Since it’s a day of celebration (and a day of food), it seems appropriate to spotlight a few of our favorite kitchen accessories. Happy Thanksgiving, all!
From left: Sporadic Wall Panel | $160 at Greener Grass Design, Bambu Low Bowls | $34 at Branch, and Poketo Artist Melamine Plates | $32 at Greener Grass Design.
Posted by Trisha on November 22nd, 2007 in Off Topic |
Q: When wearing tights during winter, the static always make them stick to the skirt I have on and this creates a “scrunched-up†look that totally destroys the otherwise nice, formal look I’m trying to achieve. How do I stop the static?
A: Indeed, static can ruin many an outfit–from skirts sticking to tights to hair sticking to sweaters. Here’s how to stop static from forcing you into a fashion faux pas:
(1) Run to the store and pick up a can of Static Guard.
(2) Spray Static Guard on your tights.
(3) Put on your skirt, and enjoy a static-free, scrunch-free day!
Pictured: Static Guard Spray | $4.99 at Walgreens.
Have a great tip about how to stop static?
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 November 21st, 2007 in Q&A, Women, Women's |
Q: I’m going to go meet my girlfriend’s family in New York for the first time this Thanksgiving. I want to make a good impression, but I also want to stay true to who I am (which can be described as casually offbeat). What should I wear?
A: A study conducted some time ago about the importance of first impressions in job interviews concluded that the interviewer passed judgment of the potential employee within 3 seconds, and more often than not, that judgment was right. No pressure, though, right?
The point of this story is to not only emphasize the importance of first impressions, but also to applaud your taking them so seriously.
That said, you don’t want to seem like you’re trying too hard to impress your girlfriend’s parents either. Look well dressed but not overdressed; look sophisticated, but not old (yes, you can still look sophisticated and casual at the same time). And try but make it seem effortless, which, admittedly, can be hard.
Since it is a special occasion, you probably want to dress up a little. A sweater would look a little stuffy, as would khakis or dress pants if not done right. I would go with either sporty chinos (flat fronts, unless you’re 35) or dressy jeans (dressy meaning dark with no fade). For a shirt, you can either wear an oxford (keep it conservative here, stick with white, blue or something with stripes) or a polo underneath a cotton or tweed blazer (wool would seem a little stuffy here).
Try the pictured polo from J. Lindeberg (I have one in burgundy and charcoal and it’s GREAT) with a charcoal cotton blazer over some dark denim and either lowtop white sneakers or brown penny loafers.
You could also try wearing this rugby shirt from Gap underneath a gray tweed blazer like this beauty from Ralph Lauren over some flat-front, sporty stone khakis and brown penny loafers.
It’s always hard to tell another person what to wear, so maybe the best thing to do is tell you what I would wear if I was visiting my girlfriend’s parents (with the caveat that we probably have different personal styles): gray tweed or cotton blazer over a light blue shirt and maybe a burgundy/gray cardigan over dark denim and simple white sneakers (have you seen those Common Projects lowtops?).
The second most important thing is fit. Bagginess is for kids. Wear your pants on your waist, not your hips. If you have any doubts or questions, visit your tailor.
So what’s the most important thing? Dinner Etiquette. Brush up on your manners with this guide and remember, the proper way to eat bread is to break the bread, butter the broken off piece, and gracefully eat it.
Pictured: J Lindeberg Polo Bold Stripe Pique Black | $95 at J Lindeberg.
Have a great tip about what to wear to meet the parents?
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 November 20th, 2007 in Men, Men's, Q&A | 2 comments
We asked: Are Full Skirts In or Out?
You said: In, with 62% of the popular vote.
Omiru’s take: Take that, tailored skirts! Full skirts are back in full force, perhaps as Fall’s more figure flattering continuation of Summer’s fling with volume (remember those tent and amorphous babydoll dresses?).
Style tip?
For the most flattering look, try a fitted top with a full skirt. Aim for this oh-so-elegant Small-over-Big silhouette.
Next question: You’re loving the full skirts–but do you also love pants with volume? Or are you into skinny cigarette pants? Tell us, are Skinny Cigarette Pants In,
or are they Out? Cast your
vote on the sidebar!
Pictured: Silk Taffeta Parlour Skirt | $165 at J Crew.
Posted by Trisha on November 19th, 2007 in Trend, Trend Predictives, What's In and What's Out, Women | 3 comments
Happy Holidays, all!
This week, we’re debuting our Holiday Gift Guide on our shopping blog. Check back often for our top gift picks for everyone on your shopping list–from your best friend to your boyfriend to your boss.
Visit the Holiday Gift Guide now!
Posted by Trisha on November 18th, 2007 in News, Off Topic |
Q: What colour should my suit be if I’m wearing it to a late afternoon wedding in a tropical country? Dress code is "coat and tie."
A:
“Coat and tie†is an unusual dress code. There are standard rules for black tie, black tie optional, etc., but “coat and tie†seems vague. It may sound silly, but you can judge the formality of the wedding based on the appearance of the invitation. Is the font and overall appearance of the card more casual? A suit will be just fine. Is the writing calligraphy and formal? You’ll probably need a tuxedo.
Still unsure? I would go so far as to even call the happy couple (or someone else that would know). I’m sure they wouldn’t mind the question and would probably appreciate your respecting the special nature of the event.
For the most part, it doesn’t matter where the wedding takes place, tropical or not. Wear what you would wear to a normal wedding. My guess is that “coat and tie†means black tie optional. What to wear to a black tie optional wedding? It’s pretty standard: a simple dark colored suit, crisp white shirt and your (tasteful) choice of tie. Since you’re going to be in a tropical climate, however, lighter colors (e.g. beige, white) are also acceptable. You could also consider wearing a cream tropical dinner jacket.
The only other thing to consider is footwear. If the wedding is on a beach, go barefoot and bring a towel to wipe the sand off your feet.
Pictured: Ben Sherman ‘Kensington’ Seersucker Suit | $595 at Nordstrom.
Have a great tip about what to wear to a tropical wedding?
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 November 16th, 2007 in Men, Men's, Q&A | 3 comments
Q: I’ve been invited to a wedding in November, but I have nothing to wear. I don’t want to get cold. Any ideas?
A: Weddings are governed by dress code first, then by season, time of day, and location. If the dress code is formal (e.g. Black Tie or Black Tie Optional), wear standard formalwear: a cocktail dress, a long dress, or dressy separates. If the dress code is more semi-formal, you can get away with a cocktail dress or a tailored suit set.
In order to keep warm, a long sleeved dress is going to be your best bet. With long sleeved dresses, you’ll probably want a shorter hem length (aim for knee-length for a wedding) to balance out the extra fabric up top.
Regardless, the key to keeping warm at winter weddings is outerwear. Bring a long tailored coat, a shrug, or a cozy wrap to keep yourself warm. And don’t forget hosiery–stockings work wonders to keep legs warm on cold days.
Pictured: Chain Link Print Merino Sweater Dress | $99.99 (sale) at J Crew.
Have a great tip about what to wear to a winter wedding?
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 November 15th, 2007 in Q&A, Women, Women's | 1 comment
Flannel is one of those things people seem to avoid because, I think, they are scared of looking like an early 90’s grunge rocker wannabe. And it’s true: flannel can look very grungy when done sloppily. It’s too bad, though, really. Flannel button downs are great for locales with colder fall seasons such as the Northeast because of the heavier fabric. Plus, the patterns, usually plaid, can make a bold statement.
So if you want to stand out from the crowd, wear flannel–but do it right. Here’s how:
Find a Great Flannel Shirt:
First off, you need to find a flannel shirt. Well-made flannel shirts aren’t the floppy and flimsy pieces that you probably saw in the 90’s. No, they have lines and form a great shoulder. And while I said they aren’t floppy; I didn’t say they aren’t soft. Here are three of the best flannel shirts
Pictured: Oak “Slash Pocket Buffalo Plaid Shirt†| $130 at Oak
This is a great piece from a great store, Oak NYC. The bold pattern goes well with anything, from jeans to a wool coat. It looks boxy in the picture, but it’s not when you wear. Notice the absence of a collar; it’s a ring collar, similar to that of a t-shirt. The pocket detail, Oak’s signature, is another sleek feature.
Steven Alan “SA Work Shirt†| $178 at Steven Alan
I really like this shirt in Red/Green (use the "choose a style" dropdown to view). Bold and colorful, it’s slim fitting and has a great shoulder. It also has a hint of rugged outdoorsman sex appeal. The picture doesn’t quite do it justice. Also be sure to check it out in White/Navy.
Cassette Flannel Shirt | $253 at Revolve Clothing
A little pricey, to be sure, but very stylish. It has a hint of West Coast/Southern California fashion, but it doesn’t obnoxiously scream “Los Angeles†like those Ed Hardy graphic Ts do. The slightly faded pattern gives it a worn-in (in a good way, like a pair of jeans) vibe.
Craft an Outfit around the Flannel Shirt
As always, fit is going to be key here. If the shirt is big on you, it will look very sloppy. Too small, and you’ll give off an emo rocker vibe.
Since these patterns are so bold, you want to let it be the focus of your outfit. Whatever else you wear, make sure it’s subtle and, preferably, patternless. Wear your flannel shirt with some dark denim with no fade (or a subtle one at the most). Well-fitted khakis would also work—and they’d look especially good with the Steven Alan shirt. The tan from the khaki complements the green and red, which immediately stand out, but it’s the subtle brownish base that really makes it work. If it’s cold enough to wear a jacket, pick one that isn’t too busy and one that picks up or complements the base color of the flannel shirt. As for shoes, sneakers should (as always) be low tops. Shoes other than sneakers can also work, but this look is harder to pull off.
How you wear your hair is actually important here too. Having medium or longer hair will give off kind of an indie rocker vibe. I’m not saying you shouldn’t wear flannel with longer hair, but I’m not saying you should either. I think shorter, more styled hair gives it a refreshingly sleek look.
Last tip? Don’t bother wearing an undershirt with these flannel shirts; wear just that shirt and button it, but not all the way.
Photo of man wearing flannel courtesy of The Sartorialist.
Have a great tip about how to wear flannel?
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 November 14th, 2007 in How To, Men, Men's | 18 comments
Q: My gorgeous fur coat (purchased before I came to my senses) was stolen. I don’t want to replace it with real fur, but I miss it’s beautiful feel, glamorous look and fabulous to wear over nice clothes. I am looking for a high end designer faux fur substitute. Is there such a thing?
By Colleen Geary, fashion stylist and image consultant
A:
Sorry to hear that your coat was stolen. Any department store such as Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks, or Bloomingdales would have a large selection of designer faux fur. We recommend finding a coat that doesn’t look exactly like fur–wearing faux fur also encourages others to prevent cruelty to animals by raising consciousness, and it’s tougher to do that with coats that are too lifelike.
We looked all over for the perfect designer faux fur coat–from Nordstrom to Net-a-Porter, but we couldn’t find a high-end faux fur coat that we could recommend. We did, however, find a cute shrug at Ann Taylor that would be a fun piece for the upcoming holiday season. Enjoy!
Pictured: Faux Broadtail Shrug | $128 at Ann Taylor.
Have a great tip about where to find designer faux fur?
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 November 13th, 2007 in Q&A, Women, Women's | 2 comments
We asked: Are Pleated Trousers In or Out?
You said: Out, with 54% of the vote casting the ballot towards Out and another 11% voting them On the Way Out.
Omiru’s take: Pleated Pants get a bad rep for their unflattering silhouette–they tend to visually add 5 pounds with their extra folds of fabric around the waistline. For this reason, flat front pants are gaining in popularity for both men and women.
Style tip? For women, if you do decide to don the pleated pants, make them part of a menswear-as-womenswear look. As for men, pleated pants do actually have their place. Traditional Italian suits feature pleated pants–and if you’re going for that look, pleats are actually preferred.
Next question: After seasons of tailored skirts and body-hugging pencil skirts, Full Skirts are making a fashion comeback. But what
do you think? Tell us, is The Full Skirt In,
or is it Out? Cast your
vote on the sidebar!
Pictured: Nordstrom Pleated Gabardine Wool Trousers | $95 at Nordstrom.
Posted by Trisha on November 12th, 2007 in Men, Trend, Trend Predictives, What's In and What's Out, Women | 2 comments
