Leaf it to me

If I’m being honest, spring is definitely my favorite season. I might be biased because my birthday is in April, but I also love the feeling of the weather warming up after a cold winter, the flowers starting to bloom, and the return of being able to wear cute outfits without hiding them under a parka. However, fall is a close second in the favorite seasons category, partially because of all the pretty colors. While some of the leaves may be falling off the trees right about now, the changing colors of fall make for a very beautiful walk to campus everyday. One fun way to embrace the colors of fall is by playing up the red, orange, and yellow hues in your outfits. These colors are always popular ones for the fall, as are tans, olive greens, and darker yellows. Of course my favorite color for fall and winter is burgundy, but that’s just me. No matter which natural fall colors inspire you, you should think a little like Pocahontas, and paint with all the colors of the *leaves* in picking out your fall outfits.

My favorite fall leaves have always been the big maple leaves that are a combination of dark red and orange with a little hint of green. In seeing the color of this top, I knew it would be the perfect top for fall because the colors were so beautiful. I decided to pair the blouse with a darker wash of jeans with a slight flare at the bottom (read below, this cut it totally in right now), and a cute pair of cutout booties in a natural tan color. This outfit is perfect for a day of running errands, spending time outside enjoying the weather, or getting lunch with friends. I love how it is cute and casual, and also how it perfectly embodies everything that fall stands for (except maybe sweater weather). Keep on reading for outfit details!

Top:

 

As soon as I saw the colors and pattern of this top I knew that I needed to have it. I found this blouse at Primp, and it has quickly become a statement for my fall wardrobe. It is the perfect top to wear by itself when the weather is a little warmer, or to pair under a jacket for when it’s chilly. Specifically, I have an army green jacket with gold hardware from J. Crew that it looks amazing under. I love the pattern of the top, and I really enjoy the cut-out at the top. This design is super on trend right now, and can be found in a wide variety of styles. With the flowy sleeves and paisley pattern, this top is the perfect way to style boho chic for fall.

Jeans:

One really popular trend for jeans this season is having a slight flare at the bottom, especially in cropped jeans. The pair that I am wearing are the Billie Demi-Boot Crop from J. Crew, and I bought them near the end of the summer. In addition to having a flared bottom, they are also high-waisted, which is always fun. Being a dancer and having more muscular calves, I don’t think that these jeans look quite as flared on my legs as they could, but I still really enjoy that they are clearly different from a pair of skinny jeans, and I also really love the wash of the denim. Because they are cropped, they are also the perfect pair of jeans to show off a fun shoe with, just like I did here.

Shoes:

These open-toe booties with the laser cutouts are also from Primp, and they are perfect for almost any occasion. Because they are nude, they go great with almost any outfit, and they are a nice change from a simple nude pump. The laser cutouts are super cute and add intricate detail to them, and the laces in the front are a super cute detail as well. For the most part they are super comfy to walk in, however I have had to break them in to avoid too big of blisters from the zippers in the back. The chunky heel is another aspect of the booties that I love; I will be so sad once it starts snowing and I can no longer wear these, but I’ll be rocking them until the first flakes fall, and they will get to make a reappearance come spring.

Accessories:

To accessorize this outfit, I played up the colors of the top with multi-colored rings that all shared a gold metal connection. From top to bottom, the orange and gold ring is from Lucky Brand, the gold midi chevron ring is from Catherine’s Boutique in Iowa City, the gold sparkly ring is from Francesca’s, and the stack of two rose gold rings are from Brandy Melville. Rings are one of my favorite accessories because they can add a lot of simple yet elegant detail to outfits, and you can play around with stacking and combining rings of different metals and textures. In addition to accessorizing with rings, I also played up the colors of the top in my lipstick by mixing two Kylie Lip Kit colors together; to achieve the color I wore, I used Dolce K with Kristen layered over it. You can never go wrong with lipstick, especially when it perfectly plays up the colors of your outfit.

Although the trendy colors for fall change every year, you really can never go wrong with matching nature and being inspired by the colors of the changing leaves. These beautiful hues are fun to play around with, and allow you to embrace the world around you. Just as life imitates art and art imitates life, fashion can imitate nature. Even if changing leaves mean that colder weather is coming, they sure do make for a beautiful site as we begin to increase our layers and break out the mittens and scarves. If you’re like me and dread the coming of snow, remember to just focus on the weather of now, be inspired by the changing colors, and if all else fails, just keep laughing through life.

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something

Easily suede

As the weather gets crisper, we begin to see certain types of fabrics more and more; one of the most popular in fall and winter is suede. I’ve been raised to see suede as a cool-weather fabric, especially because of its soft nature. Ironically, given its gentle disposition, it’s a lot harder to keep clean in these seasons, but alas, it’s just not as much of a summer fabric. Instead, we see suede break out in the fall in a wide variety of colors; we also see it incorporated in it wide variety of clothing pieces. I am seriously in love with all of the suede shift dresses I have seen this season, it’s a trend that I am obsessed with. Suede shoes is another super common accessory, whether it’s boots, flats, or heels (I don’t discriminate with my suede). Although seen a little less frequently, suede tops are also totally a thing, and obviously suede skirts have been very on trend during the past year. Even if it seems a little 70’s, suede is a go-to for cool weather, so it’s time to break it out.

This outfit in particular gives me some seriously 70’s vibes, but I totally dig it. In my head I was a little worried about it being too busy, as there is a lot going on with the stripes, and laces, and buttons, but I think that it turned out to be super cute! I love how the cognac color of the skirt matches perfectly with the flats, and I also really enjoy the theme of the criss-cross laces that can be seen in the top and flats. This outfit is perfect for fall, as the colors and fabrics are both on point. As I mentioned before, suede is the perfect fall fabric, especially in a cognac/tan color like this. The burgundy and royal blue stripes of the shirt are also very in colors this fall, and the design of the top compliments the similar nature of the skirt and shoes. Also finishing off the outfit with a brown lip gave it just the right amount of darkness to really say “autumn”.

Top:

I found this top at Nordstrom during their Anniversary Sale over the summer. I had always wanted a lace up top, but had never been super crazy about the ones that I had seen until I found this one. It’s designed by the brand WAYF, and in addition to being super cute, it was also a super good deal. One thing that I love is the sleeves; they have a slight openness to them at the bottom, so they kind of swing as you move your arms, which is always fun. I also think it’s great that this top is versatile. While I paired a cream bralette underneath it for this outfit, it could easily be worn so that the lace-up part is completely open, however bra modifications would be needed as the cut goes to the bottom of the ribs and the fabric is too thin not to wear a bra. But because it can be styled in both conservative and sexy ways, it’s the perfect top to wear both night and day.

Skirt:

This skirt is one of the items I am most excited to wear this season. I ordered it last spring off of Tobi, and I have to brag a little bit about the deal that I got; it was originally $128, but I got it for $64. Although you can find similar skirts for cheaper, it’s a genuine suede skirt, so a price range below $100 was something that I could really get behind. I really like the front pockets that are a major design feature of the skirt, and you can never go wrong with a button front skirt, especially when the buttons are gold because it makes it so easy to accessorize. Because it is genuine suede, it is super soft; it also feels pretty warm for a skirt, so this makes it the perfect item to wear even when the temperature drops.

Shoes:

These flats were another Nordstrom Anniversary Sale find, and I am in love. They are made by Halogen, and I actually bought another pair of Halogen flats at the same sale two years ago. While the style of flats change every year, both pairs that I own have the pointy toe, which I think is a really unique characteristic. Lace up flats and heels are super in this season, so if you haven’t invested in a pair yet, I would highly suggest looking in to one. Although they take a little bit of time to put on, they are super cute, and really pull together any outfit, even if you’re just wearing jeans. Halogen makes this style in many different colors, including Burgundy, which was the color I almost got before deciding on the cognac. No matter the color though, they really are the perfect versatile fall shoe.

Something that is super on trend this fall is mixing patterns and design elements of different pieces; pairing things together that have different small details, like I did with this outfit, is a great way to get your foot in the door if you are a little apprehensive to being a complete outfit mixologist. Now that it’s fall, it’s also time to break out those fall colors and fabrics, especially the leathers and suedes. You can never go wrong with blacks and tans in these materials, but it can be fun to experiment with more bold colors as well. Since fall is coming, we might as well embrace it by showing off our cutest autumn hues and styles before we have to wear coats everywhere (at least if you’re in the Midwest like me). So go on and welcome fall with open arms, I guarantee you’ll look cute doing it!

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something

These boots were made for walking

Oh, October. You bring such lovely colored leaves, apple orchards trips, sweater weather, and of course, Pumpkin Spice Lattes; you also bring back the desire to wear taller boots. While riding boots are always going to be a classic, I’ve fallen in love with a new boot trend this season; over-the-knee boots. This style of boot really took off near the end of the summer as we all began to shop for our fall wardrobes. They can be seen in nearly every style magazine and are being donned by the hottest celebs in a wide variety of colors. While there are some leather styles, suede has definitely been the most popular material for this style of boots to be made out of; this softer material makes them a little slouchier, compared to a stiff leather, which definitely increases their versatility and comfort. What I really love about over-the-knee boots is the endless possibilities for outfits. While they can be worn over jeans and leggings, or paired with an oversized sweater, I definitely know my favorite way to style them is with dresses; especially off-the-shoulder ones (surprise, surprise!).

 

What I love about pairing an off-the-shoulder dress with over-the-knee boots is that it allows you to wear a more summery style dress in the fall. These suede boots definitely help keep you warm, so its almost the same as wearing tights under a dress. I love how the light tan color of the boots compliments the colors of the flowers on the dress. I also become incredibly obsessed with burgundy once fall comes, so I am in love with the colors and patterns of this dress. I also really enjoy how the sleeves are little mock sleeves that just drape over the arm. Overall, I really loved the contrast of showing a little more skin on top and then less on the bottom, as the beginning of fall is the perfect time to do this. Keep reading for outfit details!

Dress:

This beautiful off-the-shoulder burgundy dress covered with bouquet designs is from Primp. Not only do I love the colors and the fabric of the dress, but I love the mock sleeves and, of course, the neck line. If I’m being honest, I was really unsure about how the off-the-shoulder trend would transfer in to fall, but I am so glad that it has. Keeping the neckline but adding sleeves is genius, and allows the style to be worn year-round. The colors of the dress are always what I envision when I think of fall, so I love how they have incorporated all of the classic colors into one dress by making the bouquets colorful. I can promise you that I will be wearing this dress all season long, even if it means I get a little chilly in the process (totally worth the sacrifice).

Boots:

These boots make me feel like a Kardashian in the best way possible. Khloe has a pair that are almost identical in color, and you know that you’re doing trends the right way if celebs are spotted in similar items. These boots are also from Primp, and I have been waiting all fall the finally wear them. While over-the-knee boots come in a variety of heel heights, I love how these have a little bit of a higher heel (2 inches), and that the heel is a darker color; this contrast between the brown of the heel and the tan of the boot was something that really drew me in to these boots. I also love how they lace up in the back; I did learn the hard way though that these laces are not just decorative, but they help keep the boots around the thighs. Not only are these boots so cute, but they also really helped keep my legs warm on a rather crisp fall day, so I know that they are the perfect shoe to wear all season long.

In order to draw the focus towards the boots and dress, I chose not to wear any accessories besides simple stud earrings in a tan color that matches the color of the boots. I did emphasize the color of the dress by wearing a burgundy lip. I wore Dark Side by MAC, a color that my mom also loves. One of my favorite quotes is “There is always lipstick”; I truly feel that I relate to this on a spiritual level seeing as lipstick will always be my favorite way to dress up and make an outfit more fun.

While this might not be an outfit that one could wear all autumn, it is definitely wearable in October. The changing colors of the leaves are reflected in the fall tones of the dress, and suede boots are super ideal when there is no snow on the ground yet because you don’t even need to waterproof them. If it’s a little chilly for completely baring your shoulders, you can always slip a jacket over the dress to go out an embrace the crisp fall air. I highly encourage you to do all of the cliche fall things while you can; you will never regret going to an apple orchard, but you might regret staying inside while the weather is nice once the ground is covered with a foot of snow. So go get yourself a pair of-over-the-knee boots and jump in some leaves. because fall is here people!

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something

 

 

Home is where the heart is

When I was little and I went to sleep away summer camps, I had the hardest time being away from home. I would cry almost every day, and even if it got better throughout the week, I missed my parents dearly. Going in to college freshman year, I was really worried that it would be more of the same; luckily, I adjusted well and this didn’t happen. Now don’t get me wrong, I missed my parents and home, but I didn’t get nearly as homesick as I thought I would. This led me to believe that maybe as we grow up, we grow out of homesickness. However, after 2 1/4 years of college, I know now that this isn’t the case; it might get easier to be away from home, but it never gets easy. And you know what, that’s okay.

In many ways, missing home is a good thing. It means that you recognize what a good life you have; you recognize how amazing your parents, friends, and hometown are. Sometimes, it’s the little things that make you miss home. You could be doing homework, and hear a song come on that brings back memories of a concert you went to with your best friend. The same things can happen when you see pictures and receive “I miss you” texts. These little memories make us miss people, places, and things that we associate with home. Oftentimes for me, these little moments just make me smile and appreciate my life back home. But when I’ve been away from home for a long period of time and I have a lot of these little flashbacks, it does make me homesick in a sad sense. This is when I know that it’s time for a trip back to the good old Twin Cities.

I once heard a quote that went something along the lines of how no one is more proud of their home state than Minnesotans are. I might be biased, but I can completely see how this is true. If you asked my friends to make a list of things that I love, Minnesota would surely be on it. There’s something about the state that just makes you want to keep going back. Sure, the freezing winters aren’t my favorite part, but you also get to experience sledding, snow days (sometimes), and ice skating because of the cold. The cold also makes you appreciate the warm summers and days at the cabin that much more. Growing up in the Land of 10,000 Lakes is something that I wouldn’t trade for the world. And even if I talk about moving to other cities after college, the Twin Cities will always have my heart and will always be where I call home.

I think it’s a really great thing when your college town begins to feel like home; for me, Iowa City has definitely become my second home. But Minnesota will always be my first home. There’s never really going to be a perfect balance, seeing as when I’m in Iowa City I miss Minnesota, and when I’m in Minnesota I miss Iowa City. But this just means that you have two different places that mean a lot to you, and that these places are filled with people who mean even more. I think that having this realization is really important, because it means that you recognize how much both places impact your life.

To me, homesickness isn’t a sign of weakness; it isn’t a sign that you’re not ready to be away from home or that you aren’t independent. It’s a sign that you recognize how lucky you are to love a place so much, and that it’s time to go back to that place for a visit. For many, it’s not always so easy to just feel a ping of homesickness and jet back home. But planning a trip for the near future can make you feel a lot better, and it gives you something to look forward to. This has been the one thing that gets me through most of my homesickness while I’ve been at college. Even if the trip is a month away, knowing that I’ll be able to see my parents, friends, dog, and favorites cities soon really puts my mind at ease.

Knowing that you can always go home again is something that is super important to consider as you grow up and make decisions about where you will live. It’s what made me decide to go to college out of state. It’s also what makes me feel comfortable looking for jobs that would require me to relocate post graduation. If you never leave the comfort of your hometown or home state, you’ll never know what amazing experiences are in store for you. Staying at home is comfortable because it is what you know; but it’s not going to allow you to grow to your fullest potential. My best advice is to be open to new experiences no matter where they lead you, and to remember that home is easy to return to, seeing as it is only a drive or plane ride away.

One of my favorite quotes is “I’m in love with cities I’ve never been to and people I’ve never met”. Even though I adore this quote, I don’t think it will ever be possible for me to love a place more than I love the Twin Cities. As I write this post, I am greatly looking forward to being home in about a week, because as amazing as untraveled cities and second homes may be, nothing can compare to that place where you grew up. Pieces of my heart will travel with me everywhere that I go, but I know that Minnesota will always have the biggest piece. And as they say, home is where the heart is!

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something