We asked you to share with us your New Year’s Resolutions for 2008, and the responses were truly inspiring:
Jessica deemed 2008 "the year that things will get done," and vowed to set realistic resolutions, including brushing up on cooking and baking skills (yum).
Mimi’s going to be looking fabulous for everyday outings, not just for special occasions. Step one? Getting rid of that ratty old hoodie!
Glennie’s all about Quality over Quantity and is going to build a foundation wardrobe full of good quality clothes (instead of trendy pieces that fall apart after two washes).
Anne, after finishing her thesis, will beautify her house by painting her living room…and is vowing to not flake on going to the gym three times a week.
Taylor’s taking a leap, living life to the fullest and not caring what other people think.
Lise will be spending more quality time with the girls, mixing up her fitness routine, and wearing clothes better tailored for her body.
Deann will be transforming her wardrobe for more grown-up looks. She’s also going to read before bed instead of watching TV!
After reading your resolutions,
it seems to me that though our specific goals may be
different, we all kind of want the same thing: to dress better, to feel
healthier, to spend more time with loved ones, to be creative,
to do more (and to do it better). And these things are aligned pretty
well with the founding mission of Omiru: to make your life better
through the power of style. So as we approach our 3rd birthday, we’ll continue to be there for you with style advice, fashion tips, and more articles that will help you on your life (and style) journey.
Gifts for all of you, a thank you for sharing your hopes and goals with us…and an encouragement to keep these goals in mind past January. Here’s to a happy, healthy, and productive 2008. Game on!
Posted by Trisha on January 3rd, 2008 in Off Topic |
Q: My husband is changing jobs and is in need of a more professional wardrobe, i.e. he’ll be wearing suits every day. He has pale skin and dark brown hair with blue eyes. We’re looking for more variety in his wardrobe color palette…do you have any rules about what colors go best with certain skin tones?
A: In general, pale skinned guys should stick to white, charcoal (I include gray and black in this category), navy and maybe some red; tell him to stay away from khaki and other similar earth tones.
I’m going to be forthright with you, though, because I don’t want your husband looking like a fool. Forget about the wardrobe color palette. It really shouldn’t be a big factor in determining your husband’s work clothes. Be the best-dressed man in the office, but do it by wearing suits that are clean, tailored and sophisticated. Trust me: don’t get caught up in what color looks the best with your husband’s skin. If he wears a well fitted dark suit (think charcoal, gray and navy), a crisp white shirt, and a complementary tie, he will look fantastic, no matter how pale skinned he is.
The best advice I can give to you is to go to a trusted department store and take the time to figure out what looks good on him. Find an employee that you think has good style and have him help you mix and match suits/shirts/ties. Also, go to a really upscale store - they won’t let you leave the store looking bad. This isn’t some shameless and cliché sales pitch for your nearby Wilkes Bashford; I say this because those kinds of stores don’t want to be associated with poorly dressed guys. I realize that going to an expensive store is, well, expensive, and not everyone may be able to/willing to pay those prices. Just remember: you’re not obligated to buy anything, and you will have a great sense of what looks good on your husband after you leave.
On a side note, if your spouse wants to copy a celebrity’s style, make it Gianni Agnelli. Mr. Agnelli is a sartorial legend and is considered one of the best dressed men in history, which is all the more impressive given the fact that he worked in the conservative world of business (meaning that loud, outlandish suits and such aren’t tolerated). The picture above is proof.
Style Tip: You can always learn from Mr. Agnelli. In this picture, check out the impeccable tailoring of his suit (it’s a bespoke, I’m sure), the Italian shoulder, and the crisp white shirt. The tie is perfect. It’s the perfect width for the collar width (an often overlooked detail of proportion), and it’s a perfect color – the gray base matches the suit, the white stripes pick up the shirt). The pocket square is a perfect finishing touch and a perfectly complementary color.
Have a great tip about great colors for pale skin?
Share it with us in the comments!
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 January 2nd, 2008 in Men, Men's, Q&A |
Q: I’ve fallen in love with some gorgeous brown knee-high boots! However, I’ve always heard that knee-high boots should fit snugly around your calves, and they are just a little bit loose around mine. What is your advice about knee-high boots?
A:
Good and bad news for you. The bad news is that you’re right: knee-high boots should fit snugly around the calf. The good news is that you have skinny calves, which are much easier to dress than oversized calves.
Knee-high boots ideally hug your leg right underneath the knee. Since you have skinny calves, we recommend looking for boots with buckles. A buckle at the top of the boot will allow you to cinch in the top of the boot, creating that snug fit.
Have a great tip about fitting boots to your calves?
Share it with us in the comments!
Pictured: Frye ‘Tina’ Tall Pleated Boot | $397.95 at Nordstrom.
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 January 1st, 2008 in Q&A, Women, Women's |
Thank you, dear readers, for another delightfully stylish year together.
In the two years and nine months we’ve been making your life more stylish, we’ve brought you a host of ready made outfits (women | men) , trend reports (women | men) , fashion week runway reviews (women | men), and, of course, our signature Q&As (women | men). In the years to come, we look forward to filling your life with more beautiful, wonderful things.
A Year in Review post wouldn’t be complete without a New Year’s Resolution, and we have one that we can’t wait to get started on. This year, we’re going to give Omiru a makeover to make it easier for you to find the style tips and tricks that you’re here for.
But what about you? What are your goals for 2008? Are you looking to be bolder with your fashion choices? Will you be cleaning out your closet? Are you, like us, looking for a whole fashion makeover?
We’re a strong believer that when you write something publicly, you’re much more likely to commit to doing it. And we want to help! So, whatever your goals are (fashion or otherwise), we’d be honored if you’d share them with the Omiru community.
If you’re so inclined, please share with us your 2008 goals. To sweeten the deal, we’ll be sending a few of you a small gift in the mail…a little something to get you started on your 2008 journey. We’ll let you know who’ll be receiving gifts on Wednesday, January 2, so please add your resolutions before then 
To a stylish 2008!
Pictured: Wish Pieces from Reed Seifer | $19.95 at Supermarket. Go ahead and make some unselfish…and selfish…wishes!
Posted by Trisha on December 31st, 2007 in Off Topic |
Q: New Years Eve is on its way. I’ll be spending it in Times Square with close friends and some friends of friends. It will be way too cold to dress in a skirt or dress. What to wear?! I’m only 18, so keep it funky!
A: Bundle up, it’s going to be cold outside! Whenever we see the Times Square New Year’s Eve countdown on TV, we see people dressed in overcoats, long pants…and most likely, long underwear. Because it’s so cold out, you’re going to want to dress warmly too. But bundling up doesn’t have to be boring.
Build your outfit around a statement coat. Your coat is going to be the first thing people will see–so be bold and pick a funky color (e.g. teal) or style (e.g. oversized lapels). Bright colors are perfect for your New Year’s Eve outing. Not only are they perfectly on trend, but they’re also a way to stand out in the crowd–especially if you get separated from your friends…or you want to spot yourself on TV.
Under the coat, dress warmly with a cozy oversized cowl neck sweater. Wool trousers layered over silk underwear will help to keep out the cold.
Add a bit of sparkle to your outfit with accessories. Go bold with a hat and gloves. Deck yourself with statement earrings–or a set of bold bracelets. Layer on a festive scarf. Finish off the look with a pair of dramatic boots. We recommend a low heel–enough to be festive, but not so high as to make your feet hurt.
P.S. Weather.com is calling for rain on New Year’s Eve. So don’t forget your umbrella!
Pictured: Soia & Kyo Double Breasted Belted Coat | $360 at Nordstrom.
Have a great tip about what to wear for New Year’s Eve?
Share it with us in the comments!
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 December 28th, 2007 in Q&A, Women, Women's |
Q: I’m a 20 year old guy, and I’ve just bought a pair of military green pants and I don’t know what to wear with them or more precisely which colour to wear with them. And I’m looking forward to looking cool and smart in them to impress the girls at university.
A:
When I think of what to wear with army green or olive green pants, I usually think of urban chic jackets, like this fantastic one by Balenciaga which you can find at Browns. Unfortunately, at 840GBP, it’s hardly “affordable.â€
Army Green is still kind of an uncommon color in a man’s wardrobe –that doesn’t mean it’s not very stylish – but because of this, it can easily serve as the focal point of your outfit. I also think this is why you don’t see many army green colored pants – it’s a bit unusual to have your pants be the focus of your outfit.
If you’re brave enough to be different, however, look good doing it. The most important thing here is that you make sure the rest of your clothes don’t clash. Your pants will attract the most attention; don’t fight it. Opt for earthy tones here; think cream or off-white, khaki and brown. You can also try the most versatile color of them all: white. If the pants have an olive component to them, you can dry dark navy shirt. As for shoes, I’d recommend wearing some dark brown shoes, preferably in a lace-up style.
If your pants are more of a richer dark — as in I’d-think-they-were-black-if-it-wasn’t-sunny dark — you have a few more options. You can try pairing the rich dark green pants with a medium gray tweed sport coat. With this sport coat, you could try adding a dark red or maroon cardigan underneath. Notice I say cardigan and not sweater here: a full red sweater may be overwhelming here, but a cardigan will add just a splash of red beneath your buttoned sport coat.
Oh, and by the way, if you go to an American university, it seems as if all you need to get girls is talk: like my friend Timothy’s, your clever-sounding British accent will drive the girls here nuts. Maybe I should have told you all the wrong things and level the playing field here for my fellow Americans.
Style Tip: If you ever are unsure of what color to wear with something, find a color wheel (google image search “color wheelâ€). In general, colors that are close to the color in question—or those that are on the opposite side of the color wheel–will go well with it. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should pair a very loud orange with equally loud yellow just because they sit next to each other. In general, you want to pick colors (and shades of colors) that complement one another, not those that aggressively compete for attention. As you’ll find, darker colors are easier to complement; this is why most dark colors, such as navy, are so versatile and popular.
Pictured: Polo Ralph Lauren English Wale Corduroy Pants | $98 at Saks Fifth Avenue.
Have a great tip about how to wear military green pants?
Share it with us in the comments!
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 December 27th, 2007 in Men, Men's, Q&A |
We asked: Are Oversized Handbags In or Out?
You said: In, with 60% of the popular vote.
Omiru’s take: Not a big surprise. The hottest handbags now are not only big–but also boldly colored with the acid brights of the season.
Style tip? Choose an oversized handbag appropriate to your size. If you’re petite, you’re not going to want to carry the giant hobo bag that your 6 ft counterpart is hauling around. Oh, and even though you have plenty of room in your bag, keep the stuff in your bag to a minimum. Better for your back, and it’s just good habit for when bags go small again.
Next question:
Just for fun: Did you get what you wanted for Christmas? Cast your
vote on the sidebar (and feel free to leave comments about your favorite gifts here).
Pictured: MAXX NEW YORK ‘Fenway’ Patent Bowler | $148 at Nordstrom.
Posted by Trisha on December 26th, 2007 in Trend, Trend Predictives, What's In and What's Out, Women |
Merry Christmas, all! Omiru will be out on holiday
for the next few days, returning bright and early the day after Christmas.
We’ll be celebrating the holidays with friends and family, and we’ll be coming up with our New Years Resolutions for next year. One thing that’s definitely on the list is a facelift for Omiru. We’ve kept the same look and feel for the last two years, and we think it’s about time for a change. More on that soon–we want to hear your ideas!
We’ll also be powering through the list of your reader questions. You’re a smart bunch, asking such insightful questions. We want to make sure you get equally thoughtful answers…but the downside is that we tend to get a bit backed up. So, apologies for the delays, but answers are coming!
Need something to read while we’re out? Here’s a few of our favorite posts from the last few months:
For Women:
How to Wear Rain Boots to Work
How to Build a Post College Wardrobe
How to Layer Necklines
For Men:
Where to Find the Best Peacoats
Top 10 Wardrobe Foundations for a Young Man
How to Wear Flannel Stylishly
Pictured: Peculiar Press City Sidewalks Letterpress Greeting Card | $4 at Luxe Paperie.
Posted by Trisha on December 21st, 2007 in Off Topic |
Welcome to a Special Sampler Edition of the Friday
Fashion Hotlist: a compilation of the cutest and coolest stuff Omiru’s
Style Intelligence Report saw out there on the web.
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.
Bees Knees Gocco Print | $3.50 each at Etsy
Designer Cate Anevski channels the bizarre images in her head into gallery work–and affordable pieces on Etsy.
Second-hand Rose Soap | $8.30 (or $9.50 AUD) at De L’Escalier.
We’re in love with Samantha Cheung’s vintage inspired soaps at De L’Escalier.
You’re My Better Half Cards | $3 each at The Paper Princess
Find vintage inspired paper goods by Leslie Saito at The Paper Princess.
Are you a designer or crafter? Spread the word about yourself by sending your goods to The Sampler today!
Posted by Trisha on December 21st, 2007 in Friday Fashion Hotlist, Trend |
Q: If you are not born with a long swan like neck, can you wear boatneck and/or funnel necklines? Obviously these necklines don’t visually elongate the neck as V necklines do, right?
A: If your neck is on the short side (as mine is), V necklines and deep scoop necklines are the most figure flattering. Boatneck necklines also work pretty well, but funnel necklines and turtlenecks aren’t your friend. The one exception to the rule: you can wear turtlenecks with oversized, drapey necklines–the verticality of the oversized drape tricks the eye into thinking your neck is longer than it actually is.
Pictured: Long Sleeve Cowlneck Sweater | $88 at Banana Republic.
Have a great tip about great necklines for a short neck?
Share it with us in the comments!
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 December 20th, 2007 in Q&A, Women, Women's |
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