Girls like me like dark colors. We like black jeans and dark denim, big sweaters, and layering. So, dressing in the summer heat is a mad science or a foreign language and our wardrobe simply won't cooperate! Living in Florida with 100 degree weather doesn't help either! I give up on fashion during the summer because it's just not my season, but this year I gave it another shot. I found my summer groove and have some tips for you fellow "Fall Girls" to stay stylish in the warm summer months!

1. Black denim shorts have been my staple this summer! I love wearing black and have repeatedly rocked a high-waisted pair of black shorts this season! It's almost impossible to wear black in the summer and stay cool, but these shorts have solved the problem! These clean, black-wash shorts are my favorite.

Hollister high rise shorts with cuffed hem. Click photo to shop.

2. Fall style is generally casual in contrast to summer pieces made with tight fits and less fabric. To stay cool and comfortable, keep to your personal "Fall Girl" style with loose flowing fabrics instead and you'll maintain the effortless boho style you've always been a pro at pulling off in the Fall!

3. You can still layer and stay cool. The best way to do this is to start with a sundress/t shirt dress then layer with a light weight kimono or denim jacket. Accessorize with a belt around your waist and a light weight scarf around your neck. Try braiding your scarf to avoid getting too hot.

Click for YouTube video tutorial on braiding a scarf

4. If you insist on wearing jeans opt for white to stay in season or ripped jeans to keep a little bit cooler. Either look cute paired with a button-up chambray shirt.

5. Hats are a great accessory to look put together and intentional in the way you dress. Your knit beanies and felt fedoras are packed away until next winter, so what now? Try floppy sun hats, cute baseball caps, or canvas fedoras! There are more options than you can imagine!

I love this model's summer hat and layered jewels! Every "Fall Girl" could pull this off!(photo license)

That's all I've got for you "Fall Girls"! Let me know how you survive the summer! Leave a comment!


Live stylishly,
-Bell

I've had my eye on this bright white tote for a few weeks now. I'm the kind of shopper who waits for a sale, and I was finally able to get my hands on this for under $20! The simple bag has some sweet touches like a pastel blue lining on the inside, adjustable buckle straps, and outer pockets perfect for things you need to get to easily like your cellphone. It's large enough to hold sunscreen, a bright colorful wallet, sunglasses and everything else you need on the go this summer.

Check out these three ways to wear this perfect "Beverly Hills Tote" bag you can find online at charmingcharlie.com or in store.

I guess I was feeling pretty cultural today, as my outfit and accessories pointed out. I don't know what it is, but I've really had traveling on my mind lately. Check out these ocean inspired pieces I wore today as homage to my previous travels and the travels I hope to take in the future.


Ring- A trademark blue lapis lazui stone from Greece that is said to bring good luck. I got this ring on a school trip to Greece, made financially possible by my generous grandmother.


Earrings - Tear shaped abalone shell earrings gifted to me by a thoughtful friend who bought them on  her trip to Hawaii -- a paradise I have yet to visit.


Bracelet - Silver bracelet holding a beautiful blue piece of sea glass. Purchased on my first trip to St. Croix in the Virgin Islands.


Thinking about traveling has also got me thinking about my culture and where I'm from. A lot of people ask me about my ethnicity, and it's a fun question for me to answer sometimes. I have a unique background that I am happy to share that. My great grandmother was native to the Caribbean island St. Lucia. She married a white French man who lived on the island. My grandmother still lives in the Caribbean in St.Croix, where my dad spent most of his childhood before moving to the United States. So, on my father's side I have inherited French and Caribbean ethnicities. On my mother's side I have inherited Italian (her mother being from Italy) and French-Canadian (her father being from Canada). I was born an American citizen, on a military base in Germany in 1992.

If you were to ask other members in my family about their ethnicities, they may have varied responses, given that there is more to our cultural background than the brief summary I just gave. What is really amazing to me is that so many cultures have been accepted into my family. From an American perspective, my father is Black and my mother is White. Although I am biracial and have been raised believing that skin colors shouldn't be a basis for judgment, I have fallen prey to believing stereotypes about other cultures at times like many other people have. Society frequently markets racial stereotypes, but it's important to resist believing that ethnicity determines personality, or who you are. There are many things that make up the person I am, including fashion. I love expressing my self through clothes. I also love rock music. I have a favorite color, a favorite restaurant. I am an individual. Who are you?

To diversity.

-Bell

Fewer industries revolutionize as quickly or frequently as the fashion industry. The trends are always changing, and sometimes I feel like it's impossible to keep up! With work and school and other activities it's hard to keep track of what's in style now. Fashion is a full-time engagement. So here are some ways to stay current in the fashion world if it's not your full-time job.

1. Read magazines or blogs.
The writers of fashion magazines and fashion blogs are employed to constantly keep up with, and report on fashion. You can pick a few bloggers whose style aligns with your own taste to follow. I love belledecouture.com, and iamgalla.com is my favorite choice for men. Fashion blogs can give you frequent inspiration to refresh your style and stay current. Magazines like Vogue can give you a larger perspective of fashion as it's being expressed through out the country, or world.
2. Go window shopping.
What's awesome about window shopping is that you don't need any money! Seeing how retailers are dressing their window mannequins can give you ideas about how to put together your own outfits. Seeing what popular items are reappearing in each store (I'm currently seeing jogger pants everywhere!) can hint to you what is trending now.
3. Pinterest.com
Being able to keep up with fashion from the comfort of my bed, preferably in pajamas, is a dream come true thanks to Pinterest. Search women's or men's fashion and instantly be shown hundreds of photos of what everyone else is loving, too.
4. Have a fashionable friend.
My fashionable bestie is a life saver when we are getting dressed to go out. She can tell me when what I'm wearing is a disaster, or point out a perfect look for the evening. Having a fashion conscious friend to be honest with you about your outfit choices, or to take along on shopping trips, can be a huge help in keeping you up to date.
5. Check out what celebrities are wearing.
Celebrities have stylists who pick out their clothes for them. Celebrity stylists are the fashion gurus of the famous, and we can gleam a little bit of their genius by seeing how they dress our favorite celebrities.

Hopefully some of these quick tips will help you get back into step with the fast-paced world of fashion.

xox.
-Bell

Prom is fast approaching. There are hair appointments to attend, dress alterations to make, and accessories to buy! However, you may be planning your prom night on a budget if you're anything like I was during high school. I bought my dress on Craigslist, my mom did my hair, I rummaged through my jewelery box for the sparkliest bling I owned, and did my own makeup. Even tight on cash, I still had a great night! Don't let prom pressure stress you out. Try out these three easy tips for a prom night you wished could last forever.


1. The perfect up-do in 10 minutes

Make your bun a little messy by lightly pulling up & out on strands of hair all over the bun.

Wearing your hair up immediately creates an air of elegance. Something about showing a little neck and shoulder is feminine and flirty. We don't have to get crazy with an intricate and complicated hair style that may turn into a tangled mess through your night of dancing. Make a ballerina style bun on the top of your head by putting your hair in high pony-tail. Grab the pony tail with one hand and twist it as tight as you can. Still holding your pony-tail, wrap it around the base of your pony tail and secure with bobby pins or a hair elastic. Dress up your ballerina bun by leaving a few pieces loose around your face and curling them with a curling iron.You're done!


2. Memories that last
It's common to plan a photo session with your friends before you go to prom, but don't forget to take photos through the whole night! Bring a disposable camera that will fit in your purse or use your camera phone. You will want to look back on your night of nonstop fun. Don't worry about getting posed, just snap candid photos in the moment!





3. Shoes
Already tall, I didn't want to be a towering giant at my prom and heels are not a clumsy girl's friend. I wore hot pink flats to my prom and I still wear them! If you're going to spend money on new shoes for prom buy a pair you will wear more than once. You'll feel better about spending a little extra if you can get some use out of what you buy. If you're wearing heels break them in by wearing them around the house the night before.


Let me know how these tips worked for you or share your own by leaving a comment or emailing fashionphilosophy101@gmail.com!

We all know someone who dresses perfectly and makes it look effortless. How do they do that!? Style is a natural instinct for my friend Stacy S. Sitting outside waiting on our coffee, Stacy and I got to catch up and talk about what has lead us to love clothes and fashion as much as we do. Having been friends since high school and now both working in retail management, we had a lot to talk about! As an assistant manager at one of the largest retailers of trendy teen and young adult clothing, Forever 21, Stacy has to stay on her toes to keep up with, and even stay ahead of, the rest of the fashion world. Stacy let me ask her a few questions to find out how she does it.

Q. How does style fit into your daily life? Is it something you are always thinking about?
Stacy: It's something I think about once a day but not constantly. I have to keep up to date with fashion and dress at least one season forward at work.

Q. When did you first become interested in fashion?
Stacy: I have been loving clothes since I was young. In Korea when I was in elementary school my older sister had a shop job, like a boutique. In Korea there is a huge market where they sell all different things for really cheap. Whenever she went there to buy clothes for her shop she would take me with her. I think I have always had a kind of more mature style because of her.

Q. So, you looked up to your sister as a role model for style. What about celebrities -- is there one you admire most for her sense of style? 
Stacy: I don't go by any celebrities. I might look at the best and worst dressed lists for inspiration, but I really have my own style. I can be preppy one day and wear harem pants the next and do a hip-hop style.

Q. Teenagers do a lot of exploring with how they dress. What piece of advice would you give to younger people who are trying to find their own personal style?
Stacy: Try out more different styles rather than being afraid of trying something new. In high school I always had a really girly style. I used to have long curly hair and then my boyfriend convinced me that a short hair cut would look good. [Stacy's shiny black hair is cut into a sleek bob now]. After that I started trying out a lot more different styles.

Q. I follow you on Instagram where you post your outfit of the day or #ootd. I noticed you love to accessorize! What is your favorite accessory?
Stacy: Bracelets with a lot of studs and rhinestones are my favorite ones.

Q. Sharing your outfits on social media that reaches millions of people is a pretty neat thing. Does posting an #ootd on Instagram motivate you to keep trying new things? What do you hope to accomplish in the next year in regards to fashion?
Stacy: Yes, it really does motivate me! My goal for this year is to try more looks; I want to try some street fashion styles you'd never see here. People might look at me weird, but this is my way to relieve stress. I don't like to go out and party a lot, so fashion is how I get my stress out.

Follow Stacy on Instagram for #ootd posts and tons of fashion forward looks @stacy0113 (click to go straight to her page)! 

Stacy wore brown combat boots, fishnet tights, belted shorts, a graphic t-shirt, and a tribal print cardigan to our interview. Accessories with studs and triangles give her outfit extra edge.

Working in the Spring Break capital of the world, Panama City Beach, Florida, I have seen a ton of out-of-towners and college kids vacationing during the past couple weeks, and I know there are more to come. I'm bracing myself to witness more fashion failures and successes. Here are some I have seen so far and how you can avoid them:

Problem: Neon everything.
Remedy: It's spring! Switch out your neon duds for pretty pastels. Mint and light blue are the most trendy colors this spring!

Problem: Wet clothing.
Remedy: The beach is exactly where you should be during Spring Break, but it's really unlikely you will be going back to your hotel after the beach with so many activities going on, so don't forget to plan ahead. Bring a change of clothes with you. Something simple like an off-the-shoulder tee and cut-offs are perfect and quick to throw on. There is nothing more uncomfortable than sitting in a restaurant with soggy swim trunks, or more embarrassing than the wet outline of your bikini top showing through your tank top while you eat lunch.

Problem: Tourist shops
Remedy: Buying t-shirts with the name of the city you are vacationing in is fine, but wait until you get back home to wear them. The locals are judging you.

Problem: Unprepared for the weather
Remedy: With the unnaturally cold weather that has been hitting all over the states, it may not be as warm as you were hoping for during this year's Spring Break trip. Rather than bringing bulky jackets all you need to do is layer. Stay in season with a sweater over a thin t-shirt and a light-weight spring scarf. A bright blazer is also a good option for keeping warm while going out and still staying dressed up.

Problem: Hawaiian and Tropical print shirts
There are so many other options! Try these instead: denim shirts, plaid flannels, or classic and clean white button-ups.