Affordable options for high-end pieces

Hey guys :) I had a little time off from work, so I have been taking full advantage and can't believe this is my THIRD BLOG POST THIS WEEK! Anyways, as you guys know, I love affordable fashion! I wanted to show you guys some affordable dupes for designer pieces! Some of them are more "inspired by" and some legit look the same! These are all pretty popular designer items and they are all things that I would actually use or wear. Obviously, nothing will ever be the same as getting a designer piece, but maybe you could try out some of the dupes to see if you really love them for at least a season and then make your purchase! Over the past few years, I am all about trying to keep my wardrobe as functional as possible and limit the amount of "junk". I hope you enjoy this and expect a lot more of these in the future! Also, make sure you scroll the arrow to the right to see all of the items!

Finding your perfect pair of shorts

Hey guys! So, for literally as long as I can remember, I have always hated wearing shorts. I am very grateful that I have two legs, and that I am alive and healthy, but that still doesn't help the fact that I always feel uncomfortable in shorts!  Every time I walk I feel my shorts creeping up in between my legs and I am constantly pulling them down! Another huge problem: they look okay standing up, but you go to sit down and again, TERRIBLE! It's currently summertime and 90+ degrees outside, so shorts are kind of a must. I wanted to share with you my favorite tips and styles for wearing shorts if you are in the same boat as me (or not! I still think you may find this useful). I did some serious trying-on and research to find the best and most flattering AFFORDABLE options for you guys :)

Tip #1: Be confident in what you wear! However, if it isn't going to happen, DON'T WEAR THEM! If you absolutely feel uncomfortable no matter what pair you try, just wear what you feel good in :) A couple of alternatives would be: wear a dress (short or long), jumpsuit (pick a light and airy fabric and with a strapless or skinny strap top so you aren't dying in the heat), or linen pants. Linen pants are so underrated! They always look so classy and beachy and are completely breathable. Pair them with a plain, tight top to balance out the flowy-ness of the bottoms and a cute sun hat and you will still look summer-y even with pants on :) Alternatives:

Tip #2: Prep. Make sure your legs are shaved, moisturized and give yourself a self-tan (optional)! I get spray tans and while my husband absolutely hates the smell of them, I feel so much more confident with a little color on my legs! Or, totally rock the natural color you have :) I am switching over to more "green" and organic beauty products, otherwise I would totally recommend the Sally Hansen Airbrush legs. I have never used any Vita Liberata products, but they have really great reviews and are free of harsh chemicals.

Tip #3: Get shorts with a raw edge. Every time I have tried on shorts that have a rolled up edge or a thick stitch, they feel so much tighter and so much less flattering around your legs--especially when you sit down! What to look for: a fraying on denim shorts, scalloped or laser-cut edges, paper-bag shorts, seamless edges, and check the width of the leg-hole (make sure it gets wider to make sure it doesn't squeeze your thighs!)

 Raw edge:

Tip #4: Flatter the length of your legs. For me, I have super short legs and although it is a little bit less conservative, I feel like the longer the length of the shorts, the shorter my legs look and less flattering everything looks. I try to look for shorts that are a little shorter in the front and longer in the back to make sure they cover my butt!


 Tip #5: Try a size up from your normal jean size & the less elastic, the better. Jeans with elasticity are pretty much all I wear. They hug your curves in all the right spots and make sure you get a really nice, comfortable fit. However, every time I try a pair of shorts with elasticity, I feel like all they do is ride-up and shrink in the wash! This tip is especially for jean shorts. When choosing a jean short, pick something that feels like a sturdy, thicker denim--that way it holds the way it fits, no matter what you are doing.


 Tip #6: High-waisted (especially for the girls with the short legs :) ). They will make your legs look longer and make the shorts look longer, without compromising with tip #4


 Tip #7: HANG DRY YOUR SHORTS! If you find a pair you love, don't let the dryer ruin it for you. I even like to kind of stretch them out in the legs a little when they are wet to make sure they don't squeeze my legs!


 Tip #8: BUY 2 PAIRS! When you find a pair you love, just go ahead and buy a couple of pairs. If you buy at American Eagle or Target, they have BOGO 50% off all of the time, so look for sales!


 Tip #9: Wear a kimono or light duster. Not only are these super in-style right now, but they totally eliminate the worry of "is my butt hanging out?!". Also, they look super cute as a swimsuit cover! Here are a few really cute ones that you could honestly wear every time you wear shorts :)

Kimonos/Dusters:

Tip #10: Try a romper. Something about having the top piece connect to the shorts can make things a lot more flattering. (still stick to the above tips, but if you still aren't having it, try one!). Get a basic style so that you can style it a bunch of different ways :) Also, they make great swimsuit coverups since you just step in and pull them on! Rompers:

Flattering shorts I found at H&M and Forever 21

My favorite new comfy shorts made out of a sweatshirt material that come in a bunch of different colors. These are great because you will feel comfortable in them and especially because the athleisure/loungewear style is totally in right now! I got a small in these and I normally wear a 4-6 US bottoms, sometimes even an 8 in denim shorts, so they run a little big!

Click Here For Link to These Sweatshorts: http://tinyurl.com/yb75xoqm

Paper bag shorts: 

Scalloped H&M Denim Shorts (These were one of my favorites! But I couldn't find them online. Try going to in store and see if you can find a pair hiding!):

Frayed Forever 21 Shorts:

H&M Polka Dot Seamless Edge Shorts:

H&M Raw Hem Black Denim Shorts:

Tip: GO IN PERSON!! And try these on. I couldn't find all of these online, so use them for inspiration when looking for your shorts and sometimes they have different things in store at H&M and Forever 21 than they do online! My 3 favorites were definitely the sweatshorts, Forever 21 frayed denim and the scalloped denim! 

DIY Pinterest-worthy dressing area

Pinterest Inspiration:

My Take:

Hey guys :) I am obsessed with home decor and being creative to make my house my own (my husband always rolls his eyes because I am always rearranging things in our house, but that's just the creative side in me!). I wanted to share a really easy and (can be) affordable way to create a pinterest-worthy dressing area. Our second extra bedroom is currently being used as my closet and get-ready room pretty much, so this is where I have my dressing area set up (the pictures I posted were actually in our living room because we are painting and the house is a bit of a cluster). However, you could totally put this in a corner in your bedroom or wherever you have space! It really doesn't take up much space and it's not only cute, but serves a purpose! If you are a clothes collector, like myself, you know that sometimes things can get buried in your closet and you can honestly forget they are even there. A clothing rack (mine is from Home Depot and is $20) is a great way to put all of the pieces you want to wear for that season and give you inspiration for outfit ideas! Same with the shoe rack (this shoe rack is linked below, super easy to assemble, and only $14).

In order to create your own dreamy dressing room, first pick the style you are going for! I like light and airy, with a little bit of rustic charm to it--but you could totally do modern, romantic, industrial, pretty much whatever you can dream up! Secondly, LOOK AT WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE! Look around your apartment or house, in your closets, in your garage, wherever you might have random things lying around that you could use to dress up this area and make it more aesthetically pleasing. I found the actual rack in my basement (my husband was using it to put "gear" on it--whatever that means lol), I found the lantern in my garage, and the candle sticks I spray painted from black to a matte grey (tip: check out your local thrift store for candle sticks and baskets you could easily spray paint and make them look super cool for really inexpensive!). Thirdly, you need a full length mirror--very necessary for trying on your outfits to see how they look together! I got this one from Target for somewhere under $100, but you could honestly use just one of those cheap $10-20 ones and lean it against the wall or hang it. Next, put some baskets below the clothing rack to add some more interest and to throw in accessories (or more shoes). Finally, a cute rug to finish the area off and section it off (especially if it is in your bedroom). I hope you guys find this helpful! Send me pictures if you try it I seriously love seeing stuff like this! And if you need help let me know as well! 

Create Your Own:

Wardrobe staple: Wide-leg pants

Hey guys! Today's post is going to be all about another wardrobe staple: a pair of wide-leg comfy pants! I love the look of dress pants and jumpsuits (definitely prefer them over dresses). I think you can make them look really casual or edgy and dressed up. Also, I am all about comfort and feeling good in my clothes, no matter what I am doing. I recently got these pants from H&M and am obsessed! Even though they may look like a statement piece, I really think these can go with a lot more outfits than you think. They are high-waisted, extremely flattering, pull on (how easy!), and have pockets (my favorite for putting my awkward hands ;) ). You can wear them in the summer/spring months dressed down with your favorite plain t-shirt knotted in the front or tank top and flip flops, add a denim jacket to go over out to dinner, or you can dress it up with a fitted body suit and your favorite heels or booties! I also think that these pants could go in the winter or fall with a blazer, cropped sweater or leather jacket. The stripes on the ones I bought are a pretty timeless print, so I honestly think that $24.99 is a total steal and will get so many wears over the next few years. I can only find them in black and this other striped print online, but if you want the ones I have I would suggest going to your local H&M in person. Hope you guys enjoyed this post! P.S. you could wear these with so many other colors, I just love my neutrals :)

Wide-leg pants (Exact, but different color):