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Thursday, July 31, 2014

Classic





H&M Striped Sweater (similar here) / Ralph Lauren Fitted Boyfriend Shirt (similar on sale from GAP here) / Denim Shorts (old, similar here) / Brown Faux Leather Crossbody Bag / Franco Sarto Oxford Loafers (similar style and print here) / Vintage Black Sunglasses (similar here)

A good sweater and shorts combo has been a staple of mine for years, especially during transition seasons. And while I know it's still July and summer is still in full-speed, I know that our Minnesota climate is one to swing to opposite extremes in a matter of hours; so I've learned to always be prepared. Removable layers have become a feature in my outfits that I can't seem to eliminate for that reason, it's been drilled into my head for too long! Especially when this Ralph Lauren shirt that I can't seem to go a week without wearing holds up this well! Not a tear or stain in sight; now that's my kind of shirt.



xoxo

Monday, July 28, 2014

Summertime Sunset






J. Crew Fedora Panama Hat / Tobi Black Drape Sweater / VS Embroidered Shorts (old, similar here and here) / Nike Black Tennis Shoes / Bauble Bar x Anthropologie Bar Necklace (sold out, similar here) / Ring Necklace / Striped Tote Bag (old, similar here and here)

This is one of those outfits I've been wearing on repeat over the course of the summer. I actually find it difficult to find an outfit these shorts don't go well with! They are such a versatile and comfortable piece I seem to never want to take them off. This entire outfit is one of those that is a mix between Summer and Fall adding even more to the versatility factor of this entire look, did I mention I'm actually wearing my shirt backwards here? It's as if it's two shirts in one, and yet another versatile feature of this look! Just remember to stay creative, my friends.


xoxo

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

How to Clean White Converse Shoes

How to clean White Converse, Vans, TOMS, and any other canvas shoes in need of a touch-up.


We all have that pair of shoes that takes us just about everywhere, and these Converse were those shoes for me. From baseball games to the weekend Farmer's Market, they tread miles upon miles through heat, sun, puddles, snow, mud, etc. You name it, these shoes have been in it. Heck, they've even been in my dogs grip a few too many times. I think the funniest thing about them is the fact that I actually tried to give them this "lived in" look last year. I spent good time and energy jumping into mud puddles to get these stains! Am I completely crazy for that?


What you'll need: 
(1) Dirty pair of Converse (or other rubber sole canvas shoes)
(1-2) Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
Bowl of Warm Water 
Washing Machine + Detergent 

1) Start out by wetting the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser in warm water and then gently wring it out (you don't want to tear it!). At this time you can also remove the laces and set them aside.

2) Once that's done, we start scrubbing! Begin by scrubbing the soles of the shoe (the rubber part); 
I suggest starting at the smooth parts of the sole and then moving into the rougher parts of the rubber, but don't be afraid to get in there and scrub away!

3) We save scrubbing the canvas and laces for last here because it begins to tear the Eraser, but it's still necessary in most cases. I suggest only scrubbing the large, dark stains with the eraser; don't worry if they don't completely come out, the washing machine will take care of most of it! Plus, you can always come back in afterwards and scrub again with the eraser.

4) Let's get suds-y! Nows the time to turn on the washing machine and give these shoes a spin! Turn the water on the HOTTEST setting for the standard time setting (we scrubbed out most of the set-in stains with the eraser prior, so the hot setting shouldn't make them permanent!). I BEG YOU, DO NOT USE BLEACH. BLEACH IS THE DEVIL. Okay, bit of an exaggeration, but seriously, DO NOT USE IT.

5) Pour in the detergent, shoes, and laces, and letter rip! 

6) Do your nails because, odds are, it'll be quite a few minutes before the times up - try this gorgeous Essie nail color here, I'm loving it for summer!

7) Once the washing machine is done running place the shoes and laces outside in the sun until dry - placing them in the sun helps bleach and whiten them further.

8) Re-lace your shoes and show them off! You worked for those puppies to shine! Don't be afraid to give them a spin either. After all, now you know how to make them look like new if they ever get dirty again!


If you try this out, be sure to share it with me on Twitter (@ExtraordinaryOX) and Instagram (@ExtraordinaryFashionBlogger). I'd love to see how it turns out and works for you!

xoxo

Monday, July 21, 2014

Best of Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Michael Kors Sunglasses / Kate Spade Dress / Vince Two-Tone Coat / Sam Edelman Tan Booties / Vince Camuto Pointed Toe Booties / Jolt Colorblock Coat / Bebe Faux Leather JacketRag & Bone Boyfriend Jeans / Cara Knot End Cuff BraceletTed Baker London Tote Bag / Topshop Faux Leather Pants / Wildfox Glasses / Topshop Wrap Top / Vince Slip-On Sneakers / BCBG Faux Fur Jacket


I'd be lying if I told you I hadn't been patiently counting the days until the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, and it finally arrived last Friday! Right now I'm focusing on finding some key Fall and even Winter pieces like this gorgeous Vince Coat and these boyfriend jeans, but there are still some summer pieces I can't pass up like this crisp white top and these adorable leather shorts. Also loving these gorgeous over-the-knee boots for fall; I've seen them paired with a large, chunky sweater-dress and it's gorgeously simple and comfortable! The sale ends and prices go back up on August 4th, so be sure to snag a few things up while you can!

Shop some more of my favorites from Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale below:

What fashion pieces do you have your eye on for this coming Fall?
xoxo


Friday, July 18, 2014

Links I Love


1) The recipe my Instagram followers have been patiently awaiting - free of just about everything, except for deliciousness, Chocolate Chip Banana Bread (ahouseinthehills.com)

2) Combine top-notch brands with extreme sale prices and you have Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale - you can bet I'm going to be online shopping this one until my fingers go numb (nordstrom.com)

3) Ever wanted your very own personal stylist to make custom looks for you on whatever budget you choose? Me too. (keatonrow.com)

4) My own personalized cereal? Talk about the breakfast of champions (mixmyown.com)

5) Here's a laugh for your Friday - The first thing to EVER make us look forward to getting our period (or, at the very least, make it bearable) (helloflo.com)

6) The Natural way to highlight our gorgeous locks this summer (something this hair-dying virgin may have to try out herself) (laurenconrad.com)

7) You know Chrissy Teigan, right? The hilarious funnier-than-you-could-have-imagined (check out her IG or Twitter and you'll understand) perfect-figured model on the Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover, and the girl married to John Legend (don't know him? Think "aaaaallll of meeee". How about now, remember him?). Yeah, her? Well, guess what? I found the stellar woman's FOOD AND RECIPE BLOG, you can thank me later. (sodelushious.com)



P.S. It's later.

xoxo

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Weekend Wanderlust





Aviator Sunglasses / Ralph Lauren Fitted Boyfriend Shirt (similar GAP one here, use code "EXTRA"for an extra 25% off!) / White V-Neck Tee (only $12!) / Fringe Denim Shorts (old, similar here) / F21 Layered BraceletsDiamond Stud Earrings / MIA Thong Sandals (old, similar here

For the past few weekends, we have been heading out of our suburbia to the smaller surrounding cities to walk, eat, and catch up with one another. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't utterly in love with this and the unique cities and shops we visit, if you're following me on Instagram I've probably been blowing up your feed with photos! On these days I like to wear simple pieces, but I still mix in a few light layers for our unpredictable weather, and in the event of spilling on my white shirt (Instagram followers, you know what I'm talking about). I'm excited to see what next weekend holds, the cities seem to have so much to see and do that one trip never seems to be enough, so maybe (if I'm lucky) we'll even return! 

xoxo

Friday, July 11, 2014

Baby Hues


Can I just say how much I love this skirt? It's insanely soft and comfortable; the perfect weekend piece by far! Although, don't forget to wear spandex underneath, I made the mistake of walking out the door without them once and had quite a few "Marilyn Monroe" moments that day!
Ralph Lauren Tailored Boyfriend Shirt (similar GAP one here) / Brandy Melville Skirt (similar here for 40% off w/ email sign up) / Nike Hat (old, similar on sale here) / (what once were...) White Converse (will have a cleaning tutorial for them up soon!) / Vintage Sunglasses (similar here) / Long Necklace / Anthropologie x BaubleBar plate necklace (similar here)  / Striped Tote Bag (old, similar here and multicolor under $20 one here)

I am a sucker for a cute, relaxed look, and this outfit just proves that. Mix simple pieces and baby neutral hues and you have what I call the "Shelby look". Simply put, I like to keep my style functional and versatile, that way I can go to a majority of places and events without needing to own 1,000 different pieces. And if there's any way to prove that's been done just take a look above at my converse - those puppies have seen whiter days! This outfit may have been worn out to the farmer's market, but there's nothing stopping me from re-wearing it and reworking it for different events this summer. After all, you can never go wrong with a good constructed shirt and skirt pairing.


Shop some of my favorite styles below:

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Get the Look: Kendall Jenner Boating Style



Flat Top Sunglasses (under $15 here) / Romper (similar here as well) / Lace Up Espadrilles / White Satchel (on sale!) / Red Lipstick in Hot

Kendall Jenner is quickly becoming a fashion icon for her role in the modeling industry and with good reason. This look is one I fell in love with when I initially saw it during Cannes; it's a perfectly simple summer look with enough comfort the make it wearable for an everyday situation, yet it's still glam enough to wear it for a brunch with the girls or even date night. And, if you know me, you know versatility is a key feature in my wardrobe. If I don't have at least 3 different ways to wear a piece, I can't convince myself to buy it, and, lucky for me, with rompers you can dress them up and down for nearly any and every occasion - so you can bet that I've had my eye on quite a few. Shop some of my favorite rompers below:

Monday, July 7, 2014

Red, White, & Blue





Panama Hat Fedora / Aviator Sunglasses / Striped Sweater (old, similar here and here) / Overalls (a $12 STEAL in store!) / Essie Red Nail Polish / Layered Necklace / Red Lipstick / Thong Sandals

By now, you probably know that any chance I have to wear a red lip will be taken, and Independence Day definitely saw it's fair share of a red lip from me! Lately I've been oohing and ahhing over another fashion statement as well: overalls. I can't get enough of them! Maybe it's because I have an extreme love of denim, or potentially due to the arising 90's grunge trend, or maybe it's just because I'm a 90's baby and was raised in them, but in any case I am OBSESSED with this pair! I lived in these over the long weekend too, and, to my surprise, they're still white (and I'm still totally in love)! Oh, and did I mention the fact that I scored these puppies for $12? Yeah, now I'll bet you want to hop on the 90's bandwagon too!


Shop some of my other favorites overalls below as well:

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Va Va Vroom: Vacation Style


Look 1: Sunglasses / Top / Jacket (on sale here) / Shorts (on sale here) / Cross Body Bag / Espadrilles / Layered Necklace


The other day I received an email from Kendra, a fashion and travel lover, asking me to participate in a "Fashion Challenge" for her upcoming summer trip to Miami.

"Secrets to a happy life vary from person to person. For me, family, fun, fashion and travel are four keys to enjoying life, and I’m grateful for each of these aspects of my life. I’m looking forward to an upcoming romantic getaway with my husband to Miami. It was made so effortless, after reading detailed reviews on gogobot. We will be staying at one of Miami’s top hotels! But before we jet off to our tropical retreat at the historic Biltmore Hotel, I want to get some advice from you.

During our trip, my husband and I will certainly be snapping lots of photos. I want to make sure I look my best, and I know I’ll enjoy my vacation more if I feel comfortable and fashionable. I want to look back on the photos from this trip and admire my fashionable but timeless appearance. During our stay in Miami, my husband and I plan to attend culinary classes. The city of Miami is well known for its culinary delights, and I’m super excited over the opportunity to learn cooking skills that I can take home and use later. Im so excited to learn vacation fashion tips from you. I can’t wait to learn what looks you’ll recommend for my tropical getaway." - Kendra (thorntonpr.com)


When Kendra reached out to me about a "Fashion Challenge" I was beyond excited. I have always loved to help people out, especially in the realm of fashion, and styling has been a major hobby of mine since a very young age. I can remember being a little girl and styling my younger sister in all of my mother's pieces and anything that really caught my eye; I seem to know her style so well that when I go shopping with her now I can just take a cursory glance at a rack and immediately pull out the pieces I know she'll love and purchase! 
Plus, I love vacation style. It always makes me feel like I can spend a little more, style myself a little bit more over-the-top than my usual look, and just have fun with my look in general! Take these looks for example; Kendra, like myself, doesn't always include much color in her wardrobe, but she wanted to experiment with it on this trip. I tried to keep he neutral palette going, but brought in some brighter colors and complementary colors to give the look a little character and edge without causing a culture shock to the everyday neutrals that we're so used to. Just remember, vacations are about treating yourself, doing things you don't always have the opportunities to do, and of course, for me, spending a little bit more than I would usually spend on those things - as long as it's in moderation you're fine! 

Thanks again to Kendra for reaching out to me about this, hopefully I've helped to make your trip a little more glamorous and extraordinary!

xoxo