j.crew

Stripes That Flatter

Published on June 13, 2017June 13, 2017 by PeculiarPorter20 Comments

Hello darling! How is your day going? It is finally h-o-t in Connecticut. It is about time! The past month has been wishy-washy from low 50’s to low 70’s so you bet I’m ready for some nice 80° weather.

Earlier this spring, I interned with Saratoga Living Magazine. I wore this stripe J.Crew dress on one of my days in the office. I definitely have a love hate relationship with stripes and I have a few tips up my sleeve on how I pick the perfect stripe dress.

Tip: Look for pieces that incorporate vertical stripes alongside the horizontal stripes.

If you find a piece that has vertical stripes on your sleeves, near your legs, or on your waist line it will automatically make your silhouette look slimmer and leaner. One of the main reasons I love this dress so much is because the vertical stripes on my waist make my petite torso look so much longer than it actually is. The wide pleats below my waist line also elongate my hips making my waist look even smaller. So when you’re looking for a stripe dress find one that incorporates vertical stripes in your “trouble areas.”

Tip: don’t go overboard with stripes.

Stripes are a busy pattern. It might be wise to try and keep stripes as minimal as possible. If your want more stripes in your outfit try for a bigger pattern so that it doesn’t overwhelm the eye. Since this dress has very tiny stripes it was good that it was at a shorter length compared to a midi or maxi dress. The stripes would have been overwhelming with that amount of fabric.

Tip: Include a bold color in your outfit to break up the busy pattern.

My polo cardigan is the perfect addition to this outfit to break up the thin stripes. If you want to experiment with stripes in this warmer weather definitely try out a bright colored shoe, earrings, or necklace… maybe even a hat! They are all great additions that will incorporate not only your personality but some fun in your outfit.

Other than rocking some stripes I’ve been hunting down jobs. Some of you may be curious how I’m handling my post college life. I’m in this bittersweet faze where I’m happy that my four years are done but also sad that I’m not returning to my “home” this upcoming fall. I’ve been applying to jobs left and right on LinkedIn and Ziprecruiter. I’ve had a few bites here and there and I have a big interview today (fingers crossed that it goes well). My dreams and moral are high so it’s just up to the big guy to send me in the direction I’m needed.

Do I have any recent college graduates reading my blog? Let me know in the comments down below how you’re handling the post college life.

As always,

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Photo Credit: Blogger friend Alicia Bryan. Her blog.

I Guess We Clean Up Nicely

Published on April 18, 2017April 18, 2017 by PeculiarPorter13 Comments

Helly darling! This post is a little bit different from my typical blog post. I love when bloggers give me a little glimpse into their lives, so I figured I’d do the same for you guys. The other week my college put on a little shindig for English major, members of our college magazine and newspaper, and the online publication Her Campus. Since I’m an English major and part of Her Campus I decided to go with my lovely friends.

Sadly, the only details I have on dresses are my friend Courtney’s dress and my dress (pictured above). Courtney’s dress and shoes were found at Nordstrom Rack a day prior to this event. I’m obsessed with the beautiful floral pattern on her dress.

My bright red dress was found at Urban Outfitters in September. Sadly they do not sell it anymore. It has this funky strappy back that I feel head over heels for. I might be super annoying for even saying that because I don’t actually have a picture of that detail. The necklace is a J.Crew Factory classic. It is currently on sale for $24.50 so buy it while it is on sale! I’m also obsessed with this similar necklace that is also on sale. Last but not least, my adorable, eye-catching shoes are from Off Broadway. I ended up getting a size up (I’m normally a 7.5 but I got an 8) because they were a little snug. You’ll be seeing these shoes more as the senior events progress (I have a senior formal next week! Eeek. How time flies).

I hope you have a great rest of your day! What is your favorite semi-formal look?

As always,

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How to Get Away with Wearing Pastels, Pleats, and Polka-dots

Published on April 11, 2017April 11, 2017 by PeculiarPorter21 Comments

Hello darling! How is your week going? The heat has finally hit good ole’ Albany and I’m crossing my fingers that it stays around. This week has been in the 70’s! So, yeah, I’m having a very cheerful day. After all, I know you’re tried of seeing this suede jacket. However, my environmental literature teacher keeps telling us all of the negative things about why this beautiful weather is so bad…. oh, well… at least my toes are warm and happy.

I’ve been trying to figure out what my favorite pattern is and I think I’ve decided on polka-dots. It is a hard mix up between stripes and polka-dots, but I feel like polka-dots are a lot more flattering than stripes. What do you think?

Since Easter is coming up this week, I decided to showcase my love for pastels. There is something about this light, airy pallet that just screams “spring weather.” When I put on these pants, I instantly feel like flowers are going to pop out left and right. I do admit, because of my body shape it sometimes is hard to wear light colored pants. Since there is a print on these pants, it breaks up the in-your-face light color. It definitely makes these pants so much more flattering on my somewhat curvy body shape.

Since I was worried about wearing this in-your-face color, I decided to pair these pants with pointed flats. You might have seen them in my last two posts (here and here) but they really do make your legs look so much longer because of the long pointed shape. Plus, how do you go wrong with heather grey accessories?

What do you think about wearing this much of a contrast in an outfit? Is it a fashionable move or should we only wear a super contrasting outfit in the fall? Let me know in the comments down below.

P.S. I’m curious what you think about this super warm weather in April… are you pessimistic like my environmental literature teacher or are you optimistic like me?

As always,

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Billie “Jean” is Not My Lover

Published on March 28, 2017March 28, 2017 by PeculiarPorter18 Comments

Hello darling! Okay, so this is post is a little weird because I was hoping all of the snow would have melted by now. I actually took this “shoot” two days before the giant two-foot snow storm. Right now, I’m looking out my window seeing long forecast of rain and still about a solid six inches of snow. No worries, I’m staying positive. After all… rain does bring flowers, right?

I may be a fashion blogger, but I’ve actually never owned a jean jacket until now. Yes, you read that right. Jean jackets aren’t usually up my style ally because I tend to dress more preppy and edgy than causal. I really wanted to spunk up my wardrobe and venture out to new exciting outfits (don’t we all), so I decided to get this jean jacket.

Advice: Look for a jean jacket that hits above your hips so that it is easier to style.

I liked the way this jacket fit because I wanted a jean jacket that would hit just above my hips. I knew I wouldn’t be wearing this jacket with a lot of pants because, lets face it, I mostly wear jeans and jean on jean is not a trend I particularly enjoy. Also, jean jackets look awesome with dresses and skirts for when it is warmer out. For this look, I decided to wear my favorite sateen purple jeans from American Eagle and a baggy, speckled sweater. Since the jean jacket hits higher than the sweater, it definitely creates more of a layered look. Lastly, I threw on a pair of pointed, light-grey flats that instantly elongated my legs.

Obviously, I had to add a little bit of my personality to this adorable jean jacket. I was shopping online on Forever 21’s website and found out that they sell a pin pack that contained a cactus! If you know anything about me you know I’m obsessed with cacti. How couldn’t I be? When I went into the store I looked high and low for the pin package but couldn’t find it anywhere. I was about to leave and… there… it… was! They seem to have stopped selling the pin pack online but if you’re on the hunt for a cute personality pin pack definitely check out my girly runner up purchase.

Do you own a jean jacket? If so what is your go to outfit with it? If you don’t own a jean jacket… would you ever purchase one? Let me know in the comments down below!

As always,

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Recap: Winter Fashion 2016/2017

Published on March 21, 2017 by PeculiarPorter10 Comments

Hello darling! I may be a day late but happy spring! All I need is the 10 inches of snow to melt and I think I’ll be in the spring mood. Now that we’ve finally moved into spring I really wanted to share my outfits from this winter. I mean just in case you missed one that is…

Oh goodness, I feel like this outfit was from ages ago. I posted this in early December for my Renaissance literature class. Fashion Has a Way of Repeating itself after all! Be sure to check out this post if you missed it because I talk about some weird trends that existed way back then… the Kardashians are still following one of the trends…

I had to stay warm with this incredibly adorable penguin sweater. I posted this right before Christmas break. No, literally, I took these photos the day I went home for break. I was certainly In a Holidaze.

Don’t fret, this outfit was definitely posted on a warmer winter day. The weather in Albany is usually -5° on a ‘good’ winter day, but this winter had been a wild one. I shared my 5 reasons why I think leopard should be included in your wardrobe in this post. It is definitely a staple I think everyone needs! Plus, you can carry on my tips into spring. What do you think about bringing cutout shirts into spring? I for one cannot get enough of them!

Ahh, yes had to include a date night ensemble. Out of all my winter outfits, I would definitely say this one is my favorite one. This outfit would be the definition of my “style” I love preppy and girly but I also love throwing on something edgy like these thigh high boots. Check out my tips on how to make a dress warm for date night.

Valentine’s day came and went and I needed to post a plum dress in the mix. I’m obsessed with this fuzzy white vest and I should you exactly how I style it in How to Wear a Fuzzy Vest like a Boss.

Curious how to style a mock turtleneck? Fear no more! I show you how to rock the mock turtleneck trend in this post. On the bright side, you can carry this trend on over to the spring!

This is definitely the preppiest look out o the whole collection. I had to break out this adorable grey sweater and the classic button down. What better way to stay warm that wearing more layers? Check out my Ultimate Style Trick on Staying Warm so you can get a few tips for some of those abnormal chilly, spring days.

I’m not someone who runs late a lot, but I figured I’d do a little shout out to the girls that do. Check out my simple tips and tricks on how you can rock being late like a pro.

What is your favorite look out of my winter collection? Are you excited to tuck away those thick sweaters and throw on something lighter? I’ll be bringing home all my sweaters as soon as Easter break comes around. Let me now what you think in the comments.

As always,

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The Ultimate Styling Trick to Stay Warm

Published on February 7, 2017February 13, 2017 by PeculiarPorter40 Comments

Hello darling! This past weekend, I went to Chowderfest in Saratoga. It is the magical day where multiple restaurants (85 to be exact) all make chowder. The chowder is $1 for a cup and you feel like you’re melting into a puddle of happiness when you eat it. I ended up getting 8 different chowders. I was so full that I felt as if my friends needed to roll me to the car. Obviously, it was a magical experience.

The day of Chowderfest was pretty cold out and you usually stand outside in the cold waiting for the chowder. So, that got me thinking. How do you stay warm when you’re trying to stay outside in 20° weather? Layer, layer, layer. In this outfit, I have a tank top on, a button down, my sweater, and my jacket. Boy, was I ready to endure the cold. The key to making sure that you don’t look super bulky with this many layers is to make sure they’re different sizes. The tank top that you cannot see is super form fitting so it won’t add that much bulk to this outfit. My striped button down hits just below the sweater making the eye drawn to the little to the extra fabric. Also, it helps when you cuff the sleeves and make sure the collar stands out over the sweater.

When you’re dressing for warm weather, make sure you wear a wool sweater. This sweater will ensure that you stay super toasty. Plus, I love this beading on this J.Crew sweater because makes the look that much more playful.

As for shoes and pants, I wore different ones for Chowederfest. I actually wore these jeans on top of a pair of thick leggings. I then threw on my over the knee boots from this post and was incredibly warm. The extra shoe material on my legs really helped me stay warm.

For gloves, I really love these black leather ones because they are lined with fleece. You can get very similar ones at Marshall’s or T.J.Maxx.

Here are pictures of my favorite chowders from 7 Horse, Sweet Mimi’s, and Graffney’s. Boy, were they delicious!

What are your tricks for staying warm for winter? Do you hide hand warmers in your shoes and gloves? Do you double up on hats or scarves? Let me know in the comments down below. Also, if you have any fun food events that you stay outside for like Chowderfest let me know… I would definitely put that on my list of places to go.

As always,

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P.S. What do you think about Christmas decorations that are still up? These photos were taken two weeks ago and Christmas stuff is still up! Personally, I love it.

In a Holidaze (How To Stay Warm)

Published on December 20, 2016December 20, 2016 by PeculiarPorter5 Comments

Hello darling! Is the holiday season getting to you? If you’re anything like me then you’ve been belting out Christmas songs as soon as Thanksgiving ended. My favorite Christmas songs to sing are All I Want for Christmas is You and Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire. Let me know what your favorite Christmas song is!

If you haven’t seen my last two posts on christmas gifts check out the ultimate gift guide for girls or my post on gifts that help out people.

I decided to follow the Christmas cheer with this warm outfit. Whenever it is this cold out throw on a thick jacket, a pair of gloves, and a nice giant scarf. My jacket is from Zara last year, scarf is from a market in Italy, and my gloves were $5 at Walmart.

As for my shoes, they’re a Sperry brand were only sold at J.Crew two winters ago. They continue to keep my feet incredibly warm and allow me to kick snow in the air.

Since it has been freezing the past couple of days, I wanted to create an outfit for you guys that can withstand the brutal cold. I did that by layering a flannel under this thick sweater. Surprisingly, this adorable “ugly” sweater is from Abercrombie and Fitch. I’m a huge sucker for penguins and this guy was no exception. I love how the sleeves have this adorable black Christmas pattern. It is a unique addition to this warm sweater. I do admit the sleeves are incredibly long for some reason so I normally just cuff them like I did in the pictures. To match this fat penguin, I even have matching red penguin socks from J.Crew on! You can find them in stores currently.

As for the jewelry, I decided to opt for the Christmas spirit even more and throw on some Christmas bows. You can find these kind of earrings everywhere like Target, Francesca’s, or Charming Charlie, but I got mine for $3 at Walmart…. oh the things you’ll find when you’re looking for an ugly Christmas sweater. I do wish they sat more on my actual ear instead of off them, but I have to admit they’re adorable. I’ve actually ben wearing them quite frequently. Kate Spade is currently selling a smaller pair that do sit on your ears.

So my cold weather advice to you: layer, layer, layer. Throw button down shirts under sweaters as much as you can. If you’re going to be outside for very long maybe invest in thermal leggings and put them under your pants. When I know I’m going to be outside for a long period of time I wear tights or leggings under my pants. Sometimes I even carry around hand warms if I know I’m going to outside for a long time.

Let me know your advice to stay warm. I definitley need some more ideas in January when its below negative weather. Don’t forget to tell me your favorite Christmas song in the comments down below!

As always,