winter style: an unofficial guide

If you're like me, winter is your natural style enemy. The cold suffocates me, making me dizzy enough to believe that all I can wear for the next few months are cable-knit sweaters and boots.

My best outfits are generally for warmer weather days, so winter is a definite roadblock for me. I fear that I'll need to pack up my crop tops and sundresses, and unbox the oversized sweaters and leggings. (An outfit combo that was all-the-rage in 2013) Though, a lot of you who know me, know this is not how I operate. 

"The weather doesn't determine what I wear." A quote by me; a guideline set for me, by me. Generally if I say that, it's because a friend has asked why I'm wearing a crop top in 40° Fahrenheit weather. While I will probably always live by that rule (being that I'm too stubborn to not), that is not what I'm recommending in today's guide.

So, what are this season's essential pieces to keep warm without looking frumpy?

A quick overview of what this includes:

For the Romantics and the Street Stylers:

• Ascots, soft bandanas, and neck ties. (not those kinds of neck ties)
• Soft floral prints
• Big cardigans
• Sweaters!
• Basic tees and graphic tees
• Faux leather
• DENIM
• Velvet. Yes, velvet. The 90's just keep regurgitating onto the scene. 
• Embroidered decals, fabric patches, embroidered design
• Blouses
• Capes
• Long coats

And on the accessory side of things...

• Block heels
• Sneakers
• Caged flats
• Novelty loafers (not a trend I love, but I'll roll with it)
• Berets
• Broaches
• Cameo Necklaces
• Soft statement rings
• Decorated bags

And now, for some visuals.
p.s. I made these myself, and it took one million years.

Romantics: Soft, floral, and flirty. A style that is constantly evolving to keep up with trends as well as create them. This is the main trend for this month. Cape coats keep the Romantic vibe while keeping you warm outdoors.

Sweaters: The honourable mention of this post. Graphic sweaters are out, knit sweaters are in. Keep the neck lines interesting. Sweaters don't have to be the afterthought in an outfit. 

Jeans: High waisted, embroidered, black, blue, patched, or clean. Denim jeans, per usual, are in. Don't be afraid to up-cycle either. Grab the old jeans you have stuffed in the back of your drawer and embroider some floral on, or hand stitch some patches. Mix up the styles, too. Add some baggy boyfriend jeans into your wardrobe, it's comfortable and stylish.

Layering: THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. Just because it's cold doesn't mean you have to pack up all of your tee shirts for the season. A denim jacket or a bomber added to any tee can keep your "summer shirts" in use through all seasons.

Essentials: Mixing and matching is a life saver in the winter season, and thanks to jackets, coats, and cardigans, there seem to be endless pairings. Get a few basic long cardigans to add overtop any shirt or dress. To keep a laid-back vibe, use Neutral with an Accent as a guide when pairing colours this season.

Stay warm, stay cool.

Click here to find all of the pieces from this blog post! (my Polyvore account)

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trends for august 2016

"Hanna, it's almost September. Why are you doing an 'August Trends' blog post?"

Forgive me, for I have sinned. In the rush of getting ready for school, I have neglected this blog.
I am back, though, and ready to present you with the most current, fresh, up-to-date trends.


Denim.
Dark washed, regular waist, skinny jeans are great. A classic. But this season we're focusing on varied lengths, light washes, loose forms, and waist emphasis. 
Pair with a simple tee, and clean sneakers for this re-vamped 90's staple.

Thick cuffs are also a stand out style.

Jean jackets are always in, but while we're focusing on denim, it must be brought up. 

You can wear a jean jacket with virtually anything. Full on, all out, Canadian Tuxedo. No shame.

Personalize your look with some pins.

Light-weight knit dresses.

It's a cute way to feel like you're wearing pyjama's without the guilt. 

Shift style or a form-fitting knit, it's a forgiving on-the-go outfit, and it's even easier to dress up.

Pair with any type of sneaker or bootie. You can also add a jean jacket, or faux leather jacket.

Dad hat!

SNEAKERS.

Stan Smith Adidas returned to the scene this summer, and they're here to stay. In fact, any sort of sneaker similar to Adidas is on trend. Pumas, Nike Roshes, Yeezy's (It's okay if they're fake. No one can afford real ones), Vans Skater Shoes, and of course, Chuck Taylor Converse's. 

I own these and am currently trying to break them in. SOS

Other shoes

Booties: Block heel or flat, suede or faux leather.

Oxfords: Matte, suede, or metallic in every colour of the rainbow.

Caged flats: You know, the lace up flats. You know the one's I'm talking about.

Birkenstocks: Forever and always.

Other Tops

Tee-shirts: This is great because you can buy a $5 tee-shirt and create a runway-worthy outfit.

Mock necks: The polar opposite of round necks, and we're not mad about it.

Thick knit sweaters: Prepare for the transition to fall and pair this with some Mom Jeans.

So here it is, a short and sweet trend post for the last few days of August. And of course, these trends will survive into September, but next month will be quite a different story. Stay tuned.

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peep those mom jeans (B.P.)

what to do when you don't know what to wear

Today we're going to address how I deal with two common style questions.

"How do I wear this"
and,
"What should I wear today?"


How do I wear this?

If you're like me, you find yourself with a lot of articles that might be a little less obvious on how to style.
When this happens, my go-to is Pinterest.

Example: I have a thick black choker that sometimes leaves me without any outfit ideas.
So, I open Pinterest and simply search, "thick choker outfit".

And... Search.

Oh hey, Kendall Jenner.

Boom. Immediate inspiration.
If I find any that I absolutely love, I "re-pin" them to save for later.

Example #2:

I just type in whatever article it is that I'm having trouble with, add "outfit", and voila.

Now for part 2.

What should I wear today?

If you have your own Pinterest, this is obvious, and easy.

Whether it's what outfit to wear, how to do my hair, or what "dad hat" would look best with my outfit, I have a board for it all on my Pinterest. 

And yet again, I'm greeted with instant outfit inspiration. 

If you don't have your own Pinterest, don't worry. There are 100,000,000 active users (2015) to help you decide what to wear today.

Insta: @hanna.vanfleet

Twitter: @hanna_vanfleet

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Pinterest: Hanna Van Fleet

shower routine!

One of my favourite things about fashion and lifestyle blogs is getting to read all of the varying "shower routine" posts. Seeing what works for other people, trying it yourself, and adapting those habits into your own routine.

And so here is my Shower Routine.

Before I get in the shower, I comb my hair, so that I can avoid tangles when I'm shampooing. 

The first thing I do after I get in is condition my hair. I use Kirkland Signature Moisture Conditioner. This formula is absolutely amazing. If you're familiar with Pureology, a popular salon brand, the price of a set of shampoo and conditioner can come to $120. 
Rumour is, though, that Pureology has sold the formula to Costco. As a bonus, Kirkland's version is sulfate-free, paraben-free, vegan, gluten-free, no animal testing, and is safe for color treated hair.

Kirkland Signature Shampoo & Conditioner
Costco

I leave the conditioner in while I wash with a loofah and Kirkland Signature Body Wash. This helps exfoliate my skin before I shave; I usually repeat this towards the end of the shower. Another vegan product!

Kirkland Signature Body Wash: Natural Citrus
Costco

I then rinse out the Kirkland Conditioner. Because I have platinum hair, I use a purple shampoo. My salon (B Space Salon, Salt Lake City) sells Goldwell Anti-Brassiness Shampoo and Conditioner, so I've been using that to keep my hair silvery-blonde. 
Purple shampoo can make your hair a little more straw-like and dry, so that's why I condition before shampooing. (Though I do recommend conditioning first anyway.) 

Goldwell Anti-Brassiness Shampoo & Conditioner

After I rinse my shampoo I put the Goldwell Conditioner in. (Obviously) I start at the bottom and I actually put the conditioner all throughout my hair to make up for the dryness of the shampoo. I leave the conditioner in.

Then I shave, and use a loofah again to once more exfoliate my body.

Now, for the face. I wash my face second to last so I know I won't be washing any shampoo over my face and into open pores. 
I use Burt's Bees Acne Solutions Pore Refining Scrub. It exfoliates and removes dead skin cells and uses Salicylic Acid and Willow Bark to prevent future breakouts. 
If you're worried about harming the environment with plastic beads from exfoliant scrubs, this is the scrub for you. Burt's Bees uses biodegradable jojoba beads, and is 99% natural.
Oh, and Burt's Bees is cruelty free and vegan as well.

Burt's Bees Acne Solutions Pore Refining Scrub

I rinse this off, and then my conditioner is rinsed out as well.

Shower part 1, done.

Post shower:

Immediately after I get out of the shower, I use Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion all over. I love anything Cetaphil, but this is truly the best lotion.

Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion

To moisturize my face I use Befine Food Skin Care: Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15, Rosemary, Pomegranate, and Rice. I swear by this stuff. 
The picture is a little blurred, sorry about that.

Befine Skin Care: Daily Moisturizer

Once a week, before I put lotion on my face, I use the Befine Food Skin Care: Cucumber Facial Mask. This mask is easy to apply, and easy to wash off. (Also blurry)
AND BEFINE IS VEGAN AND CRUELTY-FREE.

Befine Food Skin Care: Cucumber Facial Mask

While my hair is damp, I use Marc Anthony Argan Oil of Morocco. Two drops is enough for my entire head of hair. It makes my hair super soft, and smells great. 

Marc Anthony Argan Oil of Morocco

There you have it. Let me know what your routine's are!



Also: follow @fridamag on instagram!

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fedoras, feather earrings, and shame

Ahh, the transition from Childhood into Adolescence. a delightfully horrifying and humbling experience. 

It consists of three stages.
Being a child.
Being a pre-teen.
Being a full fledged teenager, complete with angst and eye rolls.

With each stage, I've had a style. Not style, but I certainly had a style. 

Before we begin, here's some references where I did not dress myself.

Not a great example, but hey. A typical outfit.

A cute blouse!

A regular shirt from Old Navy!

Another flow-y blouse!

A regular Kid outfit!

And so it begins.
I started to dress myself around five years old.

Ready to be the Alpha of my Kindergarten class.

Then it evolved, oh, did it evolve.

Added this one mostly for the DS gaming system.

WARNING: CROCS AHEAD

There were many sweater vests. (crazy hair day)

And then, the "A" chain stores. Abercrombie and Fitch, Aeropostale, Hollister, American Eagle, it's what all of the cool kids wore.

I made that bag. I chose that fabric.

And BOOM FEDORA. Fedoras and long chain necklaces (such as the ones they always sold at Down East) were popular, by me. 

I should also mention, this Fedora was from Claires. Also where I bought all of my jewelry. All. 

This next picture is terrifying, and I'm adding it solely so you can look at my pants. Remember "Miss Me" Jeans? I do. I will never forget. Bedazzled pants with white embroidery thread used as stitching was all the rage. All at the low price of like, $50.

Also, I used to wear a lot of cardigans over Shade and DownEast white tank tops.

Then it got really, really, bad.

This was the time in my life when I was most uncomfortable with myself. Not so surprisingly, the Junior High/ Middle School years. 

"Is that really Hanna?" Sure is! Wearing a shawl from Kohls, that I remember begging for because my very pretty and popular friend had one. Complete with dangly earrings, a Hollister tank top(that was much too big for me), and a necklace from Aeropostale. 

I didn't really know what fashion was. I just knew that all of the famed kids at my school wore Hollister, and so I needed to as well. 

Hollister dress! I felt uncomfortable with the length of it. Dare I have to bend down.

I don't have a lot of pictures of this time due to me not even liking how I looked. 

A long lost trend, feather earrings.
(I hear they're making a comeback?)

Neon and overdone side swept bangs.

A Hollister shirt! And Miss Me jeans!

My staple piece, you ask?

Well in light of 2011(ish) being the time for "randomness" and weird quirks, my personal touch quickly became cats. 

Cat leggings! Cat Sweaters! 

ft. a Hollister tank top.

I have two shirts like this. The other stating, "Crazy Cat Lady".

Not that I don't like cats, but that wasn't really the point. The point was that people would have something that linked to me. I had friends on Pinterest always sending me things about cats, and I was honoured.

It was my first year of high school, ninth grade, that I began to have style, not just a style. It still wasn't great, but it was definitely appropriate for 2013/2014. 

I actually literally have no pictures from ninth grade. It was definitely the peak of my being uncomfortable with myself. But I actually started to feel a sense of self. It was the beginning of my self-discovery. 

I no longer wore things from teen chain stores, rather I took things that were from Banana Republic and Loft from my mom's closet. I wore what I liked, and what I felt most comfortable in. 

Everything has been smooth since. 

Now I pretty much wear whatever I want, and I love it.

Fashion used to be such a burden for me. I liked it, but the pressure of wearing the wrong thing was always there, and I always ended up trying too hard. 

During childhood, you dress for no one.

During pre-teen years, you dress for others.

During your teen years, you dress for yourself.

Thanks for looking at embarrassing pictures with me.

Also, if you have any bad pictures of yourself where you've dressed up on your own, I WANT TO SEE.

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shoes, summer, and belt bags

I went to City Creek Mall in Salt Lake City today and found myself very excited about a lot of the shoes I saw in Nordstrom's shoe department. 

Trends:

Block heels 

Suede 

Lace-up heels 

Oxfords

Monterey-style Birkenstocks

Anything Vince Camuto or Steve Madden (or knock-offs, if you're like me) 

The very first picture are shoes I now own(thanks Mom). Vegan Birkenstocks are great for two reasons. You don't have to feel the guilt of wearing real leather, and you don't have to feel the buyer's remorse of purchasing real leather. 

And then I found myself in the Nordstrom Swimsuit section. 

      Solid & Striped                                 Becca by Rebecca Virtue

Summer suit trends I love:

Cut outs

Lace

Low cut backs

Halter-tops

High waisted bottoms

Colour blocking

One pieces! As a dedicated two piece girl, I never really gave a singles a chance. But this season is coming out strong with edgier styles.                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                                                                       A must have for this swim season is of course, a cover up. This cover up is by Surf Gypsy. Cover ups have made a great transition this year by going from basically a towel sewn into dress form into an entire chic outfit.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Another Summer trend I love is one that used to be a joke. 

Belt bags. More commonly known as fanny packs.  

left to right, top to bottom: Herschel, H&M, Frye, Kate Spade   

A fun, casual camping accessory was recently adopted by designer brands like Frye and Kate Spade, turning it into an instant classic. But if you're not willing to spend $228 on a leather belt bag, a $17 version from H&M will do just as well. 

Beauty Recommendations

A moment of silence for this Tre'Stique Mini Matte Lip Crayon in Florence Fig, for I have run out of it. Something that has never happened to me before. 

I used it like I use to use chapstick. It was a go-to. It looked like a light matte lipstick without drying out your lips or bleeding as the day goes on. It was essentially smear resistant, and got through almost everything.

If you can't afford Kylie Jenner's lip kit, like everyone else in North America, this next recommendation is the perfect alternative. 

NYX Cosmetics Liquid Suede cream lipstick. Another great product from NYX's lip care line. The only con about this product is the texture. It doesn't necessarily dry your lips out, rather it feels like you have a thin coat of acrylic paint on your lips. It's worth it, though, for the look and easy maintenance. I've also noticed it makes your lips look insanely full. 

Muted tones are really in for lips this season, and it's easy to experiment when you can buy great products like this from your local drug store.

Colour: Soft Spoken

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