converse – A Styled Mind

In Collabs

OUT OF THE BOX (ft. EGGIE)

August 15, 2019 1 Comment

Being a person who always loves to create the best content possible, it can sometimes be nerve-racking when items arrive that don’t exactly fit the vision in the way you expected them to. One thing that’s so intriguing about the fashion industry is that it’s not “one size fits all;” and because of that, there are times when it may take a bit of extra effort to style a piece specific to your body type. While working with the Eggie brand, they allow me to select pieces from their catalog that coincide best with my personal style. Though this dark floral printed dress caught my eye, especially as we’re moving closer to the end of Summer, I didn’t quite expect it to fit the way it did. To be honest, upon initially trying it on, I didn’t think it was flattering for my shape at all. Specifically, because I have broad shoulders and a fuller bust, the cut of the neckline simply made me look boxy and quite wide. Unfortunately, I didn’t have much time to pull this ensemble together and it wasn’t until the moment I was about to shoot that I suddenly had an idea. The frock came with a tie detail at the front and due to the lack of support I was feeling, I wondered if by tying the fabric around my neck in a halter-style, I could achieve the look I was going for. This small detail completely turned this photo-shoot around for me, and I instantly went from a feeling of uncertainty, to elevated confidence and security. With that issue resolved I was ready to finish pulling together the rest of my outfit with my very worn-in pair of white leather converse and my geometric frames for a modern take on this Victorian-inspired garment. At this point, though my look was nearly complete, I still wanted to add a few more accessories for an extra layer of interest. I felt that my wood basket cross-body bag was the perfect item, as it was neutral and still captured the essence of the season. Lately I’ve also been into mixing metals, so my mini gold hoops were an unexpected touch that just seemed to fit effortlessly. I was genuinely proud of how this ensemble turned out because it forced me to think outside of the box and create a look that was specific to accentuating my frame in the best way. Were you ever forced to wear something unconventionally to make it more complimentary to your body type? Comment below and until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Dress- Eggie

Sneakers- Converse

Bag- Free People

Earrings- & Other Stories

Sunglasses- Quay

In ASM Shop

ESSENTIAL SNEAKERS

January 21, 2019 No Comments

Though I am probably the farthest thing from a “sneaker head,” that doesn’t mean that I don’t have a small collection of go-to’s that never seem to fail me. Below I’ve rounded up the 4 pairs of kicks that I rotate on a fairly regular basis when I’m looking to add some laid back casual, and cool elements to my ensemble. Let me know in the comments one of your favorite pairs that I might not have mentioned, and don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks. Until next time!

In the vault

L.W.D.

May 16, 2018 1 Comment

I think it’s safe to say we’ve all heard of the acronym “LBD,” and I’m even more certain most of us ladies have at least one go-to in our closets. The little black dress serves as a classic wardrobe staple that always comes in handy when we are down to the wire and can think of nothing else (or better) to wear. I mean what’s not to love; the LBD is usually slimming, appropriate for most events, and easily paired with just about anything. That being said, I’d like to think of the LWD as its increasingly popular cousin that is slowly becoming a clothing essential of its own. Initially, I saw the little white dress included on styling guides mostly geared towards vacation and holidays. Recently however, that seems to have changed as there are so many variations of this frock on the market; it has become an easy alternative to the traditional LBD. Especially during the warmer months, there’s something so refreshing and minimal about this garment it’s no surprise that it has slowly taken over the closets of many. When I came across this tuxedo inspired version I was instantly sold! The tailored style accented with flowing pleats along the skirt really made this piece the perfect marriage of structure and movement. Because this dress also appeared more formal in my opinion, I decided to play against that and make it a bit more casual and fun. To do this, the first accessory I grabbed was a pair of bright red retro inspired cat-eye frames. While I’m not sure how well this pair in particular suits me, I loved how they popped against the overall stark ensemble. On the more monochrome front, I kept it very simple and plain with probably the most worn pair of white sneakers I own (sidebar: tell me your favorite style/brand of white sneakers in the comments below!). Lastly, to tie everything together, I opted to finish off the look with a multicolored striped crossbody bag; which I am absolutely certain I’ll be styling a lot during the Spring/Summer months. So tell me, are you a LBD or LWD type of girl? Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Dress- Zara

Sneakers- Converse

Sunglasses- Zara

Bag- Zara

In the vault

RETROGRADE

March 21, 2018 2 Comments

We have officially made it into Spring, which also means that it is my brand’s 3rd year anniversary! To be honest, it truly is amazing to see how far I’ve come with my content and the connections I’ve made within the blogging industry. While this is definitely a milestone for me, I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t also nerve racking as well, considering I still have quite a ways to go before I reach my personal goals. That being said, I have so much planned for this year and I can’t wait to showcase it to you all within the upcoming months! I truly appreciate all of your support and hope that you will continue on this style journey with me– now on to the outfit! Going into preparation for this look I wasn’t exactly sure what I was looking for (per usual), however I was leaning towards a dress of some sort and possibly something black, as I’ve been gravitating towards color quite a bit recently. The first thing I purchased for this look was actually a pair of retro inspired sunglasses that have been heavily trending since last year. I love when fashion pays homage to the styles of previous decades, and these chic micro frames were right up my alley! Unfortunately, this particular shopping trip was not a quick one and towards the end I became nervous that I wouldn’t find anything to pull together. After a few deep breaths however, and a pep talk from my Dad, I came across a unique item that was definitely not on my radar. This particular midi skirt was the perfect versatile layering piece for the upcoming season and an overall gem! The dual end zipper that allowed for a customizable slit as well as the wide straps and bodycon fit, completely changed my outlook on this ensemble and left me excited to see what else I could find. Because I wanted to keep this frock as the focal point, I decided on casual sneakers to offset the form-fitting piece. Simplicity won again when searching for a top, as I decided on a ribbed mock neck, with contrasting yellow trim. To intensify that pop of color, I grabbed a mustard clutch to accentuate the details on the knit and tie the look together. In my opinion, this was the perfect outfit to kick off the Spring and I look forward to seeing what else I will come up with once the weather is on our side. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Top- Topshop

Skirt- & Other Stories

Sneakers- Converse

Bag- Zara

Sunglasses- Mango

In the vault

PRINTS ON PRINTS

September 26, 2017 1 Comment

Being a blogger, it may appear that there is an endless amount of excitement that constantly goes on during our day-to-day; however, I’m here to talk about the less fun parts of the so-called “bloggersphere.” One major thing that I experienced specifically in preparation for this shoot was a lack of inspiration. Being a person that takes pride in challenging my style and loves to experiment with versatility when putting looks together, it can sometimes get frustrating when you feel like everything in the stores begins to look the same and rather redundant. For this particular look, I had to force myself to step out of my comfort zone and grab pieces that I may not typically reach for, while still sticking to my signature styling techniques. Since we’re moving towards the Fall, I knew I wanted to layer a few pieces but I wasn’t quite sure what. I’ve paired various tops under dresses in the past and it’s a look that I’m comfortable in so I didn’t mind moving in that direction. Checkered prints are always very popular during the cooler seasons and whether it be plaid, houndstooth, or gingham they always seem to look quite chic. When I saw this slip-style printed dress with its lace accents I was instantly intrigued because though its not my usual vibe, I knew I could create an interesting ensemble with it. When buying what I would consider to be the “main” piece of an outfit, I tend to make it the focal point and build around it with more neutral pieces. This time, however, I was on a mission to find something that was just as eye-catching and bold. Though it did take me an entire afternoon of shopping around, I finally found the piece I was looking for! This vibrant striped turtleneck that in my opinion was very reminiscent of a Circus tent , gave an unexpected Parisian element to this dress when paired underneath. In efforts to keep a slight contrast from the rather feminine looking frock, I chose to finish off the look with my overly worn and dearly beloved leather sneakers. For me, adding a pair of casual footwear to an otherwise tailored look, always seems to create the perfect balance of fashion and cool. Overall, I felt like I accomplished my mission and styled an outfit that was very much “Me,” but also strayed from the usual. Let me know what your style struggles in the comments below; until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Top- Urban Outfitters

Dress- Zara

Sneakers- Converse

In the vault

HOLY CAP!

April 11, 2017 2 Comments

If I had to describe “streetstyle” in three words I would probably say edgy, cool, and effortless; and if I’m being honest, these were the words that I had in mind when styling this look. I bought this sweatshirt dress a couple months back and while I knew I absolutely loved it, I wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to do with it. What I did know however, is that I wanted to save it for a sunny Spring day and this past weekend ended up being the perfect opportunity to bring it out. After toying back and forth with ideas of dressing this piece up and down, I finally decided to go for a more casual look. In my opinion, nothing screams warm weather like a pair of white sneakers, so I pulled out my all time favorite leather high-tops to compliment this look. While I would totally rock this look with bare legs, I felt like something was missing so I grabbed my fishnets for bit of edge and interest. To balance out the skin being shown on my lower half and be prepared for the still slightly unpredictable weather, I grabbed an old light wash denim jacket with lace detail. Finally, to complete this look and add to my “cool” factor, I threw on a mauve toned suede cap and was ready to go! I love ensembles like this because they prove that you can take a few basic items with minimal effort and still head out into the world feeling confident and stylish. If you’re a fan of this look as much as I am, leave a comment below and tell me your thoughts! Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Jacket- Urban Outfitters

Dress- Zara

Tights- Urban Outfitters

Sneakers- Converse

Hat- H&M

In the vault

SPORTS LUXE

June 21, 2016 No Comments

Metallics for summer have become increasingly popular this year. I love that they add a bit of glam to any look while still remaining neutral enough to go with almost anything. As a known lover of contrast, I knew right away that I would be styling this dainty midi dress with sneakers. I’ve found at times when styling looks in a cohesive direction, they can sometimes appear too formal or overdone. In my opinion, adding an element that goes against the grain of the ensemble always ends up creating a much more interesting and cool vibe. To add an extra layer of casual, I threw on one of my favorite jackets by Adidas. I showcased this piece on the blog for the first time last year and raved about it; to me, it’s no surprise that my feelings have not changed one bit! It still adds just the right amount of sporty edge and it’s a piece that I’m sure will remain a staple in my closet for many seasons to come. Because the dress was so “glitzy” I didn’t feel the need to accessorize much, but I added a simple gold choker just to tie everything together. I am a huge fan of looks that mesh together different styles like girly and sporty and this outfit did just that! So how do you like metallic trend? Are you a fan of the summer sun hitting these sparkly pieces, or do you prefer to save the glitz and glam for NYE? Either way, let me know in the comments below. Until next time!!

Outfit Details & Links:

Jacket- Adidas

Dress- Zara

Sneakers- Converse

In the vault

WRAPPED UP

January 12, 2016 6 Comments

To be honest, I pulled this outfit together at the very last minute; but like most spontaneous things, it ended up coming together perfectly! This look portrayed the three emotions I was feeling on this particular Saturday; casual, comfortable, and edgy. Though it was a fairly gloomy day, I still wanted to pull out some statement pieces, and this grey leather wrap skirt happened to be exactly what I was looking for! I’ve been lusting over this skirt for over a year, so when it finally came back in stock, I knew I had to grab it; and it has become one of my new favorite pieces in my wardrobe. Because the skirt has some length to it and I’m not the tallest girl in the world, I decided to balance it out by keeping the top form fitting with a mock neck, ribbed sweater. To stick with the casual theme, I opted for my white leather converses and threw on my black expletive beanie for a bit of drama and interest. Pretty much any bag would work with this look, but in efforts to keep things minimal I decided on my favorite black leather tote. I must say, I was quite pleased with this look. While it is not something that I usually go for, I may have found a new style worth experimenting with. But that’s what fashion is all about! Taking the time to evolve and break out of your comfort zone to see what looks suit you, brings a world of endless possibilities! Until next time! <3

Outfit Details & Links:

Hat- Dimepiece

Top- Forever 21

Skirt- Asos

Sneakers- Converse

Bag- Baggu

In the vault

SHEER DAISY

July 4, 2015 5 Comments

In honor of the 4th of July, I thought it was only right that I recreate an outfit that I wore on last year’s Independence Day. Though I would use many different adjectives to describe my personal style, I would be lying if I said “casual” isn’t one of the main ones; and I think this look supports that. While I do love a good heel most of the time, summer days to me scream, “white sneakers, comfort, and cool.” I have also recently become on board with the backpack trend and I must say, I’m loving it! They’re so simple and convenient, and depending on style can definitely add some interest to your look. Overall this look is pretty simple, which is why I decided to incorporate as many textures as I could. I think the sheer fabric against the chambray and leather all work nicely to create a cohesive ensemble. Just thinking about this day a year ago makes me want to light up the grill and chow down on a juicy burger lol. So what’s your favorite summer trend? Enjoy your holiday!

Outfit Details & links:

Top: Urban Outfitters

Bralet: Free People

Skirt: Urban Outfitters

Leather Converse: Urban Outfitters

Backpack: Topshop