for real jeans!) for their fit and comfort. The stretch is ideal for curvy girls like me who have trouble finding pants that fit properly! This particular pair is from Vanity; I got them a few years ago and they have held up through almost weekly wear. 

Converse are another one of those items that will always be classically cool in my eyes. I've owned more pairs than I can count (this is my fourth pair of black high-tops, and let's not even talk about all the other colors I've gone through...). Converse are my favorite shoes for dressing down and adding a bit of spunk to any outfit. I even wore them with my floor-length prom dress in high school. 

Now, the sweatshirt. Sweatshirts are the epitome of comfort clothes, but for some reason, crewneck style ones have always screamed effortless chic to me (but maybe that's just me...). Without the baggy hood and pocket, they can actually look kind of nice. I am OBSESSED with this sweatshirt I got on Etsy. I can't find it anymore, but here is a similar one. I rarely go a day without wearing some sort of Slytherin item to proclaim my house pride (this is not including my phone skin or keychain on my car keys...), and this is by far my favorite. And as if I wasn't proclaiming my nerdy obsession enough, check out what I did to the back!

I've been on a DIY kick all year, and I couldn't resist this addition to my sweatshirt. I bought iron-on letters in what I thought to be a sporty print so it might look like something a Quidditch player would wear -- if they didn't wear robes, of course. The 06 isn't significant other than I felt like a clothing item for a, er, "sport" wouldn't be complete without a number.

And because I'm slightly delusional...I like to tell people I'm borrowing my boyfriend's sweatshirt, and he plays for the Slytherin Quidditch Team, no big deal or anything... (For all of you who are thinking Draco Malfoy: wrong! Lucius Malfoy is the one I love...and the one whose sweatshirt I am wearing, naturally.)

All in all, if I had to lay down my rules for comfortable chic:

1. Items that fit make all the difference! Comfortable doesn't have to mean sloppy.

2. Incorporate an item that epitomizes your personal style or obsessions, like my Slytherin sweatshirt.

3. Makeup can, er, make up for a less than exciting outfit. 

4. Converse are always a good choice.

Last minute outfit

So I really wanted to write a blog post today, but also had no excuse to leave the house. I spent the day in my pajamas doing my annual reread of Harry Potter. Luckily, I was saved from my solitude (ok, I was thoroughly enjoying it, but was ready for an excuse to get out) when a friend texted me and asked to meet up. Which meant getting ready in a hurry. And this is what I threw on.

I guess there's been a definite theme to my outfits lately: black on black + denim. Today was no different. I did my summer shopping this past weekend, and have been itching to wear these new shorts from Forever 21  ever since. (My goal was to buy work-appropriate clothes...I bought things like the shorts, a cut off t-shirt, skull headband, and skull dress...fail.) I love the high-waisted trend going on right now. I have a rather long torso proportionately, and the high waistline helps to lengthen my legs and shrink my torso. Plus, what's not to love with those spikes?!

The jacket is also from Forever 21 from a few years back, but I had grown bored with the plain denim. I sewed on these cute shoulder epaulettes from Hobby Lobby for a cheap wardrobe update. I absolutely love weather like today where shorts and a jacket are appropriate! And once again, the studded boots make a reappearance (told you  I'll wear boots all summer, even with shorts!).

My favorite article of clothing to wear when I'm getting dressed in a hurry and need something that's guaranteed to be cute and flattering is a black tee. I got this one at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame last summer. It's simple, but the slim fit and v-neck make it flattering, while the skull design gives it edge. (It's rare I go a day without wearing some sort of skull apparel, and there was no time to accessorize!) And paired with the black shorts and boots, this outfit goes from simple to statement.

What are your go-to items when you want to look cute in a hurry?

Rocker chic and slitted maxi skirt

Another of my favorite themes for my outfits is rock n roll. I love rocker chic: band shirts, denim, black. This is an outfit from a few days ago, but as I've been rather busy moving, I'm just now getting to it (so y'all get to enjoy two new posts today, yay!).

This outfit is a bit of a departure from my usual head-to-toe black (although, as my friends pointed out, gray isn't really a color either). But hey, I need to shake things up sometimes! This black slitted maxi from Lulu's adds sass to any outfit. The slits are sexy, but as they stop mid-thigh, they're not too scandalous.

I liked pairing the long sexy skirt with something a little rougher up top. The Rolling Stones are one of my favorite bands, and I picked up this sweet t-shirt at H&M a few years back. I didn't love how it fit, so I chopped off the sleeves and neckline. I'm all about taking scissors to old clothes I love that don't fit quite right to update the look and make them fit better. This denim vest from Charlotte Russe (I also got it a few years back), is one of my favorite articles of clothing to instantly update any outfit. I adore vests because you can throw them on top of anything to completely change the look of an outfit. I usually like to wear this over an all-black outfit to add some dimension.

To complete the look: sunglasses, a cuff bracelet, and the spiked flats making a reappearance. I am in love with these Calvin Klein sunglasses I picked up at TJ Maxx this week. I am notoriously bad at picking out unflattering sunglasses, an no one bothered to inform me of this until recently. I've spent years wearing skinny, unflattering frames and thinking I looked hot. Fail. And then I found these (with help; I now always bring a friend when picking out sunglasses!). The cat-eye style and large frames look much more at place on me since my head and jaw are also large. I decided to once again keep the accessories for this outfit simple because of the statement vest.

And lastly...

Just thought I'd throw this last picture in for laughs because I look like I'm four feet tall with no legs...ha.

Ramblings of a Recent College Grad

It has now been a little over a week since I graduated college...and the realization finally hit me. It took moving out of my crooked little one bedroom apartment to realize that I'm about to begin a new stage of life. And it feels weird. But I have a month off before I start my full time job, so for now I'm just going to enjoy summer and being seventeen again twenty-two for now.

I wore my signature combat boots instead of heels like a normal person. But then again, I'm the girl who wore converse to prom...

I don't consider myself in any way qualified to give life advice. I mean, I'm twenty-two, I don't have my life figured out yet! In fact, I'm only twenty-two so I don't feel like I should have it figured out. However, I feel like I have learned my fair share of lessons in the past four years (one of which was realizing that I shouldn't have to have my life all planned out by graduation) and I thought it was in line with the goal of my blog to share the ways in which I've learned to embrace my weirdness and be myself.

It took me the better part of my college career (as in, until my graduating semester), to realize just how much more there is to life than school or a career. I've always had so many other passions and obsessions, but I completely set them aside in pursuit of the perfect GPA and résumé. And I wasn't happy. While it's in my nature to be a bit of an overachiever (I'm just an all around nerd), that can only go so far. While it's important to work hard, I finally realized that success in and of itself does not equal happiness, and no amount of it is worth sacrificing doing what I love. 

Along those lines, I learned to start living my life and not just my résumé, and discovered that I want to have a life and not just a career. I'm glad I worked hard, but I'm even happier that I finally realized that there is so much more to life than just having a successful career. After all, you only live once (I hate it when people shorten this to "YOLO"), and you should live doing what you love!

All right. End rant. Just had to share my discovery, because my outlook has completely changed for the better in the past few months. I hope you can take something away from my lessons as well. 

Black on Black: It's All in the Details

Who says monochromatic outfits have to be boring. Unsurprisingly, I often find myself in head-to-toe black on a regular basis (it's not like black is my favorite color or anything...), but I find the single color combo to be anything but lackluster. And, especially in the springtime, far from making you fade into the shadows, black is the best way to stand out in a crowd.

Today's outfit was all about the little details to keep an all black outfit exciting. I didn't want to overdo the accessories because I wanted the focus on the fun shoulder details (I learned that they are called "epaulettes" the other day) on my shirt. I broke up the rest of the look with a few more fun accessories: my studded belt that I wear almost daily, spiked flats, and a wristful of black bracelets.

The shirt I got at Goodwill (and now that I've graduated college and have to be a mature adult, I will no longer try to wear it as a dress). The jeggings are from Hot Topic. The spiked flats are from Target, and they were the best $20 I've ever spent. Here is a close-up of the flats from Target's website. I refuse to wear sandals in the summer, so these are my alternative, and I adore them. Also, this is the first and only pair of flats I've owned, because I've never found a pair that a) are comfortable or b) don't make my giant feet look like boats.

And lastly, a close-up of the bracelets, two of which are from Hot Topic (typical), the other from Sequin. I love mixing up which bracelets I pair together to create new looks

What are your thoughts on black on black outfits?

Lace-up dress and ripped-up tights

I'm once again loving the spring weather so that I can wear more of my little black dresses I love so much. I picked this one up at a thrift shop, and loved the witch-y feel the collar and the lace-up detail in the front...almost like edgy Hogwarts robes or something. At least that's what I like to tell myself. 

This dress is perfect for the cool spring weather because it's a rather thick and not breathable material. Also, tights are a necessity since it's a tad shorter than I would like. But it was too cute to pass up and the stretchy material meant it fit well everywhere besides the length. I shredded the tights myself to wear with this, as plain black, opaque tights made the outfit too boring and one-dimensional. Oh, and I love any excuse to toss on a denim jacket. Why can't we get more than a couple weeks of cool spring weather in the Midwest??

The boots are a cheap Target pair that I studded myself and blogged about a few weeks ago. You can read that post here.

Here's a close-up of the cool collar and lace-up detail at the neck of the dress. And of course, I'm not without my Slytherin necklace!

What do you think? How do you break up a black on black on black outfit to make it fun and interesting? What are your favorite spring articles of clothing?

Everyday Slytherin Outfit

Well, it's finally spring here in the Midwest! (It was snowing this weekend...come on!) Fall and spring fashion is my favorite. I love being able to wear layers, light jackets, and boots, but I hate when it's so cold you have to bury it under thick winter coats. So what better way to celebrate the coming of my favorite season than with my first official outfit post?

Each summer, I find my undying obsession with Harry Potter strengthened. Maybe it's because I was conditioned growing up for the new books/movies to be released in the summer. Even years after the last book/movie release, I still find myself feeling the same way. I just recently began my annual re-reading of the series, and I've found it infiltrating every aspect of my life.

I've literally worn all the Slytherin gear I own this week (usually multiple items at a time...I don't have a problem or anything...), but this was the most subtle take. I called it "Everyday Slytherin" because it felt to me like what an edgy Slytherin might wear in the real world. I've also worn this outfit in one of my more "pirate" fashion moods by switching up my accessories.

Pretty much everything I am wearing I bought at Hot Topic, including the gray jeggings, skull sports bra, Slytherin necklace, and combat boots. The button up shirt/vest, which I bought at a thrift store. 

Also, on a different day this week, I decided to rock my Slytherin tie with a t-shirt and jeans. Because why the hell not? It's alarming how many times I buy something for a Halloween costume and end up wearing it in "real life." The tie can be purchased from the WBShop.

What do you think? How do you dress to your obsessions?