Q&A: Transform Your Party Skirt Into an Office Staple

Q:  For a Christmas party this past December, I bought a beautiful black pencil skirt by Nanette Lepore.  I’d really like to be able to wear this skirt at other times of the year. What sort of tops could I wear with it to make it more office and season appropriate?

Silk Dot Print Blouse at Banana RepublicA:  Transform this party-appropriate skirt into a part of your work wardrobe by balancing the dressiness of the skirt with a more conservative top.

Try pairing the body-hugging skirt with a looser silhouette on top.   And because the pencil skirt hugs your curves, look for a top with either short or long sleeves–a sleeveless blouse with the pencil skirt feels more party than office appropriate.  Here’s three suggestions for you:

(Pictured) Silk Dot Print Blouse | $47.99 (sale) at Banana Republic
For a look that balances business and fashion, pair the silky skirt with a printed blouse. 

Isabel Pleated Tuxedo Shirt | $64 at J Crew
For a coquettish look, play up the dressiness of the skirt with a cap-sleeved tuxedo-front blouse.

Cotton/Linen Embroidered Tunic | $68 at Banana Republic
For a more casual (but still office appropriate) vibe, try a relaxed fit cotton tunic.

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 3rd, 2007 in Q&A, Women's | 1 comment

Q&A: Where to Buy Skinny Ties

Q:  I walked into the Gap because I saw one of their models on the display poster wearing a black skinny tie and white shirt combination.  But as it turns out, Gap doesn’t sell the black skinny tie, the one thing that made me walk into the store.  Where’s a good place to buy a skinny tie?

2.75\" Black Skinny TieA:  Chic and modern (and a Hollywood red carpet staple), skinny ties are surprisingly hard to find in mall-type stores.  Luckily, they’re more readily accessible online.  Here’s a few skinny ties to check out:

1.5" Woven Polyester Tie (Style 1523) | $15 at NarrowTies
A textured matte finish gives this uber-narrow tie it’s popularity.  56" long.

(Pictured) 2.75" Satin Finish Tie | $9.95 (sale) at Tieguys
With a widest width of 2.75" (one inch less than a standard tie) and a length of 57", this tie is narrow–but not too narrow. 

1.5" Satin Finish Skinny Tie | $9.95 at Dancestore
Perfect for special occasions, this tie features a satin finish and a dramatically narrow width.

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 2nd, 2007 in Men's, Q&A | 10 comments

Q&A: How to Mix and Match Patterns

Q:  What can I wear with these bermuda shorts from the Gap? The pattern is very hard to match!

Striped Denim Bermuda Shorts at GapA:  Yes, this tiny striped pattern is difficult to match exactly.  Luckily, you don’t have to match it to create a stylish outfit.  But, for the sake of completeness, the rules about matching patterns are as follows:

(1) If you’re matching different types of pattterns (e.g. plaids and paisley), keep the scale of the pattern the same.  If you have a small paisley pattern, for instance, look for a small plaid print to match.

(2) If you’re matching the same type of pattern (e.g. stripes and stripes), vary the size of the pattern. While a small stripe and a big stripe work well, two types of small stripes will look too matchy-matchy.

Emmeline Button Blouse at J CrewFor this particular pair of striped denim bermuda shorts, we have three suggestions for you:

Knit Striped Deep V-neck Camisole | $39.50 at Gap
For a nautical-inspired look, match the small stripes with a top with larger stripes.

(Pictured) Emmeline Blouse | $78 at J Crew
For a delicate, pretty look, try this slightly ruched button-front blouse with fabric belt.

Proenza Schouler Canary Tissue Tank | $9.09 at Target
For a casual look, pair the striped shorts with a brightly colored plain tank.

Pictured: Striped Denim Bermuda Shorts | $34.99 (sale) at the Gap.

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 1st, 2007 in Q&A, Women's | 4 comments

Omiru Poll Results: Dropped Waist Dresses are In!

Omiru Poll Result: Dropped Waist Dresses are In

Leyendecker Horsehair Hem Drop Waist DressWe asked: Are Dropped Waist Dresses In or Out?

You said:  Dropped Waist Dresses are In.  A 55% majority are all for this 20s-inspired dress trend.

Omiru’s take: Bring this 1920s dress into the 2000s with bright colors or modern detailing, like pockets.  (We can’t get enough of dresses with pockets!)  And go easy on the sequins and beading found on so many flapper style dresses.

Style tip?  While Dropped Waist Dresses are flattering on those with long legs, they’re much less kind to long waisted women with short legs.  The style visually lengthens the torso–and makes legs look shorter. 

Next Question: We’ve reported on bright colors as a key trend for Spring 2007–and we’ve been seeing more and more Hot Pink out on the streets.  But what do you think?   Tell us, is Hot Pink In, or is it Out?  Cast your vote on the sidebar!

Pictured: Leyendecker Horsehair Hem Drop Waist Dress| $264 at Shopbop.

Posted by Trisha on April 30th, 2007 in Trend, Trend Predictives, What's In and What's Out, Women |

Friday Fashion Hotlist | Treats from The April Sampler

Welcome to a Special Sampler Edition of the Friday Fashion Hotlist: a weekly compilation of the
cutest and coolest stuff Omiru’s Style Intelligence Report saw out there this
week.

This
week, we present to
you
Our Favorite Goodies from the Sampler to show you the best of the best from independent crafters and artists this month.

Two Busy Bees Vintage Button Bobby Pins
Vintage Button Bobby Pins | $5-6 each at Two Busy Bees
Aida of Two Busy Bees has a passion for functional fashion with a nostalgic flair.


Re-Conceived One-of-a-Kind Buttons

Re-Conceived One-of-a-Kind Buttons | $6 at Etsy
Christine Renee of Re-Conceived loves old, unloved, and damaged books–and uses the images in these books to make one-of-a-kind buttons, magnets, and pocket mirrors.

Wolfie and the Sneak Color-It-Yourself Bear Card
Wolfie and the Sneak Color-It-Yourself Bear Card | $3 each at Etsy
Wolfie and the Sneak is a design duo (who are madly in love) working on moving out of cubicleland into the world of the professional artist.

Like what you see?  Love independent design?  Sign up for your very own subscription to The Sampler today!

Posted by Trisha on April 27th, 2007 in Friday Fashion Hotlist, Trend | 2 comments

Q&A: What to Wear for Summer Volunteer Work

Love Squared Swiss Dot Babydoll TopQ:  I am heading to East Africa this summer to volunteer.  We’ve been advised to wear shirts that cover our shoulders and skirts that are at least mid-calf length, as well as closed-toed shoes.  How can do this without looking awful?

A:  Volunteering in East Africa–what a noble thing to do.  But just because you need to cover yourself up doesn’t mean that you need to look dowdy. Here’s how to stay stylish this summer:

Short Sleeved Fitted Tops: Cover your shoulders with cute cap sleeved tops that contour your curves.  Wear these with both long skirts and pants.

Tanks over Tees: If you can’t bear to go without your camisoles and tank tops, try layering them over fitted tissue-weight t-shirts for a playful look.

Bright Colors: Spice up a simple outfit with a burst of color.  Bright yellow and cobalt blue, in particular, are favorites of Omiru readers.

Favorite-Fit Linen/Cotton Deck PantFull Length Skirts: Mid-calf length skirts tend to be unflattering, as they make your legs look shorter.  Wear full-length skirts in flowy fabrics instead.

Pants: Tired of skirts?  Pants are also a functional option for your volunteer work.  Look for breathable fabrics like cotton so as to not overheat.  Tip: You can wear tunics and babydoll tops over pants.

Here’s a couple of outfit ideas to get you started:

Casual Chic: Tunic + Jeans + Sneakers.

Flirty and Feminine:
Camisole + Tissue-Weight T-Shirt + Full Length Skirt + Flats.


Pictured:
Love Squared Swiss Dot Babydoll Top | $26 at Nordstrom and Favorite-Fit Linen/Cotton Deck Pant | $79.50 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 April 26th, 2007 in Q&A, Women's | 14 comments

Q&A: How to Keep Clothes Looking New

Q:  What’s the best way to keep new clothes looking new? Whenever I buy something, it looks great the first time I wear it, but then after the first or second wash, it starts looking older and older.

Surround Air XJ-350 Electric Fabric Shaver A:  Clothes start to look older after washing for three main reasons: (1) Color Fading, (2) Pilling, and (3) Wrinkling.  Here’s how to combat each:

Problem: Color Fading
Solution: Wash your clothes in cold water.  Many clothing dyes aren’t color fast to begin with, and the tendency to "bleed" increases with the temperature of the water. Colors tend to become permanent after a few washes–and the garments under high heat accelerates the color setting process.  Note: Always wash denim inside-out to prevent color loss.

I’ve found that using gentler detergents (like Woolite) helps to extend the "new" look of my clothes.  Oh, and if the garment says "Dry Clean Only," do just that.

Problem: Pilling

Solution:  Buy a fabric shaver to quickly and safely remove the "pills" (balled up fuzz) and lint from your clothes.  Fabric shavers, like the model pictured, are especially useful to give new life to sweaters. 

Pilling happens when your clothes rub up against something else.  In the washing machine, this can happen when clothes rub up against the sides of the machine–or when they rub up against each other. 

To minimize pilling, we recommend (1) placing items prone to pilling inside garment bags, (2) using the delicate cycle, and (3) not overloading your washing machine full of clothes.

Problem: Wrinkling
Solution:  Fold or hang your clothes as soon as the dryer cycle ends.  The longer clothes sit in the dryer after the dryer cycle ends, the more wrinkled they will become.

If you can’t take clothes out of the dryer right away, try moistening a hand towel and adding it to the load and then run the dryer for 10 minutes.  The heat and moisture combination works much like a steamer and will help reduce wrinkling.

You can use a fabric steamer to remove wrinkles in your clothes.  Steamers are less harsh than irons on your clothes–and will help to preserve their usable life span.

Pictured: 
Surround Air XJ-350 Electric Fabric Shaver | $29.99 at Target.

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 April 25th, 2007 in Men's, Q&A, Women's | 25 comments

You Answered: What to Wear to a Summer Design Internship

Last week, we asked the Omiru community "What should I wear to a humid New York City summer internship in a design-related field?" on behalf of fellow reader Christina.  Here’s what the community had to say:


Diane von Furstenberg \'Nedia\' Crop JacketOn Wardrobe Strategy:
Rachel sums up her creative office wardrobe strategy: "Offices in creative fields generally have a slightly more casual dress code. However, it’s still advisable to make a good impression by dressing in professionally for your first week or so."  Krista adds, "as an intern, you should strive to look very professional no matter what you’re wearing in order to be taken seriously by your co-workers."  Briana agrees, "In business, it’s always better to over dress than under dress - you can always take layers off."

Because New York is hot and humid, Briana recommends layering.  And because many offices are air conditioned to the max, Rachel says to "think about investing in a light cashmere wrap to bring with you every day."  Maureen recommends sticking to fabrics that breathe–think natural fibers like linen and cotton.

On Creativity:

As for specific items to wear, H.P. says not to stifle your originality.  "Skirts and dresses are a given in hot and humid weather, but mix it up by using colours and patterns to not only flatter your body but to reflect a little bit of why you were hired as an intern in the first place."

Adds Cindy, "Don’t be afraid to integrate color/prints/patterns into your outfits at your internship. How you dress in a creative environment often expresses your personality and how impressions are made. After my first internship, I threw out all my khakis because I grew to hate how corporate it looked."

Diane von Furstenberg \'Bellette\' Wrap DressOn What to Wear, What Not to Wear:
Lynda suggests simple wrap dresses in cotton fabrics to keep you both cool and chic.  Briana looks for pencil skirts that "aren’t too tight and go at least to your knee."  Rachel’s partial to a simple pair of black pants, as "they don’t have to be expensive to look nice."  She suggests shopping at Ann Taylor Loft and Express for reasonably priced work-appropriate pants. 

Specifically, Briana says "no flip flops" and "wear pantyhose at least on your first day." Maureen goes a step further to suggest taking out or covering up any tattoos or piercings–and she cautions against wearing "anything low cut or revealing."

On Accessories:

Says H.P., "A good way to avoid burning a hole in your pocket is to focus on the small details, such as a bright hairband to push your hair back (and help keep your face cool) or a pair of unique earrings. It’s not a question of what but how!"

Krista notes, "You will also probably find that your position in a creative design atmosphere will allow you to show off some funky accessories such as bright jewelry, trendy heels, and (tastefully) loud handbags."

With regards to shoes, Rachel adds "be careful with the heels — nothing too high. The last thing you need is to trip on your way to the subway in the morning."

On Beauty and Grooming:

Colleen advises, "The heat on the subway can be murder so if you tend toward oily skin, carry some blotting papers so you can look fresh upon arrival at the office."

Rachel offers, "Err on the conservative side with makeup and hair. If you have long hair, a low ponytail usually works. If you find the office is more casual, after a few days you can wear your hair down."

Want more advice?
  Check out the full set of tips on what to wear to a summer design internship.

Pictured: Diane von Furstenberg ‘Nedia’ Crop Jacket | $345 at Nordstrom and Diane von Furstenberg ‘Bellette’ Wrap Dress | $325 at Nordstrom.

Style question?  We (and the Omiru community) have answers.  E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.

Posted by Trisha on April 24th, 2007 in Q&A, Women's | 4 comments

Omiru Poll Results: Suspenders are Out!

Omiru Poll Result: Suspenders are Out

Norma Kamali for Everlast Racerback Dropped Waist Minidress We asked: Are Suspenders In or Out?

You said:  Suspenders are Out.  A 71% majority voted this questionable trend Out.

Omiru’s take: While suspenders are fine for old-school suit-wearing men, they’re less appealing elsewhere.  We’re glad to see that you’re unafraid to vote an unflattering trend Out.  No style tip this week–we’d prefer that you leave the suspenders back on the shelf where they belong.

Next Question: Dropped Waist Dresses (such as the dress pictured at left) played a key role at Marc Jacobs’ Fall 2007 fashion show.  But what do you think?   Tell us, are Dropped Waist Dresses In, or are they Out?  Cast your vote on the sidebar!

Pictured: Norma Kamali for Everlast Racerback Dropped Waist Minidress | $210 at Shopbop.

Posted by Trisha on April 23rd, 2007 in Men, Trend, Trend Predictives, What's In and What's Out, Women | 2 comments

Q&A: How to Choose a Petite Prom Dress

Q:  I’m going to a prom, and I’m having so much trouble deciding what to wear. I am really short (4′7"), so I don’t want to wear a long dress as I think it will make me look really short. Also, I have average coloured Asian skin so I’d appreciate it if you could suggest what colour to wear.

Susana Monaco Hudson Peg DressA:  Long dresses do have the potential to make you look short–you might want to consider above-the-knee and knee-length dresses. 

What else might you want to look for in a dress to make you look taller?

(1) A high waistline, such as an empire waist, to shorten your torso and make your legs look longer. The longer your legs look, the taller you appear.

(2) Vertical detailing–through buttons, seamlines, or trimmings–or even an off center slit.

As for what color to wear, black is safe and slimming (which makes you look taller), but Asian skin looks amazing in bright colors.  A deep red, a cool blue, an emerald green–any of these colors will complement your skin. 

Hope this helps, and have fun at the prom!

Pictured:
Susana Monaco Hudson Peg Dress | $124 at Shopbop.

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 April 20th, 2007 in Q&A, Women's |

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