Posts filed under 'Ready Made Outfits'
It’s a popular fashion "rule" that red and pink don’t mix (except maybe on Valentine’s day). The idea is that red and pink look too girly–and that they don’t look great together in the first place. We’re out to prove these fashion misconceptions wrong with a sophisticated outfit that’s as ladylike as it is chic. Here’s how to create a red and pink outfit that works:
Choose the Right Shade of Pink. It’s hard to make pink work with red–but it can work with the right shade of pink. We love a deep, rich pink like the one shown on the top, especially when this pink is paired with a chic fire engine red.
Look for Elegant Details. To counter the girly nature of red and pink, take care to choose elegant details like the buckle on the bag and the double row of buttons on the skirt. Style is all in the details, and these elegant touches will make your look ladylike instead of girly.
Accessorize with Warm Neutral Colors. Against the backdrop of the red and the pink, warm colored neutrals are going to work best. We love the chocolatey browns paired with the rich red and pink.
What are your favorite color combinations? Share your style with us in the comments!
September 4th, 2008
Q: I am loving the whole relaxed boyfriend jean or wide leg jeans but I feel I have very limited options when it comes to tops to wear with them. What are my options for casual tops, and what tops can I wear for a more formal feel?
A: Wide leg jeans can actually be pretty versatile–here’s how to wear them:
Start with a dark rinse jean. The darker the wash of the jean, the more versatile it will be. A dark rinse jean pairs well with fresh whites, bright colors, and even other dark colors.
Wear a fitted top. Create a classic small-over-big silhouette with a fitted top to balance out the volume of the wide leg jeans.
Slip on a pair of heels. The elegance of wide leg jeans comes from the long, clean leg line that they create. Add to the illusion of mile-long legs with a pair of high heels.
The three tops shown here all straddle the border between casual and formal, and can be dressed up or down with the appropriate outerwear and accessories. More casual options include sailor striped tees, tanks, henleys, and brightly colored sweaters. To give your wide leg jeans a more formal feel, choose drapey tops in sumptuous fabrics.
What do you wear with wide leg jeans? Share your style with us in the comments!
August 29th, 2008
There’s no better time than summer to drop your work and go out for a night out on the town. Whether you’re hanging with the girls or out with your beau, we have a flirty-yet-sophisticated outfit for you. Here’s why it works:
Anchor the outfit with a design detail. Here, ruffles tie the outfit together. Ruffles are the showcase of the tiered skirt, they extend to the detailing on the camisole, and they even appear as a trim on the bright yellow sweater.
Opposites attract. It seems to be a rule of nature–it’s true for subatomic particles, for people’s personalities, and even for colors. The bright yellow cardigan and clutch really pop against the deep blues of the camisole and skirt. Why? Yellow sits on the other side of the color wheel from blue, almost directly across from it. Sidebar: Blue’s direct complement is orange - note the strategic addition of orange as trim on the camisole.
Don’t forget the surprise. The camisole and the skirt work well together, as do the coordinated cardigan and clutch. No real surprises here. What does provide a bit of a jolt are the bright blue shoes. They toe the line (no pun intended) between fitting in with the rest of the blue outfit and standing out. The shoes shout "look at me!", but they’re also a great foundation for the rest of the outfit.
What’s your go-to outfit for going out on the town? Share your style with us in the comments!
August 28th, 2008
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
Yeah, we know that colored jeans are very 1985, but they’re coming back this summer looking surprisingly fresh. Goes to show that in fashion, what goes out does eventually come back in. How to wear brightly colored jeans?
Play Up the Color by wearing a colored tee in a complementary color. Brightly colored jeans are, by nature, playfully casual. So wear them with a tee that brings on the fun.
Balance with Neutral Colors to your outfit with a light sweater or jacket. Mixing too many bright colors can make your outfit look schizophrenic, so we like to balance out the brights with some neutrals. Our favorite neutral to add to brights? Grey. We love grey for its ability to provide visual stability in an outfit, and it works a lot better than black for pairing with brights. Or do as we did here and try a smart looking stripe.
Layer on Accessories to complete the casually playful look. Look for fun accessories such as colorful cuffs, chunky necklaces, or oversized cocktail rings. Brightly colored jeans deserve equally playful accessories.
How do you wear brightly colored jeans? Share your style with us in the comments!
August 7th, 2008
Why does this outfit work?
Yellow and orange make for a striking color combination. It’s easy to choose one bold color to anchor an outfit, but you get more than double the style points if you successfully combine two bright colors.
Black and white pattern provides a graphic counterpoint to the bright yellow and orange. Notice how the tiny black and white dot pattern on the sweater is faintly echoed in the tribal border print of the tunic top.
Neutral accessories ground the outfit, which is high on both color and pattern. The chocolate brown bag complements the warm yellows and oranges, while the gold gladiator sandals provide a bit of extra shine.
What’s your go-to color combination for summer? Share it with us in the comments!
July 31st, 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
Yeah, we know that open necklines for a large bust aren’t anything new. But there’s a reason why fashion magazines, fashion columns, and fashion blogs keep emphasizing them: they work!
Our favorite type of open neckline is the wrap neckline. Not only does a wrap neckline work on almost any figure type, but the wrap silhouette makes your waistline appear smaller. And for women with a large bust, this cinched in waist emphasizes your beautiful hourglass figure.
How do you accessorize a patterned wrap dress? By keeping it simple. The general rule of thumb is the busier the pattern of your dress, the simpler your accessories should be. Here, we’ve kept things fresh with a coordinated (and yet not matchy-matchy) set of earrings and a necklace, a structured tote that’s at once casual and sophisticated, and a bright pair of orange flats that complement the blues of the dress.
Have a great tip about how to flatter a large bust? Share it with us in the comments!
July 22nd, 2008
Whether you’re in your 20s, 30s, 40s, or 50s, you can enjoy this summer outfit–the perfect getup for Sunday brunch, strolling on the boardwalk, or shopping with the girls. Why does it work for everybody?
Simple Shapes
The tunic is the epitome of summer style. What makes this tunic special is the semi-fitted shape and the ever-so-slight flared sleeves. Cropped pants work for those with long, lean legs. For the rest of us, try knee-length shorts or a breezy pair of full-length pants.
Classic with a Twist Styles
A tunic is classic, but the eyecatching green and white print gives it a special twist. Similarly, the simple handbag has an extra kick because of the burnt orange color.
Should you want to make this outfit a little more trendy, try substituting the white espadrilles with a jeweled sandal or an edgier gladiator sandal.
For a more casual look, swap out the burnt orange handbag with a straw or canvas tote bag and the bracelet for a natural wood cuff.
What’s your summer go-to outfit? Share it with us in the comments!
July 18th, 2008
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