Embrace Yourself

I love graphic tees, but I'm also very picky about them. I like it when my shirts are unique and really say something about my personality. My Roller Girl T-shirt is a clear ode to my klutzy-ness, and my newest addition follows the same train of thought, and is all about what makes you, you. Your flaws play a huge role in what makes you an individual, so embrace them! I have a lot to embrace, and still a lot of work to do when it comes to owning them.

It's been really exciting to see the various movements toward accepting diversity of all kinds in our culture. While we still have a long ways to go, it is a step in the right direction. Maybe one day, we'll accept that generally people aren't "flawed," they are just unique, and there aren't wrong or right ways to be a person.

On to the clothes...
This outfit has a couple of what I like to call "Deal Makers." When I'm on the fence about whether or not to purchase something, I take the decision very seriously (because financial goals, of course), but there are a few details that can really sell it for me:
 
1. Buying for a good cause- I found this t-shirt from For Better Not Worse, a clothing brand that donates a bag of food to children in need, while at Unique LA, a pop up market that has local designers and artists. I already loved the shirt, so knowing that my purchase would be doing some good locally, made the decision easy. As a bonus, they had a special that day where they were donating two bags of food for every shirt sold. Can't beat that deal!

2. A dress or skirt with functional pockets- I still don't understand why all dresses and skirts don't have pockets. Pockets can exponentially increase the utility of an item! When I'm at the office and want to go get a quick snack, I don't want to bring my whole purse just to carry my keys, a credit card, and phone, and I don't want to hold all that in my small hands either. Even a lot of women's pants don't have functional pockets, and it's really sad. Show me a cute dress and I'll like it, show me a cute dress with pockets and I have to have it.

What features of a product really get you? What are some of your "Deal Makers"?

Boyfriend Jeans

 There is a long list of trends that petites are not supposed to wear, but that's absurd. Petites can wear any trend or style as long as you get the right fit and proportions. Sadly it can be hard to find clothing with the right proportions, so sometimes you have to be creative and make it work. I like to shop at thrift stores for creative solutions, often vintage clothes have a smaller fit for women, and since trends tend to come back, sometimes you can find items that were trendy years ago and are now back. At thrift store prices, I also don't feel bad about experimenting with diy projects or trying out a new trend I'm not sure about.

I bought some  510 Levi's (not to be confused with the famous 501) at a thrift store in downtown LA and they provided the perfect boyfriend fit for me! They were loose, but not overwhelming. They were a little long, but nothing a little cuffing couldn't fix. I felt like they were a true boyfriend fit for my frame. If I wear them low on my hips, I get the low, slightly dropped crotch that is prevalent with men's styles. Bonus: I can also wear them as well fitted high-waisted jeans as long as I wear a belt since the waist is a little big.

 At the thrift store, they were in the women's section so I assumed they were a women's style, but it turns out they are LITERALLY boyfriend jeans. Apparently, 510 is a Men's style and somehow I fit in a 29 X 30? Mind. Blown. The more I shop, the more I discover that the only place to shop for women's clothes is outside the women's department.

When wearing boyfriend jean's I like to preserve the chill vibe and keep it simple with a loose top and some cute shoes (these one's are Steve Madden heels). The jewelry is pretty simple, a solitaire necklace that I always wear and a few bracelets. 

Beauty Note: I was inspired by this article on pigtail buns on StyleCaster, but at first I thought there was no way I would be able to pull this look off. I tried a more subtle half up take on the trend and am really excited with the result!