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reclaiming hipster fashion

1/30/2014

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I often hear people say that they don't want to wear a certain item of clothing because they don't want to be mistaken for a hipster. However, the hipsters have laid claim to some of the most practical pieces of winter wear and I don't believe in going down without a fight. I may not wear my plaid ironically, but I have probably been wearing it for a greater percentage of my life than most hipsters (see photo below for proof). So here is my list of four pieces of "hipster fashion" that you should be proud to wear out in public, even if you despise the taste of PBR.
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Wearing plaid before it was cool.

#1 flannel shirts

Somewhere along the way flannel became the official fabric of hipsters and the rest of us were left wondering if it was safe to still wear. Since they were wearing it ironically, it felt distinctly uncool to be wearing it because you liked it. But here's the thing about flannel: it's super warm and cozy to wear. And when is the perfect time to wear something warm and cozy? In the middle of winter when you barely want to get out of bed. So choose your favorite color combination and wear it without shame because the coolest outfit to wear in winter is something that is deliciously warm.
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Lands' End Flannel Shirt $29.99

#2 lace up shoes

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Boden Lace Up Flat $178 (also available in navy and brown)
While the rest of the world was obsessed with cute and dainty ballet flats, the hipsters zeroed in on a great, but overlooked type of footwear: the lace up oxford. More practical in the winter than a ballet flat since it protects the top of your foot from slush and it has decent support. Plus it looks way more polished with your denim than a pair of running shoes. I am especially fond of these silver shoes but there are plenty of options in neutrals for those looking for a more versatile option. If you are ambivalent about ballet flats, you should thank a hipster for bringing the lace up shoe back into the limelight.

#3 long cardigans

Any long time reader of this blog knows that cardigans hold a special place in my heart. They are pretty much my solution to any fashion crisis and I love how easily they can transform your clothes into a polished outfit. The cardigans that are most desired by hipsters look like they belong to someone in a retirement community. In high demand are the longer, boyfriend styles as well as shawl collared cardigans and it is a must for hipsters to wear them several sizes too large. So stick with fitted cardigans and steer clear of anything that your grandpa would have worn.
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Banana Republic Long Cardigan $69.50
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J. Crew Matchstick Jean $115

#4 skinny jeans

Skinny, slim, and straight leg jeans have pretty much taken over the denim displays, but there is still a strong association between hipsters and skinny jeans. Regardless of whether or not you think that the style is flattering on your (or any) body type, skinny jeans are pretty great for the winter. One of the worst things about going out in the snow is when the hem of your pants trails through the slush and you end up wet around the ankles. The obvious answer is to tuck your pants into your boots and there is no better pant for tucking than a skinny pant. You avoid wet ankles and you don't have to deal with a lot of extra fabric. It's a win all the way around. 
You may not listen to obscure music and ride a fixed gear bike, but you can still enjoy the practical and versatile pieces that hipsters love. Let me know in the comments what your favorite piece of hipster fashion is!
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look ahead to spring

1/27/2014

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Boden Putney Dress $148
Today kicks off another round of cold weather and I am thinking wistfully about colorful spring fashion. Warm weather styles are already hitting the stores but it will still be awhile before I can wear them in Chicago. However, it is not too early to start thinking about what seasonal trends I want to embrace in the spring. 
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OPI Nail Lacquer in "Dutch Tulips" $9
I love bright colors and bold patterns and although I try to wear them all year round, spring fashion makes it easy to incorporate into my wardrobe rotation. To add a little spring to my step, I have been wearing brightly colored nail polishes and I am looking forward to being able to coordinate my nail color with some great dresses and tops in a couple months.

This Boden dress is a perfect example of a crisp, clean, but still very fun spring piece. (If pink is not your color, it also comes in two other color combinations.) Dots are a great print because they feel modern on women of any age. Florals can be a little more tricky, so if you are just dipping your toe into the pattern pool, start with geometric patterns.
Another easy way to add a print to your outfit is with stripes! What I love about the striped sweater (shown below) is that there are only a few pops of neon so it doesn't feel like you are being overwhelmed with color. Pastels always seem to be popular once the warm weather hits, but since they have a tendency to wash people out, I think they can be harder to wear than the brighter neons. If you prefer something more neutral, navy and white are a stellar springtime combination.
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Lands' End Canvas Neon Stripe Tee $24.99
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Essie Nail Polish in "The More The Merrier" $8.50
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China Glaze Nail Lacquer in "For Audrey" $7.50
Gingham screams springtime and is a fun way to mix and match colors. Choose one of the colors from the print to wear as a nail polish and another as an accessory, such as a necklace or a skinny, patent belt.
What spring pieces are you most excited to pull out of your closet when the weather warms up? Let me know in the comments. I can't wait to wear my nautical inspired navy and citrine skirt!
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Vineyard Vines Gingham Shirt $80
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d.i.y. tinted lip balm

1/23/2014

5 Comments

 
The cold weather here in Chicago has been keeping me indoors, so I have been staying busy with crafts! When I saw a post about DIY tinted lip balm from Never Say Die Beauty, I knew I had to try it! So I gathered the supplies, called up a couple friends, and turned my kitchen into a makeup lab. This project was more successful than any of us expected it to be and on top of that, it was easy and loads of fun! For the full instructions, check out the original post from Never Say Die Beauty. She covers the whole process from start to finish and will not steer you wrong.
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The only things that we did differently had to do with the quantity we were making. Since there were three of us and we all wanted samples of the same colors, we decided to make large batches of each color. To get three (mostly) full jars of each color, we combined two whole crayons with apx. 2 tsps of coconut oil. Also, since my only Pyrex measuring cup holds 4 cups, we decided that we needed a smaller container to melt and mix in. We used a shot glass and a mini glass gravy boat, both of which worked well.
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My advice after trying out this project:
  • If you are doing this project with a group of friends, I highly recommend getting a large box of crayons. By the time we made 9 batches of lip balm, we had pretty much exhausted the reds, oranges, and purples in the Crayola 64 Box. 
  • Since there was a warning in the original post that the tinted lip balm could be a little messy to apply with a finger, I picked up some $1 e.l.f. makeup brushes. Great decision! That allowed us to try out the lip balms right away!
  • Do it! Now I have 9 lip colors to try out and most of them are bold colors I would not have bought individually. Below are photos of three of the colors we made to prove that they look as great on the lips as they do in the jars. (And if you're wondering, the lip balm does NOT taste like crayon or even really like coconut. It actually has less of a taste than most drugstore brands of lip balm!)
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d.i.y. jewelry organizer

1/20/2014

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If you've ever ventured onto Pinterest or Etsy, then you have most likely seen a photo of a picture frame jewelry organizer. I have always loved the idea because I have tons of jewelry and am not terribly organized, but most of the options had a huge mesh section for earrings with only a couple knobs for necklaces and bracelets. Although I do have quite a few earrings, only styles with "fish hook" backs work well with a mesh screen. So to make sure that my jewelry collection could be properly displayed, I decided to make a completely customized version.

The reason that most jewelry organizers have a huge area for earrings is that they use a wood picture frame as a base. Most of the organizers that I saw used an 8x10 frame which made the earring section the main focus. My organizer is 18 inches wide by 14 inches high with the mesh earring section measuring 13 inches by 6 inches. This gives nearly the same area for earrings as 8x10 frame (albeit in a different shape), but can fit many more knobs on the bottom section.

Even with the extra room for necklaces and bracelets, I still had 3-5 pieces of jewelry on each knob. There is more than enough room in the mesh area for my earrings as well as a brooch and my sorority pin.
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Since I had specific dimensions in mind for the organizer, I had to build the frame from scratch. Before putting the frame together, I decided where I wanted the knobs to go and drilled the holes so I wouldn't chip the paint later on. To create the frame, I used wood glue at the seams, drilled in braces on the back, and then left it clamped overnight while the wood glue dried. Since the organizer does not need to hold much weight, the construction of the frame is pretty basic.
After the wood glue dried, I got to move onto the fun parts: painting the frame a bold red (this color is Deep Garnet by Glidden) and adding on all of the knobs. I wanted a variety of fixtures so I mixed metal knobs with wooden knobs that I painted. Finally, I attached the mesh screen with a staple gun and added hooks so that the organizer could be hung on the wall.
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I hung my bracelets from the knobs at the tops of the organizer and my necklaces from the bottom knobs because most of my necklaces are fairly long. I forgot how much jewelry I actually have, so if I were to do this again, I would probably add even more knobs. However, I just layered multiple pieces on each knob and it works quite well. The one downside to this style of organizer is that you can't easily put post earrings on it so I do have to keep a small jewelry box for that purpose.

I am lucky enough to have a large, walk-in closet so I hung my jewelry organizer on a closet wall to make it easy to add a great accessory to my outfit. It is much easier to see what I have when it is hanging up, rather than stuffed in jewelry boxes and in drawers around my apartment. (I am pretty sure that this is not my entire jewelry collection, but I am having trouble trying to remember where I had stashed everything.) Hopefully this organizer will also help me achieve my goal of wearing more jewelry. 

How do you organize your jewelry so that it is easy to grab and does not get damaged? Let me know your tips and tricks in the comments and if anyone tries this project, please send me a picture of your final result!
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warm weekend wear

1/17/2014

0 Comments

 
Warm weekend wear

Warm weekend wear by practicallystylishblog featuring a motorcycle jacket
Those of you who follow me on Polyvore or Twitter may recognize this outfit (which I created last month), but I wanted to repost it because it is a great example of a January outfit. The holidays are full of sparkle and fancy dress occasions and the dreary cold of the new year can be a bit of a let down. This look combines a bit of fun and whimsy with practical warmth and comfort.

First off, the practical part of this outfit. It combines (nearly) flat ankle boots so you can maneuver through the slush, two warm layers (the leather jacket and the sweater), and denim (which is always a weekend essential). 

However, this outfit is more interesting than your run-of-the-mill sweater and jeans combo. The bold graphic on the sweater works well because there are not bright colors battling for attention. This makes it feel clean and modern and lets you bring in a great hue in the jacket. The clean lines of the jacket add a dash of polish, without making you look overdressed for your weekend activities. An asymmetrical jacket works well because it gives the structure of a blazer without feeling like work clothes.

What are your go-to weekend pieces when you want to feel casually chic? Let me know in the comments!
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