Berry Fabulous

Berry Floral by theclosetbychristie featuring a pleated mini skirt

Berry and other shades of purple are a big color trend right now for Winter 2012-2013. I don't know about you, but I'm a huge fan of color. I love a nice neutral, but I cannot resist a gorgeous color. I'm always keeping up with the color trends and truly believe it's so important to incorporate into your closet. Now I know winter is coming to a finish and we are all working on our spring wardrobes- but I'm still not done with berry! If you haven't already, run to the clearance rack because this hot color looks great for any season. I'm not convinced we're ready to let go of this one yet.

In the above set, I used berry as my accent color. I started with the fitted floral top and paired it with a J.Crew slate mini. I love this top because it's mostly dark neutrals on the heather gray so the splash of berry really pops. The DKNY colored blazer, White House Black Market jeweled earrings (they have the best accessories- jewelry and shoes!), and Tory Burch studded wrap bracelet accentuates the berry color even more. Lastly, the bone Banana Republic faux leather clutch and White House Black Market snake-print leather flat add a nice contrast to the otherwise dark palette.

Many people fear incorporating color into their wardrobe. Well ladies, fear not! I believe color is one of the most important elements of fashion. Color is pleasing to the eye and can express emotion. Red expresses attraction. Bright colors can come across as cheerful. Use fashion to help put your best foot forward and make the best possible impression on the world. With the right colors on your side, you can do that! 

Color Pop Jewelry: Spring 2013 Trend

Red & Turquoise by theclosetbychristie featuring a bubble necklace

Color Pop jewelry is a really fun current trend! Who doesn't love bright colored things? When I browse the costume jewelry section of almost any store, there's bright colors at every turn! It's the perfect way to enhance or jazz up any look! Would you be surprised to hear that a ten-year-old girl from Texas started this trend? That's just proof that fashion can be inspired from anything and anywhere. The next big thing can be inspired by you! Why not you? Rock your own style. There would never be new trends if everyone just followed.

This entire look was inspired by the turquoise and red color pop earrings. I fell in love with them! I've always loved turquoise and red together. I chose the red scalloped Valentino dress, paired with a deep turquoise blazer. The dress is made of cotton, so it's likely very comfortable. Additionally, red is said to make people appear more attractive to others. I like to  wear red when I'm trying to make an impression. I then chose the metallic and patent handbag. It has such a funky look, so I couldn't resist placing it on this set. The aqua J.Crew suede wedges have a classic silhouette but the bright color adds some extra charm. I then tied in the matching aqua stone necklace and red stretch bracelet to finish off the look.

It's a bold look but works for the right occasion. You could wear it to the office depending on your company culture. If your office is more conservative, you could trade out the red dress for a black one. By adding in the neutral color, it would tone down the look a bit.

Fashion Meets Art: Photorealism

Floral Olive Green by theclosetbychristie featuring patent leather pumps

Photorealism is a painting genre in which the artist paints a real image that appears photographic. This style of painting has recently been crossing over into the fashion world. I've been seeing realistic nature inspired prints everywhere! I love this trend because it really gives the outfit a more refined look. It's different than the standard floral print, which has been around for so long. It's so refreshing! But this isn't the first trend derived from art. The truth is that fashion, art, music- it's all culture. They come from everything around us. The cool part is that it's a cultural experience. A look inspired in Italy or France can become popular here in America. Fashion connects us all.

For my look, I used a Dolce & Gabbana floral photorealism dress. The Italians make this trend well! The color palette consists of tan, white, and green with gold accents.  I paired it with a sage blazer, tan satchel bag, and white Kate Spade gold-bow heels. The blazer has a tweed look to it and really adds some texture to the outfit, while the bag and heels continue with the feminine style. I finished off the look with delicate gold J.Crew jewelry; cluster studs, bangle set, and knots & pearls necklace.

I really like this photorealism trend because it's so chic and I love anything nature-inspired. What do you think? Would you wear it? 

Trends For Less: Graphic Dress & Tangerine

Trends For Less: Graphic Dress & Tangerine by theclosetbychristie featuring tear drop earrings

 Do you think that you have to spend big money to look good? Of course not! If you're a true fashion junkie, you know that there's no way to keep up with the trends and spend top dollar on everything. The key is to spend where it counts! I find that it helps to splurge a bit on classic styles and items you'll get a lot of use out of. 

I prefer spending a few extra bucks on jeans, shoes, and bags because you will get a lot more wear out of a higher quality item and it will look better longer. Take jeans for instance- after washing a pair of $20 jeans a few times, they begin to lose color and shape; maybe they don't look as flattering as they did when you first purchased them. Pretty soon you'll be trashing those for an upgrade! A pair of True Religions will last years and many washes before looking shabby. In the end, you may end up spending less on those name brand jeans because you get more wear out of them.

It also helps to know you and your patterns. For instance, I have a love-hate relationship with heels. I love shoes, but I hate discomfort. I've probably spent hundreds of dollars on high heel shoes that just decorate my closet because I think they're cute in the store but never feel like being in pain. In more recent years, I've learned to invest in Cole Haan brand shoes. They are made with Nike Air technology,  so they're as comfortable as heels can be and worth every penny. I recommend buying them in a department store and checking out the sale section first. Last month, I was dying for a new pair. The regular pairs were a little more than I wanted to spend, so I checked out the sale rack and managed to find a perfect pair in my size! Here's the bonus- they were 50% off!

As for the set above, I created a trendy outfit for a total of $241. That's great considering it's a complete outfit, accessories and all! I strategically styled it so we're not stuck with the real cheap, poor quality items- yet it's still affordable. I started out with a gray, black, and white graphic dress. This style dress is really on trend right now but can come across as "young." I aged the look by pairing it with a blazer, jeweled flats, and simple cross-body bag (my favorite!). I used tangerine for the blazer and flats to add some color pop to our look.

The take-away here is to spend where it matters. Invest your money in clothes that you'll get a lot of wear out of (styles that never die, accessories, etc), and save on trendy items that you may only wear for that season. There's no need to admire trends from afar because you don't have the money to spend. Be strategic and you can have it all!

Floral Print: Spring 2013 Trend

Peach Floral Blazer by theclosetbychristie featuring stella mccartney

Floral print is a new spring trend this year! Of course floral tops are not new, however, these days just about everything is coming up daisies. Particularly blazers, skinny jeans, shorts, and jewelry. I am particularly fond of the floral print blazer, but even I questioned how to style it and whether or not I could pull it off. Lesson learned: never question if you can pull something off! I always say if you like something, wear it with confidence and you can "pull off" anything. You'll know if something is you by your gut. When certain trends pop up, I see it and say "ooh, not sure what I like about that- but I LIKE it!"  When you get that feeling about something, get out there and buy it! Figure out the styling details later.

I personally own a black and white LC Lauren Conrad floral blazer from Kohl's, which I sincerely recommend. I wore it over the weekend and am so glad that I got it because I felt so stylish in it. In the above style example, I used a peach floral blazer. Peach is my latest color infatuation and I have pretty much added it to my neutral color palette because it goes with just about anything. I paired it with a white pencil skirt and sheer peach ruffle blouse.

The nude accessories- pointed-toe heel and studded tote (Steve Madden=love)- simply add another color to the palette. The look is finished off with jewelry, the 3-strand pearl bracelet and floral cocktail ring. I really like pearls and floral together because they're both very girly items so they complement each other well.

The floral print is a trend I can really get behind because it fits with my personal style. Would you dare to wear a floral anything?

Wearing Leopard Print With Class

Leopard Print with Class by theclosetbychristie featuring kate spade

Thanks to our friends from Jersey Shore, and many others I'm sure, leopard print is often viewed as trashy. But wait a minute... let's not rush to conclusions on this just yet. As with anything, there are ways to make this work without kissing our  elegance goodbye! Just about everything comes in leopard print now; skirts, blazers, flats, bangles, and the list goes on. If you're afraid of showcasing the print on a major piece (skirt, top, blazer), incorporate it into your look with accessories. If you want to go bold, see the above look.

The color of the leopard print can mean the difference between chic and obnoxious. Neon colored leopard print is fun for a summer tank top, but not acceptable in a professional setting. You could get away with a classic brown print, but I personally like the black and white. You really can't go wrong with black and white anything, i.e. the success behind White House Black Market. So of course for my look above, I went with a black and white leopard print pencil skirt. Black and white screams chic, while a pencil skirt is very business-like. These characteristics will offset the previously negative notions of the print. 

A neutral top and accessories are key in this case. I chose a black top with a black lace collar. This adds some texture to the top and gives it an extra little something since it's otherwise plain. It also doesn't stand out too much because it's black. A top with any small same-color embellishments (jewels, stones, lace, etc) will look nice for this outfit. 

I accessorized in gold and blush; both colors are personal favorites for neutrals. I used delicate jewelry (opposed to chunky or big)- the bow studs and bracelet add an extra ounce of femininity. The blush pointed-toe patent heels and gold envelope clutch are classics that I always come back to. You can't go wrong with them! They go with most outfits because of the neutral coloring and the style is just plain chic. Lastly, the blazer- I love this one because of the texture it brings to this look! The neutral color makes it perfect for our outfit, while the fringe and stripe detailing jazzes up our otherwise simple set.

So what do you think, ladies? Would you wear this to work (or anywhere else)?

Boldly Styling A Statement Skirt

Statement Skirts by theclosetbychristie featuring a blue shoulder bag

Statement skirts are a huge trend right now! They can be found in almost any store and often come in many different bold prints and colors. But how can real women pull this off? Well, an easy way to style it would be to wear it with any combination of colors on our neutral palette. That would be black, white, blush, tan, beige, grey, eggshell, etc. For the non-risk takers, that would definitely be the route to go. For those more adventurous, see the above example to add some flair to your wardrobe. 

Personally, I love the above look (naturally, because I was the one who styled it) because it has an element of funk but still maintains a general sophistication. The skater style skirt has a bold modernized paisley print, with a light celery-colored background. That light hue when multiplied can become obnoxious, so I added the top in a darker hue. It's still within the same color family so it's not an outrageous pairing. The style of the top, sheer button-down ruffles, keeps our look chic. Any collared, button-down would do. We just want to keep our style crisp and professional looking. As for the ruffles, well, they're just girly and fun.

I used cobalt blue as an accent color. These colors aren't technically complementary in the art world, but I just think they work here. Go with your gut on these matters! No need to pin up a color wheel next to your closet. If you like how something looks, go for it! The suede pointed-toe heels, matching handbag, and stone earrings are all cobalt blue and contribute to our classic for-the-office style. Lastly, the equestrian blazer in natural brown finishes off our look and ensures a polished appearance.

So, the key here is that you CAN wear bold prints without sacrificing color and style. Stick to dark hues and clean, crisp styles. And most importantly, keep it you! Nobody can wear your personal style better than yourself.

Transform An Outfit With Accessories

This & That by theclosetbychristie featuring leather pumps

Are you tired of wearing the same outfits to work every week? Invest in accessories! The best bit of advice I can offer someone looking to save a few bucks on their wardrobe is to spend your money on accessories. It's truly surprising how much a few new (or old) accessories can transform a look. The real "money-saving" aspect is that you can wear accessories as often as you want without it being really obvious. 

Take the above looks for instance. The pleated rust skirt is an accent piece. It's paired with the sleeveless jewel-collared blouse in both looks. I really love this pairing because it's kind of like a plain Jane with a modern twist.. and let's be honest, I've always been a sucker for a little glitz. But this sparkle can be pulled off at the office! The first set (let's call it 'Look A') is accessorized with a striped cardigan, pointed-toe mahogany heel, and a taupe tassel hand bag. The second set (or 'Look B') is enhanced with the color cream; a blazer, loafers, and snake-skin lined clutch. 

Both looks are sophisticated in their own right but totally different (when they're not side by side). Wear each outfit a week or more apart and I'm telling you- you'll get compliments on it as if you've never worn it!

Polka Dot Outerwear For Any Age

Polka Dot Outerwear by theclosetbychristie featuring a peplum dress

So you like bold prints, but are you too old for that? Or are you young and seeking a sophisticated look without sacrificing the fun? I'm right there with you!  I'm a twenty-something that is often told I look fourteen, but I love bold prints and brights. Where's the balance? Well, nobody said sophistication had to be boring. Here's how to pull off a bold print at any age.

The above polka dot coat is the perfect example of prints for any age. The colors: it's black and ivory. Neutral colors are key here. Any combination of the following will work well: tan, beige, rose, black, white, ivory, eggshell, gray etc. You could even go with a deep color, paired with a pastel. For instance, I would totally love the coat in a cranberry with a mint polka dot. That's more of a risk for us daredevils, though. The size and shape of the pattern: same-sized, parallel dots. So if you take a look at the pattern, the dots are all the same medium size and there's order to them. They're all lined up and essentially, organized. A polka dot pattern for a younger set will be different sized colored dots (for instance, a black background with large and small neon colored dots), so you'll definitely want to avoid that. 

Next, is the rest of the look. I have it paired with a modern spin on a classic look; a peplum-style little black dress. Peplum is really on trend right now and rightfully so because it's a flattering shape to most body types. It can add sophistication to a 20-somethings look and trend to a 50-somethings outfit.

Lastly, the accessories. This part is important because it can make or break the outfit! I paired my look with a statement necklace. This adds a touch of gold to my color palette, which helps tie in the purse. I also chose a necklace with a structured look that goes with the dress style. The purse is a small nude quilted chain-strap cross body, which I recommend every woman have because it matches everything. The one pictured is only $28. I personally have a similar one by Jennifer Lopez from Kohl's. This bag can dress up any outfit (I sometimes wear it with a plain short-sleeved basic and fun jewelry) and add a brooch for some extra flair. The black glitter bow ballet flats are a nice youthful touch. I'm a sucker for glitter and bows-- these work because the bow is black like the shoe and it's paired with this sophisticated look. 

So, what do you think? Share your opinion of this post by adding a comment below.

Colored Blazers For The Office

Wrap Dress 2 by theclosetbychristie featuring river island

Have fun with fashion at the office while still looking professional! Colored blazers are the latest rage and look awesome paired with a skinny jean, but can you really get away with that at the office? Well, of course that mostly depends on your company culture and what’s allowed in the dress code. I work in hospitality, so I have a few more restrictions but this pastel mint green is a perfect compromise.

This look contains mostly straight lines and is very architectural. Because of this style and versatility, it can be worn by any age! The thin belt on the dress is a subtle accent that can make a huge difference by accentuating the waist and subsequently flattering almost any body type. Yet another 'win' for this dress is that it's a wrap style! A wrap dress (first created by Diane von Furstenburg) is commonly known for its flattery on any body type.

Change those New Years Resolutions! No need to head to the gym- just buy a wrap dress!