Shopping with Purpose

Hi Everyone! It's so nice to be back blogging after my looong high seas adventure. What was the first thing I did when I got back? Yep, you guessed it!

Let’s face it, I love shopping, and as my friends routinely point out to me, I have no qualms about spending my money… What could possibly go wrong, right?

Admittedly, this does tend to get me in trouble from time to time because I’ll end up with clothes I don’t need (is there really such a thing?), spend too much, or make somewhat questionable fashion choices in the heat of the moment while in the spirit of shopping. Trust me, I could do a “what not to wear” from my closet at times as easily as I could do a fashion blog. I’ll spare you the pain of seeing my previous shopping blunders. It is all good though! Why? Because we learn from our shopping mistakes… or at least we are about to start learning now ;-)

Given my history of somewhat frivolous shopping habits, I’ve taken to being diligent about shopping with purpose and with specific goals in mind. My latest shopping adventure proved to be a wonderful example of my new strategies successfully in motion.  I was lucky enough to find myself this past weekend at the Providence Place Mall (one of those insidious, three story malls with tons of stores). But before I get into what works for me when it comes to being an effective shopper, I want to talk a little about learning the stores you frequent and tailoring your expectations accordingly. During this particular trip I visited Forever 21, Express, and H&M. Knowledge of the ins and outs of each store comes with experience, so I’ll share mine with you now:

Forever 21 – As the name implies, F21 is targeted towards a younger crowd (teens and early twenties) and are sized to fit typical body types of that age group while being super “trendy”. Whenever I shop there, I ask myself “Is this age appropriate?” (I’m 28, so with many items, the answer is no). Luckily F21 has a huge variety of styles with several different lines, one caters to a slightly older, more contemporary look... this line is called “Love 21”, and is geared towards more adult body shapes, it usually has its own section in most locations. This is where I focus my efforts and find classier pieces that better fit my body and wardrobe.

Forever 21, in my experience, is pretty hit or miss… but has potential to offer unique hidden gems of creativity. Items are way cheaper than most places, which is awesome for shopping on a budget, however, as you may imagine sometimes (not all though) the quality suffers as a result. Clothes from F21 will fall apart, seams will come loose, there will be errors in stitching… its only a matter of time (I've often joked that the name means the clothes will only last 21 days, but thats probably a bit harsh). If you are ok with a little mending, you can easily sew things back together. If not, just set your expectations for your garments to have a limited lifetime. I encourage checking out F21 online to shop, the in-store locations are pretty jumbled, I sometimes feel like I’m literally rummaging through a teenage girl's room looking for clothes to borrow. The organization online makes finding things you want much easier.

Express – I love most pieces from Express, they have clean lines, sophistication, and just the right amount of femininity for my taste. Unfortunately, Express is also expensive, as many “name brands” can be. It pays big dividends to watch for sales at these places, they happen regularly, so be patient… twice a year or so they may even hit clearances where everything is 50% off (or more!). Don’t fall into the trap of paying full price, it takes a bit of vigilance to wait for the sale but it’s well worth it, especially for more expensive items. Express has a rewards program, many stores do, it’s not much, but saves you $10 here and there, every little bit helps! You can also shop online which is nice to catch quick sales and snipe a piece you’ve had your eye on in the store for a bargain.

The tailoring of Express clothing trends towards favoring more slender, less curvaceous body types and is subsequently more flattering for those who have more subtle curves (I fit into this category… one more reason Express is a good store for me). Not everything they sell fits that description, but its a definite trend in their lines. Also, I have found that sleeves on Express tops are always too narrow. Tops that fit me wonderfully across the back and chest are often pretty tight around my forearms. I work with it, but if you have more muscular arms, it may cause fit problems. Bottom line, if you're looking for higher quality, classy looking apparel, and don't mind spending more... Express is a good match for you.

H&M – H&M is another one of my favorites. It falls pretty nicely between "F21" and "Express" type stores, offering a reasonable range of prices, great clearance deals if you can catch them, and a solid variety of styles from which to chose. I’ve found sizing is pretty consistent without many quirks. The clothing tends to be geared towards more of the mid/late twenties age group and up on average; it still has some edgy/trendy vibes but airs usually more conservatively than F21. It is a shame there isn’t a location nearer to me or I would shop there more often. They have an online store, however I’ve never found it to be as helpfully accessible as other sites… not entirely sure why. 

----------------

Given that these three are probably my most common stores to shop (aside from ideeli.com), I know my sizes in these stores by heart, so shopping at these locations (and online) is a bit faster and more reliable than at stores I’m not as accustomed to. I don’t always have to try everything on (though it never hurts and saves on returning items).

So, how do I go about shopping with purpose? There is no right or wrong way to shop, I firmly believe that shopping should make you happier! If it doesn’t, then try approaching it differently. Below are a few tips that keep me on track and happy whilst spending my hard earned money.

1. Set a budget – I’m probably the worst at this one, however setting a budget forces me to be a pickier shopper. Its good to be picky. If I can only spend $100, then I want to get the most for my money. That doesn’t necessarily mean buying a bunch of cheap items though, I want value, not quantity. For example, a nice $100 jacket that goes with everything, and I’ll wear often is so much more valuable in my wardrobe than 10, $10 tops that all look cheap.

2. Keep a Running List of what you Need or Want – Write it down or just remember it, however you want… there are always items we need either for an upcoming occasion, replacing a worn out piece, rounding out a gap in your wardrobe or jumping on the latest trend. The point of this list is to keep yourself focused in the sea of shiny, glamorous, advertisement filled stores designed to coax your hard earned money from your wallet. Having reminders of what I’m looking for helps me develop this jedi-like focus I need to not simply buy an entire store (if only I could!). I love using Pinterest to keep a list of wants and needs in picture form, its fun and useful! Check out the link to see my list in action. I also often provides motivation for shopping for me (as if I’m ever lacking motivation to shop!). Identifying things you’ll need in the future well ahead of time saves the stressful panic of trying to find things at the last minute.

3. Allow Yourself to be Fluid while Shopping – My best discoveries, as with most of life, are of things I wasn’t looking for to start. If something catches your eye, go for it! Let shopping inspire you. Don’t get locked into looking just for specific things on your list. Creativity comes from not being restricted.

4. Evaluate each Purchase before you buy – Ask yourself those difficult questions to really decide if something is right for you.

1.     Does this fit and is it flattering?

2.     Does it fit into my budget? Is it on sale? Or can I get this for less later? 

3.     Is this a stand alone piece? Or is it something likely to be used in combination with other things (layering, etc)? How does this go with the rest of my wardrobe?

4.     Do I have an occasion to wear this? Will I wear it often?

5.     Is this on my list of needs and wants?

6.     Does this fit my personality/style?

If you answer yes to all or most of these then it’s probably a great choice, if not… there are so many options out there, why settle for something that isn’t exactly what you want? If you are unsure of a piece, be sure of the return policy!

----------------

Let's see how I did!

The Plan: Expanding my summer wardrobe by finding some cute, loose fitting tops, and a pair of nice white pants to be more of a staple piece. Oh! and explore... thats always part of the plan.

The Budget: $200 

The Results!

I ended up spending about $240, so not too far off my goal, but still over (yes, I'm still a work in progress). But! I ended up with 9 new items, so it was a good haul.

I bought several button up, flowy blouse tops at Express that are perfect for stylishly beating the heat as well as a found that pair of white pants on my list. One great thing about light colors on the bottom with darker colors on top is that it emphasizes your lower half, this is a great trick for those looking to lessen the appearance of broad shoulders. Take a look at one of the tops and the pants: 

Essentially I purchased everything I "needed" at Express, but since I went there first... I obviously had to check out my other favorite stores, just in case there were treasures to be found :-)

And there were!

Both this lovely creme, polka dot, tank top (F21) and the purple crop sweater (H&M) were amongst my purchases. I loved the color on the sweater (the pictures don't do it justice really), its soft, was basically a homerun in all the other evaluation categories too. Crop cuts (the bottom hem of the shirt is cut higher than normal hitting at the waist rather than the hips) help define the waist, which is usually flattering. Plus, it was only $10 and I know I’ll get plenty of use out of it throwing it over just about anything, probably my favorite purchase of the putting. The polka dot trend has recently struck my fancy so I figured this top from F21 would have possibilities as a bottom layer piece to add a fun, more feminine texture to an outfit (as you can see here). At $12 if it doesn’t work out, its not a big loss.

And more!

(with dramatic lighting)

This dark grey ruched sleeveless top (H&M) caught my eye and it fit, so the rest is history. I have a weakness for this gunmetal color which just so happens to be one of my colors! If you're looking to find your own best colors, check out my guide to color analysis. The ruching on the sides is super flattering. Ruching can be used to break up the body's true lines as well as hide any areas that may have a bit extra. It will be a great top for a night out. Now I just need someone to take me!

Thanks everyone! It's nice to be back blogging for you!

I'm pretty psyched about it, as is my wardrobe ;-) 

If you have any shopping tips please head to the "A Stylish Transition" Facebook page share!

As always, spread the love with a "Like" while you're there.

Debunking the "Magic" of Stripes!

Stripes were always something that confused me. I’ve heard many times, as perhaps you have, that wearing horizontal stripes will make you look wider and vertical stripes are slimming. At first thought, that seems stands to reason… after all, in many cases adding lines parallel to the lines of your body tends to increase their apparent length (ergo… horizontal lines will make the hip/waist/bust lines wider). For a long while I avoided wearing the infamous horizontal stripe style, but couldn’t help being drawn to looks featuring them. Eventually, horizontal stripes found their way into the black hole that is my closet (as does pretty much everything) and much to my surprise, I loved the way I looked in them! How can this be? Is everything I know wrong? Are cats and dogs living in harmony? The truth is out there!

Like a skeptical red-headed FBI agent, I embarked upon a quest to find the truth about stripes and along the way have reinforced my belief in trusting my eye and intuition. While researching stripes, my search quickly took me out of the world of style and into the world of optical illusions! That’s right kids, horizontal stripes create an optical illusion which, when employed correctly, will make you look slimmer…. Prove it you say? Challenge Accepted!

The secret is based around the Helmhotlz Square Illusion. That sounds pretty awesome right?... Let’s take a look (yes, I’m going to geek out for a moment, bear with me). Which of the two squares below looks skinnier?

I say the one on the left appears skinnier. What do you say?

As you probably guessed, they are actually the same size, yet the horizontally lined square appears taller and skinnier. There is debate as to whether this effect is applicable beyond 2D, and if you’re interested there is a research paper discussing just this question published by the University of York. The verdict? Even when extrapolated out to real clothing on mannequins, the horizontal stripes appeared about 10% skinnier to the eye based on their findings.

Didn’t read the paper? Still Skeptical? Here is a great article with a bunch of side-by-side comparisons of real people styled in vertical and horizontal stripes (for those of you non-nerdy types, I’ve got your backs too).

This pretty conclusively debunks the fashion advice that horizontal stripes make you look fatter. Hooray! Stripes for everyone!... Not so fast. Remember that the width, spacing and placement of stripes on your body play important roles to how flattering a look you can create. Let’s jump into a couple outfits and apply what we’ve just learned.

For the first look as usual, we’ll keep things simple with a navy and white striped sweater.

Straightforward styling here simply uses stripes as a top. This v-neck sweater has thin stripes on  the arms and back paired with slightly large stripes on the front. Overall very flattering. The take home point here is that the stripes themselves are relatively thin. You’ll find that keeping the width of the stripes thinner will allow you to take advantage of stripe’s flattering effects. Wider stripes will end up starting to have that dreaded widening effect. As a good guideline to find your stripe sweet spot, you want to match the stripe size to your body size... smaller/thinner stripes for smaller thinner bodies, larger/more built bodies can tolerate wider stripes and still be flattering. Trust your eye.

Our next example is a bit more fun and pairs a navy pencil skirt with a striped tee for a more nautical/summery look. Nothing says nautical like the color navy and stripes!

The stripes here are wider than in the sweater in the first example. I seem to notice a definite decrease in that magical thinning effect as a result. I know from experience, I'm reluctant to get too much wider with the stripes as they start adding width rather than slimming my body.

Our final example, features stripes used in a layered look, keeping the actual stripes themselves still on the thinner side.

Using stripes as a layer, such as under the black blazer here, is a great way to add texture to your look and give it a little extra pizzazz. Metallic threading (like the silver thread subtly woven through the gray stripes on this top) can tie in well with accessories like the stretch bracelet shown here to bring an outfit together. Since the stripes are not fully exposed across the width of my body, I don’t really take full advantage of the effect. If you find a striped piece you like, but fear the stripes are a bit too wide to aide in slimming, a layer over the top might be just enough to even the whole look out. 

With a little sleuthing, horizontal stripes no longer have to be alien to our style choices... but ultimately in trying to debunk the magic of stripes, we simply find that they are indeed just that, magical. Do you use stripes in your wardrobe?  Have you worked creative stripe magic of your own? 

Enjoy the post? How about sharing “A Stylish Transition” on Facebook… Please spread the word. 

I love hearing feedback so comment below or stop on by and say hello!

Cheers, Kayci

4 Ways to Spice up a T-shirt and Jeans Look

Before we dive into our topic, I’d like to make a bit of a personal announcement… I am happy to announce that this past Thursday, National Coming Out Day for those of you who may not know, I sent a letter out to all of my close friends announcing that I am transgender and plan to within the next year start living my life the way I have always hoped, as a woman. The responses were overwhelmingly heartwarming and truly solidified my belief that my friends are amazingly accepting and loving people. I love them all to pieces! This meaningful step forward got me thinking more about how I plan to present myself to others as I slowly advance towards finally living full-time.

One of the difficult things (it seems at this stage of my life that all things are difficult) I have found in preparing for this leap of faith into living full time (or even presenting part-time) as a woman is developing a look and wardrobe that will not only be stylish, but also be something practical that I will feel confident in wearing as all those important people in my life start to shape their new views of me. Despite the numerous beautifully feminine frocks hanging in my closet, I’m not always comfortable or confident with being overtly feminine and find myself looking for an androgynous step of fashion along the way to transitioning to full time. At a time when insecurities mount, and nothing seems to look right in the mirror, what is a girl to do? We’ve all been in that situation... frustrated, mildly panicked, insecure… it’s an overwhelmingly vulnerable feeling. So, what can we do?

I’ve found that the simplicity of a casual style is the most effective way to restore my confidence and offer that reassurance that can be so important when I look in the mirror. What could be simpler than the common T-shirt and jeans? Let’s explore a few ways we can make this tried and true look fashionable and stylish, while still maintaining its comforting, simple appeal. After all… there isn’t much more comfy than a t-shirt and jeans.

As you can imagine, this all starts with a fabulous pair of jeans. Investing money in a quality pair of jeans that fit well and look great is the most important investment you can make in a wardrobe. Spend plenty of time trying on jeans and finding the perfect pair, you’ll be rewarded from the effort every time you wear them. Opt for mid to high rise jeans (higher up on your waist), darker washes (darker color), and skinny or straight leg cuts for the most flattering and versatile options. Spending $50-$100 on a nice pair of jeans is a solid investment in your style future.

The next ingredient after the jeans is a simple, but nice, typically solid color, T-shirt or top. Almost all stores sell many flavors of t-shirt styles usually in a rainbow of colors. Keeping what we learned about flattering necklines in mind as you choose, sticking to scoop or v-necks for the most flattering look. Stores such as Forever 21, or American Apparel (and many, many others!) offer wide arrays of tops in their “basics” sections that will let you select any style or color your heart desires.

With our two key ingredients in hand, its time to take a look at 4 ways we can make tasteful yet notable style choices for this simple look.

1. Layering

            You’ve heard me mention layering several times before, and will probably hear it again and again and again… and then some more most likely! Layering is a great way to create visual interest in an outfit as well as accomplish many other more specific goals. We’ll discuss now how a layer can add just that little extra touch to take a T-shirt and jeans to another level.

What can you layer? The answer is just about anything, but for now, let’s stick to pieces that open in the front such as blazers, jackets, or cardigan sweaters. Why is this you may ask? The point is to add another layer of interest so something that completely covers the layer below it wont really help you (unless you’re goal is to be warmer!). Pieces with open front allow the middle section of a Tee or top to show through while add their own new color or texture to frame it. If you have items that don’t open in the front, don’t fret… experiment with the lower layer peaking through the neckline. Let’s take a look at an example of simple layering in action:

Here we have a simple v-neck, white tee with a three-quarter sleeve, evergreen blazer over the top (by Casual Couture). We’ve added another color (actually two in this particular case) and new lines to enhance the interest of the whole outfit. Exciting, yes, I know!

When picking out the perfect blazer you’ll have a ton of options from which to chose, ranging from casual to more formal business-y styles. Any style can work, either dressing the outfit up or down, but I recommend sticking to something more casual to start, especially if you’re still unsure about the whole idea. Avoid blazers with shoulder pads to minimize the size of your shoulders, finding one without padding may be a little tricky, but they are certainly out there. Since it is likely a nice blazer will be a bit more of a pricey piece, try to get the most mileage out of it by purchasing it in a versatile color that can be paired with most of your wardrobe (ie. neutrals, darker colors)

Here are a couple more quick examples of layers:

These two examples show more ideas for layer with either a cardigan sweater or a vest… the possibilities are endless and as easy as simply putting on another layer. One question you may have is whether or not to tuck in that bottom t-shirt layer… my preference is resoundingly not to tuck in and I’ll tell you why… I believe it looks more casual and is no hassle to maintain during the day (a tucked shirt may have you constantly fighting bunches or bulges). The times when you do want to tuck shirts in are when you’re trying to create a smooth layer underneath say a pull over sweater, or in more formal situations. Having a stripe of contrast where a Tee pokes out at the bottom under a sweater can be cute as well.

Lastly, you can play with layering t-shirts themselves, short sleeve over long sleeve, longline, different colors, different necklines… you name it! This is a useful trick many times when a t-shirt is just a little too shear which tends to be common with light colors. Play around with it and see if you come up with anything you like… here is one idea I came up with a burnt orange short sleeve layered over a white long sleeved tee:

2. Accessorize your neck!

            Long necklaces and scarves are great ways to spice up your top, adding another dimension to that plain solid colored T-shirt. We mentioned these ideas specifically when we looked at ways to enhance the bustline, but let’s explore those options a bit further.

Scarves are great for fall, and winter but can even be worn through the summer months as well. In warmer weather you typically want to stick to scarves that are lighter weight materials such as silk, whereas in the winter you can quite happily bundle up in wool or thicker knits.  Here are two scarf ideas:

Don’t be afraid to try patterns, the added texture will create even more interest and help showcase your personal style. Animal prints are great here! The other thing I absolutely love about scarves is that there are a million (and counting) ways to tie them!  Check out this great article on “15 Chic and Creative Ways to Tie a Scarf” or search the Internet to find tons more ideas.

In addition to scarves, you can obviously also add your own touch of personal style with all types of necklaces. There are several examples scattered throughout this post of necklaces I added. Try out longer necklaces to create elongated vertical lines that will look  more slimming and cover more of your torso with your t-shirt as a backdrop. This can be a great opportunity to showcase your favorite jewelry without risking it getting lost in the rest of an outfit.

3. Color Block with Colored Jeans

What is Color Blocking you may ask? You’ve already mostly answered your own question in the name itself! Color blocking is a fashion trend which started in 2011 and came back strong in 2012 (we’ll see if it carries over to 2013!) which combines large blocks of solid colors to create a very colorful, always eye catching look. This style is pretty flashy, especially if you start mixing in neon colors but can look quite trendy if done right. Typically you find color blocking is more of a spring/summer trend but with the right colors (think more understated) it can work for any season. Not entirely my cup of tea, but maybe it is a style you love, so I’m going to give it a go!

A good baby step towards this trend is to simply experiment with colored denim jeans where you would normal wear dark wash regular jeans. After all, this is all about dressing up that plain T-shirt and Jeans.  Colored denim is very much in style currently and can be a great way to spice up your look making it more fashionably adventurous while still staying within that comfort zone.

Here is my best attempt at the bold world of color blocking… I’ve combined a red pair of skinny jeans (the only colored denim I own currently) with a purple top and sprinkled on a bright teal beaded necklace and a solid orange bangle to accessorize. Bold, solid color accessories can add just enough extra pop to color blocking to bring everything together. Not exactly worthy of fashion week, but this was the closest I could get with what I have… maybe next spring I’ll try it out this trend in earnest if it is still alive and well.

For a whole lot more tips, here is a great article on how to pull off the color blocking trend. You can take it way beyond simply a T-shirt and jeans if you like the style and work it into many other outfits. If color blocking works well for you, I’d love to hear any tips and secrets you may have!

4. Add Footwear that Pops

Another idea I like to see to kick the t-shirt and jeans look up a notch is to pair it with footwear that really pops with color. Here I've added those cute red, suede flats you may remember from my post on flattering your feet with a white long sleeved top and black skinny jeans, adding a splash of color to an otherwise monochromatic outfit. You can also try to bring that color in elsewhere too, such as a bright red lipstick perhaps in this case, if you want to coordinate even further.

A t-shirt and jeans offer a simple, comfy canvas that is perfect for adding your personal flare and showcasing statement pieces like jewelry or footwear, since the rest of the outfit tend to be more understated and not compete for attention. 

To summarize 4 ways we discussed at taking that T-shirt and Jeans look to the next level:

             

1. Add Layers! Throw on a blazer, cardigan, vest, or jacket on over the plain t-shirt to get that extra bit of style and interest.
2. Accessorize your Neck. Play with scarves, and longer necklaces in particular
3. Try rocking colored denim, and if you're adventurous, try Color blocking styles with Solid hues, bright accessories.
4. Add shoes that pop
5. As always, experiment with textures & patterns to create visual interest.
6. Combine any of the tips and ideas here together to create your own favorite looks

Hope you enjoyed learning how to spice up your t-shirt and jeans! Be sure to check out “A Stylish Transition” on Facebook and show your support with a “Like” or a “Share”