Small Town Girl Big Town Fashion: Denim Daze with DakotaChic

Hi- I’m Sarah Jo & I write the lifestyle blog DakotaChic.

DakotaChic, not be confused with Dakota chick, (although I’m technically that too) is a lifestyle blog that brings together all of my favorite things- food, fashion, beauty and home decor.

I started DakotaChic because I believe that living in the Midwest doesn’t mean we can’t be just as stylish as our friends in New York or California. My blog is designed to inspire others to step up their style and add a little chic into their everyday lives.

Denim Daze

I love the idea of Small Town Girl, Big Town Fashion, and was so excited when Rural Housewives asked me to submit a post. I am a firm believer that living in a fashion desert is not an excuse to live in your sweatpants, (We have the internet!) and that just because you live in a small town doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice your personal style.

There are a lot of fun styles trending for this summer, but this post is dedicated to the one trend I think we can all get behind, and that’s DENIM! I don’t know about you, but if I could only wear one fabric for the rest of my life, it would be the ever-versatile denim. Light wash, dark wash, acid wash, distressed, vests, jackets, jeans, dresses… the list goes on and on.

Here’s a few ways that you can incorporate denim into your look beyond your usual blue jeans:

Denim Vest 

Trust me, it will go with more than you think! Pair with a maxi skirt or LBD for something you could easily wear out on a Friday night.

Denim Dress 

Earlier this spring I came across this denim dress. It is light and incredibly comfy for summer. (BONUS: It’s acid wash, which is also back in style!)

Canadian Tux 

And if you’re like me and are so obsessed with denim that you want to cover yourself in this incredible fabric from head to toe… go for it! The Canadian Tux is even socially acceptable this season. Grab a denim or chambray shirt and throw it on with your favorite blue jeans and a pair of cute heels.

For outfit details and more, take a look at my full Denim Daze series on www.dakotachic.com.

Are you a fan of denim? What are your favorite pieces?

5 Things I Love Right Now

By: Ashley Messing-Kennedy

With spring (hopefully) right around the corner I am getting excited.  Winter has been cold, snowy and brutal so I am ready to put it behind us and break out cute clothes and bright makeup!  I am sharing 5 of my favorite beauty items that are getting me ready to welcome spring back to Michigan. I seriously need to feel girly again and not like a marshmallow man with way too many layers on.

1. MAC Ravishing Lipstick – I love this coral-pink color for the spring!  It’s bright, cheery and kind of daring.  I need to get this in my hands as of yesterday!  For those of you who know me and are wondering what I am doing talking about lipstick, I have been converted. After many years of cheap, red lipstick during dance recitals I swore I would NEVER wear lipstick. Ladies, times have changed and todays’ lipsticks are amazing.  I am addicted to MAC and I just got a new spring pink color from Sephora and I’m officially converted.

2. Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Set – After a cold, windy winter skin can get really dry. Mine normally does, but I have been using this moisturizing set daily and it has made a huge difference. In the winter my skin is always flakey, dry and tight.  This year I didn’t have any of that and attribute it to this serum and moisturizer.  It is the only thing I changed and I am a total believer! If you have dry skin you need to pick this up now and if you use a face wash with Benzoyl Peroxide (a.k.a. Proactiv or something similar) you should get it too. I know it is expensive but it will last you a long time because a little goes a long way (I’m on my 5th month and have a lot left in my containers).

3. SEPHORA+PANTONE UNIVERSE Radient Rush Matte Lipstick – I know, another lipstick?! Refer to #1; like I said, I am obsessed.  But this orchid lipstick is the color of the year. It is another fun addition to your collection. Everyone needs this color in their makeup bag.

4. Cityswept Finish – I am NOT a perfectionist.  I come from a family that has a lot of perfectionists, but I am not one of them. Honestly, anyone can get their hair perfectly straight. But it takes a special person to pull off the just out of a ponytail look.  This is my philosophy, I like easy hair that doesn’t look overdone and too perfect.  That’s why I love Bumble and Bumble Cityswept Finish hair product.  If you are looking for an easy hair style this is product for you!

5. Flying Monkey Jeans – I love these jeans. I mean LOVE THESE JEANS! They are stretchier than any other pair of jeggings or skinny jeans I have.  With the high rise waist they keep my junk in the trunk and not muffin topping out.  They are also a great price for great quality jeans (about $55)!

These are 5 things I love right now and I hope you try some of these out right away. What are your five favorite products?

Thrift Store Boot Redesign

By: Suzi Campbell

I came across this pair of second hand boots over the summer.  I paid $1 for them…..AND THEY WERE MY SIZE **score**

I had no plans for them at the time so they have been out in my garage.  Yes I could have left them alone and worn them how I found them {which would have been just fine} but I have a lot of boots {I have a slight problem} so I decided to “play” with my $1 pair of boots.  If they don’t turn out I’m only out ONE DOLLAR!!!!

I finally decided what to do with them….MAKE SHORT BOOTIES!!! Yes you read that right I was going to make booties out of them.

The first step was to roll the top down.  {This seems easier then it is}

Then I grabbed some fabric and lace.  I rolled the hem and I hot glued it on at the seam.  MAKE SURE TO DO THIS ON THE INSIDE SO IT IS LESS VISIBLE.  {see pictures below}

Next I wanted to add a little extra. So I found some embroidery floss and wrapped the boot and tied {the knot on the outside of the boot}.  I broke a pair of flip flops over the summer but they has some neat stones on them so I saved them {Yeah I know I have hoarding issues}.  I cut the jewels off and glued them on {over the knot}.

It was THAT SIMPLE and I now have an adorable pair of western booties!!!

The whole project cost me less than $5!!!

“What do I wear with them?”

Jeans? Leggings? Dress? Skirt? Shorts?

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes….and Yes!

From old boots to a fashion forward booties. Head over to my blog Chores and Chandeliers and see how I styled them. You can also see my hand painted boots here and a pair I painted for my sister-in-law here.

Small Town Girl Big Town Fashion: Cowgirl Crush

Our THIRD installment of Small Town Girl, Big Town Fashion is here! We are all about planning outfits for the New Year! Courtney Nolz, owner of Cowgirl Crush, has given us three different looks for a new year, new you! If you haven’t seen the items from Cowgirl Crush, you are missing out! 

Image courtesy Cowgirl Crush

Cowgirl Crush (CCXO) was started in 2008, when Courtney Nolz started making her own jewelry to wear to cattle shows. With a love of fashion-forward trends, Courtney’s jewelry designs started selling like hot cakes on Facebook. In 2011, Courtney added clothing and home decor to her CCXO line. Courtney prides herself in offering fashionable trends that won’t break the bank. CCXO is truly for every girl on a budget, who still wants to look fabulous, without the sticker shock. I was so excited when Courtney agreed to share with us some of her favorite Cowgirl Crush picks! Thanks Courtney! – Jenny

Small Town Girl, Big Town Fashion: Bri Belko

Our second installment of Small Town Girl, Big Town Fashion is here! We are all about planning outfits for the Holidays! My friend and fellow fashionista, Bri Belko has given us three of her favorite looks for the Holiday season. Bri, who is a city girl at heart, has learned to love the country life. She started working at her uncle’s ranch in 2011 and now loves her life as part-time cowgirl, part-time city slicker. Bri loves MAC Makeup, both high heels and cowboy boots, fresh flowers, God, her husband, and anything that sparkles (as she shares below). Bri and I connected instantly over fashion, beauty, and our love for agriculture. We are so honored to have her share with Rural Housewives some of her style and story. You can find Bri over at the Grimmius Cattle Co. Page on Facebook. Thank you, Bri! – Jenny 

Fashion is something that defines a girl, whether she realizes it or not.  What a girl wears says a lot about her unique style. 

Small Town Girl, Big Town Fashion: Jenny Dewey Rohrich

I am not quite sure how I came up with the idea for this series on this site, but I did. I mean I can’t be the only one who wears fancy dresses and high heeled boots to the small town local bar, just because I can. Or wears fake lashes to an outdoor small town celebration, you know, because I can. Or sports bright lipstick and wedges a couple times a week when I work in an office full of men, yep, because I can.

My husband regularly teases me about getting all gussied up or getting too fancy for the evening. But the truth is that sometimes a girl likes to dress up, put on her best, curl her hair, and don her fake eyelashes and bright lipstick… Even if you are only going out to the small town bar. There’s just something about those things that puts that extra stride in your step and makes you feel like a lady because let’s be honest, as much as I love yoga pants and a t-shirt… It doesn’t leave me feeling sexy or much like a lady. Instead I feel like, well, lazy.

So just because I live in rural America doesn’t mean that I need to compromise fashion or beauty. Instead I am a small town girl rocking big town fashion! And you can too! For this series, we figured we would share our favorite things.. whether it be clothes, beauty products, hair products, whatever. Anything that helps you get gussied up or even something that you enjoy in your daily regimen. If you’d like to put together some of your favorite things and show us how you make it being a small town girl with big town fashion, please let us know! We would love to make this a regular series on this site!