pleats – A Styled Mind

In the vault

SKOOL-DAZE!

April 1, 2021 No Comments

Every now and then I come across pieces that truly bring me back to my formative years and this ensemble was the perfect example of that! The majority of my pre-undergrad educational career was spent in private school, so I was no stranger to wearing uniforms majority of the time. Once I got to college and really had the freedom to experiment with my personal style, I realized that while there were some garments that were drastically different than what I was previous used to, that “prim and proper” way of dressing never really left me. Cardigans have been making a comeback lately as a nod to the 90’s, and I was immediately drawn to this creamy beige version featuring a variety of novelty buttons. Initially, I had planned to wear it casually with jeans and a simple pair of mules but it didn’t take long before I received a piece that completely changed my course of action! There are a few brands I work with that generously provide me with “new-in” items whenever a collection drops or we enter into a new season. Most recently, I received this pleated leather skirt and knew I had to style it ASAP! What peaked my interest the most was the unique color. I’ve personally owned a few skirts in this style throughout the years mostly in black, denim, or light chiffon fabrics. It also looked much lighter on the website so I was pleasantly surprised to see that it came in the perfect neutral shade to match my sweater! At that point I knew I had to pair these items as a set, but something was still missing. After a few moments of thinking it over, I decided to try layering a white poplin shirt underneath to add a bit more dimension, and my “cool-girl” uniform was nearly complete! In efforts to add a bit more edge and balance out the preppy vibes, I added my AF1s and some silver jewelry to play off of the flashy buttons. Lastly, for a stark contrast, I threw on my newest black frames and was ready to skip class and head to the mall (KIDDING). In all honesty though, creating this outfit really brought back memories and gave me a sense of nostalgia that I will never forget! Comment below your favorite featured piece and until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Cardigan- & Other Stories

Shirt- Mango

Skirt- BB Dakota

Sneakers- Nike

Sunglasses- Le Specs

In the vault

VACATION VIBES

July 11, 2017 1 Comment

About a month ago I went on vacation to the beautiful Dominican Republic and though I wasn’t able to shoot much while I was there, I made it a point to capture some of my looks when I returned for the blog. I’m sure we all can agree that floral prints are pretty much a staple during the Spring and Summer months, so it was no surprise that I had to bring at least one patterned piece with me to paradise. Unlike the usual florals I tend to gravitate towards, there was something about this Hawaiian inspired top that I just couldn’t pass up. The vibrant inidgo background color really made the white flowers and yellow details pop, so I knew this piece had to remain the focal point of the look. While I could’ve gone in many directions when styling this outfit, I chose to keep the bottom half more subtle with a black pleated mini skirt that provided a bit movement and texture. Personally, I absolutely love basics with any kind of extra detail that makes it a tad more eye-catching than what’s to be expected. In efforts to increase the effortless island feels, I tied up the shirt in the front and threw on my yellow platform sandals for a bit of extra spice. During this entire shoot, I couldn’t stop spinning and moving around so that the playfulness of the ensemble was really captured on camera. For accessories I only chose to reach for my classic aviators since for me, less is always more especially when it comes to dressing up in the blazing hot temperatures. After doing a trial run during my trip, I was so happy to come back and re-shoot this look. Let me know your favorite types of looks to style while on vacation in the comments below. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Top- Zara

Skirt- Express

Heels- Zara

In the vault

SHINE ON

December 29, 2016 1 Comment

I can hardly believe that this will be my final blog post of 2016. That said, of course I had to bring a bit of glitz as we quickly approach one of the biggest party night’s of the year. From the moment I saw this cold-shoulder embellished knit I knew it was definitely worthy of a photo shoot, however, I was a bit stumped with the direction I wanted to go in for this look. Because of the top’s neutral color, I had no problem finding other pieces to pair it with; it was just a matter of whether I wanted to dress it up or dress it down. After searching through the archives of my previous looks, I decided to go with something a bit more formal. Metallic pleated midi skirts have literally been EVERYWHERE this season, and though I was hesitant to jump on the trend for that reason, there was something about this skirt in particular that I couldn’t resist. For me, I think it was the fact that the material was similar to a soft suede instead of the typical rigid, foiled texture. Also, though it may be hard to see, I liked the uniqueness of the metallic accents and how they were scattered across the skirt with a marbled effect, rather than the usual opaque coated style. Overall, I loved how these 2 pieces complimented each other and to keep them as the focal point, I chose black accessories to let them shine. I am super excited to see what 2017 has in store and can’t wait to show you guys some of the ideas I’ve been working on. I hope everyone has a fun and safe NYE. See you next year! 🙂

Outfit Details & Links:

Sweater- Topshop

Skirt- Zara

Heels- Zara

Bag- Forever 21

In the vault

BACK 2 BLACK

July 19, 2016 1 Comment

While I am fully aware that we are in the heat of the summer months (no pun intended), that doesn’t mean I can’t bring it back to the basics; right?! While bright colors, florals, and other trends are known to be go-tos for the summer, an all black ensemble is something that I personally believe never fails to work for any occasion all year round. I recently purchased these black pleated culottes, and instantly knew that they would be a piece I would feature. The movement and chic detail they provide to a variety of outfits, whether for work or running around the city, has already allowed me to get my money’s worth. To contrast with the loose fabric, I decided to pair the trousers with a lace bralet I’ve had for a few years now. Pleats and lace are two textures that I find myself pairing together quite often, and I still have yet to be disappointed in the outcome! In order to give a sophisticated suit-like effect, I threw on my longline blazer as an extra layer to provide more dimension and cohesiveness to the ensemble. I finished off the look with my black minimal heeled sandals and my Prada sunnies that beautifully complimented the neutral color scheme of this look. All in all, you can never go wrong with all black in my book, but tell me what you think! Do you dare to wear dark, or do you prefer to stick with the usual trends? Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Blazer- Urban Outfitters

Bralet- Zara

Culottes- Zara

Heels- Asos

Sunglasses- Prada

In ASM Shop

PLEATED PIECES

May 5, 2016 No Comments

Pleats are such an intricate detail that really add elements of sophistication, quality, and elegance to any garment. This season, it seems as though many retailers are jumping on board with this accordion trend and manufacturing some extremely eye catching pieces. Below are some of the items that I have recently been gravitating towards. Happy shopping! (Don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks!)