Friends Don't Let Friends Wear Bad Plaid

Friends Don't Let Friends Wear Bad Plaid

I rarely say a categorical no to things on my blog. I'm not someone who categorically says "Don't wear X" or "Never wear X with Y." I think there are things that aren't suited to every body type or every moment in life, but that's pretty specific to the person. Even things that I won't wear myself (I'm looking at you the second time around, Berkinstocks with socks!) might be right for you.

However, I have to take a stand today. A stand against bad plaid.

No, don't laugh. I'm serious.

That's better. Here's the thing, I grew up in Vermont. In the 80s and 90s and all the way to 2001. I think that makes me uniquely situated to weigh in on the subject of plaid. And bad plaid is out there, my friends. Here's what I think bad plaid is: it's pretending to be flannel and cozy, but it's thin. I'm not talking about sheer nouveau plaid (that's fine), but rather about low quality plaid. It's too busy. I'm a bit of a purist, and I think plaid (and you can find it at all price points!) should have a nice, big, graphic pattern, preferably a buffalo plaid. Too many stripes and boxes and lines defeats the purpose of a bold pattern, I think.

That's it! Simple. Bad plaid=thin fabric, too busy. Good plaid=thick, lush fabric and a bold print. Aside from that, any color goes, from classic red to pinks, greens, whatever. Got it? So, please, don't let your friends (or your best friend, yourself!) wear bad plaid.

Oh! Looking for great plaid? Try this adorable Asos coat with cape sleeves, DIY this unisex infinity scarf, pair these Asos pants with white ankle Converse, get fancy in this saucy dress, pick your favorite color of this classic buffalo plaid Gap shirt, or layer plaid-on-plaid like I did in the top photo in this photo shoot (yes, that's a green plaid jacket over a red plaid shirt!) with this cozy vest. And say yes to these adorable loafers. And to everything that's happening here.   


Photography : Lauren Modny Photography
Modeling & Design : Tomboy
Personal Styling : Start Close In
Creative Concept & Direction : Piccadilly (Love Always Hannah)
Location : Georgetown University

Plaid It Up for the Holidays

Plaid It Up

Welcome back! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Now that it's December, I'm going to spend the next few weeks talking with you about ideas for feeling your best for holiday parties, family gatherings, or just baking cookies or doing all of that grocery shopping.

Specifically, I've gotten some questions about what to wear for holiday parties. Soon I'll be posting a ton of ideas from the holiday photo shoot that I did recently, but today I've got two simple ones that incorporate plaid-one casual, one dressy.

Dressy Plaid

What about a plaid shirt, skinny black pants, and a black jacket? Then add a sparkly necklace and some wedges? I'm kind of into this as a fun holiday party outfit.

Necklace Lou Lou Boutiques/Blazer and Shirt TJMaxx/Pants The Gap/Shoes Similar

Of course, if you're not doing plaid this time around, the inside shirt could be another print. Have fun with it!

How to Layer Textures this Fall

How to Layer Textures this Fall

Yesterday I shared some of the incredible photos from the recent shoot I did with some of DC's finest creative minds. Today, I'm excited to get into the details and share with you one simple trick for creating a unique look for yourself-without spending a dime.

What's the trick to creating a gorgeous, individual look for fall that is unique, stylish, and-dare I say it-comfortable, too? It's all about layering texture. My clients often ask me about mixing patterns, and I think that's not quite the right word. I like to think of it as layering texture instead. Let me show you what I mean.

Layer Textures within One Color Family

For Chelsea, the stunning redhead on the right, I created visual interest in a monochromatic (blue) color palette: smooth suede booties, rough interior jean cuff, wooly blazer with jagged zipper details, and soft, knotted scarf against her smooth, feathery hair. Add a slick of blue-hued nail polish and lip stain in a contrasting color, and she's covered in texture from head to toe.

Take a look in your closet and pull out everything you have in one color palette, then start layering textures: smooth, soft, hard, jagged, knotted, rolled, rough. 

Layer Textures in a Neutral with a Pop of a Pattern

For Anna above, her shoes, legs, and skirt are all a similar tone, but they're interesting together because of the textures of the entire outfit. Her shoes are smooth leading up smooth legs but the ruffles on the toe provide some texture and visual interest; the sequins are full of rich texture, and they contrast nicely with the softness of the flannel shirt, which is offset with the hard, cool necklace. Adding the cape in the bottom shot meant layering even more softness against that hard necklace. I love it.

Take a look at something in your closet that you might not consider "work appropriate," like this flannel shirt, then layer on neutrals in different textures. Extra points for pairing masculine (flannel shirt) with feminine (sequined skirt, cape with feminine details, red lips)!

Look for Texture All Around You

The setting at Georgetown University was incredible; texture was all around us and served as a big inspiration! 

Take a close look at spaces that you love and see if there are elements of those spaces that might inspire how you dress today. Here, the architect layered brick and it's been contrasted with the smooth floor and round light fixtures, much like a structured blazer paired with a smooth, round necklace. Below, the stone is monochromatic, yes, but its rich texture serves as inspiration for how to create visual interest-even if you're wearing all gray!

Thanks again to our amazing team for putting together this gorgeous shoot! I'm ready to get out my book bag again after this!

Contact me soon if you'd like to take advantage of personal pricing for October! I'm looking forward to working with you to create a layered, individual look for fall and winter.

Photography : Lauren Modny Photography
Modeling & Design : Tomboy
Personal Styling : Start Close In
Creative Concept & Direction : Piccadilly (Love Always Hannah)
Location : Georgetown University

Back to School: Fall Fashion for the Rest of Us

Back to School: Fall Fashion for the Rest of Us

Recently I had the incredible opportunity to style the fall fashion for a photo shoot with what really was a dream team: Hannah from Love Always Hannah was the creative director, the creative minds behind Tomboy modeled and created an incredible piece of artwork for us, and Lauren Modny shot the amazing photographs. I can't say enough about how creative, professional, and wonderful these women are. I highly recommend that you visit each of their sites and consider working with them in the future.

While many of us are past the years of going to school each fall ourselves, we still get excited about fall fashion. Today's post is all about indulging in that prep school, classic fall fantasy. And, of course, since this is StartCloseIn, we're also going to talk about how to re-create some of fall's trends with clothing you might already have in your closet! Today I'll be talking about the trends generally, and this week I'll show you more of the gorgeous shot and talk about specific outfits and why they work well together to give you some inspiration for your own fall fashion so be sure to check back in tomorrow!

Try Gold Accessories

We saw it last year in home decor: gold and bronze are back. For the cooler months, gold accessories work to warm up your skin tone in a way that silver just can't. Dig through your jewelry and see if you have any statement pieces that you can wear layered up together while the temperature drops, whether multiple rings or several necklaces.

Embrace Booties & Keep Rocking Leopard Print

While it's tempting to revert to knee-length boots from seasons past, it's time to embrace booties for fall. They're more polished than a longer length boot, and they're incredibly versatile. The trend is to wear boots that feel androgynous, more toward menswear, so don't look for a lot of frill with these. A good desert boot is an excellent choice. One good way to keep them from feeling too masculine is to roll up your pants-you can even let a great sock show on top when the weather gets cooler!

While you might want to invest in a new little bootie, the good news is that you can still wear leopard print this fall-this is one trend that's not going anywhere! I styled it here with a more prissy look since I love the contrast between classic (the cape, the bow, the red lip) and the edgier leopard pump.

Play with Plaid

I love plaid for fall for many reasons: it's classic, plays well with colors and other patterns, and, although it's a trend for fall, plaid is not going anywhere. While the fall trends have shown plaid in a grungy 1990s way, too, there's absolutely room for a prep-school approach to plaid. Just make sure the colors are classic (navy, camel, red, gray), and the shape is feminine.

And don't be shy about pairing it with unexpected touches, like the playful colored nails above or the sequined skirt below!

Add Victorian Details 

Fall fashion this year celebrates ornate details and masculine-meets-feminine touches so dig through your grandmother's closet or a local thrift store and see what you can find! Pair a Victorian-inspired watch or ultra-feminine tulle with classic preppy fabrics, like patterns, ruffles, plaid, and polka dots, for a beautiful, layered look.

See you tomorrow for more gorgeous looks from these amazing ladies-and more tips on how to incorporate these fall looks into your own rotation!

P.S. Check out this incredible typetreatment that Tomboy made for us to share! I can't wait to print it and frame it for my craft room!

 

Photography : Lauren Modny Photography
Modeling & Design : Tomboy
Personal Styling : Start Close In
Creative Concept & Direction : Piccadilly (Love Always Hannah)
Location : Georgetown University