Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Finding Your Style : Get It Organized

OOTD:


Burgundy slacks, purple top, wedges, belt, plum purse.  Yes, this is the same top and color combo as last week but with different bottoms and accessories.  What can I say?  I love it!

This is Part 2 of a 3 part series on finding your style.



How many times have we gone to our closets full of things we love, but we still have "nothing to wear"?  In my experience this is because the items can't be used together.  So it's super important that we have wardrobes filled with items that can be mixed and matched.  You don't have to stick to one style if you don't want to, just remember that the more styles you have the more closet space you need.

I truly believe that the first step to finding your style is starting with a purged, organized, cohesive wardrobe.  But that can be so overwhelming, so to break it down we're going to do a 3 part series.  The first was last week, and the last will be next week.

This week it's all about organizing your closet so you can find exactly what you want when you want it.  If you don't know what you have, you won't know what you need.

Still sounds overwhelming, right?  So let's break it down even farther.  This week, we get it organized!



Step 1: Put like items together.  Dresses, skirts, pants, shorts, camis, tanks, short sleeve, long sleeve, and completer pieces (like blazers and cardigans).  Got something that's in between (like a sweater can can be used as a long sleeve top OR a completer piece)?  Put it in the section that it will most likely get used as.  DON'T labor over the decision.  Just pick a spot and keep moving.  You can always change your mind later.

I put less used items toward the "back," and more used items in the middle.  So my closet goes dresses, maxi dresses and skirts, completer pieces, camis, tanks, short sleeve, long sleeve, skirts, pants and leggings, then shorts (pants and shorts get swapped in the summer time).


Step 2: Organize like items by color.  You might want to follow the color wheel for this one.  Pinks and reds, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.  Then organize items light to dark within a color.

Because I don't have any yellows or oranges, I start at green on the color wheel and work my way around.  So my colors go like this: white, grey, black, brown, green, blue, purple, red.


Step 3: If and when you can, purchase matching hangers.  They help keep the closet looking cohesive.  I use the velvety ones because (1) they're supposed to save space (but I'm not sure that's true) and (2) NOTHING slips off of them.  I can throw my camis on them and they don't slide.  I can throw my cardigans on them (unbuttoned!) and they don't fall down.  Easy-peasy.

These grey damask hangers reside in my closet.  Aren't they beautiful?


Hope this week's segment didn't take as long as last time!  Next week we'll be discussing my tips for finding your style.  SO EXCITED to share what has been a HUGE help to me in defining my style.

Til next time loves!

<3, Mandy










Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Finding Your Style




This is a 3 part series on finding your style:

Finding Your Style : Closet Clean-Out
Finding Your Style : Get It Organized
Finding Your Style : Utilizing Pinterest

Finding Your Style : Closet Clean-Out

Outfit Of The Day is first, then if you want to follow the "Finding Your Style" series you can keep reading.  :)


Burgundy pencil skirt, purple top, pumps, clutch, belt.

This is Part 1 of a 3 part series on finding your style.



How many times have we gone to our closets full of things we love, but we still have "nothing to wear"?  In my experience this is because the items can't be used together.  So it's super important that we have wardrobes filled with items that can be mixed and matched.  You don't have to stick to one style if you don't want to, just remember that the more styles you have the more closet space you need.

I truly believe that the first step to finding your style is starting with a purged, organized, cohesive wardrobe.  But that can be so overwhelming, so to break it down we're going to do a 3 part series over the next 3 weeks.  Now, I understand that sometimes stage of life (such as having babies) or even sickness (such as thyroid problems) can really make the purging hard because you don't know what size you'll be tomorrow.  If that's the case, I just suggest that you keep different sizes separate from each other in your closet so that they're easier to find.  :)

This week it's all about cleaning out your closet.  Erng.  I know, we all hate it.  It's the least fun part of this whole process.  We form such emotional attachments to our stuff.  But if you don't know what you have, you won't know what you need.

Still sounds overwhelming, right?  So let's break it down even farther into 5 simple steps to clearing the clutter.



Step 1:  Make your bed (for a clear mind) and dump ALL your clothes on it.  Uhg, what a mess, huh?  Don't worry.  It's progress!


Anyone who sends me a picture of themselves doing this ↑ as they purge gets a gift!

Step 2:  Sort through EVERYTHING.  Make 3 piles - "Love It", "Can't Decide", and "Why Do I Even Have This?"  Piece by piece go through the big pile.  Don't labor over decisions, if you can't decide put it in "Can't Decide" and come back to it later.



Step 3:  Lose the crap.  Put all your "Why do I even Have This" items in a donation bag and take it to another room.  A clear space makes for a clear mind, so keep moving stuff out as you go.



Step 4:  Sort through the "Can't Decide" pile.  Do you love the piece?  Can it be worn with at least 3 other things in your closet?  Does it fit?  Anything that "almost" fits (1-2 sizes away) put in a box and move to somewhere out of sight.  You can keep them, but they don't need to be cluttering your closet making it hard to find the things that do fit right now.  Anything that's 3+ sizes away, take to the donation bag.  You'll get to treat yourself to a whole new wardrobe when you do reach that weight loss goal.  Anything that you love and JUST CAN'T get rid of (for sentimental reasons or whatever) you are totally allowed to keep.  Just put them in a special box or drawer so they aren't taking up precious closet space.



Step 5:  Do the same thing with your "Love It" pile.  Now that we've gotten rid of the "easy to loose" and "kinda hard to loose" stuff we're in the getting-rid-of-stuff mood.  Keep it going!  You might be surprised to find a piece or two that you thought you loved that suddenly aren't so appealing.


That's it!!  5 Steps to clearing the clutter!  Honestly, I clean out my closet about every 6 months, once before the cold seasons, once before the warm seasons.  After you've done it the first time, keep up with it on a regular basis.  It doesn't have to be EVERY month, but 2-4x / year (depending on how often you buy clothes) will make the task less overwhelming.


Next week we'll talk about how to organize your closet so you can find what you need when you need it.  In the mean time, just stick it all back in the closet so you can sleep on your bed this week.

Any further suggestions?  Leave a comment!  It's a learning process for all of us, and I LOVE to see and hear how others organize since I'm still learning too.

Later loves!

<3, Mandy











Friday, January 17, 2014

Creative Corporate Wear : Link Round-Up

Below are pictures of my FAVE work outfits.  The original posts have "Pin It" buttons for individual looks.  :)


Original posts 1, 2, 3, 4.

I'm sure there will be more in the future!

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Fashions For Moms : Link Round-Up

Below are pictures of my FAVE fashionable mommy outfits.  The original posts have "Pin It" buttons for individual looks.  :)


Original posts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

I'm sure there will be more in the future!

About




About Me

My name is Mandy.  I'm a wife, mom of 2 little ones (my daughter L is 2 years, and son S is 9 months as I wright this post), jewelry lady with Premier Designs, fashion consultant and follower of Jesus.  


About the Blog

I started Fashions by Mandy for several reasons.

1. To track my fashion journey.
2. To gather all the fashion advice I've collected into one place.
3. To inspire other young mom's.  We can be fashionable and functional.

Premier Designs Rally : OOTD

REGIONAL RALLY with PREMIER DESIGNS!!!  Attending rally always makes me want to be a better person.  :)  Here are some fashion highlights:





Friday night Builder leadership training.  Buncha divas here :)






My Jewelry Mama, Glitter Sisters, and Bling Babies.






Beautiful Bling Babies




And a shot for the blog :)  LOVE the color of this TOP!!!!  Also, it was raining in Phili yesterday, and this was the PERFECT outfit for that.  Boots kept my feet dry, leggings kept my legs warm, and a skirt so I didn't end up with soggy pants.  Topped off with my knee length wool coat and a pashmina while walking in the rain.  :)

Until next time, loves.

<3, Mandy



 

Thursday, January 9, 2014

OOTD : Rushing Out

As promised, an outfit of the day!  This wasn't part of the photo shoot that is still in the works; it was more "I happened to be free and my BFF was able to take some quick shots."  :)


Since it was a whole 29* out today, here's a pic of my all time favorite faux leather jacket ever, ever, ever!  It fits oh so right, and is oh so comfy!  It's so soft you'd never know it wasn't real.  And the ever classic jeans tucked into brown riding boots.  (Hey, I said I was rushing out.  Think I had time to plan something creative?)


And this is my oh so fuzzy faux fur scarf.  It's wonderful to have the softness of a rabbit around your neck, without having a rabbit around your neck.  (They kick, ya know.)


Ok, and here's what's underneath.  Dove grey tunic top (also seen here), belted up with my "medieval shield" belt.


And my new snake print sequin top underneath the tunic.  It kinda shines like scales, I love it!!  What jewelry to wear when you're on the go?  Your go-to bangles (mine stretch for extra comfort) and fab statement earrings.  Although my hair covers them in these pictures.  Speaking of, I parted my hair IN THE MIDDLE today!  A look that I haven't tried since . . . ever.  I've got an unyielding cowlick, y'all, and have never been able to get to part in the middle.  But it cooperated today, and (ba-da-ba-ba-ba) I'm loving it!  Think it makes my face look slimmer.

That's it for today.  Looking forward to more outfits soon!  
<3, Mandy


Wednesday, January 8, 2014

New Adjustments : Pant Styles

Hello, lovelies!

Sorry for being MIA for the last few months.  We've had some big changes here lately, and this mama has had to do some adjusting.  I do have a photo shoot being lined up for some new OOTD (outfit of the day) posts, but for now . . .

I've been pant shopping lately (least favorite shopping EVER), and with all the different styles out there, what do they all mean?  So I've been doing some research and figured if I've been wondering these things probably others have been too.  So here's the scoop.  (I won't be getting into which cut for which body type or which styles are "in."  That'll have to be for a different day.)


SKINNY:

Skinny jeans / pants are fitted all the way down.  Waist, hip, thigh, knee, calf and ankle.


CIGARETTE:

Cigarette pants are fitted through the waist, hip, thigh and calf, but then the same width from calf to ankle.  That means that the leg opening is slightly wider than in skinnies.


STRAIGHT:

Straight leg pants are fitted through the waist, hip and thigh, but then the same width from thigh to ankle.  This is also known as a "trouser" cut.


WIDE:

Wide leg pants are fitted through waist and hip, but then the same width or WIDER from hip to ankle.


BOOTCUT:

Bootcut pants are fitted to the knee and then are slightly wider at the ankle.  These jeans are perfect for 
wear (duh) over your boots.  :)


FLARE:

Flared pants (same thing as bellbottoms from what I've researched) are fitted to the knee and then are much wider at the ankle.  The leg opening is typically 21-27."  

Just a note here: be sure your all your pants (with the exception of skinnies and cigarettes) graze the floor.  Otherwise they look awkward.


There ya have it!  Now we all know the terminology.  New posts to come.  Thanks for reading!

<3, Mandy