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Everyday Style & Recipes. Est. 2010

denim

Tropical Dreams and Last of Summer

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It’s warmed back up into the 80’s this week and both myself and the garden are loving it! Fall is still in the air though as the nights get cooler and the leaves are starting to change. For now, the warm temps are inspiring me to post a few more Summer pieces, like this tropical print top from American Eagle. Gotta love those end of Summer sales. I have been in a small love affair with kitsch tropical prints since at least 2015 and I’m afraid 2020 isn’t any different. This top is very light and breezy, with a bit of elastic at the hem on the back and sides. The front was made to be tied at the front, like so many tops these days. The elastic is a neat feature since it makes it easy to tuck in and wear in a more cropped fashion, like with skirts or very high-waisted jeans. It also gives the impression of the shirt being “tucked in” without it having to be tucked in. Kind of a minor feature, but also cool!

Speaking of jeans, I recently picked up these high-waisted distressed jeans from Abercrombie and they are fab! It’s been a while since I’ve worn anything other than Levi’s, but I’m a big fan of these as well. The high waist is flattering with shorter tops and the distressed areas are nicely done, especially with the small details at the end of the leg. The sandals are also from Abercrombie, which seems to be creeping more into my wardrobe, but I can’t help it. They are offering some really nice items at affordable prices, so how can a girl say no!

Top: American Eagle; Jeans: Abercrombie; Sandals: Abercrombie; sunglasses: Ray Ban

Bedhead & Denim

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This post is all about Spring coziness — bring on the sweaters, messy hair and jeans! It seems like everyone is feeling sleepier and more morose lately. I think we’re in the doldrums phase of the lock down…and it’s taking a bit of a toll on everyone. Could be the boredom, could be the fact that the days are starting to feel the same.

Well thank God we’re still in that phase of Spring where oversized sweaters can still be worn. Can you imagine being in a lockdown in the heat of Summer? Sheesh, no thanks. Comfy sweaters and messy hair are made for this moment! These jeans from Levi’s (721s), while entirely optional at home, are nearly as comfy as leggings since they have a nice amount of stretch to them. Love the classic blue wash too! Oh yeah, and when I do go outside in this outfit, I will be wearing these Birkenstock’s — the comfiest footwear ever! Just waiting for that day to get out and enjoy it. For now I will keep busy with working on the garden and brainstorming more Spring and Summer looks!

Outfit Details: Sweater: Forever 21; Jeans: Levi’s; tee: American Eagle; shoes: Birkenstock Mayari

Spring Blues

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To talk about the latest Spring looks feels a bit strange and out of place. A lot has changed since I last posted. I think at this point everyone is on the same page with current events (like, you literally cannot escape the news right now) so I won’t beat a dead horse. In an attempt for normalcy I felt like I should probably update the blog though.

So, how about jeans folks?! Lolz. I will say, these ultra high-rise Levi’s are pretty awesome. These are their 721 style in a medium wash with just the right amount of cotton (75%) and just the right amount of stretch. I wouldn’t call them true denim jeans because of the decent amount of stretch but they aren’t quite full on “jeggings” either. A perfect blend I should say! And soooo comfortable. I wouldn’t call them as durable as cotton jeans but the comfort factor makes up for it because 100% cotton jeans are so stiff and take forever to break in. To add to the comfort factor, I included this classic waffle weave top from American Eagle, mostly because I just love the color. It’s just so pretty, and looks great with blue jeans! I admit it’s more of a Fall color but I think rustic orange can have its place in the Spring. Adding in my favorite pair of Chelsea boots by Marc Fisher to give this outfit a more minimalist vibe. Happy Spring ya’ll!

Outfit Details: Top: American Eagle; Jeans: Levi’s 721s; shoes; Marc Fisher; hat: unbranded

Duck Hunter

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Sometimes it’s fun to dig up old clothes you’ve hung on to for a while and re-discover them. I recently moved to a new place and was going through my old clothes and found this quirky sweater in storage. I got this duck hunt themed sweater from a thrift store like ten years ago. You can see the cute design of a duck hunter and ducks flying in the upper left-hand corner. It’s a quirky thing that I couldn’t help but find charming then and I still do now! I’ve considered donating it a handful of times but just can’t seem to have the heart to get rid of it. Plus the colors are perfect for Fall and Winter.

If you’re feeling stuck on an old, hardly worn item, try mixing it up with something new. In this outfit I gave this old sweater a refresh by pairing it with my favorite pair of Levi’s high-rise distressed denim and this gorgeous rucksack from Etsy. It made the sweater feel a lot more new again! So before you donate your old, unworn clothing I recommend mixing it up a bit with something new to see if you still have a use for it. It cuts down on textile waste and is way more environmentally friendly than just throwing your clothes out.

Outfit Details: Sweater vintage/thrifted; Jeans: Levi’s; Boots: Born, Bag: Etsy

Black & Tan

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I’ve always loved more monochrome looks–you can play around more with texture and patterns that way.  A variety of patterns look great when they all fall within a similar color scheme.  I recently stumbled across this vintage men’s cardigan on Etsy and fell instantly in love!  Sometimes you just wanna slouch around in huge, cozy cardigans amiright? This one is the epitome of that.  It’s a really well made and super warm as it’s made from 70% wool.  Gotta love well made items like that, and Etsy has tons of vintage options from so many awesome sellers.  Speaking of which, this bag from Etsy is a great little vintage saddlebag that’s perfect for everyday wear, and there’s a lot just like it being sold out there!

I recently splurged a bit on some classic high-rise jeans from Levi’s, and I couldn’t be happier with the purchase.  These are the 720’s in Black Chaos and they are seriously awesome.  I love the material blend–they’re mostly cotton but with enough stretch to not make them stiff or thick feeling.  It’s super high-waisted so just a warning if that’s not what you’re looking for.  The distressed parts of them are natural and don’t look strange at all.  I’m not a fan of super high up torn up jeans so these are perfect for me!  These aren’t a true black, they have a bit of charcoal grey tones going on but that’s cool with me.

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: Cardigan: Etsy – PerennialVintage,  Jeans: Levi’s 720’s, Shoes: Marc Fisher, Top: MaiTai, Bag: Etsy, PurpleHeather

Electric Dreams

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To be honest, I’ve mostly bought coats for utilitarian purposes only.  Just give me something that will keep me warm even if I look like a puffy bowling ball (basically George Costanza’s Gortex coat).  But lately I’ve started looking for nicer, slightly less ridiculous looking outer gear.  I’ve had my eye on camel trench coats for a while but I couldn’t decide which one to buy.  My goal was to find an affordable coat that still had a fairly high wool percentage.  That wound up being a challenge since most of the affordable coats weren’t made of decent fabric, and then I had the opposite problem where the decently made coats were way too expensive.  So what to do? After searching around I stumbled across this coat from Zara which retails for under $200 and is made from 75% wool.  Perfect–exactly what I was looking for!  I wasn’t disappointed, this coat is well made and looks fantastic with denim.  It’s pretty much the perfect “going out” coat for winter that will actually keep you warm!

Onto the details:  I’ve always loved the minimalist trench and graphic tee combo, so this tee from Urban Outfitters was a perfect addition to this look.  I went with my favorite pair of classic vintage style levi’s in a lighter wash and a high-rise. You can’t go wrong with a good pair of Levi’s, and while I love all their styles, I’m personally a fan of the 721’s.

Outfit Set:  Outfit Details: Coat: Zara ‘Masculine’ trench, tee: Urban Outfitters, Jeans: Levi’s 721’s, Shoes: Marc Fisher Chelsea boots

Raw Edge Denim

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Lately I’ve been having a love affair of sorts with everything Levi’s. I love their high wasted wedgie fits, and lately I’ve been interested in their raw edge offerings. These cropped jeans were pretty much exactly what I had been looking for since they go so well with so many Summer styles! These are the “straight leg raw hem cropped” jeans in the Rough Tide wash. You can wear them with shorter tops, cropped or tied up tees and you won’t be showing a mile of tummy due to the high rise waist.  They’re also really comfortable for all denim jeans and have a decent amount of give to them.  They’re still a little bit stiff since they’re new, but the great thing about Levi’s is that they will break in and soften over time.

I recently stumbled upon this graphic tee from Urban Outfitters and fell in love with the vintage floral design. I’ve been kind of obsessed with Audobon prints and old botanical designs for years, so this was a perfect addition to my closet.  It looks great with so many outfits, especially jeans and skirts! Another recent find was this Fossil bag in a bright mustard yellow–another totally random find. I love the size and color of this bag, and it is been a perfect small crossbody for Summer!

Outfit Details: Tee: Urban Outfitters, Jeans: Levi’s, Shoes: Birkenstock, Bag: Fossil

Outfit Set:

Holding Horses

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Even though there is a September heat wave going on, my eyes have been on fall weather outfits. I love the usual Fall fashion trends so I’m excited for the upcoming months! Layers, scarves, deep reds and olive tones are definitely some things I’m looking forward to. Velvet as a Fall texture is a lovely material to explore this season. I recently came across this Anthropologie ‘Holding Horses’ velvet button down on sale and snapped it up. Isn’t the color just gorgeous? I love the combination of velvet and silk (on the inside layer) and wearing it is a dream. Another fabric I’ve been loving is denim so combining them was pretty much perfect. I’ve been kind of obsessed with these Levi’s high rise 721s. They are so comfy and give this shirt an everyday vibe instead of creating an over-dressed situation. I like the slightly western/country flavor this outfit evokes without being too over the top.

I recently traveled back to Minneapolis, my hometown, to sort through some old clothes and items to keep or donate. I found my old Gap suede backpack and fell in love with it all over again. Don’t you love finding old things in the back of your closet and rediscovering them all over again? It’s like finding $20 in the pocket of your old winter coat. This bag is made out of a nice sturdy suede and has lasted a lifetime. I guess you could say it’s a “buy it for life” bag! It works nicely as a small hiking bag or as an everyday small back pack. It’s nice to bring old things back into circulation!

Outfit Set:Outfit Details: Shirt: Holding Horses/Anthropologie, Jeans: Levi’s, Shoes: Lucky Brand, Bag: Gap (old)

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Loafers & Ivy

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I’ve always been ambivalent about the high rise/”mom jean” trend and I was never quite sure if they looked great or terrible. A bit of a tough call! But I recently made the plunge and picked up a pair of these classic Levi’s just to see what all the buzz was about. I was surprised by how flattering the fit was! The high waist line does accentuate the hips a bit but not in a bad way.  And to be honest, I do remember my mom wearing a pair just like these back in the day–and I’m pretty sure she still does (hey mom!). I can’t fault her for it–these jeans are comfyyy! They feel sturdy like they will last a long time too. These jeans are technically made for working outdoors but I think they look nice a little more dressed up. I wore these with a light chiffon button down and black loafers. One of my favorite recent purchases is this great woven circle bag! The bag is made from woven straw and is a perfect size for toting your stuff at the beach or as a simple every day bag. In terms of whether I’m sold on high rise denim across the board I’m not so sure but I’m definitely a big fan of these!

Outfit Details: Chiffon top: eBay,  Jeans: Levi’s, Shoes: Steve Madden, Bag: Etsy

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