Finally, Spring is Here!

After months of below freezing temperatures and inches of snow and freezing rain, spring is finally here to stay! I don't know about anyone else, but this winter was exceptionally brutal. But thankfully, the sunny 70°F weather is making a strong comeback. I've created a few looks to usher in this season of warmth, hopefully giving you some inspiration for your own early spring outfits.

Transition into Spring

As refreshing early spring tends to be, it brings a minor problem; temperature differences. I wake up around 8:30am for class, with the temperature at 55°F, yet by noon, it will be in the mid 70s. In order to accommodate for such temperature differences, I suggest wearing a scarf and warm footwear with socks. Layering allows temperature control thorough your outfit, which is a must for spring.

Dilettante in Denim

I imagine Jessa from HBO's Girls wearing this outfit, hence the title. This spring twist on the standby leggings-and-denim-shirt winter outfit brings life and excitement to an otherwise played out and fairly common clothing combination. The shirt and pants are light, so they won't keep you too warm, yet will insulate at night. Keeping your makeup light will add to the carefree vibe of the clothing, and adding quirky accessories will incorporate a personal touch.

Dauntless

I recently saw Divergent, and loved the edgy style of the Dauntless. This outfit would be good for the transition from class to a night out with a simple change in footwear. I suggest wearing coated denim instead of leather pants due to the breathable nature of coated denim. To increase versatility and save time, try putting your damp hair in a bun during the day so that when it's time to go out your hair will have waves for days.

Erudite

Yep, I just referenced Divergent again. I apologize. I tend to wear blue when I am giving a presentation, so I thought the title was fitting. Anyway, this outfit works well for spring. The light fabric and white pants are a stark contrast from the drab black and grey worn in the winter. The makeup would be better fit for a night out, yet could easily be toned down for daytime.

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Every once and a while there will be a day entirely in the 70s and 80s. This outfit is perfect for the warm weather. The cami and high wasted pants give a modern feel to an otherwise 90s throwback grunge outfit. If you plan on wearing this outfit to class, be careful your butt-holders (shorts) are holding your entire butt (if not wear a long sweater).

Springtime Festival

This outfit would be perfect for one of the many outdoors festivals that take place around this time of year. Not only is the outfit light and quirky, but the cardigan and boots eliminate the temperature issues you may face. The shorts will be the focal point in this sea of  faded neutrals.

Put-together in Plaid

Anyone who knows me is aware of my obsession with plaid shirts, so I am always finding ways to incorporate them into my weekly wardrobe. This outfit is perfect for those who want to subtly accentuate their waist. The slightly over-sized shirt and A-line skirt cinch together at your waist, exaggerating an hourglass figure in a classy yet casual fashion.


I hope this post helped you find inspiration for outfits for the season! I hope to have another post before the end of the semester and before finals, but until then, comment and subscribe!!!

Happy Spring everyone!

Technicolor Tessellations: Oxblood and Leopard

     Fun fact of the day: this is neither technicolor nor a tessellation. yet I needed an interesting way to say "fashion inspired by colors and prints I currently like". The title just so happened to be the first thing to come into my head. Now onto the post.

     This winter I realized a few things about my developing sense of style. One, I hate the feeling of jeans, especially when it's raining or humid. Two, if I could, I would wear leggings everyday (and yes they are pants if they're opaque, cover as much as my jeans, and as thick as my other cotton pants).  And three, I have an unhealthy obsession with animal print, especially leopard. Luckily  Burberry has brought back the leopard trend for their Fall/Winter 2013 collection. Honestly, I wouldn't care, but it's nice to think I'm on top of things in the fashion world, even if I'm not.

       Mixing my love of the print with the burgundy/oxblood trend, I've found a few practical ways to wear leopard in your daily life. I've tried to cover the four basic style situations, classy, party, nice casual, and comfortable. Keep in mind my ideas of what's appropriate and what isn't may be a bit off (I blame the thirteen years of compulsory plaid skirts and button-downs).

Classy Presentation Attire

If I needed an outfit to show I an an educated, 20 year old, college student with a goal, I'd wear something like this. It's trendy with the peplum top and skinny cut cotton pants, yet reserved in the color, coat, and shoe choice. I'd suggest a bag this large if you're giving a presentation so that it fits your laptop/tablet and handouts for your audience. Deep red lips and slightly winged eyeliner show your youth, but with a post-war era twist. The leopard is kept to a minimum, and can be easily removed if you find it too distracting. Also, the hidden leopard in the bag is a cute touch.

Weekend Warrior

Call me crazy, but I'd consider wearing this to class. Throw long cardigan over it and all is good. Anyway, I made the leopard shorts the main focus in this outfit, which may be the deciding factor in the appropriateness of this outfit for class. Nonetheless, paring the shorts with black tights and wrap-around coat will keep your legs warm in these cold winter months, yet allow proper airflow if you're in a crowded party. The top is simple yet interesting, and paired with the burgundy wedge creepers and knit hat, it relieved some of the attention away from the pants. I attempt to make outfits flow like a well composed piece of visual art - always keep the viewer's eye moving, and with this combination, that goal is achieved.

Casual Winter Rainy Day

It rains. A lot. Actually, it's raining right now. It was also raining when I made these outfits. It rains so much that I keep an umbrella in my bag just in case it surprise rains in the middle of the day. So I thought this post wouldn't be complete without at least one outfit dedicated to rainy days. As stated above, I hate wearing jeans when it's raining. The feeling of wet denim is such a turnoff that every time it rains I wear leggings or a skirt. The tights and skirt combination will keep the disgusting wet feeling away, while the boots will keep you warm and dry. I suggest a faux leather jacket because the polymer base keeps water away quite well. And the umbrella was too cute not to include.

Warm and Comfortable

You may be thinking, "How can this be comfortable when there are four inch heeled booties in the outfit?". Well, I liked the shoes too much to change it to leopard print ballet flats, so I kept the heels. My go-to outfits lately have been knit leggings and an over-sized sweater. Honestly, I think that combination is a bit boring and played out, so I added a faux fur gilet and scalloped gold collar to add interest to the outfit. I envision this outfit being something you can throw together quickly, yet still look like you actually thought about it. But not too much.

Hopefully this has given you some ideas or inspired you to add leopard into your wardrobe. I'll try for another post before spring break.