I often get asked about how to make an outfit look more “put together”. I call it elevating. Sometimes, all you need is a simple piece or two to take your outfit from bland to glam. I don’t try to hard to style myself, but when I’m going into the office Monday through Friday, I try to make sure my more casual pieces are dressed up and you can do this in so many different ways. Keep reading for my 5 ways to elevate a casual outfit. Some of what I share may be helpful for your office attire too so keep reading lovely……

Scroll on down….

BLAZER OR JACKET
I’m no stranger to a blazer or jacket. This is the number one elevating piece for me. When I have a boring button up top or a basic tank, I always layer with a cute blazer or jacket to take my outfit to the next level. It’s really the simplest way to look chic and get you out the door quickly. If you’re feeling funky like me, I find blazers or jackets that have character and pizazz like the one I’m wearing in the pics above. FYI, got this blazer from a thrift for $3. Best 3 bucks I’ve ever spent!

NECKLACE/ EARRINGS
Sometimes a little bling bling can take an outfit a long way. I am good for adding a chunky cute necklace to a crisp white button up shirt and some fun matching earrings. It’s all about layering and layering with a statement necklace is a great way to elevate your simple look and express yourself.

SCARF/HEADSCARF
I love head scarves in the summer. Scarves can be worn and styled in so many different ways. When it’s hot and my hair is less than impressive, I tie my scarf on my head in a headband style or a turban style. My scarfs are usually very colorful and full of fun prints, so the rest of my outfit is usually more toned down, particularly for the office. Scarves are great to wear around your neck or to decorate up a cute bag. No matter how you rock it, it’s sure to elevate your look.

SUNGLASSES
This one is pretty self explanatory. I love a good statement pair of sunnies because they can really transform a look and they protect your eyes from the harsh UV rays. The ones I’m rocking in this post have been a fav of mine and really complete my outfits and the look I go for. Sometimes all you need is one good pair that goes with every outfit in your closet and you’re set.

BELTS
Once upon time I couldn’t imagine outfits with belts but now I can’t get enough of them. One great thing about belts is it can fix many fit issues. For example, I own a handful of boxy dresses, I usually belt them around my waist to give my frame more of an hourglass look. Belts always make a good pair of jeans great too. I love slipping a brown or cognac belt into my jeans and tucking in my shirt to show it off. For whatever reason it gives a nice sleek feel to your look and can elongate your legs. Pants with belt loops not being used can be a little weird looking, so a belt is that finishing touch on an outfit and elevates like no other accessory.

Glad I could share these staples for elevating a look. If you don’t already have these pieces in your closet, I suggest getting a few to push your look to the next level. With these pieces in my closet, I think less about my looks and I’m out the door in no time. Hope this helps!

Sincerely,

Deidra Marie

I know you just love these pictures of me pretending there is a beach in sight, LOL. We are literally almost in July and I have yet to see a beach so when in beachless, found the nearest water attraction and take pics near it and pretend there is sand close by. Nah, just kidding, we were in Charlotte this past weekend and I just had to get some shots of this darling dress I grabbed on sale from Target. Today, I’ll be sharing some of the stores I’ll be shopping this summer that are not thrift. While most of shopping is thrifted shopping, every now and then I’ll buy something from an online store I like or pop in at a shopping center or mall and grab a few items that I like, so heres where I’m shopping and why, keep scrolling to the bottom for my list!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TARGET
Duh, they have some of the cutest, reasonably priced summer slides I’ve seen. If you’ve been following me on IG or Snapchat you’ve seen my green slides. Nabbed those from Target for 12 bucks, no lie! Their summer collection of clothing is also AMAZING too. I’m also totally digging their summer dresses. The one I’m wearing in these pics was just 13 bucks #winning.

GAP
This store has some of the best denim pieces EVER. I currently have my eye on this denim button up jumper dress. I want it so bad but I’m just waiting for a big sale so it won’t be so pricey. If you’re on the hunt for some good quality denim, Gap is where it’s at. I have denim from there from like 8 years ago that’s still going strong, no seriously!

ANN TAYLOR LOFT 
I’m no stranger to this store. They always have the cutest summer skirts and dresses. Another thing I like about this place is that they have some of the best deals. They always have a promotion going on and I ain’t mad at them.

DSW
Okay, so clearly this is no surprise. I’ve been a member of this store since 2006. I LOVE LOVE LOVE their shoes so much. We are a DSW family and can’t get enough of this store. The deals are great and they have a little something something for everybody. I must say, I love their summer shoe collection this year too. If I were you, I’d check them out!

TJ MAXX/MARSHALLS 
While I hate sifting through apparel at these two stores, I find it’s worth it at the end when I find something super cute that I know will be over priced somewhere else. I often go in these stores for home decor stuff too. The deals are unmatched and the pieces you can buy in these two stores are reasonably priced.

For the most part, I shop online, but the stores above I shop occasionally and highly recommend if you’re not into online shopping or if you are just looking to pop your head in and see if there is anything good.

Hope you like my list.

Till next time.

Sincerely,

Deidra Marie

 

If you’re following me on IG, you know I shared a pretty hilarious story about my wardrobe. Long story short, about one year I was invited to a 70’s themed b-day party and a group of those invited went shopping for some costumes for the party. I was invited to shop but respectfully declined when I realized I owned 70’s clothing (everyday wear might I add) for the party. At the party, they asked what costume store I got my clothes from. This is clear evidence I should have been born in the 70’s. Looking on the bright side of things, I never have to come out of pocket for any decade themed parties.I just dress according to mood, and most of the time I’m feeling the 60’s and 70’s vibes. The short shorts and mini skirts, big hair and platforms are my thing! I’m no trendsetter, and I’m not really sure what’s in right now. I just buy what I like and that’s it….

Keep reading babe…I’m not finish with you yet….scroll, scroll, scroll on down the page….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On that note, I’ve love these cute high rise shorts on sale at Gap. I’ve linked them above. By the way, Gap is having an amazing 50% off sale if you’re wondering. The orange wedges are from K&G (similar style linked above) and the green and white polo are from a random thrift pop up shop I discovered at the Southern Women’s Show. If you’re new to thrifting, here’s some advice, know that thrifting is never a planned thing, I pass through little rural towns all the time, and if I see a random consignment or thrift shop off the side of the road, I pop in and usually get lucky. This is literally how thrifting works; you find rare items that have amazing stories to them; you wear them and make it your own and when your done with it, you give it away to someone else who can make amazing stories with it. As I’ve talked about before in previous post, I made a decision a long time ago to thrift and shop vintage to reduce my purchases on fast fashion. I want to support thrift shops who harbor thousands and thousands of donated items they can’t get rid of. Recycled fashion reduces waste and reduces the amount of items being stored at thrift stores that quite frankly, many thrift stores simply don’t have the time to sift through. Now don’t get me wrong, I shop full price or new items every now and then  (i.e. my denim shorts) but most of the time, I opt to shop thrift because purchases like this, keep waste down and in the long run, support our Earth.

Thrifting has been a fun journey for me because I love the thrill of shopping and enjoy finding things that are rare and unique. Most importantly, I love sharing the different ways I mix my old with my new. This is the way I express myself and share my tips and tricks with you. 

I’m hope to continue to inspire you and encourage you to express yourself through threads and fabrics, and appreciate you for following along on my journey. 

Sincerely, 

Deidra Marie