Layer By Layer

Today Christina from Cosmopolitan Clevelander gives a short how-to on one of my favorite style to-dos - Layering.  I usually just wing it, trying this or that, and it can sometimes turn into a definite not.  But Christina shares today a few tips on what to do when layering, and the results are amazing - I love this girl's Americana classic style :)!!

Hello all! I’m Christina from the Cosmopolitan Clevelander! I am so happy to be guest posting for Lauren here on Small Time Style. I’m always inspired by her creative outfits. I even bought these very boots I am wearing when I saw her post about them. So you can say I owe this outfit to her!
So, recently we had some freakishly warm weather for February. It was so beautiful but a little too short lived as we just had an ice storm last night and we are right back to 20 degree weather. Needless to say, my body wasn’t really ready for that. So I thought I’d talk about my strategy to stay warm: layering.

I started with my H&M sweater, layered a white button down underneath, layered on top of everything my navy blue wool blazer, and dressed it up a little with the scarf. I was going to just tie the scarf in a slip knot, but I still wanted my other layers to be visible so I just draped it around my neck and secured it with this belt. I’ve said before on my own blog that I like to keep outfits really simple, and I feel like I still was able to achieve that because I kept the color palate very simple. Brown, purple, and navy were the colors I stuck with. Pick your color palate of no more than three colors and only use shades of these three colors. I feel like that will help keep from looking too disheveled when you attempt to layer. Also I put the lightest layers on the bottom and the thickest layers on top to prevent from looking too bulky.
I hope this helps! Happy layering and stay warm until the ice thaws!
Thrifted Evan Piccone blazer; H&M sweater and earrings; NY&Co. blouse; American Eagle jeans; Gap belt; Target scarf; Wanted Royalty boots

Inspiration

I'm really excited to have Mandy from Clothes Coquette guest post today! I love Mandy's style - she comes up with such awesome work appropriate yet uber, uber-stylish outfits and I'm left in awe each time.  Please be sure to check her blog out if you haven't already! You will love it!

I was excited and flattered when Lauren asked me to guest post for her blog, and since I'm such a perfectionist, I spent hours pouring over topics. Okay, in reality, I tried to go over ideas, but it was mostly just me staring blankly at the wall waiting for an epiphany when I realized my theme was staring me right in the face: inspiration.

We all draw from different sources for our style inspiration, which is constantly growing and changing. I find fashion inspiration everywhere I can: magazines, websites, blogs, retail stores, friends. I also love visiting other cities because the trends can be so radically different from one place to the next (San Francisco, I'm talking to you). Possibly one of my favorite places to see different style influences is the H&M in Philadelphia, and whenever I shop there I always find my mind overwhelmed with inspiration and ideas. Maybe that makes me a style creeper, but finding outfit ideas is half of the reason I enjoy going there, other than shopping of course!



As bloggers, it's only inevitable that we find inspiration and ideas through each other's posts, constantly feeding off of each other for ideas, trends, and advice. Much of my inspiration comes from blogging, and some of my outfits are even directly inspired by another blogger. I dug up these never posted photos from October back when the weather was nice (*sob*), and we had no danger of icy winds or blizzards. At the time I was re-reading Bonnie's blog, Flashes of Style, and I think it's pretty obvious that's where I drew my outfit inspiration.

If I hadn't been reading her blog, I would have never thought to pick up a see through lacy black sweater or pair it with pretty florals. I got a lot of flattering comments when I was out that night, and I honestly feel like I can't take all of the credit. This outfit was a big departure from what I would normally wear, but it was so fun to try out something new.
 

Where do you garnier your style inspiration? Is it mainly from other blogs? Runways? Friends?

 

Pretty and Ridiculous

Today Monk from Hello Monkeyface has graciously agreed to treat us with one of her amazing ensembles and write-ups!  She is one of my all-time favorite bloggers and best friend style buddies, and as you'll read below, she gets me pretty well :)!  ENJOY!!


Oh hello, fellow Lauren fans! Monkeyface here of Hello, Monkeyface! just serving as placeholder for my not-so-small-time friend while she wins me some serious cash in Vegas (that was understood, wasn't it Lauren? My fee for this guest posting service is HUGE so gamble your little heart out). Now I know this outfit is about nine thousand points down on the classy scale from the kinds of stylishly elegant ensembles Lauren usually posts, but as a grad student with nothing but librarying to do today, I'm hoping you'll let me slide. I did break out the J. Crew belt, though, because I know a Small Time Style post without J. Crew might as well be a giant advertisement begging for the world to end (See, she knows me :)). And hey if you are what you cinch your waist with (pretty sure that's the saying), I am a half-an-inch of pure class.

Hurry back safe and sound (and RICH), Lauren!

Cardigan - H&M
Sweater, Jeans, Gloves - Target
Belt - J. Crew
Shoes - Aldo

The Riveter

First up for guest posts this week - one of my new favorite style bloggers that I've recently discovered, Kerrie from Books and Looks.  This girl has great style and I ADORE how she uses color in her wardrobe - it's a real inspiration!  So without further ado, here's Kerrie!

Hello, Small Time Style readers! I’m Kerrie from Books and Looks (http://booksandlooks.blogspot.com/) and I’m taking over Lauren’s blog for the day! (Don’t fret, she’ll be back very, very soon.)


I felt very Rosie the Riveter in this outfit—must be the loose shirt (dress worn as a top) and my wrestling-size belt. Haha! I felt like Rosie on her way to the Royal Rumble. But prettier and made up. Well, not really.

Man, Rosie the Riveter had it tough. First, she wasn’t allowed to get a proper job just because she was a woman. Then, after the men had to leave for war, she was heavily courted by the government to take over those jobs the men left behind. Then, when the men came back, she had to be forced out! What’s a lady gotta do ‘round here? Too bad Aretha Franklin and the feminist movement weren’t born earlier, she could’ve yelled, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T! Find out what it means to me!” (Coincidentally, that same song was originally written for a man to sing. Had a whole different meaning when Aretha belted it.)
Anyway, good luck on your new ventures, Lauren and as my friend, Rosie the Riveter once said, “You (we) can do it!” Thanks again for letting me doodle on your space! J

Dress worn as top: Old Navy
Skirt: Thrifted
Belt: Francesca’s Collections
Tights: 2 pairs—teal and blue from DKNY & Target
Boots: Payless
Necklace: DIY by my mom