Top: Forever 21  //  Skirt : Forever 21   //  Shoes : Nordstrom   //   Bag :  Out of Stock but listed for resale at The Real Real  //  Earrings : The Design Hound

I love this season’s trend of the two-piece outfits.  You can find this look in all levels of dressiness, from formal to extreme beach casual.  It’s essentially exactly what it sounds like–most often a crop top and matching maxi skirt in the same material, but sometimes it’s a midi or mini, and sometimes it’s pants!  I know it’s kind of a weird name because really it’s just a matching skirt and shirt or pants, but the fact that they’re both made of exactly the same material is what gives the illusion of a dress and thus, the name.  In the nineties, I remember the “matchy matchy” look.  Same denim jacket to match the denim pants.   And do you remember the Juicy Couture sweatsuits circa 2002-ish? You’d match the top to the bottom perfectly, and you were stylin.  But for a while, the trend has steered away from “matchy matchy,” and I’m all for a little change.

From a packing standpoint, the two-piece outfit is brilliant.  It’s the perfect addition to a capsule wardrobe (where you use a few articles of clothing to create several outfits) because you can wear it as intended or pair each item with other articles of clothing.  Pair the top up with another skirt or change the look entirely by wearing it with shorts, cropped pants, or jeans.  Wear the skirt or pants with another cropped top, change the look up with a bodysuit, or even sport it as a swim coverup.  The choices are yours!  My favorite thing is when they sell the item as a set.  You pay for one outfit but get so much more!

My Outfit:

I haven’t shopped at Forever 21 since I was essentially 21.  For a while there the sizing was really off for me and the quality was poor.  But I re-discovered the store through some fellow bloggers.  I placed my first order online last month and was really pleased with the quality of some of the pieces!  I’ve noticed that many of their nicer things are “online exclusives,” so the online shop is the way to go.  The only thing that I don’t love is the return policy.  You have to pay for return shipping on your own.  It’s not the end of the world, and many stores actually have you pay for return shipping by deducting it from your refund anyway, but I thought it was important to note that for you guys.  After your first order, you will get the sizing down like I did.  But in general, their clothes run true to their size chart.  Don’t forget to read reviews.  I have found you will always have that one person that doesn’t agree with the rest, but stick with what the majority say as far as quality and sizing and you should be sitting pretty.   Check the size chart, don’t care about what size it actually is, and order according to your body measurements.  Don’t forget that squeezing into the wrong size can be extremely unflattering.  Cut that tag out if it bothers you so much! But never be married to a size.

The Fit:

I ordered a medium in this.  The top has a tie in the back so you can make the waist as tight as you want but still have room in the bust.  I probably could have gotten away with a small in both pieces, as I felt like the skirt stretched out a bit as I wore it, but it also was very, very comfortable.  The skirt also has elastic in the back (that isn’t super obvious and hideous) but that also lends itself to allowing you to size down and still be comfortable.  The waist hits in just the right spot so there is no “tummy spillage” when you sit down.  I did have to use a safety pin in the bust area because it was a little too revealing for me.  Looking at the picture online, I think she did, too! But maybe at a more adult-only event I won’t mind going sans pin.

I have a LOT of two-piece items I’ll be sharing with you as I wear them.  I really, really love the trend!  There are SO many cute options out there.  I had to stop myself from adding more and more to the collection below because the list could go on and ON!  I hope you like the idea as much as I do!  Check them out.  I bet you can find at least one look that would work for you. Happy Shopping!

XOXO

Elisha

 

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