With the end of February we saw the close of Fashion Weeks across the world, and all I can say is “wow”. Either I’m becoming more predictable in my style, or high fashion is reaching new all levels of… quirky? I can’t say the fashions displayed by models for designers at fashion week aren’t beautiful or artistic, but come on. No one wears those styles on the street.

But that’s the purpose of fashion week style, isn’t it? Runway looks might not be wearable, but they serve as the starting point and inspiration for every upcoming trend in the fashion world. Looks like the one shown here can be hard translate into street style for us laymen, and that’s why retailers offer us toned-down versions for our wearing pleasure.

How to Actually Wear Fashion Week

If you’re more of a classic dresser (J. Crew button downs and boot-cut jeans with practical shoes are your go-to), Fashion Week might not appeal to you in the slightest. Some of the trending colors and accessories might trickle down into your wardrobe without your knowing, but you couldn’t care less what Gigi Hadid wore in the Tommy show in Milan this season.

But I know some of you are itching for the next trends. You saw the Jeremy Scott show, and you’ll never wear that geometric skirt, but maybe, just maybe, you can figure out some way to incorporate the stunning silhouettes and textures from his show into your Fall and Winter wardrobe this year without looking like a complete weirdo. And you can!

1. Mix Trends With Basics

Just because you can’t wear the crazy combinations seen on the runways of fashion week without turning heads in all the wrong ways doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate their inspiration into your daily wardrobe. All you have to do is mix some basic pieces with more eye-popping ones for a balanced effect. If you want to wear an oversized puffer coat, like this one from ASOS, you do you, boo!

Just pair it with a classic combo like mid-toned denim with a white T.

2. Accessorize, Accessorize, Accessorize!

If you don’t want to be basic, you want to stand out, jump on those accessories! Mixing patterns and silhouettes can be challenging, but if you really want to be different you can go as crazy as you want with your accessories while garnering as little judgment from onlookers as possible – and probably gaining some admiration along the way. You might not be able to mix neon boots with purple tights and a plaid skirt (unless you’re braver than I!), but go all out with a patterned purse a la Christian Dior at Paris Fashion Week.

Or, if you’re looking for a more affordable option, hop on over to Zara’s purse selection online for some crazy-yet-gorgeous bags that will more than satisfy your craving for something extravagant and trendy.

3. And By All Means, Keep it Seasonally Appropriate

You can strike a perfect balance of trendy and occasion appropriate, but if you’re dressed out of season you’ll look out of place no matter how well you planned your ensemble. Because the end of winter/beginning of Spring ushers in the fashion week for the following fall and winter, it can be easy to get carried away with trends meant for an entirely different season. There might continue to be some cold weather after fashion week, but unless you live in the Southern Hemisphere and get to time fashion week to your own seasons, you might have to wait a bit to take full advantage of the trends to follow. Certain fall tones are best suited for October and November, but if you’re creative with your style you can find unique ways to incorporate trends into each season in ways that are more appropriate.

So if you’re like me – in love with the avant grade artistry of fashion week but hesitant to try pulling it off in real life – there’s no reason you can’t incorporate the trends you love into a well-balanced wardrobe of classics and seasonally appropriate attire. Just get creative and let your inner-fashionista do the talking!

Jess Jordan

Sometimes life throws you an occasion you never thought in a million years you’d experience (at least not again), and you need new clothes. Nothing you own will do, and if you truly want to look like a whole snack for the night, you need more options than what’s available at your local mall. You need the internet to be your oyster.

Well this happened to me this past month. Life handed me a prom night! No, I am not in high school. And no, I was not a chaperone at a high school. This “second chance prom” was a fund-raiser for cancer research, and I needed to look fantastic and feel comfortable because I was destined to dance the night away with colleagues and potential networking clients.

For this night, I was extremely particular about the vibe I wanted to give off. I wanted my fun side to be apparent, but I also needed to class it up because my husband and I would doubtlessly encounter potential clients, and I wanted to do nothing less than dress to impress. Which is why I chose this occasion to test my theories about the best ways to shop online when getting it right really counts. And in this experience, here are the four most vital tips to shopping online I discovered for a look that’s absolutely show-stopping.

First, Gather Your Inspiration

If you’re using the internet to find an outfit perfect for your occasion, you’ll quickly become overwhelmed if you don’t go into it with some idea of what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for a dress, you’ll find thousands of styles, and if you’re looking for a suit, you’ll find even more options in that arena. Luckily, many online retailers offer filters to narrow your search by cut, size, or style, so if you take some time to gather inspiration from others who’ve worn outfits that channel what you’re going for you won’t be under water when you discover all the options the internet has to offer.

Not Everything Should Be Bought Online

Don’t do what I did. On my first online order for this prom, I spent a couple of hours browsing my favorite online retailers, picked the perfect outfit, and ordered every piece for it in one go. Once I got the order, I realized that not everything is meant to be purchased online if you’re shopping for something specific. The shoes I originally ordered were too big, the dress fit awkwardly, and the coat I selected wasn’t nearly warm enough.

Through this experience, I determined it might be best to pick one piece to be delivered from the internet while the rest are either purchased physically to ensure proper fit or (even better) are pieces I trust are comfortable and stylish from my own closet. Thus, on my second order I was able to pick a jacket and some shoes from my own closet and choose some options online that coordinated with those specific items.

Give Yourself Options From the Get-Go

Another mistake I made on my first order was ordering only one of each item. I’m lucky that I left plenty of time to place another order, because putting all my eggs in that outfit’s basket meant that when nothing fit properly I had nothing to go on.

On my second order, however, I chose a favorite dress in two sizes (and one of the sizes was perfect!) and a backup style just in case my first choice just didn’t work, knowing I could return whatever didn’t fit.Both of these dresses would style nicely with the same pair of shoes and jacket, so as long as one of them fit well my outfit would be complete with little more effort. I wish I’d done this from the beginning, because I would have saved a lot of headache.

And By All Means, Only Order from Sites with Good Return Policies

I can’t stress this enough. When you’re shopping for clothes online, especially if you need them to look perfect for an occasion, you need to choose from a retailer with a good return policy. I purchased my clothes from ASOS, because they have a low minimum purchase on free shipping and free returns, but there are tons of retailers that will afford you the same luxury.

Look for sites that don’t have crazy requirements for a return (like a defective item, because an ill fit does not count as a defect), and finding sites that offer free returns is even better. Good retailers understand that ordering online is a risk they’re taking alongside you, and they’ll do whatever they can to make it a good experience for you. So don’t pass up the FAQ about returns, no matter how beautiful the pieces you find are.

I may have learned the hard way the most important tips when it comes to finding the perfect outfit online, but sometimes the best results come through trial and error! I finally settled on the perfect outfit (shown here) and received more compliments than I ever could have predicted. My look said what I wanted it to say, it was appropriate for the occasion, and it fit like a glove. But most importantly, because I was choosey about the items I purchased, I was comfortable the entire night long.

Jess Jordan

Let’s face it. Not all of us love the day of love. Sure, for some it’s a day of mushy-gushy lovey-dovey displays of affection. But to the rest of us it’s a perfect opportunity to roll our eyes and say, “barf!” We wouldn’t know a picture perfect romance if it bit us in the rear and the idea of celebrating something so cliché is downright annoying. And if you’re anything like me, the holiday has somehow remained just as repulsive now that I have someone to share it with.

So while part of the world is preoccupied with elaborate date-night plans and Hallmark cards, let us ban together to celebrate an Anti-Valentine’s Day of sorts. Call your Anti-Valentine’s Day an ironic celebration if you will, or even just an alternative way to celebrate your love for yourself, but just because we don’t celebrate the traditional way doesn’t mean we have to deprive ourselves of a good time altogether. So here are a few ways to take your V-Day from tragically corny to perfectly alternative in some very simple steps.

Look the Part

I know that one of the most fun parts of the holiday for a glamazon, and even for a lot of people who don’t normally wear anything fancy, is the whole idea of getting dolled up for once. And I must say, there’s something fun about doing my hair and makeup no matter what the occasion is. But if Valentine’s Day itself is holding you back from taking advantage of an opportunity to show your style, something edgier might be more up your alley.

I’ll be opting for something a little more alternative, and I’ve derived my inspiration from none other than the queen of alt-glam herself: Los Angeles make-up artist and YouTuber Atleeeey.

If you want to follow along with me and try something glamorous yet extremely Anti-V-Day yourself, you can follow this link to view a tutorial that includes a list of products and how to apply them.

Hit the Buffet

Here, I’ll say it. Screw romance unless it’s layered and steeped in all the delights of every food I love. That’s why I can’t think of a better way to say “I love you” to myself, and allow my spouse to do the same, than to allow ourselves the pleasure of a once-in-a-blue-moon episode of gluttony in our favorite buffet restaurant. The pressure to act artificially romantically is off, and isn’t this where the true romance of a loving relationship emerges? So whether you’re going by yourself or with a loved one, you should treat yo’ self by forgetting the formalities of a contrived occasion and embracing what your heart actually desires.

Once I’ve gotten made up to the nines in ironic glam, my husband and I will be fulfilling the irony by living it up on our Anti-Valentine’s Day by finding a local Groupon (you can find a Groupon for a local establishment in your area worldwide, too!) coupon so that we can save our more money for other aspects of the perfect Anti-Valentine’s Day.

Celebrate your Furry Babes, Too

In the midst of celebrating your love for yourself, you can’t forget all your other loved ones. Love in general should be celebrated every single day, and making sure to spread your affection past the traditional perimeters is essential to sticking it to the cliché man. You can celebrate your children if you have any, your mom or dad, your best friend, but don’t forget to show your pets all the love you have for them. What better way to bring on the irony of an Anti-Valentine’s Day than by pampering your fur baby above all else?

In true anti-norm fashion, I do have ferrets, and because they’re the most playful and loving critters in my life I can’t wait to gift them these comfortable harnesses so I can take them to all the places they deserve and would love to visit. But because I also have a good doggo, I’ll probably also end up buying endless toys and a new bed for her as well.

Finish by Treating Yo’ Self!

If you have a significant other, or if you’re pouring your love on your other loved ones and pets during this alternative day of love, you can’t forget about yourself. You just can’t! It’s the whole point of an Anti-Valentine’s Day. You pour so much energy into making sure the people you love are taken care of every day of your life that you mustn’t neglect to make yourself feel loved, too. You need to set aside some time to pour yourself a bath, or read a new book, or DIY something for yourself that you’ll enjoy for a long time to come (like this coffee station that’s easy to re-create and will make you feel like a king or queen every single morning).

I, myself, plan to use this bath bomb and epsom salt kit I was given for my last birthday. And I might even take a virtual trip to Amazon to order some candles and a new book to enjoy while I pamper myself.

Do What You Love…But Make It Uniquely YOU

So here you have it. A breakdown of how to enjoy a proper Anti-Valentine’s Day, all tradition thrown to the wind in an ironic twist of celebration. Celebrate your loved ones, celebrate your pets, but by all means: celebrate yourself and do it YOUR way. Forget the traditions and the romance, because the best romance is to embrace exactly who you are and what makes you uniquely happy.

Jess Jordan

Valentine’s Day is definitely one of the more polarizing holidays during the year. Some of us love the sentimentality of a day about love, while others of us hate the holiday for reminding us that we’re either single or don’t find the whole “romance” factor to be natural for us. If you belong to the latter end of the spectrum, let me take some of the pressure off the holiday by offering some suggestions for your gift giving. Once you’ve picked the perfect gift for that special someone, the intimidation around attempting to be romantic can give way to an effortless day of showing your love to the person you adore.

Know Who You’re Buying For

First, you need to know your subject. If the person you care for values something sentimental more than something expensive, don’t even consider a trip to the jewelry store! Or if your special someone is awed by sparkly gifts with a bigger price tag, you don’t need to think much further than something expensive and sparkly. While I prefer a day of memories – doing something out of the ordinary and exciting – with my significant other, many of my friends would feel most loved by receiving something timeless and pricey in a tiny little box. Here are three gift ideas for three different kinds of people you could show your love for on Valentine’s Day.

A DIY for the Sentimental Softie

The most common ideas for Valentine’s Day gifts usually involve diamonds and precious metals. But the truth is that not everyone appreciates expensive jewels as much as you might think. To some, something you can make with your own two hands means more than anything in the world, because your time and effort is a gift in and of itself.
For something that’ll remind your loved one of all the amazing times you’ve had together, consider putting together a shadow box of reminders of your memories. You can frame tickets to events you’ve attended, mementos from your favorite experiences together, and more. This step-by-step DIY is a great place to start if you need inspiration, but remember to make modifications so that your shadow box is a representation of YOUR relationship with your loved one!

A Posh Surprise for the Lover of Jewels

Sure, some prefer something sentimental and handmade, but there are still plenty who value something timeless and sparkly that will last a lifetime. You can always visit your local jeweler or a chain location at your mall, but if you want something extra special, take a gander at Brilliant Earth, a worldwide online jewelry store with pieces that are as unique as they are classic. They have an entire selection of gifts that are under $250, so even if your budget is a bit more modest you can show your love in a way that will last all the ages of your relationship to come

An Adventure for Someone who Values an Experience

But not everyone would be as wow-ed by a physical gift as they would be an experience. Anyone would appreciate some lovely jewelry or a sentimental hand-made gift, but if the person you love has a sense of adventure you might want want to consider placing your money into an experience that’ll show them how much you know what they love.

If you love to travel with your someone special, there are many ways to plan and keep track of your itinerary so that no snags or delays can get in the way of your fun together. TripIt is a fantastic paid app designed to manage your trip anywhere in the world, keeping track of all your tickets and reservations in one place so your adventure is seamless and full of memories instead of stress.

But you don’t have to leave town to give your loved one the experience of a lifetime. You can visit museums, breweries, wineries, concerts, and comedy shows together, or even just enjoy a spontaneous day out in a nearby city that you aren’t familiar with. You can use a service like Eventbrite to locate any and every experience, no matter what it is you and your special someone enjoy doing. 

So just remember this: consider what your loved one enjoys, and let that guide your Valentine’s Day gift giving. If you truly know and love your special someone, you’ll be able to find the perfect gift without a hitch no matter what it is they’re fond of.  Don’t let the pressure of romance get to you, because for the same reason your SOS loves you they’ll love whatever it is you give them and they’ll cherish it forever.

Jess Jordan

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