What I love so much about fashion is just how versatile and gorgeous it is. I love how one woman can wear something so spectacular and look like a total Rockstar while I look like a total lunatic in the same thing (obviously I wish I looked like a supermodel in everything, but we all know our limits!). I love how personal style is, and I love how we all have our personal style rules, which is what I want to talk about right now. My personal style rules. They’re mine. They’re not meant to make anyone else feel as if their own personal style rules are wrong or less or more or whatever; they’re yours, and that makes them the best.
My personal style rules are pretty simple, and they stem from what I’ve learned about myself in the past (almost) 34 years.
- Accessories pull together an outfit
- Classics and timeless pieces are always a wonderful choice
- Dark-wash jeans are the most flattering
- Always spend more on shoes, handbags, sunglasses, and jeans
- DVF makes everything in life amazing
- Lilly Pulitzer is never a bad idea
- A great mixture of high-end and low-end pieces always rocks
Okay, so those are my beliefs. But you know what I mean. In almost 34 years on this planet, I’ve learned a lot about my personal style. I look best in bright colors. I don’t look good in muted tones. I don’t feel comfortable if I’m not in amazing shoes, and I rarely feel comfortable in trendy clothes. High-necks aren’t for me, and I don’t rock a strapless top. I love an off-the-shoulder top, but I feel like I’m trying to be 21 again when I put one on, and that leaves me feeling self-conscious and less than confident.
Top Old Navy (listed below as a peplum top) | Shorts Lilly Pulitzer (old pattern) similar here | Shoes Tory Burch Millers here | Sunglasses Gucci (old) similar here
And that is where the number one rule of style for EVERY woman comes in: If you don’t feel confident in it, it shows and you don’t look good. Back to the off-the-shoulder tops: I love them. The women who rock them, ROCK them. I, on the other hand, don’t.
This year I’ve fallen in love with trendy tops, but I won’t spend a lot of money on them. When it comes to the classics, there’s no price too high. When it comes to trends, I’m not spending $20 on it because I know I’ll only wear it a few times (another good style rule to follow!). This summer I’ve fallen in love with ruffles and lace, and there is no place better than H&M and Old Navy to find super affordable, super trendy tops that always look good. After spending the weekend doing a little shopping, I thought I’m sharing my under $20 finds for anyone who wants to rock a little trendy with a little classic.
Lace is always so feminine and pretty, and you can’t go wrong with this top, this top, or this one. I’ve been in all of them so far, and they’ve been getting compliments everywhere I go.
Top H&M available in stores | Belt Gucci (old) similar here| Jeans Rag & Bone here | Apple Watch | Bracelet Tiffany & Co. (old) |Lips Bobbi Brown Neon Pink | Sunglasses Yves Saint Laurent (old) similar here
Bell-sleeves are an old favorite. I bought a black dress about a decade ago from Ann Taylor Loft with bell-sleeves, and I still get compliments on it all the time. This top, this top, and this top are always fun choices.
And then there’s the peplum top. It’s fun, and I love this one.
Tiffany Raiford 