If you’ve been shopping this fall, you may have noticed that the sweaters this season have taken on a different look. At first glance they may appear very large and bulky. The cable knit fabrics, bat-wing or dolman sleeves could overpower some figures. Over sized is in.
Photo Credits: Nordstrom Point of View Sweaters (above) Loft Sweaters (below)
Who can wear these styles? Many of you reading are going to answer that with two words: Tall and Thin. If you are drawn to the over sized look, it’s important to couple them with leggings, skinny or straight cut jeans and boots. It’s a cozy, comfortable look many are embracing. Do these sweaters show your shape? No, not as much. There are times I think it is OK to give up your waist line as long as you are balancing it with a slim look on the bottom.
If this isn’t your look, you will be happy to know that MANY styles of sweaters are out there. Crew neck, shorter sweaters, cardigans, shawl collar and v-necks are all popular. I’ve also noticed a mix in fabrics. There are many blends, but also some nice selections with cotton and wool.
Photo Credits: Loft
Photo Credits:Nordstrom Point of View
What do you think–do you like the oversized look or will you stick with more classic styles?
Sweaters of the Season
A Little Leopard Goes a Long Way
In Style’s Top 50 Fashion Tips tells us… “Own at least ONE thing that is leopard.”
Leopard is one of my favorite patterns. It goes with black and several shades of brown. I like it in small doses. I think it adds a little “punch” to an ordinary outfit. It’s a great addition to all the camel you will see this fall.
If you don’t feel like being draped in leopard dress quite yet–start small: Belts, scarves, bracelets or a small handbag. Then think about adding shoes, a sweater or top.
Leopard never seems to completely go out of style. I was visiting with my sister-in-law recently and I mentioned my next blog post. She is a leopard fan and listed several pieces she’s had for years. Leopard pieces can be tucked away and brought out and worn in a different way years later.
Leopard print is everywhere and you won’t have much trouble finding it. A little leopard goes a long way!
Here are some accessories from Accentuate Boutique. The belt adds some interest to this black tunic sweater with texture and color.
You can never go wrong with a leopard handbag from Hobo!
Lodis I-pad case and wallet clutch.
Next, a few fun things from White House Black Market:
What do you think? Do you have a leopard piece or two in your closet? Are you ready to add more?
What’s IN for Fall?
It’s time to start talking about Fall! Perhaps you’ve been ready for some time. Here in the NW, Summer came so late, that I have not wanted to think about another season. However, we’ve now gone from 90 degrees to 65 in a week’s time so I guess I better face the music. Fall is here!
So much for that post on late summer dresses I had ready.
The Nordstrom Anniversay Sale is the time when I really get a jump on the new seasonal trends. And of course I follow Fashion Week twice yearly in New York City. In fact, Fashion Week is just coming to a close right now showing Spring 2012 styles. Some day I dream about blogging from a NYC runway show. For now, I’ll make do living through other bloggers and focusing on showing you clothes that are realistic for your lifestyles!
What are we seeing for Fall 2011?
1. Capes especially in the color CAMEL
When you click on the links, be sure and check the view from the back. These belted styles still show your shape. I especially like the 3rd choice. This is a plus size model and this cape almost has a full sleeve. They refer to it as a “capelet”.
Remember to pair fuller capes with a straight cut jean/pant to balance out the volume on the top. OR if is a flare, make sure it is cut slimmer through the thigh and add a heel.
2. Flashback to the ’70′s. If you lived through this decade, typically you don’t want to return to it. However, depending on your own personal style, body type and your age, you may be ready to embrace some of the funky new styles. Personally I cannot. Bell bottoms did not look great then, and they do not look good to me now. Please do not confuse the flare style with a bell bottom and the straight cut with a skinny. Review this post with photos. The variance in flare will depend on brand.
Bell bottoms are in a league of their own. I just couldn’t resist the second photo! Elliot and Free People from Nordstrom.
3. The Mad Men Look. Banana Republic has gone “mad” with their collection, and personally I love this look. I do not watch the TV show; evidently I need to start.
4. Blouses have been outnumbered by tops in years past. I think you will see that change. I actually tried on a blouse last week similar to that first photo that I liked, and I have not been a blouse person in several years because they do not fit me well. The choices below are from CABI. You’ll also see the ”dropped bow” style in the Mad Men collection.
5. Fur. We saw a bit of faux fur last year. It is back and bigger than ever! I LOVE LOFT.
6. The Midi Skirt. Many of you will be happy to hear that the skirt length is coming down. Just the word “midi” brings me back –to the days of Midis and Maxis and I had both!
Really any length is in which you’ll see from the Talbot’s selections.
7. Bright Colored Denim. Preppy with a twist!
8. Boots, Boots and more Boots. This fall I noticed way more selections in the riding boot category. I believe this is because so many more women are tucking in their jeans. We want a lower heel for when we are “on the go”. For the money, this riding boot by Enzo is the best genuine leather boot I’ve seen at $149.95
Of course I still have my eye on a couple of pairs from Frye: The Melissa Button in an awesome shade of gray and the Frye Shirley. Since I’m dreaming, why not a pair of Burberry? Nordstrom has some great choices, but there are dozens more sites to choose from!
I won’t be jumping on every trend. How about you? Is there a style you’d like to try. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Fall Trends. There will be a lot more coming in weeks ahead.
Get Your Vintage On
I’ve always been drawn to all things vintage. My house is decorated traditionally and sprinkled with antiques. My mom liked old things. I inherited a few things from her, my grandmas and my aunt. I imagine that greatly influenced my taste.
When it comes to jewelry, my taste varies. I’ve gone from small delicate necklaces, to layering and making bold statements with my jewelry. There is something about vintage jewelry that intrigues me. I’ve done a lot of antiquing over the years. The jewelry catches my eye. It sparks my curiosity and I think about the history behind each piece. It is interesting and original. If I had lots of extra time on the weekends, I would be at Estate Sales.
My mother wore very little jewelry, but I was always fascinated with her small jewelry box as a young child. I loved playing with those clip on earrings. My sister inherited a few of those pieces, and recently we had fun discussing our memories after she sent photos. She claims the bracelet is too heavy. I told her I’d be happy to take it off her hands! I would wear it with the lighter plum, purple or dark red, and add a brass earring to match the metal.
I’m not sure if I’m ready to break out clip on earrings, but you never know! I’ll bet many of you reading can relate to seeing similar styles.
I have found a number of vintage inspired pieces over the years. When I re-did the design of my wedding ring several years ago, I again went with vintage inspired. Although it’s an original design (thank you Erik Runyan Jewelers) created from about ten different pictures, I have to laugh because this style now has become very popular. Many women comment that it is so similar to their brand new engagement ring–I thought I was being somewhat unique!
This past spring a trip to the Oregon Coast encouraged me to once again “get my vintage on”. Divine Decadence in Florence, Oregon features a great combination of vintage and contemporary jewelry. In fact, this post has been in the works since my April visit. I was there 8 years ago and bought pieces I still wear. I was happy to see they were still in business. I could spend hours in this store.
In addition, I credit the Stella & Dot catalog which gave me even more ideas. This company is truly the epitome of “Vintage Inspired” when you read the stories behind their designs. This brooch got the creative juices flowing and I started playing with my strands of pearls to create my own ideas seen in my Pearls Etc video. I attached the brooch to a chain to give it a different look. I even paired two S & D rings with my Grandma’s wedding band–now 100 years old which I wear frequently. It didn’t take long, and I saw the beauty of combining the old with the new.
I typically do not buy matching sets. When I purchased this S & D necklace in November, I waited for earrings.
Good decision. Months later I found this pair of earrings and bracelet at Divine Decadence that worked perfectly with the necklace as well as other things in my jewelry collection.
The store owner threw in this set when she heard I was doing a blog post. I’m eager to work with this one!
Anything VINTAGE is presently a popular fashion trend. If you love the look of vintage jewelry there are many sources. I’ve already mentioned estate sales and antique stores. Goodwill, flea markets, and stores devoted to vintage clothing are all great places to find inexpensive treasures. Once you start looking, you will see vintage inspired pieces everywhere.
Downtown Camas has a new antique store called A Twist in Time and I’m happy to highlight their business! I found this piece for $32. A brand NEW vintage inspired piece would probably be 3 or 4 times that price. I can’t wait to show some great ways to wear this later this fall.
As much as I enjoy the search, it takes time. Thank goodness for eBay which allows me to look at dozens of vintage pieces in the comfort of my own home. I’m drawn to pieces from the ’40s and ’50s. I gave myself a budget (eBay can be addicting) and found these 3 pieces for under $50 including shipping! I was on the hunt for lockets with heavy chains which also double with a brooch as seen above. One of the lockets came with the photos that looked to be from the ’40′s era.
So how do you incorporate vintage jewelry with your outfits? At first you may be a little hesitant because it may not be your taste at all. Many women feel it reminds them TOO much of something their grandma wore, and they don’t want to re-create that look. My best advice is to start small with a couple of pieces and mix them with the jewelry you already own. Brooches are really in this fall, but if you can’t quite go there, then wear it as a necklace. I think you’ll find that with a little bit of effort, it’s pretty easy to mix old and new. Below are vintage earrings with a clearance necklace from Target!
Are you drawn to vintage or are you purely contemporary? Have you inherited something from a relative and it sits in your jewelry box unworn? I would love to help you and give you some ideas. If you have something, send me a photo and I can share ideas in a future post. Stick with me and I will be showing some of these vintage pieces with my clothes this fall.
What I Wore for a Week
If you are new here, I encourage you to SUBSCRIBE to receive my posts on a regular basis. Just in case you missed last Friday’s post, I have this super amazing Jewelry Giveaway going on from InPink.com! You still have time to enter–the deadline is Wednesday, August 31 at 9 pm PST.
Bloggers all across the country often do posts entitled “What I Wore Wednesday”. If you are a regular reader, you know I dislike being photographed. This is not a good trait for a fashion blogger. I’m working on it.
I decided to partner with photographer, Marcie Dole of Keepsake Portraits so I could promote her business at the same time. I get asked all the time how I decide what goes together. This week you will see 5 days of back to back Style by Karen outfits. WARNING: You may get entirely sick of seeing my face for five consecutive posts!
Before I unveil Outfit #1, let me just say that pictures are one way to deflate your ego in a hurry. Many times women ask for my help AFTER seeing themselves in a family snapshot. Some of our most unflattering photos are taken by unprofessional family “photographers” who mean well. I say “our” because I cringe at most of the photos of myself in my albums. They are called snapshots for a reason. Certain angles and wrong lighting can be brutal! Marcie and I talked about this when I had my photo session and she completely agreed. I explained what always seemed to go wrong in my photos. She offered many tips that were helpful.
If it has been some time before you had a professional photo taken, please do NOT put that off. And just to make yourself feel good, ask the photographer to take a few photos of just YOU. Stay tuned for a PHOTO SESSION GIVEAWAY coming soon.
I purposely focused on outfits with colors that can be transitioned into fall as we approach September.
Here is a great example of a casual outfit that can go from spring to summer and even into fall. Talk about CPW! I wore it in the spring with jeans. The top is a sleeveless tank great for hot days. The jacket works for spring and fall. I cannot say enough about the versatility of this jacket. I looked long and hard for this color. It’s not gray, it’s not green. I’d call it pewter and it coordinates with everything. It would be really dull with the wrong color underneath–must be brightened up. It is structured enough to define my shape, yet full of stretch and is so comfortable. (Sorry, we had a photo of all the great seams in the back but it must not have turned out.)
I don’t do well with stripes–a major trend this season, but this stripe is pretty narrow, and I like it with the jacket. The best part, it was only $28 regular price! I can’t guarantee all things are available for purchase, but I added links when appropriate.
Jacket, tank, shorts: Nordstrom
Wedge Sandals: Clarks from Zappos (pewter metallic. I wear them constantly!)
Cross-body bag by Hobo: Accentuate Boutique (The floral print and stripe is an example of mixing prints)
These pieces from Stella & Dot have become my “go to” pieces this summer. Revival Tassle, Revival Bracelet, Wrap Leather Bracelet, Vintage Twist in Gold The smaller necklace has been discontinued, but they have very similar styles. I also wore small earrings that match the silver pave ball in the necklace/bracelet. I’ve had them for years. How did I choose? The cream part of the necklace picks up the stripe in the tank. The gold tone blend nicely with the warm orange and the black, silver and pewter tones of the jewelry blend with the jacket. This look perfectly depicts mixing gold and silver tones.
As the weather gets cooler, it’s time to add a scarf. I kept the small necklace and added larger earrings:
Scarf: Emu Australia from Accentuate
Earrings: Rockhill Designs shown at Accentuate.
While you may not want to duplicate this exact look, hopefully it will give you ideas to come up with something on your own.
Let me know what you think of “What I Wore” Day 1.
Best Fashion Tips: Denim
Continuing with my ongoing series inspired by In Style’s 50 Best Fashion Tips of All Time, I’m going to tackle TWO tips in one post.
1. When purchasing denim go down ONE size. I know it’s hard! They seem tight. You feel “poured” into those jeans. You wonder what people might say when you walk down the street.
TRUST ME and every other sales associate who tells you to size down. Today’s denim is made to stretch and conform to your body, yet not stretch too much ( REMEMBER: keep those jeans out of the dryer for an extended period)
We sell a lot of denim at the boutique. Time and time again women come back even the next day to get a smaller size.
When helping women find the correct size, I always recommend trying on the size smaller to compare. Then I suggest the “denim dance”.
Move around, sit down, squat and bend. Keep those jeans on more than two minutes!
2. You should own jeans in a variety of lengths hemmed to accommodate various heel heights. Remember that all important rule: Hem your pants 1/2 inch from the floor!
If you are setting out to buy a new pair of jeans this fall, you are luckier than ever. Every cut and style of denim seems to be in. You’ll see trouser jeans, flare, boot-cut, straight and skinny styles this fall.
Defining Denim:
-Trouser jeans are cut fuller through the leg and resemble a pair of pants with denim fabric.
-A flare style is generally fitted through the thigh with a wider flare than a boot cut. They look fabulous with heels.
- Don’t confuse straight cut with skinny as many women do. Straight cut jeans are nearly the same width from top to bottom. Skinny jeans will be very narrow from the knee to the ankle. There is a great deal of variance in the “leg opening” so be sure and check this. It will save you lots of time and cut down the number of items you bring into the dressing room.
-I believe that a Boot-Cut jean is the most universally flattering cut for most body types. Other stylists disagree and give the nod to the Straight Cut style. Try for yourself. Below are the best photos I could find showing the details of each cut.
Vince Trouser, Hudson Ferris Flare, True Religion Boot-cut, Citizen Ava Straight Cut, 7 for all Mankind Skinny all available at Nordstrom.
All of these brands fall in the category of PREMIUM high end denim. You’ll see these same brands at the Nordstrom Rack.
I have also become partial to a brand that we sell at the boutique and it is not as easy to find: WORN Women love the fit and they love the price point: $69-89. If you are local you can visit me at Accentuate Boutique.
If you are long distance, Zappos carries many styles of WORN Denim.
Happy Denim shopping this fall and remember to write me with any of your questions. I enjoy helping women find that perfect pair of jeans!
Pantyhose: A New Trend?
A few weeks ago I wrote about my admiration for Kate Middleton. Recently I was scrolling through some internet news when I came across this headline ”Has Kate started a new trend?” Of course I had to check it out.
Perhaps many of you caught the same thing. It seems that Kate’s recent tour to Canada and the US sparked a new interest in of all things, Pantyhose. Did you notice Kate’s lovely legs in all those dresses? All this talk about pantyhose after my recent posts on hose and self tanners.
I went to What Kate Wore and sure enough, there was a poll about Kate’s pantyhose! You will notice from the large number of women who participated in the poll and the number of comments in the previous post that this is something that we as women are quite opinionated about!
What do I think? Keep in mind that Kate’s hose are very sheer, and the color is right on. Most people probably didn’t even know she was wearing them. These are not the hose of years ago that were thick, dark brown and came from a drugstore. Kate also wore a closed toe shoe. When she did wear an open toe–no hose.
The last time I wore tan hose was in the year 1997. I remember distinctly because I had to attend a formal wedding, I didn’t have a tan, and self tanners were not that prevalent. I went to find sheer hose and was introduced to a pair of DKNY that were $15–a far cry from the days of L’eggs and No Nonsense! Honestly, they did the trick for that dress.
Now, years later, I prefer opaque tights or the patterned sheer tights I showed in the above post. I do like the way my feet slip into a pump with hose. My feet don’t swell and “stick” to the shoes. I’m not running out to buy a pair of Kate’s hose, but when it comes to fashion I’ve learned to “never say never”.
Now jump over to my Facebook page and give your opinion. Are you willing to give pantyhose another chance?
And if you’re not on Facebook, make a comment because I would love to know what Style by Karen readers think!
Finally, you can see another new trend at All Things Chic. Bow blouses are back!
CREDITS: What Kate Wore A big thanks to this blogger and her readers who helped inspire my post.
Top Picks from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale
It’s here! It started at 7 AM. No, I was not there. I have never gone at 7. It’s kind of like Black Friday. I don’t do that.
However, tonight I will be shopping at the Downtown Portland store. Can’t wait. I am going to share some of my top finds from my two trips to the pre-sale. I have tried on most of these picks. There will be more on my Facebook page. Next week–more choices from other departments.
I like to take it by department. Perhaps that is how my sequential brain works.
I like Point of View. I admire most everything in Individualist & Savvy but it is typically out of my price range unless I see it at The Rack or the Sale. I enjoy going to t.b.d for the wide array of denim and unique styles. I browse Narrative occasionally too.
I’ve covered most of the clothing departments so far and here is what I’ve found. First from Point of View. In this department you really won’t find many unique styles, but the price point allows you stock up on separates/basics you might need. The styles are classic/chic with a touch of romantic.
Striped Cardigan V-neck Cardigan
This brand tends to run a little small so keep that in mind. The striped cardigan is extremely flattering because of the peplum waist (and I don’t do stripes typically) I tried the petite size because I have short arms. It fit well and was not too short, nor did it hit my waist at the wrong place. The ‘Girlfriend” cardigan comes in a variety of colors. There is a fabulous shade of blue! Note they call this the girlfriend cardi which is taking the place of the “boyfriend” from last season and is a shorter version. Super cute.
Halogen Pencil Skirt Pencil Wrap
At 45.90/47.90, these are a great buy. Not your typical uncomfortable pencil skirt. You can move AND breathe!
Halogen Ruched Top Halogen Zip Front Pea Coat
You just can’t beat a dark wash bootcut. Jag is a favorite brand for many women because the rise is “just right” At 39.90, it is a STEAL! Next are the infamous Michael Kors pants that I have suggested to so many women (Nordstrom should be paying me!) They are now in THREE colors: 49.90
(Note: must be worn with pumps as shown in photos or flats. The wrong shoes can make/break it with these pants)
Ok, there is so much more! Brands to look for in Point of View: Caslon and Halogen are Nordstrom signature brands.
Look for T Tahari (a new favorite), Vince Camuto (not just for shoes), Pleione, Bobeau, Blue Essence jeans, Kut from the Kloth
Feeling overwhelmed when shopping the sale? Don’t have a Nordstrom close to you but want to order some things online? I can help! Contact me for details and rates!
I know it’s hard to think fall in July. Let me know what you found at the sale and for more on Fall Fashion head over to the Blog Hop at Musings of a Housewife.
Watching and Admiring Kate’s Style
Good news readers! I’ve extended your deadline for the Nordstrom consultation giveaway and I’m going to pick two winners! It’s summer and I know that some of you may be behind on reading. Plus, I’m nice like that. Make a comment on that post about the Anniversary Sale and you’ll be entered.
WINNERS will be chosen on Monday, July 11th at 9 PM PST.
Today I put aside my typical topics and advice and just show some fun photos of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge a.k.a Prince William and Kate Middleton. As you may know, they are on tour of Canada and headed for LA on the weekend. One of my friends sent me a link to a website devoted to showing all the things Kate wore and where each piece came from. I admit I was fascinated.
I loved Princess Diana and enjoyed looking at every photo of her. I believe Kate will be admired in the same way. So far she appears to be handling the attention well. I like how she is confident in her style and chooses her own clothes. She puts them together beautifully. I’ve even seen side/side photos showing the same coat or dress (from 2008/2009) THEN and NOW. Refreshing. Kate knows how to wear the same thing and make it look a little different. She’s a girl after my own heart.
So in case you haven’t had a chance to keep up, here are some highlights. I can’t wait to see what she has up her sleeve when she gets to LA
I’m partial to the purple. Love the jacket, jeans, the wedges. Super cute!
Beyond the fashion, you just can’t help but love seeing the two of them together embracing their roles. And then it makes me sad at the same time wishing Diana were still here to be a part of it all.
Photo Credits: What Kate Wore It’s a great detailed account of each day for all you Kate watchers!
Things I Love: White Denim
Perhaps I’m in the minority here, but I love white denim! I think I bought a pair of white jeans back in 2006 before I really saw anyone else wearing them. Now I have a pair of boot cut and straight cut in white. I love the way spring colors look with white.
Wait, what about wearing white in all the rain? I pick and choose when and where I wear white jeans. White denim is the perfect solution for our cooler, cloudy days in the Northwest. Needless to say, I’m still wearing them!
If you live in heat/humidity, I’m not sure white jeans will be top on your list. Perhaps you would hardly wear them before the heat sets in. It still might be worth one pair for your early spring days when you just want to wear something bright and colorful. I showed some white denim shorts for your sake.
I believe the key is choosing a heavier, thicker denim that is not as see through. (If you live in the south, you’ve probably cringing even reading this.) Proper undergarments under white jeans is important, but a topic for another post! If you go skinny or straight with a longer top you won’t have to worry about this.
Every year Cabi comes out with some great white denim. This year their Bree jean was my favorite. The Cabi season is over, but consultants are selling samples and their outlet store has lots of white denim.
I also heard heard great things about Gap jeans. The reviews say they are really more of a cream color and I saw that in the store. Actually, I believe that can work great with some outfits.
Levi’s has a very affordable brand, and they fit well I thought. (available in Macy’s stores but could not find them online) I also liked Kut from the Kloth at Nordstrom
Now some pictures to see how colors pop when wearing white jeans.
Last year’s photo from my son’s graduation. Imagine this jacket with black pants or dark denim–the white makes the outfit! Cabi 2009/2010
Ok I’ve resorted to taking photos in front of a mirror like other bloggers. I can’t tell you how silly I feel standing in front of the mirror holding a camera and taking photos of myself, but it works!
I’m “dripping” with Stella & Dot in these photos. I wouldn’t be so quick to put lime green and turquoise together if it were not for this pieces.
Cabi Happy Tank from Spring 2011, green cardigan: Nordstrom Rack, white denim Cabi 2009 Copa Necklace, Paige Bangle, Mira Bangles from Stella & Dot.
Cabi Bree Jeans, Coral top: Nordstrom, Cardigan: Emu Australia from Accenutate Boutique. La Coco Turquoise Beads, Sunset Bangle from Stella & Dot. Again, the jewelry helps tie these two colors together. Click on the links to get the close-up pictures of the jewelry. I LOVE all of these pieces and highly recommend!
The purpose of the photos was to show white denim; I just couldn’t resist showing all the fun jewelry as well. I realize it doesn’t show nicely in the photos. There’s only so much a girl can do when no family photographers are available. I have many ideas/photos coming for those of you that want to know how I choose jewelry for outfits.
So what do you think? Will you give white denim a chance?
