V-Style

Is The Peplum Too Trendy Now?

top: Bar 111, pants: 7 For All Mankind, shoes: Tahari, clutch: J.Crew, earrings & embellished bangle: Alexis Bittar, gold bands: gifted from Mimi & Lu, ball rings: JewelMint, watch: StyleCo

A peplum dress or top has paraded itself all around stores, television shows and celebrities. When a trend gets this much exposure, it usually means it's time to move on. Photographer Robin Dayley admitted to me when the peplum first showed up, she was itching to try it. Mere moments later, she was sick of it... until she saw me in this photo shoot's peplum top. "That's adorable!" I believe is what she said. 

The problem with trendy trends is not necessarily the piece itself. Anything can be done beautifully with a fresh eye. The issue with trendy pieces is the way it trails down the line of availability. It begins as a surprise. It is interesting simply because you have not seen it or not seen it in awhile. The first round of a trend tends to be so-so, but because they are first, they are amazing. The second and third round of a trend corrects and invents upon the first flush. It is around this time you get the pick of the litter of fabrics, patterns and unique tweaks. Then the stores get oversaturated and generic and cheap versions of the trend storm the retail castle, confusing the original point and roping in amateur fashion lovers.  

Is the peplum too trendy to purchase at this point? Not if it is unique, cut to flatter and paired well. If you are loving it, dive in. Scour the last round of peplum pieces, but only if you have the eye or a personal stylist with the eye for originality, quality and silhouette. If you are feeling unsure, then, yes. Time to slip the peplum.  

Are you done with the peplum?

Photo Credit: Robin Dayley/Dayley Photography

How To Wear Printed Pants

top: Forever 21, pants: J.Crew, jewel ring: Macy's, gold bands: gifted from Mimi & Lu, bracelet: Vince Camuto, heels; J.Crew, clutch: Kate Spade

Photo Credit: Robin Dayley/Dayley Photograph

So, you bought the printed pants, now what? You like the fit, you like the print, and now you are standing in your closet looking at your tops, looking at your shoes and wandering what on earth is going to go with these [insert pattern type and color] pants.

Let's start with tops. Wear a solid colored top. The color should be complimentary to all the colors in the print. For instance, a tan, brown, and yellow patterned pant will go nicely with a green top, because green will go with all three of those colors. Another example is pictured above. My crazy floral print pants is full of yellow, white, green, baby blue, orange, and red. The indigo shade top I chose compliments every single one of those colors.

The other option is choosing a top in the least used color in the pant. In my case, a white top would be lovely because there is very little white in the pant. I could have also worn a baby blue shirt.

When talking shoes, I find a metallic, or nude works wonders. I chose a gold heel to bring out the warm tones of my printed pant. Again, you want to keep things simple. As you can see I went a bit daring with the sparkly cap toe pumps, but the entire shoe is still gold, therefore, it does not disrupt the pants' print party. If the pant had black tones, a black flat would work. Think basic colors and simple color pairings for your shoes. A colored shoe can definitely work, but can be tricky. The louder the pant, the better it is to have a neutral shoe. In my case, these pants are loud. Had I used a white shirt, I could use dark green shoes, but since I chose the bold indigo hue, a neutral shoe is a must, in order to avoid an over the rainbow look. 

Statement Necklace & Bold Colored Clutch

studs: Bloomingdale's, necklace: The Fabulous Rag Boutique, top: J.Crew, skirt: J.Crew, bangles: Forever21.com, white & gold ring: Kohls, gold bands: Noon Boutique, watch: Kenneth Cole, pave rings: Jewel Mint, heels: J.Crew

V-Style photo shoots often do not have content attached to the ideas during their planning. On these occasions, the amazing Robin Dayley and I work for our moods. Sometimes my outfit du jour dictates this type of shoot, other times, Robin's discovery of a new wall or concept pushes me to find the right outfit. 

For the most recent free style collaboration, I became overwhelmed as I looked at the finished photos. During the shoot I was so busy sitting on a filthy couch, I did not realize the extent of advice one could take from our over-styled-pencil-skirt-in-the-alley photo shoot. I immediately saw seven blogs in the images. I decided to merge them into one post and break it down into a flurry of fashion advice. Here are a few ideas you can take away from this outfit. Can you think of more?

1) Bold Colored Clutch

This golden tan suede clutch is of vintage descent, but you can create the same look at home with any bold colored clutch. By making a statement in your clutch you are free to wear simpler outfits and more neutral colors without feeling boring. 

2) Statement Necklace

I adore a statement necklace with a white button front top. When creating any statement necklace look, place an unusual yet, complimentary stud in your ears. The gold pyramid studs play up the light gold detailing of the ethnic inspired necklace. 

3) Multiple Rings

My favorite fashion trend of the 90's was the hand styling. I adored the piling of rings done by Phoebe on Friends and Drew Barrymore in everything. These days I prefer gold bands to butterflies and strong jewels to flowers, but the sentiment remains the same, let's wear it all!

4) How To Wear A White Button Front

Choose a cotton based white long sleeve button front top and then always roll the sleeves. You can tuck it into skirts as shown, pair it with jeans and heels, or sport it with shorts. 

5) Funky Pencil Skirt

The pencil skirt does not just come in office appropriate black. Try a printed pencil skirt instead. This way you can flaunt it at a party or dinner out; then spice up your work attire by wearing it 9-5.

6) Gold Heels

I'm a broken record I know, but gold heels are fabulous. Basically, gold heels can go with most outfits as long as you are wearing gold jewelry. 

7) J Crew

Although bought in different seasons, the top, the skirt and the heels were all purchased from J Crew. Some people still see J Crew as a conservative retailer, but I beg to differ. Yes, I am always taking clients to J Crew for their basic shorts, stretchy pants and belts, but I am also there for the stand out coat, skirt, print, and necklace. It's always a good idea to check in with J Crew, even after you've acquired their chic basics.

Photos By Robin Dayley

Is it Better To Be Over Dressed or Under Dressed?

Life is an occasion. Dress for it. This means, look your best. Don't save your nicer garments for parties you never go to and people you'll never see. Whether you are heading to the grocery store, having casual drinks with friends, or eating dinner at home with the family, step it up and dress as if you are meeting a stylish friend you have not seen in a long time. I am not saying dress as if you are about to run into your favorite ex-boyfriend in a club. Instead, respect yourself and the company you keep by looking nice. With that said, there is a time to be over dressed and a time to be under dressed. 

Times To Be Under Dressed

1) Walking the Dog

As pictured, it is quite impractical. My canine friend Jesse definitely wanted to go faster than my heels allowed and silk is not conducive to animal paws. Best to stick with jeans, shorts, summer dresses and other easy to wash clothing. This goes for most dirty and physical activities, although I can vouch that going to the batting cages in heels can be done.

2) Day Date with a New Fella

Whether he is kind of new or brand new, look great, but dress casual. Leave the heels and dress at home if you are not a dress kind of gal. Overdressing will only escalate the uncomfortable for both of you. He will either jugde you for the high effort or make him feel guilty for being too casual.

3) Outings With a Male Co-Worker or Friend's Husband

No need to send mixed signals to men you don't need attention from. Unless you are always fabulous, hold back on the over effort when specifically hanging out with these sorts of fellas.

Times To Be Over Dressed

1) Dinner Out

Use this as an excuse to dress up. It doesn't matter where you are going, enjoy the evening out in your favorite dress or heels.

2) Having People Over

This is your house. It is absolutely the most perfect opportunity to take your look wherever you want. If you feel self conscious about being the only one well-dressed, prepare your guests for your attire and request they join in on the theme.

3) Job Interview

Unless explicitly instructed, or you are sure the tone of the company or industry would find it inappropriate, go for the suit instead of business casual. The sophistication of your outfit will show respect and the seriousness of your desire for the position

4) Drinks Out

I repeat, use this as an excuse to dress up. It doesn't matter where you are going, enjoy the evening out in your favorite dress or heels.

5) Lunch with your best friend

She loves you! Make a plan to get dressy and grab those sandwiches or sushi.

6) Holidays

There is no need to stay in your pajamas for Christmas. Show your festivity by throwing on a great dress.

7) Cocktail Parties

If the party on Saturday has the word cocktail in front of it, grab your most fabulous dress and display your good taste. Just hold back on the floor length gown. Save that for the formal wedding, Oscar party or when you have people over. 

8) Party or Event

If the occasion came with an invitation, time to bring out a stunning outfit. Why not? I dare you.

As you can tell there are far more occasions and reasons to dress up then to dress down. The only time you want to dress down is when showing too much effort could damage a relationship or your clothing. 

Photos by The Marvelous Robin Dayley

(No animals were harmed during the production of these photos, although that cannot be said of the dress)

How To Dress Stylish In Winter

Although Northern California prepped me for cold, spending New Year's eve and the first week of January in New York and Boston was still painful, especially if you forget your gloves on an evening out. With temperatures hitting so low it nips at thinly covered knees, you are tempted to throw style out the window and embrace the lumber jack look. In fact, a Boston doctor took the time to tell a friend of mine just that, "There's no room for fashion sense with temperatures like these, you need to forget about style." Why the doctor felt the need to tell my already unfashionable friend this information, I don't know.

These tips on cute cold weather dressing may not actually fit into the parameters of your personal style, but it will set you apart from the unrecognizable bundles of black you see running around on the streets.

Utilitarian Coats

A clean cut, versatile, waterproof  coat with the specific intention to warm you is a great way to wear a revealing top or dress underneath. Although you may look a bit boring on the outside, once you get indoors and take it off, you get to be one of the few people wearing a sleeveless top without a ton of layers.

J. Crew

Color & Print

The quickest way to style in the winter is color. A purple coat is far more interesting than a black one. A red scarf better than a brown. Colorful pants versus a neutral wins and bold gloves are a must.

Invest

Invest your money on utterly fabulous cold weather clothing. Cheap winter clothes look cheap and the skimping simply involves more layers when the cheaper fabric doesn't actually keep you warm.

(Ice Skating) Tights

If you want to wear a dress or skirt you need tights to keep your legs warm. Colored or black tights are an obvious choice, but skin colored ice skating tights are an amazing tool. You get the bare leg look as well as warmth. Tights are also a great addition under light-weight pants that are too thin to keep you adequately warm.

Double Up

Wear two pairs of leggings, two pairs of tights, two long sleeve shirts and two pairs of socks. Put the most boring and tightest version on the bottom and the looser, more stylish garment on top.

Gloves

Thin gloves do not work. Get solid warm gloves that can function with your touch screen cell phone. I had forgotten my Etre Touchy gloves in New York, forcing me to take off my too thin of glove every time I had to use my phone. It got so cold I started using my mouth. I would slide my bottom lip to unlock the phone and then kiss my way to accomplishing something.

What To Buy At Anthropologie

dress: Anthropologie, shoes: Jeffrey Campbell, earrings: ??, sunglasses: Urban Outfitters, bracelet: Macy's, ring: Erica Anenberg, purse: Aldo

Consistently decorated with dazzling care, Anthropolgie stores draw you in with it's creative country chic. Mesmerized by the frills and expertly meshed ambiance, you touch the racks looking to fulfil the promise the front window made, but like a hot date with an aggressive tongue, many women go in with excitement and walk away disappointed. So many of my clients say the same thing, "I really like Anthropologie, but I can never find anything there."

For a couple years there, I agreed. The store was dropped from my shopping roster for it's over priced selection of ill fitting and unfabulous pieces, though it was not forgotten. Every few months I would check in. "Are we back? Not yet? Ok, see ya next month."  

About three months ago, I brought Anthropologie back into my client's wardrobes. I am loving the special somethings I have showed my clients this fall and winter. From the perfect blue shirt dress, and unique dresses to printed button fronts and cardigans, I rely on Anthropologie for eccentric basics I can't find anywhere else. This is the promise Anthropolgie's decor makes.

Still, it is a jumbled mess of beauty that can be difficult to maneuver. In order to accomplish a purchase, first step is to head straight to the sale racks. It's a great place to start as Anthropolgie generally keeps their sale racks organized nicely and placed further away from the high concentrations of distracting  decor. Once you've browsed the sales racks, move on to the rest of the store, but skip over the pajama area and kitchen area, unless you are looking for an an adorable apron. Anthropologie is my first stop for a stylish apron. You also want to skip the accessories, they are generally overpriced and similar pieces can be found elsewhere. With these sections eliminated, the store is suddenly smaller and more manageable. Dresses, sweaters, and blouses are their best offerings. Occasionally a skirt or jacket will be worthy, but best to focus on one category when you are overwhelmed and you won't regret passing over their t-shirt and bottoms (pants) sections.  

After showering a few clients with Anthro, I decided my closet also needed a reintroduction. I hopped online and snagged their honeycomb lace dress. To keep this frock from looking like a frumpy mustard doily, pair it with fashion forward heels in an upbeat earth tone like bronze, red or green. Avoid dark tones like chocolate brown. As you can see on the model on Anthropologie's website, the dark brown looks bleh. As for style tone, keep it in the Bohemian route versus elegant or dressy. Yellow lace can appear overdressed if paired with nice heels and a cardigan, better to dress it down with an edgier jacket and funky earrings. 

Photos By Robin Dayley

How To Wear A Fur Coat

top: BCBG, leggings: FOREVER 21, coat: Vintage, necklace: URBANROSE, boots: STEVE MADDEN, ring1: FOREVER 21, ring band: NOON BOUTIQUE

I am on board with those who choose to never wear a real fur coat, but my love for recycling has produced a loophole. I never purchase new fur to discourage the killing of animals for their hair, but when I see an old fur in a thrift store with no where to go, I hand the cashier my money and throw it on my back. I figure, buying furs of the past discourage waste. This is the rambling thoughts I tell myself in order to include fur in my wardrobe. 

With that said, it is actually a bit difficult to run around in vintage furs without appearing in costume. I often sport a beige coat with a gargantuan fur collar. If worn with a dark pencil skirt and conservative top, I am suddenly cast in the movie, Aviator. To avoid this, I keep the rest of my look simple and complimentary in color by pairing it with tan or terracotta colored leggings, dark boots and a tank. Instead of costumey, my outfit becomes an interesting version of modern bohemian. This boho tank top meets fur coat works perfectly in San Diego and other mild weather locations. I sport this look for casual parties on cold nights, cold afternoon lunches with friends, or crazy photo shoots with rust animals and Robin Dayley.

For dressier occasions, I pair this coat with short earth tones dresses and tights with booties, or exchange my flat boots for chocolate brown boots with a heel, nicer skinny pants and a dressier top. You will notice all these outfit ideas are lean looks. The fur is not only the showpiece, but bulky to boot. To avoid overpowering your fur, a long and lean silhouette underneath is essential. By pairing slim fitting clothing under your fur coat, you won't overpower the fabulous pouf of your outerwear.

Photos Taken by Robin Dayley

Cold Weather Calls For Cashmere

TOP: Aqua Cashmere, LEGGINGS: Hue, BOOTIES: Target, BAG: Eco Lab

Cashmere makes warmth a chic experience. Before heading to Northern California for Thanksgiving, I went to Bloomingdale's and stocked up on the luxurious wool for the impending cold. I always do cashmere shopping at Bloomingdale's for their reasonable prices and wide selection of styles and colors. Between the sales, I was able to snag four fabulous cashmere sweaters without destroying my credit card. For today's festivities, I went with my blushy cream colored cashmere, tan suede leggings and booties - the perfect outfit for looking family fabulous, but perhaps I shouldn't have chosen this light hue for such a spill prone day. Come to think of it, cashmere is a terrible fabric for Thanksgiving. It's expensive to replace and is best left to the dry cleaner. I recommend wearing your cashmere on days that involve less messy consumption. My comfortable cashmere look would work well on a cold weather date at the movies, a chill concert, or simply running errands. 

Perhaps I should change. I can hear the gravy itching to dance on my fine cowl neck. Eh, what's done is done. Wish me luck.

How to Wear A Peplum Top

TOP: Anthropologie, LEGGINGS: ShapeFX, SHOES: INC, EARRINGS: Miss Trendy, BRACELET: La Loupe Vintage, WATCH: Kenneth Cole, Ring 1: BCBG, Ring 2: Stella & Bow

The peplum is alive and well. Stores are serving it up and they will keep serving it. Due to its current and coming availability I want to remind you to wait. It is easy to get caught up in the hubub. You see a peplum that looks cool, but isn't the right color, but you feel like buying it anyways because its not like there is a peplum on every corner and you really want to try it out. Well, there will be plenty of peplums to choose from as the months come closer to Spring 2013. My advice is to hold out for the perfect one because unless you are wildly passionate about wearing peplums, a fashionable woman with a general interest in trying the peplum needs only one or two in her wardrobe.

Talking body type, the peplum looks best on those with an average to long torso because it will shorten your waist. You also need a defined waist line and a somewhat flat upper stomach. I know some of you are bumming out if this isn't your body type, but those with a flabby lower stomach are in luck. That peplum covers lower belly bloating beautifully. 

To keep the peplum from looking 80's or unflattering, it is best to choose a solid colored peplum. If that bores you, get a peplum top with a subtle print, or a textured one like mine pictured above. Once you have your peplum, the bottom portion of your outfit should be a lean garment like a mini skirt, thick leggings (pictured), skinny pants or slim slacks. Your bottom could have a print, but for the most chic look, whether it be contrasting with your top or matching, a solid color is best.

When adding a belt to your peplum look, a thin belt will look chic, whereas a thick belt may look dated and add weight. The peplum has taken away all your lower torso, to add a thick belt will take away your upper torso as well and you will be left with no rest stop between breasts and hips - not the best look.

Photos By Robin Dayley

Vanessa's Bike Style: J. Crew Capri Pants & Pullover Sweater

TOP: J.Crew, PANTS: J.Crew, SHOES: Me Too, EARRINGS: Bloomingdale's, SUNGLASSES: La Loupe Vintage 

Between the chilling weather and my obsession with my bike, the time for pants is here, although I am often surprised by a dress' ability to stay in place when bike riding. Still, it's cold now.

When putting together a stylish outfit for your nippy bike riding days, you want pants that meld to your body like skinny jeans, leggings, or the Minnie pant that I am pictured in, otherwise you risk getting the fabric caught on the bike chain, which is both dangerous to your life as well as your pants. If you decide to wear a wider leg pant, make sure you peg your pants to avoid mishaps.

As for shoes, I have tried riding my bike in heels and I am going to have to say, it's not nearly as cool as it sounds. You also want to stay away from shoes that fall off easily, like flip-flops. It can be distracting or dangerous. Cute shoes for your cycling habits are sneakers with short and tidy shoelaces, lean boots, wedges with straps, and flats with a back.

With your bottom half encapsulating stylish utility, your top is your free space. I topped off my safe flats and purple skinny capri's with a rust colored pullover sweater. I love the unusual combination of the two contradictory shades.

Photos by Robin Dayley