Winter Basics

More often than not, having nothing to wear effects the lives of many women. While our closets and drawers are stuffed full of clothes, we cannot find a single thing to wear in the morning, especially when we are in a hurry. Everything always seems to just not fit right or is something we feel we just wore, whatever the reason, this is a conflict that must be resolved.
Going through my own closet, I've noticed that I am really lacking basics. It seems almost everything I buy has some sort of pattern or design, that will be noticeable if I wore them multiple times within a couple of weeks. Investing in basics will help cut down on the "I have nothing to wear" moments because of their immense versatility. Basics are like building blocks for your wardrobe, look for pieces that can be layered, dressed up, dressed down, or just thrown on on the way out the door.
The first piece I recommend investing in for winter is a pull over sweater in a neutral tone. This piece will go with anything and will look really chic paired with any statement colors or textures. Choose a neckline and fit that suits you best, anything from a drapey style to a form fitting v-neck will do. You can layer a button down under a sweater or throw an embellished or printed scarf over it to give it life. Also, if solid colors really aren't your thing, opt for a color-blocked style or even stripes, just make sure the colors remain neutral so that it will go with virtually anything.

Ann Taylor

Piperlime

Old Navy

Pull over sweaters are so versatile and essential to all wardrobes. The countless ways to style pieces such as these will allow you to get numerous wears out of them and they will definitely be worth every penny you spent.
For your bottom half, a must have basic is a black pant. I'm sure almost everyone owns black bottoms of some sort, but it is still an essential item. You can find many different styles of black pants, from leggings, to ponte, to denim, anything you choose will be able to transform into your style. Rather than choosing a plain black, try something different, maybe some leather detailed leggings, or black ponte pants with a white or grey stripe down the leg. These subtle details will make your basic look not so basic, but still allow you to pair your bottoms with any top or any accessory. Whether its a night out with friends, a day at work, or a first date, you can do no wrong in a black pant.

Francesca's

BCBG

Zara

No matter your style investing in basics is so important. Next time you feel that you don't have anything to wear, check for basic pieces and try to build from them. If you feel you don't have enough basics in your wardrobe, now is the time to invest. Spend your money wisely this winter and it will help you save money in the future, a few of these versatile pieces will take you a long way and you will have a great beginning to a fabulous winter wardrobe!

Holiday Party Dressing

About three weeks ago I was asked to start planning our office holiday party. I was really excited and thought that I was finally going to be doing something I enjoyed and looked forward to. After I picked a gorgeous venue and created amazing e-vites, the lack of enthusiasm about the party really put a damper on planning. I didn't blame anyone for not being excited, I didn't really want to attend myself. The party has no-w come and gone, and as it turns out that despite everyone's negativity, it was a huge success and they all enjoyed themselves.
It's that time of year, when you'll be attending numerous holiday events, whether you want to or not, it seems almost unavoidable. Make your holiday party obligations worthwhile with the most fabulous ensemble that will make you feel great and will give you something to look forward to. especially if you're not interested in the party itself.
This season, sequined dresses are always a hit, but one in a metallic or pastel will be a breath of fresh air in a room full of reds and greens. Dare to try something new and different. A blush or nude dress with your choice of how much sparkle will look so spectacular this time of year. Pair your sparkly dress with a faux fur vest or coat or accessorize with a furry or feather bag. Mixing sparkle with faux fur will combine different textures and make your evening wear more luxurious. Below is some inspiration for your upcoming holiday parties.
 

ASOS

Express

Tobi

If you are not excited about wearing yet another dress this holiday season, change things up by wearing a chic jumpsuit. These are a major trend right now and are so versatile, they can be easily dressed up for the fanciest and most sophisticated parties. Trade your little black dress for a black jumpsuit and dress it up with the right statement accessories. If you're feeling a little more adventurous, opt for jewel tones like reds or sapphires.

BCBGMaxAzria

White House Black Market

Anthropologie

Whether you choose to go with a dress or a jumpsuit, you will definitely be the most fashionable person at the party. Remember to accessorize based on the amount of sparkle in the piece you chose. If the dress is covered in sequins, keep shoes neutral, if there is little to no sparkle, add some with an embellished clutch or shoes. Whatever you decide, you'll at least have something to be excited about if you're not looking forward to the party, and then who knows, you may have a great time after all.

Layering Necessity

It's Monday morning and you think you're all ready for work, you grab your purse and catch a glimpse of your outfit in the mirror. You pause, something is missing. You're wearing a cute printed blouse and you know that a cardigan will just cover it up, but without a layering piece your outfit just falls flat. The solution you may be looking for is a vest. Vests are perfect for layering and they will give your outfit the extra dimension it might be lacking without covering up too much of your top half.
For more "dressed up" looks, faux fur is a great option. It will add a chic element to your outfit. It also is a pretty effortless way to elevate your most basic look and give it a more luxurious touch. Another great thing about faux fur is that it will add a different texture to your ensemble, there are also many different color and texture options. You can choose more natural looking faux fur of blacks, browns, whites, and greys, or you can opt for reds, blues, greens, or even a print. Choose one that you love and wear it the next time you go to work, out to dinner, or to a holiday party, you will definitely be making a statement of luxury no matter where you are.

Nordstrom

Tobi

Macy's

 
Another type of vest that makes a great layering piece this time of year is a puffer vest. Puffer vests have been around for a long time, but styling them with a little more effort, rather than throwing it on on your way out the door will give this layering piece a more elevated look. Put together a cozy outfit with jeans, boots, and chunky cable knit sweater, and you'll look like you're ready for a nice casual, relaxing day. Add a printed puffer and you'll look just as cozy but even more chic. Adding a layer to any outfit will give it more depth and make you look instantly more stylish. A solid puffer over a printed flannel top will also look fabulous. Add a statement necklace or a scarf to pull everything together. Below are some examples of puffer vests that will be more than just an afterthought in your wardrobe. Wear them open or closed, they will be the perfect accent to your already cozy outfit.

Juicy Couture

Old Navy

J. Crew

The best part about vests is that you can find one that will suit virtually any budget! For more inspiration on how to style a vest follow me on Poylvore @sararamani

Lifestyle Trend: Monthly Subscriptions

Remember back to when you were a kid and you would go to a fair or a flea market and you came across something called a "grab bag". You had no idea what was inside but you still begged your mom for a dollar so you could buy one just for the sheer pleasure of opening it to find a surprise. In your adult life it is still exciting to open something when you have no clue what is inside. Monthly subscription services are just that. You pay a certain amount of money each month and you receive a special surprise in the mail.
These services have been around for a while, for example, "wine of the month club", and things of that nature. Nowadays, the new obsession is a subscription for beauty and skincare products. Two of the most popular would be Ipsy and Birchbox. Many YouTubers post videos comparing the two while opening them for the first time. Both of these services cost $10 a month and provide personalized beauty and skin care products to you each month and are catered toward your needs/taste.
I strongly recommend signing up for at least one of the two because its a great way to learn about new products, up and coming brands, and expand your collection. You may not like every single item in your bag but this can be such a great way to have some "stocking stuffers" on hand for the holidays around the corner, or to just give them away as part of a birthday gift.
The best part about it is the element of surprise. Picture yourself coming home from an exhausting day at work and seeing a package for you and not knowing what's inside. It's almost like receiving a present from a distant relative and if you don't like what's inside you can re-gift it to someone else.
These services are such a great value because for only $10 a month you can get full sized products as well as deluxe samples.
Other than Ipsy and Birchbox, there are other services that cost a bit more but you definitely get more for the higher price. BoxyCharm is a $21 a month service and you get all full sized products from well-known brands. Walmart and Target also have created their own services. You can find a monthly subscription for so many different needs not just beauty. They even have a service called BarkBox for dogs. These services can also make a great gift for someone else because they do allow you to pay for a full year upfront.
If you're iffy about adding an extra cost to your monthly bills, cancel something you don't use very often. Split your Netflix with a friend (if you go months without watching anything until the new season of Orange is the New Black comes out) and sign up for a subscription that suits you and will be worth every dollar.
I personally am an Ipsy subscriber and below is what I received in my bag for November:

To join Ipsy click here
To join Birchbox click here

Fall Shoes

The cold weather is just around the corner, and it's probably about time you put away those flip flops. If you're anything like me, you probably struggle when it comes to what to put on your feet on colder days. Especially after the ease of slipping your sandals on and off for four months, it's hard to transition into cold weather shoes that require lacing, zipping, etc.
Another problem I have in the fall is that I end up wearing the same shoes multiple days in a row because the majority of my shoes are summery or wintry. By the time the season is over I never want to wear or see these shoes again!
If you're anything like me, let's get out of this fall shoe rut by investing in these fall trends. I call it an investment because shoe trends don't change very drastically and you're always going to need something to put on your feet. As long as you keep the style simple (versatile for many occasions) and keep in mind colors that will match the season and you can have shoes for many falls to come. Also, some fall boots/booties can be transitioned into winter, making them an even better investment. Below are a couple different occasions and some examples of the shoes that would be appropriate for each.

Work (Business Casual): pair with dresses, blazers, ponte pants, or skirts.
Booties/Shooties- Keep colors neutral, heel or flat, ankle height. Click here for lots of ankle bootie inspiration. There are so many different kinds which can be overwhelming. Pick the style that suits your needs and will be the most practical to do your job in.

Flats-  Can be embellished with studs, print, texture, etc. Flats are multi-seasonal and to make them more fall appropriate, look for darker colors like olive green and burgundy, or prints like leopard and plaid.

Photo cred Forever 21

Photo cred DSW

 
Everyday/School (Casual):
A hot trend for this fall is the fashion sneaker. These can be worn to give some edge to a more feminine look, to dress you up on your most casual days, or to simply turn your footwear into a conversation piece. Below is some sneaker inspiration to spice up even your most casual days.
 

Photo cred Macys

Photo cred Zappos

Photo cred Steve Madden

Combat Boots:
An absolute must have for fall footwear is the combat boot. I honestly cannot get enough of these shoes. They can be worn with so many different styles and will instantly add an edginess to any outfit. You can wear them with a skirt, dress, chunky socks, leggings, or denim and they will look amazing. They tend to be on the more casual side, but will be perfect if your office has casual Fridays, wearing to school, or anywhere on the weekends. Not only will these shoes be the perfect compliment for a flashback to the grunge era, they can also look so modern when paired with more feminine silhouettes.

Photo cred gojane

 

Photo cred Charlotte Russe

There are so many different kind of shoes for the fall, too many to talk about, but get started with a few investments that suit your needs and will last you many wears and falls in the future.

Fall Staples: Prints

Every season has its staples and this fall, just like every other, plaid and leopard print are back! These oldies but goodies just scream "fall fashion" and they are definitely a must have in your fall wardrobe. There are countless ways to wear these prints from accessories to full outfits, the sky is the limit. There's a reason why these prints keep coming back. Invest in them and you'll be set for many fall's to come.

If you are afraid of prints, keep this in mind, leopard is usually done in neutral colors, therefore; its a neutral! Whether you wear it as a top, bottom, layer, or accessory, you can pair it with virtually anything. Wearing a print rather than all solid colors will give your outfit more dimension.

Plaid is less of a neutral print depending on the color but there are so many possibilities because of the amount of color combinations. Not only will adding plaid to your outfit give you dimension from the print but also a pop of color, or two! Also, the grunge look is back, so grab an oversized plaid shirt and tie it around your waist or wear it unbuttoned with a some combat boots you'll be the 2014 version of this flashback 90's trend.

Here are some leopard and fall pieces to add for your wardrobe pair these with leggings or jeans for a casual/daytime/weekend look OR dress them up with ponte pants, blazers, skirts etc. for the office.

Photo cred: Topshop

Photo cred: Express

Photo cred: H&M

Photo cred: Topshop

Photo cred: Zara

Photo cred: Topshop

Photo cred: necessary clothing

Photo cred: DSW

Photo cred: DSW

There are so many options with these two prints and you can definitely find something to suit your own style for any occasion. 

Statement Bags

Bags have always been a statement piece, and now you can make an even bolder statement with this fall's statement bag trend. From prints and embellishments, to words, fringe, and unique shapes, there is a bag out there for each and every style no matter how subtle or loud you want it to be.
These bags will be an instant conversation starter at your fingertips. You'll definitely be turning heads wherever you go and getting compliment after compliment on your chic, bold style. I one hundred percent recommend trying this trend out this fall. Have a little fun, and take a break from the seriousness of everyday life, and bring a fun new accessory to work, school, or anywhere you need a reminder to stress less.
Here are three different style statement bags and the best places to rock them:

Going out: When you don't need to carry a whole lot, why not throw the essentials into a cute and fun little clutch or crossbody? You never know you might notice you at the bar!

Everyday: Try anything furry, embellished, bold colored, printed or any combination of these in a classic tote or satchel silhouette to give you an edgy look at work or school. 

 Weekend: Rather than putting a slogan on a t-shirt, you can show off your sassy personality by dressing up a pair of jeans and basic top with one of these fun bags.

 

Wherever your days take you this fall, I recommend trying this trend out. Find the right bag for your lifestyle and make a statement everywhere you go!

Welcome/ Overview

Welcome to From Beginning to Trend! Consider this your place to learn all about current seasonal trends in fashion, makeup, lifestyle, and even food. Don't feel like a certain trend is for you? Or are you obsessing over a trend but are afraid to try it? Whatever your concerns may be, this blog will discuss trends in as much detail as possible so that even the most timid will want to try something new.
I want this to be a place where a reader comes to be inspired to try something new. From the good, the bad, and the ugly, you'll be updated on all you need on current and upcoming seasonal trends.