Jul 26, 2010 | Beauty
Add a brooch to a folded wide scarf for a headband-look. (Fold scarf into about 3″ wide to replicate this.)
I know you guys are probably completely sick of my going on and on about my favorite magazine Vivi, but I thought this particular editorial on styling with hair accessories was really useful. With summer here I’m suffering from bad hair day after bad hair day (what with the hot, dry Oregon summer and me growing my hair out n all) – so hair accessories for me a MUST to induce a little bit of chic-ness into my outfit when everything on my head has fallen flat.
So here you go – I made these extra big so you can click on them and enlarge to see the how-to. Hope this is helpful and gives you some styling ideas!
Bohemian-style hair: using an elasticized headband and a flower headband.
Using scarves: 1) Regular Bow (uses 30″ square scarf) and Big Bow (uses 69″ long scarf) , 2) Petite Ponytail Scarf (uses 19″ square scarf), 3) Turban (uses 63″ long scarf)
from Vivi Magazine August issue
xoxox
Carly
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May 21, 2010 | Fashion, From You
From formspring.me:
Hey Carly, what is the appropriate dresscode for a teacher? Do you have some stylish ideas that won’t make me look boring? Thanks a million.
Hmm. I think the dress code for a teacher can vary depending on whether you teach at public or private school (and the dress code therein), what subject you teach (art teachers and guidance counselors can get away with a lot more!), what you’re doing in class on a given day (field trip to a farm?), and what age group your students are. However, my philosophy is that when in doubt, always overdress – you don’t want to be mistaken for one of your students, and you want to convey an air of authority and “togetherness.” (Right?) So here are some ideas for some stylish “teacher” wear (certainly translatable to any work wardrobe!):
Though this outfit is a bit 60’s-inspired and a bit pinup-ish, a high-waisted pencil skirt, plain pumps, and ruffled sleeveless top work well for the warmer months (though if you do a lot of arm-raising to write on a whiteboard or pull out projector screens, there is nothing more distracting than a lovely woman in a sleeveless top showing off her armpit to the class. [Eeek!] Probably wear a top with sleeves, or a jacket over the ensemble.)
My Picks:
It goes without saying that a sheath dress is also a great option if you need to look “done up” on a certain day. (Chaps Geometric Dress, $47.99, Kohls.com)
Or a pleated/full skirt (perhaps a print for Summer?) under a fitted cardigan, belted over the top, delicate necklace, and a pair of flats is feminine and appropriate for any teacher.
My Picks:
(And Love 21 tends to fit full-fledged women better than Forever 21-brand clothing, which is cut ridiculously small and for a tiny teenager.)
You honestly can’t go wrong with a blazer – and short-sleeved ones look really on-trend and chic. Victoria’s Secret, for instance, is really trying to push the deconstructed suit (with a short-sleeved blazer, sleeveless vest, or fold-over waist skirt) look right now – which might not look as “in” five years down the road, but appears very fashionable for 2010.
For summer: cropped pants, lightweight cardigans, white blouses (some lace/embroidery is ok), crisp dresses, flats, peep-toe shoes (depending on the school).
For winter: long pants (try a wide leg for a fluid, slim silhouette!), pretty brooches near your face or on a ribbon belt, knee-high boots, and A-line skirts with dark stockings.
Stuff to leave at home? Leggings (unless you’re expecting), statement jewelry (unless you’re an art teacher, bib chunky bauble necklaces are probably best left in the jewelry box), flip-flops, t-shirts, anything that shows lots of skin, anything tight all over, baggy or skinny denim, super-high (4″ +) heels, chandelier earrings, ripped anything, anything with a prominent logo or slogan, bright tights or stockings with a sheen, tons of jewelry, all black, combat boots, super-strappy heels, clogs, Crocs, bright-colored makeup, studded items (*sigh*).
Does anyone else have some other great ideas for this reader?
Thanks for your question – hope that helps a bit!
xoxox
Carly
top img from http://jnyintheclassroom.or
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Jan 22, 2010 | Fashion, From You
Dear Chic Steals,
I have a couple pairs of cigarette jeans I’m wondering about…the leg opening is 14″ just to give you an idea. What should the ideal inseam length be for wearing them with heels? Do I want the jeans to cover as much of the shoe as possible (i.e. as long as possible?)? Or should they just cover the heel of the shoe? Or should they not cover any of the shoe?
Thanks for your help in my never-ending quest to figure out what length to hem my pants to…
-Emily
Fabulous reader Emily emailed me with the above question. And what a great one!
First of all: What are cigarette jeans? Are they different from skinny jeans?
Well, somewhat. Technically the cigarette jean (also called the “straight leg jean” sometimes) is cut straight down from knee to hem to end at about a 14″ – 15″ leg opening; the skinny jean tapers to the ankle somewhat to end at a 12″ – 13″ leg opening. Just a single inch can make all the difference in the world!! (And I mean nothing lewd by that, promise.;-) I just mean how the hem sits above your heel – see the below for an example:
Skinny Jeans vs. Cigarette Jeans.
This is a pair of straight-cut jeans with a 17″ leg opening, just for comparison purposes.
(By the way, here’s the discount code: JAN15A, entered at checkout, to receive 15% off your entire order, through 1/27/2010. Or use A15AFF for 15% off until 2/4/2010. And use 2075A for $20 off your order of $75 or more until 2/4/2010. AND get Free Shipping on orders over $25 with FREE25A until 2/4/2010. Whew! That’s a lot of offers – though I’m not sure how many can be combined at once. If anyone tries them out at Alloy.com
, please let me know!)
Anyway, my personal view on where to hem the cigarette jean is that it depends what look you’re going for.
For instance, if you’d like to your jeans mostly in a casual ensemble, and you wear alot of flats – then the hem of the jeans probably needs to hit about 1″ or so above the bottom of your flat. More and the jeans will bag and look sloppy from the front; less and they’ll look like you’re wearing jeans that are just too darn short.
The right length for casual chic.
At this length you can also cuff the bottoms by rolling them up once, and wear with a heel and look city cool without any effort.
If you plan to wear your jeans mostly with heels – then put on the pair you will wear them most with and have them hemmed so the hem falls halfway up the height of the heel. (The hem will therefore be just a little too long to wear with flats – it will be dragging on the ground when you walk.)
Refined glamour.
And finally, if you want to go for a more trendy, youthful look, then a hem length that is your normal inseam + 2″ or so will create a bunched-up effect at the bottom of your jeans. (You can probably still cuff them though the cuff will be way larger than the previous example.) I personally like the bunched-up effect because I have wider thighs and I
feel more volume at the ankle balances me out. But then I can’t wear those jeans with flats because it just looks too sloppy!
How about the wrong length to hem your jeans to?
With a 14″ leg opening, these 7 For All Mankind Gwenevere Hook-an-Eye Jeans ($198, Saks.com
) are way too short in my opinion.
Some people like this “pedal pusher” look and you see it alot on runway models…but in real life I think it looks like your jeans just aren’t long enough. (Like you borrowed your little sister’s jeans or just experienced a growth spurt or something.) Unless you’re 12, no go! (Tho one commenter mentioned capris in a lighter-weight fabric for summer…and that I’d say yes! But I believe the capri-length pant/jean should actually be shorter than the pants we’re seeing to the left…by about 3″!)
Best of luck finding that perfect length that looks fab on you! (It’s a process:-)
If any other lovely reader out there has any styling/trend/fashion questions, feel free to send them my way! I’d love to help you out!
xoxoxo
Carly
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Dec 16, 2009 | Fashion
Runway photos: Roberto Cavalli, Antonio Berardi, Giles Fall 2009 Collections.
After seeing all those thigh-high boots on the Fall runways this season, I’m having a Pretty Woman revival moment and am lusting after a pair of thigh-high boots lately – gray suede, to be exact. I have wayyyyy too much black in my life, and gray I’ve found is almost as versatile. Plus black is so expected. But thigh-high boots can run you a pretty penny – especially with a platform and a high heel.
So what to do?
I bought GoJane’s Cuff Down Platform boot for $31.30 and folded the cuff up over my knee.
They’re technically not over-the-knee boots (and aren’t being marketed as such), but since the cuff isn’t tacked down to the shaft of the boot, folding it up is not a problem! I wanted them to be gray but I overlooked that the color said “taupe,” not exactly one of my favorite colors. But it’s growing on me. I guess being slightly brownish makes them even more versatile.
Since they’re no longer available, you could also try theFold-Over Suede Boot in Gray for $23.40. They don’t have a platform, though.
Or how about the Suede Slouchy Fold Over Cuff Boot in Dark Grey for $28.10? Sounds like a good deal to me!
Enter GJSHIP50 and get free shipping on orders of $50 or more at GoJane!
And now there’s Alloy’s convertible Marlane Boot available for $42.90, lined with faux fur! That boot is actually designed to be a thigh-high….but whichever way you go, I think over-the-knee platform boots for $30-$43 is a pretty darn good deal, no?
I’ll be announcing the winners of my Post #300 Giveaway shortly!
xoxox
Carly
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