Transitioning into Fall || #ootd

Today is officially the first day of fall! Fall is my favorite season because the weather is always just right, the colors are my favorites (yay for the color orange), and of course, it's my birthday season. 
Although I love summer mostly for the long days, I'm really tired of the weather and am excited for fall to come into full swing. 
The best way to transition into fall for me? No, it's not Pumpkin Spice Lattes. I like fall outfits. 

Black Shoulder Cut-Out Shift Dress: c/o Lyss Loo // Wide Brimmed Hat: Cotton On // Black Purse with Gold Chain: Forever 21 // Snow White Statement Necklace: c/o Happiness Boutique // Brown Peep-Toe Booties: Cathy Jean

I received an adorable shift dress with shoulder cut-outs from Lyss Loo recently, and I have a feeling that it will be my go-to piece this season with some booties and maybe even tights depending on how the weather is. The fabric itself is light enough to wear on warmer days, but because it's black, long, and has some sleeves, it can also easily be worn as the weather cools down with a scarf or boots as well. 

Shift dresses are so great no matter what the season because they are so easy to dress up or down or even according to the weather. I have a shift dress that is spaghetti straps, perfect for the summer. I have another one with long sleeves, perfect for winter. & now I have this cute shift dress with a trendy aspect to it--the shoulder cut-outs--that I can wear for fall and even the spring, as well as the other seasons as well. 
I am so excited for all the layering, the pants, the scarves, and just being able to put more clothes on as fall season comes around! Yay! (Plus, just 3 more weeks until my birthday!)
What are you most excited about for fall? 

Business and Casual

Photos by: Tysu Photography

I like mixing up styles. Whether it's something preppy with something edgy or something ultra casual with something structured, I just like mixing up textures and styles to give my outfits something different that what you would normally expect. 

I remember reading in Seventeen magazine when I was a freshman year in high school about a fashion tip based off an outfit Selena Gomez wore. The tip said to pair a loose graphic tee with a nice and neat pencil skirt. The casual and loose look of the graphic tee and the fitted, fancier pencil skirt balanced the outfit together. 
So here I am, 7 years later, recreating my own version of the outfit. And I must say, I still agree completely with that tip. 

Graphic Tee: H&M (old) // Pencil Skirt: Express // Cropped Furry Cardigan: H&M (old) // Necklace: Target // Booties: Forever 21 (old)

Thank you, Selena Gomez & Seventeen Magazine for inspiring me with this outfit for the past 7 years.
What are your favorite unexpected fashion combos?

Living on (Straight) Edge

I like to think that when it comes to my personal style, that I have an edge to it. I wouldn't call myself or my style edgy, but I like to think of it as classic with an edge. I like wearing classic silhouettes or classic pieces with something to toughen it up a little bit. Whether it's boots or a leather jacket, I like to add an edge to my outfits. Is it weird to say I like to look like a "bad" (for lack of a better word) girl without actually being one?
I mean, I don't like to party or drink or smoke or most things that people my age like to do. I'm pretty straight edge but I feel like when you dress edgy, you can give off the impression that you aren't. 

However, while I do not consider my style edgy, I do have a couple edgy outfits. Like this one. I had so much fun with it because I own a purple crop top courtesy of Express (I won a contest at work and my prize was a free outfit), and I really wanted to incorporate it into an outfit that could work for a more casual setting (the top was marketed as a New Year's Eve party type of top). 
It was just a fun outfit because it wasn't something that I wouldn't normally wear but still liked, and I felt so cool in it, haha. 

Purple Crop Top: Express // Leather Jacket (hand me down): Nine West // Black High Waisted Jeans: Forever 21 // Gray Booties: c/o Macy's // Black & Gold Purse: Forever 21

Sweaters Aren't For Lazy People

School is back in session for most of us! It's still winter and pretty chilly in most places (shoutout to New England for braving it through winter storm Juno) so we're all trying to figure out ways to stay warm. 
Another thing about being back in school and cold weather is how easy it is to wear sweats and a sweater everyday. It's easy and it's comfortable, but I think there's also a way to dress comfortably with a crew neck sweater without looking like you were just being lazy that day. 

My sister gave me a super warm crew neck from her school since I gave her one from mine, and it is so soft! It is soft and warm and I love it. 
I wanted to wear it out, but I didn't want to just look like I rolled out of bed. So my solution was to layer a button up underneath like what a lot of preppy people do, and I just dressed up my outfit with cuffed jeans, some booties, and a purse. The beanie was a nice touch for the warmth. 

The result? A comfortable, warm, but yet polished outfit. The layering makes it look preppy but the beanie adds an edge to it. It's one of my favorite outfits to wear. 

San Jose State Sweater: Gifted from my sister // Denim Button Up: Billabong, similar // Beanie: RVCA, gifted from the boyfriend // Jeans: Express // Booties: c/o Macy's // Blush Pink Purse: Forever 21 // Elephant Ring: c/o The Collegiate Standard

This is one of my most comfortable and favorite outfits ever. I will definitely be repeating this outfit over and over again. Don't judge me. 
What is your go-to style for class?

Attempting Casual

The weather in Southern California has been bipolar lately (when is it not?) with temperatures varying from snowfall in parts of California that probably have never had snow before all the way up to the 80s. The sun also decides to come and go as it pleases as well... unfortunately. 

I usually like dressing up my outfits with anything, whether it's with my shoes or my accessories, but lately I've been trying to change it up by dressing more casually. I mean on lazy days I'll wear a sweater and jeans (usually to class), but I've been wanting to incorporate more casual looks into the outfits I actually try on. Haha. 
One of the biggest things that can make a difference in an outfit that I've noticed? Shoes. 
You could wear a super fancy outfit with sneakers and the whole vibe of the outfit changes. Change those shoes to stilettos and the outfit has taken a completely different turn. 

Zip-up Hoodie: Cotton On // Striped Half-Sleeve Shirt: H&M // Black Peplum Dress (shown as skirt): Forever 21 (old) // Mustard Yellow Tights: H&M // Shoes: Target // Mustard Yellow Beanie: RVCA - old gift from the boyfriend

I also tried to layer out of inspiration from Pinterest and the way other people have online. I layered a loose, long shirt over a dress and tied a jacket to my waist to give it some definition. 
I want to try more casual outfits like this, and I'm sure that California's weather will allow for it. 
Do you have any tips to dress casual but chic? Or at least not lazy?

Re-Introducing the #ootd

When I first started out with writing this blog, one of my initial focuses were originally to do mostly fashion posts with others sprinkled in. Since then, I slowly moved away from that unintentionally to do more beauty, faith, food, and dating posts. Especially the dating posts. 
As much as I love what I have been able to do with my blog as a result of expanding it, fashion is still one of my true (and first) loves that got me into wanting to blog & become a journalist anyway (fashion journalism is basically what I want to do). 

So, one of the goals I made for myself for this year was to re-introduce the #ootd to the blog. Not only that, I'm also hoping to up the game for photos not only for fashion photos, but for all of the photos that go on the blog. 
I'm hoping to have at least one outfit photo up on here at least once a week or biweekly, depending on if I'm able to get shoots done with the boyfriend, Darell, when I'm home or photographer friends in the area I live in depending on how my schedule goes. 

Shift Dress: Express // Utility Jacket: Borrowed from a friend // Scarf: Birthday Gift from a couple years ago // Crew socks: Forever 21 - similar // Booties (old): Forever 21
With all that said and my first #ootd of the year done, I'm excited for what this blog is going to turn into this year, especially in regards to fashion & my personal style!
What is a style goal you have for this year?

October Calls for Pumpkins // Outfit of the Day

My birthday is this week! Other than the fact that it's my birthday month, October is my favorite month of the year because it's one of two (the other being November) months where the color orange is a predominant color in most default color palettes for the month. 
So when my choir went to a pumpkin patch last week, I was convinced that I had to go. I had never been to a pumpkin patch or a corn maze before, so I figured why not, let's go! (I originally didn't intend to go). 

Kimono: Some store in Downtown LA // Purple Velvet Crop Top: Urban Outfitters // Black Skater Skirt: Cotton On // Gray Booties: Macy's // Gray Cross-Body Bag: Forever 21

Heat Wave #ootd

Last week, Southern California had a massive heat wave and it was so unbearably hot and sticky outside. Luckily, I managed to survive it by wearing loose and flowy outfits like this particular one to battle the heat. 

I spent some time hanging out with Adriana of Alaska Renee and we decided to hang out at a typical spot that many people from our school normally go to (it's called the Anti-Mall. How hipster is that? Haha). We've both been there before, but we're not there often so we took the opportunity to explore this cute little corner that was perfect to snap a few photos. (We even did a video together!)

Dress: Forever 21 | Sandals: Payless (old) | Cross necklace: c/o BornPrettyStore | Elephant Ring: c/o Collegiate Standard | Gold midi rings: c/o BornPrettyStore | Flower earrings: Forever 21 | Heart stud: Walmart | Bralette: local store

Flowy dresses that kinda hang on the body are starting to really become a thing. It's funny because I remember a few years ago I'd try on dresses like this and thought they looked unflattering on me. It's funny how people's perceptions change according to current trends!
BornPrettyStore sent me a bunch of cute accessories, and I love how dainty they are! It makes them easy to style and mix and match stuff as you please. They are also super affordable as well, so check them out when you get a chance and use the code "KDDT10" to receive 10% off your purchase! 
Disclosure: I received one or more products courtesy of BornPrettyStore. There was no monetary compensation, and all opinions are my own.