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jane's closet: spotted cardigan

9/3/2014

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I can't believe that the last time I did an installment of the Jane's Closet outfit series was in February! These photos have actually been sitting in a folder for over a year so it seemed like time to talk about them. Plus, this is a great example of an summer to fall transitional outfit.
The outfits consist of a bright coral summer tank top, a dark denim skirt, a taupe cardigan with black and white dots, a brown leather bag, and an accent belt. I have shown two different belt options to highlight the different ways you can choose how to accessorize.The red belt plays off the coral tank top whereas the animal print belt picks up the dot motif from the sweater. 

This outfit has elements that feel both summery and autumnal. The brown leather bag and the taupe cardigan play up the fall colors and materials. The coral tank adds some warm weather brightness to the look.
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This mix is perfect for September, when the weather is still warm even if we all think that it is already time for the leaves to change, When you pull out a layering piece, such as a cardigan or blazer, try pairing it with a bright shell as a nod to the balmy weather. The first pieces you should swap when moving to your fall wardrobe are your accessories. For example, use a leather bag instead of a brightly colored fabric one and add your suede shoes into the rotation. These changes will give your look a seasonal lift without the heavy fabrics.
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jane's closet: bold printed skirt

2/26/2014

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It's been awhile since I've done a Jane's Closet post! These photos have been in a folder for several months, but I think this skirt is a great piece for the transition into spring. Although the fabric is a light cotton, the color palette is season-less. While the weather is still a bit chilly, this skirt could easily be paired with black tights.

With such a bold pattern, I wanted to play up the contrasting colors so I kept the theme of black, red, and white throughout the outfits. However, that is not the only way to style the skirt. For a pop of color that is not in the pattern, try coral.

A pleated, a-line skirt like this has a lot of width on the lower half of the body. It is important to define the smallness of the waist when there is lots of fabric on the bottom. This can be achieved with either a belt (as shown in the outfits on the right) or with the ribbon detail on the blazer (as shown on the left). Don't be afraid to have some fun with your belt. The belt shown in the upper-right photo is a black and white animal print. Although the patterns are quite different, the color palette unites the two pieces.

Having a patterned skirt like this one is a great addition to any wardrobe. It can be paired with more traditional pieces for an office look or worn with a white tee and riding boots for a more casual outfit. 
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skipping the pencil skirt

8/20/2013

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Pencil skirts (and straight cut skirts in general) are very popular right now since the clean lines make a classic shape feel very modern and wearable now. However, many women dislike the hip hugging that a pencil skirt promises and instead feel more comfortable in an a-line or full skirt.
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When you are wearing a skirt with volume on the bottom, it is important to pair it with a top that creates an hourglass silhouette. It may be tempting to leave your blouse untucked or pair back to a chunky sweater, but that will only add unwanted width. Even if your waist is not as small as you would like it to be, it is smaller than the bottom of the skirt so you need to accentuate that difference. My preferred method is by simply tucking in my blouse and adding a belt to draw the eye in. If you create a strong shoulder with a ruffle detail or even just add a scarf, you will help balance the volume on your bottom and make your waist look even smaller.

Of course we all know that is can be difficult to find nice blouses that actually have sleeves so it is often necessary to add an extra layer. Although you should still tuck in your bottom layer, the cardigan can be left out as long as the waist is still accented. Either add a belt on the outside of the cardigan or get the same effect by buttoning only one or two buttons right at the smallest part of your torso.

Don't wear skirts? If you are a fan of wide leg pants, these same rules apply to you!
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secondary neutrals

8/13/2013

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Your closet is probably full of what I refer to as "secondary neutrals." Your primary neutrals are those basic colors that go with everything: black, grey, navy, brown, taupe, white and ivory. Secondary neutrals are colors that coordinate most of the time. Lots of dark blues and teals fit into this category because of their proximity on the color spectrum to both navy and teal, but warmer colors such as burgundy and plum also lend themselves quite nicely as neutral foundation pieces. The beauty of secondary neutrals is that they allow you layer color without being overwhelming.

When looking through your closet to identify the secondary neutrals, it is important to remember that, just like your primary neutrals, that any pattern or texture should be minimal since these items are meant as base pieces to be built upon. Although there are colors that are more versatile than others, your secondary neutral colors will be unique to you because they are determined by how well they work with the majority of your wardrobe. If your closet has lots of warm, bright patterns in it, then coral and red might be secondary neutrals for you to try. However, if you gravitate more towards heathered jewel tones, olive and teal greens might be a better fit.
It is important to know what your secondary neutrals are so when you are out shopping you are not only picking up black, grey and white tees, but also some easy to wear color.

Hopefully most of us have closets filled with a spectrum of colors, so that means you want your secondary neutrals to work with both warm and cool colors. As shown in the picture, the dark teal shell creates a nice backdrop to showcase the warm hued scarf. Color mixing has more room for forgiveness when the shades are darker so play around with some of your fall or winter clothes to expand your neutral palette.
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ankle pants all year round

8/10/2013

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Purple ruffled silk top, ivory dot ankle pants, red necklace & silver belt

I strongly believe in versatile clothing; if I love a piece I want to be able to wear it regardless of the season and I especially want it to work with lots of other favorites in my wardrobe. Earlier this summer, my mom fell in love with the simple dot print of these ankle pants at LOFT and decided to try them out even though she doesn't normally wear printed pants.
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The great thing about this pattern is that it is subtle and classic. Dots are pretty much always in style and the neutral color palette makes it easy to mix and match with. Although these were marketed as a summer pant, they are ivory as opposed to a bright white which helps them to transition between seasons much more easily since winter white is always a hot color during the colder months. An ankle pant also is appropriate most of the year because the length is often interpreted as a style choice, rather than a seasonal choice. With a simple change of footwear you can rock an ankle pant from early March through Thanksgiving.
This first outfit, with the ruffled long sleeve purple blouse, red necklace, and silver belt, can be worn almost year round. During the summer months it can be paired with a silver sandal and for cooler temps it will look great with ballet flats and pumps. By  choosing a classic fabric such as silk for the top and a versatile color such as ivory, you are not tethering yourself to any particular season or trend.
Watercolor patterned silk shell, grey ruffle cardigan, silver belt & ivory dot ankle pants
Of course, some of your pieces will work better in some seasons than others, so don't be afraid to embrace your current weather. On the left, the watercolor print silk shell and grey ruffle front cardigan give the ankle pants an unmistakable spring feel. Although all of those items can be worn year round, the combination of light colors, soft edges and minimal accessorizing is very evocative of a fresh April day. Pair this with a metallic ballet flat or a nudish-pink peeptoe heel to finish off your ensemble

On the right I played up the bright bold colors of summer with coral and added a twist (literally!) by knotting the ends of the camp shirt to mimic one of this season's big trends. Although there are plenty of button-down shirts for sale this season that are specifically designed to be knotted, it is more practical to simply unbutton the bottom two buttons and double knot the extra fabric. This allows you to continue to get use out of your camp shirts once the weather forces this summertime trend to the back of the closet. Slip into a pair of comfortable sandals and you'll be set to spend an afternoon on an outdoor patio with a glass of wine in hand.
Coral dot camp shirt, coral ribbed tank, ivory dot ankle pants & gold necklace
In both of these outfits the tiny dots on the pants play second fiddle to the larger, more vibrant patterns happening on the tops. While the dots on the pants may not be visible from a distance, the people closest to you will see an extra layer of visual interest on your outfit.
A light colored ankle pant is a great transition piece for those September days when you are not quite sure if fall has arrived yet.
Dot cardigan, coral ribbed tank, red belt, red necklace, and ivory dot pants
Closeup of red belt, coral ribbed tank, dot cardigan and ivory dot pants
For early fall, layer a bright colored tank underneath a neutral cardigan and add some bright pops of color. I love that the cardigan and ankle pants both have a dot motif in the same color palette. Although it is tempting to ditch your summer pieces after Labor Day, the weather will still be mild so mix and match as much as you can.

As the season progresses the colors become more subdued. To create a cooler look, all of the layers are light colored neutrals for a similar feel to the ever popular winter white suits that appear around early November. Pair with a closed toed pump or a light colored ballet flat while the temperature permits.
White lace tee, ivory dot pants, taupe open cardigan, brown belt & gold necklace
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