One tricky aspect of wearing the super-casual throw-and-go looks that tend to define a significant portion of summer dressing is that they need a pinch of je ne se quoi, elan, an exclamation point, something that anchors the look firmly in the "style" category, rather than the "something I just threw on" file. The lack thereof was what my praise got hung up on with this warm-weather look from Lana, so I've re-imagined a trio of iterations of this straightforward combo with a pinch more intentional panache. The canvas for the look is pretty clear: tee+shorts. So, basically, it's a check your drawers/closet/armoire kind of thing. Go with a cropped tee if you're feeling it, a boxy version with a feminine detail - like this flutter-sleeved piece - or a simple, curve-kissing knit. Cut-off denim, a la Lana, works on the bottom, but you can also make a more polished statement via chinos or a specifically summery fabric (think seersucker, linen, gingham). Non-shorts-friendly environment? No problem! Full-length denim or chinos lend themselves to these looks quite nicely. Classic color stories like all black or all white are perpetually fab, but also consider au courant shades of blush (the newest neutral! ;)), nude and olive in your mix. Once you have your canvas chosen, it's all about the spark. With such a simple background, you can be a little extra daring! Do you love the toughness of camo or wild-at-heart leopard but shy away from wearing it ordinarily? Go for it here, via a belt or bag (or even sneakers ;)). Always wanted to try pairing red and pink? Add a touch to blush - the risky color combo will be tempered by earth-toned or denim shorts. Other edgy color choices include lemon, canteloupe, and kelly. Try some 80's-tinged candy-hued combos with bright turquoise or lavender. Alternatively, toughen the girly pink up with some studs. Black monochrome lends itself to just about anything (camo = yep, leopard = yep, red=yep, studs=yep). Then again, how about getting some mileage out of one of the myriad of scarves you've collected over the years and only occasionally manage to wear? Knot it at your waist (or do a big, bold couture-esque bow :)). Alternatively, I love the idea of tying it at your neck, but turning the knot to the back. You get the look of a choker in front, but floaty streamers trailing behind you (the effect is particularly dramatic with lengthy oblong scarves or oversize squares). Complete the laidback vibe of the look with coordinating sneakers. (Classic or casual flats - think espadrilles or ballets - are also 100% acceptable). Happy styling, loves!
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I loved Maria's quirky interpretation of the track pant craze the instant I saw it! She didn't try to make it excessively sporty, but went for a laidback-femme or sweet cool-girl vibe by pairing it with lace. It's a nice twist on a silhouette that can channel everything from jock to grunge to 'it girl". If you're aching to give this a try, there a couple of key points to keep in mind. First, regarding the pants themselves: look for either a loose, but tailored pair (think of a suiting pant style, but way more laidback) or a tapered silhouette. Both lend themselves to breezy chic quite readily. Avoid the ultra-baggy silhouettes at all costs. They're impossible to style unless you actually are Rihanna. Cuffed or non-cuffed both work, so - up to you! Also segue far around velour. Stay with streamlined satin-y or matte smooth fabrics. Knit versions will work, but only if they're of the polished variety. Hem length is important: a hint of slouch at the top of your foot = yes. Leaving no footprints because you're walking on your pant legs = no. Second, regarding your top: the squared-out silhouette with a shorter length that echoes the spirit of Maria's choice is what's crucial. You want something that hits close to the pants' waist because... WAIST! It's important. You need one here. These pants can be tricky to elevate and you are only one lengthy broken-in hoodie away from "I'm still so hungover". You don't want that; don't do that to you. You can play with a boxy crop top, a blouse-style piece, even an open-knit sweater over a tank, as long as it has the requisite wider+shorter shape. Finish the look a la Rosie Huntington-Whitely with ankle strap sandals, or inject some fierceness with a kitten heel. Or play the athleisure vibe to the hilt and conclude the styling with a coordinating sneaker. And what if: "uumm Brie - I don't have any track pants!"? You....don't....have...*faints*. Just kidding. NBD. Give this styling a try with straight, drawstring cargo pants (fish them out of your nearest 90's clothing refuge, be that your Mom's drawer, the back of your closet, aunt's attic or vintage store.). The drawstring is important on non-actual track pants to give that chill vibe. Alternatively, ditch said vibe and go with polished trousers of the suiting ilk. There'll be a pair somewhere that has the slightly slouchy or tapered silhouette you need. Promise. Excavate a little :). Bonus points if they're in a fabric with a sheen (double bonus points for tuxedo or similar stripes at the side), but any material with sufficient drape will work. Because you've done polished on the bottom, you can now do the whole carefree/broken-in/easy-breezy vibe on top. Try a baseball tee, or your favorite worn-but-not-forgotten solid standby. Skip over form-fitting and reach for drape-y. Forget the whole "cropped" thing; longer is fine. Add a half-tuck of some sort: frontal, side-al. Or be all daring and do a full tuck ;). Get your sporty on via accessories: sneakers and a baseball cap. Happy styling, loves!
And speaking of Maria ;) ...Trust her to create a super-fun look that embraces athleisure and still gets sequins involved! PS I love it! And fortunately there's no need to kick the glitter habit :) It translates just as nicely to sporty aesthetics as to luxe and glam-grunge ones. Maria - with her typical bold fashion genius- went for a silver Rolling Stones-logo'd tee. If you're in for that, rock it! If that much flair sends you running to hide under the bed (oh hey there! :)), play it the way I would: with practical black. (Not that anything sequined is ever reeeeaaalllly practical. That's why we own said sequined somethings. Duh.). It's a tad less sassy, but it's also more versatile :). To create the sport vibe, you're looking for a tee or a tank. Avoid narrow-strapped cami-style pieces. Racerback is 100% in, if ya got it! If you don't yet have an all-over sequined piece, choose something with sequin embellishment (metallic, in full or in part, is a totally allowable option as well). Pair with your fave leggings (def consider a track-striped version!) and coordinating sneakers. Top with a lightweight bomber for casual cool. Alternatively, ditch the bomber for a classic neutral tee (ok, hot pink works too ;)). Layer your dark sequined tank over the top for an urban 80's-meets-now vibe. Feel free to enhance that with black denim (distressing = do-able) instead of leggings. Still sneakers on the bottom for that whole sporty sitch.(But you don't actually have to sprint anywhere if you don't want to. I do recommend dancing though :)) Happy styling, loves!
Mandy did this wide-leg look back in late winter, so I've metamorphosized it for warmer weather - who need s a fur vest at 90 degrees, right? Although, maybe in an air conditioned office...:). Anyway, let's pretend the AC hasn't been cranked up to sub-zero Refrigerate-The-Humans temps and you want to dress in one or two layers instead of seventeen. The wide-leg trend is staying strong in fashion and it's definitely worth trying - also waaay more comfortable than skinny jeans :). The flowy wide-leg is a dramatic silhouette that can be either balanced, or accentuated, depending on your preference. Look for a pair that's tailored, with a higher or tapered-in waist (even if you're going to cover it). The right design assists the way this piece works and a cut that goes straight up from the hip can have a tendency to come off blocky. For a crisp polished interpretation, top this statement pant with a minimalist button-down blouse. Tuck it in and play up the waist with a black leather belt and pointy pumps. The look plays off the iconic color scheme and understated sophistication of the elements. For a chic, artsy vibe, skip the whole waist-focus and top the pants with an un-tucked cami. Almost any style that's not exceptionally casual will work (avoid un-embellished knits and form-fitting pieces). A simple silk variation, a floral print, a solid metallic, a ruffled/embroidered/crochet or lace-detailed piece. This whole outfit is about fluidity and movement, so you'll need to ground it a bit via your shoes. Reach for a structured chunky-heeled sandal with a 70's vibe or an of-the-moment pointy flat. For non-professional events, you can stop right there, but for offices and other less-casual environments, add a topper. Go haute couture with a sleeveless trench, modern boho with a linen duster, or quirky with a free-spirited kimono. Or, you can play up the waist with a look that's picking up steam as we speak: the wide belt/corset waist. This super-easy variation turns on your chosen belt, so play around with backdrops that accentuate it: dark neutrals for a bright or pale color, light ones for black or dark brown. Grab your favorite un-embellished, refined tee (no baseball tees, or ribbed-collar types; you're looking for something more finished). Tuck it out over your wide-leg pants. Add belt of choice. Finish with coordinating shoes - a colored on-trend mule/slide, a classy pointy pump, a structured neutral sandal. And boom! Done. (PS You can 100% add the belt over a peplum top). Oooooooor :), you can push the envelope a bit more and wear an actual corset or bustier over your top instead of a belt. How amazing is that look?! Happy styling, Fancies!
I love me some color as much as anybody, but certain days simply require chic, iconic black. If you're feeling Dark Mode coming on, look no further than Michelle for a bit of inspiration. This recent look is about as lightless as it gets: a black monochrome pairing of a cropped top, distressed denim and OTKs with a bomber on top. Black makes life easy and this look is mad simple to re-create. The one important rule with a monochrome outfit is to include some textural variation(s) to enhance the visual interest. If you're using a satin bomber (or any fabric with a sheen), do things Michelle's way and go for a knit top. Swap her OTKs for fierce ankle or mid-calf boots (hardware encouraged) to make the styling a little lighter for summer. If your bomber is a knit or similar matte finish, opt for an alternative texture underneath, like a 90's-tinged silk cami that plays on the lingerie-for-day trend. It has the added benefit of more coverage than the crop top if you're in an environment where ab-displays are frowned upon or your abs are feeling shy ;). The luxurious sheen of silk offers a tantalizing contrast to a soft knit, smooth twill, or fuzzy wool. Go with straight or skinny denim on the bottom, distressing optional. Contrast the femme cami and play up the bomber's sporty vibe by finishing the look with sneakers. Alternatively, take this combo in a more polished direction with a drapey button-down blouse. Any variant of silk will do: crepe de chine, charmeuse, georgette, or any fabric with a similar look. Go with high-waisted denim and blouson it or leave it un-tucked and flowing (bonus: the rise on your denim matters not). Pointy pumps enhance the easy sophistication, while the on-trend bomber creates an off-duty model vibe. Enhance that with a sleek-but-simple pony. And if you suddenly feel the need for a chain-handled cross-body or a quilted tote, I'm with your feels. Happy styling!
Soooo, since I was kind of so-so about this particular application of velvet for warm weather, I guess it begs the question: how would you do it, Brie? Well, for starters, I'd happily borrow Barbie's sugary combo of pale pink (or at least golden nude ;)) and light wash denim! Lately, fashion has been appropriating traditionally winter fabrics, material by material, and reinterpreting them for the warmer months. It started a couple years back with leather, then suede and, as of this year, velvet. Most winter fabrics are weighty types, intended to provide warmth. The newer iterations generally have less heft and more drape, but they still carry a presence that can be challenging for high temps and sultry days. The trick is not to go overboard with them. To that end, do your velvet in shots, not kegs: a velvet tee or cami tops denim nicely. I've re-envisioned Barbie's pairing with slightly darker denim for a slightly more tart composition and added a grounding neutral. Bone peep-toe booties fill this role with the cami, black pointy-toe flats with the tee. I also love the idea of a black cross-body bag to reiterate the splash of black in a carefree (and practical! :) ) way. If a top is still too much velvet for your taste, consider the femme drama of velvet sandals! Because the hint of color is subtler here than when it's a larger piece of your look, super-pale denim is totally acceptable. Go for an on-trend crisp white shirt above. I love the coquettishness of a seen-everywhere off-the-shoulder blouse (ruffles, eyelet, lace and other ladylike embellishments = totally acceptable, even encouraged :)). If you haven't embraced said trend yet (or never will :)), try an iconic button-down in oxford or broadcloth. It will give you a crisper, more pointed vibe than the blouse. Since velvet, with its luxurious feel and sheen-y finish, is still a formal fabric, keep the baubletry to a minimum for this casual styling - a slim lariat or narrow choker is the most you need.
This recent look of Barbie's is daring as it stands, but is easily re-imagined in a more demure way that still maintains the fashion-foward vibe. It's the addition of a nude cami below that makes all the difference (you can play down the peekaboo aspect by layering white, gray, ivory or black below). Then, you can have at you with any manner of lace that floats your soap - a tank, a peplum top, a blouse. Especially that whole blouse thing! There are SO many gorgeous blouses out right now - absolute confections of pieces that a get a modern update and informal twist when paired with skinny jeans. Don't just stop at lace pieces either; consider eyelet, crochet or broderie anglaise, ruffled or embroidered/embellished pieces and combinations of the above. Finish the look with ankle strap sandals, as Barbie has (feel free to cuff or roll full-length denim to a shorter length to show off the shoe more) for a flirty vibe or add some extra edge with fierce pointy-toe pumps. The coup de grace of the look is the pop of color from a bright bag. Get your Nikki vibe on by choosing and iconic red, go Barbie with neon rose or be daringly summertime-ready with bright turquoise, lime or lavender (or yellow, of course :)). I you don't happen to have a bright bag atm, no prob - add your brights via your shoes, or jewels: statement earrings, a bold bracelet (or pile of them), a go-big-or-go-home ring. If you're tucking your blouse in, a bright belt will work as well. For chilly nights, toss a trench coat, or blazer over blouses. A long cardi dangling off one shoulder makes a sexy alternative topper for cami's and tanks and similar shoulder-baring styles. I hope this inspires you to give a femme-meets-bright look a try sometime soon. Happy styling loves!
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AuthorBrie: shoe-lover :) fashion-lover and generally glamorous semi-dork Archives
July 2019
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