ABC’s of Fashion – The Red Clutch

A B C’s of Fashion! – H I J

Another round of ABC’s is here! We’re going to explore some today that you may not be too familiar with.

H is for Hijab

In this video, hijab is explained as a way of self and religious expression and a way to maintain and stay close to ones faith in the muslim culture. I don’t have too much knowledge of this topic so I will let the video do most of the talking. I have included this in the ABC’s because fashion is not for only one culture. It is for everyone and I love when peoples own lives and values are mixed in and shown through what they wear. I have learned about hijabs through my cross culture class and have a better understanding for them now. I just wanted to include this and help bring it more into the public eye so other can learn about it too. Again, fashion is not for one kind of person which is why I included this because I try to include as many different kinds of people as possible.

I is for Intimates

Before you say it, I know…. Intimates is the old lady word for lingerie. BUT! I couldn’t wait to talk about this trend because it is rather intriguing. Wearing lingerie as a part of our every day wardrobe has been on trend for some time now. Some even go as far as actually wearing silk pajama sets as an entire outfit. I don’t think I could do that, but layering the delicate stuff over something as simple and functional as a white t-shirt really makes it day time appropriate. Don’t wear it to work of course (unless your name is Kourtney Kardashian) but with the use of layering and staying in the same color family, you can easily create a unique look.

J is for Jumpsuit

Again, another weird word. Jumpsuits aren’t as corny as they sound. They can actually be very polished and perfect for many different occasions. Keep accessories simple to make sure it doesn’t become gaudy and dated. (BTW, yes, overalls are included in this! 🙂 )

ABC’s of Fashion! – D E F G

On with our ABC’s!

D if for Dress

I wasn’t really a dress girl up until a year ago. I always thought they added too much girly-ness to an outfit and that they were to complicated to wear. I. was. wrong. Dress are one of the easiest and most comfortable things to wear. If you don’t want to try to to put together an outfit with pants, a top and a sweater, just throw on a dress. One dress can make your whole look go from “I was running late” to “I look good”! Here are a few different dress styles to try out. experiment with different patters, colors, textures and unusual pairings to make it fit your own style and mood. My personal favorite is the wrap dress because it flatters your natural curves and hides the places you don’t want people seeing. It isn’t form fitting but you don’t lose your shape because of the waist cinching tie.

E is for Eye wear

I am super excited about this one! I have had glasses all my life (well since third grade) and I’ve had some really cool pairs. Only with my most recent pair I’ve really started to think of my glasses as an accessory as opposed to something I HAVE to wear when I run out of contacts. Sunglasses are included in this section but I feel like we are all pretty familiar with them and they don’t need much explaining. Eye glasses, however, are becoming more popular among those who don’t rely on them for actual sight. There are fake glasses being sold everywhere because people are starting to realize how much they can add to an outfit! The top picture are very close to the ones I currently own.

F is for Fitness apparel

I’ll be honest, I don’t work out. BUT I do own some very cute workout clothes because let’s face it, it’s comfy! Whether you are a professional lounger who loves sports bras and sneakers or a workout junkie, this should make you wanna go on a workout shopping spree!

G is for Gloves

This one is pretty self explanatory. When it’s a bit chilly and you need to keep warm try on a stylish pair of gloves! there are styles for formal occasions, driving and everyday.

ABC’s of Fashion! – A B C

I’m going to highlight an aspect of fashion for each letter of the alphabet. This is going to be challenging considering I have no idea what to put for some (X…I’m looking at you…) but it’ll help expand our knowledge of fashion and help us branch out for our safe little fashion bubbles. This will be a multi-post topic so check back often to see new additions!

A is for Accordion Pleat

The accordion pleat can be worn in so many different ways but my favorite right now is in a knee length skirt. It’s such a classic style as you can see in the image below.

Fashion recycles itself and I am loving the fresh take on this skirt. For a night out, drop the length and wear one in a cool metallic fabric. A bright color adds that much more oomph to it too! Keep all other pieces of the outfit simple to maintain the focus on the skirt.

If edgy isn’t your style, you can keep the classic feel of the style by using one color in different shades. The outfit below stays in shades of blue while adding a pop of color on the lip. This is a more subtle way to make a statement. And if all one color is a bit too much for you, you can break it up by adding a colorful bag like in the image.

B is for Blush

Oh blush how I love you so! It can easily brighten a tired face or pull together a makeup look. Anyone can look good in blush no matter what color it is, you just need to keep your skin tone in mind. Pink and coral are great classic blush colors for every day look or formal events. The funky colors are for those days when you are bored with the same old same old. If you’re going to experiment with a new blush color keep the look simple to prevent it looking clownish. I suggest pairing it with a similar gloss to help keep it cohesive.

C is for Cardigan/Coat

Everyone should own at least one cardigan. It’s a staple in fashion and can be worn in any season depending on what you layer under or over it. Here are a few ways to wear a cardigan without resorting to the same look. (These are all long cardigans but the same tips work for other lengths as well.)

Keep the colors bold to make them more of a statement rather than just another layer. This rich rust color will look really nice in the fall.

Keep the colors neutral for a casual sophisticated outfit.

Keep a simple grey one in your closet for when you want an extra layer at work but don’t want to wear a full blazer.

Just like the cardigans, coats can be layered up and add an extra element to any outfit. If you’re a forever-cold-person like I am, you probably have a few coats that are more functional than fashionable. Those work for when you’re running to get groceries, but when you would rather me more fashionable, try these styles to feel a bit more fabulous while still feeling cozy.