For my final day in my ‘theme week’ I have chosen to show a graphic t shirt worn 6 different ways! This was actually a lot of fun for me- because up until a year ago I would have NEVER worn a graphic t shirt anywhere but to bed! But I’ve been inspired by all the fashion posts on Instagram. I see women of all ages rocking a graphic t and looking super stylish! So here goes my take on how to wear a graphic t shirt!
Distressed jeans/ Free People Blazer/ Black Booties
Black distressed jeans/ Faux fur vest/ Paul Green flats
White distressed jeans/ grey and white shrug sweater, grey booties
Black pencil skirt/ denim jacket, leopard flats
Dark skinny jeans, off white blazer, pointy toe heels
Wide leg jeans, casual grey cardigan, loafers
Now I need to decide which I like best! I’d love to hear your thoughts!
In an effort to bring out something I haven’t worn in a while, today I am wearing my wide leg jeans. Personally, I love these jeans. I think there is something a little retro about them. My hubby, on the other hand, isn’t a fan. Oh well!
The trick with wide leg jeans is balance. Because they are voluminous, I need to make sure my top is more fitted, otherwise I look larger than I really am. Looking at the before photo, the high necked striped shirt and the long cardigan paired with the jeans is not flattering.
A little trick I learned somewhere is that your clothes should cut your body into thirds, not halves. In my before look- my top half and bottom half look about even- which makes me look frumpy. In the after photo, I have 2/3 legs and 1/3 top, which is a more slimming and appealing look. By replacing the long cardigan with a short fitted one- and a lower neckline on the tank (revealing a little more skin) I now look more polished and put together.
As for my shoes… this type of shoe is called an Oxford, or a Brogue and mine is made from Cole Haan (similar). I bought these years ago and while it’s a little funky, it is truly the most comfortable shoe in the world, and perfect for days when I am on my feet for hours. Plus, they are a fun alternative to the slip on tennis shoe that I normally wear (and love).
One of the reasons I started this blog back in 2011 was I wanted to find ideas on how to put outfits together. I have a closet full of clothes, yet sometimes don’t know what to wear! It’s been fun discovering people with similar interests and style- and I’ve been inspired by many of them. One of those is someone I found recently over on Instagram, a teacher from Wisconsin called @Madstylestudio. She has such an effortless, casual look that I love! Today’s outfit is inspired by her outfit from yesterday!
Here is what she wore:
Straight leg jeans and a floral top. So simple, yet stylish! So… that got me to thinking about my own floral top- and decided to try it paired with 3 different bottoms.
First I tried my wide leg Levi jeans. I love the washed denim look, and I think this is cute- but I wish the jeans didn’t flare out so much at the bottom. A straighter leg would be cuter. On that note, next I tried my straight leg Lucky jeans. I definitely like this look more- but wish the jeans had a more faded, worn look like @madstylestudio
Finally, just for fun, I decided to try my new joggers. While these don’t make my legs look skinny (in fact, the opposite), I absolutely LOVE the comfort and ease of wearing them. Plus, I think it’s a fun and different look than blue jeans. The grayish color in the floral top goes well with the pants- and gives me a casual, relaxed outfit.
So thank you, @madstylestudio for inspiring me. You rock! And if you don’t currently follow her, I suggest you get yourself on over to Instagram and look her up. And let me know who else you follow! I’m always looking for more inspiration.
You may be thinking to yourself, didn’t she just post this outfit last week? You’re close, I posted the before photo, but my after is new. That being said- it is basically the same outfit as last Friday, blue jeans and a black top.
The difference is that today I am wearing faded, wide leg cropped jeans instead of these dark skinny ones. I also changed out the tank. Instead of the casual cotton one, I’m wearing a faux silk v neck camisole from Uniqlo. If you’re a regular reader, you might recognize it. I also have it in white, and I wear it ALL THE TIME! It truly is one of my absolute favorites, and the sad news is that I tried to link it, but don’t think Uniqlo is still selling it. Darn.
To me, this camisole is perfect because it has a draped front, which hides my tummy (which you know is an issue for me). It also has a well cut neckline, the v is not so plunging that I’m showing too much skin. I also love that it is machine washable- making it easy and practical for moms! To add some interest to my outfit, I threw on cool leather bracelet and selected my new leopard slides. These shoes make the outfit interesting by adding a fun pattern to an otherwise simple look.
I don’t have much time to write today (my family is still in town and we are heading out the door), but I wanted to post a quick This or That with this cute striped top.
Originally I was planning on wearing this J Crew striped top with dark skinny jeans and leopard shoes- which I think looks cute- but then I decided I would try wide leg cropped jeans and see how that worked. I love leopard with stripes, so I added a leopard belt instead of shoes- and then finished the outfit with white slip on sandals. These jeans are so comfy (and I have been eating and drinking too much this past week with all my visitors) that I think I’ll opt for the wide leg look today.
I’ve really become a fan of my wide leg jeans, they are a nice change from my skinny ones! The important thing to remember with wide leg jeans is balance.
Looking at the before photo- this top is just too big and baggy, and paired with the loose jeans it looks frumpy. The orthopedic tennis shoes are not helping!
This paper thin sweater is a better option. The cut is a little slimmer, the weight of it is perfect for spring (not to heavy) and the shape works with the wide leg jeans. To complete the outfit, I chose my cute snakeskin slingbacks and added a necklace to give the look a little color.
When shopping for wide leg jeans and important thing to consider is the cut of the wide leg. Make sure the wide cut is only in the leg- and not throughout the entire pant. Otherwise, you will just look really wide all over. I hate to share this photo below because the quality is terrible, but here I am trying on some wide leg jeans at Target. As you can see- the width is throughout the entire leg- making me look lumpy and frumpy.
I’ve worn this sweatshirt once before, as seen here, but I thought I’d wear it again today. As I mentioned in my post on Tuesday, in my opinion, the secret to happiness is gratitude.
Looking at the before outfit, there are just two tiny things I am going to change.
1. I rolled down the jeans. In the before picture, they are too short. Just a couple of inches makes all the difference in the world. Be sure your cropped jeans aren’t too cropped!
2. I swapped out the gigantic sweatshirt for a slimmer, more fitted one.
That’s it! But boy, doesn’t it make a difference?!
After a week of grey, black and army green- I decided I needed some color! Plus, I’m still feeling really exhausted from my trip and just need something super easy to wear to school today. Jeans and a sweatshirt is as easy as it gets!
I chose this bright pink/ purple sweatshirt and my cropped wide leg jeans. The sweatshirt on the right is a big improvement over the fleece in the before picture. My motto is that fleece is only for hiking, camping or anytime you are going to be outside and it is freezing cold. In my opinion, it is not a very fashionable look- but very practical for keeping warm!
Now, to be honest, I’m struggling a bit with my shoe choice. I know anything will be better than the grey orthopedic shoes on the left, but I’m not sure about the slip on loafers. They feel a little dressy with a sweatshirt. I think I will wear my white Superga tennis shoes instead- go for a more sporty look.
I also want to comment on wide leg jeans- be really careful that they don’t make you look wide all over. I tried some on at Target the other day- and the cut was so wide through the entire leg that they made me look enormous. This pair is nice because while lower part is wide, it is still fitted through the thigh. Also, if you are petite, try a heel or a wedge shoe. I’m 5’5, so I should be ok with a flat shoe.
Ok, gotta run and get to school. Monday after Spring Break is HARD!!!
This title may be a bit ambitious, but my sweet (and fashionable) sister, Kara asked me to do a post on what tops to wear with different styles of jeans. So, after doing a ton of research, here are my findings. Hint: grab a cup of coffee… this is going to be a LONG post!
I’m going to start with wide leg jeans- since 1. that is what I’m wearing today 2. they are totally back in style 3. you may be wondering what the heck to wear with them.
I’ve worn these once before, paired with a cute striped top as seen here. Today, I’m pairing them with a black camisole and a VERY old blazer. Seriously, I think my 17 year old was an infant when I bought this at White House, Black Market. But, after all these years I still love it. It has that classic, Chanel inspired look that will never go out of style.
I decided I needed a long necklace with this top, so I threw this on one.
In my before photo, I paired it with a blouse that is oversize and a jacket that was too baggy for this style of jeans and clunky boots. The trick with wide leg jeans is balance. Since you are big on bottom, keep the top somewhat fitted or simple. My cropped jacket doesn’t overwhelm the pants. You don’t want to look like this photo below. While she looks comfy, it’s also a messy look.
photo cred: whowhatwear.com
I would say with wide leg jeans or pants, do not wear peplum, tunics or oversize tops. Unless you are super skinny, avoid long jackets. Stick to slim tops, or a fitted blouse. Off the shoulder top is popular with wide pants. Or a striped sailor shirt with boatneck collar would be cute. Try a tank or plain fitted v neck shirt (like I did today). Shoes really matter here- think heels, pointy toe or very minimal tennis shoes like Converse or Superga. Below are some inspiration outfits for you to consider.
I love the scarf as a belt. Cute, simple white top keeps everything in balance.
I love the simple tank with these jeans. And the shoes. Gorgeous! photo cred: Stylecaster.com
I always love stripes- and the off the shoulder look is lovely. Shoes are fun in the bright yellow! photo cred: katie considers.com
Now let’s talk about skinny jeans- since you all know they are my favorite! One of the nice things about skinny jeans is you can basically wear anything with them! They are so versatile.
An oversize sweater (or tunic), skinny jeans and booties is a great, casual look! Jackets and blazers over a tank or camisole look cute with skinny jeans. A long cardigan over t shirt works, or consider a statement blouse or button down shirt. Be sure to add a skinny belt. Another option is a boxy blouse to create a little shape on top. As for shoes, try neutral sandals, or pointy toed heels look gorgeous. Ballet shoes work as well. For a more casual look, wear simple tennis shoes. Below are some inspiration outfits I found on Pinterest.
Here are 2 great tops with skinny jeans- a button down blouse or a boxy blouse. Notice the neutral shoes. Photo cred: Gorgeautiful.com
Here is a date night look with skinny jeans. Love the off the shoulder top and the pink heels. Very glamorous! photo cred: miamiamine.com
Moving on to cropped jeans! Cropped jeans can be a skinny cut, a wide leg cut, or a straight leg. As with skinny jeans, any top works with cropped.  Cropped straight leg cut is a good alternative to the skinny- they are still dressy, but better for many figures.With cropped jeans, it’s all about the shoes! Ankle boots, flat sandals, tennis shoes, ballet flats, pointy heels. Anything goes!Â
A camisole, blazer and skinny cropped jeans is a very classic look. And again with the neutral heels. Photo cred: SydneStyle.com
Boyfriend jeans are a must have for most fashionistas (although truthfully, I’m still trying to find some that I love). Boyfriend jeans are usually really faded, distressed with holes at the knees. They fit somewhat baggy, but have a straight leg. They are often rolled at the cuff. For date night, pair with a super feminine top and heels. Otherwise, pair with t shirt or fitted sweater and tennis shoes or ballet flats. Try a crew neck sweater and loafers. A graphic t and blazer would be a super cute outfit. Below are some inspiration photos:
I love the plain black t shirt, the ripped jeans and the espadrilles. Such an easy, but stylish look. photo cred: femalemag.com.my
Here she has paired boyfriend jeans with a cute t shirt and duster cardigan and heels. This is a fun way to wear them. photo cred: FashionTasty.com
Here is a good date night or girls night out look- a black camisole, white blazer and black pointy toed heels. photo cred: http://makeoverly.com/boyfriend-jeans/
This is a cute casual boyfriend/ straight leg look. Graphic t shirt, blazer and tennis shoes. photo cred: Mykindofsweet.com
Making it’s way back into style is the bootleg cut. I do not own bootleg jeans, but now think I may need to get some! They are a great jean for a curvy figure. With bootleg jeans, try an off the shoulder top, or something somewhat fitted. One rule with bootleg is always wear heels, boots or wedges! No flats! For an edgy look, try a graphic t shirt and a bohemian cardigan. Or for a classic look, a button down blouse tucked in with a wide belt. Add a cropped jacket to show off your waist. Or maybe a flowy blouse- but not too flowy (no Seinfield references!) Remember, the jeans are the main attraction in this case. The top should be understated and not compete with jeans. No oversize sweater!
This flowy blouse is perfect. photo cred: Collection201.nl
Here she is wearing a simple grey shirt and a cute blazer with the sleeves rolled up and boots.
One of the things I noticed in my research is that you can wear basically anything with jeans! There aren’t any rules- just go with what you think feels and looks right. But try to think about proportions, big on bottom = small on top and vice versa. Remember, darker denim is dressier, so for a casual look- for for a washed or faded color. For evening out, go for a dark wash or black jeans. And in my opinion, white jeans are in style year round.
That’s all I’ve got for you today. I’ve got to get to work (teaching 4th grade today)! Wish me luck… and please comment with your favorite style of jeans and what you like to pair them with.
Even though I’m working today- I’ve chosen to wear jeans. Depending on the atmosphere of your office, sometimes jeans can be appropriate.
For my job (marketing), these jeans work since they look like dress pants. The fit is not too tight, the wash is very dark and I can wear them with heels (which dresses them up a bit).
On the right I’m showing them paired with this matronly buttoned up cardigan (don’t get me wrong, I’ve actually worn this with other outfits and liked it- but here it just is too plain). Plus, I have on these boring black square toed boots. Blah!
On the left I have replaced the boots with my pointy toed snakeskin heels. I am not planning on doing much walking today, and most of my morning will be spent sitting indoors, so I’ve decided to go with heels.
For my top I have on this loose white tank and this pretty, gold shimmery jacket that I love! I bought this at JC Penny, and I think it is really cool. I always love dressing in 3’s and so paired with the tank and the necklace, I think it completes the look.
It’s Wednesday, so I’ve hooked up with The Pleated Poppy! Also, don’t forget to vote by clicking on the link above right! (every vote counts! I’m 2 votes away from the #8 spot!) Thanks!
The jacket gives the outfit a more professional look- perfect for work! Looking at the photos, I wish my necklace hung down a little lower. I'm going to switch this one out for a longer pendant.
Everyday Mom Style 