Style Lush

30 For 30: A Closet Remix

By Janet

During the summer, the New York Times posted about Six Items or Less, an experiment in wearing just six items of clothing for a month. I thought the whole idea was simply crazy. Six items? I think I wore six items today, if you count my tights and jacket. There's absolutely no way that I could reduce my wardrobe to just six pieces. For starters, I just don't do laundry often enough.  

However, I am interested in simplifying my wardrobe. When I started a new job two months ago, I decided to build a work wardrobe that was nearly exclusively black and gray. I add a few bright accessories here and there, and the occasional colored top or tights, but 90 percent of my weekday wear is black and various shades of gray. I like that my purse always matches and I can keep a single pair of black pumps under my desk to slip on if I have a meeting or event to attend. It has certainly made getting ready in the morning much simpler. 

One of my favorite fashion bloggers, Kendi from Kendi Everyday, is hosting a 30 For 30 Closet Remix Challenge. You choose 30 items from your closet and remix those 30 items into 30 outfits over the course of 30 days. It's an exercise in finding new ways to wear the items you already own. 

You could do this at anytime, of course, but you can also email Kendi by this Friday and join a group of fashionable women who will be closet remixing for one month starting on Monday, November 8th.

Could you reduce your closet to just 30 items for 30 days? How about 6 items? 

{Image Credit: Kendi Everyday}

Bloggers with Style: Sarah Lena with The Anvil Tree

We're bringing back Bloggers with Style, and I couldn't be more excited about that. For those who are new, we used to feature bloggers (or even just very cool women) who may not know what the latest trends are (or, maybe they do!) but who know who they are, and what works for them. They've embraced their own personal style and that's worth celebrating. Trust me. 

Sarah is our featured blogger today, and she's taking the internet by storm. You can find her at The Anvil Tree, peruse her awesome portfolio, and find her gossiping (in the good way!) at MamaPop.

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I admit that .. um, the word "style" may be a bit presumptuous when it comes to moi, but I do have some things I tend to gravitate toward. They work for me, for my ... style ... and hey, maybe they can work for you too!

 

(Also, it should be noted I am a bit shrewd in how I spend my dollars, so if you're looking for lavish style picks .. sorry, they're not here.  But I'll save you a little green!)

 

1. I have a go-to staple that, I promise, 90% of my wardrobe came from.  This little store called Maurice's is a fairly new chain, and they do little to no advertising. I only happened upon them in my Alabama town because I needed a TJ Maxx fix and they had just opened next door. I LOVE THEM.  Sure, their "going-out" clothes are a bit on the young, trendy side (whereas I am not), but their work and casual stuff is usually spot-on with trends while keeping it classy. I can't tell you how many times I've worn something of theirs and people ask if I purchased it from Ann Taylor LOFT.  (I love answering "No," and then knowing I saved beaucoup money on not buying it there!) Also, if you join their mailing list, you find out about their sales in advance and their sales are LEGENDARY.

 

2. Speaking of: mailing lists. I know it's not exactly an item, but still. Signing up for your favorite store's email list may seem like you'll get a bit of spam, but stores are getting smarter. They know that sending you deals keeps you shopping. So you'll often get email-exclusive coupons and insider information on upcoming sales.

 

3. Keep your hair "did." I know that sounds understood, but seriously: a gorgeous, well-kept head of hair can make up for any lack of style. Well, almost any. Find a stylist who understands a) your hair b) your maintenance level and c) your day-to-day style and then become their BFF. My stylist is brilliant in that she'll bluntly tell me what will and won't work on my head, and I trust her implicitly. She's kind of a genius, and I swear to you I've often landed jobs based on my head of hair alone. Here's some shots of her repetoire on my head.

 

4. Invest in solid wardrobe staples from solid companies; spend cheap money in cheap stores for fads.  Most of my work staples are from Ann Taylor (because I worked there one summer and got a killer discount), and I treat them VERY carefully. Dry cleaning, careful wear, all the good stuff. But cheap fads? I pick up at Target, TJ Maxx, or even ... bear with me ... some of the younger stores like Forever21 or Hot Topic. And when you mix the two together, the fad pieces with the expensive stuff? You look amazingly pulled together. And hip. Kids still say "hip", right? I'll never make a purchase in Anthropologie because my heart can't take the prices, but I can find a killer knock-off somewhere else and mix it with some quality staple pieces.

 

5. Layer, layer, layer. I own more jackets, sweaters, cardigans, cocoon sweaters, and scarves than any human should. And as such, I NEVER run out of clothing options. I so often hear people talk on Twitter and the like about their fear of wearing scarves or cropped jackets, and I say, BE BRAVE! Jeans look dressier, slacks look more polished, everything looks better with layers! If you're still nervous about layering, add one piece of jewelry to your outfit: a great necklace, a brooch, some long earrings. I promise you, EVERYONE will compliment you on what you're wearing that day ... be it your outfit or your jewelry ... or both! When you're picking out some layering pieces ... let's say jackets, for the sake of this example ... either stick with muted colors (to wear bright patterns underneath) or patterned jackets that have some basic colors in them (say, black or white, to match easily with other pieces you already have). You'll save TONS of money this way in clothing, but you'll always look like a million bucks!

{Image from Miss Zoot}

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Thank you, Sarah. Truly, some of the best fashion and style advice I've seen to date.

(Also, if you're interested in being featured as a Blogger with Style, we'd love to hear from you at stylelushblog AT gmail DOT com.)

Bloggers with Style: Moose in the Kitchen

I've met Amber, so I hope I don't scare her too much when I say: I have a big ole blog crush on her. She's quirky and lovely and ridiculously smart but in the very best way, the way that makes you feel smart just by talking to her. If I lived in San Francisco, I'd force her out to drink champagne with me constantly. Her style is hers, and that's what I love most about her. When you know who you are, you radiate style, no matter what you're wearing or how you decorate your life. Here are her five picks of things that have contributed to her style. I especially like how she incorporated a lot of purple (it's a great color, yo) and included a gadget. Don't act like your iPhone or DVR doesn't actively contribute to your style, too.

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My brother once described my contribution to the sartorial world as exuberant. I believe the exact phrase he used was “colorblind clown.” To be fair, I was wearing lime green sneakers and raspberry striped socks that day, and that was only on my feet. God knows what the rest of my outfit was doing, but it probably wasn’t doing it in a nice demure black dress. I dress like I do everything else – to amuse myself.

1. Purple tights

Wearing purple tights with a gray dress and black boots is my favorite way to leave the house. (Yes, I’ve toned the palette down – somewhat – since my days of raiding the Ringling Brothers’ costume shop.) I get compliments when I wear bright tights with a dark outfit and I do love the compliments, so I just keep doing it. Here I am with Leah (on the left) in our tights o’ purple.

2. Plum mascara

Purple is becoming more of a theme than I expected, mainly because some sly minx at Benefit told me “the purple will bring out the green in your eyes” and I TOTALLY FELL FOR IT. But putting on plum mascara in the morning makes me happy, and that’s what really counts.

3. My go-to outfit

In fact, I’m wearing this outfit as we speak. Tall brown boots (Banana Republic), my favorite jeans (Lucky), and a white shirt (wherever has white shirts on sale) gets me through at least four out of seven days. I usually throw on some random scarf I knit myself.

4. Coco Mademoiselle perfume

My Chanel perfume has become the scent I associate with date night, dinner parties, and going to the theater. I love this stuff. A friend once picked up the bottle and said it smelled like me. I’ve had the same bottle for nine years – some hyper-organized magazine would probably tell me that’s far too long to use the same bottle of perfume (because it’s breeding nicely-scented plague? encouraging a rut of epic proportions?) – but after almost a decade, it really does smell like me. And I like that. It’s certainly better than being associated with the scent of wet sheep or that dodgy dumpster on Market Street.

5. My iPod

My iPod is green and I call it Kermit. (What? Don’t your electronic devices have names?) I love to bounce down the street pretending Vampire Weekend or The Flaming Lips are responsible for the soundtrack to my life. Music soothes me, improves my mood, or gives me a much-needed boot to the rear when my energy flags. I’ve been known to stand on the street and shout “NOOOOOO!” when my battery unexpectedly dies. Followed by “BATTERY, COME BACK! REVIVE! YOU CAN DO IT!” as little old ladies give me odd looks and shuffle quickly past. Although they might be admiring the purple mascara and thinking about how nicely it complements my eyes.

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You can find Amber at her blog Moose in the Kitchen. You won't be disappointed.

Bloggers with Style: Rebecca (Bearca)

By Jennie

I think anyone who has been on the Rachael Ray show is a real treat to feature on Style Lush, but other than that, this lady has style. STYLE IN ALL CAPS, EVEN. I also love how she mentions non-fashion items, like the painting in her living room (#5).

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When Jennie asked me to contribute here, I was thrilled. Finally, a chance to tell the world about my personal style! Which, uh, would be what exactly? I realized that although I love reading style blogs and shopping, I had never given much thought to my own personal style. This gave me an excellent excuse to ponder that. Et voila!

1. My daily uniform.

I have two kids and a mostly full-time job, so I have to get out the door quickly in the morning. For me, it’s helpful to have a go-to formula outfit. My (almost) daily uniform consists of:

Jeans + t-shirt or tank + cardigan

Simple, eh? It’s a casual look that fits my informal office but allows for variation. I might dress up skinny jeans and a long cardigan with heels and a belt, or wear flared jeans with a fitted sweater jacket. Theoretically, this formula could be employed on the weekends, too, but who are we kidding? I wear yoga pants on the weekends. (Don’t you?)

2. Anthropologie.

I’m sure I’m not alone, but I want every casual, stylish knit top Anthropologies makes, each floaty dress and pair of delicate earrings. I am often drawn to pieces there that are more bohemian than I am, but adding the odd whimsical detail to my otherwise classic look helps me avoid looking too preppy. Especially since I am the girl who wears a cardigan every day.

3. My red coral necklace

One of my favorite accessories is a chunky red coral necklace. I love wearing it and get compliments on it ALL. THE. TIME. It takes a simple outfit and makes it special. The picture below (left) is of a similar one that I found in the magsanddenny Etsy shop. My necklace was also an Etsy find, and I love that it is unique.

4. Hanae Mori perfume

I love perfume, and am constantly trying new ones. But I always come back to Hanae Mori. It’s sweet, it’s comforting, and it always feels right to me.

5. The painting in my living room.

We have this painting (above right) hanging in our living room: “Charming Duo” by the artist Jaline Pol. The image above doesn’t do it justice. The colors are vibrant, the paint is thick and textured, and it dresses up my tan walls like nobody’s business. It’s sort of like the home décor equivalent of my red necklace – it’s a bold, noticeable touch that makes the simple background a palette for something more.

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You can find Rebecca here and on Twitter here. Thanks, Rebecca!

Bloggers with Style: Kali with Kramey Martin Designs

If you've ever checked out the Working Closet Flickr pool, you know how incredibly stylish and downright beautiful Kali with Kramey Martin Designs is. She's a true style inspiration for me, and she's been so kind as to contribute to our Bloggers with Style feature. I especially love how she points out confidence and style go hand-in-hand. Prepared to be wowed, ladies.

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Hi there! I'm Krameymartin (Kali), lover of books and clothes alike. I have a job as an in-house designer, photographer, reporter and PR person, so I can be pretty daring and also casual with my work wardrobe. While I feel like my style is always changing and evolving, gotta keep up with the latest trends, you know, there are a few things I stick to.

1. Jeans. No matter what silhouette of jeans are "in" at the moment (skinny, boot cut, trouser, etc.), I've been addicted to designer jeans ever since high school. I'm always on the quest to find the perfect pair, and I can't resist trying a pair on nearly every time I journey to Nordstrom. There is just something about a great pair that makes you feel confident, sure of yourself and comfortable at the same time. My current favorite is my pair of J.Brand pencil jeans in a dark wash.

2. This one may sound a little weird, and I'm kind of ashamed to admit it, but I spend HOURS Googling my favorite celebrities to find outfits they've worn in movies, on TV or in real life, so that I can emulate them. To me, it's more realistic than just taking outfits from the runway, because they at least have to be able to act in them. I've come up with some of my favorite outfits this way. Now there are more and more sites devoted to dissecting celebrity looks and purchasing the pieces they wear on an everyday basis, but I like to think I had the idea first.:) My current favorite "Style Star" is Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester). I can't get enough blouses, pencil skirts, colored tights and bow headbands (see here).

3. My favorite article of clothing, currently is this dress, the perfect dress in fact. I got it at Anthropologie, full price, but I knew we were made for each other the first time I tried it on, so I had to have it. Red heads and shades of green can be a match made in heaven and I try and find rich green-toned pieces whenever I can. I've gotten to wear it for two big occasions (one year anniversary and Thanksgiving) so far and can't wait until I can zip up it in again. Here I am in my dress.

4. I'm not really a shoe person, or accessory fiend and I rarely spend more than $50 on a bag. I feel like the greatest accessory I can add to my look/outfit is a well-styled hair-do. This is often a challenge for me since I have a rather unruly red mane, but when my hair looks good, I feel like my whole look is more put together. I've always been the one who does other people's hair for events, etc. and I really enjoy doing up-dos and styled looks, even for every day things, like work.

5. And finally, my greatest style "trick" is just trying to feel confident in who I am. Sure I love clothes, fashion, design and putting outfits together, but the best part of all of these is when they make me feel good about myself. And help me help others feel good about themselves. That's a huge part of why I post about clothes so often; I want to be able to help people find looks that make them feel good about the person they are, outside and in!

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You can find Kali at Kramey Martin Designs, her blog, and her Etsy shop. Thanks, Kali!

Bloggers with Style: Linda with All & Sundry

Bloggers with Style is our way of spotlighting the women on our blogrolls who convey an authentic and genuine style. The women we're featuring have figured out how to design the life they want, and it's pretty cool and inspiring to those of us watching. Each blogger featured here will be offering up five specific things that have contributed to their own, personal, unique style.

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I know when I think stylish, I naturally think of MYSELF. What with my unerring ability to sport the hippest . . . uh . . . the coolest . . . okay, actually, I had to take a little refresher course in what a "blogger with style" is, because I'm kind of an idiot and my idea of style mostly comes from the "WHO WORE IT BEST?" section of Us Weekly, which has mainly taught me you never want to be compared, clothes-horse-wise, to Victoria Beckham.

ANYWAY, here is my list of picks for things that make me feel happiest and most confident in my own skin, never mind what the latest and greatest fashion trends might be:

1. I wore these Groove Pants throughout two pregnancies and they STILL fit and are perfectly, wonderfully comfortable, not to mention criminally flattering (the things they do to your butt are surely illegal in at least three repressed states). Yes, they're hideously expensive, and worth every painful penny.

2. Benefit's Hoola bronzing powder. This is the most versatile makeup item I own—in about two minutes, I can sweep this on my cheekbones, under my browbone, and use it to fill in my eyebrows. Kerblam, face-fussing DONE.

3. Custom-stamped Etsy moppetsclosets charm necklace. I bought a version of this necklace in the summer of 2008 and aside from my wedding rings this is my all-time favorite piece of jewelry. It has two discs, custom-stamped with my sons' names. Wonderfully simple, simply perfect.

4. Nike Free running shoes. I'm training for my first half marathon and recently decided to try out a more streamlined, less-cushioned shoe. These Nike Frees are incredible; they're lightweight and comfortable and allow the right amount of movement in my feet. Plus, they're BRIGHT RED. Win!

5. Prada Eau de Parfum. I know one person's favorite perfume is another's Reeking Malodorous Olfactory Horrorshow, but for what it's worth I love this Prada spray. I can't possibly say that it's my signature scent without feeling like a massive douchebag, but if I WERE to have a signature scent, this would be it. It's the unifying element that makes me feel put together before I leave the house, even if I'm schlepping out the door in an ill-fitting t-shirt and ripped jeans.

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Linda is usually my first Google Reader click of the day. She's as whip-smart and funny a writer as you'll find on the Internet, and I just dare you not to be inspired by her fitness goals (she launched Bodies in Motivation soon after having her second son).

Bloggers with Style: Amanda with Kicky Boots

Bloggers with Style is our way of spotlighting the women on our blogrolls who convey an authentic and genuine style. The women we're featuring have figured out how to design the life they want, and it's pretty cool and inspiring to those of us watching. Each blogger featured here will be offering up five specific things that have contributed to their own, personal style.

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When Jennie asked if I'd be interested in writing all about my personal style, I scoffed, thinking about how unorganized, disheveled and lumpy I often feel. Who would want to hear about my personal style (or lack thereof)?! But then I got to thinking, and there are some things that came to mind, things that I have embraced that have helped me feel at peace with who I am, how I present myself and how I live my life. 

Here they are!

1. I love vintage-inspired artwork and this tin sign hangs above my stove. I saw it at a Farmer's Market and had to have it because it so captured my domestic philosophy.

2. My GHD hair straightener. I shudder to think of my life before the Almighty Hot Iron. I have very thick, wavy, frizzy, wild hair and this straightener takes me from looking like a rabid jungle woman to successful member of society every morning.

3. Thrift Stores. I love unique, vintage articles of clothing that have stories to tell. I enjoy rifling through racks of old, musty clothes and finding a quality skirt or dress. And it's cheap! Which totally justifies the $300 boots I wear with my $2.00 skirt, right? RIGHT.

4. A dress that works with my body. I am learning that not every fashion trend works for every body and the best thing I can do is find clothes that make me feel amazing in the skin I'm in. For me that means a fitted dress that nips in at the waist and has a nice, full skirt to help me forget about the cellulite lurking on my thick thighs. When I wear a dress like this, I feel confident and that's the best feeling in the world.

5. The Barefoot Contessa. She is my hero. I love her recipes, her philosophy on hospitality, her pure and simple ingredients. Also, she uses a lot of butter. This is why I need a full-skirted dress. 

There you have it: a glimpse into the personal style and madness of a mother who, most days, feels as though she's barely scraping by, but at least her hair looks good and no one noticed the dimples on her bum.

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You can find the stunningly funny and honest Amanda writing at Kicky Boots most days, and, trust me, you'll be knocked over by how naturally beautiful she is while also being genuinely real and likable. Thanks, Amanda! I adore you.

Bloggers with Style: HollyLynne

I'm thrilled to announce a new feature at Style Lush. From the inception of this site, I've been near giddy about launching "Bloggers with Style." It's our way of spotlighting the women on our blogrolls who convey an authentic and genuine style. To us, style isn't just about memorizing all the latest season's trends or buying those fancy jeans all the cool kids are wearing. Instead, it's about being comfortable and at peace in your own skin. It's about embracing whatever makes you feel like the best version of yourself. Ultimately, the women we're featuring here have figured out how to design the life they want, and it's pretty damn cool and inspiring to those of us watching.

Each blogger featured here will be offering up five specific things that have contributed to their own, personal style. These things can range from a specific beauty product to a style trend to a color palette. The sky's the limit!

Our first installment is from the lovely HollyLynne, the designer and creator behind last week's giveaway and a woman with a really cool and funky personal style. 

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Hello, Style Lush!

I was absolutely thrilled when Jen asked me to write a guest post for what has become my new favorite site. The fabulous contributors here are just full of great finds and ideas, and I'm so excited to be tossing my two (five!) cents in!

Below are my top five style picks:

Clockwise, from top left:

1. Glasses via Zenni Optical: Zenni is a great site that makes high-quality prescription glasses for absurdly low prices. Thanks to them, I have a huge collection of colorful frames to pick from each morning. The red, cat-eyed glasses pictured above are my favorites and cost EIGHT DOLLARS. That was not a typo, they were really $8.

2. Babydoll tanks via Dreadworry: I love vintage or steampunk inspired screen prints, and the ones in this shop are my current favorites. Other cool shops for screenprinted tees are 1Aeon and Look for Fiddleheads. 

3. Leather Wrist Cuffs via Hollyhawk: I have two cuffs from this shop, and I wear them with everything. The girly prints (damask, birds, etc.) keep them from being too tough-looking and (huge plus!) the leather ages beautifully.

4. Black leather riding boots via Aldo: Tall leather boots are a staple in my wardrobe. They give a rocker-ish edge to anything from jeans to dresses and the nearly flat sole keeps them comfortable.

5. Oversized cardigans from Gap: My mother and husband joke that I have every chunky gray cardigan Gap has ever made. That actually might be true.

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Thanks, Holly! Your style is ridiculously fun.

We'll be offering up a new Blogger with Style once a week or so from here until we run out of stylish women to feature. So, hopefully forever.