Brand Review: Aerie & American Eagle

I want to let you in a secret: my loungewear, unlike the rest of my wardrobe, is mostly from Aerie or American Eagle. Keep in mind that while I realize I could buy these brands second hand as I know that’s more sustainable, I find that it’s just more convenient for me to buy them straight from the outlet or website. If you can’t afford to do that however, then that’s okay. 

So with this being said, I’ll be outlining everything that I own from these two brands. Recently, Aerie came out with their own activewear line (called OFFLINE by Aerie), so the first and only piece I bought was a sports bra. The one I have is in a bright red color, but there are a lot of other color options you can choose from. When I tried it on in stores, I was pretty surprised by how well it fit while still feeling comfortable. I typically like to wear sports bras or bralettes when I’m lounging around the house, but I’d imagine that they’re also good for your typical exercise routines. 

My body type is a bit on the short side with my hips being a little big, so with the Aerie leggings (the style name is Chill. Play. Move.), I really like how they easily cling onto my body without any trouble or discomfort. I own four different pairs of leggings, each in different colors (I have 1 in navy, red, brown and green). 

American Eagle seems to cater more towards people with slim figures (that, plus a lot of their items seem to be cropped or distressed in different places), and because of that, I don’t buy things from them often whenever I visit their store. However, one thing that I can appreciate is that they always have great quality sweaters. I own 2 cardigan sweaters (one in rusty orange and another in a cream color) and a black pullover. The oldest top that I own from them is a long sleeve, maroon checkered shirt with pockets. The material is very warm which is perfect for the winter season! 

I feel like you can’t go wrong with an oversized t-shirt- it’s comfortable and coves up your butt if you decide to wear leggings out in public. I currently own two t-shirts, one of which is green with a leopard print, and the other one being in a classic brown. I hope to buy a couple more of these as they’re the easiest thing to wear when you’re staying home or just running errands.

To end this post, I want to know what your favorite lounge-wear look is. Do you enjoy leggings as much as I do, or do you prefer sweatpants? Do you have a favorite sweater that you wear every fall season? Let me know as I’d love to start a conversation about this!

Insight Post: Minimalist Style & How it Works For Both Genders

They say that a "minimalist" wardrobe looks different to every person, and while I do strongly believe that, I feel like there are certain qualities and concepts that make this kind of wardrobe work for both men and women. There are a lot of guides out there on YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest that talk about those "perfect wardrobe basics/essentials", and so for this post, I want to further explain why those certain pieces work regardless of body type or gender. 

The white t-shirt (or white button-up) is a given staple, and the reason for that has a lot to do with versatility. You can wear it as an undershirt/layering piece, or wear it on its own with a jacket on top. You can also dress it up with some necklaces or put a sweater vest on top for some added interest. 

Jeans are worn by virtually everybody- that is, unless you're someone who just doesn't like them. But even if you don't like blue jeans, it's pretty much a fact that most of society will wear them anyways. There are skinny fit jeans, straight leg, high rise, low rise, high-waist, light wash, dark wash and so on. There are so many different styles of jeans, but regardless of which style you prefer, I think the reason why jeans are a staple in most people's wardrobes is because they're easy to wear while still being multi-functional. They take the guess work out of knowing what to wear for the day, whether if that's running errands or going out to lunch with a friend. 

Overcoats work for those colder seasons as an added layer, and if you have one in a neutral color (like khaki, black or camel), it just works with everything else you have. I personally love the color camel in an overcoat because it's a small step up from those other basic colors and really elevates any outfit that you would have put together. 

Denim jackets in my opinion truly are timeless. It looks good on literally everybody, and there are so many different styles and shades that you can play around with. I personally think a light wash, distressed denim jacket can really add some edge to an outfit, and at the same time, it can also make a more dressed-up look feel more casual. The best part about this classic piece is that you can find them in most thrift stores, so if you can score one for less than what you might find in a retail store with markups, you will have saved yourself more money (as well as protecting the environment)! 

Sneakers (and not the ones you use for exercise) are probably the second most used item in every person's wardrobe. I wear them every day since my job requires me standing/walking for long hours. You can be as trendy, stylish or practical as you want with this type of shoe, but in the end, there's just something about sneakers that everybody seems to love. I personally love the comfort and practicality of them, but if you're someone who enjoys owning different styles and being creative with them as part of your outfit, that's totally fine as well. 

Being a "minimalist" with your wardrobe is different from having a style that seems and feels minimal. This is one thing I'm starting to recognize as I further my knowledge and creativity on the subject, and I personally feel like style is something that both men and women can have. You really don't have to go all out and find the most extravagant pieces in order to be fashionable, but from what I've learned, a good sense of style is emulated through the smallest of details, like tucking in your shirt, wearing a belt, leaving a couple buttons undone or popping up the collar on your shirt. It can also mean having fun with different accessories (ie. ties, hats, scarves, watches, necklaces, bags, etc.). Part of what makes minimalist fashion fun for me is working with what I already have in my wardrobe while slowly adding in those "key pieces", and those key pieces will look different depending on the person's lifestyle. 

Some other insights I've noticed with the minimalist style in particular is that whether if you see it on a man or woman, it still gives off this structured and put-together vibe with clean lines and very little embellishments. On a woman in particular, this may look like adding one pair of statement earrings, no necklaces or rings, and a neutral-colored bag that complements her neutral-toned outfit. On a man, this may look like wearing a suit in a basic color (like navy blue or black), keeping the first button of his shirt undone and having the tail of the shirt tucked in. The only accessory he might add is a belt in a complementary color, and his shoes will match the color of the belt. These are the kinds of details you'll see in that "minimalist" style.