Clothes, Accessories and Shoes: Blazers

Blazers by naturallystyled featuring a quilted blazer

Blazers have been a wardrobe staple of mine since my first denim blazer purchased at Old Navy in 2001! My choice of blazer styles has changed alot since then as I wore mostly denim fabrics. These days I've graduated to wearing corduroy, cotton twill and wool tweed. I love these blazers for fall because they keep me looking put-togther and feeling nice and warm. I love my camel colored Ann Taylor Loft blazer from 2005 and my black cotton Gap blazer from 2002 (that I never really wore until 2009).

I also hope to break in my brand new (but purchased long ago) deep red velvet Old Navy blazer soon! It's very cozy and lush.

Clothes, Accessories and Shoes: Skinny Jeans

Skinny jeans were one of the most ugly trends that I had see when they first came back in style, mainly because I wasn’t into tight pants at the time. They also slightly reminded me of those tapered jeans that I grew to hate in the early 90s. 

You know the one’s that if you were too short they’d bunch at your knee?! I wore those because that’s pretty much all there was at one time (when I was in elementary school) before I wore baggy pants and jeans in middle school and high school. I was stuck in the middle of the hip hop and skateboard girl style back then. 

Anyway, as time went on, the modern skinny jeans grew on me and my first pair were from Old Navy. But those didn’t fit right, they were cut too loose at the waist and legs even though they were technically suppose to be fitting. Plus, they didn’t have the stretch they needed in order to make them cling in all the right places. 

A few years later when I was in NYC I ended up buying a couple pairs of skinnies in Old Navy again and one pair fit great, with lots of stretch. The other pair fit great but didn’t have much stretch and even though they were technically skinnies, they had a definite straight leg fit. 

Then, I starting searching for the ultimate skinny jean. I eventually found the perfect pair in H & M. They are black and have zipper detailing on the back packets and the front pockets. They had a superb fit!

Last year I found another perfect pair at the Gap, my fashion refuge! They always have the perfect things that I’m looking for. These Gap skinnies have the perfect amount of stretch, fit perfectly and they are a deep, rich indigo color that I adore.

Sometimes it takes years to find the perfect skinny but once you find them you will love them and live in them. 

Clothes, Accessories and Shoes: Structured Shorts

I've never been a shorts kind of girl, I must admit....until now! But back in the mid 2000s I kept seeing Johnson shorts in lots of the fashion magazines and I thought they were so cute but I couldn't afford them since they were well over $100 and many in the $200 price range. 

However, I wanted a piece of that trendy action, so I bought two pairs of Old Navy shorts similar in style to the Johnson ones. Each pair was on clearance for about $12 or less and I jumped right at the deal. 

Both pairs are fully lined. One pair is a brown and white blend tweed with button detailing at the side of the hem and the other pair is black and white herringbone patterned tweed with cuffed hems and pleating action. 

The pleating on these shorts are flattering despite what we all know about pleating, which is that they tend to make pants and shorts look dated and drab. But the lower rise and slim cut of the shorts helped alleviate any possible old-fashioned styling.

The classic materials and lining in the shorts plus the quality construction at an affordable price are what really sealed the deal for me. But I didn't actually wear them right away and they sat in my closet for ages. 

Back in May of this year was the first time I wore the black and white pair and my friend complemented me on my outfit! 

The day I wore them, it was actually very chilly so I paired the shorts with a fitted, ribbed long sleeve black turtleneck with a black t-shirt underneath. I also wore a thin pair of black leggings with thicker black leggings over them, little ankle socks and black leather flat heel Enzo Angiolini knee boots with side tassel detailing. 

To top off the look, I wore my black and white large print houndstooth check wool jacket, cinched with a Forever 21 stretchy belt and my (constant) neckwear was my fave Target drapy purple infinity scarf and Gap black slouchy hobo bag. I just loved the feeling the outfit gave me-- so chic and put together!   

  

I can't wait to wear the brown shorts soon. I am also now on the hunt for a few more pairs of equally cute structured shorts in solid black and a lush berry color in velvet or corduroy. 

Fashion: Minimal, Chic College Wardrobe

I'll keep this short and sweet. Here are the absolute must-haves to look chic and have a light load college wardrobe. First, I highlighted the clothes, then I put together the shoes and accessories. These are just according to my own taste but by all means change out items to fit your personal style. 

In my opinion everyone needs: sweaters, basic tees and turtlenecks, jean shirt, crisp white blouse, black skirt, black slacks, black blazer and a nice every day blazer. As for footwear and accessories: black leather knee boots, "sport" shoes, dress shoes, cozy hats and drapy scarves, carry-all and smaller bag, leggings and tights, statement stretch belt and drapy multi chain necklace.

I selected items that had clean lines and basic styles because that's what I prefer. I stuck with a neutral color palate and added pops of my fave colors.

Enjoy! :-)

Minimal, Chic College Wardrobe: Clothes by naturallystyled featuring a white short sleeve shirt

Minimal, Chic College Wardrobe: Shoes/Accessories by naturallystyled featuring studded handbags

Packing it all will be discussed in my June 1 post titled Decorating/Organizing: Travel Edition—The Perfectly Organizated Carry-On.