DUST YOUR SHOULDERS OFF

You’re now tuned into the mother#^@%*&in greatest – that’s if you did what all the cool kids did last week and entered in your email to get updates from suddhara.com.  If you haven’t, you are dead to me.  KIDDING.  But you should probably go ahead and do it now.  I will wait.

This week has NOT been an easy one for this country.  Because this is a fashion and lifestyle blog, I will stick with what I know but I have found inspiration in these words.

“Always aim high, work hard, and care deeply about what you believe in.  And, when you stumble, keep faith.  And, when you’re knocked down, get right back up and never listen to anyone who says you can’t or shouldn’t go on.” HRC, 2008.  This is the time to hug your loved ones tight, keep fighting for what you believe in and avoid stress eating entire pints of coffee ice cream.  I promise you, you won’t actually feel better afterwards.  A bout of online shopping, on the other hand, that is a different story.  I may or may not be speaking from personal experience.  SO, let’s get into it.

Along with acai bowls, Drake and Frosé, off-the-shoulder tops are having a moment.  I will admit, I was nervous to give into this trend for a few reasons.  First, I hate jumping on bandwagons – as evidenced by my reluctance to purchase a choker even though they are all the rage.  Some necks are just not made for tight velvet rope but you do you.  Second, I was afraid the flowy shape would swallow my 5 foot 3 frame WHOLE.  But then, I realized that off-the-shoulder tops perfectly capture the bohemian spirit I am always trying so hard to achieve. Rohan, my partner-in-crime, refers to this vibe as “Hobo-Chic” – I must give credit where credit is due.

With a little hesitation and cautious and measured optimism, I embarked on my mission to find the perfect off-the-shoulder top for fall and I was committed to the cause.  My Dad always says that the key to success is to bring the package home, so with this trusty advice in hand, I immersed myself into ASOS.COM – otherwise known as a complete time suck and your new best friend.  You’re welcome.

My love affair with ASOS began in December of 2010.  I ordered a dress and cocktail ring that spanned my entire left hand for the first New Year’s I would spend without Dick Clark.  I was so excited to finally wear those cheesy 2011 sunglasses, use obnoxiously loud noisemakers and catch party beads – thank God for New Orleans.  I searched endlessly for a neutral dress that wouldn’t compete with all my New Year’s accessories as I value my accessory game above all else.  See here and here.  I couldn’t seem to find anything that was not doused in sequins but ASOS came to the rescue.  I had 50 pages of dresses at my fingertips and the exhilaration was overwhelming.  With its free express shipping and returns policy, I ordered six dresses in multiple sizes and matching accessories for each.  I basically transported an entire store into the comfort of my bedroom and I felt like a kid in a candy shop.  Long story short, I found the perfect New Year’s dress with minimal stress and hassle AND made a new best friend.

So, back to me, ASOS and off-the-shoulder tops.  When I first saw this denim beauty on the website, I gasped.  It is perfectly effortless, SUPER soft and the texture of the top draws your eye into all its magic.  It is also oversized so I had the pleasure of ordering a size down – small victories.  I paired it with my go-to distressed denim, also from ASOS because I’m loyal like that.  They were under $50 dollars so I feel like I tricked the system – there’s nothing I love more than a good deal.

Moral of the story: if you have been on an endless search for an off-the-shoulder top, love the effortless and bohemian aesthetic and want people around you to think you just “woke up like this”, dust your shoulders off and head to ASOS.COM.  Your next great love affair is waiting.

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored by ASOS.  This is simply my love letter to an online retailer that has kept me looking fresh to death for half a decade.  If, however, you happen to know anyone at ASOS, feel free to hook a sister up.  Please and thank you.

distressed denim/top/earrings (similar)/clutch(similar)/flats/sunnies/baubles