V-Style

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

How To Wear Pearls In A Modern Way

The fabulous Linda Rocco of Hot Rock Jewelry always tells me pearls are a woman's true best friend. Under her passionate talk of pearls, I often nod then move on to her more fabulous gems, but I have been thinking about her dedication to pearls recently. Pearls often look fuddy duddy, old, retro or conservative, but so many of my clients have pearls in their jewelry cases. I too have pearls in my collection. They sit there in a girly vintage way, confusing us, yet demanding to be used. "I am classic!" They scream at us. "I am your mother's!" They yell. "I am your Great Grandmother's!" They taunt. Then you put them on with with a dress and you feel like a 50's housewife, or your grandmother, which may or may not be one and the same. 

Try skip the dress. Pearls and a dress often say girly conservative. This most likely is not your personal style. Instead pair it with casual separates. Pictured below is a fabulous pearl necklace paired with a chambray shirt on my client, Katie Farris. Try your pearls with a bold colored blouse and jeans, or perhaps a dressy shorts look. Stay sophisticated, but have fun. Be casual and use soft fabrics and upbeat, even unusual prints.

If you adore pearls in general and want to add more to your collection, look for more complicated pearl pieces versus the standard strand. Look for mixed mediums like pearls and diamonds, pearls and leather, or pearls and fabric. A creative combination of the mediums will put pearls in a modern mood.

Katie Farris

This picture of my client was taken as part of the outfit creation portion of my services. This picture was published with my client's permission. No client photos are used on V-Style without the client's consent.

How To Wear All One Color

Monotone dressing is an art form. A simple, yet complicated gallery of garments that need to be embraced with confidence. When dressing in all one color, you will get attention. It is too interesting to ignore, too chic to dismiss, and too fabulous to skip. 

If you are going to dress in all one color, let's begin with a timeless one that flatters you. For instance, wearing all yellow when most of that particular hue doesn't flatter your skin tone, puts you onto the wrong path. Once you've chosen the right color, the key to creating a whole outfit from it is to combine the dark side of that color's spectrum with the lighter side. You want to create contrast. You also want to avoid the bright-bright tones when going for monotone. It is too trendy and can be oddly shocking when used in monotone looks. It turns you into the blob of (insert color of choice).

Pictured is a perfect example of a successful monotone look. The sea of greens is a delicious collection of hues for fair skinned blonds, and the mint paired with deep emerald have stunning differences. I also love how the darker green draws the line, literally, between the top and matching cardigan. You never really want two of the same shade smacked next to each other. And the difference of texture between the blouse and the Halogen pencil skirt, with the brown belt in between seals the perfection of this monotone creation. A complimentary belt that steps away from the color scheme is a great tool to break up the monotony of wearing all one color.

The last tip for wearing all one color, is mix it up with the jewelry. Keep the oneness with the clothing and sometimes the shoes, not your jewels. The woman pictured is wearing a gold bracelet. Had she been wearing a green bracelet, the outfit steps out of chic street wear and ushers it into costumey candy land zone. Too much of a good thing is too much. 

What is Cost Per Wear?

Cost per wear is dividing the cost of a garment by the number of times you wear it. For instance, if you paid $100 for a cheeky blazer and wore it five times, the cost is $20 each time you wear it. I like to think of it like admission to a theme park. How much fun am I going to have in that blazer? Let's say, that blazer is truly a conversation starter and I select it for a night out, it's like I paid $20 for the conversational ride.

Granted, the cost per wear is never quite accurate because you don't always know how much you will be wearing an item. For instance, let's say this wild blazer I purchased for $100 turns out to be uncomfortable. I end up wearing it once due to this discomfort. That means that ride in that blazer ends up being $100. Was the ride worth it? I've worn some weird blazers in my day that have gotten me out of awkward social snafus and snagged me a friend or two. Sometimes it is worth it. It's like paying $100 for a concert ticket.

When purchasing a garment, you must always keep in mind the value. Cost per wear is one way to see the value. Another way to put a value on the purchase is the Hour Value. Let's say you make $25/hour. Would you be willing to work four hours for that $100 jacket? If you love your job, absolutely. If four hours of your job is a trip through hell, well, maybe that blazer is not that fabulous and may I recommend a career change.

You can also think about what you miss out on when purchasing a garment. In economics, you refer to this as the opportunity cost. I for one, am not the biggest fan of concerts, especially big sold out ones. If someone asked me if I had to choose between a $100 concert experience and this imaginary, yet very cool, $100 blazer, I would choose that blazer. There are some music lovers who would disagree. 

The last thought to partake in when adding clothing to your wardrobe... what is the value of feeling confident, beautiful and stylish? What is the value of people seeing you as a fashionable person in quality clothing? How much are you willing to pay to feel comfortable both physically and emotionally in your clothes? Only you know the answer to that.

When purchasing clothing, choose a value method that works for you and make sure you're purchasing clothing you will actually wear and make you feel your best. 

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How To Dress Stylish In Winter

How To Cure Cold Weather Blues

Winter weather, particularly London's winter weather, can dampen your mood as well as the streets. As I watch the specks of slushy wetness of tonight's forecasted snow melt on impact along the cobblestones, I wish I had packed more clothing. More out of arrogance of skill rather than necessity, I packed the least amount of clothing possible to last me two weeks in London. Although initially fabulous, wearing the same various combinations over and over have worn heavy on my heart. Between the dreary weather and my now boring outfits, I need a refresh. I must leave my planned combinations aside, and dive into a slipshod look more in line with an urban party girl, then my usual personal style. The black and white tiger print top will now be paired with Marc Jacobs leopard print leggings. To ensure warmth, I will wear another pair of leggings underneath and top it all off with my brown puff jacket and my black boots. This top was not intended for these pants and I rarely combine black and brown, but excitement is needed. When cold weather knocks you down, you must fight back with unusual layers of color, print and texture. At Marni's fragrance launch this week. Alexa Chung embodied the battle against cold perfectly with her various separates and wild loafers. Tomorrow, I will follow her footsteps and seek out a ridiculous pair of warm shoes. The moist cobblestones will enjoy the change. As will I.

How Do I know When Something Is Trendy?

Trendy is a dirty word. Trendy is the same as dated, but identifying trendy pieces in the stores can be difficult. Quality aside, you want to buy clothing that will last for ages, but how do you know the style won’t date you months later if not immediately? When facing a suspiciously trendy item, go through each of these categories first to purchase with confidence and avoid buyer’s remorse.

Useless or Silly

A backpack has a use. It enables us to transport numerous or heavier items at the strongest point of our body while freeing our hands for gesturing, climbing or clapping. A backpack is not trendy, a mini backpack is. In 1995 mini backpacks were available for sale. It is trendy because it had no real use. If you had that few of belongings, a purse on your shoulder makes more sense than a tiny backpack. With the perks of a backpack (relieving our arms of a heavy load) eliminated, the cons of being easy to rob and having to reach around and take off your pack every time you want to answer your cell phone or pay for something becomes publicly and personally evident.

One is Unique, Three is a Crowd

When one person wears cowboy boots in a town far from horses or cows, people notice. As the only person in these boots, the onlookers applaud you for the innovation: “How interesting to take the boots away from the ranch.” When multiple people wear cowboy boots in a place far from horses or cows, it becomes trendy. By itself, the cowboy boots stand out in a unique way, but with more than one or two people in one room wearing something “unique” it sticks out in a negative and trendy way.

Does It Flatter Your Body? Does it Freshen Your Skin Tone?

Tighter, slim fit pants flatter the body, whether you are a size two or fourteen. When worn with complimentary garments, a slim fit pant will never go out of style because it looks good. You could even say this fits under #1’s category as this lean pant has a use. Its purpose is to make you look tall and slim. A boot cut pant also has a use when worn over boots. The wider open at the bottom of the pant makes room for that bulkier shoe. Unlike these two examples, a flared leg on a pant does not have a use. A flared leg pant is an exaggerated version of the boot cut that makes the wearer look shorter and wider. You can also trip over a flared leg, putting it under the “silly” category. This goes for neons as well. Beyond the One is Unique, Three is a Crowd category, neons don’t warm the skin and often glimmers unattractively on one’s complexion, making it a trendy color for most instead of a staple shade for years to come.

Cheap Is Out

Being inexpensive does not make something trendy, but by the time a silly or unusual garment makes it to the cheap stores like Charlotte Russe or JC Penney, it is most certainly has gone stale and trendy. Also, something that looks cheap tends to lack staying power.

Trendy items will fit at least two, if not all the above categories. These touchstones can also help you avoid wearing a non-trendy garment in a trendy way. For instance, a thin legging paired with a thin baggy t-shirt is trendy, whereas thick leggings paired with tall boots and a longer structured top is chic. A baggy t-shirt with leggings fits under two of the categories: it can look cheap, and is often unflattering, as its thinness will show every flaw while the flimsy silhouette enhances nothing.

Printed Bracelets - How To Start Wearing Prints

I often have clients that fear prints. Whether they are big and bold or artistic swipes, prints can be scary or simply unpreferred. Details and embellished can make up for the lack of panache prints brings to one's look, but nothing beats the perfect print. 

The best way to start with prints or keep prints to a minimum is in your accessories. A printed scarf or heel is a fantastic topper to a solid colored outfit and I recently discovered some new printed bracelets from Chamak by Priya Kakkar. These patterned bangles make a sigh inspiring difference to a simpler ensemble. 

There is also the option of a subtle print. Minimal contrast, tiny images or  light pops of color can sooth and entertain even the most anti-print client.

Calson

Topshop

Haute Hippie

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.

Leopard Print Tuxedo Flat & Smoking Slipper

You've spotted them in the department stores, boutiques or magazines... that masculine flat with many names: smoking flats, tuxedo flat, smoking slipper, slipper flats or, simply, that loafer. Although it resembles a hardened slipper more than anything, I like the word tuxedo, and I detest smoking, I will refer to them as the smoking flat.

As I have browsed the numerous versions of the smoking flat and tried some on a few clients, I found the leopard print version to be the most blog worthy. The leopard pattern on clothing is often trashy, trendy or dated, but on a shoe is divine. Always has been, always will be. 

When incorporating the leopard smoking flat into outfits, there are a lot of not-the-best options you should mind. As a heavy set flat, it can make your legs look disproportionate if paired with skirts, dresses, leggings or skin tight pants. You also want to avoid pairing the smoking flat with boot cut or wide leg pants. This combination will make you look short and wide.

The best look for a leopard print smoking flats are solid colored ankle length straight leg pants or denim. The print will wake up any solid colored bottom, while the ankle hem will keep your feet in proportion. Keep in mind, you want the ankle pant to be slim in fit, but not skin tight. This flat also looks great with a cuffed hem, so feel free to roll a pair of pants into an ankle length.

Nine West

Mercanti Fiorentini

Sam Edelman

By the way, I spied an elderly women in an all leopard print dress struggling a stroll with a high-tech walker. I tried looking away, numerous times, I tried to avert my eyes and focus on parking my car, but my eyes were magnets to the unusual mixture of bold fashion and creaky walking. I suppose any kind of flamboyant outfit looks out of place next to an ailment, but leopard print is especially odd. Trashy or no, this animal print has always been a symbol of sexy confidence, whereas a walker is a symbol of our elders' struggle with aging. I eventually waved to the woman. She did not wave back as her hands were busy with the walker's bars. She gave me a big smile instead.