How to Wear Leggings

How to Wear Leggings by mariathefashionista featuring gray tops

Topshop dress
topshop.com

BLK DNM brown top
$67 - zalando.co.uk

Oasis gray top
$66 - oasis-stores.com

Mango side zip black pants
$33 - houseoffraser.co.uk

UGG Australia gray shoes
shoescribe.com

Accessorize black ballerina flat
accessorize.com

H&M black engineer boots
$49 - hm.com

J by Jasper Conran white pearl jewelry
$13 - debenhams.com

Forever 21 chevron necklace
forever21.com

I've been wanting to do a post on ways to wear leggings for quite some time now. I've seen too many people wear them as regular pants, such as with hoodies and short jackets- pretty much with anything, including see-through or worn out leggings with coloured underwear underneath.

*silent scream*
This is not okay. Leggings are not a substitute for pants. 

The number one rule I have for wearing leggings is that the top worn must cover your bottom. You've probably heard this a million times before but it's true. Acceptable pieces would then include tunics, shorter dresses, sweater dresses (for the winter), long or over-sized cardigans...etc. The second and third outfits above show these decent ways of wearing leggings. The third outfit is more casual; it would work for class or hanging out with friends. The second look is more dressy; it would be appropriate for a holiday party- leggings under dresses make a great (and often warmer) alternative to just plain tights. 
Now, you're probably wondering about the first outfit. This sweater is a little longer, but I doubt that it covers enough to wear out. So my second rule is that if you are at home studying, writing essays, or just lounging around the house, then you can rock your leggings as you wish. 
Well, except the see-through ones. I have to draw the line somewhere. 

Until my next post, stay stylish! :)

Update December 31st, 2013- Another way to wear leggings to keep warm in the winter is to put them underneath your jeans / pants. It gets extremely cold in Canada, so leggings as an extra layer keeps your legs nice and warm. Even warmer? Fleece-lined leggings. I just picked up two pairs of these and not only are they super soft, but they are also really warm! I definitely recommend them!

An Explanation...

...as to why I haven't made any posts (real posts, I'm sure whoever has been viewing my blog has enjoyed the outfits from Polyvore). First of all, I have been busy (kind of), so as much as I would have wanted to write something, making an outfit and posting it has been a lot simpler (call me lazy). The last time I made a real post was back in April (wait, May?), when I promised to report fashion trends all summer...oops, sorry about that.
A confession: unless I was going to work or out with my friends, I pretty much lived in shorts and tank tops all summer, so I definitely wasn't very stylish. But now that school has started up again, I have been making more of an effort; getting back into the swing of things by back-to-school shopping, making outfits, reading magazines to catch up on the trends- all that fun stuff. My first day of school outfit? A magenta pleated dress, belted at the waist, a grey shrug over top (though it was really hot out, so I ended up taking that off), a long pink beaded necklace, and pink flats. See, I still have style down.
I've also noticed that all my posts have been reporting various trends of the season; so I was thinking of doing one for fall this year. You know what I noticed? A repeat of trends! Or maybe the trends have kept on...trending through the whole year? Maybe. All I know is that lace, plaid, floral, and coloured denim are still in; joined by sheer blouses, polka dots (those were in in the spring, actually), stripes, cable knit, and faux-fur. Also from last fall are the colours of burnt orange, mustard, and burgundy. So you're in luck if you kept your fall wardrobe from last year!
I will keep the outfit ideas coming, but now and then I may surprise you with a post on my views on the trends of the season (or something of the sort).
Until my next post, stay stylish! :)

Fall Trends live from Campus

I've been wanting to write this up since my first day of class two weeks ago. But, like any fashion expert, I had to make sure all my first-day assumptions about University fashion were true (they were). So here are some general observations about fashion on campus and some fall trends that just happen to coincide with what I've seen.
The first thing I've noticed is that most students dress up for class. There are people from all over the world that come to study in Ottawa, and they bring with them fashion trends from their city, province, or country. It is a whole lot different from high school, where the basic jeans and t-shirt was the unofficial uniform. There are, of course, the people who wear sweats and flip-flops to class, but I'm guessing that's because they live on-campus and only have the one class that day (or because it's Friday, in which case dressing down is fine).
Now let's get down to the specifics. Sure, I've seen everything from jeans to skirts to dresses, but there are a few items that have been popping up more than others. First, the leather (or fake leather) jackets. These come in a variety of different colours, but most people stick with black or brown to get the most use out of it. They are usually short and light, with interesting details like studded or zipped pockets.
Next, I've seen an outbreak of scarves as the main accessory (especially since last week was a little chilly). These come in many different styles, weights, lengths, colours, and patterns. They can be worn many different ways and instantly dress up the jeans and t-shirt look from high school. Plus, they're a major trend for fall!
Even though it's not quite fall yet (or winter), I've already seen (and worn myself) all different kinds of boots. I know what you're thinking: boots are for winter!!! Why are people already wearing them??? They are an accessory. I mentioned this in my last post: the shoes you put on when you leave your house are the same shoes that you wear all day. They have to work with your outfit. I've seen ankle boots, heels, knee-highs, and even Uggs (which I think it's still too early for). Again, they come in different styles and colours. To touch in with the trends, riding boots are in fashion this fall.
To note some other fall trends (that I've seen here and there), plaid is still in style. Again, there are numerous styles and colours available, from cozy laid-back flannels to crisp, preppy collars. Also, blazers are still a major trend. They are good for the days when it's not cold enough for a jacket.
What did I wear for my first day of class? I paired dark denim flare jeans with a plain white t-shirt, and accessorized with a grey blazer, green water-coloured scarf, and black shoes. My friends called it "University chic." :)
That's all for now, but stay tuned for my next post for outfit ideas featuring all these trends!