elementary school demons in purple, pink and turquoise

purple blazer :: maurice's (similar, similar) | turquoise draped blouse :: maurice's (similar) | purple cami :: forever 21 | pink pleated skirt :: forever 21 (similar) | sunglasses :: charlotte russe | nude faux suede pumps :: maurice's (similar) | buckled pink & ivory purse :: forever 21 | gold cuff bracelet :: charlotte russe (similar) | turquoise gem necklace :: forever 21 | large turquoise bangle :: icon collection (similar) | bejeweled wide black belt :: maurice's

My hair melted in the heat today; we're suffering from record high temperatures here in Utah this spring, but you didn't come here to talk about the weather. You came to rubberneck at this pink-purple-turquoise thing I've got going on. I have to admit, the photos did not turn out as well as I might have hoped, but the ensemble itself - well, it is a thing of beauty.

Pink and purple have always been my favorite colors together; there is just something about each that complements the other oh-so-beautifully. I've nursed this romance in secret for most of my life, however, due to an elementary school bully (who shall remain nameless) who once made fun of me for wearing a pink shirt with purple socks. I thought I looked smokin', but apparently the lame-stream bullies and "cool kids" thought differently. Their insults wounded my poor 4th grade ego so much that I have not worn this combination that I love so very much since.

Until today, obviously. I was up at 2am this morning, fretting over today's wardrobe, when my hands landed upon this lovely turquoise draped blouse. My sleep deprived brain decided it would look amazing with my pink pleated skirt... which happened to be hanging next to my purple blazer. And so it was born: this uber cupcake chic look.

The large turquoise bangle that appears in the photos only sporadically was an impulse purchase from a nearby dollar store, about three minutes before I started snapping photos. A giant, oversize, sequin and sparkles bangle that matches my blouse perfectly for $1? I'll take them all. Not really, but that might have been funny.

Speaking of arm parties, seriously obsessing over The Man Repeller's Arm Party collab with Bauble Bar. I find myself desperately in need of one - anyone care to donate to the cause?

5

searching for [peace]

[pieces]

oversize black cardigan :: H&M (similar) | pink tank :: forever 21 | cobalt blue pencil skirt :: maurice's (similar) | 

black bow belt :: maurice's | chunky black sandals :: madden girl (similar) | black messenger bag :: ebay (similar, or try this hot pink version) | gold cuff bracelet :: charlotte russe (similar) | gold collar necklace :: forever 21 (similar) | black studded wrist wrap :: threadsence (actually a belt) | gold & pearl ring set :: forever 21

[inspiration]
Yesterday, my obsession with confliction led me to mix a gorgeous cobalt blue pencil skirt (very sleek and form fitting) with my giant oversize artist sweater (at least three or four times too big for me). This was originally meant to be an experiment in color blocking, but it didn't come out as crisp as I like my lines when color blocking - the pink top is just a bit too breezy. I do like this coraly-pink tank with the blue pencil skirt, but I'm dying to pair it with this green blouse I just ordered from Lulu's - should arrive next week. I'm thinking hot pink shoes and accessories are in order as well.

[style]
The secret to wearing opposing items or styles together is to own it. Pull it on and don't look back; you have to accept it, embrace it, love it, flaunt it, enjoy it, regardless of what others might think initially. Second-guessing yourself only leads to doubt and worry, neither of which is very attractive. We sometimes have a tendency to be self-deprecating towards our riskier sartorial choices once we've walked out the door, but this is only self-defeating (like a self-fulfilling prophecy). If you're questioning your choices, everyone else will, too; but if you present your look to be the hottest new thing (or whatever), others will likely follow along. There is a reason people say that confidence is your most important accessory - if you don't have it, fake it till you make it.

[story]
I had planned to take my outfit photos in my backyard yesterday when I arrived home from work, but was foiled by the sprinklers that were drenching my bathroom garden. I packed up my tripod, hopped in my truck, and started driving. I turned the ignition with the intention of heading to the park, but somehow ended up at the cemetery instead. I'm not really sure why I thought it was a good idea; the sky was gray and the air chilly, a storm clearly brewing, and I have found myself in desperate need of peace recently. I had thought maybe I would find it here, though I regret to inform you that the graveyard holds no peace for the living. I have, however, developed a new fascination with headstones.

[upcoming]
I received my Broke City tank from tuc + wes today; planning to wear it to work tomorrow for our Saturday morning training session. The only saving grace of having to work six days in a row? Getting to wear my new Broke city tank from tuc + wes that I received in the mail today. Maybe my boss will get the hint...

follow me on instagram :: @fashion_nerd13

[side note]
I've updated my Instagram and Pinterest usernames to match my Twitter handle - my handle on both Twitter and Instagram is now @fashion_nerd13; Pinterest is @fashionnerd13. Follow me on any (or all) of my various social platforms and like Frayed Threads on Facebook for daily outfit photos, tips, tricks, quotes, news, inspiration and various random details about my life. I'm really quite entertaining, I assure you.

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[p.s.]
My sister and I will soon be opening an accessory and vintage shop on Etsy! We're currently working on our first pieces and hope to have the storefront opened up by Monday morning. We'll be having a giveaway to celebrate, so stay tuned for updates! In the meantime, any suggestions on a name would be greatly appreciated.....

0

goodbye to my weakness, so long to the regrets

Thursday was another day saved by a ridiculously easy outfit and my new beauty super weapon, Bumble & Bumble Dry Shampoo. My hair looked good that day.

I've never been a huge fan of the long maxi dress or intense prints, but from Wednesday night to Thursday post-work I purchased three summer maxi dresses, two with bright colors and patterns, in a 24-hour period.

This blue maxi dress is what started the maxi-madness. I spotted it while wasting some serious time in WalMart Wednesday night, and really had to fight with myself about trying it on. I don't typically buy clothes from WalMart, but this dress caught my eyeballs from the get-go and I knew it would haunt me if I didn't at least give it a go. I have to admit that I'm really happy that I did - not only does it look gorgeous, but it's quite comfortable and so easy... and it only cost me $15. It's easily the most printastic thing I own, and although it's light years outside of my comfort zone I find it quite alluring, and I am drawn to it like a child to candy.

The second and third maxis cost a bit more, but they are just as lovely and comfortable. The second one is probably my favorite of the lot - you can expect pictures early this week.

For work, I paired it with flats and my giant black cardigan from H&M. I call it my "artist sweater" because it makes me think of the giant sweaters and oversized clothing worn by writer Julia on Smash. It makes me think of tinkering around a cabin in the woods, writing and painting my time away. The one giant pocket would constantly be filled with paint brushes, pencils and a fountain pen (no cell phone here), the sleeves pushed up and my hair in a messy bun, with errant wisps framing my face.

My gypsy soul to take, peeps. My gypsy soul. I love my family - but I don't think I will ever be able to move on with my life while here, so close and yet so terribly far away. Sometimes running away is your only option.

how to style a maxi dress

The solid square of fabric, be it patterned, striped or monochrome, from neck to floor can either be summer lovely and unbelievably flattering or cringe-inducing and moo-moo-esque - it's all in the way you wear and style it, as well as your body shape.

Contrary to popular opinion, curvier women don't necessarily have to forgo the ease of a maxi (check out this one for proof); and although maxi dresses do look incredible on ladies who are a bit taller, height is something easily faked with a pair of killer heels. You can also pair it with slimming accessories (like a belt at the waist) and a blazer or cardigan in a neutral color to break up the giant swath of fabric.

For a summer casual look, keep it with flats or wedges and add a sweater or blazer for work to protect against office AC, and a denim jacket works great for weekends. For a vibrantly colored or patterned dress such as this, choose a topper and shoes in neutral colors; if your dress is a neutral or more subtle color, add some pizazz in the form of accessories and neon shoes.

Despite their casual wear vibe, a maxi dress can also be the perfect night-out ensemble. Remove the sweater, switch your flats or wedges for a pair of sexy stilettos, exchange the stack of friendship bracelets for a shiny cuff and trade in the giant work-day tote for a sleek clutch in a contrasting color to take your look from day to night. If you're worried about a chill (i.e. at a movie theater), skip the sweater and instead opt for a much sexier moto jacket. Black is always a great option, but nude and pale colors are also great options this season, as is suede over traditional leather.

for example:

a white maxi dress
For day: a brightly colored cardigan with contrasting accessories (like a hot pink sweater with a neon yellow necklace and earrings) would make this the perfect look for Sunday brunch; opt for a denim vest or jacket for a Saturday afternoon adventure.
At night: a moto jacket in black or purple and a pair of intense black stilettos make a virginal white maxi dress night-out sexy. Add some chunky jewelry, such as a thick chain necklace, and a sparkly clutch for a look bursting with low-maintenance sex appeal.

a black maxi dress
For day: Keep it clean and simple but fresh with brightly colored flats and a belted cardigan.
For night: Go glam with gold jewelry - think some gorgeous statement earrings and a fun cocktail ring, and top it off with a nude suede moto jacket. Slip on some sexy black stilettos with gold hardware, or take a risk in some sparkly gold cage sandals.

a patterned maxi dress
For day: stick with neutral colors that match a color from the pattern in your dress (mine has black in it, so I choose a black cardigan). Choose a simple blazer or cardigan for work, add some flats to keep the look low key (or solid wedges with a raffia heel if you need the height), and feel free to embellish with an armful of friendship bracelets.
For night: again, choose your topper of choice from the colors in your dress. You can, however, go a bit more crazy in terms of color at night - a bright orange moto jacket with rolled sleeves would be a great statement piece. Add those black stilettos and a giant cocktail ring and you'll be the most noticeable woman in the room, hands down.

When my nephew saw me put my hands against the pillar, he walked over and did the same thing. Monkey see, monkey do!

Some of you may have noticed this by now, but I am a huge proponent of cheap nail polish. I don't often paint my nails, and often end up peeling it off within a day or two of applying it, so I hate to spend gobs of money on it. The one drawback here is that it tends to be too runny or goopy and chip fairly quickly. I recently set myself a personal mission to find a cheap nail polish that conforms to my quality and quick-dry standards, and I think I've already fulfilled it.

I was rushing through WalMart the other afternoon on my lunch break (it must seem like I spend a lot of time there), and happened across a display of Maybelline's new Color Show Nail Lacquer. I was in a hurry, but the brilliant colors made me stop dead on my way out the door. Naturally, I ended up spending way too much time agonizing over what colors to get, but at just $3 a bottle it was easy to let myself go a bit crazy. I came home with four colors that night, and will probably end up with a few more.

The colors photographed above are Tenacious Teal and Fuchsia Fever; I also picked up Green with Envy (a minty shade) and a crackle coat called Silver Stunner. The absolute best part? They were really easy to apply, not too goopy or too runny, and dried almost immediately upon application. The teal is fairly true to how it looks in the bottle and only required a couple of coats to achieve complete opaqueness. The fuchsia, on the other hand, has a bit of a filmy quality to it and required three or four coats to achieve the intensity of color I like. I still give it a thumbs-up though, mostly on account of drying time and end color results, and I'm pretty stoked to try the other colors.

puzzle pieces

maxi dress: no boundaries (similar here)

black oversize cardigan: h&m

messenger bag: ebay (similar here)

flat sandals: forever 21 (similar here)

black heels: madden girl

sunbeam necklace: nasty gal (find it here)

gold cuff bracelet: charlotte russe (similar here)

black studded wrist wrap: charlotte russe

assorted friendship bracelets: maurice's

braided suede friendship bracelets: DIY/frayed threads collection

(coming soon to etsy!)

nail polish: tenacious teal & fuchsia fever by maybelline color show

PS - Don't forget to send in your application for Top Blogger of the Week, and swing by IFB's Facebook page to cast a vote for Frayed Threads in their Blogger of the Month contest!

1

time wasted

Today's outfit was possibly the most controversial/conversational of my documented sartorial choices yet - my co-workers had mixed feelings regarding the bright coral with the black and the tights with the shorts, and my mother was not a fan of the ensemble for work, but the ladies at the bank and our product manager at work all had my back. I even got several random compliments in WalMart this evening.

Speaking of, I somehow managed to waste my entire evening wandering around that ridiculous superstore, which is almost my explanation for why my photos were taken in the dark (which, in turn, is why they're grainy and a bit off in terms of color). New rule: never, ever go in WalMart without a list, budget and time limit.

I did happen across some fab new finds though, so my loss of time and money is your gain in terms of content. It also means that I am too damn tired to write any more, so you also get off easy tonight with a short post - lucky you!

In spite of the largely positive public reactions, I'm not 100% sure I love this look. This sleeveless black blouse is one of my favorites (largely for the drapey keyhole cutout on the back), but the length hides the sailor buttons on the shorts and the black & orange combo makes me think of Halloween. I have a floral blouse with a slightly cropped length that I'm thinking will make a much better partner for the shorts next time.

I really, seriously have to go to bed now. I keep falling asleep every time I blink.

Don't forget to send in your application for Top Blogger of the Week, and vote for Frayed Threads on IFB's Blogger of the Month contest.

puzzle pieces

studded fantasy fabric blazer, via zara

black tank: maurice's (similar here)

coral sailor shorts: forever 21 (similar here)

gold cuff bracelet: charlotte russe (similar here)

sunbeam necklace: nasty gal (find it here)

dotted tights: h&m

patent loafers: zara

sunglasses: charlotte russe

3

double the bliss

I'm going to try something a bit different with my post today.

I feel like I have a tendency to "bury the lead" (this is journalist talk for rambling on about unimportant nonsense, while pushing the important stuff to the middle or end), and I know I can be pretty long winded (especially when telling a story about my clothes). Yesterday's post, for example, had some pretty important info in it - at the very tail end. Not everyone likes to read about the random stuff that goes on in other people's lives as much as I do, so I'm betting most of my beloved readers didn't make it that far down.

So, today, we're putting Important Stuff & Awesome Announcements at the top, with Today's Story & Puzzle Pieces making up the second half of the post. Outfit photos will remain scattered about the post for now; personally, I love having photos littered through the text, to separate sections and to break up long blocks of text. I would really appreciate some feedback on my post layout though - leave me a comment or drop me an email and let me know what you think.

important stuff

1]on monetizing your blog & affiliate networks
In yesterday's post, I announced that Frayed Threads has been accepted into one of the more prestigious affiliate networks for fashion bloggers, RewardStyle, and that I have some referrals I'd love to hand out to my fashion/beauty/lifestyle blogger friends. In the interim, it's occurred to me that I never really talked about just what the hell an affiliate network is.

When I first got really serious about turning my blog into my business, I started doing a lot of research on ways to monetize (meaning to make money from my content). Affiliate networks and marketing kept coming up in my research, but every article I read on the concepts baffled me. I didn't really get it, so how was I supposed to make any money from it? I skipped over it, ignored it, and tried to come up with some other tactics.

Eventually, though, I decided to give it a go because it seems to be the easiest route and many bloggers have been fairly successful with it. Once I had signed up for my first affiliate network, I immediately understood how it worked and I was hooked. It's so ridiculously easy that I felt dumb for ever being confused by it.

Basically, it boils down to this: an affiliate network is made up of a group of retailers, all thrown together into one site. As a blogger, you can use an affiliate network's site to find links to items you love, items you wear or items you want to wear. You put those links on your blog, (as part of an outfit post, a wish list, inspiration list, must have list, etc), and when people click on them and buy them, you make a percentage of the sale in commission. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

I talked about some of the benefits of RewardStyle in my last post, so I won't rehash here, but I will reiterate that it's thus far been my favorite network to work with, and I don't think I'll be going anywhere else any time soon. It's also the network of choice for top bloggers like LateAfternoon, This Time Tomorrow and Atlantic-Pacific, and membership is by invitation only for top level, professional bloggers.

Ten of you have the opportunity for an invite. So what are you waiting for? 

Comment on this post (or my last one) with:

-Your name

-Email address

-Blog link

-Your elevator pitch (what your blog is about and why you're so fabulous)

And I'll see what I can do about getting you an invite to the web's premier affiliate network for fashion, beauty and lifestyle bloggers.

Psst... I'm still not sure exactly what affiliate marketing is, but for more info on affiliate networking and monetizing your blog, check out IFB's Fashion Traffic School.

2]up and coming bloggers, please apply here
I am looking for fashion, beauty and lifestyle bloggers to interview as part of a new weekly feature here on Frayed Threads. This idea has been bubbling around in my head for a minute now, and finally came to fruition with the introduction of the RewardStyle opportunity (above). The blogosphere is becoming intensely over saturated with blogs of every type, but it seems to be increasingly difficult to find quality personal style blogs (especially the smaller ones). Sure, there are any number of communities for the growing blog, but how do we pick through every submission to find the diamonds in the rough? Sometimes the plethora of "ADD ME AND I'LL ADD YOU" messages one receives upon logging in are enough to deter the search - so why not let me do the work for you?

The goal of this series is to seek out those bloggers who might just be getting their start, but are clearly a cut above the rest. This opportunity is available for bloggers of all ages, shapes, sizes, races, genders, etc etc etc - I don't care what you look like (in fact, that's part of the fun!), and I'm happy to feature new comers, middle-agers and veteran bloggers alike.

So what does matter then? Only bloggers who are blogging on the professional level - meaning a clean layout, original content, decent spelling & grammar and quality artwork & photos - will be featured. This does not mean that you must have a hundred thousand followers. This series is about profiling the up and comers within their niche and introducing them to the public at large (and vice versa).

Think you have what it takes to be Frayed Threads' next Top Blogger?

Email me with your name, contact info, blog link and a bit about you & your blog and why you're so damn awesome, and I'll get back to you ASAP.
fashion.nerdom@gmail.com

awesome announcements

• IFB is hosting a Blogger of the Month contest on their Facebook page! I <3 IFB with all my heart, and I've really been trying to find some awesome new blogs recently, so this is a great opportunity. If you would be a dear and hop on over to IFB's FB page and tally a vote for Frayed Threads, I might just love you forever - and I'd be more than happy to return the favor. Just leave me a comment to let me know that you've voted me, and be sure to include your name and the title of the photo you submitted so I can find you! (Psst... if you click here to vote for Frayed Threads, scroll down and it should be the top entry, with a photo titled "hold it together").
• I mentioned a few days ago that my utterly unscientific experiment on style would begin May 1. This month is all about changing it up and finding some gorgeous new combinations in my closet, discovering new ways to style old things, and finally deciphering how to wear my problem pieces. I'm really excited to begin this journey, and I encourage you to join me. You can track my month through outfit posts, Instagram (frayedthreads) and/or Twitter (@fashion_nerd13). Leave me your blog link and Instagram/Twitter handle(s) so I can keep up with you as well!

today's story

Today's look ended in a much different place than where it started, and (much to my surprise) the journey ended in a much lovelier place than where I imagined it might.

I purchased this dress from Threadsence over a year ago (while I was still living with Brent), and although I loved it online, I didn't so much love the way it looked on me when I received it. Not one to usually return things, I kept it, and in the year since it's entrance into my life, I've worn it only once - until today.

I stayed up far too late last night (as usual), and so to avoid the inevitable wardrobe anxiety in the morning, I decided to put my outfit together before I went to bed, which left me rummaging through my closet at two in the morning. I found a sleeveless cobalt blue tank and immediately decided it would be ideal with my bright pink skinny jeans and color blocked black/blue/pink heels. It must have looked fabulous in the dim light from my closet lamp, because I was pretty excited to pull it on this morning.

Naturally, I woke up late, so I was relieved that I had put my clothes together before bed. I hopped out of the shower and quickly got dressed... and then realized just how much I hated what I saw in the mirror. Anxiety started to creep up on me as I thought about how little time I had before work, and my mind was racing with wardrobe anxiety.

As I changed in and out of various combinations, I remembered my double layer Threadsence dress that I stumbled across last night - I had even pulled it to the front, thinking that, in light of my May experiment, it would be an excellent addition to my rotation.

I raced upstairs to my closet and pulled the hangar from my overstuffed closet. I yanked it over my head and wrapped the double wrap studded skinny belt around my waist - but immediately changed my mind and replaced it with my favorite wide brown belt. Shoes, of course, also caused me intense issues - I ended up taking three pairs to work with me, on top of the ones I wore out the door - but eventually I settled on these basic taupe sandals I got last week for my birthday. Jewelry and other accessories consisted of whatever I happened to have in my purse (fortunately, those items happened to be my current favorites), and make up was whatever I could apply on the go. The floral scarf was a last-minute addition for a splash of color against an all-neutral background.

My hair also turned out to be quite the happy disaster. I like to wash, blow out and straighten my hair every day - as you can imagine, this is quite a timely process. This morning's situation was pretty dire (even before the wardrobe crisis), so I took a chance and skipped the wash. I threw my hair into a bun while in the shower, and when I got out I ran my dryer over the parts that had gotten damp - my roots. The damp effectively killed any life my hair had, and at this point I seriously considered saying to hell with it and going back to bed. Instead, I whipped out my Bumble & Bumble dry cleanser (in brown). I picked up a tiny bottle for $19 several months ago at Sephora, and despite the hefty price tag (or perhaps because of it), I've been hesitant to try it. This morning was do or die though, so I flipped my hair over and spritzed just below the roots and ran my fingers through it to distribute the powder.

My hair still looked nothing like the models' in the magazine spreads and commercials showcasing the new wave of dry shampoos, but this Bumble & Bumble concoction did give it texture without feeling dirty or grimy - which is exactly what I needed to work it into a gorgeous, messy chignon. I've been relying on this hairstyle a lot recently, and up until this point I haven't been too impressed with my own efforts. I've tried other dry shampoos, but none have actually worked until now. Bumble & Bumble's hair powder is my new secret weapon in achieving the perfect messy hair-do.

puzzle pieces

double layer dress: tini lili, from threadsence

gold cuff bracelet: charlotte russe (similar here)

wide brown belt: vanity

gold sunbeam necklace: nasty gal (find it here)

sandals: forever 21 (similar here)

sunglasses: charlotte russe

messenger bag: ebay (similar here)

floral scarf: walmart (similar here)

2