Holiday Styling Tips: Winter Wonderland

The Holidays are here and if where you live is anything like where I live, then it’s SUPER cold and you have LOTS of that fluffy white stuff they call snow. This makes it the perfect time for Alicia, from over on the blog Word of Alicia, and I to share our winter styling tips. So get yourself a  hot cup (or warm if that’s what you prefer) of hot cocoa, put your feet up and settle yourself in for some great reading.

 

So here goes my tips!!! 🙂

 

1. Wintery Color Palette

The easiest way to create a winter look is by using a wintery color palette. Try colors like whites, greys and light blues. White represents the white snow of course, grey represents the grey stormy skies and blue represents the cold, cold winter air.

 

2. Throw on Some Faux Fur

What better way to stay warm this winter than with a lil fur around your collar. The “make me plush vest” by mark has the perfect amount fur around the collar to keep you warm and cool. It’s even lined with a soft, short fur lining to keep your whole body toasty warm.

 

3. Add a Pair of Booties

A pair of great booties are always the perfect way to finish off a look. Booties are definitely the thing to be seen in these days so you can’t go wrong with them. A grey pair would go great with the “make me plush vest,” but since black is what I have in my closet, that’s what I went with.

The whole look comes together nicely and the colors work really well together. It’s just an overall great way to create your perfect wintery, holiday look.

Vest / Bracelet / Scarf – mark. | Booties – Poshmark | Sweater – Old Navy | Jeans – ROOLEE

 

Alicia’s Tip

This winter try the apres ski trend by layering cozy layers and keeping warm with tall boots.  Try the mark. Outside Chance Cape for a fun Aspen chic print with layered jewelry and a winter weekend ready bag!

Head on over to Alicia’s blog, Word of Alicia, to get her full tips on styling your Holiday Look for a Winter Wonderland. I’m LOVING how she styled the Outside Chance Cape with the striped turtleneck! Def gonna have to recreate this look myself!! 🙂 Shop both our looks here!

XOXOXO

1 Dress, Styled 5 Ways

You might think you need to fill your closet with several different dresses for several different occasions. That’s just not true! With just a few accessories, shoes and completer pieces in your closet, you can take 1 basic dress to any occasion that might come up. Today I’m going to show you how to do that!

The Basic Dress

The dress I’m styling is a basic mustard yellow dress. A basic, solid colored dress is best because it acts as a blank canvas to dress up or down depending on the occasion.

 

At The Office

For the office, you’ll want a structured look. The dress will easily take you to the office by adding a structured jacket, statement necklace and a pair of heels to make it office appropriate.

 

Lunch With Friends

What if your friends are wanting to meet you for a lunch date? EASY!!! By just switching things up with a basic denim jacket, chunking belt, small pendant necklace and a pair of boots, this dress can take you on a lunch date with your friends.

 

 Shopping The Town

On the weekend, the dress can take you on a casual shopping trip with your friends by layering a basic striped long sleeve tee underneath, along with a fun belt, long pendant necklace and a pair of Oxford’s.

 

Night On The Town

Then, that evening, the same dress can take you for a night on the town by adding an edgy black jacket, an edgy statement necklace and a pair of black booties.

 

Church/Sunday Brunch

Then to finish off your weekend, the dress can take you to Sunday Brunch with your friends by adding a cardigan, skinny belt and fun pair of flats like these leopard smoker flats

 

 

And now of course you want to compare all the looks side by side!

Wardrobe Basics

There’s certain pieces that every girl should have in her closet. Some you should have multiples of in different colors and cuts and some only one. It all depends on what your lifestyle is. If you have at least one of each of them in your closet, you’ll be ready for any occasion that might arise. Even on short notice! Once you have the basics you can add pops of color to them with completer pieces, shoes and accessories.

First on the list…..

Tops

1. Chambray Shirt  (Light Weight Denim) – I prefer a button up chambray, but a more blousy one is fine too. Chambray is very versatile because it can be dressed up or dressed down.

2. White Button Up – This is a very classic piece. It can go with anything and can also be dressed up or be dressed down.

3. White T-Shirt  –  This doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just a basic white tee is fine. Once you have a basic white one, add colored tees to your closet for more fun. You could even consider adding a graphic tee to your wardrobe. I like to pair a graphic tee with a blazer for fun semi-casual look. Just be sure to keep your graphic tee age appropriate.

4. Neutral Cardigan – Cardigans are completer pieces. Completer pieces allow you to create more outfits and expand your wardrobe. Once you have a basic neutral cardigan, add colored ones for more outfit options.

5. Structured Blazer – Blazers are also a completer piece. Start with a neutral colored one such as black. They are great because the structure of them gives an outfit a polished look. They can also be dressed up or down. Once you have a neutral one, add a colored one for a fun pop of color to an outfit.

Next on the list….

Bottoms

6. Little Black Dress – The Little Black Dress is a staple in EVERY closet. Though it might not be a piece that you wear on a regular basis, it is necessary to have. You never know when an event that requires a Little Black Dress might pop up. If you already have one in your closet, you have nothing to worry about.

7. Pencil Skirt – Pencil skirts are classic. Since they are a separate, many outfits can be created with them, both dressy and casual.

8. Good Fitting, Dark Wash Jean – Dark wash jeans are great because they can be dressed up with a pair of heels or dressed down with a pair of flats. The same with tops you pair with them. If your lifestyle requires you to wear more jeans than slacks, consider adding jeans in different washes and cuts. Also consider having a longer pair to wear with heels and a regular length pair to wear with flats.

9. Classic Trouser – If your lifestyle requires you to wear these on a regular basis, you might want to get them in several colors. Otherwise, just a single pair in a neutral color is fine.

And finally….

Shoes & Accessories

10. Black Pumps – Start with black and keep them basic, that way they will literally go with EVERYTHING! Once you have a black pair, you can add colored ones for pops of color.

11. Black Ballet Flats – Yes, make sure they are ballet flats and not a chunky flat. Ballet flats will minimize the size of your feet. Chunky flats will make your feet look heavy.

12. Statement Necklace – A statement necklace is a great way to add that little extra to your outfit. Keep your first one neutral so it will go with everything, then think about adding some with color.

13. Light Weight Scarf – A light weight scarf can be worn throughout the seasons. Again, keep your first one neutral so it will go with everything, then think about adding colored ones.

14. Belt – I prefer a skinny belt to start with. That way you can either wear it looped through your jeans/trousers or over a cardigan.

Stay tuned for an upcoming post on ideas how to create 20 outfits with just these 14 pieces….