Hello, Gorgeous!: Layering

Showing posts with label Layering. Show all posts

Saturday, December 14, 2013

cold weather work wear.

Even though I've lived in Michigan for a very long time, I'm still kind of a cold-weather wuss. I am not (and probably never will be) one of those brave souls who wears cute little flats in the cold snow. In fact, the window of time that I assign to appropriate flat-wearing-weather is very, very, small. And if I'm being totally honest, I always wear my UGGs to and from work (I bring my "cute shoes" with me in a bag); and some days I am so cold that I don't change out of my boots when sitting at my desk.

So, there. I have confessed! :)

But, my real point is that my Winter work-wear advice is three-fold:

1. Layers. Layering is a given. More specifically, jackets are great over blouses and sweaters and will keep you nice and toasty. You can stay even warmer by layering a scarf over all of that.

2. Tights. Tights are your best friend in the cold. Buy different kinds to change it up. There are so many cute patterned and colored tights out there right now!

3. Boots. Wear warm boots to work and then change into your cute shoes at work. Better yet, wear cute boots or booties at work!

Stay warm, babies!!

Printed blouse ℅ Jane//
Red blazer (Similar here, here, here, here)//
Khaki pencil skirt (Exact old; Similar here, here)//
Black opaque tights (Exact here)//
Black ankle boots (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Wide stretch belt (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Gold leaf bracelet (not shown) ℅ Bip and Bop (Exact here)//
Turquoise drop earrings ℅ Wild Butterfly Boutique (Exact here)

Red bow blouse ℅ Our World Boutique (Exact old; Similar here, here, here; Other cute options here and here)//
Black Tweed blazer ℅ Eden Revolution (Exact here)//
Skinny Dress Pants (Exact old; Similar here, here here, here)//
Leopard print pumps (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Gold leaf bracelet ℅ Bip and Bop (Exact here)//
Drop earrings ℅ Bip and Bip (Exact here)

Chevron sweater (Exact here; Other cute chevron sweaters here, here, here)//
Polka dot button-up (Exact old; Similar polka dot button-ups but different colors here and here)
Yellow skirt (Exact old, via LOFT; Similar here, here, here)//
Printed tights (Similar here, here, here, here)//
Black oxford pumps (Exact old, via Payless; Similar here, here, here)//
Necklace ℅ Accessory Mercado (Exact here)

Red plaid button-up (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Dress ℅ Flourish Boutique (Exact here)//
Black opaque tights (Exact here)//
Black wedge boots (Exact here; Similar here, here)//
Personalized Hammered Cuff ℅ Bip and Bop (Exact here)//
Tassel bracelet ℅ Bip and Bop (Exact here)//
Bangle ℅ Bip and Bop (Exact here)//
Gold watch (Similar here, here, here)

Chevron jacket ℅ Flourish Boutique (Exact here)//
Mustard yellow pencil skirt (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Black opaque tights (Exact here)//
Leopard print ankle boots (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Tortoise bracelet c/o Sira & Mara (Exact here)//
Personalized Hammered Cuff ℅ Bip and Bop (Exact here)//
Stella & Dot Renegade bracelet ℅ Erika Lehman

Chambray shirt (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here, here)//s
Ivory knit sweater (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Red skirt (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Black opaque tights (Exact here)//
Leopard print ankle boots (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Watch c/o Wristology Watches (Exact here)//
Bangle ℅ Bip and Bop (Exact here)//
Necklace from eBay

Saturday, November 16, 2013

5 Tips For Creating a Gorgeous Layered Look.

Since the temperature has dropped and stayed consistently below 45 degrees I've found myself unable to do anything but layer. So, today's post will be like a 'part 2' to my first layering post! (Check out Part 1 here.)

But, before I begin, I just want to thank each and every one of you who read my last post and commented, emailed, or reached out to me in some way. You ladies sure know how to make a gal feel good! Your words were so encouraging and honestly meant the world to me. That post was a small leap of faith, especially since I usually don't share a whole lot about my personal life on here. This blog has always been pretty much a strict personal style blog, so I have mostly tried to keep everything else out of it. But, I'm happy that I took the chance to open up a little bit more to all of you.

So, a million times thank you for being so amazing!!

And now on to layering…

Anyone can put a bunch of different layers on and call it a day. But, honing your layering skills can lead to some really interesting and chic combinations. Here's what I've found that works for me. Hopefully it gives you an idea or two as well! :)

1. Choose a main piece to be "The Star" of your look. This is actually a great way to build an outfit-- start with a piece that catches your eye and build the rest of your look from there. What piece do you want to have the focus on? -- Green pants? A bright red top? A floral skirt? Leopard print shoes? Decide on the "main feature" of your look and build the rest of your outfit with layers that compliment that piece.

2. Choose the right proportions and fit. Before I began layering like nobody's business I didn't fully understand the importance of this rule. But, it's probably the most important layering advice that I could give. (I like to think that this is why I own 3+ black jackets-- they're all so different!!) For example: when you are layering a jacket over a blouse and leaving the blouse untucked, the jacket always has to be shorter than the blouse--to help "break up" the look. In addition, jackets should always fit properly, otherwise they look sloppy. And finally (but not really-because there is SO much proportion advice I would love to share!), oversized sweaters should be worn with sleek layers underneath (skinny jeans, tank tops, fitted tops) to keep you from looking like a giant blob.

3. Include fun details in your layers to make the look more interesting. A little patterned button-up (especially gingham, plaid, and polka dot) peeking through your layers is always a win in my book! The same goes for using vivid colors that "pop" out of your layers. --Because a layered look often times has many points of interest, it almost give you a bit more leeway to play with fun patterns, colors, and textures and get away with things you may not have tried otherwise!

4. Turn out your cuffs. If you're wearing a button up under a sweater or a jacket, fold the cuffs over where the sleeves hit your wrist. This little trick shows off the detail of your bottom layer and really adds to the prep factor of an outfit.

5. Wear a completer piece --something that will finish off your look or help tie your look together. Blazers are great completer pieces; not only can they make a casual look more professional, but they help keep you warm, too. (Always a plus in my book!) Accessories, especially statement jewelry and scarves, are also fabulous completer pieces--they're like the whipped cream on top of a delicious mug of hot chocolate!

Plaid button-up (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Color block sweater (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Black blazer (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here, here)
Green ankle pants (Exact here; Similar here, here, cute color block ankle pants here)//
Leopard print ankle boots (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Watch c/o Wristology Watches (Exact here)//
Stella & Dot Renegade bracelet c/o Erika Lehman//
Necklace c/o Our World Boutique (Exact here, in navy blue)

Pink plaid button-up (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Khaki sweater (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
White skinny jeans (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Riding boots (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Pave link necklace & bracelet set c/o ILYCouture (Exact here)//
Alex Tortoise watch c/o Wristology Watches (Exact here)
Stella & Dot Renegade bracelet c/o Erika Lehman//
Necklace via Etsy

"Wave to the Princess" dress c/o Flourish Boutique (Exact here)//
Leopard-print scarf (Exact gifted; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Purple cardi (Exact old, via GAP Outlet; Similar here, here, here)//
Black open toe booties (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Necklace ℅ Accessory Mercado (Exact here)

Black cami (Exact here)//
White skinny jeans (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Chevron sweater c/o Flourish Boutique (Exact here)//
Grey scarf (Similar here, here)
Riding boots (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Watch c/o Wristology Watches (Exact here)//
Stella & Dot Renegade bracelet c/o Erika Lehman//
Tortoise bracelet c/o Sira & Mara (Exact here)//
Necklace via Etsy

TJMAXX striped sweater (Exact not available online; Similar here, here, here)
White skinny jeans (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Black riding boots (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Striped blazer (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Necklace via eBay

Top C/O Sugar Love Boutique (Exact here)//
The Limited Skinny Pants (Exact old; Similar here, here here, here)//
Green blazer (Exact old, via H&M; Similar here, here, here)//
Tall black boots (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Skinny black watch (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Necklace c/o Our World Boutique (Exact here, in navy blue)

"Stripe Hype" dress c/o Flourish Boutique (Exact here)//

Aztec Open Sweater c/o Catch Bliss Boutique (Exact here)//

Black riding boots (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//

Necklace via Etsy

Grey button-up (Exact old; Similar here, here)//
Multi-color pencil skirt (Exact here;Similar here, here)//
Yellow cardigan (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Navy round-toe pumps (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Necklace ℅ T+J Designs (Exact here)

Monday, October 28, 2013

Learning to Layer: 5 Easy Steps.

Whenever someone asks me what my best style advice for Fall casual wear is, I immediately shout out "LAYERS!!".
Layers, ladies. That's where it's at. Because sometimes you need a warm embrace in the middle of the day. And no one is better at giving you that hug than a layered button-up/sweater combo.

And here, I will impart upon you all of my layering knowledge.

5 Steps to Layering:

1. Wear fitted button-ups. If the button-up is not fitted, it will bunch up and look sloppy.

2. Wear button-ups that have interesting patterns or colors. It will enhance the look of the outfit and look more fun while "peeking out".

3. Wear fitted sweaters for the top layer of your layering. Many people think that the bigger the sweater, the better. Not true. The top layer almost always stretches out over the bottom button-up. If you buy a too-big sweater, it will look messy and slouchy in 10 minutes' time.

4. Layer some bling over your killer button-up/sweater combo! Statement necklaces, bracelets, and watches can add some serious punch to a basic layered outfit. Most layered combos look even better with a "completer" piece.

5. And as always, have fun with putting together different layered looks! Try different proportions, textures, and colors. Find out what you like and what you don't like. If you hate what you're wearing that day, it's not the end of the world. You will take it off when you get home and try something else the next day!

Now that you know all that I know, go forth and layer!

Pink plaid button-up (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Fox sweater (Exact here)//
White skinny jeans (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Black riding boots (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Pave link necklace & bracelet set C/O ILYCouture (Exact here)//
Alex Tortoise watch c/o Wristology Watches (Exact here)

Chambray shirt (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here, here)//
Polka dot sweater (Exact old, via Old Navy; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Burgundy ankle pants (Exact are Cynthia Rowley via TJMaxx; Similar here, here, here)//
Pointy toe black pumps (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Necklace via Accessory Mercado (Similar here)

Chambray shirt (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here, here)//
Dark-wash skinny jeans (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Etienne Aigner Chip riding boots (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Leopard-print scarf (Exact gifted; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Red blazer (Exact old, via Kohl's; Similar here, here, here)//
Bezel Teardrop Gemstone Earrings c/o Regina Pierallini (Exact here)//
"Be Present" bracelet c/o Ali Oesch Jewelry (Exact here)//
Alex Tortoise watch c/o Wristology Watches (Exact here)

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

short skirt and a looong jacket.

10 brownie points for anyone who recognizes the song I referenced in the title of this post!

Other than my loving the song that this title is taken from, I have been absolutely LOVING jackets lately. I'm talking real, deep, commitment here people! I swear I've only worn one outfit without a jacket in the past week. It does also help that the weather has significantly cooled down and has been perfect for jacket-wear. Anyway, enough about my jacket-overdose. This post is to show-case what I've been wearing the past week.

Oh, and before I forget, prepare yourselves for an incredible upcoming giveaway from the one and only Flourish Boutique! I don't think any of us are ready for this jelly. ;)

F21 polka dot blouse (in tan), F21 tuxedo jacket, The Limited skinny ankle stretch pants (in black), Prabal Gurung for Target pumps, F21 chunky pearl necklace