Tag: summer

Madewell Denim vs Everlane Denim

by Budget&Brunch
Madewell Denim vs Everlane Denim

If you know me, even slightly, you know that I love Madewell; especially their denim. I am truly Madewell obsessed 😳. Not only do I love their fit, but I love that they have fair trade denim. I first saw Everlane popping up on some larger blogger accounts that I follow and was intrigued by their ethically made clothing.

When I looked in to Everlane clothing, I couldn’t help but notice that they had some cheaper options for denim. When they had their “Choose What You Pay” sale, I knew I had to try some of their denim. Once I ordered a pair, for only $48, I noticed some similarities in my Madewell jeans and thus decided to compare them for you all!

Let me preface by saying that anytime I purchase online, I research. Meaning, I read reviews and make sure I am getting the “right” size for me–I think is so important to keep in mind that sizing is different in every store.

Just because you have to go up or down sizes, doesn’t mean you should punish yourself or your body.

With that being said, the Madewell denim that I am referencing here was trial and error to find my size. I got The Curvy Perfect Vintage Jean in Fitzgerald Wash from Madewell for $98, that’s right I said the curvy fit and I am not ashamed. The Perfect Vintage Jean in Fitzgerald Wash fit me in the waist and the sales lady told me they looked awesome, from the outside looking in, they probably did. You couldn’t tell that they literally made my butt feel (and in my opinion look) like a pancake, I could barely move in them, and I was very uncomfortable. I definitely could’ve bought them if I gave a shit about size and the “regular fit” versus the “curvy fit”…but I don’t. I ended up with the petite size 27, also keep in mind that in the regular fit of these jeans I had to go up a size.

When it came to the Everlane jeans, I got The High-Rise Skinny Jean  and wasn’t expecting to see any similarities in them versus my curvy fitted Madewell jeans. For reference, I got the ankle size 29 in these. Below is a side by side photo of the jeans.

Left: Madewell                               Right: Everlane

You can see that they are cut differently in the hip/thigh area and the ankles seem to be more fitted on the Everlane jeans. But when I put them both on, they fit so similarly. The wash is also very similar! With the Madewell jeans being 100% cotton and the Everlane jeans being 98% cotton, I feel that I get more stretch out of the Everlanes and slightly more gapping in the waist.

The Madewell jeans fit a little looser in the hips and ankles while the Everlane jeans are more fitted. However, both give the elusion of a loose fit toward the bottom. They both hug my hips and butt very well. I will say, it’s easier to sit in the Everlane jeans, but somehow I find the Madewell jeans more comfortable. Here are three comparison photos to see how each pair fit me:

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Left: Madewell                               Right: Everlane

Shirt | Madewell Jeans | Everlane Jeans | Shoes

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Left: Madewell                               Right: Everlane

Hat | Shirt | Madewell Jeans | Everlane Jeans | Shoes

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Left: Madewell                               Right: Everlane

Shirt | Madewell Jeans | Everlane Jeans| Bag | Shoes

I like the look of both and I feel like both can be dressed up or down. The price comparison is $98 for the Madewell pair and $48 for the Everlane pair. So if you want to go the cheaper route, then you may want to try the Everlane pair. However, keep in mind that everyBODY is different and how these both look and feel on me may be completely different for you! Great news is, if you decide to purchase online, you can always exchange or return!

How to Maximize Your Suitcase this Summer

by Budget&Brunch
How to Maximize Your Suitcase this Summer

Ok, raise your hand if you’re an over-packer 🙋🏻. I mean yeah…I tend to over pack ok? It’s something I am actively working on. With that being said, I have tried a few different tips and tricks that I have found to be very helpful. I decided to condense these for you into one post!

Number 1:

Research the climate. This is probably something you already do, but when you’re packing for vacation, you should definitely research what the weather will be like, temperature, humidity, that sort of thing.

I am going Holden Beach soon and it looks like the weather is going to be in the 80s with humidity at about 45%. Now, this is in NC and it is HOT. In my suitcase, I have packed three pair of pants. This is because I typically find myself getting chilly when going out to eat or going in to stores. If you do not get chilly easily, your suitcase may look a little different. Also, if I am on the beach, I won’t be wearing anything but a bathing suit and sunscreen 😎.

Number 2:

Make a list. What? Make a list? Are you kidding? Nope, it actually REALLY helps me to make a list. Now, you may be thinking what a time consuming thing to do when packing for vacation. But I decided that if I made a realistic list of items I wanted to pack, it would save me time in the long run.

I literally used to just grab stuff off of hangers and throw it in my suitcase…big mistake. I rarely wore ANY of it and ended up washing it all when I got home and taking up too much time to unpack.

Ok, with that being said here was my list:

  1. Basic tops (tee shirt, button downs, tanks)
  2. Shorts
  3. Pants
  4. Bathing suits
  5. Shoes (limit 5 pair-this was a personal preference, you can limit this even more if you want)
  6. Accessories (a good rule to follow with accessories is to pick some that will go with MULTIPLE outfits. I also limit myself to two purse options)

I am a visual person so I layed out all the pieces I wanted to bring:

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P.S. I packed two other swim suits, but wasn’t able to find a picture of them! The leopard swim suit can be found here. My other swimsuit is by Kortni Jeane!

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The pink and green earrings are by Jules Co.

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(FYI, you can find the linkable items here)

 

Number 3:

Make sure you select items that can be mixed and matched. I treated this like a capsule. Making sure my pants worked with multiple tops and vice versa. With that being said I came up with, drumroll please,

44 outfit options!

I know…probably overkill, but hey, I told you this gal likes options! See below all the outfits I put together!

Everlane Jeans styled 8 ways!

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Madewell Overalls styled 6 ways!

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Madewell Shorts styled 8 ways!

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Abercrombie Pants styled 8 ways!

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Madewell Slim Wide Leg Jeans styled 8 ways!

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Madewell Midi Dress styled 6 ways (this exact dress is sold out, but here are some similar options: Cami Tier Midi Dress, Silk Cross-Back Midi Dress, Lanhtropy Linen Cactus Button-Front Dress)!

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Number 4:

Have “fold awareness” (I just made that up). Be sure that you are folding your clothes in the most efficient way. For example, Marie Kondo folds like a champ. Now, her whole angle is to love your clothes and it isn’t about making your clothing more compact, but for me it is 😂. I want to fit AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE in my suitcase that I share with my husband 😳.

Bonus tip: Make sure your cover the bottoms of your shoes as well, a good trick is to use shower caps or plastic bags. Shoes are germ-y (haha). You could pack your shoes in a completely different bag as well, which I have done before, but I try to limit packing to three bags.

  1. Clothes
  2. Toiletries (including makeup)
  3. Towels (for the beach and bathing)

I hope this somewhat helped you! If you want to see the final product of my suitcase, let me know and I will post some photos! Be sure and share any tips and tricks you have with me, I would love to hear them!

How to Style a Belt Bag

by Budget&Brunch
How to Style a Belt Bag

Belt Bags (or fanny packs as we used to call them) are slowly making a come back in to the fashion world…I mean did they ever truly leave? I have loved this trend from the beginning, probs because I am a 90’s child and there is a sense of nostalgia that comes with wearing one!

I realize this is an either love it or hate it kind of trend; however, I love not only the versatility, but the convenience of having your hands/shoulders free at all times! Whether you do love it or hate it, I wanted to show you 6 ways you can style a belt bag without looking like you stepped out of the 90’s. So here are some tips and tricks for you to keep in mind when styling a Belt Bag…

Tip #1:

Don’t use every loop.

Ok, if you didn’t catch my IGTV Post “How to Style a Belt Bag”, you should definitely go check it out, but if you did you may have noticed that I pointed to the last loop and didn’t put my belt bag through.

This makes it easier to move the bag on your waist. You can choose the side you want it on and style it comfortably. Putting the belt through all of the loops limits the mobility of the bag and causes the bag to be in the middle of you stomach.

 

Tip #2:

Tuck your shirt.

You can front tuck it or tuck it all the way around, but tucking your shirt helps to make the belt bag a focal point. Trust me, you want to make this cutie bag the focal point! If you decide to front tuck it, you can simply leave the extra strap slack showing underneath.

If you decide to tuck it all the way around you can either leave the belt showing as an accessory or you can do a cute knot in the front (pictured below).

 

Tip #3:

Don’t limit yourself.

Belt bags are extremely versatile. These can be worn with whatever you damn well please. Do NOT limit yourself to thinking that you can only wear it with skinny jeans. I styled it several different : with wide-leg jeans, skinny jeans, a skirt, athletic wear, and a dress!

Tip #4:

Own it.

Wear all things with confidence; including belt bags! Too often, we, as people worry entirely too much about what other people think. I am here to tell you that what other people think about you doesn’t matter. That’s right…it doesn’t matter. You have to realize that if you want to wear something, you should.

Don’t get me wrong, belt bags aren’t for everyone and I’m not insinuating that if you don’t wear one, you aren’t confident. I am simply saying that it is your choice and you shouldn’t let the opinions of others steer you in one direction or the other!

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Hat | Shirt |Dress| Necklaces | Earrings | Shoes

With all of that being said, I hope this helped you feel like you can absolutely “pull off” a belt bag and wear it with anything you’d like!

Some of my favorite belt bags:

Madewell

Target

Anthropologie

 

 

 

How to Style Denim Shorts

by Budget&Brunch
How to Style Denim Shorts

I think we’ve all been there, simply not wanting to wear shorts…at least, I have. I used to hate the thought of wearing shorts and showing my legs. Things I used to tell myself:

“I’m too pale”

“My calves are too thick”

“My thighs are too thick”

“My thighs make my shorts ride up”

“I’ll look inappropriate”

Lets break down why this is completely wrong to do. First of all, none of the above are validation for not wearing shorts. All of the above are society based thoughts that have been cultivated after years of being told “what beauty is”.

Be like Daenerys and break those chains! Start telling yourself why you should wear shorts…

“It’s hot outside”
“I want to wear shorts today”
“I don’t need a reason”

Now that we’ve got that covered…shorts are actually super versatile and easy to style. Over on my IGTV channel I styled the High-Rise Denim Shorts in Erwin Wash: Cutoff Edition from Madewell three different ways! For size reference, I am 5′ tall and usually wear a 27 or 28 at Madewell. These shorts are pretty stretchy so I went with my most common size there, a 27.

The fit of these shorts is to die for! They come up to my belly button and hug my curves, yet they flare out just a smidge on my thigh which creates an a-line affect and flatters my figure.

Since these are high waist shorts, they look best with a crop top, tucked shirt, or tied shirt. I chose to either front tuck and front tie  for all three of my looks.

Look Number 1:

The Weekend Look

Headband | Sweatshirt | Shorts | Belt Bag | Shoes

I decided to pair a graphic sweatshirt, which is currently on sale, with these shorts for the ultimate weekend look. The sweatshirt helps to dress down the shorts and add a comfy casual vibe. I front tucked the sweatshirt to create a waistline and make way for my belt bag (hehe). The belt bag allows you to be hands free and compliments the weekend vibes!

I added the headband to pull from the colors in the sweatshirt. This creates contrast and allows the faint colors in the sweatshirt to pop and draw the eye to the message “the modern woman”!

Throw on any old sneakers and it will look good, but I decided to pair this outfit with my converse , because they simply slide on and I can go!

 

Look Number 2:

The Brunch Date Look

To me, this look screams brunch date/farmer’s market/plant lady. I’m not sure if it’s the hat, the graphic tee, or the look as a whole, but I do so love it!

I decided to front knot my graphic tee to, again, create that waistline. This also makes me look taller, because it elongates my legs and torso. The graphic tee says, “Here’s to Strong Women” and has a cute graphic of different types of women. I love the message and I love that it supports a small business owner. Her name is Emily and she has a shop called A Little Papery, click here to visit her Etsy shop! She has the cutest graphic tees and more! I am wearing a size M and if gives me enough length to front knot tie it.
The hat is quickly becoming one of my favorite accessories! It is a dupe for the Madewell one and it looks identical. To me, it adds some flare that says, “I tried to get dressed today”, but also hides that day 4 hair…ya get me?
Add some sneakers and you’re ready to walk out of the door!

Look Number 3:

The Dressy Casual Look

Hat| Shirt | Blazer | Shorts | Shoes

You don’t often see a blazer paired with denim shorts, which is exactly why I decided to pair this blazer with these denim shorts! When it comes to fashion, I feel like you have to step outside your comfort zone and try different things.

To dress up these shorts a bit, I added an oversized blazer over a front tucked blousey top. This combination creates a super dressy feel. The blazer is longer and almost meets the end of the shorts, so tucking the shirt creates a nice break up and, yeat again, gives that waistline!

I paired this with the hat to make the outfit a little more fun and the loafer mules to keep it dressy.

Moral of the blog: wear what you want!

Styling White Jeans

by Budget&Brunch
Styling White Jeans

Ok, white jeans…my arch nemesis. Why? Because, they show every little detail of every little detail 🙃. I thought for sure I would never wear white jeans again, until I found the High Rise Ankle  Flare Jeans from Abercrombie. They have them in short–for the record I did size up. I tend to size up in white jeans, not sure if there is something in the dying process, but they always seem to fit me a little tighter than normal jeans!

Let’s talk about why I think these white jeans are different….

First off, they have this extremely cute flare detail that is cut to make accentuate your figure and the flare makes your legs look longer and stronger 😉.

These jeans are also very comfortable, there is a good bit of stretch in them. If you prefer a tighter fit I recommend staying with your regular sizing, but as I mentioned, I sized up, because I prefer a slightly looser fit.

I noticed that I can’t see through these jeans which is a HUGE plus when it comes to white jeans. I mean…don’t get me wrong, I don’t think you can wear hot pink undies and not see though them, but I was able to wear nude undies and not see them. I know you’re probably like, well duh, they’re nude. However, I have had white pants in the past where you could still see the undies!

One issue I have with these pants is that they’re pocket-less 😢. I had pockets in my wedding dress, ok? I love pockets, but I suppose the fit and comfort level can be exchanged for pockets…I suppose

White jeans are super versatile! Below I have styled them 5 different ways to show you that even with the flare they are still a great wardrobe staple!

 

Outfit Number 1

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White Jeans | Shirt |Necklaces | Shoes

Outfit Number 2

White Jeans | T-Shirt | Bandana Scarf | Jean Jacket | Mules | Sneakers

Outfit Number 3

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White Jeans | Button Front Cami | Cardigan |Necklaces | Earrings | Shoes

Outfit Number 4img_8388.jpg

White Jeans | Button Front Cami | Blazer |Necklaces | Shoes

Outfit Number 5

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White Jeans | Button Front Long Sleeve Shirt | Necklaces | Shoes

 

There you have it, one pair of white jeans–5 different outfits. I tried to reuse several pieces and keep the accessories very minimal. These are a great everyday white jean and as I mentioned, a true wardrobe staple!

FYI: Here are the bags from my styling video: Transport Tote | Zip Top Transport Tote