2 ways

A cropped top is pretty much a staple in a summer wardrobe. It's summer in Singapore all year round, so when I bought this cropped top from a thrift store last summer, I knew I would get a lot of wear out of it.
Unfortunately, it has still been really cold in London. Occasionally the sun would be warm and bright and i'd have some hope that the warmer days are arriving, only to meet with strong winds and rain the next day. Since I promised myself to cut down on shopping, I have to make use of every single clothing item currently in my wardrobe, it includes this thrifted cropped top.

Here's how I styled it 2 ways. The first one is more of a school day outfit. Adopting a dark blue and black palette, I paired this top with high waisted black pants, a blazer to amp up the varsity preppy vibes and my converse.

Casual outfit Thrifted Varsity Cropped top

Casual outfit Thrifted Varsity Cropped top monochrome

The 2nd outfit is more suitable for going out for dinner with friends, or a date, but it is still appropriate for school considering the hemline for the skirt isn't too long. I didn't pair it with leggings because it was pretty warm that one day!

Night out outfit varsity cropped top with leather jacket

Night out outfit varsity cropped top ootd

The great thing about this cropped top is that it has a high neck line and it hits me just below the belly button. This could be because I have a short torso, but I like the fact that is a longer crop, prevents me from having to show skin in the colder months!
Call me conservative, but, I don't feel too comfortable with cropped tops that are too high or show off my belly. Which is why i've always stayed away from them. I'm typically not one to expose parts of my body (apart from the arms and legs, occasionally the back), so I tend to go for tops that have a longer crop. With the combination of my short torso, it means that I wouldn't be exposed.

Honestly, I can't wait for Spring and summer, I just really miss the sunshine and I desperately want to do away with leggings, tights and pants.
So, which outfit do you prefer? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! x

P.S. I didn't celebrate valentine's day this year since my valentine is a whole continent away, but I got some lovely flowers delivered, and here's incorporating it into my outfit photographs!

WHAT I WORE
Thrifted Cropped Top - Amsterdam Thrift Store (Similar here, here and here)

Outfit 1: Blazer - Online store / Black Pants - Takashimaya / Sneakers - Converse
Outfit 2: Leather Jacket - Motivi / Skirt - Thailand / Ankle Boots - Primark

MASH UP: Thrifted Varsity Cropped Top

2 March 2015

Is it a shirt or is it a skirt?
I've seen this trend around several times, on College Fashion, Youtube videos, and most recently on Park and Cube and i've tried it once with an old shirt, but, I remember having it bunch up in all sort of various places. It was just not cool.

Fast forward a year or two later, i'm on my computer reading Park and Cube (every post diligently like a fangirl), and I decided to give it another shot. Typically, a boyfriend shirt is used for this, because a shirt with a loser fit wouldn't bunch up at awkward areas. Unfortunately, my boyfriend's wardrobe is a 13 hour flight away, and since I don't have a lose button up top with me, I figured i'll try it out using one of my own shirts.

Having a tighter shirt with a tighter fit means that you have a more fitting "skirt", in my case it turned out to be a seemingly A-line style, which works well for my body type. The trick I did to prevent everything from bunching up is by tucking it under the sleeves. The sleeves act as a belt when tied together keeping everything nice and flat.

Of course adding a lose coat over everything is a great cheat to cover everything up, especially since this I wore a chiffon top and any small bumps or unevenness would show through distinctly.

And here's how I style this top in a more conventional way!

I went almost monochromatic for both these looks by mixing different shades of neutrals. I know I usually have some form of colour in my outfit - not that there aren't any in these - but its nice to water it down once in a while.

I love my vertical striped shirt. I think its my new favourite wardrobe item. Thrown over denim jeans + converse for a casual day, or layered over sleeveless dresses for more creative looks, it is yet another versatile piece.

I like that it is a button down as well. When paired with a blazer or even a pencil skirt, it gives a preppy vibe or a more business formal look.

Can't wait to experiment with other styles and ways to wear this striped button down, do you have a any other ideas? I'm open to suggestions!