Shrug It Off

Around this time last year, I wrote an article about cardigan sweaters. Like cardigans, shrugs are also perfect for layering over almost anything and would look great at the dinner table on Thanksgiving. If you're wondering what a shrug is, it's a type of sweater or jacket that's short, snug, and open in the front. They look best layered over tank tops, camisoles, tube tops, and strapless or sleeveless dresses. Perhaps shrugs can be compared to the cropped cardigan, except that shrugs don't button like cardigans usually do. Take a look at the cute little shrugs I found below to get some ideas.

Front Cross Shrug Top, $29.99, available in sizes Medium and Large, babyphat.com

DKNYC Shrug with Rosettes, $39.50, shown in raddish; available in black, sizes Small-X Large, bloomingdales.com

Ruched Knit Shrug, $22.99, available in sizes S-L, charlotterusse.com

Lace Shrug, $18.99, available in sizes S-L, charlotterusse.com

Beaded Shrug, $21.99, available in sizes S-L, charlotterusse.com

Ruffle Sequin Shrug, $10.99, available in sizes S-L, charlotterusse.com

Velvet Shrug, $28.99, available in sizes S-L, charlotterusse.com

Cropped Faux Fur Shrug, $22.80, available in sizes Small-Large, forever21.com

Feather Print Knit Shrug, $19.80, available in sizes Medium and Large, forever21.com

Long Sleeve Sweater Shrug, $17.80, available in sizes Small-Large, forever21.com

Metallic Satin Shrug, $24.80, available in sizes Small and Medium, forever21.com

Ruffled Satin Shrug, $10.50, shown in purple; also available in black and silver, sizes Small-Large, forever21.com

Sequin Trim Sweater Shrug, $24.80, available in sizes Small-Large, forever21.com

Spangled Shrug, $22.80, available in sizes Small-Large, forever21.com

Sparkle Pointelle Sweater Shrug, $19.80, available in sizes Small-Large, forever21.com

Layered Pleated Woven Shirt, $22.80, available in sizes Small-Large, forever21.com

Elastic Cuffs Sweater Shrug, $14.80, available in sizes Small-Large, forever21.com

Femme For DKNY Sweater Cacoon Shrug, $59.00, available in sizes XS-L, macys.com

Piper & Blue Junior's Slub Wrap Shrug, $6.00, shown in cappuccino; also available in jet black, wild orchid, and white chocolate, sizes Small-Extra large, kmart.com

Mock Shrug Top, $14.00, available in sizes S-L, mandee.com

Pyramid Shrug, $13.99, available in sizes M and L, mandee.com

Crop Shrug Cardigan, $14.99, shown in hematite; also available in white, sizes S-L, mandee.com

Pointelle Cap Sleeve Shrug, $7.20, shown in white; also available in black, sizes M and L, mandee.com

Style Species Shrug, $54.99, available in sizes S-XL, modcloth.com

City Style Cotton Shrug, $32.36,shown in glorious horizon; available in landing green, meticulous teal, cooling cranberry, and social red, sizes XS-XL, nyandcompany.com

City Triangles 3/4 Sleeve Jersey Shrug, $24.99, available in sizes Small and Large, sears.com

Vintage 1955 Layered Solid Top With Shrug, $14.99, shown in red; also available in black, sizes Small-Extra large, sears.com

Vintage 1955 Layered Stripe Top with Shrug, $14.99, shown in black; also available in red and yellow, sizes Small-Extra large, sears.com

Kimichi Blue Double Knit Shrug, $19.99, shown in black; also available in ravenscourt, sizes medium and large, urbanoutfitters.com

Embellish Military Shrug, $22.50, available in sizes XS-L, wetseal.com

Faux Fur Shrug, $34.50, available in sizes S-XL, wetseal.com

Marled Sweater Shrug, $19.50,shown in teal; also available in black, sizes S-L (teal not available in S), wetseal.com

Pointelle Crop Shrug, $13.99, shown in purple; also available in ivory, sizes S and M, wetseal.com

Solid Mini Shrug, $12.50, available in sizes XS-L, wetseal.com

For a great fall look, wear your shrug with a 2fer tank dress, some denim leggings, a cuff bracelet, and a pair of slouch boots. For a nice casual look, wear your shrug with a pair of ripped jeans, a tank top, and some sneakers. For a day at school, you can pair your shrug with a camisole, a faux denim mini skirt, tights, a bib necklace, and some over-the-knee boots. For Thanksgiving dinner with the family, pair a shrug with a sleeveless tunic, some jeggings, a beret, and a pair of ballet flats. For a holiday party, wear a shrug with a strapless tier dress, some high-heeled shoes, a bow necklace, chandelier earrings, a flower headband, and a sequin handbag. For hitting up clubs, pair your shrug with a tube top, some skinny jeans, hoop earrings, bangle bracelets, a fringe handbag, a feather headband, and bandage shoes. Tell me if you have any more ideas on how to wear a shrug.

Faux Sure

My last article was about denim leggings. With jeggings, skinny jeans, and colored denim all being hot trends, denim is everywhere right now. Maybe that's why I've recently discovered a new twist on denim: Faux denim. Like jeggings, these are articles of clothing that look like real denim but have a different feel to them. While the concept of wearing fake denim may seem completely bizarre, I actually found some synthetic denim items that I thought were cute. Take a look at some of my faux denim finds below to see what I mean.

Apple Bottoms Faux Denim Jean, $44.40, available in sizes 1/2 and 3/4, 6pm.com

Strapless Knit Jumper, $29.90, available in sizes S-XL, alloy.com

Faux Denim High-Waist Legging, $42.00, available in sizes XS-L, americanapparel.net

Faux Denim High-Waist Skirt, $38.00, available in sizes XS-L, americanapparel.net

Faux Denim Zipper-Front Bodysuit, $42.00, available in sizes S-L, americanapparel.net

Faux Denim Triangle Bikini Top, $24.00, available in sizes S-L, americanapparel.net

Faux Denim Side-Tie Bikini Bottom, $24.00, available in sizes S-L, americanapparel.net

Faux Denim Ankle Zip Legging, $7.50, available in sizes S and M, ardenb.com

Faux Denim Colorblock Blazer, $58.00, available in sizes S and M, ardenb.com

Faux Denim Ponte Pencil Skirt, $38.00, available in sizes 2 and 4, ardenb.com

Faux Denim Lace Up Pencil Skirt, $12.50, available in sizes 00 and 2, ardenb.com

Denim Skirt Cami Dress, $24.50, available in sizes M and L, wetseal.com

Sweetheart Tube Dress, $16.99, available in sizes M and L, wetseal.com

Faux Denim Bubble Skirt, $19.50, available in sizes M and L, wetseal.com

Faux Denim Tiered Dress, $24.50, available in sizes S and M, wetseal.com

Silence & Noise Faux Denim Vest, $48.00, available in sizes X-Small-Large, urbanoutfitters.com

If you want to try out the faux denim trend, I would advise that you don't pair any fake denim with real denim; It could be too overwhelming. Try wearing some faux denim leggings with a tunic and a pair of slouch boots. To wear faux denim pants, grab a color block top, some cowboy boots, a bib necklace, and a cuff bracelet. Wear a fake denim blazer with a bandage pencil skirt, a white button-down blouse, and a pair of pumps. Pair a synthetic denim vest with a gingham print top, some corduroy pants, and sneakers. To rock a faux denim mini skirt, pair it with some ripped leggings, a rock & roll graphic t-shirt, some hoop earrings, and ballet flats. For a synthetic denim pencil skirt, wear it with an off-the-shoulder top, a pair of neon tights, and some high-heeled oxfords. Wear a fake denim dress with a pair of latex leggings, cutout shoes, and a cardigan. For lounging around at an indoor pool, throw a shirt dress on over your faux denim swimsuit and also add a pair of flip flops. If you have any of your own ideas about what would look good with faux denim, let me know.

Skinny Jeans + Leggings = Jeggings

Whether you follow the latest fashion trends or not, one thing is clear to anyone who can see: leggings are H.O.T! As a matter of fact, they have been at the very top of every must-have fashion list for the past few years. A pair of solid knit leggings is now considered a basic wardrobe staple. Quite the change from the beginning of this decade, when leggings were spotted few and far between. So does this mean that leggings are here to stay permanently? Possibly. Only time will tell. But right now, they're definitely not going away anytime soon. Another trend that has been popular for the past few years (even though it hasn't blown up to the extent that leggings have) is the skinny jean. Skinny jeans have been on the must-have lists for a while too (I also believe that this is the best thing that's happened to jeans for us shorter girls). Skinny jeans and leggings have a lot in common. They're both super comfortable, both extremely flattering on us vertically challenged ladies, and both look great when paired with tunic tops, shirt dresses, mini dresses, and oversized tees/sweatshirts. They're also both nice for tucking into slouch or over-the-knee boots. So what's the perfect combination of both fabulous trends? Denim leggings (also known as jeggings)! Jeggings are basically the love child of both trends. They look like your typical pair of skinny jeans but feel more like leggings once you put them on. If you need a visual aid, take a look at my little jegging finds below.

Bubblegum Stretch Legging Jean, $24.90, available in 0-10, alloy.com

The Legging, $29.90, available in sizes 5-11, alloy.com

Legging Jean, $39.50, available in sizes 00-14, ae.com

Denim Leggings, $59.50, available in sizes 00-18, anntaylorloft.com

Acid Wash Leggings, $20.00, available in sizes SM-XL, bakersshoes.com

Seamless Leggings, $20.00, available in sizes S/M and M/L, bakersshoes.com

Daddy Long Legs Denim Leggings, $38.00, shown in black; also available in blue, sizes Small-Large, bloomingdales.com

Hue Denim Leggings, $28.00, shown in navy; also availab le in black, sizes X Small-X Large, bloomingdales.com

Denim Legging, $24.50, available in sizes S-L, delias.com

Grey Denim Leggings, $16.99, available in sizes SM-LG, hottopic.com

JOLT 4-Way Stretch Pull on Legging, $42.00, available in sizes 1-13, joltstyle.com

Mudd Skinny Legging Jeans, $27.99, shown in navy; also available in black, sizes 0-17, kohls.com

Black Legging, $16.99, available in sizes 3-7, mandee.com

Black Stitch Legging, $16.99, available in sizes 3-7, mandee.com

Denim Legging, $12.49, available in sizes 5 and 7, mandee.com

Fire Stretch Knit Denim Leggings, $10.90, available in sizes Medium and Large, nordstrom.com

Grane Electric Stretch Denim Legging, $29.99, shown in indigo; also available in black, sizes 0-13, sears.com

Rewind Skinny Legging Jean, $27.99, shown in dark grey; available in denim indigo khaki, sizes 1-13, sears.com

Tyte Black Carbon Wash Back Flap Legging, $14.99, available in sizes 1-13, sears.com

Tyte Side Rouched Skinny Legging Jean, $19.99, available in sizes 1-13, sears.com

Juniors Xhilaration Denim Leggings, $9.99, available in sizes X-Small-XX-Large, target.com

Denim Legging, $49.50, available in sizes 8 and 10, express.com

Legging Denim, $19.50, shown in grey; also available in dark sandblast, rinse, medium sandblast, and black, sizes XS-XL, wetseal.com

For a fun fall look, wear your denim leggings with a shirt dress and a pair of peep-toe booties (or slouch boots during the winter). Another cute look for fall would be pairing jeggings with a 2fer tank dress, a shrug, a cuff bracelet, and some cowboy boots. To look like you borrowed your boyfriends clothes, pair denim leggings with an oversized t-shirt, a boyfriend cardigan, and some sneakers. For Thanksgiving dinner with the family, wear your jeggings with a two-tone tunic, a pair of ballet flats, a bib necklace, and a beret. To dress down a fancy look, wear denim leggings with a sequin mini dress, high-heel shoes, chandelier earrings, and a fringe handbag. This would be a great look for a more casual setting during the holidays and New Year's Eve (in case you're already planning for that). Tell me if you have any more ideas for styling jeggings.