2016 Trends That We Need to Ditch

Dear 2016,

Although we’ve had some good times, you have not been the best to us fashion- enthusiasts. We have lost inspiration and had to witness some of the most godawful fashion and beauty trends. We can’t take it anymore. 2017 is here and we are leaving you for him. 2017 will not have. . .

1. Fashion Nova

We just can’t deal with the cheap quality, overly- tight distressed denim (*cough* jeggings *cough*) falsely advertised by celebrities who only wear them for a fat check.

2. Extreme Contouring

Contouring has been a gift from God above and we love it with all our hearts… but on our calves, boobs, arms, stomach, neck, and ears? it’s a bit much. Countouring is about enhancing the dimensions of our faces, and making our natural bone structure pop. Not exactly to hide the unique God- given flaws on our bodies. We need to accept ourselves for who we are and not hide behind contouring

3. Youtube Guru Drama

Can we just all get along and get our eyebrows on fleek together?

4. Extreme Highlighting

Of course we all want that healthy glowing skin, but it came to the point where we put so much on that we looked sweaty! A little goes a long way! Cosmetic companies literally charged us an arm and a leg for highlight when we could’ve just simply put a nice little swipe of cooking oil on our cheekbones for the same effect, with the way we were using it.

5. High Boots with Dresses

Just. . . NO

6. Extremely Tight Bodycons

The woman’s body is a true work of art. Why wouldn’t we want to show it off? While we walk around with our beautiful bodies, why not add a little mystery to spice it up?

7. Over-Lined Lips

Our natural lips are perfectly and uniquely designed for each of us. While being a beautiful statement trend in 2016, 2017 should be a year of naturalism and simplicity. We are all starting to look the same. The beauty in the world is our unique quirks and flaws!

8. Using Anything as a Makeup Brush Substitute

Can we just stick to the beauty blenders and makeup brushes? We cant all keep up with the chicken cutlets and other weird makeup applicators used these days. They all look the same!

 

These are a few of my 2016 pet peeves. Some of you may actually love these items and some may actually hate them as well, but i’m sure we can all agree we need a fresh new path in 2017. Let me know some of your peeves in 2016 and somethings you actually enjoyed. Good riddance 2016 and Happy New Year!

Xoxo,

Abbie

 

 

 

Top 5 Fashion Icons of 2016

Personally, 2016 has been a “blah” year for me creative-wise. I lost inspiration and there were not too many tasteful trends out. As a farewell and good riddance to the iconic, yet bizarre year I have made a definitive list of 2016’s prime trendsetters who made the year somewhat bearable.

5. Kendall Jenner

Oh Kendall, how you have blessed us with your sexy, yet simple aura. Personally, Kendall’s style has taught me that less is in fact, more. Whether she is out on a night around town with the beautiful Gigi Hadid and striking Cara Delevingne, or simply running errands, Kendall is always runway ready. The most important thing about Kendall’s simplicity is that she goes against the grain of the average celebrity flashy- look. She embraces her natural features which truly compliment each and every one of her outfits. This is why I believe that Kendall is the epitome of a regular young woman in her 20’s trying to enjoy the best years of her life comfortably. She does not wear her pieces, the pieces wear her.

4. Kanye West

With one of the most notable trendsetters of the past decade, Kim Kardashian by his side, Mr. West changed the game in 2016.The Yeezy 2016 Fall Collection shed light on nudes and earth-tones and surprisingly, brought it back to life. I admire Kanye for his realization that there are so many different kinds of nudes for all different skin tones. While many may call his catchy vision on clothing “hobo-chic,” we all must agree that numbers don’t lie. His attempt to bring awareness of diversity into the high fashion world is beyond astute and eye- opening to many other  legendary fashion designers.  A design that I am positive will roll into 2017 all the way to summer is his unique calfskin sock- boots. Kanye has been a big winner in 2016 and I am certain that he will gain even more success in 2017.

3. Bella Hadid

Bella is the enigma of hollywood that we don’t always see. Her fierce, dark, and mesmerizing look lures us in and we can’t get enough of it! She is a figure that is imitated often but never duplicated. What I admire most about her look is that she keeps a nice balance. What I mean by balance is that she has a striking face and a strong- attention grabbing love for dark clothing. Most people just let one or the other take lead, but Bella dominates both aspects of her look and owns it along with her piercing baby blues.

2. Rihanna

With her rebellious and funky style, Queen Rih really showed us what she was all about in 2016. Due to her magical fashion- sense, her collaboration with Puma, was one of the top shoes of 2016! My favorite project of hers is the I-CON-IC RihannaxManoloBlahnik  collaboration. The denim thigh- high belted boots are 100% goals. The boots itself is the only explanation there needs to be for her ranking and I can’t wait to see what she has up her sleeves for 2017!

1. Olivier Rousteing

Over the past two years, Balmain has played a major role in my personal style. Olivier curated so many timeless pieces this year, that will make Balmain one of the most legendary, and respectable brands of all- time. In 2016, the Balmain brand seemed to focus on cool versus warmer tones. His spring collection consisted of a plethora of earthier tones and softer fabrics while the fall collection was bold and cold with rougher fabrication of blues and blacks. His style pushed me to break free from my walls of comfort and experiment. Balmain is a true work of art, which I feel like many designers today are losing sight of; instead they just make the most outrageous pieces that are unwearable and clearly have no true meaning. Balmain is quickly up and coming, and I feel so blessed to witness the amazing revival of this brand over the past few years and more to come in the new year.

All-in-all, I think that 2016 has been a pretty stagnant year for the world of fashion. Sales are dropping, and people are losing sight for their passion. I really hope that 2017 will be a year for me as well as you guys, to shine in our love for this art. The list that I have made is 100% my opinion and I am sure some of you will disagree and thats okay! I am by no means a professional, just a fashion enthusiast like all of you reading. Discussion and debate is what ignites the creativity. Feel free to add your own personal tweaks to my list or make your own to share:) I love you guys so much and I hope 2017 is good to all of us.

 

Xoxo,

Abbie

 

 

 

How to Get Out of Your Creative Funk

As fashion enthusiasts, we’ve all been there. Some way some how, our passion and creative process vanishes. For some of you it may be kids, stress, hectic schedules, etc. For me personally, being a broke college student and a part-time retail sales associate damages my creative thought process towards fashion. I work for the fashion brand Ralph Lauren, don’t get me wrong, I love my job, but being surrounded by the same style of clothing each day decreases the versatility in my fashion taste. Although I sometimes go through periods of no inspiration, here are a few tricks that ignite my hunger for fashion and blogging time after time.

PINTEREST

Through the ups and downs, Pinterest has always been that one friend that is always there for me. While in a creative funk, just skim through the app! Pinterest is filled with modern-day trends and even upcoming trends for each season. There are so many people just like you, who want to share their ideas! Explore, and allow it to inspire your next pieces or projects.

PEOPLE -WATCHING

I challenge you to go somewhere that you have never been. It doesnt have to be far, just somewhere where you wouldn’t find yourself on  an average day such as a barbershop, your local library, the countryside of your town, or the large nearby cities. Wherever you choose just sit, and observe! Everyone has their own unique quirk and personality that you can allow to inspire you. You can figure out what the lastest trends are or maybe even make your own new trend just by watching a passerby! The opportunities are endless, and the best part *drumroll*… It’s free!

WINDOW-SHOPPING

For those of you looking for a little nudge and no idea of what direction to go, look at other blogs, go to a small local boutique, or art gallery and figure out what you don’t like. Once you know what you don’t want, you’ll know what you do want for whatever creative goal you are trying to achieve.

All in all, creative funks aren’t very fun. Although they are painfully annoying, I realized that after my funk seasons I always come back 10 times better and ready to take control once again. It is designed to remind you of your goals and to tweak a few things to get reach them. I think of it as a healthy sign of progress and a test of determination. I hope this post will help you guys as it has helped me!

Xoxo,

Abbie❤️

 

 

3 Simple Pieces to End Your Summer with a Bang

As this amazing (and hot!) summer comes to an end, there is no better way to celebrate it than to whip out our best summer pieces for a good farewell to summer. Due to the nonstop heatwaves and crazy summer adventures, i’ve dedicated this summer to comfort.

 

ROMPERS

I must say, rompers are my favorite go-to’s. Its a whole outfit in one! They’re perfect for when you are constantly on the go. All you need to do is throw it on and accessorize. I haven’t always been the biggest fan of rompers due to them not looking so classy but this year, large retailers such as ZARA and Forever21 have really stepped their game up this year.

This ZARA piece was a perfect addition to my summer collection. It is flowy, lightweight, and comfortable enough for those wild summer adventures.

This Forever21 denim number is a guaranteed head-turner.  The light wash of the denim is a great compliment to these bright summer days and provides a subtle 90’s look. You can dress this up by wearing nude pumps and a cute high bun or a casual look with some crisp white converse.

T-SHIRT DRESSES

The infamous t-shirt dress had a special spot in my heart this summer. Not only is it comfortable, but I also find it very easy to wear it at any occasion. When I want to dress down, I often wear a wide brimmed hat and a light sweater tied around my waste to subtly add more layers. To dress it up I like to pair it with some fancy ankle boots, a small belt on my waist, and for the layers a light denim jacket or for night time, my favorite leather jacket.

LINEN

I know you’ve notice this cute trend, linen is my absolute weakness this summer. I mean have you felt the material? Its almost like it isn’t even there. Its perfect for those summer days where its so hot you consider walking out with nothing on, with linen you can get the same effect. Its airy, loose, and especially perfect for my fellow boho lovers.

 

 

 

 

Sunshine Blogger Award!

Good Morning Sunshines! So today I have a special post that I am so honored to share with you guys and its called the “Sunshine Blogger Award.” I feel so blessed to have been nominated by my favorite blog, Style Cat Blog who is an amazingly talented and authentic street style blogger and has been gracious enough to involve me in this fun tag!

So now, what is the Sunshine Blogger Award? here are the instructions:

Thank and link the person who nominated you.

1. Answer the 11 hilarious or beautiful questions asked by the person.
2. Nominate 11 bloggers.
3. Then ask them another 11 questions (comment on their boxes to notify them of the nomination).

Part Two: Part One is done, so lets move on to what you’ve all been waiting for, the questions!

1. If you had a certain golden fish, what would be your three wishes?

Ah yes, this is a really good one!

First Wish: Ending world poverty and hunger

Second Wish: To get into the most prestigious fashion school in the world!

Third Wish: Become a successful figure in the fashion industry and transforming the lives of others as well:)

2. Who is your favorite superhero and why?

Hmmm, i’ve never been much of a superhero gal but I would say spiderman. Theres just something about Tobey Maguire’s eyes that makes a girl swoon (insert heart eye emoji here). Its also the only one that I seem to somewhat understand!

3. Theres a saying: “clothes don’t make the person.” Do you agree?

Girl, I completely agree! I even dedicated my first post to it! Clothes do not make nor define you, its all about how you work it. With the bold combination of elegance and confidence, you will slay anything from a trash bag to vintage Chanel dress honey lol.

4. Dogs or Cats? Why

Definitely dogs! Cats are all fine and dandy, but having another diva in the house in addition to myself? Thats a bit of an overkill. Dogs are always so happy and playful with no care in the world! My baby chihuahua, Princeton is just always grateful for everything he has and when I get mad at him, he still always embraces me. They are just so innocent and pure. Go get you a dog!

5. What would you change about yourself?

Theres just one thing that I would want to change about myself and its my personality. I am a relaxed and chill type B personality while I really want to be a type A. I want to be more ambitious and going for things rather than dreaming about it. Life is too short to just be calm all day long. I want to seize every moment of my life with no regrets of not doing something. Theres nothing wrong with type B people, I would just love to have a mixture of the two 🙂

6. Are you an introvert or extrovert?

I’ve been an extrovert for as ling as I can remember. I may come off as an introvert if I don’t want to talk to anyone and my bas case of resting bitch face (RBF) but after I decide I like you, we’re gonna be besties in a matter of minutes!

7. Whats your favorite moment in life?

Ugh questions like this are so difficult for me! There are so many amazing moments to choose from. One of my favorite moments in life so far was graduating high school. I felt so accomplished for once in my life. I was also thrilled that I didn’t have to deal with those idiots anymore! lol. It was just a fresh new start and I felt like a completely different person after I received that diploma.

8. If you could, who’s life would you switch with for a day?

Omg, im gonna sound so cliche buuuut, BLAKE LIVELY! I’m super obsessed with her and her gorge family. Not only is she so successful, she is so humble. Also, how cool would it be for people to call you Blake for a whole day?

9. How would you describe your style?

My style is always changing depending on the season and different trends. I thrive in fall weather fashion with modest, high-fashion striking layers with deep tones. I don’t know how you’ll take this but I love dark colors  and would probably describe my fashion icons as Morticia Adams or Karl Lagerfeld.

10. When and why did you start blogging?

I started blogging almost 5 months ago. I started a YouTube fashion page but I realized I just had to much to say and elaborate on for anything to make sense. It was difficult because it felt like a competition. I am sharing my thoughts and ideas with the fashion world to help inspire, not recognition. After doing a fall internship writing fashion columns with CollegeFashionista, I realized that writing is something that comes naturally to me and instead of being restricted to all the CollegeFashionista rules, I could make rules of my own here on WordPress.

11. Whats your favorite post at Style Cat Blog?

One of my fave blog posts from Style Cat Blog one of her more recent posts. Her incredible European Cowgirl II was so inspiring. Its the perfect simple, yet themed flowy outfit for summer. She always pulls off everything that she wears but this one is out of this world fab! I’m dying for her blouse and the light-washed denim was a great touch.

After 3 months of working on this post, I am finally finished! Thank you so much Andi for the amazing opportunity! I hope the next round of bloggers that I nominate will have as much fun as I did!

I NOMINATE…

1. Whateverwilby

2. Communicationallabout

3. Fashionempress

4. Kortneyslife

5. Whatwouldvwear

6. Thestylelynnkind

7. Darlydarly

8. Ecochictotes

9. Truebornafricanqueen

10. Maisonbentleystyle

11. Wittynpretty

Here are the questions…

1. Who is your biggest fashion inspiration?
2. What is your all-time favorite fashion season?
3. What is your ultimate go-to summer piece/trend this year?
4. What inspired your blog name?
5. What is one thing that you believe makes your blog unique?
6. If you could describe your style in one word, what would it be? Why?
7. What is your biggest fashion regret? (Pics if possible)
8. What culture’s fashion from anywhere in the world do you admire most?
9. What do you believe is today’s biggest fashion don’t?
10. What theme are you going for on your blog? (pale? fresh? simple? earthy? etc)
11. What is your Favorite post from TwentyTrendyandThriving and what would you suggest to improve it?

Enjoy Lovelys!

Xoxo,

Abbie

Swayed Towards Suede

Ah yes, It all began in the fall. While strolling upon the clothing section at Target, I came across a gorgeous A-line skirt with cutout floral-like designs to embellish the bottom. I wanted to buy it so bad, but ya know..broke college student..other priorities…blah blah blah.. So I told myself that I would buy it the next time I come but unfortunately, it was gone:(

After this occurrence, I tried to lay my hands on everything suede. There are so many endless possibilities with the texture that you can wear it each and every season!

You can stitch it onto your elbows to create chic patches on your sweater in the Fall/Winter:

 

Buy this AH-dorable faux suede shift dress from Hollister for your springtime adventures:

And for my fellow boho lovers, try a free flowing faux suede maxi dress:

I hope you guys are just as obsessed with this hot new trend revival as I am. Have a great day lovelies!

xoxo,

Abbie

 

Fashion School? Nah

Only a year ago I realized that my true passion was in the fashion world. With realizing this, I put all of my efforts into preparing, finding, and searching for my major at the perfect fashion school. Since living in California, the best and most reasonable choice seemed to be FIDM that is strictly based in my state located in San Francisco, Orange County, San Diego, and of course Los Angeles.

After visiting the website, I asked for more information which lead my to my admissions counselor of the San Francisco Campus. She was very sweet and contacted me frequently to check up on me to see if I was on track and happy with what I see in FIDM. Eventually, I headed out to San Francisco to have a meeting with the counselor and FIDM was great. I was going to major in Visual Communications and Merchandise Marketing and get my bachelors degree in that. All I needed was to do a  Even though FIDM is an expensive school, I was determined to get my degree, network while in school in Southern California, and make my parents proud by becoming a professional buyer for major companies.

Once my conversations with the counselor started to solely be about money, I realized that FIDM wasn’t quite looking for talent, but rather a large sum of money. Don’t get me wrong: they are excellent at creating resources, connections, and educating their students but are not selective on who gets admitted. When they don’t focus on the talent of their students before entry, some people are expecting more when they graduate than they will really receive which leads to empty promises and a waste of a students time. I began to feel very pressured to attend the school with the counselor constantly calling me, texting me, and even contacting my family at inappropriate times. After telling the admissions counselor that I was looking into other options for schooling, she became very short with me and seemed frustrated. When asked to send my project back it got “lost” in the mail, but eventually after a month came to my house. I am over FIDM and glad that I did not attend, but not I am back to square one.

For a while I thought FIDM was my only option but after doing much research, I learned that that is not the case. There are so many great schools out there such as Parsons or FIT. Parsons, which is the best fashion school in the nation really caught my attention because the alumni is much more respected from a worldwide angle and that is what I wanted for myself as well as a true challenge to get accepted. Unfortunately, Parsons is way too expensive for me especially since I am out of state so now I am going a different route: state college.

State colleges aren’t ideal for fashion majors, but it is completely possible. One of the many perks of wanting to base a career off of the fashion arts is that you don’t really have to attend a fancy fashion school. If you look at Miuccia Prada, Kate Spade, Donatella Versace, Manolo Blahnik, Giorgio Armani, and so many more amazing designers and fashion industry moguls you will see that they didn’t go to a modern day fashion school and some of them even starting in the industry much later in life.

Although, fashion school is a great start, going to a regular college can be just as effective if you have the skill, will, and determination. I am currently going to a Junior College in Napa, but I plan on transferring to a stat college in a year studying marketing. I am also doing an online certificate program with Parson’s and Teen Vogue in which I will receive small sets of skills to help me out in the long run. I am not sure if I should stay in the Bay Area and go to San Francisco where there are so many successful people, or if I should go down to Southern California to step out of my comfort zone. The possibilities are endless and I can’t wait to take you guys on this journey with me!

XOXO,

Abbie

P.S.

Here are some of my Merchandise Marketing Ads:)

LE MECHANTS BOHO (1)

LE MECHANTS WORK WEAR

LES MÉCHANTS ACTIVE WEAR (1)

LES MÉCHANTS FLOOR PLANLES MÉCHANTS LOGO (1)

Fashion of the Motherland

Since living my whole life in the United States, I think its safe to say that our style isn’t the most exciting. As each year goes by, It feels as if our fashion sense grows more mundane and safe  which isn’t the most exciting predicament for me and  my fellow fashion enthusiasts.

With wanting more depth in my fashion inspiration, I had to look beyond our borders and what better than to channel my flavorful Afro-Carribean roots?

I know afrocentric clothing and patterns may seem outdated and “hippie-like” but there are so many great ways to modernize it. I believe that if it has a powerful pattern with rustic tones, along with a looser fit  the look is complete.

 

For instance, this simple yet bold dress is the perfect combination. The boho feel of this dress cut is perfect for our summers while the pattern stays in tact with the culture. Another thing that I love about afrocentric clothing is how complimenting it is to my skin tone!

Here are a few other great looks:

 

After much research, I was so amazed. The deep, rich colors, and intricate patterns make such a beautiful statement piece. Not only did they embody the true meaning of a statement piece, they shared a story. Im not sure if you would see this, but to me it represents the strength of my culture. After centuries upon centuries of hardship and constant discouragement, we still somehow see the beauty of the world with our earthy-toned fashion pieces.

Long Live the Early 2000s (Besides High Riding Thongs)

When you think of the early 2000s and their fashion trends, does it make you cringe? Do you begin to get a sick vision of UGGS, velour track suits, and denim on denim crimes? If you said yes to all of these, you are human. But today, I want to show you the significance of this time period of fashion crimes and even the top two “don’ts” can be incorporated beautifully into todays trends.

DENIM ON DENIM

Ah yes, the legendary Canadian tuxedo. Many say it’s the worst thing that you can possibly do, but in my opinion, it genius! No, i’m not just saying that because my favorite couple *cough* Justin and Britney *cough* made one of the most iconic looks with it back in 2001. To me, denim on denim symbolizes strength and durability. The denim on denim look adds androgyny to your outfit delivering the perfect mix between masculinity and femininity.  To make a denim on denim outfit less drab simply accessorize! There is no right or wrong here. Minimal jewelry adds a simple clean look while statement jewelry creates a fun, flirty, and playful look. What can really make or break your outfit depends on the shoes. A bold pair of pumps, heels, or even a clean pair of sneakers can help you complete the look.

FLARED PANTS

It is true a shame that such a beautiful design has been so overlooked throughout these past few years. Flared denim has been in our fashion history for decades and I refuse to see it die. Flared denim is a huge essential to have in all closets. Not only is it more professional, but it also elongates along with slims your legs down. Flared pants are so versatile to where you can wear the with virtually anything. For a laid back feel, pair it with a tee for a vintage look, if you want to look professional try wearing a blazer and pearls or for a boho feel, throw on a cute peasant top. The possibilities are endless!

If denim on denim and flared bottoms can make a comeback, why can’t any other trend? Help revive these forgotten gems of fashion history and go experiment! You never know what you will find. Have a great day my loves.

Xoxo,

Abbie

The Great Spring Transition

If you’re like me, hanging up the chunky scarves, riding boots, and rich deep colors is a very sensitive subject. Not only that, but trying to find that perfect look that doesn’t make you too hot or cold is torture. There are so many great ways to transition into fall but heres my trick: comfort. Each season is a new way for me to reinvent; and the transition season is a great way to figure out what look I want to embody for the next season. I know, i know, the word comfort doesn’t sit well in the world of fashion. Comfort signifies laziness and lack of taste, but let me tell you my friend, thats false.

During this time is to really important to take a step back and ask yourself: what is something that I have never tried before and what do I wish to accomplish before spring? This may sometimes be tough but heres a trick to help you jumpstart your journey: dive into our fashion history and explore it. Go into the grunge era with a cute leather jacket for a final farewell until the return of autumn, the 70s boho laid back feel and explore a loose blouse, or even travel back to the 1900s and pick up some cute converse and flared denim. This is the season for experimentation.

Experimentation doesn’t mean that you have to break the bank. Just one simple shift just might do for you as it did for me. Personally, my secret weapon for this season has been my All Star Ox Optical White Converse. Not only do they make the simplest of outfits attract a plethora of compliments and admiration, they have shifted my style into a soft core grunge that Im obsessing over. The experimentation of one simple piece shifted my whole style while creating comfort. A typical day for me is a slouchy shirt, leather jacket, distressed denim (cuffed, of course) and my trusty all stars.

I hope that this helped you all as it has been my guide to feeling good and even looking good in preparation for the big beautiful season of Spring. Have a great day dolls!

Xoxo,

Abbie