Archive for April, 2007
We asked: Are Dropped Waist Dresses In or Out?
You said: Dropped Waist Dresses are In. A 55% majority are all for this 20s-inspired dress trend.
Omiru’s take: Bring this 1920s dress into the 2000s with bright colors or modern detailing, like pockets. (We can’t get enough of dresses with pockets!) And go easy on the sequins and beading found on so many flapper style dresses.
Style tip? While Dropped Waist Dresses are flattering on those with long legs, they’re much less kind to long waisted women with short legs. The style visually lengthens the torso–and makes legs look shorter.
Next Question: We’ve reported on bright colors as a key trend for Spring 2007–and we’ve been seeing more and more Hot Pink out on the streets. But what do you think? Tell us, is Hot Pink In, or is it Out? Cast your vote on the sidebar!
Pictured: Leyendecker Horsehair Hem Drop Waist Dress| $264 at Shopbop.
April 30th, 2007
Spruce up your home or office in mere minutes with an outdoorsy graphic wall decal.
$35 at Sprout Home.
April 30th, 2007
Welcome to a Special Sampler Edition of the Friday Fashion Hotlist: a weekly compilation of the
cutest and coolest stuff Omiru’s Style Intelligence Report saw out there this
week.
This
week, we present to
you Our Favorite Goodies from the Sampler to show you the best of the best from independent crafters and artists this month.
Aida of Two Busy Bees has a passion for functional fashion with a nostalgic flair.
Re-Conceived One-of-a-Kind Buttons | $6 at Etsy
Christine Renee of Re-Conceived loves old, unloved, and damaged books–and uses the images in these books to make one-of-a-kind buttons, magnets, and pocket mirrors.
Wolfie and the Sneak Color-It-Yourself Bear Card | $3 each at Etsy
Wolfie and the Sneak is a design duo (who are madly in love) working on moving out of cubicleland into the world of the professional artist.
Like what you see? Love independent design? Sign up for your very own subscription to The Sampler today!
April 27th, 2007
Make coasters, trivets, placemats, table runners, mousepads, or wall adornments with these configurable interlocking cork pieces.
$20 at Branch Home: Sustainable Design.
April 27th, 2007
Q: I am heading to East Africa this summer to volunteer. We’ve been advised to wear shirts that cover our shoulders and skirts that are at least mid-calf length, as well as closed-toed shoes. How can do this without looking awful?
A: Volunteering in East Africa–what a noble thing to do. But just because you need to cover yourself up doesn’t mean that you need to look dowdy. Here’s how to stay stylish this summer:
Short Sleeved Fitted Tops: Cover your shoulders with cute cap sleeved tops that contour your curves. Wear these with both long skirts and pants.
Tanks over Tees: If you can’t bear to go without your camisoles and tank tops, try layering them over fitted tissue-weight t-shirts for a playful look.
Bright Colors: Spice up a simple outfit with a burst of color. Bright yellow and cobalt blue, in particular, are favorites of Omiru readers.
Full Length Skirts: Mid-calf length skirts tend to be unflattering, as they make your legs look shorter. Wear full-length skirts in flowy fabrics instead.
Pants: Tired of skirts? Pants are also a functional option for your volunteer work. Look for breathable fabrics like cotton so as to not overheat. Tip: You can wear tunics and babydoll tops over pants.
Here’s a couple of outfit ideas to get you started:
Casual Chic: Tunic + Jeans + Sneakers.
Flirty and Feminine: Camisole + Tissue-Weight T-Shirt + Full Length Skirt + Flats.
Pictured: Love Squared Swiss Dot Babydoll Top | $26 at Nordstrom and Favorite-Fit Linen/Cotton Deck Pant | $79.50 at J Crew.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
April 26th, 2007
What makes this shirt special is the pleated pockets and the tiny navy check pattern.
$130 at Active Endeavors.
April 26th, 2007
Q: What’s the best way to keep new clothes looking new? Whenever I buy something, it looks great the first time I wear it, but then after the first or second wash, it starts looking older and older.
A: Clothes start to look older after washing for three main reasons: (1) Color Fading, (2) Pilling, and (3) Wrinkling. Here’s how to combat each:
Problem: Color Fading
Solution: Wash your clothes in cold water. Many clothing dyes aren’t color fast to begin with, and the tendency to "bleed" increases with the temperature of the water. Colors tend to become permanent after a few washes–and the garments under high heat accelerates the color setting process. Note: Always wash denim inside-out to prevent color loss.
I’ve found that using gentler detergents (like Woolite) helps to extend the "new" look of my clothes. Oh, and if the garment says "Dry Clean Only," do just that.
Problem: Pilling
Solution: Buy a fabric shaver to quickly and safely remove the "pills" (balled up fuzz) and lint from your clothes. Fabric shavers, like the model pictured, are especially useful to give new life to sweaters.
Pilling happens when your clothes rub up against something else. In the washing machine, this can happen when clothes rub up against the sides of the machine–or when they rub up against each other.
To minimize pilling, we recommend (1) placing items prone to pilling inside garment bags, (2) using the delicate cycle, and (3) not overloading your washing machine full of clothes.
Problem: Wrinkling
Solution: Fold or hang your clothes as soon as the dryer cycle ends. The longer clothes sit in the dryer after the dryer cycle ends, the more wrinkled they will become.
If you can’t take clothes out of the dryer right away, try moistening a hand towel and adding it to the load and then run the dryer for 10 minutes. The heat and moisture combination works much like a steamer and will help reduce wrinkling.
You can use a fabric steamer to remove wrinkles in your clothes. Steamers are less harsh than irons on your clothes–and will help to preserve their usable life span.
Pictured: Surround Air XJ-350 Electric Fabric Shaver | $29.99 at Target.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
April 25th, 2007
The preppy chic sweater features a deep-v neckline, ribbed trim, and faux front pockets.
$16 at Forever 21.
April 25th, 2007
Last week, we asked the Omiru community "What should I wear to a humid New York City summer internship in a design-related field?" on behalf of fellow reader Christina. Here’s what the community had to say:
On Wardrobe Strategy:
Rachel sums up her creative office wardrobe strategy: "Offices in creative fields generally have a slightly more casual dress code. However, it’s still advisable to make a good impression by dressing in professionally for your first week or so." Krista adds, "as an intern, you should strive to look very professional no matter what you’re wearing in order to be taken seriously by your co-workers." Briana agrees, "In business, it’s always better to over dress than under dress - you can always take layers off."
Because New York is hot and humid, Briana recommends layering. And because many offices are air conditioned to the max, Rachel says to "think about investing in a light cashmere wrap to bring with you every day." Maureen recommends sticking to fabrics that breathe–think natural fibers like linen and cotton.
On Creativity:
As for specific items to wear, H.P. says not to stifle your originality. "Skirts and dresses are a given in hot and humid weather, but mix it up by using colours and patterns to not only flatter your body but to reflect a little bit of why you were hired as an intern in the first place."
Adds Cindy, "Don’t be afraid to integrate color/prints/patterns into your outfits at your internship. How you dress in a creative environment often expresses your personality and how impressions are made. After my first internship, I threw out all my khakis because I grew to hate how corporate it looked."
On What to Wear, What Not to Wear:
Lynda suggests simple wrap dresses in cotton fabrics to keep you both cool and chic. Briana looks for pencil skirts that "aren’t too tight and go at least to your knee." Rachel’s partial to a simple pair of black pants, as "they don’t have to be expensive to look nice." She suggests shopping at Ann Taylor Loft and Express for reasonably priced work-appropriate pants.
Specifically, Briana says "no flip flops" and "wear pantyhose at least on your first day." Maureen goes a step further to suggest taking out or covering up any tattoos or piercings–and she cautions against wearing "anything low cut or revealing."
On Accessories:
Says H.P., "A good way to avoid burning a hole in your pocket is to focus on the small details, such as a bright hairband to push your hair back (and help keep your face cool) or a pair of unique earrings. It’s not a question of what but how!"
Krista notes, "You will also probably find that your position in a creative design atmosphere will allow you to show off some funky accessories such as bright jewelry, trendy heels, and (tastefully) loud handbags."
With regards to shoes, Rachel adds "be careful with the heels — nothing too high. The last thing you need is to trip on your way to the subway in the morning."
On Beauty and Grooming:
Colleen advises, "The heat on the subway can be murder so if you tend toward oily skin, carry some blotting papers so you can look fresh upon arrival at the office."
Rachel offers, "Err on the conservative side with makeup and hair. If you have long hair, a low ponytail usually works. If you find the office is more casual, after a few days you can wear your hair down."
Want more advice? Check out the full set of tips on what to wear to a summer design internship.
Pictured: Diane von Furstenberg ‘Nedia’ Crop Jacket | $345 at Nordstrom and Diane von Furstenberg ‘Bellette’ Wrap Dress | $325 at Nordstrom.
Style question? We (and the Omiru community) have answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
April 24th, 2007
Gracefully curved lines make these vases standout pieces.
$17.50+ at Sprout Home.
April 24th, 2007
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