Archive for January, 2009
Omiru’s 16-Piece Fall Winter Capsule Wardrobe (from left to right): #1: The Blazer Jacket, #2: The Cold Weather Coat, #3: The Day Coat, #4: The Peacoat, #5: The Cardigan, #6: The Pullover Sweater, #7: The Sweatervest, #8: The Day Dress, #9: The Drapey Blouse, #10: The Button Down Shirt, #11: The Patterned Shell, #12: The Dressy Tee, #13: The Perfect Fit Jeans, #14: The Wide Trouser Pants, #15: The Casual Trousers, #16: The Cold Weather Skirt.
After we created our bare-bones list of essential wardrobe foundations, we started getting questions about what makes a more well-rounded core wardrobe. Our 10-piece skeleton wardrobe, though functional, lacks the variety and spice of a real woman’s closet.
Enter our 16-Piece Fall Winter capsule wardrobe. This foundation wardrobe is still purposefully small, but it was designed with versatility in mind to feel much bigger. With a little creativity and some strategic accessorizing, the variety of outfits you can make with it is pretty darned amazing.
As for the pieces in the capsule wardrobe, they’re a mix of designer and more affordable styles. We aimed for a high-low combo that mimics a stylish woman’s carefully edited wardrobe. If your wardrobe looks nothing like this, don’t fret. These are styles that you pick up over time, piece by piece. Not only because most of these items are trend-proof pieces that are worth the investment, but also because your taste evolves over time. On a related note, we don’t mean for our picks to be a straight shopping list; rather we intend for them to inform your own choices so that your wardrobe has your own personal stamp.
Over the next few months, we’ll be making a bunch of outfits from these 16 pieces, plus accessories. And as with our other Ready Made Outfits, we’ll be highlighting core principles about putting together a chic outfit along the way. Our aim, which feels especially appropriate in our economic situation, is to give you the inspiration to do more with less.
Look for our first Capsule Wardrobe outfit tomorrow.
Cheers,
Trisha and the Omiru Team
January 8th, 2009
Dress up your basic jeans and boots, wearing this cowl neck dress as a dramatic top. Finish off the look with a low slung belt.
$29 at Twelve by Twelve.
January 8th, 2009
Q: What color dress pants go well with light brown shoes? Usually, I see men wearing light brown shoes with navy or beige dress pants. What else may work?
A: Just as dark colored clothes are more versatile than their light colored counterparts, shoes are also more versatile when they are dark. Darker shades of brown, for example, work with many more colors than do lighter shades of brown. Because of this versatility factor, I’d recommend that your shoe wardrobe include a few good pairs of black and darker brown dress shoes in a variety of styles (captoe, bucks, wingtip, etc.) before expanding to lighter colored shoes.
Even though light brown shoes aren’t super versatile, you still have a few good options. As you mentioned, light brown shoes complement navy blue nicely. And they also work with light sandy colored pants. Beyond that, you may also want to try dark olive green dress pants with your light brown shoes. Other than these three options, however, it’s going to be tricky. I’m not saying light brown shoes and other colors can’t work; I’m just saying I haven’t seen it done that well (at least, not yet).
Photo Credit: The Sartorialist.
Have a great tip about what pants to wear with light brown shoes? Share it with us in the comments!
January 7th, 2009
It’s never too early to stock up on Spring basics, especially when it’s a sweater as versatile as this striped number. Wear it over a tee and jeans for lounging around the house, or layer it over a spring dress to go out.
$54 at Gap.
January 7th, 2009
Q: I’m going to visit my dad in Washington DC for the Presidential Inauguration in January and have no idea what to pack for the trip. I need be comfortable and casual while catching up with my dad, but sophisticated and classy, yet still young, while visiting museums and attending the inaugural activities.
by Traci Tsai
A: We’ve said this before, but the key to winter style on the East Coast is layers, layers, layers. The weather can be very unpredictable, especially during the winter, so you’ll need to be prepared for anything. On top of that, you’ll be going between indoors and outdoors throughout the day, so you need to be able to adapt quickly. January in DC will likely have lows below freezing and highs around the 40s. Here’s how to get a youthful-yet-sophisticated look for Inauguration:
1. A nice coat is essential. The structured collar on this day coat adds a bit of sophistication while brighter colors keep the look more youthful. Note that you’ll probably want to switch out this coat for a longer, warmer one for evenings out.
2. A textured blouse will keep you young, but is a little more formal than might be your normal every day wear.
3. Most buildings on the East Coast are pretty well heated, but in case you’re in a cooler room, you can pop on a shrug that shows off your blouse but keeps your arms warm.
4. Skinny pants tucked into a pair of flat riding boots is a little classic and a little modern at the same time. The flat boots will keep you comfortable while walking all over town and through museums.
5. You’ll want to keep the bag small, especially with all the security everywhere – but use it to add an extra bit of flair to your outfit!
Have a great tip about how to pull off youthful sophistication? Share it with us in the comments!
January 6th, 2009
Here’s an affordable way to add a bit of edge to any outfit. The zipper details are not only a distinctive embellishment, but they’re also functional.
How do you make the faux leather look more real? Use an old stylist’s trick: artificially age it by rubbing it with sandpaper.
$22.80 at Forever 21.
January 6th, 2009
Pair this romantic silk scoopnecked tee with a skirt that’s equally special for date night. Or let it peek out from under a cardigan or blazer at work.
BTW: There’s some great deals to be had at Martin + Osa’s post-holiday sale.
$29.95 (sale) at Martin + Osa.
January 5th, 2009
We asked: Would you wear Shawl Collar Sweaters?
You said: Yes to Shawl Collar Sweaters, with a 69% to 31% vote.
Style tip? Shawl collars provide an elegant twist to the everyday cardigan or pullover sweater. The style is very American Classic, so it naturally works with other All American pieces: tailored button-down shirts, tweed skirts, and blazers. But you can also mix things up and pair it with edgier pieces: skinny pants, asymmetrical skirts, and biker jackets.
Next question: Military pants are an interesting casual pant alternative to jeans. But what do you think? Tell us, would you wear Military Pants? Cast your vote on the sidebar!
Pictured: Chelsea Shawl Cardigan | $24.80 at Forever 21.
January 5th, 2009
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