Q: Is it ok to wear sheer black pantyhose with an above-the-knee black cocktail dress?
A: Depending on the occasion, it may or may not be necessary to pair your cocktail dress with pantyhose.
Rule of thumb? The dressier the occasion, the more necessary it is to wear pantyhose.
But to answer your question, it is OK to wear sheer black pantyhose with an above-the-knee black cocktail dress. In fact, the head-to-toe black ensemble will visually elongate your body, making you look taller and thinner. And dark colored pantyhose does wonders in making your legs look slimmer.
With regards to shoes, just make sure that the shoes are closed-toe if you’re wearing pantyhose.
Pictured: Diana Striped Organza Halter Dress | $298 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 May 17th, 2007 in Q&A, Women's |
Q: I’ve got an interview at a software startup next week. What should I wear? I hear that the company is very informal, but I think I should dress up anyways.
A: Technology companies have a long history of casual dress. There, jeans and a t-shirt are everyday style–they aren’t reserved for Casual Fridays.
The ideal interview outfit not only makes you look like the professional you are, but also respects this casual dress tradition. Mix casual and formal elements–such as a button-down shirt (remember to iron it!) and jeans.
Feeling stuck? Here’s a foolproof interview outfit: Button-down Shirt + Colored Undershirt + Dark Rinse Jeans + Loafers. Bonus points for you if you choose a patterned–instead of striped–button-down shirt.
Here’s 2 extra tips for your interview:
(1) No Suits Allowed. Should you wear a suit to an engineering interview, don’t be surprised if you’re weeded out as a "poor culture fit."
(2) Wear Good Shoes: Even though your outfit may be casual in feel, dress it up with your Good shoes. If they need a pick-me-up, remember to shine them pre-interview.
Pictured: Fitted Dotted Diamond Dress Shirt | $78 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 May 16th, 2007 in Men's, Q&A |
Q: All the empire-waist dresses and tops advertised this season look lovely - however putting them on in the shop makes me look like the one thing I’m not: pregnant. Being tall and rather slim still won’t help. Any suggestions as to how to avoid the "she might just be" stares at work?
A: We know exactly what you mean about the might-be-pregnant empire waist styles. The pregnant look comes from stiff and/or blousy empire waist tops and dresses. Because of the elevated placement of the waistline, if the fabric beneath that waistline doesn’t skim the body, you end up looking like you might be expecting. After the jump, two tips to avoid the pregnant empire waistline look:
(1) Look for styles made of drapey fabric, such as a buttery cotton jersey or silk charmeuse.
(2) If you’ve fallen in love with a blousy empire waist top or dress, wear a belt to reign in the extra fabric.
Pictured: Belted Silk Macrame Woven Top | $78 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 May 15th, 2007 in Q&A, Women's |
We asked: Are Oversized Sunglasses In or Out?
You said: Oversized Sunglasses are still In–a 52% majority voted this eyewear trend In.
Omiru’s take: Interestingly enough, Oversized Sunglasses gained slightly in popularity over the last year. Last June, only 48% of Omiru readers voted Oversized Sunglasses In, compared to this year’s 52%. It had seemed that this eyewear trend was On the Way Out–but it has had surprisingly strong staying power. Style tip? If you have a round face, look for a more angular style to complement your face shape. The converse also applies–if you have an angular (square or heart shaped) face, look for rounder lens styles.
Next Question: With the weather warming up, it’s time to break out Spring clothes. But with dresses (and skirts) so hot this season, are shorts getting any love? What do you think? Tell us, are Shorts In, or are they Out? Cast your vote on the sidebar!
Pictured: Oversized Sunglasses| $5.80 at Forever 21.
Posted by Trisha on May 14th, 2007 in Trend, Trend Predictives, What's In and What's Out, Women |
Q: Any suggestions for a cool handbag for women with a toddler? It has to have space for a diaper or two and can’t be carried in hand in case I need both hands to grab the little one. I carry a backpack, but my friends keep teasing me that its 70’s or 80’s style and that I am not moving on…
A: The ideal handbag for women with a toddler combines the style of a traditional handbag with the functionality (and pockets) of a diaper bag. Our favorite bag that bridges the two is Hayden Harnett’s Ibiza Tote.
Why is it perfect? A detachable strap allows this bag to be worn either crossbody (leaving both your hands free) or under your arm. Plus, we love the two large exterior pockets–perfect for stashing extra diapers.
Pictured: Ibiza Tote | $198 at Hayden Harnett.
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 May 11th, 2007 in Q&A, Women's |
A couple of weeks ago, the Omiru community provided some great style advice to another Omiru reader, Christina, who was looking for fashion ideas for her summer design internship in New York.
You did such a great job, in fact, that another reader, Teresa, is asking for your sage advice.
Says Teresa, "I’ve lucked into every college student’s dream - the office where I did my internship last summer has offered me a full time position after I graduate next month! In my new position I’ll be working with design firms, community-member boards, and local construction contractors, so it’s important that I look accessible but also respectable. My question about my new wardrobe is this. My identity and my style is quite butch; I’m not comfortable in feminine tops, curvy pants, or skirts. I’d like to retain the flavor of my personal style as I assemble a wardrobe for the working world. How do I do this without looking like I’m in drag?"
So, tell us, what do you think Teresa should wear to work? Please leave your advice in the comments of this post.
Posted by Trisha on May 10th, 2007 in Q&A, Women's |
Q: I love the look of knee length narrow coats, but I’m only 5′1". Is it against the fashion rules for me to wear such a long coat?
A: Don’t be afraid to sport a knee-length coat if it’s a narrow cut.
While long, floor-length coats will overwhelm your small frame, knee-length coats, if proportioned correctly, can be figure flattering. Here’s six things to look for in a knee-length coat for maximum figure flattery:
(1) Styles with simple lines,
(2) One or two button closures,
(3) Narrow lapels that end above the natural waistline,
(4) Empire-waist styles,
(5) High necklines, which create the illusion of height, and
(6) Belts, which (if any) should be placed above the natural waistline.
Pictured: Via Spiga Smoke Grey Wool Blend Graphico Coat | $183.99 (sale) at Bluefly.
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 May 9th, 2007 in Q&A, Women's |
Q: What advice do you have about choosing an engagement ring?
A: There are many ways to make your engagement ring selection process a pleasurable experience with a great outcome. From Abazias Diamonds, here’s four ways to make the engagement ring selection process a successful one:
(1) Take notice as to what jewelry she already wears or the jewelry pieces she gravitates towards when window-shopping.
(2) Enlist the help of her family and friends (only those who can keep a secret), to gather information or share what they already know about her jewelry tastes.
(3) Consider her lifestyle and personality type when selecting a ring style and diamond size.
(4) But above all, remember that the ring itself represents your commitment and love, no matter what the style or size.
Abazias Diamonds is a worldwide leader in the sale of loose diamonds, engagement rings, and diamond jewelry. Not only does Abazias boast one of the largest databases of diamonds, engagement rings, and diamond jewelry in the industry today, Abazias also is one of the only discount diamonds and diamond jewelry dealers to exist as a public company. Advancements in technology, coupled with a modern and sleek design, have allowed Abazias to add to its website a Diamond and Jewelry Personal Shopper, 3D Engagement Ring Builder and an expansive Education Section. With the unity of a site truly designed with the consumer in mind and the guarantee of superior customer service, each and every experience with Abazias Diamonds is personal and pleasurable one.
Want to be seen on Omiru: Style for All? E-mail advertising at omiru dot com.
Posted by Advertising on May 8th, 2007 in Advertising |
We asked: Is Hot Pink In or Out?
You said: Hot Pink is Out–or at least, On the Way Out. A whopping 46% voted this color Out, and another 16% cast their ballot for On the Way Out.
Omiru’s take: Seems that while bright colors are In this season, pink’s not getting the love. While pink isn’t the new black, you’re all for cobalt blue and bright yellow. Probably for the best. Style tip? If you dare to wear Hot Pink, skip the Pink-on-Black combination–it’s a little too Hot Topic for our taste. Instead, complement the bright pink hue with a low-key grey.
Next Question: We asked you last year what you thought about Oversized Sunglasses–and you voted them On the Way Out. Now, a year later, we’re checking in to see what you think of them now. Tell us, are Oversized Sunglasses In, or are they Out? Cast your vote
on the sidebar!
Pictured:
Foley for Foley + Corinna Chorded Top| $248 at Shopbop.
Posted by Trisha on May 7th, 2007 in Trend, Trend Predictives, What's In and What's Out, Women |
Q: I am attending a wedding in South Carolina in May. The wedding is supposed to take place outside and it was requested that the dress be casual. Help!
A: Even though the requested dress is "casual," we’d still recommend wearing a dress or a skirt-blouse combination. We have three casual wedding style tips for you:
1. Because the wedding is both casual and outdoors, we’d recommend wearing a short dress–but no overtly sexy styles, since it is a wedding. Try strappy or halter styles instead.
2. Since the wedding is in May, bright colors are not only on-trend but also seasonally appropriate.
3. Lastly, since the South tends to be a bit more formal, we’d recommend bringing a cardigan for some extra coverage.
Here’s three dresses to get you started:
(Pictured) Playa Tank Dress | $250 at J Crew
A figure flattering empire-waist dress is dressed up with a seasonally appropriate bright yellow color.
BCBG Max Azria ‘Penny Dot’ Dress | $158 at Nordstrom
A bright graphic dotted print spices up a matte jersey babydoll dress.
Generra Tie Back Dress | $161 at Shopbop
This halter dress features figure flattering ruching at the (empire) waistline and a comfortable above-the-knee hemline.
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 May 4th, 2007 in Q&A, Women's |
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