Colors of My Youth

It’s no secret that I’m a Florida girl. I have spent most of my life living in some city in Florida, which I love. However, I can’t help that occasionally I have angst over the memories of my distant hometown. It’s as if the island whispers to me at night, “Come back…we miss you”. I find myself longing for the hot summer days that I spent lazily on a hammock by the water. How did I rush so quickly through life that those carefree tropical summers seem like memories from a former life?

A Pink Remix

As you might know from this post, I am absolutely in love with the brightness and spunkiness of my pink jeans and all the wonderful memories it conjures. However, when I first got them I got remarks such as, “Where will you wear that to?” and “How many outfits can you come up with that color?” and even “You think you’ll even wear that more than once?” O ye of little faith, not only do I wear my pink jeans more than once, I probably wear them too many times.

Vivid and bright colors may seem daunting at first for pairing into every day wear. The colors appear wild and untamable. They mask all the other pieces in your closet and you worry they won’t play nice with your pastel colored cardigans. Fear not, taking control of these feisty ensembles only takes a little practice and a little daring.

Fashion Tip: Treat your vibrant bottoms as neutrals to help you pick out a top. Don’t be scared to use floral patterns, prints, and stripes. These will perfectly complement your colored jeans. If you want to take it a little easier pair with solid colors and layers. Start with three colors in your outfit until you are an experienced tamer. Then go wild!  

What I’m Rockin:

Jeans – Celebrity Pink Jeans via Macy’s

Outfit 1

Shirt: Old Navy

Shoes: Charlotte Russe

Necklace: Beya

Watch: Bijoux Terner

Belt: Forever 21

Sunnies: D&G

Outfit 2

Safari jacket – Old Navy

Blue Blouse – Marshalls

Cocktail ring – Forever21

Nude pumps – Target

Necklace – Beya

Outfit 3

Floral Blouse – Forever21

Scarf – Bijoux Terner

Pastel pink pumps – Qupid

Cross bracelet – Charyli, Winter Park

Bracelets (assorted) –Forever21


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A Little Bit of Rock and Roll

Can you believe I found this lively shirt abandoned on a clearance rack? I saw ladies pass over it time and time again. The poor thing. Sure it’s a little strange, a little loud, and a little too big. But who of us doesn’t have a few flaws? It’s what makes us irreplaceable and fun.

Instead of banishing this shirt to a lifetime of markdowns, I took it home with a plan to bring out all its glorious funkiness. In fact, I made its funkiness center stage because this shirt makes me feel like a rock star. It’s the shirt I would throw on for a crazy, sweaty show, to meet frenzied fans, to shred a guitar.

The colors, the sequins, the graphics – they satisfy my rock star altar ego. It’s the perfect costume for the rock star life I live in my dreams and when I win that Grammy, my acceptance speech will begin with: “It all started with an amazing shirt…”

Fashion Tip: Can your shirt light up a room with its bevy of bedazzling? Don’t let that scare you. If you have a superstar article of clothing, keep the rest of your outfit simple and sleek. I paired my top with basic black jeans, booties, and a classic jean jacket, then finished it off with a bright red lip color. I am a rock star, after all.

What I’m Rockin’:

Shirt – Bella Carra by Biz via Katie Lynn’s Boutique

Jeans – Celebrity Pink Jeans via Macy’s

Shoes – Charlotte Russe

Bracelets – Assorted

Jean Jacket – American Eagle

Fall into Pink

The air is getting crisp and the leaves are floating off the Palm trees. Fall has arrived! But instead of turning to the muddled browns, mossy greens, and somber blacks, I’ve noticed I’m turning to another go-to color: delicious, fun, flirty hot pink. Proof? You can see my penchant for incorporating pink into my outfits here and here. Finally I can say, “Take THAT fall. I’ll wear all the bright colors I want!!”

This bright pink is an automatic pick-me-up, reminding me of carnival cotton candy, every single one of my Barbie’s accessories, and sweet bubblegum. It’s my fashionable rebellion against dull and dreary fall and a natural addition to my wardrobe. Work it into yours too!

Fashion Tip: Fight the instinct to neutralize your brightly colored jeans with a staple black or white tee. Instead, welcome the color into your life! Bust out a color wheel (you can check one out here: Basic Color Theory) and choose complimentary tones to finish out and brighten up your look. Most importantly, don’t forget to "rock it out" because fashion is all about confidence.

What I’m Rockin:

Pink jeans: Celebrity Pink by Macy’s

Shirt: Old Navy

Shoes: Charlotte Russe

Necklace: Beya

Watch: Bijoux Terner

Belt: Forever 21

Sunnies: D&G