Jewelry is Personal 💍

Yes, jewelry is personal! My journey through jewelry started when I was really little. Most of it was inexpensive vintage pieces passed on from grandparents--this was before knowing I look terrible in gold, and definitely before I cared. My style progressed to printed wristbands, beads, and sparkly, pastel butterfly earrings as a tween, and those items were so on trend at the time! Then in high school, of course, I did the goth phase. But no one ever told me that jewelry is personal.

Looking back, I know I was trying really hard to have a particular style--one that mimicked the tweens in fashion catalogs--rather than just experimenting. Even when I transitioned from lockets to chunky beads, I always thought it had to be one or the other, I could never mix gold metal with bright plastic. So here's a fun fact: just like clothing, you can also layer jewelry like crazy! Worst case scenario, you look silly in a photo and it's a fun story later on! Style is about you, what you like, what you feel comfortable and confident in, and no one is ever born knowing what that is.

Here are some of my favorite tips for finding your personal style...

If you have a hobby or passion, try charm bracelets. They start as a basic chain and clasp (toggle clasps are much less likely to break than lobster claws), and you can collect charms that attach to the chain. You could have a charm bracelet entirely devoted to animals and another charm bracelet entirely devoted to soccer, or you can have one bracelet that displays everything you love. This kind of jewelry is personal for sure! Careful though, charm collection can get expensive.

If you're interested in knowing whether gold or silver is more complementary, stand outside in the sun and look at the veins on the underside of your wrist. If they look blue, you probably have a cool skin tone and will glow in silver. If your veins look green, that indicates a warm skin tone--you can rock gold! And don't forget about rose gold, green gold, and bronze! If you're into metals there're a lot to try and most of them will tarnish to a new color over time, so unless your personal style is cool-toned metals only, there's no reason to not mix them!

Another way jewelry is personal is that the best sizes, shapes, and lengths depend on your build.

• Very thin jewelry on an athletic build can look out of place, while large, chunky jewelry, if you're petite, can look clunky.
  
  
• Long and Y-shaped necklaces can be very slimming (and make you look taller!), but they also catch on things (I may have closed one in a kitchen drawer once).
  
  
• If you feel like rings make your fingers look short, it's because straight lines widen. Try an S-shaped ring.
  
  
• Long, dangly earrings are very glamorous on round faces, large hoop earrings look amazing on diamond-shaped faces, and long, diamond-shaped earrings look fabulous on square faces.

I have a friend who collects jewelry with turquoise beads and stones--which, BTW, look stunning with wardrobe base colors (black, white, gray, navy). Personally, I'm obsessed with white crystal studding, but some of my favorite pieces don't fit this description. Also, I can't count how many of my friends never wear jewelry but still look pretty cool (even not wearing jewelry is personal)!

Style is how you tell the world who you are and what you like without ever saying anything. When I say "jewelry is personal," I mean that it's up to you. Just you. Yes, you can most definitely draw on inspiration from your friends and favorite pop stars, but how you choose to wear an item and what you choose to wear or not wear with it, that's style.

See you next week!

How to Shop (Part 1)

I learned how to shop mostly by watching other people--my mom, friends, Sandra Bullock's advice in a random movie: "if you don't love it in the store, you won't wear it."--and through a lot of trial and error. And I'm still learning how to shop! It's torturous--as in, being pinched over and over again by someone with long fingernails torturous--especially if you're shopping for an item like jeans or a dress and you're between sizes. But it's not all bad! In fact, once you figure out how to shop (or at least, better ways to shop), it's actually a lot of fun!

So, how to shop? Let's start at home. Back in my fashion show days (that makes me sound much older than I actually am), I would tell the show's models to arrive at the store for Shopping Day comfortably dressed in clothes you can easily change into/out of. It's tempting to show up decked out in hairspray, hoop earrings, and lace-up boots, but it's a nightmare! You lose so much time unlacing your boots to try on a pair of shorts and then relacing them to go look for the same shorts in a smaller size.

Think comfy (t-shirt, pants, slip-on shoes, wrist scrunchi, crossbody purse to keep your hands free and hold your sunglasses while you try on shirts. Camisoles are super because you can try some items on over the top. Also, if you plan to try on any shirts, wear shorts under dresses.) but DON'T leave frumpy. I noticed even as a middle-schooler that store staff can be rude and condescending, but sometimes dressing nicely can make a positive impact. And you'll be a much more confident shopper knowing you look like a total boss. That makes a big difference! I always try to remember that some of the staff I'll meet haven't had a good day, so I try to be very polite (smile, say, "Hi," make eye contact when entering the boutique/department). That's much easier when I'm not in baggy sweats and a camp t-shirt.

DON'T go shopping unless you know what you want. "I need new clothes" translates to "I have no idea what I want, so I'm going to unintentionally buy a lot of things I don't need, then have to go shopping again next week because I still need new clothes," That was my entire tweenhood. *tears*

Instead, make a list of things that will make your wardrobe awesome--the more detailed the better!

• lightweight jeans in a pale color that won't be too hot for summer
• plain t-shirt long enough I can lift my arms without baring my abdomen
• two tank tops for layering
• hoodie for the beach
• cute earrings for the beach

DON'T go shopping if you or the person you're shopping with is hungry, tired, or feeling sick. Talk your mom and fashion sister into sitting down and eating beforehand, or rescheduling the shopping trip for later. And always bring water with you to stay hydrated.

Plan your shopping trip for a weekend, day off, or evening when you have plenty of time to take your time.

Know your seasonal skin tone, the color beneath your skin color. Knowing what hue of red I look best in has saved me from buying dresses I'll never feel confident in, even though the color looked pretty in the store's lighting. Lots of websites and blogs talk about this, so I'll redirect you to one here. Once you find your season, just Google for color pallet images. Don't get too caught up in whether you're a soft summer or a cool summer: you're a summer (like me!), you can wear summer colors. Besides, you--and your fashion sister--know what you like and, together, will figure out what looks best.

--Side story: I once read a book where the author said summers absolutely cannot wear any black, but black comes in more than a handful of different tones, and I know without any doubt I can rock the blueish one. So don't take advice from rule-crazy fashion people too seriously.--

Wow, that's weird; this post is supposed to be about how to shop, but all we've covered is how to get ready to go shopping! That's because this is only how to shop part one. That's right! Learning how to shop is going to take more than one post, so stay tuned for part two!

Layer Like Crazy

Ever had one of those days when you're shivering like crazy waiting for the bus, but then dying of heat stroke five minutes into afternoon recess? Yeah, welcome to springtime! Lucky for you, I've got a solution: layer like crazy!!

Imagine this: it's pouring rain while you wait for the bus, but you're wearing your waterproof shoes and a warm raincoat over a comfy flannel top. Sun comes out, coat comes off, you're all set until after school at the farmers market with your mom--it's like the dead of August suddenly! But you don't mind; underneath your flannel button-up, you're wearing a sleeveless polo. That's how you layer like crazy.

Now imagine this: it's the night before, you're planning to layer like crazy, but if you bring a winter coat and it's 80 degrees in the morning, your first layer is gone before you even leave home.

If you're a techy tween with a smartphone, I'd suggest a weather shortcut on your home screen so you remember to check it the night before (I use Google's frog page because it's adorable and has lots of info). If you're not someone who lives online, often the weather forecast is in the daily paper your parents read. Look especially for signs of rain or wind (jacket!) and compare today's temperature to tomorrow's predicted (example: it was 50° today and you were burning up; for 55° tomorrow try the same top layer you wore today, but a cooler bottom layer you can dress down to).

I always try to bring a jacket with me, but I make sure the material is weather appropriate. Denim might break the wind better than fleece, but fleece is warm! Faux leather is fun when it will probably stay chilly all day, while cotton is perfect for those "just kind of cool" mornings. While it's difficult to layer jackets (at some point the sleeves bunch and you can't bend your elbow), you can zip a puffer vest over almost anything!

--I know I've been talking a lot about mornings, but don't forget to also layer like crazy in the evenings (this style hack will last you all the way into summer's mosquito nights).--

You've probably noticed by now the average temperature outside slowly climbing higher and higher (because summer is coming!!), so layers don't have to be heavy to be efficient. Sometimes a mesh long-sleeve over a tank top with a light-weight, sleeveless duster and denim shorts is sufficient--and super trendy!

Throughout this entire process, remember: you're a tween, you are entitled to experiment! Try layering patterns with stripes, or plaids with tiny prints--a solid color in between can keep the look controlled while also adding a layer!

Are you ready for one more super awesome part about being a tween..?

Waist belts! They can be stretchy belts, ribbon, or a cute, braided rope. You will be able to wear waist belts for the rest of your life, so try them out! They're perfect for cinching in loose-fitted dresses, tops, coats, dusters, and--of course!--bulky layers. I like to belt the smallest part of my waist (right over my navel), but I've found if I move the belt to about mid-ribcage I look taller.

And that's it! Now that I've told you everything I know about how to layer like crazy, it's time to go out and layer like crazy! Let other readers know your favorite layering tips in the comments below.

See you next week!

Tween Shoes for Success

Your shoes should never hold you back!

I've got some really sad news and I'm not sure how to break it. This might be one of the last few years of cute, sparkly, brightly colored, and bedazzled shoes being readily available in your size. I don't understand it either, it's like shoe manufacturers don't think teenagers or adults can have fun, which is especially heartbreaking if, like I was, you're a foot-size bigger than other tweens.

My advice: wear those shoes! Don't worry about whether they'll match everything in your closet. One of my biggest regrets is not wearing glittery, hot pink sneakers when I had the chance. That, and wearing shoes that were uncomfortable. That's why I think the concept of shoes for success is brilliantly awesome. We wear shoes almost everywhere, they should never hold us back, never stop us from our goals, and especially never keep us from having fun.

Here are some tricks for making sure you're wearing shoes for success:

• Shoe sizes vary from brand to brand, so don't hesitate to go up or down a few sizes until you find a comfortable fit.
  
  
• You'll notice that shoes (like feet!) come in a variety of shapes: narrow, wide, round toed, different round toe. Before shopping, trace an outline of your foot on paper. You want to find a shoe whose sole is as close to that shape as possible.
  
  
• Stand up. Your big toe or second toe (whichever is longest) shouldn't touch the end of the shoe. There should actually be enough room for you to squeeze a finger between that toe and the end of the shoe (since you can't actually put your finger there, you'll need to guess a little).
  
  
• If you look at the bottom of your foot, you'll notice the widest part of it looks like several circles mashed together. This area is the "ball of your foot;" it should fit comfortably in the shoe's widest part, bonus shoes for success points if the shoe has extra padding here!
  
  
• Fun fact, most people have one foot that is larger than the other! Make sure you try on both shoes. It's better for a shoe to be a little too big on one foot than too small on the other.
  
  
• Another fun fact: feet are bigger at the end of the day than in the mornings, mostly because gravity causes feet to swell throughout the day (they shrink again after a night of horizontal sleeping). Many celebrities attend red-carpet events in high heels that are too big, so after a night of standing and foot swelling, their shoes aren't uncomfortable. Celebrities are a little extreme, but if you're going shoes for success shopping, go after school or in the evenings.
  
  
• Don't buy tight shoes, hoping they'll stretch out. Don't buy shoes that are too big planning to "grow into them." It's bad for your foot and you'll feel clumsy wearing them. Buy shoes in your size, if you outgrow them, that's okay! Treat them well and someone else can have them when they stop fitting.
  
  
• Get active! You'll be living in these shoes: walk laps around the store, jump rope, bust a move, climb steps--if they're church shoes, take a knee! Make sure your heel isn't sliding around, sandal straps aren't rubbing uncomfortably, and the back of the shoe isn't biting into your achilles. Don't be shy about it! You are young and vibrant, if anyone's bothered by dancing in the shoe aisle, shame on them, they don't know skill when they see it. Keep dancing!
  
  
• Lastly, don't ever sacrifice comfort for fashion. You don't just need shoes for success, you need shoes that make you feel unstoppable.

If you're looking for fun ways to show off or highlight your shoes, try wearing them with a similarly colored belt or purse! I once found sunglasses with the same glittery zebra print as my tennis shoes...though I don't think anyone else noticed. *SMH*

And in case you are also one of those awesome people who enjoy browsing photos of shoes, here's a quick sampling of fabulous, tween-approved shoes for success.

Happy Sunday!

Spring Shell Wardrobe

A shell wardrobe--a.k.a. “capsule wardrobe”--consists of clothing that is considered essential, and for a spring shell wardrobe, clothing that is seasonally essential! You can think of it like a cake batter: basic sugar, eggs, butter, and flour, later layered with chocolate, topped with frosting, or sprinkled with pink sugar--but you need to have the basic cake batter first.

What makes the spring shell wardrobe different from a winter or summer shell wardrobe? Often by spring you no longer need snow boots, but it may also not be sandal-only season yet! Keep in mind that the spring shell wardrobe is a transitional wardrobe: a mixture of winter and summer pieces, but few items that are unique to spring.

Spring Shell Wardrobe List:

Fancy dress
A fancy dress is perfect for weddings or other religious ceremonies, and with a denim jacket, you can wear it almost anywhere! A sweater jacket is also a good item to have on hand in case it's windy out.

Sleeveless tops or tank tops
Good for layering under button-ups and zip-ups on a chilly morning, then dressing down for an after-school track meet. Sport tank tops are often the most comfortable and colorful. Aim for a total of two to three.

Button up shirts
Perfect for layering over t-shirts and wearing over accidental sunburns (don't underestimate a sunny spring afternoon)!

Zip-ups
--Or hoodies or mini jackets, the goal is that it keeps you warm on frosty mornings but can be removed easily. You might only need one, but, depending on your style, you might want three!

Raincoat
Unless it's a very cold spring, this raincoat doesn't need to be heavy. If it can be rolled up and stuffed into a backpack it's perfect--wear it over a zip-up for warmth. Also, a mini umbrella, small enough to tuck into a purse on an overcast day, is a great idea!

Winter coat
Spring is known for unpredictable weather, so don't put your winter coat into storage quite yet!

Shoes
Here your style will really be a deciding factor! Some girls live in running shoes, wearing them everywhere; others have slip-ons they couldn't live without! If you're really into shoes though, spring's a great time for some comfy sandals and waterproof boots!


Socks
Everyone who has ever been caught wearing tennis shoes in the rain knows how awesome a new pair of dry socks feel! You can put most of your wool socks into storage, but don't forget to refill your sock drawer--one pair for every day of the week and an extra for your backpack!

Leggings
Perfect for wearing under a casual dress at 7:00 a.m. then stuffing into your backpack shortly after the noon sun hits! Leggings to me are a spring shell wardrobe classic--and they come in so many colors!

Jeans/pants
Try at least one colorful pair of pants and one classic color that goes with everything. Two to four pairs total is usually an ideal number, but if you prefer skirts, you can skip these!

Casual skirts
Worn over leggings, skirts have an amazing spring vibe! Try adding two or three to your wardrobe this season.

Legwarmers
Leftover from your winter wardrobe, legwarmers are great for layering over jeans, pants, or even tights. One pair should be perfect!

Depending on where you live, that's a spring shell wardrobe! (Copying down this list, be sure to check off items you already have, and cross off items you don't need.)

As a final reminder, this is only a shell wardrobe. Like the cake frosting, you make it your own! That means adding scarves, vests, jumpers, fun hair pieces--anything else you already have in your closet! Spring is also a great opportunity to try new styles, so get together with your fashion sister and start experimenting!

Happy spring!