Puma Party

It's Wednesday! 2 more days until the weekend. Time to party! Are you ready?  This post is going to be quick since I have to get to work. My top is Puma brand and I thrifted it a few weeks ago for about $3. Score! Olive green, army green, whatever you call it,  is my number 1 favorite color in the world. It's a neutral in my opinion and goes with anything and I snatched it up when I went to the Gap outlet and they had a sale going on. Double score! All of that calls for a party right? 

Outfit Details: Shirt - Puma Thrifted Pants - Gap Outlet Similar Sneakers - Converse Necklace - Forever21 Similar
Linking up with: Get Your Pretty On | Transatlantic Blonde | Kiwi Women's Style | Style Elixir | Real Girl Glam | Because Shanna Said So | Rolled Up Pretty | Fashion and Beauty Finds

DIY: Peplum Top

It's Friday!! Time for some weekend fun. I'm going to a BBQ this evening with Mel and I'm also going to try to attend an event called Fashion Friday on the Plaza. It's a free happy hour shopping event with mobile fashion trucks and wine plus it includes a fashion show. It starts at 5 and ends at 9 and I hope I am able to make it before it ends. I may just go right after work and then head to the BBQ after. Either way I really want to go because this sounds a cool event. Who doesn't like shopping and wine at the same time? Now on to my outfit. This week's inspiration for Style Me Friday is peplum. Unfortunately, I don't own anything peplum. I kept trying to remind myself that I need to buy something peplum whether it's a skirt, top, or jacket but that obviously didn't work since I have yet to buy one. I really enjoy participating in Eboni's challenges so I try my hardest to make sure that it happens. Since I don't have anything peplum I decided to make one of my own. Believe me, I'm not naturally creative, I just wing it and hope for the best. I used a striped tee that Mel no longer wanted. The key to this project is to use a shirt or dress that is bigger than your normal size so you will have a piece wide enough for the peplum part of the top. 

Before

1. Mark  or pin on the shirt where you want the  peplum to go and add an inch. Cut across the shirt where marked. Saved the piece you cut off.
2. Take a shirt that's more fitted and use as a guide to mark where you would take in.
3. Sew along the marked lines using a tight straight stitch. Cut off the excess fabric and sew the edges using a serger or a zigzag stitch.

4. Take the piece you cut and sew around it, about 1 inch away from the raw edge using a loose straight stitch. This is usually about a 4 on the stitch length dial. When finished leave the thread about 3 inches long before cutting. Gently pull the thread and the shirt will begin to gather creating a ruffled look. This will be your peplum.
5. Take the peplum and loosen some of the gathering  by spreading it out. This is to make sure that it's the same width of the top and that it will fit your waist.
6. Place the gathered edge of the peplum over the raw edge of the shirt right sides facing each other. Sew these two pieces together using a tight straight stitch about 1/4 inch away from the gathered edge. You can sew it twice to make sure the pieces will stay put.
7. Try the shirt on and make any necessary adjustments. I had to take in the sides about an additional  2 inches because I wanted it to fit a bit tighter. I also shortened the sleeves.
8. That's it. You're done! Now style your new top and take some photos. :-)

How did I do? Do you own anything peplum?

Outfit Details: Top - DIY Similar Jeans - Gap Similar Sneakers - Converse Beanie - Target

Linking up with: Fashionista Next Door | Coffee Beans and Bobby Pins | Face it Catalog | Aloha Friday

Dotted

 

Yes! I'm wearing a dress. I do wear them from time to time but sometimes I feel like I have to work extra hard at behaving like a lady. You know, cross your legs when seated, make sure your behind is covered when sitting down so not to give a peep show, etc. etc. Maybe I should take an etiquette class? Nah! I'm not that bad. I know how to be a lady without trying. At least I think I do. You would tell me otherwise right? Anywho, here I am. In a dress. with boots. and a studded denim vest. oh yeah! with. my. friend. Owl.   I was going for a dainty biker babe look or a edgy meets prim and proper or just me! And no, I'm not going anywhere. I'm just wearing a dress. ;-) So, what do you think and how did I do? Outfit Details: Dress - TJ Maxx Similar, Similar Vest - Thrifted Similar, Similar Boots - Nine West  & DIY Similar  Necklace - Ebay Similar Belt - from a tunic Similar

Linking up with: Style Elixir | Transatlantic Blonde | Kiwi Women's Style | Real Girl Glam | Rolled Up Pretty |  Because Shanna Said So |Fashion and Beauty Finds | Get Your Pretty On | The Pleated Poppy

Drop It Like It's Hot

In keeping up with the sporty look this week I decided to style a pair of men's drop crotch pants that I've bought not too long ago from Jack Threads. Mel has a matching pair too and she's worn hers already. I promise we won't dress like twins and wear it on the same day. Well maybe. ;-) At first we weren't quite sure whether or not to keep them because it is pretty different but different can be cool so we decided to keep them. They are really soft and comfortable and it looks like a pair of pajama pants in my opinion. I paired mine with some black combat boots and wore layers on top with a mineral wash denim shirt and an tribal print tank. The pants would also look good worn with a crop top and a beanie.  Have a great weekend and if you're going out dancing don't forget to drop it like it's hot!!
                                                       Outfit Details: Pants - Jack Threads Tank - Marshalls Similar Button Up - Ross Similar Boots - Macy's Similar, Similar

Linking up with: Coffee Beans and Bobby Pins | Face it Catalog | Aloha Friday

Up and Down

Monday I shared with you guys on how to make a pair of cuffed track pants. Today I'm showing you two ways I styled them. I dressed them up with heels and a studded sweatshirt which is also DIY. This look can be worn to an evening event such as a date night. I dressed them down with a pair of high top chucks and a graphic tank. This look is good for an outdoor event such as a hip hop in the park festival. Because the pants are casual both looks work well. Which look do you like best?
Outfit 1 Details: Studded Top: DIY Similar Track Pants - Target & DIY Similar Heels - Nine West Similar Bag: H&M Similar Bracelet - DIY from a necklace Earrings - Beauty Supply Similar Outfit 2 Details: Tank - Urban Outfitters - Borrowed from Mel Sneakers - Converse Bracelets - DIY Necklace - Ebay Similar

Linking up with: Style Elixir | Transatlantic Blonde | Kiwi Women's Style | Real Girl Glam | Rolled Up Pretty |  Because Shanna Said So | Fashion and Beauty Finds | Get Your Pretty On

Around The Way Girl

One of the hot color trends of Spring is black and white. This is the inspiration for this week's Style Me Friday challenge. I decided to pull out my inner New Yorker/Jersey girl and created an around the way look. The v-neck I ironed on some letters myself because I wanted a graphic like tee that I haven't worn yet. I was limited in what cool phrases I could come up with because I didn't have any Hs, Cs or Es and probably some other letters too and my final choice was Stylin is my drug. I love styling myself and Mel and anyone else who'll allow me to. Will you?
 My look says I'm ready for another weekend to go kick it with my girls. Ha! I mean kick it at home. I think this weekend is going to be busy though. My son is having his 8th grade dinner dance tonight and I hope we can get some good pictures. I'm excited but in awe at the same time about how fast children grow up. I thought about chaperoning but I didn't want to be THAT parent. :-)  Happy Friday and have a great weekend!!
Outfit Details: Blazer - Target V-neck - Target and DIY Similar Denim - Ross Similar Belt - Old Navy Sneakers - Adidas Hat - Mel's Lids Earrings - Target Similar Bracelets and Necklace - DIY

Linking up with: Fashionista Next Door | Coffee Beans and Bobby Pins  | Simple Easy Style | What Jean Likes | Face It Catalog

Mixing it Up

 

The week seems to be going by pretty quickly. Maybe it's because of the beautiful weather and summer is almost here. Who knows? Lately I've been wearing shorts shorter than 5 inches and showing more skin and I love it. I used to associate short shorts with looking trashy or just plain on doing too much. But anything can be worn with class. :-) This particular pair of shorts are 3 inches which isn't so bad. As long as the butt cheeks are covered everything should be cool. I decided to mix and match some prints and patterns for my outfit and the key for me was to use prints in the same color family. The graphic tank has a dark red print on front and it added a little pop of color to the cream and black. The tank and aztec print cuffed shorts paired with the animal print wedge sandals and statement necklace gives the outfit a casual chic look. Not too dressy and not too casual. It's all about comfort for me even though wedges feel like pumps and stilettos in my opinion. Usually I'll just sit down all day or only walk short distances. Beauty is pain sometimes. I wore this last Sunday when we tried to go see the movie After Earth with Will and Jaden Smith but it was sold out. Next time.
How's your week so far? Do you wear shorter length shorts? What length is too short for you?
Outfit Details: Converse Tank - Ross Cute Cynthia Rowley Shorts - TJ Maxx Cute & Cute Calvin Klein Wedges - Nordstrom Rack Exact Necklace (Gifted) - Lydell NYC

Linking up with: Kiwi Women Style | Rolled Up Pretty | Get Your Pretty On | The Pleated Poppy | Real Girl Glam | Style Elixir | Fashion and Beauty Finds | Because Shanna Said So | My Thrifty Chic | Transatlantic Blonde

Fully In-vested

Back to life, back to reality. Happy Monday ya'll! This past weekend was relaxing. I didn't do too much but I did get dressed and I looked cute while doing it. I'm just kidding! I did some walking around town with Mel and enjoyed the warm weather. This blazer vest I made myself by removing the sleeves and sewing the edges. I tailored the blazer which was thrifted, to my shape so that it would be more fitting and kept my outfit funky by styling it with some destroyed cutoffs and a pair of floral Dr. Martens. Saturday evening we went bowling with some friends and had lots of fun. We were able to bowl about 3 extra games for free because the attendants weren't paying attention. Bowling usually becomes boring after 2 games but since we were sneaking in the extra games it made it more exciting and fun. How did you spend your weekend?

Outfit Details: Blazer - Thrifted and DIY Similar Shorts - DIY Similar Boots - Dr. Martens  Necklace - Forever 21 Similar

Linking up with My Greatest Hits | Monday Mingling | What I'm Wearing | YOLO Mondays | Miscellany Monday | BeBetsy | IFB

Cream of the Crop

   
The weekend's here!! Time to chill and relax. Last Sunday I wore a crop top with a midi skirt and posted it on Wednesday for my boho look. Guess what this week's Style Me Friday inspiration is? Crop tops, of course! I don't have many other than a few t-shirts that I cropped myself, so I cut a striped racerback top that I haven't worn in a while and BOOM! I have a brand new shirt and Oh! it's cropped too. ;-) I used a Serger for the edges to give it a somewhat neater look and to stop it from fraying because the fabric is sheer. I'm so ready to chill this weekend and I chose my outfit accordingly. I paired my new top with black ankle pants and polka dot sneakers. Simple, fun, and comfy.  You can wear the shorter crop tops with high waist skirts or pants/jeans/shorts and the longer crop tops, like I have, with mid or low rise bottoms (high too). This is to keep the belly button covered and not appear like a teeny bopper for those who don't want to show too much skin.
How would you style your crop top?   

Outfit Details:  DIY Top - Buffalo Exchange Cute Pants - H&M Similar Sneakers - Keds Sunnies - Target Similar Necklace - Forever 21 Similar

Linking up with: Fashionista Next Door | Coffee Beans and Bobby Pins | Face it Catalog

 | Simple Easy Style | What Jean Likes