Posts filed under 'Q&A'
Q: I’ve been seeing a lot of blouses with various ties and bows at the neckline. They’re cute, but I have trouble with people constantly mistaking me for a teenager. Is it possible to wear this trend without looking too young and cutesy? I’m a grad student in my late 20’s who has pretty slow wardrobe turnover and dresses fairly modestly, so something I could wear for a few seasons and without major cleavage would be super.
A: Tie-neck blouses and blouses with bows are a decidedly girly look, but their femininity doesn’t mean they can’t look professional. Here’s how to wear a girly blouse while looking like an adult:
Choose a Tailored Blouse. Ties and bows are going to look the most professional on a shirt that’s already tailored. Pick a top where structure meets style.
Wear a Masculine Bottom. Balance out your feminine top with a masculine inspired bottom. Man-tailored trousers will do the trick.
Finish off the look with Polished Accessories. In order to complete the adult look, pick up a pair of professional pumps and a work-appropriate handbag.
Have a great tip about looking like an adult while wearing a girly blouse? Share it with us in the comments!
August 22nd, 2008
Q: I am studying abroad in Florence, Italy for the fall semester. I don’t want to be another "teeshirt and jeans American." Any ideas on how to look stylish while immersing myself in this beautiful city? And what trends should I splurge on while I’m there (not to mention gifts for some of my fashion forward friends back home)?
by Colleen Geary, fashion stylist and image consultant
A: You mention that you don’t want to look like the typical American in jeans and tee shirts. Agreed that worn and faded jeans with a sloppy tee is not a good look. That said, a nice dark wash jean with a colorful, clean tee and a ballet flat is a good classic look that transcends borders and cultures. You can go beyond this casual classic by incorporating more polished pieces into your wardrobe–tailored pants and skirts, sophisticated sweaters and dresses, and of course, a stylish coat.
What to Pack
As a foundation wardrobe, I would pack a couple of dark wash jeans, trouser pants, some basic colored tees, fitted button down shirts, and a couple of sweaters in bright colors. Splurge on a stylish jacket and a perfectly fitted trench to keep you warm. A couple of dresses for going out are also a must. Don’t forget some tights and long underwear, as it will be chilly in the autumn in Florence.
Gifts in Florence
Florence is famous for its gold and leather, which will make great gifts for your close friends. Check out Ponte Vecchio for a wide variety of gold and silver shops, but be forewarned that bargains are long gone. As for leather goods, Il Bisonte is a shop with beautiful leather bags, agendas, and wallets.
Should you have nieces, you may want to visit Assunta Anichini, which is the oldest childrens’ clothing store and offers beautiful hand embroidered and smocked dresses.
If you don’t already have a great leather bag, I would wait and get one in Italy. Same goes for leather gloves. Last style tip? Check out the lingerie boutiques in Florence–they have some beautiful shops. Enjoy la dolce vita!
Have a great tip about what to wear in Florence? Share it with us in the comments!
August 21st, 2008
Q: I have recently lost 40 lbs and my bust is considerably smaller than it was before. My stomach still has a ways to shrink, which leads to gapping and looseness across the top. Any suggestions for what to wear for a small bust and a somewhat bigger middle?
by Colleen Geary, fashion stylist and image consultant
A: Congratulations on losing 40 pounds! We encourage you to celebrate with some brand new clothes to fit your new body! You deserve a treat–and the encouragement to keep the weight off. Here’s what to look for to flatter your body:
Add visual volume at the bust. Pleating, shirring, or ruching will help to add visual volume to your bust. With your body shape, you’re going to look great in empire waist tops. A shirred empire waistline will add some extra volume in the bust, and the fabric will drape nicely over your middle. Try empire waist dresses as well–the empire waist creates a nice long leg line.
Draw attention up to your face or down towards your legs. Redirect attention towards your face with jewelry or special detailing at the neckline. Or direct attention towards your legs with a great looking skirt.
Define your waistline. You can flatter your middle by defining your waistline as best you can. The right undergarments are a great first step. Wear Spanx or other bodyshaping garments in order to create the longest, leanest line possible. Choose tops and jackets with distinct waists so as to suggest an hourglass shape.
While you wait for your stomach to shrink, you may want to consider tailoring to adjust your tops. The proportions of your body aren’t going to fit most "off the rack" clothing. Fit is absolutely essential to making you look your best. So if you cannot find clothes that fit you perfectly, do consider paying a visit to your tailor so that your clothes fit you not only at the bust, but also at the shoulder and the waistline. Believe me, it’s worth the expense to feel and look great!
Have a great tip about what to wear to flatter a small bust and a larger middle? Share it with us in the comments!
August 12th, 2008
Q: I’m going to Southeast Asia for a month in September, and I know that I have to wear long trousers and if possible long shirts because of mosquitoes and the danger of malaria. I fear that with wearing long linen trousers and blouses I look either old (I’m 21) or like the stereotype tourist. Do you have suggestions for a fun and fashionable travel wardrobe for a Month in Southeast Asia?
by Colleen Geary, fashion stylist and image consultant
A: I checked with a friend of mine in Hong Kong and she said that the heat and the bugs are horrendous. She tackles this situation by wearing sun dresses and covering herself in deet.
I do think that when you are young, linen can be unflattering, as it loses shape quickly and can make you look baggy. If you don’t find linen pieces that you like, I would recommend looking for clothes in cotton modal fabric. Cotton modal is wrinkle resistant and it’s also more form fitting. It’s a tradeoff of course–in the heat, form fitting clothes may not be as comfortable as looser fitting garments, but they’ll also generally be more flattering.
Personally, I think in very high heat nothing will be all that comfortable, so you may as well go for what looks best. But as you pack, make sure you include, at a minimum:
Dresses: Dresses are going to be cooler, and you can stay covered up with longer styles.
Blouses: Look for long sleeved shirts in lightweight fabrics.
Layering Tees: Again, lightweight fabrics are going to be your best bet.
Long Trousers: Natural fabrics like linen or cotton are going to be best.
Lightweight Sweaters: It’s going to be hot, but you can stay keep yourself covered up with a light sweater in a loose weave.
How to put your outfits together? You may be inspired by the actress Jane March in the movie The Lover. In this movie, the young woman exudes youth and sex appeal wearing a simple sleeveless black linen dress with a belt, kitten heel pumps and a man’s hat.
Final style tips? When you’re traveling in Southeast Asia, my number one tip would be to buy super strong bug repellent. Bug repellent will allow you more flexibility in choosing your clothes (so you won’t be limited to long sleeved blouses and long linen trousers). My second tip would be to underpack rather than overpack. You’re bound to find great (and weather appropriate) clothes while you’re traveling through Southeast Asia.
Pictured: Fitted Tie Neck Shirt | $48 at Gap and Tie Shoulder Dress | $54.99 (sale) at Gap.
Have a great tip about what to wear for a trip to Southeast Asia? Share it with us in the comments!
July 24th, 2008
Q: I have to go buy my first maternity clothes this weekend. What advice can you give to keep me looking chic? Styles, colors, fabrics…
by Colleen Geary, fashion stylist and image consultant
A: Trying to be chic while pregnant can be challenging as your body changes, but the good news is that there are so many choices for chic maternity wear today.
For looks that are fresh and chic , I would choose natural fabrics such as cottons and silks. Simple silhouettes are best–and my favorite looks tend to be in solid colors with few, if any, embellishments.
My philosophy is that when you’re pregnant, the simpler your style, the better you look. Figure flattery is still important, but when you’re pregnant, you have the opportunity to show off your growing tummy (instead of trying to hide it). So–embrace your body and showcase your belly with chic, simple styles like wrap tops, empire waist dresses, button-down tops, and wide leg pants.
Keep in mind that you will only need maternity clothes for about three to seven months [Updated 7/8/08] –so you don’t need to buy nine months worth of maternity wear. Depending on the time of year and the climate in which you live, you may need to base your purchases on seasonality–and note that seasons will change during your pregnancy. Regardless of where you live and time of year, you’ll need casual clothes for weekends, a number of work-appropriate separates if you’re working, one very good dress (I love Veronique Delachaux), and a comfortable everyday shoe.
As you craft your maternity wardrobe, think also about whether you plan to have another child. If you plan to be pregnant again, you may want to invest in better quality maternity clothes. If, however, you don’t plan to have any other children, you don’t need to spend as much on maternity fashion.
Here’s a few maternity stores to check out:
Old Navy - $20-$40 for dresses
Ann Taylor Loft - $40-$70 for dresses
Gap - $50-$70 for dresses
Japanese Weekend - $70-$120 for dresses
A Pea in the Pod - $150+ for dresses
Good luck with this wonderful, happy time of life and best wishes for your new baby!
Pictured: Maternity Smocked Yoke Button Front Shirt | $44 at Ann Taylor Loft and Maternity Smocked Empire Waist Dress | $24.50 at Old Navy.
Have a great tip about how to be chic while pregnant? Share it with us in the comments!
July 8th, 2008
Q: I love retro style like Audrey Hepburn, Katharine Hepburn, Grace Kelly. How can I modernize these styles into today’s fashion?
by Colleen Geary, fashion stylist and image consultant
A: Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and Katharine Hepburn all embody timeless American style. Audrey is famous for her elegant black sheath dress, capri pants, ballet flats, and large dark sunglasses. Her style is perfectly suited to her body type and personality - thin, graceful and gamine. (She was also fortunate to have Hubert Givenchy to dress her.) Grace Kelly is famous for her cinched waists, full skirts, fitted tops, pearls, and her classic Kelly bag. And Katharine Hepburn, exuding professional style, made menswear her signature look.
What do Audrey, Grace, and Katharine have in common? Each was an icon of their own personal style. So to modernize this looks, do as these style icons did:
Wear clothing that suits your figure. Not your style icon’s figure, not your best friend’s figure–your figure. Be honest with yourself about what works and what doesn’t–and choose your silhouettes accordingly.
Create, don’t Copy. Instead of copying Audrey, Katharine, or Grace’s style directly, create your own signature style. Sure, it can be based on that of your style icon, but make it your own. Katharine Hepburn made trousers her signature piece. What will your signature piece be?
Create your signature style around classic, clean lines. Your clothes won’t overwhelm you, and maintaining a clean silhouette allows you to play with accessories, hairstyles, and makeup.
Pictured: Katharine Hepburn (courtesy of Fashion Me Fabulous), Audrey Hepburn (courtesy of AudreyHepburn.com), and Grace Kelly (courtesy of GraceKellyOnline).
Have a great tip about how to be a modern day style icon? Share it with us in the comments!
July 1st, 2008
Q: I was wondering how do I wear sneakers in a more feminine way? I’m 16 and I have been flats and sandals for the last year or so, but I do miss the sneakers. But I’ve found out that they clash with my more girly blouses.
A: Sneakers are inherently casual, and they’re also kind of tomboyish. To help combat the tomboyish feel of sneakers, choose sneakers that are inherently more feminine, either in color or detailing. Here’s three ways to wear your sneakers for a more feminine look:
Tip 1: Go Daytime Glamorous with a Dress
Proudly wear a casual dress with your sneakers, and accessorize your outfit with bold jewelry and an elegant handbag. Be bold! Don’t you love the gorgeous black and white zebra print?
Tip 2: Balance Masculine and Feminine
You can embrace the tomboyish feel of the sneakers by balancing a feminine piece of clothing with a masculine one. Here, the feminine airy yellow tank top is counterbalanced by a masculine military-inspired blazer. Added bonus? Grey (instead of blue) jeans.
Tip 3: Embrace the Casual
Sneakers are casual, so go with the flow and create a casual outfit around them. Wear shorts instead of pants, and slip on a breezy chic feminine top.
Have a great tip about how to wear sneakers? Share it with us in the comments!
June 26th, 2008
Q: Because of environmental issues, I try to consume less and re-use as much as I can; however, I find that I buy too much clothing, over half of which I barely wear. I know that it’s not entirely possible to have a 10-item-only wardrobe, but what 10 items do you think could make a complete wardrobe that would last forever (i.e. wear well and not go out of style)?
Item 1: Navy Suit
A staple of every gentleman’s wardrobe, the navy suit is versatile not only because of its color, but also because you can also wear the jacket as a navy blazer, which is another must-have for men. Get a wool blazer in a dark, inky-blue color and you’ll be set for life.
Item 2: Grey Suit
Charcoal Wool Modern Three Button Suit at Banana Republic
A trim gray suit in heather grey or charcoal grey never goes out of style. You could also argue that there is nothing more in style right now, either.
Item 3: Jeans
Loomstate Jeans | $96 (sale) at Saks
You can’t go wrong with a pair of straight leg denim jeans in dark navy and a simple pocket design. This pair by Loomstate is all these things and more: the company uses certified organic cotton and socially and environmentally responsible methods of production.
Style tip: Keep your denim dark by infrequently washing them inside out with detergent specially formulated for dark items, like this one from The Laundress.
Item 4: T-Shirt
Make sure your shirts are trim and well-fitting, like these from Splendid Always. The pima cotton used in these shirts are pesticide-free, making it as eco-friendly as it was stylish.
Item 5: White Oxford Buttondown Shirt
Solid Vintage Oxford Shirt | $59.50 at J Crew
I can’t think of a single thing with which a crisp white buttondown doesn’t look good. Enough said.
Item 6: Black or Brown Lace Ups
You’ll need a good pair of dress shoes, either in brown or black. Brown suggets luxury, black suggests sleekness. Whichever you choose, spend a little more and get a pair in cordovan leather. Also, if you really are practical, go with black; black shoes can go with colors that brown don’t (such as black pants).
Style tip? Getting a toe tap for a dress shoe with a leather sole will greatly extend the life of the shoe.
Style tip 2? Even the best dress shoes will get worn down with use, but that doesn’t mean you need to throw them away. Instead, get them refurbished. According to Esquire, Allen Edmonds will add new soles, heels, welting, foot beds and laces to the shoe, then condition and polish the leather, all for about $100. Just be warned: if the leather is cracked, you will have to get a new sole.
Item 7: Tie
Ralph Lauren Purple Label Tie | $90 (sale) at Ralph Lauren
Solid or stripes are always a safe bet, but if it’s practicality you want, go with a solid tie. Solid ties can go with any kind of shirt (i.e. check, stripes, solid, etc.).
Item 8: Khakis
Favorite Khaki Pants | $105 at Neiman Marcus
You want to wear khakis that don’t make you look like you just came from a country club. Get a pair that’s trim but not too-skinny–a pair of flat front khakis with no cuffs. I love the fit and color of this pair by Save Khaki. This pair isn’t meant to be worn with a navy blazer, but you know what? I’m tired of the navy blazer/khaki look, even though it is considered timeless.
Item 9: Wool Overcoat
You don’t ever ever ever want to skimp on your overcoat (trust me, east coasters). Your overcoat should be as slim and tailored as your suit. My style is a bit more modern, so I prefer overcoats that are bit shorter in length than traditional ones; look for one that falls no longer than the top of your kneecap. Get your overcoat in a dark color like navy or charcoal. Treat it well and you will never have to buy another one again.
Why an overcoat and not a peacoat, you ask? Pure practicality. Most peacoats hit at the waist or just below, and as such, you wouldn’t want to wear a suit or blazer underneath because the jacket would peek out from under the peacoat.
Item 10: Sneakers
Common Projects Leather Low Top Shoes | $278 at South Willard
If you have to get only one pair of casual shoes, make them plain white sneakers in leather or canvas. The only color shoes I buy (except for dress shoes and loafers) are white. Look for Jack Purcells or Chuck Taylors–or shoes by Common Projects.
June 25th, 2008
Q: Help! My mom is very uncomfortable with her upper arms and tummy and avoids shopping because of that. She’s 5′4, about 135 pounds, has long legs but also has a skin condition that makes it hard for her to expose much of her chest. What kind of outfits would look good on her?
by Colleen Geary, fashion stylist and image consultant
A: Time’s winged chariot does catch up with all of us. Our bodies and upper arms droop a little and the tummy may slacken in middle age, but that should never prevent one from making the most of their looks. In fact, now is the time for your mom to invest a little more effort and time in shopping to keep herself updated and fresh–or the fun of dressing will fade too quickly.
As she is 5′4" and not heavy, she would do well in the petites department of a classic store like Ann Taylor. If she has not shopped in some time, she should be sure to buy some fresh basics (such as a dress, casual pants, tops, and some skirts) to keep her look updated and pretty. I realize that she has no patience for shopping–but all she needs to do is set aside one day each season - only 4 times a year–to keep her wardrobe up to date.
Because she’s uncomfortable with her upper arms, she’d be best served looking for sleeved tops and dresses. 3/4 sleeves are especially feminine and flattering. If she has a large chest, however, she may not want to buy any blouses with sleeves that end at her breast line, as this would emphasize the size of her chest.
To minimize her tummy, supportive bras and shapewear (like Spanx) will help her clothes drape more gracefully. Structured tops are going to look better than drapey tops (which can cling to all the wrong places), and details like shirring will help minimize the appearance of her tummy.
So as to not expose too much of her chest, she should look for higher necklines. Boatneck styles are elegant without being revealing–and they look especially fetching with 3/4 sleeves.
As for bottoms, skirts that hit at or right above the knee are attractive–and make the most of a feature that she is happy with. Long pants are also going to be flattering, though she should steer clear of capri pants. They hit at an awkward length and have a shortening effect, unflattering on all but the very tall.
Pictured: Petite Twist Front Dress | $98 at Banana Republic, Petite Cotton Optic Leaf Shirt | $58 at Ann Taylor, and Petite Abstract Balloons Printed Knit Dress | $138 at Ann Taylor.
Have a great tip about what to wear to flatter heavy upper arms and a tummy? Share it with us in the comments!
June 24th, 2008
Q: My children are 4 1/2 and 1 1/2 and when we are headed out I often wear a uniform of a polo-style shirt and shorts. I have lots of variations on this theme from Lilly Pulitzer to more subdued colors. My problem is in the shoe department. I need an updated, basic pair that would go with almost any shorts & shirt combo and isn’t too hot or, well, ‘mommy-ish.’
A: Makes sense–if you’re following toddlers and small children, you’re going to be on the go all day. A simple shirt and shorts, both in easy care fabrics, are going to be your best bets for warm weather. As for shoes, classic-with-a-twist styles will satisfy your need for style while keeping the shoes accessible for all outfits. But no matter how stylish a shoe is, it needs to be comfortable, especially if you’re going to keep up with your kids! Here’s four slip-on shoe styles that marry comfort and classic-with-a-twist style–and will keep you on the go:
Naturalizer Mirrors Flat | $59.95 at NordstromThe kicky pink color makes these flats fun, but the gel inserts and orthotic footbed make them comfortable. If you’re not into pink (or find the color too limiting), the shoes are also available in black or beige.
Söfft ‘Reva’ Thong Sandal | $84.95 at Nordstrom
We’re loving the bright yellow color–sure to spice up the most neutral of outfits.
Geox ‘Priscilla’ Thong Sandal | $114.95 at Nordstrom
Classic and comfortable, these patent leather thong sandals look great with your casual shirts and pants–but they also work when you want to dress up a notch.
Asgi Footwear ‘Leda’ Wedge | $124.95 at Nordstrom
Also available in black, which makes more sense for running around at the playground.
Moms, what are your favorite go-to sandals? Share your style with us in the comments!
June 12th, 2008
Next Posts
Previous Posts
