In Distress(ed Jeans)

Distressed jeans are one of my favorite reoccurring trends. I'm particularly a fan of the loose-fitting boyfriend style. They are super comfy and can be worn as casual wear during any season. Pair them with a flannel and combat boots in the winter or a plain tee and sandals in the summer (they look the best when they're cuffed).

This style of jeans can be found at Urban Outfitters, Forever 21, Nasty Gal, and many other stores. But for those of you who like to get crafty, there are many ways that you can distress your own jeans!

First things first, find a pair of jeans that you are willing to destroy. Don't pick your favorite skinny jeans that you wear every weekend. If you're going for the boyfriend style, ask your mom for an old pair of jeans or stop by a nearby thrift shop.

There are a variety of tools you can use to distress your jeans; scissors, a razor, sand-paper, tweezers, etc. I found scissors and sand paper to be the easiest. 

If you decide to choose my method, use the scissors to cut slits in the jeans wherever you want the holes to be. Then take the sand paper and rub vigorously over those areas. This should begin to take off the top layer of denim, revealing the white layer beneath. After a while of rubbing, mess around with the fabric and pull at the strings to get rid of as much blue as you can. 

When you're finished with the scissors and sandpaper, put the jeans in washer and dryer to remove any loose strings. This will also give it a more distressed look. 

There are tons of tutorials online that show different methods to distress jeans. Here are a few:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ruLJ9i5nBA

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Distressed-Jeans

http://theeverygirl.com/diy-distressed-boyfriend-jeans

Here's what my distressed boyfriend jeans look like on! I paired them with black combats, a plain black tee, and a flannel.

I hope you all enjoyed the post. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to write in the comment box below.

As always, stay trendy!

xoxo,

Emma

Interviewing In Style

Have an upcoming interview and aren't sure what to wear? Don't want to break out the black bell-bottom slacks from three years ago? Well, I'm here to tell you a few of the basic dos and don'ts of interview attire and how to make it trendy as well.

What you wear certainly depends on what type of job you are interviewing for. For example, an interview at a big news corporation (e.g. The Columbus Dispatch) would require a nicer outfit than an interview for an office job on a college campus. Since I am a sophomore in college and my blog is generally aimed at girls around my own age, I'm going to focus on fashionable interview attire that is a bit more on the casual side.

To the left is what I will be wearing to an interview I have at the Multicultural Center here on campus.

I've paired some khaki colored chino pants with a solid navy blazer. The white and navy striped shirt goes beneath the blazer to add just the right amount of contrast. Also, the nude flats are very simple and tie the outfit together without taking away from it.

(A well put-together outfit can really boost your confidence when interviewing)!

The Basic "Dos":

• Ironed clothes
• Polished shoes (this is more important than you think!)
• Clean hands/fingernails

The Basic "Don'ts":

• Huge statement necklaces (let your personality speak!)
• Multiple bright colors and patterns
• LEGGINGS

That's all I have for today. I hope you learned a few things and best of luck with any upcoming interviews!

Stay trendy,

xoxo Emma

Do It Yourself: Magazine Bead Necklace

If you love crafting and accessorizing as much as I do, then you will love this simple DIY magazine bead necklace. I learned how to make this during art club at camp. Enjoy!

What you need:

- a magazine

- glue

- scissors

- a pencil

- string

- tape

Step 1:

Cut about a 1" strip from one of the pages in your magazine. This will make one bead. The number of magazine strips you cut will determine how many beads go on the necklace.

(I chose many patterns and strip sizes to add variety).

Step 2:

Spread glue on the unwanted side of the magazine strip - leave a dry spot at the bottom so the strip doesn't get glued to the pencil.

Then place the pencil on the dry end of the strip and begin rolling it up until a bead has been formed with the desired pattern facing outward.

Step 3:

Gently pull the pencil from the inside of the bead. While the glue is drying on the bead, go ahead and wrap some tape around the ends of the string - this will make it easier to stick through the beads. When the string is taped and the glue has dried, string the bead.

Step 4:

Repeat the first three steps until your necklace is complete! Then leave some extra string to tie in a bow so that the necklace can be worn at different lengths.

I'm anticipating that these magazine bead necklaces are going to become a big hit. Not only are they crafty and chic, but they take less than ten minutes to make and cost nearly nothing. You can't get much better than that!

xoxo, Emma

An Outfit in the Life of a Camp Counselor

Hey everyone! So it's been a little while since my last post. For those of you who don't know, I spend just about my entire summer working at a wonderful place in Burlington, Kentucky known as YMCA Camp Ernst. Camp counselors are a rare breed (clothing and personality wise) and those on the outside looking in might have a critical word about our daily attire. I can describe our style in three words; comfortable, cool, and care-free. As camp counselors, we put all of our energy into making memories for the kids; which doesn't leave much time for ourselves. Aside from that, dressing as crazy as we do is just another way to set a a positive example. Camp is a judgement-free zone where everyone is encouraged to simply be themselves. Friendships are built off of who we are, not what we wear.

Pictured to the left is my Unit Leader and good friend, Lindsey Steller. Believe it or not, this is the type of outfit we wear on a daily basis. I'm going to touch on three things that Lindsey is wearing here; the baseball hat, fanny pack, and Chaco sandals.
Baseball hats, bucket hats, and visors are often worn by camp counselors to tame hair and shield their eyes from the sun. Most of us have hats in a variety of colors and styles.
While some counselors carry around backpacks every day, others keep it simple by using fanny packs. The fanny pack is a staple camp item because it holds the basics: our weekly schedule, band-aids, bug-spray, chap stick, a deck of cards (for any spontaneous game-playing), and so much more.
Lastly, Lindsey's Chaco sandals are a very functional item that many camp counselors wear. They are light-weight, supportive, and perfect for any camp occasion.
Chaco's motto, "fit for adventure" is a great way to describe our camp style. Our practical and versatile attire allows us to be prepared for any activity/situation that comes our way and lets us each shine our own light.

I hope you now understand and appreciate camp style and the meaning behind it.

Thanks for stopping by & stay trendy!
xoxo, Emma

Floral & Flow

 

Not only are floral prints and flowy shorts trending, but they happen to make the perfect summer combo!
In this post, I will share some of my favorite floral & flow pairs and show you how you can pull together a comfy and cute summer outfit.

These floral shorts are my absolute favorite. They go well with any basic white or navy top. In this case, I chose to pair the shorts with a white, high-neck tank. With the high-neck, the tank gives the outfit an elegant feel, while still being casual. Also when tucked in, the tank completely pulls the outfit together.

Since the shorts in this picture are a basic black, I decided to pair them with a cute, floral crop-top.  This crop-top adds the perfect amount of color and the strapless cut gives it a sweet, summer feel. Also, another great thing about this outfit is that the shorts have pockets!!

The pattern on these shorts is so colorful and unique, but it can be difficult to find a shirt that goes well with it. Since the floral pattern on the shorts includes coral, blue, and mauve, I chose to pair the shorts with a mauve top; this way it matches, but there isn't one over-powering color. The top also has a crochet bottom which adds a nice touch. 

Floral prints and flowy shorts can be found just about everywhere online and in stores. So get out and get shopping!

xoxo, Emma

A Statement Summer

Summer is all about fun, bright colors and what better way to showcase those colors than through statement accessories! One reason I love statement accessories is because they can bring life to any basic outfit. Another reason is because the statement trends are always changing. Last summer was all about the bubble necklaces; whereas this summer includes a bigger variety. Necklaces don't have to be the only piece of jewelry that you use as a statement this summer. You can show off your bright colors in bracelets and rings as well!

Bangle bracelet sets are a staple jewelry piece and with added color they become a statement. The set I am wearing in the above picture includes navy and turquoise in different sizes and patterns to give the bangle set a nice pop.
Beaded necklaces are very popular this summer and the one I am wearing above is one of my absolute favorites. This necklace is filled with fun, summer colors that draw attention to any simple dress or shirt.
I have always been a big fan of rings. Since I typically leave my fingernails unpainted, a statement ring adds a nice vibrant touch. In the picture above, I am wearing a bohemian triple-bead ring.

A few sites that have great statement accessories are:
Forever 21
http://www.forever21.com/Product/Category.aspx?br=f21&category=acc_jewelry
Francesca's
http://www.francescas.com/category/jewelry/view+all+jewelry.do?nType=1
Charolette Russe
http://www.charlotterusse.com/category/Jewelry/3045.uts
...and many more!

So, remember, when you're out shopping for colorful summer items to add to your wardrobe, don't forget to browse the jewelry section!

xoxo, Emma

Mastering Palazzo and Harem Pants

Palazzo and harem pants are all the rage this summer. Palazzo pants are wide-leg all the way down (they can look like a maxi when legs are together); whereas harem pants are wide-leg at the top, but get tighter around the ankle. Both types of pants are comfy and cute; but some people hesitate to purchase them in fear that they'll be mistaken for wearing pajamas.Well, I'm here to help you pull together a trendy outfit without looking like you're heading for bed.
To the left, I am wearing my favorite harem pants. They're navy with a cream feather pattern (looks like polka dots from a distance). I paired the pants with a basic cream tank. Since the pants are loose, it is important to give the upper-body some shape. I tucked in the front of my tank so I didn't look too boxy.
Accessories are important in steering the outfit away from looking like pjs. In the picture, I am wearing a simple blue and tan necklace and a few blue and tan bangles around my wrist.
To tie the outfit together, I added my favorite leather shoulder-bag to match my tan sandals.
Wasn't too hard, now was it? Palazzo and harem pants are great for any occasion. They can be paired with heels and a cute crop top for a night out or with sandals and a basic tank for a chill summer day. Just remember, add some shape to your upper body and feel free to add a few cute accessories!

Palazzo and harem pants are sold at many stores. Here are a few different pairs I found online:

Left - Harem pants from Forever 21
Center - Harem pants from Urban Outfitters
Right - Palazzo Pants from Forever 21