4 Easy Steps to Mastering the Mall in Style

In the second edition of our fashion challenge series we will be tackling the feeling that some people get as they enter the department store. Achieving fashion forward style can be an overwhelming feat to tackle if shopping does not qualify as your sport of choice. There are however some tips and tricks that if followed will help calm those feelings of anxiety that creep in as you pull into a department store parking lot.

Begin with an Edit: It is the Key To Focus

Before you can be prepared to hit the sale racks at your local department store, you must first determine what it is that you need to purchase. Determining what you need comes only after you have made an honest assessment about what works in your current wardrobe. If you have not worn a piece in the most recent season, you do not need that piece as part of your collection.

Top Ten Fashion Rules to Follow From 2012

1. Every Women Needs A Great Pair of Jeans

2.Every Woman Needs to Own One Piece of Faux Fur

3.Casual Friday Has Rules Follow Them

4.Even Gold Lame’ Has A Purpose

5.The Cape Has Made a Comeback

6.All Pieces in Your Wardrobe Should Stretch Your Dollar

7.Everyone Should Have One Piece of Menswear Inspiration

8.Outerwear Is an Extension of Your Style Choose Wisely

9.The Wrap Top is Universally Flattering

10.Red Has an Expiration Date if Not Styled Correctly

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Spring Forward with Fashion

With the dawn of a new year comes an anxious look forward into seasons to come. The coming of January means that it is time to start thinking about how to begin incorporating brighter, bolder colors into your wardrobe. We have spent the last several months embracing the dark colors that are a sign of winter and I don’t know about you, but I am ready for to give some love to the bright colors that have been hiding in my closet all winter long. January is the time to bring out colors like bright blues, and bright pinks that are so popular in the springtime. You can use some of those bright accessories with neutral tops as way to give a nod to spring or you can go all in a pair your bright top with a denim bottom and celebrate the change of season all day long.

In this outfit, I chose a royal blue and white combination as my bright color for the day. It is bright enough to give my mood a boost, but not so overtly spring that becomes inappropriate to wear in January. The light fabric is warm enough for a January day in Texas, but if your weather dictates another layering piece,  you can pair your royal blue top with a denim jacket or a white turtleneck for additional warmth. Now is the time to begin evaluating your closet and preparing for a new season. Bringing out bright colors means that we must be prepared to style them with flair.  Stay tuned as in future editions we begin our wardrobe transition from winter to spring.

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How to Repurpose Office Chic

Achieving style on a budget is about creating looks using recycled pieces. In this edition of style on a budget we are going to look at how to repurpose   a tailored blazer. For most, a tailored blazer is the option that we are required to wear to the office everyday, so we do not necessarily think to wear it at any other time. However, your tailored blazer that has served you so well in the office is also a great option for your casual wardrobe as well. In this version, I paired the tailored blazer with a simple white t-shirt, a faded skinny jean, boots and a statement necklace. This outfit is great for a casual lunch outing or for a date night dinner and a movie with your main squeeze.

The trick to making the tailored blazer work in a casual setting is for all of the other pieces of your wardrobe to be ultra casual. In this instance, the white t-shirt is the ultimate piece of casual chic in any wardrobe and is the perfect contrast against the pinstriped black blazer that is normally part of my dress code at work. The statement necklace is also in a soft white stone that helps tie the entire color scheme together. If you are missing any of the key pieces necessary to complete the look, today is a great time to hunt for some of those options. Retailers will begin today running clearance events that are preparing their spaces for the spring preview goods that are already rolling in. Make a list of the items that you are missing from your inspiration board and then begin your quest to fulfill those items.

This is a great time to pick up basic jackets for next year as well as boots for the remainder of the fall and any extra jewelry pieces that you may be missing. If you are willing to brave the crowd, you are sure to find plenty of steals and deals that make the trip worth your while.

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In Vest in Fashion

Now that the holidays are in full swing I thought it was time to look at some fun holiday outfits that are office appropriate. On Friday we looked at how to wear red all year long, and today we are looking at how to a vest to create a fashion forward option for the holidays.  A vest is one of those pieces that can used as a layering tool to add interest to your outfit. In the outfit featured below I used the argyle vest over the black dress shirt as a nod to holiday cheer. I have paired to vest in this case with a black dress trouser to demonstrate an option for an office that has a less relaxed dress code. If you are able to wear denim to your office like I can, you can pair this vest with a dark washed skinny jean and a black or grey knee-boot to finish off your look.

This vest is an option for how to style a layered look during holiday, but the same principles apply for styling a vest during the year. Each season, vests will come out in the hot color of the season and they are another affordable option to incorporating what’s new and hot for the season. When you choose your layering piece for your vest find a fitted option that     will help create shape. Use a turtleneck and or a fitted dress shirt that will coordinate with the vest. In this case, I chose a black dress shirt, but you could just have easily have chosen to pull the color grey out of the piece for an alternate look.

As you look to the New Year and begin to plan your wardrobe for the upcoming season build your layering options by finding great vests that will work well with dress shirts or turtlenecks that you already own. As the season begins to close, many retailers will begin to take major markdowns as they prepare for the spring season, which means this is a great opportunity to build your wardrobe for less.

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