Posts filed under 'Women’s'
Q: For a Christmas party this past December, I bought a beautiful black pencil skirt by Nanette Lepore. I’d really like to be able to wear this skirt at other times of the year. What sort of tops could I wear with it to make it more office and season appropriate?
A: Transform this party-appropriate skirt into a part of your work wardrobe by balancing the dressiness of the skirt with a more conservative top.
Try pairing the body-hugging skirt with a looser silhouette on top. And because the pencil skirt hugs your curves, look for a top with either short or long sleeves–a sleeveless blouse with the pencil skirt feels more party than office appropriate. Here’s three suggestions for you:
(Pictured) Silk Dot Print Blouse | $47.99 (sale) at Banana Republic
For a look that balances business and fashion, pair the silky skirt with a printed blouse.
Isabel Pleated Tuxedo Shirt | $64 at J Crew
For a coquettish look, play up the dressiness of the skirt with a cap-sleeved tuxedo-front blouse.
Cotton/Linen Embroidered Tunic | $68 at Banana Republic
For a more casual (but still office appropriate) vibe, try a relaxed fit cotton tunic.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
May 3rd, 2007
Q: What can I wear with these bermuda shorts from the Gap? The pattern is very hard to match!
A: Yes, this tiny striped pattern is difficult to match exactly. Luckily, you don’t have to match it to create a stylish outfit. But, for the sake of completeness, the rules about matching patterns are as follows:
(1) If you’re matching different types of pattterns (e.g. plaids and paisley), keep the scale of the pattern the same. If you have a small paisley pattern, for instance, look for a small plaid print to match.
(2) If you’re matching the same type of pattern (e.g. stripes and stripes), vary the size of the pattern. While a small stripe and a big stripe work well, two types of small stripes will look too matchy-matchy.
For this particular pair of striped denim bermuda shorts, we have three suggestions for you:
Knit Striped Deep V-neck Camisole | $39.50 at Gap
For a nautical-inspired look, match the small stripes with a top with larger stripes.
(Pictured) Emmeline Blouse | $78 at J Crew
For a delicate, pretty look, try this slightly ruched button-front blouse with fabric belt.
Proenza Schouler Canary Tissue Tank | $9.09 at Target
For a casual look, pair the striped shorts with a brightly colored plain tank.
Pictured: Striped Denim Bermuda Shorts | $34.99 (sale) at the Gap.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
May 1st, 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
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
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
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