Posts filed under 'Women'
Mark the beginning of Spring at the office with a bold, bright blouse. You can keep your brights office friendly, even in conservative work environments, by pairing them with quiet, neutralizing colors. Here’s how to wear bright colors without having your clothes speak too loud:
1. Start with a basic trouser pant, and add a boldly colored blouse for contrast.
2. Cover up bare arms with a lightweight cardigan in a neutral color. Light grey is the perfect accompaniment to the springy green.
3. Button up with a fitted trench; it’ll keep your look perfectly tailored for the office.
4. Finish off the look with a pair of medium heels (to keep your legs looking long and lean in those trouser pants) and a basic work bag slung over your shoulder.
How do you wear bright colors at the office? Share your style with us in the comments!
March 26th, 2009
Back by popular demand is Omiru’s capsule wardrobe, updated for Spring/Summer 2009. As with our Fall/Winter capsule wardrobe, these foundation pieces were meticulously chosen with versatility in mind. Our purposefully small capsule wardrobe covers a range of classic styles - trendproof pieces that are worth investing in. Notice the mix of high and low that is the signature of a stylish woman’s wardrobe–and the fact that a few of the pieces repeat from our Fall/Winter foundation wardrobe. From the classic trench to the perfect pair of blue jeans, these are the pieces that are worth building a wardrobe around.
Presenting Omiru’s Womenswear Spring Summer Capsule Wardrobe:
The Classic Trenchcoat: Pick a neutral color for your classic trench; this is a piece that will be with you for years to come.
The Hip Length Blazer: A hip length blazer in a versatile grey fabric will take you from day to evening.
The Casual Jacket: Mix things up with a short sleeved jacket - great for layering.
The Day Dress: An unstructured floaty style will work alone - or paired with pants.
The Patterned Sweater: Add visual interest to any outfit with a patterned sweater.
The Smart Cardigan: Try a classic cardigan with a twist - two button-adorned pockets at the waistline.
The Dressy Tank: A simple tank can go from casual to fabulous in a sumptuous fabric or artistic pattern.
The Layering Tank: A staple of your wardrobe, year round. Choose a nice bright color that you would love to see peeking out from under a blouse or sweater.
The Dressy Blouse: Make a simple blouse visually Pop with a bright bold color.
The Button Down Shirt: The classic white button down is one of the most versatile shirts you’ll ever own. Wear it year round.
The Casual Top: Look for a top with unique details - like the black trim that outlines this halter top.
The Drapey Blouse: Dress this blouse up or down - it pairs equally well with casual jeans as it does formal skirts and pants.
The Perfect Fit Jeans: Keep your favorite jeans in your closet year-round.
The Tailored Trousers: Quality fabrics and great details (like the sailor buttons) make these trousers the pants you’ll keep reaching into your closet for.
The Knee Length Shorts: Try a solid colored knee length short for a spiffy, flattering look.
The Warm Weather Skirt: Mix things up with an interesting pattern - like these polka dots.
Last thoughts? This capsule wardrobe is best used as a blueprint for your own wardrobe. Use it as a guide, not as a straight shopping list. We intend for these pieces to inspire you to make your own wardrobe choices - so your closet has your own personal stamp.
Let the inspiration begin!
Trisha and the Omiru Team
March 24th, 2009
We asked: Would you wear Pretty Florals?
You said: Yes to Pretty Florals, with an 80% to 20% vote.
Style tip? Wearing Florals doesn’t have to mean a wildly patterned blouse or dress. If you’re a fan of the trend, but you’re not so into floral prints, you can also try wearing flowers as accessories - as on a headband, a brooch, or even a belt.
Next question: We’re seeing Cropped Pants all over store windows - a sure sign that it’s Spring. And while they’re a Spring staple, Cropped Pants can be difficult to wear, as they visually shorten your legs (and consequently, you). Would you wear Cropped Pants? Cast your vote on the sidebar!
Pictured: Chiffon Flower Headband | $4.80 at Forever 21.
March 23rd, 2009
It may not be the right time to give your wardrobe an overhaul, but it is time to do some Spring cleaning on your closet. Start packing away your Winter wardrobe, and bring out your Spring brights. When you’re done, fill in the gaps in your wardrobe with these six Spring essentials:
The Elegant Day Dress
Silk Ruffle Dress | $130 at Banana Republic
The Signature Jacket
Bright Lady Coat | $175 at Banana Republic
The Go-Anywhere Blouse
Victoria Ruffle Cami | $88 at J Crew
The Long Cardigan
Long and Lean Cardigan Sweater | $41.65 (sale) at Martin + Osa
The Full Skirt
Cotton Sateen Gateau Skirt | $69.50 at J Crew
Trouser Pants
The Perfect Denim Trouser | $59.50 at Gap
What key pieces will you be wearing for Spring? Share with us in the comments!
March 19th, 2009
We asked: Would you wear Nude Colors?
You said: Yes to Nude Colors, with a 56% to 44% vote.
Style tip? While they look positively delicious on dark skin tones, Nude colors, like Pastel Colors, have a tendency to wash out fair skin tones. If you’re fair skinned and still love the look, try wearing a nude colored skirt (instead of a blouse) to minimize the wash-out effect on your face.
Next question: Florals are replacing Feathers as the embellishment of choice this Spring. But would you wear them? Cast your vote on the sidebar!
Pictured: Gestuz Ruffle Waist Skirt | $65.21 at ASOS.
Editor’s Note (3/17/09): Our apologies, dear readers, for conflating "nude" with vanilla colored skin. You’re completely right - "nude" isn’t a single color and can be anything from dark espresso to a light vanilla cream. The style advice above is for beige colored clothing, but it also applies to chocolate colored clothing on women with dark skin. If you have dark skin but love wearing a mocha brown, it’s best worn as a skirt. Pair it with a pretty pastel colored top (a robin’s egg blue, perhaps) for a sophisticated and color coordinated look.
March 16th, 2009
Mix the soft and the hard to create a look that mixes masculine and feminine elements. Perfect for the tomboy–or any woman who aspires for a bit of adventure. Here’s how to get the tough girl chic look:
1. Start with a feminine knit blouse–note the drapey neckline and the ever-so-slight gathers at the sleeves.
2. Slip on a pair of rugged pants; a pair of jeans works, as would a pair of military pants.
3. Add a tough jacket–a peacoat with hardware detailing or a bomber jacket would work equally well.
4. Mix the soft and the hard with your accessories: a cozy knit hat contrasts with a chain draped belt, a buckled bootie, and a purse with heavy hardware.
How would you mix masculine and feminine elements? Share your style with us in the comments!
March 13th, 2009
Q: I’m a 20-year-old college student who just got a calf-length London Fog trench coat for a smokin’ deal. I love it and know I’m going to have this forever, but I was wondering if you had any ideas as to how to wear this without looking like the Queen Mum.
A: Even though you’re sporting a classic piece like a trenchcoat, you don’t have to keep your entire look classic. Just pair your trenchcoat with appropriately youthful looking pieces. Here’s three ideas to keep your look young while wearing your sophisticated trenchcoat:
Tip 1: Wear Knits, Not Wovens
Wear your trenchcoat with a sweaterdress. Tailored, woven dresses will keep the look formal, but a sweaterdress will give the outfit a more youthful look. Edgy details like lace-up boots and a zipper-encrusted handbag also give the look a young feel.
Tip 2: Say Hello to Bright Colors
Dark colors and neutral colors give a more sophisticated air to any look, but bright colors would help liven up those looks. A shot of gold doesn’t hurt as well.
Tip 3: Embrace Unstructured Fabrics and Silhouettes
Tailored cuts and structured fabrics are natural pairings for a classic trench. But they also can make the look more stodgy. Unstructured fabrics, like knits, and blousy silhouettes do just the opposite–they give the look a breath of fresh air.
Have a great tip about fresh ways to wear a trenchcoat? Share it with us in the comments!
March 12th, 2009
You don’t have to stop wearing your favorite dresses when it’s cold out. Simply protect your legs from the cold by pairing your warm weather dress with a set of pants. Here’s how to get the dress-over-pants look:
1. Start with your basic dress. Knee length styles work well, as do minidresses that are asking for a bit of extra leg coverage.
2. Slip on a pair of pants. Straight leg pants are the way to go here; a wider leg would take away from the tailored look.
3. Add a hip length blazer to give the outfit a touch of sophistication. If you live in a colder climate, substitute the blazer for a more appropriate cold weather coat (and/or layer a sweater in between).
4. Finish off the outfit with a pair of pumps and a patterned bag. Notice how the brown brings out the warmth in the navy blue dress, and how the smart black and white pattern on the bag really pops against the tailored outfit.
How would you wear a dress over pants? Share your style with us in the comments!
March 10th, 2009
We asked: Would you wear Animal Prints?
You said: No to Animal Prints, with a 54% to 46% vote.
Style tip? If you’re not quite ready to try leopard prints (or giraffe spots), you can still try a sophisticated zebra pattern. The black and white zebra stripe pattern makes a statement without shouting as loud as leopard prints.
Next question: You’ve already said that Pastel Colors are perfectly Spring. But what do you think of nude colors? Tell us, would you wear Nude Colors? Cast your vote on the sidebar!
Pictured: Ruffle Scoop Neck Top | $39.50 at Express.
March 9th, 2009
Basic color theory states that complementary colors on opposite sides of the color wheel, when paired together, visually Pop. Red and green appear brighter together than they do apart. So does purple and yellow, blue and orange. But these color pairings can feel a bit too basic (not to mention holiday-themed). How do you get the benefit of the color Pop without framing your outfit around these basic color combinations? Simple. Just pair colors that are almost opposite of each other on the color wheel. Here’s the almost-complementary-color rule in action:
1. Start with neutrals: a grey drapey blouse and a black and white textured pencil skirt.
2. Adding to the neutral base, slip on a pair of grey tights and a pair of black boots. If you’re feeling it, you can also try wearing a neutral colored headband.
3. Layer on the color: a gorgeous green overcoat and a bright orange textured clutch. Remember, red and green are opposites on the color wheel - but move one shade over from red and you get orange. You get most of the visual Pop, but none of the Christmas associations of the red-green pairing.
What’s your favorite color pairing? Share your style with us in the comments!
March 6th, 2009
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