hoodie – A Styled Mind

In the vault

SUMMER LAYERS

August 28, 2018 1 Comment

As we are quickly approaching the final days of Summer, getting dressed can become tricky when it comes to styling looks appropriate for the constantly fluctuating temperatures. To alleviate this stress and still look put together, layering has proven to be the most popular solution; and for this look I did just that! It’s so funny to see trends from my childhood and other decades past continuously resurfacing in 2018. For instance, this satin ruched slip dress pays direct homage to 90’s fashion. Recently, I’ve seen a lot of frocks like this one styled under blazers, and though I do like that look, I wanted to create an even more toned down effortless ensemble. I found a cropped white hoodie and while it may be too warm for it now, the juxtaposition of styles really made me that much more excited for the Fall. While I wouldn’t generally pair these two fabrics together, I felt that they created an interesting silhouette and seamlessly brought both masculine and feminine elements to the overall look. The simple structure of the sweatshirt and flowy-ness of the dress made for great foundational pieces but I still needed a few accessories to tie everything together. I could’ve easily thrown on a pair of sneakers to complete this outfit, but I wanted to bring a bit more elevation and interest. To my surprise, I stumbled upon a pair of multicolored pumps that had a very eye-catching firework-like design. At this point the look was nearly complete but I felt there was still room for a bit of edge. Belt bags and fanny packs have also made their way back from the 80s and I am a huge fan of the hands-free alternative. After finding one that I felt suited this ensemble best, I was ready to take on the world! During these transitional times of year, I love pairing minimal garments that can easily be layered and transformed into a variety of looks throughout the day. For example, if wanted to ditch the hoodie, add a light denim jacket, a cute pair of mules, & a clutch I would be ready for a casual happy hour in no time—and this my friends is the beauty of styling basics. Let me know in the comments below if you’re excited for Fall and how you plan on tackling your looks for the upcoming seasons. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Hoodie- Zara

Dress- Zara

Heels- Zara

Bag- Zara

In the vault

TEDDY-CRAN

January 23, 2018 2 Comments

Teddy coats have really taken the fashion world by storm during the Winter months. Though this isn’t the newest trend, it seems that versions of this style of outerwear have become increasingly popular and a staple in the wardrobes of most “fashionistas.” As with most trends, I took my time and waited to see if this was something I felt that I “needed” while considering which design would be best for my personal style. Traditionally, I’ve seen these coats most worn in neutral tones being either tan or beige. That being said, when I came across this cranberry colored option, I was instantly intrigued. There was something about the richness of the hue that really drew me in and made this a “must-have” piece. As we all know, maintaining warmth is the most important thing during this time of year (especially when you live in the Northeast), and because of that a lot of times your ensemble can become hidden underneath a multitude of layers. For this reason, I think its important to develop a collection of statement outwear pieces that are stylish as well as practical. Because I’ve been styling a lot trousers lately, I knew I wanted to switch things up with either a dress or skirt, and to my surprise it wasn’t that hard to find. This plaid printed dress was perfect because it was neutral enough to not take the focus off of the coat, but still eye-catching and on trend. As it’s still January, I knew better than to wear this frock alone; however I also didn’t want to pair it with a turtleneck because to me, it was the obvious choice. After weighing my options, I finally settled on an over-sized cream colored hoodie to layer it with. In my opinion, this really elevated the look in the most casual way. I loved the juxtaposition of the relaxed sweatshirt against the more fitted and feminine dress. To finish off the look, I threw on my new slouchy over-the-knee leather boots. I absolutely love these because I feel like they give a cool edge to the typical thigh-highs while still remaining sexy and sleek. Overall, I was very much pleased with how this look turned out. It also caused me to me reminisce on my private school days and how I would’ve liked to style my uniform then if given the choice. Comment below your favorite piece of Winter outerwear and whether or not you’re a fan of teddy coats. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Dress- Topshop

Hoodie- Topshop

Coat- Zara

Boots- Zara

In ASM Shop

GIFT GUIDE: HIM

December 7, 2017 No Comments

I absolutely love the process of shopping for loved ones during the holidays and believe it or not, I actually enjoy browsing through the men’s department the most! It’s probably because I don’t do it often and it gives me an opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone, see other trends, and find items that I personally think the guys in my life should have (whether they think they need them or not, lol). Below I’ve rounded up some of the gifts that would be at the top of my list, and I hope they provide some helpful ideas as you knock out your holiday shopping! Don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks! Until next time!

In the vault

C. C. C.

October 31, 2017 2 Comments

I’m sure we’ve all heard the saying “less is more” at one time or another, and while attempting to style this look I came to the realization that it couldn’t have been more true. I knew off the bat these statement making jeans would be the piece I would have to build around, and that proved to be much harder than I expected. Because the pants are black there were a lot of different directions I could’ve gone in, however I didn’t want to grab an item that clashed or competed with the overall eyelet detailing. After making my rounds back and forth to numerous shops I was about to completely give up and then I saw it, a piece so basic I couldn’t believe I didn’t think of it; a HOODIE! I’m not going to lie, while I did feel pretty silly for not thinking of this option sooner, I was beyond relieved that I was able to finally end my search. The sweatshirt added an effortless “chill” vibe that I felt perfectly balanced the eye-catching and edgy trousers. One thing I’ve learned when wearing bold pants and being on the shorter side, is that they can sometimes make your legs look a bit “stumpy.” To solve this issue, I chose to wear a sleek pair of black heeled booties to elongate my overall appearance. While I was definitely pleased with the outfit as a whole, I still felt something was missing to tie everything together. Since I chose to keep my top and shoes simple, I felt that I had room to add an interesting accessory and it didn’t take long to find this embellished metallic bag. In my opinion, the silver hardware really helped to highlight the details on the jeans while at the same time giving the sweatshirt a bit of excitement. I have a lot of favorite looks but this one may actually take the cake for me! I couldn’t help but feel so cool, confident, and comfortable and that, as far as I’m concerned, is the makings of a perfect ensemble. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Sweatshirt- Zara

Jeans- Topshop

Booties- Zara

Bag- Topshop

In ASM Shop

HOODIES

March 2, 2017 No Comments

I have currently been utterly OBSESSED with hoodies! Whether worn as a normal sweatshirt under a leather jacket with skinny jeans and sneakers or over-sized as a dress with heels, I literally cannot get enough. I think it’s the effortlessly cool vibe that draws me in, as well as the slightly tom-boyish look this garment provides that is a nice change from my usual style. Check out the super cool hoodies I’ve rounded up below and don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks! Until next time!

In the vault

HOODED CHIC

January 17, 2017 1 Comment

Lately I’ve been noticing a reoccurring trend of incorporating athletic wear with day to day street style looks. I am definitely a huge fan of this and personally think it makes dressing during the colder months much easier. I have always looked up to the women and men who remained effortlessly chic in the winter without drowning in layers of knits and heavy jackets. Unfortunately, I always seem to end up looking like the Michelin man when faced with those below freezing temperatures, LOL. This season however, I have been steadily growing the collection of hoodies in my wardrobe and whether I’m styling them as a dress with my thigh high boots or as just another top layer, they never seem to fail me in terms of being comfy, cool, & casual. We shot this look right after an unexpected snowfall and while I usually don’t mind not being dressed appropriately for the weather, I was adamant about being warm for this one. One of the other habits I tend to fall into during this time of year, like most people, is wearing all black or neutrals. My roommate was actually the one who brought this hoodie to my attention and I instantly knew it would be a great addition to my closet and this look. I definitely wanted to break up the black on my lower half with something a bit more eye-catching, and the rich wine color and velour texture of this piece did just that. I also wanted to showcase this amazing long-line denim coat I purchased months ago. In my history of rocking denim jackets, I have never once owned anything like this– I mean, the fur trim and shearling lining alone screamed “must-have” for me! With so many bold elements on the top I didn’t mind keeping the rest of the look dark. In terms of footwear, I chose to grab one of my Christmas gifts and might I add that these heeled booties fit like dream, no break-in required. So that about sums it up for this one! I’d love to hear your opinions about mixing athletic wear with more formal pieces in the comments below, until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Hoodie- Adidas

Jeans- All Saints

Coat- Zara

Shoes- Cole Haan