Wardrobe Essentials- Part 4

So I know I haven’t done a post about wardrobe essentials in a while, but I have been meaning to, I swear! Today, I will be focusing on shoes, which I know every girl can’t live without. And while I would love to talk about how there are at least 10 shoe essentials, that would take forever and I know no one has the time or money for that. So, I’m going to focus on three different kinds that are absolutely essential. At least, in my opinion.

Black High Heels

Credit: Chinese Laundry, zappos.com

As always, I try to include at least one thing that will transition from a college students wardrobe effortlessly to a working woman’s wardrobe. This time, I chose black patent high heels because they are such a versatile piece for any woman’s wardrobe. They are perfect to wear on a night out with the girls, on a date, or to a job interview. In addition, I made sure to look for a relatively low heel, and for closed-toe shoes. Although a higher heel and peep-toed shoes are fun, they don’t work for as many outfits as these shoes do.

Flip Flops

Credit:Havaianas

I know I mentioned this many times before on my blog, but no college girl should be without flip-flops! When it is so hot out that it is unbearable, these are the perfect things to slip on. In addition, flip-flops go with everything, and are an essential for when you are going to the beach, pool, and amusement park – basically  every summer activity. Plus, flip-flops come in so many fun colors and patterns, everyone can find something that they like!

Riding Boots

Credit: Naturalizer, shoes.com

Now although I only got my first pair of riding boots this fall, I don’t know how I have lived without them before! These boots are perfect for the fall and winter, and go with just about everything. Personally, I love tucking mine into skinny jeans, or wearing them with dresses and tights. In addition, while I prefer brown boots, black would be rather versatile as well. For example, on a lot of the days that I didn’t feel like wearing my rain boots or Sperry’s, I pulled out my trusty riding boots to get me through the rainy day.

So, what do you guys think? Would you agree with my choices? What do you think I missed?

Rainy Day Essentials

They say “April showers bring May flowers.” Now, while I can’t say whether the flowers part is true or not yet, Maryland has been experiencing a lot of rain of this April. Almost every day I wake up to gray skies and cold drizzly rain falling.  As a result, as I try to think of something to wear, I am often stuck staring in front of my closet, trying to think of what I should wear to keep me somewhat dry on miserable rainy days. So, I decided to put together a little guide of things I think are essential to have in a college students wardrobe to combat the rainy day weather.

Rainboots

Juicy Couture Rainboots

Rainboots are an absolute necessity when you are in college. Now while you can definitely get away without having them in high school since you spend the whole day inside, in college, you will be outside all of the time. Whether you’re walking to the dining hall, your dorm, or a class, you’ll be spending a lot of time outside. And on a rainy day, you will get soaked. So, if you want to avoid having sopping wet feet, buy rainboots! Plus, it’s fun to stomp through all the puddles that appear on campus instead of side-stepping them.

Your boots don’t have be expensive, but they should be good enough quality that water will not soak through them after a couple of wears. Although mine are Juicy, I would definitely recommend checking out Hunter rainboots – they make some of the best rainboots around. However, if you are looking for some cheaper options, Target makes very affordable (and cute) options.

Sperrys

Sperrys

For days when it’s raining, but it’s not pouring, Sperrys are the perfect option. Because they are waterproof, they will keep your feet dry all day, and look cute with just about any outfit. If you couldn’t tell, I have had the pair on the left for almost three years now. They have seen me through many days of standing on the floor all day working retail, in addition to rainy days. So don’t just keep these in the back for rainy days – wear them all the time! While the primary use of the shoes on the left is to get ruined, I bought the pair on the right for fun. Sperrys come in a lot of different patterns, so I thought it would be fun to have one kind of nice pair to wear with my preppy ensembles.

Umbrella

Totes Umbrella

The last thing you definitely cannot get by without is a sturdy umbrella. I actually have two, the first one  can be thrown in my bag in the event that it may rain, I have something to cover my while I walk around campus. This is my other one. It is big, sturdy, and does not flip inside out when it is raining cats and dogs. Plus, I love the fun zebra print! If you can only afford to buy one, I would definitely recommend getting one more like this one from Totes. It will keep you dry as you trudge across campus, and it will last forever.

Now, you may notice that I never mentioned a rain coat. Normally, people would probably call this essential for rainy days. However, I am not normal, and I actually don’t wear a raincoat. I have found that  a lot of the time when it rains in Maryland, it is in the fall or spring, and it is way too humid to wear a coat. So, I usually just wear a cardigan or something to keep me warm. My trusty rainboots and umbrella keep me dry enough, so for me, there is not need for a rain coat.

Wardrobe essentials- a real life application

So you know when you are sitting in math class, attempting to listen to the professor explain how to do something, and you can’t help but think, “When am I ever going to use this in real life?” Bueller? Bueller?

The reason why I bring this up is because I have been talking about the practicality of wardrobe essentials for a while now, but you have never seen anything on my blog about how to wear them! Which may leave you wondering – how would I ever wear this piece? Of course, seeing as they are essentials, how hard could they be to put together? I mean, straight legged jeans look good with just about everything! However, I have come to find that, classic pieces in your wardrobe, like Oxford shirts and blazers, look best with other staples, like a black cardigan or straight legged jeans. So to give you that real life application that you have been looking for, I put together an outfit a couple of weeks ago that combines  some of my wardrobe essentials.

Cardigan: Old Navy, Shirt: Theory, Camisole: Calvin Klein, Necklace: Claire*s,

Jeans: Delia*s, Shoes: Coach, Belt: Juicy Couture

So for this outfit, I combined three of my favorite essentials: a black cardigan, a button down shirt, a camisole,  and straight-legged dark washed jeans. I love how with just a couple of basics, you can build a simple outfit that can be worn to a variety of places. However, I think it is important to avoid looking like everyone else by adding your own touches.  In my case, this would be with sequined flats, a bright blue skinny belt, and pearls.

What do you think? What is your favorite way to wear your staples?

Wardrobe Essentials- Part 3

So this is the third post in my series on wardrobe essentials. Todays focus is on tops and tees, which I know we all have too many of. However, hopefully with this post you can eliminate some of the clutter in your closet, and be able to more easily put together outfits in the morning. But first if you haven’t already, check out all the other posts in my wardrobe essentials series: jackets and pants.

Essential #1:  White Tanks and Camis

J.Crew Tank

J.Crew Cami

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit for both: J. Crew

I have been wearing J.Crew tank and camis since the 10th grade, and now I don’t know what I would without them in my wardrobe. I think the tanks are perfect for laying under spaghetti strap and strapless style dresses, adding just a little bit more coverage. Camis, which are basically lighter weight versions of tanks except with spaghetti straps,are great under too revealing v-neck tee shirts and gaping button-down shirts.

However, the only problem with these staples is that nice ones run a little pricey (each one ringing up $18 a piece), and if you wear these staples as often as I do, they wear out fairly quickly.  However, there is still a way to get the quality you want, without  paying such expensive prices-outlets! J.Crew stores can be found at most outlet malls across the country, including the Hagerstown Premium Outlets. Here, you can find these wardrobe staples at about $6 or $7. So grab a bunch (at that price, in all different colors), and enjoy the savings!

Essential #2: White or Blue Button-Downs

Ann Taylor Button-Down

Loft Button-Down

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit: Ann Taylor and Loft

Just like with all of my other posts on wardrobe essentials, I always try include business appropriate attire: something that will transition from a college students wardrobe effortlessly into a wardrobe of a working woman. In this case, it’s button down tees. Now, I love dressing down button-down shirts with jeans, flats, and cardigans. However, I know these shirts will be perfect for when I graduate, worn in the office with heels, dress pants, a-line skirts, and blazers. I recommend getting shirts in neutral colors, such as white or blue, that way they can be worn with many different outfits in many different ways. In addition, make sure the shirt fits properly over your bust to avoid the gap at the top buttons. If you see that gap, go a size up, and have the rest of the shirt tailored to fit you if needed.

Essential #3: Short-Sleeve and Long-Sleeve Shirts

Old Navy Long-Sleeve Tee

American Eagle Short-Sleeve Tee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit: American Eagle and Old Navy

Finally, I would recommend stocking up on basic, solid colored, short and long-sleeved t-shirts. They are perfect for layering, and work with just about every outfit.  No matter what the season, these shirts will transition effortlessly and serve as great layering pieces.  Although I would advise buying these in neutral colors such as white, black, and gray, if the price is right, feel free to purchase a couple in fun colors- navy blue, hot pink, or lemon yellow for instance. Or if you are going for an extra preppy look, go for breton stripes, my personal favorite. Either way, look for v-neck or crew-neck necklines, which will work for the most amount of outfits.

What do you think? Did I forget anything?

Wardrobe Essentials- Part 2

So this post is the second in my series on wardrobe essentials. Today I will talk about pants that I believe every college student (and every woman) should have in their closet. To see the first post in the series, click here.

Essential #1- Dark Wash Straight-Legged Jeans

 

American Eagle Jeans

Credit: American Eagle

Everyone probably has a couple of pairs of jeans in their closet. But if you need to have one universal pair, choose a pair of dark wash, straight legged jeans. A pair in this style will never go out of fashion, and will always look classic and chic. They perfectly transition from class, to on a date, to church, or out to a bar. You can wear these jeans with flats, with heels, or tucked into boots. While I love this pair from American Eagle, I would also recommend checking out Gap and Levis.

When you buy a pair, make sure there isn’t any whiskering (the faded stripes on the upper thigh of the pants) or rips. Try on a lot of different sizes until you find a pair that fits. The perfect pair will not give you any muffin top, and the end of the jeans will just hit the tops of your feet (just like in the above photo). If you can’t find a perfect pair, buy one that is just about right (and a little big), and take it to the tailor to be made just for your shape. After you get the perfect pair- take care of them! I cannot express how important it is to take care jeans- they will last so much longer! When you wash your jeans (which you should only do when they are dirty, not after every wear), turn the jeans inside out, zip up the zipper, and put the button through the loop (ensuring the zipper or button won’t get caught on anything in the machine). Wash the jeans in cold water, and let them air dry. If you follow all of these steps, the color will not fade anywhere near as fast, and the pants will last much longer.

Essential #2- Black Dress Pants

 

New York & Company Pants

Credit: New York & Company

Like the blazer I talked about in the last post in this series, I think that a lot of college students may not have black dress pants. However, everyone should go out and buy some immediately! Although these aren’t something that you need to wear to class, you’ll appreciate them when you have no idea what to wear to an interview, or have a professional job to go to.

When you go shopping, bring a pair of heels that you frequently wear with you. That way, when you try on pants, you can ensure that the pants are long enough for your dress shoes. Also, make sure to look for a pair that about an inch below your belly button so they are not too high or low-rise. Since this is a pair of pants that you will be wearing in a professional setting, you want to make sure they are appropriate for any occasion.   If you are looking for more dress pants options, check out Loft and Macys.

Essential #3- Khaki Pants

Target Khaki Pants

Credit: Target

Just like black dress pants and blazers, I don’t think that enough college women have khaki pants. Let me tell you- these are such a staple! They always look classy, and like you put in more effort than the girl who is next to you in jeans (when you really didn’t). Perfect for brunch, going to church, class, and adding an extra preppy touch, I don’t know how anyone does without these. In addition, khakis are a staple for many workers who have to dress alike. Whether I’m working at Target over school breaks, or doing tours on campus, I always need a couple of pairs on hand.

Look for a relaxed cut made in a forgiving fabric, like the pair above from Target. Although it is nice to have dressier khaki pants, I think traditional cotton pairs will be easier for college students to build outfits around.  For more khaki pants options, I would recommend Dockers and Old Navy.

Wardrobe Essentials-Part 1

Do you ever feel like you have nothing to wear despite having an overflowing and cramped closet? Me too. However, it really shouldn’t be this way. So that’s why I’m doing a series on wardrobe essentials. Things that can be worn in multiple different ways, and can easily transition from season to season. While it is fun to by things that are trendy, they are usually a fad by the next season. So stayed tuned for this series on how to make your closet more versatile. Todays focus-jackets.

Essential #1- The Jean Jacket

Old Navy Jean Jacket

 

Credit: Old Navy

So the first thing I included in my jacket essentials was this jean jacket from Old Navy. Honestly, I wear my jean jacket with just about everything. It works well for every season, whether it is the only jacket I am wearing (like to an early spring baseball game,) or one of my many layers in the winter. When looking for a jean jacket, look for ones in a classic blue-jean wash, not too light or too dark. Also important? There shouldn’t be any rips or shredding on your jacket, you want it to work well for every season.

I love jean jackets with summer dresses, skirts, or plain t-shirts. The only thing I would not recommend is wearing denim on denim- you don’t want to look like Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears at the 2001 American Music Awards, right? If you are looking for more options, I would also recommend checking out the selection at Gap and Eddie Bauer.

Essential #2- Black Blazer

Loft Black Blazer

Credit: Loft

Some college may students may disagree, however, a black or gray blazer is most certainly a wardrobe staple. Although they are most commonly seen with dress pants or a skirt, they can work in so many other different ways. They look great over dresses, with jeans and a t-shirt, or silky camis. A blazer is something you’re definitely going to have to invest a little more money on, but they are completely worth it. After graduation, a blazer can help your wardrobe transition from that of a poor college student, to one of a successful employee. 

When you go to look for your blazer, pay close attention to the fit. Lift up your arms to make sure the sleeves are long enough, and that it covers your stomach. Button all of the buttons, and make sure it doesn’t pull across your chest. If it doesn’t fit perfectly, go one size up. Then, take it to a good tailor so it is made to fit you specially. If you are looking for more places to find a black blazer, I would recommend looking at the options available at Victoria’s Secret and Anne Klein.

Essential #3- Black Cardigan

  

Old Navy Black Cardigan

Credit: Old Navy

Although a cardigan isn’t exactly a jacket, I’m counting it as a top layer. Either way, neutral colored cardigans are a great wardrobe staple. Like the jean jacket I mentioned earlier, they work great every season as the top layer, or one of many layers. I love wearing mine with graphic t-shirts, camis, and colorful scarfs. Again, I chose my staple from Old Navy, because I love the diverse selection of sizes they offer (even tall and petite!) and how soft their cardigans always are. However, if you are looking for more options, I would recommend American Eagle and J. Crew.

 

Well, that finishes the first part of my series. What do you guys think-did I forget anything?