Everyday Style

 

Occasion: Womens Church Group
Denim stretch pencil skirt: Coverse for Target $19.99
Black Tectured Tights: Bannana Republic $10
Suede wedge slouch boots: Steve Madden, DSW (3 years ago)
Black top, Marshalls $12.99
Burgandy Tweed Blazer: Goodwill, $8

I was browsing through a recent issue of People Syle Watch and saw a picture of several celebrities wearing black tight with denim skirts. It had never occured to me to do this. I usually wear my denim skirt only as a summer skirt with sandals or wedges,  but liked the way that it made the look more casual and relaxed. I wore this to a weekly womens meeting at my church. I loved the casual boots with the textured tights and denim skirt. I want to try this combination with a chunky sweater as well.

Fall Trend: Pleated Skirts & Dresses

JCREW

Style trends inspired by the 70's are HUGE this fall. You may be noticing that everything from platform shoes, flared jeans, lady-like flowy blouses, dolman sleeves and capes are making a come back. Another trend I am seeing is pleated skirts, both long, midi length and short. But mostly in a midi ( or medium) length, landing just past the knee or about upper to mid-calf.  I decided I wanted to give this particular trend a try.  When wearing these 70's inspired looks, you have the option of going all out 70's or taking it to a modern look with modern edgy accessories.

A couple weeks ago I had an opportunity to talk with a Stylist from People's Style Watch Magazine at a Mall in Denver. I had a personal 15 minute consultation with her, and was able to ask her about this seasons fall trends. She also had a closet of clothes there to show me examples of the trends and outfits. I was really curious about this 70's style pleated skirt look and how to wear it in a modern stylish way, without looking like I was wearing a "grandma dress".  I had recently gone to Goodwill and picked up a vintage dress, with a blousen top, elastic sinched waste and pleated skirt.  The Stylist I spoke to gave me some great ideas for updating this dress to give it a modern edgy look. Here are the tips she gave me:

1. She recommended tights ( textured are always great) and some rocking, edgy ankle boots.
2. Never wear the belt that came with the dress--put a modern belt with it. She recommended one with metal details for a modern look.
3. A chunky or multi-chain 5 or more layer necklace
4. Layering a sweater over the top with the sleeve of the dress popping out at the bottom of the sweater sleeve. Chunky sweater knits and cable knits are also back in now.

We also talked about a few other trends, but I will have to blog about that in another post!! Unfortunately I didn't have much time, and probably didn't talk with more than 10 minutes, but it was alot of fun to hear what she had to say.

So, here is my "new" dress, 100% polyester,  I purchased at Goodwill for $4.  I am really excited to wear this outfit, and will probably wear it to church this weekend.  I still need to look for a couple other accessories, i.e. earrings and maybe a different necklace, but overall I like the looks and how they came together. Another thing I may change is removing the shoulder I would love to read your comments. This is definately stretching me in the area of style and trends, but it is also really fun to experiment with!



 

 

70's Style Dress: Goodwill, $4
Black Textured Tights: Bananna Republic, $10
Black Platform Ankle boots: Kelly & Katie, DSW $49
Stretch Belt with metal details: Apt. 9, Kohls $18
Multi-strand Necklace, Ny & Company
Bangle Bracelet, NY & Company
Black v-neck sweater: Banana Republic Outlet, $20

Style Inspiration

This morning as stepped out onto my porch I was met with a crisp fall morning and cool breeze. Fall is most definitely in the air and I am reminded why autumn is one of my favorite times of year.  I love boots, blazers and well just about everything that has to do with fall fashion. I love the layers, being able to wear a sweater with a scarf and being able to still skip on the heavy coats. This is an outfit I put together that really speaks fall to me, and is therefore my fall Style Inspiration for today.  Its a classic look that shouts fall in a stylish sophisticated way and is really versatile enough to take you from lunch with a friend to shopping, errands around town and weekend activities. 

Keep in mind that a structured sweater like this is great, because you can wear it like you would a fitted blazer, it has the same function both as a layering piece and finishing piece to your outfit. I love it with the scarf because it ads pattern and interest.  This outfit shows skinny jeans, but I realize skinny jeans are not for everyone. This outfit inspiration would also look great with a straight leg trouser jean or bootcut jean and with a short boot or bootie underneath.  If you are 1-2 sizes larger on bottom you can do a skinny jean, if you are more than 2 sizes different, than a skinny jean may not be your best friend--consider a straight leg/trouser jean instead.

Fall Trend : Animal Print

One great way to add texture, pattern and interest to an outfit is Animal Print. Animal print continues to be a trend for fall this year and the great thing is you have lots of options when it comes to incorporating animal print into an outfit. I love the idea of an animal print shoe, scarf or hand bag, because it can be subtle or a statement piece depending on the color of the animal print and what you pair it with. I love wearing an animal print shoe because being that animal prints are neutrals ( browns, blacks and tans) they really can "go" with a lot. Another great way to add texture and interest to an outfit is with a purse, clutch or handbag. A snakeskin or croc ads texture. I have seen beautiful croc textured purses in jewel tones for fall that really stand out!
Have you added animal print accessories to your wardrobe this season? If so I would love to hear about your favorite animal print in your wardrobe or accessories and how you are wearing it!

Style Inspiration-Working Separates

Working Separates

A great work wardrobe is always made up of basics in neutrals, having separates that can mix and match will give more outfits and stretch your working wardrobe farther.  If you are looking to add some interest by buying new items or looking to change things up with what you already have, here are some ideas:

• Texture:  Tweeds and textured pants, skirts & jackets add interest to an outfit.
• Pattern: Subtle patterns such as hounds tooth, plaids, and herringbone can be treated as a neutral and worn with anything. Don't be afraid to mix patterns such as florals with herringbone, polka dots and plaid, etc. The idea is to have the same color scheme so they "go".  Patterned scarves and blouses are a great way to mix patterns. I love to mix florals and animal prints-you can do this for a work outfit by having a floral scarf or blouse and animal print shoe or bag. But just keep the animal print to one or two pieces so you still keep a professional appearance.
• Sparkle: Statement necklaces and bold jewelry is great for professional wear and ads some sparkle to any outfit. You can also look for metallic tweeds or embellished blouses to wear under a jacket.

You may recognize this flashback post from earlier this year. The outfit below consists of 3 patterns: A floral Blouse, brown herringbone pant, and giraffe peep toe pump-and is totally work place appropriate. This would also look great with a chocolate brown blazer over top for a casual professional look.

Floral Blouse: Alfani, Macy's $15

Pants: H&M $35

Shoes: DSW

Belt: NY & Company $15

Earrings: Absolute Chocolate diamond hoops, HSN,  Birthday Present

Bracelet: Stretch pearl bracelet, birthday present

Fall Fashion Color Palette 2011

Last year much of the fall and winter colors were muted, grays, browns and earth tones--this fall is about pops of color while still staying in the deeper tones.  The great thing about knowing what colors run through different seasons is really, they repeat themselves. You probably already have clothing for fall in these tones. I like what the Pantone Color Institute does in  talking about the various color hues for fall and which colors also compliment them. Wear the colors that you love the most and compliment your skin tone.

I personally love the emberglow, phlox, cedar, teal, and coffee. These are colors that I already naturally gravitate towards. I can already think of several items I have from previous fall & winter seasons tucked away until colder weather sets in: A phlox (purple) sweater, deep teal belted cardigan/sweater coat, and lightweight drape neckline tops in emberglow and orchid rush. I am inspired by the discription below to try pairing different colors together and bring a fresh twist to these tops for fall. Already I have spotted scarves in retail stores incorporating multiple colors from this palette, which would be a great way to incorporate color & coordinate with pieces you already own.
Which colors are you most drawn to in this color palette?

FROM THE PANTONE COLOR INSTITUTE

“Designers take a painterly approach to fall 2011 by artfully combining bright colors with staple neutrals, reminiscent of how an artist would construct a stunning work of art,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute^®. “Much like a painter's masterpiece, there is a certain romance to this season's palette.”

Bamboo, a surprising fall hue, brings a warm, exotic flavor to the season. Like a filtered sunset on the waning days of fall, Bamboo is a standout yellow with a subtle green undertone. This dappled shade pairs dramatically with several of the top 10, including Phlox, Teal and Honeysuckle.

Radiant Emberglow, a traditional autumnal tone, emanates the warmth of a glowing fire – the perfect panacea to the crisp air of fall. Combine Emberglow with Coffee Liqueúr for a classic look, or with Honeysuckle for something a bit more retro. Add a spark with shoes or a handbag in Emberglow, or perhaps a patterned scarf combining purpled Phlox or Deep Teal.

Offering a sense of continuity from spring, dynamic Honeysuckle adds a bold punctuation point. This playful, reddish pink works with any other color in the palette, especially fall staples like Coffee Liqueúr and Nougat. To add some intensity, pair it with complementary Bamboo. Flirtatious and festive, Honeysuckle produces a healthy glow – great for cosmetics and holiday soirees.

Phlox, a magical, deep purple with a hint of mystery, is an outstanding statement when worn on its own. Add Phlox to this season's neutrals to create a bit of drama, or combine it with Cedar, Deep Teal or Coffee Liqueúr for something extraordinary. To add even more excitement, pair Phlox with Honeysuckle or Bamboo against a Cedar background – a combination inspired by Mother Nature.

Evoking the freshness of a cool mist in a dark forest, Cedar is a versatile, mid-tone neutral green. It is a natural with Deep Teal, and sophisticated and timeless with Phlox or Orchid Hush.

Deep Teal, a strong, blue-toned green, suggests ocean depths and the color of the sky as daylight descends into darkness. A great standard when used with Cedar, its color-wheel neighbor, Deep Teal is also a unique counterpoint to Honeysuckle.

Consumers continue to add stability to their wardrobes with neutrals.

Rich, decadent Coffee Liqueúr brings a sense of elegance to fall, and is a savory alternative to basic black.

A deliciously warm camel tan, Nougat is tastefully embellished by Phlox, Emberglow or Honeysuckle.

Orchid Hush, a unique tone of gray with complex orchid undertones, blends well with any other color in the palette.

Quarry, a reliable medium gray, remains, as always, a practical, dependable staple.

For over 17 years, Pantone, the global authority on color, has surveyed the designers of New York Fashion Week and beyond to bring you the season's most important color trends. This report previews the most prominent hues for fall 2011

http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/pantone.aspx?pg=20835&ca=4

Style Inspiration

Fall is all about layers, and layers really are a great way to navigate falls changing temperatures. Rather than grabbing your favorite hoodie, consider finding some new favorites: Structured Layers.  Cardigans, jackets, blazers are great subsitutes for a hoodie or sweathirt, and are more polished and put together. Look for pieces that have darting, seeming and detailing that emphesizes the waste.  If you carry weight in your mid-section, then a jacket really is your best friend. Look for jackets and blazers that come in with darting and seeming at the waste and flare out at the hip, this will camouflage your tummy area and give you a more curvy hourglass shape.

Everyday Style

Todays everyday style was inspired by a bit of 70's.  I love the nude platform shoes I am wearing and I decided to go with a flowy blouse belted at the waste and a boot cut jean for a bit of flare. Remember when doing retro inspired looks to keep them modern at the same time and limit the retro looking pieces in your outfit to just a couple so you don't look "costumie".  Just for fun I have included a photo first of how NOT to dress 70's unless you are intending to wear a costume!

Starsky & Hutch Movie Premiere, Warner Bros. Pictures. My days working in the Marketing Department, Warner Bros.

Occasion: Women's Group at my Church

Jacket: Suede Jacket-Had Forever

Blouse: Alfani, Macy's $15

Jeans: Gap $20

Belt: H&M $6

Cuff Watch: Kohls, $12

Nude Platform Pumps: $30

Gold Feather Earrings: Forever 21, $4



Serving up Savvy Hospitality

I must admit ( and anyone who knows me, knows this) that I love a good cappuccino! We have a cappuccino machine at our house and I love to have friends in for a latte or cappucino, some homemade treats and of course good conversation. Sometimes its the little things that can make your time with a friend special.  A nice glass, tea cup or coffee cup can turn simple into chic.  You don't have to spend alot, in fact there are plenty of bargains out their to serve up some hospitality with style. My husband and I recently found these coffee cup & saucer sets at Goodwill for fifty cents a set! We picked up four sets for $2!

Coffee Cup & Saucer: Goodwill $2 for 4 sets

Fancy Spoon: World Market, $2

Table Cloth: Ross $10



Everyday Style

We have a had a little bit cooler temps here the last few days, and today was cool and overcast most of the day. This provided me a great opportunity to wear my new scarf.  Scarves can provide interest to an outfit and act as a completer piece with tops and t-shirts. Look for florals and animal print scarves in lightweight material that can transition through the seasons. This outfit was perfect because I was comfortable enough to chase my children around the playground, but still looked polished and put together.

Occasion: Playgroup at the Park & Running Errands

Long Sleeve eggplant/deep purple top: $18, Ann Taylor

Scarf: $12.99, Target

Jeans: $23, Gap Outlet

Ecco Mary Jane Flats: $25, Ecco Outlet

Style Inspiration: Four Ways Wear a Blouse

Todays Style Inspiration is all about stretching your wardrobe and creating mulitple outfits with the same item in your closet.

Everyday Style

Now that fall is here and school has started we may be headed into fall, but don't pack away your sundresses just yet! Now is the time to transition them into fall and get a little more wear out of them. Especially if you have a bright sunny day, its percfectly ok to enjoy some bright colors in your clothes. This fall is all about bright pops of color!  I plan on wearing this dress with leggings, boots and a chunky cardigan as the weather gets cooler.


Occasion: Church    

Sundress: New York & Company $25

Shoes: Kelly & Katie, DSW $30

Earring: Absolute, HSN $22

Dress paired with a fitted jacket for slightly cooler weather.

Jacket: Kohls, gift

Turning Old into New

I recently recieved a number of hand-me-downs ( one is never to old for hand-me-downs) and was inspired to think outside the box with a few of the items. At first glance I would have tossed them in the "no way am I keeping this" pile. But a second glance and a little creativity, and well, I think I made something old into something "New". I think the key is to look for a couple of things:
1. Is the item in good shape.
2. Does the fit flatter my figure and fit appropriately
3. Can you update the piece or make it look modern by adding a jacket, belt or other accessories to change the look.
4. If you are using or wearing Vintage pieces: Wear only a couple vinage items/accessories in your overall outfit and pair them with modern/timeless or classic pieces to avoid looking like you are wearing a "costume".


I tried this with several articles of clothing but my favorite had to be a striped dress I recieved. Black and white vertical stripes, knee length and  I was not so sure I liked the neckline. But I instantly was inspired to play off of the potential of a nautical look with the stripes. I put on a brown belt ( yes you can mix brown & black -they are both neutrals) added a kaki safari inspired jacket and my favorite: red sling back, platform peep toe pumps!


I loved it! In fact I wore this outfit to church Fourth of July weekend and a lovely woman passing by me in the hallway complimented my outfit and said I was "rocking it!"-Which made my day! Not long ago I would have passed over this dress and would not have even thought I could change the whole look of the outfit just by pairing a few accessories with the dress. I have grown in my creativity and expression, and think a little more outside the box now. A couple years ago, I would have never pair brown with black and would have opnly thought to add a black or maybe a red belt--it would have been alot more "matchy matchy". It goes to show that anyone can grow in the area of style and evolve their own style if they put some thought into it.

Before

Accessorized Outfit

Black & White Striped Dress: Free Hand-me-down

Jacket: Macy's $10 ( after sale, coupon & gift card)

Wide Brown Stretch Belt: Ny & Company, $15

Red platform sling back peeptoes pumps: Kelly & Katie, DSW, $30

Earrings: Forver 21, $12

What do you have in your closet that you can ad a new modern twist to?  Use some creativity and give it a try! You never know, it may be your next favorite outfit!

Items Every Woman Should have in her closet-Part 2

This is just a fun visual example of what everyone woman should have in her closet! I had so much fun putting this together! For more info on this, see my blog post from April!


 

Love to Shop? Have a Swap!

Accessory & Clothing Swaps are becoming a fun and popular reason to get together with friends and swap out your accessory and clothing items for something "new". Although I have heard of huge organized swaps, some churches and womens groups will also hold them once or twice a year which also loads of fun! I prefer a home party swap because its a more personal setting, and an opportunity to have some much needed "girl time" with your favorite girlfriends.  I have now hosted several of these swaps and I would love to share with you the ins and outs of hosting a swap so you can gather your friends for some fabulous shopping fun!
What is an  Accessory/Clothing Swap?
Swapping is a great way to take the items you simply don't wear anymore and swap them out for something "new". You can choose to have just an Accessory Swap or combine Accessories & Clothing. Every woman has items in their closet they don't wear anymore or have worn very little. Have you ever bought something only to find it never quite went with anything you had? What about a pair of earrings or necklace that just didn't make it out the door with you, or nice quality tops you only wore a couple times. I always prefer to give my nicer clothing items to a friend rather than just giving them to charity, and this is a fun way to share the love! You can transform a corner of your living room into a "boutique" for you and your girlfriends to "shop" in and have a blast finding your "new" favorite dress, fabulous jacket or go-to earrings without costing you a penny. Once you and your friends get used to the idea, you may want to host one with each new season so you can switch out your wardrobes every few months!

I recommend sending out an invitation via email, Evite, or Facebook inviting your girlfriends along with instructions on what they need to bring for the swap. You can invite as many ladies as you like and it definately works for larger groups, but 6-10 people ends up being a nice number of participants and allows everyone to still connect and get to know one another. I have posted the wording and info I used in my invitations. Please feel free to copy and use the wording for your own swap! 

Fabulous Food
I believe in everything stylish, savvy & chic so the next thing you want to do is decide on a menu or theme for food and refreshments. You can go a variety of ways, but think classy and chic! After all this is a chance to have some fabulous fun! Ideas would include: Wine and h'ordeaurves ( have everyone bring something), a lunch fair, or a variety of desserts and coffee.  I really believe that simple attention to details can make all the difference in a stylish and chic get together. So I recommend that if you can, use real ( not plastic or paper) plates, silverware and glasses. This a great opportunity to pull out your nice serving dishes and make your guests feel pampered and special.  I like to think that stemmed glasses are not just for special occasions, I like to serve water and ice tea in wine glasses too!

For our most recent get together, I co-hosted with  good friend who also invited a few of her girlfriends so we could have a nice turn out in attendence despite the busy time of summer.  I  chose to serve a Chicken Taco/Salad Bar, and sparkling lemonade with fresh mint.  Several ladies brought cookies and brownies for dessert. I kept the menu simple. I had shredded chicken that I had cooked in a crockpot with seasoning until tender, corn & bean salsa, sour cream, cheese, lettuce, guacamole and chips. I set everything up in nice serving dishes like a little taco /salad bar and the ladies could either fill a torilla or top a bed of lettuce for a taco salad. The prep time for this type of lunch was so easy, it was delicious, and the ladies all loved it!

Setting up
I chose to use my dinning room as our "boutique" because it flowed nicely from the kitchen where the food would be served and the living room where we ate and visited prior to the swap portion.  You may need to move a few things around like I did with rotating my dinning table and positioning it under the window. Think creatively for  ideas on how you can best display jewelry, accessories and clothing. I happened to have a rolling clothing rack, and a necklace tree so I used those for our display. As each guest arrives have them set out and display their items.  You may need to have extra hangers on hand or chairs to stack clothes on. Use small trays or plates to hold earrings and small accessories and help them stand out. Don't forget several mirrors!! If you have a full length mirror somewhere else in the house you can move it to your "boutique".

Swapping!
For me it's really not about what I "get" out of it, or really about everyone bringing equal items, but more about getting together with your girlfriends and having some fun. The "fabulous fashion finds" are really the icing on the cake!
I like to get the swapping rolling with a game similar to how "white elephant gift exchanges" are played. Everyone draws a number. The person with number 1 gets to choose their favorite item. Person with number 2 gets to steel the item person with number 1 chose, or choose a different item. You can make up your own rules on how many times the items can be stolen etc. I love getting to see what each person is most drawn too and which are the hottest items, it can also incite a lot of laughter and fun! After we have done a round or two like this we open up the "Boutique" for free for all shopping. Everyone enjoys trying things on, commenting on the various items and building their little piles of favorite finds to take home. Fun is had by all!

So next time you want to get together with your girlfriends for a couple hours of fun consider having an Accessory /Clothing Swap, it is such a great way to be savvy with your style, and a wonderful reason to bring everyone together! Have each girlfriend bring a friend and your circle of friends will grow and expand--a great opportunity to meet more people, and add to the variety of items for swapping as well. Below are pictures of the fabulous finds I scored at the last swap I hosted. Happy Swapping!

Sand Dollar necklace

Banana Republic wrap dress

Sweater top

Nine & Co. Metallic Brushed gold purse ( Never used!)



Beautiful fun necklace



Accessory/Clothing Swap Info for Invitations:

Never been to an Accessory Swap Before? Here’s How it Works:

We all have items in our closet/jewelry box we haven’t worn in a while, rather then toss them, swap them! Please bring only items in “like-new” condition that are still stylish and not hopelessly outdated.

If you are “spring cleaning” your closet and have clothing items in “like-new” condition that you are ready to part with , feel free to bring those too! We are focusing on accessories, but if you have a few clothing items, feel free to bring them along as well!



1.)  Bring your like-new but still fashion fabulous accessories to swap and pass on to someone else to enjoy.

 You may bring as many items to swap as you like—the more items we have, the more fun for everyone!

·       Costume Jewelry: necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, brooches, etc..

·       Purses, bags and totes

·       Belts & scarves

·       Hats, hair accessories, watches, sunglasses.

·       Shoes

·       Clothing-Gently Used, Like New Clothing Items –Please be certain that the items are still fashionable and not hopelessly outdated. ( Dresses, skirts, nice tops, sweaters, fashion jackets/blazers, pants )

2.) Please be certain you are happy to part with them

3.) Bring your items to swap and look for a new “fabulous find”. I will be transforming my living room into a mini “boutique” for us to display our items and “shop” in.  We will draw numbers and play in a similar fashion as a gift giving exchange, so everyone has the opportunity to swap or steal their favorite accessories!

small trays or plates are great for holding/displaying small jewelry items

We even had new never used makeup at our last swap! So fun!



jewelry tree, Marshalls $10