The Beginner’s Guide to Online Shopping

Shopping is wonderful, but it is also tiring, stressful, and overwhelming. I have grown to love online shopping because it is simpler, and you can find trendy pieces for affordable prices. When you shop online, you have access to even more stores from the comfort of your own bed. I have done all my shopping online for the past four years, and I have learned so many things about the best places to shop and the best ways to shop. Here are my top three tips for online shopping, and my top three places to shop online.

My Top Three Tips

1—Build your wardrobe. Online shopping is perfect for finding the best basics and staples to really work on building your wardrobe. When you shop online, you can search for the exact items you want. If you are looking for a staple denim skirt, you can search around until you find the perfect one for the best price. This is much easier than running around the mall, and not even finding the best option. Online shopping is so helpful to find those solid staples that you can use to create adorable and on-trend outfits. You can find those special one-of-a-kind pieces in stores.

2—Find your dream items and save them for later. One of the best parts about online shopping is that you can find your dream wardrobe, and then save it for later. My favorite thing to do is to create a private Pinterest board, where I save items I find throughout a season. Then, I purchase them when they go on sale or when it works best for me. Doing this helps give you the best wardrobe for the best price.

3—Make lists. To online shop to the best of your ability, you need to know what you need and what you want. That helps you to know what to search for, and purchase items that you will actually wear.

My Top Three Sites

1—Forever 21. Forever 21 is great for finding trendy pieces, basics, and staples. Although it is not always the most lasting quality, it is always a safe and easy place to begin your online shopping experience. When you sign up for their emails, you get 10 percent off your first order, and you can always check to see their new arrivals to keep up with the trendiest pieces.

2—ASOS. ASOS is perfect for getting nicer brands for more affordable prices. I love to go to the outlet section and sort by low to high prices. I have found amazing, more expensive brands for reasonable prices.

3—Boohoo. Boohoo is my favorite place to online shop at the moment. It is full of the best trends, and they have 50 percent off sales regularly, including sale, so you can get loads of adorable clothing for wonderful prices.

Do you like to online shop? What are some of your favorite sites? Let us know in the comments below!

How I Style Feminine Florals

New fall 2017 trends are on the rise and fear not, floral print is staying for good this year. From vintage to modern floral patterns, there is a style for everyone. Now summer does not have to end! Dresses, pants, tops, and even shoes have been popping up everywhere with new floral patterns. I would love to share with you all how I find my favorite floral pieces for all year round.

A couple of weeks ago, I decided my wardrobe needed a major makeover for the upcoming summer months. I wanted to find trendy pieces though that would work all year round so I began my research. My first pro tip would be to look up the fall 2017 trends on the internet and pull inspiration from runway shows. Such trends for the upcoming season include the color red, vintage inspired fur, glitter boots, and most importantly floral. Because floral is so prominent in the summer, that was the first trend on my to do list.

Let me tell you, shopping for floral pieces can be super overwhelming with all of the choices and where to start. Some of my favorite stores include American Threads, Forever 21, Romwe, and Faithfull the Brand. Forever 21 and Romwe definitely have a lot of cheaper alternatives so that your budget does not break the bank! If you are looking to spend a bit more, I recommend checking out American Threads which has comparable prices to Urban Outfitters. Faithfull the Brand has been absolutely blowing up lately with their chic, adorable dresses. One can expect to find this brand at Lulus or Revolve Clothing.

Florals can be worn for just about any occasion and can be dressed up or down. You can take it to the gym or a night out with the girls! For my outfit in particular, I decided to keep it semi-casual with this two-piece floral set from American Threads. I wore this look to go shopping with my girlfriends and had a fun shoot later that day at a botanical garden. Keeping things simple, I paired the set with some black sandals with silver detailing from Forever 21. As for jewelry, simple layering looks are key. This gold two-piece necklace is the perfect way to add to an outfit without taking away from the floral pattern.

To recap, do your research, ladies! It’s all about finding out what trends are right for you and exploring your feminine side through the floral prints. Do not be afraid to mix patterns either to add some funk to your outfit. You are sure to be a showstopper!

Let me know how you style florals in the comments below or show us on social media @Cfashionista!

How to Style Like an Edgy Princess

When you think of an edgy outfit, a pink pleated skirt probably does not come to mind. However, this Fashionista breaks barriers by creating an edgy look while still wearing a  girly, pink skirt. By combining two contrasting styles in one outfit, this Fashionista creates an enviable look that is perfect for almost any occasion.

This Fashionista builds this edgy outfit around her pink pleated skirt. She ties her white T-shirt in a knot to allow for her entire skirt to be on display and act as the focal point of the outfit. Her T-shirt says “life is a party” in a beautiful font. Most people wouldn’t expect a pleated skirt to be paired with a casual T-shirt, but it is the contrast in these two items that contributes to the success of this outfit.

My favorite part of this outfit is the oversize denim jacket. The jacket is a medium wash denim that goes down to the thigh. The jacket is imperfect, with patches and fringes at the end. This jacket truly completes the outfit and allows for this Fashionista to stay warm during those cool, summer nights. She finishes out this awesome look with a classic pair of white slip-on Vans. The Vans are comfortable and pair perfectly with the casual T-shirt and denim jacket.

Her accessories are also very interesting. She wears a black choker necklace with a Hand of Fatima charm. The Hand of Fatima is said to bring luck, happiness, and good fortune. This Fashionista certainly had some good fortune when creating this awesome look! She wears sparkly hoop earrings to complement the pink skirt. While she looks edgy and comfortable with her T-shirt and sneakers, the earrings dress up this look a little more.

To complete this look, this Fashionista wears a purple lipstick from ColourPop Cosmetics. The purple lip adds a more edgy flair to this outfit than a basic nude shade.

Do you like this contrasting style? Let me know in the comments!

Plus-Size Warm Weather Style

Hey there, Fashionistas! The year is cruising on by and my favorite season is now upon us: summer! I love everything about this season such as, the warm weather, no school, and of course, the clothing. Being a plus-size girl, I find it a bit difficult to find clothing that is on trend while also looking flattering on my body type. However, I’ve found one look that totally rocks a new popular style!

I was super excited to see that denim skirts are in style again but also a little nervous because I wanted to be able to wear them without worrying if I could pull it off. I love the look of crop tops and high waisted skirts so I decided to try it out for myself. Thankfully, Forever 21 has an amazing plus-size section at an extremely affordable price! For this outfit, I paired a high waisted denim skirt with an oversize graphic crop top, along with low tan wedges.

My favorite way to dress up an outfit is to accessorize! I added a black choker and bracelets, a rose gold watch, and purple aviator Ray Ban sunglasses. To enhance this look just a little more, I created a soft purple eye look using the Anastasia Beverly Hills Renaissance Palette and complemented it with an Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in the shade Weirdo.

While this may be a little dressed up for an everyday look, you can always dress it down with some sandals and less accents—the perfect outfit for everyone! I personally always love to dress up a little bit since I love to explore fashion and all different styles.

This combo will complement anyone of any shape or any size.  From personal experience, I know the inner struggle being plus sized and always wanting to copy the famous trends that everyone is wearing. I also worry about how it may look on me but I’ve learned to stop worrying and just try it. For all my plus-size girls out there, don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone! Try all those trends you were afraid of before, be bold, and standout. Denim skirts and crop tops are definitely at the top of my list for favorite trends of the summer and I hope this inspires my fellow Fashionistas to try it out!

Let me know what your favorite summer trend is in the comments below!

6 Ways to Incorporate Florals in Your Wardrobe

Florals are everywhere these days. Whether the flowers are embroidered or all over the fabric, you can’t go anywhere without seeing florals! Florals aren’t just for spring anymore. I’m going to show you a few different ways to wear floral as the main focus of your outfit or as an outfit detail. I’ve created six different looks that involve floral, and they are perfect for a day out with friends or a night out on the town!

1—Mesh floral bodysuitFor my first look, I styled a floral bodysuit with a pair of high-waisted jeans and embroidered floral sandals. This look is easy and fun and would be perfect for brunch or an afternoon out with friends. Pair this look with skirts or shorts to give it a more dressy or casual look.

2—Black floral bodysuit. This bodysuit is a great night look and is perfect for a party. I paired it with jeans, but the bottoms are interchangeable depending on the look you want to achieve.

3—Floral kimono. The floral kimono is another way to make florals the main focus of your outfit. It is perfect for a day at the beach or hanging out with your friends.

4—Embroidered dress. This dress is simple and the perfect outfit for date night or cocktails (or mocktails) after work.

5—Floral booties. Wear these booties with a monochromatic outfit that will make these eye-catching boots the statement piece of your outfit!

6Embroidered leather jacket. Summer isn’t the ideal jacket weather, but when the temperature drops, throw on an embroidered floral jacket that will make your outfit stand out!

If you want to get creative, hand-paint or add floral patches to a leather or denim jacket for your own unique DIY jacket!

Comment below your favorite way to wear florals! 

An Instagrammer’s Guide to a Day In Nashville

This summer, I have been hoping to take several short day trips as something fun and different to do. My boyfriend and I were nearing our one year anniversary, and thought it would be perfect to take a short trip to Nashville. I adore cute cities with plenty of Instagrammable photo opportunities, and Nashville was just that. Here are my top eight tips to having the most Instagrammable day in Nashville.

1—Pick a versatile, and adorable, outfit.

Nashville has plenty of photo opportunities, so make sure you are ready! Choose an outfit that will look good in front of a variety of different patterns and backgrounds. I chose a simple white, one shouldered top with a denim skirt, which was perfectly trendy and classic.

2—Grab breakfast.

Nashville has a ton of delicious and trendy breakfast options. Biscuit Love has a delicious looking donut-biscuit hybrid known as a bonut. However, when we arrived the line was over an hour long, so we switched plans. I would recommend Biscuit Love as it looks incredibly amazing, just schedule out the time for the line!

3—Get Instagrams in front of all the trendiest murals.

Nashville is filled with some of the best, trendiest, and most unique murals. Here are my top four:

1.  Stripes at Draper James

2. “I Believe in Nashville” sign

3. The wings in the Gulch neighborhood.

4. The funky wall across from The Juice Bar in the Gulch neighborhood

 

4—The Gaylord Opryland Hotel.

This hotel has the sweetest architecture, and feels like a botanical garden. It is a definite must see!

5—Hattie B’s Hot Chicken.

Nashville is known for their hot fried chicken, and Hattie B’s is a classic version of it. It is incredibly popular, especially with Nashville natives. You might even run into someone famous. When I was there I saw Aubrey Plaza, who plays April on Parks and Recreation.

6—Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.

Possibly some of the most delicious ice cream you will ever taste. It is located right by Draper James and the Nashville mural. It also makes for a sugary sweet Instagram that perfectly showcases your nail polish.

7—Pinewood Social.

Pinewood Social is about as trendy as it gets, and has plenty of options to keep you entertained. With food, bowling alleys, and pools, it is the perfect source of afternoon entertainment.

8—The best city views.

Nashville is such a cool city, with an incredible skyline. You can get the perfect view and Instagram of the skyline form the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge.

Day trips are a fun and perfect way to fill the summer. Are you planning on going to Nashville any time soon? Are you taking any fun day trips this summer? Let us know in the comment section below!

How I Experimented With Style This Summer

Summertime is the best time. Just the mere fact of glowing skin and the radiant aroma of the air is amazing. Not only is it the perfect time to unwind, but if you’re a fashion lover like myself, it can be a great a time to experiment with new styles and trends that are outside of the box. Being in the comfort of one’s own environment is the perfect time to play with fashion. Summer can be a pivotal time to amp up your wardrobe and make your look ready to wow before you head back to school.

For me, I love to travel and embark on little adventures throughout the summer. I consistently find myself becoming inspired by the world around me. This not only broadens my general perspective of the world, but it enhances my fashion tastes and influences. I feel an urge to experiment and create, and my style becomes a true resemblance of the beauty of the season.

This look truly hones in on this idea. I have been eyeing this long maxi dress for weeks every time I went into Forever 21. Finally, I caved and bought it and have been dying to wear it ever since. To be honest, I have never been a huge fan of maxi dresses or skirts, but for some reason, I was drawn to this one. I think the print is captivating. The floral print evokes a summer vibe, but the colors are a bit more neutral, which I like. It also has a slit and a tie to give it a bit more dimension.

To enhance the summer essence of the dress, I opted for a block heel sandal and a fringe clutch. Both are a nice cognac brown. The choker is also a great accent piece to dress the outfit up. The look becomes more trendy with the layering. However, I am always careful not to add too much, as it can make an outfit look too enhanced or overdone.

This look is truly one that expresses my happiness for summer. It is safe to say I will be doing a lot of experimenting this summer. My style is about to get a whole new makeover. Not only am I excited to revamp my look, but I can’t wait to share my fashion journey with everyone. With that being said, use summer as a blank canvas and start experimenting. You never know where it might take you. Happy adventuring!

How will you amp up your style this summer? Let me know in the comments below!

How to Master the Art of Fast Fashion

We have all been to stores like Zara and Forever 21…the bosses of the fast fashion industry. They provide us with off the runway looks for a fraction of the cost, and lets be honest, who doesn’t love cute clothe for cheap prices? That being said, we all know setting foot in these stores can be a call for overwhelming stress. With racks filled with different colors, materials and accessories you often find yourself leaving your shopping experience with a little retail anxiety and the desire to take a long, hot bath. But don’t you worry because I am here to teach you all about mastering the art of fast fashion with four simple tips!

Welcome to Fast Fashion 101! The following are helpful tips and tricks to keep in mind when taking a stroll to the mall for some retail therapy:

Know What You Want

Knowing what you want before walking into Forever 21 is key! In stores so big and filled with merchandise it’s easy to forget what you came to shop for. Plan outfits for events, trips or everyday looks prior to your shopping spree. Are you looking for cute booties for a party next weekend? Or a plain white T-shirt? Jot everything down in a cute little notebook. This way you use your time efficiently and take a ton of pressure off your shoulders.

Read the Reviews

If you followed the first step and know what you want, you should be able to log onto any store’s online site and read the reviews of the pieces you are looking for. Customer reviews are helpful and honest; use this to your advantage the next time you go shop till you drop!

Pick the Nudes

Go for the neutrals! They are easier to wear and style from season to season. Bright colored clothing may often look cheap when being bought from fast fashion stores. Unless you are completely confident in your bright yellow and orange Forever 21 jacket, skip it and keep on looking for something bigger and better!

Care and Caution

This step is simple but very often forgotten. Be delicate when it comes from pieces bought from fast fashion brands. When getting ready to wash your clothing, read the labels found within them to know how to handle what you are about to wash. Treating your pieces with care can expand their lifespan, allowing you to get the best for your buck!

What tips do you have for fast fashion shopping? Let me know in the comments below!

How I Styled Gingham

One of the most popular trends for summer is the Gingham print. When I first noticed this trend come to life, I became a little worried. Gingham reminded me of elementary school Halloween parties when girls dressed up as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. However, I didn’t fully give up on Gingham because I knew with the right styling, (no ruby slippers), I could make this trend work. Here’s my favorite Gingham look:

My go-to outfit during the summertime is a dress. Dresses are perfect because they are super easy to style and run out the door. When I found this Gingham dress from Express, I knew it would fit perfectly into my summer wardrobe. Dresses from Express never disappoint because they are always on trend and have a unique flare, like the super cute shoulder ties on the one I am wearing! Also, it has pockets, ideal for holding your phone, Polaroid camera, and favorite lip gloss. When styling a bold print like Gingham, try to keep your accessories to a minimum, and from the same color pallet. I paired my dress with a silver choker and silver rings

For the bag, I chose an all black crossbody from Rebecca Minkoff to keep the focus of the outfit on the dress. Smaller bags are a must in the summer, especially if you’re always on the go.

For shoes, I’m wearing black, steel-toed Chelsea boots from Forever 21. If it gets warmer where you live, a black, strappy sandal is a perfect substitute on hotter days.

For hair, I kept it really simple with some loose waves. Messy and effortless hair is much more common in the summer. To achieve my look, use the NuMe 3/4 in. curling wand and some sea-salt spray for added texture. 

Do you like the Gingham print trend? Let me know in the comments below!

ALL IN THE DETAILS: Spring Florals and Distressed Denim

With temperatures already in the mid 90s here in Florida, it’s hard to believe that it isn’t even officially summer yet. This Fashionista is holding onto spring as long as she can by incorporating florals and light denim in her outfit, and I’m totally into this classic combination.

The little details that make this outfit a spring dream are the wrap sandals, floral print, and distressed denim. This Fashionista wore a floral romper from PacSun and threw on a distressed denim jacket from Forever 21 to add more structure to her look. My favorite aspect from this outfit are her suede wrap sandals from Forever 21. Not only are they super cute, but this Fashionista says they are extremely comfortable as well!

While the denim jacket is the star of the show, I am obsessed with how this Fashionista accessorized. She confessed she can’t go anywhere without a pair of sunglasses. For this look, she chose to wear a pair of rose gold sunglasses from Quay Australia. Her nude bag is from Kate Spade New York, but with such a simple design, you can definitely find similar ones from almost anywhere. Lastly, her brown wrap bracelet is from Francesca’s and her gold earrings are from Forever 21.

I am already thinking about the pieces I have in my wardrobe that will help me recreate this look. If you don’t have a romper or you’re super tall like me and rompers don’t always work for you, don’t worry! Substituting a pair of floral shorts and a white tank will give the same look. Happy spring, Fashionista/os!