Advice For The All Too Adventurous Fashionista ...

Stuck in a fashion rut?

If you are anything like me than a) you like clothes and b) you frequently experience a love-hate relationship with your wardrobe. My closet is full of great basics and unique treasures, but once in a while I'll decide to try a new trend only to find that I'm unable to pull it off. I'm also a girl on a budget, which means I can't just purchase anything. I have to be selective and I tend to make the wrong decisions (exhibit a: the fur vest that has only seen life outside my closet twice.) Thankfully there is a solution to my fashion woes, and that is Common Threads. Common Threads is an upscale consignment store that carries only the best of the best. It's perfect for girls like me, who make frequent fashion faux pas. The boutiques in both Boulder and Denver accept names like Ella Moss, J. Brand, Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch, Splendid, and others of the sort. Wether you are looking to try a new trend for cheap, or you bought those tasseled boots in the heat of the moment, Common Threads is your savior. They offer a 50-50 split, which means that once your item sells, Common Threads gets 50% of the revenue and you get the remaining 50%. By consigning with them, you also get a certain percentage off your purchases. That means you can try that fur vest for much cheaper, and not feel so bad when you decide you're not edgy enough to pull it off.
Currently I'm on the lookout for some pointy ankle boots like these. Just like most of my purchases, I never know if I can pull them off until a trial run or two, but thankfully Common Threads will be there, just in case...

The Hairy Details

I don’t switch up my hair too often. Instead, my hair goes through phases. In elementary school, I had my mom braid my hair into pigtails everyday. In third grade my mom left for a trip, leaving my dad as chief braider in command. Long story short, the braid didn’t turn out so I was forced to wear my hair down for the week. The kids in my class had grown so accustom to my daily braids that when I arrived at school with my long tresses flowing free, I heard a boy in my class whisper to my friend, “is that a visitor?” as he pointed in my direction. Just like every elementary aged kid, I was curious and weird. My new hair was like never ending roll play, I was no longer “Mallory with pigtails and braces” I was the “new girl” and I wanted to capitalize on it. Once my mom returned from her trip, I seized to meander into her bathroom in the morning for my braids. Instead, I spiced up my new look by placing two clips on either side of my part as I let the rest of my hair fly free. It was that style that became my new signature until eighth grade. Once high school hit, I switched up my look once again. I turned to the hot tools, hoping to tame my uncontrollable waves with a blow dryer and straighter. I sizzled my hair every day until the loads of college work put my hair on the back burner. By junior year, I went abroad to Italy and then to Africa. I regretfully chopped off my long hair thinking it would be easier to manage while I was away without tools. After much travel, I went through an all-natural, “granola” stage where I didn’t want to process my hair in an unnatural way. Now that I have graduated, I’ve thought a lot about changing my hair to mark this new phase of my life. Instead of sticking to a single, particular style, however, I want to make this hair phase more eclectic. I regularly let my hair fall as it may, but I’ve also re-introduced my blow dryer and curling iron into the mix. I want to experiment with multiple styles instead of creating a new phase that will come and inevitably go, again. As I start experimenting, I can’t help but want to try the middle-part. Below are some looks that I hope to try as I embark on breaking my stylized habit…

I love the middle-part and voluminous waves 

Some middle-part, up-do inspiration...

 

Trendy Tans and Punchy Brights

It's been a while since I've shared my current obsessions. Here is what I'm loving right now (especially those wedges!)

Mixing & Matching Prints

For those of you that have known me for a while, you know that I've only recently jumped on the 'print train.' Prior to recent times, I was a sucker for solid neutrals. My wardrobe consisted of black, white, and grey, with an occasional tan. I decided to spruce up my drab wardrobe at the perfect time because the mixing-and-matching of prints is all the rage this Spring. Take a hint from the brother, boyfriend, or dad that you once rolled your eyes at for pairing plaid with stripes this season. Or just steal some of these bright patterned ideas for your closet and home that are listed below....

Mastering The Art of Weekend Wear

For me, the perfect weekend wear is finding the sweet spot between chic and effortless, tomboy and girly. Since I’m still in school, weekend wear isn’t just reserved for the weekends but is my usual “go-to.” Even though I’ve had a lot of practice, I only rarely get it right. So this lazy Sunday morning, I’ve rounded up some inspiration of those who’ve nailed the art of refined grunge…   

This last one is from my favorite fashion blog, Man Repeller.