If you've been an avid reader of my blog, you'll know that I'm a Fashion and Retail student. Recently, in one of my classes, we were assigned to research one upcoming trend for Spring 2014 based on this year's spring trends.

You guessed it.

The one that my group was in charge of was The Art of Reason, based on the influence of Op Art and mathematics. Some of the designers that embodied this trend were Calvin Klein and Louis Vuitton. Anyhow. That's not really the point I'm trying to get across.

Lately, all I've been seeing is black and white. Checkers. Stripes. They're everywhere and I can't help but notice it! So I figured, I might as well share it with someone.

I came up with two outfits. One is a dressier, more literal interpretation of the trend while the other is a casual, more relaxed style. I tried to focus on pieces that embraced structure and geometry as well since that tends to work nicely with the Op Art theme.

Personally, the most I'd wear is a striped skirt. It's not a trend that I'm totally nuts about but I do like the way it looks in some instances. There has been this huge wave of fashion bloggers that have been sporting the vertical black and white striped skinny pants. I know you know what I'm talking about.

While I'm on the subject of stripes, let me tell you a tip I learned in class.

Horizontal stripes actually make you look taller than wearing vertical stripes. Isn't that so bizarre??


~Jenn

Hello!

Bonjour!

Buon giorno!

How are you all today? :)

Just wanted to share this SUPER quick OOTD with you guys. I was hanging out with my friends on Friday as kind of an early birthday celebration because they'll all be in school by the time it's my birthday. and plus, my best friend is going back to college :( :( :(

This is what I wore for the evening!

AND. Totally apologize in advance for crap quality. I need to find my camera...so for now, Macbook it is.

DETAILS:Top: Forever21Skirt: Forever21Earrings: Forever21Ring: class ring!Shoes: Steve Madden
Hope you guys are enjoying your last days of summer!

~Jenn

Hello everyone! I hope this week has been awesome for you :)

A few days ago, my dad turned another year older and the whole family went out for lunch at a dim sum place to celebrate. Since it wasn't that far of a walk, I decided to dress up a little bit more than usual.

So here is an OOTD!

Sorry for the editing action going on there; totally did not like my face at that moment.

OUTFIT BREAKDOWN:
Earrings: Forever21Top: Forever21Skirt: Forever21Belt: Charlotte RusseShoes: TargetBag: Old Navy
Alright, that's it! Hope you enjoyed this :)


Until next time,
{kisses}
~Jenn

As with at least 50% of my posts, inspiration strikes most when I'm shopping. Forever21 is probably the place to go if you want to buy trendy and kind of inexpensive clothes. So, while I was browsing through the sale section, I found this really sheer maxi dress with no slip underneath and thought, how would anyone wear this without flashing their goodies to the entire population?

Here is where the second wardrobe tip comes in and it branches off of the first one, which was versatility.

LAYERING.

Holy smokes, how many times have you heard someone say "this piece is great for layering" or "I would love to layer this over this"?? Probably more times than you can count with your fingers AND toes.

But layering truly is a way to take pieces in your closet that have been worn to death and turn them into fresh new outfits. It's wicked useful, especially if you're low on money but still want to have fun with styling and creating different ensembles.

The whole concept of layering is probably best used during the Fall and Winter when you want to stay toasty and warm but not look like an oversized marshmallow that's about to combust (You know...those 50 lb jackets that your mom used to force you to wear when you wanted to go play in the snow for fear of catching some deadly cold).

BUT, that totally doesn't mean you can't layer in the warmer months.

To layer in Spring and Summer months, simply use lighter fabrics. Tada.

ANYWAY. Let's get back to what I was saying earlier.

SHEER MAXI DRESSES.
- Awesome for summer because it's freaking hot enough to melt your skin off. But let's keep it classy by wearing a bodycon dress underneath. I especially recommend ones that are strapless just because I think the silhouette looks better but if you're not comfortable with that, then, of course, wear one with straps!

- Wearing a bodycon dress means you can accentuate your figure AND play around with patterns.

- Some maxi dresses can be very flowy and shapeless so by wearing something that really cinches you in, your figure won't be lost. Let's say you are absolutely worried about the dress being TOO wide...wear a belt!

- If you aren't normally comfortable wearing bold patterns or just think it's too much, then wearing it underneath a sheer dress can help tone it down.

Here is an example! (Just for the purpose of visuals, I'll be using all F21 products but you can get things like this virtually anywhere now.)

Polka Dot Sweetheart Dress
PLUS

Sheer Lace Back Maxi Dress
BODYCON DRESSES
- Ok, scenario #2: You have a crap load of bodycon dresses in all colors and patterns. You're going out. It's girls' night. It's a little breezy but you really don't want to wear anything heavy like a blazer or cardigan. What to do?

- Grab a sheer sleeveless shirt dress or just a shirt tunic and play around with complementary patterns and different hues.

- This can be an alternative to an oversized sweater, which is what I would opt for if it was a winter look.

- If it gets warmer somehow later in the evening, the shirt is sheer and light enough to just stuff it back into your purse or clutch. Easy!

Example time!

Strapless Bandage Dress
PLUS

Geo Print Trapeze Tunic
OPEN BACKS/TULIP BACKS/LACE BACKS
- Summer time is the time for see-through, cropped clothes. I get it. I'm guessing for most of those tops, people like to style it with bandeaus or bustiers or just plain tank tops. Cool.

- But another fun way you can wear them is by layering them over a romper/jumpsuit/playsuit, whatever you call them!

- I especially love wearing cropped shirts over dresses or in this case, rompers for movie dates because it gets cold in there but wearing a sweater is a little impractical if you plan on being outdoors afterward.

- By wearing a romper in a fun floral print or maybe even just a simple polka dot print, you can show off the print AND the back design of the top you're wearing without revealing any excess skin.

For example...

Polka Dot Print Romper
PLUS

Dotted Swiss Tulip Back Top
OR

Double Bow Back Tank
OR

Lace Back Trapeze Tank
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Last thing before I go! These tips can be used for other pieces as well. If you're going to the beach and you want to wear your bathing suit ahead of time, an open back shirt plus some denim shorts and you are good to go!

Bodycon skirts are also amazing for layering. Try wearing them under a shorter but fuller skirt! It has a peplum-esque effect!

You get the point.

Well that's all I've got for today. I hope you enjoyed reading it, as always :)


Until next or whenever,
{kissies}
~Jenn

For those of you planning to celebrate July 4th, here are a few outfit ideas that incorporate the Independence Day spirit! These are perfect for sitting on the grass watching fireworks or mingling with friends at a bbq.



If you'd like more details about each specific piece of clothing or accessory, please visit my polyvore at asmallbit.polyvore.com!

(From left to right)
OUTFIT #1
a) Super casual! The denim skirt gives it a down-to-earth feel while the tucked in t-shirt and belt still help maintain your womanly silhouette.
b) The cute American flag graphic is slightly faded, making it look worn in and comfortable!
c) The color of the sneakers helps brighten up the look a bit, making it more appropriate for the summertime.
d) If you find that it starts getting chilly at night, throw on a navy cardigan! The color will complement the yellow and the denim perfectly.
e) Star shaped earrings are a cute way to incorporate that aspect of the flag into your outfit if you're opting to wear a plain t-shirt.

OUTFIT #2
a) This outfit was inspired by the colors of the flag but rather than using the normal red and royal blue, I chose colors that were more summery and more in trend.
b) The polka dot pattern gives the look a bit more umf and is also kind of retro.
c) To pull the outfit together, I added polka dot flats but using a polka dot pattern that's subtler and has a solid color tip to mimic the match between the polka dot top and solid color shorts.
d) To bring out the white dots in the blouse, I chose pearl earrings.

OUTFIT #3
a) Kind of a stretch from the original American flag theme but I decided to use striped shorts in a light lavender color to represent the stripes on the flag.
b) The denim corset creates a nice solid contrast to the lighter colored shorts.
c) Since it's denim, the corset looks less risque and can be worn to many events but you can always throw something over it if you think it's a bit too inappropriate for family events.
d) I opted for JC wedges because they elongate the legs and the mint color complements the lavender quite nicely. To me, this color combo is supposed to be reminiscent of the red and blue found traditionally in the flag but that might be a little too off?
e) I added a bracelet that did have the traditional colors, just in case it didn't look patriotic enough! :)

OUTFIT #4
a) Crop tops are the epitome of summer and this pinkish reddish colored one is a great option for those who like it simple.
b) Instead of going for stripes, I decided to pair this solid tee with a small polka dot skirt that has bows going down the front. It's extremely girly!
c) Nude pumps with an ankle strap will elongate your legs and make it a little easier to walk while the peeptoe adds a feminine touch to the outfit.
d) The outfit can't be complete without matching bow earrings, of course!

OUTFIT #5
a) This last outfit is one of my favorites because it does use the classic red, white, and blue color combo.
b) I wanted it to look a bit edgier so I thought the silver skull ring would work nicely.
c) The silver tone of the jewelry matches the silver hardware on the shorts.
d) The black wedges bring the bright colors together but I will advise people to be careful when walking in these types of shoes! You can always switch this for black flats!


I sincerely hope you guys enjoyed this post! Be safe and have fun on Independence Day! :)


Until next,
{kiss kiss kiss}
~Jenn

P.S. If you'd like to see what I'm wearing for Independence Day, please check back on my blog next week :D!

There's a small post on Seventeen Mag's Fashion Blog section that talks about one of Rihanna's recent outfits in NYC where she sports a blush pink bandeau and a matching color high low skirt with black converses.


Click here to visit the actual post!

The person who wrote the post talked about how Rihanna has the body to pull off such a look, even though it may be a bit too revealing for the average person.

While everyone is entitled the freedom to wear what they want, since everyone does have a different style, I think Rihanna's outfit was border unstylish...and just plain weird.

She should have gone with a corset or a bralette if she wanted that look and then paired it with the skirt and some sandals. That way, a little bit of her stomach would be peeping out, giving it a less risque feel but still maintaining that type of style.

Another option could have been throwing a blazer over the bandeau to at least cover some of the skin from her arms and shoulders and then putting some heels on to elongate the silhouette.

Also, if she really wanted to do a ballerina meets rocker type of ensemble, I would've opted for combat boots or black flatforms instead of converses. The shoes seem too out of place and the skirt swallows up her legs. Overall, it's an extremely unflattering outfit.

Anyway.

That's all I have to say about that! Let me know in the comments what you guys think about this. Yay or nay?


Until next,
{kisses!}
~Jenn

p.s. Happy early Father's Day!