Fall Wardrobe Staple: Black Ankle Boots

*Click product to shop it!*

Come fall and winter time, 80% of the time you can find me wearing a pair of black ankle boots. I always gravitate towards these when it is a bit chilly because they seamlessly go with any outfit. Personally, I do prefer boots with a bit of a heel because I am vertically challenged and I’ll take any bit of help to get some extra height. Currently, I have been gravitating more towards boots with an interesting texture or finish – just something to make them stand out from your average black boot. When shopping for a pair, I would look for details that give the shoe more uniqueness. For instance, in the above image, there’s boots with silver hoop hardware, shiny patent leather, faux-snake skin, platform heel, contrasting colored laces, and other embellishments. By opting for a more interesting footwear, you are able to elevate your entire outfit and it automatically makes it more fashion-forward.

In the outfit above, I am wearing a flow asymmetrical black tank top, a silk blouse, cargo pants, and a statement silver necklace from TotalKnockOut. For footwear, I went for these patent leather heeled boots with a silver buckle and pointed toe. I think these add such a different element to my already all-black, monochromatic outfit. I snagged these boots a couple of weeks ago from H&M for only $15. I was actually eyeing them all throughout last year’s F/W season, but never went through and purchased them. It was fate though because I managed to get them on clearance and can now rock them for this upcoming season. Patience is a virtue!

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Posted on August 30, 2017September 5, 2017 by enclothedcognition 80

5 Tips on Maintaining a Long-Distance Relationship

*Photo taken by Alex Choi

On Saturday, my boyfriend, Surim, left for his final year of university in Pittsburgh, which is roughly a 5-8 hour distance depending on mode of transportation. He was supposed to have graduated in May with me, but had to go for a “victory lap” as we jokingly call it. This is now our fourth year of enduring a long distance relationship. I understand 6 hours is minuscule in comparison to some other long-distance relationships, but as we cannot afford to make the trip often and are forced to see each other only one weekend a month during the school year.

Although we are a seasoned long-distance couple by now, saying bye to Surim this past weekend was still so hard for me. Writing this post even has my tearing up. This past summer, I basically spent every day with him and to go from seeing your best friend everyday to only once a month is definitely rough. However, I am so grateful our relationship is strong enough to have been able to endure this for such a long time now.

I wanted to share with you guys some tips on how our relationship has been so successful over the years. Dating is no easy feat, especially in this new millennial society in which cheating is normalcy and “side-baes” are praised. Even within my own peers, I have the longest relationship. This is how we continue to conquer the distance together:

*Photo by Alex Choi

1. LOYALTY. You heard it from Kendrick and Rihanna, “All we ask is trust. All we got is us”. These lyrics could not be more true. I am sure you have heard it time and time again, but honestly trusting your significant other is half the battle in any relationship, but especially when there is some distance involved. I have so much faith in Surim and I know he would never do anything to make me question his loyalty. The two of us have very similar values and I know he has the same kind of trust in me as well. I think this trust has been established because we are really open with each other and lying simply isn’t in our vocabulary.

2. MAKE TIME FOR FACE TIME. Since we are forced to see each other only once a month, we find other ways to close the gap between us. One of the biggest ways we do this is through Snapchat. This has been one of our favorite methods of communication the past couple of years. We like it because we are able to see each other’s face and it makes talking more personable, Plus, we feel like we can get more context by physically seeing each other’s facial expressions and whereabouts. In addition to Snapchat, we do FaceTime occasionally and always make time for phone calls when we can.

3. PLAN REGULAR VISITS. As I mentioned already, we are sure to see each other approximately once every month. Before he left on Saturday, we already decided I would visit at the end of the month for a weekend. By having this time frame set in mind, both of you are able to have something to look forward to. Last year, we also planned around celebrating the holidays together. For example, in October, I went to Pittsburgh during Halloween weekend and in February we visited each other during Valentine’s Day weekend. People are likely to feel more lonely during these occasions, so if it is possible to see each other during then – go for it!

4. SEXUAL HEALING. I do not want to touch on this personal topic too much, but long-disatance relationships are hard because of the lack of certain physical aspects of a healthy relationship. However, there are ways to overcome this and to keep a relationship spicy and interesting even with the distance. Get creative with it!

5. OPPORTUNISTIC MINDSET. Lastly, long distance relationships are never ideal to be quite honest. Surim and I were forced to because of school, but keep in mind that this distance is not forever. I keep reminding myself that come springtime, there is nothing that will keep us from being apart anymore. Keeping this goal in mind is important. Plus, they do say that distance makes the heart grow fonder. I would never choose to go through a long-distance relationship, but I did come to appreciate the fact that it made us treasure our time together more and definitely strengthened our relationship.

Related: What My Boyfriend Wore

I hope these tips on making a long-distance relationship work were helpful for those who are maybe in the same boat as me. Long-distance is not easy, but with patience and trust and the right person, it is definitely not impossible.

If you have any other relationship advice or any long distance relationship questions, be sure to leave a comment down below. I would love to hear your experience and thoughts on this matter!

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Posted on August 28, 2017September 5, 2017 by enclothedcognition 46

Fall is Coming: Here’s How to Transition Your Crop Tops

Fall is Coming

And it is my favorite season in terms of fashion. However, I was not quite ready to put away my beloved crop tops, so here is an outfit that utilizes this basic black crop top in a more autumn appropriate style.

One of the easiest ways to wear crop tops in a cooler season is to pair them with high-waisted pants, so you’re able to cover a more skin.//shopsensewidget.shopstyle.com/#/?options=%7B%22widgetId%22%3A%22599a257e61d1dde866c4bf47%22%2C%22version%22%3A1%2C%22pid%22%3A%22uid8900-31957670-94%22%2C%22size%22%3A150%2C%22columns%22%3A4%2C%22rows%22%3A1%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fapi.shopstyle.com%2Fapi%2Fv2%22%2C%22iframeHeight%22%3A225%2C%22iframeWidth%22%3A720%7D

I paired this crop top with a pair of high-waisted, flared pants that I thrifted (no surprise there) and some matching heeled sandals. This is an all black look, but the slight skin peaking on the torso separates the top from the bottom so it doesn’t look like one big blob. To add some color and life into the outfit, I layered this cropped, raw edge mustard jacket on top. I absolutely love this color and I think it is an amazing color to bring out for autumn!

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Posted on August 21, 2017September 5, 2017 by enclothedcognition 70

Maxwell Scott: Premium Men’s Leather Bag

This article was created in friendly collaboration with Maxwell Scott.

THE FLEROS

“A compact and yet spacious leather holdall bag with a detachable shoulder strap, perfect for a weekend away”

A couple of weeks ago, my boyfriend kindly agreed to an interview conducted by me on his perspective of men’s fashion and confidence. Even prior to dating him, I always appreciated Surim’s sense of style and how he carried himself. A representative from Maxwell Scott Bags surely thought the same when she happened to stumble upon the post and offered him to choose a product from their collection of leather goods. Thus, his first company collaboration thanks to me and my blog, haha! Is this a sign we should provide him a dedicated men’s style section to Enclothed Cognition??

Anyways, he opted for the dark chocolate brown FleroS, a small genuine leather holdall bag for men, which he thought would be ideal for short travels and carrying to and from work. It’s also available in chestnut tan and night black.

Upon unboxing, both of us were really impressed by the sheer quality of the bag. You could smell the leather as soon as I removed it from the dust bag. Maxwell Scott Bags is a British family-owned business that was founded in 2002. Each bag is handcrafted in Italy and the amount of love and care that goes into the product is immediately evident.

After toting it to and form work, Surim reported to me that the bag has been durable and he would gladly recommend it to any guy looking for a premium men’s leather bag or duffle bag. It comfortably fit the things he needs for work and his laptop, with room for more. In addition to business attire, he also suggests it would look good with a more dressed down look. For instance, a shirt and a pair of selvedge denim would be perfect for a weekend casual vibe.

All in all, Surim praises the FleroS for being the ideal men’s leather travel bag. This will surely remain in his wardrobe for years to come!

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Posted on August 18, 2017September 5, 2017 by enclothedcognition 24

From Dress to Kimono

The Trend:

My Look:

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Happy Monday, babes! I have been seeing a lot of outfits featured around the kimono on Pinterest a lot lately. A couple of weeks ago, I found this long, printed dress at the thrift store. It is originally from Sparkle and Fade which is found at Urban Outfits and is meant to be worn buttoned up. However, since it’s two sizes too big, I thought it would make a great outerwear piece when left unbuttoned. I wanted to play with different heights, so I wore it with a lace crop top and my denim skirt from DSTLD (You can get 10% off your order with the code ‘enclothedcognition’).

I love this kimono because of the neutral pattern and how it makes it so easy to pair with a lot of items. Last week, I styled it the same way, but I replaced the denim skirt with jeans. Thus, this outfit is easily transferable to autumn, making it an ultimate must have for your wardrobe right now. Shop some of my favorite kimonos right now:

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Posted on August 14, 2017September 5, 2017 by enclothedcognition 47

Are Crop Tops Ever Okay for the Office?

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The answer? Most likely, probably not. Perhaps if you had a pretty relaxed job in the fashion industry, but I assume in the average workplace it is a no. However, in an alternate universe, this is what I would wear if crop tops were indeed appropriate office attire. To make it more professional, I chose a dark color palette – mainly grey and black. This way, the outfit is more streamlined and coordinated.

This crop top with tie details is so darn cute and I always get loads of compliments when I wear it (still available on Asos)! The black block heels are also from Asos, but aside from that, everything else in this outfit is thrifted. I recently found these gorgeous tailored grey pants that are actually Ralph Lauren uniform pants from the boys section. They surprisingly fit my waist perfectly and fall at the perfect ankle length. Perks of being short, I guess. The bag and belt are also past thrift store finds.

Thrift Tip: Don’t forget to check the other departments too. You never know when you will find a hidden gem such as these pants from the boys section!

In other news, I plan on having a detailed post up about how I shoot all my own outfit photos myself. If you have any questions, be sure to drop them below in the comments! x

Posted on August 9, 2017September 5, 2017 by enclothedcognition 60

Let’s Get Graphic: How T-Shirts Can Make an Outfit

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I was recently gifted this one from Grimes, a pretty cool clothing company that donates a portion of their sales to charity. I really love the vintage vibe to this one and the simple cursive script. I decided to pair it with some white trousers and my checkered vans for a casual, laid-back outfit.

Related: How to Style Checkerboard Vans

However, I am obsessed with any sort of graphic t-shirt and I swear my closet is filled to the brim with them. I love the versatility and ease of pairing that comes with it. Seriously, you always have the ability to dress a t-shirt up or down. You can chuck one on with some denim shorts or you can pair one underneath a boyfriend blazer and accessorize with some layered necklaces for a more dressed up look. Shop some of the ones I am loving below and don’t be afraid to check out the men’s tees as well:

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Related: Style tip – Knot a graphic t-shirt for a cropped look

Happy Friday, by the way! What are your weekend plans? I do not really have anything going on this weekend yet, but be sure to check out my Instagram because I am always updating on my story there! I’ll see you on Monday with a new post about how I shoot all my blog photos by myself!

Posted on August 4, 2017September 5, 2017 by enclothedcognition 78

10 Inexpensive Products To Build a Street Style Wardrobe

*Click product to shop it!*

Personally, I like the rapid increase of street style inspired looks that tend to have a focus on brands and casual wear. As you know, I am a big fan dressing casually, but still remaining stylish and put together. From browsing Pinterest to Instagram, I have compiled a wishlist of 10 items that I think are great basics to build a street smart look on a budget. Everything above is less than $100, except for the Adidas Ultraboost X, but I promise the price is reflective of their comfort and durability.

The easiest to achieve looks are often comprised of a nice pair of athleisure pants or baggy boyfriend-fitting jeans, a basic t-shirt or top, a pair of casual sneakers, topped off with a few interesting accessories. I think all of these items would look great together or with other similar elements. In addition to these items that can be found through online retails, I also want to mention that you an probably find pretty similar items at your local thrift store! Especially some pieces like interesting graphic t-shirts or athletic pants (I recommend checking out the boys section for these). This method would just take a bit more perseverance!

Check out some of my previous street style looks:

Crop It: How to style High-top Vans

Borrowed from the Boys: How to Style Baggy Cropped Joggers

Ninja: How to Style Bold Sneakers

Mesh: How to Style Track Pants

How to Make the LBD Casual: Sneakers + Dress

Game, Set, Match: How to Style Adidas Ultraboost

Posted on August 2, 2017 by enclothedcognition 71

Enclothed Cognition: Surim Kim

Surim Kim

Enclothed Cognition describes the concept in which the clothes you wear has an impact on your cognitive process. When you wear something you genuinely love, it is an instant confident booster. That being said, this phenomenon is important to me because getting dressed is something everyone faces each morning. If aware of this concept, one would be able to dress more confidently and have a positive impact on his or her own day. This is part of the latest installment on my blog:

Not only do I want to emphasize the importance of self-confidence in women, but men as well. This interview is dear to my heart because it features my boyfriend, Surim. Not only does he bring a fresh male perspective to the table, but he’s also one of the most confident people I know. Between the two of us, he is undoubtedly the one that is more outgoing. As far as style, Surim prefers a more minimal look with tasteful touches of streetwear influence with pieces such as a Supreme waist bag and Nike Flyknit Racer.

Why did you decide to wear this outfit to go hiking?

I just purchased the olive bomber jacket(similar) the other day, but it was too hot to wear it. However it cooled down significantly the day we went, so I got to give the jacket a test run and based my outfit on that.

How do you typically decide what to wear?

I pretty much have set outfits in my mind and choose one based on the vibe I want to give that day and what I am doing.

Do you have a style influence or icon?

Not really. I don’t look at one person to see what they are wearing. However, I tend to look at product launches and lookbooks if I need style inspiration. Specifically, I go to Hypebeast, the Cos lookbook, and /r/rawdenim.

Anything else that inspires you stylistically?

I am really drawn to western looks like Clint Eastwood. Also, the classic rock era has a big influence on me.

Do you think streetwear has gotten too mainstream lately?

I have been into the streetwear scene since 2007, and have witnessed the rise of the obvious big labels such as Bape and Supreme in mainstream media. As well as seeing brands such as Stussy and The Hundreds go from being in boutique stores to being in suburban malls. However, I understand these trends come and go and no one should base their purchases off of what is mainstream and what is not. I mean, I still love Supreme even though it is considered the quintessential “hypebeast” brand. I believe it was extremely beneficial that streetwear became mainstream, since it forced designers to push the boundaries and evolve, leading us out of the graphic-tee era to the more minimal/tech inspired looks out now.

How does what you wear affect your mood? Confidence?

Dressing well definitely corresponds with how I feel for the rest of the day. When you know you are dressed well, your attitude reflects that – not in a cocky way though. Simply put, when you look good, you feel good.

Do you think there a lot of guys who lack confidence? What advice would you give to them?

Of course there is a lot of guys who lack confidence and I feel like this is something that isn’t touched upon. Men can have confident issues too and I wish it was more normalized. But everyone deals with it a lot of different ways. Personally, my way was reaching out to new people and learning how to spark conversations. One does not have to be outgoing to be confident, however, confidence is a double-edged sword and can be confused with arrogance.

Posted on July 31, 2017September 5, 2017 by enclothedcognition 51

A Thought on Self-Confidence

I posted this photo on my instagram yesterday and mentioned how I used to be so self-conscious of the rather large birthmark running across my ribs (it is hard to see in the photo above with the filter). However, as I grew older and wiser, I came to realize that instead of being embarrassed by it, I should embrace it because this mark is what makes me an individual. This is a gentle reminder to love yourself because despite what social media advertises, perfection isn’t realistic. Instead, I really wish society celebrated the imperfections more often.

Do you know what Enclothed Cognition actually means? I chose this title for my blog because I wanted there to be a focus on building self-confidence within yourself. Working in fashion can get a bad rep because many view it as materialistic and superficial. Yet, if we look at fashion at a different angle, enclothed cognition comes to light and highlights the idea that we can gain confidence by merely feeling good in the clothes we decide to wear.

Listen: My talk on fashion & self-love via the podcast, “The Tao of Self-Confidence”

I wanted to bring up this subject of self-confidence yet again because I think we all should be continually reminded to love ourselves. I started a new installment on this blog a month ago where I interview people and their take on the correlation between how we dress and how we feel. I will be continuing this segment very soon, so please stay tuned! Also, if you have anyone in particular you wish for me to interview, drop a comment down below.

Read: Enclothed Cognition – Claudia Jordan

Posted on July 28, 2017September 5, 2017 by enclothedcognition 24