I'm Obsessed with 60s Mod

I love everything about the sixties right now! The makeup, the hair, the fashion. I suppose it all started with my new obsession with pixie cuts. I have been thinking about getting a pixie cut for quite some time, but decided that right after I have the baby would be the perfect time to finally take the leap and get one because it's the perfect mixture of cute, classic, edgy, and mature. A new look for the new step in my life! Anyways, while researching pixie cuts I rediscovered my love for Twiggy which led me to looking at photographs of mod 60s fashion and beauty photographs.

I'll start off by talking about the hair in the 60s mod movement. There were two looks that were most popular that I just absolutely adore. The blunt, straight across fringe and the pixie cut. As we all know I've recently cut off my bangs to be straight across (although they've grown out a lot and don't look nearly as good as they did, and I'm not sure I'm going to trim them) so this is a really easy look for me to do. Mine aren't as thick and blunt as they style that was popular. Think Zooey Deschanel if you're trying to come up with someone modern who has that style. Then the pixie cut, well we obviously know I'm in love with that style because I'm going to get one... eventually. I'm actually beyond tempted to get one now, but I'm nervous to do it while pregnant.

As for the makeup, let's just take a look at Twiggy here. The eyes are bold, bold, bold, and that works for me because I have very blue eyes. Basically high, bold brows, long lashes, cateye liner, and a nude lip is 60s mod makeup. Not to say there aren't different variations, this is just the most common. I've seen girls do some amazing things with painting lashes on, lip colors, and other things. If you just Google or Tumblr search 60s Mod Makeup you'll find a lot of cool stuff to inspire you like I have. I've saved about a million things in my inspiration folder.

Finally the style is my absolute favorite part! It's polished, edgy, and cute all at the same time. Everything is bolder than it ever has been. The eye frames are bold, the clothes are more structured, there are a million types of adorable hats to choose from. I'm planning on buying a lot more skirts and blouses for baby that are 60s mod inspired. You guys will see.

How to Dress for Yourself

We have all been guilty of buying something or wearing something just because it was in style or our friends liked it. We naturally want the approval of others, but when it comes to your wardrobe you shouldn't be people pleasing. Fashion, after all, is a form of art that we should be able to express ourselves with. So here are some easy tips on how to dress for yourself and develop a totally original personal style.

1. Ignore everyone else's opinion. This is the number one rule when it comes to finding a personal style that is all yours. It shouldn't matter what they say in the magazines, it shouldn't matter what people say on their blogs, it shouldn't matter what your friends love and hate, because what is important is what you think about your wardrobe and yourself. That's the whole point of this! Dressing is something you should do for yourself, so it shouldn't matter to you if someone hates or loves what you have on as long as you love it.

2. Only buy it if you love it. This seems pretty obvious, but seriously I can't tell you how often I buy stuff just to buy stuff and what does that really do for me? Nothing. I mean sure I have more stuff, but it all ends up being something that I get sick of, that I don't use, or that really isn't that great at all. However, it really saves money and time if you just get the things you fall in love with. And if you're not sure if you love it or not, just leave and come back for it. If you're thinking about it the rest of the day you obviously love it.

3. Incorporate pieces that are important to you or your background. Wear that necklace that your mom bought you when you moved out of your house or those pearl earrings that used to belong to your grandmother or your uncle's watch. Or you could just gain inspiration from things like that, like the little elephant figurine your boyfriend bought you (or maybe that's just me), you could buy a necklace that looks similar to it. Look into your heritage and traditional fashion, gain inspiration from that!

4. Gain inspiration from everything that you love. For instance I love elephants and have a million little accessories with elephants on them. My favorite movie is Almost Famous, so I really love 70s fashion, the more polished side and the more hippie side both. You can gain inspiration from music, from art, from magazines, from bloggers, and just about anything that you love! Your style should be a combination of everything that you love.

5. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Last but not least, you shouldn't be afraid to mess up from time to time! Everyone has those outfits that they loved when they wore, but they look back and think "What the hell was I thinking?!" Don't be afraid to get laughed at, get stared at, or have photos taken of you!

Do you consider yourself fearless with your style or are you more reserved because you're scared of the feedback you'll hear? Do you dress for yourself or for others? Do you think you could dress more for yourself than you do right now? Are you guilty of picking out clothes based on someone else's opinion? I love hearing from you guys <3

Maxi Dresses for Fall

Are you looking for the perfect piece to transition your wardrobe from summer to fall? Well, it could actually be a cute maxi dress. Although maxi dresses are typically considered something for summer, these days they're making so many different colors and styles that there is one that will be perfect for you in the fall and even in the winter. Just make sure that you buy the right style, color, and accessorize properly for whatever season you're wearing it in.

All of these dresses are ones that I found at Forever21 and I thought everything about them were perfect to transition into fall. The first dress is something that you could wear even on the hottest days in August and September with a pair of sandals, but later on you can wear it with a jacket and some edgy heels. Then the second dress you could very easily pair with some canvas sneakers in grey or white for right now with a sun hat or headband then later on you could slip on some boots and it is instantly ready for fall! I like it in burgundy, but all of the colors work really well in the same ways. Finally the third dress is harder to work for summer because of the long sleeves, but you could always bunch or roll them up with a pair of sandals to make it work.

Just remember that accessorizing is what makes the outfit! If you accessorize for summer you'll look ready for summer, but if you accessorize for fall you'll look fresh for fall. I'll hopefully buy one of these (even though they aren't maternity, I think they'd still fit). My tips for finding and styling the perfect maxi dress for fall? Get something in a solid color or with stripes and with short sleeves so it's versatile. I say stripes because stripes are versatile, too.

So have you got any transition pieces that you love? Would you wear your favorite maxi dress in the fall? Are you a seasonal dresser or a weather dresser? Or a combination of both? Let me know what you guys think! Also thank you so much for helping me reach 100 followers! I'm planning a giveaway for the next month or so, but if you have any ideas for what I should giveaway let me know. Would you guys prefer a fashion or beauty product?

August Wishes 2013

I assume you guys have just been sitting around waiting for me to make another post about stuff that I want from ASOS, right? Well half of this stuff is from there, though I did go a bit outside the box this time. Here are the top six things that I want to get this month. I'm finally stocking up on fall clothes, because I just can't control myself anymore. Seriously.

1. Maternity Body-Con Dress in Blue $17.82: I want this dress so, so bad. The bad news? It doesn't come in my size in the color that I want. I'll hopefully be getting it in black, but I want it in blue so badly. I will literally buy it off of someone! I love it that much. I could do so much with it, it's not too plain, but it's still a safe dress that I could pretty much pair with anything that I want. Not to mention I adore that shade of blue... on other people.

2. Monki Lightweight Parka Jacket $76.37: Yeah, I know I put a parka on my last wishlist. But I didn't buy it and I actually like this one a lot more. It seems a lot more versatile because of the fit and the style of it. It's not too grungy and it can still be styled with more classic pieces. I'll never be able to get it though. Or any of them for that matter.

3. Pink Lips iPhone 4/4S Case $12.95: Okay, you caught me. I'm currently obsessed with cute phone cases like that. I guess that's why my iPhone is cracked really badly on both the front and the back. I just love when my phone case is just as cute and stylish as my wardrobe is, you know? Sometimes I convince myself to put on a protective phone case, though. I've actually had one on my phone for a week or so now.

4. Lennon Slipper Shoes $33.94: I am obsessed with the ASOS color "oxblood" right now! Also, these shoes just so happen to have Lennon in the name and I've loved John Lennon ever since I was a little girl. And my boyfriend is obsessed with the Beatles. But the real reason I should get these shoes is because they're versatile. They could be casual, dressy, grungy, classic, or basically whatever I want them to be. I could wear them with so many different things. Basically I'm in.

5. Over-the-knee Socks $12.95: I'm obviously not dying to have this specific pair of socks. They're just knit socks, there's nothing special about them. But I do want socks like these that I can pull up over my knee or bunch up at the top of boots for the fall. Preferably in gray because that's what would go with most of my clothes and shoes best. I do really like these though and if I had money to just toss around I would definitely get them. I bet they're really warm and comfy for those chilly days that you want to wear a skirt or shorts.

6. Velvetines in Red Velvet $16.99: I have wanted this shade of this exact Lime Crime lipstick for a very, very long time now. I've had it saved in my phone with a reminder, but I still haven't gotten around to buying it. Maybe it's because of my thing about buying lipsticks in unfamiliar brands that are expensive. If it's disappointing I would be so pissed off, seriously. I want this so bad though so I'm definitely making it a goal for August. Keep your fingers crossed for me ladies! I have a lot to be buying this month!

So what are some of the things that you're looking forward to buying this month? What's on your shopping and to-do lists? Are any of these things something you'd be interested in buying? Are there any products you'd like for me to add to my shopping list for review? Any brands or stores you have for me to check out? Any tips? Let me know! I'm always curious about what my readers are thinking, using, and doing. You can also talk to me on twitter @debbieshapes.

What I'm Sad I Can't Wear Because I'm Pregnant: Summer

Since I've been talking about my pregnancy and the baby so much lately, I thought why not just smother you guys with one more post about it while I'm still baby registry shopping and that's all that is on my mind? But instead of talking about baby clothes or bragging about having a boy, which I'm still excited about, I thought that I would share some things I'm really torn up about not being able to wear this year. And if you saw my wardrobe you'd definitely know why.

Crop Tops used to be something that I wore almost every single day in the summer. I have a really cute crochet crop top in a lovely off-white color that I got last year that I'm absolutely obsessed with, it's similar to this one from H&M although I think I got mine from Pac Sun. I also have a million shirts that I turned into crop tops from thrift stores, because that's seriously my thing. I have at least twenty crop tops all together. I've always been very thin and toned without having to workout or anything, so I could pull that stuff off. Not with a baby in there though.

Anything with a high-waist, because nearly all of my skirts are worn up around the waist line and I have a pair of amazing high-waist shorts that I got from a thrift shop the summer before last that just started to fit me right this year because I started to get a butt. Turns out the only reason I was getting a butt was because I was pregnant. They're semi-similar to these from Urban Outfitter's, but mine are less shredded and a bit higher.

Most of my bras and bathing suits are way, way too small for me now. My boobs went from a large A cup or small B cup to a large C, and I'm thinking there's a possibility I may have to switch to D! Now I know for sure that I actually liked having small boobs and that wasn't just something I said because I was insecure about having small boobs. I've been thinking of buying a maternity swimsuit, but come on look at this little beauty from Forever21.

That really isn't it though, guys! I'm growing out of all of my favorite things because my wardrobe is basically super tiny because I'm small and I like to wear things that are either short or tight. I'm trying to class up my wardrobe lately, though. Tell me if you guys like this and I'll plan another one for the fall. If you can't tell I'm getting pretty experimental with my blog lately. I just want to do the best things I can to help you guys out! What are your favorite summer items? And if you're pregnant is it something that's still accessible to you? Got any tips for extending my pre-pregnancy wardrobe? I'm trying really hard! Damn, I sound cheap.

It's a Boy!

It's hard to believe that we're already more than halfway through the pregnancy! I'm twenty-one weeks along and two weeks ago we found out that our little angel is going to be a boy! (Please contain the disappointment, ladies! Hehe.) I can't imagine being anymore excited now that we know for sure and I can start really shopping for clothes. Of course that would be what's on my mind. Not to mention I am so happy that I get to announce something for myself. When we found out I was pregnant I guess we told at least one person we shouldn't have too early on and they decided to spread the word like it was any of their business, so I don't get to really announce that I was pregnant other than the initial shock to my best friends and my mom. We do have a name picked out (I hope, because I love it!) but it's way too early to share, I think. My boyfriend, Jonathan, is a baby name genie.

We were originally going to make these photos a lot more professional looking by having a photographer do them, the photographer being my best friend's mom, but she was very busy and I was wanting so badly to announce it as soon as possible! Then we decided someone could just take the photos with my nice camera and I was going to also have some polaroids taken by my friend for the baby book. But then my boyfriend and my best friend convinced me to just have polaroids taken and scanned.

Blue and Gray Maxi Dress: Wet Seal, it's not maternity; Denim Jacket: American Eagle; Silver bracelets: Juicy Couture; Silver Studs: Forever21; My cross: gifted from my mom, I basically never take it off unless it absolutely doesn't match; Fake Diamond Ring: Unknown, it's old.

My outfit was obviously baby gender inspired. I was going to make my boyfriend matched me, but I didn't want to force him so I let him pick out his own clothes. I think the colors ended up looking really nice together, though. I stuck to something kind of form fitting to show off my bump because that's what I like. I stuck to silver jewelry because my boyfriend likes silver better than gold and I have a lot more of it, too. But basically I had to wear something blue.

This is also the reasoning behind the recent layout update! The light blue was a subtle hint towards "it's a boy," but before we actually announced it. I had to celebrate some way and that way was changing the theme, painting my nails, and baking a gender reveal cake for my sister even though she didn't really care and I can't really cook.

I hope you guys are as excited as I am! If you have any negative opinions you might as well keep them to yourself, because nothing could contain my joy.

Black & White Stripes for Fall

As usual here I am sharing more stuff from ASOS. I seriously can't help it, you guys! I'm obsessed. They're affordable and adorable. Not to mention it's like they can sense the things that I love. For example this year I'm obsessed with black and white stripes for the fall and what does ASOS maternity have? Some totally amazing black and white striped pieces that I would wear in the fall. Thank the lawd for ASOS maternity, I would look so ridiculous during the pregnancy without it. But this isn't just a maternity trend guys, so this goes for all of you! Even if you aren't a mommy-to-be like I am.

The black and white striped mini dress would be awesome with a denim or a leather jacket, some bunched up socks, and a pair of combat boots (I have about three pairs). I may even put on a beanie or another little hat with it along with a million little midi rings and layered bracelets. As for the leggings, I would probably style it very similar to how it is in that picture. I would wear some heels, and a black tee shirt. If I needed it I would layer a big cardigan with a denim jacket. The shirt is so versatile I have a million ideas for it! Probably to start off some jeans, some flats or boots, and a colorful blazer or cardigan. Lastly the trousers, which might I add are my absolute favorite pick, I would pair with a button up like this also or maybe a white tank with a red or blue blazer along with some black flats that had something special going on. Pair that with a big statement necklace and you got yourself a dang classy outfit!

What do you guys think? Is this trend outdated or are you still into it? Do you like to make it look classic or more Beetlejuice than that? How would you style these pieces? What are some of your favorite black and white striped pieces?

Bump Fashion: Kate Middleton

Although I am from America, I thought I would celebrate William and Kate's little prince being welcomed into the world by making a post dedicated to the Duchess of Cambridge and her classic maternity style. Although most of the things she wears are pretty out of reach for most us (Come on, she's married to a prince!) it's still nice to fantasize about and lust over some of the pieces she wore while she was preggers.

Kate knows how to dress it up and dress it down in a classy way even with a baby bump poking out. Although I did notice even after she came out with the pregnancy that she kept holding her hands in front of her belly like she was blocking it. I wonder why, because I love showing off my belly. It's a baby after all, not extra pounds that you're putting on for fun. However, one thing I did hate that she did a lot (photos not included) were those horrible hats that she kept wearing. I know it's a trend for the royals, but no. Yes, I know that in the last photo she's post-baby, but she's so cute and bump-y still.

What were some of your favorite Kate Middleton looks from the pregnancy? What other celebrities do you think I should feature before I have my baby? What other looks didn't you like from her pregnancy? Isn't the little prince just so adorable?

Studded Boots from Buckle

As some of you may already know I went out of town for a tiny shopping trip with my sister, her best friend, and my boyfriend on Saturday! The only things that I came home with was a new shade of Stila lipstick, makeup brush cleaner (review coming soon!), and these amazing boots that I absolutely love from Buckle. I have been looking all over the place for unique, brown boots that were decently priced and when I saw these were only about $40 and they definitely came in my size, because my size was on display, I literally couldn't resist. They're going to be so amazing in the fall, though there isn't too many things I have right this second to pair with them. I'm not even sure I like this color of jeans with them.

Here is the front and back view pictures of them on me. I love that they're part rocker, part bohemian and part dainty because the studs are so tiny. There are so many things that I have envisioned for these little beauties. If you'd like to buy a pair of your own or just check out the other boots from Buckle they're called the Twisted Trooper Boot, I got mine in brown, and there is a Buckle website with very reasonable shipping and it's one of those stores that isn't outrageously expensive, but you can still find some awesome stuff there.

Do you like my boots? What would you pair them with? Do you like wearing army/combat boots or are you more of a girly girl? Or do you like to mix up the girly and the tomboy like I do? I would love to hear any sort of opinion or advice you have regarding the shoes.

HATCH: Maternity Dreams

It seems that all of the maternity clothes that I come across that I really, really love are incredibly expensive and completely out of my price range and it's honestly depressing because I have an urge to buy all of it. One day my boyfriend is going to come home to me hormonally sobbing over maternity clothes that I can't afford and he will laugh at me. But honestly, why do women spend so much money on clothes that they're only going to wear for a few months?! Unless you're loaded with spare cash I personally think that it's ridiculous to do that. But then again this is coming from the girl who can still put on some of her size zero jeans at nearly 20 weeks (I'm a lucky woman). This brand that I just found via an interview with model Lily Aldridge is so amazing, but really pricey for me personally. It's called HATCH and it's absolutely to die for!

The first dress, the Slouch Dress in Poppy, is $198 which isn't too bad for some people, but for my budget it's really not all that reasonable for a casual dress that I could only wear until September and then never again in my life. I would wear this one to lunches with my pregnant best friend (that's what I call her because we both got pregnant at the same time and it bonded us) or to visit with my best friend for a shopping day after she goes off to school. It's something that could easily be dressed up or down for pretty much any occasion though, so it's versatile and if I had a little more money I would definitely buy it.

Though I love the entire outfit in the second picture I saved it for the cape. I could probably wear this thing pretty deep into fall here, all the way up until mid November if I'm really lucky before it would get terribly too cold. Why don't I buy it then? It's $318 for a cape specifically made for a pregnant woman. I make myself sound so cheap, and I'm really not because when I really love something I will save the money to buy it, but maternity clothes are just sadly outrageous.

I personally believe that the third image of the burnt coral Dinner Party Dress is the most reasonably priced. It is only $298 for a special occasion dress that I could wear to my baby shower, my friend's baby shower (that I could possibly be planning), a wedding, a fancy party, or anything else that I needed to really. It's pretty and flowy and probably incredibly comfortable I would image and when you're about to pop that's an important thing to look for when buying clothes. Out of any of these if I was going to splurge I would definitely get this one, probably in burnt coral but I would also consider the other colors because I'm a sucker for broadening my horizons color-wise.

Finally the button down in navy silk is something I think I could pull off for a long time. If I bought a decent jacket to go over it I could probably pull it off for the rest of the pregnancy, as a matter of fact. However, I would never in a million years be able to pay $248 for a maternity button down. Couldn't I buy a car for that much? (Just kidding guys! I'll stop making myself seem so stupid now.) I would pair it with a light wash jean and some dark shoes and it would be season-less, in my opinion. I really love it though. Oh, how I wish I was rich.

Don't you guys wish you had the money to buy all of the beautiful things that you find? I would have bought so many things for me and baby so far! Do you like my maternity style finds? Don't they kind of make you wish you had a bump? Just a little bit? Do you know of any cheap maternity stores that don't sell horrifying clothes? Help a sister, out! By the way, today I'm finding out the gender of the little! I'm beyond excited!

Fashion and Feminism

In the past fashion and feminism were never considered things that could coexist. As a matter of fact, fashion has been considered anti-feminist because of the way that the industry treats women. Designers, models, and other people who were influential in the industry have been criticized for calling themselves feminist and yet on the opposite side female scholars have been criticized for paying attention to fashion because they should be spending their time with something more productive. As most of us know the fashion industry is known for demeaning women with revealing images, body shaming and portraying unrealistic images of women, and lacking diversity in color and size. However, bloggers and other influential members of the fashion industry could be changing all of this.

The fashion industry has been highly criticized for over sexualizing women's bodies with revealing images in ad campaigns and sending women half naked down the runway when we were raised to believe that no self-respecting woman would be caught dead seen like that. But is it really a problem with the fashion industry or what we have been taught? Women should be allowed to wear whatever they so please, and the models aren't being held down and forced into the clothing, they should know what they're getting themselves into. "Some women find empowerment in wearing very little, such as the topless protestors of FEMEN, while others find empowerment in covering up from head to toe, in the case of Muslim women donning the hijab," says Diane Taha, founder of the fashion and beauty blog Style Context, who just so happens to also be a feminist. "Regardless of where you lie on the spectrum, I think it's a testament to how powerful a medium clothing (or lack thereof) is for expressing oneself." If you feel good dressed in barely there shorts and a crop top then you can wear that, but if you feel better in pants and a long sleeved shirt then that should be okay, too. It isn't hurting anyone if it isn't hurting the girl and we shouldn't be judging her for what is on her back, or not. Though Diane mentions that it's important not to impose your fashion views on others.

Body shaming and the portrayal of women as "perfect" beings is another key issue in the industry for women. As we all know most models are stick thin with perfect hair and perfect skin, but not actually. The pressure is on to lose that weight, get rid of that acne, and just generally be perfect. Although it's been getting better, many brands and shops, such as Abercrombie & Fitch, brand their products distinctly for "beautiful" people. And this beautiful isn't all inclusive. This beautiful is tall and thin with perfect hair and skin. Barbie dolls, in other words. We've been trained to believe that this is what we're supposed to look like even if the standard is unrealistic for the most beautiful women in the world. Even when photographers are uncomfortable with doing so more times than not they are convinced to Photoshop the images to unrealistic lengths. They smooth the skin, elongate the bodies, and add boobs that weren't previously there. They turn images of perfectly beautiful women into something that they aren't and the rest of the women of the world are expected to follow along.

And as we have all figured out, I'm sure, the fashion industry is white washed out the wazoo. It's not very common to see a super model of color, though black models are starting to spread there are still definitely more white girls and barely anything of anyone else. On top of that racist stereotypes really affect the way that women dress and fix themselves up. For example, an Asian woman may not feel comfortable looking "too Asian" and may curl her hair or try to make her eyes look bigger because they have pin straight hair and smaller eyes. Stereotypes like that really just hurt how the person comes across. It makes it difficult for women to express themselves, including their background which is a huge part of a person.

It is our job as consumers, bloggers, and people actively involved in the fashion industry to stand up to these issues and to let the world know that fashion is an art meant to express ourselves through clothes. Clothing can be just as powerful in expressing something as words or traditional painting. Women should be defined by their complex personalities and not the way that they look, everyone should be defined by their personality! We need to express that the fashion industry should be all inclusive and that models can be short or fat or stick thin or tall. And we need to let it be known that we can believe in women and fashion. Fashion and feminism aren't mutually exclusive things. "It's important to make a distinction between fashion and the fashion industry," says Diane regarding the rep that fashion has gotten for being anti-feminist, "The former is an art form and mode of communication, while the latter is an institution with its own self-interests." This speaks volumes for fashion today. We can't judge the art of fashion by what some people do in the mainstream fashion industry, because there are bloggers, brands, charities and websites that promote inclusiveness in fashion. J Magazine, for example, is a fashion magazine that had it's first issue revolve around neofeminism. Blogs like Jezebel, Man Repeller, and Style Rookie (for young women) definitely put down some stepping stones for us to make a difference.

Though there is a lack of feminism in the mainstream fashion industry, it is slowly creeping it's way in and with our help we can definitely speed the process up. Bloggers from around the world are letting it be known that they aren't going to let mainstream beauty ideals change who they are as women, posting photographs of their personal style regardless of what the rules are, and expressing their own personal views of what fashion really is and how beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The power is in our hands because we are real women with real bodies that we should be proud of, and we can use fashion as a feminist statement. We can make a change by promoting inclusiveness and feminism in fashion in our own ways. How could you help out on your own? Make a response to this post and entitle it "Re: Fashion and Feminism," make your own post about feminism in the fashion industry, be thoughtful when making a post and don't body shame models, bloggers, or anyone else, complain about the issues in mainstream fashion endlessly because believe it or not we do have power, and anything else that you can think of!

I would like to thank everyone who sent their interview responses back to me, but a special thank you to Diane who had especially thoughtful responses and sent them back in time to be edited into the final draft. You can follow Diane on her blog here and on Twitter right here. If you would be interested in a Feminist Fashionista Twitter chat, let me know in the comments, so I can get a head count. If you have any ideas to promote feminism in fashion go ahead and leave a comment below. Also, if you are a woman of color and would like to be involved in my next post like this (in August) on Racism in Fashion leave your blog URL and a way to contact you so we can talk.

Fashion Resources That Aren't Blogs

Those of us who are super obsessed with fashion and beauty (and let's be honest, if you're actually reading this I know that's you!) need more than our daily blog fix to get our fill for the day. While the content on blogs are helpful, personal, and just as interesting as any professional outlet, sometimes we just want more. If you have a blog of your own it can get old trying to find inspiration and information from other bloggers and you can feel like you're regurgitating the same information over and over again to your readers that they've probably read from another blog. That's where these can come in handy, to help you come up with original content that other bloggers may not have thought of. Here are the top five that I use on a regular basis to get inspiration for looks and posts.

1. Magazines and their websites: This one may be obvious to most of you, but you would be surprised how many people don't read actual print magazines anymore. I personally love to have magazines. It comes in handy when you see something you really love because you can just grab a pair of scissors and cut it out. What I usually do is cut out the stuff I love and put it into my inspiration book (Do you guys want a DIY tutorial for it? You'll love it!) which I look at sometimes just to get ideas for posts, outfits, etc. But as helpful as magazines are there is more content on websites for your favorite magazines that weren't printed. You know you will like their content because you read the magazine, so go ahead and check it out. Chances are you won't be disappointed if you like the magazine.

2. Pinterest and other social networks: When you search the right words, follow the right people, and like the right things, social media networks can be so helpful in getting information on fashion. On Pinterest, for example, if you follow the fashionistas that you love I guarantee that they pin stuff that they don't blog about. It's just something extra on the side. Tumblr can be helpful, too, as well as Facebook and Twitter. You just have to make sure you follow the right people and brands for you! It can be a challenge, but once you have it figured out it's incredibly helpful.

3. Style.com and other websites: Finding websites that share good fashion content is a lot easier than you think. You can find decent websites through other websites, from Googling what you're interested in regarding fashion and beauty, and through links people post to social media. Two of my favorite fashion websites are Style.com and Fashionising. I often save photos from both websites and I have a style.com account to save images on the internet which is convenient in the instances you don't get to carry your laptop with you or if you use a desktop.

4. Lookbook.nu: I realize that Lookbook could go under websites or social networks, but it's such an original and helpful resource I thought it deserved a category all on it's own. Even if you don't make an account it can come in a lot of handy. Basically, if you don't know what this site is, it's a place for fashionistas to post pictures of their own outfits that they styled themselves. You can make an account to share your own outfits and like other people's content, or you could just make a Lookbook inspiration folder on your computer to save your favorite looks into (but make sure you don't save and reupload any of the images without crediting the right source).

5. Email newsletters from your favorite brands/shops: Most of your favorite clothing shops, brands, websites, magazines, etc. have email newsletters you can sign up for to get updates directly from them. This can be helpful to keep you up to date on the latest trends and the newest items in your favorite stores as well as keeping a lookout for sales! And we all know sales are the best way to get our style fix without killing our wallets.

How do you keep up with style, fashion, and beauty other than your favlrite blogs? Do you have anything to add? Any favorite websites that you would love to share? Any tips? Let me know!

Neutral and Relaxed: OOTD

As most of you know I went to get my hair re-done at the salon yesterday closer to my original hair color as well as getting some bangs cut. Usually when I go to the salon I try to wear something comfortable, but cute. That way I can feel good about myself when I leave, but I don't have to be incredibly uncomfortable sitting in the chair for possibly hours. That's why I put together this cute but sensible and accessible outfit for going to get my hair done. Sorry for the crappy lighting, ugly nails and ugly feet. Check out the baby bump that's coming along!

Tank top: Express; Denim Shirt: Forever21; Charcoal Leggings: ASOS Maternity; Lipstick: Maybelline's Color Sensational Vivids in On Fire Red; Bracelet: Unknown (gifted from mother); Shoes: Kino's (my boyfriend picked them out).

What do you guys normally wear to the salon? Do you actually get dressed up or do you go super casual like I do? Are you into my totally adorable and comfortable shoes my boyfriend got for me at the beach? What about my awesome red lipstick shade? Should I review it?

P.S. Kino's are the best things that could have happened to me. They're so comfortable and my boyfriend is obsessed with telling people he picked them. It makes him so happy that I wear them. Also, my hair isn't even close to that dark. It's the bad lighting. Blah.

July Wishes 2013

These are the things that I want to buy really badly this month! And hopefully, if I save up correctly, I'll be able to get a lot of them or something close enough to satisfy me. However, some of these things are things that I will never be able to afford, but a girl can still dream, right? Let me know in the comments what you've been wishing for lately and let me know if you're into any of the stuff I shared here.

1. Army Parka $93.34: This army parka from ASOS is literally the cutest thing that I've ever seen and I want it so badly that I can hardly stand myself. The only problem is that I don't have the money for it. It would be so perfect for fall and the early weeks of winter. If I actually had the money I would be willing to splurge for it, but I just don't. I have to put more important things above clothes... sadly. Times are a-changin', I suppose.

2. Maternity Full Length Soft Touch Legging $20.36: I've come to learn I'm not going to be able to get $10 maternity leggings like I was so hoping. But they're a necessity, so I have to get them anyways. Most of them are at least $20 and if they're cheaper all of the reviews tend to say how poorly they fit. Everything I get from ASOS is really good quality though, so if I get these I can hopefully just get two pairs for the entire pregnancy and be happy with that. A charcoal pair and a black pair.

3. Maternity Peg Trouser in Bird $37.33: If you guys haven't been able to tell yet I am completely obsessed with ASOS and ASOS's Maternity clothes lately. These pants are no different from the rest of it. I absolutely love the pattern and the way that they look. I actually bought some solid peg pants from ASOS a few days ago, but they haven't gotten in yet. It says that they're really soft and should fit the entire pregnancy.

4. Capsule Ponytail Clip $18.00: If you guys didn't know this, which most of you probably don't, Nasty Gal is one of my favorite websites, but it's mostly out of my price range right now. However, I can't resist the urge to constantly window shop anyways (even if I can't fit into the clothes and wouldn't spend that much money on most of the accessories). I figured out yesterday while I was shopping I'm going to have to buy 95% of my accessories these next two seasons probably from Forever21 because I'm broke. I have tricks to keep those in good condition though.

5. Miu Miu Cat Eye Frames $325.00: Sorry that I won't shut up about these, but I just love them so much! If I could just make any item in the world appear in my hands right now it would be these glasses (and I wouldn't complain if everything else on this list appeared, too). They're just so fresh and fierce, okay? I totally don't have $325 to spend on something that I wouldn't use literally 24/7 though.

6. Zoeva Bamboo Pinsel Set 30 EUR: This set is kind of pricey, but it seems like it would be totally worth it. For 30 euros (about $38.50 in American dollars) you get the 12 makeup brushes and the travel cases, and you know what? 12 brushes are a lot of brushes for that amount of money. They're made of bamboo and they're completely vegan and they've gotten some killer reviews from what I have seen.

7. Conditioning Makeup Brush Cleanser $15.00: I originally was recommended this product from another blog, but the link they provided was more expensive than this. I'm pretty sure this is the cheapest you can buy it. It's the original website. Basically you use this stuff daily to clean your makeup brushes after using them. That prevents breakouts and spreading germs around on your face unnecessarily which is really important to me because I am a huge germaphobe lately. I carry around 3 bottles of hand sanitizer at all times and I refuse to touch door knobs with my hands. I'm that girl in the bathroom opening the door with her elbow.

8. Lady Danger Lipstick $15.00: You guys are going to shame the heck out of me for this, but I've never gotten MAC lipstick. I've been lusting after a million shades for a million years and I've heard from everyone under the sun that it's the best thing ever, but for some reason I can't will myself to spend that much on lipstick. I'm planning on it this month though. I've heard from so many people that it's worth it that I thought it couldn't hurt to give it a go because the colors are so fantastic, especially this one.

So what are you into lately? Are there any products that you could recommend me, clothes and beauty wise? Or even brands! Remember though that for clothes I am pregnant and right now I'm trying to buy mostly maternity clothes other than big shirts and dresses that will fit for awhile. What are you wishing that you could get this month? I hope I hear back from you guys.

Affordable Shops With Fourth of July Sales

Today has been a very rainy Independence day, so naturally I've just sat around internet shopping and chatting with my friends on Twitter and Facebook. We had big plans to run around in the sun, cook on the grill, and later tonight roast marshmallows. If we're lucky we'll still get to make smores, but it will be on the front porch under the roof. Smores are good though, so that's okay! But I'm also okay with internet shopping because I made a few purchases today and discovered some things that I need/want to buy for the future. In my shopping quest I have come across a few helpful sales for today (and some beyond).

70% off certain items & 20% off full-priced items at ASOS. ASOS happens to be one of my favorite shops for a lot of different reasons. They have decently priced clothes, cute accessories, clothes for a wide range of people including women, men, plus sized women, and pregnant women, and everything is good quality and really cute. This year for fourth of July they are having a huge sale! 70% off on some items, as a matter of fact. And if you pay for full priced items that aren't part of the sale you can use the code HAPPYFOURTH to have 20% taken off! I bought a pair of maternity peg pants that I've been lusting after. Click here for the sale.

Free shipping if you spend $25 at Sephora. Though Sephora can sometimes be pricey, they have really nice products and it's usually worth the money that I spend there. For this independence day Sephora is giving us free shipping if we spend $25 or more on their products. And though that may seem like a lot on beauty supplies, let's be honest with ourselves, it's worth it! The code for free shipping is SHIP25 but make sure you've spent the right amount of money!

75% off certain items at Forever21. I try my hardest not to shop at Forever21 for one reason and it's that the clothes sometimes only last a few washes before they start falling apart, but I can't resist because the items are actually really well priced and they're so aesthetically pleasing. Is that shallow? Anyways, they have sales up to 75% off for women, including plus sizes, and men! Click here for the sale.

Free shipping on all orders at Topshop. Topshop has the best clothes! For real! And although they can also be kind of pricey sometimes, it's the kind of pricey that you should pay for because it's quality. You just have to make sure to pick out the right pieces so that they won't go out of style for a long time. Anyways, Topshop is giving us free shipping on all orders with the code STARSANDSTRIPES so no money restrictions for this one.

20% off at Nasty Gal. Nasty Gal is probably in my top three favorite online shopping destinations. Everything on the site is something that I would buy, though for now I'm mostly having to stick to buying accessories from there because of the person that is growing inside of me. They're having a 20% off sale of anything in the store though, so that's okay with me! The discount is applied at the checkout so don't fret if it's not taken off in your basket.

What fourth of July sales have you come across? Are you going to use any of these? Do you closely pay attention to sales or are you just excited when you happen to come across one?

I'm Dreaming of Miu Miu Cat-Eye Glasses

Recently I have been looking all over the place for affordable cat-eye frames that I just absolutely love. I've seen some of my favorite bloggers wearing them for some time now and for some reason I never thought to buy any for myself, probably self esteem. I finally started to look though starting with Etsy, but I haven't been very successful. Of course when I fall in love it would be with something totally out of my price range! The S/S '13 Miu Miu cat eye glasses are so amazing I can't even stand it. I love the vintage feel with a modern twist that these glasses have. They look so classic, but they definitely wouldn't be put on a stuffy librarian. Not to say the quirky librarian look isn't incredibly dap.

Hopefully I will be able to find some frames that are similar to these that are in my price range, because mostly all I can find have little rhinestones embedded in them and that's just not the look that I'm going for in wanting these glasses at all. I want something classy, elegant and sleek! Something that is a timeless mix of vintage and modern! Something that I can pair with anything! Miu Miu just pulls off what I want perfectly and I'm so bummed that I can't afford either of these. Then again, Miu Miu is pretty fantastic... have you seen the coats from Autumn/Winter 2013? Love them!

What kind of glasses do you wear? What kind of glasses do you want to wear? Do you know any places wear I could find cat-eye frames similar to these? If you clicked the Miu Miu A/W '13 link what did you think of the collection?

ASOS Maternity

I recently discovered that ASOS, a shop that I sort of shopped at pre-pregnancy, has a maternity shop! So I've been browsing around the maternity shop online and finding that there are a lot of things that I would wear for a lot of different occasions. Check out the shop for yourself, but here are just a few of my favorites and some scenarios that you could wear them in.

Comfort
These are some pieces I would wear just lounging around, going to the doctor, or running errands (i.e. the grocery store, the bank, the dmv, etc). Of course tee shirts and leggings are essentials for every pregnant woman. They fit the whole time and they're comfortable the whole time! Not to mention you can totally wear this stuff to the hospital for the big day. I ordered the first two today. You'll be seeing pictures as soon as I feel it's fit.
 

Casual Cool

These are closer to my everyday wear than anything else. Or pre-pregnancy everyday wear, that is. There's nothing wrong with looking cute and dressing the way you normally would dress while you're pregnant! The important thing is that you're happy in your skin. I would wear these to go hang out with friends, to go shopping, and to go out on casual dates with my boyfriend.

Casual Classy

These are the pieces that I personally would wear out to lunch with the family, or my boyfriend's family. I wouldn't be comfortable wearing these every single day because they just aren't my style that way and I would feel weirdly overdressed. I would work it for job hunting or interviews, family events, photo events, etc. though.  I'd just pair them with a pair of nice jeans and be done with it.

 

Jeans
I actually just ordered a pair of these! I was having to wear my jeans around unbuttoned because I don't have a belly band in yet. Needless to say it is kind of embarrassing! I'm working on gradually building up the amount of maternity jeans I have, though I'll probably only get 3-5 pairs for the entire pregnancy. Why? Because I'm only going to be pregnant for about twenty more weeks. They're a necessity though, because you can wear jeans with basically anything.

 

Special Occasion
I'm not sure about everyone, but I know I will at least need one special occasion dress during my maternity clothing wearing days. These can come in handy for your baby shower, for a friend's shower, for a wedding, for a funeral, etc. We need to look dressed up from time to time even if there's a bun cooking in our puffy little ovens.

What do you guys think? Do you like ASOS? Do you like my picks? What else would you have added to this? Let me know! xx

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