Q: I am going on a river floating trip with my boyfriend in the next few weeks, what can I wear over my swimsuit that will be functional and stylish?
A: Function comes before form when packing for a river rafting trip. You’ll be boating down a river, so be prepared to get wet. But you’ll also be in direct sunlight for a good portion of the trip, so it’s best to be able to adjust your clothing for the weather and water conditions. Here’s three fashion tips for your river rafting trip:
Dress in Layers: On top, we recommend a loose fitting tunic in a lightweight fabric, such as the Water Girl Un-Dress Tunic (pictured). Shorts are also a simple, functional option for the summer heat. A less-conventional option is a sarong, which is a great swimsuit cover-up that also doubles as a dressy item to wear at camp post-rafting.
Wear Quick-drying Clothes: You’ll be getting wet, so wear lightweight clothes that dry quickly. Look for materials like polyester, nylon, polypropylene, capilene or fleece.
Remember your Sun Hat: Either choose one with a security draw cord or purchase a separate hat clip so as not to lose the hat if the ride gets rocky.
Pictured: Water Girl Un-Dress Tunic | $68 at REI.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
Posted by Trisha on June 28th, 2007 in Q&A, Women's |
Q: My husband and I have been invited to a work party at a fancy restaurant. My husband is an attorney, and most of the guests in attendance will be attorneys and judges. The invitation states that the attire will be "Summer Chic." Please describe "Summer Chic" and how it would apply to men and women.
A:
Summer Chic implies a degree of casualness, but given that the event is a work party at a fancy restaurant, keep the outfit professional.
For Women: Sleeved dresses or two-piece outfits–nothing too revealing. Have a sleeveless dress? Pair it with a cropped cardigan sweater. Light colors and lightweight fabrics will turn this outfit from plain chic to Summer Chic.
For Men: Two-piece suits, coordinated or uncoordinated, in lightweight fabrics. For summer, I like light colored suits–shades of khaki or cream are seasonally appropriate. Wear a dress shirt and tie, though feel free to mix things up with bright colors or bold patterns.
Pictured: Heritage Linen Suit | $473 at Banana Republic.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
Posted by Trisha on June 27th, 2007 in Men's, Q&A, Women's |
Q: I fell in love with a pair of shorts at Forever 21. The only problem is that they are PURPLE! Don’t get me wrong, purple is one of my favorite colors, but I have absolutely no idea what to wear with these shorts besides white and/or black. Tips, please?
A:
Here’s three tips for creating an outfit around the color purple:
(1) Create a Monochromatic Color Combination:
Pair your purple shorts with a top that’s another shade of purple for a monochromatic look. Mix a dark shade of purple with lilac, for instance.
(2) Go for a Duochromatic Color Combination:
Mix purple with a different hue, say a splash of yellow-orange or a blue-green, for variety. But don’t mix the two in equal proportions–make one the dominant color and the other the subordinate color with a 75-25 proportion.
(3) Add Neutrals:
Purple combines well with shades of grey, beige, and brown. Taupe, in particular, will pair well with purple.
Our favorite color combinations with purple? Purple + Grey, Purple + Cerulean Blue, Purple + Brown, and Purple + Orange.
Have a great tip about how to wear purple? Share it with us in the comments.
Pictured: Velvet Torch V-Neck Slipdress | $50 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.
Posted by Trisha on June 26th, 2007 in Q&A, Women's |
We asked: Are Clutch Handbags In or Out?
You said: With 85% of the vote, Clutch Handbags are most definitely IN.
Omiru’s take: Clutch handbags are the perfect way to add a touch of refinement to casual summer styles, and they’re equally fetching as a counterpart to tailored fall looks. We’re pleased that you love them as much as we do. Style tip? Need both hands? Look for clutch handbags with wrist straps.
Next Question: We love Geometric Prints as a wardrobe pick-me-up for both Summer and Fall.
But what do
you think about Polka Dots? Tell us, are Polka Dots In, or are they Out? Cast your
vote on
the sidebar!
Pictured: Issac Mizrahi Clutch Handbag in Tan/White | $14.99 at Target.
Posted by Trisha on June 25th, 2007 in Trend, Trend Predictives, What's In and What's Out, Women |
Asks Olivia, "I’m in my twenties, and in the process of losing weight. I’m down to a 12 now, and working on getting a size or two slimmer. I have an hourglass figure, [but] I really don’t know how to dress for my size! I feel too old for the mega trendy stuff going on right now, but I feel like a 40 year old soccer mom when I stick with the basics (no offense to 40 year old soccer moms out there). So, can you help me pick out some stuff to wear that will show off my new figure, and will make me look like I’m in my 20s?"
Tell us, what do you think Olivia should wear to show off her hourglass silhouette? Please leave your advice in the comments of this post.
As usual, the best answer (as chosen by Olivia) by Monday, June 25 gets a treat from Omiru’s goodie closet.
Posted by Trisha on June 21st, 2007 in Q&A, Women's |
Q: I’ve seen pictures of guys (Hollywood-types) wearing black ties with white shirts and grey suits. I like the look, but is it business-appropriate? My sense is no - it seems more like a night-out / formal / dressy occasion combination. What do you think?
A:
While the look is decidedly formal, it’s still business appropriate in certain settings. The more visibility, authority, or client contact you have, the more formal your dress should be. And depending on where you’re located, business dress may be more or less formal. Rule of thumb for the US? The further east you are, the more formal the dress.
Love the look, and it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed.
Pictured: XMI Silk Tie | $75 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.
Posted by Trisha on June 20th, 2007 in Men's, Q&A |
Q: I’m going on a cruise to Alaska in early July, and I was wondering what clothes to bring. How should I dress for the changing weather conditions without looking frumpy?
A:
Alaska tends to be in the 60s and 70s during July, with nighttime temperatures dipping into the 40s and 50s. To adjust for the changing weather conditions as you travel up to Alaska and back, it’s all about layering. Your goal is to be comfortable in every situation–instead of wearing (frumpy) too-thick clothing that isn’t as versatile as you’d like. Here’s six tips that will get you layering your clothes in style:
(1) Start with a body-conscious foundation layer, such as this fitted striped top from J Crew.
(2) Next, place looser-fitting garments over this foundation layer. Stiffer fabrics that will hold their shape can work nicely here.
(3) For the top layer, either (1) provide a stark contrast to, or (2) echo some of the detailing in the garments below.
(4) Let the inner garments peek out from under the outer garments.
(5) Vary the length of the tops and bottoms to get the full layered effect.
(6) Finish the outfit with standout accessories.
Have any other layering tips? Share them with us in the comments!
Pictured: J Crew Rialto Boatneck Sweater | $68 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.
Posted by Trisha on June 19th, 2007 in Q&A, Women's |
We asked: Is Electric Blue In or Out?
You said: With 67% of the vote, Electric Blue is most definitely IN.
Omiru’s take: We love bright colors–especially for summer, and particularly for this season. What’s special about Electric Blue is it’s nearly universally flattering. On dark skin tones, electric blue really pops. And on fairer skin tones, the color adds life to your complexion. Style tip? With a color as bold as this, keep your outfits simple. Try electric blue as a solid colored dress–or buy a simple top in this bold color.
Next Question: With oversized handbags still dominating the accessories scene, we’re pleased to see that small Clutch Handbags are gaining in popularity. But what do
you think? Tell us, are Clutch Handbags In, or are they Out? Cast your
vote on
the sidebar!
Pictured: Velvet Torch Flutter Sleeve Dress | $58 at Nordstrom.
Posted by Trisha on June 18th, 2007 in Trend, Trend Predictives, What's In and What's Out, Women |
Q: I’m getting married in August. Would you please recommend some affordable wedding-appropriate shoes?
A: Before we launch into our wedding shoe picks, we want to share three footwear tips for the bride to be–and other members of the wedding party, for that matter:
(1) Figure Flattery Still Matters.
For figure flattery, the slingback shoes are going to be better than the ankle-wrap shoes. The slingback shoes create a longer, leaner leg line. But then again, the ankle wrap shoes don’t fall off.
(2) Break in Your Shoes Early!
I’d recommend wearing them indoors and pacing back and forth on a hard surface, like linoleum, tile, or hardwood floors. Then when they start to hurt, you can just sit down. This sounds horrifically boring, but you can multitask. I’d recommend readng or watching TV while you do this.
(3) Looking to wear these shoes later? Go Metallic.
Metallic shoes are going to be more versatile than white shoes. Metallic shoes can be paired with other dresses in the future, so you don’t have to go out and buy more special occasion shoes.
And without further ado, here’s our top four picks for bridal shoes, arranged by increasing price:
(1) Touch Ups Faith | $63.95 at Zappos
(2) Kenneth Cole Reaction ‘Rich n’ Post’ Slingback | $78.95 at Nordstrom
(3) Franco Sarto Leslie in Silver Metallic | $82.95 at Zappos
(4) Kate Spade Lover | $298.95 at Zappos
Pictured: Kate Spade Lover | $298.95 at Zappos.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
Posted by Trisha on June 15th, 2007 in Q&A, Women's |
Q: I’m an attractive 49 year old with a cute figure - I’m 5′3", size 6 and I wondered what you would recommend for casual summer clothes. Empire waist and loose tops make me look pregnant, and yet walking shorts and polo shirts seem so dull! Any suggestions on age appropriate attractive outfits?
A: We have four easy-to-wear fashion formulas for you for casual summer days:
(1) Sleeved Shirtdress
(2) Printed Dress
(3) White Blouse + Belt + City Shorts
(4) Cropped Jacket + Knit Top + City Shorts.
Perhaps more importantly, to turn ordinary outfits into ones that are likely to turn heads, it’s all in the details–and the colors you choose. Instead of a plain polo, for example, try a knit top with delicate pleating–such as this Featherweight Cotton Peasant Top ($42 at J Crew), pictured at left. Or instead of a regular pair of shorts, try a pair with a rolled cuff–or a pair in a different fabric blend. We like these Roll Up Shorts from Generra ($196 at Shopbop).
Pictured: J Crew Featherweight Cotton Peasant Top | $42 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.
Posted by Trisha on June 14th, 2007 in Q&A, Women's |
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