Men's Spring Style

Better late than never, right? Today's post, that is. :)

 

Next Thursday is the first day of Spring. Man, I just love springtime. ALMOST as much as I love the fall. [Note, if football was played during it then Spring might officially be my favorite season.]

 

Something I also love are men.

 

While a lot of us ladies are very excited about debuting spring colors, styles or pedicures, we often neglect the spring fashion of our male counterparts. Now, I fully know that the average man isn't interested in what the spring fashion trends are. However, it's fun to at least look and see what's big in the male fashion industry this season.

 

So, shall we?

 

 

1. Gray. Gray is making a huge comeback this season for men. Not all shades...but more specifically a pale shade of gray. Can I just say that this shade of gray with a pastel shirt? LOVE!

 

 

2. Loafers. Love these! I also have seen quite a number of men wearing these with jeans already. A word of caution...no socks. Okay?

 



 

3. Pocket squares! Oh man, this is exciting. I've always thought pocket squares were super-fancy and chic. I'm glad that they are big this year.

 

 

4. Double Denim. Yep. The dreaded DD. I am NOT a fan of this look. However, it is pretty big this spring.

 

 

5. Stripes! This is another trend I can definitely get behind. I love me some stripes so men in stripes? Yes please!

 

 

Would you try any of these trends? (if male) Would you want your spouse/bf/etc. to try any of these? (if female)

 

Things I Love Thursday

Happy Thursday, friends. Let's celebrate the day before the weekend starts with few cool things. Shall we?

//I might be trying to replicate this outfit this weekend. Except I don't have mint pants. Oh darn, excuse to go shopping...

//Here's another handy little cheat sheet for y'all this week. But this time it's for shoes!

//This headline makes me VERY happy. I no longer have to cheer for Wes in private because I hate his team. Now I can be a full-fledged Wes fan. :)

//Has anyone tried The Bread from Pioneer Woman? I kind of really, REALLY want to.

//Caption: When my friend texts me a picture of all the breast milk she pumped with the caption "Got Milk".

//Sigh. This kitchen. Beautiful.

//I am absolutely loving this dress. Though I fear I'm not able to pull off this shade of peach very well. :( | It recently came to my attention that I do not own a pair of plain black flats. Shocking, I know. However, I think these presh ones will work quite nicely, don't you? | This DIY confetti wall art project is definitely on my to-do list. | Thoughts on the new Bloglovin Boutique?

//Lastly, I leave you with this. I like pigs. As much as the Geico talking pig bothers me (he has human teeth and that FREAKS me out) these little guys are adorbs.

 Have an adorable Thursday.

[P]infamous and Self-Tanner Question

I discovered an interesting thing the other day while on Pinterest.

People have pinned outfit photos (and a few other assorted photos) from this blog on to Pinterest. Whoa! Talk about major cray! I never thought anyone would pin some of my outfit photos on to their Pinterest style boards. That's a HUGE compliment. That anyone likes my style enough to pin is like...yeah...mind. blown.

Anywho, it was totally interesting which outfits people pinned. Some of them were outfits I never would have thought would get picked up, but did. Weird how that works, right?

Original Post

Looking back over these is a nice dose of inspiration. I can't wait for warmer weather so I can start [fake] tanning again and wear all of my brights! Yay! Is it bad that's what I've gleaned from this post? 

Side note: I need a new self-tanner that doesn't smell like pee. Any advice? Suggestions? I might have already tried it. I'm VERY particular about smells and I've yet to find one that doesn't smell like pee. Ugh. It's really about finding something that doesn't smell like pee AS MUCH as others. Again, any suggestions are welcome. 

And...the end.

Yellow? Can You Hair Me?

Yellow.

It's a color I absolutely love...(think owning a yellow car, having a yellow painted room and the like)...but a color I have difficulty knowing how to wear. I've blogged about my struggles with wearing yellow before. So, I thought that since yellow is a very hot color for Spring, it might be helpful to share some yellow-wearing tips with you.

I think wearing yellow has a lot to do with a few things: namely your hair color, skin tone and the other colors you wear with it. When finding the right shade of yellow, you should consider your hair and skin tone. Is your hair warmer-toned or cool-toned? (Generally, most brunettes and red heads are warm toned.) Is your skin warm or cool toned? Do you have a fairly neutral shade of both? Something else you should consider is what other colors you are wearing the yellow with.*

The Best Yellow For Your Hair Color by aprilanne147 featuring a yellow cardigan

This is a little something I put together to help you figure out your best shade of yellow. A few things to note: 1) You dark brunette ladies (like Zooey) can pretty much wear whatever shade of yellow that you want. You jerks. 2) Pale blondes like me can really only get away with darker or more saturated yellows unless the yellow is not up next to the face and hair. 3) Notice that the lemon yellow (or a bright, vibrant yellow with no apparent cool or warm tones) is universally flattering, in my opinion.

Do you like yellow? Do you wear it?

*I feel most people can wear almost any shade of yellow as long as it isn't near their face or hair. (If it's not an ideal shade.) I've worn pale, pale yellow under a cardigan so it wasn't up close to my face or hair.

Blog Loves of Late

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I try hard to keep up with my "Blogroll" page in my upper menu bar. Basically, this is an ever-growing list of blogs that I follow and read on the daily.

Lately, I've come across so many new blogs that I felt I should share my good fortune!! Below is a list of a few new blogs I've been reading (and loving!) lately...

1. Hems for Her - A blog about a plus-size fashionista Katie who happens to be a teacher IRL. :)
2. Hello Gorgeous! - A girl's life in outfit posts. I seriously love every single outfit she wears.
3. Kaliwood - A KY girl's take on life (with lots of awesome DIY projects).
4. Life of Meg - This sweet lady just got married this weekend!!
5. PinkLouLou - This southern lady is all about big hair, monograms and other pretty pink stuff.
6. ML - She's a photog who has great taste in clothes, jewelry and men. (She did marry my cousin, after all!)
7. Sama ipsa Loquitur - This lawyer gal has excellent fashion sense and an even better sense of humor!
8. The Pear Shape - Her tagline says is best: Fashion for the hip-endowed.

Any new blogs you've stumbled across lately? I'd love for you to share!!

Root Canals & Recipe Perfections

Hola Blogaritas!

Happy Friday.

I thought I might change it up this week and just give y'all some good ol' updates on moi. Apparently, some of you care about me and my life and don't just tune into TSF every week day for the outfit posts and fashion advice. Who knew?!?!

So, I'm going to stick with my vow to include more details on my life with today's post. Ready?

//I had a root canal yesterday. Technically I had a root canal and 4 cavities filled all on one side of my mouth. People, being completely (and I mean completely) numb on one whole side of my face meant a few things. 1) I could only chew on one side of my mouth. 2) I literally could not drink anything without spilling it all over myself until I discovered the power of a drinking through a straw. 3) I had to walk around looking like this for the rest of  the day.

 You do realize that because I have shared this with y'all that we have all now crossed into THAT place. That place where I share completely unflattering, yet hilarious photos of myself with you solely for your viewing pleasure. You should feel privileged.

//Things with M and I are still going...and going well. We have officially crossed into that stage where he allows me to accompany him while shoe shopping. (Oh, you didn't know that's a "stage"? It totally is.)

//This little guy is still as cute (and ornery) as ever. He thoroughly dislikes baths.

//In other news, my job is good...albeit a bit stressful at times. I'm really enjoying living back in Charlotte. Though I loved Wilmington, Charlotte just feels like home.

//This week I made homemade hibachi chicken and vegetables. (And perfected my own recipe, IMO.) I feel like that + my current obsession with Japanese food is going to make that a weekly staple in my house. Maybe I'll eventually get tired of it...but who knows?!

And...I think that's it. Oh, let me leave you with these...I thought I read somewhere that this guy's name is Little Sebastian. I might be wrong. Either way, he's adorbs...

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Things I Love Thursday

Happy Thursday, y'all!

I'm sharing some fun, cute and cool things that I found this week on The Internets. Enjoy!

//This helpful cheat sheet for what kinds of necklaces to wear with various clothing necklines.

via

//Trying this tutorial tomorrow!

//But it might end up looking more like I used this tutorial.

//Check out this gorgeous Etsy photography shop.

//Cuteness alert!

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//I've actually never tried a winged eyeliner before, but this tutorial makes it seem pretty easy to do.

//I'm loving the color scheme of the new spring Kate Spade line.

//This seems like it would be the most disgusting tasting thing ever. I'll stick with my Chocolate Fudge...or S'Mores.

  

//Bad news. Very, very bad news. This week I discovered a little online gem called the J Crew Factory Store.

via

//This awesome homemade face bronzer is really something I would try. Would you?

//I wonder if this is true or photoshopped? If it's true, it might explain why so many young girls have self-esteem issues.

//Speaking of chocolate, I'm thinking of trying this recipe out this weekend...but I need to first figure out where my local health food stores are. [Shameface.] 

New Navy Color Combinations

Navy is, by far, my favorite neutral. And navy blue is really big right now. I read somewhere important (obviously) that navy is the hottest wedding color this season.

So, it's also no surprise that new color combinations with navy blue are popping up everywhere. Navy blue, as a neutral, really looks good with almost every other color, however there are some that I REALLY love it with. Here are some of my current favorite color combinations using navy blue.

navy combinations by aprilanne147 featuring carlos miele

1. Navy and coral
2. Navy and grass green
3. Navy and aqua

Disclaimer: Navy and grass green is my absolute fave. If you know me IRL and get married before me and use those two colors I will disown you. 

A few other honorable mentions:

4. Navy and mustard
5. Navy and mint
6. Navy and bright purple

Would you ever wear a "daring" color like one of the above with navy blue?

Top 5 Tuesday: Cardigans

Today's Top 5 Tuesday post is dedicated to my absolute favorite piece of clothing ever...the CARDIGAN.

The cardigan, cardi-for short, is a sweater in all respects. However, to me, it's so much more than that. It's something to keep me warm, it's a pop of color, it's a conservative fashion statement. It's a go-to wardrobe staple that I wear almost daily.

Actually, that's not even exaggerating. I wear a cardigan at least 4 days a week...and usually it's more like 7.

Here are the Top 5 reasons I love cardigans for today's Top 5 Tuesday post.

//1. Cardigans keep me warm. In the winter time or in the frigid air conditioned office, my cardigans always keep me toasty and warm.

//2. Cardigans provide a pop of color to my wardrobe. A basic dress or skirt is completely revitalized with the addition of a brightly colored cardigan. Most of my cardigans are actually bright or pastel colors for this very reason.

//3. Cardigans are a fairly conservative fashion staple. I don't usually feel comfortable showing my arms so cardigans are a great way to wear sleeveless tops and dresses and are light enough to wear even in the summer.

//4. Cardigans are fashionable. Yep, they are just fashionable. Not too trendy and not too basic. They can be mixed up with patterns and cuts or kept simple, but they will always remain a classic piece of fashion.

//5. Cardigans are versatile. Button them up and wear with a skinny belt to be more like a shirt. Leave them open over a loose-fitting tee to function more like a blazer. These can literally be worn with dresses, skirts, jeans and shorts. They are just as at-home at the Kentucky Derby as they are at a Kentucky football game.

Images via this pinboard.

Does anyone else share my love for these sweater wonders?

OOTD: Corange

Dress: c/o eShakti | Tights: Target | Pumps: Target | Belt: Forever 21

Have you heard of eShakti? It's an online clothing boutique that has seriously awesome clothes. And the best part (in my opinion, at least) is that all of their clothing is customizable! Yes, not only can you get an item custom fit to your size, but you can also choose the "custom styling" option which allows you to further modify the neckline, length or even add sleeves!

So, of course, when eShakti contacted me about reviewing an item, I immediately fell in love with this dress. This color, which I call corange (coral + orange) is so beautiful and can be worn in many seasons. However, this dress (as pictured) didn't have sleeves. (And sleeves are a MUST with me!) I was completely and totally excited that their new custom styling option allowed me to add 3/4 length sleeves!

So, on to the proper review portion: I love that this dress is a silhouette I wouldn't normally choose. It's very retro and makes me feel a lot like Zooey Deschanel (my fave!) when I wear it. The color is amazing and the fit is...well...perfect! The only thing I don't absolutely love about the dress is that it wrinkles pretty easily. However, I think that a good ironing with starch should help to remedy the tendency to wrinkle for at least a few wears. But, other than that, I'm in love with this dress. I received so many compliments on it the first time I wore it. I can't wait for the weather to warm up so I can rock this one bare-legged with ballet flats in the spring and summer. Way to go eShakti!! You hit a homerun with me!

And now, for some good news...shop at eShakti between now and March 10th and receive 20% off any order with the coupon code THESTRPEDF. Simply enter that code during checkout and receive 20% off your order. You can get a beautiful dress or skirt for that upcoming wedding or spring semi-formal you're going to and have it customized to fit your body AND your style.

That's a win WIN! Take a look at eShakti's new arrivals today!

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday.

Confessional Friday

Hello lovelies.

It's been a hot minute since I've done a Confessional Friday post, so let's just get to gettin'!

//1. I confess that I probably trick myself into thinking that because I eat at Subway it's healthy. Meatball subs on wheat are kinda healthy, right?

//2. I confess that I cringed a little when I realized by boss scheduled an 8 am meeting for today (Friday). It's not that it's too early, because I'm usually at work before 8, but it means everyone else will be here and I like having some quiet solitude time at my desk before the masses arrive. :(

//3. I confess that after dealing with/worrying about a sick dog most of the week, it scares me as to how I might react if I ever have kids. Panic, much???

//4. I confess that I always find hilarious memes on Pinterest and then am afraid to post them on my blog because they contain cuss words. I mean, it's cussing for the sake of comedy...so it's okay...right?

//5. I confess that I discovered only this past week that the Grumpy Cat is REAL!! While not life-changing, this news is certainly awesome.

//6. I confess that I might have let my laundry sitch get a bit out of hand. That's okay, though...I'm splitting it up into 2 separate evenings. TMI??

//7. I confess that it makes me happy when I can introduce hilarious viral videos to my coworkers. I showed them the hair tutorial gone wrong video that was on my blog yesterday and they were dying. Like, couldn't catch their breath from laughing. It gives me some sort of satisfaction to know that I am doing my part to bring a little bit of laughter to the work day.

And on that note, I will depart from this post. I'm linking up with Leslie for today's post.

Have a wonderful weekend, y'all!