fashion : a guest post by carlotta

Fashion. 

It's a word that can be interpreted in many different ways. It's a word that often conjures up images of costly pieces of clothing, glossy magazine pages, and models strutting down long runways. It evokes pictures of Vogue magazine, of sophisticated ladies briskly walking down the streets of Paris and New York.

bow: unknown // necklace: barberry and lace // top: old navy // skirt: target // heels (though they don't look like it): payless

 But don't let a small budget keep you from looking fabulous. Fashion is about using what you already have, building up the basics and then mixing and matching to create a multitude of outfits.

Think of fashion like baking. In nearly every recipe, the basic staples of eggs, flour, butter, and sugar are combined together to form a basic dough. Then comes the additional flavoring – maybe a little vanilla, some chocolate, or fruit.

dress: target // belt: thrifted // wedges: thrifted (keds)

When it comes to fashion, my staples consist of well fitted tank tops, simple skirts, cardigans, good fitting jeans, versatile dresses, and a good waist belt. With these "ingredients" you can create so much.

Much of my clothing comes from places like Target and Old Navy – both very inexpensive stores. (Target is my favorite for their incredible clearance racks...I'm talking about getting a button down shirt for four dollars and seventy eight cents. That's my kind of shopping.)
I also love thrifting, though it's always a bit of a hit or miss. But regardless of that, I enjoy rifling through everything and the rewarding feeling of finding the perfect piece.

necklace: a store in germany // cardigan: target // tank: target // jeans: old navy // boots: my mother's // bag: payless

When getting dressed, I first select a top and bottom (or a dress), then move on to accessories. Adding something seemingly little, like a scarf or bracelet, can make an outfit go from boring to gorgeous. Accessories add personality and character to an outfit. Don't be afraid to play around and try new things – some of my favorite outfits have resulted from doing so.

top, shorts, and shoes: target // bag: payless // belt: thrifted

Being fashionable doesn't have to be expensive by any means. It's the art of using what you have to create new things. And once you have your basics, it's so easy to mix and match.

What are some of your fashion basics?

-carlotta

 i'm carlotta. i write, i photograph, i design things. i blog at pastor's girl's ponderings. fashion is a great love of mine. while i love bright colors, i’m usually drawn to soft neutrals such as grey and white. i call the windy plains of oklahoma my home. rarely am i separated from my camera . it’s a pleasure to meet you.