sequin skirt pairings

hey nancy,

i like the new sequin skirt you got.  i thought i would show you some fun ways to mix it up a little.

it's easy to wear it dressed up, but it's definitely cooler & more fun to dress it down with a hoodie.  it would look super cute with this hoodlum eco-fleece pullover hoodie from alternative apparel or this h&m sweater.  i definitely recommend completing this look with tights & flat boots.  plus, it's completely comfortable!  so, mom won't know you just felt lazy when you got dressed when she sees you =).

of course, you can always pair it with a chambray shirt (you know how much i love those already!).  the footwear can determine how dressed up or down it is--as you can see below.  you might also notice that it doesn't matter if you tuck in the shirt or not.  for a little punch, a slouchy blazer definitely adds a relaxed cool finish to the whole look.

you can also pair it with your basic tank top.  again, it's the footwear that determines how dressed up you are.

in the picture right above, the girl threw on a patterned sweater.  this ecote intarsia open cardigan at urban outfitters would do the job perfectly & comes in two colorways.

if you prefer, you can replace the patterned sweater with a field jacket like this h&m parka.  this is definitely a great option in colder weather.

you can also top the skirt off with a slouchy sweater.

i love this square-shaped jumper at zara, which comes in a variety of colors & at a price that can't be beat!

i think this twisted yarn sweater is also a versatile option from zara.  it costs more, but i think the versatility will pay for itself.

don't over-think the sequins--just treat it as a regular miniskirt.  just think of it as a bright color that you shouldn't overdo & you'll be fine.  i'm sure it looks great on your petite figure!

okay, talk to you later!

socks with shoes

hey nancy,

you were saying you wanted to wear little socks with your heels.  i thought i would show you some pictures of the look.

i would say to just make sure the socks are different colors from the shoes so you get credit for the socks & it doesn't just look like lumpy boots.  you can scrunch them down if the socks are too long.  also, make sure the socks don't stop at the widest part of your leg.  you got bonus points for wearing platforms.  somehow, the look suits platforms best.

as you can see from that last picture, you don't necessarily have to dress sweetly to pull off the look.  it looks just as good with a simple dress or a variety of skirt lengths.  you can even do it with pants, but make sure the pants are cropped enough or roll them up a couple times to show off your socks.


these pointelle 1937 socks from madewell look just like the one from that last picture.

i feel like these j.crew trouser slouch socks were made for this look.

i think these happy socks animal-print socks sold at madewell would be so fun.  i think i need a pair!

i know you were looking for thigh-highs & these by j.crew are perfect.  i have them black AND graphite.

most importantly, have fun with it & wear really fun socks!

talk to you later!

the blues

hey nancy,

do you have a chambray shirt yet?  they are so perfect right now & can be worn with anything.  i love them with leather shorts or skirts.  they really ground any bottom & make it look casual.  you can even wear denim on denim, which can seem scary, but look great as you see here.

urban outfitters has this lark & wolff by steven alan chambray shirt.  it's a cute relaxed boyfriend shape.  it can act as a light jacket, especially in the southern california weather over there.

levi's has the annie western shirt & you know i love my western shirts.  the great thing about the western shirts is that they are usually more fitted & can look both feminine & casual.  also, there is less bulk when tucking them into skirts.  & of course, they add a rock & roll edge.  best of all, if you feel lazy, just throw it on with a pair of jeans & you have an instant cool outfit.  the levi's store often has great sales so i suggest going to the store to take a look.

j.crew has the short-sleeve selvedge chambray shirt, which can be a little more preppy in feel.  i like it though.  it kind of also feels more masculine when you roll up the sleeves a little, which can be fun.  i think they would look great with white jeans or denim shorts like they have in the picture.

now, i know you like a little something more exciting now & then & i think this urban renew cold shoulder denim shirt from urban outfitters would look so great on you.

i know the prices of these shirts can be a little higher, but it's because of the fabric & all the wash treatments the factories have to do.  they really are worth it in terms of how often you will reach for them in your closet.  i wear mine once a week at least!  sometimes, i have to stop myself from wearing it because i know i should wear everything else in my closet.

alright, talk to you later!

(not) buttoned up

hey nancy,

right now, i've been working on getting a good collections of soft button down shirts for fall.  i feel like you like a good button down so i thought i would first show you how the fit should look like for fall.

it looks really cool to have it kind of loose & the front tucked into skinny jeans with a belt.  have the back hang loose & make sure it's loose enough so it looks really casual like it does below.  i know you don't like your shirts too tight so i thought this was a perfect look for you!

here it's a little more fitted, but still relaxed & half-tucked.  don't forget the belt, which tends to complete your outfit!

you can do it with a more structured shirt, too.  it looks more crisp with skinny jeans & heels.  

so, here are some options for you.  i love this madewell light silk safari shirt & it's on sale right now.  this color is perfect in that's it's kind of nude & kind of blushy.  it's really popular right now & looks great with black, white or denim.  if you type the promo code "WHYNOT", you get 25% off & free shipping if you purchase more than $100 as well.

you can also wear the shirts tied up in front, which is relaxed & super cute as well.  i love the fit of this zara animal print loose blouse.  the price isn't bad & it's an adorable teeny animal print (i think i need it myself!).  zara is great because you can pick it up at any store if you want to save on shipping.  it's the convenience of online without the shipping cost because i hate running from store to store looking for my size.

here is a more structured shirt option as well.  this zara striped shirt is great for that more polished look.  

make sure to roll up your sleeves so it looks really casual.  don't button it up all the way up either--it tends to look a little stuffy that way.  you can get it a little loose or really oversized--just not tight, which is what you hate anyway!  i think you will like this look & it'll look great on you.  

okay, talk to you later!  hope you are having a great weekend!  

birds of a feather

hey nancy,

i don't know how you feel about feathers, but i love them!

i love this knotted feather necklace from urban outfitters.  in the brown, it's really casual & cool, but in black, it's really sophisticated.  it would great with t-shirts & jeans or even over a cute oversized sweater & skinny jeans. 

i also thought these long drop earrings from urban outfitters were cute, too.  i thought they were beautiful in turquoise.  they look cute with your hair down because it looks like they are coming from your hair like feathe extensions.  of course, they will also look lovely with your hair up to show off your neck.  these also look good dressed up & dressed down.

there are so many options out there, but i thought these two were really good buys.  let me know what you think!

talk to you later!

modern love

hey nancy,

a good way to change up your outfit is accessories.  i think it's such an easy & overlooked way to add polish & finish to your look.  sometimes, a good necklace or bracelet is all you need to go from just wearing clothes to having a "look." 

i really like these luv low x erin wasson metal crystal stud earrings, which are on sale at shopbop.com. they are small so they are subtle, but add a little edge to your outfit.  these will definitely be cute with dresses or any casual outfits as well. 

i know you have a more modern, minimalist sensibility so i thought of you when i saw this snake chain lariat necklace from urban outfitters.  i think it would look really cool with anything black.  it would be cute even worn backwards (with the lariat hanging behind you) on a backless dress. 

this bracelet from h&m is really cute.  the price can't be beat either.  this would look really cute worn with any of the pieces mentioned above.

have fun with accessories.  the cool thing is that you can wear the same jewelry everyday & you can make any piece your "signature."  you can change the mood of any outfit by just changing your jewelry.  look at yourself with t-shirt & jeans with jewelry, without jewelry or with different jewelry.  you'll see what i mean. 

okay, talk to you later!

chanel nails on a budget

hey nancy,

you wanted some nail color suggestions so here they are.  i REALLY wanted to get the chanel peridot color, but since i'm on a budget, i used OPI at your quebec & call instead.  i got a lot of compliments on it so i thought i would share it with you.

you will be happy to know that the next new chanel limited edition release of colors are blue!  they are really cool & inspired by denim so they are called "les jeans de chanel."

but since we are both on a budget, i found some more affordable options for us.  the sephora by opi line has a glee collection & they have a nice blue called slushied that's pretty.

essie has a color called turquoise & caicos that i love right now.  even though it's a light color, i feel like because it's such an unexpected color, it doesn't look too sweet.

another one that i own is opi's ski teal we drop.  it's a beautiful teal color that i've also gotten compliments on.

there are many nail trends that i love, but i won't overwhelm you & just leave you with these.  if you are afraid of these unconventional colors, try them on your toes first.  i think you'll find the blues really fun & pretty though.

don't worry about matching your toes & fingers.  that's kind of an outdated notion.  i think unless you are going to a really serious function, it looks a little too formal.  don't worry about it matching your clothes.  i think it might look too matchy-matchy if you match your clothes.  but, of course, you can't help if your black polish matches your black clothes.  that's kind of a given that that's going to happen!  don't worry so much!  fashion should be fun! 

the polish seems cheaper on amazon.  i recommend buying a couple colors at a time (of course, from the same seller) because shipping can cost more than the polish!  i wish you lived close by so we can split the shipping or even share polish!  

alright, talk to you later!

cropped styles in the sale section on freepeople.com

hey nancy,

i wanted to show you how to wear the new cropped tops without feeling uncomfortable.  this vneck crop top is shown worn over a dress.  dresses are a good way to cover your belly, but show off that cropped length.  just make sure it is small at the waist so you don't look too full. 

this harmonica crop pullover is in a cute cropped length & is also in a open knit.  these meshy styles are on trend right now & make it perfect over a tank.  i love that they show it with a stripe tank here, but you can wear a solid or even a floral one.  it would be really cute with a bright color underneath, too. 

i love this cropped sweatshirt & look, it's blue!  see, i'm always looking out for you!  here, she paired it with high-waisted jeans or jean shorts.  i love high-waisted pants & they work perfectly with these cropped tops. 

i think you should definitely get the sweatshirt!  alright, talk to you later & have a good weekend!

to boot

hey nancy,

as i promised, let's look at some shoes.  you asked me about boots & right now, i'm into the low shaft boots.  i don't think your knee boots are bad, but if you are going to get anything new, low boots look more new & fresh. 

these minnetonka tramper flat booties are always great because they are affordable & super chic.  i love the fringe & they are cute with gathered twill skirts or skinny jeans.  best of all, they are so comfortable.  i wear them with the laces not laced through the top two holes so they flop open & look a little more casual.

i know you might say these are a little crazy, but i loved the wine color on these jeffrey campbell suede wedge booties & they are on sale!  i thought they would be cute with tights & skirts or tights & shorts or with jeans.  the wedge is definitely a comfortable way to get the height & i know how you like comfort.  the wine isn't too bright & i think it'll add a nice dash of color to any outfit, but won't clash with any color you want to put with it--even your beloved blue.  

these steven pembrook suede booties are cute.  i have a similar pair.  i wear them with skirts of all lengths & skinny jeans.  the heel isn't too high so it's comfortable on weekends & everyday.  i think they will look once they get a little worn-in & dirty. 

i'm not sure if you like combat boots, but i thought these sam edelman karia flat boots were so cute.  my friend wears them with long skirts & motorcycle jackets & it's SO cute on her.  i think it would be cute on you that way, too.  the best part is that they are comfortable all day long.

okay, one more.  these ecote leather chelsea boots are cute, too.  i heard they are on sale in urban outfitter stores for $50.

alright, talk to you later!