A New Style Icon

Designers are seizing every chance they get to dress this young starlet.  While promoting her most recent film, The Hunger Games, Jennifer Lawrence has bewitched everyone in the world of fashion. But who wouldn't want to dress her- gorgeous, sophisticated, and most importantly, confident, we should all take cues from this fearless young woman.

To get her look go for metallics, plunging necklines, jewel tones, smoky eyes, and heavy bangs.

photo credit: pinterest, pinterest, pinterest, pinterest, pinterest

Fashionable Living: De-Stress

Whether you have a ten-minute break or a few hours to spare, here are some activities you can do to unwind and clear your mind in between work, school, or the general, everyday insanity we face in our modern society.

Sit in the sun

 Just soak it up and pretend you’re on an exotic beach somewhere. The imagination is a powerful tool; use it to let your mind escape.

Exercise

            Stretch, do some yoga, or even try something intense that will make you sweat like spin classes or running.

Pinterest

            Make a board of your dream vacation or something that you can look forward to one day. It may seem silly or farfetched by having goals and dreams gives aspirations to work towards, making stress worth it.

Baking from scratch

Bake a delicious treat and then give it away. You will feel accomplished and you can brighten someone else’s day.

Calling A Friend

            Contact someone that knows you well that you can just be natural around and laugh with. Laughing is the best medicine after all.

Reading a Magazine

Focusing on a topic or having your mind be stimulated by images will create a distraction from your stress allowing your mind to become clear. You will be able to approach your work again feeling refreshed and inspired.

Crafting

            Using your hands to create art can be challenging, but the challenge will require your full attention preventing you from thinking about the pressure you are under.

Listening to Music

Have a go to playlist with a theme- summer, swing music, romantic songs, or anything that allows you to envision an event and takes you away.

Organizing/Cleaning

            Feeling guilty about taking a break? Organizing and cleaning can be justified because it’s a necessity to maintaining a healthy standard of living.

Being in a stressed or anxious state of mind is never stylish. Keep calm, try one of these activities, and live fashionably on.


photo credit: pinterest

Live Colorfully!

What's a girl to do when the sun is shinning and the weather is as lovely as it has been in the Northeast this spring? Dress fearlessly in color of course! Take a look at Kate Spade for some bright inspiration and live colorfully as they would advise.

Stylish Spaces

When I moved into my compact and cramped freshmen dorm room, I had to do my best to organize all of my items in the limited space that I was given. At the time, I had recently bought tall rain boots and could not find a place to store them. That's when my grandmother said to me, "They're interesting enough to display like art. Why not arrange them on top of your wardrobe instead of hiding them away somewhere."

That moment is when it clicked in my mind, why not display my treasured accessories and jewelry pieces like art and give them the attention they deserve. Below are pictures from a website called the coveteur; we can take hints from them as to how to beautifully display are fashion items amongst every day items to decorate our spaces.

Show off all your special items- Award, handbag, and shoes.

For simplicity, work with neutral colors- Shoes, handbag, books, artwork, lamp.

Mix quirky items with luxury items such as a crocodile and jewels.

This oozes with sophistication- soft pink roses, heels, and art books.

Play with different textures- flowers, candles, books, a clutch, and a jewelry box.

photo credit: the coveteur, the coveteur, the coveteur, the coveteur, the coveteur

Fashionable Living: Trendy Travels

Traveling: it is the one time when I know many of us fashionistas go straight for comfort and throw any sense of style out the window. Here are a few pointers to ensure your next trip is both comfortable and chic, spring break anyone? 

A simple outfit such as skinny jeans and a button down is simple but very polished. Look for an oxford shirt with some stretch and pair it with flats. Perfect for a day of shopping or sight seeing. 

How effortlessly cool is this outfit for spending a day in a new city?  Wear it with flats or cute Ked sneakers for walking purposes and transition it to night time activities some festive jewelry. 

This is a great outfit to wear on a plane. A simple t-shirt, blazer or cardigan, and slouchy pants are all relaxed and comfortable. The eye catching sandals, feminine hair do, scarf, and handbag add a personal touch to this outfit.

A cross body bag is essential for any trip. It keeps your hands free and provides storage.

An oversize sweater and scarf are perfect to snuggle with on your train ride or flight. She is comfortable but also ready to take on the next adventure.

Wearing your hair up or out of your face or a half up/half down style looks sophisticated, is durable, and fashionable for practically any event.

photo credit: pinterest, pinterest, pinterest, pinterest, pinterest, pinterest

Something New

Timid, apprehensive, and frankly, whimpy are a few adjectives I would use to describe my attitude towards being adventurous or trying something new. And it was not until this past weekend when I went snowboarding that I was reminded of the exhilarating pleasures of discovering a new interest.

I full heartedly believe that one of the best sensations we get to experience as humans is beginning a new venture and discovering that we love it! Of course, there are times when taking the plunge does not work out well, but when it does, it is so spectacular that it outweighs all of the other past experiences.

So how can one take this experience and become more stylish because of it? Simply try new things and have an open minded attitude about it. If the experience seems to be less than fulfilling, do not sulk in negativity. But grasp every bit of energy and bask in the new outlook that you gain from the invigorating adventure.

An additional plus, new activities provide opportunities for dressing up in new fashions. For example, bright and fun winter gear for snowboarding, an alluring and demur wide rimmed hat for beaching while traveling to new and exotic islands, or feminine and sophisticated accessories for meeting someone new. One can take these new fashionable endeavors and incorporate them into their routine as well. In every way possible, take advantage of all opportunities and allow them to inject some new energy and style into life.

photo credit: pinterest

A Bracelet Tradition

It began June of 2010- the greatest summer I have experienced to date. Having just graduated from high school, my friends and I were set to have a memorable summer filled with late nights, new experiences, and overall crazy and nostalgic teenage fun. When the summer began to wind down, I realized that I had been wearing three bracelets the entire season. The first was pale pink with silver hardware attached and it was from American Eagle. The second one was several tan braided ropes, also with silver hardware and from American Eagle. The third was a silver bracelet with white details that was a gift. All throughout my time spent in the ocean during beach trips, running over fields while playing flag football, and even when my wrist was held over fires to roast marshmallows, my faithful bracelets remained intact on my sun kissed wrists.

When September rolled around and it was time for me to leave for college, these three bracelets filled with memories still did not come off my wrists. Eventually I took them off because I realized that I was beginning a new adventure by starting my college experience and I did not want to be stuck in the past. But I still have these bracelets and look at them often to be reminded of the pure and youthful bliss I experienced that summer.

Since that summer, I have kept up with this tradition, even buying new bracelets to commemorate spring break trips and other fun experiences.

So here is my suggestion: if you have adventurous or interesting opportunities coming up (spring break for college students), invest in a bracelet to wear throughout the entire experience. I have come across stylish and inexpensive bracelets at stores such as Nordstrom (pictured above), American Eagle, H&M, and Forever 21. I would even recommend wearing it for the entire spring season to remind yourself of the energy you felt during that time and to allow that energy to be infused into everything you do for the rest of that season. By the end, you will have a fashionable signature item and noteworthy token to hold onto.

Treat Yourself Like A Queen

Women are always saying, they are waiting for their prince charming to walk into their lives and sweep them off their feet; but how realistic is that idea? We live in a world where a person cannot wait for their dreams or wishes to be handed to them, they have to work for them by being persistent and proactive. That is why a woman cannot expect for the man of your dreams to just appear one day and magically fall in love, one must work for it.

Now the idea of “working for love” may seem unnatural or counter intuitive. It certainly does not mean to throw yourself at every attractive man that comes along or to act in a way that indulges high maintenance habits or diva attitudes. Rather one should keep herself up with the high standards of being a true lady. Being well mannered, spoken, and educated, as well as having a selfless attitude towards other, a light hearted sense of humor, and a deep respect for oneself through grooming tendencies and a strong sense of self esteem will ensure that one is attracting the right sort of man.

It is through these particular traits that one will exude class and make fashionable choices on a regular basis, ensuring that one is well prepared for the day that fate places one’s king into their life. 

To all of my stylish and lovely readers,

Firstly, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart, for checking in with FashionMatterns and making it apart of your regular reading. It is because of you that FashionMatterns has been able to achieve great things recently.

Secondly, FashionMatterns will be undergoing some changes in the near future. Each week you can expect to see at least new three posts- Sophisticated Thinking on Mondays, Editor’s choice on Wednesdays, and Fearless Fridays. Also, with the help of a dear friend, FashionMatterns will be receiving a graphic face lift and makeover.

Keep checking in for exciting new changes and thank you for all of your support and love!

Sincerely,

FashionMatterns

Who Says

You made me insecure,

Told me I wasn’t good enough.

But who are you to judge

When you’re a diamond in the rough.

I’m sure you got some things

You’d like to change about yourself.

But when it comes to me

I wouldn’t want to be anybody else.

I’m no beauty queen

I’m just beautiful me

You’ve got every right, to a beautiful life.

Who says, who says you're not perfect?

Who says you're not worth it?

Who says you're the only one that's hurtin'?

Trust me, that's the price of beauty

Who says you're not pretty?

Who says you're not beautiful?

The path to gaining self respect- Selena Gomez says it best in her song, Who Says. The remarkable thing about self esteem is that YOU are in complete control of it. People may judge you or criticize you, in fact they will judge you and criticize you, but you are the one in command.

And yes, it is much easier said then done, to ignore what others say and think, but once you choose to do that and you choose to believe in yourself, you will blossom.

What is the harm in being confident and poised? If this is your outlook, I do not see any results other than success and happiness in your future.

Stay True to You

It happens to everyone, every year. You join a new community- whether it be a club, class, job, or any sort of unfamiliar environment and immediately you feel a desire to fit in. It is simple human nature to want to be accepted by your peers. It gives a person a feeling of comfort and a sense of worth. But where exactly is the fine line between fitting in and losing yourself?

In the movie Mean Girls, when Cady joins “the plastics” she begins to present herself differently. Not only in the way that she dresses, but how she behaves, sets her priorities, and treats her body. We all know how the movie ends, she finally realizes the monster that she has become and it ends happily with her finding herself again.

As human beings, we are all far from perfect and it is very easy to get caught up in a similar situation to Cady. The catch is that it may not be so easy to find yourself again, therefore it is important to recognize when you are not being true to yourself. To do this simply ask, are you doing what makes you truly happy? Does the environment that you surround yourself with provide you with true bliss and fulfillment?

From my own experiences, there have been times when I constantly compare myself to those I am surrounded by. I feel that my lifestyle should match theirs, and if it does not there is something wrong with me therefore I should conform. And sometimes I do conform; but it is in these moments, I realize that I am in my weakest and lowest state of mind.

So what does all of this have to do with fashion or Eating Disorder Awareness Week? A very simple and affective way to change your image is through your choice of clothing, which is why it is one of the easiest ways to loose a true sight of yourself. Simply because everyone else is wearing an item, is not a good enough reason for you to also wear a particular piece of clothing or trend.

And somewhat similar to fashion, developing an eating disorder is a method that seems to be simple and affective in transforming your body, therefore your imagine. The greatest difference with this approach is that it is certain that you will lose sight of yourself and it is extremely difficult to recover from. Comparable to fashion, just because it seems that everyone else is very skinny or obsessing over their bodies, is not a valid excuse for you to also.

One’s sense of fashion and one’s sense of body image provide ample opportunities to create unbalance and a lost sense of direction. But with a clear cut path, along with strength and positive reinforcement, they can provide a rich amount of opportunities to build an unstoppable and confident force within oneself.