DIY: Red It and Weep

 Since I'm still partaking in a no-buy 75-day challenge, I'm having a lot of fun with DIYing and updating the clothes I already own. Doing so makes something slightly old feel fresh and new again. I highly recommend going back into your Goodwill pile and seeing if you can breathe new life into something. 

I saw these red letter statement shirts while doing my normal Pinterest doom scrolling and thought; yes, please!

In recent years I have found myself avoiding statement tees or shirts with phrases on them. I felt like it was something I had grown out of. But that's the fun thing about personal style; you never know when you, yourself will bring back an old trend. And since I'm in a place right now where I am embracing any and all inspiration, I thought, "Why not?! Just do it!" 

If anything, I can always put the shirt behind a frame and call it art.

 All you need is a shirt, an iron, and letters. I found these iron letters at Michael's. And like my last DIY, do whatever you want! Have fun with this! You can clearly see I was hamming it up with this one.

DIY: alphabet soup pants

 I'm taking part in the 75 Hard Style Challenge started by TikTok and fashion writer Mandy Lee a.k.a. @oldloserinbrooklyn. It's a really well-curated and inspiring challenge to help new zest to your personal style and more importantly, fall back in love with your own closet. Because one of the rules; is no buying!

That's right! You can't buy any clothes. Nothing new or thrifted. No buying at all! Sure, you can go shopping but make sure it's merely window shopping. I love this rule because it's going to be hard but also so necessary. Since coming back to this blog and falling back in love with fashion, starting with what I have is a great jumping-off point. It forces me to work with what I have and not use retail therapy to fix a larger problem. 

One thing Mandy Lee doesn't talk about but I found via context clue; can't buy new clothes but that doesn't mean I can update the clothes I already have. So?! Fun new DIYs!

I have this pair of purple slacks that are cute and comfy but I'm really into statement pants. I love my legs and they are my best asset so statement pants are a no-brainer. I found these iron-on letters from the terrible, disgusting, awful company that ruined my hometown; Amazon. I hate supporting them but I liked these letters. If you can; use letters from a local spot. (I could have lied to y'all but I respect you too much.)

There aren't any steps other than plug in the iron, grab the letters, and pick an article of clothing you would like to zest up! I of course don't have a before picture but since my design is only on one leg of the pants; just imagine the blank leg two times. 

Have fun and enjoy!

Old Age & Wisdom

 There's been a funny debate happening recently on TikTok (of course) about the fashion trend of "Eclectic Grandpa."

What does this mean? Well, think colorful knitwear, hella tweed, loafers, tube socks, cozy cardigans, sensible sneakers, dad hats (a.k.a baseball hats), watches, and blazers. Think of your grandpa. Or any grandpa.

What's the debate? Well, there are many angles. Some are calling it a "micro trend." Something linked to brands trying to sell us on something and something that feels part of fast fashion. Because the thing about trends is they come and go but your style lasts forever. If you're not feeling something, don't hop on that train. Let it pass on by. It's OK.

Another aspect of the debate is that you can't dress like an eclectic grandpa if you're not a real grandpa. That an eclectic grandpa has lived a whole life and earned that title. It's not something you can just "put on." Like a grandpa bought all that tweed brand new and it got worn in properly. It's a lifestyle, not a trend. 

Here's the thing; I get the overall message but part of me can't help but think it's not that serious. Fashion is supposed to be fun. I understand how passionate people can be about it but there's nothing wrong with finding inspiration in something surprising. I'm a strong believer that everyone should try on as many things as they want while on their journey to finding their personal style.

Now! All of that is to say, I got dressed this morning and someone told me they liked my outfit and they called it Eclectic Grandpa. WHICH IS HOW I LEARNED IT! The lovely person told me about the trend and then I fell down a DEEP DIVE of TikTok about this heated debate. I won't lie, I felt cool that I was doing something without even knowing it was a thing. 

But honestly, I just wanted to be cozy today! Honestly, I was going for more of an "English Major Teaching Assistant who overslept but was having a great hair day." But someday I hope to grow up to be a grandpa! xo 

OK! A moment for the shoes! So these are NOT the BIRKENSTOCK's Bostons. But I fooled you right!? No, these are a legit comfy, cozy, cheaper, and HELLA similar knockoff from Target. I'm a guttersnipe. Why would I spend $180 when I can spend $30? I mean, that's not even girl math; that's just logic.

Breakdown!

Pants - Target - $30

Shirt - Atlanta Thrift Store - $6

Blazer - Seattle Goodwill - $12

Caradgian - Abercrombie & Fitch - Christmas gift (Seattle Shopping Spree)

Shoes - TARGET - $30

Belt - TJ Maxxx - 3 for $10!

Let's Face It

 I don't wear a lot of makeup but for some reason; I own a shit ton. When I go back to LA, I will be doing a deep cleaning of my bathroom of products that I don't need or use. However, I am a massive skincare girlie. I do battle with stressed induced eczema breakouts and uneven skin tone so I like to feel clean and fresh and healthy. And truly, who doesn't? So please enjoy a list of my favorite skincare/self-care items.

(ALSO PLEASE NOTE: I'm literally a nobody. So NONE of this is sponsored. No one is paying me to say any of this. This is purely me taking a hard stance on never being a gatekeeper. Your friendly neighborhood blogger trying to put y'all on game!)

Favorite Skincare: Anything iNNBEAUTY Project! I was turned on to this brand by a lovely woman who worked at Sephora. Did you know not all brands are eczema-friendly?! Thankfully, I can say that iNNBEAUTY has been great for my eczema prone skin. 

Skincare Highlights from iNNBEAUTY include: Green Machine Serum and SLUSHY and 10 + 10 Moisturizer 

Favorite Facewash: Youth To The People - It's also simple, clean, fresh, and great when my skin is having eczema flair ups. It makes for an easy, wonderful everyday facewash.

ANOTHER Favorite Facewash: Drunk Elephant's Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser - This facewash is fabulous for those tougher breakouts and when I wear lots of makeup. Really cuts through everything while still being super gentle. 

OTHER Favorite Skincare Add-ons: INKEY List's Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Hydrating Face Serum and Collagen Booster Firming Peptide Serum ALONG WITH BYOMA's Brightening Serum and Clarifying Serum

Favorite Skincare Accessory: MakeUp Erasers - All you need to do is to get one of these erasers nice and wet and POOF! Like a freaking magic trick, it takes off all your makeup. 

Favorite Sunscreen: Hero Cosmetics Force Shield and bliss Block Star

Eyemasks; All and any of them, honestly! But here are so great ones. LOOPS and Peace Out Retinol 360 Eye Lift Patches and Sephora Collection Vitamin C & Vitamin E and Pacifica Leave Pretty Anti-Puff Eye Patches and Pacifica Eye Bright Undereye Vitamin C Spot Serum Mask

Overall the BEST hand/bomb cream; First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair - I could eat this stuff if I could! I love how thick and rich it is. Also; eczema friendly. Obviously though when I'm having a really bad break out I avoid everything but even on the worst days, this stuff still reigns supreme. 

Best for travel and nap accessory: Holler and Glow Gettin' Steamy Heating Eye Mask - these are a recent find but I'm obsessed and will never stop using them. They are great for a little mid-day nap but really clutch for traveling and sleeping on planes.

The Lobby Room Days

 For me; the days between Christmas and New Year's are an absolute blur. The time feels like the lobby room of days. A waiting feeling of hopping from one holiday to the next. And it's the only time in the year when that feeling seems to happen. 

This is why, my sister and I have been killing time by eating, cooking, napping, shopping, and returning things. It's been a fun little cycle of events. We are looking to mix it up adding seeing movies or something of that nature. Today, however, we thought we would get each other Christmas gifts.

You read that right; My sister and I went Christmas shopping three days after Christmas. Meaning we both got what we really and we saved more money with the after-the-holiday sales. It's been our fourth year in a row where we do this and honestly, it's low-key the best tradition. 

For example; at first, the store didn't have the pants I wanted in my size. So I just wandered around too, just looking. But then! The lovely sales girl came back to tell me someone had just came in and returned a pair! A mother fucking win.

So, I highly recommend more people do this. Because in the end, Christmas has never been about gifts. It's more about the precious time spent with friends and family. So sure I got some cute new pants and shoes but the gift was walking around, people-watching, shit-talking, and shopping with my sister.

Shoes: Nike Outlet find and gift from my sister!

Sweatpants: Abercrombie & Fitch (Black Friday Deal) $35

Faux Fur Pink Coat; Noize (YEARS AGO! Also Black Friday deal) $100

Sweatshirt: fear of god essentials hoodie (Thrift store in Atlanta) $95

Not picture but you already know; Purse is my clear Telfar

x-mas eve

This blog (which was neglected for years) is riddled with photos with watermarks or missing links. Looks messy. However! I do not have the time, patience, bandwidth, or a single care to fix them. It's kind of retro I think, dare I say grunge even?! Highlighting the internet of the past. Which reminds me; do kids these days even know Photobucket?! The OG iCloud for storing photos. 

Today being Christmas Eve means a day of last-minute shopping and seeing friends for a quick hangout session. So I'm leaning heavily into my femme tomboy style; cute and comfy. I've also heard it being called "uncle daddy." Which is a sexy vibe. I'll go into the fashion comps soon!

And since I'm back to fashion blogging, I'm really interested to see how my style has changed and what is a staple. Off the bat; it's Femme Tomboy. Pairing funky sweatpants and fabulous faux fur jackets. 

     

I'm also clearly trying to figure out how to take photos of what I wear and how to lay it out. I used to be fluent in HTML but that clearly has gone out the window. 

Either way! What won't change is the breakdown. And yes I've included links because I'm not a gatekeeper shit.

Sweatpants: Abercrombie & Fitch (Black Friday Deal) $35

Bag: Telfar x Melissa

Shirt: Kirkland baby! 6 pack for $24.99 

(And I like to wear the shirts backward because I like a high collar)

Button-down shirt: GAP Hand me down from my mom - Free!

Coat: Brown Faux Fur Goodwill Find $20

Sneakers: Nike Dunk Low