Something to Wear

Thank you Blogginistas,

Thank you all so much for taking the time to read & share your thoughts on my blog. I hope that you all can take at least one thing with you & make it your own. While fashion is such a public & media-filled aspect of life, it’s also so personal & intimate. What you wear & how you wear a piece of clothing is entirely up to you. I have my strong opinions on what I believe to be fashionable or horrendous…as does everyone else who has a love for clothing. No matter what your thoughts are on anything related to what you wear every day, the most important thing to do is make it YOU. Confidence out shines any article of clothing & is far more important than any materialistic item.

I’ll be spending the next month of freedom recreating my wardrobe, just from what I learned from my own blog. I’ve personally learned so much about fashion & clothing just by observing everyone around me. Wardrobe staples are critical & I’ve come to the realization that I don’t really have any…so I think I’ll start there. With time I’ll hopefully be able to say that I have a closet full of clothes & something to wear.

Love always,

BR

An Added Touch of Fragrance

Okay Blogginistas…

I am a fragrance junkie, I have a fragrance from every family that exists & I have too many to keep track of. I am a big supporter of fragrance being a part of a person’s wardrobe…it completes an outfit. My personal favorite fragrances have citrus & floral notes…very feminine, flirty, youthful, & fun. Of course I have a wide variety of fragrances, but I have my signature scent.

Finding a signature scent could take years. What you enjoy smelling like every day is up to you…how strong you want a fragrance to be or how sweet or musky you want a scent to be …these are all questions that come with finding a staple fragrance. One of the biggest rules to finding a fragrance though is to find a scent that smells good on you…not a friend. Everyone’s body chemistry works differently with fragrances. So when you venture out to the fragrance world get help from a sales associate (because they KNOW what they’re talking about) & try the fragrances for yourself.

There are four types of fragrance families, all have similar notes which may lead you to liking more than one type of scent…but here are the basics:

-          Oriental. These fragrances tend to be deep floral notes. They can be described as exotic, sexy, & sensual. Typically used as evening fragrances or during the colder months.

-          Floral. These fragrances are soft scents. Clearly they contain floral notes, but aren’t necessarily overwhelming. Floral fragrances can be also described as romantic, feminine, & flirty. These are great everyday scents & of course during the spring season!

-          Citrus. These fragrances are light & refreshing. Prime during the summer months (I love D&G Light Blue) because the scents are simple & clean smelling.

-          Woody. Often times these scents can be described as too masculine, but when you get the right notes working together they make beautiful scents. Woody fragrances are more sophisticated (as is Oriental scents) simply because they’re deeper smelling fragrances. They can also be known as warm, cozy, & inviting fragrances.

Once you have found your fragrance or fragrances it is key to layer your scent. When you go into any fragrance store, whether it’s a specialty store like The Body Shop or Bath & Body Works or a department store such as Bloomingdales or Lord & Taylor…they sell fragrance in two or three forms: a shower product (gel or exfoliate), moisturizer (lotion, cream, or butter) & the actual fragrance (mist or perfume). The same way you have a skin routine, you want to have a fragrance routine…that way your fragrance lasts all day long!

Now that you are all smelling wonderful…what’s your favorite fragrance???

Love always,

BR

Dressing Down

Hey Blogginistas!!

So with life being hectic as the end of the semester is hear & retail world is madness my posts have been delayed…I’m going to give you my final thoughts into three different posts  & here’s my first: Dressing Down.

Besides dressing warm during the cold months I love to dress comfy & cozy, & I see this trend everywhere, every year once it hits 40 degrees. It’s an odd pet peeve of mine to wear sweats anywhere…especially a sweat suit. I think it’s sloppy & unattractive…but there is a way to wear them & look good. I understand that when running errands or going to the gym or grabbing coffee…there’s no reason to dress up…but at the same time it’s always good to look presentable.

When I purchase comfy clothes I’m very strategic especially when it comes to finding stuff that doesn’t make me look like a slob. So here’s how I dress comfy & still look appropriate to go out:

#1 Male or female own Hanes v-neck undershirts.  I have so many because they come in a pack of like four or six…they go with everything. They’re casual & with a bit of jewelry or such they look fabulous. I’ve actually gotten away with wearing them at work because I made them look professional! My favorite way to wear Hanes tees is with jeans & boots (not Uggs…that’s when it gets sloppy looking). I usually add a statement necklace & sometimes a sweater & bam! I’m comfy & can go anywhere (including work).

#2 Make sure your sweats fit. If your pants are too tight or too big & baggy things aren’t going to look so good. Now don’t get me wrong…I’ve got plenty of baggy sweats for hanging around the house NEVER for in public. I enjoy wearing Victoria’s Secret PINK pants; both yoga & classic sweats from PINK are appropriate to wear out.

#3 Take advantage of oversized sweaters. I’ve mentioned sweaters & cardigans & how I love them entirely too much, but the possibilities that come with own a few are endless. With jeans or nice look sweats a comfy sweater (especially the ones that can wrap or tie) are my favorite to wear out.

There you have it my dearest Blogginistas. There’s a way to make any type of clothing look good…how do you dress up when dressing down??

Love always,

BR

My Thoughts On: Black Friday & Holiday Shopping

Happy Holidays Blogginistas!!

So we have just ended an extended Cyber Monday week (I guess you can call it) full of steals & deals in stores & online. Since Black Friday, retailers have been packed with customers seeking savings & now the holiday shopping has officially begun!!

Like I’ve mentioned before, I work in retail…so the day after Turkey Day is my day…the day everyone in retail prepares all year for: Black Friday. It’s our kick off & countdown to the day AFTER Christmas (don’t forget about those post holiday deals!) I’ve always wanted to open a store on Black Friday & be there for the excited early morning shoppers…this year I got that chance. I arrived at work at 3AM. Yes, 3AM. I took a quick walk around the mall to see what was going on. Other stores had opened extra early since Macy’s had the genius idea to open at midnight. Let me just say, people are crazy! They were sleeping in the food court, waiting for stores to open. There were eager shoppers sitting against the windows of big name shops. By the time I had to open the doors of my store, customers were pressed up against the doors & I could barely get back into the store, for I was bombarded with bodies rushing in.

Anyways…enough about my experience. So now the holiday shopping has started, & I honestly am not the biggest fan. The malls & other shopping centers are beyond crowded…it just stresses me out. Dealing with last minute work from classes doesn’t help either. So how to get my holiday shopping done?…here’s my plan, hope it helps all of you!

-          Start NOW! There’s nothing like waiting until the last for anything…but when it comes to holiday shopping, the night before is probably the WORST time to venture off into a mall. If you start now, you won’t be spending all your $$$ at once & can get thoughtful gifts.

-          Make a List.(& check it twice) Before heading out to shop create a list of WHO you are buying for, WHAT you plan on buying & WHERE you plan to go. Staying organized & having an idea of what you want to accomplish makes your shopping experience much more pleasant.

-          Shop Online. I like to check out the deals that are happening on the web before I go to the stores. When you start early, you have the advantage of utilizing free shipping deals & not having to rush a gift to be overnight-ed. Also, I like to preview what the store has in stock by perusing the website so I know what I’m looking for.

-          Shop Smart. As much as a coupon is a way for retailers to get customers back into the store…coupons are also your best friends! A lot of stores allow you to combine their in-store promos with their coupons, which leads to awesome savings!

-          Treat Yourself! I know…this time of year is when we are all short on $$$, but probably one of the best feelings after a long day of shopping is knowing that you picked something up for yourself.

There you have it Blogginistas! I wish you all luck shopping for the holidays, we all know it’s a crazy time of year…but have fun! So…what are your shopping tips???

Love always,

BR

Baby it’s (really) Cold Outside! (Part Deux)

Hello Again Blogginistas!

As promised, here is the second part of my MUST-HAVES for this cold weather we are slowly but surely encountering with the BURR months ahead. So let’s get started!

First one of my favorites: flannel button-downs. If I could, I would wear plaid button-down shirts everyday of the week. I think men & women look great in them…they come in every color possible, every price point, and there are several ways to wear them. I typically like to wear them like a button-down shirt…as I see most people wear them the same way. But flannel button-down are also great to layer with graphic or classic tees!

Another one of my loves: cardigans. Again…if I could wear a cardigan with every outfit I would…I’ve owned so many cardis in my lifetime…& they don’t last me because I truly wear them out. Like flannels they are so universal that how could you not own one?! They make an outfit pop when they are printed or colored & are also professional looking. Keeping on the subject of cold weather clothes…cardigans are awesome to layer with & keep you warm! They’re also a great option when you know you’ll be in a place that may warm up, so you can easily take the cardi off! (you can’t do that with a sweater!)

Next, make sure you have jeans that aren’t ripped & distressed. Jeans get old, or you can buy them ripped…but who wants to feel the chilly breeze of winter on their knee? I think this goes without saying…make sure you have non-distressed jeans for the winter season. On the same line, for the women…tights, panty hose (they are coming back in-style thanks to Kate & Pippa Middleton), leg warmers, thigh-high socks, knee-high socks, etc. Get them in every color, style, print…these leg accessories are key to wearing dresses & skirts…it’s too cold out (& out of season) to be showing off bare legs.

Last, but certainly not least...stock up on classic tees. I personally hate long sleeve shirts, sweaters…I hate having something covering anything past my elbow…so I either don’t buy long-sleeve anything or I roll my sleeves up. But classic tees, whether they’re v-neck, scoop, or crew…they are awesome for layering with other shirts, sweaters, button-downs, etc.

Like my last post…I’ll ask you Blogginistas: What are your winter clothes MUST-HAVES? & also…how do you layer your outfits?

Love always,

BR

Baby it's (really) Cold Outside! (Part One)

Happy Hunting Blogginistas!!

First want to apologize for not posting the past few weeks…it’s that mid-cram time & in working in retail doesn’t help…as we are getting ready for the CRAZIEST shopping days of the year: Black Friday. Anyways, in the spirit of this cold weather frenzy I decided to give my clothing MUST-HAVES on dressing warm for winter. In this post I’ll let you all know about essential gear & my next post will talk about the clothes!

The east coast has already gotten their first snow of the season, but besides that one weather phenomenon, it hasn’t been until now that it is actually feeling like fall. So my first tip for dressing warm in these cold months is to invest in a good jacket/coat. It is physically impossible to get through the winter without a winter jacket, whether that is a North Face or a bomber or a pea coat, buy a good quality jacket…that’s going to last the winter! Jackets & coats are one of my guilty pleasures (I have seven or eight in total just for the winter)...they are a necessity & when picking the right one & spending the right amount of $$$, you end up with a coat that lasts you a decent amount of years.

Also thinking about outer wear…own either rain boots or snow boots & warm socks. I’ve ruined a few pairs of shoes (including a pair of Uggs) because I decided they would be okay to wear in the snow, slush, sleet…& all that these winter months have to offer. Last winter I wore my rain boots…they work fine but if you decide to find a second use for rain boots by wearing them in the snow…please have warm socks!! I can’t stress this enough. There is no insulation in most rain boots & your feet will not make it through the snow without the warmth of socks…I like to wear fun ankle socks or knee highs…for the guys a good pair of ankle socks will do you just fine too! If you want to spend the extra money on snow boots, get a pair that has grips on the bottom so you don’t slide on ice …& make sure they are waterproof…& keep your feet warm! Eddie Bauer & L.L.Bean make great winter boots!

Thirdly, get a pair of driving gloves. Think about it…how many times are you running late for class or work & you forget to maybe start your car early to warm up (I know I’ve been in this situation many times). The worst feeling ever besides driving in a cold car…is driving in a cold car with no gloves…the rest of your body seems to be warming up because of the layers you have on, but your poor hands have to hold the steering wheel. So, you can’t just have any old gloves, because they get slippery & that’s clearly not safe for driving…for the cold season it’s good to own either leather or suede gloves. Both leather & suede material allows for a nice grip in the wheel, they keep your hands warm, && they look classy & timeless. These types of gloves you can get at any price point, style, color, size, buttons or no buttons, etc.

& finally, the last of my MUST-HAVES for winter gear is a hat. Right now for women wool hats are in-style…just like fedoras & such were big last summer (oh, how I miss those warm days)…I personally, don’t believe they are very practical when you are outside in the cold…& it’s snowing. But hey! I’m not saying I don’t think you should say no to those hats, they’re just not going to keep the heat in. The two types of hats that go for both the ladies & gents are beanies & what I like to call hunting hats (I believe the technical term is trapper hats). I do own both types of hats, but I prefer the hats that do look like you are going hunting…I think they’re warm & I love the faux fur (so fun!). Both styles of hats are quite practical for cold weather as they keep the heat in & certainly keep your ears warm.

So those are my essentials for winter gear…my next post will focus on what’s underneath the gear. But for now…

What are your winter gear essentials?

Love always,

BR

Oh! It's vintage!

Hello Blogginistas.

This afternoon I discovered a new appreciate for vintage pieces on Free People. The cost of items & clothing here is quite up there so I resisted my impulses to buy anything. I questioned my mother who I know owns some antiques & has been passed down old pieces of valuable clothing. Luckily she had a few things…& from what I’ve learned my grandmother has TONS of vintage pieces!

I’m proud to say I’m the new owner of an antique trunk as well as a beautiful fur shawl complete with pockets! The actual type of fur the shawl is made from I have yet to find out…but what I do know is that it was owned by my great grandmother…& for being such an old piece of clothing it is in pretty amazing condition! I’m also in the process of doing research on the trunk. I want to say it was made in the late 1800’s or early 1900’s since that’s when most trunks were made. Pretty cool, right? More importantly, it will be my new storage for bags, scarves, & all those other accessories.

So the purpose of my post this week is to find appreciation in vintage pieces. I really want to find a quality vintage store where good pieces of clothing come through. From what I’ve been told, it’s very difficult to find great vintage clothes…& that it takes a lot of time & patience. I believe though, that the hard work put into finding a unique piece is well-worth it. The piece has a history, a story, & no one else will own it!!

While it may be hard to find vintage clothes that are worth wearing, imagine owning something from the 1920’s or 1940’s…or one of those awesome 80’s bands tees! Plus these decade pieces are very much in season for the fall & winter. Talk about a great addition to a wardrobe.

Anywho, what are your thoughts Blogginistas? Do you think shopping vintage is worth the time & $$$?

Love always,

BR