fashion friday: spring in my step

Spring is near & my heart couldn’t be happier. But let’s be honest, my toes are even more happy about the transition in weather. THEY WILL BE FREE! I can wear bright-colored sandals, printed Keds, gladiators, wedges and my infamous must-have Rainbows. The possibilities are endless, but make sure those toes are painted please! Nobody likes bare piggies!

This spring is taking a throwback by trending 90s style. Being a 90s gal, this is right up my alley! Below are some of my favorites from the 90s that I definitely plan on bringing back in my style this spring:

 

If you don’t know what any of these treasures are, I’ll be praying for you. At the top are the adorable Jelly shoes. I literally wore these almost every day and my mom bought me every color! They are super affordable too.

Underneath are the comfortable Birkenstocks. These are a HIT this spring. It seems as though I have been seeing them pop out of the woodwork for weeks now. They cost between $100 – $140 on average, but I promise you they LAST FOREVER and you will get your moneys worth.

Lastly are the Keds. Taylor Swift herself has made these babies popular in recent years and once again, they will be springing in my step. I love how affordable they are and the many print varieties. To top it off, my favorite designer is Kate Spade and she has an exclusive line with Keds right now. I died.

If you click on the pics, I have provided links to where you can find these gems. Join with me this spring & take it back to the 90s.

PS – Most of my style inspiration comes from my Pinterest. Feel free to follow at http://www.pinterest.com/brandiwelk/ 🙂 Have a great weekend dolls!

the twisted modern day relationship

Looking back on just 5 years ago, I reflect and find that today’s modern dating world is quite twisted and humorous at the same time. It used to be that you would meet someone while out, exchange numbers and go on a date. Today, it is a whirlwind of mixed signals, assumptions and games.

Welcome to the modern dating world where . . .

A man & woman meet while drunkingly checking each other out at a bar.

The man makes some awful pickup line and says “You have the prettiest eyes” even though your eyes are just brown.

He asks for your number and in some cases just puts it in your phone and calls himself (that’s just weird).

You go home your separate ways and think about him all night (or at least I hope so).

The next day you have a text, Facebook friend request, Instagram follow and poke before noon.

Yep, that just happened. Sh*t just got real.

Before you know it, you both are obsessing over each other’s pages while agonizing over who likes who and “What are we?”

I could go on and on and by the way, these roles can totally be reversed. Girls are just as crazy. My point is that I miss the old days where people politely asked for numbers and gave genuine compliments and not loaded compliments all in hopes of a booty call.

I challenge each of you to break the norm – DON’T accept that friend request (I mean it’s only bad for you anyway and will lead to over-analyzing), DON’T send selfies to guys unless you are genuinely interested (seriously, that’s just cruel) and whatever you do  . . . make sure that whoever you decide to date is someone you can take home to mama!

fashion friday: trends for Spring 2014

I don’t know about all of you, but I am BEYOND READY for Spring weather. The bright colors, bare toes, flowers & sunshine . . . I need it in my life, as well as, the fashion trends that are coming with it. Last spring we saw lots of cutouts, lace and stripes. This year, it’s even better!

Below is what you and your wallet can look forward to in Spring 2014 —

• PRETTY PASTELS – This is by far my favorite. Pastels are so complimentary to anyone’s skin tone and also give a nice touch of purity to any outfit.
• WIDE-LEG TROUSERS – Bell bottoms making a comeback?! Close. This spring you can look forward to chic wide-legged trousers in linen and prints to wisp you away.
• TEA-LENGTH SKIRTS – Oh, I just adore!! Tea-length skirts are longer skirts that can be paired with a crop top or tucked-in blouse. Twirl away ladies!!
• CROPPED & BOMBER JACKETS – Look for cropped & collarless jackets to hit the stores soon. They will also have lots of prints to choose from. Also, the infamous bomber jacket will be making the scene. Pair either of these jackets with a nice pair of shorts or capris and call it a day.
• GLADIATORS – I think gladiator sandals will always be trending. Many runway models have been paired with these. Especially, knee-high gladiators.

Spring 2014 is going to be one for the books. You mean I get to wear pastels & gladiators?! I’m already super anxious!

Get your pocketbooks ready ladies & happy Spring shopping!

P.S. – I think tax-refunds come out this time of year for a reason. Go reward yourself for all of your hard work!!

fashion friday: finding the perfect sparkle for your body type

With 2014 right around the corner, that means every woman is in search of the perfect New Years Eve dress. Of course, this dress must include SPARKLES!! Sparkles are the ultimate go-to showstopper. But with that being said, that also means that certain areas of your body will be drawn attention to more than others. So, how do you know which area to bedazzle and which to keep basic? I think it’s best to approach this with taking into consideration your body type. If you’re a full-figured girl, you probably aren’t going to want to wear sequins from head to toe. Through my searching for the right NYE ensemble, I came up with a few tips for each of the five body types. This will not only ease your hunting, but also assist you in accentuating your hottest assets.

1) Apple – This is a woman with a chest and hips that are close to the same size, but your hips tend to be about six inches smaller than your chest. For this, I suggest your sparkle focus point be on the bottom half of your body. This will even out that small difference.

2) Pear – This body type is the exact opposite of the apple. With this, your hips are significantly wider than your shoulders which causes you to be curvy on your bottom half. There is nothing wrong with having hips ladies! Embrace it this NYE by purchasing a skirt has sparkle detail and pairing it with a basic top. This will not only draw attention to sexy curves, but also create the look of a smaller waist.

3) Rectangle – This is a woman where her shoulders, waist, bust and hips are around the same size. A woman with this body type can virtually get away with anything. Though, I do suggest creating the illusion of curves. In order to do this, you should buy a piece that will cinch the waistline. You can do this with a belt or peplum dress or top.

4) Inverted triangle – This body type is very similar to the apple shape, except instead of a subtle difference in your hips, they are significantly smaller than your shoulders. For women with this type, you absolutely do NOT want to put any focus on your shoulders. The last thing you want is to have the appearance of “man shoulders.” I would by a dress that flows outward on the bottom with sequin or glitter detail.

5) Hourglass – This is every woman’s dream. This woman embodies the perfect balance of bust and hips while having a small waist. Talk about having it made! I suggest picking a dress that is more form fitting to show off that awesome body. Work it girl!

Whether you are rectangle like me or fabulously hourglass, pick a sparkly dress right for your body and go into 2014 with a BANG! Good luck & happy hunting ladies!

I would like to extend a special thank you to my idol, Chelsea Krost, for featuring this post on her blog. To check it out, go to www.chelseakrost.com.

fashion friday: CUT-OUTS!

“Your clothes should be tight enough to show you’re a woman, but loose enough to show you’re a lady.” — Marilyn Monroe

Cut-outs are hitting the scene once again this Spring! They have been seen in designer’s lines, such as Roberto Cavalli, Versace, Gucci, & Alexander Wang.

TRENDING RIGHT NOW: oh, just CUT it OUT already! I’m sure that many of you are skeptical of this trend feeling that you might seem skanky or what not. But let me tell you, this trend dates all the way back to the great Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn was a big fan of the cut-outs & let’s be honest, who doesn’t love her?! The trick is in what pieces you choose & your body type. According to hellobeautiful.com, there are 3 essential rules to follow when wearing cut-outs:

1. Keep the rest of your look super simple — Let the dress do the talking!

2. Highlight a body part you love — Wearing cut-outs requires lots of confidence. If you have a toned tummy, go for side cut outs. Have nice assets up top? Go for a keyhole cut-out at the bustline.

3. Don’t give it all away — The purpose of this trend is to show a little bit of skin, not all of it. Simplicity is sexy!

Add a little peek-a-boo to your wardrobe this spring with subtle cut-outs. It’s classy & chic. You really can’t go wrong!

fashion friday: PALE NAILS!

“Fashion is all about eventually becoming naked” — Rene Konig

When it comes to fashion, Spring 2013 is saying that nails are our best accessory! I can absolutely adore a woman’s outfit, but if their nails look worn & shabby, I’m turned off. Nails are the fun & versatile part of your outfit. With today’s advances in nail design, you can do practically anything!

TRENDING RIGHT NOW: the ever-so-subtle PALE NAILS! This is a minimalist trend that is gaining lots of momentum.

Pale nails have been seen on the hands of models for known designers such as Chanel, Oscar de la Renta, Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, and even Valentino. This look is extremely easy to achieve & one of my personal faves! I love the look probably too much. Especially since I own close to 15 different shades. Woopsy!!

Here are some colors that you can find me wearing:

• “bond with whomever” — posh lilac — Essie

• “cocktail bling” — a precious pale gray — Essie

• “pink-a-doodle” — classic light pink — OPI

• “fiver” — mint green creme — Butter London

• “jasper” — opaque bright pastel yellow — Butter London

Add a little class & chic to your day wear & GO NUDE . . . it’s completely acceptable these days!