Bangs: The Good, The Ugly, and The Greasy

Happy Monday Ladies! Have you been considering cutting off those long locks in front, but you're nervous that you will regret it? Well hopefully I can give you a little insight that may help sway you one way or the other. 

I finally decided to cut my bangs in the fall of 2012 after looking at numerous fabulous bang pictures on Pinterest. 

At times they were good.

And at other times...not so good.

Pictures like this, are why I am now growing them out.

So, let's talk about the good and the bad.

• They most definitely give you a certain vibe/style to your look. I loved that about them!
• Look great with big black framed glasses, even if they are fake.
• They cover any fine or deep (ah hem) lines in your forehead.
• Makes a top knot or messy bun look suddenly styled. 

• If you have thin hair, they may just look too thin and be a little "gappy". This was a major part of my problem. I decided I either needed to grow them out or cut them deeper into my hairline.
• Upkeep. They will grow quickly when you don't want them to, and when you're growing them out, they'll take decades! It's best to know how to cut them yourself.
• Pictures. If you do have trouble keeping them styled just right. You will detest most pictures you see of yourself with them. This was the frustrating part for me. I didn't want to hate a picture with a  dear friend, because of my bangs.
• Grease! Need I say more? I tend to have oily skin, so after a long day out, they looked awful! I do recommend this dry shampoo. Works well and easy on the pocket book.

• You can't just get up and throw your hair in a pony tail. You will either need to re-wash your bangs in the kitchen sink or throw a hat on. They also look funky with headbands when working out, because you'll have "wings" hanging out the side of the headband.

Now this is all my opinion and every hair type is different. If I didn't have fine, thin hair, I think my story would end very differently. 

(So dramatic...it's just bangs.)

At this point, I'm pinning these bad boys up. I don't love the look, but I think they look a little funky down, because they're still pretty short.

Here's a great article on how to grow your bangs out. There are things you can do, other than what I'm doing. I should really take note!

If you have bangs, I'd love to know how you feel about them.

 Love 'em or hate 'em?

How I Styled It

In case you don't follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you may not know that I'm now selling clothing once again. I sold clothing back when I had my store, so this was a bit more of a risk, since I don't have an actual storefront for people to see the clothing. But sometimes, you just need to take the risk and get it out of your system. I'm still undecided as to whether or not I'll continue to purchase it, but I love seeing it hanging on a rack in our home. Feels like a mini boutique, which makes me super happy! I played dress up the other day and tried it all on and styled it the way I would wear it. So, here's how I styled it.

This dress comes with a coordinating coral belt, but I loved mixing it up with a braided belt and a blazer instead.

Dress: $35

This mint statement necklace looks pretty stunning with it as well!

Necklace Set: $14

I love how feminine and flirty this mint top is. Paired it with the peach statement necklace for a perfectly pastel look. 

Mint Top: $23    Peach Necklace Set: $12

The ivory top is sleeveless which clearly won't work in this weather. So, I threw on a comfy cardigan and a pair of salt stained boots to take me through the rest of winter.

Ivory Top: $21

Throw on a colorful cardigan and pumps for a transition into spring.

Ivory Top: $21

For President's Day, I'm having a little special with this top and necklace!

Head on over to FB or IG, elylaneshoppe, to claim one for yourself and to see what else is still available!

And, can I say that all of these tops are super flowy and forgiving. Nobody will spot your muffin top, I promise!

Statement Necklace - Mix It Mondays

Can I just start by saying this is an awkward post for me. The whole thing, from photo shoot to hitting publish. But, I enjoy reading posts like these from other bloggers, so I'm throwing my inhibitions to the wind and jumping right in.

The other night I posted a picture of my Noonday necklace on Instagram and stated how versatile it is. When I bought this piece here, I was a little concerned that I went too big and not very practical. But when I received it in the mail, I started wearing it like a mad woman! And can I just say, I love the mission behind Noonday! Head on over here for everything that you want to know about Noonday. This is also the link for a local ambassador, so if you want to earn free jewelry, shoot her an e-mail!

Today I wanted to show you a few very different ways to wear a statement necklace. 

Here's a little bit more of a "dressed up" look.

Lace Dress: TJ Maxx  Cardigan: H&M  Boots: Famous Footwear  Necklace: Noonday

This is a pretty common "look" for me. T-shirt, jeans, and Chucks. Love how a statement necklace adds a considerable amount of flair.

Blazer: Lauren Conrad  Tee: Jc Penney  Jeans: DKNY  Necklace: Noonday  Chucks: Target

Here's a cozy every day kind of outfit. I love the contrast between the casual feel of the vest, paired with the necklace.

Vest: Kohls  Top: Kohls  Jeans: Rue21  Necklace: Noonday

I hope you feel inspired to mix up your statement necklaces a bit. Or inspired to go get yourself a Noonday necklace! 

So was that as awkward for you as it was for me? I sure hope not! And, what am I looking at on the floor in all these pictures? The more awkward I feel, the more I'll ramble. So I better just hit "publish" and call it a day!

Linking up with: