We were a little short on Inspiration Boards this year first due to the demise of polyvore (I’m still crying)  and my search to find a replacement and then my epidemic lack of time (much sorries, loves…I have some new plans for next year to hopefully remedy that!), but there were a handful that still got your creative juices flowing!
1. Nikki – Camo Color Story…the runaway fave of the year, with five times the views of the runner up. Dang – y’all love you some camo! :) I loved the way Nikki combined brilliant color with the classic, tough print. Firing it up with red or giving it a dose of sweetener with still-everywhere blush seemed a rather amazing thought to me…and you agreed :)
2. Alicia – Gray & Blush …the first of our Sport Up series that accompanied the Olympics was your fave, as we brought Foxy’s casual take on style into the cool seasons. Contrasting cool shades with warm tones is a color story I always love. Here, blush acted as the yummy shot of warmth that fired up a chill look, accented with an outfit-making pair of earrings.
3. Charlotte – Transitional Florals…hot on the heels of Alicia’s look was one that rocked my world: Char’s paring of a floaty floral wrap dress toughened up with a fab pair of biker boots for a femme-grunge take on style that kept me living.
4. Brandi – Physically Fierce…the second look from the Sport Up series that earned your love, this rendition of Brandi’s sleek graphic skirt+sweatshirt combo was the perfect cataclysm of athleisure and sophistication. Oh so right for oh so many occasions, it just needed a cute pair of boots and a backpack to go from lunch dates to day classes to shopping excursions to movie nights. On-trend themes done in neutrals = style winning!
5. Cathy – Fancy Blouse, Chill Everything Else…the last of the Sport Up series to capture your fashionable hearts was this fun look from Cathy that elevated a relaxed outfit of leggings and sneakers with a formal blouse. Cathy’s version included a glitter-embellished bodysuit; we envisioned it with gardeny, on-trend florals  or crisp stripes. You envisioned it as one of your faves. Cheers to your good taste, loves!
And here’s to a fierce 2019! :)

Natalya and Alexa attended the Make-A-Wish gala earlier this year, looking stunning in black. Nattie chose a lace mid dress with a sweetheart neckline. The sheer sleeves created a pretty variation in texture and allowed the beauty of the lace to be appreciated. I’m a little surprised that she completed this look with boots, thereby dressing it down. I would ordinarily imagine a more formal finisher. That said, the combination looks lovely, adding a hint of tougher attitude to the delicate lace. I also love her smooth, straight hair; the touch of volume looks so gorge!
Alexa chose a short party dress with cap sleeves and a tulle skirt with a nude underlay.  I adore this dress, especially the exquisite artistry of the appliqué. It’s a fabulous choice, beautiful, appropriately formal and it looks incredible on Alexa, both chic and in keeping with her. As with Natalya, I could imagine different shoes. Although it’s hard to see all the details, these classic pumps feel a little bland for this dress (*if the detail on the pumps that’s very hard to make out happens to be a fur accent, this comment is withdrawn). I would have leaned toward black leather sandal-booties or simple, classic ankle straps here.

Even though this snap was from the spring, it works pretty perfectly for right now, since we’re in the seasonal transition again. Barbie paired a cropped, striped sweater with cropped boyfriend jeans. Despite its superficial simplicity, the proportion play between the slim top and slouchy jeans gives this look a subtle complexity. I’m also loving the Hilfiger-esque vibes. Ankle strap sandals completed the ensemble as we went from winter spring. Right now, I’d complete it with ankle boots :). Barbie showcased mysterious, sensual vibes with this sheer-meets-geometric-lace confection she wore for a March event. She has a talent for pulling off the most daring looks and she slays this piece, looking both beautiful and edgy. A sleek up-do featuring  a braided headband adds subtle interest, while giving the dress center stage. Simple black sandals round out the styling. How about these gold-sequin embellished jeans from Fashion Nova?  Anyone would be tough to miss with all that glitter! :) With their slim fit and high shine, these have such a so-right now 80’s feel (*resists urge to sing “Stop! Hammer time!”*). Barbie smartly pairs them with the simplest of white tanks, which tempers their big, bold statement. Nude sandals follow suit. As the weather cools, the tank could be easily swapped over to a cream cable sweater to mimic the soft, bright color scheme, or an equally plain black turtleneck for a darker, luxe vibe. Barbie channels the 80’s again with this hot-pink and black bikini that proudly proclaims her “Barbie” status. I love that she embraces that! I also love how cool and fun this look is, with the color combo and the high side-ties. It walks the perfect line between throwback and of-the-moment. Lace-up sandal-booties complete the look with a welcome shot of fierceness.

Brandi’s palette-cleansing pairing of an ivory jacket and pale taupe suede OTKs with blue denim showcases a look I love for this season of transitional dressing: wearing a jacket as a top. It’s such a fun way to get extra mileage from a topper and it lends itself to mercurial weather conditions because you can layer whatever you need underneath. Start with a tee if it’s warm, a thermal or light sweater if it’s chilly. Then toss your jacket over the top and zip or button it fully so that your under-layers don’t show. So far, so easy, right? :). Take your cue for the rest of the look from the shape and style of your jacket. Pair a boxy piece with skinny jeans and complete the look by tucking them into ankle booties: flat, low, or sky-high – pick your passion ‘cuz they all work! Combine a more fitted piece with cropped or cuffed boyfriend jeans for a chic-meets-slouchy vibe. I love the contrast provided by refined blazer or the embellished artistry of a military jacket against the super-chill boyfriend silhouette. Reiterate the sophistication by finishing the look with slim, pointy ankle booties. (Make sure the jeans’ hem hits 2-3 inches above where the boot starts to narrow to get the right proportions.) Give denim-on-denim a try by pairing a cropped jacket with high-waisted denim. Play up the 80’s vibe of slim or straight bottoms with glittered pumps. Or, go 70’s and complete the look with suede boots or platform sandals. Jewelry is a crucial element in this type of look; it gives the styling polish and the “finished” quality that makes it work. Earrings are the easiest to use as they interfere least with the jacket. Rings work fabulously as well. For bracelets, roll your sleeves or wear the baubles on the outside of them. Lean toward statement, but not especially fancy, pieces with the laidback boxy jacket (think hoops, or geometric-shaped metal pairs). With a blazer, play against the straightforward sophistication with a bit of glamour (try colored or clear crystals) or whimsy (think animals or flowers). Go for studs with a military piece to allow the jacket’s embellishments to take center stage. With denim, go for bold colors that reference the 80’s, or tasseled pieces for a 70’s vibe. I hope this inspires you to wear a jacket as a top sometime soon! Happy fashioning!

Blue jeans and a little white top Is about as girl-next-door classic as you can get…unless, of course those jeans are all-over sequined. Then, it’s GLAM! Barbie rocked the sheez out of this very pairing on her Instagram, looking thoroughly hot and totally like an 80’s baby in these sequined Zenith jeans from Fashion Nova.  I love the way a super-fun, over-the-top piece like these can put a whole new spin on an iconic combination! She gave the look a casual, sporty finish by completing it with white sneakers. From there, she goes to another take on an athleisure look: a coord set of a cropped top and track pants, again by Fashion Nova. I love the way the pinstripes give this a FASHION-gone-sporty vibe, rather than feeling like a gym look that just got dressed up a little. It’s casual, but also super-sophisticated and I’m so here for it! Her star-printed backpack ups the trendy vibe and echoes the set’s white stripes. Her strong eye and nude lip keep the look chic, but laidback. I’m thrilled that she didn’t try to power it up too much with a bright red lip. We don’t get to see her shoes (*sniffles*), but I’m betting on white sneakers or white pumps ;).  Barbie was really loving Fashion Nova this winter – she turned to the company again for this stunning eggplant satin romper. The color had my attention from ‘hello’ and the off-the-shoulder neckline and romantic puffed sleeves kept it! Everything about this piece makes a statement! The satin also makes it quite formal, so I liked seeing Barbie tone it down with her shoe choice. She went for a clear sandal, which is an upcoming trend for this summer. I’m still not quite sold on the look, but I’d have loved a nude heel in the same silhouette. I’m also crushing on her side-swept hairstyle here – it’s so sensual and gorgeous on her! Barbie was slaying for her birthday celebration in a red latex set from Meshki Boutique. This outfit, like her previous one, makes a fashion focal point all on its own, with the deep, square neckline, dangerously sexy fabric and outrageously high side slit. I could have dealt with a slightly less dramatic slit, but I can roll with this one; I’ve seen Barbie push the trend into much more questionable territory.  Then again, with her body, she can make nearly anything work. So there is that to consider :). Just as with the romper, Barbie wisely kept her accessories simple: clear sandals (again, I’d have loved nude as well) and a gold bag. I applaud her styling choices – they accent the look without getting in the way of the main statement.
I’ve already raved over Bayley’s tweak of her gear – the addition of fringe and reduction of patterns – in my review of her Royal Rumble look. I’m on board just as hard for this earlier version. I love the more edited execution, the movement of the fringe (and also how insanely unique it is!!), and the incredible aqua and pale apricot color story – again, a super unusual combo and a gorgeous one to boot! Brava, Bay – this gear is AHHHHHmazing! Also fabulous, incidentally on trend and mad fun :) I’m so in for this!

I love the color combination Brandi has going on in this look! The dusty peach of her flutter sleeve blouse looks incredible paired with this gray checked mini skirt! Peach tones with standard go-to black can sometimes feel too Halloween-inspired, but gray segues nicely around that issue. The business-like checks make a nice foil for the fluidity of her blouse sleeves. They also happen to be spot on-trend for spring, making Brandi officially ahead of the game, since she did this in November ;). Black ankle booties complete the ensemble. Even though she styled this for autumn, it’s a perfect transitional look for spring as well. She’s also been doing some fun things with her ring gear! Although we only get a look at the back of this catsuit she wore in November for Ring of Honor, we can see enough to realize that it’s jaw-dropping! The pure white piece is crisscrossed with tiny crystal boxes that all contain a larger crystal at their center. The pattern continues on the sleeves as well. This gear is FIERCE, no question! I love the color, the silhouette and the glamour of all that sparkle! I hope we get to see it again in the near future in a way where we can fully appreciate it. Brandi gave us a peek at a couple of her holiday looks: a sequined dress paired with suede OTK boots. We’ve seen this kind of combination quite often before, but I’m crazy over her choice of a rainbow-glittered piece. It looks amazing with her black accessories – they really set off the colors of the sequins – and it makes a fab allusion to the rainbow trend that’s beginning to gather steam in fashion of late. Her second look was all about the glitter as well and I love it just as much. This time, the classic silver holiday fare got an extra punch from the pairing with blush; the warmth of the pink is gorgeous against the cool sparkle of the silver. I’m also in for the textural play of her faux fur jacket and knit hat against the shimmer of her dress. I’m betting on blush pointy pumps or metallic silver sandals to complete this look. 

I love the crisp, clean vibe of this black and white winter look from Brandi! She gave the outfit sporty vibe by styling it with a sweatshirt on top – something else I love because blending the athletic attributes of a utilitarian training piece with the fanciness of a skirt feels totally current and fierce. To create Brandi’s look straight up, start with a pencil skirt. She went with a leather iteration, but wool will work just as well. You can also work with a knit, but lean towards polished variations over slinky bodycon ones to maintain the contrast in formality. Add a sweatshirt on top. Simple is stellar, stripes are awesome, graphics 100% fab. Leave it un-tucked a la Brandi or go for a central or side half-tuck.  Gibe it a try in black and white, explore an alternate combination of neutrals or spike the look with a vibrant color. Add black tights, or coordinate with the (or a) color in your sweatshirt. Brandi rounded off her ensemble with on-trend white ankle booties; def consider reaching for those if ya got ‘em! Alternatively, classic black is always your bff. While Brandi chose a streamlined, heeled silhouette, flat booties or a more relaxed heeled style (think combat, moto or hiking-influenced boots) work fabulously with this look! Add a backpack to amp up the athleisure vibe. Knit pom-pom beanie optional :). This styling lends itself to A-line and bell skirts* as well – think the pleated satin pieces that have been taken fashion by storm, a tulle midi or even denim. Same drill applies as above with color and embellishment on the sweatshirt and tights colors. Style your top with a half or full tuck to maintain the balance between relaxation and refinement.  Complete the look with breezily fierce pointy ankle booties in neutral leather or suede, or a coordinating color. Add statement earrings for an extra dash of va-voom. PS If the weather in your area is amenable, both of these looks would work brilliantly finished with sneakers instead of ankle booties. Happy sporty styling!
*This is an awesome example of the bell skirt silhouette.  Note that it curves around the hips, as opposed to flowing outward from them, as in an A-line, which forms a visual triangle.