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emily's closet: polka dot skirt

3/6/2014

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A while back, Emily sent in some photos of items from her closet that she was having trouble styling. I addressed some of the issues in these posts, but I never ended up writing about this polka dot skirt. Since she lives in a much warmer climate than I do, she can already wear skirts without tights so this is the perfect time to incorporate this piece into the wardrobe rotation.
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Wear to Work: Tuck a crisp, white button down shirt into the skirt and layer with a cardigan or blazer. Accessorize with a brightly colored necklace or bracelet. Bonus points if your cardigan is also in a bright hue! Pair with a black or grey heel.

Evening Out: Wear a sleeveless cowl-neck shell tucked into the skirt and a skinny belt worn about 1/2 inch below the top of the waistband. The skinny belt should either be a bright color or a shiny metallic. Add statement earrings, a couple sparkly bangle bracelets and a great pair of heels or wedges. For an extra dash of fun and whimsy, match your shoe color to your belt color.

Around Town: Pair with a cotton tee, preferably in a bright color like teal, and a denim jacket with the cuffs rolled up. Add a scarf and a pair of sunglasses and you will look effortlessly chic. If you aren't a fan of denim jackets, tuck in a chambray shirt with the sleeves cuffed for a similar look. Slip into your favorite sandals and throw a brightly colored bag over your shoulder for the finishing touches.
Since yellow and black brings to mind a bumblebee and orange and black screams Halloween, you can feel limited in your color palette. However, greens, blues, and purples all look great paired back to black. In fact, one of my favorite ways to brighten up black for spring is by pairing it cobalt. When choosing a color pop avoid dark jewel tones (which can feel very winter and fall) and pastels (which pair better back to navy and white). Instead, stick with bright, bold primary colors for the biggest impact.

Do you have a piece in your closet that you are having trouble styling? Don't let another season go by without wearing it. Send a photo with a short description to practicallystylishblog@gmail.com and I will present your problem and my solution here on the blog!
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the skirt, not all dressed up

6/14/2013

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Have a difficult piece that you'd like featured on the blog? Send a photo or link of the item you'd like styled to practicallystylishblog@gmail.com with a quick description of why you are having trouble wearing the item.

I also love to see success stories! If you have styled an outfit that you love, please share it via email, Twitter or Facebook so that we can all be inspired!
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Teva Mandalyn Wedge Ola 2 $30
Skirts and dresses are always a tempting option during the hot months when light and breezy is key, but many women struggle to transition them into their casual or day-to-day life. Although there are plenty of casual-only skirts and dresses available in stores during the warm months, you don't need to buy a whole new wardrobe.
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Land's End Initial Necklace $39
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Ann Taylor Perfect V-Neck Tee $28
Emily submitted this patterned skirt which is a great piece for "dressing down" because it has a fun ruffle detail at the hem and has some stretch to it. A pencil skirt can look too stiff when you are wearing it casually, so choose something that moves easily. I paired it with a brightly colored t-shirt (you can wear it tucked or untucked depending on your proportions) to add a fun pop. When dressing down a skirt, look for a basic knit without sheen or embellishment.

Although I love to layer on the accessories, for this outfit I only added a simple sterling silver necklace. It adds enough polish so that the outfit feels complete without being dressy. Finally, I added a casual wedge sandal with a hint of color that will keep your feet comfortable and your outfit looking effortless.
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reworking last summer's dress

6/11/2013

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Sperry Top-Sider Summerlin $79.95
A new season means that you get to rediscover all of your favorites from past years. But sometimes even the best piece from last year can fall flat. When Emily tried this dress on, she said it felt a little like a sack, but she wasn't sure what to pair it with to create a better shape.

This dress comes with a thin sash in the same fabric, but since it doesn't add contrast or structure, I switched it out for a wide braided brown belt to create a waist.
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Jane Stone Bubble Bib Necklace $9.99
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LOFT Textured Braided Belt $29.50
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Vince Camuto Two Button Blazer $150
To add a punch of color, I added a bright bauble necklace in a warm red-coral. The necklace doesn't need to be as large as the one pictured, just look for something to lighten and brighten the tan and brown in the dress!

Emily is always looking for ways to wear her white linen blazer so I decided to pair it back to the dress to add more structure. When a dress needs definition, style it with jackets instead of cardigans to offset all the soft edges.
Finally finish off the outfit with a flat metallic sandal to look chic but not overdressed. Perfect for a summertime walk followed by dinner and drinks on the patio!

Have a difficult piece that you'd like featured on the blog? Send a photo or link of the item to practicallystylishblog@gmail.com with a quick description of why you are flummoxed by the item.
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moonlight floral

6/7/2013

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Ann Taylor Moonlight Floral Dress
Earlier this spring, my sister bought the Moonlight Floral dress from Ann Taylor with the intention of wearing to a summer wedding. Now that wedding season is upon us and she has more details about the event, she asked for my help in accessorizing it. Since this fabulous dress deserves more than one spin through the limelight, I have assembled accessory "packages" for a variety of occasions and styles:
For a killer color combination that is always on trend, add pops of red to your black and white outfit. I chose a sparkly bracelet to be the statement jewelry piece of this outfit to avoid obscuring the detailed neckline of this dress with a necklace. The most important thing to remember when accessorizing a highly detailed dress is that your jewelry should not cover up the elements that make the item special in the first place. Although the earrings are only a stud, they subtly pick up the flower motif of the dress and mimic the red in the shoes to add sparkle near the face. This accessory set is a great way to add fun flair for a cocktail party or an evening wedding.

Red and metallic accents are also a great way to add a punch to your favorite little black dress or to spice up your basic black suit. To get the most use out of your red accents throughout the summer, try pairing them back to yellow, orange or navy.
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WHBM Flame Flower Post Earring $38
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J. Crew Factory Gold & Crystal Link Bracelet $21.50
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MICHAEL Michael Kors Mid Pump $99

For a completely fabulous nighttime look, add sparkle in silver, black and grey tones. Without a bright color pop, the focus of the outfit becomes the floral pattern of the dress. I chose non-matching accessories to play off the different shades of grey in the floral pattern to maintain the dynamic from head to toe. The crystal-encrusted flower on the clutch adds a bit of thematic whimsy, but the jewelry pieces are relatively simple- some shimmer and sparkle is all you need to create a truly showstopping ensemble.
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Bandolino Tufflove Peeptoe Wedge $69
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Nina Leiden $119.99
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LOFT Faceted Gem Stud Earrings $19.50
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Lands' End Simple Life Bead Bracelet $24
To transition this dress into fall, pair back to suede wedges in a deep jewel tone. If you need an extra layer for warmth, slip on a cropped black blazer or drape a pashmina over your shoulders.
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Pour La Victoire Mai-A Wedge $225

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Promise Kumar Patent Peeptoe Wedges $28.80
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Sequin Brights Enamel Bangles $28
The wedding that my sister is attending is outdoors in the afternoon so I suggested that she pair back to bright, fun accessories. A wedge generally feels more casual than a heel and since it is summer, a peeptoe is always on point. Coral and turquoise are typically paired back to lighter colors, so the color palette feels fresh and interesting when you bring them in to brighten up the black.

A simple stud earring and a bracelet with a splash of color are the only pieces of jewelry you will need- remember not to over-accessorize for afternoon. One place you can go bold though is with your bag. I love a brightly colored (and possibly oversized) clutch for afternoon. It shows that you are fun and stylish, but you can set it down on your chair when you want your dress to be center-stage.


If you have an item that you're not sure how to wear or are thinking about getting something that is out of your box, send a photo or link to practicallystylishblog@gmail.com and I will feature your item (with lots of practical advice) here on the blog!
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ALDO Landaverde Clutch $45
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Ann Taylor Pave Horizon Bracelet $38
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Jimmy Choo Bergen Peep-Toe Wedge $398
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raiding my sister's closet

11/10/2012

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While I was on vacation last month I spent a week with my sister, the person who inspired this blog. Although she struggles with what to wear, she has some really fabulous pieces hanging out in her wardrobe. I rifled through her clothes and put together a few outfits that are easy and polished, but that aren't necessarily her first instinct. Sometimes a great piece gets overlooked because when you bought it you didn't have anything to wear with it. Pull that piece out and challenge yourself to wear it once next week.

The first outfit consists of a pair of olive green/ivory pin striped trousers, a long sleeve black sweater, a 3/4 sleeve olive jacket with a satin sheen and a berry scarf. This outfit was designed for a day my sister, who is a professor in the sciences, would be spending in her lab. Removing the jacket and the scarf gives her a base layer that is easy to move around in while she is on her own and the finishing touches of the scarf and jacket give her a sophisticated, but not stodgy, look for any last minute meetings or an impromptu dinner date.



The second outfit is much more traditional. This combination of a striped oxford, faux wrap sweater and black trousers was designed for a day that my sister would be teaching a class. The main innovation to this outfit is to use the wrap sweater in lieu of a cardigan to create a three piece look.

Although I am a huge proponent of cardigans, there are several benefits to the wrap sweater, especially when giving a presentation. The first is that you don't have to decide whether to button or leave unbuttoned, or how many buttons to button. There is nothing to fuss about before you present. The second is that if you are writing on a chalkboard or gesturing wildly, chances are that you will get some gapping around the buttons of your cardigan. With a wrap sweater, you don't have to worry. Of course you can always pair your oxford with a basic crew- or v-neck sweater to counter those same issues, but the wrap sweater will give a fresh and modern twist to a classic look.
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This final outfit is my favorite of the three. I paired a black pencil skirt with a teal satin/knit shell, a teal lizard print skinny belt and a 3/4 sleeve tweed jacket with flecks of blue and teal in it. This outfit was designed for a conference, that tricky intersection of work and socializing. Since no one wants to be running back to change before each segment of the day, you need an outfit that feels appropriate in any environments.

This outfit has the three piece feel of a suit, but not the matching that makes it hard to transition. If the belt feels too fashion forward during the day, merely button the lowest button of the jacket to hide it or stash it in your purse and do a quick add-on in the bathroom later in the day. Even though it is not a true suit, you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who thinks that a tweed jacket is inappropriate work attire.

However, at dinner or drinks later in the night with your fellow conference goers you will not look out of place in a restaurant or hotel bar filled with people dressed for an evening out. This outfit will magically fit in with any dress code and the best part is that all of these pieces can be mixed and matched with other basics so you might only need to pack a carry-on!


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