Trends For Less: Tropical Print

Trends For Less: Tropical Crop Top by theclosetbychristie featuring a short high waisted skirt

Welcome to the weekend! #TGIF! That means it's time for another edition of "Trends for Less." Today I'm featuring a look for less with tropical print (see previous post: Trend Watch: Tropical Print). Worried this trend isn't here to stay? No need to splurge on it then! These trends can be purchased pretty much anywhere and the price range varies greatly.

In the above set, I featured a tropical print crop top for just $11! I love this because it has a subtle hint of that tropical feel with bright florals and leaves, but it's not as daring as a pineapple tee or flamingo shorts. The best part about it is that you could probably still rock it once the tropical print trend fades. I paired this top with a black H&M high-waisted skirt and a bright coral blazer. I love this bright blazer because it accentuates the red flowers on the top. I accessorized with a green Michael Kors clutch and nude French Connection peep-toe heels with contrasting red trim. These accessories bring even more tropical fun to the outfit by adding these bright colors to our palette. For jewelry, I used coral Kate Spade stone earrings and a coral Banana Republic tile bracelet.

Will you embrace the tropical print trend? How will you style it?

Business Wear: Back to the Basics

Business Wear: Back to the Basics by theclosetbychristie featuring a pencil skirt

Part of what makes The Closet by Christie unique is showing young women how to incorporate fun trends and looks in the workplace. We don't live in a world of navy, black, and grey anymore! That being said- there's nothing wrong with going back to the basics and styling a classic business look! It can be a lot of fun to take current trends and silhouettes and put it in with a classic office color palette.

In the above set, I featured an office look with a navy and white color palette. I paired a navy and white printed silk blouse with a navy peplum pencil skirt and navy French Connection check jacket. I love this look because it's so classic and chic, yet it incorporates modern trends too. I accessorized with a muted navy Kate Spade handbag and navy Kate Spade metal-capped leather heels. For jewelry, I used a blue Kate Spade watch and Federica Rettore sapphire drop earrings. 

Do you enjoy going back to the basics with your business attire? What's your favorite classic look?

Brocade: Not Just a Thing of the Past

Metallic Brocade Skirt by theclosetbychristie featuring leather jackets

Fashion isn't just about forward-thinking and innovation; it's about taking an old style or trend and making it relevant again. That's not an easy task, considering how much humanity has changed over the centuries! It takes a very creative mind to make this happen! Take the brocade style for instance. This style came about during the Renaissance period and was primarily worn by royalty, due to the intricate designs and beauty. Because of the brocade characteristics, heavy fabric and dark hues, this trend was brought back for the Fall 2012 and Winter 2013 seasons. But we're not ready to say 'goodbye' to this style just yet! Designers have found a way to keep this look around a little longer by designing it with lighter fabrics and softer hues with metallic gold and silver accents- the perfect characteristics for a nice, spring look!

In the above set, I featured a cream and metallic gold Marni brocade skirt. I love this skirt because it's so gorgeous and intricate. It has so much texture to it! I paired the skirt with a rust Emilio Pucci lace top and an Isabel Marant mixed print statement jacket. This look is all about texture and details! I accessorized with bronze Kate Spade pointed-toe heels and a cream, gold-accented Lanvin clutch. For jewelry, I used a gold Banana Republic link bracelet and Banana Republic coral stud earrings.

Do you like the brocade style? How would you style it?

The Many Types & Styles of Pleats

Orchids & Pleats by theclosetbychristie featuring reiss

Pretty, feminine pleats are everywhere this season! This design technique has been around for decades, if not centuries, but of course top designers always find a way to modernize these old trends to make them new again. A pleat is defined as a fold, which is stitched or pressed in place to keep its shape. There are many different types and styles of pleats- including the box pleat, inverted pleat, and knife pleat- but the style that's really on my radar now is the accordion pleat. This is exactly what it sounds like- it's small, narrow folds that resemble an accordion. In the past, pleating was exclusive to skirts but these days you can find pleating on just about anything including blouses and dresses.

In the above set, I featured a floral button down sleeveless blouse with accordion pleating detailing. This is such a chic, beautiful look. I really love pleating accents; it's such an unexpected and modern way to use pleats. I paired the blouse with a neon orchid DKNY tuxedo blazer and a navy Reiss high-waisted skirt. I really love this color palette! The navy works as a nice neutral, while the orchid is bright and bold. I accessorized with a dark orchid Marc Jacobs satchel and orchid patent leather Tory Burch ballet flats. For jewelry, I used a navy beaded bracelet and Kate Spade tri-color cluster studs.

Do you love pretty pleats? What's your favorite style of pleating?

The Closet by Christie Gets a FACELIFT!

I am proud to announce TODAY marks the launch of our new website design! We're doing some major upgrades at The Closet by Christie by increasing our aesthetic- but don't worry, this is just a little facelift! That means we're just altering our appearance, so the content and what we stand for is still the same. There's still a few small tweaks in the works, so more to come on this! Be the first to leave your feedback about our new look! Write a comment on this post or send us an email to theclosetbychristie@gmail.com.

A special thanks to Kate Johnson from 17th Avenue Designs for the template! She was amazingly kind and efficient to work with on this project. Support a small business by working with Kate on your blog facelift!

 Visit 17th Avenue Etsy Shop today!

Trends For Less: Memorial Day Edition

Trends For Less: Memorial Day Edition by theclosetbychristie featuring white pearl earrings

Welcome to the kick-off of your Memorial Day weekend! To start off our well-earned long holiday weekend, here's another edition of Trends for Less. I bet you're getting ready to head to some barbecues this weekend and if you're like me, your first thought is what to wear? Every day is a fashion show and holidays are no different! The most cost-effective way to do this is to invest in a few navy, red, and white pieces so you're festive for the holiday but can wear them separately in your daily life. 

In the above set, I featured a Memorial Day look using the navy, red, and white color palette. I paired a navy Dorothy Perkins pleated dress with a white Dorothy Perkins 3/4 sleeve blazer. I accessorized in red with a Lulu Townsend bow clutch, pointed-toe flats from Etsy, a poppy bangle, and a floral statement necklace. I love this look because it's versatile and the clean lines make it so chic. By purchasing an outfit with a big American flag on it, you would limit yourself to wearing it on holidays only. Since each piece represents a different color of the flag, you're still ready to be a proud American while still giving yourself the opportunity to style each item separately for any day. 

What are your plans for this Memorial Day weekend? What are you wearing?

Memorial Day Style: For Work & Fun

Memorial Day Style by theclosetbychristie featuring a bracelet bangle

It's almost Memorial Day! For our friends abroad, this American holiday is about remembering the men and women who have died while serving our country. In true American style, most citizens celebrate the holiday by wearing our country's colors and hosting backyard barbecues. This is the true kick-off for the joys of outdoor cooking! Wondering what to wear for work to show your festive spirit? How can you transform this look for the barbecue? Keep reading! 

In the above set, I featured a must-have Memorial Day work-wear look. I paired a bright red J.Crew embroidered eyelet tank with a horizontal stripe pencil skirt and a navy Ralph Lauren prep school blazer. I love this look because the colors are great for the holiday but in a less obvious way. I accessorized with red Chanel vintage quilted shoulder bag and red Kate Spade espadrille wedge sandals. For jewelry, I used Banana Republic drop earrings and navy and gold Banana Republic hinged bangle. To transform this look into a barbecue ready outfit, replace the stripe pencil skirt with a pair of white or navy tailored shorts! 

What are your work and play Memorial Day looks?

Spring/Summer Trend: Espadrille Wedges

Espadrille wedges are the latest it trend for Spring/Summer! Now if you're not a fashion superstar, or even if you are, you may have some questions about what this trend is exactly. What is an espadrille? An espadrille is a type of shoe that has a woven rope design along the bottom part of the shoe right above the sole. This type of shoe comes in many different styles including wedges, flats, boat shoes, and loafers. Got it! So, what is a wedge then? A wedge is a type of shoe in which the heel is raised by a material that starts out thick towards the back and thins out as it gets closer to the toe. The "wedge" is commonly made out of a cork or wood material. Combine the wedge silhouette with the espadrille material and you get an... Espadrille wedge!

In the above set, I featured a tan and gold-tone Banana Republic espadrille wedge sandal. I love wedges because they offer you height as a heel would, but the thickness of the heel gives you more support. This makes for a more comfortable and functional shoe! The woven rope look of the espadrille is perfect for any warm weather look. I paired these wedges with a pale yellow and taupe chiffon and satin colorblock top, a bold print Giambattista Valli pencil skirt, and a mocha leather zipped peplum jacket. I really like this look because it's bold and different, yet still so chic. I accessorized with a black Sole Society crossbody bag and jewelry from Banana Republic- crystal chandelier earrings and caged leather bangle.

Do you like espadrille wedges? What's your favorite way to style them?

Trend Watch: Tropical Print

#Trending for this season is tropical print! But that doesn't mean you should break out that old button-down Hawaiian luau top... these new tropical prints are a little more sophisticated but definitely not any less fun. Bright florals, palm leaves, pineapples, flamingos, toucans- and the list goes on! Embracing this trend is a must for welcoming summer!

In the above set, I featured a dark green Michael Kors tropical palm print v-neck dress. When I hear tropical print my mind tends to go to the descriptive word obnoxious, however, this dress is just the opposite. It's both classy and sophisticated. I paired the dress with a cream Alexander McQueen lace collarless blazer. I like this together because the blazer has a natural, eco-friendly look to it which subtly goes with the nature-theme.

I accessorized with a glitter pineapple straw tote and neon yellow Kate Spade pointed-toe heels. These accessories are perfect because they go with the theme, but it's not too obvious or cheesy. I especially love the neon heels because it adds the brightness that you would expect out of a tropical look. For jewelry, I used a Tory Burch double wrap flower bracelet and BaubleBar warm jewel tone drop earrings.

Would you wear the new tropical prints? Which is your favorite tropical pattern?

Trend Watch: Statement Jackets

Statement Blazers & Bow Blouses by theclosetbychristie featuring a cross body shoulder bag

Statement jackets are on my #trend radar for this season! They are bold, eye-catching, and the perfect thing to jazz up any outfit. Throw it over a basic tee for an easy look or be fearless and pair it with a bright blouse; the options are endless! My favorite part about this trend is that it comes in so many different styles to fit in perfectly with anyone's wardrobe. 

In the above set, I featured a multi-colored embellished statement jacket paired with a teal bow blouse and black pleated shorts. I love this look because it's bold, bright, and feminine. Because of the muted tones in the jacket, it works nicely with the bright teal blouse. I accessorized with a neon orange Tory Burch snakeskin bag and metallic silver J.Crew pointed-toe flats. For jewelry, I used orange Kate Spade studs and orange Kate Spade hinged bug bangle. I love how these bright accessories work with the look because it emphasizes and adds to the bold, fierce style.

Do you love the statement jacket trend? What's your favorite style?

Embellish That! Glammed Up Flats

Cropped Denim Ruffle Blazer by theclosetbychristie featuring a cropped jean jacket

Embellishments are the new 'it' trend! What girl doesn't love bedazzling everything and anything? It seems the eye is drawn to products with a little extra sparkle. These past few seasons, I've been seeing crystal clustered earrings, jeweled collars, embellished flats, studded jackets, and all that shines. This is a fantastic trend because it adds an extra special twist to any ordinary product. Take these grey suede flats for instance- they are your classic flat that are a closet staple because of their versatility. Add some embellishments and they're a real eye-catcher! 

In the above set, I featured grey J.Crew suede embellished flats. I particularly love this pair because of the combination of different embellishments. Rhinestones, pearls, jewels, studs- these shoes have them all and it pulls together nicely. I also love the metallic gold heel, which ties in nicely with the gold pyramid studs. These are versatile because grey is a great, neutral color for shoes and the gold and silver accents make it easy to wear with many different color palettes. 

For the look, I paired a red and white striped Dolce & Gabbana midi skirt with an ivory Dorothy Perkins lace peter pan collared blouse and denim ruffled jacket. I really love this look because of the unique color palette. At a first glance, I would consider red, ivory, denim, and grey to be a casual color palette. It works as a dressed-up, professional look because of the classic silhouette. I accessorized with a red quilted Chanel chain-strap bag, gold knot earrings, and a salmon J.Crew wide bangle.

What is your favorite piece to embellish? How would you style it?

Accessorize with Kate Spade!

Accessorize with Kate Spade by theclosetbychristie featuring snake skin pumps

Kate Spade accessories are known for being bold and fun, yet feminine and chic. That's a difficult balance to maintain- and Kate never fails us! As a twenty-something navigating my way through the big corporate world, this is the perfect collision of styles for me. I want to achieve a sophisticated, professional look without compromising the fun I get out of fashion. I want classic silhouettes with bold, bright colors and daring prints. That is why I'm crazy about Kate Spade, particularly her accessories! She consistently delivers bright, bold looks that are chic for any age. 

In the above set, I featured Kate Spade accessories; a navy and white striped wide-brimmed sun hat, a cream handbag with bright yellow accents, and cream snakeskin pointed-toe kitten heels. I really love each and every one of these items! They are each very trendy but not too over the top. For instance, the kitten heels are snakeskin but since it's all one color- cream- it's not obvious. It just adds a nice textured look to it.

For the look, I paired a light denim TOPSHOP button-up blouse with a tribal bird print skirt and nude blazer with a glitter detailing. For the jewelry, I chose coral Charlotte Russe daisy earrings and Kohl's stone and crystal stretch bracelet.

Are you in love with Kate Spade accessories? What's your favorite piece?

Trends For Less: Horizontal Stripes & Graphic Tees

Trends For Less: Horizontal Stripes & Graphic Tees by theclosetbychristie featuring a mango t shirt

Happy Friday, everyone! Here we are with another edition of "Trends For Less!" This week I featured two trends; horizontal stripes and graphic tees. Black and white horizontal stripes are one of my favorite top trends of the moment. I think it's such a chic look and although it may seem limited in what it can be paired with, it's surprisingly versatile. Although I don't ordinarily wear graphic tees, I love the contrast of the style paired with an office look. It's unexpected but can work in many different ways.

In the above set, I featured a black and white Mango horizontal stripe blazer with a linen Mango graphic tee and khaki Mango double pleat skirt. I really love this look because of the contrasting styles. The elegance of the blazer pulls the entire look together and makes it work as an office look. This particular graphic tee is especially fabulous because it says "Last Night a Blogger Saved My Life!" I accessorized with a cream H&M crossbody bag and black Prabal Gurung for Target pointed-toe heels. For jewelry, I chose bow earrings from Etsy and a black and white horizontal stripe bangle.

Do you like graphic tees paired with a professional look? How would you style it?

Color Splash: Coral, Navy, Sand, & White

Color Splash: Coral, Navy, Sand, & White by theclosetbychristie featuring a pencil skirt

One of my favorite aspects of fashion is color. If you've been following my blog, you'll notice I often highlight the color palettes in my sets and sometimes feature colors of the season announced by Pantone. It's surprising how much of a difference color can make in fashion, art, interior design, and everyday life. Colors cause us to feel certain emotions; blue is calming and serene, yellow is cheerful, black is somber and dark. Choosing the color palette for an outfit is really important because it determines the mood of the outfit and can make a person look more or less attractive depending on how the colors work with the individuals skin tone. 

In the above set, I featured a color palette containing coral, navy, sand, and white. I love this color combination because it comes across as fresh and fun, yet sophisticated. The coral adds a playful, warm-weather vibe to the palette. For this look, I paired a navy J.Crew polka-dot ruffle blouse and navy and white striped J.Crew pencil skirt with a coral fitted blazer. I love this because by pairing the polka-dot blouse with the striped pencil skirt, I'm mixing prints. It's not even obvious since both items contain the same navy and white color combination. Mixing prints is often a bold look but in this case, since the patterns are small and the colors are the same, it has a classic elegance to it. I accessorized with a navy and sand Kate Spade chain-strap bag, navy J.Crew mini-wedge espadrilles, and gold earrings. 

What's your favorite color palettes? Do you enjoy incorporating color into your wardrobe?

How-To Style Guide: Midi Skirts

Stained-Glass Printed Skirt by theclosetbychristie featuring stilettos heels

In this bare-it-all culture of ours, we're so accustomed to exposing skin. Mini-skirts, crop tops, short-shorts; we all know how to style these looks, seemingly on instinct! With the recent emergence of the modest midi skirt, many young women seem stumped on how to style this trend without looking like a librarian. Here's a style guide on how to wear this conservative skirt while still staying true to your contemporary self!

In the above set, I featured a stained glass printed Dolce & Gabbana midi skirt. This skirt is amazing because it has several hot trends rolled into one item- pleats, long-length, bright print, and jacquard fabric. The midi skirt is ideal for the office, but also works for almost any Spring activity- a visit to the park, brunch outing, baby shower, frozen yogurt date, anywhere. It is most commonly paired with a tucked-in collared top or a loose fitting tucked-in top, which would be my initial instinct too. However, in my look, I paired my midi skirt with a navy belted draped top. This works because we're using the belt to accentuate the waist. A wrap top or ribbon belt would work just fine, too. It's important to accentuate the waist so you don't get lost in the fabric!

I accessorized with a beige Marni striped short-sleeved blazer, navy Dior handbag, and coral Steven by Steve Madden pointed-toe bow heels. When accessorizing a midi skirt, it's really essential to pair it with like-style items with classic silhouettes. The bow heels are perfect because they share the feminine motif of the midi skirt. The pointed-toe offers an extension of the leg, as a mid-length or long skirt can make you appear short or stumpy when not paired with the proper shoes.

What's your favorite way to style a midi skirt?

Trend Watch: Wooden Jewelry

Wooden Jewelry by theclosetbychristie featuring a long linen skirt

The latest trend I'm excited about is... wooden jewelry! I'm a strong supporter of unique and creative anything. I love when everyday objects or materials are used for a different purpose. I really love this aspect of fashion and I think the wooden jewelry trend does this for us. I tend to love nature-inspired fashion; it adds an authentic, eco-fabulous feel to any look. But wooden jewelry goes beyond this by using an unexpected material. When I say "jewelry," you may automatically think of words, such as: gold, metal, sparkle, glitz. I wouldn't expect wood to be on that list. That's what makes this product so unique and special; it's an everyday material that took an out-of-the-box thinker to create.

In the above set, I featured wooden jewelry; a gold-tone bangle and stud earrings. I'm starting to see this trend pop-up everywhere from Tory Burch to Guess to Nordstrom. But for this particular trend, I recommend searching Etsy. You can find a handmade, affordable, one-of-a-kind piece and support a small business (everyone wins!). It also brings some authenticity to your "natural" product. 

To complete this look, I paired a grey and white Marc Jacobs striped blouse and a navy J.Crew mini with a bright yellow Ralph Lauren blazer. This look has a fabulous, flattering silhouette. Always say yes to flattering! I love the details of the blouse on a classic piece and the bright color pop on a neutral palette is fun. I accessorized with a brown Versace tote and brown Cole Haan glitter strap sandals.

Do you plan to add the wooden jewelry trend to your closet?

Trends For Less: Accessory Splurge

Trends For Less: Accessory Splurge by theclosetbychristie featuring summer tops

#TGIF! Here we are with another edition of "Trends For Less!" Everyone, no matter what your social class, enjoys saving money when shopping. It's part of the game! When shopping less equals more, meaning if you have a certain amount to spend, you can get more stuff if you spend less per item. Basic logic! My purpose in writing these posts was to show you can look great when styling on a budget. However, that does not mean it's not okay to splurge every now and then! The word splurge sounds a little crazy and uncontrolled- but the key here is to smartly splurge. There are certain items that we need to value quality over quantity and that's accessories!

Accessories- such as a blazer, shoes, and bags- are perfect items to splurge on because they get worn often. You can wear these items countless times per week without it being noticeable Because these items get used more often, it's important to value quality. For example, when I was in college, I used to splurge on Coach bags. I loved them, took great care of them, and rotated them from week to week. I spent anywhere from $200 to $700 on any given bag, which sounds ridiculous. However, I still have these bags today, nearly five years later, and they look as good as the day I bought them. These are investments, so just make sure to get a classic style so you still want to use it years later.

In the above set, my splurge items are a blue J.Crew striped blazer, a navy J.Crew crossbody bag, and denim J.Crew sandals. J.Crew is an excellent store to splurge in because the pricing is not too over the top and most of their silhouettes are timeless. I paired these products with a blue Madewell tropical printed tee and beige Mango pencil skirt. For jewelry, I used a blue Banana Republic tile stretch bracelet.

What's your favorite item to splurge on? Where do you buy your splurge-items?

Trend Watch: Giraffe

Trend Watch: Giraffe by theclosetbychristie featuring flat heels

A new trend-to-watch is Giraffe! I have been noticing all sorts of different giraffe-themed fashion in all departments and styles; children's-wear, women's-wear, shorts, graphic tees, bags, shoes, jewelry. I love this emerging trend because it's different from what we're used to- we've exhausted the leopard print! It just opens up a whole new bag of options. 

In the above set, I featured a pair of khaki TOPSHOP giraffe printed shorts. I love this because not only is giraffe print #trending, but actual giraffe images are too! It certainly makes for a unique look and it has a slight exotic vibe to it. I also like the fact that they are khaki safari-style shorts. Since Africa is home to the Giraffes, it adds some authenticity to the look. I paired these shorts with a white Armani Jeans ruffle blouse and a tan Christian Dior short-sleeved belted blazer. 

I accessorized with all giraffe print products- a Stuart Weitzman handbag, pointed-toe bow flats, and gold-toned bangle bracelet. I also used a blue rock-crystal multi-chain necklace, which helps add to the "African" inspiration behind this look. 

Do you like giraffe prints? How would you style it?