Trends of the Summer

Summer's nearing it's end but the fashion trends of these past 3 months are anything but over. If you're a bit behind the times, no worries... FTMH is here to provide you with a rundown of what's been hot during the heat:

Layering Jewelry

Do you have a lot of jewelry, but only wear a few pieces at a time? Well this summer everyone's making the most of their jewelry collection. Stack up multiple bracelets and rings and layer on the necklaces; Whatever you do- keep accessorizing! 

Hats & Headwraps

Sometimes you throw one on as a shield from the sun, and other times to be the epitome of chic; Whatever the reason, headwear is a nice touch.

Maxi Skirts

Don't feel like wearing pants, or shorts, or anything constricting? Well just throw a maxi skirt on and you're on your way to a great look. There are so many styles, colors, shapes, and fabrics to choose from, you're bound to find the skirt(s) of your dreams this summer. (P.S. Remember to transition these into fall; Slip on some cute booties or flats and you've got it made.)

Sandals & Wedges

Summer footwear is always fun; From studs to prints, and metallics to beads, there are endless combinations and styles to choose from. Be sure to browse your favorite stores, and ones you don't usually shop in, to find some great sandals & wedges before the summer's over.

Floral Print

A major trend this summer has been floral print. This lovely motif evokes a dainty and playful feeling, and can be toned down or played up in an outfit. You just can't go wrong incorporating the beauty of nature into your look. (Check out how I wore my muted floral Aritzia blazer.)

Crop Tops & Bustiers

Crop tops and bustiers have made a huge debut this year, and this summer was the perfect time to showcase this cool item. These tops can be paired with high-waisted bottoms, or layered underneath sheer blouses or denim shirts. They are so multi-purpose, what's not to love?

  

Customized Denim Shorts

Take an ordinary pair of jean shorts and make them interesting. That's pretty much the recipe for this summer's hot trend: Customized Denim Shorts. Whether you cut them off for a frayed look, or add a fun print or graphic, shorts are a must have to beat the heat. (This would be a great DIY project for all you crafters out there!)

Colored + Printed Pants

What can we say about printed and/or colored bottoms that we haven't already? They are an absolute staple in any wardrobe, and instantly add interest to your outfit. (C and her friend Sadiya have the colored jeans trend down pat.)

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So these are trends everyone's wearing this summer and we're sure they will transition wonderfully into Autumn. If you're missing anything from our guide, just take a trip to your local shopping grounds and take advantage of all the sales. Don't forget to share your finds, we definitely will! xx

Mixin' Things Up: Tough & Flirty

CLOTHES
Chiffon tiered ruffle dress, in floral watercolor ( $9.95 on sale @ Macy's )
Rock & Republic HOEBOE Vest, in blue + beige pinstripe ( $29.99 on sale @ Kohl's )

ACCESSORIES

Pearl Stud Earrings {Not Pictured}
Nude Patent Flat Sandals ( $8 @ Forever21 ) 

Various pearl, bead, rhinestone, and twine bracelets
Black denim crossbody bag {Not Pictured}

J's Outfit of the Day

CLOTHES
Quilted Black Leather Moto Vest w/ gold studs on back ( $32.80 @ Forever21 )

White Sleeveless Button-Up Blouse ( $14.95 @ H&M )

Vibrant Floral Skirt, by Bongo ( $9.99 @ Sears )

ACCESSORIES

Black and Gold Retro Round Sunglasses, by LC Lauren Conrad ( $14.99 @ Kohl's )

Black Leather Clutch ( $5 @ Cotton On )
Black Tube Bead Sandals ( $12.80 @ Forever21 )
Dark Gold & Black Stud Earrings [ from various sets ]

HAIR & MAKEUP
A side part w/ an inward braid wrapped into a messy side bun.
Gold and neutral eyeshadow tones from different pallets.
Wet N Wild's Mega Liner for a cat eye effect. ( $1.99 @ Rite Aid )
NYC Cheek Glow Powder Blush in "Sutton Place Peach" ( $2.80 @ Sears )
Revlon Matte Lipstick in "Smoked Peach" ( $4 @ Sears )

From Day to Night

          Hey guys, here's an example of how an outfit can be transformed from dressed down in the day to a night out on the town, using only one item.
          
          I am wearing a white cotton Hollister t-shirt ($9.99 CAD), with a slight ruffle at the neckline. The ruffle can give it both a dressy or casual look. Since the neckline is very low I layered a peach colored cotton camisole from Forever21 ($3.99 CAD) underneath. I tucked these in to this cute pair of self tie cargo shorts from Bluenotes ($15 CAD).
          
          I matched this outfit with a thin patterned scarf from Garage ($12.99 CAD). Wearing a scarf gave the option of not wearing a necklace, but I chose to add a vintage looking necklace from Forever 21 ($4.99 CAD) with a long chain so it falls lower than the scarf. Also, there's the option of swapping out the scarf entirely for a statement or collared style necklace, which are really trendy right now. 
         
          Instead of wearing bracelets I wore some intricately designed cocktail rings; One was $4.99 (USD) from Forever 21 and the other was $3.99 (USD) from Wet Seal. And since I was out during the day when these photos were taken, I wore my Kardashian Kollection Aviators ($17 USD). 

slow dancing in a dressing room......

           After trying on several dresses, (one of which I bought and will post in a My New Purchases post)... I wanted to document my actual outfit for the day. There was something about the lighting, the lovely full length mirror, and the overall Forever21 decor in my dressing room that screamed "PHOTO-OP!" Come to think of it, I probably held up a line of girls waiting to do the same, but you know when you're feeling good the rest just doesn't seem to matter. So I decided to channel John Mayer and slow dance in a dressing room....

Now let's breakdown my look:

• I'm wearing an abstract print jersey jumpsuit by Apostrophe. I bought this from Sears last summer for 13 bucks, but this was my first time wearing it. haha... I loved it then, and really love it now.

• The jumpsuit has spaghetti straps, so I brought a thin woven jacket for layering. Also from Sears, it has a pleated open waterfall front, and a slight sheen to the fabric which means it can be dressed up or down.

• My sandals are from Forever21; They're a nude patent t-strap and were only $7.50.

• Jewelry included a long-chained LOVE necklace in black, gold, and rhinestone... Three bracelets in dark brown wood, black bead, and a beige gemstone strand set in gold... And my earrings were a pair of olive/brown pearlized studs rimmed in gold (Pictured in the My New Purchases Post)...

• My everyday bag is in the background on the door handle, check out It's your birthday, so I know you wanna STYLE out... for a better picture and description.

It's your birthday, so I know you wanna STYLE out...

June 20^th

The Event?  Birthday / Cirque Du Soleil: Zarkana performance
The City?  New York City

The Weather?  96 degrees

The Time of Day?  Late afternoon into night

      

          The Perfect Birthday Outfit. I don’t know about you guys but every year on my birthday, I’m faced with the same question: “What do I wear?” And whether you’re going out at night, having a relaxed birthday dinner with friends, or just simply getting together with family- there will definitely be pictures taken. Looking back on these photos should be fun, but if you don’t feel good in what you’re wearing then you won’t look good and it’s all downhill from there. So here’s a post devoted to what I, Jasmine (Co-Creator of fashiontakemyheart), wore for my special day and how it worked for me.

Call It Spring Polakis Wedges

          This year I decided to go to NYC for a Cirque Du Soleil show and going to Manhattan insures a good amount of walking, so the right footwear is key. Generally, when putting together an outfit I go by a simple rule: Pick the shoes you want to wear so they can guide your look. Though the shoes I had in mind didn’t scream, “Great for walking!”, the Call It Spring Polakis wedge sandals were perfect for this occasion. Originally 50 bucks, I got them on sale for $39.95 at JCPenney. And not only does the added height on a wedge elongate your legs but it gives any look a more stylized feel.