Yeah, we know that colored jeans are very 1985, but they’re coming back this summer looking surprisingly fresh. Goes to show that in fashion, what goes out does eventually come back in. How to wear brightly colored jeans?
Play Up the Color by wearing a colored tee in a complementary color. Brightly colored jeans are, by nature, playfully casual. So wear them with a tee that brings on the fun.
Balance with Neutral Colors to your outfit with a light sweater or jacket. Mixing too many bright colors can make your outfit look schizophrenic, so we like to balance out the brights with some neutrals. Our favorite neutral to add to brights? Grey. We love grey for its ability to provide visual stability in an outfit, and it works a lot better than black for pairing with brights. Or do as we did here and try a smart looking stripe.
Layer on Accessories to complete the casually playful look. Look for fun accessories such as colorful cuffs, chunky necklaces, or oversized cocktail rings. Brightly colored jeans deserve equally playful accessories.
How do you wear brightly colored jeans? Share your style with us in the comments!
Posted by Trisha on August 7th, 2008 in Ready Made Outfits, Women |
It’s a simple enough fashion formula - the casual classic jeans, tee, and a hoodie. But don’t let the simplicity downplay the style of this outfit. We’ve constructed the perfect outfit to take you from running errands to grabbing a latte at the local coffee shop to hanging out with your buddies at night. Here’s why it works:
Balance: The bright blue striped tee and the splash of orange on the sneakers provide a counterbalance for the muted neutrals in the rest of the outfit.
Repetition: Stripes, stripes, stripes. The stripes of the tee are front and center, but they’re echoed in the pinstripe of the belt and the colorblocking on the Diesel sneakers.
Surprise: The key to turning a good outfit into a great one is adding the element of suprise. Sometimes its done by adding a bright splash of color, sometimes its done by adding a standout accessory, and sometimes its done by an eyecatching pattern. Here, the element of suprise is a bit less flashy: a tiny skull pattern on the lined hoodie.
Guys, what’s your casual go-to outfit? Share your style with us in the comments!
Posted by Trisha on August 6th, 2008 in Men, Ready Made Outfits |
We’re continuing our love affair with Martin + Osa as they unveil their latest collection. Yes, they can be a bit pricey, but the quality of the clothes makes the splurge worth it. Here’s what we’ll be wearing this Fall from Martin + Osa:
Havaianas Print Flip Flops | $20 at Martin + OsaDon’t you love the festive seashell print on these flip flops? We’re a big fan of Havaianas–they’re super comfy.
Thin Patent Leather Belt | $34.50 at Martin + Osa
Wear this patent leather belt with your weekday tailored work clothes and your weekend casual clothes.
Herringbone Denim Trouser | $79.99 at Martin + Osa
We’re loving the tailored look of these denim trousers and the chic herringbone fabric.
Refined Cotton Shirt Dress | $99.50 at Martin + Osa
This cotton shirt dress is refined enough to wear to work, yet chic enough to go out in the evening.
Military Blazer | $150 at Martin + Osa
Four button-flap pockets grace Martin + Osa’s military blazer. Great for adding extra volume for women with a small bust.
Posted by Trisha on August 5th, 2008 in Shopping Guide, Women |
We asked: Would you wear Peasant Tops?
You said: Maybe. For the second week in a row, the vote was pretty close, with 44% of you saying Yes to Peasant Tops and the remaining 56% saying No.
Style tip? The Peasant Blouse is by nature a feminine top. We love pairing the feminine peasant blouse with a pair of menswear trousers for balance. If you’re not so into the Peasant Blouse look, you may want to try a less literal interpretation of the shirt, as seen at left.
Next question: Speaking of comeback trends, Brightly Colored Jeans are back in the trend rotation this season. But what do you think? Tell us, would you wear Brightly Colored Jeans? Cast your vote on the sidebar!
Pictured: Silk Fringe Sleeve Top| $69 at Banana Republic.
Posted by Trisha on August 4th, 2008 in Trend, Trend Predictives, What's In and What's Out, Women |
In some cases, the difference between business formal and business casual dress is obvious. A wool suit is more formal than a pair of denim. Enough said. Often times, however, the office dress code won’t allow for such extreme contrasts, even if it is casual Friday.
A lot of what makes something casual is nuance and detail. Structure and material, to me, are the deciding factors. A suit can be too casual for the office if the jacket is unstructured. A pair of trousers, even if they are wool, can be casual if they are uncreased and are not hemmed at an appropriate length. A knit or skinnier tie can be casual. Sidebar: Despite what many men think, a skinnier tie is not “old-fashioned†or “from the 50s†– it can be quite modern – it is just more casual.
At the same time, clothing that is too casual for Monday through Thursday can be worn on casual Friday. That unstructured cotton suit from J. Crew? Perfect for casual Friday. Ignore coworkers jabbing you and asking you why you are so dressed up—you know better. That pair of uncreased khakis that hits the top of your shoe? Casual Friday. Knit tie? Casual Friday.
Last tip? Blue and white shirts boring? Balderdash. Don’t discount the style factor of a solid blue or white shirt. A plain, well-fitted shirt is modern and sleek; I’ve personally gotten more compliments when I wear suits with a plain shirt than with stripes or patterns (with the exception of a beautiful Ralph Lauren Black Label micro check I found on sale). A well-cut shirt that fits is never boring.
Pictured: Year Round Suiting Vest | $118 at J Crew.
Posted by Trisha on August 1st, 2008 in Men |
Why does this outfit work?
Yellow and orange make for a striking color combination. It’s easy to choose one bold color to anchor an outfit, but you get more than double the style points if you successfully combine two bright colors.
Black and white pattern provides a graphic counterpoint to the bright yellow and orange. Notice how the tiny black and white dot pattern on the sweater is faintly echoed in the tribal border print of the tunic top.
Neutral accessories ground the outfit, which is high on both color and pattern. The chocolate brown bag complements the warm yellows and oranges, while the gold gladiator sandals provide a bit of extra shine.
What’s your go-to color combination for summer? Share it with us in the comments!
Posted by Trisha on July 31st, 2008 in Ready Made Outfits, Women |
Q: I have been dressing my 6′10" husband for 11 years and am at a loss as to what he can wear! Can you help me dress this tall man? I see NBA players wearing designer duds, but darned if I can find anything to fit my basketball player.
A: Fear not; tall men have plenty of wardrobe options. Like with the “plump†men question before, dressing a tall man is just a matter of proportion and emphasis. Oh, and NBA players may wear designer clothing, but that doesn’t mean they are dressed well. If you want to take your style cues from a pro, follow in the 6’4†Tom Brady’s footsteps.
Suits
Avoid suits with more than three buttons. I’ll go crazy if I see another 4 or 5 button suit on an athlete. The answer to the extra long torso is not more buttons; it’s a higher cut lapel. A two button suit on a tall man can look great if the lapel is cut higher to compensate. Also, don’t get a suit with a lot of padding in the shoulders. They aren’t shoulder pads, and you’re not an NFL linebacker. As for sleeves, keep the amount of cuff you show to a minimum, but still show a sliver.
Tops
Widen your thin torso with your shirts. Look for lighter colors. Dark colors narrow your silhouette; light colors widen it. Wear diagonal or horizontal stripes (but don’t go crazy), wear a pocket square with a jacket or blazer and wear your belt (not wearing a belt is stylish and a good tip for shorter men, but tall men need the width) regardless of the kind of pants you have on.
Pants
Make sure your pants are well fitted, not too skinny, not too loose. DO NOT wear baggy slacks—they’re unflatttering. And have a generous break on your pants, allowing the pants to hit your shoes. For more casual wear, these tips also apply. Like with the slacks, have a generous break on chinos and jeans. And don’t get skinny fit jeans; get a pair of straight leg jeans.
Accessories
Look for normal or slightly slim ties, under 3.5†at the widest point. Don’t wear extra-slim ties; tall men usually have long, thin torsos and you want to widen your torso with a wider tie. Also, you may find that the short end of your tie doesn’t quite reach the loop (the part on the back of the tie that holds the short end in place). If that’s the case, simply ask your tailor to resew the loop higher. It’s fairly easy and should be cheap to do.
Can’t find the perfect fit? Get a tailor.
Find a great tailor and let him work. Fit may be a problem for tall guys. An extra-large shirt fits nicely in the torso, but it’s too wide in the shoulder. A large shirt fits better in the shoulder, but then you get screwed on the torso. The answer? Buy the shirt that fits in the shoulder (this is ALWAYS the correct way to find the right fit for a shirt) and have the tailor take in the sides.
Have a great tip about what to wear to flatter a tall physique? Share it with us in the comments!
Pictured: Tom Brady, courtesy of Tom Brady’s Official Website.
Posted by Trisha on July 30th, 2008 in Features, Figure Flattery Guide, Men |
In 2003, Monica Botkier launched her namesake line of handbags. Botkier bags instantly gained cult status among fashionistas for their mix of luxury and functionality–with a downtown edge. A favorite of Angelina Jolie, Jessica Alba, and Heidi Klum, pricey Botkier bags are usually found at high end department stores and boutiques. Think Barneys, Neiman Marcus, and Fred Segal. But now, five years after the birth of Botkier bags, you can get them for under $50. Here’s our three favorite bags from the Botkier for Target collection:
Botkier for Target Satchel in Gray Python | $39.99 at Target
Botkier for Target Hobo in White Python | $39.99 at Target
Botkier for Target Clutch in Gray Python | $19.99 at Target
Posted by Trisha on July 29th, 2008 in Shopping Guide, Women |
We asked: Would you wear Gladiator Sandals?
You said: Maybe. This vote was pretty close, with 52% of you saying No to Gladiator Sandals and the remaining 48% saying Yes.
Style tip? True to their name, gladiator sandals are by nature a somewhat aggressive shoe. They bring a bit of an edge to an otherwise neutral outfit. We love pairing gladiator sandals with pretty skirts and dresses to add a bit of a masculinity to an otherwise feminine outfit.
Next question: Remember when peasant tops were the It shirt of summer a few years ago? Looks like they may be making a (small) comeback. But what do you think? Tell us, would you
wear Peasant Tops? Cast your vote on the sidebar!
Pictured: Mossimo Phoebe Bauble Gladiator Sandals| $19.99 at Target.
Posted by Trisha on July 28th, 2008 in Trend, Trend Predictives, Trendscape, What's In and What's Out, Women |
Express, which we shop for knits and other basics, has finally opened an online store. Here’s what we have our eyes on from Express:
Featherweight Dip Dye Tee | $22.50 at ExpressA basic tee with some extra personality. Hooray for Ombre!
Sleeveless Neck-Tie Top | $39.50 at Express
We love how this knit tie-neck top can bridge casual and business wear.
Volume Sleeve Crop Top | $39.50 at Express
This top is the closest we’re getting to the revived peasant top trend. We promise!
Front Tie Short Sleeve Shirt | $49.50 at Express
Tie-neck detailing turns this short sleeve button down into something special.
Plaid Mini Skirt | $59.50 at Express
Preppy meets sexy with this plaid miniskirt. If your legs are less than perfect (or you want to make the mini a bit more modest), try wearing this skirt with dark colored tights (as shown).
Preppy Denim Jacket | $88 at Express
The nipped in waist, gold buttons, and the cropped sleeves make a chic, preppy statement.
Posted by Trisha on July 25th, 2008 in Shopping Guide, Women |
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