styling hacks for when you don't feel like going sleeveless

Picture this: you've got a tank or sleeveless dress that is begging to be worn...and you can't quite bring yourself to wear it as-is. There are many reasons why you might not want to go sleeveless this summer. Maybe the weather in your neck of the woods really isn't all that summery (side eye at Texas...), maybe you just don't like to bare your shoulders, maybe the occasion calls for more modesty, maybe you got a bad sunburn or other injury you want to conceal...my personal reasons are religious but I realize that doesn't necessarily apply to everyone so here is a quick little styling guide on how to transform that sleeveless stunner into one with a little more coverage. 

Between the pictures of me awkwardly walking away on train tracks are the 5 key things to consider when styling sleeveless to go sleeve-ful (? lol)

similar dress/similar blouse/similar shoes

Over/Under

 Silhouette

Color

Print

Style

I ranked the categories in what I consider, order of importance. Let's dive in...

Over/Under

This is honestly a personal preference...I think in a majority of cases you can't really go wrong with layering something over your main item. It just tends to look better in most cases, simply because there are so many choices ...cardigans, blazers, jackets, boleros, button down shirts, shawls, you get the picture. Layering under can prove to be a little trickier, but can be very cute when done correctly. The key I think is to consider the other factors when making your decision.

*as a general rule I don't recommend putting plain t-shirts under things, it harks back to the early 2000's styles for me and most sleeveless things deserve something a little nicer to elevate the style when adding coverage*

Silhouette

Consider the following when thinking of how to alter your dress or tank or whatever sleeveless item...

Some consider a cap-sleeve to be sleeveless, there are flutter sleeve/pinafore type sleeveless, there are spaghetti straps all the way to muscle-tank type straps.

 Next, the shape and length of the item. Is the dress flared? Fitted? Loose? Does it have buttons or a tie waist? Where is the waist? How long is the dress? These are all things to take into account because that will determine what type of coverage to add. For instance, I wouldn't put a blouse under a cap sleeve or thicker tank sleeve; too much bulk and similarity in cut of the sleeves.  

With the cherry dress, it has an adorable bustier top, and a nipped in waist with a tie back that leads to a flared skirt. I didn't want to interfere with or hide those features with either way I styled it.  I could have just as easily paired it with a cropped jean jacket or biker jacket if I wanted to add a bit of an edge to the outfit, but I chose to go with "period" appropriate layering pieces. The cherry print dress is very retro, 40s-50s, and so I chose a vintage velvet bolero in a coordinating green hue below, and a vintage reproduction silky blouse to go under the dress above. 

similar bolero (this is a one-of-a-kind vintage item)

I'm going to lump together color and print between the two sleeveless dresses I chose to feature. Colors of items should coordinate (they don't necessarily have to match). Beyond pulling inspiration from the existing colors of the main item it is usually safe to pair neutrals as your layering pieces, while considering the tones of the sleeveless item: cool tones will look better with navy and grey pairing items, warm tones with browns and tans, white and black tend to go with nearly everything. 

If the print is already loud on your main item, try to tone down the print you mix it with, small prints very neutral colors like tiny polka dots, or stripes, or keep it solid. And vice versa, if your main item is solid or subtly printed, go a little bolder with your color or print. 

I had two pretty bold prints and color palettes to start with. Hence me sticking to solid colored items... 

similar dress/espadrille wedges/similar shawl

Style

 The last thing to consider is the style you're going for. Like I mentioned earlier, the cherry dress could have been paired with so many options, but I chose to go full retro, because that was my mood that day. The second dress is much more casual and bohemian. Which is why I went a little more boho casual with the styling. I'm all for mixing styles however, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with pairing ultra-sweet feminine dresses with tough leather jackets, or super structured dresses with flowy cardigans. 

The last styling tip I have is if you like a dress, but maybe not necessarily the top of the dress...or if you want to expand your wardrobe in ways you didn't think possible, look below. You can pull a closed or buttoning top over the top of the dress to disguise the top of the dress completely and make it look like  a top and skirt. Bada-boom new outfit! I recommend putting a belt with it too, to add structure to the whole thing and accentuate the waistline. 

olive green blouse/similar belt

Creative color-blocking: goldenrod and fuchsia

dress/t-strap leather clogs/tights

You know it's a good outfit when your husband begs you not to curse his family for not carrying your old little frail self up a mountain...(if you haven't seen the movie Holes or read the book of the same name, I apologize for you missing the reference to the fabulous Madame Zeroni)

similar headband/similar earrings

 This color combination is one that was initially a huge step out of my comfort zone. I love goldenrod yellow, but I would never have thought to pair it with fuchsia (even though they're complementary colors so IDK why I never thought about it before???). I was in a huge rush to get ready today so this whole look was kind of a gamble. Having to teach on Sundays for 9 AM church is a brutal learning curve I am adjusting to, but I *think* I made it work, and managed to come out with my rat's nest hair being well hidden by the Madame Zeroni-esque velvet turban headband. 

Now that I am seeing how this dress photographed I realize that I should probably (who am I kidding...definitely) iron it if I ever plan to get it photographed again hahaha. Today was a beautiful respite from some of the cooler temperatures we have been experiencing in the DFW area. Which means I was able to wear my beloved Lotta clogs (linked above) and this whole ensemble without having ice-cubes for eyeballs and frostbite all over. 

What are some color combinations that you would like to see featured or that you've tried and were surprised that you liked? I'd love to hear from you guys!

Covering the Basics with Simply Sunday Market- modest clothing options in a modern world

dress/ similar shoes/similar bandana

Recently a small business approached me about being one of their reps, I looked through their website and LOVED what I saw. Not only is most of what you find on Simply Sunday Market  modest, it looked to be of excellent quality and has a fresh, unique style. Though the dress I am wearing went out of stock, I was able to find the same one on a similar website (Citrus and Lemon) which I will also be featuring in next week's modest clothing options, read on because I have a coupon codes for both websites :D

Another big thing that drew me into Simply Sunday's designs is that the large majority of their dressed have POCKETSSSS <3 and they're of the both cute and functional variety so I was very pleased about that.

similar live succulent necklace

I got this succulent necklace at the Magnolia Market Spring at the Silos festival from a local flower vendor who specializes in wedding bouquets, but I thought this was SO COOL. The plant lives from 3-4 weeks on your jewelry and then you can remove it and plant it and the succulent should take root and live a long happy life in a pot of dirt. You're left with a cool bronze necklace. I found a similar necklace which I linked under the photo. 

similar necklace/ dress

Here is a a different look that is more of a transitional style for those who may still be experiencing cold weather this early in spring. One downside to Simply Sunday Market (which I think is actually a testament to how awesome they are) is that they don't keep stock too long, their products move quickly due to the competitive price for the quality and look you are getting. Therefore the exact jacket I am wearing is no longer in stock on their website, but I can assure you it is one of the coziest and softest I have ever tried on. I paired it with the dress which can still be purchased on their site. 

fringed clogs/similar jacket/similar socks

I love the look of Swedish Hasbeens (and basically any Swedish clogs) but am not crazy about the high price tag. These little beauties were purchased off Poshmark, a second hand app, for a tiny fraction of their original price and I adore them. I paired them with thigh high knit socks from Target which I purchased over 2 years ago. I've linked a similar pair. If you are experiencing warmer spring temperatures, this dress is light enough that you could just pair it with some sandals and no jacket and you'd have an effortlessly adorable spring look.

I promised you coupon codes so I'm going to deliver now ;)

Use code HEIDI10 for 10% off to all my readers on Simply Sunday Market this code can be reused!

Use code TAKE15  to get 15% off your first purchase at Citrus and Lemon 

Happy Spring Shopping!!!

Subtly sweet outfit for Valentine's Day

I seriously could NOT think of a better post title. I am so very tired and have a lot of stuff on my plate right now. I am going to keep it brief and just let the outfit shine. It is sort of Valentines-ish without being over the top; burgundy lace and florals go with the season without being saccharine (or so I think). 

skirt/similar cardigan/belt/similar booties/similar shirt

This is kind of like a "uniform" for me lately. I'll pull on a solid colored skirt with a patterned top OR a patterned skirt with a solid top then layer a cardigan in a coordinating shade. It has been perfect for the chilly morning, warmer afternoon weather we have been experiencing. Most of the items are thrifted/second hand but the skirt was a gift from my wonderful husband. 

Then, because I am short, I will pull it together with some kind of a comfortable heel and a waist-defining apparatus. The belt is one of my favorites and I have it in black too, if they sold it in other colors I probably would own them too because they are seriously awesome. 

What are some of your "uniform" outfits lately? 

Covering the basics with Unique Vintage---modest clothing options in a modern world

skirt/blouse/heels/purse/belt/crinoline

I'm back with another addition to my series on places where I find clothing with more coverage. One of my very favorite sites where I continually find beautiful modest clothes is Unique Vintage. I own MANY of their one piece swimsuits which I might feature here at some point, and the heels, skirt, and petticoat I am wearing in this shot are from there as well. 

skirt/blouse/heels/purse/belt/crinoline

Unique Vintage's pieces are a little spendier than what I am accustomed to paying for but they also run sales and deals and honestly, the quality of their pieces can't be beat. If you know anything about me you know I am a sucker for vintage and retro styles so the fact that they sell true vintage clothes and vintage recreated styles has me goo-goo, ga-ga and needing to exercise a lot of restraint so as to not buy everything.

skirt/blouse/heels/purse/belt/crinoline

Now I want to clarify some things about myself and this blog. I have titled this series about "modesty". I find that modesty is subjective and easily misinterpreted. So here are a few things to keep in mind...

1. My version of modesty looks different than it might yours. It might look different even than other women's in my own faith. Modesty to me, means I respect myself, God, and the promises I have made to Him. I dress in a way I would feel comfortable presenting myself to Him. That looks different on different days too, if I am going to church I am going to try and show respect by dressing a little nicer. If I am working out, I am just trying to be comfortable and functional to exercise and keep my body healthy. 

To some I dress in a way that might seem stuffy, old fashioned. I get that and respect it. 

And to others I might dress in a way that is totally scandalous. I get that and respect that too. 

skirt/blouse/heels/purse/belt/crinoline

2. Some people think modest dressing even goes beyond that to not dress in a way that brings any kind of attention to yourself and that style in and of itself cannot be "modest". Some people see it as being completely frugal with the money you spend, and to an extent I try to adhere to that with my wardrobe but it is all relative, and I am sure that to some of those people I am scandalous as well. But they probably wouldn't be reading a fashion blog...

skirt/blouse/heels/purse/belt/crinoline

3. Just because I choose to dress the way that I do does not mean I will judge ANYONE for their own choices to dress in as much or as little clothing as they want to. I also don't think that modesty should be about anyone other than YOU and YOUR choices. Whatever YOU are comfortable with does not have to be explained to anyone else. Everyone is responsible for their own thoughts and actions. The way you or I dress does not give anyone a right to say or do anything to degrade or humiliate us. That says more about the person making the comment or doing something rude than it does about you.

skirt/blouse/heels/purse/belt/crinoline

At the end of the day fashion makes me happy, and finding ways to be creative with it makes me happy. Finding great new places to shop, like Unique Vintage, makes me happy and I just want to share the happiness. 

:)

Covering the basics with Dainty Jewell's---modest clothing options in a modern world

This lovely dress and the company which created it are some of the very few reasons why I am genuinely smiling this week. I look pretty serene in most of these shots because this was all taken before the poop hit the fan and my week turned catastrophic... anywho, read on for happier thoughts!!! :)

Dainty Jewells approached me awhile back asking if I would be willing to review their products. I agreed but I wanted to remain authentic and neutral so I did end up paying and ordering online to get the true customer experience and give an unbiased review.

Their vast selection of modest and beautiful dresses and skirts has a little something for everyone. They sell their designs usually with options to choose a unique color and print. The prices reflect the high quality product you are paying for and you truly are getting unique yet timeless pieces for your wardrobe. Every item I ordered is flattering, boasts good fabric and construction, and is comfortable. 

I LOVE that they design and create their own items in house, I always want to support small business and this is a great way to do that. I also adore the vintage vibes they infuse into their designs!!! You know me and my vintage style crush.

For younger girls I would definitely recommend them for formal and semi-formal dances as some of their gorgeous designs lend themselves to these types of occasions perfectly and the price point is actually very reasonable for formal wear. 

All of the designs have sleeves (yay!), higher necklines, and many of them come with the option of a knee-length (ends up being closer to midi on us shorties) and floor-length.

Buying and ordering were a breeze and they do offer an appealing customer loyalty program. Do expect shipping to take a little bit longer than a big box online store because they are after all custom designs and a smaller business :)  

While Dainty Jewells remains an exclusively online boutique they occasionally have pop-up shops and if you subscribe to their newsletter you can find out if they are coming near you!

Overall I was very pleased with my experience shopping at Dainty Jewells and will be featuring more outfits with some of their awesome designs in the future. I am so excited I found out about this lovely company, and while their clothes are a little more money than what I would typically spend they are well worth it and are sure to fetch you lots of compliments and get you a lot of wear and joy. I mean they did manage to keep me smiling and comfy through a torturous week, so who knows how one of their dresses could change your life! ;)

They just rolled out their spring line so go check them out! They do a 50% off mystery dress deal on occasion so make sure to subscribe to their newsletter!

Covering the basics with Shop Ruche- modest clothing options in a modern world series

Many of my readers and friends often ask me where I get my clothes from. This is a complicated question to answer for a variety of reasons. There is no one "go to" place that I use. I usually prefer shopping second-hand due to personal ethical convictions. But I understand that on occasion it is nice to buy something new and others might not feel comfortable buying used. I have started a series where I will be highlighting a retailer which provides modest clothing options in order to share some of the places I find my modest clothes. 

Being LDS means my definition of modest apparel might be different than yours. I am not here to judge, just showcase places which happen to have options which are a little more covered in the shoulder/arm and leg areas. 

Shop Ruche has been a long time favorite of mine. It is also a great comeback story and one of small business success. They started out as a tiny online boutique catering to a clientele interested in eclectic and unique styles. I happened upon them by accident, browsing one day for something very specific (I was looking for a bold poppy print, and found this poppy skirt which I wore here). 

Right off the bat I noticed a lot of their designs met my needs for more coverage, and while they were a little more spendy than what I was used to buying, they have great online coupon deals and sales when you subscribe. They even have filters you can set for longer length skirts and dresses as well as tops with sleeves.

I literally cried last spring when they announced they were going out of business. I had been asking my husband to get my birthday and Christmas gifts there for years, and I would constantly ogle and admire their cute clothes, shoes and decor. What would I do now that they were gone?!?

\

Luckily for me, others felt the same way I did, and a few months later they announced their return after enough investors and former clients had shown an interest in keeping their business alive. I was ecstatic! 

 I mean, who else would be able to fill my pleated airplane print maxi dress, silver stiletto heel dreams?

Every single one of the items I have ordered from there has been nothing short of amazing quality, stunning in presentation and fit beautifully. I adore this company and recommend Shop Ruche to all my friends, family, and readers. They have a variety of styles to suit many tastes, and while their price point might be a little higher than what I am used to paying, I can wait patiently for sales and deals and I know I am getting a one-of-a-kind piece that is worth every penny. 

flannel and velvet vibes---ambiance de velour et de flanelle

My coworkers and I were talking about the fact that it never got cold this winter in Houston. As in, we never got to bust out anything thicker than a cardigan. We are talking, sweating and pitting out in jeans and t-shirts at recess in February. Feeling not just warm, but HOT in winter is an oddity for me.

Mes collègues et moi étiont en train de discuter à propos du temps et comme quoi il n'y a pas vraiment eu de rafraichissment des températures cette année. Genre, on a pas eu l'occasion de porter plus qu'un petit pull. Style, on transpire comme des cochons à la récré tous les jours en t-shirts et en jeans. C'est vraiment affreux d'avoir chaud en plein hiver. 

This outfit was worn on one of our "colder" days of the season (I think we had a high in the 50s) and it showcases two of my favorite fabrics that are coming back into style. Flannel and velvet! I think they are great fabrics for cooler weather as well as transitioning from or into cooler seasons (fall and spring).

Cette tenue je l'ai porté lors d'un de nos jours ultra rare où il a fait "frais"  (dans les 10-15 degrés) et je l'aime parce que les matières sont de bons tissus pour quand il fait frais ou froid; le velour et la flanelle.

La jupe est d'occasions et vient des années '90s. C'est une jupe en velour d'un joli marron qui ne se présente pas super bien en photos. Vous pouvez trouvez ceci plus facilement en ligne avec etsy ou ebay. 

The skirt is vintage velvet and is actually a dark chocolatey brown but its gloriousness doesn't photograph quite that well. It was a miraculous Deseret Industries find from several years ago back in Utah, it must have cost me about $3. I love that velvet is coming back, but again, when do you find occasions to wear such a sumptuously warm fabric in Hel...hot places. You can find similar skirts on etsy and ebay, with stuff like this you will have better luck searching places where you can find vintage items. 

I've featured these booties before (I adore them but they are sold out now), here are some similar ones. 

J'ai déja porté ces bottines auparavant, ModCloth ne les vent plus, mais on peut en trouver des semblables ici. 

I picked up this vintage ruffled-collar, plaid top at Deseret Industries for $1 back in Utah, but you can find similar ones here and here. I love the pattern, the warm texture, and the collar detail but don't get to wear it as often as I'd like because of how warm it is.

Il y a des années de ça quand je vivais en Utah j'ai trouvée cette chemise merveilleuse chez Deseret Industries pour un dollar américain. J'adore les couleurs, la matière, et l'encollure. Je n'ai pas l'occasion de la porter aussi souvent que je voudrais car il fait trop chaud. Voici deux exemples ici et ici de chemises qui lui ressemble.

My wool hat is a vintage find from Vinted but you can find a similar one here.

Mon chapeau en laine vient de Vinted mais j'en ai trouver un presque identique ici. 

What are some of your favorite cool weather combinations? Let me know in the comments and make sure to follow me on instagram at chez_heidi!

Quelles sont vos matières préférées pour le temps froids? Dites-moi ce que vous en pensez dans les commentaires et n'oubliez pas de me suivre sur instagram @chez_heidi!

DIY: dyeing an old dress to make it new---BRICOLAGE: teindre une vieille robe pour la rendre neuve

This outfit has me feeling all sorts of holiday vibes...but it wouldn't have used to the way that I originally bought this dress.

I was making a random stop at a neighborhood Goodwill (can't remember the initial purpose of the visit). Then I spotted this very homely looking fabric poking out of the dresses "clearance" rack (the ones that have the colored tag for that day's promotion). I pulled on the potato colored material and out came this cutely shaped handmade vintage dress (I am guessing it is early to mid 1950s). The dress had clearly seen better days, there were parts that had a sort of oil based staining on it, and the seam where the zipper was sewn in needed some reinforcing. I took it to the dressing room and tried it on to make sure it would fit it. I basically fell in love (I mean for a few dollars what wasn't there to love) but immediately started brainstorming ways by which I could make it more wearable.

A packet of raspberry red dye, hot water, and a bathtub later I got a lovely new wardrobe staple!

A great way, in my opinion, to "save" or reuse something older that you might be tempted to overlook or toss out is to dye it. I have some tips on how to go about that below...

Here are some things to keep in mind when dyeing fabrics:

AGE: The age of any fabric will affect how well it takes to dye and how much it is at risk for deterioration. This dress is about 60 years old and the fabric is still in good shape, so I wasn't too concerned about its fragility. I have another dress from the 1920s which I have thought about dying but am still hesitating to do so because I worry about the age of the fabric. If you are looking into dyeing a garment any older than 50-60 years I would take some serious precautions and look into cold water dyes or non-acidic dyes which react a little differently and tend to be gentler on older fabrics. Tulip and RIT which are the two main brands found in the U.S are acidic dyes which should be used with caution on garments which are 70+ years old. You will probably have to go search online or to a specialty fabrics/dyeing store in order to get the appropriate dyes.

MATERIAL: Natural fabrics tend to take to dyes very well, so cottons, linens, hemp, bamboo and silks will usually turn out evenly dyed. Wool and cashmere are tricky because most dyes are heat activated and you will end up shrinking your fabric if you expose it to the temperatures required for most generic dyes. Synthetics are VERY unpredictable. While most synthetics CAN be dyed, you must do your research and make sure you don't set your expectations too high. Now the other thing is you need to be familiar with the look and feel of different materials because chances are, vintage and second-hand items will not have care and composition tags. This dress, as far as I can tell, is a cotton-linen blend. I knew it would be a fairly safe bet in terms of dyeing it to give it new life but I think a lot of it was luck and the fact that I was willing to take a risk because it was so inexpensive to begin with. 

EXISTING COLOR: Naturally, you can't buy a black dress, get a box of light blue RIT and dye it expecting a lovely sky blue result. If you have a dark item you want to take to a lighter shade, you will have to run an additional risk of bleaching the garment first, and then re-dyeing it. Additionally, unless your item is PURE white, do not expect the dye job to come out looking like the box or packet's description.  The theory of color and mixing does apply to dyeing clothing; a light green dress being dyed blue will yield a turquoise shade of sorts. Just be realistic in what your expectations are. The longer you dye the item, and the more dye you use, the higher concentration of pigment in your end result. 

EXISTING PATTERNS: Something a lot of people overlook is whether or not there are designs, pattern, or even stitching in a different color or material. I dyed another dress once and the stitching was a synthetic in pure white, and while it didn't end up being a big deal, the dress ended up being navy and the stitching stayed white. You need to take into account what features your item already has and decide what you are willing to live with in terms of changes to those details. 

EXISTING ISSUES: My dress had oily looking stains on it, this was something that I was hoping would be masked by a darker dye job and it was a risk I took, knowing full well the dye might cling to it and make it look even worse than before. Make sure you launder whatever item it is you plan to dye ahead of time to try and address any existing issues. If there are worn, frayed, areas or missing buttons decide whether or not you want to make the repairs with the existing colors or the ones of the new dye job. While dyeing can salvage a myriad of issues, sun fading and bleached spots are ones that can be unpredictable and difficult to fix. Make sure you understand the provenance of the damage and how they will react to dye. 

EXPERIENCE AND WILLINGNESS TO TAKE A RISK: No matter what, dyeing is a risky business. Keeping in mind I had already dyed quite a few things before attempting to dye this dress, I have repeatedly seen success using dyes in different projects and felt fairly confident I could get a favorable result. I was also very willing to take a risk what with the dress being so inexpensive. I figured if I did end up ruining it during the dyeing process that it would be sad but I could reuse the fabric as rags or something. You should probably pick a low-risk project as your first one to ensure you feel successful. 

Dyeing old clothes to give them new life can be rewarding and so fun! It can even give YOU life ;)

3 surefire steps to get you out of a fashion rut

They say the first step to overcoming a problem is to admit and acknowledge that there is one.

So...I have a confession to make, and that is that I have been in a bit of a styling rut as of late. Maxi skirts and button up shirts, you have been so good to me, but I think it's time we see other people, errr, outfits.

Now if you are in a similar boat you have come to a safe place where you can find out ways to get yourself out of this rut. 

1. find out why you are in the rut

Discovering the "why" behind a phenomenon leads you to solutions. There are usually several factors at play when you find yourself in a rut, I am going to tell you some of the most common ones.

• weather and weather changes it has been humid with a capital H here in Houston, on top of being hotter than Hades with the occasional torrential downpour; since people are creatures of comfort and habit it is hard when you have been dressing for a certain type of weather and it changes or when you are trying to survive extremes in climate.

• health conditions sometimes people lose or gain weight, or are pregnant/post-partum and their bodies change and they struggle to adapt to those changes. Sometimes you get surgery or a condition which requires certain amounts of movement and breath-ability in your outfit or certain types of fabric, sometimes you get a skin condition that requires you to cover up (I had a bad bout of stress-related eczema on my legs and I didn't like showing them, so I wore a lot of maxi skirts). 

• stress when your mind is on other things (whether it be work like me, family or other situations) you tend not to care as much about the things you are wearing and you start reaching for combinations which all kind of look the same or suit an immediate need.

• work dress codes because I have to wear professional dress a lot, most of my outfits gravitate to that end of the spectrum and I miss having a great casual style, so that is something I am working on. I still really like dressing up though, which is why the majority of my featured looks are a little more on the formal side. My husband has the opposite problem where he wants to transition to more "adult" style but his workplace is very casual. 

• limited wardrobe this is not the case for me but I hear a LOT of people talk about this. I think that to an extent this can be a real problem, but I also don't believe you should have to do an expensive and complete overhaul. People do so much with minimalist and capsule wardrobes these days and I find that usually people who complain of this usually have ill-fitting clothes or clothes that don't truly reflect their personality and style.  See my thoughts on this here, here, and here. 

2. creative remedies to the problem

• so the weather is awful or it has changed...if it is very cold, layer or invest in some more insulating fabrics. If it is hot, DON'T layer. Find classic pieces in lighter fabrics and flattering but looser cuts. Find a variety of seasonal items so you are not stuck only wearing linen pants or bermuda shorts in the summer. Try on something different that is in season at your local thrift store so you can visualize yourself in it and try it out without investing a lot of money. There are SO many kinds of clothes out there and sometimes you won't know you love summer dresses until you just try one on that really rocks your world. 

• your body requires a little extra care... there are ways to find different things to flatter a changing body, it just requires patience and a positive outlook. Again, I think the key is to try different things. Right now looser fit tops are in style which tend to be forgiving and can work well for a variety of needs. Just keep in mind if you wear something loose on top you've got to balance it out with something a little more fitted on the bottom. And vice versa, if you wear something tighter on top, it just tends to look more balanced with something less fitted on the bottom. 

• stressed out...remember that you can't function at your best if you don't take care of yourself. Try to set small goals if you are feeling like looking good isn't priority number one, maybe you can set aside one day a week or per month (depending on your circumstances) where you dress up. I promise that when you set this goal and make a special effort and take that extra time you will be able to go about your day with that much more vigor and confidence.

• work dress code...I plan on doing a whole other post about infusing your personal style into a professional wardrobe. This is more for those people who find themselves wearing the same skirt set or slacks and blazer to work every day. Easy and quick ways to add variety to your work clothes is to incorporate different colors, cuts and accessories. There are now many different styles of slacks for women; high-waisted, paper bag waist, tapered leg, wide leg, I could go on and on. There are also a variety of prints and colors out there, not just your classic neutrals. If you are typically a pants person try some dresses and skirts, if you are typically a dresses and skirts kinda gal try some pants. Spice it up! Just trying things on never did hurt anyone, and just remember that most changing room lighting is evil so don't get depressed in there ;) 

• limited wardrobe...as I mentioned prior to this post and in many others, there are ways to be flexible with a small wardrobe and cheap ways to improve on a wardrobe that you feel is lacking or doesn't reflect your personal style. Two good resources for revamping your look can be found here and here. 

3. be gentle with yourself and have FUN with clothes

• try small tweaks on what you already do, I still wore a button-up shirt in this outfit but I wore a different kind of bottom and shoes. I also went for a completely different silhouette and color scheme than I have in the past few months. I wore a necklace which I hadn't done in a very long time; accessories are a small but powerful way to change your "uniform". A necklace, a statement scarf, some earrings or bangles, a hat, a headband, the possibilities are endless.

• take it slow, make sure to pamper yourself in other ways. I am a firm believer in the healing powers of doing your hair and make-up, or taking a day to do something you really enjoy, or painting your nails and listening to some good music. You will feel more inspired when you are taken care of in other ways.

• you don't have to dress up every day, but do plan and organize yourself so that you can set aside a dress-up day where you take the time to consider it and let yourself feel awesome.

• try something super out of your comfort zone just to change things up. For me that would probably be wearing high-waisted wide leg pants. I bought them awhile ago because they looked awesome on a friend of mine but I tend to shy away from them since they are so different from what I usually wear. My challenge to myself will be to find different ways to wear them and just wear them more often. Remember, this is all supposed to be FUN so go out there and have an awesome time trying new things and being brave with your fashion choices.

I want to take a minute to thank you for showing your support by reading this blog post, please share it with your friends if your found it helpful or comment below if you still have questions about this topic. I am interested in hearing from my readers and in engaging with them all on a deeper level.

Merci!