Sporty Style

Outfit Crush: Winter Sweater

I came across this cute layered look on Style Caster last week and it shared 50 winter outfits to copy right now. There were quite a few that I saved to my inspiration list and this is one of my favs. It is worn by blogger Irena from A Portable Package who's also a dentist by day. Pretty cool, huh? She has a really nice style with looks that most of us would love to copy and make our own.

Source

 

Get This Look!

jeans / booties / clutch / sunglasses / button up / sweater

Outfit Details: men's sweater Old Navy | men's button up Target | skinny jeans Gap | boots Dolce Vita | bag H&M | necklace Forever21

Linking up with: Get Your Pretty On | Because Shanna Said So | Pleated Poppy  Style Elixir | Treasure Tromp | All Things Thursday

DIY: Lace Insert Top

This week's DIY project is all about lace. I bought some black lace fabric about 2 months ago and I decided to put to use this past weekend. After searching online for some project ideas with lace, I came across this cool top which also included a DIY tutorial. It's pretty easy and requires absolutely no sewing which means you can try this at home. Supplies: shirt lace fabric chalk or marking pen scissors pins heat bond iron shape template (optional)

• Turn the shirt inside out. 
• With the chalk mark the shape of your choice. You can also print out a shape and use that as a template.
• Cut out the shape as marked on the shirt.
• Pin down the piece that you cut onto the lace fabric.
• Cut the lace around the shape with an extra 1/2 inch allowance.
•  Remove the pins and place the right side of lace face down onto the wrong side of the shirt.
• Follow the directions to apply the heat bond using the iron.
• Cut off the excess fabric.

How do you feel about having lace added onto your clothing?
Outfit Details: shirt Forever21 | jeans American Eagle | boots Franco Sarto | belt Calvin Klein | thrifted blazer Talbots

Linking up with: Monday Funday | The Style Record | Monday Mingle | Two Birds | BeBetsey | Style Elixir | All Things Pretty

DIY: Mixed print/pattern shirt

For my latest DIY project I decided to refashion my acid wash button up by making it a mixed print shirt and what better print to use than plaid. Plaid is still trending heavily right now so this was a no-brainer but I decided to use a different type of plaid versus the tartan and red/black that we're seeing now. This was my weekend wear look to run some errands and have a chill day.
Supplies: printed button of your choice shirt, fabric or bandana of your choice scissors seam ripper pins chalk sewing machine

• Remove the pockets from the button up shirt.
• Cut out the back panel of the shirt along the seams.
• Take the piece that you cut and place on top of the plaid shirt or fabric. Pin, trace and cut with a 1 inch SA.
• Pin the new plaid back panel onto the the edges of the chambray shirt right side to right side and sew over the seams.
• Since I used a plaid shirt the shirt tail was already hemmed. If you use fabric, sew a hem on the tail of the shirt.
• Take the denim pocket and pin onto the plaid. Trace with chalk and cut. Iron down the seams to lay flat.
• Sew a straight stitch about 2 inches down from the top of the pocket.
• Pin the pocket onto the pocket area and sew onto the shirt. I only used one pocket because I like the way the pocket area looks once removed.

Outfit Details: jeans Seven for all Mankind | tee Target | sneakers Converse | beanie Forever21 | Necklace Forever21

Linking up with: My Style Monday | Monday Funday | The Style Record | Monday Bloom | Monday Mingle | All Things Pretty

Camo

  It's the first of the month! Can you guys believe it's November already? The holiday season has officially begun and with that comes colder days. Luckily, the temperature here is still decent (it can't seem to make up it's mind.) and I can still wear tanks and tees without scarves on some days. 

On Wednesday, Mel and I had date night and we went to a Jamaican restaurant for dinner. The food was bomb and I ate almost everything on my plate plus had a few bites of carrot pie. I know, I'm greedy but it made me so happy. :-)

I styled my look with my camo pants, and white tee, and a neutral cardigan. Camo is a cool trend that will always be around and when the weather does get a bit colder, I can style the pants with a graphic sweatshirt and some moto or combat boots

Have a great weekend!!

Outfit Details: pants Urban Outfitters | tee Forever21 | cardigan Old Navy | boots Dolce Vita | watch Target

Linking up with: Style Elixir | Simple Easy Style 

DIY: Leather Hoodie

The last (for now) project for the leather accents series is a leather hoodie. The temperature has been cooler and hoodies and sweatshirts are one of my main outerwear pieces to grab and go. I added leather shoulder panels and a leather pocket which gave it a trendy look. I kept my outfit simple and styled it with straight leg jeans and chucks. Perfect for a chill and relaxing day. 
Supplies: leather fabric hoodie chalk pins fabric glue seam gauge or ruler sewing machine

• With the hoodie on, mark with the chalk where you would like to place the leather.
• Use the sewing gauge or ruler to get the exact measurements. Cut out pieces in desired shapes.
• Apply fabric glue to the seams and fold/press down. Let dry for a couple of hours.
• Apply fabric glue to the wrong side of the leather accents and press onto desired area. Let dry.
• Optional: Topstitch the accents.

What is one of your grab and go outerwear piece for cooler days?
Outfit Details: hoodie Converse & DIY | jeans AG | sneakers Converse | beanie Forever21 | watch Mel's

Linking up with: Get Your Pretty On | Because Shanna Said So | The Pleated Poppy | All Things Pretty

DIY: More Leather Pockets

The third project in my leather accent series is pockets again. Bigger pockets. I used my oversized cardigan and switched out the pockets. I think Fall is officially here in the Bay Area. The weather was overcast yesterday so I added a scarf to my look. I really only like the Fall season for the layering and styles you can wear. Other than that I. Don't. Like. To. Be. Cold. Seriously. One would think that the Bay Area weather should be a piece of cake compared to the East Coast, where I'm originally from, but cold is cold is cold. Yet, I'm excited that I can pull out the pieces I've been waiting to wear. I've yet to create my fall uniform but cardigans and boots may be my go to for the weekends. Supplies: cardigan leather fabric seam ripper chalk clips sewing machine

• Remove the original pockets from the cardigan with the seam ripper.
• Use the original pocket and place on the leather fabric.
• Trace with the chalk onto the leather.
• Cut out the leather leaving room for seam allowance.
• Fold down the seams about 1/4 inch and use the clips the hold in place.
• Place the pockets onto same area as original pockets.
• Topstitch the leather pockets onto the cardigan using a loose and longer stitch. 

Do you have your fall uniform ready? What piece/pieces will you be wearing repeatedly?

Outfit Details:

cardigan Forever21 & DIY | crop top Thrifted | leggings H&M | scarf Gifted from India | boots Nine West

Linking up with: Monday Mingle | Funday Monday | The Style Record | My Style Monday | My Thrifty Chic | Style Elixir

DIY: Leather Sleeves

Supplies: tee faux leather fabric clips scissors sewing machine chalk or marking pen

• Cut off the original sleeves from the tee.
• Cut open the sleeve.
• Use the sleeve as a pattern and place on top of leather. 
• Using the chalk, trace around the sleeve onto the leather fabric. Don't forget about seam allowance. 
• Cut out along the marked line. Set the thread tension loose and the stitch length longer.
• Sew the straight edges of sleeve together right sides facing each other. The wrong side shouldn't stick to the feeds.
•  Turn the sleeve right side out and clip to the armhole of the tee. Make sure the tee is on the wrong side. You want right sides facing each other.
• Sew the sleeve onto the armhole.
• You can hem the sleeves or leave it with a raw edge. I felt like the sleeves were too long so I shortened them.

Do you have a top with leather sleeves? What pieces with leather accents do you have?

Outfit Details:

tee Target | jeans Gap | shoes American Eagle | watch Target | necklace Forever21

Linking up with: Get Your Pretty On | Because Shanna Said So | Transatlantic Blonde | Kiwi Women's Style

DIY: Cut Out Shoulder Shirt

I bought this shirt about a month ago on sale and assumed that the medium will fit me fine. I keep forgetting that I have broad shoulders so not all mediums will fit me like I want it to. Sometimes I end up with the shirt buttons fighting to stay in place and that is a no go for me. Some large shirts fit me fine but there are some that are too loose in the side and waist area which isn't always a good thing. I really liked that the shirt is sheer and it's in my favorite color so I couldn't justify giving it up. I decided to create a cut out shoulder look that way my boobs and my shoulders will have a little bit more breathing room. Sorry, I forgot to take a few pics of some steps. Supplies: shirt chalk pins round object scissors heat bond or needle & thread or sewing machine

• Put the shirt on and mark where you want it to start and where you want it to end. You can use chalk or pins.
• Fold the shirt completely in half making sure the shoulder seams are lined up. This is to make sure each will be evenly cut.
• Take a round object like a small plate and place it between your markings. Trace around the plate and connect the points. 
• Cut along the trace line. The cut out piece should be in a shape of a oval.
• Fold the cut edge down about a 1/4 inch and either hand sew or machine stitch a seam. You can also use heat bond for a no sew project.

I styled it with a pair of faded black mid rise skinny jeans and black suede ankle boots and wore it Saturday night as Mel and I celebrated our 5th anniversary. Time sure does fly when you're having fun! :-)

Today is our actual anniversary and I created and printed a pair of  tickets as one of Mel's gifts. We will be locked in our room tonight after work enjoying a couple of good movies with some pizza and popcorn. 

Outfit Details: button up American Eagle | jeans American Eagle | boots Dolce Vita | necklace Forever21 | bag H&M

Linking up with:  Monday Bloom | Monday Mingle | Funday Monday | My Style Monday | The Style Record | VMG 206 | Get Your Pretty On

Number 82

Happy Weekend I've been searching for the perfect number tee for a while now and I found it a few weeks ago at Forever21. This number tee has a loose boxy fit and cuffed sleeves which is perfect for my tomboy style and it would have been awesome if I was able to find number 78, the year of my birth, but I didn't. I did spot a number 79 tee but I didn't really like the look of it and I could have easily just made my own tee with some iron-on numbers or number stencils and paint but this was something I wanted store bought. I kept my look simple by styling the tee with a pair of black ankle pants, which I cuffed and one of my favorite black oxfords. Simple, easy, and on trend with the black and white.  Do you have a number tee? How do you style it?
Outfit Details: tee Forever21 | pants H&M | oxfords Seychelles

Linking up with: Simple Easy Style | Style Elixir

Boyfriend Blues

Life happened on Monday and it upset me so much that I refused to do anything for the entire week but I couldn't stay away for long so I'm back with a Style Me Friday challenge. Eboni has been enjoying her vacation and time off and came back with boyfriend jeans as this week's style inspiration. Boyfriend jeans is another piece that can be worn dressed up or down. Most women can be seen wearing it with sandals and pumps. I'm not big on heels over 3 inches 1 inch even though I do have a pair of pumps in both nude and black. A pair in a bright color would be awesome but that's neither here nor there. I've worn my boyfriend jeans plenty of times in many different ways and for this particular challenge I decided to wear them with a striped tank, blazer and some oxfords. How do you rock your boyfriend jeans? Make sure to check out the other ladies' looks!

Outfit Details:

tank H&M | men's jeans Old Navy | oxfords Seychelles | blazer Thrifted | necklace Forever21

Linking up with: Fashionista Next Door | Simple Easy Style | Coffee Beans and Bobby Pins | Face It Catalog | Aloha Friday