Bedazzle your Butt

Have you ever found yourself changing your stance on a fashion or a style that you once thought was heinous?

I guess you could consider this blog entry as my confession: I have officially jumped on a band wagon that I once despised.

You see, about a year or so ago I was standing in line at a department store behind a young woman with a bedazzled butt. The back pockets of her jeans had bold and busy patterns and sparkly jewels. The stitching was thick and bright white all the way down the legs. I immediately hated it! I told myself then, I would never be caught dead in jeans like that.
As the weeks and months passed by, it seemed everyone was wearing them. Did I miss some free giveaway of flawed denim somewhere?

I can't tell you exactly what happened or why I recently had a change of heart, but I am now one of the brave women sporting an eye-catching design on a part of my body I have spent years trying to cover up and minimize.

Yes, readers, this is my butt... and it's decorated.

Hair today....Gone Tomorrow!

Before/ After-Love it BTW!!!!

Today is judgment day. I’m merely hours away from either completely freeing myself of unrelenting worry or completely demolishing my self-esteem for the next oh…decade.
Back in February, my wonderful hairdresser (and best advisor ever!) decided she was going to try a new direction in her life and retire. A decision I both envied and loathed at the very same time. I’ve been in mourning for the last 7 months, completely cowering in fear of change, but my hair has now decided to revolt against me. It is literally taking flight by the handfuls off my scalp, rather than sticking around and tolerating my neglect any longer. So, out of unprecedented panic of becoming the next G.I. Jane, I made an appointment with a stranger.
To make my matters of stranger danger anxiety even worse, my inner style consultant is nagging at me that its time for a drastic change.
“Why don’t we just kill two birds with one stone?” she says.
“Why don’t you just push me into a grave of seclusion from society?!” I reply.
To improve my chances of this experience amounting to no more than unnecessary agony, I will struggle to conceal the insurmountable amount of pressure I have placed on this newbie’s shoulders. If revealed, it could prove to be a devastating blow in this battle for trust.
So as the scrapping will soon begin, I will paint half my face blue, mount my arse in the black adjustable chair, wrap my body with the armor of the plastic cloak and as I journey off into the sheers of fire, I will encourage all who follow in my footsteps…
”She may ruin your hair, but…..it will grow back?!”

Boyfriend Blazer or your boyfriend's blazer?

It's the fashion craze taking Hollywood, and just about every other city in the nation by storm.

For a few months now, I have been on a quest for the perfect boyfriend blazer...
This longer version of your traditional suit blazer usually has sleeves that fold or scrunch and is typically worn open, rather than buttoned.

My favorite way to wear this trend? With dark skinny jeans, high heels, a t-shirt, and several long necklaces.

But don't be fooled by the popularity of this latest wardrobe must-have.

Worn wrong, the boyfriend blazer makes a girl look like she's been shopping for her ill-fitting fashion in her man's closet. While that is somewhat the point, hence the looks' name, you can still pull off the look with poise and effortless femininity.

So how do you wear a boyfriend blazer without, well, looking like your boyfriend? In my opinion it's all in the fit.

As with any blazer or jacket, if it isn't tailored in the shoulders, you will look slouchy and similar in shape and stature to a linebacker.

This particular blazer is supposed to hang open and appear a bit 'boxy' but the slightest tuck in the waist gives the look a more feminine appeal.

The blazer can be worn out to dinner over a dress, to work over a camisole, or on a Saturday afternoon paired with a graphic tee. My rule of thumb: whatever shirt you wear underneath, keep it around your natural waist line. The jacket is long, your shirt should not be.

Finally, keep everything else fitted. Since the jacket hangs loose, if your pants are wide-legged or your skirt is A-lined, you will not look polished and fashion-forward, you will just look fat... just sayin'.
Even 90-pound supermodels appear sloppy and begin looking like they have hips comparable to the rest of the female species when paired to baggy bottoms. (see right)

The offender: The dreadful yet somehow popular bootie shoe.
The crime: Tricking women into thinking they look good while wearing them
The punishment: Unrelenting mockery and criticism

They are everywhere I look, swarming the runways, molded onto every celebrity, bombarding the pages of every major fashion magazine. It’s perhaps the biggest trend of the year and yet the furthest from my favorite.

I have honestly put effort into trying to like it. I’ve even gone as far as to trying them on, all the while attempting to convince myself that they look better on my foot, than on the shelf, but to no avail, I’m still repulsed.

Am I the only one who pays attention to the rules on “What Not to Wear?” This shoe is everything wrong with what a shoe should be. Is it a loafer, is it a boot, is it a high heel or is it a gladiator sandal? Who knows anymore?! They’ve combined all these styles (although independent of each other, quite acceptable) to make some hideous creation that is supposed to increase our individual hotness quotient, only to do the complete opposite and make us the center of a fashion debacle.

This shoe is especially heinous when worn with a dress or skirt or any leg revealing attire for that matter. A shoe should compliment the leg, making them appear longer and more slender; not weigh it down cutting our frame off at the ankle, in turn making us look like my childhood Barbie dolls, after our dog chewed their feet off.

The only tolerable way I have seen these hideous shoes is when worn with skinny jeans. And we all know the only people who can pull those off, are 6 foot tall, 100lb models with toothpicks for legs, but that is a whole other can of worms I will not get into.

So, I will continue to pray that this trend pulverizes into the dark corners of the fashion world, never to see the light again, therefore sparing me of what’s left of my corneas.

When Bad Fashion Happens to Good People

Yesterday, I was walking into one of my favorite stores, Nordstrom Rack. (God bless Nordstrom Rack) In front of me, there was a very lovely young woman who I am guessing has an equal obsession with the somewhat-discounted department store, though from her outfit, it's hard to tell. As lovely as she was, I couldn't help but wonder if she got dressed in the dark.

So, I did what any rookie fashion blogger would do. I pretended to read a text message and took a picture with my camera phone.

Now, because I was trying to be discrete, you must forgive my poor photography skills, but let me describe the disaster I have laid before you.

My fellow shopper is wearing denim shorts, with black leggings, brown boots, and a maroon sweater with a large white belt over it.

I will give her credit on two things... I DIG the boots and the over-sized purse. Had she worn skinny jeans, instead of shorts with leggings, this outfit would have worked.

Part of me wanted to run up to her and tell her about outfitopinion.com, but the other part of me didn't want to get punched in the face, so I opted for taking a picture and blogging instead.

Seduced by the Shoes

A shocking revelation came over me yesterday, after returning from a shopping trip; I've become a shoe snob. A simple BOGO sale, where I can take home five pairs of shoes for under $100, just doesn't do it for me anymore. Maybe it has something to do with maturing into my 30's, or maybe I've become more spoiled to quality over quantity, or perhaps Payless should consider designing a shoe that is higher than a half-inch. (The higher the heel, the easier to disguise excess poundage, it's not rocket science people.) Whatever the reason, my credit card company is loving my new found snobbery. However, my husband...not so much.

I realize my obsession for the finer footwear in life, wouldn't be so noticeable, if it wasn't for the frequency in which I feel I must indulge. But shoe shopping is like a drug to me; the smell of the leather that stirs in the air when the salesman pulls the tissue back away from the shoes, or the way the little foot mirrors stop at the calf, leaving you to imagine you have a butt like Fergie's. The entire experience is exhilarating! Although, I do think the experience could be damn near perfect, if Macy's would read my comment cards on employing hot Abercrombie looking models as salesmen, instead of the husky old lady with a stache. (Just makes good business sense if you ask me.)

Although my dilemma has no real resolve, I like to look at it this way...Macy's may be more pricey than Payless, but it could be alot worse...it could be Jimmy Choo or Manolo Blahnik! Thank your lucky stars, oh husband of mine, that my inner Carrie Bradshaw doesn't come out while in possession of our Visa!!!!

An Affair to Remember

Today is a fat day and my closet is far from every girls dream; it's more like every girls reality check.

I'm sure most of you can relate to my constant losing battle with my weight and just like my hips, another place that the evidence cannot hide, is in my closet. I have enough "skinny clothes" to clothe a third world country. Unfortunately, they are all currently collecting dust, yet I've somehow convinced myself to save them until they fit me again.

As if that weren't bad enough, I have a huge empty place in my closet where my "fat clothes" used to be. (God is going to strike me down for using the word empty and closet in the same sentence) But as soon as my "fat clothes" were too big for me, I donated them so fast, you'd think they had a contagious disease.

Which brings me to the question of the day; Where is it acceptable to go out into public naked? I have nothing to wear!!!!! I tried to squeeze into some of my "skinny clothes," but I passed out when the blood stopped circulating to my brain and I'm much too stubborn to go out and buy more "fat clothes" so the struggle ensues. Just as fashion can be your greatest alli, it can also be your greatest enemy. So after over an hour of taking on and off, I was left with one shattered mirror, a tear stained face and and a king size bed that was now covered with the remnants of my closet. So, I walked around my room naked in the midst of a steamy affair with my jewelry and my shoes.

Yes, I was crazy late for work today, but more importantly I remembered something tried and true. Always invest in the parts of your wardrobe that will always fit.

The wardrobe pieces you never out grow

"I'm one stomach flu away from my goal weight." -- Emily, 'The Devil Wears Prada'
photo courtesy: Fox 2000 Pictures

Ever weigh yourself after having the stomach flu? A week of worshiping the porcelain god, can do wonders for the waistline, albeit an unpleasant experience overall.

I am a petite little thing, so I have to have all of my clothes specifically tailored to fit my body. (Which I recommend for anyone, no matter what your size) As you can imagine, it gets expensive. Not only do you accrue the cost of the outfit, but also the cost of tailoring said outfit.
I try to stick to 'staple' pieces that I know will stay in style for a couple of years (more if I'm lucky). But we've all fallen victim to that current trend that only lasts one season.

I couldn't begin to tell you how much money I have spent on clothes that end up in my annual Goodwill donation pile. But I've learned an invaluable lesson from my wasted wardrobe.

Accessories!
Earrings, necklaces, scarves, rings, bracelets, handbags...You don't have to have them tailored, and you never grow out of them! It's a relatively inexpensive way to change an entire outfit. You can borrow them from friends even if your body types are completely different. And if a certain accessory does go out of style, chances are you didn't break the bank to buy it.
photo courtesy: www.stylefrizz.com

Fashion I just can't figure out...

Even the trendiest of girls risk looking like Big Bird when sporting this feathery fashion.

Wearing a shirt, a skirt, or in the case of this picture, an entire dress strewn with feathers, makes a bold statement... a statement I won't recommend making.

Borrowing your style from a winged creature does not make you 'fly' (if people still use that word). It makes you look ridiculous.

First of all, it really isn't economical. Even birds shed their feathers, so you can imagine, they won't stay sewn to your dress very long. By the end of a long night at the club, half of you're fashion-forward outfit will be left on the dance floor.

You'll also never be able to wash this outfit... Have you ever seen a wet feather? Sure you can dry clean, but really, if you ask my opinion, the feather is a trend you should flutter away from.

photo courtesy: www.marieclaire.com

Fattie Fashion Faux Pas

WHAT WE LOOK LIKE...........
Photo courtesy of bigpicturephoto.com

WHAT WE WERE GOING FOR....
Photo courtesy of uggsale.co.uk

Having an average size body can be quite the kryptonite in the fashion world. What's even more devastating? Realizing it. :( There are countless trends out there that are crazy cute...just, not on the other 99% of the world's population. I won't subject you to all my rants on all the trends that aren't sizeably diverse, (skinny jeans, leggings, skinny belts, low rise jeans and ankle boots to name a few) but I will embark on one fattie fashion faux pas: The Uggs. I think these boots are ultra trendy and can fake any girl, (who would much rather be shopping) appear like she's an outdoorsy adventurer, capable of attracting any hot bodied Matthew McConaughey look alike. However, faking it past the boots into fly fishing gear is an art all in itself and uncompromisingly more difficult than faking an orgasm. These criminal offenders will make any girl who has a little curve, look like she's got massive cankles! In order to pull this look off, your legs need to resemble toothpicks and being about a mile in length, which is perhaps a much more important criteria. So, the next time you step out in your Uggs, when you return, ask yourself this....did you rope your Mr. McConaughey, while you were out? Enough said.

A Reminder to Start Workout

It was only a couple of weeks into the new year and already my yearly reminder to get my butt in gear was cropping up in stores... bikinis.
It is still jacket weather here in North Texas, yet every time you walk into a department store or even Target or Wal-Mart, they are there... Front and center... reminding you that all those extra calories you consumed during the holidays will be very visible in a few short months.
There are some cute ones out there already though... My personal fav: the ruffled top. It draws attention to the bust line, and if you are small chested, it creates an illusion that your not. BRING ON THE RUFFLES! But please, only on top... No woman wants ruffles on her rear. That is never a good thing.
photo courtesy: www.victoriassecret.com

Leggings... Love 'em or Hate 'em??

As a child of the 80's, I LOVED leggings growing up... You knew you looked hot if you were wearing an oversized sweater that hung off of one shoulder with leggings and a big belt.

I guess history repeats itself, at least when it comes to fashion trends.

Here's my rule on wearing leggings as pants. NEVER wear them if the shirt you are wearing does not cover your butt!

Wanna wear leggings under a skirt: cool. Under a sweater dress: awesome. Under a flowy shirt: it works.

But if you wear them as pants and your butt is exposed, two things can happen. 1) you run the risk of your butt and your undergarments LITERALLY being exposed due to the thin material that leggings are made of, and 2) you can actually look larger than you are, because every lump is on display for the world to see.

How much is too much?

Ever see one of those girls wearing a shirt cut down to her navel? Of course, we all have! But have you ever seen a girl sporting the look in grocery store, a church pew, a family reunion or the office?

When it comes to showing some skin, I think it can be incredibly sexy... WHEN APPROPRIATE.

In a corporate setting, a children's event, or when you're meeting your guy's parents, avoid the cleavage, and cover it up. Being conservative can go a long way in those situations.

However, if your sweetheart is taking you for a romantic Valentine's Day dinner, take the plunge, and go for the deep V-neck halter. In a club setting, a little cleavage is also acceptable.

So my rule of thumb: the amount of cleavage should be directly proportional to how professional the setting.

All of this came about because someone saw a picture of me from Valentines night on Facebook and freaked out because I was wearing a low cut shirt! (see pic on left) I dress very conservative at work, so I understand this person is used to seeing me all buttoned up... but if there's one day of the year when sexy is appropriate, it is Valentine's Day.

I think there is a complete double standard. Celebrities expose (and often over-expose) all of the time, and no one even makes mention of it. I show what I believe was "classy cleavage" on the sexiest night of the year and get raked over the coals.

pictures courtesy of www.glamour.com and www.theinsider.com

Who says you're the expert?

Have you ever been flipping through a major fashion magazine and came across a photo (or in this case, a multitude of photos) that made you question exactly who decides something is "fashionable?" I may not be a fashion expert, but I'm not blind and unfortunately, after seeing this photo spread, I'm wishing I were. I can't really imagine what the creative mind behind this in cohesive debacle was going for, but if it was bold, chic, urban or boho-luxe, like the captions suggested, they missed the mark completely.

I'm all for making an aggressive statement or displaying a reflection of an "in your face" sort of confidence, but an age old and simple rule will always apply: Everything in moderation.

When I look at this photo, I can't help but think she looks like a human pack mule that a rainbow threw up on and I'm certainly glad that I am not an epileptic right now.

Your individual fashion choices are a direct representation of your inner personality and uniqueness. Use them wisely, because I highly doubt, as in this example, you would intentionally want to send the impression that you are a complete and utter train wreck.

This is me, take it or leave it

I'm assuming you've already been introduced to my sister Melissa. So, I suppose it's my turn. My name is Kristin and I am the complete polar opposite of my sister. Although, five days a week, I'm forced to abide by the mandatory dress code of a conservative financial institution, where I work as a corporate trainer; my rebellious free spirit is constantly pushing the envelope and trying to spice things up a bit. Not like a Pretty Woman prostitute kind of spice, but just a little something to give me an identity in the unyielding depths of black business suits.
I would define my style as a hybrid between Kristen Stewart and Mary Kate Olsen. I love the punk edginess Kristen embraces and the bohemian elegance that Mary Kate is fond of. I'm intrigued by the latest trends, but I also don't like to be defined by them. The last thing I want, is to look like I'm trying too hard. I can't decide which is worse, looking too young and people associating me with words like desperate or pathetic or looking too old and the words being more like "my mom has that exact same outfit!"
I'm excited about expressing my opinions about my most obsessive passion and I'm sure my husband will be glad that I'm sharing them with you and not him, as he is hopelessly clueless. I hope you enjoy my blogs and go to check out our website.

Winter Weather Wardrobe

My sister, Kristin, and I both live in Texas (although on different sides of the state), and right now we are seeing a rare sight... SNOW! Here's a look at my backyard. You may not be able to tell, but this is about 4 inches of snow and it's still falling. We are expecting about 7 inches by the time it is all said and done.

So that got me thinking about my winter weather wardrobe. I don't have a ton of really warm clothes, because that would be a waste of money since I live in Texas.

When it snows, or gets really cold, I dress in a bunch of layers. It may not be the most fashionable look, but it's all about staying warm. I wear leggings or tights, jeans, wool socks, boots, an under-shirt, a sweater, a puffy coat, gloves, a hat, a scarf, and finally, I put hand warmers in the gloves.

It may seem extreme, but if you've ever watched the news during a weather event, you know we REALLY play it up... "extended coverage", "team coverage", "extended team coverage". It is definitely important to keep people informed, because weather affects everybody, but it also means I am standing out on a bridge for 8 hours telling people to be careful on bridges.

So if it is snowing where you are, be careful and bundle up!!!

My style

Since we're blogging about fashion... I thought I would fill you in on my individual style.

As previously mentioned I work in television, so my 'look' is a large part of my job.
I wear a business suit, or something just as conservative nearly everyday.

Outside of work, I tend to lounge in jeans and a t-shirt, but I will admit, I am clueless when it comes to picking clothes to wear out on the town.

I guess that's why I originally came up with the idea for Outfitopinion.com.

I need just as much help as the next girl when it comes to picking out my clothing. I get really nervous and self-conscious when I am shopping for clothes for a Saturday night with the girls, a party, or a date.

I second guess my choices and try on 15 outfits before finally deciding on what to wear. Since I'm somewhat short (5'2" and a half) I don't know if I can pull off particular styles (like leggings or skinny jeans). And because I work in an industry where professionalism is key, I am somewhat out of touch with where other 20-somethings shop.

So you're probably asking yourself, why again is this girl creating a fashion website??? I am NOT claiming to be an expert, in fact, I am a hopeless fashionista-wannabe, but through this adventure, maybe I can avoid ending up on that TV show "What Not to Wear".

Who We Are

If you've stumbled upon this blog, I would first just like to say WELCOME!
I figure I should first tell you a little bit about us.

My name is Melissa. I am a TV reporter in my 20's, and one of two contributors to this blog. (that's me on the right, hard at work in the newsroom)
Some of the entries you will read on here will be written by me, others will be written by my sister, Kristin.
I will let her officially introduce herself in her first blog entry.
Anyway, we started this blog because we love fashion.

We are currently in the process of launching a website called Outfitopinion.com.
We hope to have it up and running in about a month, and once it is, this fashion blog will also link to the website.

So what is the concept of Outfitopinion.com?
It is basically a limited social networking site. Users will be able to upload pictures of outfits and get feedback from other women through the site.

In the weeks and months (and hopefully years) to come you will learn more about us, about our website, and about all things fashion.

Keep in mind, everything you read on this blog is just our opinions on the fashion trends, styles, clothing, etc... so take it or leave it, enjoy our blog and thanks for visiting!