Sure, jeans are versatile and can go almost anywhere. But instead of tossing on a pair of jeans, why not reach for a pair of khakis? Khakis are another style classic, but they’re having their fashion moment this year. We haven’t seen so many khakis since the dot com days! But you don’t have to pair your khakis with a blousy blue button-down shirt. Instead, dress them up with tailored items: a navy blazer and a sharp pair of oxfords. Here’s how to dress up khaki pants with a navy blazer:
1. Start with a pair of khaki pants. Straight leg, flat front, classic style.
2. Add a fitted, button-down shirt to pair with your khaki pants. We’re loving the bright color of this shirt - it really warms up the outfit.
3. Top off the outfit with a crisp navy blue blazer. The bright color of the button-down shirt will peek out from under the lapels of the blazer.
4. Finish off the outfit with a pair of classic oxford shoes and a canvas belt. Notice how the belt beautifully echoes the stripes in the shirt–without being too literal.
How do you wear khaki pants? Share your style with us in the comments!
Posted by Trisha on July 1st, 2009 in Men, Ready Made Outfits |
Q: I’ll be heading down to Las Vegas for a few days in July. Any tips for what I should pack?
A: What do you wear for a trip to Vegas? Sin City style is over the top, glitzy–and more than a little risque. But you can be daring without going overboard. The rule of thumb is to pick a part of your body to show off–just not your entire body. You can show off some skin with a low cut top, but pair that skin-baring top with a skirt that reaches your knee. Or if you wear a miniskirt, keep your top half covered. Our example outfit, above, is a great example of how you can dress up at night without looking trashy. It works for a woman in her 20s or 30s, but it can be adapted for women in their 40s or above.
Be prepared for the weather. Las Vegas is in the middle of the desert - with the weather to match. During the summer, expect temperatures into the 100s during the day and in the high 60s to mid 70s at night. You don’t have to worry about humidity, but get ready for some extreme heat (and air conditioning on full blast).
At night, you’ll be dressing up to go out to dinner, shows, and clubs. Think dresses—or going-out tops over skirts. During the day, you’ll want a set of more casual clothes to take you shopping–and perhaps over to the spa. Think cropped pants plus an embellished tank top. Or shorts with a brightly colored tee. For a long weekend in Vegas, here’s what you need to pack:
Tops: A couple of casual tops for daytime wear supplemented by a going-out top or blouse will do the trick. Try bright colors—or tops featuring embellishment—to stay true to the Vegas spirit. Don’t be afraid of a little sparkle.
Sweaters: Pack a light sweater or two for nighttime and/or heavily air conditioned areas. Cropped sweaters are great with dresses, but a long cardigan paired with a dress is a very modern look.
Outerwear: It’s Vegas! No jackets required. If anything, you can bring a single lightweight jacket in case you get cold in the casinos.
Dresses: Bring a dress or two, depending on how many evenings you’ll be going out. We love drapey dresses that aren’t overly figure hugging; they leave something to the imagination.
Bottoms: Miniskirts if you dare (and have great legs), or knee-length pencil skirts (which tend to be fairly figure flattering). For daytime, shorts or cropped pants are going to work. We love knee-length tailored shorts for a pulled-together and figure flattering look.
Shoes: Heels are great for evenings out, but flats or sandals are best during the day. Don’t forget a pair of flip flops for vegging by the pool.
Last thoughts about what to wear to Vegas? What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. So get dressed to have fun. And don’t forget your swimsuit, sunscreen, and a cover up.
Have a great tip about what to wear to Vegas? Share your style with us in the comments!
Posted by Trisha on June 30th, 2009 in Q&A, Women, Women's |
We asked: Would you wear Bright Yellow?
You said: Yes to Bright Yellow, with a 70% to 30% vote.
Style tip? We adore the cheeriness of Bright Yellow. There’s no better color to warm up a gray day, and it’s also the perfect color to welcome summer. It’s warmth can just make you feel better once you put it on. We love Bright Yellow paired with dark, dark denim - the blue makes the yellow even more radiant, and vice versa. If you’re feeling up to it, try a blouse in yellow - or even a jacket. (My bright yellow trench is a favorite, year round). If you’d like to try out Bright Yellow without going all out, you can try a bright yellow accessory instead. Try a handbag, a pair of shoes, or even jewelry. Or test the waters with a yellow print, like the yellow flowers on this sunny dress.
Next question: Asymmetry was all over the runways, and now we’re seeing it in stores everywhere. Especially in dress form with the One Shoulder Dress. But what do you think about the One Shoulder Dress? Tell us, would you wear a One Shoulder Dress? Cast your vote on the sidebar!
Pictured: Marigold Chiffon Floral Dress | $27.80 at Forever 21.
Posted by Trisha on June 28th, 2009 in Trend, Trend Predictives, Trendscape, What's In and What's Out, Women |
What’s the key to wearing a miniskirt with style? As you show off your legs, keep your top half covered up so that you’re not showing off too much skin. This holds true whether you’re a teenager or if your teen years are far behind you. The rule of thumb is that the shorter your skirt, the more you want to keep covered up on top. Here’s Omiru’s version of how to wear a miniskirt:
1. Start with a miniskirt. Structured fabrics are going to be your best bet so the skirt isn’t overly figure-hugging.
2. Layer on a tank top and a tailored button-down shirt. Notice how the button-down and tank work together with the two shades of blue. We love how the bright blue knit tank will peek out from under the lighter, paler tailored woven shirt.
3. Finish off the outfit with a light silk scarf (don’t you love how the brown looks against the backdrop of the blues) and a pair of statement sandals.
How would you wear a miniskirt? Share your style with us in the comments!
Posted by Trisha on June 25th, 2009 in Ready Made Outfits, Women |
Mix utilitarian style with urban sophistication for a look that’s all about effortless summer style. Simply juxtapose a rugged chambray shirt against a feminine, brightly colored tank. Here’s how to get the look of effortless summer style in a chambray shirt:
1. Start with a bright strappy summer tank and a pair of white bootcut jeans.
2. Layer on a chambray shirt, a preppy alternative to the long, cardigan sweater. Doesn’t the blue chambray look fabulous with the bright yellow tank?
3. Finish off the look with a pair of flat sandals and a messenger bag slung over your shoulder.
How do you wear a Chambray Shirt? Share your style with us in the comments!
Posted by Trisha on June 25th, 2009 in Ready Made Outfits, Women |
Nantucket Reds are classic prep - and absolutely perfect for summer. Why are they so great? The beauty of Nantucket Reds is their unique faded salmon red color that gets better with age. The original Nantucket Reds are made by Murray’s Toggery Shop, but the resurgence of preppy fashion means that you can get them in a variety of styles from other retailers. Here’s how to wear Nantucket Reds:
1. Start with a pair of Nantucket Reds. You can try a short or a pant, cargo pockets optional.
2. Add another preppy classic: a casual gingham shirt. We love how the navy and white plays off of the salmon red shorts.
3. Finish off the look with a pair of bright white sneakers (worn sans socks) and a canvas belt.
How do you wear Nantucket Reds? Share your style with us in the comments!
Posted by Trisha on June 24th, 2009 in Men, Ready Made Outfits |
We know all too well—comfort and style don’t always go hand in hand. When it comes to footwear, it seems that the most fabulous shoes require us to sacrifice comfort for style. This fashion axiom holds true for our going-out shoes and our everyday work shoes. But you don’t have to wear schlumpy shoes when you’re going to work. Omiru has what you should be looking for in comfortable womens work shoes so that you don’t have to sacrifice your feet’s happiness for style:
Flats
Arturo Chiang Amalie Loafers | $85 at Piperlime
When you’re on your feet, running from meeting to meeting, flats are going to get you where you’re going with the least pain possible. With flats, you have a variety of work-appropriate options, from loafers and driving mocs to ballet flats. Flats are hands-down our favorite type of womens work shoes from a comfort perspective, but we understand that they’re not for every woman—or every work environment.
Kitten Heels
Layland Slingback Pump | $39.99 at Nine West
If you’re tall, you can get away with flats. But if you’re not blessed with height, kitten heels are going to be a great alternative. These low heels give you an inch or two of height, and they’re nearly as comfortable as flats if you get the right pair
Wedge Heels
BP Uptown Wedge Pump | $69.95 at Nordstrom
If you’re looking for a little more height than a kitten heel will afford you, we’d recommend looking for wedge heels. Wedge heels are exactly what they sound like – instead of a pointy heel, you get to distribute your weight over a wedge shaped heel. As such, they’re much more comfortable to wear than their traditional pointy-heel counterparts.
Cushioning
Cole Haan Carma OT Air Pump | $301.95 at Zappos
What else should you be looking for in comfortable work shoes? Cushioning for your feet. Regardless of heel height, a little bit of cushioning goes a long way in making your work shoes comfortable. When you’re shopping for shoes, look for rubberized heels on the outside of the shoe and padding and support on the inside too. Cole Haan makes shoes with Nike Air technology. While they’re not quite as comfortable as a pair of Nike sneakers, their pumps are as comfy as heels can be.
Spacious Toe Boxes
Gentle Souls It’s So Fun | $195 at Kenneth Cole
Narrow or pointed toe boxes make your toes sad. They crunch your toes, and your feet will be calling out to you by the end (if not middle) of the day. Instead of crunching your toes into narrow toe boxes, give them room to breathe with rounded or square toe boxes. We’re a big fan of round toe shoes – they’re reminiscent of Mary Janes and they add a bit of femininity to any outfit.
Last thoughts? Comfortable womens work shoes can be found almost everywhere, now that there are a number of brands that specialize in comfort shoes. You may want to take a look at the following brands: Cole Haan Nike Air Technology, Gentle Souls by Kenneth Cole, Naturalizer, Taryn Rose, Walking Cradles, Sofft, Soft Spots, Hush Puppies, Dansko, Merrel, Clarks, and Easy Spirit.
What are your favorite comfortable work shoes? Share your style with us in the comments!
Posted by Trisha on June 22nd, 2009 in Shopping Guide, Women |
We asked: Would you wear Jelly Shoes?
You said: No to Jelly Shoes, with a 80% to 20% vote.
Style tip? We admit it - we rocked the Jelly Shoe look in the 80s. And while we were initially put off by their resurgence, we’ve begun to see that they’re much more stylish than the originals. We’re ready to wear jelly shoe styles with a twist - such as this ballet flat style with beautiful, intricate webbing. If this isn’t your cup of tea, we’re also loving brightly colored jelly shoes. So long as they’re plastic, you might as well go with it and get a shoe in a fun, bright color, like orange or yellow.
Next question: Speaking of yellow, we’ve been seeing Bright Yellow all over, from store windows to the streets. But what do you think about Bright Yellow? Tell us, would you wear Bright Yellow? Cast your vote on the sidebar!
Pictured: Melissa ‘Campana’ Jelly Flat | $59 at Nordstrom.
Posted by Trisha on June 22nd, 2009 in Trend, Trend Predictives, Trendscape, Trendscape, What's In and What's Out, Women |
Q: I’m a fourth grade teacher moving to Washington DC this summer. What should my new wardrobe staples be? I’m moving to a new school and want to create a good first impression!
by Colleen Geary, fashion stylist and image consultant
A: Congratulations on starting your first teaching job! It should be no surprise that (1) Washington DC is a conservative city style wise (though in Michelle Obama you do have a new fashion icon to take cues from), and (2) it’s a city with very distinct seasons – and it can be fairly warm even in the Fall and Spring. Be prepared for daytime temperatures ranging from 40s in the Winter to 80s in the Summer, plus humidity. Here’s what you need to build your wardrobe around when you move to Washington DC this Fall:
Suit: Even though you won’t be wearing a suit to teach every day, you’ll want to have one handy for any important meetings that come up. Since you’re teaching, your suit doesn’t need to be ultra conservative. Feel free to spice up your suit with details like three-quarter sleeves or a tulip skirt.
Blouses: Build your wardrobe around a series of well-cut blouses in a variety of colors and shapes. Washington may be conservative, but bright colors will help keep the kids’ eyes on you. Just make sure that the tops aren’t overly low cut. Look for short sleeves for warm weather and long sleeves for cooler months.
Sweaters: Simple cardigan and pullover sweaters in a variety of versatile colors will help you layer
Pants: Tailored Pants will help round out your wardrobe. If you’re a jeans kind of woman (and denim is allowable on the job), we’d recommend a nice pair of trouser jeans. They’re uber-comfortable and will help you look instantly pulled together.
Dresses and Skirts: On the whole, skirts are going to be less practcal than pants since you’ll be taking care of 4th graders all day. But if you’re going to add dresses or skirts to your wardrobe, make sure they’re ones that you can move in. No severe cuts (or overly short styles).
Outerwear: A light trench will keep you warm during mornings and evenings for warmer months. When the weather turns chilly, however, you’ll want a full East Coast worthy winter coat. Look for tailored cuts in versatile neutrals (or brights, if you dare) in the best fabrics you can afford. Cashmere is going to be super warm, but if it’s out of your price range, try a wool cashmere blend. Also, keep on the lookout for pre-season and off-season sales to snag your coat - as an investment piece, it can be on the expensive side.
Accessories: Keep your jewelry minimal, as it can be distracting to the kids in your class. A scarf, however, is going to be a chic choice all year round.
Handbag: A simple structured work tote that will carry papers and books home will serve you well. Make sure that it’s one that can survive a beating - you never know what kinds of stains it’ll be exposed to in the classroom and beyond.
Shoes: Flats or kitten heels are going to be your best bet. You’ll be on your feet all day, and you’ll be picking up after the kids in your class. Make sure that your shoes are comfortable enough to keep your feet happy.
Last thoughts? Keep in mind that stores like Ann Taylor Loft and J Crew offer discounts for teachers – so do use those savings where you can.
Have a great tip about what to wear as a teacher in Washington DC? Share it with us in the comments!
Posted by Trisha on June 19th, 2009 in Q&A, Women's |
Today, we’re putting forth a style challenge: wearing the color yellow green. Yellow green isn’t the most flattering of colors, nor does it pair well with all other colors. We found that the best way to wear yellow green is with other equally bold colors–bright orange and a nice warm shade of blue. Here’s how to get the look of yellow green:
1. Start with a yellow green sweater, preferably in a classic shape.
2. Layer under your yellow green sweater a blouse in a bright color. We love the interplay of the warm, bright orange peeking out from under the yellow green sweater. Plus, the ruffles on this blouse add a bit of visual drama.
3. Slip on a pair of brightly colored pants. Note that even though these pants are blue, they’re a warm shade of blue. The warmth of the blue helps it pair with the bright orange and the yellow green, both of which fall on the warm side of the color wheel.
4. Finish off the outfit with a pair of statement shoes: a pair of medallion themed sandals with a light heel.
How would you wear yellow green? Share your style with us in the comments!
Posted by Trisha on June 18th, 2009 in Ready Made Outfits, Women |
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