Poppin Tags: Part Five

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I know that prom is coming up for those of you that are still in high school, and for those of you that aren't perhaps there is a sorority or other formal event that you need to dress up for. I know that these events can be pretty cruel to your wallet, so I wanted to share my two cents worth of advice on this subject. In a nutshell:

Don't discount thrift/consignment/vintage stores for your formal attire needs!

We all know that you can find a great deal on every day clothes at these types of stores, so why would you not be able to find a formal dress? I went to prom 3 out of my 4 years in high school, and I wore vintage dresses the first two years. 

Here's my dress from sophomore year:

The dress was a layer of lace with sequins sewn on top in a pattern like a heartbeat on an EKG monitor. Super cool!  I decided to edge up my look with the chain necklace, enormous earings, and silver clutch also from the same vintage store. I tried to find jewelry I'd use for everyday as well as this special occasion. Gotta get more bang for your buck.  The shoes I picked up from Nordstrom's Rack, which is also a great place to find some designer steals!

Yes, I did take my pictures on the snow at a ski resort... Squaw Valley to be precise. The heels were fun to walk on the snow in... Haha!

This one I got at a vintage store in Santa Rosa, California. I'd been shopping around looking for a great dress at the classic "prom dress" stores, but I just wasn't finding anything... I also didn't feel like spending more than $150, and as I'm sure you know,  most formal dresses cost well over that. I zipped up this dress and had that feeling that people say they feel when they try on the "right" wedding dress. I knew it was the one. It was love at first sight... Or first zip, I guess. Not to mention the coolness factor of my dress being from the 1940's!

This is my dress from Junior Year:

I picked up this gem from the Unique Boutique in Truckee, California. If you live in Tahoe, or ever plan to visit I would highly suggest paying Viviane a visit there. It's a bizarre store filled with crazy things and owned by an equally crazy, and awesome woman! This dress was $26! I love the way it accentuated my curves and flattered my figure. The slit was also a nice touch. I like dresses that make you look good and have an unexpected gimmick, if you will. In this case, the gimmick is the giant sequined orchid on the shoulder. This dress is from the eighties, and it's quite obvious, but not in a horrible, "Oh lord... that's from the eighties" sort of way. 

We took chairlift pics again. My date, one of my best friends, and I are both skiers so it was quite appropriate.

I accessorized with some faux Louboutins and elbow length gloves.  Red lips were another nice touch. Here you can see the orchid a bit more clearly. It's almost as big as my face!

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short hair don't care

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Short hair. A scary thought, right?

It was for me too. 

When I was five my mom was in the hospital for a while and my father took care of my brother and I. My dad did not realize how crucial it was to help me brush my hair everyday, so when my mom got out of the hospital my hair was in knots. Needless to say, my mom took me to the salon and I got a short haircut, I hated it. From that day on, I refused to ever cut my hair short again.

Then my junior year of high school I thought about cutting my hair short. I thought long and hard. Was my hair the right texture? Is it too straight? Do people even like short hair?

After almost a year of deliberation, last summer I decided to cut it short.

before

After 

(Yes both pics are from disneyland and with my boyfriend)

Things to consider when wanting to cut your hair short:
1. Do i really want this?
2. I am ready for a extra maintenance? (short hair needs a lot of care and prep time)
3. find celebs/style icons that have similar hair to you (just because you like a style it may not work for your head shape or hair texture)

here are some of my favorite styles:

My hair icon for my current length

A great starter length, not too short and daring.  Good for girls unsure if they want short hair!

Short hair can still be styled!

You can even dye it!

My ALL TIME favorite style. If you can pull this off, do it.



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Poppin Tags: Part Four

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In recent years, online shopping has changed the way we, as broke college students, find great deals on killer products. I cannot tell you the amount of hours I've spent scrolling through endless pages of Jeffrey Campbells on Nasty Gal, Karmaloop and, Eilatan. I can't tell you because quite frankly I'm ashamed. However, I have found some killer steals! Here are my rules of online shopping for your viewing pleasure:

1. Take some advice from Cher in the classic movie "Clueless": Never accept a first offer! If you find something you love, don't just buy it on the first website you see. Search around before you make your purchase. What I like to do is find out the name of the product and do a simple google search to see what comes up. For example, I'd google "Jeffrey Campbell Spike Lita" I like to try looking through each of the top 10 search hits. Then move over to the "Shopping" tab. See what deals you can find there.
2. After you've found the cheapest website, don't stop there! When you get to the checkout step of your purchase, you'll usually see some place to put a coupon code. Some websites will advertise their deals of the moment directly on the website, while some make you search for them a little more. Pay a visit to a couple sites that specialize in providing consumers with money saving codes! You can search by website or type of deal. Here's my favorite list of websites for saving some doll hairs! $$
• retailmenot.com
• cuponcodes.com
• promotionalcodes.com

Remember that these tips apply not only to clothes and accessories but to other products like textbooks! Want proof that my strategies work? This semester I got about $800 worth of books for $125!

This was my face when I saw how much I saved on my books!! Plus a kitten.... For good measure. 

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Perfect pants with pretty prints!

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As I've been walking around campus lately, I've noticed quite a lot of people sporting some pretty rad printed pants. Florals, stripes, and polka dots are just a few of the prints that have been spotted not only on campus, but in many of the places I've been in the last few months. 

Printed pants can be preppy, edgy, or simply casual; it all depends on what you pair them with!

For a more causal look, you can pair them with simple, comfortable shoes, a t-shirt or plain top, or a comfy sweater.

For a preppier, more classic look, you can pair them with cute flats, a pull-over sweater, or a nicer top/blouse. Don't forget about throwing in some chic jewelry too! Notice how Taylor's pearls and the girl below her's chunky necklace and bracelets really dress up their looks.

The only unfortunate thing about printed pants is that they are not flattering on all body types. Personally, I have short, stumpy legs, which do not look the best in printed pants. The most print I would wear is a very subtle polka dot, or a pinstripe. But that's just me; if you want to rock the floral and tribal prints, by all means do it! It's all about pairing them with the right top, shoes and accessories, and most importantly, being confident in yourself!

have a perfectly printed day!

Poppin Tags: Part Three

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For the third installment of my poppin tags series, I'm going to fill you in on my thrift store shopping rules. When you're making your way through racks of endless used clothing its essential to have a strategy or you might just end up drowning in appliqué sweater vests and ill fitting blazers from the 80's. Here are my rules to thrifty success:

1. Go in with a goal in mind. What exactly are you shopping for? Make a mental list: dark wash jeans, sweater, black jacket... etc. If you don't have a specific item in mind, acknowledge that you are just browsing.
2. How much work are you willing to put into the pieces that you buy? If you're handy with a sewing machine or a pair of scissors, you have a lot to work with, but if you're trying to buy items as is you need to make sure you find exactly what you're looking for in good condition.
3. What is your budget? How much are you willing to spend today? Give yourself a soft limit and a hard limit. Example: I'd like to spend no more than $20 but if I find something I can't live without, I'll pay $30.
4. To find some high quality and brand name items, try shopping in thrift stores in rich areas of your community. If you live near LA, make a trip to Bel Air and see what there is to find there. This goes for consignment stores as well. You can find some AMAZING deals on designer pieces. 
5. This relates to #4, even if you find a piece that has an impressive label, never buy it unless you really love it! The brand is not worth it unless you actually will wear the item. This is especially true because the designer items are generally priced higher than the rest. A couple weeks ago at Buffalo Exchange, I almost bought a Wildfox shirt dress that I didn't love just because it was wildfox. I didn't even really like the dress! Then I realized it would be so much better if I just held out for something I really loved regardless of the brand.
6. Buying used clothing gives you a good idea about how the fabric/construction will age. For example, you will find countless pilled up cotton-poly blend sweaters, mountains of malfunctioning zippers, and seams that just don't hold up to the test of time. Look for pieces that are like a good bottle of wine; look for pieces that age gracefully. Chances are, if they're in tact now, you'll be able to wear your thrift store finds for a while.
7. Look for sales! I know this sounds super obvious, but many thrift stores tag their items with different colors and different days can be 50% off of each color tag day. (The sweater in my last post had a purple tag, and it was a 50% off purple tag day! Score for me!)
8. Accept that it will be a process. There really is no such thing as a quick thrift store mission. It really is a hunt, but trust me it's worth it! You'll get the thrill of the find when you score that killer maxi skirt for less than $5. Give yourself plenty of time and shop with people who have plenty of patience. 

Happy thrifting!!

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you always want what you can't have

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I have wavy/curly, thick, frizzy hair. From about 6th grade to 10th grade I tried to hide it in a bun and ponytail. I hated it. So much. When the "in" hairstyle was straight hair, I felt severely out of place. Finally around 11th grade I decided to accept my hair for what it is. Which is annoying and at times unmanageable, but mine.

Da curls. This my hair on a good day. Don't mind the selfie. 

Here are a few tips to love your curly hair and how to manage it when it seems unmanageable.

1. The first and most effective trick that I know of is to keep your hair long. It weighs my hair down and doesn't make is so poofy.

2. I don't use hair products. Gels and frizz products just make my hair look greasy, unnatural, and just downright gross. The best fix is put some water on your hair and it will ease the frizz and make the curls look better.

3. Let your hair air dry. Blow drying it just makes in looks ten times worse.

4. Get a wand. A wand is like a curling iron without the clamp. They are lifesavers. If I sleep on my hair wet its creates a huge mess. A wand creates better looking curls in a short amount of time.

5. Love your hair. Everyone wants what they can't have. Love the fact that you can have straight and curly hair whenever you please. It rocks.

love yoself,
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poppin tags: part two

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today I went to goodwill. We browsed the sweater section for a while, and I found this great large gauge knit sweater in this awesome grey color. 

Here's the sweater. It's super plain and enormous,  and I hate the collar... but i saw its potential.

 When I saw this sweater, it made me think of some awesome Wildfox sweaters I've seen online. Here's one. It's ripped at the bottom and baggy. The only thing is that this retails for around $200! I do not have that kind of budget... So I decided to make my own version.

Gorgeous, right??

You'll need a sweater with thick yarn and a loose knit like this:

 You'll also need a seam ripper. First off, you will rip the vertical threads of the knit however wide you want the hole to be.

Here's what it looks like to rip the vertical threads:

 This is what you're going to get. This is how wide I wanted my hole, but it will end up much longer.

 Next, start to pull the horizontal threads out of the knit. This will create horizontal threads that are loose but attached at either side like this:

 Keep pulling until your hole is as long as you want and repeat until you're satisfied. =)

This is what my sweater turned into... I kinda destroyed the whole thing, but I like it. I think I'll do another one more like the wildfox example i showed you that will be ripped only at the bottom. 

Anyhow, I just wanted to show you one way that you can turn something cheap, plain, and generally ugly into a unique piece of clothing! Also, this sweater was half off which meant it was only $3.50! What a score!

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watch of the week

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So if you know me you know I have a slight obsession with watches. It started last summer with my first job at a watch store. I fell in love with the michael kors' watch collection (seriously who wouldn't?). Since then three watches have been added to my collection, yet I won't be satisfied until I have eight (the average number of watches a watch collector owns).

in all honesty I truly believe a nice watch can bring a whole outfit together. so weekly I will feature a watch or a style of watch I find trendy.

to start off, I will discuss my new favorite MK watch.


Watch of the Week is Michael Kors Horn Jet Set Watch 

I love the color and texture of this watch. It's gold accents and mother of pearl face make it classy while it's still stylish. Jet set is one of my favorite collections from MK, it is sleek and feminine with out being too dainty (boyfriend watches are VERY in). Another quality I love about this watch is the color makes it versatile, making it easier to pair outfits with.

Here are some similar watches:

Anyone can pull off a watch, so why not start your collection now?

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Back in black

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I love the color black. Now, I know what you're thinking: black is for punks. black is boring. black is just something to flatter everyone.

Well friends, I've got news for you. Black is all of the above, but it's also so much more! You can dress it up, dress it down or put it anywhere in between.

Here are some of my favorite ways to wear black:
-Wear all black! But don't just throw on a plain black tee with black jeans, a black hoodie and black shoes. Do it right like these ladies! By mixing up the textures and shapes of their clothes, they are pulling off the classy & chic all black look.

-Add a pop of color with a predominantly black outfit. Her bright lipstick, shoes and jacket break up her dress and tights.

-Here's my favorite outfit with lots of black accents!

Sweater: forever 21 

Skirt: urban outfitters

socks: target

boots: buffalo exchange

Excuse my awkward peace sign,

I didn't know what to do with my hands. 

Also exucse the lack of scenery. 

This is outside my dorm.

I leave you with a quote: 

xo

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spring colors

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i'm obsessed with nail polish. especially solid colors. i change my nail polish about once a week. and since spring is soon to be upon us (not soon enough though), i decided to do a post on spring nail polish colors! spring colors are some of my favorites. i love mints, bright pinks, and subtle purples.

here are some of the colors i've worn for spring:

(essie, mint candy apple)

(opi, green-wich village)

i'm a sucker for good nail polish brands. i want my nail polish to look nice and stay on for a long time. i would recommend OPI, China Glaze, or Essie. Spending that $8 is worth it!! if you want to go a cheaper route that's still a good polish, l'oreal is an good alternative. here are some of my favorite spring colors!

(sephora opi-i'm wired, sephora opi-metro chic, sephora opi-dear diary, opi-excuse moi!, china glaze-re-fresh mint)

pointers:

• if you still want to have a nice spring color, but it needs to be subtle and professional looking, try a light pink.
• if you want to add a little excitement to your nails try painting the ring finger a different color or add some polka dots! 
• if you're not so great at painting your own nails and want to try some new colors without buying the polish, try getting a color change at a nail salon! it's only around $7 and looks just as good as getting a full blown manicure (you just don't get those great hand massages...)
• remember to take care of your hands and nails! wash them, lotion them up, use cuticle cream! people often notice people with nice looking nails & hands

xx

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Poppin' tags: part one

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I'd like to share with you one of my greatest joys in life: finding a great deal. I refuse to pay full price for just about everything. TLC should seriously do an Extreme Cuponing special on me, but about clothes, not food. I will search the corners of the planet to save a few doll hairs ($) on something I must have; as a broke college student with expensive taste this is a must. I know there are many of you out there who are in the same boat as me... You see that hot Wildfox sweater on Tumblr only to die when you find out it would consume 3 months worth of paychecks... but I have good news for you!

There are many ways to look like your pockets are a bit deeper than they really are. In this series of posts, poppin' tags, I'll fill you in on all the tricks I know. I'd also love to hear yours!! Who knows, with all of our thrifty techniques we may be able to conquer the world of retail... I dream of a better world, haha...

A little sneak peek of what's to come:
Here's an outfit I wore today that cost me a total of $6.50!! (minus the shoes... :/ )
-shirt from the Reno, nv saver's $5 plus $1.50 worth of studs and bleach. (I did a little modification...)
-skirt $free (hand me down from a friend)
-shoes, let's not talk about it...

Let's end this post with a link to a magical video that you all should watch. Prepare yourselves for some thrift shopping! Stay tuned to my poppin tags posts to learn more!!

Macklemore-Thrift Shop

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how to be fashionable for the unfashionable

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Fashion has always troubled me. I tend to gravitate towards a simplistic style because it's difficult for me to think of outfit ideas on my own.

Over the years I have found a couple fool-proof ways for fashion novices like me.

1. find a fashion confidant: find a friend/sibling/parent that you can always go to for outfit advice and fashion questions

2. make an inspiration board: whether you use pinterest, polyvore or cut outfits you like from magazines, it is good to visualize your fashion ideas. But the key here is to be realistic. Make sure the outfits you are "pinning" complement your body. I love cable sweaters, but they don't work with my figure, so I don't pin them. here's a link to my personal style board on pinterest.  (Olivia's Pinterest Style Board)

 

3. find a style icon: this person can inspire you and give you new fashion ideas. don't be afraid to have multiple icons! And remember, your style changes over the time, so can your icon!

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My style in a nutshell

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5 fashion finds I couldn't live without:

-leggings (They're so darn comfy and look casual with toms or edgy with heels)

-slouchy, oversized tee shirts/cutoff tanks (clever graphics are cute. thin fabric is a MUST! I never wear the Hanes' beefy t-shirt fabric. It just doesn't lay right on the body.)

-toms (literally the most comfortable shoe on the market. They also pack up small, meaning if you wear heels somewhere, you can stash toms in your purse for when your feet get sore)

-cutoff denim booty shorts (I always make these. I'll post a tutorial at some point)

-jeffrey campbells (These heels are THE MOST COMFORTABLE! They are well worth the $$$ and will spice up even the most boring of outfits.)

Sidenote: I love cats in case you can't tell.

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Keep it collared.

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i love collars. they’re versatile, classy, cool, and making a comeback. you can wear a collared shirt on its own, under a pull-over sweater, or with a cardigan. your collars can be a little bit country and a little bit punk. they can put the prep in your step or create the perfect platform for a statement necklace. you can leave them unbuttoned to show off those weirdly trendy collarbones, or you can button them all the way up to be a little mysterious. don’t be afraid to make your collar edgy either; it’s possible. collars aren't just for preps!

but be warned: collars are not for everyone! if you have a short neck or super broad shoulders, the collar can be unflattering. also, i would recommend staying away from the “entirely-buttoned-up” look; you put yourself at risk of looking a bit like a confused and overly-conservative catholic school girl.

my favorite way to wear a collar is under a plain, over-sized sweater, or take a collared dress and throw a sweater over it.

stay collared my friends ♣ 

winter wonderland

warm & simple ♠

I'm originally from Michigan so I know what it's like to face brutal temperatures while still try to look cute. Here's a few tips to keep your outfits simple, comfortable, warm, and cute!

my favorite cold weather item: a loose cable knit sweater looks great for my body type and it goes with everything! 

(my fav sweater! forever 21 $20)

**leggings! leggings! leggings! i can't stress that enough. they go with every loose sweater and coat.

**black steve madden boots. i'm obsessed with mine and wear them with everything. you can't go wrong. 

**infinity scarves are perfect!! super cute but also simple, casual, and warm. 

(my perfect winter outfit!!)

stay warm xx

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flashblack to formals

Let's be honest, I was the girl in high school that went to every school dance. 

And what is necessary for every formal dance? A dress.

Dress shopping with my figure is a bit of a challenge.

And not until my senior year did I start making the right choices for my body.

Exhibit A:

the upper area was not large enough! this dress did not show off my figure

Exhibit B:

I was getting closer, but the color was not for me.

Exhibit C:

 finally I got it right. I found a dress with support (I was still able to wear a bra under). It showed off my figure. The color worked.

tips for formal (when you have boobs)

1. avoid strapless dresses, face it they don't support the girls

2. try one shoulder strap, it's a nice alternative to show off some skin 

3. avoid dresses that dictate the size of your boobs (see below image)

4. try different colors, your fav color may not match your body's complexion

5. don't be afraid to go snug! show off that fine body

Overall, remember what may look good on your bestie, doesn't always work for you. 

You do you.
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