The Winter Blues...and Pinks...and Reds!

Ahhh, it's that time of year, when we look at our weather apps only to find that yet again it's TWELVE outside and yet again we have to pull on our frumpy wool socks, snow boots and our parkas. YAWN! February is the time of year when I am SICK of wearing my winter gear and ready to go outside with nothing but a cute sweater on. But, alas, we have lots more winter to go and March is going to be snowy (or so I hear).  So, let's brainstorm how to breathe some life and color into our boring, played-out, tiresome winter wardrobes.

I do these myself, and it always makes me feel a little bit better, and like spring just might be around the corner! Maybe.....

Three words: BRIGHT. LIP. COLOR.

Nothing will make you feel better about the sludge on your shoes and the drabness of dirty snow all around.  Do it, if you don't know how a YouTube video that will show you is just a Google away. There, no excuses left for you. Do a classic red if these colors are too punchy for you, or a light stain if you don't dig a bold lip. Sometimes I get people staring at my lips but then I get a compliment and I realize, those other people were staring because they found it interesting that I "did" my lips and that I made such an effort. Making an effort to get dressed is kind of a lost art...you have to have the courage to make an effort and to try something new and bold. Trust me, you'll get a rush from it. :)

From advancedstyle.com THE best fashion street style blog ever, these ladies kill it.

Style.com DVF runway show

Bright nails!

There is something fun and cool about seeing an unexpected bright nail peeking out from a pair of woolen mittens or a black puffer. It's also a nice, safe option if you're too shy to try the bold lip. I love to do a coral-y red usually reserved for summer in the winter, looks so nice paired with all my greys and blacks. You don't need to go get a manicure, sit down to watch your fave TV show and you can do them and have them dry by the time it's over! I do mine every Sunday night.

pamperedandpolished.co.uk

A Colorful Accessory

You probably already have one in your closet, that's the beauty of this one. Get out your pink scarf, your green Chuck Taylors, your royal blue tote, your yellow sunglasses -- whatever! That "summer" accessory is probably all you need to freshen up your winter basics!

Start 'playing' in your closet and I bet there are tons of combos you've never thought of if you can just think out the box and stop referring to everything as having a particular "season". I urge my clients to buy as "seasonless" as possible. The wardrobe possibilities are ENDLESS when everything can be paired with everything else, all the time, depending on the weather.

olsensanonymous.com

stylecaster.com

Last but not least: BE Creative & Make an Effort!

Wear a colorful silk scarf tucked into your coat, let colorful socks (tasteful ones) poke out in between your shoes and pant hem (or a little showing at the top of your boot!), bust out your bright "summer" bag and wear it cross-body with your puffer. You'll know when things don't go together (don't bust out your straw summer bag). Let your gut be your guide and wear your style proudly!

The moral of the story is don't give up if you're in a rut!! It makes me sad when I see people out and about (and especially at their place of employment) and I can tell they have totally given up. Whether it be due to weather (um, last time I checked there are nice clothes for bad weather), or due to not caring (the saddest thing ever), we all can choose to start over at any given moment.  Sure you'll get the comments, "Where are you going?" and "Why are you so 'dressed up'?" for a while, but if you just can let those comments roll (and consider the dress of the person dishing them out) I promise you they will stop when you consistently show up looking nice.

Even better...you're likely to eventually inspire others to step it up and dress nicely for their day too!  It's a positive ripple! :)  :)

Happy Winter!

Our Grandmother's Fashion Rules No Longer Apply

Old Rule: Don't Wear White After Labor Day
New Rule: Wear white whenever you please! ...Except to a wedding if you are not the bride. No, no!
It's called winter white -- and it's very chic. Exhibit A:

Old Rule: Wear flesh-colored stocking in winter on bare legs. 
New Rule: No one should suffer the flesh-colored tight look unless they are royalty (and even then, Kate Middleton avoids it whenever possible)
It is much chicer (and younger) to wear colored, grey, brown, or black opaque tights. It does not matter your age - you CAN wear black opaque tights.

Old Rule: Don't Wear Navy with Black
New Rule: Pair navy with black anytime! It looks modern and pretty. Just makes sure it's obvious that you're pairing the two on purpose and not by accident.

Comment with any old rules that may have been passed down to you!

Make Your Closet Peaceful

via babble.com

OK, so maybe our closets won't end up being quite this sparse, but an overstuffed (read: overcluttered) closet equals stress. Most of the time, we don't realize how stressful it is until all the clutter is gone and we can breathe, ahhh.

Here are some tips for clearing the clutter, organizing your space, caring correctly for your clothing and getting your closet in tip-top shape ASAP. You should be feeling more peaceful already. :)

Make your closet your happy place.

~Your closet should feel like a boutique: everything hanging with enough space, things folded neatly, and never overstuffed. Keep it sparse.

~Clear the clutter! Sell unwanted designer pieces at consignment shops and sell non-designer goods on apps like Vinted & Poshmark.

~Create new outfits from your closet by learning to mix prints: one pattern should always “win” and the patterns should have a color in common. Pair masculine and feminine pieces for the fashion editor look.

~Utilize the ‘hanger trick’: slip the hanger over the bar backwards at the beginning of a season. Sell or donate the items you never wore – you won’t miss them.

~Banish wire hangers. Use shaped wooden hangers for jackets and felt-covered hangers for everything else. Don’t hang knits! It stretches them.

~Store knits folded in tissue and boxes, or in sweater bags. I keep my gift boxes with tissue and use those, stacked on a shelf. Pretty!

~Get a honeycomb drawer divider for your underwear drawer; it’ll look pretty every time you open it. Make your closet feel like a boutique.

~Stuff bags with old T-shirts so they keep their shape, store in cubbies in their original dust covers, or old pillowcases.

~Stuff old magazines in tall boots to keep them from folding over.

Happy organizing!

 

Transitional Dressing

Image via Thecorcorangroup.tumblr.com

Ah, the lovely in-between season days when we can get away with little summer dresses and boots, or cut-off shorts with cozy cardigans. I love it. Although here, it's still hovering in the upper 80s, ugh. Soon though, I will be able to bust out y boots and wear them with T-shirts and jeans until it gets too cold.
Transitional dressing is the most fun.

Summer Love

DIY Denim cutoffs are a personal summer staple. The more beat up, the better.  Want a pair? Pick up a pair of men's jeans from your local thrift store that are loose but not too baggy (I look for 32s), and mark across the leg 12 inches from the top. Cut at a slight angle for a flattering shape (higher to lower cutting toward the crotch). Then, once you're satisfied, throw them in the wash, then dry on low for the perfect fringe. Presto! Instant laid back cool. My collection is below!

Dressing for 90 Degree Weather

It's HOT.

and humid.

Do you always wonder what to wear on days like these only to choose an outfit that you cannot wait to get out of once you step into the heat?
Many women reach for maxi dresses when it's hot but, if you're anything like me, maxis are like putting a hot tent over my body that I can't wait to take off once I'm home.
Here's my simple formula for hot weather dressing.

Start with the Correct Undergarments!

A 90 degree day is not the day to bust out your Spanx. If you simply cannot go out of the house without your Spanx then these are the Spanx for you for hot weather. I have a pair, they rock.
A tried-and-true worthwhile investment (trust me, I wear them all summer) is a pair of Under Armour moisture-wicking running shorts.
These will change your life in the summer by wearing them as underwear under dresses & skirts. They smooth you, hold in your belly, AND no gross leg stickiness or chafing & no gross sweatiness! If they're too long on you be sure to buy petites. Yes, they are black, and if you can find a nude version similar to this, go for it, but these, so far, are the only things that work for me in the hot, hot summer.

Next, get yourself a simple, pretty lace or mesh bra.
Who wants to wear a thick, heavy bra with lining and padding and underwires in the heat? Not me. get yourself a pretty lace bra and wear it under everything, if the lace shows too much get a mesh bra, it won't show through your top. If the straps show or a little lace can be seen from the side of a tank it is sexy! (Yes, I said bra straps showing are OK -- this time!)
Full-chested? You can still get a lace or mesh bra! Just find one from a reputable full-bust brand and get an underwire! Sooo much more comfy than a heavily padded bra.
If this look is too fashion-forward for you, or not as functional due to your shape (especially if you need smoothing properties in a bra) invest in a simple cotton T-shirt bra with minimal padding. Here are some options of those.
Here are some other good bra options for the fuller-chested ladies.

What to Wear!

Now you've got the undergarments down (which is the most important, especially in the heat) so, for maximum cooling choose your fabrics & colors wisely!!

What NOT to Wear
Polyester and other synthetic fabrics (synthetic = made made, or not natural) do not breathe. They will form a little pocket of heat under them and you will be sweltering and dying of heat exhaustion!Don't wear them -- in fact, this is a good time to go through your closet and notice just how many polyester things you have creeping in there. maybe it's time to start reading labels and making sure you're purchasing some natural fibers!
Silk, although natural, is a great insulator (doesn't breathe) and you will die a slow death of heat stroke in something silk. Silk is awesome for winter, especially when you want to be warm but not bulky.
Dark fabrics absorb the sunlight, essentially making your clothing similar to wearing a heated blanket. Good luck with that.

What TO Wear
Obviously, the opposite of what's above!
Linen is summer's best fiber friend. Linen is the breathiest fabric (is breathiest a word? I don't know). But linen gets so wrinkly! you say.  Yes, it does, and you are to bask in your wrinkled linen like "I'm too rich and chic to care about my wrinkly linen" because that's what linen says.  Don't believe me? Take a field trip to a ritzy country club one day and check out all the people in their super chic wrinkled linen. Boom.

Cotton. Cotton breathes and is equally as awesome in summer but it gets wet from your sweat and stays wet, so if you are going from the hot, hot heat into an air conditioned restaurant (and you know the air is set at 5 below zero) you will be freezing because you will have wet cotton on which will then turn cold. Trust me, I backpack, and backpackers that wear cotton freeze at night. Cotton/polyester blends are OK (or rayon etc) but you will be more hot than if you were wearing pure 100% cotton.

Light colors. Bounce that sunlight off of yourself! You will be cooler in something white, and summer white is sooo chic. Don't let anyone tell you that an all-white outfit is not slimming - it is! So long as it fits you well and the proportions are correct!How chic does she look below? (OK, that's a winter outfit, but you catch my drift)

Image courtesy of Shapely Chic Sheri. Her blog rocks, check it out, I love her.

Showing Skin in Summer is Not a Requirement
Most people think dressing for hot weather means showing lots of skin (read: tanks and shorts), but that's not necessarily so. Covering your skin with a light, breathable fabric is actually cooler than having your skin exposed to soak up the sun. Someone wearing a long sleeve linen shirt is cooler than someone in a tiny tank. Experiment with this yourself and try out different combos that you may not think to grab for a hot day. I love to wear a linen shirt with rolled up sleeves in the summer, an added bonus is looking different from all the people around me in tank tops. Long linen pants are another options that is chic and will keep you cool!

Now You're Ready for Hair & Makeup!

I, personally, am all about a topknot in summer, but it's a fashion-forward look that not everyone likes, or has the hair for. Topknots know no bounds when it comes to age though, so try not to pigeon-hole yourself into thinking that because of your age or your size you can't do one. Every style can be tweaked for any age is my philosophy!  It's pretty, it lifts the features and it's easy.

Other options are short pixie cuts, or, if you don't want to commit to a short style, there are literally thousands of Pins and YouTube videos where you can learn really cool braiding techniques to keep your hair off your face and neck in the summer. Braids are so pretty. Summer is also a great time to experiment with hats & headbands, I never go anywhere outside without my Panama hat. (I'm trying to avoid forehead wrinkles at all costs, haha)

As far as makeup goes, a quick, waterproof flick of a cat eye is a stay-proof, heat-resistant option that adds a lot of style without a lot of makeup (watch YouTube videos for tutorials on those too) and if you would rather draw attention to your lips, then summer is the perfect time for a nice lip stain (go for a berry inspired color, I love raspberry on my lips) I love Clinique Chubby Sticks the best and they stay on through eating and drinking.

Accessories Time!

I like to wear accessories that are cold on my skin in the summer, like jeweled statement necklaces, metal bangles etc, but I don't overdo it. Having too much on can make you feel hotter. As far as shoes go I love a flat gladiator sandal right now. The thinner your calves the higher you can go with them. If you feel your calves are thicker, go with a lower shoe (nothing around the ankles for maximum flattery). Carry a bag that is small and light. There is nothing worse (or worse looking) than a heavy, leather 'winter' bag on your shoulder when it's hot. Get a cute cross-body bag in a punchy color (see above photo). You'll feel so much cooler! (Literally & figuratively!)

Happy Summer!

xRachel

Running Late Outfit Hacks

So, hacks are the thing right now -- if you haven't heard of them, they are little "cheats" that help with everything from travel, to work, to exercise, to cooking, to life in general. Well, I'd like to dole out some of my own hacks (gasp! I'm giving away some serious secrets here). Every now and again someone will ask me how I have the time to looked pulled together all the time -- especially now that I'm a mom. I'm never sure how to answer it as the answer is long, so I usually just shrug my shoulders and smile. Fact is, I'd like to teach everyone how to looked pulled together all the time, it really is so easy once you get the outfit formulas down. I can literally roll out of bed to take my dog to the vet or my daughter to Book Babies in 15 minutes flat (well, have myself ready in that amount of time anyway, I can't speak for the baby and the dog!)

Here's how ya do it:

Formula 1:

PJ tank + cool Tee + skinny jeans + flats/loafers + cocktail ring = Done.

This is a summer outfit hack. Note that this is my personal style, but it can be tweaked for any one's personal style, I'll show you how after the jump.

What I do in summer if I'm running late or have a super early appointment is throw a vintage band Tee over my nursing tank that I slept in, rip off my pajama bottoms, throw on jeans, slip on some cool loafers or flats and throw on a cocktail ring (I call this, my "finisher" piece) The finisher piece is what makes me look like I spent a while getting "pulled together" haha. If my hair is crazy beyond fixing with a little surf spray or pomade, I throw it up into a loose, low chignon or bun, mess it up a little to make it a little sexier, throw on sunglasses (to hide the no-makeup tired-eyes look) and go. I'll do a bit of a lip stain if I have more time, but usually the sunnies are enough to make me feel pretty.

Formula 2:

PJ cami + Boyfriend jeans + flat/loafer + chunky knit + low bun = Done.

This is for a chilly spring or fall morning or for a balmier winter morning. This outfit can be tweaked in a number of different ways too, for instance, if you are less edgy and more classic, you'd follow this same formula but tweaked:

PJ cami + Straight leg jeans + nude flat + cardigan (add a scarf if the cardigan doesn't cover the cami well enough)

Obviously, if you have a fuller chest you'll need to slip a bra on under the cami before you head out, which kind of defeats the purpose of throwing clothes over your PJs, so this look might not be for you, but play with it and tweak it until you find your perfect go-to formula.

Formula 3:

PJ tank + silk tank + shorts (silk or denim) + edgy sandals + bed head hair + gold cuff + sunnies = Done.

This is a more polished look and my go-to for a simple work outfit (obviously, not everyone can wear shorts for work) but a trouser could easily be swapped out for the shorts and this could be a cute summer work look.  Sunglasses are a major beauty tool.  I am willing to bet almost every celebrity photographed with their huge sunglasses on has bloodshot tired, makeup-free eyes under there! haha, especially the moms! They hide a multitude of sins -- wear them! Wear them on cloudy days!

Granted, these easy outfit cheats help but taking good care of myself from the inside always helps me feel good, even when I know I don't look my best. I try to drink tons of water, eat as cleanly as I can (for me that means no meat, no dairy, no gluten and no sweets most of the time) and meditate and take time out to de-stress, that way, if I have to rush out the door with no makeup on (even under-eye concealer, eek!) I feel good enough about the natural look of my skin. It also helps to remember that people notice the good things about the way you look and usually only we are so focused on our flaws.

Welp, until next post, here's to Your Style Simplified!

Closet Rooms

Lately, I've been noticing a lot of people creating a "closet room" out of a spare bedroom. When I went to see my sister's new house I thought I'd snap some pics of her cute closet room and share them with you with some closet organization tips!

The pull-out drawers are perfect for Tshirts and light sweaters that shouldn't be hung, and the shoes fit nicely underneath where my sister can see all her options (as opposed to digging around at the bottom of a dark closet for a missing shoe, haha). The drawers are also the perfect place to "stage" your outfit for the following day.

An organized and well-lit closet also makes for quick and easy editing as you can see everything and take stock of what you aren't wearing. Tip: It's also a good way to keep your wardrobe under wraps (you know me and my minimalist obsession!) -- more shoes than will fit on the shelf? Some have to go! The tall shelf is great for housing dresses and pants -- even maxi dresses fit without puddling on the floor. The high shelf should house out-of-season, too big, too small or maternity clothing -- basically anything you aren't currently wearing and won't be needing to get to for a number of months.

They bought the shelves, racks & drawers from Home Depot for around $350 and labor cost them nothing as they installed everything themselves! They even have room for a professional steamer for quick steams before they head out. Tip: For super easy closet editing, at the beginning of a season, turn all your hangers the opposite way (so the opening of the 'hook' is facing outward, towards you instead of towards the back). Reassess at the end of the season and see what you never wore (the hanger will still be backwards), give away or consign anything that you didn't wear. Easy!

Non-slip felt hangers are a must for slinky, silky garments that constantly slip off the hanger. They are also much less damaging to garments as they don't poke and stretch the fabric at the shoulder like wire hangers do. Felt hangers can be found at any home goods store, or stores like Target. They're typically about $30 for a pack of 50. Tip: Hangers with rounded shoulders should always be used for jackets and blazers to prevent the dreaded shoulder poke. Buy shoulder dust covers at a home goods store to place over off-season items like leather jackets or heavy blazers; the shoulders of jackets collect a lot of dust.

Silk scarves are best hung on hoop hangers, which can also be found at home goods' stores. It makes it very easy to see your scarves so you can remember what you have and wear them accordingly! I guarantee that you will not wear that scarf that's at the bottom of your drawer!

You can find an inexpensive vanity or dressing table at a thrift or second-hand consignment store. Meaghan thrifted her vanity for $20 from Goodwill, the bench is from HomeGoods and the mirror was $25 from Kirkland's.  Tip: Remember that a coat of white or bright paint can rejuvinate ANY piece of furniture. If you don't have a lot of money to spend (or a lot of time to scour thrift stores) pick up any old thing, sand it, and paint it! Replacing hardware goes a long way too, pick up some modern hardware at the store and swap out outdated knobs for something punchy! Jewelry tables/chests are also good things to look for at a thrift shop, I found mine at Goodwill for $20 (my next project is painting it turquoise!).

Lifestyle Dressing

FACT: Your morning will be hectic and frustrating if your closet does not match your current lifestyle.

I recently made a huge life change: I had my first child, quit my job in marketing and am now a small business owner, sometime babysitter, and 24/7 Mama. The first thing I did (once I felt well enough and once I started to venture out again) was go through my wardrobe and take it from one lifestyle - to a totally different one. I packed my most-loved business clothes & shoes, and sold or donated the rest.

(Remember minimalism! I have one half of a plastic bin of work clothes in storage, the other half is maternity - if I ever work in-office again, I can add in more pieces later, I didn't believe in keeping and storing everything I had, only the best of the best)

My life used to look like this:

40% Work - Business Formal Attire
20% Exercise, Yoga & Sports (Backpacking for me)
10% Out on the Town Clothes
10% Formal attire (wedding wear, business conference/parties, etc)
20% Casual Day & Lounge (includes pajamas)

Then, my life flipped to this:

0% Work - Business Formal Attire
20% Exercise, Yoga & Sports (Backpacking for me)
10% Out on the Town Clothes
10% Formal attire (wedding wear, business conference/parties, etc)
60% Casual Day & Lounge (includes pajamas)

WHOA.
Probably the biggest wardrobe shift there is. Not to mention that after baby you must utilize your maternity clothes to transition back to your pre-preggo weight (and, if you're dumb like me, you have to buy some clothes in bigger sizes until you get your weight back down to normal - never doing that again!)
So I found myself with a completely different lifestyle and in a completely different size AND - I was a completely different shape: bigger boobs, weight around my middle, bigger butt and thighs.

Motherhood is hard enough at the beginning, and I think that is why so many women find themselves in a real pickle and are just like screw it I'm wearing sweats everyday until I'm back to normal size. Trust me, it was hard for ME to edit my wardrobe for myself and I frequently ended up in tears, so I can imagine that non-fashion types are absolutely perplexed. But fear not! I can help!

1) First thing's first
Do. not. worry. about. what. you. look. like! Seriously. This is one of the only times you'll hear me say this, but relish this precious time with your baby, brush your teeth, maybe even out your complexion with a tinted moisturizer, and call it a day for a few weeks, you aren't going out of the house, and it's totally fine to just be in lounge wear after you give birth - you deserve it! haha

2) Then, once you're feeling like a human being again
I would say somewhere around week 4 or 5 I came out from under the new-mom, no-sleep fog and decided I was ready to try a bit harder and look polished again. Polished does not mean you blow-dry your hair, or put makeup on even. All it means is that you consider what you look like as a whole, and put a little effort toward a look so you look nice. Nice for me meant a scraped my hair into a topknot bun, evened out my complexion, darkened my eyebrows a bit and threw on black leggings, flats and a slouchy top with a chunky sweater. Done, and cute, and nursing baby friendly.

3) Be Realistic

This is not my Mama look:

 

Sure, some celebs trot around in heels all day long with or without their babies. But then there are more realistic celebs - enter Gwen Stefani, Jessica Alba, Michelle Williams & Kate Beckinsale. Google them for inspo.

The point is, be realistic and true to you. If you want to wear heels or wedges as a mama, go right ahead! But if you are like me and have discovered that it just isn't comfy enough, then pare down your heels and stock up on cute loafers, flats, flat boots and thong sandals. (not flip flops! Those are for pedicures and the beach. There are too many cute and comfortable flat shoes out there to waste a good look with a sloppy pair of flops).

4) Reassess your Silhouette

It's imperative to reassess your figure post-baby. I, for one, had bigger boobs then I had ever had. And all my slouchy tops were no longer flattering. So, I had to go out and purchase 2-3 V neck, dark colored tops that were more flattering to the girls. 

Since every women's tummy is a trouble-spot after giving birth, keep it to looser silhouettes but don't go too blousy or you'll risk looking like you're in a moo-moo.  

If thighs and butt were your trouble area too (like me) stick with only dark colors on the bottom and try for a wide leg or boot-cut jean. Leave your skinny jeans alone for a little while. 

If you gained weight all over (some of my knee-high boots were too tight to wear) then overall slimming is the goal, darker colors head to toe and dressing with lots of vertical details (vertical stripes, princess seams, creases down the front of pant legs, etc.) One, long vertical line should be your goal. 

If you want black leggings Danskin leggings are the way to go, I'd go with their longer options and stay away from the cropped ones for the longest leg line. They are NOT see-through at all on the butt, but you really must cover your butt and crotch when wearing leggings for the best look.

5) Edit and Reorganize!

get all big maternity stuff out right away and move to storage or high up on a shelf in your closet. The front-and-center stuff should all fit you now, be flattering and you should like it. For me, this was 3 pieces for a few weeks that I wore to death, then I moved onto 3 more pieces, so on until I'm almost back into everything at this point (almost 6 months later mind you, taking your time is healthy!)

You'll feel good and look great if you take the time to do this. It won't take longer than an afternoon and you can get someone else to schlep around the clothes that need to be moved for you (a hubby/partner, your mom, a sister or friend). Having effortless style takes effort in the beginning and then putting pieces on and mixing them together should be easy! It will help your self-esteem, peace of mind and get you out of that closet in no time and with your baby.

Extra tips!

• Nursing tanks are where it's at. When you wear a nursing tank, you can essentially wear anything to nurse as you can just pull the top shirt up and the nursing tank down which creates a nice little sliver of skin for your babe and nothing else shows! I started with black tanks when I didn't want people to see my belly flab and now I'm wearing nude ones so they can be paired with any top.
• Dresses are kind of tricky while nursing, I would forget about them entirely for a while. Sure some wrap dresses can slip over to expose the breast for nursing but then you are so exposed on top you won't be comfortable to nurse anytime, anywhere (at least I wouldn't be) I have my dresses stored under plastic in my closet.
• Remember your lifestyle when out shopping. The retail industry's goal is to make you think you NEED what it is they need to sell, most of the time (like 98% of the time) you don't. Go armed with a list of the few items you do really need, your closet will thank you later (and you won't end up with a closet full of clothes you don't like thinking how did this happen again?)
• Flat shoes do not have to be frumpy. If you have short legs like me and don't look great in flats, look for a pointed toe, it'll help make you look more like you're wearing heels. 
• Also, the higher your waist the longer your legs look so define that waist once it's back! I love maxi skirts at my natural waist - no one ones where my legs really start! hahaha.

Questions/comments or anything I forgot to mention here? Leave it below! :)

Here's to Your Style Simplified!
X, The Closet Coach

Let's Rock Our Fair Skin

I will be the first to admit that I used to spend $70 every April for a month of unlimited tanning bed sessions. After getting a few moles removed, and starting to see some wrinkles, I quit tanning for good. I was 27. I wish I had smartened up sooner, but in three years my skin has improved a lot. Now, when I see a tanned woman walk by me on the beach, I remind myself of all the beautiful, fair celebs that wouldn't be caught dead with a tan. Gwen Stefani, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, etc.!

Natural, healthy skin is beautiful skin. I especially love women with beautiful fair skin. All you need to do is find colors to make your skin tone pop. For summer, high contrast will make fair skin pop beautifully. If you have pink undertones (the veins on your wrist are blue) stick to blues and purples for contrast. If you have yellow undertones (the veins on your wrist are greenish) stick to oranges and reds for contrast. Try out colors in the whole spectrum and see which make your skin pop best. Greens typically can work for both. 

A yellow undertone, or 'warm' person can try light orange all the way through burgundy. Same for a pink or 'cool' toned person, light blue through a dark, inky indigo.

Don't feel like you must have a tan! Rock your skin tone and make clothes work for you. Plus, it's nice to look different from everyone else and really stand out on a beach. Healthy, fit bodies look beautiful pale. If you're feeling self-conscious of your not so fit bod, then just get some tanner lotion and add a subtle glow to your skin. Just think how your skin will thank you in 10 years!! If we want fair skin to be 'in' then we have to start rocking our natural skin tones stat! :)

Shop Outside the Box

Don't limit yourself to the women's department! If you're petite, shop blazers in the Boys' department. Tall? Buy tanks and tees at juniors stores like Abercrombie or Hollister where they are cut extra long. Expecting? Look for blousy tops in the Juniors plus department, they're cute, and they'll be big enough to go over your belly. (In the third trimester though, stick to form-fitting maternity wear so you don't add weight.)

Looking for boyfriend jeans? Find a men's pair that fits you well (or borrow your man's) and style them with sexy heels. Cute scarfs can be found at half the price in the Girls' department, Army and Surplus stores have amazing field coats, and thrift stores are a great place to find cool jewelry and silk scarves to tie to your bag or wear loose around your neck.

I have even been known to buy shoes in the men's department if I can't find a similar style I like for women. I especially like men's sneakers.

The point is, wherever you are when you're out shopping, look around and think about how you could repurpose things to fit what you need to fill out your wardrobe. The perfect piece or accessory might be lurking where you least expect it!

Brand Crush - HATCH Clothing

I'm pretty obsessed with the Hatch brand although I can't afford any of it - ha! But regardless, brands like these are what I use as benchmarks and then seek out similar silhouettes and styles elsewhere (Gap, Ellie Boutique, Loft, department store sale racks, thrift stores, etc). 

I LOVE their slouchy take on casual wear and, though this is technically a maternity brand, many of the pieces can be worn regularly - which makes me SO excited, think of the versatility and still not many clothes in your wardrobe. So, I'll be saving up to buy a classic Hatch piece that I'll have forever, and in the meantime, staring at their lookbook here (http://m.refinery29.com/hatch) and recreating these looks on my own. 

Pointy Flats Look Great on EVERYONE

If there is one shoe I recommend for absolutely everyone it's a comfy, nice quality pointy flat. They lengthen short girls' legs, thin out curvier girls' legs and complement anything you could possible be wearing (seriously, even a ball gown!).
If you don't have a pair I suggest you take your time and buy a classic pair that will last you years. Keep it simple, you don't want anything too trendy - especially if you drop more than $50 on them (which you should, nice shoes goes a long way for a sophisticated look).

If you don't believe the power of a pointy toe, go upstairs (or to a store if you have no pointy shoes), slip on a few rounded- or square-toe shoes, look at your body in a full length mirror, and then slip on a few pointy shoes.  MAJOR difference. Such an easy body-changing trick! And remember, size doesn't matter, wearing the right clothes does!

Image via fashionising.com