GUGHD Newsletter 010 March 2017 - Valery Brennan

Hi there! The name’s Valery and I run a fashion and beauty blog aptly named Valery Brennan. I love edgy style and encouraging folks to step outside their comfort zone and try something new. Stop by the blog and say hi! You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest.

I’m one of those people who buys pretty much everything online. Besides the occasional thrift store haul or trip to Target, the majority of my closet was purchased online. But, as we all know, shopping online has it’s risks. Whether it’s something fitting different than you expected or a human error like ordering the wrong size, it happens! I’m being honest guys, I’ve totally ordered the wrong size shirt before. Don’t judge me.

We all know doing online returns can sometimes be more trouble than it’s worth. Return shipping can be pricey and seriously, who wants to go to the post office? Not me. I rarely do returns so when I have an item that doesn’t work for me, I have to *make* it work for me.

This particular sweatshirt from Totally Good Time was a few sizes too big - 2 sizes to be exact. I’m not one of those girls who feels cute in a plain ol’ giant sweatshirt….it just doesn’t do much for me. So I had to make it my own and decided to share these tips with you guys because it has happened to all of us. It can be a bit of a challenge, but here are some styling tips for wearing an oversized sweatshirt:

1. Cut it up! - Don’t be afraid to make it your own and take the scissors to it. It can be risky but go slow and you’ll be fine. With this shirt, first I cut the waistband off, then put it on and decided I wanted to take a few more inches off. That’s the key - cut a tiny bit off, try it on, and then cut more. Don’t go too fast! If you want to wear your sweatshirt with low rise jeans and don’t want your stomach to show, put those jeans on to see how it fits before you chop too much. I also cut the bands off the wrists (plus a few inches) since the sleeves were way too long for me.
2. Pair your top with fitted bottoms - Oversized tops always look great with fitted bottoms. Loose bottoms can work, but it’s certainly more tricky and can look sloppy if you’re not careful. Fitted jeans, leggings or skirts are an easy bet and balance out the oversized top nicely. I chose a faux leather pencil skirt but this outfit would look just as cute with a pair of distressed skinny jeans.
3. Add accessories and statement pieces - This is another tricky way to make your outfit look pulled together and not sloppy. I chose a coordinating bag and Jeffrey Campbell heels with dogs on them because, honestly, that’s just the kind of person I am okay?! Fun accessories bring more interest to the look and give it a bit more personality so don’t hold back!

That’s it, y’all! Don’t overthink it, and make it your own.

xoxo

Valery