Situation Style Smart: An Interview

Ciao bella!
  Today's Situation:

An Interview (could also work for a meeting the parents or an important dinner meeting.)


An interview needs to give off an impressive flare.  I am going to give outfit advice for a few different kind of interviews.
This outfit advice is for jobs such as managers, secretaries, administrators, teachers, counselors, editors, directors, journalists, etc...

A nice gray or black pencil skirt with a form fitting blouse with a similar shade to the skirt would look nice.  A nice pair of small heels would be appropriate as well.
A light, knitted sweater would complement the professional look, too.

If you are applying for a more fun and bouncy job, (teenage clothing store clerk, party store worker, camp counselor, front desk worker, waitress, etc...) here is what I would recommend:
If you want to really get involved, wear an outfit full of items from the clothing store you want to work at.
Other than that, a pair of denim skinny jeans, a long, bright colored tunic, and a pair of either strappy sandals or black/gray boots would look quite nice.  A dress is iffy.  Summery dresses can look inappropriate and long gown-like ones can look overdone.  Keep it simple and sophisticated with a jazzed up everyday outfit.

Now, I haven't mentioned hair yet.  The reason?  It needs to be done in one swoop.  Hair is pretty universal for any kind of interview, whether it be for a company position or a fast food clerk, when going for the interview make it look like you spent time on it.  You do NOT want to come off as lazy or unconcerned.  Tie it into a nice bun, run a headband through it, or even clamp a clip to it.  Keep it chic and careful.

Good luck and I hope your appearance makes an impression!

Please follow, comment, and ask me questions for Mail (Kate Spade) Bag!

XOXO,
             Maddie :)

Situation Style Smart: First Day of School

Ciao Bella!
  Welcome to Situation Style Smart!!  Here, I will pose certain basic and everyday scenarios and then follow it up with advice and tips on what your outfit might want to look like.

Today's Situation:

First Day of School

Depending on your personal style and how you are at school, this style will be different for everyone.
However, I recommend, a sleeker color.  Brighter colors can be a little much for the first day of school, and all black can blend in too much.  For an outfit with an appropriate color for the first day of school, I would say gray, silver, half white-half black, or black with a darker accent color (such as a forest green, navy blue, or a very subtle red) would look nice.

In addition, if I haven't already mentioned, shoes make a statement.  High heels or shoes that make noise when you walk (you know, the click-clack noise), the statement might be professional, sophisticated, and/or bubbly.
Shoes, such as Converse, Vans, or tennis shoes might show you off as chill, low-key, and/or subtly awesome.
Flats or flip-flops say fun, bouncy, ready to go, and/or happy.

Be sure to match the shoes with your outfit.  If you are wearing, say, all gray or all silver, you might want to try matching boots that make noise or wedges.  If you are wearing pants and a T-shirt, Converse, Vans, or tennis shoes would be appropriate.  If there is a one-color outfit, but with a touch of color, try flats or flip flops.

As for hair, depending on how hot the day is, putting your hair in a clip is always a bouncy kind of cute, or pulling your bangs (or shorter layers) back over your head and barretteing them into place atop your head.

Good luck!! And have fun!

XOXO,
            Maddie

Playing Your Strengths Part 3

Ciao Bella!
  Today's Strength:

Petite All Around

When thinking of petite and whether you think of that as being short, slender, or smaller development, petite figures generally look best in flowing clothing.  Tunics, baby-doll tops with a flowing bottom, and summery dresses.  Sandals or flat boots also look good because they shape and decide your height instead of bringing you up on an unnatural stance.
Speaking of which, trying to heighten or enlarge one part of you does not always make you look better.  In fact, it can make you look disproportional.  You would have to make everything bigger, smaller, taller, or shorter if you wanted to look different.
Fashion is suited to work with your body type, not necessarily for your body type.

XOXO,
             Maddie

Fashion Compassion: Subtle Accessorizing!

Hi fashionistas!
  Did you know jewelry isn't the only kind of accessory?  Did you know there are actually many different kinds of accessories that are completely forgotten by even some of the greatest outfitters?  Well, this is your chance to stay ahead of the game!

Here is a list of accessories (the ones in red are the most commonly forgotten, the ones will blue exclamation points by them, I am going to talk about):
Belts
Headbands/Barretts
Clips
Hair Combs
Floral Pins
Scarves
Anklets!
Bracelets
Rings
Necklaces
Earrings
Nail Polish!
Hats
Mittens/Fingerless Gloves
Earmuffs!
Fringes/Pom-Poms/buttons!
Stockings/Knee Socks
Hair Dye/Fake Hair Strands
Scrunchies
And for a permanent accessory....a tattoo

Anklets:  When wearing shorts, a dress, or a skirt, an anklet shows off your legs and, well...your anklets!!  With anklets (bracelets for your ankles) keep it simple!  Don't pick out a bright orange, fuzzy, beaded, and Krazy Glue one.  People will look to your ankle for the wrong reasons.  Anklets are meant to be subtle cute.  A nice, light shade that's either threaded OR lightly beaded will work great!

Nail Polish:  This is often forgotten as an accessory, but really adds something nice.  A pretty shade on your fingers or toes puts the ritz on for your hands or feet.  That way when you go to pick something up or hand someone something, the polish will dazzle your viewer.  Again, like the anklets, subtle colors go a long way.  Nice French manicures (with the white strip at the top of the nail) look professional.  A lighter shade looks innocently pretty.  If you do want to go for a brighter and bolder shade, make sure you have a confident attitude to match it! :)

EarMuffs:  Watch out with these!!  Unless you live in cold, cold weather, these are cautioned.  If you wear them in 60 degree weather, it might just look like you are trying to hide your ears.  Fuzzy, but light shades look good on muffs.  (If you watched Arthur as a kid, then think of Muffy's earmuffs.)  Fuzzy is a more cutesy look.  Plastic is more of a slick look.  Either one is cute in their way.  But again, it would have to be at most 30 degrees to snap these on your ears!

Fringes/Pom-Poms/Buttons:  Three very undermined accessories!  Fringes can be the threaded ends on a scarf or the lace on the top of a camisole.  Pom-Poms, personally I love!  These can be attached to the side of furry boots, or on the ends of a scarves.  Buttons, obviously are on coats, sweaters, pants.  All of these little accessories can be either already added to your clothing from the moment it was designed, or you can add them yourself!  If you know how to sew, these three items should be your best friend!  Fringes can be lace, silk, velvet, threaded, beaded, pearled, or knitted.  Keep it simple.  Pom-Poms look most chic when they are, you guessed it, quiet and subtle.  Two pom-poms are normal.  One might look like you forgot the other one and three plus look a little crazy.  Keep it at two.  Buttons, if you want to add some on to your outer-wear, or change the kind of buttons already on your outer garment, put on ones that will compliment other styles and colors of articles of clothing that you might pair with the coat/sweater, etc.

I hope this helped!! If you have ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE ASK ME!!! We should have another Mail (Kate Spade) Bag.  Thanks for reading!! See you soon!

XOXO,
            Maddie :)

Playing Your Strengths Part 2

Hi fashionistas!
  Today's Strength:

Short and Curvy


You can do a lot with Short and Curvy body types, not to mention many styles look great on them!


Clothes that hug one's curves such as floppy neck, but tight waist shirts look nice along with flare jeans or bootcut jeans.  Flats and wedges give a confident look to the outfit and so does large jewelry.  You might want to try chunky bracelets and necklaces or hoop earrings.  A bump hairstyle or a bun piled messily (but cutely) on top of your head looks sophisticated, but chic.

Anything I missed?  Comment below!!
XOXO,
             Maddie

Playing Your Strengths Part 1

Hi there fashionistas!!
  Long time no see!! I apologize for that.  We need to get back on schedule, don't we?  Well, I think I will start with another new series called Playing Your Strengths.  This is the first installment of it today.  As the title states, it is about playing your strengths with clothing and accessories to match and fit your body type well.

Today's Strength:  Tall and Slender


For the tall and slender, the best sort of outfit to wear is one that emphasizes your height.  Therefore, skinny jeans and leggings will accentuate your long legs, tunics will show show the limberness of your waist and stomach.  Headbands or floral accessories for your hair show off the final piece of your body-your face!!  Hats work as well to top off the day's outfit.
For outerwear, try stylish trench coats, tight coats, or a long-sleeved sweater.  The coats will emphasize the torso and the sweater will show off the arms.
For shoes, even though you might already be tall, high heels and high heeled boots will make your legs looks longer.  If you are satsified with your original height, then scratch the high heels and stick to mini wedges...a little heel, but not too much.

I hoped this helped!!!  See you next time!  Check the sidelines for the fashion schedule!
XOXO,
            Maddie :)

Mail (Kate Spade) Bag: Nylons, no or yes?

Hi fashionistas!
  Welcome to the first edition of Mail (Kate Spade) Bag where I will address all the questions and concerns you have!  I am so sorry this is late, but I was finishing up with my other blog and I got caught up.  No more lateness though!
The question I got this week was from Charlene.  She asked about nylons and if they are in or out.  Nylons are still in, basically.  I wouldn't say they were in in that you could wear them with regular outfits.  They work better with fancier outfits, such as if you are going to a dance or evening out.  Wearing nylons with a regular skirt and top on a regular day can look a little like tights and come off as childish.
  Charlene, (and everyone else), I will be making a new series about playing your strengths, matching the right style for your body type.  Depending on your body type, nylons might be okay with regular outfits.  But for now, to play it safe, I would stick to wearing nylons with fancier outfits rather than every day outfits.
Thank you for asking and if there are any more questions, please feel free to ask!!
XoXo,
          Maddie

Mail (Kate Spade) Bag: Intro!

Hi fashionistas!
  Do you have a fashion question?  Do you have a fashion concern?  Can't decide if your shoes match your top or if your hair accessory is too much?  Want to tell me one of your fashion tips?  Want me to post something specific?  Funny fashion stories and/or mishaps?  Need some help planning what to wear to the party next weekend?  Can't decide if you should go casual or formal?  ASK ME!!  I will be posting a Mail (Kate Spade) Bag every Friday, addressing questions, concerns, and stories from the comments below!  If you would like something to appear in my next Mail (Kate Spade) Bag post, just comment on any post, starting with 'Mail Bag: (question, comment, or concern here).


Thanks everyone!  See you soon!
XoXo,
           Maddie


 

Must Haves Checklist!

Hi fashionistas!
  Do you have everything on this checklist?  Under these 3 min- categories are all the items that are must haves for basic fashion and style.  Take a look!

Shoes:
Something black
Something that makes noise when you walk (heels!)
Something with straps

Accessories:
Black Stud Earrings
A Silver or Golden Necklace (with a heart, star, etc.)
Black Hair Clip
Body Glitter (at least white and pink glitter)
Black Dangling Earrings
Light Red Nail Polish
Purple and/or Pink Nail Polish
Black Headband
Hair Ties That Match Your Hair Color

Makeup:
Pink Blush
An Array of Eye Shadow That Complements Your Most Worn Color
Cubby Stick Lip Gloss
Perfume

Did I miss anything?  Let me know in the comments!  Thanks for reading :)
xoxo,
         Maddie

Fashion Compassion: Making or Breaking the Outfit!

Hi there fashionistas!
Today, I would like to talk to you all about SHOES!  First of all shoes, like the title says, make or break an outfit.  Shoes can be a really nice touch, subtle or bold, to your outfit...or....they can take away from the outfit so much, the only thing that is noticed is the weirdly matched shoes!!  Let's take a look at the do's and don'ts.


Breaking the Outfit:  Breaking the outfit with your shoes can happen in a couple of ways.  1) Mis-matching clothing style and shoe style.  Here's an exaggeration:  you are going to a nice restaurant with your boss or boyfriend, whomever it may be, so you wear a nice blouse with dressy pants (or a pretty skirt) and on your feet rest...tennis shoes.  Bing-no!  Your shoes need to match the style of the rest of your outfit.  So if you're going with Boho (skirt over leggings, cropped jacket or shrug, long necklaces, headband around the head, etc.), you are going to want to wear either ankle boots or knee-high boots.  Vans or wedges probably won't complete the Boho look, it would be more like a Bo-oh-no look! :(  Another outfit breaker is this thought: 2) The shoe color is close enough...  When matching the color of your shoes with your clothing color, (once you have determined that the outfit styles match up), make sure the color is appropriate.  So if you're wearing beige pants, gold heels would not work because they are so close, but not close enough, that it looks like your eye is off.  Close enough is not always good enough.

Making the Outfit: To make an outfit, completing it successfully with your shoes, use common sense based on the two reasons above.  For matching up the styles, look at what kind of shoes you are thinking of wearing and determine three places the shoes would normally go.  Tennis Shoes?  A tennis game, on a jog, and at a dog park.  Are those places similar to where you are actually going?  What about pumps? Red Carpet, a evening date, an award ceremony.  Flat boots?  Afternoon movie, dinner with a friend, and possibly a evening party.  Are you being sensible?
For color matching your shoes, you can go one of two ways: exact color or opposite color.  Exact color matching means finding any color in your outfit and putting shoes that have that same, EXACT color with your outfit.  So, black skirt?  Black boots.  Pale pink blouse?  Pale pink wedges.  Gray and navy blue combination outfit? Navy blue pumps.  Exact color matching also includes picking out a small accented color in your outfit and matching your shoes with it.  So if you are wearing an orange sun dress with yellow earrings, you could wear your yellow sandals.  Even though orange was the main color, yellow was in the outfit a little and as long as your sandals are the same yellow as the earrings, it works!
        Now, opposite color matching means taking a color in your outfit, clothes and/or accessories, and putting shoes with the outfit that match (not necessarily the same color) the color in your outfit even though that color is not in the outfit already.  Confused?  Here, if you are wearing a navy blue skirt and a black shirt, but you don't have black shoes or navy blue shoes, but you do have lavender pumps...navy blue matches really nicely with a pretty lavender.  So you'll have black on top, navy blue on bottom, and lavender shoes.  It is a really nice color mix-up, however it is bold and is sometimes hard to maneuver.  I believe in you guys, though!  Good luck and have fun! Please comment, ask questions, and follow!  Thanks! :)
         xoxo,
            Maddie

Summer Outfits: No Money, but Need Clothes?

Fashionistas!
  Broke, but still want summer style?  Easy!  There are a few tricks from changing your old, fall clothes into new summer ones!  Check it out!

Shorts: Find a pair of old jeans that still fit, but are too hot to wear.  Grab a pair of scissors, a Sharpie, and markers and/or paint.  What you are going to do is make your jeans into denim cutoff shorts.  Mark with your Sharpie a small line on the side of each pant leg on your jeans where you want to slice.  (I would start off with a capri sized cut, because you can always cut more, but not add on what you've already cut off.)  Then take your scissors and make a nice clean cut.  Try your new shorts on before you make another cut because they might look shorter than you think.  Once you have the length that you want, you can keep like that, normal denim jeans...or....mark them up with marker!  Find cute tracers to trace or a design you want to copy onto your jeans.  You can also find a nice paint color, generously paint your hand with that color, and stick your hand on your jeans.  Make sure you are on a surface that can get messy!  Have fun! :)

Tops:  Tops are always the harder ones to alter to be new, but there is a couple of things you can do.  One is to cut off the sleeves.  If you have a long-sleeved shirt, carefully cut off the sleeves (measuring it with a Sharpie, like with the shorts) and make it into a 3/4 sleeved shirt, 1/2 sleeved, or even a tank top.  Another thing you can do is bead it.  Take a hot glue gun and some crystal beads from your crafts box and make a cute pattern directly on the shirt for a new look!  I would hot glue on an ironing board, the shirt separated by the board so the glue doesn't seep through to the other side.  Good luck! :)

Shoes:  Converse looking old?  Flats getting scuffed?  To get a newer look, but keep the same shoes, try these tips.  For shoes with laces, spice it up with different colored laces, neon is bold, but can look innovative.  You can usually find laces at places like Hot Topic, Payless, or Claires.
For shoes that are getting scuffed, try a polish or if they're black, fill in the scuffed part with a black Sharpie.  It works!  Also to prevent weird rain lines and water damage of your suede boots, you can get a spray that will protect your boots.  The one I have is called Rain and Stain Guard.   I got mine at Payless.

And lastly, if your parents haven't already bugged you about this, working really makes it all so much easier and more fun! :)

Please give me your questions in the comments!
XOXO,
             Maddie

Fashion Compassion: Basics

Hi Fashionistas!

  I have decided to launch a new post series called Fashion Compassion.  Have you always wanted to be fashion forward, but just find yourself at a constant and maybe even going backward a little?  Do you need a little help getting your keen eye for fashion focused?  Is it just plain frustrating to put together a cute outfit in the morning?

Well, in these posts I will start with tips and basics that will work for every shape and size that will result in stylish outfits, a passion for fashion, and great confidence!  Please, if you have any questions, concerns, or disagreement with something I suggest, leave me a comment and I will address them in the next post of this series.  Fashion can be fun, you just might need a little push to the road of mirth and off the road of misery.  Let's get started!

 Rules can always be broken with fashion, but, just like anything else, you have to know those rules before you can break them.  So!

One main rule in fashion is:  Prints can go with solids, but prints don't necessarily go with prints.  In some cases, prints can match prettily with others, but there is quite a fine line.  For starters, it is safest to go with the prints-only-go-with-solids rule.  If you get a skirt with a wild print on it, the best thing to do would be to find a color in the print/pattern that matches a solid shirt you own and wear the two articles of clothing together. (Look at the bottom of this blog page for pix) 

Another main rule in fashion is: Too much of one style or material is too much.  That means denim jeans with a denim skirt over the jeans and a denim jacket on top is a lot to take in for a passer-by.  Especially with denim, you might want to limit a certain material  to one article of it per outfit.  The same goes for all one-color outfits, with a few exceptions.  Wearing a pink blouse with a pink pair of skinny jeans, along with pink flats and a pair of pink earrings to match your pink headband can look silly.  You might want to change that up by wearing a pink blouse, black or gray skinny jeans, pink flats, black studs, and a  black headband.  That way, there is a nice mix of the two colors-pink and black.  One of the few exceptions of all one-color outfits is if the color is one of the neutral colors such as black or gray. (Look at the bottom of this blog page for pix) 

And lastly for today: Know your color palette. It is so helpful to know what colors go with what and which shades go with which shades.  Keep in mind, black goes with every color, as long as your chosen color is flattering (so neon green with black might not make the cut).  A good start for designing an outfit is to use black as your base, or neutral, color and add touches of another color throughout the accessories, shoes, and coats/sweaters.  Also bright and dark shades mix best with the lighter shades. So..

This color goes nicely with this color if you're going for a sunny look.

Or, this color blends pretty well with this color if you want an earth tone look.

And dark purple can match nicely with this pink or this peach-pink.

What might not work out so well is...

This shade and this shade.

This color and this one.

Or this one and this one.

This shade with this shade.

Or this color with this color.

Do you see how each one of those was either bright with bright, or bright with dark, or dark with dark? (Look at the bottom of this blog page for pix) 

That concludes today's Fashion Compassion!  I hope you all enjoyed it and found it helpful.  Please comment, answer the poll below, and keep this saying in mind:

"I don't do fashion, I am fashion!" -Coco Chanel

Where to Shop!

Hi there fashionistas!
  Welcome to the first post of Summer Outfits! I'm Maddie and I've decided to share with whoever is reading some of my fashion tips and advice I have for this summer because it is always nice to see some other opinions about outfitting.  I will try to post a few times a week.  On the other days of the week, you can check out my other blog posts on July Writing Craze where I will be attempting to write a certain amount of words for every day in July.  I'll also be giving out writing tips and asking you questions about your own writing!
  But back to this fashion blog.  Let's start with the basics: where to find your clothes.  I strongly recommend places like TJ Maxx and Ross where items are cheap, but cute.  Clothes in TJ Maxx and Ross are usually surplus items from designers or clothing that might be out of season, therefore given to places like TJ Maxx and Ross for a better price.  I like these stores because they have a much wider variety of styles.  Mainstreaming style clothing in stores like PacSun and Nordstroms limit the shopper to one style for a higher price.  With the wide selection of clothes from TJ Maxx or Ross, it is easier and much more fun to design my outfits because with the bigger selection of clothes, the more outfits I can create!
  In addition, stores like these carry all sorts of clothes at all times.  So, if you are looking for jeans but the mall stores are only stocking up on short short shorts because it's summer, you can head on over to TJ Maxx and/or Ross and find those jeans!
  And lastly, I would recommend DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse) or Payless Shoe source for your summery shoes.  Finding fitting and cute shoes are the only thing TJ Maxx and Ross lack.  However, hope is not lost!  DSW carries designer shoes for a cut price with styles from sandals to wedges to heels to tennis shoes.  And Payless is an inexpensive shoe store that pops up everywhere in malls and centers.
  All right shoppers!   Thank you for reading and if you have any questions, leave me a comment and I'll be happy to answer.
                                    XOXO, Maddie