Six Flags, Nine Pieces

Tomorrow is the anniversary of the opening of Six Flags over Texas in 1961. The new and oversized park first featured the log flume and mine train and later included the first roller coaster with a 360-degree loop. It was the first park to incorporate all-inclusive tickets for entry and rides. It became a famous feature of Texas and has since sparked other similar theme parks to spring up throughout the country. The park was built at a price of $10 million and is one of the primary tourist attractions in the state. It boasts over 3 million visitors annually. It was sold by Angus Wayne in 1969 where it expanded and became Six Flags Inc., which now operates 30 parks within North America.

Interestingly, I always assumed that Six Flags was just a random name given to the park and company. However, this is not so. Over the course of its history, the Texan land has flown six flags - the Spanish flag, the French flag, the Mexican flag, the Texas Republic flag, the flag of the Confederacy, and the American flag. So now you know!

Because it is so darn hot this summer, it is hard to be motivated to concern yourself with style. I know, I have experienced it. You just want to throw on a pair of shorts and a thin t-shirt in order to stay cool. However, I urge you to keep thinking about your own personal style and incorporating little pieces to make your outfit have some punch. Whether it is a bold necklace, bright lipstick, or boots, these items can really give your outfit wow-factor and it just takes seconds to do. Below are nine pieces I've chosen that can make your outfit fabulous!

Make Your Outfit Fabulous! by HistoryandHighHeels 

J Crew knit cardigan, $62
DAY Birger et Mikkelsen velvet blazer, £95
Hermes strap boots, $2,250
Coach jewelry, $228
Kate Spade bridal pearl necklace, $295
Rayban sunglasses, £123
Belt, £13
Missoni crochet hair accessory, $120
Gustav Hallén Arrow Hanger, $40

Look of the Day: trying messie nessie

Remember my blogpost on the messie/hippie look from May (found here)? Well I tried it out the other day after getting a new white dress at Forever 21. So I paired this new dress with my vintage caramel belt, black vest, and homemade headband. I was pretty happy with how it turned out! It was comfortable for this hot weather, especially because the dress is made of breathable material. It's a little too casual for work, with the headband, but pairing it with my tan oxford heels would make it completely appropriate.

Let me know if you ever try out one of my outfit ideas! I would love to hear how they work out! :)

Gone Native

Just a few days ago was the 100 year anniversary of the discovery of Machu Picchu in Peru. This was an Incan settlement that was widely used by leaders as a summer retreat until the 16^th century, when the Spanish wiped out this civilization. Hiram Bingham, an American archaeologist, met with local peasants who reported ancient ruins were on “Old Peak” or Machu Picchu. The next day Bingham and his team uncovered these ruins on July 24, 1911 and marveled in the 3 miles covered in stone terraces and intricate stone formations. Today, this site is one of the world’s most popular tourist spots.

In honor of this momentous announcement, I decided to do a piece on incorporating native pieces into your wardrobe. This trend is very popular right now, especially this summer and fall. The bright colors and bold patterns are eye-catching. They are easy to bring into an outfit with bracelets, bags, or tops. My friend Ally has a very fun crop top with graphic symbols on the back, which is very fun for a casual night out. Take a look and tell me what you think!

Gone Native by HistoryandHighHeels 

Wildfox Couture print shirt, £65
FAIR true elastic waist skirt, £39
L Space l space swimwear, $149
ALDO flat heels, $60
Saltbox canvas bag, $200
Kate Spade pocket wallet, $108
Chamak by Priya Kakkar crystal bracelet, $118
Dannijo beaded bib necklace, $670
Headbands hair accessory, €23

White Shirt Wonder

The classic white shirt is a staple of anyone's closet. The beloved article matches with nearly anything, is so versatile for so many occasions, and will never go out of style. The history of the button-down shirt really starts in the 1840s, when the red shirt of Garibaldini in Montevideo became popular. Soon, they were making white shirts of all different styles: without a sleeve for fans of dueling or with puffy sleeves for the artist. It came to America and became popularized by fashion designer Rudolph Valentino, actor Humphrey Bogart and his classic "Oxford" style shirt, and John Wayne's cowboy films.
Complete history found here and here.

Just as the history of the white button down is rich, so is its value in your wardrobe. Here are a few ways to pair this timeless top with different items in your wardrobe.

A Good White Shirt by HistoryandHighHeels 

Miu Miu mini dress, $2,875
Theory fitted shirt, $118
Almost Famous skinny leg jeans, $30
Rebecca Minkoff summer shorts, $228
Hermes stacked heel, $2,250
Tory Burch platform high heels, $325
H&M flat shoes, £15
Multi strand faux pearl necklace, $595
Leslie Danzis statement necklace, $88
Kimberly McDonald diamond earrings, £2,350
Burberry square silk scarve, £234
Madewell leather belt, $40
H M belt, £3.99
Dorothy Perkins waist belt, £5

Saturday Night Fever

Last night, a few of my friends and I went out to the bars of Power & Light in Kansas City and boy did we see some interesting outfits. Generally, the mid to late-20s and early-30s crowd dresses pretty well, but there is a select group that wear inappropriate outfits.

For instance, Melanie and I spotted a guy in McFadden's who was wearing swim suit trunks. Those shorts are specifically designed for water use, so unless he was expecting to participate in a slip-and-slide at P&L, that was a bad choice. Men going out on Saturday nights should wear nicer clothes and dress to impress. This doesn't mean wearing your Sunday best, but khakis are nice, but nice dark jeans work as well. Plain v-neck shirts or button-up shirts look really great and will make you stand out. Of course, wearing comfortable shoes is important, but flip-flops are a no-no. It never feels good to be in flip-flops on the dance floor, especially when girls wearing heels step on your toes or when beer is spilled making you sticky. Below is an example of an appropriate night-out outfit for guys.

Saturday Night Fever: Part 2 by HistoryandHighHeels

Pointer shoes, $78
44mm Chambray Workwear Woven Shirt, $40
Levi's Square logo tab belt, £25
Factory's Men - online exclusives - Factory essential chino in regular..., $60
Two Inch Skinny Black narrow ties by Elite Solid, $16
We also spotted many women wearing unflattering outfits. Most often we saw them wearing too short of dresses/skirts/shorts. Melanie and I ran across a girl who was wearing such a short dress that you could see her shorts or underwear underneath as she walked. Yet again, not a good look. This is unflattering and will get you the wrong sort of attention (assuming you want positive, affirming, and genuine attention). Making sure that your outfit is not too revealing is an important rule for women, because some things should be left to the imagination. During these hot summer months it may be tempting to wear the least amount of clothes as possible, but a sheer shirt can be just as breathable and way more flattering. Below is an example of a fun and cool outfit for a night out dancing.

Saturday Night Fever - part 1 by HistoryandHighHeels

Old Navy v neck top, $27
Belted skirt, $70
Tory burch shoes, $325
Emilio Pucci leopard print handbag, €1.250
Dorothy Perkins beading jewelry, £7.50
Calico Juno Designs 14k jewelry, $87

Let me know if you have any suggestions or comments for topics! I'd love to hear from you.

Summer Style Guide: Chic Shorts

Enjoying summer in my mind includes swimming in the pool, family vacations, and going to festivals; and now I have successfully ticked off each of those boxes for the summer (swimming definitely more than once!). On Friday, my friend Claire and I went to the Westport Food Truck Festival in Kansas City, which really did have excellent food. I got my first Chicago-style hot dog! What was most interesting was the mixture of people that attended the event. There were families, hipsters, roller derby girls, and the bored couples. It provided a fun mix of fashion trends to observe among the crowd. I realized there that to festivals like these where one might sit on the grass it is a necessity to wear shorts. It is far too hot to wear jeans and it's risky to try to gracefully sit on the ground in a dress or skirt. (Thankfully, I wore my black high-waisted shorts from Zara.)

This made me realize the importance of shorts in our wardrobe. It is no longer ok in your 20s to simply own a pair of jean shorts, because those are not dressy enough for all occasions. Therefore, one needs to invest in a pair (or two!) of chic shorts. Below are some of my top pics for this summer. The red shorts at the top are actually a pair of swingy-style shorts that are supposed to look like a skirt! (That takes me back to the good ol' days of the skorts in elementary school.) The sequin shorts are club worthy and are particularly handy because if you fall down in those too-tall heels no one will see your panties! So if you don't have a pair of chic shorts in your closet, it's time to go out and invest in a pair that look great and are comfortable.

Chic Shorts by HistoryandHighHeels

InWear short shorts, €69
Paul & Joe Sister denim shorts, $134
Don't Ask Amanda short shorts, $60
Short shorts, £23
Hydraulic shorts, $28
Rebecca Minkoff summer shorts, $228

Style Icon: Princess Diana

In honor of her 50th birthday on Friday, I chose Princess Diana as my style icon of the month. Her classic, simple, and effortless style made her famous. She popularized the sleeveless dress and traditional white shirt, while enthralling millions of people with her marriage to Prince Charles. Diana inspired the world with her charity work with numerous philanthropies, including the Red Cross and International Campaign to Ban Landmines. Her death in the car accident broke the hearts of her admirers and provoked outrage at her untimely demise. Princess Diana represented the common, modern woman in a monarchy that seemed more and more outdated to the British public.

Here are five interesting facts that you might not have known about the Princess:

1.  Diana Spencer was born into an aristocratic family, but her parents divorced when she was seven years old after her mother's admitted infidelity.
2. Her cousins include Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, and is related to Mary, Queen of Scots, and Mary Boleyn.
3.  She was 5'10", wore a size 4 to 6 dress (UK 8), and a size 10 shoe (UK 9A).
4. Her photo has been on the cover of People Magazine more than 50 times, Newsweek 7 times, and Maclean's 12 times.
5. Diana was buried with rosary beads given to her from Mother Theresa on an island in Althorp Park. The island is guarded by four black swans and holds 36 trees that symbolize each year of the Princess's life.
facts courtesy of dianaremembered.wordpress.com

The Classic: Princess Diana by HistoryandHighHeels

Dorothy Perkins party dress, £19
Carven cotton dress, $258
3 1 Phillip Lim silk floral dress, £450
Valentino sequin dress, £347
American Eagle Outfitters white button up shirt, $35
Stella McCartney twill blazer, £732
American Eagle Outfitters skinny fit jeans, $20
Rupert Sanderson leather boots, $855
Nude pumps, £4.99
Kenneth Jay Lane pearl earrings, $20
H M belt, £3.99