Outfit Math 302: Work Out

Here's another edition of outfit math! 

 

 

Some people think that going to gym excuses them from looking cute. As if! Gym clothes aren't limited to an old T-shirt and a pair of sweatpants.

 

The first look is for the serious boot-camp, kickboxing, pilates, zumba, movement-intensive classes. The workout tank with a built-in sports bra stays comfy and wearing a slimming color like black also hides unsightly sweat stains. Recently, workout tanks have been replacing T-shirts in the gyms, according to WellandGoodNYC. I definitely agree with them, since T-shirts can feel a little heavy when you're running, especially. To maximize movement without sacrificing comfort and increasing confidence, go with these sleek workout capris from Nike. They have a control band at the top that tightens your tummy, and they help smooth out the line of the leg (no muffin tops here!). Go for capris over shorts because twisting into crazy yoga positions or trying out a new pilates move ensures that you don't have anything exposed. Now for the most important part of any outfit: shoes! Workout shoes have come a long way. These cool black and blue ones from Reebok still go with the sleek black theme but the pop of blue gives them a little excitement. This usually goes without saying, but make sure that your shoes fit and wear socks! Avoiding blisters and injuries is a good thing.

The second look is for a more casual jog, quick walk, or sports activity. The cool grey and pink hoodie adds a touch of girly glamor to the outfit. It has pockets to put your i-Pod in (a must when going on a long jog). The stand-up collar also looks sporty and the drawstring can help keep out cold air when it's chilly. Pair it with a pair of comfortable running shorts from Nike. Running shorts are such a huge deal! Running in normal mesh shorts or the cotton Soffe shorts is so uncomfortable. Running shorts in a light-weight fabric help keep you cool and maintain a wide range of motion, so no matter what, you're comfy. Pick a pair of exciting running shoes, to motivate you to go for that 5K jog! These pink ones are definitely unique and they look pretty.

Lastly, no matter what you wear, make sure you bring water! Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! It's so easy to get dehydrated even when you're not working out. This sleek reusable water bottle keeps your water cool and also helps save the planet. The general tip for drinking water goes that you should drink 4-8 ounces of water every 15-20 minutes during exercising. Make sure to stay hydrated before and after exercise too.

 

So here's how to put together an outfit during a sweat session. Stay healthy and fashionable!

Mod for Mondrian

Outfit Math: Night Out

It's been a long time since I've posted an Outfit Math post! I'm glad to get back into these, since they're a great way to explore different looks for the same occasion. This time, it's the ritual of spending the night out. Whatever that means for you, usually this is a time to look sexy and polished. 

 

First off, all the looks combine black and gold, which is a color scheme that I feel is especially suited for evening wear, and it's also sexy, luxe and classy. It's often easy to go overboard with the sexy and look trashy, but using black and gold helps keep the look in the classy territory.

The first look is for all the dress-lovers out there.

Start with a little black dress in an updated silhouette. This one is sheer, which is a sexy trend this season, but the classic A-line shape and modest hemline keep the look from going overboard. A pair of great gold-platform slingback heels takes the look to another level. The luxe leather and gold clutch adds a sleek touch to the outfit, and the sparkly earrings are the perfect accessory to keep the look from being boring. The result is a modern, feminine look that's perfect for dancing the night away.

 

The second look is for the party girls with a little edge. It was inspired in part by Miley Cyrus's "Who Owns My Heart" music video. The shorts and the sparkly top are a good way to stay comfortable while having a crazy party in an old mansion. You probably won't be going to a party like that anytime soon, but you can emulate the look for an upcoming rager.

The metallic gold bustier has an interesting scallop detail on it, which adds an extra element of sweetness to the look. The black shorts with the zipper details add some edge and allow for a comfortable look to bust out all those crazy dance moves. The pointed flats are dressy enough but also comfy enough so that a whole night of dancing won't stop you from having a good time because your feet hurt. The bangles add an extra touch of sparkle, and they follow the gold and black scheme.

Finally, the last look is a lot tamer than the other two, and it's supposed to be for after-work drinks or a weeknight cocktail party. The blazer and heels are both something you probably wore to work that day. Carrying a leather miniskirt to change into later is not much of a hassle, and adding a lot of necklaces updates the look for evening wear. Finally, this look is where a good lipstick can really shine. Try a bright lip, one that you normally wouldn't wear in the daytime, to make this night-time look sophisticated, sexy and fun. 

Which look is your favorite? Of these looks, I'd probably pick the first one. I generally like to go with dresses when going to a party, simply because I don't wear them that often during the day. What color scheme do you usually gravitate towards when getting dressed up?

Sandy Dune Running

Here's the third installment of fashion inspired by habitats. This time, it's a Western-inspired desert look! The desert has lots of warm neutrals, so texture is a big part of this look. Get ready to look safari-chic with a snakeskin, leather and silk dress. Keep the sun out of your face and out of your eyes with this leather-accented cowboy hat, which looks great with a pair of interesting cowboy boots. The teal detail on these shoes adds an exciting pop of color. The natural-tone sunglasses and the camel-colored backpack are useful accessories. The golden camel ring pays homage to one of the most iconic inhabitants of the desert. Finally, a spritz of a spicy, oriental-woody scent like Tom Ford's Sahara Noir adds the perfect touch of exotic mystery, evoking the desert sands.

 

 Personally, I'm not a fan of deserts, because I need water and deserts are too dry. However, artistically, they're great because they have a great color scheme. 

 

I really like the fiery sunset.

 Also, the sky is the bluest over the desert. It's also one of the most dramatic landscapes.

What's your favorite landscape and why? Do you like the desert?

Among the Trees

The second outfit from the Into the Wild collection features this amazing tropical-print dress. I didn't even intend to make this a collection until I saw this dress. It was so brilliantly colored and the artsy print was unlike any I have ever seen. So naturally, I had to make an outfit based off of it.

 

So the strappy wedges have that jungle-inspired feel because of the brown leather, earthy colors and the studs on the wedge, which is something I haven't seen before. For some reason they remind me of the monkey kingdom from The Jungle Book. Their neutral color also helps the dress take center-stage.

And when I think of the jungle, I immediately think of monkeys and lemurs. So these quirky monkey earrings are another animal-inspired accessory. After monkeys and lemurs, I think of macaws and toucans. Naturally, I had to include a piece inspired by the colorful birds. So this bright red, gold and diamond bracelet that's shaped like a parrot was the perfect piece. A rustic, jungle-inspired bag like this one from Mar Y Sol picks up on the yellows in the dress and it also has enough neutrals so it doesn't overpower the dress.

 

 Finally, I chose Dot by Marc Jacobs for this outfit because the bottle is so cute! Marc Jacobs generally has exquisite fragrance bottles, and this one is no exception. Its fresh and tropical fragrance notes like dragon fruit, coconut water and vanilla are the finishing touch on this tropics-inspired outfit. 

Which habitat are you most inspired by? Mine would be tied between marine and rain forests. Marine habitats have such great silhouettes, and stream-lined shapes, along with a good mix of sparkle. Rain forests are brimming with color and pattern, which are my two favorite aspects of fashion. I love colorful prints, though I'm not daring enough to sport them as much as I'd like to.

Under The Sea

While I spent three weeks in Bristol, taking a course about whales and estuaries, my instructor always wore the cutest ocean-themed jewelry. She'd have koi fish earrings one day, or a whale-fluke necklace the next. I had some major bauble envy. Unsurprisingly, after that, most of my every day jewelry consists of charms in the shape of animals as well; a giraffe necklace, a horse necklace, and a sea turtle necklace I received from a friend. Lately I've been eyeing this Elsa Peretti x Tiffany's bracelet with a starfish:

Isn't it cute? Just like Patrick Star!

But that's beside the point. So, with the magic of Polyvore, I put together this outfit inspired by marine biology and the sea.

The printed dress was too cute and reminded me of Ms. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus. It was a very plain silhouette, but the colorful print helped it stand out from the rest. The shoes by Loeffler Randall are so darn cute! I used the coordinating clutch for my Color Story: Aquamarine post. Their fish-scale texture and ocean-inspired colors make them such a unique piece. I added sea-inspired accessories, like the blue-crab ring and sea horse earrings. Sea-creatures make for great accessory inspiration because they have such elegant, streamlined shapes (most of the time). The Pisces clutch is a great addition and follows the marine color scheme. Lastly, a spritz of an ocean-inspired scent, like the classic Davidoff Cool Water finishes off this sea-worthy look.

Overall, this outfit was really fun to plan. I tend to like themed outfits. Keep on the lookout for more from the Into the Wild collection!

Color Story

Color Story by chichihayari on polyvore.com

Lollapalooza

While listening to this year's lineup, stay Chicago-cool in this outfit, inspired by the sweet beats of Lollapalooza.

Juicy Fruits: Watermelon

Welcome again to another edition of Juicy Fruits! This time, I'm covering the fruit that defines summer: watermelon! They're a really fun, carefree, summery fruit. Apparently, it's a type of berry. 

 

Watermelons are great to draw fashion inspiration from because they have a really great color scheme. Watermelon has mainly two complimentary colors (red and green), which are colors that are opposite of each other on the color wheel. Using complimentary colors this way brings out the contrast in both colors so they look really good next to each other. Also, the white section and the black seeds are neutrals that tie the look together even further. 

So, to look as perfectly contrasted as a watermelon, start with this sweet structured, cut-out, polka-dotted crop top. It's fun and the black polka dots look like watermelon seeds. 

 

A cute watermelon-colored miniskirt with a white stripe detail is the perfect compliment. Watermelons, when cut up, have a perfect mixture of round and angular lines, so use a angular skirt (like an A-line) if the top has a round shape (like a sweet-heart). I really like this skirt because it looks cool and sporty, and I always imagine watermelon as a "cool" fruit. Maybe that's just me though! 

 

A pair of earrings that look as if they're practically made out of watermelon seeds add a fun, sophisticated spin on the look. Kelly green suede oxfords complete the look with a little preppy flair. 

 

The trick to not looking like a Christmas tree when wearing red and green together is to vary the tone and shade of the colors. Using primary red and kelly green looks like a Christmas tree, but using a softer, more pink-orange red like watermelon looks like a fun way to mix complimentary colors. 

 

The straw tote is a great way to incorporate all the colors but it's neutral enough so that there isn't too much color going on in the outfit.

 

Finally, there's no better way to smell fresh than by spraying a dash of watermelon-scented perfume. So a perfume with notes of watermelon, white peach, and blackberries, like Kate Spade New York Twirl, is the perfect way to stay cool as a cucumber in the summer. Or the classic scent combination of cucumber and melon.

That's all for watermelon fashion inspiration. Did you know that there are also orange, yellow and even white watermelons? How would you combine the colors in a water-melon inspired outfit? Do you like wearing red and green together?

Juicy Fruits: Cherry

Back again with another "kawaii" fruit: cherries! I was surprised to learn that in the US their season is in June. I thought they were a winter fruit for some reason. I guess I associated their deep red color with that of pomegranates, which are a winter fruit here in the US. Anyway, cherries are by far one of the cutest fruits that I can think of. 

Real cherries don't blush/have faces. But they're so round, and round=cute.

They're popular as prints as well:

Polka-dotted cherries would be cute and hopefully yummy.

And they're used to make the classic, American dessert of cherry pie. Personally, I don't like cherry pie or cooked cherries. I think they're a great summer snack when they're fresh. None of that's the main point, though! They're cute and classic, so they inspired an adorable vintage look.

 

First, start off with a bright cherry-red skirt. Its classic A-line shape harkens back to the era of circle skirts and polka dots. The take on the vintage look is perfection when topped with a crisp tie-front, white sleeveless shirt. The tie-front reminded me of cherry leaves. I added a pair of sweet, peep-toe, red gingham, pumps. The classic American print reminds me of picnics and summer. Carrying a sage-green purse evokes the cherry leaves, and the soft color is a nice compliment to the red and brings the freshness factor of summer. A delicate silver ring with a cherry blossom is the perfect way to accessorize the look. A spritz of a fruity scent like Escada: Cherry in the Air which features notes of black cherry, raspberry and other sweet fruits will definitely brighten up your day. Finally, a bright cherry-red lip is the cherry on top of the cute, cherry-inspired vintage summer look. 

Do you like cherries? What do you think of vintage-inspired outfits? What's your favorite color to wear in the summer?

Juicy Fruits: Pineapple

Here is the second of my posts inspired by fruits! Pineapples are nearly synonymous with tropical beaches, hot summers and fun in the sun. They're one of my favorite fruits and one of the most unique-looking. They kind of remind me of that wacky aunt that always spices things up. This look is bold and fun, just like pineapples.

 

I started with the skirt, which although has daisies on it, it also has a similar pattern to the criss-cross spiky part of the pineapple. Its scalloped hem make things interesting and look sweet, just like the fruit itself. I topped it with a structured, angular peplum shirt inspired by the crown of leaves on the fruit. The green wedges also evoke the spiky leaves. The beautiful pineapple earrings add a quirky touch to the outfit, along with the tropical-inspired woven bag. Finally, a refreshing spritz of Neon for women by Superdry evokes the tropics with its notes of mandarin, orange and of course, pineapple!

Pineapples are one of my favorite fruits during the summer and this look is bound to be my one of my favorite summer looks as well. Fun, fresh and exciting. What are your favorite summer fruits? Do you like bold colors and prints during the summer?

Juicy Fruits: Strawberry

Here is the first of my posts that is inspired by the bright, summery quality of fruit. Yes, fruit. One of the things I think about when I think about summer are fruits. And fruits always look cute, especially strawberries, with their connotation of "kawaii". Kawaii in Japan means cuteness.

This is a pretty cute strawberry ;) The leaves look like a flower.

 An interesting take on cuteness can be seen in this Vsauce video:

   Who wouldn't want to be cute? So take some fashion inspiration from the sweetness and cuteness of the strawberry. The polka-dotted top evokes the strawberry's characteristic pattern, and it also helps you look sweet. The strawberry-colored scalloped shorts are also very cute and are also characteristic of a strawberry's sweetness. The white vans help keep the look from becoming saccharine, and give it an easy, summery, sporty vibe. The sleek pink clutch reminded me of strawberry ice cream: very pink. The rose-tinted sunglasses and the pink strawberry necklace are whimsical touches. Lastly, wear a scent with a little strawberry. It's a great summer note to beat the heat and Marc Jacobs's Daisy Sunshine is a great fruity summer scent, featuring notes of berries, guava and lychee.

Color Story: Aquamarine

Color Story: Plum

Plum: royal and you know it. You had a party tonight. What better way to stand out from the crowd in a warm, rich plum? It was a perfect night, under the sparkling lights, dancing in a sea of beauty and amazement. Until we meet again.

Color Story: Celadon

Celadon: you always were a nature child. But you appreciate the finer things in life. Unapologetic. Cool. Confident. You aim to please, always easy on the eyes. An ode to a fresh spring day, restoring green tea, and a new leaf. Among the trees indeed.

Color Story: Tangerine

Tangerine: saccharine, yet with a kick. Unabashedly original. Sunny, sparkling, effervescent. Bright-eyed and fresh-faced. Claim your sunshine.

Color Story: Valentina in Rose

I would have liked to call this post Valentina en Rose, but I thought that would be too cliche. Is it? 
            It's Valentine's Day, and you, Valentina, are the muse of love, in this soft pink dress. The pinnacle of romance, in your pointed-toe pumps that emphasize your lady-like demeanor. Like a flamingo delicately balancing on thin pointe, you too have these thin pumps to balance on. Floral and feminine always, you wear a beautiful pair of teardrop earrings. The vision of youth, beauty, and femininity on Valentine's day. You're a lady, and you're proud.

Itsy-Bitsy, Teenie-Weenie, Yellow, Polka-Dot Bikini

In Good Company

This is what I would wear if I had to meet "good company". Using the finest manners and your best society voice, you would shake hands with a highly distinguished dame. She would comment on your gorgeous bracelet, which accentuates your pale pink manicure. She would remark about your perfume: timeless, classic, and quite like hers. You wore it better because your crisp white shirt, tucked into your pleated navy skirt and topped with a nautical-striped blazer gives you a look of confidence. And lastly but not least, as you cross your legs like a lady would, seated upon her Louis chair, she remarks on your shoes. Darling, she says. That's the power of a pointy red pump. You seamlessly become a part of the ladies who lunch.

Outfit Math: Datenight