Guest Post: { What to Wear }

{SS} here! 

I'm thrilled to introduce our first {GUEST POSTER} the lovely and oh so talented Alyssa from Lissadee Photography. Alyssa has some great tips on how she has used the website Pinterest as a tool in creating her own style. Enjoy and make sure to check out Alyssa's website as she is an incredibly talented photographer (we can't wait for her to take some photos for us!). 

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{ What To Wear } 

Alyssa Dahl

{ Source }

We all use Pinterest because it’s fun to repin everything we like into virtual pinboards. I have boards ranging from “Kiss the Cook” to “Photography”.  But what about using Pinterest actually as a tool and not just to pin your favorite items?  Pinterest is also highly used for fashion, but before we get there, I’ll let you get to know me first.

When it comes to fashion, I am not one to follow. It is actually something I have had to work at! From wearing gym shorts and t-shirts in 6^th grade, to having my older sister help me pick out clothes in 7^th and 8^th grade, I have finally figured out what style is me, at age 25.

I can definitely attribute multiple things on my journey to finding my own style from friends, the tv show, What Not to Wear, and my first full time job (I work with some seriously stylish people at @sundogtweets). However, I also have to thank Pinterest for helping me with my style and identifying myself even more through my wardrobe over the past year. 

I use Pinterest as a tool to help me come up with outfit ideas to wear. First, I browse friend’s pinboards and pins that automatically filter into my feed, then I repin all items I love to my board: What To Wear (Clever eh?!). This is where the tool part comes in. I actually look at my Pinterest board prior to shopping trips and planning outfits to wear the next day. Since pulling together outfits on my own doesn't come super easily to me, I find one I like on Pinterest and try to find clothes in my closet that fit that outfit.

{ Source }

So, even if you aren’t fashionably savvy, you can use Pinterest as a tool and it can help you at least look somewhat put together.

My go to brands are: Ann Taylor Loft, New York and Company, J. Crew (I am also guilty of shopping at Clothes Mentor and getting name brand clothes for a lot less!). (<-- Alyssa, this isn't something to feel guilty about!! Shopping second hand is a great way to add to your NS!! {SS})

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{ Defining Your Style }

** As Featured on Nelle Creations:: DIY Fashion **

Hi there! I'm {SS} over at My New Style Blog and I'm excited to be doing this guest post!

A lot of times people talk about wanting to be stylish, but that they're not quite sure how to go about attaining or defining their personal style. 

I've decided to compile a list of tips and tricks to help you define your own personal style.

{ Defining Your Personal Style }

{ Define Your Current Style: What's Working and What's Not? }

{ A peek into my TINY closet. }

Whether you like it or not, you already have a {style}, and before you can create your New Style (NS) you need to identify your current or Old Style (OS). Take a peek in your closet (remember to look in the back: there may be things hiding which could be great pieces to incorporate into your NS). As you look through your things ask yourself questions:  What do you love? What are your go-to outfits or pieces of clothing? Are there certain colors you're always attracted to? Do you like certain patterns or fabrics? Now what is it you don't love? Are their shirts with the tags still on them you just can't bring yourself to wear? Do you stray away from certain colors? Are you afraid to wear patterns?

You have been criticizing yourself for years, and it hasn't worked.

Try approving of yourself and see what happens.

Louise L. Hay

Remember when you are trying to define your current style, that your style goes beyond just the clothes you wear. Clothes are simply a way to illustrate and embellish your style. Look at the art and artists you love, the music you listen to, the perfume you wear, the places you go over and over, the people you surround yourself with... these are all large parts of your style.

{ Find Inspiration } 

{ Source }

This is the fun part! When it comes to creating your NS (something we're always trying to do over at {MyNewStyleBlog}) one of the best parts is searching for inspiration. You can find inspiration in all sorts of places. Of course you can always search on websites like Pinterest or Weheartit for images to inspire you as well as look in pretty much any magazine or catalog to get ideas, but also look to unconventional places like antique stores, libraries, parks, museums, and architecture for inspiration you can incorporate into your own NS. When you're paying attention, you can find inspiration all over your world.


{ Create Your Own Style Board/Notebook }

{ Source } 

With all your inspiration searching you need a place to keep the magazine clippings, photos, sketches and words of wisdom you stumble upon. Personally, I have a binder that I use. I have clear sleeves to slip magazine pages or photos into and I also can add sketches on blank white paper. Though I haven't done it yet, I plan to stick photos of outfits I've worn and liked into the binder to remind me and give me ideas when I don't know what to wear. And if you prefer to do things virtually, have no fear... There are great sites like Pinterest and Polyvore where you can waste spend hours. Pinterest allows you to "pin" images and websites onto virtual themed "boards" that you can revisit and that your friends can view, and with Polyvore you can create collages of items you search for such as clothing, makeup, etc. I often use Polyvore to create theme boards which I can look back on for ideas.

{ Some of my Style Staples (sugar included?!)! }

{ Find your Style Staples } 

Whether it's the colorful bangles you love to wear with your watch, the spoon ring you got on vacation in college, the scarf you always tie around your neck, or the purse that's always at your side... these things began to be your signatures and people start to recognize them as part of you and your style. Make them YOURS and don't worry about following the trends or doing what everyone else does. Having your own style is all about being unique and embracing what you love. So, if you have your great grandmother's engagement ring that you love to wear, make it a Style Staple. Remember, your staples can change and evolve-- that's all part of the process! Have fun with it and don't be afraid to take some risks!





{ Determine What You Need Your Style To Do For You  }

{ Painting is not the time for pretty clothes! }

What do you do? Where do you work? Live? Play? Do you have animals or kids? Though I'm sure there are plenty of people who would disagree on this, I believe that practicality, and functionality are as important to your personal style as looking good is. That means you might not be able to pull off the latest trend or have the same style as someone you admire does, because it just won't work for you... but that's okay! I nanny and babysit a lot. Almost two years ago when I started with the family that I am still with, I learned the hard way that dressing up when you're caring for two infants and their older brother is not practical or smart (think spit-up, buttons being ripped off, baby food, markers, pen, etc...). It's taken me a while to figure out how to dress practically and appropriately without losing my sense of style but I finally have. I've also realized that some days it's okay to take a little break from being stylish.
Your style is yours and no one else's, so make it work for you, not someone else!

{ Source }

{ Create Style Goals & Take Risks }

It's fun to set style goals for yourself... Let's say you've seen a lot of pattern mixing that you love, but are a bit hesitant to do it yourself... start small by doing something like adding animal print shoes to an outfit with a striped shirt! Or maybe you want to wear dresses more but you don't think you "can": Try to wear a dress every day for a week... be creative; this may mean you have to wear leggings under a dress for a job that requires you to move around more, but that still counts! Figure out what you can do to adapt a certain style or trend you love in a way that works for you and your lifestyle. Set goals for yourself and do your best to follow through with them. You might find out you love pattern mixing or decide that even though you thought it wasn't practical for you to wear dresses, you can make it work after all and it's easier and more fun!

{ Don't Let Your Style Get "Stuck" } 

{ Source }

Even though you want to "define" your style don't limit it's definition. As your life evolves and changes you are certain to develop new interests and habits, so allow your style to change and evolve as well. I'm not saying you should constantly be changing your style to follow all the latest trends and fashions, but don't be afraid to incorporate something new to your style from time to time as you see fit. Let your personal style be a learning curve, let it be fun and exciting, not tiresome and challenging. Your style can be as simple or complex as you want it to be and just because it changes often doesn't mean it's not still your "style".



{ Remember: It's Not About The Money } 

{ Doing a little second-hand shopping! }

Despite what many people will tell you, you don't have to spend a fortune to update your style or be "stylish". Use what you have in different ways. Do your favorite jeans have a hole in the knee? Turn them into cut-offs! Did the dress you love shrink in the wash? Wear it as a tunic with leggings and tall boots. If you do want to add new clothes to your closet, shop thrift, outlet or second hand stores or websites, or have clothing swaps with friends. You can also save a lot of money by waiting to buy things until they are on sale or out of season when you can get them for discounted prices.

And remember, to be CONFIDENT!!

Confidence is captivating, it is powerful,
and it does not fade-- and that is endlessly more interesting than beauty.
Nina Garcia

I hope these tips and ideas help you along your way to creating your {New Style}. Have fun!

Fashion fades, {style} is eternal.

Coco Chanel

xo, SS
http://mynewstyleblog.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/mynewstyleblogkk

Amsterdam Favorites

{SS} here and now that I'm back from my Mini-Europe tour I have lots to share with you. I spent the first week of my trip in Amsterdam -- a mighty Stylish city!  A few of my favorite things in Amsterdam were, the Cafe's throughout the city, Flowers, Street Markets, Seeing all the Bicyclists and the Canals. 

{ Cafe's }

Amsterdam is full of street cafe's (something I have found fairly common in many European cities). On our first morning as we set off in search of some breakfast, we stumbled upon a sweet little cafe that we ended up going to almost every morning. We also found several others which proved to be the perfect spots to stop for a quick afternoon refreshment, break and a bit of people watching.  

{My brother AS & I}

We found this sweet little cafe tucked into a neighborhood behind our apartment. It was the perfect spot for a quick meal and lots of people watching!

{ Flowers }

Amsterdam is known for it's extraordinary tulips and other bright blooms and there is certainly no shortage of flowers in the city... window boxes boast sweet arrangements, the canals have flowers planted in boxes on their bridges and street markets are full of gorgeous bouquets and seeds for purchase. 

{ Street Markets }

Just a few blocks from the apartment we were staying at was the Albert Cuyp Street market- the largest street market in Amsterdam. It was a long row of booths selling all kinds of things from cheese and meats, to vacuum cleaner parts, to clothes and shoes, and fresh flowers. Had I had a bigger suitcase I am sure that I would have come home with much more from the market, but was happy to score a pair of Birkenstock sandals for a great price. We also bought lots of meats and cheeses to make sandwiches in our apartment. 

{ Bicycles }

I have never been somewhere so full of bicyclists, especially so many beautifully dressed ones! Because Amsterdam is so flat people bike everywhere and aren't afraid to wear dresses and heels as they pedal. On any given street you can find hundreds of bikes parked. As a pedestrian walking through the city you not only have to look out for cars but also bicyclists who prove to be just as much of a threat as cars! 

{ Canals }

Due to the fact that it has over 90km of Canals, Amsterdam is called the "Venice of the North". Canals line the city beautifully. 

This stylish couple was enjoying a sunny Sunday afternoon floating down a canal with their champagne and newspaper... totally my style :) 

xo, SS

Pride is Sweet

While {KH} spent yesterday participating in the Minneapolis Pride celebration, I {SS} witnessed my first Pride celebration and probably one of the largest in the nation...

{SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE} 

{SS looking quite conservative in this crowd...}

Some nice people asked me if I'd like to pose with them for a photograph and despite my embarrassingly conservative attire I took them up on it. Thanks to {BS} for snapping the photo!

{In Uniform}

{In Uniform}

{In Uniform}

{Cupcake Display Reading: Pride is Sweet}

Though we (my dad {BS} and I) missed the parade, we got to City Center with plenty of time to observe the totality of the celebration. I felt overwhelmed by love as I watched people of all ages, colors, sexual orientations and religious affiliations come together to celebrate LOVE. People wore things as varied as the colors of the RAINBOW but uniformly carried themselves with a Proud sense of Style.

After we left Pride we headed to Hayes Street to do a little boutique visiting... Blog post to come!

 xo, SS

Closets are for clothes...

{KH} here.

Happy Pride everyone! Today was the perfect day for a parade. It was warm and sunny but not unbearable. There was also a breeze.

That's LeAnn...we pretty much had the same outfit on today

This blog is all about style and, to me, nothing is more stylish than being who you are. That is what Pride is all about. It's a wonderful chance for those in and in support of the LGBT community to say "this is who we are". Of course, it's often a bit more fabulous than we are on a day to day basis but the point is the same. It's beautiful.

Minneapolis has one of the largest Pride celebrations in the nation. It's great! 

I love the variety you see at Pride. It shows how individual and unique members of the community are. It is also incredible to see how many resources are available. But it is ridiculous to me that so much of Pride still is centered around fighting for equality. To not be treated like second class citizens. To have your love not only recognized but respected and protected. I hope that one day Pride can truly be a celebration and this fight for equality will be something of the past. I don't know that that day will come but I have some hope.