Plato's Closet

Surprises to make you smile, always at Plato's Closet! 🍿

February 14th, the day dedicated to celebrating love, is quickly approaching and whether you have romantic plans with your boo or are spending the night with your closest gal pals, you’ll need an outfit to show your love spirit. I’ve put together two outfits to celebrate the season of love, no matter who you're celebrating with!

OUTFIT 1:

I’m a firm believer in getting dressed up when going on a Valentine’s date with your boo because it is the DATE of all dates you go on throughout the year. Keeping that in mind, I decided that this LBD (little black dress) with a glamorous flare is the perfect look. By pairing this with the blush pink teddy coat, it will make you feel like you're ready to style and profile out on your love adventure. For accessories, I kept the jewelry to a minimum by wearing a nameplate necklace and some not-so-average hoops with the word ‘love’ inscribed in them. Plato’s Closet is the perfect place to find fun accessories to upgrade your LBD!

OUTFIT 2:

For the babe who is spending this day with their best gal pals, you can keep it cute and casual by pairing some distressed girlfriend jeans and strappy, short pumps with a flannel shirt tied up and slightly off the shoulder. To add more of a feminine feel, you can use a velour scrunchy to tie your hair up, which also compliments the blush pink purse. Lastly, grab a leather jacket to wear over your shoulders to give this outfit that extra accessory piece.

Blog By: Breanna Moore | @hellohipretty

The cold winter weather makes it way harder to dress well because you need multi-functional pieces that are both warm and fashionable. One of my favorite ways to keep warm during these winter months is my “Teddy Coat,” and lucky for you, I have put together some of my favorite ways to style it. Now you can stay cute and trendy during the cold winter months!

Outfit 1:
To create this look, grab your favorite pair of ripped jeans-- any wash looks great! Next,
pair these with any basic tee or tank, and add some heeled booties. Then grab your
teddy coat and you are good to go. If you're looking to add a little something extra pair
this with any pom-beanie. This look is perfect if you’re looking for something cute and
comfy!

Outfit 2:
For this look, I decided to layer a basic tank top under my teddy coat with my favorite
pair of striped culottes and black booties. For a fun twist, I added a lieutenant hat, which
really ties the whole look together! This look is easily achievable and perfect for school
or going out with your girlfriends.

Outfit 3:
This last look is perfect if you're looking for something a little fancier. To rock this look
grab a neutral color t-shirt and any slip dress. Then pair it with your favorite thigh high
boots and you’re ready to go! Now your winter outfit is both warm and fashion forward!
I hope you found these outfit ideas helpful to vamp up your winter wardrobe this season!

Blog by: Grace Myler - @gracemyler
Photos by: Angela M. Singer - @amsingerphotos

I don’t know about you, but I LOVE finding amazing deals from secondhand stores ― there is nothing better! I especially love having shopping trips to Plato’s Closet because every time I go they always have different pieces and new opportunities to score some deals!

I’ve done my fair share of thrifting and I’ve come up with a few tips, tricks and secrets of how to find the best deals and get the most bang for your buck! Let’s get into it!

Tip #1 - Master the “Scan”
Looking through racks and racks of clothing can be daunting if you don’t know what to look for. If you know what kind of fabric, texture or color you’re looking for, scan the racks as you go to spot the pieces you are interested in or what catches your eye. Practice makes perfect to master the art of “the thrifting scan” ;)

Tip #2 - Like it or Love it?
Going to secondhand stores is perfect for finding unique pieces, but it also means there aren’t replicates of every piece in each size. If you don’t 100% love the piece and don’t think you will genuinely wear it on a weekly basis, save your money. Sometimes I’ll find great unique pieces but they don’t fit my body type or aren't the right size, even if it might be a great steal, it isn’t worth the change and space in your closet.

Tip #3 - Watch For Discount Days
Depending on the Plato’s Closet location that is nearest to you, they will probably have an email newsletter or an Instagram page that you can follow to stay notified about their sales! Keep your eye out for any special events or holiday deals! The Plato’s Closet nearest to me has an awesome active Instagram page and they post pieces for sale all the time which is super helpful!

Tip #4 - Always Inspect The Pieces First
The #1 rule to thrifting is to always check the clothing pieces for stains, rips or any other defects to your clothing pieces. Sometimes the staff might miss small details so it’s always good to go through a quick scan of your items!

Tip #5 - Sell Before You Buy!
Wanting to have a little extra spending money on new clothes? Bring in some of your clothes you don’t wear anymore or that don’t fit and sell them to Plato’s Closet! They take gently used clothes, shoes and accessories and the extra spending money doesn't hurt either!

I hope you found this helpful and are ready to begin your journey of becoming a thrifting pro ;)

Thanks for reading!

Blog By: Taiya Maddison | @taiyamaddison

The new year is often viewed as a fresh start, a clean slate or an opportunity to try new things. I personally strive to try new things in one way or another, whether it be through food, travel or fashion!

As we head into the new year, there is a particularly exciting fashion trend that has inspired me to step a little out of my comfort zone: animal prints! Cheetah, leopard and snakeskin seem to be in every store, yet many people still feel intimidated by the bold trend. Through experimentation, I’ve found that this trend can be easily wearable and can bring lots of confidence when fully embraced! So try on some leopard print and strut into the new year with confidence!

Today I will be sharing some of my favorite ways to style animal prints that you can easily rock at school!

Outfit 1: A Classic Style

Opting for an animal print in the form of a classic piece, such as this bomber jacket, is the perfect way to test out whether you enjoy wearing the trend!

For this look, I decided to go with a chill and casual look. Graphic tees look super cute layered underneath animal print. Another great quality of an animal print jacket is its surprising versatility; you can pair just about any wash of jeans with this look!

Overall, this is the perfect look to try if you enjoy being comfy (me!!) and want a casual way to wear animal print!

Outfit 2: Get Sporty!

While snakeskin is one of my favorite animal prints, it can feel a little formal at times. When I bought this skirt, finding ways to dress it down for school posed a challenge. Luckily, I figured it out and now you don’t have to struggle like I did!

Pairing a casual polo sweater, like this bold red, can bring in a really youthful and sporty vibe to counteract the sophisticated snakeskin. Adding some white sneakers and throwing your hair into a high ponytail can make the perfect sporty snakeskin look!

Outfit 3: Denim on Denim

Layering a denim jacket over an animal print shirt and a denim skirt (could be black or light wash!) is a super fun style. Similar to the first look, the animal print is styled in a really casual and comfy outfit, so you won’t feel too out of your comfort zone and you’ll still be looking super cute!

Despite being a simple outfit, the leopard print adds a little interest and detail to the outfit! If you live somewhere cold or your dress code is strict, the skirt could easily be swapped for some jeans!

Outfit 4: Stylish Kicks

This look is for all you shoe fanatics out there (I’m right there with you!) Shoes are a great way to wear animal print because they are subtle yet still make a statement in a simple outfit.

If you don’t feel comfortable wearing heels like the ones above, there are so many cute styles of animal print shoes such as sneakers, mules or loafers!

I hope these outfit ideas gave you some inspiration on how to incorporate this trend into your everyday looks. As you venture into 2019 and try new things, just remember that you can rock any style with confidence and a smile!

Blog By: Ember Sierra | essentiallyember