We’ve been seeing chokers in so many different renditions all over the place, and we are not mad about it at all. It’s an accessory that’s so easy to throw on and forget about, and it does double duty by both remaining neutral and at the same time elevating your outfit. Chokers evoke the regal feeling of European royalty in the 18th and 19th century, when they first found their foothold in the fashion world. Whether your style is minimalist or ornate, you can find a choker that fits you perfectly. Try a thin leather choker for a classy accessory with some edge, or pair a thick one with an off-the-shoulder top to show off your artistic eye for parallel lines. Choosing one in a color that coordinates with your outfit can give your look that “fully finished” feel - it can be just the extra intentionality and visual interest you need. The choker is back in force. We don’t feel shy about it, and neither should you. Get one for every day of the week! We’re behind you 100%.
Fashionably Yours, Julie Johnson
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From Lea Michelle to the Kardashians to Rhianna, celebrities of all kinds are wearing lingerie-inspired fashion. But there is a big difference between actually baring your underwear and intentionally incorporating lingerie-inspired elements like lace and silk into your look. Tread carefully as you start trying out these type of outfits, because if you choose the wrong pieces to show off it can easily come off as scandalous. Some obvious choices for appropriate items to bring this trend to life include slip dresses, camisoles and bralettes - all three are easy to incorporate into your outfits to add that lingerie feel. When you’re creating your outfit around a lingerie inspired piece, style your accessories thoughtfully. You don’t need too many focal points in one outfit, so keep in mind that the lingerie piece should be the standout. Also, try your hand at layering to make sure your outfit doesn’t seem too bare or revealing - a tee underneath or a jacket on top of your “pretty little things” will transform them into wearable fashion. Remember, the idea is not to show as much skin as a piece of lingerie would, but to evoke the delicate feel that lingerie brings to mind. It’s best if your outfit gives off a somewhat playful or casual vibe; you just don’t want it to feel too intimate. Finally, if you add heavier pieces to your ensemble they can anchor your outfit so that it doesn’t feel so boudoir. Try a chunky heel or a structured bag to lend this kind of framework to your look. Layering with lingerie is a great trend to try out this fall, so get your basics together with those intimates and do some experimenting!
Fashionably Yours, Julie Johnson Okay, have you all seen Stranger Things yet? If you haven’t, get to Netflix and clear up your evening, because you’re going to want to binge-watch it. We’re a little obsessed over here. And not just the storyline! Whether you like the show or not, the characters will linger in your mind long after you’ve finished the season, and their 1980’s Americana style is really what’s stuck with us. Here are a few looks that pay homage to the show’s throwback styling! ELEVEN It’s easy to get pieces that are very on-the-nose to replicate Eleven’s style. This is due mostly to the fact the she wears the same outfit throughout almost the entire show. If you need a Halloween costume, you can choose pieces that are exactly Eleven, but you can also put together any sweet blush dress, blue bomber, knee socks and white sneakers that hearken back to her aesthetic and wear it in your everyday life! NANCY Nancy is a preppy girl turned rebel in the show, and her clothing tends to reflect her scholarly side. She tended to wear clothes that kept her looking appropriate and covered up, so to channel her vibe we paired a high-neck printed sweater with a high-waisted denim skirt. BARB Who among us can’t relate to Barb? She’s the best of all things awkward and left behind, and we had to put together a look to honor her. We chose a navy puffer jacket over a printed button down, a pair of mom jeans and timberland boots. Add some oversized glasses and ruffles to your look to bring out even more of her fashion identity! STEVE, JONATHAN, MIKE, LUCAS, DUSTIN, etc... If you’re a guy, just throw on a puffer vest, a long sleeved raglan and a sheepskin-lined corduroy jacket or maybe a colorblocked baseball cap and you’re good to go!
We hope you’re inspired to channel some Stranger Things in your outfits this fall. If you do, we want to see it! Post your outfit on Instagram and tag us @freestyleclothingexchange for a chance to be featured on our page! Fashionably Yours, Julie Johnson Neutral pieces are an essential in any girl's wardrobe. This fall, a great way to take a neutral outfit to the extreme is to style it completely in nudes! You can use pieces that are blush, camel, beige, cream, tan - anything in this skin-toned family. Here are a few tips on creating looks out of your nude-colored items that have interest, depth, and cohesion. Keep tones consistent You wouldn't think one color could have so many conflicting shades, but it can be more difficult than you expect to put together an all-nude outfit that looks cohesive and intentional. Choose pieces whose shades are either all cooler or all warmer to ensure they will all work well together. For example - these warm camel and cream tones complement each other instead of competing. A cool toned taupe would be better paired with off-white or grey. If you're struggling to find a color that works with your nude pieces, just pair them with white denim to keep with the neutral feel. Accessorize in matching shades To give your outfit that fully nude feel, choose accessories like a choker, ring, bag or shoes in matching nude shades. This will make your look more complete and intentional. All In The Details Since a nude outfit by definition blends into your skin, choose pieces that have something special about them in order to create a focal point and to help your outfit stand out. Some good options might include fringe, lace, or pleating details - just find something visually interesting to add depth to your look.
Lastly, don't be afraid to adapt your nude pieces to utilize shades that are closer to your skin tone! You can use these tips the same way whether your skin is fair, peachy, olive, or dark. Fashionably Yours, Julie Johnson Velvet is big again this year for fall! Don't you just love wearing something so soft and luxe? You may feel like the only place you can wear velvet pieces is to a holiday party, but think again! Choose velvet pieces in silhouettes like skater dresses, crop tops, pants, shoes or ponchos and you'll be able to easily incorporate them into your everyday style! They still feel special because of the textile, but they become the statement piece in a wearable outfit instead of an overly formal or outlandish one. Here is a little velvet inspiration for your falltime wardrobe! Fashionably Yours,
Julie Johnson Everybody looks good in a bomber jacket. It’s like once you put one on, you instantly have a cool-girl vibe. That’s why you should have plenty this fall. Get one in every color! They look good with every style of outfit from minimalist to boho. They work when you wear them over pants, skirts, or dresses and even transform summer pieces like sundresses and shorts into perfect transitional fall wear. Basically the most helpful tip we have on how to wear a bomber jacket: Put it on.
Fashionably Yours, Julie Johnson Do you know anyone who practices uniform dressing? It’s the basic idea that you dress in the same way every day. But uniform dressing is not just a default outfit you throw on four days in a row for ease; it’s DVF in her wrap dress, Carolina Herrera in her crisp white shirt, or the off-duty models of LA in their black tanks and denim bottoms. The art of dressing in uniform requires a curated collection of carefully considered fashion favorites. It makes your morning routine effortless and gives off a sense of YOU from day to day. Here are a few ways to begin using items in your current wardrobe as your new uniform! Choose a color palette Limit your palette to colors that work together, colors that look amazing on you, and neutrals to balance it out. Find your signature item Do you find you have several similar items - like striped shirts, button downs or skinny pants? Use the similar pieces you have to lend consistency to your outfits over time. Pair them with similar silhouettes that you know you love and your uniform will emerge! Always incorporate the same fashion element This can be accomplished by wearing something like a denim piece every day, along with your favorite staple accessories or style of shoe. What's your go-to outfit? Could you base a uniform around it? Post your uniform on Instagram and tag us @freestyleclothingexchange for a chance to be featured on our page!
Fashionably Yours, Julie Johnson Everybody knows that the cropped flare is big this year. I’m confident you’ve probably shopped it, internet searched it, thrifted it and DIY’ed it to death and have your denim collection just where you like it in regards to the current trend. Now that we’ve all got cropped flares coming out our ears, how do we style them? Well, the season is changing and it’s bringing with it the perfect shoe to pair with your cropped flare denim: midi boots! They’re a match made in heaven because the cropped pant shows off the boot, and the boot adds height to your whole look to counteract the way a cropped pant can sometimes cut your leg proportionally and make you appear shorter.
Do you have a perfect pair of booties? Come in to your nearest FreeStyle and shop our collection of boots for fall! Fashionably Yours, Julie Johnson Hailey Baldwin is a Los Angeles it girl, the daughter of a celebrity family who got her personal start as a model. Though the 19 year old comes off as very low-key and accessible, her personal style both reflects and shapes the current trend - she is definitely one to watch in the fashion world. She says of her style,”It kind of differs — sometimes I want to be a little dressed down, a little tomboy, sometimes I want to be dressed up and very chic and look proper, but I don’t ever believe in overdoing it for day-to-day style. I would say my style is pretty simple, but still chic, hopefully. I just want to be relatable, but that’s not a forced thing, it’s just staying who I am.” Baldwin has a stylist, Maeve Reilly, who works with her to curate her look. But she tends to go a little rogue - she says, “sometimes [Maeve] will yell at me because I will use nothing that she gave me and use my own stuff and put my own outfits together. It’s definitely always a joint thing. It’s never just my idea or her idea unless I am home and just running out for groceries or something.” Here are a few of Hailey’s street style looks that we were able to emulate using pieces from our stores! All of these outfits are curated from the secondhand pieces in our stores, and each outfit is $50 or less from head to toe!
Are you inspired to put together some of your own Hailey Baldwin-inspired looks? Fashionably Yours, Julie Johnson Distressed Denim This fall, distressed denim is definitely still in. Holes in your jeans haven’t been this widely accepted since around the early 2000’s, so it’s time to live it up in your relaxed classics or take a pair of scissors to those pristine boyfriend jeans. The main tip here is to go big or go home. Instead of distressed, thing destroyed! Pass up the pair of jeans with three quarter-sized opaque scratches and go for something more ragged. You’re looking for denim with plenty of rips, fraying and holes. A pair of jeans like this is visually interesting because distressing is by nature one-of-a-kind, and they are great to have in your closet to create contrast with more structured pieces. Style them with anything from sneakers to heels, from band tees to silk camisoles and blazers. Fashionably Yours, Julie Johnson |