#OOTD: Outstanding In Olive (Feat. Amazon Fashion + SheIn)

January 18, 2018 by Bree Fesh in Personal Style

Whew! What a past couple of weeks. Between the snow and deep freeze we've been dealing with here in the 'Burgh (But hey, at least we should have weather in the forties over the weekend!) and me heading back to class at Point Park University, I feel as though I already need some down time. So today, since my first class was cancelled and I had a little extra time, I decided that before heading to the city for my later two classes, I'd grab some comfort food for lunch at my favorite local pub Bridgetown Tap House.

But, before grabbing my Velvet Elvis Burger and a Guinness, since school and the cold weather have also cut into my winter styling (Admittedly, I have been more concerned about being warm these days than carefully layering and styling my outfits), I took a little extra time today to put together a cool but classic winter look, that did not sacrifice any warmth for style.

Winter Greens

For this winter street style look, I chose to pair an over sized, olive green sweater from my sponsor and affiliate Amazon Fashion along with my long loved leather moto pants from my other affiliate and sponsor SheIn! The reason I chose these two pieces for my lunch outing followed by a day filled with classes, is because both of these pieces are perfect for winter due to the fact they are so warm. I also love these two pieces together because they make for a very grunge chic look, which is great for walking around the city between class breaks as well as looking stylish on campus.

The sweater itself I have to say though, is the most impressive in the warmth department. Though this sweater is not very heavy, it is made of a polyester cashmere blend making this piece extra warm, soft, and snugly. Personally, I would say that this sweater (which comes in five colors) is a must have staple piece in anyone's winter wardrobe. Since receiving this piece it has become my go to favorite because it is so versatile. For one, due to it being over sized, you can style this piece in many different ways, such as with tights or leggings and belting it at the waist, or off the shoulder with a strappy sports bra along with some yoga pants and sneakers for an awesome athleisure look. And of course, you can style this sweater for a more grunge chic or glam look like I have in this post! So, that's three winter looks out of one piece, and who doesn't love versatility?

The reason I chose to style this piece for a more glam look this time around though, is because the '90s are making a comeback this year (I may just be a little overly excited) and we will be seeing many styles reminiscent of the grunge fashion scene in the 1990s. So, I decided to get into the trend bright and early by pairing this over sized sweater with these black leather moto pants, some huge sunglasses, and my sky high Daf Booties just to add some extra edge to my look.

The reason these pieces work so well together is because though they are somewhat contrasting in style, they both bring something to the table. The sweater keeps the look casual enough that it dials down the glamorous vibe that the boots have when paired with the moto pants. And by pairing the latter two pieces with this laid back sweater, you have the perfect balance of edgy and casual, which is perfect for the grunge clothing trend this season.

To really pull my impromptu outfit of the day together, I chose to really load it up with some accessories to add to the grunge chic feel. The accessories I chose to pair with this look are my Manhattan sunglasses, House of Harlow 1960's hoop earrings along with two of their statement rings, and lastly my Hermes scarf. The reason I chose these accessories are because I felt they complemented the over all outfit and that the colors all blended very nicely.

Finally, for my makeup, I chose to keep it simple with my City Minis Palette by Maybelline, Dior's "My Rose" blush, and the "Fawn Over Me" Liquid Lip Creme by Marc Jacobs Beauty. The reason I chose these simple shades is because I wanted to keep this look casual, and considering I went more glam with my accessories, I did not want my makeup to be too bold and take away from the outfits cool and laid back vibe.

One Last Look

What are some style trends you are super stoked about this season? And, do you have any favorite versatile winter pieces? Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Have a super cute versatile piece you just want to show off? I'd love to see it, so feel free to tag me in your Instagram story at @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes!

Xx, Bree

P.S. Psssssst! If you love the jewelry I styled in this post as much as I do, you can try Rocksbox for a whole month 100% FREE when you sign up using my promo code "starkravingchicxoxo". Don't know what Rocksbox is or how it works? You can learn more here!

P.P.S. I am now a proud member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!

#OOTD: Boho Basics (Feat. Coach + Amazon Fashion)

January 11, 2018 by Bree Fesh in Personal Style

As I am sure many of you have noticed, winter is by far my least favorite season. To be honest, I hate almost everything about it: frigid cold temperatures, snow, ice, getting windburn on my face, winter, in my opinion, is just is not a fun time. However, though I pretty much despise the winter season, I have to say there are some redeeming things about living in a state that turns into a frozen tundra for four months out of the year, and one of those things would be styling for the winter season.

Honestly, being able to style different looks (and even some old ones with a new kick) is the one thing that gets me through an otherwise miserable season. Though I don't enjoy being out and about in the cold, I don't let it get me down and I certainly don't let it stop me from styling fun looks and making sure I look my best, even if sometimes it is a struggle to get motivated to leave my house in below zero temperatures. However, this past weekend was no different and though I would have rather been curled up in bed with Oliver and Lola (in case you're new to my blog, Oliver and Lola are my adorable rescue cats, you can see them here and here respectively!), I got dressed, braved the cold, and stepped out in this new top from my sponsor Amazon Fashion along with this gorgeous Edie 42 bag from my sponsor Coach.

Laced Up & Layered

Now don't get me wrong, I wasn't out in the terrible weather for no good reason! I decided to brave the cold this past Sunday in order to meet with my friend and catch up after the holiday craziness while enjoying a delicious meal at NOLA in Market Square. And, as I'm sure you could guess by the name, NOLA is a laid back casual pub where you can enjoy some great Creole cuisine and sit back and listen to some jazz. So, for the occasion, I decided to go with a basic but chic bohemian look, by styling my new blouse from Amazon Fashion and this beautiful, hobo style, Edie 42 bag from Coach.

First, I want to tell you a little bit about this adorable blouse from Amazon Fashion. This blouse is well made but its material is a bit thin, almost sheer, so it would be best paired with a bralette or bikini top in the summer. So needless to say, the top itself is definitely more fit for spring or summer, but due to its colors I decided to experiment a bit and turn this blouse into a versatile piece that could also be suitable for winter. To do this, I decided to pair it with my favorite sweater which happens to be the first piece I ever received from my sponsor SheIn. By layering this blouse with this charcoal sweater added depth to this outfit as well as providing more warmth due to layering this lovely pair.

The next piece I paired with the duo above is actually the product of my latest and exciting collaboration with my sponsor Coach! For this collaboration I received a beautiful leather Edie 42 bag and I have to say, it is quickly becoming my new favorite bag. The great thing about this bag is aside from its luxe, soft leather body, it also has the prettiest gold detailing on the handles and zipper pull. Aside from this bag's over all good looks and high quality craftsmanship, it is also super nifty due to the fact it has three separate compartments which is great for organization, and it is spacious so you can literally carry everything you need with you! And you can’t beat that, am I right?

Aside from pairing this boho chic blouse with my snuggly charcoal sweater to make this look work for winter, I also styled these pieces further with some great winter accessories. The first being my black, wool, floppy wide brimmed hat. The reason why I chose this hat (aside from it being super warm!) is because due to its lax nature, it really added to the laid back bohemian vibe of this outfit. To keep the bohemian vibe going, I chose to wear my American Eagle flared jeans, because I absolutely love their cool and relaxed style. I also went on to pair this look with my favorite House of Harlow 1960 huggie hoop earrings and my Jenny Bird Moonsong cuff, just because I felt the light silver tones of these pieces match really well with the over all look and subtly tied it together.

The final touch to this outfit, and in my opinion the center piece, was none other than my Kendra Scott Rayne necklace in bright red. Though I normally style this piece with solid color garments, I chose to style it with this floral blouse because though the blouse has a pattern, it isn't overly busy, and the bright red of the necklace complements the deep reds with in the floral pattern. This makes for a very interesting and and captivating pairing.

Lastly, the makeup I chose for this look is my bareMinerals Bare Pro liquid foundation, Dior's Blazing Gold eye shadow palette, Dior "My Rose" blush, along with NARS Jungle Red lipstick. The reason I chose this selection of makeup is because I felt the earthy tones of my foundation, eye shadow, and blush went perfectly with the boho vibe of this outfit, and I chose NARS Jungle Red lipstick because I felt it complemented the reds in my jewelry and my blouse nicely.

One Last Look

How are you styling traditionally summer pieces for the winter this season? Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Have an awesome winter outfit that you just need to show off? I'd love to see it, so feel free to tag me in you Instagram story at @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes!

Xx, Bree

#OOTD: Charmed To Meet You (Feat. Soufeel Jewelry)

January 05, 2018 by Bree Fesh in Personal Style

"Mummy, can I have more coffee, please?"

"Briana! We have company, don't you want to introduce yourself to our guest?"

"Hi, my name is Bree, and I want to be a paleontologist when I grow up and my favorite dinosaurs are brachiosaurus, liopleurodons, and my most favorite is stegosaurus!"

This is the conversation that took place in my family's living room while we were having a home visit from my soon to be teacher, Sister Colleen, to evaluate if I would be a good fit to attend kindergarten at Mount Gallitzin Academy. Luckily, for five year old me, tippy cup in hand, Sister Colleen was also an avid coffee drinker, and loved my enthusiasm. Though I have since then left my aspirations of being a paleontologist behind, I have to admit that I still find dinosaurs fascinating (yes, stegosaurus is in fact still my favorite), have a mild coffee addiction, and am as outgoing as ever. As you can imagine from the story above even when I was little, I was never the least bit shy or backward.

One thing I have learned since childhood though, is that my Myers–Briggs Type Indicator acronym "INFJ" (standing for Introversion, Intuition, Feeling, Judgment) can seem a little deceiving. Considering to those who do not know me well probably see me as anything but introverted. From playing piano recitals starting at the age of five, competing in horse shows at the age of eight all the way through tenth grade, and performing at dance and voice recitals--or anywhere really--since the age of two and twelve respectively (Fun Fact: I still do both and am kick-ass at karaoke.), it's safe to say I'm not at all afraid of the spot light.

However, though I am incredibly friendly, talkative, and adapt easily in social situations, I truly am an introvert at heart and honestly prefer to keep to myself when I am not obligated to be around others. I am also a very private person, and only share important things in my life with those closest to me. Not that I dislike people, I am honestly just rather self contained (as my my best friend Sage puts it: "Bree is basically just like a cat.").

Charmingly Chic

Now, you are probably wondering what this story and explanation have to do with my blog, and more specifically this post, right? Well, firstly, in light of the new year and my blog continuing to grow, I've decided I want to occasionally share a bit more about myself with all of you considering many of you have been around awhile, and others are brand new. (If this happens to be your first time visiting Stark Raving Chic, hello!) I also thought it was a good idea to tell this story because as you can see in the photographs above, I have been styling a beautiful gold necklace with my name on it, along with three chic bangle charm bracelets, which I received from my sponsor Soufeel Jewelry. So, I thought it was only natural to share a little about myself along with how I styled these pretty pieces.

Before I get to the styling for this post, I'm first going to review these pieces from Soufeel and explain why each of them mean a little something to me. For starters, though I was never a Sex And The City fan, I have to say while I was growing up I always felt a bit left out because neither my nickname or full name were ever spelled right on those trendy trinkets and jewelry, but like my dream of becoming a paleontologist, I got over it. However, I have to say when I was contacted for my now second collaboration with Soufeel, I was quite tickled at the opportunity to actually get a necklace with my name spelled correctly. Not to mention, this necklace is definitely more upscale than the $0.25 name necklaces we used to find at Claire's. As mentioned earlier, the best thing about Soufeel's name necklaces are that they are 100% customizable, so no matter how uniquely your name is spelled, you can always hop on this trend if you wish. Next, the material this necklace is made of is 925 sterling silver, plated in 14 carat yellow gold. The shine is absolutely beautiful, ever since I have received it and began wearing it I have gotten loads of compliments, and the necklace is also light weight and comfortable for everyday wear.

The other items I received from Soufeel are these three stacking charm bangles. The bangles I chose include a feather, owl, and an origami elephant, and though these three charms may seem random, the reason I chose these three specifically is because they each represent things important to and/or about me. Such as my ever evolving quest for knowledge, my free spirit (Which in itself insights a little mystery even for me!), and my incredibly determined personality. The bracelets themselves are very well made and fit just like any other bangle. They have a moderate weight to them (similar to that of an Alex & Ani bracelet) but are still comfortable to wear daily. And like the necklace, they are made of 925 sterling silver.

The outfit I chose to style my new name necklace and charm bangles with, is this pretty but casual winter look, which I wore to meet up with a friend for a coffee date. For the top half of my look, I chose to wear a simple black metallic thread sweater from Loft, because I felt it added a nice contrast to my gold and silver jewelry. And though it was very cold, I chose to wear my favorite Pendleton wool skirt (seriously, I've had this skirt since I was in ninth grade--I'm now 24) because even though it doesn't look it, it is actually quite warm which makes it a great piece to have around in the winter, especially if you're like me and are already getting tired of constantly being in jeans and long underwear!

The makeup I chose for this look includes my bareMinerals Bare Pro liquid foundation, Dior 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow in "647-Undress", NARS Jubilation Blush, and NARS Bette lipstick. The reason why I chose these warmer shades for my makeup palette is because I felt they added a nice offset to the cool tone of my outfit. And even though it has been freezing here, I still felt the need to have a little bit of a more summer-y glow, perhaps wishful thinking that it might bring on some warmer weather on my end.

Last but not least, though I generally switch up my kicks in every post, while Pittsburgh is in a deep freeze you guys will be seeing these boots more often than not! I have to say, aside from being stylish, these Michael Kors boots are incredibly comfortable and warm. So, though I am sure many of you already have scored your winter boots, but in case you haven't, I totally recommend these babies.

One Last Look

How have you been styling and accessorizing during this crazy cold front? I'd love to hear about it, so let's chat in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic!

Xx, Bree

P.S. Love my Soufeel Jewelry as much as I do? Well you can snag some of your own now during their post holiday sale, and get an additional 15% off when you use my promo code "Breefg115" at checkout!

P.P.S. Having trouble finding all the goods you see here and on my Instagram? Fear not! I am a member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!