Blog – Page 13 – Modern Teen Style

Fashion Flashback…Teen & Tween Lifestyle

It’s time for another Fashion Flashback! Fashion Flashback (FFB) is where we highlight items from fashion history that have made their way around to the current years’ trends. It’s fun to see how designers and fashion forward thinkers wear old designs to make new trends!

This months FFB is highlighting the Shift Dress. The history of the shift dress is a fun one, with many big names any fashionista will notice. There are two interesting stories that give credit for the designing of the shift dress. The first one is giving credit to Hubert de Givenchy, whom designed Audrey Hepburn’s wardrobe and most notably, the black shift dress that came to fame, for the legendary movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

The second story giving credit for the designing and creation of the shift dress involves non other than the famous designer Lilly Pulitzer. Back in the 1950’s Lilly moved to Florida with her husband who owned many fruit orchards. She decided to make a little side business selling fresh squeezed juice to tourists via road side stands. She asked a dress maker to make a dress that would hide juice stains and be comfortable yet fashionable to wear in the sun. They came up with the brightly colored shift dress which soon had her fruit stand tourists more interested in her clothing than her juice. After several requests she decided to sell the dresses that were affectionately named “The Lilly Dress”. Jackie Kennedy, who happened to be a childhood friend of Lilly Pulitzer, wore one of the dresses in her Life Magazine feature. They caught on and became a hot fashion trend throughout America.

Then, in the late 1960’s, Mary Quant, the famous London designer of the mini skirt (among other famous “Mod” era fashion designs), took the Shift Dress and turned it into the Mini Dress by making it’s hem line shorter. Her agency hired a young, newly discovered 16 year old girl to model the dresses. Her name was Twiggy, and she became one of the first, and most famous Super Models in fashion history! Pretty neat huh!?

Today, we are calling these shift dresses “Shirt Dresses” or “T-Shirt Dresses”, for their similarity to basic long shirts. Designers have gotten rid of the bright, bold designs for the most part, and are choosing to produce them in a lovely array of fabrics including Rayon, Silk, Cotton, and even Denim. Their short length is great for showing off extra cute shoes, and this fall they will look amazing with ankle boots. You can belt them to add shape, or wear them hanging off your body the way they were designed to be.

Have you added any Shift Dresses to your wardrobe lately? We want to see! Post a selfie on Instagram and tag us @mderteen! Mention this post so we know you were reading! We LOVE to see our followers and what they’re wearing!

Thanks for “Flashing Back” with us, and be sure to check back each day for lots of other fun and amazing fashion tips!

Modern Teen Style…..Lori Lewis Photography

As the summer draws to a close and we prepare for school to kick off, it seems like this is the perfect feature for this week. This session from Lori Lewis Photography is so carefree and is everything summer should be. The styling is on point and the light is absolutely breathtaking.

Lori explains he connection to this model and how special this session is by adding, “I have photographed Natalie every year since she was 12. My husband recently took a new job so my studio is closing in La Crescent, MN and we are relocating to WI. I thought her session would be the perfect way to close the chapter of my La Crescent studio. This will be my last session for awhile as we get settled so I wanted it to be epic, sunny, carefree and FUN!”

Oh my goodness…what an epic way to close out your studio in Minnesota, Lori! Absolutely gorgeous. Be sure to check out more of Lori’s beautiful work on her website or Facebook page.

How are you planning to close out the summer? Fun shoots, trips, one last summer bash?

Robin

“An Evolving Color Landscape” | Eye on Fashion | Modern Teen Style

For those who are serious fashionistas this blog post will come as no surprise: it focuses on Pantone’s Fall color palate! Lee Eiseman, the Executive Director of Pantone, has officially revealed this year’s Fall colors and it is an amazing array of choices! As Ms. Eiseman puts it, this year’s palette is “an evolving color lanscape.”

Not only are the color choice gorgeous, but they are awesome for both males and females – so there will be something in style in the stores this season no matter who you are! Colors range from “dried herb” – a dusty sort of brown/green – to “amethyst orchid” – which is exactly as it sounds – a gorgeous purple color! And, of course, there are an amazing number of options in between; including the color of the year: marsala!

From beautiful deep, rich, Fall colors to some cooler, more confident tones that will take us smoothly into the Winter.

Check it out:

Notice anything amazing about the above palette? Yep, that’s right, the cadmium orange is an awesome head nod to the 1970s styles that are making a splash this coming season! And, I don’t know about you but I can’t wait to get my hands on something in “reflecting pond!”

Isn’t this season going to be gorgeous?! I’m itching to go shopping now and get my hands on some of these amazing hues. What about you?!

Design Inspiration – Pink, Black & Gold

This months design inspiration is coming from my own palette inspiration, as I work this summer to spruce up my studio space. For me, it all started with a pink sofa! I found a cute pink sofa and it became the perfect anchor for my client sitting area. I knew I wanted white walls because of the beautiful natural light I get through my windows, but I also felt I needed to bring in a touch of modern and bold, to balance out the pink. That’s when I decided on the ever so classic black & white stripe, paired with gold accents. This color combination draws in the eye, and feels both contemporary and classic.
Though the pink couch was the main inspiration, I ended up keeping it as my accent color. The space contains more black, white and gold, with pops of pink. By keeping the pop of pink in the accent pieces, and making the black, white, and gold the main color scheme, I feel I’m keeping the space fairly gender neutral by not being too feminine or masculine. This way all of my clientele feels cozy and welcome in my space. The gold metallic accent pieces give just a touch more of the modern and upscale feel I was looking for. Check back next month to see how it all comes together!

I also think this palette makes a beautiful teen/tween bedroom space! The perfect combination to carry you through your junior high and high school days!

Have you done some recent sprucing up in your own studio space? We would love to see! MTS would love to feature your space along with our inspiration boards once a month. Are you a teen or tween who is getting ready to graduate from a kid room to an awesome teen space? Share your before and afters with us and you can be featured in our monthly design inspiration post too! Just email us at info@seniorsstyleguide.com with “Studio Design” in the subject line. AND don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @mdernteen for your daily dose of inspiration! We look forward to seeing your awesome spaces!

Modern Teen Style….Devon J. Imagery

The fabulous Devon J. Imagery is at it again. These images are filled to the brim with dreamy light, beautiful colors and the perfect styling. If these images don’t make you want to sing the Star-Spangled Banner at the top of your lungs, then you may not be American!

So what inspired this session? America, duh! Devon explains, “I know that sounds vague and cliche, but I wanted Kylee to look super casual and all-American. What’s more American than denim shorts, sunnies, and a tank? And of course, the flag!

I had a little break this summer after my busy spring season, and as much as I enjoyed the rest, I found myself wanting to shoot for fun! I called Kylee on a whim and asked her to model for me for a super fun 4th of July shoot, and she was just as excited as I was! It was a gorgeous, hot summer day, and we had a really fun time making some patriotic pictures.”

You need to be following Devon on Facebook or you check out more of her work on her website.

Happy hump day, everyone!
Robin

Eye on Fashion | Even More Fall Fashion Trends

So today as we creep closer to the start of school in Maryland, I’m going to piggyback on Sarah’s awesome post from last week and show you three more big fall fashion trends. I’ve seen these particular trends in multiple articles and thought they were some of the strongest trends from the season. Not to mention you can already find them in the stores and add them to your back to school closest. Here goes!

Winter florals or dark florals are everywhere! No longer just for spring and summer, flowers are finding there way to fall and winter against a black/brown/navy backdrop. Try a skater dress or a fun skirt or leggins with a solid color top. Personally I love the Dr. Martens – the perfect way to add a little flower power to your back to school outfit. Shopping info here!

Faux fur is the perfect way to keep warm and stay on trend this fall and winter. Even the smallest bit of faux fur – like on the collar of a jacket – adds a bit of chic to any outfit. Faux fur vests are a fun way to layer over a tunic and leggings and it’s warm! That cropped faux fur jacket would be perfect atop a dress for an evening out. Find these pieces here.

This last trend is one that I think never really goes that far away. It keeps coming back and back and I love it. PLAID! It’s classic. It can be preppy, grunge, even country chic. Pick your fave way to wear it and let your plaid pride show!! Get your plain on here.

Whatever your style, make it your own.

Megan

Inspired By Sunflowers

Now that school is officially in session in many parts of the world, It’s time to start getting that Fall wardrobe ready for wearing. Yes, it’s still plenty hot outside in August, but we’re only a half month from September, and that means cooler mornings and evenings, shorter days, and changes in scenery. For those of us who love Fall photos, we can’t wait to photograph our teens in brightly colored leaves and layered clothing.

Here in Nevada, in the nearby farming communities, one of the first signs of the on-coming season is sunflowers. They grow wild along the roadside, and are plentiful in farmer’s markets. They not only make a gorgeous backdrop for a photo session, but they are also a fun and trendy print to wear. Sunflower print dresses, shorts, and tops were popular in the 80’s, and with much of the 70’s and 80’s fashion coming back onto the runway, it’s no surprise that they’re trending now. Sunflower printed items can be found in stores like Forever 21, and Charlotte Russe. However, if you’re not quite into the bold print of sunflowers, you can always invoke them through color. Mustard yellow and black pay a nice tribute to the sunflower theme in a more subtle way. I don’t know about you, but Mustard (sunflower) yellow is one of my favorite fall colors to incorporate into my wardrobe. Seeing little pops of it everywhere is making me excited for the Fall season!

Have you recently incorporated Sunflowers into any of your photography sessions? If so, we want to see! We love to be inspired by the seasons! Share your images with us via email at info@seniorstyleguide for a chance to be featured on the blog. In the meantime, go enjoy the last few weeks of summer while you can!

Modern Teen Style….Jenny Sawyer Photography

Today we’re featuring a gorgeous session from Jenny Sawyer Photography. These images and the styling are flawless and this model is stunning, so enjoy this eye candy!

Jenny explains, “Grace is a 15 year old, disciplined ice skater who wants to explore modeling. So, we decided to capture a variety of styles to show off different sides of her fun personality. I’m really happy with the session and feel that it shows that Grace is versatile…spunky, sophisticated,and sweet! We strategically shot an edgy, all-black look, an uptown urban set, and a country girl-next-door look with beautiful backlighting. Grace is so talented and mature beyond her years. She takes direction so well and is very teachable so I think she’ll be amazing in the business.”

We agree, Jenny! She’s a timeless beauty.

You can see more of Jenny’s work on her website or Facebook page.

Keep those submissions coming, ya’ll!
Robin

Fall Preview | Eye on Fashion | Modern Teen Style

August is here, school is right around the corner, and the Fall Fashion Preview has officially arrived!
I am going to make it easy for you and hit the high points of the upcoming season and focus on the pieces and looks that will have you right on trend. Want to know what is going to be all over the scene in a few weeks?
Take a look:

The 70’s

First and foremost the biggest fashion trend you are going to see are 70s inspired looks. It is showing up in pants, shoes, jackets, and even color choices of designers everywhere. I hope the 70s is a vibe you like because it’s here this year and it’s digging in for the long haul.

Flare Legged Jeans
Just like this past Summer’s high waisted short trend, this Fall is going with a high waisted, flare legged jean. Nothing says the 70s like a flare legged pant.

Chunky Heels
Sticking with the 70’s vibe, designers have also brought back the chunky heel. I used to be a huge anti-fan of the chunky heel because I thought it was very “90s”. But then I saw the new styles and now I’m a total convert! The key is to look for a style that has a heel that tapers down to more of a point; rather than a straight block heel. This gives the shoe less of that 90s feel and more of a modern twist on the popular 70s look.

Long Jackets and Blazers
At first I was just tracking that long jackets were making the sweep this year but then, when I found out long line blazers were also on trend, I really got excited! There is nothing I love more than a clean, crisp, straight lined look – and long jackets and blazers are the cherry on top of that style!

Car Wash Skirts
Next on the list is something completely out of left field but I am totally in love with it! It’s fun, hasn’t been seen in a long time, and has huge potential in the fashion world – the car wash skirt! Basically, it’s a style channeling the wash rag part of a car wash. Remember those old cheerleader skirts that fluttered as you came down from a split jump? This is a similar style! As you can see by the examples, below, there are a TON of options being pushed out this season so there is one out there for everyone!

Statement Earrings
Last but not definitely not least is my most favorite style trend of this coming season: statement earrings. This Summer was all about statement necklaces – big, bright, eye catching pieces. Well now you can put those away and break out your statement earrings. Think big, bold, in your face earrings. They are a minimal effort piece that makes a big impact in the fashion world and I am crazy excited about the possibilities with this style trend!

There you have it! A glimpse into what is huge this coming Fall. Which one is your favorite? Or, are you already ahead of the trend and rocking some of these styles right now? Tell us in the comments below!

Inspired by John Green

How many of you went to see “Paper Towns” last week?! Did you love it? Hate it? Though it didn’t quite seem to have the same impact on me as “A Fault In Our Stars”, I still found it enjoyable! For those of you who are lost, and haven’t heard of John Green by now, then you’re not only missing out on some great YA novels, but also some pretty awesome big screen adaptations of said novels. But you’d pretty much have to be living under a rock to have not heard about either one of these awesome stories, or maybe teen romance really isn’t your thing, ha!

Well I’ll get you up to speed in a quick, watered-down version so that I don’t spoil it for you before you get a chance to read the novels or watch the movies (or both!).
“A Fault In Our Stars” is about two teens who have different cancer conditions, who fall in love after meeting at a cancer support group. It’s a beautiful and heartbreaking story full of deep conversations, and lots of witty humor. One of my favorite scenes from the movie is when the two love interests (Hazel & Gus) go on their first real date, and Hazel wears a beautiful corn-flower colored dress under a navy trench coat. It was the perfect first date dress, not too fancy, but just fancy enough for a nice dinner.

“Paper Towns” is about a teenage boy who finds himself slightly obsessed with the adventurous girl next door. When she comes up missing, he and his friends take the road trip of their life to find her. It’s a great story about living life to the fullest, and not being afraid to be spontaneous. It’s also a story about connection, and realizing that though we might not think so at first glance, we’re all very much alike, and struggling to survive our everyday lives. My favorite fashion piece in this film is when our main characters (Margo & Quentin) meet up, and Margo is in a stunning, scarlet red, floor length evening gown, with her trademark grey hoodie over the top.

Both movies have some good fashion inspiration, as well as heart inspiration. If you’ve been inspired by one of these novels (or films), and have incorporated it into a recent photo shoot, please share with us! Email us at info@seniorstyleguide.com for a chance to have your session featured here on the blog! Also, for more fashion inspiration, follow us on Instagram @mdernteen!