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.

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.

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.

How to Make Mad Men Modern

I had a reader friend ask me a question the other day that really got me thinking: how can she make Mad Men-inspired fashion modern? For those unfamiliar with the show, it has so far focused on vintage looks with high waists, covered arms, and curve-hugging dresses. It's a fun style to play with because it's very flattering for curvy shapes while at the same time being fairly covered up. That makes it appropriate for a wide variety of settings, including work and date nights!

Here's my take on how to bring that Mad Men flair into the modern age.

Play with Unexpected Color

Take a classic shape, like a full skirt and a cropped jacket, but play with color. Try something from your closet that's the brightest thing you can see, and then build an outfit around it. Here, the skirts are the stars of the show, and the pieces they're paired with are much more modern in fit and color.

Via

Via

Add an Edgy Touch to a Classic Shape

Make Mad Men Modern: A Loft Skirt Preview

Make Mad Men Modern: A Loft Skirt Preview

Those of you who follow me on Instagram may have seen the striped linen skirt that I got yesterday  at Loft during my lunch hour (for 40% off!). Tomorrow I'll be answering a friend's question about how to wear a "Mad Men" look without feeling too costume-y. While putting together options for how to wear this skirt on Tuesday, I realized that I was putting some of my tips for a modern Mad Men into action.

Sorry for the bathroom selfies-my husband was still working last night and unavailable to take photos of me. 

At first, I imagined that the tomato red cardigan on top would be the perfect fit with the nautical striped skirt. I got that cardigan around Christmas, and in my mind it's been stuck as a winter sweater. I wanted a way to bring it into spring, and my office was freezing today so I thought it could work. However, it felt too much like a literal interpretation of a vintage look for my preferences.

On the other hand, the bright chartreuse cardigan on the bottom did just what I wanted: the full, high-waisted skirt is a nod to vintage but feels modern with a v-neck t-shirt and unexpected color. Oh-and I also put on a better bra for the bottom shot since the one I was wearing on top was feeling a bit droopy. I didn't go for the pointed Mad Men style, though, since that should be saved for Halloween only!

What do you think? I can't wait to show off some modern Mad Men looks later this week!

  

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!

Spring Sales are Here!

Spring Sales are Here!

 

Get excited. Today I'm sharing my top picks from all of the (we wish it were) spring sales that have popped up! Pun intended.

Dresses

Right now is a great time to buy dresses because they're the easiest thing to wear now with layers over (blazers, cardigans, sweaters) and under them (tights, boots, leggings, white button downs or long-sleeved shirts) and later with bare legs and sandals or flats. Here are a few favorites on deep sale. 

Asos Curve

Asos

Gap

Gap

Asos Curve (add some tights if the length is too short for you!)

Madewell

I love the idea of a neutral dress right now that you can make wintery with deep jewel tones or black and then transition into spring with brights, coral, mint, or white.  Madewell has more universally flattering shapes that are timeless, too. Like this and this.

Pants-especially cropped ones

For now, wear these bad boys with low boots, flats, heels, etc. I love a good cropped pant for spring, too, though, making these a great buy to wear now and later. 

Jcrew's come in petite and tall and are on sale.

JCrew

Madewell

Versatile Weekend Tops

When stores come out with new t-shirts, they often put the not-so-new ones on sale. This is your moment to swoop in and grab a few! I love a t-shirt that has modal as well as cotton since it''ll be softer. JCrew does this well, and the designs are not too young. Ignore the styling here since the vibe is far too high school. Imagine instead with a dark wash jean and a blazer or leather moto jacket on top. Divine. 

Add caption

Madewell

So whether you're shopping a sale or shopping your closet, I recommend taking stock now of things you have that you haven't worn lately because you consider them to be "off season." Now is a great time to pull some of those items out of the shadows to enjoy them! It might help us all feel like spring is just around the corner!


Top Photo Credits:

Photography : Lauren Modny Photography (@modnyphoto)
Personal Styling : Start Close In Styling

Floral Design : LeRoy French Flowers

Handmade Valentines : Birch+Honey 

Cake : Colleen Delawder

Makeup : Melissa Taylor

Model : Destiny Decker

Creative Direction & Party Styling : Piccadilly (@piccadillydc and @lovehannxoxo)

Be sure to take a look at the gorgeous valentines from our shoot on Love Always Hannah today-and send someone a reminder that you value them, too!