Keeping It Real

We all have our own fantasies of a closet full of Chanel or Louis Vuitton, but lets be honest, most of our wallets cant afford that big of a loss.  A way some shoppers go around this financial burden is to purchase fakes.  Fingers crossed I can help convince everyone to stop supporting this poser of an industry.  Counterfeit bags are something I never really gave much attention too until I learned more about it in one of my fashion classes.  Counterfeits are becoming more and more prominent, I actually spotted one in West Acres today.  The bag was made to look like a Michael Kors but instead of the famous MK logo they used NX, which from a distance could fool you.  What are you gonna say when someone asks you what NX stands for "ahhhh new xylophone," yeah not cool.  There are several reasons to ditch the counterfeits 1. It's illegal to sell counterfeits.  2.  Majority of the time child labor is used to produce these fakes.  And 3. They're ugly.  Sorry but it's true.  If you want to avoid accidentally buying a fake here are some tips.  Know your logos, the smallest thing can be changed to make it a fake.  If the price is too good to be true, it probably is.  Shop at well know stores like Macy's, Herberger's, our the designers store itself.  Lastly look at the quality of the bag.  When something is worth so much, they wont skim out on production costs.  You don't need to carry a $300  bag to be fashion forward, two of my favorite purses actually came from DSW, and cost less then $50.  If you're wanting the designer look, save up and buy the real thing, it's so much more rewarding! Keep your eye out at T.J. Maxx and outlet malls, they're truly a magical place!
Enjoy this  rare heat wave in Fargo!
Katie

Catching eyes in 2014 ;)

Let's talk trends! I LOVE trends, there so fun and give me confidence knowing not everyone has the guts to wear them.  So, here's what I think every women should own in 2014. 1. Pleather, pleather, pleather, and more pleather.  It's impossible to walk into a store and not spot this faux leather.  No, you do not need to step out looking ready to hit up Sturgis.  A perfect way to modestly rock this trend is to wear a shirt or leggings with pleather accents.  Pleather sleeves and appliques are one of my favorite fashions.  Ok, I could go on for days about pleather, but lets move on to the next trend. 2. Crop tops.  I know, they can be daunting but you don't have to be a size zero to  wear them.  Trust me, I eat my fair share of Taco Bell and Papa Johns and I still wear them.  High waistlines are the best way to showcase the crop top.  I pair mine with high waisted skirts, and jeans.  Weird, I never thought I would wear mom jeans out of my own will.  Don't worry, if you don't want to show off your torso you can still wear a crop top. Majority of crop tops are long enough to cover up your skin when you pair them with a high waist line.  And #3. Jumpsuits and overalls.  I'm DYING! I cant get enough of this blast from the past trend! When I told my mother I was writing about overalls she offered to give me hers from college.  Who knew my mom and I would be wearing the same thing in college!  There are subtle and bold ways to wear jumpsuits and overalls.  While shopping you can find a head to toe pleather jumpsuit to a basic cotton jumpsuit.  I don't care whether it's pleather, camo, denim, or cheetah print, PLEASE rock a jumpsuit.  Can you tell I love them? There are so many trends I could talk about but I don't want to make anyone fall asleep!
Have a wonderful and fashionable week ;) 

Pleather shorts found on  http://wheretoget.it/look/259465
Crop top and overalls found on Forever21.com 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, not the bulb of a tanning bed.

Please know before your read this I do NOT judge those who tan, we all have our unhealthy habits.  Dangers of tanning beds is one of my most passionate topics.  Let me give you a little background story to why I feel the way I do.  5 1/2 years ago I lost my great uncle Jim to cancer.  No, he did not pass from skin cancer but my entire form of thinking was transformed after watching him go through this.  Jim was a healthy man; didn't smoke, rarely drank, received plenty of exercise while working on the farm, but he was still taken from us before we were ready to let him go.  After watching my uncle go through what he did, and the affect it had on my family, I would do any thing in my power to prevent myself or my family members to have to go through a preventable disease.  No my Uncles cancer was not preventable I want to make that clear, but watching him suffer forever changed my thought process.  I remember hearing someone who frequently tanned say, "I'd rather look good now and have wrinkles later when I'm married."  This was hard to hear with out snapping.  Think about your future; do you want to be married, have children, grandchildren?  If you were to be taken from this earth due to skin cancer caused by tanning, it would be because you wanted to have a sunny glow, something so miniscule in the span of your entire life.  If I can lessen the chance of leaving my future family due to a disease, well of course I'm going to do that, and I hope you consider it as well.  On a happier note :) Let's talk about how beautiful you are without that tan!! We were all born with different skin tones for a reason.  Our diversity is something so natural and beautiful why try to change it! I can honestly say I love my pasty pasty pasty skin, why not rock this "vampire" trend while it's still going.  Beautiful skin is healthy skin, no matter the color.  Yes I do accept and love my skin tone but sometimes a spray tan just boost your mood.  Spray tans are the perfect way to get that glow without those dangerous rays! It's affordable, less time consuming, and effective, and heck if you don't like it it will be gone in a week anyway :)  Thanks for taking the time to read this rant of mine, I hope you enjoyed it. 

So whats your style?

Magazines showcase different "looks" for different "styles"; sporty, preppy, girly, boho, rocker chic.  As I read these I'm like "no, no, no, none of these are my style."  Do I even have a style?  A dental hygienist asked me that once and I replied with "Well today I have no makeup on and sweatpants that don't match my shirt, what style is that?"  Of course people can fit into styles, for example; my father will never try the biker look, he'll stick to the classy Carhartt farmer, and I'm happy with that :) I've seemed to catch a style for now, but throughout high school and my first year of college I had nothing specific.  I dressed how I was feeling; sparkly princess, CEO, rock-star, what have you.  That's all that really matters, you don't have to have a certain way of dress, your style is showcasing how YOU feel.  If you don't feel like dressing to the nines, put on some sweatpants and love every minute of it.  You wont look good if you don't feel good.  Today's Monday....I'm wearing a poncho, yeah I said it a poncho. 
Happy Holidays and rock what you got!

Scissors, Savors, and Bleach!

I love love love denim vests! I have one already but I wanted a shorter one to be worn with crop tops or high waisted pants.  I bought a denim jacket at savors for $10 about three months ago, yeah I forgot about it....  Well I got board while studying for finals and decided it was time for arts and crafts.  I started by cutting the jacket to how I wanted the vest to look.  If you want the edges to look more frayed, start by cutting and then rip the rest of the undesired fabric.  It wont look frayed at first but a trip through the washer will do the job.  Once I got it cut to the length I wanted and the sleeves removed, It was time to bleach!  I tried using tiny hair ties and pins to give it a Tye dye look but I ran out.  I scrunched up the vest and stuck it in a plastic bag in my bath tub.  I used a half water/ half bleach mix, no need to measure or mix just take a guess.  I only planed to let it soak for two hours but I ended up falling asleep so it was more like 8 :/ opps... But hey it worked! I dumped out the bleach mix and rinsed the vest as much as I could.  I washed it on warm with a small amount of detergent.  I actually washed it twice and it still smells like I'm a walking swimming pool!  I cracked my window open and let it get some fresh air, that seemed to do the best job. It gets better with time.  If you wanna add a little something something you could buy studs at a craft store or sew on patches.  With the Christmas season I'm more broke them normal so this will have to do for now :)   Have a super awesome week and do something creative!
Katie*

Good news! Leggings are pants!

Well at least I consider them to be ;) If leggings weren't pants, I would be considered naked 5 days a week.  BUT there are some things you should think of before putting on your favorite pair of heaven induced pants.  If I can see what the color of the day is (underwear) they're not pants.  Check to see if your leggings are see through before you buy them/leave the house.  Go into a bright room to so your not taken by surprise when you step into the sunshine.  Leggings do fade so keep track as you wear them.  If you buy see through leggings and cant return them, wear them under sweatpants! It's cold up here! I've even but leggings under leggings.  And of course you can always add a long sweater/shirt if you tend to be more conservative.  Also, people tend to be stand offish towards leggings because they are so form fitting.  Let's be honest, some people wear jeans that look like they painted them on.  As long as your comfortable with showing off that rocking derriere go for it! I don't care! And one last tip, don't be afraid to go up a size in leggings.  I mean think about it your literally wearing spandex.  Everyone go stimulate the economy and buy some cute winter leggings!
Yay spandex! 
Katie*

The Higher the Heel the closer to God*

Happy Friday!
I believe in wearing what you want and not thinking twice about it.  Put on that red lipstick, leather leggings and hold your head up high girl!  Something that makes me feel like my true self is heels.  Kitten heels, pumps, boots, platforms, whatever is most outrageous and unpractical (No one said fashion has to be practical ;).  Most people don't gawk at a women wearing heels, but when that women is 5'11" (without heels) she tends to get a couple looks.  I've always been tall, something you pride in elementary school, but when your taller then both your prom dates your ego can take a hit, at least mine did.  My height didn't stop me from embracing what I thought looked best, I just had to give myself a little pep talk before I left for school!  Soon I came up with catchy comebacks that would stop any rude comments. Throwing on a pair of heels makes me feel strong, powerful, confident, and invincible.  At the end of the day that's all that matters, what makes you feel happy, and if a man is intimidated by that then he's just gonna have to stay single.  Whether your 5'2" or 6'2", wear what you want and push them haters aside!
Peace and Blessings 

Katie*