Tag: Beach

Who Says You Have to Put Away Your Linen After Labor Day?

Labor Day is just around the corner. In a fashion sense, many think this means you have to retire all your summer clothes for fall and winter. If you ask any Fashionista, this statement is so false. Wearing white and linen can be appropriate with any outfit, any time of the year!

With these hot summer days still present into the early fall months, wearing linen past Labor Day is totally acceptable if you do it right. I am here to give you a few tips and tricks to picking out the perfect summer inspired fall outfit.

1—Wearing a summer inspired outfit it totally okay in a warm climate, such as by the beach.

2—Adding a pop of color to a white basic makes the outfit not stand out as much.

3—Wearing a fall shoe ties in the whole fall outfit. This can be anything from a sneaker to boots.

4—Long sleeves complete a fall outfit. Adding a warmer clothing item to a skirt is a perfect way of keeping warm when the temperatures drop as the seasons goes on.

5—Sunglasses may give the look a more summer vibe, however, they bring the whole outfit together for a casual daytime look.

6—Make sure you accessorize to finish the perfect summer inspired fall outfit. Adding simple jewelry or a scarf to a linen or white look will complete the outfit.

7—Be creative and unique with your outfit choices.

8—Be comfortable and confident.

The change of season gets many excited for new fashion trends, but also prohibits items to be worn. You do not have to wait until a new season to get the okay to wear certain clothing pieces. Carry over pieces into the new season and feel confident in your choices as a fashionista!

Do not be scared to wear summer clothing items year-round. Make your closet appropriate for four seasons instead of changing it up every couple month. Having a variety of clothing and knowing how to style each piece brings uniqueness and diversity into your clothing options. A Fashionista knows how to use each piece in their closet in a unique way while still looking cute and feeling comfortable.

Interested in creating a summer-inspired fall outfit? Post your creation on social media and do not forget to tag us @Cfashionista!

Hometown Getaway to Manhattan Beach

Living in the beautiful city of Angels has its many perks. One of which is being a short 30-minute drive to the golden Pacific Coast. My favorite thing to do on the weekends is to take a day trip out to the beach with my close girlfriends.

I love the vibe of beach life: the cool salty breeze, shouts of beach volleyball players, and bells of beach bikers. One of my favorite beaches off of Pacific Coast Highway is Manhattan Beach, a charming coastal community with bright blue waters and soft sandy beaches.

After circling for parking for close to an hour, my friends and I decided to recharge with a good latte. We ended up trying out a cute new spot located at the end of the pier called Vitals Coffee, formerly the Aquarium Cafe. Great coffee I must say!

We then headed down to the beach to claim our spot in the sand and soak up some sun. I never forget to bring a big beach tote filled with all the essentials including a cute bathing suit, my favorite pair of sunnies, some flip flops, a beach blanket, hydrating sunscreen, water, and some snacks.

I usually take the time to find some color at the beach and lay out. I like to bring a portable speaker to play some tunes and a good book or magazine to occupy my tanning time. Then when it gets too hot, a nice dip in the ocean does the trick!

I would have to say one of the hardest things about going to school in Wisconsin is being away from my home, the beach. I love California for so many reasons but its sunny golden coast takes the cake! However, the surfers don’t hurt either!

What’s your go-to hometown getaway? Let us know in the comments below!

How to DIY Your Own Embroidered Beach Hat

As a college student on a budget and a DIY queen, I always say, “Why buy when you can DIY?” In other words, why spend tons of money on something that is incredibly easy to make yourself, for half the price?

One of this summer’s must-haves is beach hats with bold statements or words embroidered on them. They’re all over social media, fashion blogs, online, and in stores. Of course, being a Style Guru, I just had to have one, but I thought that they were a little too expensive. I tried finding one on sale, but I had no luck. Finally, I decided to make one myself because not only would I save money but I could personalize my hat. I wouldn’t have to worry about it looking  “cliche.”

Here’s a simple step-by-step tutorial on how to create your own embroidered beach hat:

Materials

1—A canvas or straw wide brim hat. I bought this one at Target, for just  $12!

2—A pencil or Sharpie.

3—At least one foot of thread, twine, or yarn (you may need more or less depending on the size of your letters and the length of your word).

4—An embroidery needle.

Steps

1—Think of a word or phrase that you’d like to put on your hat. I came up with the phrase “Shell Yeah!” to express my enthusiasm for the beach. Begin by lightly writing the words with the pencil or Sharpie in big letters, on the far right side of the back of your hat. For a shorter word or phrase, start the beginning of the word closer to the center of the hat.

2—Using your needle and thread, hand-stitch each letter.

It’s that simple! Now, go to the beach and rock your hat on with confidence!

The beauty of DIY fashion is that you can give your project a sense of originality, personalize it, and make it your own.

If you create your own embroidered beach hat, I’d love to see it! Share it on social media by tagging @Cfashionista!

Soaking Up the Last of Summer

When dreaming of the beach, I picture perfect hair flowing in the wind and feeling fresh and glowing. I don’t know about you, but every time I go to the beach, I end up looking the opposite of what I envisioned except I do have a glow. Sadly, not the glow of sun-kissed skin, but instead the glow of sweat which isn’t too pleasant. Here is my beach bum outfit that keeps me looking picture ready, yet also comfortable and not scared to get a little sandy so that I can soak up the last days of summer!

Let’s talk comfortability. When you’re lying or walking on the beach, you need something easy and breezy. I picked up this super bright and colorful T-shirt from the men’s section of Marshall’s. I wanted my shirt to be comfy so figured the men’s size might give me the room I desired. A shirt with a vintage look featuring an older band or old logo always looks very unique. When someone sees it they can never be sure whether you paid money for it or if you stole it from your mom’s clothes from college!

Also for comfort and control over easily tangled post-ocean hair, an easy top knot or messy bun is the way to go! It keeps the hair out of your face while still looking put together!

It’s also important to take breaks from laying by the ocean. The only way I wasn’t drenched in sweat was by finding some shade in between buildings of the boardwalk. I definitely broke a sweat playing skeeball, but at least there was air conditioning. Of course like your mother would say, lots and lots of sunscreen!

During the summer, you need to at least enjoy the beach one day before you go back to loads of school work and activities! Even though once you leave you will probably feel sweaty and gross, the fun with friends and cool pics by the ocean will make it all worth it!

Even if the ocean is not easily accessible to you, find a lake or pond nearby! Don’t forget to share your beach day looks with us by tagging @CFashionista! 

How a Breezy Day in La Manga Can Be Made Into an Adventure

Living Spain is truly special. The beaches and food variety all provide something unique. La Manga is a 21km seaside strip, separating the Mediterranean Sea from the Mar Menor lagoon. It is a part of the lovely Region of Murcia Coast. Since I can remember, La Manga has been my place go-to during the summer. Sometimes I like to explore this beautiful beach—there is so much to do and so much more to see. I can’t wait to show you how I spent my day and what I wore.

I wanted to dress beachy for the daytime, so I wore a very cozy white dress with some polarized sunglasses. I definitely wanted to feel comfortable while walking around. For the afternoon hours, I decided to go for a very cute but simple outfit. I wore high-waisted denim shorts paired with an everyday T-shirt and accessorized it with one of my favorite black statement belts. No outfit is complete without the perfect pair of shoes, so my black slippers were the perfect match.

My family and I had a very Spanish day. We started the day off in Cabo de Palos, a nearby town which it is also a part of the Region of Murcia Coast. We stop at a local coffee shop for the typical Spanish breakfast. I ate churros!

After our delicious meal, we were on our way to visit the famous Cabo de Palos lighthouse and the wild Calas around it. The lighthouse—as always—had an outstanding view, full of different shades of blue. After that, we walked through the town until we arrived at the Calas. Although due to the weather we couldn’t access to them, many people were still enjoying themselves.

Because it wasn’t quite a beach day, we decided to go to La Manga Club. Just walking around was very cool. I love the way stores and restaurants meet the golf course and the amazing views the houses have to the Natural Park of Calblanque. This beautiful natural park led us to another hide but exceptional Cala where we spent part of our morning. After that relaxing time, we end up in La Manga Club Hotel Principe Felipe, where we stop to have as we say in Spain “el aperitivo” and basically had lunch.

Toward the end of the day, we drove all the way to the end of La Manga to the Collados Beach restaurant, where we had a little mom and daughter time. The restaurant sits at the end of the beach. It truly made for a perfect La Manga experience. Once it started to get dark we headed back, happy about our wonderful day in this seaside town. I have been to La Manga millions of times, but today was something extraordinary.

Which spot did you love the most? Let us know in the comments below!

3 Ways to Change Up Your Beach Day

Do you ever want to make the most of your beach day? Change up the routine a little, and enjoy a different trip to the beach? Get ready to relax and unwind on your next trip to the beach with these ideas:

1—Pick the perfect spot to gaze at. Beaches, in general, are usually packed, so finding the perfect spot could be tedious and quite difficult. So why not get a little lost? Sometimes you find the perfect spot by just looking at places you would never expect. A perfect beach spot, for example, is one overlooking the sand and waters or a spot more secluded than most. The spot I picked is right off the parking lot with a trail towards the beach.

2—Have a picnic in your trunk. Usually, I would bring down my beach mat and head over to the sand, but other days call for having rare beach picnics in the trunk of your car! Especially if the beach you’re headed to may not have much shade. Make the most of your backseat picnic with some blankets and many many pillows (you could never have too much fluff). Having a set-up like so creates the atmosphere almost one of camping and would, sure enough, add a different perspective to your beach day!

3—Relax and unwind to “moonrise” gazing. When the sun sets, there are many more places to discover and relax to. While having a beach day with some girlies, we accidentally came across the moon rising! I have not witnessed watching the moon rise before, but while sharing stories with my friends, we were in awe with the breath-taking view in front of us. Going moonrise gazing you should research where the sun sets and where the moon rises to plan out your day-long event at the beach.

Living on an island, surrounded by water I am always looking for ways to make the most of my beach day and some creative things to do! As the summer comes to an end, I want to relish most of it by relaxing and reflecting on this amazing summer with friends and family. A beach-vibe like this is perfect for bonding and for a toned down day from the rest of our hectic schedules. Here’s a cheers to a great summer!

What is your definition of a perfect beach day? Share with us in the comments below! And, don’t forget to share your beach day on social with #stylegurulove and tag @CFashionista

6 Things You Seriously Cannot Go to the Beach Without

With summer’s recent arrival and shore season just beginning, figuring out the right things to bring to the beach are a must. It’s often times stressful deciding which things are coming with you, so to help you out, we’ve collected eight essentials that are a must for the ideal beach day.

1—Sunglasses. Specs are essential for protecting your eyes from damaging UV rays and totally ensure a bomb Instagram post.

The Fashionista on the left is wearing Ray-Ban Aviator Classics and the Fashionista on the right is wearing a pair of Urban Outfitters brand sunglasses.

2—A Hat. There’s not much worse than a gnarly nose and under-eye sunburn. Hats not only prevent a red face but are also a cute staple piece in your wardrobe.

This Fashionista is wearing a baseball cap.

3—A Reusable Water Bottle. Not only do plastic water bottles fail to keep your water cold, but the plastic can melt into your water and make it harmful to consume. Reusable ones are your best bet overall.

Plus water bottles like the S’well The Wood Collection Lily Wood bottle are a stylish way to save the environment.

4—Leave-in Hair Product. Beach hair must be tamed! Super cute beachy waves are a must for post-ocean. Plus, you don’t want the salt water to dry out your hair!

I personally prefer OGX Weightless Hydration Coconut Water and Not Your Mother’s Way To Grow Leave-In Conditioner.

4—Sunscreen. This one’s a given. Protect your skin from sunburn and future wrinkles, reduce your risk of skin cancer… the list goes on. This stuff is crucial.

5—A Cool Camera. Sometimes your phone just doesn’t get the aesthetic job done. Document your memories. Any beach day is surely a day to remember.

6—Your Best Friends. Last, but obviously not least, you’ll definitely need this for a perfect beach day.

What are your beach essentials? Comment below!

10 Ways to Make Every Beach Vacation Better

With the summer of 2017 drawing to a close, you may be trying to fit in last-minute vacations and trips, or you may plan on traveling to warm, sandy climates during the winter months. Either way, these 10 ways on how to make your beach vacation better will come in handy!

1—Road trip it. If feasible, take the extra time and road trip to your beach of choice. You will gain more memories, stories, and time with your travel buddies.

2—Utilize your style. You know you have pieces of clothing in your closet that you “just don’t have anything to wear it for.” Well here’s your excuse! Push your style and take advantage of the trip to step out of your normal, everyday clothing.

3—Notice what’s around you. Some pretty incredible things can happen down by the shore that may be impossible in your hometown. Take advantage of these opportunities—you may experience a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

4—Wear swimwear you feel confident in. There is no worse feeling than being uncomfortable while surrounded by a group of people. Take time before your trip to find swimwear pieces that you feel happy, comfortable, and confident in to avoid these moments.

5—Avoid chain restaurants. Vacation destinations are known for being home to hundreds of locally-owned restaurants. Do some research to find fun and new places to enjoy!

6—Don’t forget your fitness goals. You might have been pushing yourself through workouts in order to prep that perfect beach body before your trip, so don’t throw it all away. Even if it’s just a few times over the trip, keep up with your fitness goals. Your post-vacation self will thank you!

7—But don’t be afraid to splurge. While staying on track with your fitness goals will make your post-trip physique happy, letting yourself splurge here and there on the trip will definitely keep your present cravings satisfied.

8—Keep up with skincare. This one is self-explanatory—sunburns do not fall under the definition of “fun” (and cause wrinkles).

9—Take advantage of Instagram moments. You’re surrounded by a beautiful backdrop that is most likely not common to your typical posts—take advantage of it!

10—Make time for self-growth. Vacation is a great time to unwind and take the time to invest in yourself, whether that be through reading a motivational book, making extra time just for yourself, or whatever unwinds your mind.

Show us on social media how you’re using these tips and tricks on your own trips by tagging @CFashionista.

How to Feel Confident With Your Bikini Body

Summer is officially in full swing and the thought of trying to fit into last summer’s bikini after a long, cold winter can be daunting. However, there is no reason that everyone shouldn’t be able to feel beautiful and confident in a swimsuit. Here are a few tips and tricks to embrace your bikini body this summer.

Finding Your Confidence

First of all, embrace those curves! Let’s admit it, it is not easy to keep weight off after hibernating basically all winter long. With that being said, let your curves shine. The key to embracing your curves is finding the right bathing suit that will highlight the parts of your body that you love or feel most confident with. One-piece swimsuits are making a serious comeback this summer. I especially love this simple black one-piece from Urban Outfitters.

Next, get a tan. Being tan is most often the thing that makes women feel most confident in the summer. A glowing skin complexion will always make you feel more confident.

Another thing that can help you to feel more confident in your bikini body is to exfoliate and moisturize. Being on the beach all day or swimming in chlorine can take a toll on your skin. With the right skincare routine of rinsing, exfoliating, and moisturizing, your skin will feel refreshed and healthier, making you feel ever more vibrant and confident.

Next, try accessorizing. Never, and I mean never, underestimate the power of a few accessories. Although some accessories may not be totally practical for beach days, there are ways to subtly accessorize your look. Even simple sunglasses, like the Playa Mirrored Aviators by Quay, can help to update your look.

Lastly, try hitting the gym before heading out to the beach. Whether it’s just 20 minutes walking uphill or sprinting on the treadmill, a light workout always makes me feel stronger and sexier in a bathing suit. You don’t have to go full on Khloe Kardashian workout to make you feel confident in a bikini. With the right workout gear, like these adorable leggings from Neiman Marcus, you’ll be feeling more than ready to step out in your bikini. Even just a little cardio could help you feel more confident in a bathing suit!

These are just a few simple ways for you to feel like you rule the world when stepping out in your new bathing suit and bikini body.

Let me know in the comments below if you have tried any of these tips and whether they have made you feel confident with your bikini body!

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How to Get the Most Out of the Rest of the Summer

The problem I’m facing right now is back to school. All everyone wants to talk about is going back to school. As I sat here trying to think about what I wanted to write about, I realized that it’s not all about fall or school that is coming. Now, with that being said, it is still summer! You still have the rest of the month to do what you can to make the most out of the rest of the summer. Here are a few ways that you can beat those back to school blues and finish off the summer with a bang.

Start by getting outside! It’s still nice out and there is still plenty to do. No matter where you are, there are outdoor activities for you to do. Go for a hike, go to the beach, or even just go play some yard games with your friends. Try on these cute sneakers for some motivation.

Spend some time with your guru gang before you’re swamped with school work. You know the crew, your guru gang is always there for you, ready with opinions on your wardrobe, and advice on your life. Go to lunch, go on a day trip somewhere not too far away, or you can even go shopping to get a few back to school necessities.

Still have things left on your bucket list? Start crossing them off. Every summer I make a bucket list of activities I want to do and usually I never finish it. I hope you are not like me when it comes to the bucket list, and if you are, you have time to cross off the last of it. There could be some recipes you wanted to try, outfits you wanted to wear, places you wanted to go, or even activities you wanted to do. Don’t let time stop you now. For your beach bucket list, you’ll need a killer bathing suit and for your going out bucket list, you’ll need a stunning outfit or LBD.

Summer is a time to enjoy yourself, whether you are going off hiking every day, lounging at the beach or pool, or even just catching up on your Netflix. Take time to relax and enjoy yourself, maybe get a tan or buy the dress you’ve been dreaming about. Don’t spend every day working or stressed about school starting.

How are you spending the last of your summer days? Tell me in the comments!