#OOTD: Of The Vintage Variety (Feat. SheIn)

June 17, 2018 by Bree Fesh in Personal Style

Wow, what a month it has been! Though I have been absent from here lately, if you follow me on Instagram you know that I have been far from being on hiatus and will have many exciting posts to come this summer. Just to fill those of you in who haven’t been on Instagram lately, recently I just returned from a trip to Florida, a place that makes my heart very happy, only second to my home away from home, New Orleans. While in the sunshine state, I did so much exploring and experienced some great and lively new places, which I will be writing about in an upcoming travel post (in the mean time you can checkout my story highlights and feed to see what I was up too), and in said travel post I will also be talking about how I’ve mastered my minimalist packing skills—as per request from many of you, and I just can’t wait to share!

However, in today’s post, I’m starting back with a light, fun, and stylish look for the season and will be talking about this darling summer outfit of the day. Which features some vintage Gap denim shorts I snagged at a thrift store in St. Petersburg during my travels, as well as this adorable tie up top from my long time sponsor and affiliate, SheIn.

Seeking the Seventies

Recently, after returning home from Florida, I was admittedly very happy to hear from one of the representatives I work with from SheIn, not only because I'm thrilled to be working with them and love their clothes, they also have a huge new selection for the change in season, so what better time to take on some new projects with them? I was also thrilled to find that one of the products that they were looking to feature was this adorable, vintage style, tie up top, which as soon as I saw it, I knew that it would pair perfectly with my new vintage high-waisted shorts. And pretty much as soon as I returned home, I had a brunch date with a few of my girl friends in Sewickley and just knew this seventies inspired outfit would be the perfect fit for our girls days out.

As many of my longtime readers know, I have been forever in love with vintage looks reminiscent of the 1970s. Something about the freedom of that time period and the way its fashion mirrored it has most definitely become iconic and a trend in fashion that I welcomed back with open arms in 2015. I simply have always just adored the light and airy vibes the styles exude, as well as the earth tones that tend to go along with them, adding to their charm and making them a perfect pick for summer. So, needless to say I was incredibly excited to style these two awesome pieces. What makes them each so perfect for a nice summer outing it that they are both simple and chic pieces. The blouse is great due to its light color and the shorts complement it by balancing the outfit out, giving it a nice, casual feel.

I do have to mention though, that aside from this top being a great color for summer, I also love it because it is incredibly comfortable and well made. The material is very light and breathable, making this top a great choice for the hot and sticky humid days we have here in the 'Burgh. I also adore its button detailing, which in my opinion adds a sweet and more feminine vibe. Honestly, this top has become my new favorite for the summer and I am tempted to get it in all three colors! (You can view the other two here and here!)

And of course, I still need to talk about this cool pair of denim shorts, which have admittedly also become a summer favorite of mine. I actually came across them at the Sunshine Thrift Store in St. Petersburg! Though I wasn't originally planning on shopping and just went in to browse with my aunt, when I came across these Gap 1969 original high rise shorts in my size I just had to have them! Honestly, I love how they fit and find them to be extremely comfortable, as well as flattering to my shape.

To add a little polish to this outfit, I decided to dress it up with some Kendra Scott earrings, this South Moon Under layered necklace, a large gold ring from Versona, and one of my favorite cuffs by SLATE. The reason I chose these pieces is due to the fact none of them are overstated and went perfectly with this casual summer look while keeping true to its dreamy 1970s chic feel. I also am a fan of these pieces because they are all relatively light weight which is great for keeping you comfortable while looking stylish.

The last accessories I styled for this look are my American Eagle heart shaped sunglasses, which I just felt were a fun choice, and my classic Louis Vuitton Tasche "Globe Shopper" in red. The reason why I mention this bag is because it holds a very special place in my heart as well as purse collection, considering it is the very first designer bag I ever purchased, way back in 2011, and is still in impeccable shape to this day! It's honestly my go to summer bag aside from my recently gifted Hermes Lindy bag (thank you, mum and dad) due to its durability and color.

Finally, to put the finishing touches on this seventies look, I chose to keep my makeup light and airy and went with my ever trusty bareMinerals powered in “Original”, Dior's "My Rose" blush, Too Faced “Chocolate Bar” eyeshadow palette, and NARS “Roman Holiday” lipstick. The reason I chose these colors is because I really wanted to have a more natural makeup look and just love the subtle pastel colors.

One Last Look

What are some fashion eras that you just adore and how will you be styling them this summer? I'd love to hear the answers to both of these questions so let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me about it at @StarkRavingChic! Have an awesome summer look you're just dying to show off? I'd love to have a look, so feel free to tag me in your Instagram story at @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes!

Xx, Bree

P.S. Psssssst! If you love the jewelry I styled in this post as much as I do, you can try Rocksbox for a whole month 100% FREE when you sign up using my promo code "starkravingchicxoxo". Don't know what Rocksbox is or how it works? You can learn more here!

Also, I am now a proud member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!

You can also shop my closet on Dress Like Me as well, which there will be a post about this new tool coming soon.

#OOTD: Crazy About Daisies (Feat. Ann Taylor, Marc Jacobs Beauty + Rocksbox)

May 15, 2018 by Bree Fesh in Personal Style

Whew! Has anyone else's wardrobe gone from zero to summer real quick this season? Though I have to admit, I have not mourned packing away my heavy sweaters and winter coats in the least, and I am fully ready to embrace the sunshine and warm weather. I am also more than ready to style some sweet summer looks after an incredibly long, cold, and very layered, winter here in the 'Burgh.

I have to admit, though my favorite season is actually fall due to the perfect climate and all the fun you can have with layers, summer is a close second for me. The reason this is, is because firstly, summer is the season in which my favorite flowers bloom, the colors of the season are my favorites, and the clothing for this season often mirrors both of these characteristics. So, in today's outfit of the day, I'm talking about how I styled my first look of the summer featuring pieces from my sponsor and affiliate, Ann Taylor, along with some of my favorite summer beauty products. Plus, I'm featuring these adorable thrifted shorts that I personally got a little bit crafty with!

Scents of the Season

As I mentioned earlier, summertime brings about the blooming of some of my favorite posies, one of those actually being white daisies (my other favorites include tiger lilies, hydrangea, and tulips). I love these flowers not only because they are beautiful to look at, but also because their scents are absolutely amazing. With this being said, I was thrilled to have receive a complimentary gift set of Marc Jacobs "Daisy" featuring a full bottle of this magical scent, a perfume roller, and body lotion.

This perfume has been a summertime favorite of mine since I was seventeen. And though Marc Jacobs Daisy actually doesn't smell like daisies at all, it is still a light and whimsical scent that is perfect for summer. Daisy, transports the wearer to a place that is optimistic, beautiful, and pure. To me, Daisy, is reminiscent of my youth and gives me a comforting feeling of nostalgia each and every time I wear it. Not to mention this perfume's scent embodies romance, starting with the scent of wild berries and violets, and ending with jasmine and a sensual sandalwood for a sultry and irresistibly feminine finish.

Summer Blooms

After applying my favorite summer scent and makeup, I decided to enjoy the beautiful weather by taking a stroll in Ambridge's historical district of Old Economy as well as checking out a handful of the antique shops and historical sites in the area. Much like Marc Jacobs Daisy, Old Economy will always hold a special place in my heart and gives me feelings of nostalgia because I grew up spending time there and actually worked as a "Young Harmonist" tour guide from the time I was in eighth grade through my senior year in high school. The scenery of this place is actually quite beautiful, and in my opinion is a hidden gem of Ambridge. So, since this was a leisurely casual day dedicated to strolling down memory lane, I chose to keep my look simple and sweet.

Along with wanting a casual look without sacrificing any style, I also wanted to remain comfortable, and as many of my fellow Pittsburghers know, sometimes trying to keep cool in our humid summer weather can be a bummer. However, the pieces that I chose for this casual summer look are perfect for our warm and slightly sticky weather due to the fact I kept my clothes light (in color and weight) as well as wearing lightweight accessories and makeup.

The top I chose to style for this look is this adorable ruffle-bib blouse from my sponsor and affiliate Ann Taylor. The reason why I was so attracted to this blouse is because I loved the the colors and floral pattern. I also loved the ruffle-bib detailing of the top half of the blouse, which gives this top a sweet and feminine look. This blouse is made of raw silk, meaning that its very lightweight, and though silk isn't the most breathable fabric, it's still a great choice for summer outings, second to linen in my opinion. I also like the cut of this blouse, since it is not form fitting it makes for a perfect top to tuck in for a change of pace in styling, giving this look a retro '70s vibe.

Love these shorts I made? Though you can't get these exact ones, click here or here to see some similar looks!

Now, I have to admit, I'm pretty proud of the bottom half of this outfit. If you follow me on Instagram you've probably seen these adorable embroidered shorts pop up in your feed a couple time this past week, and the reason I am am so proud of them is because I actually made them myself! Though I don't go clothes shopping often, I recently decided to hit up my local Goodwill in search of some new jean shorts for summer. While I was on this excursion, I initially found this pair of plain cutoffs that fit me perfectly (which is sometimes challenging to find being 5'7" and a size 00). However, on my way out of the store, I saw another pair of shorts in the kids section, with these adorable daises on them. of course, I couldn't fit in them however, I had been looking for a new project and snagged them anyways, and once I got home, I simply detached the floral pattern from the kids shorts, put my sewing skills to work, and attached them to my new cutoffs!

Aside from making these adorable shorts myself and them being completely unique, I also love them because they are perfect for summer and are just so incredibly playful, which is exactly the feeling I want to exude in the summertime.

To further style this look, I chose to use some new jewelry I received from my longtime sponsor Rocksbox. Both the pieces I chose to style with this outfit are also floral themed, because I wanted to keep the pattern going. The first pieces pictured are some gorgeous daisy chandelier earrings by Perry Street. Though they are chandelier earrings, the great thing about these earrings is they are lightweight despite their size, making them great for all day wear.

Much like the chandelier earrings, this gorgeous Kendra Scott cuff is a lot lighter than it looks. This piece has been on my wish-list for quite some time, almost a year to be exact, so needless to say I was stoked to finally style it! Though this piece looks like it would be heavy, it is actually quite lightweight and comfortable. I also love this cuff because it goes with just about everything due to its pretty pattern and its dual silver and gold color.

Last but not least, to complete this casual summertime look, I chose to keep it simple with some of my favorite makeup brands. First, I used some Julep Matifying Primer followed by bareMinerals original powder foundation. I chose this opposed to my BarePro foundation because due to the humidity, I wanted to have a very light foundation. To complete my makeup look, I used Julep's Feels Like Velvet in Auburn Shimmer & Mushroom Shimmer, Dior's My Rose blush, and then for my lips, I paired Maybelline's Oh Sugar lipstick with Marc Jacobs Fawn Over Me lip liner for a dewy, natural look.

One Last Look

Are you and your wardrobe more than ready for the warm and sunny summer weather this season? Let's chat about summertime style in the comments below or you can tweet me about it at @StarkRavingChic! Have an adorable summer outfit you just need to show off? I'd love to see it, so feel free to tag me in your Instagram Story at @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes!

Xx, Bree

You can also shop my closet on Dress Like Me as well, which there will be a post about this new tool coming soon.

Back on the [Green] Scene (Feat. FashionMia + Phipps Conservatory)

May 05, 2018 by Bree Fesh in Personal Style

Hello, everyone! It sure has been awhile hasn't it? Though I had yet another unplanned hiatus (I don't know why but they always seem to happen in early spring, what's up with that?), however, I'm thrilled to say that this most recent 2018 hiatus was for a much brighter reason than last years. This time, and there will be more on this below, my hiatus had a HUGE focus on self-care and as a result has left me feeling happier, healthier, and more motivated than ever to get back on to the blogging scene!

And of course, aside from being happy to be back to writing and styling (which are just a few of my favorite things), I am also thrilled to be back because I also have some very exciting collaborations coming up this summer and will also be working with some really awesome people. But most of all, I am excited to be back because I have missed all of you, which as always I am forever appreciative of all of your on going support! Now, let's get to the good stuff, plus my brand new #OOTD.

Life/Blog Updates + What I've Been Up To

So, I am sure many of you are wondering why I have been away (especially without warning) for so long. The short answer to this is back in late February, I unfortunately caught that nasty flu and bronchitis that had been going around this year, and was in and out of the hospital for weeks. That in itself was rough, however, what made it worse was due to being ill I fell behind in my classes at Point Park University. The latter was originally the main reason for my hiatus because I take my schooling very seriously (good news is, though I'm not thrilled my GPA didn't stay at a 4.0, I did come out of this semester with a 3.6 all things considered), I also started focusing on getting healthier and taking better care of myself.

In order to do this, I began making time to do things that I enjoy again. These activities include yoga, running, ballet, singing, and of course photography. I also made strides in my personal health by making sure I made time for myself (because like many of us do, I occasionally forget that I am in fact important too) to relax and do things that I love, in order to keep my mental health in tip-top shape. I also have been eating better and have been sure to avoid pulling all-nighters at all costs, considering I know my sleep habits were an issue.

As for updates on the blog front, for one, my blogiversary was back on March 20, 2018, and Stark Raving Chic turned three years old! And though I didn’t get a proper post done about it, I’m still so happy to have had this success over three years. I was also thrilled to find that I haven't only not lost any followers, but I gained a significant amount, and actually hit 25K on Instagram! So along with some more exciting interviews (similar to the kick-ass one with Terra McBride back in February), as well as awesome upcoming collaborations with a few major companies, I will also be hosting a 25K giveaway sometime this summer, so be sure to stay tuned!

New Photography Work

As mentioned above, along with practicing self-care through being sure to make time for myself, I also really got back to my artistic roots and began photographing nature again. Though my focus was in photojournalism, and I love fashion photography, another thing I always loved focusing my lens on was nature, and honestly hadn't shot anything new until recently. However, it was so uplifting and I am so excited about the photos that I have decided I might have found a new passion in nature macro photography. If you head to my "Portfolio, Nature: 2018" section you can see all the photos I've been working on, but I picked a few of my favorites to show here (also note, all photographs can be printed and framed for purchase, pricing is available upon request via email):

Gorgeous Greenery

Last but not least, though this portion won't be as extensive as my other "Outfit of the Day" posts, I did want to share one of my new favorite early spring dresses from my affiliate and sponsor, FashionMia, along with some gorgeous jewelry from my favorite South Side boutique, Terry Jolo.

The reason I love this dress is due to its lush green color, which in my opinion, is absolutely gorgeous for spring. It reflects the new greenery we get this time of year as well as everything coming into bloom. I also like this dress’ flowy, a-line, cut, which gives this dress a soft and feminine appearance—adding to the soft look, and touch, of the velvet.

To style this look, I chose to keep it classic with some gorgeous gold jewelry from Terry Jolo. The reason this necklace and earring (see below) duo work so well for this look is due to the fact that they make a a statement without overwhelming the dress.

Lastly, to complete this soft and feminine look, I chose to keep it simple with my makeup and opted for bareMinerals BarePro in Aspen, Maybelline’s Bronze Rooftops City Minis pallet for my eyes, Dior’s My Rose Blush, and Kat Von D’s Studded Kiss lipstick in Lovecraft.

One Last Look

What have you been up too for the past three months, and what are some of your favorite ways to practice self-care? Let’s chat about them in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Have any fabulous photography or spring looks that you have just been dying to show off? I’d love to see them, so feel free to tag me in you Instagram Story at @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes!

Xx, Bree

P.S. Psssst! just in case you haven't heard, I am now a proud member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!