Style Lush

How Would You Wear It? Old Navy Dress

By Hillary

I bought this dress from Old Navy because of the buttons down the front. I'm returning to work but am planning to continue to breastfeed my baby. I need clothes that provide fast access for pumping sessions in the office. 

I have no idea how to wear it. It's still too cold in Vancouver for bare legs but I feel like bright tights might be a bit much (and I am strongly anti-nylons). How would you wear it? Flats? Heels? Cardigan? Blazer? I need to make this dress office-ready by Monday. 

{Photo credit: oldnavy.gapcanada.ca}

How Would You Wear It? Gap Skirt

By Jessica

 

I recently purchased this skirt

in an effort to break out of my knee length skirt comfort zone. It's about mid-thigh length and has pockets, which means I pretty much automatically love it (because of the pockets, not the length, short=scary!), but I can't decide what to wear with it. I initially purchased it thinking I would wear it with the boots my husband bought me for my birthday

and bright/pattered or navy tights? But I also bought some adorable navy blue satin flats that are an option as well. I just have no idea what to put on top.

What would you pair with this skirt?

Lovely in Lace

By Janet

Perhaps it's all the Valentine's Day stuff in stores that has me suddenly obsessed with things like pretty paper doilies and, now, lace. Doilies you can wear! I just love the feminine, romantic look of lace. If you are nervous about looking like a grandmother, pair a lace top with skinny jeans or layer with other pieces so  just a hint of lace peeks through. Here are a few pretty lace pieces:

Lace Medallions Tank, Anthropologie

Lace-Stripe Chiffon Tank, Old Navy

Lace Dolman-Sleeve Top, Old Navy

Merino Tatted Lace Sweater, J. Crew

Keep in mind that lace snags easily so your lace garments should be hand washed (or washed on a delicate cycyle if you, like me, don't do hand washing) using a mild detergent.

Reader Question: Pairing Tights with Open-Toed Shoes

By Janet

Reader Roz sent in the following:

I'll be wearing the outfit [below] in about a week and a half in Toronto, so it will be chilly which is why I'm thinking tights, but a) the shoes are open-toed, so is that ok? and b) the shoes are grey, so I feel like grey tights would not allow the shoes to stand out.

 

Can you wear tights with open-toed shoes? Absolutely! While wearing open-toed shoes with tights was formerly a fashion faux pas, the combination is totally workable in 2011. I'd suggest you follow a couple of rules. First, opaque tights are key--stay away from sheer hose when pairing with open-toed shoes. Second, avoid tights with reinforced toes. Even better if you can find a pair with minimal or no toe seam.

The safest combination is to match the tights to the shoes--but finding the perfect shade of gray may be difficult, if not impossible, and a perfect match won't show off those gorgeous ruffled heels. Instead, make a bold statement with a pair of colored tights in a pretty fall hue. Depending on your taste, mustard yellow, navy blue, or plum tights would look gorgeous with the cream and gray ensemble.

Most importantly: own it! The rules of fashion are made to be broken. 

{Images: La Posh Style, Kate Spade}

American Made: Citizens of Humanity Jeans

By Lisa

Many of you are probably aware, Nordstrom recently had a big sale.  I picked me up a pair of jeans. Not just any jeans, nice ones. At least to me. The last time I spent over $100 on jeans was oh, four years ago. Before I had two kids. So, it's kind of a big deal. Thank goodness I saved about 40% off, but still...

Anywho, I have an old pair of Citizens (the last time I spent the big bucks on jeans) and I've worn them for years. They are hemmed short, so I wear them with flip flops, flats, or my Skechers ... being a mom and all).  But now I'm faced with this new pair and a) I'm deciding if I should keep them and b) how do I hem them? I want them to be as versatile as possible but let's face it, hemming them long for heels may not be that smart. How often do I wear heels? 

So I need your input. When you buy jeans that you want to make sure get worn a lot, how do you hem them? And also, if you have Citizens, do you like them? How do they fit on you? I am a little worried these are going to be too low-rise. I am on the slender side, and am 5'5" but still have the mom hips and the mom roll. 

I like the rinse of these. I like the denim. I like that they're American made. They are definitely snug right now but I haven't really worn them and they haven't been washed. What do you think? If you have these, and have some curves, do you like them? And then if you do, how do I wear them?  Would these fit into boots? I need help peeps. Share your expertise. Please.

{photo credit: shopstyle.com}

Style File: Janet's Mix and Match Wardrobe

By Jessica

On the last Style File, we featured my favorite outfit, and this time we have fellow Style Lush writer Janet looking adorably polished in a "quick weekend outfit" which exemplifies her wardrobe aesthetic:

My wardrobe is nearly exclusively black and gray. I add a few colored accessories here and there, and the occasional colored top or tights, but 95 percent of my clothing is either 1) black or 2) gray. Maybe it’s a little boring, but I like that everything just goes together. I can mix and match all the pieces, I don't have to switch purses. I can keep a single pair of black pumps under the desk in my office, should I need to go someplace important (otherwise, I just wear ballet flats). It’s fabulously uncomplicated, somewhat sophisticated, and (hopefully) slimming.

Dress: Target

Cardigan: Old Navy

Leggings: Yummie Tummie

Shoes: Tieks

Necklace: Ann Taylor

I love the idea of an uncomplicated wardrobe and even though the above outfit is monochrome, it certainly doesn't feel that way because of the pops of shine via the necklace and shoes.  Thanks for sharing Janet!

Look for some of other writers to be featured on Style File in the future.

Would you like to share what you're wearing? Have a favorite outfit? I'd love to see what y'all are rockin! Just shoot an e-mail to raven [dot] darkholme [at] gmail [dot] com and you could be featured in our next Style File!

{images courtesy This Confetti Life }

 

Style File: My Favorite Outfit

By Jessica

Now I know some of you are saying, hang on a second, that's six outfits, not one, but bear with me. My favorite outfit is more of a uniform at this point: boots+ dress (or skirt) + knee socks (or tights) and I am a happy, happy girl. If our weather would bear it for more than a hot second (HOT haha), I would wear pretty much wear this sort of outfit ALL THE TIME. I love boots. LOVE them. I own 10 pair and counting. I love dresses! I love feeling feminine, yet not too feminine, and I love the funky factor I can add with my array of knee socks and tights (I have a bin of each in my closet). I also love that I can dress this outfit up just by adding heeled boots and black tights. The combinations and possibilities are endless! Perfection, in my book.

What's your favorite outfit? Would you like to share it with us? I'd love to see what y'all are rockin! Just shoot an e-mail to raven [dot] darkholme [at] gmail [dot] com and you could be featured in our next Style File: My Favorite Outfit.

Can we talk about rompers?

by Jonna

I have a few honest questions here. I ... well, I started this post intending to tell you all about the great dress I found at Target, but that will have to wait until another time. What I'd like to talk about instead is why this came up while I was looking for my adorable little sleeveless dress:

 

 

Does that look like a dress to you? No, no it does not. Instead, it is a romper. And I am having a hard time seeing how this is appropriate for anyone over the age of, say, three, to be wearing out of the house. AND YET they are obviously selling. Tastemakers around the web are frequently featuring (and wearing!) rompers. Stores are stocking them by the boat load. So someone is buying them. SOMEONE thinks this a good idea. 

Yet I rarely, if ever, see them on grown women. And at my current weight, I would sooner eat my night table before putting a thigh in one of these suckers. So ... are they appropriate or not? Do you wear a romper? Have you ever seen it done well?

 

{Photo credit: Target}

My London Packing Strategy

By Jessica

My husband and I were fortunate enough to take a long weekend to London for Valentine's Day. It was the first time either of us had been, and we were both beyond excited for the trip, even though we were warned that the weather might be less than ideal. Interestingly, the weather in Houston the week we left had dipped into the twenties, so I wasn't worried about the cold. Instead, I worried about two things: 1) dressing well enough (I have long heard that people in London dress exceedingly well and I didn't want to look out of place or slobbish) and 2) jet lag (having never been across the pond, I was truly afraid that I would be too exhausted to do anything or that I might end up with a migraine from it). Luckily I packed 5 basic things that made it extremely easy to be comfortable, not get soaked (it rained 3 of the 4 days) and feel marginally stylish at the same time.

My 5 basics:

Wellies- kept out the rain, comfortable enough for all the walking and warm (I had to double up socks on an especially cold day)

Raincoat- I have a bright red raincoat that is trench style. It cinches at the waist so I still have shape. The bold color is fun and it kept out the wind and rain.

Skinny jeans- I wore these every day. It was easy to pop my wellies on over the top, they were comfortable during all the sighseeing and I could dress the top up as much or as little as I wanted.

Scarves- I brought several scarves to swap out each day depending on what I was wearing underneath my raincoat incase I wanted to leave one on in a shop or pub and they added not only a layer of warmth but an additional pop of color.

Hats- When it wasn't raining heavily, it was spitting rain and the adapter we brought didn't work with my straightening iron so I had no ability to fix my hair other than running a brush through it, my solution was to twist it up into a bun during the day and pop on a cute hat. After a full day in a bun, my hair would have some body at night, when I took it down, and wouldn't look heinous. I intially brought them on a whim, but I'm glad I did because I wore one every day.

Now, I know not everyone is popping on a plane to London tomorrow (OMG, I so wish I was going back) but I know that I will pack this way again, it was one of the most successful packings I've ever had for a trip I've taken. I'm sure that I will even get use out of the wellies, skinny jeans and raincoat combo here in Houston. given how much it rains.

Do you have a packing strategy for specific locations or do you just toss everything in a bag?

How Would You Wear It: Modcloth Infinite Dress

by Rebecca

I've fallen deeply in love with a dress... and in turn, I've fallen prey to my standard tendency toward boring accessories. Help me not be boring, would you?

I was mindlessly wandering through the dress section of Modcloth and saw this beauty, the Infinite Dress. I immediately thought, "Ooh, that would look cute with my black pumps!"

**Yawn**

So what other shoes would would look good with this? Also, what jewelry? I'd like to stay away from necklaces, since the neckline is already pretty detailed. Simple hoop earrings and a silver cuff, perhaps?

For full disclosure, I should tell you that I have absolutely nowhere to wear this dress. But I feel it's important to be prepared. I think those Boy Scouts are on to something.

{Photo credit: modcloth.com