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4 Ways to Transition Your Winter Clothes into Spring

Published on February 6, 2018February 13, 2018 by PeculiarPorter16 Comments

Okay, so maybe the groundhog saw his shadow but that doesn’t stop me from wearing my spring colors proudly. I’ve been breaking my spring clothes out one by one in hopes that it will change the weather. I mean, a girl can only hope. Luckily, I’m actually in California escaping the brutal cold. But eventually, I’m going to have to go back to east coast and face the facts that it’s still pretty chilly. To prepare myself and you… here are four tips for transitioning your clothing into winter.

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Brighten up your dark, winter clothes by sprinkling a few light pieces in.

During the winter, I always get into a funk that is just waiting for the day where I can throw on all of my light colored pieces. I literally couldn’t handle the dark hues anymore so I broke out this awesome white, bucket bag to curve my craving. So pack up the dark hues and break out the light colors. If you think it’s too early, you can gradually do it one piece at a time.

Play with florals.

Florals for spring? Groundbreaking. I know, you’ve heard this line a thousand times, but in reality, it makes sense. Flowers pop up all over the place during spring so it only makes sense to celebrate by wearing them. What you can do is wear florals in different ways in order to stand out. Wear a scrunchie, scarf, shoes, or embellished pants with florals to change it up in your spring wardrobe. Plus, you can mix and match these samples with some of your old winter wardrobe. Ahh, versatility in it’s finest.

Layer with a chunky sweater to keep you warm.

Spring is very similar to fall in the idea that the temperatures drop all of the time. You can wake up in the morning and it’ll be below 10°F and then by mid lunch it will be 40°F. You never know what you’re going to get so that is why you should be prepared for anything. Throw on a t-shirt under a chunky sweater so that if it does get too hot you can instantly cool down. Plus, another way to layer a chunky sweater is to tuck it into a maxi skirt or belted over a maxi dress. The possibilities are endless.

Bare a little ankle.

S-c-a-n-d-a-l-o-u-s! Be a little rebellious and show a little ankle. Okay, not quite rebellious but it’s a great way to ‘warm’ up an outfit. By showing a little ankle you’re practically screaming “go away winter!” Hey, maybe if we all do it winter will go away for good. Worth a shot. Cuffing up your pants or wearing a low bootie instantly makes your outfit look spring ready.

What are some of your favorite ways to transition winter into spring? Let me know in the comments down below.

As always,

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The Ultimate Schedule to Surviving Your Commute to Work

Published on January 11, 2018January 11, 2018 by PeculiarPorter12 Comments

Now if you saw my last outfit post you’re probably wondering why there are leaves on the ground instead of two feet of snow. I must admit, these pictures were taken before we were pummeled with snow and the temperatures dropped to a staggering 5°F. So if I were to be dressed for the temperatures now I’d definitely be throwing on some boots, a hat, and a scarf. Luckily for me, the temperatures have been rising this week (50°F today and 56°F Friday) and this outfit seems like it almost fits in… okay, fine maybe I’m just crossing my fingers for an early spring. Nonetheless, let’s get into the real reason for this post.

As some of you already know because of this post, I commute an hour to and from work each day (sometimes longer). I constantly get asked how I survive this insane commute so I decided to come up with a day by day guide on how I survive.

Monday: Radio

Monday morning moods are a serious thing. After having a fun or relaxing weekend, I like to just not think in the morning. So I turn on the radio and start listening to the morning banter of the talk show hosts. If you live in Connecticut, my favorite radio stations are KISS 95.7, HOT 93.7, Country 92.5, STAR 99.9, and KC 101. STAR 99.9 is my favorite radio station to listen to in the morning because of the two radio hosts, Raven and Anna, do a segment called “couple’s court” where the audience picks who is right an who is wrong in a fight.

Tuesday: Singing in the Car

By Tuesday morning I’ll most likely take a break from the radio and listen to some of my favorite playlists on Spotify. I literally have my own playlist of “Singing in the Car.” Yeah, embarrassing I know… but if I ever go to karaoke with you be sure to bring your A-Game with you because I’ll know most of the words. If you want to survive the commute I suggest making a playlist for singing in the car. Trust me, it’s embarrassing but it’ll keep you entertained while you’re in traffic for two and a half hours. If you want a quick singing in the car playlist this is mine. Warning: you may get Adele or you may get ScHoolboy Q.

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Wednesday: Audio Books

I am a member of Audible that allows me to get a “free” audiobook every month. It’s not really free because you’re spending $14.95 on just that one book. Most audiobooks are pretty expensive due to the amount of time and editing it takes to actually make an audiobook so it is a pretty good deal in the end. So far the audiobooks I’ve listened to are “Content Inc.,” by Joe Pulizzi, “Tales from the Back Row” by Amy Odell, “#GirlBoss” by Sophia Amoruso, “Leave Your Mark: Land Your Dream Job, Kill it in Your Career, Rock Social Media,” by Aliza Licht, and “Over-Dressed The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion,” by Elizabeth L. Cline. I’ve loved each and every one of these books for different reasons. If you’re into fashion and blogging all five of these books would be a perfect match for you.

Thursday: Small Town Murder Podcast

Thursdays are my favorite day to commute because my favorite podcast releases a new episode every Thursday. Okay, I admit it’s a totally morbid and sometimes rude podcast, but I’m obsessed with Small Town Murder. James Pietragallo and Jimmie Whisman make an invincible team that goes into depth talking about murders that occur in small towns. Plot twist: they’re both comedians who make fun of the murderers while explaining the story. It sounds so morbid but after one episode you’ll be hooked.

Friday: Free for all

Friday really depends on my what is going on that upcoming weekend. Sometimes I’m in the mood to sing to songs and sometimes I’m ready to dive deeper into my audiobook. Fridays are usually the best days because sometimes people take a long weekend and take it off. This means the traffic is light and my tunes are tuning.

Let me know how you survive your long commute in the comments down below.

As always,

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How to Rock a Sleeveless Dress During the Fall Season

Published on December 12, 2017December 12, 2017 by PeculiarPorter14 Comments

Before I start talking about this fun, warm combo… these pictures were taken before it snowed and dropped to temperatures more suitable for the Arctic (blogger problems). So with that in mind… to make this outfit winterized just add some tights, a thick black jacket, and maybe some over the knee boots.

If you live in a southern area where the weather might be a little bit warmer and you still want to rock your dresses… boy, do I have the opportunity for you. Since it isn’t officially winter yet (December 21), I can still rock my fall apparel on this blog.

Cuff your sleeves so that you don’t have so much fabric up top.

Whenever I have a button up, 9 out of 10 times I will roll up the sleeves. It adds the perfect amount of dimension to any outfit. This particular dress is more formal than a normal summer dress. It can easily be dressed up or down. To make this dress seem more casual the rolled up sleeves on this flannel do a fantastic job.

Don’t be afraid to mix black and blue.

Growing up it used to be a huge taboo to wear black and navy together. I still have no idea why. They’re both neutrals and they’re often found together in nature. Hello, black and blue eyes are an actual thing. So why can’t I wear these colors together? Frankly, this is a rule I break quite frequently and have no intention to stop (fight me, fashion police). So if you want to be a rule breaker with me, rock what your mamma gave you and fight the power.

Don’t worry about adding too many layers in the fall/winter seasons.

It’s better to be warm than fashionable. So throw on those puffy jackets, thick warm flannels, and over the knee socks. You could easily wear this outfit with thick tights, over the knee socks and boots, a long coat, and a hat. Winter and fall are my favorite times to try out new combinations because you’re always fighting to stay warm. Don’t be afraid to try out new combinations. After all, you might end up loving the look.

Play around with necklines when incorporating bold undershirts.

The best part about style is you can try out anything. This outfit isn’t something I would traditionally wear but it’s something I’m able to have fun with. After all, shouldn’t every day feel like you’re playing dress up? To switch up this look I would love to play with lower neckline dresses and different flannel patterns. The contrasting textures make an interesting look.

What do you think about adding a flannel to an otherwise warm dress? Do you ever mix black and navy blue together? Let me know in the comments down below.

As always,

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Billie “Jean” is Not My Lover

Published on March 28, 2017March 28, 2017 by PeculiarPorter20 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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Saratoga Race Track

Published on August 5, 2016October 17, 2016 by PeculiarPorter8 Comments

Hello darlings! This past weekend, I went to the Saratoga Race Track with some of my college friends. It was my first time ever going to a horse race and I thought it was such a thrilling experience.

We arrived to the track around 11 and made a big circle out of lawn chairs, coolers, and my lovely Siena blanket (I can’t go anywhere without that thing). After we set up shop, we decided to walk around and check out where everything is. In a weird way, it almost looks like it was set up like a classier warp tour. There are all these random concession stands everywhere and people scattered about.

While we were walking around, we got to see some jockeys walk by with their horses. I was shocked how close you could get to them. At other sporting events, you would be triple the length away from them and have to spend oodles of money in order to get that close.

I decided to go all out and get a hat for the track. Some women wore these crazy elaborate hats that could be spotted from a mile away. Clearly, they loved going to the track. I was actually really surprised that not many women wore hats. I’m still glad I spent a solid $12 at Target on my hat.

As for the dress, I decided to get this navy, lace dress. Abercrombie and Fitch is actually having a sale on the dress. It’s $24, in stores, and it is such an easy dress to just throw on and do whatever in it. I would love wearing this dress to brunch or even to date night with some red heels. I’m in love with the lace detailing and the cut out on the back. I was actually wishing I was going to get a tan on my back from the weird cutout. Unfortunately, the day we went was a little cloudy. Maybe next time.

The earrings are from J.Crew and I fall head over heels for them every time I wear them. I think they add just the perfect about of color to this otherwise neutral outfit.

Micky, Courtney, Sam, and I decided to all get matching camp chairs at Walmart. We want to iron patches all over them.

At the end of the day, I won $4 and lost about $10. The whole time I was there I was thinking about the betting as if I was at a concert. You would normally pay $60+ for a good concert. I only made dollar bets, but if I wanted to get risky I could have tried betting $10-$15. There were 11 races and I bet on 8 of them. I loved picking which horse was going to win. Trust me, it’s exciting when your horse actually wins.

As for my first time betting on something, I say it was a marvelous time. Have you ever went to a horse race? What is your opinion on horse races?

As always,