skirting the issue

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past two years, you know we're in the midst of a debilitating recession. This, of course, means going to the mall less, hitting up the thrift stores more, and being forced to find something to wear when you have nothing to wear. It also means trying to find ways to wear what's already in your closet, which can be a challenge.

Luckily, I happen to like challenges.

I have a yellow skirt that I bought last fall from Forever 21. On clearance. For six bucks. I never thought that it could be the core of so many outfits--especially because it's such a bright color--but I've managed to put together several outfits with this sunny-hued skirt.

In the first look, I paired the skirt with a magazine print-themed T-shirt and red peep-toe pumps. Like the skirt, the tee and the shoes are also from Forever 21.



In the second look, I paired the skirt with a navy button-down top from Express, a wide camel-colored belt from Forever 21, and brown T-strap heels from Charlotte Russe.



In the third look, I paired the skirt with a green top from Forever 21, a black belt (that's so old I can't even remember where I got it from), and black peep-toe oxford pumps from Charlotte Russe.



In the fourth look, I paired the skirt with a yellow halter from Forever 21 and gold stilettos from Shu Deal.



In my fifth look, I paired the skirt with a white button-down top (which is actually a bodysuit) from Forever 21, a giraffe-print belt from Rainbow, and brown wedges from Target.



I'm still surprised that I was able to create so many outfits from a non-neutral color. I'm going to check my closet later to see what else I can come up with using other pieces in my closet.

So tell me: What do you think of my five looks? How do you mix pieces in your wardrobe?

in the trenches

Classic. That’s the word that comes to mind when I think of trench coats. They’re timeless, versatile, and fashionable. But in triple-digit temperatures, they’re also another thing: hot. Enter the trench dress. It’s just as timeless, versatile, and fashionable as its cold-weather counterpart, but it’s more warm-weather friendly.



I paired this black trench dress with gold accessories, a huge black ring, and my gold lace-up stilettos.



So tell me: Do you have a trench in your wardrobe?

[DRESS: Target; NECKLACE: Forever 21; HANDBAG: Guess; RING: Forever 21; BANGLES: Agaci Too; SHOES: Shu Deal; EARRINGS: Forever 21; SUNGLASSES: Forever 21]

living life on the wedge

It’s no secret that I’m stuck on stilettos; if I’m not wearing heels, I just don’t feel right. But my passion for pumps was supplemented by a worship of wedges when I saw these:



I fell in love with these wedges as soon as I spotted them. I love how the coral pops against the gray. I paired my wedges with a simple gray dress, and silver and coral accessories.



This is one of my favorite rings. I made it with one of my late grandmother’s old earrings; it's a memento that I can incorporate into my wardrobe and it reminds me of her every time I look at it.



So tell me: How do you feel about wedges?

[DRESS: Agaci Too; SHOES: Shu Deal; BRACELETS: Walmart; RING: DIY; EARRINGS: Agaci Too]

expect the unexpected

I have a confession to make: I don’t like surprises. When I was pregnant, I couldn’t wait to find out the sex of my baby. (It was a boy.) During Miss Cleo’s reign of psychic sovereignty, I spent a small fortune on tarot readings. (It was a waste.) And when a friend invited me a local amusement park for a day of roller coasters and junk food, I requested that she create a timeline of the day’s agenda in advance so I would know how our time would be spent. (It was denied.) But my long-time loathing of the unexpected suddenly became nonexistent when I saw this navy blue number:



I know what you’re thinking. Blue dress. Big deal. But I bet you didn’t anticipate this:



The entire upper half of the dress is lace in the back! Is that not fun (and totally unexpected)?! I consider this dress to be the ‘mullet’ of my wardrobe—it’s business in the front and party in the back. I paired the dress with gold accessories and these cool gold lace-up stilettos.



So tell me: What do you think of the unexpected pop of lace on the back of the dress? Lovely or lame?

[Dress: Forever 21; Shoes: Shu Deal; Necklace: Forever 21; Earrings: Forever 21; Bangles: Agaci Too; Ring: Gifted]

Note: I have another confession to make. I’m a terrible liar. My earlier admission about doling out cash to psychics? Not true. It was a scenario written purely for editorial entertainment to illustrate just how much I dislike the unforeseen. (I wouldn’t dare fork over my hard-earned cash for someone to tell me what I already know, especially when said hard-earned cash could be spent on a pair of stunning stilettos. Besides, I was still a teenager when Miss Cleo was popular.) Oh, and the statement about the amusement park schedule request? Never happened. But the part about finding out the sex of my baby? That was true. And it was a boy. He’s four-and-a-half now. And handsome. Whew. Now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, we can get back to our regularly scheduled program.

single-piece sensation

Whether you love it or loathe it, the controversial piece of clothing known as the romper (or jumper or playsuit) is a current craze that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere any time soon. While some think this multi-monikered merge of shorts and shirt is reserved for the playground posse, others are confident that rompers can successfully be rocked by women who can legally order a cocktail.

Prior to today, the last time I wore a romper was when I could count my age on one hand. Then I saw this yellow and black one-piece wonder and couldn’t care less that I now needed six hands to count my age.



I think I was drawn to this romper because it doesn’t necessarily resemble a romper; it looks more like a floral blouse coupled with a pair of high-waisted shorts. I also love the element-of-surprise aspect associated with the romper’s cut-out back.



To me, rompers give off a playful vibe, so I paired mine with black wedges. I was surprised at how well my romper fit, and I could only find one downside: it’s a pain to get out of when nature calls. I have to untie the ribbon in the back, undo the buttons at the nape my neck, and unzip the side. Sigh. The things I sacrifice for fashion.



So tell me: What are your thoughts on rompers? Do you think jumpers are juvenile or do playsuits add panache to your wardrobe?

[Romper: Agaci Too; Shoes: Shu Deal]

in praise of prints

Solids are a mainstay in my wardrobe, but my adoration for bold prints is unrelenting. When mixing prints became the "in" thing, I hopped on the pattern-blending bandwagon with the enthusiasm of a tween during the Beanie Babies craze. When a past excursion to Goodwill resulted in the accidental donation of my favorite graphic-print garment, I shed enough tears to soak the Sahara. And when I saw this ikat-inspired skirt, I scooped it up and headed for the checkout counter faster than the associate could ask, "Are you aware of our return policy?"



When I wear a bold print, I always pair it with a simple solid, like this basic white tank. Because the skirt is the statement piece, the only jewelry I wore was a purple ring. I also wore a pair of sky-high dark purple stilettos and a recently-purchased oversized light gray hobo bag.



I try to buy clothing that can be worn year-round and coincidentally, I found a matching purple cardigan belonging to my mom that I could pair with this skirt when the temperatures began to drop in the fall and we're no longer suffering from Texas' trademark triple-digit heat.



So tell me: Are you a Prints-ess Charming or do you tend to stick with subtle solids?

[Skirt: Forever 21; Tank: Wal-Mart; Shoes: Shu Deal; Handbag: Agaci Too; Ring: Gifted]

elsewhere on the web: what i wore

It's always exciting when a fashion blogger thinks enough of your style to give you face time on their blog. I've been visiting What I Wore on a daily basis for a while now, and I'm always fascinated with Jessica's style challenges, so I was excited to see that I--along with several other style-savvy bloggers--had been featured for this week's Safari Chic 'What We Wore' style challenge. My safari-themed submission on Jessica's blog may look familiar--I've blogged about it here and it was also featured here.

a nod to the nautical

The naval trend is a look that reappears each year when the temperatures start to rise. I happen to adore this timeless trend, so it was no question that it would be incorporated into my summer wardrobe.



I paired my navy blue high-waisted sailor-inspired pants (which are excessively long, I know) with a red and white striped top. I 'anchored' the look with gold accessories and a white handbag.



Initially, I had on a pair of red shoes, but I purchased these gold ones today and felt that they complemented the outfit and went perfectly with my gold acccessories. Now all I need is a yacht.



So tell me: Do you plan on joining the maritime movement and rocking your own sailor-inspired style?

[PANTS: Forever 21; TOP: Forever 21; SHOES: Shu Deal; HANDBAG: Ross; EARRINGS: Forever 21; RING: Gifted]

mint ruffles and cream bubbles

I have to admit that I was never a fan of bubble skirts--I never thought they were flattering on me--but when I saw this cream bubble skirt at Forever 21 last winter, I couldn't deny that it was adorable (and the fit wasn't as unappealing as previous bubble skirts I'd tried on). During the colder months, I paired it with a badass black leather jacket and some black lace tights, but since its warmer, I coupled it with a sleeveless ruffled mint green blouse.



I accessorized with a wide brown belt and matching booties and added one of my signature super-sized rings.



Okay, so I haven't completely jumped on the bubble skirt wagon; I have another one in my closet--it's denim and it's darling--but it still has the price tag on it. I can't help but feel like I'm wearing a denim diaper and that's definitely not the look I'm going for (regardless of how cool Huggies says it is).



So tell me: What are your thoughts on bubble skirts?

[SKIRT: Forever 21; BLOUSE: Burlington; BELT: Forever 21; SHOES; Forever 21; RING: Forever 21; EARRINGS: Burlington]

safari chic

It's no secret that I'm a self-proclaimed sucker for vibrant colors, but I'm also loving not-so-vivid olive green right now. It's been all over the place, and I couldn't help but incorporate it into my wardrobe with this safari-themed ensemble.



From the military trend to the safari look, I just can't get enough olive green, brown, and tan. My outfit has this muted mix of colors, but I think it's far from drab.



I kept the accessories to a minimum with a gold ring, dark brown pumps and my fave brown clutch. This outfit was selected as Fab Sugar's Look of the Day in May, and you can check out my feature here.



So tell me: Are you into subdued shades like olive green and brown, or do you have a hankering for hues that scream 'Look at me!'?

[TOP: Charlotte Russe; BELTED SHORTS: Forever 21; SHOES: Aldo; CLUTCH: Ross; RING: Gifted]

wardrobe replica: coral color clock

You know that amazing feeling you get when you find a forgotten ten-dollar bill in your jacket pocket? And you know how that amazing feeling is further compounded when you spend that newly-found ten-dollar bill on something cute and summery? Well, presenting my cute, summery, ten-dollar purchase:



I literally squealed with delight when I saw this coral color block dress, and my delight turned into pure elation when I saw the price tag. Ten bucks?!

But this is where it gets interesting: I admit that I watch a lot of TV. Probably more than I should. But I also admit that most of my time in front of the tube isn’t spent following plotlines. More often than not, I’m following fashion and searching for style inspiration.

So you can imagine my surprise when, during one of my ‘site-seeing’ excursions, I saw that my bargain-basement buy made a cameo on a recent episode of 90210. (And I confess: I watch the revamped version of 90210—for the plotlines and the fashion. But mostly the fashion. Hey, it’s entertainment. Don’t judge me).

In a recent blog posting, Dana over at The Possessionista included a picture of 90210’s Adrianna wearing the EXACT color block frock, which you can see here. It’s no secret that wardrobe budgets for TV shows are a tad bit more than that of the normal non-acting person (yes, that was sarcasm), so it was quite the coincidence to see my clearance rack clothing on the tube.

[Dress: Body Central; Shoes: Ten Dollar Shoe Store; Ring: DIY]

So tell me: Have you ever seen an actress sporting a piece of clothing from your closet on the small screen?

[Adrianna photograph courtesy of Dana at The Possessionista.]

beetlejuice the jailhouse referee

When I first saw this striped blazer, it reminded me of Beetlejuice. Or a referee. Or an old jailhouse jumpsuit. Actually, it still reminds me of those things. But I absolutely adore it.



Because the blazer is the focal point, I kept everything else simple with the black shorts and accessories, and the black-and-white peep-toe oxfords.



I try to purchase versatile pieces that I can wear year-round, and I plan to wear this blazer with skinnies in the fall when the temperatures are cooler.



So tell me: What do you think of my striped Beetlejuice/referee/jailhouse blazer? Are you into stripes and other patterns, or are solids more your speed?

[Blazer: Agaci Too; Cami: Forever 21; Shorts: New York & Company; Shoes: Charlotte Russe; Ring: Forever 21; Clutch: Ross]

elsewhere on the web: glamour.com

It's always exciting when a fashion blogger thinks enough of your style to give you face time on their blog. On March 16, I was selected as Best Dressed Reader over at Glamour.com. Check out my feature here and let me know what you think.

maxi-mum exposure

The mercury is rapidly inching towards the triple digits and we're getting increasingly close to those so-hot-my-tearducts-are-dehydrated days that Texas is notoriously known for. It's hard to want to put forth much effort to look chic when all you want to do is jump into a vat of ice cold water, but when I want to look fashionable without the hassle, I reach for a maxi dress.



Maxi dresses are simple and effortless, and manage to keep me cool when the heat becomes unbearable. I toss on a chunky ring and some dangly earrings, and I'm out the door.



[Both dresses: Forever 21; Aviator sunglasses: Forever 21; Off-white ring: Forever 21]

So tell me: Are maxi dresses part of your summer wardrobe?

elsewhere on the web: fab sugar

It's always exciting when a fashion blogger thinks enough of your style to give you face time on their blog. On May 25th, I was selected as the Look of the Day over at Fab Sugar for my 'Safari Chic' ensemble. Check out my feature here and let me know what you think.

sunshine and shadows

Art wasn't my favorite subject in school (English was), but I remember being fascinated by the lectures that revolved around the color wheel. Since then, I've had an avid affinity with mixing colors, and I've incorporated those lessons into my wardrobe when putting together outfits.

It wasn't until I put this navy top with this bright yellow skirt that I realized that the two colors make a daringly distinctive duo. (Apparently, van Gogh was on to something when he created the yellow-and-navy-infused Starry Night painting.)



I really like how the vivid yellow pops against the dark navy blue. I paired the outfit with brown shoes and a brown clutch so that the outfit could take center stage.



I wish I'd added more accessories--perhaps some dainty gold jewelry--but think the colors are intense enough to stand alone.



[Top: Express; Skirt: Forever 21; Shoes: Charlotte Russe; Clutch: Ross]

So tell me: What do you think of my yellow and blue ensemble? Would you wear that color combination? What coupled colors catch your eye?

elsewhere on the web: the fashion bomb

It's always exciting when a fashion blogger thinks enough of your style to give you face time on their blog. Today, I was selected to feature my fashion at The Fashion Bomb as the Fashion Bombshell of the Day. Check out my feature here and let me know what you think.

Thanks, Claire, for giving me the opportunity to showcase my style on The Fashion Bomb!

the long and short of it

Up until recently, I steered clear of short shorts. I feared that I wouldn't be able to wear them without feeling as if I was showing too much skin. But I pride myself on knowing what works for me fashion-wise and realized I just had to find a way to wear them that makes me feel comfortable and fits my personal style.

I have a long-standing love affair with skyscraper-high stilettos, which have the potential to look less-than-modest when paired with short shorts.



In order to maintain style equilibrium, I balance the nakedness of my legs with a long-sleeve or 3/4-sleeve top that covers most of my arms.



It's been scorching hot in Texas so shorts are a must, and short shorts have definitely become one of my summer style staples.



So tell me: Do you ever worry about showing too much skin when wearing short shorts? What do you wear with your shorts? How do you feel about pairing short shorts with high heels?

welcome to 'words & wardrobes'!

Welcome to Words & Wardrobes! I'm Ty, a 20-something Dallasite with a penchant for stylish statement jewelry, sky-high stilettos, and blindingly bright colors.

I have a bachelor's degree in journalism with an emphasis in advertising and a minor in marketing from the University of North Texas. Unfortunately, I haven't had many opportunities to professionally flex my writing muscles, so I'm taking matters into my own hands. I'm pathetically passionate about writings (words) and fashion (wardrobes), so I've decided to combine those two things and launch Words & Wardrobes with the hopes that it will serve as a creative outlet and pacify my craving for creativity.

Up until this point, blogging has been a spectator sport for me--I've done a lot of "site-seeing" and visiting other fashion blogs, and now that I'm entering the blogosphere, I'm looking forward to sharing my style and interacting with other fashion bloggers.

I'm clothes-minded and open-minded, so if you have questions, comments, advice, or (constructive) criticism, feel free to contact me at wordsandwardrobes@gmail.com.