Life is short and you should be doing and wearing exactly what you want and what makes you feel good. Now, by no means am I saying you should be lazy and wear sweatpants and your tweety bird shirt from 1992 out of the house...like ever. Ya..never do that! What I am saying is that you should let your clothes be a creative outlet for yourself. Your clothing tells you and the people around you a lot about yourself and it should reflect how you feel or at least how you want to feel so you can eventually get there.
Below I have put together a small handful of myths that are soooo outdated and overrated so PLEASE take them with a grain of salt, or better yet, do not listen to them!
Um, can I get an eye roll here, please? This is such a myth.
You can totally wear blue and black together if it is done intentionally. Now, it won’t be so chic if it looks like you thought you were going for an all black look but your top just happens to be navy. Wearing black and blue can easily feel drabby if not done correctly; use accessories to get your point across.
You want it to be super intentional so you feel confident about it. Think about trying to create contrast as well. Pick black and blues that are different fabrics or textures from each other so you can tell there is a difference in the color. Keep the color of the outfit’s focus on the black and blue combo. Try to keep it simple and don’t add tons of other colors to complicate things.
An example would be black boots with black textured leggings, a navy blue tunic with a cognac brown leather waist belt, plus a red lip as the pop of color. This simple, yet intentional combo is elegant and playful and not drabby at all!
Yes, this can be a challenge to get right, but you should SO mix patterns! Ya just gotta mix them together like a boss.
This can be a unique, chic way to show off your personal style and have fun with your clothes. It also will make your outfits stand out in all the right ways, so expect tons of compliments.
The way to do this successfully is to color coordinate. When pairing patterns, look at the color combinations and how they work together.
Don’t overthink it - if it immediately feels good just try it. A trick to pairing prints is to choose one dominant print to be your outfit's foundation. Then pick the smaller print that mixes well based on its colors. Have the prints feel different enough from each other that they contrast and compliment one another.
Fun patterns to experiment with are stripes and paisleys or florals with plaids. You'll see the magic that can be created once they are together.
Color ideas to start with are black and white prints mixed with something colorful and bold or brown plaids with jewel-toned organic shaped prints can create a sharp and unique look.
Have fun with it and figure out how to make it look and feel intentional according to your style!
This was once a thing...but in 2019, it is not always necessary!
This is your grandma's faux pas...yes, your grandma's faux pas. SO let it gooo!
Now, with that being said, I do think you can get a lot of style inspo from your grandma’s life, but that doesn’t mean we should have to follow all those uptight rules that once ruled women's closets!
The concept of being matchy-matchy is way too fussy for today. The combination of these accessories should feel cohesive, but not too matchy. You want to try and avoid feeling outdated and focus on looking timeless.
Sometimes your accessories can be THE outfit, so let them be. If you have a red pair of shoes that MAKE your outfit, let them and you’ll look as chic as can be.
Try to either pair items that intentionally contrast from one another or are in the same hue. Try to keep one item as a pop of texture or color and the rest of the accessories as neutrals. I accomplish this by having pretty simple, classic black bags and shoes for the most part and try to let anything that is a pop in the outfit just be the pop (does not always have to be the accessories though)
Now, one exception to this not matchy rule is formal attire. It does make you looked more put together and polished when accessories match well for fancy events.
Ummm...give me another big, exaggerated eye roll.
What! This is such a silly rule and makes NO sense in this day and age! We are too busy nowadays to be worrying about avoiding white at all costs just cus it is cold out.
You may certainly feel free to wear white after labor day.
Now, if you are trying to sport a white bikini at your Thanksgiving dinner, uh yeah I’d say that seems a little odd, but wearing winter whites is actually super chic and also gives you a lot of wardrobe freedom because you aren't making your wardrobe completely constricted by the seasons.
It is ideal to have as many pieces as you can that are seasonless so you can have the most versatile wardrobe all year long. If you love white pants, keep wearing them in the colder months. Now, it is important to make them feel intentional though. It isn't going to make you look sophisticated if it looks like you are on your way to a beach party in January in New England. So you gotta mix your whites with super cozy/wintery pieces. Pair your white capris with just over the ankle leather booties and a cozy oversized neutral or contrasting black sweater. This makes you look like you are dressed for the appropriate season while gracefully pulling off wearing white after Labor Day and a gives you a more flexible wardrobe.
OMG. WHAT? UGH, YOU’RE ONLY OLD BECAUSE YOU ARE MAKING YOURSELF FEEL OLD. Give me the biggest eye roll money can buy right here!
I saw a woman in her 70s recently that made me beyond envious of her style (I am in my late 20s). She was dressed simple, elegant, and chic. She didn’t care what the age on her license said, and I’m sure she was getting head turns from all generations that night cus she sure as hell made me look. She didn’t dress young by any means, she dressed chic and timeless. That is the trick. Her outfit could have been worn by literally any adult age and it would have felt polished and sophisticated. She wore black patterned tights, sleek black ankle boots, a suede asymmetrical high-waisted skirt, a tucked in lightweight sweater, a light over-coat, simple gold hoops with minimal face make-up, a strong bang, and an elegant red lip. She was as timelessly dressed as you can get, and you looked at her for being HER, and not her age.
Now, of course, you can look like a ridiculous person if you’re trying to pull off Abercrombie & Fitch booty shorts and crop tops in your 70s because it looks like you are trying too hard, which makes it feel forced and unnatural to you and your life. That usually isn’t the case when I hear people say the cringe-worthy statement “I am too old to wear that” though.
You don’t have to look younger to look stylish or well dressed. Dressing well for your body and still caring for how you look is what will keep your age from defining you. People tend to “give up” and dress frumpy, but no matter what age or size you are there are always ways to flatter your body so you feel good in your own skin.
And again, this doesn’t mean trying to look as skinny as possible or still look young. Dressing in a flattering way just means picking color tones that work well with your skin, fabrics that feel good on your skin and make you feel sleek and finding well-fitting clothes so you can move, breathe and live for your lifestyle. Dressing well isn’t about impressing anyone either; it is just a perk to have other people think you look great.
How you dress can give you so much power when it comes to how others treat you, see you, and think of you (no matter what your age is). Clothing really helps create your narrative. SO don’t give up on your personal style or buy “old lady” clothes just because you feel like you are supposed to. Strive for being timeless.
When you look at something and you love it and it makes you feel good and flatters you, then wear it. Just cus you hit a certain age doesn’t mean you should give up on your clothes or style. Your clothes tell you how you think and feel about yourself, and this symbolically gestures how others should think and feel about you too. Don't let your clothes define you in the wrong way. Let them elevate you!
So stay updated on your style and what keeps you feeling good.
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The overwhelming pressure to always get the newest cut of jeans, that fluffy cropped jacket, a ruffly off the shoulder dress or super trendy top that takes one roll of duct tape, a good tan, the perfect rise of jeans, and your first born in order to wear properly is just sooooo last season.
]]>Think of having a simple white tee, or minimalistic top with jeans, or all black look.
These simple base layers can work as a blank canvas for you. You can kinda go nuts with accessories! Feel free to layer up necklaces or reach for those flashy statement earrings while still feeling and looking effortless. Any outfit can be leveled up with the right jewelry, scarf, bag, or shoes.
With simple base layers like a crisp white tee, you can really experiment. You can bring a little flashiness to an outfit without it feeling over the top because your sleek base layers tone it down which keeps you comfortable and chic.
If you are combining fun accessories, make sure you are looking sophisticated by wearing bright whites, sharp blacks and non-stretched out, pilly layers. Pay attention to the quality and condition of your clothes! Don't throw on a dingy/stretched out white tee that kinda looks dusty with a bold necklace. It won't feel as intentional if it isn't fresh looking.
Invest in basics + take care of them properly and you will always look put together and can always have fun dressing them up!
Comfort is so important in one's confidence and even productivity. If you are thinking about, tugging at, or shifting in your clothes throughout your day there is no way you are feeling good or staying focused.
Comfort roots from fit! Pay attention to the fabrics you buy and the way it fits/feels on your bod! Only buy what you feel good in! Do not worry about what is trendy or "in" if it doesn't make you feel good, it isn't serving you properly! Shop for what fits you well so you can breathe, sit, move and feel good walking across a room. Being comfortable is key to any style. If you aren’t comfortable, there is no way you can be stylish, because style is a reflection of you! Your style should make you feel like your best self and without comfort, that isn't possible.
You might loveee wearing high heeled shoes, but don't want to squeeze into a form-fitting dress and tights every day. You can still look like the powerhouse you are by throwing on fancy shoes with well-fitting jeans and a plain turtleneck for just the right amount of "fancy" with the perfect amount of NEVER being overdressed, and comfort in all the right places.
Keeping your outfits simple, fitting well, and made of quality will undoubtedly get you feeling great, and remember, sometimes the shoes ARE the outfit.
When you keep your outfits minimal with quality fabrics and layers it gives you the freedom to look sleek and stylish without having to wear something new every single day. It gets exhausting trying to look different every day and switch out your bags constantly to match your shoes or coat or whatever. Who has time for that these days!? Um, no one! If your over-all wardrobe is cohesive it should take minimal effort to mix things together successfully.
Not worrying about not having repeat outfit days can help you defeat that feeling of constant trend-chasing or the 1st world problem of stressing over not having the same outfit in more than ONE Instagram post. OMG.
If you always keep it sleek and simple with your quality basics and base layers then you can mix it up with your accessories and top layers - like jackets - and never feel like you are wearing the same outfit again, even if you kinda, sorta are a lil bit!
Reach for classic pieces for your base and throw on a funky blazer, cool sweater, or any fun combo of accessories on top so it always feels like a new look.
Pops of detail added to a simple outfit can be a perfect way to express yourself without having to try on ten million outfits before running out the door. Keep those mornings easy and painless.
Figuring out the art of fabric combos can seem a tad scary, but it doesn’t have to be. The most stylish people in the world are always the ones that know how to create the perfect outfit combinations, and that has a lot to do with the contrast of their fabrics, textures, and colors. Pair “fancy” with “low key” to level up or level down an outfit.
If you have a spunky patterned jacket and you loveee it and wanna wear it with your faux leather leggings - please go right ahead! I am not saying you should deprive yourself of self-expression by any means. I am saying there is a way to express yourself with a little more attention to detail so you can look and feel like you really want by refining and pulling together your looks to be as sophisticated as possible. So keep all the other details low key!
If you are wearing a bold statement piece, I would make sure you are keeping accessories, shoes, and the rest of your clothing layers on the simplistic side.
Let your statement piece be the statement piece. Don't create competition for attention in your outfits. Use contrast to give them all a fair place in your look.
If you are wearing that bold jacket with faux leather leggings then wear simple black Chelsea boots and a crisp white tee with gold stud earrings to have everything mesh perfectly and balance each other out. Do not go overboard by adding a ruffly sheer top with sequins AND sky high heels AND giant gold hoops AND stacked bangles AND layers of necklaces AND a velvet headband AND...okay so you get the point... It just starts to make you look like you are decorated instead of dressed.
Don't be afraid to let just ONE item of your outfit MAKE the outfit.
This will make getting dressed more mindful, and give you the freedom to cut down your time while getting ready which will make your life so much easier! Once you practice this for a while, you will see how much easier it will be to create outfits and get dressed every morning.
XOXO
GCM // RUBA RUBA
]]>5 Pieces Of Clothing Worth Splurging or Saving Up For This Year!
Get style without spending a fortune. Being more mindful about what you collect and what you consume is an important detail for building a wardrobe you love. Whether it is a Kate Spade bag, a RUBA RUBA Sheet Scarf or a pair of Madewell boots you can have it all. With the art of slowing down and thinking before buying you can have all of the style you desire. Stay away from cheap fashion and stick to high quality clothing you can't help but live in!
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5 Clothing Items Worth Splurging Or Saving Up For This Year!
It can feel like spending "too much" on clothing can be a waste, especially when there are so many accessible and cheap options out there! The cheap aspect takes over our reasoning part of the brain and tricks us into thinking that there is no reason to spend more on any particular item because we can get just about anything under $30 these days. BUT the problem with this is that those cheap items aren’t usually the exact cut, style, color or fabric you would love to be wearing. You compromise what you want for the price because it feels too good to pass on such a "deal". Then because it was ridiculously cheap, it rips, peels, pills or falls apart after a month. Now, there are a few different ways to avoid having a closet full of disposable, trendy items - but the first is to splurge on and/or save up for the core pieces that really matter!
These items can upgrade a cheap or simple outfit to make you feel more sophisticated and chic. It is always best to stick to classic cuts when it comes to building up your foundation so you can develop on top on this and not get stuck with piles of expensive trends you won’t plan on wearing next season. Focus on the timeless foundation items before leaping into the search for those fun statement pieces. Having a solid base of quality items that you can easily pair with statement items is key to having a strong, functional wardrobe.
Here are the items you should look out for:
A thick leather jacket, a sleek fitted blazer, a sturdy jean jacket to break in, or a timeless kimono: these are the items to save up for.
What jacket style you will search for and wear all depends on your life and preference, but having a quality overlayer to throw on with just about anything can be an amazing trick to getting dressed.
A classic, well fitting jacket can keep you warm and really complete an outfit at any time of the year. It is important to keep quality in mind when it comes to jackets because they can be a piece that you have in your closet for years. When something is cheap, it most likely is going to look cheap and feel cheap. If you want to feel effortlessly put together and chic, invest in a great coat or jacket that you will want to live in and that can upgrade any outfit!
Just a couple brands/places I love to shop for jackets:
Buying cheap boots is sooooo not worth it! Your feet hold your entire body up and staying comfortable is key to being focused throughout your day.
There are an endless amount of boots out there, but trying to stick with high quality materials such as leather and neutral colors will make the wearibilty on point (black or a saddle brown are as timeless as you can get). Boots that sit right above your ankle and below your mid calf are ideal. It works well for any age and can match so many different lifestyles. I always shoot for boots that do not have too low of a shaft (like boots that sit below the ankle bone) because they can sometimes not be very flattering or they make pairing socks and pants a little too much of a pain. I tend to go for boots that I can throw on with skinny jeans, dresses, tights or leggings without too much fuss over hiding my socks. I look for boots that can be pulled on, and with a little pant hem roll I am ready to roll.
You can be wearing the most simple, lackluster outfit in the world, but having a sleek, quality leather boot can level you and your look up in an instant! Definitely worth a couple months of saving up here!
Just a couple brands/places I love to shop for boots:
Jeans or any skinny pant is a crucial item to put a little extra attention into.
Nobody wants to feel unflattering or uncomfortable in their pants and it can be a struggle for ANYBODY to find the perfect fit. It takes searching, trying, testing, crying and some more searching to find that perfect pair that fits you just right, but when you do it is always worth the money. Finding a mid to high-rise is essential to creating a flattering base. Having a higher rise keeps everything pulled in and makes you look longer and leaner.
Paying attention to the length of your jeans or pants in important too! If a pair of pants is too long it will never make your legs looks long and lean. Try to find a length that sits right at your ankle (if wearing skinnies). You can always do a little roll for a flattering added detail to your outfit. If you must get your pants altered - ask the seamstress to use the original hem! She can always sew back on the original hem after removing excess length. Sounds a little crazy, but it will look so much better and will not have that "just hemmed" look to them!
Just a couple brands/places I love to shop for jeans/pants:
Now, scarves may seem like a small item that doesn’t need much attention...BUT in the colder months a scarf can complete an outfit unlike any other accessory in your closet. Scarves can be an item that can make your whole look feel cheap and unconsidered OR make your whole look feel intentional and put together.
So many scarves out there are mass-produced and made of bad fabrics that do not last. I am a huge scarf wearer and I even started my clothing line from the basic need for a higher quality scarf. I really only wear the RR Bandana Cowl Scarf or the RR Signature Sheet Scarf. If you have a certain type of scarf you like to stick to though - just pay attention to the pattern, fabric and color of the scarf! Make sure it is not made from acrylic or such thin poly or rayon that will get snags or a pilling texture to it. Look for fabrics that will hold up when getting rained and snowed on and shoved into a purse/backpack/suitcase. Look for something that will last you for more than one season!
Just a couple brands/places I love to shop for scarves:
Having a faux leather bag that is peeling and cracking at the seams does not do anything for anyone's look! It just makes your look sloppy and careless.
Upgrade for a simple leather tote or a classic cross-body messenger bag and you could be wearing sweatpants and still look more sophisticated by just having a quality bag on your arm. Fun statement piece bags are great, but everyone needs a couple class bags that can go with anything!
The days of matchy matchy bags, shoes, and outfits are wayyyy gone. Even though your grandmother still may want to match her bag to her outfit - do not feel the pressure to follow! It is much more sophisticated to use a minimal, clean leather bag that can go with just about anything than a funky, glitzy bag you have to worry about pairing with every other detail in your outfit. Save that fussing for another part of your day and stick to a high-quality bag that goes with anything and everything!
Just a couple brands/places I love to shop for bags:
What is the strongest/your favorite foundation piece in your closet?
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