The World Was Young // Outfit Post

It's hard to believe that it is the 11th and this is only my first post of the month! I have been under so many school-related deadlines that I haven't had time to take outfit pictures or blog lately, but I'm going to be more regular in the future. Starting in May.

 

Just kidding.

 

Sort of. ☺


 

Anyway, for my first formal speech this year on Tuesday, I had to dress "professionally", so I channeled my inner businesswoman and matched my dress to my jacket and my belt to my shoes. When I got to school, my hair was clipped up (as you can see in these pictures), but one of the girls in my theatre class French-braided it for a performance, and I left it up for the rest of the day. I LOVE having my hair braided, and I can't do it myself, so whenever someone offers, I'm like YES.

Happy weekend-ing.

xoxo,

Ireland
 

 Outfit Credits:

Dress: Cynthia Rowley

Flyaway sweater: BCBGMaxAzria

Belt: Kenneth Cole Reaction

Shoes: Vince Camuto

Watch: grandmother's jewelry box

 

Title Credit:
"Beautiful" by Ben Rector

Don't Stop the Madness // Outfit Post

 

 

Hey, everyone! I don't know about you, but I'm coming off of a long day of school, school, and more school right now. We are only three weeks in and I already have about two hours of homework every night. (And if you ask my mom, that's a conservative estimate.)

 

Busy as I may be, I still try to find time every night to pick out an outfit that is both flattering and creative. I wore this one on Monday, even though it was a bit rainy and dreary outside. The plaid shirtdress is super fun, and the shoes are cool and unexpected, balancing the masculine vibe of the dress in a really fresh way. I got several compliments on this look, which is always nice... :)

 

As always, I accessorized simply-- just a charm bracelet to finish off the look.

 

I may wear this dress again in the near future, so I'm trying to think of new ways to style it. What do you think?

xoxo,

 

Ireland

 

 

Outfit Credits:

Shirtdress: Old Navy, borrowed

Wedges: ??

Charm bracelet: Gift, from Paris

 

Title Credit: "Don't Stop the Madness" by Tenth Avenue North, from the album The Struggle

 

Lifelong Love Letter // Outfit Post

Good afternoon, my lovelies! I hope your weekend is off to a wonderful start. Today I went on a mini-road trip with my mom to Leland, NC to get some new contacts, and it was so fun... not least of all because the optometrist's name was-- get this-- Dr. Hu.

Anyway, with the first day of school only three days away, I've been spending some time putting new outfits together. This bright, sweet look is one of my favorites so far... I even got little butterflies in my stomach when I finished accessorizing it.

Is that normal? Probably not.

But that's beside the point. I love this look because it is colorful and happy and  fun to wear... and since I'm feeling a bit more optimistic than usual today, it also suits my mood quite nicely.

The start of school prompts me to get a little more creative with my outfits, so I hope to share several more with you over the next few weeks. Here's hoping!

Love you guys.

xoxo,

Ireland

Outfit Credits:

Pink 3/4 length: Hollister via Marshalls

White cropped pants: American Eagle, thrifted

Belt: ?, thrifted

Colorblock wedges: ana via JC Penney

Gold hoops: borrowed

Gold ring: borrowed

 

Title Credit: "I Choose You"by Sara Bareilles

  

We All Wanna Be Somebody // Outfit Post

 Hey guys! It's been a while since I've done an outfit post, which is too bad because they are a lot of fun. Plus, I really love this look-- the sleeveless sweater has a very classic feel, but there are some sporty-cool influences in there too.

I cuffed my skinnies to show off these great black heels. They have a similar athletic-inspired edge as the sweater, which totally pulls the look together. And as always, I kept my accessories to a minimum-- just two silver rings. Coco Chanel's notorious quote about always taking off one thing before you leave the house... well, I think she had a point. The focus should be on you more than it is on your outfit!

So, I have a question: Do you think nail polish should be considered an accessory or a cosmetic? I think it's a bit of both. For this look, my toes are black and my nails are red, and I think it really adds to the overall look. 

I'm not as into hair/makeup as much as fashion, but they definitely go hand in hand. For this look, I straightened my hair (although as you can tell, I didn't get all the wave out) and emphasized my eyes by lining them in the same shade of blue.

 

Here's a quick how-to: BB cream all over face and neck. Light pink blush from the apples of cheeks to the temples. Nude eyeshadow all over the eye. Bronze/brown shadow all over lid. Navy eyeliner on top lid and waterline. Mascara on top and bottom lashes. Soft red eyeliner, lip balm, subtle lipstick.

 

Sorry for the quality in these pictures... we took them with an iPhone and the lighting wasn't great. But other than that, I really like these shots! What do you think? 

 

xoxo,

Ireland

 

Outfit Credits:

Sleeveless sweater: dressbarn, borrowed

Skinnies: Aeropostale

Heels: Colin Stuart, thrifted
Skinny ring: ?
Silver ring w/ red stone: Dressing Your Truth (Type 4 section)
Belt (not pictured): ?, borrowed

Title Credit: "Be Somebody" by Thousand Foot Crutch
 

Beautiful Day // Outfit Post

 

 

Look what I found in a window display downtown. :) Perks of being named after a country.

 

 

 

With my mom.

 

 With my grandmother.

 

 

At a park next to the library.

 

I put this outfit together really quickly (like less than five minutes), and I'll let you in on the secret: maxi dresses are all-in-one outfits. Sure, you could get super-creative and add a couple layers of gauzy tops and scarves and stuff, but you don't have to. Sometimes simple styling is best, like when you're crunched for time or don't have a lot of cash to spend on extras.

 

When I found this floppy hat in the top of my closet, I knew it would tie my sandals and dress together, and then all I had to do was throw on sunglasses. It's an easy look that is a step above the completely casual t-shirt and shorts combo... not that I don't sport that look often in the summer, too :)

 

So, do you have any easy styling tricks for these warmer months? Care to share?

 

xoxo,

 

Ireland

 

Outfit Credits:
Purple dress: Fiancée, via Dressing Your Truth

Sunglasses: ?? Dr. Bizers

Shoes: ??

Hat: Olsenboye

 

Title Credit: "Beautiful Day" by Jamie Grace, from the album Ready to Fly

 

Sweeter Than Fiction // Outfit Post

So, in recent news, my grandmother and great-aunt Linda are visiting this week from Knoxville! Yesterday we all piled into my mom's car and took them to see some of the quintessential Southport spots-- including the waterfront park, where I'm sitting in the picture below.

 

I rarely ever do this, but I changed three times over the course of the day yesterday. I wore a dress and a denim jacket to church, changed into a t-shirt and shorts when we got home, and then changed again before going out in the evening. Anyway... eventually I ended up in this sleeveless sweater by Scott Taylor, my dark denim shorts, and faux leather flip-flops, along with the beaded necklace my uncle got my mom in Afghanistan and my prescription sunglasses. So everything worked out.

 

My dad called me a blonde Jackie the other day and I am still basking in the glow... :) My inspiration for this outfit came from some pictures of Audrey Hepburn and Jackie O on island vacations... they even made casual wear look chic! You can check out my Pinterest boards of Jackie here and Audrey here.

 

Silly faces to brighten the mood :)

 

 

I hope your week is starting off well! As usual, your thoughts are more than welcome in the comments....

 

xoxo,

 

Ireland

 

 

Outfit Credits:

Sweater- Scott Taylor, borrowed

Shorts- ZCO via Belk

Shoes- Sonoma, borrowed

Necklace- ?, borrowed

Sunglasses- Dr. Bizer's?*

*(IDK for sure... they are labeled Aztec Suns but I don't know if that's the style or the brand)

 

 

Title Credit:
"Sweeter Than Fiction" by Taylor Swift

 



 

 

 

You Were Born to Bloom // Outfit Post



Downtown Southport is a beautiful place to be in late spring. Here is a snap of my mom, brother, and me in front of the Maritime Museum (which, in case you're wondering, is the place to learn about the history of Brunswick County. You'll get a solid social studies lesson, along with a few pirate yarns to add relish). Notice the beautiful purple flowers, the black iron fence, and the quaint brick buildings behind us. So pretty.



There is a charming little shop in Southport on the corner of Howe and East Moore called Bull Frog Corner. It's one of those quirky shops, crammed floor-to-ceiling with all kinds of toys, books, beach souvenirs, and candy. In fact, there's a little platform inside that leads to a room filled with everything from maple candies to gummies to chocolate-covered raisins. It's arguably the most intriguing part of the store, and that's saying something, considering there is some kind of merchandise covering every square inch of the place. Today, we got one of Jeffrey's friends a little birthday present from the toy section, and he bought himself a Star Wars staff, which he is holding in the top picture.

 

As we wandered around different places downtown, Mom took pictures of me in this bright pink ensemble. It's been a while since I did a full-on outfit post, and you seemed to enjoy those, so what better time to do another one than today? I decided to wear top-to-bottom neon pink for these shots... have I ever mentioned how much I love color?

  

In Matilda, the kind teacher who eventually adopts the poor orphan girl lives in a lovely little whitewashed house in the forest. This wall reminds me of that mental imagery my mind conjured up when I read that book... it feels so fanciful and romantic.

 

Hope you enjoyed this post! Let me know what you think!

 

Have a blessed day, today and always.

xoxo,

Ireland

Title Credit:

"Bloom" by Moriah Peters

from the album I Choose Jesus

Introduction to Style: Wardrobe Building

Okay. So. Wardrobe building, yeah?

 

First, you need to take a look at your lifestyle. What kind of clothes do you need?

• Where do you live? City, country, somewhere in between?
• What is the weather like there?
• What are your daily activities? School, sports, office job, grocery store runs? Do you travel?
• What kind of events do you attend? You probably don't need anything more formal than some nice dresses for special occasions. You can work your way down from there.
• My example: Where I live, I can use any warm-weather item. While it can get cold in the winter, I don't need too many coats. I need outfits for school, church, babysitting jobs, working out, and going to outdoor events.
• Eighty percent of your closet should be made of basic items that go with all your other clothing. The other things you like make up the other 20 percent.

Learn what you like.

• Do some research on fashion blogs, Pinterest, etc. You could also buy a couple books on fashion. I recommend Seventeen's Ultimate Guide to Style or Lauren Conrad Style. (These books aren't perfect-- not all the outfits are modest, the advice is not infallible, and LC Style has one mild use of language-- but they are really good overall.)
• Go through your closet. Donate or sell what you don't like or don't wear, and examine what you do. What does that say about you and your tastes? When you shop, keep that in mind, and don't buy things that you won't know how to pair with the stuff already in your closet.
• Remember that beauty without modesty isn't really beauty.
• My example: I like clothes that are Audrey-Hepburn-meets-fun-21st-century-teenager on a budget. I like a mix of classic, girly-girl, and creative. I like pretty shoes. And color. I don't like things that are ill-fitting or too "funky" and I don't take huge fashion risks. I generally can tell when something just doesn't work (that is, when it comes to everyday fashion... high fashion is still somewhat foreign to me, although I can appreciate it).
  

   

  
  
• While you're styling outfits, note which pieces you don't have that would really come in handy. Consider purchasing a few of those. (But make sure you don't get into that zone where what you have is not enough, if only you had more options, etc., etc. Not a godly place to be. Remember you already have enough. Talking to myself here as well.)

 

xoxo,

Ireland

 

 

 

Introduction to Style: Fashion Basics

 

Okay, so yesterday we talked about hygiene/beauty stuff, and today we're going to talk about actual fashion.
 

Simple Clothing Tips

• Find someone in your life who has more experience with style than you do, and ask for her advice and opinions. I love having my mom as a mentor because she is totally honest if something doesn't work. She helps me cultivate my taste, which is one of the biggest parts of the whole fashion-thing.
• To avoid looking frumpy: be careful with accessories, sweaters/shawls, jeans, long skirts, and secondhand/vintage clothing. I like ALL of these things, as you could easily tell by going through my closet, but just know that they can be tricky. In a future post I plan to discuss how to stay on the chic side of these pieces.
• At first, stick with easy, mix-and-match basics. Concentrate on developing a wardrobe with easy-to-style pieces such as cute, quality tops, great-fitting jeans, and versatile flats. Dresses are also great because they instantly create an all-in-one outfit.
• Buy one complete, fabulous outfit that you know works and then use those pieces with the rest of your closet to create some great looks.
• Doing outfit posts has really helped me learn to style outfits better. If you're so inclined, you could start a blog or a little fashion journal to keep track of the outfits you make that you like. Just right it down, have someone take a picture, and keep it all organized. You might be able to track your improvement in a remarkable way.
• Follow the outfit checklist at the bottom of this post

Outfit Checklist

• Does it fit well?
• Is everything clean and in good shape? (i.e. no stains, relatively wrinkle-free, etc.)
• Do your top, bottoms, shoes, and accessories coordinate together?
• Are you comfortable?
• Do you feel good in these clothes? Do you think you'll feel good all day?

 

This is simple advice, not magic, but maybe it'll give you a little boost?! Let me know. And if you have questions I haven't answered, please ask them! The more specific would probably best.

Tomorrow I will have a post on wardrobe building :)

xoxo,
Ireland


P.S. This advice is obviously not necessary for survival, and you don't have to follow every single tip. When I say you "need" to do something it's probably only in terms of fashion. Anyway, just a reminder that while the way you look and how you dress is important, it is not everything, not even close.
 

Introduction to Style

This was how I styled a navy maxi a while back.

As you can tell from the title, I'm starting a new project today called Introduction to Style. It will be a series of posts that I don't really need to describe, because the title gives it all away. :)

I am by no means a fashion expert, but I want to share the knowledge I have in hopes that if you are style savvy, you will enjoy this series and maybe pick up a tip or two, and if you aren't but want to be, this will serve as a solid first step and nudge you along in the right direction. Plus, fashion blogging is just fun!

Now, quick! Pick one. (And let me know in the comments.)

Style is...
a) a tiny part of my life.
b) a part of my life.
c) one of my passions.

I'm so excited! Let's do this.

xoxo,

Ireland