Posts filed under 'Q&A'
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
Q: I’m going to a prom, and I’m having so much trouble deciding what to wear. I am really short (4′7"), so I don’t want to wear a long dress as I think it will make me look really short. Also, I have average coloured Asian skin so I’d appreciate it if you could suggest what colour to wear.
A: Long dresses do have the potential to make you look short–you might want to consider above-the-knee and knee-length dresses.
What else might you want to look for in a dress to make you look taller?
(1) A high waistline, such as an empire waist, to shorten your torso and make your legs look longer. The longer your legs look, the taller you appear.
(2) Vertical detailing–through buttons, seamlines, or trimmings–or even an off center slit.
As for what color to wear, black is safe and slimming (which makes you look taller), but Asian skin looks amazing in bright colors. A deep red, a cool blue, an emerald green–any of these colors will complement your skin.
Hope this helps, and have fun at the prom!
Pictured: Susana Monaco Hudson Peg Dress | $124 at Shopbop.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
April 20th, 2007
Q: I’m a closeted fashion fiend, and I’m dying to slip into some cute ballet or pointy toed flats. However, I’m not sure what kind of pants I need to wear with them. I’d like to dress down the flats with jeans, but what kinds/colors/shapes of jeans are acceptable to wear with them? Do they all need to be tighter and tapered? Or can I wear slightly bagger jeans with it and not look ridiculous? Please help!
A: You can definitely wear jeans with flats. And no, the jeans don’t need to be skinny and tapered. A wide trouser jean, in our opinion, looks just as good with flats–and it’s 10 times more figure flattering.
If you want to play it safe, all you have to do is match the formality of the flat with the formality of the pant.
Wide trouser jeans (and work pants) look particularly sharp worn with a pair of pointy flats. And, we might add, a pair of dark rinse wide trouser jeans and pointy flats are the foundation of a perfect Casual Friday look. The more casual ballet flat is especially fetching with a pair of capri pants, a dress, or a skirt. But it’s perfectly acceptable–even encouraged–to ballet flats them with full length pants as well.
Pictured: Wardrobe Wide Leg Stretch Denim Pants | $68 at Nordstrom.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
April 19th, 2007
Q: How do I keep my shirt wrinkle-free while driving to work?
A: We hate the look of a wrinkled shirt too–and have three suggestions for you:
Wear a wrinkle-resistant shirt. Try wearing wrinkle-resistant shirts, which are chemically treated to keep wrinkles at bay. We like Brooks Brothers’ non-iron broadcloth shirts (pictured at left).
Take it off. Keep it on a hanger in the back of the car, and put on the shirt once you get to work.
Keep a hand steamer handy. Duck into the bathroom and freshen up your look in a snap with a portable steamer, such as this handheld model from Conair.
Pictured: Non-Iron Broadcloth Ground Stripe Forward Point Dress Shirt | $75 at Brooks Brothers.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
April 18th, 2007
A fellow Omiru reader, Christina, needs your help.
Christina asks: What should I wear to a humid New York City summer internship in a design-related field?
Now we have our ideas about what Christina should wear, but the beauty about style is that there’s no one right answer. And we believe that together, we can come up with a better answer for Christina than we at Omiru could by ourselves.
So, tell us, what do you think Christina should wear this summer to her design internship? You can leave your advice in the comments for this post.
Oh, and we’ll sweeten the deal and throw in a treat from Omiru’s giveaway closet for the person who gives Christina the best advice by Sunday, April 22.
April 17th, 2007
Q: I am getting married, and my mother keeps picking out dresses for herself that are beige and shapeless. How can I get her to see that she can look good in a little colour and a dress with some style to it?
A: Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! The only hard and fast rules about Mother of the Bride dresses (and Mother of the Groom dresses, for that matter) is that they should:
(1) Be a noticeably different color from the bride’s dress, so steer clear of white, cream, and ivory.
(2) Not be too flashy. Too much exposed skin, or overly shiny fabric can upstage the bride.
Beyond that, the sky’s the limit, so your mom doesn’t have to limit herself to shapeless–or even beige–dresses. Here’s three dress suggestions that will help your mom look her best on your wedding day:
JS Collections Off Shoulder Shirred Taffeta Gown | $218 at Nordstrom (Pictured)
Off-the-shoulder neckline for drama and a ruched bodice to minimize a tummy.
Niteline Strapless Bustier Gown with Bolero Jacket | $508 at Nordstrom
A criscrossed pintucked bodice with boning for support, plus a fitted bolero jacket.
Sean Collection Beaded Dress with Jacket | $278 at Nordstrom
V-necked floor length dress with bolero jacket, available in both regular and petite sizes.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
April 13th, 2007
Q: Are there any cute and formal shawls for cocktail dresses? I’m looking for something easy to wear when it’s a little cold outside.
A: Shawls are a great way to cover up an evening gown or cocktail dress without overdressing with a (stuffy) long wool coat. Here are a few of our favorite shawls for evening:
Anne Klein Sequin Georgette Wrap | $48 at Nordstrom
Square sequins dress this wrap up.
Kashmere Khaki Ombre Cashmere-Blend Shawl | $79 at Bluefly (Pictured)
The ombre color gradations make this wrap a standout.
Nordstrom Tissue-Weight Cashmere Wrap | $99 at Nordstrom
Lightweight cashmere with a fringed, tasseled edge.
Giorgio Armani Border-Striped Linen Wrap | $215 at Saks
The border detail is classic, but we’re not as fond of the price.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
April 12th, 2007
Q: Where can I find khakis and jeans for guys who have very thick thighs? My husband played football and has a 44-46" waist & 30" inseam, but his thighs can not fit into many brands. Also, for some reason he thinks pleats look best on his body, but I have always heard pleats make you look bigger. Help!
A: Good instincts–pleated pants do make you look bigger. Flat front pants are visually slimming, while pleated pants create more volume exactly where you don’t want it.
For men with thick thighs, we have 3 recommendations:
1. Look for "Relaxed Fit" styles, which have added room in the seat and the thigh.
2. For a slimming look, try dark colored pants, a wide leg, and a slightly lower rise.
3. As for where to buy the pants, try brands like Dockers, Eddie Bauer, and St. John’s Bay (at JC Penney).
Pictured: Premium Never-Ironâ„¢ Cotton Khaki - Flat Front | $70 at Dockers.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
April 11th, 2007
Q: I love how my new Paige wide leg jeans fit, but is it strange if it looks like my pants gobbled up my feet? I’m a petite 5′2" and even with my pointiest of pointy toed shoes, my feet still disappear. What do I wear on top to complement my small frame and seemingly missing feet?
A: Yes, it is a bit strange to have pant legs so long (and wide) that your feet seem to disappear. Even though the model in the picture is wearing the pants at near-floor length, you don’t have to. Pant legs that drag–or even appear to drag–on the ground are not only unattractive but are also just plain annoying for you. We would recommend taking the pant hem up another notch to help the visual balance between the pants and your shoes.
As for what to wear on top, balance once again provides the answer. When you’re wearing something "big" on the bottom, your best bet is to wear something "small" (e.g. close-fitting) on top. The resulting small over big silhouette is a fashion classic.
Since you’re petite, we have an extra piece of advice: choose tops that aren’t overly long. Why? The illusion of height is created when your legs look long in proportion to your body. You can make create this illusion by visually raising your waistline with shorter tops.
Pictured: Paige Premium Hillhurst Trouser in Celestial | $198 at Revolve Clothing (at left) and BCBGirls ‘Allyiah’ Stretch Poplin Shirt | $68 at Nordstrom (at right).
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
April 10th, 2007
Q: How do I choose a high quality handbag for everyday use?
Omiru
is pleased to bring you the answer to this style question from Ken Williams, the designer behind the
classic handbag line Retrodelic.
A: Look for a bag that…
1. You absolutely love. After all, you are going to wear it every day.
2. Can carry all of the necessary things for everyday use–your keys, wallet, etc.
3. Is made of high quality leather that will age well.
4. Represents an extension of your personality. Note that this may not necessarily be the current "It" Bag.
5. Doesn’t break the bank. Make sure you get good value, quality and style for your money.
Pictured: Limited Nurse Handbag | $240 at Retrodelic.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
April 6th, 2007
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