You don’t have to stop wearing your favorite dresses when it’s cold out. Simply protect your legs from the cold by pairing your warm weather dress with a set of pants. Here’s how to get the dress-over-pants look:
1. Start with your basic dress. Knee length styles work well, as do minidresses that are asking for a bit of extra leg coverage.
2. Slip on a pair of pants. Straight leg pants are the way to go here; a wider leg would take away from the tailored look.
3. Add a hip length blazer to give the outfit a touch of sophistication. If you live in a colder climate, substitute the blazer for a more appropriate cold weather coat (and/or layer a sweater in between).
4. Finish off the outfit with a pair of pumps and a patterned bag. Notice how the brown brings out the warmth in the navy blue dress, and how the smart black and white pattern on the bag really pops against the tailored outfit.
How would you wear a dress over pants? Share your style with us in the comments!
Posted by Trisha on March 10th, 2009 in Ready Made Outfits, Women |
We asked: Would you wear Animal Prints?
You said: No to Animal Prints, with a 54% to 46% vote.
Style tip? If you’re not quite ready to try leopard prints (or giraffe spots), you can still try a sophisticated zebra pattern. The black and white zebra stripe pattern makes a statement without shouting as loud as leopard prints.
Next question: You’ve already said that Pastel Colors are perfectly Spring. But what do you think of nude colors? Tell us, would you wear Nude Colors? Cast your vote on the sidebar!
Pictured: Ruffle Scoop Neck Top | $39.50 at Express.
Posted by Trisha on March 9th, 2009 in Trend, Trend Predictives, What's In and What's Out, Women |
Basic color theory states that complementary colors on opposite sides of the color wheel, when paired together, visually Pop. Red and green appear brighter together than they do apart. So does purple and yellow, blue and orange. But these color pairings can feel a bit too basic (not to mention holiday-themed). How do you get the benefit of the color Pop without framing your outfit around these basic color combinations? Simple. Just pair colors that are almost opposite of each other on the color wheel. Here’s the almost-complementary-color rule in action:
1. Start with neutrals: a grey drapey blouse and a black and white textured pencil skirt.
2. Adding to the neutral base, slip on a pair of grey tights and a pair of black boots. If you’re feeling it, you can also try wearing a neutral colored headband.
3. Layer on the color: a gorgeous green overcoat and a bright orange textured clutch. Remember, red and green are opposites on the color wheel - but move one shade over from red and you get orange. You get most of the visual Pop, but none of the Christmas associations of the red-green pairing.
What’s your favorite color pairing? Share your style with us in the comments!
Posted by Trisha on March 6th, 2009 in Ready Made Outfits, Women |
Q: I am traveling around Japan for 3 weeks beginning in late March. What do you suggest packing? I plan on dressing casually and packing as lightly as possible. We will be doing a lot of sightseeing and walking around. What shoes would be comfortable and would go with everything (I only want to pack one pair)?
by Colleen Geary, fashion stylist and image consultant
A: How lovely—March is the most popular time of year to travel to Japan. It’s the beginning of their Spring season, which means that their famous cherry blossoms will begin to bloom.
Fashion wise, Japan is a fascinating country. Fashion forward young people are so creative in dress—influences range from Harajuku (which encompasses a variety of styles, from gothic Lolita to cosplay) to Hime (a new princess craze). But these edgy styles aside, Japan is a very conservative country when it comes to fashion. You can get away with casual dress when you’re out seeing the sights, but remember that Japan is a place where attention to appearance is paramount (especially in business situations). Japanese women have a penchant for meticulously tailored garments—and often wear heels even with casualwear.
For sightseeing in Japan in late March, here’s what you need to bring:
Tops: Bring an assortment of nice, relatively conservative shirts and blouses, both knits and wovens. Sleeveless styles are OK, but nothing that shows cleavage, nothing tight or clingy. For late March, long sleeved blouses and knits are going to be your best bet; it may be Spring, but the weather is still going to be a bit chilly.
Sweaters: Pack a couple of versatile sweaters to layer over your tops; this will allow you to dress in layers to adjust to the heat and cold.
Bottoms: Your bottoms wardrobe is going to center around long pants. Pack a couple of pairs of casual pants, and one pair of dressier pants. You can also bring jeans—tourists do wear jeans; however, they’re somewhat less common amongst the more formal Japanese women. Skip the shorts, but cropped pants are do-able if they work with your figure.
Dresses: If you’re going to be attending any more formal events, you can also pack a dress (knee-length or longer) for the occasion.
Outerwear: For late March, a light jacket should suffice to keep you warm (especially if you’re layering with sweaters).
Shoes: If you’re planning on bringing only one pair of shoes, you will want a comfortable yet stylish flat that will work for sightseeing and dressier occasions. I recommend a pair of Cole Haan flats with Nike Air technology or a pair of Softspots with a tempurpedic footbed.
Last thoughts? Get a pedicure before your trip, and make sure to bring lots of pairs of socks. As you sightsee, you’ll often be asked to remove your shoes when you visit temples and other buildings.
Have a great tip about what to wear in Japan? Share it with us in the comments!
Posted by Trisha on March 5th, 2009 in Q&A, Women, Women's |
It may still be Winter, but Spring is just around the corner. (At least, that’s what retailers would have us believe.) Welcome the warm weather with clean basics and a bright splash of color. Here’s how to get the crisp Spring look:
1. Start with a crisp buttondown shirt. If you’re bold, try a bright color (like this slim striped red shirt).
2. So as to make the bright shirt the focus of the outfit, pair the shirt with a pair of dark pants. Dark rinse, straight leg jeans will always do the trick.
3. Toss on a lightweight trench to complete the outfit. Note how the bright shirt really pops against the sand colored trench.
4. Accessorize with a pair of comfy loafers and a quality work bag. With the sand colored trench and the bright shirt, brown shoes create the perfect pairing. Black accessories would be too imposing on such a light outfit.
How will you transition your wardrobe for Spring? Share your style with us in the comments!
Posted by Trisha on March 4th, 2009 in Men, Ready Made Outfits |
Sure, you can wear a sweatervest with a formal buttondown shirt and casual jeans, but you can also invert the fashion formula for an outfit that’s more visually interesting. Simply pair your sweatervest with a foundation of a casual tee and a pair of formal trousers. Here’s how to get the rest of the sweatervest look:
1. Start with a simple tee and a pair of wide leg trouser pants.
2. Layer on a cropped sweatervest over the t-shirt. Note how the texture of the sweatervest contrasts with the smooth knit of the tee.
3. Throw on a long tailored blazer. Note how the shawl collar of the vest looks so rich from underneath the blazer.
4. Accessorize with a bright pair of pumps and a casually chic tote. Don’t you love how the pumps visually pop?
How do you wear a sweatervest? Share your style with us in the comments!
Posted by Trisha on March 3rd, 2009 in Ready Made Outfits, Women |
We asked: Would you wear Gingham?
You said: Yes to Gingham, with a 58% to 42% vote.
Style tip? Gingham is such a fresh Spring look. Pair it with garments that give off an equal insouciance: white trousers (for guys and girls), denim skirts, and bright colors. We love a classic blue gingham, but you can also branch out and try the pattern in other colorways.
Next question: Animal prints are not just for our animal friends–zebra prints, in particular, are taking Spring by storm. Tell us, would you wear Animal Prints? Cast your vote on the sidebar!
Pictured: Secret Wash Button-down Shirt in Medium Gingham | $59.50 at J Crew.
Posted by Trisha on March 2nd, 2009 in Trend, Trend Predictives, What's In and What's Out, Women |
Even when it’s rainy outside, life goes on. You still go to work, out with your friends, and on errand runs. And you need outfits that are as stylish as they are practical for the cold and the rain. Here’s an example of a utilitarian style that’ll sing effortless chic for rainy days:
1. Start with a plain white button down shirt and a pair of cargo pants: one part chic, one part utility.
2. Toss on a grey scarf for an effortless European inspired look.
3. Layer on a sophisticated black jacket to shield you from the elements. And let that grey scarf peek out from underneath.
4. Accessorize with a clear plastic umbrella (very stylish), a brightly colored handbag (just because it’s grey outside doesn’t mean that you can’t buck the trend), and a pair of flat rainboots. If your pant legs are skinny enough, you can tuck them in to the tops of the rainboots for a svelte (and dry) look.
How do you dress for a rainy day? Share your style with us in the comments!
Posted by Trisha on February 27th, 2009 in Ready Made Outfits, Women |
How do you construct an outfit that’s at once youthful and sophisticated? It’s simple: just mix and match, combining refined pieces with those with a more casual feel. Whatever your age, you can utilize this fashion tip to adjust your style to however young at heart you feel! Here’s a fashion formula that illustrates how to mix and match classic and casual pieces:
1. Start with a youthful piece: an embellished tee. Note how the ever so slight tint and the rose embellishment elevate it beyond a simple casual tee.
2. Add to the playfulness of the youthful tee with a brightly colored cardigan. The cheery orange color pairs well with the warm tinted tee and makes the outfit feel more accessible.
3. Bring on the polish with a couple of tailored pieces: a sailor inspired peacoat and a tweed pencil skirt.
4. Add accessories with a harder edge to counterbalance the youthfulness of the embellished tee and the bright sweater. A slouchy heeled boot and a zippered tote bag do the trick.
How would you mix and match classic and casual pieces? Share your style with us in the comments!
Posted by Trisha on February 26th, 2009 in Ready Made Outfits, Women |
Guys, you don’t have to wear a three piece suit to wear a vest. In fact, you can take a tailored vest and pair it with casual clothes to elevate an entire outfit. Here’s how to "casualize" a tailored vest:
1. Start with a casual button down shirt and a pair of dark rinse jeans.
2. Layer on the tailored vest. Notice how keeping the vest in the same color palette as the shirt allows them to work together.
3. Accessorize with a textured belt (if you’re wearing a vest, wear a belt) and a pair of stylish sneakers.
4. Throw on a peacoat (or trenchcoat, if you prefer) to finish off the outfit.
Guys, how do you wear a vest? Share your style with us in the comments!
Posted by Trisha on February 25th, 2009 in Men, Ready Made Outfits |
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