Shadow and Bone-Inspired Look

Last week I reviewed Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo and gave it 5 stars--I loved it that much!  I loved the characters--Mal and Alina, the Grisha, the Darkling.  They were all fantastic!

One unique feature about the Grisha in the series (other than their special powers) is that they wear special jackets to distinguish them from normal people.  So I wanted to design an outfit that featured an awesome blazer.  Blazers are a great wardrobe staple because they can dress up an outfit, even if that outfit is pretty casual. 

Here's the outfit I designed:

Don't you love the green with the black and white?  Here's the rundown of the look:

• The rich green blazer is gorgeous!  It's slim-fitting, too, which takes away the bulkiness of some blazers.  This blazer definitely takes the outfit up a notch.
• I didn't want any colors to compete with the deep green, so I kept the rest of the outfit on a black/white/gold scheme.  The striped sweater and shorts are classy but casual.
• The accessories are chic but don't take away from the blazer.  And even though the necklace is large, it just keeps the outfit at a dressier level.  And I think the Grisha would like to look dressy.

So what do you think?  Would you wear this outfit?

To find the actual pieces of the outfit, click here.

I Am Scout-Inspired Outfit

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Today's outfit is inspired from my review of I Am Scout by Charles Shields.  This is a fantastic YA biography of Harper Lee and how her life impacted To Kill a Mockingbird.  Seriously a great read for Harper Lee fans!

This outfit brings back a bit of the 1950s and celebrates Harper Lee's preference for wearing male shirts. 
And here it is:

Do you catch the 50s vibe?

• I paired a chambray shirt with navy shorts.  Harper loved to wear men's shirts because they were more comfortable for her tomboy lifestyle, and a chambray shirt is a fashionable take on a guy's look!
• Don't you love this burgundy loafer?  It adds a pop of color and a little bling with the gold detail, but it's definitely not overpowering.
• A deep blue clutch, pearl earrings, and slim watch all add to the 50s feel of the look.

I love this look because even though it isn't overly feminine, it definitely still has some girly charm.  Perfect for a tomboy who doesn't want to look too much like a girl.

What do you think?  Would you wear something like this?

Want to find the pieces of this outfit?  Click here for all the details!

And don't forget to check out my latest YouTube video, a review on the book After Hours by Claire Kennedy!

Darius & Twig-Inspired Outfit

It's FRIDAY!  So excited about a three-day weekend!

Yesterday I reviewed Darius & Twig by Walter Dean Myers, and while I didn't really enjoy this book, I wanted to design an outfit for Twig.  He's a runner--a good runner--that's trying to figure out his true passions in life.

So I wanted to design a running outfit for Twig.  A basic, tried-and-true outfit that he could throw on whenever he had the chance to go out running.  And here's what I came up with:

 

• Don't you love the running shirt?  Get it, 13.1?  I love puns and cheesy jokes on exercise clothes since you usually need a smile in the midst of a tough workout.
• Basic running shirts that aren't constricting.
• I like the electric blue in the running shoes.
• Running essentials--exercise watch with stopwatch and headphones.  I know cross country runners aren't encouraged to run with headphones, but I definitely don't like running without them.

 Can you see a guy running in this?

And did you check out my August Favorites video yet?  It went live today--these are my favorite videos to watch!

Have a great Labor Day weekend!

REVIEW and Outfit--Cracked

I'll be honest--rehab books are not my favorite.  They're usually pretty depressing and even foul to an extent.  And I don't always want to add more drama to my life when I read!  So when I was assigned to read Cracked by K.M. Walton for an Indiana reading list committee, I knew I had to gear myself up for it.  But wow was I surprised!  Today I'm reviewing and sharing an outfit for the book!

• Standalone novel
• Realistic fiction

The Gist:

Victor's life is completely miserable.  He has no friends, his parents expect nothing less than PERFECTION from him (and punish him when he doesn't achieve it), and is relentlessly bullied by a classmate named Bull.  So he decides to end it all and swallows a bottle of sleeping pills.

But Victor wakes up in a rehab hospital, and now not only does he have to deal with his problems, but he also has to share a room with a teen boy and allow him to deal with his problems.

And then Victor sees his roommate--and it's Bull.

What I Loved:

• This book just had me from the plot.  How often do bullies and victims end up paired together at school, in sports, etc?  
• There's a double point of view--Victor and Bull both tell the story.  It's fascinating to see the story from both of their views.  At times you feel sorry for Bull and his living situation, but then you see his actions toward Victor and you remember that he truly is a bully.
• Victor's time in rehab not only shows how he deals with Bull but how he deals with his inward struggles and insecurities.  A lot of depth here.
• Definitely satisfied with the ending.

What I Didn't Love:

• The adults who worked in this rehab facility were idiots.  Victor is imploring with the employees to switch his room, and no one would give him the time of day.  Aren't they there to LISTEN to their patients, at the very least?!  Man I hope these characters aren't based off real-life people.
• The man who Bull "meets" in the cemetery is a little too good to be true.  

A really enjoyable read for me and one that I think my students will love as well (even though I said I don't prefer rehab books, teens LOVE them!).  This will be an easy one to recommend!

I thought I would design this book's outfit for Victor.  Victor is smart and well-behaved and his family/teachers expect top-notch performance from him.  So I designed an outfit that gives off a smart, studious vibe.  And here it is:

Wouldn't you assume that a guy wearing this outfit was a well-behaved young man?  That is definitely the expectation for Victor.

• The plaid shorts, denim shirt, and gray sweater all give off a preppy vibe.  The muted colors make the outfit appealing, not overpowering.
• Boat shoes do the same and really solidify this as a "good boy" outfit.
• A bright silver watch is the perfect accessory for a guy.

What do you think?  Would you like to see a guy wearing this?  Get all the details for the outfit here.

More fun coming this week!

Belzhar-Inspired Look

Happy Friday!  Can I get three cheers on that one?!

Today I'm bringing you a look inspired by the book Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer.  I absolutely loved this book (especially the twist at the end!) and am excited to create a look for it today.

Since the book is set at a camp-like boarding school, I designed an outfit that I could see campers wearing when they want to look nice.  Because of the "magic" of Jam's English journal, she is able to see her deceased boyfriend in dream-like states.  So she's definitely going to want to look her best for him. 

Here's what I designed:

So cute!

• I think high-waisted shorts are so cute for camp settings.  They just have that vintage, "let's go drive around the country in our camper" vibe.  
• I paired the shorts with a floral tank top and cardigan.  Camps usually mean you'll be hot or cold (or both) so that's all covered here.  Again, I picked something that Jam would feel pretty in for her boyfriend.
• Keds are the perfect shoe to go with high-waisted shorts.  And who wouldn't want mint green Keds?!
• A gold monogram necklace (I used "R" here for Jam's deceased boyfriend, Reeve) adds a final feminine touch.

What do you think?  Would you wear this if you were at a camp/school?
 For the details of each piece, click here.

Two more reviews/outfits next week!  See you then!

Life As We Knew It-Inspired Outfits

Hello, readers and fashionistas!  Last week I reviewed Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer, a look at the world when the moon is knocked out of orbit (yikes!).  In the book Miranda has her entire life changed, and luxuries like clothes and food are not as accessible or changeable as before.

So for today's outfit inspiration, I chose to take one shirt and show three ways to wear it.  Because I'm sure that's exactly what Miranda was doing--re-wearing shirts/jeans/shoes over and over again.  So here's the shirt we're starting with:

 

Isn't it so cute?  And it provides warmth, which Miranda definitely needs in the book!

You'll notice that none of the outfits are very accessorized, since that was the last thing on Miranda's mind.  But I thought this shirt represented her well...even though she was going through a crisis, she still loved ice skating, felt writing was therapeutic, and even had a crush on a boy.  She wanted life to be as normal as could be, which meant going after her dreams.

So how could Miranda get the most out of her shirt?  Here are three ways:

 

Now for a big chunk of the book, Miranda has to think about staying warm, but the first third or so allows her to wear warmer clothes.  So in outfit 1, I paired the shirt with bright red shorts (you need a pop of color!) and black Vans.  Simple but chic.

Outfit 2 plays off the "I need to be warm" part of the book; therefore, it is paired with skinny jeans, a bright pink vest, and warm tan boots.  Casual but colorful and thoughtfully put together.

And of course, Miranda could always pair the shirt with pajama pants and fuzzy socks to stay warm at night.  This does make an awfully cute set of pjs!

So how would you wear something over and over?  You never know when natural disaster will strike, right?

45 Pounds (More or Less)-Inspired Outfit

Hey, readers and fashionistas!  Earlier this week I reviewed 45 Pounds (More or Less), which chronicled Ann's desperate attempt to lose about 45 pounds before her aunt's wedding.  I didn't want to design a how-to-lose-weight outfit since diets can be too trendy and dangerous, but I did have another fashion idea.  So this post is going to show you some ideas for showing off your best body assets (modestly!)--arms, waist, or legs.  Your clothes really do determine what body parts you're accentuating, so if you'd rather show off your legs than your arms, use a few tricks to get the focus lower.

So here we go!

Showing off your arms:

Cap sleeves!

Cap sleeves cover just to the edge of the shoulders and show off your arms all the way down.  A great option for dresses or blouses, especially if you've been working out those triceps and biceps!

Showing off your waist:

First, belts.  Whether an outfit comes with a belt or you add a brightly-colored belt to an outfit, this accessory cinches right at the waist.  If your waist is the tiniest part of your torso, you'll want a belt to show it off.  Second, peplum tops.  These are all the rage right now and flare right at the waist.  Great with jeans or a pencil skirt underneath!

Showing off your legs:

You've got all kinds of options here.  Shorts with a blazer really shows off the legs (especially if you have patterned shorts).  The longer sleeves on top attract the attention to the legs.  You'll want to stick with skinny pants/jeans since they obviously slim your look.  And nude pumps always make your legs look longer!

So remember--you don't always have to lose weight to look/feel better.  You can just dress with a few tips to accentuate your strengths.

I'm an arms/shoulder kind of girl...what about you?

*All images found via Polyvore.  I am not associated with any items/companies represented.

OOTD--Traveling to the Beach

Hello, readers and fashionistas!  Ahhh, I'm feeling SO much better after having that yucky gastro-something issue the last few days (and I can eat again! and work out! and walk standing straight!).  Feels good to be back in the swing of life.

Everyone loves a good outfit post, so here's one from my vacation last week.  This is what I wore on our second day of travel that took us right to the beach.  So I wanted something comfortable but also something nautical/beach-like.  And this worked perfectly for me.  Here it is:

Denim with polka dot navy shorts and a pop of color with yellow shoes.

I love a good denim shirt (as long as it doesn't look too 1990s), and I thought it paired nicely with a simple white tee and the polka dot shorts.  The shorts and shoes stand out a lot, so the top of the outfit needed to be subtle.  My big sunglasses and my hair down gave it an overall relaxed feel.

A close-up of the shorts--so cute!

These flats (in this awesome bold yellow!) wrap around the ankle and are super comfy.

So what do you think?  Would you wear this?

Denim--Charlotte Russe

White tee--Target

Shorts--Target

Shoes--Steve Madden

Sunglasses--Forever 21

*I am not associated with any companies mentioned.  Just my wardrobe, purchased with my own money.

I'll be back later this week with an outfit inspired by yesterday's review of 172 Hours on the Moon...see you then!

Finally Back! A Just One Day-Inspired Outfit

Well it has been awhile.  Like a LONG while.  From a sick baby to a girls' weekend to a Shakespeare festival and a book March Madness competition, my personal and professional lives have been beyond booked!  But things are FINALLY starting to slow down and I'm feeling like I'm able to breathe again.

So here's an outfit that I designed to go with my review from two weeks ago, Just One Day by Gayle Forman.  I loved this book and can't wait to get my hands on the sequel!  I decided to design a chic-looking travel outfit.  Because if you're going to visit Europe, you need to ditch the tennis shoes and fanny packs and get cute!  So here's a comfortable but stylish travel outfit:

I love the color mixture of coral and turquoise...don't you?

• The coral shorts and heart graphic tee are comfortable yet contemporary.  A carefree look that still lets you look put-together.
• Gladiator sandals, ever the trend, are a worthy alternative when looking for comfortable footwear.  
• The light turquoise watch keeps you on schedule and has a more glamorous look than simple athletic watches.
• A crossbody bag (the new fanny pack!) keeps your special items close, and this turquoise bag is the perfect pop of color.

So what do you think?  Could you see yourself traveling in this outfit?

I'll be back tomorrow with my own outfit of the day--a way to dress up a T-shirt!  See you then!

Shirt--Modcloth
Shorts--American Eagle
Sandals--Sole Society
Watch--Olivia Burton
Bag--MG Collection (Amazon)

*I am not associated with any companies or products mentioned.

The Killing Woods-Inspired Look

Happy Friday, readers and fashionistas!  

Yesterday I reviewed the book The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher, a mystery involving a girl whose PTSD-suffering father is accused of murdering her classmate.  Creepy, right?

Well, in the book, Ashlee (the victim) often played a game called "The Game" with her boyfriend Damon and his friends.  The Game basically involved hiding in the woods while looking for the others; then you fight with them until you get their dog collar off their neck.  The person with the most dog collars at the end of the night wins.  Totally not a game I would want to play as a girl, but to each his own, right?

Since Ashlee is the only girl that played the game, she chose a pink, girly dog collar.  So today's outfit is based off her...it's an outfit that I could see a girl wearing while running through the woods at night, with an added splash of color.  And here it is:

Athletic but girly, right?

Let's break it down:

• The shorts are the splash of color that I wanted.  Even though Ashlee would probably only want to wear dark colors in the woods (to prevent the other guys from finding her), she did choose a pink dog collar so I chose pink for the shorts.  She seemed spunky enough, too, that I could see her wearing these shorts just to prove that she could be tough competition in any outfit.  I love the tuxedo stripe along the edges of the shorts!
• The rest of the outfit was kept dark but girly--a simple black V-neck t-shirt.  Shirts like these are so comfortable.
• Cute black running shoes.  Gotta be comfortable to run in the woods, right?
• Ashlee and the guys had watches or cell phones to keep track of their time in The Game, and this one is chic and black.
• I thought I'd be clever and throw in a dog tag necklace...close enough to a dog collar, right?  It's tough jewelry with a feminine touch.  I just couldn't resist.

So what do you think?  Could you see Ashlee running through the woods in this outfit?  

Check back soon for more great posts on YA books!  Have a great weekend!

Shorts--Merona from Target
T-shirt--House of Fraser
Shoes--Nike Free 5.0
Watch--Debenhams.com
Necklace--Forever 21

*I am not associated with any of the companies or products mentioned.

Welcome to Abnegation!

Ahhh, Abnegation--the selfless.  This is the faction that I would strive to choose.  It's a tough one--they are completely selfless, choosing to forgo any semblance of pride or selfishness in order to serve others.  This is the faction that our protagonist, Tris, was born into, and she is pretty honest in describing her difficulties in fitting within the lifestyle.

As would be expected, the Abnegation residents wear gray.  This color keeps them unnoticeable in a way and definitely out of the spotlight.  So that is the color inspiration for today's look.  I chose to make this outfit an athletic look, because the Abnegation focus on working and helping rather than sitting around.  And I kept this look relatively inexpensive, since the Abnegation wouldn't spend much on their looks.  Here's the result:

Here's the breakdown:

• Of course I wanted gray as the most prominent color, so I chose a gray active long-sleeved shirt to go over a plain white tee.  These are comfortable, flexible choices that are just not in-your-face pieces.
• I wanted to add some color, though (this is, of course, an inspiration look rather than a direct representation!), so I added sky blue shorts.  the Abnegation faction always seems peaceful and calm (until the end of Divergent, but that isn't entirely their fault), and that's what light blue means to me.  And these are comfortable shorts that aren't revealing too much of a girl's body!
• These are cute tennis shoes that match the color scheme perfectly!  And Nikes are pretty universal, so I could see all members of the faction wearing the same shoe.
• Abnegation residents wouldn't wear jewelry (that shows too much pride), so I chose a simple athletic watch since it is a tool as much as a piece of jewelry.

So what do you think?  Did I pull it off?  Tomorrow is the final fashion day--I'll conquer the Dauntless look!  See you then!

Gray active shirt--Old Navy--$25
Merona T-shirt--Target--$7
Daniele Alessandrini shorts--$152
Nike Flex Experience tennis shoes--$60
Timex Ironman Triathlon sports watch--$55 (JC Penney)

*I am not associated with any companies or products mentioned.

The Night She Disappeared-Inspired Look

Yesterday I reviewed the book The Night She Disappeared by April Henry, a creepy mystery about a girl who was kidnapped while delivering pizzas.  So today's outfit is a girly pizza delivery look.  Because, hey, sometimes you have to work a job that doesn't allow you to look your cutest, but there are ways of showing off your cuteness anyway!  So here it is, a feminine pizza delivery look:

 

So let's go through it:

• The red polo shirt is kind of a given.  These are probably given to employees to wear (and for some reason I always see red or green polos when it comes to pizza), but I picked one that had some extra white detailing around the buttons.  This particular shirt is from Fred Perry and retails around $78.
• I added the white shorts to keep the outfit looking fresh and fun (plus I'm sure delivering pizzas can get hot!).  These are Edwin Bridget Denim and are around $77.
• Converse shoes in gray keep the outfit young.  And you definitely want something comfortable when you're running around!  These are about $40.
• Diamond stud earrings along with bangle bracelets make the outfit girly and fresh.  Layering jewelry is fun and adds a lot to an outfit!

So what do you think?  Could you see a pizza delivery girl wearing this look?

I'll be back tomorrow with a new book review (which will match the cold weather that's coming in Indiana!), and of course an outfit on Friday!  See you then!

Out of the Easy-Inspired Outfit

As I mentioned before in my review on Out of the Easy, I love the side characters in this book.  As quirky and diverse as they are, they nevertheless make up a family unit.  One character I especially loved was Dora, an upper-level prostitute working for madam Willie.  Her trademark was green--she ALWAYS wore green.  And I pictured her as one of the more fun women to be around in the house.  Those two traits--her love of green and her friendliness--led me to create this outfit:

Of course I wanted it to feature green as the main pop of color, but I also wanted some splashes of fun!  So let me break it down:

• I love pairing colored shorts with a simple tank blouse, so that's what I did here.  Bright green shorts with a fun bow and a feminine, flowing white blouse. 
• My favorite part of this outfit--the necklace!  How beautiful is that?!  It adds all the green I want and gives a bold statement.
• Tan wedge heels are fun shoes that don't take away from the necklace (I definitely want the necklace as the centerpiece of the outfit!).
• I added some mint green nail polish to draw out the softer colors in the necklace, but to add a kick I topped it with gold glitter polish.  Because glitter = fun!

What a super-cute outfit for the end of summer!