Writer / Susan Beckwith
Photographer / Brian Brosmer
Sadly, summer break is coming to an end, but the back to school fashion fun is just beginning. Although students will soon be hitting the books, that doesn’t mean they have to hit the mall to find the hottest trends.
Fishers residents only have to look right in their backyard for a fresh new local boutique—Lily & Sparrow. This boutique, owned and operated by two 20-something sisters, prides itself on promoting and accenting natural beauty by offering quality trends at affordable prices.
With Lily & Sparrow’s budget-friendly prices no cause for battle with your teen, let’s talk modesty. Yes, modesty, the dreaded word that strikes resistance into almost every teen girl’s heart. So often this term conjures up images of being covered from head to toe and devoid of any personality or style. This doesn’t have to be the case. Modest fashions don’t have to be anti-mainstream. It often just means being more creative with the styling. Here are two great looks from Lily & Sparrow to demonstrate how easily this can be achieved.
The first look is boho chic using dark skinny jeans, a long neutral tank and a beautiful sleeveless open-front crocheted vest. This vest is a wonderful layering piece that can also be worn with shorts, dresses and even rompers. To complete this look, a purple and turquoise statement necklace that isn’t too over-the-top for school was added to make the outfit pop. This look can easily be taken into the colder fall and winter months by switching out the neutral tank with a long-sleeve fitted crew or scoop-neck tee.
The second look combines a simple summer floral dress with a cropped denim and lace vest. Because dresses are so comfortable, they are perfect for all-day wear. The vest gives this outfit a little edge and it’s another great piece that can be used year-round. Necklace layering continues to be on trend and to successfully accomplish this, go for the graduated look by making the shorter necklace more delicate and the longer necklace chunkier. For this ensemble, a shorter gold Aztec-inspired necklace was paired with a longer mint and brown lucite statement chain. Sweet little neutral ballet flats like the ones paired with both outfits are wardrobe staples as they continue to be a fashionable alternative to heels.
We don’t want to forget about the boys! Vardagen is just the answer for teen guys looking for eclectic tanks, t-shirts and hoodies. This emerging brand is also located in the heart of Fishers and is strong on design. They print everything themselves on quality, hand-selected garments. Their styles are perfect for guys who don’t want to look like they’re trying too hard but also don’t want to get lost in the masses. Vardagen also has fashions for women and children. The t-shirt modeled is unique with its hipster flair and true Indiana pride—perfect for standing out in a crowd.
