minimal – Page 2 – A Styled Mind

In the vault

HOLIDAY EDGE

December 12, 2017 2 Comments

The holiday season is by far one of my favorite times of year, and though my excitement never ceases to dwindle, there are a few things that I tend to find a bit repetitive. Aside from the decorations, music, and events, I sometimes wish there were new style trends to experiment with aside from the typical, metallic, sequins, fur, etc. This year, I decided to make a conscious effort to try out some new things with my holiday looks and so far I feel like I’m off to a great start! While making a point not to stray too far from the festive sparkle, I was thrilled when I found this pair of trousers. The rosey hue added a uniqueness that in my opinion was even more eye-catching than the traditional silver or gold; and I loved it! With each look I style for my blog, it’s rare that there isn’t a point of slight difficulty; and in this case, it was deciding on a top. Because I had my mind set on not creating a look that was blatantly “obvious,” it took me awhile to find a piece that was formal enough while still being a bit unexpected. After going back and forth with two drastically different tops, I made the executive decision to layer them and, “VOILA;” the look came to life! I think the juxtaposition of the lace turtleneck and distressed graphic t-shirt made for the most amazing contrast that somehow meshed seamlessly without disrupting the sleek tailoring of the bottoms. Also because of the blend of casual and classic elements, this is a look that can easily be worn in a variety of settings and stand out amongst the crowd! With so many textures going on, I chose to keep my footwear minimal with a pair of black heeled sandals; and though I didn’t grab a bag, I decided to wear my silver geometric earrings for an extra pop of glitz. This ensemble totally gave me “rock&roll-chic” vibes, and I loved how it turned out. Comment below if you prefer to keep it traditional or mix it up with your annual holiday looks. Stay tuned for more festive outfits to come, until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

T-shirt- Forever 21

Lace Top- H&M

Trousers- Zara

Heels- Zara

Earrings- & Other Stories

In the vault

BLACK OUT

November 29, 2017 2 Comments

Is there such a thing as wearing too much black? To be honest, that was the question I struggled with most when composing this look. Black is moody, edgy, chic, and all around timeless, however I still found myself debating whether the shade was enough on its own. I purchased this stunning ribbed midi dress and though I loved it, I completely underestimated how difficult it would be to style. In my opinion, this item is equivalent to a white tee– a total staple that leaves room to create an endless amount of ensembles. I wasn’t sure whether to dress this piece up or down, add a pop of color, or play off of it’s understated minimalism. Being that I had no real direction, I just browsed the shops until I found items that “spoke” to me; and this cross-body bag was definitely a winner! The fringe and stud details added a rocker-chic vibe that provided an eye catching element to the look without taking away from the classic frock. At this point, while I liked the items I had, I was beginning to wonder whether I needed to somehow break up the darkness. As I continued to shop I found the cutest socks that I knew could add a playful element to not only this outfit, but to so many more in my wardrobe! Finally, I had made a conscious decision to find a pair of shoes that could compliment the pieces I had already gathered but most importantly, were not black! Long story short, I was not successful. As much as I tried to steer clear of it, everything that caught my eye during that particular outing happened to be the same dark shade. I finally decided to give in, and realized that despite the pieces being the same color, they all brought different elements to the look and complimented each other wonderfully. The metallic accents on the bag and shoes made for a nice feminine touch, especially as we approach the holidays, and the socks gave a quirky chic feel that made the overall outfit more interesting. That being said, I totally encourage wearing all-black and when all else fails, a bold lip or nails can never hurt! Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Dress- All Saints

Socks- Zara

Heels- & Other Stories

Bag- Zara

In the vault

TRANSITIONAL TIMES

September 7, 2017 4 Comments

As excited as I am for the Fall season, I can’t help but feel the urge to get in my last few summer-y looks before I literally do not have the option. With the mindset of creating more “transitional” outfits, I gravitated towards these minimal satin heeled sandals that I’ve been eyeing for months. I know what you’re thinking, “they’re so bright!” True indeed, however, orange hues are very prominent during the autumn and these beauties in particular are absolutely perfect for adding a pop of color to any neutral or denim looks that I tend to gravitate towards as the temperatures begin to drop. Being that these shoes were definitely the focal point of this look, I continued to build from the ground up. I must say that the association of floral prints only being acceptable during the Spring and Summer months, is definitely a thing of the past. Year-round florals have been a trend for the last few seasons and I’m certainly willing to embrace it! I loved the contrast of my tangerine colored footwear, against the cool tones of this dress. Though some may consider it bold, I felt that the two pieces provided a nice balance for each other which stabilized the entire look. For accessories, I decided to do something I haven’t done in a while and that was style this look with a bag. My navy blue monogrammed cross-body was definitely the perfect element needed to complete this ensemble and I was quite pleased with the final result. I love outfits like this because while each piece can work seamlessly together, they can also stand on their own and add a completely different vibe when paired with other items. Whether it be a leather jacket, sneakers, or a funky pair of jeans, I love the versatility of clothing and the endless ways to mix and match. Let me know in the comments below if you are excited for the change in season or if you’re not quite done with Summer yet. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Dress- Zara

Heels- & Other Stories

Bag- Gigi New York

In the vault

JUMPSUIT GENIUS

July 4, 2017 3 Comments

There’s nothing like the convenience of a garment that requires minimal effort to style while still looking chic and on trend. I’m basically obsessed with all “one piece” ensembles especially during this time of year– anything from dresses, rompers, and of course jumpsuits! This denim number is one of my latest purchases and truthfully, I wasn’t sure what to make of it at first. Typically when I think of denim garments in this style, my initial thoughts are of overalls, so I was a bit skeptical when I felt the stretchy elastic-like fabric. That said, I was pleasantly surprised when I tried on this piece and saw that it fit more like a comfortable figure flattering cat suit. This is the perfect item that is versatile enough to dress up for a night out or wear casually with sneakers to run errands. Because I consider denim to be “neutral,” I wanted to style it with a bag that had a bit of interest. To my surprise, I found the cutest hand beaded and sequined pineapple purse that in my opinion was the best accessory to compliment this look. Since I had such a glitzy purse, and didn’t feel the need to wear much jewelry, I just finished off the ensemble with my minimal black mules. This jumpsuit is definitely a piece that I see myself wearing all year round and styling for many different occasions. Let me know in the comments below if you would ever wear a garment like this or if you prefer traditional overalls. Until next time and Happy 4th!!

Outfit Details & Links:

Jumpsuit- Bebe

Heels- Topshop

Bag- Zara

In the vault

HOLIDAY MINIMALISM

December 24, 2016 1 Comment

Typically when thinking of the holiday season and all of its festivities, we prepare to bring out our most eye-catching pieces containing sequins, fur, and bold statement jewelry. While I fully enjoy and can appreciate partaking in the glitz and glam, I wanted to style a look for the more subdued, non-nonchalant chick who chooses to take more of an understated approach. In my opinion, holidays or not, you can never go wrong with an all black ensemble. Because of my dark color palette however, I definitely wanted to add dimension by mixing up the textures. As soon as I saw the top and its gorgeous lace detail, I knew it would make the perfect piece for this time of year while still being versatile enough to blend with the more casual pieces in my wardrobe. The tailored culottes helped to maintain a “smart” vibe that kept the look relaxed yet formal, and I couldn’t help but add my cropped leather jacket for an extra bit of edge. In order to maintain the “holiday feels,” I accessorized with my iridescent heeled sandals and diamond hoops for a bit of sparkle. Lastly, to complete the look, I grabbed my chain link leather purse and was good to go! A lot of times, I find myself guilty of wanting to throw on my entire closet due to the holiday excitement, but this look has shown me that less can definitely be more. So if you’re struggling to find a look or simply just feel like toning it down for your 5th party of the season, try something like this out and enjoy yourself! Until next time, & happy holidays!

Outfit Details & Links:

Jacket- Urban Outfitters

Top- Zara

Trousers- Zara

Heels- Zara

Bag- Zara

In the vault

CLOSET TREASURES

November 22, 2016 1 Comment

It’s no secret to those who know me that I have a slight issue when it comes to departing with older pieces in my wardrobe. It’s not that I’m a hoarder (I swear) it’s just that the way fashion recycles trends, you never know when that older piece may come in handy– and that’s EXACTLY what happened. Statement footwear has made a huge impact on most fashion lovers in the recent months. From velvet to funky prints and patterns, I just couldn’t pass on experimenting with this trend and I knew that I had the perfect piece! I purchased these wild wedges about 3 years ago and sadly, have only worn them maybe twice before. However, there was something so unique about them that I was determined to keep them in my arsenal. I mean…who doesn’t love a shoe made out of your grandmother’s tapestry??? As soon as I pulled them from the depths of my closet I instantly knew that they would make an amazing featured piece. Because they are so eye-catching I wanted to keep the rest of the look simple, yet edgy. I purchased this t-shirt dress and long-line bomber jacket on a fairly successful trip to the mall and knew they would make a great pairing for this ensemble, but it wasn’t enough. I felt like something was missing and figured what better way to add an extra bit of interest than with fishnets. To be honest, these were beyond annoying to get on but they definitely helped complete the look. I accessorized with my go-to choker, leather tote, and new favorite aviators that I literally have not taken off since I bought them. This may actually be me my favorite post of 2016; but don’t quote me. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Jacket- Forever 21

Dress- Forever 21

Tights- Urban Outfitters

Shoes- Jeffrey Campbell

Bag- Baggu

Choker- Urban Outfitters

Glasses- NYS Collection

In the vault

LACED UP

November 15, 2016 3 Comments

We have seen the lace-up trend take the fashion world by storm since spring/summer 2015. It was first introduced in the form of bodysuits, but has since expanded into other pieces including dresses, trousers, and a popular favorite, sweaters. Like most, I was quite a fan of this trend and appreciated the extra edginess it gave many otherwise traditional garments that we already know and love. This sweater in particular incorporated a few other trends that made it a “must-have” for me, including the high-low hem, super soft fuzzy texture, and mauve hue. To keep the sweater as the focal point of this look but still add a bit of interest, I decided to pair the top with my vegan leather biker trousers that have remained a fall staple in my wardrobe for about 4 seasons now (sadly, I may have to replace them soon 🙁 ). I decided to keep the rest of my accessories minimal with a solid black choker necklace and my single strap heeled sandals. In order to lighten up the color scheme and balance out all of the black, I decided to throw on an over-sized vintage denim jacket which gave the look a cool, effortless feel. As I’ve stated a million times before, I love allowing my garments to speak for themselves and play up the eye-catching details that make them unique. This is definitely a look that I will be rocking in many different variations this season whether with boots, sneakers, jeans or a trench. That’s the fun part about fashion, the options are endless! Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Sweater- Express

Pants- Urban Outfitters

Heels- Nasty Gal

Jacket- Vintage Gap

In the vault

SEQUINED

December 14, 2015 3 Comments

I was very excited to style this edgy holiday look, especially since I’ve had these sequin joggers for about a year and have been dying to wear them! One thing I love about the holiday season is that you can never be too overdressed. It is a time where you can pull out all of your glitz and glam and no one will judge you for being the disco ball in every room. Aside from that, it is a period of celebration and personally, I jump at any and every chance to get dressed up! Now on to the look. Since the joggers are such a statement piece, I wanted to keep the rest of the look slightly muted so I opted for an all black ensemble and decided to experiment with different textures. I chose a snake printed lace top for added detail, and my black and white leather jacket to bring some contrast. With a bright pop of red lipstick and my minimal mules, I was ready to hit any social event around the city. This look would be a great choice for any informal setting where you can be comfortable and slightly casual with with a bit of pop! Happy holidays everyone, I will see you soon with my next holiday look!

Outfit Details & Links:

Jacket- Members Only

Top- Topshop

Pants- Topshop

Heels- Topshop

In the vault

TAUPE TONES

October 28, 2015 5 Comments

This autumn season there has been one color that I have been utterly obsessed with, TAUPE! I have never quite appreciated all of the amazing qualities about this tone, but lately, it has been making a constant appearance in my outfits. I personally love this color because it allows for so much versatility (considering it goes with EVERYTHING) without being too harsh. As it gets colder we tend to wear darker shades, and for me, it has become a great alternative to black while still being neutral. From my previous “thirsty Thursday” post, I gave examples of a few leather pieces I have been lusting over, so when I finally purchased these taupe culottes I HAD to build a look around them. I also took this as an opportunity to challenge myself by creating a monochrome look using similar shades and to my surprise I loved how it came out! Since I was essentially using one color palette, I decided to play around with textures. While the leather pants made for a great base, I thought it would also be cool to add a textured funnel neck top and a fur scarf. The fur piece definitely tied the look together for me and added a little extra glam as well. 😉 Taupe has definitely become a statement color in my wardrobe and I look forward to creating new outfits with it as the season continues.

Outfit Details & Links:

Top- Zara

Culottes- Zara

Heels- Asos

Scarf- Online