How to Wear Fishnet Stockings without Looking Trashy


Feeling the love for this outfit? Here’s more information about it.


Editor’s Note: We were inspired by the equal 50-50 split on last week’s fishnet stockings poll, so we’re taking this opportunity to show the 50% of you who were pro-fishnets how to best wear this trend.  And perhaps these tips will turn around some of the fishnet naysayers.

Fishnet stockings used to be reserved for a hot night out at the club or a late night rendezvous (or other equally racy events).  But now they’re making their way into more mainstream wardrobes.  How do you wear fishnets without looking trashy?  Three simple tips:

(1) Choose a fishnet stocking with a fine mesh.  The finer the mesh, the less racy the stockings appear.
(2) Pair the stockings with clothing that’s more sophisticated than sexy.  If you’re wearing a dress or skirt, a hem that’s around knee-length or longer is ideal.  Pants pair well with fishnet stockings–it’s especially fetching when you can see just a hint of stocking showing.
(3) Slip on a pair of closed-toe shoes.  Boots are great, but most closed-toe shoes will do the trick.  An open-toe shoe looks silly with fishnet stockings–or really any stockings (if it’s warm enough to wear an open-toe shoe, why are you wearing stockings?).

Have a great tip about how to wear fishnet stockings?  Share it with us in the comments!

Posted by Trisha on February 26th, 2008 in How To, Ready Made Outfits, Trend, Trendscape, Trendscape, Women, Women's | 14 comments

You Said: Fishnets are In and Out!

Omiru Poll Result: Fishnets are In (50%) and Out (50%)


Minx It Up Refined Fishnet Pantyhose

Editor’s Note: We’re making a slight (but meaningful) change to our poll starting this week based on your answers to our reader survey.  Identifying which trends you actually want to wear
(whether they’re in or not) is more relevant to "real style for real
people" than figuring out which trends are In or Out.
  So instead of asking if a given trend is In or Out, we’re asking whether you’d wear it or not.  Hope this provides you with more meaningful information!

We asked:
Are Fishnets In or Out?

You said:  In…and Out.  Both got 50% of the vote.

Style tip?  Though acceptable to wear, fishnet stockings exude sexiness.  Should you choose to wear fishnets, make sure that your overall look isn’t overtly racy.  Try: fishnets with closed-toe shoes, boots, knee-length skirts, or even pants.  Avoid: skirts that are significantly shorter than knee-length, open-toed shoes.

Next question: Cocoon coats featured prominently on the runways at fashion week, but they’re not the most figure flattering.  Would you wear them? Cast your
vote on the sidebar!

Pictured:  Minx It Up Refined Fishnet Pantyhose | $15 at Victoria’s Secret.

Posted by Trisha on February 25th, 2008 in Trend, Trend Predictives, What's In and What's Out, Women | 1 comment

5 Immediate Improvements to Omiru

Hi everybody,

You guys are awesome–100 of you responded to the reader survey in a record two days!  Here’s a quick summary of what you like best about Omiru–and what you think we can improve on:

You love Omiru for our…

  • Style Q&As
  • Trend Articles
  • Ready Made Outfits
  • Shopping Finds

And here’s where we have room for improvement…

  • Organization: Useful articles are buried, and they’re really hard to find.
  • Pictures:  In particular, more pictures are needed to illustrate answers to the Q&As.
  • Shopping Finds: Our shopping picks aren’t cheap enough overall, and the ones that are come from the same few places. 
  • Men’s Articles: Omiru has plenty of women’s articles, but there’s not enough here for the guys.  Plus, the guys don’t know when the men’s articles will be posted.
  • Polls (and Runway Reviews): They aren’t as useful as the Style Q&As, Trend Articles, and Ready Made Outfits.  Polls, in particular, could be better if they focused on emerging trends or trends that aren’t obviously In.

While our long-term improvement plan for Omiru is still in the works, we’ve identified a few changes we can make immediately.  Here’s five ways we can make Omiru better for you right away:

  • More Pictures: They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, so we’ll be adding more illustrations to our Q&As, trend articles, and of course, the ready made outfits.
  • More Men’s Articles: We’ll dedicate one day a week (Wednesday) to men’s articles.  We know this isn’t a lot, but on our priority list is expanding our men’s coverage further in the future. 
  • Refocused Poll: Instead of asking if something’s In or Out, we’ll ask whether you’d wear it or not.  Identifying which trends you actually want to wear (whether they’re in or not) is more relevant to "real style for real people" than figuring out which trends are In or Out.
  • More Reasonable Shopping Options: We’ll work on diversifying our shopping picks so they come from more stores–and where possible, we’ll lower the price point on the items that we do feature.
  • More How to Wear a Trend and Ready Made Outfit Articles: We’ll diversify our regular article selection beyond Style Q&As and the Polls.

The one caveat: in order to support our
new-and-improved article lineup, we’re going to have to throttle back
on our answers to your reader questions.  The team here will still be
answering as many questions as humanly possible, but unfortunately, we won’t be able to answer all of them.  If you already asked your question, though, we promise you an answer. 

As for longer term changes, the two most requested features are (1) a lookbook, and (2) a forum where you can ask and answer reader questions (especially since our question queue is super long right now, and a lot of you are waiting on answers from us!).  Consider both to be on our will-be-added-to-Omiru list.

Even though we’ve got the short term plan ironed out, we’re still working out the rest of the longer term changes to Omiru–so stay tuned.  Thanks again for your feedback and ideas!

Cheers,
Trisha and the Omiru Team

Posted by Trisha on February 24th, 2008 in News, Off Topic | 4 comments

What do you love (and hate) about Omiru?

It’s been an exciting start of 2008 for us here at Omiru.  First, we were nominated for Best Fashion Blog in the 2008 Fabbies Awards (if you’re so inclined–and don’t mind registering to vote, please cast a ballot for Omiru!).  Then Real Simple magazine, which we read religiously, named us one of the three best fashion blogs on the Internet.  But even more meaningful to us is the fan mail we’re getting from you guys.  We love you too! 

In all of this excitement, we’re not forgetting about our New Year’s promise to you: to make Omiru an even better place for you.  To make Omiru better, we first want to learn from you what you like–and what you don’t.  So we put together a short survey (6 questions, takes no longer than 5 minutes, promise!) for you to voice your opinion on what should stay, what we should add, and what should go. 

Help us create a better Omiru for you and take the 6-question survey.

Thanks in advance–
Trisha and the Omiru Team

UPDATE 2/24/08: Survey is now closed.  Thanks a ton for your feedback (and the overwhelming response to the survey)!  We’re reading through each and every one of your comments and in the process of figuring out what changes we can make to make Omiru better for you.  Stay tuned for more on that.  If there’s something else that you’d like to add (or didn’t get to take the survey), feel free to email us with comments and ideas at hello at omiru dot com. 

Posted by Trisha on February 21st, 2008 in News, Off Topic | 4 comments

Q&A: How to Fit Jeans into Knee-High Boots

Q:  I always have trouble fitting my jeans into my black knee-high boots. How do I snugly fit them in?

Sooft Tyla Tall Wide Shaft Boot A:  What’s the trick to fitting jeans into knee-high boots?  It’s all about finding the right jeans and the right boots.

To be able to fit your jeans into your boots, the boots have to have enough room in the calf.  Structured styles of boots work best–form fitting, stretchy material doesn’t have enough room to accept the extra jeans material.

As for jeans that work well with boots, the less fabric you have to fit into the boots, the easier the fit. Skinny jeans styles are the best, since they have the least amount of fabric in the leg.  I’ve found that stretchy jeans (which tend to be more form fitting) work nicely with boots, as do jeans in relatively thin fabrics.

Have a great tip about how to fit jeans into knee-high boots?  Share it with us in the comments!

Pictured:
Sooft Tyla Tall Wide Shaft Boot | $174.95 at Nordstrom.

Style question?  We’ve got answers.  E-mail us at questions at omiru dot com.

Posted by Trisha on February 20th, 2008 in Q&A, Women, Women's | 13 comments

Q&A: How to Fly in Style

Q:  I’m going to be flying to London to visit my boyfriend.  I’m hoping to wear something comfortable (and warm) yet pulled together since I’ll be going to his flat straight from the airport, and it’ll be the first time we see each other in weeks.  Any suggestions for a travel-enduring outfit?


A:
  Wrinkle free fabrics are going to be your best bet for your straight airport-to-flat rendezvous.  And given the chilly temperatures in London, knits are going to be your friend.  For a style that’s equally comfortable and warm, try a chunky knit sweaterdress over tights and knee-high boots.  Top off the outfit with a 3/4 length or full length wool or cashmere coat (bonus points for bright colors or standout detailing). 

But looking great after a long trip isn’t all about what you’re wearing.  Remember to bring a beauty mask for the plane–it’ll make it infinitely easier to get your beauty rest on the plane.  Lotion can also help to relieve any skin dryness from the exposure to the dry airplane air.

Last to-do?  Before you hop in the cab to his flat, freshen up your hair and makeup in the airport bathroom.  Bon voyage!

Have a great tip about how to fly in style?

  Share it with us in the comments!

Style question?  We’ve got answers.  E-mail us at questions at omiru dot com.

Posted by Trisha on February 19th, 2008 in Q&A, Women, Women's | 7 comments

Q&A: Cold Weather Shoes for Cropped Pants

Q:  What does one wear with (more formal) pants that hit mid-calf? During the summer, flats are a logical choice, but during fall and winter, what does one wear to keep out the cold?


If you’re feeling the love for this outfit, here’s more information about it.


A:
  Trousers that hit at mid-calf are perfect for warm weather, but they’re not as good for colder temperatures and climates.  But if you choose to wear cropped trousers during the winter, we recommend trying tall boots to keep out the cold.  Knee-length boots work well, and they’ll fully cover pants that hit at mid-calf. 

You may also want to wear another layer underneath the cropped pants–tights or leggings.  Double layering your pants will do wonders to keep you warm.

Have a great tip about cold weather shoes for cropped pants?

  Share it with us in the comments!

Style question?  We’ve got answers.  E-mail us at questions at omiru dot com.

Posted by Trisha on February 18th, 2008 in Q&A, Women, Women's | 5 comments

You Said: Jumpsuits are Out!

Omiru Poll Result: Jumpsuits are Out


Porter Grey Glass Button Romper

We asked: Are Jumpsuits In or Out?

You said:  Out, with an overwhelming 85% of the vote!

Style tip?  If you choose to go against the grain and don a jumpsuit, try a shorter style–and one with a belt.  Bonus points for bright colors, like this sunshine yellow Porter Grey romper.

Next question: Fishnet stockings (and fishnet fabrics) appear to be on the trend radar for Fall 2008.  But would you wear them? Cast your
vote on the sidebar!

Pictured:  Porter Grey Glass Button Romper | $76.50 (sale) at Shopbop.

Posted by Trisha on February 18th, 2008 in Trend, Trend Predictives, What's In and What's Out, Women | 1 comment

Q&A: How to Wear a Short Sleeved Blazer

Q:  I bought a short sleeved blazer.  I figured I could wear it with a camisole and jeans or grey slacks in warm weather. But I swear I just saw someone on TV wearing one with a long sleeved turtleneck. Is this a good way to wear the jacket year-round, or am I trying to hard?

Leila Plaid Short Sleeved Blazerby Colleen Geary, fashion stylist and image consultant

A:  A long sleeved turtleneck paired with a short sleeved blazer? I don’t think you would look like you are trying too hard.

A short sleeved blazer is, by nature, fun and flirty.  It’s the cheery counterpart to the standard down-to-your-wrists blazer that gets most of the attention.  Because the short sleeved blazer is about fun, play with it and experiment.  Now’s a great time to play with this piece–the short sleeved blazer is on trend for Spring. 

But you don’t have to wait until Spring to bust out your blazer.  Wear it with a long sleeved turtleneck (perhaps with pencil stripes), dark jeans, and simple earrings.  And when it warms up in the Spring, pair it with cute t-shirts or silky, blousy tops. 

If you’re afraid of making mistakes, remember the wise words of Chanel- "There are no unattractive women, only lazy women." In other words, only through experimentation will you develop a strong sense of style.

Have a great tip about how to wear a short sleeved blazer?

  Share it with us in the comments!

Pictured:
Leila Plaid Short Sleeved Blazer | $27.80 at Forever 21.

Style question?  We’ve got answers.  E-mail us at questions at omiru dot com.

Posted by Trisha on February 14th, 2008 in Q&A, Women, Women's | 11 comments

Q&A: Professional Style 101

Q:  I’m a medical student about to start my full time clinical rotations. For certain specialties, I can get away with scrubs, but for the ones requiring office appropriate attire, I’m at a complete loss. Anything a little fashionable or a little sexy ends up sending the wrong message under a white coat (Agyness Deyn might be a trend-setter, but would you want her diagnosing your cancer?) But I would really like to look younger and fresher than the boring button downs and slacks that have become my fall back!

Cotton Ruffle Front Floral Shirtby Jessica Stockdale, Style and Beauty writer at Found4less.com

A:  Balance is the keyword to working with this problem. You want to be respected, as you should be. But you don’t want to sacrifice style. And the good news is that you don’t have to. Other than balance, where you buy your clothes will aid you tremendously in picking suitable attire.

Where to Shop

A store like Express has sexy and fun clothes, but most of which are not going to be appropriate for the office. Same goes for the Victoria’s Secret clothing catalog.  The good news is that there are plenty of stores to find professionally appropriate attire.  We would recommend: Banana Republic, J Crew, Club Monaco, Anthropologie (for their trousers), White House | Black Market (for their jackets), Ann Taylor, and Bluefly.com (especially for their blazers).

What to Wear
The quality of your clothes will also sell your look as more professional.  Build a solid foundation wardrobe by investing in some good basics, such as a white blouse, black trousers, a cashmere sweater, and a flattering overcoat. These items will be long-term investments, so if you’re going to splurge, do so here.

Where balance is concerned, it’s fairly easy. Any piece of “sexy” apparel (e.g. V-necklines, light beading, etc) should be worn in a neutral color and in a not-too-tight fit.  That said, there are plenty of garments with modestly cut necklines and hemlines in fresh patterns.  Feel free to wear bold colors here—in fact, we encourage it!

We especially recommend the fitted blouses that Banana Republic has right now, in four different colors. They’re feminine, but professional. And do check out their cashmere mock turtlenecks and cowlneck sweaters.

Have a great tip about how to dress fashionable yet professionally?

  Share it with us in the comments!

Pictured:
Cotton Ruffle Front Floral Shirt | $58 at Ann Taylor.

Style question?  We’ve got answers.  E-mail us at questions at omiru dot com.

Posted by Trisha on February 13th, 2008 in Q&A, Women, Women's | 7 comments

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