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thursday links

10/30/2014

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I hope you all will forgive me for the short post today and that you can each find something of interest to read in the collection of links below.

With Halloween just a day away, now is the time to rush and find the perfect last minute costume. Spoiler alert: it's already in your closet. Take a look at these easy costume ideas and you'll be ready to DIY your way to a great look: http://bit.ly/1ajfQt0

Yesterday I came across an article about dress codes for women in academia. This blog exists because I had helped my sister revamp her wardrobe when she was starting a new job as an assistant professor and one of her female colleagues expressed the desire to have her own style consultant to navigate the tricky dress code. This article discusses the challenges that women face when dressing for a work environment that is predominantly male: http://bit.ly/1zhPuXZ

With cooler weather officially here, it is time to embrace the fashion of the new season completely. I have to admit that I was still wearing sandals yesterday and saw a few others doing the same (one was even in shorts!), but with November here it is time to put them in storage. For cold weather style inspiration, check out my Pinterest board: http://bit.ly/1yJ52kE
Follow Alice @ practically stylish's board cool weather looks on Pinterest.
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cozy & comfortable looks for days you want to stay in bed

10/27/2014

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Halloween is not even until Friday, but I am already sick of it. My neighborhood exploded with raucous party-goers this past weekend with groups serenading the entire block with off-key music at one in the morning and loudly complaining about their tired feet. Sadly, I know that was just the warm-up for next weekend. Since I am not starting my week off quite as well-rested as I hoped, it is important to choose clothes that make me feel good. That means cozy fabrics and comfortable styles that will still look polished. Here are a couple looks I created courtesy of the Boden Outfit Maker.
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Ponte is a lifesaver fabric because it is soft and stretchy, but still has some structure. Basically it is perfect for the day when you don't want to get out of your pajamas, but you still need to look nice. For work my go-to ponte pieces are skirts, dresses, or blazers. Ponte pants are a little iffy because a bad fit can make them look like leggings, but depending on the style and your office dress code you might be able to make them work. The easiest outfit to look great in when you feel sub-par is a ponte dress worn with a cardigan, scarf, and tights. Finish the look with boots or flats and no one will be able to tell that you got out of bed on the wrong side. And even better, you will enveloped in soft and stretchy fabrics all day long.
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Even if your day's activities don't require you to look nice, hanging out in sweatpants through the late afternoon rarely helps to improve your mood. Instead slip into a stretchy pair of jeans, add a jersey wrap top, and layer on a jacket. Whether you are just running errands or you are taking yourself out to lunch with a favorite book, you will feel comfortable without looking sloppy. Now isn't that a lovely thought to help brighten your day?
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If your bad day coincides with a special event, it can be especially difficult to motivate yourself to ditch the pajamas. But the right accessories can get you into a partying mood without forcing you to exert any extra energy. This is the time to break out your statement glam pieces (and a bright shade of lipstick). A metallic or embellished shoe and coordinating clutch are great when your dress is subdued and those pieces can turn even a basic black dress into a show stopping number. Of course, some pattern or sparkle on the dress never hurt either. It can often feel like high heels are required when going out, but you should feel free to wear flats as long as they they are in keeping with the formality of your look. If you are comfortable you will be able to have more fun and a smile is the perfect accessory to any look. 

Which of these outfits is your favorite? Let me know in the comments! And while you're there, share your go-to comfortable and cozy looks.
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guide to elegance: chic

10/24/2014

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Today we are moving onto a new letter of the alphabet in the review of Genevieve Antoine Dariaux's book, A Guide to Elegance. An introduction to this series of posts can be found here and previous posts can be read here. The first entry in the Cs is chic. As always, these reviews are meant to compare past fashion rules to today and see if they still apply. Leave your thoughts in the comments!

This section is all about whether or not you are chic. Madame Dariaux does not give an exact definition, only examples, but hints at how you might determine if you are chic:
"Chic is only perceptible to those who have already acquired a certain degree of civilization and culture and who have in addition both the leisure time to devote to improving their appearance and the desire to be part of a particular kind of elite, which might be called the 'aristocracy of external appearance." (pg. 20)
Although she later writes that being chic "has no relationship to beauty nor to wealth" (pg. 20), it certainly sounds like both of those greatly improve your chances of being chic. Reading this section makes me wonder if the idea of chic is too limiting for the modern woman. Busy lives mean that leisure time is high demand and for many of us, there are more profitable ways to spend it than on our external appearance. We simply cannot commit to the pursuit of impeccable outfits, hair, and makeup without missing out on time with friends, family, or hobbies. Our clothing should enhance our lives, by making us look and feel good, but our lives should not be run by our clothing.

Since Madame Dariaux's standards are high, yet vague, I can confidently say that I will never be chic in her eyes. She sees Greta Garbo and Lady Diana as examples as women who "had chic," but dismisses Rita Hayworth and Elizabeth Taylor with little discussion. In fact, the whole thing seems incredibly subjective so attempting to become chic in one social circle may be for naught if you ever decide to move locations or make new friends. 

But this is not to say that we should not make an effort to dress well. Instead I think it is more important to be thoughtful about what occasions you put your time and energy into. Attending a wedding or gala benefit is a great time to spend a bit of extra leisure time tending to your appearance so you can look elegant and sophisticated. Going to the grocery store or to watch your kid's soccer game? Not so much. Looking stylish doesn't need to be hard if you realize that different events require different amounts of effort and if you accept it is unlikely that anyone will mistake you for Greta Garbo, no matter how chic you may think you are. 


Dariaux, Genevieve Antoine. A Guide to Elegance. New York: William Morrow, 2003. Print.
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when fashion looks frumpy

10/22/2014

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When I first started this blog it felt like I was just adding another drop of water to an already full reservoir of fashion bloggers. I reasoned that if someone was going to check out a blog for style advice, they had plenty of options and there wasn’t much I could add to the conversation that wasn’t out there already in some form. However, I have learned over the past two years that many women who are interested in upping their style game are intimidated by fashion blogs. For someone who is not yet confident in their sense of style, it can be confusing to see featured outfits which, to be blunt, look rather frumpy.

A couple days ago, I came across a short post on one of the popular fashion blogs that made me do a double take. It was suggested that the perfect weekend outfit was an oversized sweatshirt, a pair of baggy pants, and unbrushed hair. The accompanying photo was of a slender woman wearing said outfit and strolling confidently down the street. She looked great and suggestions to recreate the look were all expensive, designer pieces, but all I could think was that it would be quite difficult for most women to pull off or feel confident in. One of my mom’s favorite phrases when she thinks a style is too young for her is that she doesn’t want to “look like mutton dressed up as lamb.” However, that is not necessarily the worst-case scenario. The normcore fashion movement has made traditionally frumpy looks a stylish alternative for the young and fashionable which are pretty much impossible for anyone over the age of thirty-five to wear successfully.

In fact, another post on the same site suggests leaving these fashionista pieces at home when going on a first date because they warn that most people won’t “get” the look. Unless your friends are also fashionistas, they won't be able to tell if your pants are baggy because you got the wrong size off the sale rack at Target or because you spent $350 getting a pair that was thoughtfully designed to look like you just rolled out of bed. And therein lies the danger of high fashion. For most of us, our everyday life takes us into the realm of the non-fashion elite where sweatpants worn with stilettos will not receive compliments.

So, how do you look stylish and embrace trends without accidentally veering into unflattering territory? A good option is to choose tailored pieces in bright colors or bold patterns. This allows you to add your own personality without sacrificing fit. A coral blazer, floral pencil skirt, or polka dot shirt all give a stylish twist to classic pieces. Even though cutting edge fashion may not always translate well into our everyday lives, we can still be fashionable without looking frumpy.
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outfit of the day: casual fall saturday

10/18/2014

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I love nautical inspired fashion and a crisp white and navy palette is an easy way to add a hint of that, even in the cooler weather. This polka dot down vest is my go-to piece to make my outfit a bit more interesting. [This vest features last year's pattern, but Lands' End replaced it with a similar version.] Even though the only colors represented in this look are white and shades of blue, it is far from boring.

Pattern mixing adds value to a simple color palette and if you are unsure of your pattern mixing abilities, working with fewer colors increases your chance of success. Basically this is an easy way to look great without all the stress.

This look is perfect for a casual fall Saturday because the individual pieces are comfortable, the layering gives options in case of a temperature change, and everything is machine-washable. Oh yeah, and it also looks fresh and effortless. Lots of fall activities are seasonal photo-ops so it is important to choose an outfit that makes you look and feel great. I bet you can't visit a pumpkin patch without having someone try to take a photo of you holding a pumpkin. 

So when you need an easy, no-fail outfit for the weekend, grab basic denim and a long sleeve tee and amp them up with a patterned scarf and down vest. You'll stay warm, feel comfortable, and be ready for any fall photo moment.
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