Archive for December, 2007
Q: I am going to a wedding and would love to wear a black dress with gold detail. Would this be ok for daytime as well as evening?
A: Back in the day, it was never OK to wear black to a wedding. Nowadays, however, the wedding etiquette masters have declared black acceptable for evening. Even though black is OK for an evening wedding, it’s frowned upon for a daytime ceremony.
If the wedding is a daytime event, choose a dress in another color–anything but black, white/cream/off-white/etc (too bridal), and metallics (too evening). With bright colors in vogue this season, you’ll be sure to find a wedding-appropriate dress that you can repurpose (for a holiday party, perhaps).
Extra style tip? With minidresses exploding in popularity, take care to find a dress that is appropriate for the celebration. Knee-length or longer dresses are optimal, and just say no to hemlines that are higher than 2 or 3 inches above the knee.
Pictured: Donna Ricco Stretch Satin Sheath Dress | $158 at Nordstrom.
Have a great tip about what to wear to a wedding?
Share it with us in the comments!
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
December 7th, 2007
For those who can’t seem to get up in the morning:
Clocky is the alarm clock that runs away and hides from you (seriously) if you don’t get up. Snooze button, be gone!
$49.99 at Elsewares.
December 7th, 2007
Q: While I love hats, do you have any good tips on how to keep hair looking good after taking the hat off? I always end up with flat, lifeless hair.
A: Hats are the ultimate in chic accessories, but they have the unfortunate side effect of giving you Hat Hair. Hat Hair comes in two strains (that aren’t mutually exclusive): Matted Hair and Static-y Hair. You can try to minimize Hat Hair’s effects by wearing hats of lighter weight or those that don’t have an extremely tight fit, but sometimes you just can’t prevent it. Here’s what to do if you have a case of Hat Hair:
Matted Hair: Apply a bit of volumizing spray to your roots and use your fingers to give your hair some oomph.
Static-y Hair: Spray a bit of Static Guard onto your hairbrush and run it through your hair. Don’t have Static Guard and a brush? In a pinch, you can apply a touch of hand lotion to your hair with your fingers to get rid of static.
Pictured: Static Guard Spray | $4.99 at Walgreens.
Have a great tip about how to combat hat hair?
Share it with us in the comments!
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
December 6th, 2007
Capture your Next Big Idea in this lovely, travel-sized kraft notebook.
$12.75 at Nantaka Joy.
December 6th, 2007
Q: I’m 18 years old and need a blazer. I’m about 120 lbs and 5′9â€, so I’m having trouble finding one that fits properly. Do you know of any good places I would be able to find something like that? And would it be easier if I just bought one that fit across the shoulders and had it taken in?
A: First of all, I applaud your desire to find a) a blazer and b) a blazer that fits properly, especially at age 18. You will really appreciate having this blazer when you go out for a nice dinner or a night on the town (read: lounges and clubs that have unspoken dress code policies) in college.
There really are two answers to you questions, both of which you touched on. The current trend is to sport slim fitting suits, not those boxy cuts you may be used to seeing older gentlemen wearing. Fortunately for people like us who favor slimmer silhouettes, designers across the board are making plenty of slim fitting jackets. As a result, most respectable department and retail stores will have the slimmer jackets you are looking for. Forbes.com even ran a feature on how the new Gorden Gekko business “power suit†is actually a slim fitting two or three-piece suit, not the boxy cuts that most execs seem to wear.
I myself wear a Paul Smith London suit and a Marc by Marc Jacobs blazer often; both jackets needed limited tailoring, so I would suggest checking them out first, if you are looking for specific designers.
The second part of the answer is yes, it is easier to buy one that fits across the shoulders and have it taken in. In fact, this is really the only way to buy any suit, tux, or blazer. Why? The shoulder is the one place that even great tailors will not touch. You should still go for designers that are slimmer fitting, however, since excessively slimming the sides can lead to all kinds of problems that may require more tailoring.
If this is your first blazer, I would strongly advise buying a wool navy blazer. It’s a staple in a man’s wardrobe and is quite versatile. Check out our article on the navy blazer. Read that article even if you aren’t getting a blue one; it will let you know the “right†way the blazer should fit and give you a few suggestions of what to wear with it. If this is your second blazer, opt for a gray blazer (go darker than lighter). If this is your 3rd or later, you have a few options here, not only with color, but with fabric – maybe you want a velvet blazer for the winter (especially if you live in the East) or a more casual canvas or cord blazer.
Pictured: Obey Corduroy Blazer | $199 at Ben Sherman.
Have a great tip about how to buy a blazer?
Share it with us in the comments!
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
December 5th, 2007
Le Metro could be in your living room. Oh, the beauty of vinyl wall art!
$104 (approx) at Paristic.
December 5th, 2007
The Plaid Flannel Shirt is back–and it doesn’t have to be (nay–it shouldn’t be) reminiscent of 90s grunge. John showed the guys how to stand out from the crowd in a plaid flannel shirt, which prompted the ladies to ask how to translate this look for women. The plaid shirt, while reminiscent of a woodsy man, doesn’t have to be masculine.
How to give the plaid shirt a feminine touch? Three ideas:
(1) Fit is key. A man’s shirt will fall straight at the sides, but a woman’s shirt should follow her curves. Too-straight side seams will make you look mannish.
(2) Leave the top button (or two) unbuttoned. Subtly show off your figure.
(3) Choose a shirt with special details, such as a ruffle at the back or tuxedo pleats down the front. The tuxedo pleats down center front on the American Eagle shirt, for example, give the shirt a feminine edge.
Here’s our top picks for plaid shirts with a feminine touch:
AE Plaid Tuxedo Pleat Shirt | $34.95 (sale) at American Eagle
Bib Front Flannel Shirt | $44.50 at Gap
Sparkle Plaid Margaret Shirt | $78 at J. Crew
Charlotte Ronson Plaid Button Down Tunic | $202 at Shopbop
December 4th, 2007
Play sessions don’t have to stop on road trips, holidays, and trips to Grandma’s house, thanks to the Mobile Home cardboard dollhouse.
$35 at Sparkability.
December 4th, 2007
We asked: Are Swing Coats In or Out?
You said: Overwhelmingly in, with 61% of the popular vote.
Omiru’s take: We love the look of swing coats, with their simple lines, oversized buttons, and fun, swingy shape.
Style tip? Our favorite look pairs the swing coat over a slim bottom (skinny jeans, tailored trousers, or even a pencil skirt). An essential look in Figure Flattery 101.
Next question: The Color Black is figure flattering, but its opposite, The Color White, is so fresh and clean. Tell us, is The Color White In,
or is it Out? Cast your
vote on the sidebar!
Pictured: Swing Coat with Pleated Hem| $69 at Forever 21.
December 3rd, 2007
Learn a bit of Japanese with these fun watches, which read you the time in their native tongue.
$20 at Fred Flare.
December 3rd, 2007
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