So Long Winter, We're Springing Forward!

Hello everyone!!! I know it's been a while. It's crazy how we're already mid-way through March--like whoah!! When did January and February happen? To celebrate the imminent transition of season, here's 4 outfits to guide you for spring outfits. Technically Spring Equinox isn't until next Sunday, but it's definitely feeling like spring in SoCal! I don't know about you, but I've been dealing with spring allergies in 80 degrees weather. But that's beside the point. I hope you enjoy this post and maybe you'll find some of my tips helpful!

Off the shoulder blouse: Zara // Floral Drawstring Pants: Polo Ralph Lauren // Sandals: Franco Sarto

Don't tell anyone...but the pants I have on are actually pajama pants that I bought about a month ago on sale. I think it's totally wearable with a plain top. Plus it's comfy!

I'm so strong I can push a tree! Nope, totally kidding.

For this outfit, I thought a black top would be a nice contrast to the red drawstrings. Since there is quite a floral pattern going on, it's better to be simple on the top so the outfit doesn't look like a clutter. As far as accessories, I stacked my usual Seiko watch with an Alex and Ani bracelet and a turquoise stone bangle to complement the turquoise-toned flowers on the pants.

~ Gotta love the City of Trees ~

Black Blazer: Kenzie (Nordstrom) // Magenta Peplum Tank: American Eagle // Boyfriend Jeans: American Eagle // Initial Bar Necklace: Nectar // 3 Triangle Necklace: Forever 21

When it gets slightly chilly, throw on a blazer. It'll do the trick! It is a principle that blazers add sophistication to any casual outfit. I'm not as much of a fan of preppy clothing anymore, but I still like how blazers look on top of a casual combo. 

I'm usually not big on buying colorful tops (like magenta) because I prefer neutral colors that match with everything...BUT it's still important to have a bit of variety. When I buy colorful tops, I usually like them simple with a twist. This magenta top, for example, had a peplum bottom half that I really love. It really pops out in this outfit because it contrasts with the black.  

How cool is this pattern?! I love how there are two separate patterns that intertwine. This dress was my mom's from many, many years ago. The dress originally has shoulder-pads (yes, that long ago), so I cut them out and turned it into my own midi dress. Being resourceful 101 everybody!!!

Slip Dress: Free People

I usually wear this dress by itself, but I also like how it looks with the boyfriend jeans. I got this dress on sale at Nordstrom for like 60 dollars, so it was a good deal considering it's usually 90. The best part of this slip is that it's extremely light weight and flowy. It's perfect for the spring time! It's also easy to work with, so it would look good if I were to wear it with a cardigan or a sweater.

THANKS FOR READING! 

Declassyfied Photos!!!

Hello everyone! It's been a while since our last post, so expect one more post this Thursday!!! Diana and I officially have one semester left until graduation...AHHH! What's so thrilling about this year is that I'll be wrapping up one chapter and beginning another in my life. It's difficult to wrap my head around that fact that my lifestyle will change once I'm in college. In this spirit of nostalgia, here are two photoshoots from forever ago. The first one is from spring of 2015 and the other is from winter of 2013. Yes, I repeat 2013. In fact, that the first photoshoot I had EVER done with Diana. I must say, my poses were fairly decent for a newbie. Anyways, enjoy the beautiful photography and editing done by DChao!

This outfit features my favorite staples: AE denim jacket, AE black denim pants, Rainbow sandals, Lucky Brand white top, and Seiko watch!

Diana asked me to do a portrait shoot with her when we were sophomores. I remember feeling super excited and nervous because I have always loved being photographed but I had never actually modeled before. One year later we collaborated and created Letrendary!

Diana and I are hoping to create a new series soon, so stay tuned. Also, we have hit over 10,000 views!!! Thank you, we love you all!!!

Ocean Waves & Boho Craze: Guest Post by Raven

Aloha, everyone! Today we are lucky enough to welcome someone who is not only outwardly beautiful but also harbors a beautiful heart and soul: the absolutely wonderful Raven. As founder of the Ocean Lovers' Society on campus, Raven has never ceased to amaze me with her passion and love for the ocean. But the girl has a rocking style, too, and she's kind enough to shed some light on her closet choices in this post. So, Raven, take it away!

Our planet is a delicate, beautiful, and precious place. In a time such as this, one of the most important things we must keep in mind is our impact on the health of our home. A place that I like to focus on protecting is our oceans. The truth is, our ocean is the primary source of life on the planet. Not only does it provide food, materials, and other natural resources but most of the oxygen we breathe. To neglect a place so vital to our life on earth will cause us face huge consequences in our future.

I do my best to incorporate my passions into my everyday life, and especially into my wardrobe. I believe that your style is the best way to express your interests. The way you present yourself through your clothing says a lot about you, and gives you a great opportunity to communicate what you’re passionate about to the world around you. I love the freedom fashion gives me that allows me to (quite literally) wear my heart on my sleeve. Inspired by a combination of bohemian and surfer style, I try to balance my wardrobe between a fun and comfortable look while also maintaining a whimsical aura. When you think of what a mermaid would wear if she were to live on land, your visuals are most likely parallel to my favorite looks. Not only does it reflect the mood of the sea but also my own personality. I try to project a sense of tranquility but also neatness when putting an outfit together.

All while paying attention to the “mood” of style, I tend to be drawn to rich colors. In the photo above, I have am wearing a rich red crop top with threads that weave in a variety of beautiful bright colors. The piece is composed of 100% organic cotton. Just as I believe it is important to pay attention to the materials that enter your body and its effect on you and your environment, it is just as important to be aware of the materials that you place onto your body. The textiles used to create the clothes we were could have either a negative or positive effect on the earth, so it is very important to refrain from non-sustainable material. However, I think we can all agree that with many mass production clothing companies thriving on sales reaching millions it is difficult to find clothing following these guidelines. My hope for the future is that we are able to find sustainable material like organic cotton and hemp as a more common textile in clothing stores.

Life is better in a bikini! The outfit above is one of my favorites, featuring loose boyfriend jeans and my favorite cardigan by Billabong. This is a look that is perfect for an evening by the water, providing comfort and warmth. I’ve also chosen a black bikini top to add to the comfort and color foundation to allow the colors in my jewelry and cardigan to pop. I’ve accessorized this look with earrings made from recycled threads and turquoise as well as a body chain with turquoise stones as well. I like to play around with jewelry in my everyday fashion and find myself wearing some pretty extravagant pieces. Incorporating the fun with jewelry inspired by bohemian style into a more laid back surfer style is what I usually go for in a casual outfit. I especially love jewelry that comes from natural material. Some that I own are made from starfish, sea shells, coffee beans, and roots.

I think the ultimate victory in fashion is gaining a sense of self. As you grow to become more aware of who you are, your style is going to change as your interests shift. What a beautiful thing to know that you are so free to express! When you find something you love, expressing it through the way you dress can be one of the most entertaining and flexible ways to do it. Let the colors you love so much speak through your apparel. I love to translate the sapphire blue of a calm ocean sunset through stones from the earth of that color and express the soft flow of each wave with a white fringed dress. Keeping an eye open to how your actions on all scales affect the planet we live on is so important. Wouldn’t you love to enjoy a stunning blue ocean without excess oil and trash? Appreciate the world around you, and protect it.

~Raven

En Summer Moda

COMFY, CASUAL, AND CUTE

I think you'd only get this posts's title pun if you've taken Spanish 3. But basically... en=In and moda=fashion in Spanish...so In Summer Mode-ah. Haha get it? Yea? No? Okay. Anyways...TWO POSTS IN ONE DAY?! Heck yea! Diana and I thought we definitely needed to do two posts to make up for our long absence. This post isn't culturally themed, but hopefully you enjoy the different summer looks! Enjoy!

Top: Michael Stars // Shorts: Nectar Clothing

The drapey soft shorts have been trending like crazy since last summer. I think so many people love them because they're so comfy and fun to wear at the same time. I bought these because I loved the floral pattern on them. I think the pom-poms also add a nice touch to the shorts. I don't wear these often, but when I do, I like to pair them with a very simple top so that the outfit is focused on the shorts. I chose a light mint colored top because it nicely complemented the light pink color of the shorts!

STRIPES ON STRIPES: BLUE & WHITE

 

I love sophisticated outfits, so this is by far my favorite of the three. I also love matching and color coordinating quite obviously. For this outfit, it worked to put the stripes on stripes because they were the similar shades of blue, and the stripes went in different directions. The top stripes are horizontal, while the bottom stripes are vertical. If they were in the same direction, the outfit would probably have looked weird. White and blue are one of my favorite color combinations. You should test it out!

Blazer: Nordstrom // Stripe Tank Top: Velvet // Striped Shorts: Abercrombie // Bag: Kate Spade // Espadrilles: Soludos

THE DENIM SKIRT

Top: Guess // Denim Skirt: American Eagle // Sandals: Sam Edelman

I really love this skirt in particular because it's a little ripped and it's a cream color. It paired it with a striped green top and black sandals. It isn't a comfortable outfit, so I only wear the skirt when I feel like putting in effort. It is a great staple to have! This skirt was on sale, so I thought why not. The key to dressing fashionably is having a bunch of staples. Easy staples to have are solid colored tops, chambray tops, denim jackets, colored jeans, etc. Thanks for reading today, and thanks Diana for all the awesome pics! Check us out on Instagram or Tumblr @Letrendary for more pictures!