A Style Manifesto by Bree Holloway

Here's a very special treat for you all--one I've been super excited to share with you! Today we have a visitor, and not just *any* visitor, but the charming Bree Holloway from Tea with Bree!!

Personal style is something you can't exactly pounce upon. Style is one of those things that take a while to develop, recognize, and feel comfortable with. Whatever your style is will spill into ever facet of your life, and is defined by those very same facets. For example, as Christians, we choose to dress in a way pleasing to our Maker. And the way we dress defines us as Christians (please understand that I don't mean you need to wear an ankle-length skirt every day; but we do dress modestly, differently.)  

But how does one develop this personal style? Since it is such a large part of my life, I cannot touch on every level. But I'll start, and hopefully it will inspire you to explore your own style :) (Note: I am focusing mainly on fashion, since that is a large portion of style. But there are many other aspects, so please don't think your personal style depends solely on your clothing!)

Attitude

A positive attitiude is key to looking posh, and feeling posh as well. :) Nothing ruins a good outfit like a frown. I've always been rather shy, and while it's worn off a little over the years, it's not wholly gone. One of the cons to a shy personality is the reclusive feel you give everyone around you. Especially since I am a writer, people tend to think I'm aloof and too good for them. Oh dear. :/ I'm nowhere near the end of the campaign, but I've begun to encourage people more often, and I try to talk more than I'm comfortable with. Hopefully, this will combat the whole "she's-way-smarter-than-us" lie. :) I also need to work on being a tad more confident. Why? Because if you aren't confident in what you are doing/wearing/saying, etc. no one will be. 

Hair

Nothing quite says "sloppy" like messy hair. Though I'm sure you all agree with me that it's easier to tie your hair up in a ponytail each morning, I promise you, the people around you will appreciate your time and effort if you do something different. That's not to say there's anything wrong with a ponytail, though. With a little bit of volume added at the crown of your head (backcomb) and few properly placed stray hairs (just a couple around the face) will give you a very pretty, clean, but still somewhat playful look. :) I have the bad habit of throwing my hair in a bun one day, and then letting it down the next and enjoying the extra curl. (My hair is naturally wavy, but likes to pretend it's curly by fighting with frizz every time I brush it. I combat this with lots of conditioner and finger-combing in the shower, and very rare brushings of my hair). But when I am concentrating on looking good (I make sure to dress nicely at least five days of the week, whether I am going out or not. I find I can get more done when I feel put-together) some of my favorite styles are the Katniss braid (I'm sure you're familiar with this) a crown braid (braid across your head like a headband) any sort of fishtail braid, or a pinned-up braid (like this). You can check out my hair board on Pinterest to see some of the styles I love. :)

Clothing

Whew. This is a big category. I really love fashion, so to pick favorite styles is like picking a favorite book (and if you don't know how hard that is, I'm afraid we'll never understand each other). But I'll attempt to narrow it down a bit to the things I wear weekly. 

1. Jeans - skinny, boyfriend, and flare. I know a lot of y'all cringe at the idea of anything skinny, so let me clarify: jeans, not leggings. And I don't wear jeggings, either. I wear jeans that fit me like this. Skinnies are great for tucking into boots, and are a fabulous alternative to leggings under a shorter dress for a warm and unique look. :) //"Boyfriend" jeans are jeans that fit bigger, like these. They go great with a understated top, blazer, and some cute heels.//I only wear my flare jeans with heels, because they are quite long (short girl problems). But it's also one of my favorite looks. Like this. How cute is that?

2. Anything unqiue, vintage, floral, lacy, feminine - yeah, I love all that good stuff. Think this,this, or this.

3. When I'm not wearing vintage clothing, I like the clean look of white v-neck tees, straw fedoras, black pencil skirts, blazers, and chunky scarves. Catch my drift?

Shoes

Ask anyone around me, and they'll tell you I'm a shoe-addict. Whoops. But I'm a girl, I have excuses! ;) Being short, I love wearing heels. From 1/2 in wedges to 4-inch heels, I'll wear just about anything pretty and girly or classy and businesslike. Apart from heels, I especially like flats with bows on them, or knee-high boots. This, this, this, & this are all examples of shoes I would love to have in my closet. :) 

Accessories

My favorite ways to accessorize are to add a scarf, belt, or some elaborate earrings. (I really like long feathery ones, or elegant jeweled ones). Personally, I think shoes are an accessory of their own. One pair of statement shoes can make a look either fabulous or terrible. But aside from that, adding a cardigan and a belt at your waist can transform an outfit. Or a pair of earrings that tie in the colors. Or maybe a nice scarf that compliments your shoes. Accessories are like the icing on the cake - use them sparingly, and you will have excellent results. :)

Makeup

My go-to makeup look is a simple one. I don't wear concealer or foundation (I ought to change that though...). On my eyelids, I sweep a taupe-y brown, and define it with some black eyeliner, and a few layers of mascara. (eyeshadow is "Tapestry Taupe" by Covergirl, eyeliner is called "Stilletto", I believe, by some generic brand, and the mascara is Covergirl's Lashblast Clump Crusher {it comes in a fat, bright green tube}). On days when I'm feeling especially preppy, I'll wear a bit of Victoria's Secret's "Beauty Rush" strawberry lipgloss. On occasion, I'll switch the eyeshadow with a smokey eye look using one of E.L.F.'s eyeshadow kits. All in all, it's a very simple, clean, (hopefully) professional look. :)

I hope that was a help to you as you are developing your personal styles. Remember, you're never really done developing, so don't limit yourself. :)

Hugs,

~Bree Holloway

Who's Bree Holloway? She's a short little girl who loves life, and wants to enjoy it in every possible way. Photography, dancing, blog design, and writing are the main activities that inspire her, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. You can check out her blog, where she talks about writing, life, and occasionally tea. Or you could stop by her blog design shoppe, and pick up a fresh new look for your blog this spring. You might find her blurbing here and there on twitter, or pinning all manner of Pretty Things on Pinterest as well. But wherever you look, she'll probably have a cuppa coffee or a mug of tea swaddled in her hands, and a thick book of some sort tucked under her arm.