Easy Work Outfit Template

Easy Work Outfit Template

I was reminded of my client, Debbi, the other day because of this snapshot I took of her. 

The outfit that I put her in here was a revelation for her, and I think it's such a simple template that many of you could follow, too. Here's the formula for an easy template that you can wear with endless combinations:

Neutral Pants that Fit You Well + Tshirt + Lighter Neutral Blazer

That's it! It could be tan pants, wide leg pants, skinner pants, jeans, a graphic tee or something with a pattern. It could be dark pants and a jean jacket. Grab whatever you've got in your closet that fits into each category, then lay them all out on your bed. Mix and match until you find something that speaks to your heart.

If your office is as cold as mine is, a tshirt can be in a lighter color and feel more like spring, but a long sleeved one can help keep you warm!

Extra points for adding bright lipstick or an accessory!

Fresh Spring Fashion

Fresh Spring Fashion

It's pretty rare for me to see something in fashion that takes my breath away. Today on Instagram was one of those rare moments. I gasped. Of course high fashion and runway often make me pause, but this gasp was different from the kind of tilting my head to the side and going "Hmmm..." This was more like WOW! LOOK AT THAT! THAT'S NEW! AND WEARABLE!

The reason was this shot from Essentiel-Antwerp.

Not only did I want that top, I wanted it for many of my clients and friends. I love the shape and the color, and I love it styled with those shorts! I was giddy, knowing that the website would have even more clothing like this. My only worry--would they ship to the US?

They do! Through a third party so not cheaply, but they do! And the goodness just kept coming. This shirt looks cut similarly, and I love the boxiness of it with shorts for spring and summer!

Hello, lover. I have seen the idea of a "short suit" created from two bold, matching pieces before, and I love it. I love this particular pattern, and I'd like to see women of all ages embrace the idea of buying double of a great pattern. I bet you'll find options for tops and bottoms this season at H&M and other "fast fashion" spots, too! And if you're not into the bold and bold look, they can remind you how absolutely stunning bold pants can be with a neutral shirt.

And you'll see neoprene dresses in lots of stores, too, so make a note of how to style one casually like they did here!

They don't just do casual inspiration well, either. I love their looks to inspire us all for dressing for the office for spring. For example, I love this slouchy, boyish shirt with this full, floral skirt. Sign me up! I know I can re-create this at home!

And you know how much I love stripes with florals. It's the gateway to pattern mixing because it always works. Every time.

They're styling a lot of sandals that are very trendy right now: Birks, thick soled sandals, and wedges. But, I love their take on these wedges because it makes me want to paint a bright line on the bottom of my cork soled shoes!

Looking for standout wedge sneakers instead? They've got those, too. 

So lessons learned from this post would be: take a second look at shorts that you have and try wearing them in a different way this spring. Try a boxy shirt. Try a pattern that contrasts. Or try wearing a shirt or jacket in the same exact print.

Also, try a boxier shirt with a feminine skirt to work. Extra points for pattern mixing!

Winter: Shake It Off

Winter: Shake It Off

In advance of picking out your clothes for Monday (and hopefully for the week!), I wanted to say this. When I woke up on Friday, the first day of spring, I walked out my back door to this. Snow, gloom, and grayness. Was I back home in Vermont? Back to my law school days in Chicago? I've had many dreary first days of spring, but this one hit me particularly hard. I wanted to go back to bed until it was warm and sunny! 

Then I stopped stomping my feet and looked around a little bit. There, nestled under an inch of snow, were the first green shoots of my mother's bulbs! And if I got over my self pity, I heard birds chirping. And the trees had little buds! There was life beyond my sinus infection and the snow, and I was going to go find it! 

Here are some of my favorite ways for us all to wear spring all week. Maybe Mother Nature will know we support her efforts! 

This gorgeous dress above is

For the Love of Cropped Pants

For the Love of Cropped Pants

On Monday, I wrote about bringing a little edge to the office. A key component to that look was cropped, or ankle, pants. I don't know why, but I just find that lately cropped pants are the answer to every outfit question that I have: how can I show off these cute new shoes? Cropped pants. What can I wear to the office to make this outfit feel less boring? Cropped pants. What can I wear to convince myself that it's almost spring? You got it. 

Via

I particularly like how a shorter length pant, preferably with a narrow leg, can go anywhere, with any shoe, on many body types. Here's what I mean.

Playful Fashion

Playful Fashion

Happy Friday! Next week I'll be off to meet a personal shopping client to shop for accessories in downtown DC! She is another client's mom and is visiting from out of town. She sews all of her own clothes. I can't wait to meet her! 

But today I have something fun in store for you for this Friday. I tend to think about staples, classic pieces, and things you'll wear 1,000 different ways on this blog. But sometimes I want to share special pieces with you that I've come across. There is so much fun, light, playful fashion out there that I sometimes can't wait to share with you. Today is one of those days! 

Not every one of these unique pieces today is exactly my style, but I have loved the idea of something like this "harness" for years, and Free People currently has tons of them!

Ugh. I find this so sexy!

And on the more sweet end of the spectrum are these clogs; aren't they adorable?! 

I'm not even sure what this top is, but I love this Nasty Gal top. If you have a special event coming up, this should be what you wear. Or wear it with jeans. High-waisted if you don't want to show off your tummy. 

Now, ok, I never watched Saved By the Bell, but even I know a clothing reference when I see one. This Lane Bryant top is exactly what I want to wear out with my girlfriends. It's just fun. 

I know a lot of women who need a backpack to carry around all the stuff that we carry with us without killing our shoulders. This backpack is a little pricey, but I love it's playful look-and that it's made in Spain! Let's go there and buy one together, ok!?

What I Want You to Wear for Spring 2015

What I Want You to Wear for Spring 2015

Via

To Work

Grab yourself a new dress, why don't ya? Or pull out the ones you already have! It's time. Spring loves dresses, especially dresses with patterns and dresses with sleeves that you can wear now and when it's almost summer and the AC is blasting in your office.

Spring Outfit Inspiration from Old Navy

Spring Outfit Inspiration from Old Navy

I love a good Old Navy bargain, especially at the change of season. I'm never 100% committed to what I'll want to be wearing when the weather first changes, and so I don't usually want to spend a lot of money on things that I might not want to wear by July. I often think of Old Navy as a standby for simple pieces that will last a season.

But, guys? This season Old Navy has some downright inspirational styling for spring and early summer, too! And some cute poses for a Facebook profile or Instagram pic!

Stay Warm in the Spring Chill-or Cover Up in the Summer Sun

 

What I love above is that they've chosen to cover something up (3/4 length sleeves, knee length dress, camo jacket, denim vest) and reveal something (wrists and ankles, shoulders and feet, arms and ankles, legs and wrists) in the same outfit. It's grown up spring style done well. Of course, you know I love a straw fedora, too.

Pack Easily for a Weekend Trip to the Beach

Below are four outfits that would be perfect for a weekend trip: the red skirt for an evening out (worn directly from work if need be), the ripped jeans and stripes for the farmer's market in the morning, the jean skirt for a glass of wine at a restaurant on the coast, and the shorts for brunch and a few last hours at the beach on Sunday. You could easily do this with two pairs of shoes since the ripped jean sneakers would love to be friends with those jean shorts.  Throw in a swimsuit and the perfect sleeping slip and you are set! Quick tip: buy a more expensive bikini top that offers the right amount of support (hard to find in a cheap one) and an inexpensive bottom that's from the same color family or matches one of the colors in a patterned top.

Keep it Simple

For summer, is there anything better than a sweet maxi dress that you can wear from sun up to sundown? Not in my book! I love a denim top for summer, too, since you can take a dress and turn it into what looks like a skirt and top-or wear it tied over cropped pants on a cooler day.

I'd also wear all of these to one special beach rainy day spot: the outlets! It makes it so much easier to try things on when all you have to do is slip off a dress or remove a top or bottom to try something on.

Old Navy's not a sponsor. Not getting paid. Just liked it.

Summer Wedding Guide: Yes, You Can Wear Pants

Summer Wedding Guide: Yes, You Can Wear Pants

Via

Don't ignore pants for a spring or summer wedding, especially any cropped ones. I think floor length pants can feel a bit severe for warm weather weddings, but I guess it depends on the pants. If they're bright like the red below, go for it!

If you do decide to wear pants to a special event this spring or summer, I'd recommend following the tips I laid out on Monday.

• Try a special pair that you don't often wear.
• Or, pick something you consider "work pants" and pair them with a bright, patterned shirt) (look at Anthropologie for inspiration, then shop TJMAxx or Marshalls for something similar.
• Try an outfit with several shades of the same color.
• Or, play with colors by using something contrasting on top and on the bottom. 

Via

 Recently, lots of stores have gorgeous patterned pants, and a wedding would be a great time to test a pair out!  Or, wear a really special top that can carry the whole outfit.

If you were my client

Via

You might wear something like the look above to work, and for a wedding I'd then want you to add something special: orange-hued lipstick (pick the best hue for your skin tone here), intricate earrings (love these from Lou Lou Boutique), or a big, bold necklace that brings in some color. I love the idea of that particular necklace since it would bring the blue out in the sleeve but doesn't "match" it exactly.

Oh! And you could also funk up the shoe choice a bit. What about something like this with a color instead of metallic? If you did the blue necklace, why not a contrasting color like a red, orange, green, or yellow? It's always fun to invest in a DIY project that you can wear again later.

DIY via

Since I know you'll ask, ideally, a cropped pair would show off your ankles, accentuating the length and narrowness of your lower leg. And, no, you don't have to wear heels-look at flats or sandals depending on how fancy the wedding seems. One option, if you're not quite sure, is to wear one pair and then switch to a second for dancing. I have a pair of fold up flats (you can find them on Zappos; these were from Gap- I actually wore them for our wedding) that are perfect for fitting inside a small bag in case my feet get tired or I've really misread the formality of the party.

Summer Wedding Guide: Skirt the Issue

Summer Wedding Guide: Skirt the Issue

Via

Try the options I suggested with dresses yesterday but with a skirt you have or are considering purchasing: try something fancier, then make it funky with a more casual piece. For example, what about a floral A-line skirt (like this one from Asos Curve) with a button down or, for spring, a cardigan worn buttoned up like a sweater? What about a statement skirt with a simple silky tank or a shirt you could also wear to work after the wedding? Or a bright skirt like this one paired with a jacket in a similar hue (like the one above!)

What To Do When You Buy Something in A Bright Pattern

What To Do When You Buy Something in A Bright Pattern

I hope you all had a nice Easter weekend! My mom surprised us with a layover visit in the beginning of the week, and then my mother-in-law made her annual trip up for the weekend. We had so much fun with one mama after the next! My mother-in-law loves for me to pick out new things for her so we hit the outlets on Friday afternoon. It was pretty busy, but we stay focused when we shop! She even got a couple of things for me that I had picked out, including the wildest pants. They're the Hampton fit, but I don't see the pattern on the Banana factory website.

When I shop, I like to think of how I will wear whatever I'm trying on. If I can think of three ways to wear it, then it's worth it for me to take home. If I can only think of one or two ways, then it better be a real bargain! In my head, all I could think was a white shirt and a black shirt, but I was rushing and knew there were more options than that. So, I decided to take my mother-in-law up on the offer to purchase them and figure it out when I got home. Here's what I did:

1. Start with a basic, but use texture to create visual interest.

In my head, I was thinking that black would toughen up this happy print a little bit. Instead of reaching for the plain black v-neck I had pictured in the dressing room, I laid out a loft tank. You can't see it in this iPhone shot, but the tank has a crochet pattern in the front. Then, I added a thin cardigan (similar here) for the chilly spring weather we've been having. I spotted my Boden wedge booties and thought they'd be more fun than black shoes, and I'm trying to wear them as much as possible before it gets hot.

Spring In Your Step: 4 Trends Worth Trying

Oh my goodness! What an honor! Today I’m honored to have been asked to the Beautiful You Blog.
Last year when I attended the Conference with my friend Hannah for the first time, I was so inspired by all of the beautiful women there. This year, they're even asking women to donate shoes to women and children. How incredible! There is nothing more inspirational than a group of women getting together to change the world. If I can inspire you to look and feel your best this spring while you're out changing the world, that would be amazing! So let’s get down to it and talk about spring trends.

Pick From A Fresh Crop of Jackets

A cropped jacket is the perfect transition piece: you can wear it now with longer layers and pants and in a few months with a long, flowing maxi skirt.  Pair a floral print with stripes to toughen up a feminine print or stick with solids to toughen up spring’s skinny white jeans or a full skirt.   I find that graphic t-shirts with white, black, or gray backgrounds look the most current and the least like a teenager would wear. Continue reading here! 

Spring Ahead with Feminine Touches and Repeating Patterns

Spring Ahead with Feminine Touches and Repeating Patterns

On Tuesday, I guest posted over on Love Always Hannah. Here's a sneak peek of what I wrote about. Be sure to click through to Hannah's blog for the rest (and stay for her insightful-and beautiful-posts the rest of the week)!

Hi! I’m Ella from StartCloseIn Styling. My passion is helping women fall back in love with the clothing they already own. And what better time to fall in love than during the spring?
It’s almost spring-right? Right? I know that in the DC area, we’re all a bit nervous that it will never come! Here’s my take on it: fake it ‘til you make it! Let’s talk about how that translates into clothing. Look in your closet and find something that screams spring, like these gorgeous bright pants.

Then...Read the rest here!

Inspired By This Boho Look? See How I Break It Down!

Inspired By This Boho Look? See How I Break It Down!

The other night, I came across this beautiful image on Pinterest.

Via

She looks carefree and beautiful, I thought. However, I would never wear this outfit, and I know many of you wouldn't, either. But I thought there were elements of it that we could re-create, likely with things we already own.

What about a dress that is similarly flow-y but maybe not so long? Garnet Hill's is very flattering with its high waistline. Also, for nursing mamas out there, this is an excellent choice.

Via Garnet Hill

Maybe you have a dress, like this blue dress by Torrid, that reads a bit young? I think this could lend itself to being funked up like my inspiration image.

The jacket in the inspiration shot is great, but too costume-y for my preference. What about a similarly striking jacket that's a bit more timeless and can be worn more often?

Via Asos

You could also add a jean vest for a similarly funky look as the inspiration picture.

Or what about bringing the blue into the top? I love a tank that you can wear a regular bra with, and Madewell's quality is excellent.

These shorts, also Madewell, would lend the funky element that the inspiration image has. These printed shorts would look amazing with solids and basics all summer long.

Old Navy has a fun print, too. You could go with a contrasting color with these ones, like a red or an orange or green, or stick with something simple and white for the slight gypsy feel of the inspiration shot like this incredible one from Free People. H&M has a more wearable version in their plus size line.

I have a similar pair of shorts, and I have lived in them in the hottest months of the summer because they don't stick to your waist or legs like a thicker fabric does. Forever 21 has a fun skirt that's similarly boho.

I'm starting to believe that spring is coming! It has to be, right?