STYLE GURU STYLE: The Simple Life

If you’re anything like me, you’ve gone through every fashion phase and trend imaginable, unknowingly on the search for your signature style. And while it’s more than okay to purchase those trendy pieces at stores like Forever 21 or H&M, when it comes to the basics, you’ll want to invest. These are the bare bones of your wardrobe—your tried and true. They are the best fitting pair of jeans you can find for your body type, a comfortable white button-up and a fantastic everyday bag that’s both stylish and practical; meaning not a show piece, as much as we may love them. This is a lesson that took me until very recently to truly understand. It also seems like the fashion elite are going more in this direction as well, since it’s the centerpiece of the 6397 spring 2015 ready-to-wear show, which features an array of denim styles and washes, sneakers and basic tops and dresses. And while Tim Gunn, someone whose advice I actually do trust, always says that fashion isn’t meant to be comfortable, that doesn’t seem to be true anymore.

A white shirt is crisp, clean and looks great with a tan. What more could you want for a summer essential? This one is made from a thin material, so it’s super breathable and is a bit oversized, which adds to the casual, relaxed feel of the look. Pairing it with fun silver jewelry adds just enough of a statement to the simple outfit.

I’ll go on record stating that I used to hate jeans. I’m pretty sure I went a couple years without even owning a pair. But after seeing all my favorite Instagrammers rocking distressed denim, I decided to give it a try. Since I’m barely 5’2” on a good day, cropped jeans are really my only option, which makes these perfect. They hit right at the ankle so there’s none of that unflattering bunching on the bottom that just makes me look shorter. I love pairing them with anything from wedges and sandals to these slip-on suede sneakers.

I’m a bag girl, always have been. I drool over the handbag department in Neiman Marcus, deciding on the designer bag I’ll buy myself when I get my first “grown up job” after college. This Proenza Schouler satchel was an incredible gift, and something I’ve gotten tons of use out of. The gray is a perfect neutral that goes with everything, and the option to use it as a cross-body is what makes it so versatile and definitely worth the money if you’re looking into designer bags.

This look is something that can be altered to fit your own style just by changing up the shoes for a pair of awesome heels, adding a pop of color with a bold lip or swapping out my wide-brimmed fedora for a classic baseball hat. Honestly, the possibilities are endless. So be creative, and have fun!

Get My Look: 1. Distressed denim. 2. A white button-down. 3. A pair of slip-on sneakers.

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