Posts filed under 'Ready Made Outfits'
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
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
Sure, you can wear a sweatervest with a formal buttondown shirt and casual jeans, but you can also invert the fashion formula for an outfit that’s more visually interesting. Simply pair your sweatervest with a foundation of a casual tee and a pair of formal trousers. Here’s how to get the rest of the sweatervest look:
1. Start with a simple tee and a pair of wide leg trouser pants.
2. Layer on a cropped sweatervest over the t-shirt. Note how the texture of the sweatervest contrasts with the smooth knit of the tee.
3. Throw on a long tailored blazer. Note how the shawl collar of the vest looks so rich from underneath the blazer.
4. Accessorize with a bright pair of pumps and a casually chic tote. Don’t you love how the pumps visually pop?
How do you wear a sweatervest? Share your style with us in the comments!
March 3rd, 2009
Even when it’s rainy outside, life goes on. You still go to work, out with your friends, and on errand runs. And you need outfits that are as stylish as they are practical for the cold and the rain. Here’s an example of a utilitarian style that’ll sing effortless chic for rainy days:
1. Start with a plain white button down shirt and a pair of cargo pants: one part chic, one part utility.
2. Toss on a grey scarf for an effortless European inspired look.
3. Layer on a sophisticated black jacket to shield you from the elements. And let that grey scarf peek out from underneath.
4. Accessorize with a clear plastic umbrella (very stylish), a brightly colored handbag (just because it’s grey outside doesn’t mean that you can’t buck the trend), and a pair of flat rainboots. If your pant legs are skinny enough, you can tuck them in to the tops of the rainboots for a svelte (and dry) look.
How do you dress for a rainy day? Share your style with us in the comments!
February 27th, 2009
How do you construct an outfit that’s at once youthful and sophisticated? It’s simple: just mix and match, combining refined pieces with those with a more casual feel. Whatever your age, you can utilize this fashion tip to adjust your style to however young at heart you feel! Here’s a fashion formula that illustrates how to mix and match classic and casual pieces:
1. Start with a youthful piece: an embellished tee. Note how the ever so slight tint and the rose embellishment elevate it beyond a simple casual tee.
2. Add to the playfulness of the youthful tee with a brightly colored cardigan. The cheery orange color pairs well with the warm tinted tee and makes the outfit feel more accessible.
3. Bring on the polish with a couple of tailored pieces: a sailor inspired peacoat and a tweed pencil skirt.
4. Add accessories with a harder edge to counterbalance the youthfulness of the embellished tee and the bright sweater. A slouchy heeled boot and a zippered tote bag do the trick.
How would you mix and match classic and casual pieces? Share your style with us in the comments!
February 26th, 2009
If you’re interested in playing with pattern, but your closet is full of solid colored clothing, you’re not alone. We get tons of questions from women asking how to start to integrate pattern into their wardrobe. The good news? Though the prospect of patterns can be pretty daunting, the reality of patterns is that they’re really easy to wear. The key is to match the size of the pattern to your personal architecture. If you’re petite, opt for patterns that are smaller in size–and vice versa. Here’s a fashion formula that shows you how to start wearing pattern:
1. Start with the basics: a plain white button down shirt and a pair of high waisted grey pants.
2. Against this basic backdrop, add the key to the outfit: a statement yellow and brown patterned shell. Let the collar on the white shirt peek out from under the patterned shell.
2. Toss on a brightly colored coat in a complementary color. Because yellow and green are next to each other on the color wheel, they pair together nicely. Also notice how the 3/4 sleeves on the coat allow the lower part of the sleeves on the white shirt to be seen.
4. Slip on a pair of heels. The brown color of the heels echoes the brown in the belted green jacket.
How do you wear pattern? Share your style with us in the comments!
February 12th, 2009
In love and life, opposites attract. So it’s no surprise that the same is true in style. Here, we present an outfit that’s full of opposites, in formality, styling details, and in color. Here’s how to reconcile the opposites in a outfit that’s completely chic:
1. Start with a plain white button down shirt and a pair of dark rinse jeans. We see two types of opposites with this pairing: (1) the masculine style of the shirt is counterbalanced by the feminine ruffles on the front, and (2) the formality of the shirt contrasts with the casualness of the jeans.
2. Layer on a brightly colored sweater and a menswear tailored jacket. The casual sweater peeking out from under the tailored jacket gives the outfit a punch of color.
3. Accessorize with a snappy navy hat that echoes the blue in the jeans and a smart orange clutch that echoes the bright orange sweater.
How do you wear opposites? Share your style with us in the comments!
February 6th, 2009
The ideal date night outfit makes you look great, reveals your individual sense of style, and encourages your date to ask for a next rendezvous. It’s a whole lot to ask of an outfit, but you don’t have to be Supergirl to make it work. (Plus, you have us to get you started with some style inspiration.) How do you look great on a date? Here’s a versatile date-night fashion formula that’s sure to turn heads:
1. Start with a cocktail dress. This navy chiffon smock dress features sheer sleeves and an artsy attitude.
2. It’s cold out–so put on a jacket. This brown cropped bomber jacket adds a tough vibe to the gauzy, sophisticated dress.
3. Accessorize with layers of necklaces (to befit the artistic vibe of the dress), a statement headband to draw attention up towards your face, and a pair of velvety brown boots to add some texture.
Ladies, what’s your go-to date outfit? Share your style with us in the comments!
February 3rd, 2009
Next Posts
Previous Posts
