Boyfriend

I must confess that as a happily married woman, I have a boyfriend. Actually, I keep two boyfriends in regular rotation. I find that having two boyfriends keeps things new and interesting. One is casual and easy-going and the other appeals to my dressier side. AG Jeans and Paige Denim make the best boyfriends; boyfriend jeans that is. What were you thinking? I don’t have two boyfriends just two awesome pairs of boyfriend jeans.

I recently acquired the AG Cuffed Tomboy jean and instantly put it into full-time rotation in my closet. It sits loose on the hips without being low-rise and is cut slouchy through the thighs with a straight, cuffed leg that looks classic yet relaxed. They look great with tees and tanks on top and pair nicely with flip flops, flat sandals and Superga sneakers. Available at Anthropologie.

The Jimmy Jimmy Skinny from Paige Denim was my first pair of rolled boyfriend jeans and to this day remain one of my faves. They are made out of super-soft denim that is slouchy yet slim and can be dressed up or down. Available at Paige Denim.

Prints Charming – How To Wear Printed Pants

Printed pants and jeans are popping up everywhere and to be honest I don’t love this trend. When worn correctly it can look fresh and chic but if not done properly it can go very wrong.

First and foremost, avoid the wide-leg printed palazzo pant, it just looks wrong and will be here and gone in the blink of an eye. Second, stick with straight-leg or skinny printed jeans or sleek cropped pants. Let the pants be the focus of the outfit pairing it with basic solid tops, simple shoes and very little jewelry to avoid looking garish.

Printed pants can draw attention to problem areas like bigger thighs and bottoms but you can avoid this by pairing them with longer, looser, uneven hemmed tops as well as choosing a more muted print or darker color.

RevolveClothing.com and JCrew.com have a great selection of printed jeans and pants.

I know you can’t see it very well, but I like the way Jessica Alba paired a loose sweater and knee-high boots with her floral printed jeans.

This is a great way to get into the trend in a muted way.

Freshen Up

It’s March! Spring is on the way but this time of year can be hard to dress for due to Mother Nature’s changing moods, one day cold and windy the next warm and sunny. These spring essentials (many of which you probably already have) will help get you thru the roller coaster weather while still looking fresh and stylish.

Invest in a great denim jacket, if you don’t already have one. They add an extra layer of warmth without looking as wintry as your wool peacoat. Pair with a brightly colored button down shirt (roll up the sleeves of the jacket to reveal a little color) or wear over a gauzy floral top.

Add a long sleeve stripe tee to your rotation of tops. It looks brighter and more spring-like than your basic black tee but still seems fitting when paired with denim jacket or sweater on a chilly day. Both tops from JCrew.com.

Replace your dark, thick sweaters with an open weave cotton sweater worn over a striped tee or brightly colored top and paired with cropped pants or rolled boyfriend jeans. I love these sweaters by Joie and RD Style.

Add rolled boyfriend jeans and colored denim back into your regular rotation. They will lighten up heavier sweaters and jackets especially when paired with a cute pair of printed ballet flats.

Some great transition outfits from Boden: They perfectly balance spring trends with warmer items for chilly days.

Color Yourself Pretty

Kick the winter doldrums by adding a pops of color to your winter wardrobe. Bright, cheery colors contrast nicely with the grey, dreary landscape and can’t help but put a smile on your face.

Chase away the chill in a canary yellow pea coat. This sunshine color will brighten up your black and gray winter uniform as well as spread cheer to whoever passes your way. Available on sale at jcrew.com.

Why trudge through the day when you can skip light as air in colorful leather ballet flats? They will pair easily with cords or jeans as well as pop against black or gray tights. Available from jcrew.com.

Or go preppy and colorful with Kate Spade’s green and navy striped flats. Available at katespade.com.

Colored jeans will continue to remain hot well into spring and these skinny Joe’s Jeans come in 55 different colors. Find your fave color to wear now and later when the warmer weather comes calling. And as an added bonus they are a flattering mid-rise style (8 1/2 inch rise) that you can wear tucked into jeans, rolled with flats or stacked with heels. Available at joesjeans.com.

Trade in your dark leather tote for this cheery striped canvas bag from Rebecca Minkoff. It will carry all your essentials as well as remind you of warmer days. Available at rebeccaminkoff.com.

Last but not least, brighten up your cheeks and lips with Josie Maran’s Argan Color Stick. It imparts a rosy glow that brightens up your whole face making you look fresh, young and well-rested. Available from sephora.com.

Brighten up the barn with a cheerfully colored and patterned halter from Red Haute Horse. Your horse might not care but it will at least, make you smile. I particularly like this green and pink style with mini skull and cross bones pattern. Available at redhautehorse.com.

Straight and Narrow

I am a huge fan of Paige Denim and recently added a new pair to my closet that I am obsessed with. The Hidden Hills Straight jean will change your life! Well, that may be an overstatement but you will certainly love wearing them and that will make you happy. This high rise, straight leg jean has a double button waistband that holds you in while eliminating muffin top. It also contains enough stretch to make them incredibly comfortable while keeping their shape in tact, no baggy bums here. The straight leg gives the appearance of a skinny jean but is better at balancing your look if you have wider thighs. Plus, their made by Paige which means they will make you look fabulous from all angles. Available in three dark shades at Paigeusa.com.

Get Your Color On – How To Wear Colored Jeans and Pants

Brightly colored pants, cords and jeans are adding a dash of color to fall. Colored bottoms can make a strong, fashion forward statement and brighten up your wardrobe. They are super easy to wear because they serve as the focal point of your outfit and the key is to keep everything else simple.

This is one trend where less is more. Pair with tops and shoes in solid colors and simple silhouettes (think turtleneck, v-neck long sleeve sweater , structured blazer or crisp white button down and ballet flats, suede booties, round toe pumps or flat knee-high boots). Keep your jewelry super simple, diamond stud earrings and a great masculine looking watch.

As far as color goes, keep your tops to shades of black, gray, white or brown to avoid looking like a crayola and allow the colored bottoms to stand out. I also don’t recommend wearing any prints with bright bottoms, it looks too juvenile for me. Think minimalist.

Bright bottoms can draw attention to problem areas (ie hips and tush) so make sure the pants and jeans fit and flatter. Examine from all angles and if you are a bit hippy pair them with a longer tunic top. If you have bigger thighs steer clear of brightly colored skinny jeans or cords and instead opt for bootcut or wide-leg styles to add balance.

J Crew has a great selection of brightly colored cords:

Channel a modern Audrey Hepburn with these colored ankle cords from AG Jeans worn with ballet flats and a fitted black turtleneck. The electric blue is a good color to try if you are leery of bright colors.

The perfect outfit:

Go colorful in the barn too with Tattini colorful breeches. Your horse may snort as you approach but he will get used to them!

The Kate Effect

There has been a lot of talk in the fashion world recently about the “Kate Effect” on fashion, is Kate Middleton a style icon and just how much will she influence the fashion world. Some say yes and others say no, it’s just a matter of opinion. Although the more demure styles that took over the runway this spring lead one to suspect designers were listening when women were swooning over Kate’s more conservative way of dress.

As far as I am concerned, I find it refreshing to see a style icon like Kate Middleton. So often, fashion worships strung-out, drug-addicted models (who I think often look like they need a shower, gross and sleazy looking) or over-tanned, over-done fake looking celebrities and reality show stars or overtly trendy bloggers who take fashion risks but just end up looking stupid (ie The Man Repeller). Kate represents class, style and elegance, something often in short supply in Hollywood and in the pages of fashion magazines. Fashion should be about making one look and feel beautiful while also being functional.

Anyway, time to hop off the soap box! As you can see I am huge fan of Kate Middleton’s style and will continue to happily allow her outfit choices to inspire mine! My recent purchases were inspired by two of her outfits.

I loved the Sebago Bala boat shoes she wore in Canada and promptly ordered a pair. The tan and white color Kate wore is currently sold out but will be available in January, so I ordered the gray and black suede pair. They are super comfortable and look preppy worn with skinny cropped jeans. Available online at Sebago.com.

Wear your Sebago boat shoes with another favorite of Kate’s, Paige’s Skyline Ankle Peg jeans. Paige is my favorite jean maker and these are sure to be my go-to jeans until the weather gets chilly. Available at Paigeusa.com.

If you are a fan of Kate Middleton’s style you can keep up with all her outfit choices at WhatKateWore.com and NyMag.com.

Shop The Transition

I have never been a huge fan of resort/transition collections that bridge the gap between winter and spring. They tend to look the same every year, heavy on nautical themes (white, navy and stripes) often looking out of place on a cold winter day. But there are usually a few key pieces out there that you can add to wardrobe to prepare for spring but also add freshness to your winter staples.

Stick to neutrals: Neutral shades of cream and tan are major players for spring but are making their debut now, add a few to your closet to get a jump on the trend.

White House Black Market Mini-Dot Trench Coat: Love, Love, Love this trench coat, super elegant in an on-trend shade of neutral, creamy tan with black mini-dots. Wear over your dark winter shades to add lightness now and then layer over all your spring basics on cooler days for a very Parisian look. Plus, who doesn’t look sexy and mysterious in a trench coat.

J Crew Laramie Tote: Start carrying this pretty yet tough tote in a warm peachy tan now and into warmer days.

Miu Miu Crystal Heel Satin Sandals: Nude shoes continue to be popular thanks in part to their leg lengthening abilities and this pair stands out from the crowd. An investment piece that will never go out of style.

Denim As A Safe Bet: You can never go wrong with denim and these pieces will become daily favorites.

Madewell Trooper Jacket: A lightweight cotton, throw it over anything jacket that will look great worn to work over a thin cashmere sweater and dress pants or on the weekends worn with a t-shirt and yoga pants. Plus it will be a great cover for floaty spring dresses.

Madewell Shrunken Chambray Boy Shirt: If you didn’t invest in a denim shirt this fall, definitely buy one now. This laid-back style has staying power and can be paired with everything from slouchy pants to long cocktail skirts. A must-have piece you will fall in love with.

Textile by Elizabeth and James Mid-Rise Flared Jeans: This 70’s inspired silhouette is huge for spring, a counterpoint to skinny jeans and will add newness to your skinny dominated denim.

Pretty Extras

Anthropologie Blurred Petals Pullover: Prints abound for spring but this fuzzy pullover can be worn now with jeans or later with shorts as pictured below. Go ahead, wear bright colors now.

Born Ballet Flats: It looks like cropped flare pants and jeans will be a fresh style for spring and usually look best when paired with dainty ballet flats. Start searching for a few pairs like these floral embellished flats in a neutral gold shade.

Designer Denim Guide: The Update

A few years ago I wrote an article for a local magazine that was a Designer Denim Guide. There were and still are so many different denim brands and styles on the market that it is hard to know which brand or style is right for you. So I set about researching, I talked to denim store owners and sales associates and tried on countless pairs of jeans and enlisted my friends to try on jeans and tell me what worked for their body type. What came about was a comprehensive guide to designer denim based on body type.

I then translated that info into blog posts that remain to this day my most popular posts but since that was a few years ago, these posts were in need of an update. Brands and styles have come and gone, so I delved back into my research and came up with an updated designer denim guide. Just click on the link below to go to the updated version. Enjoy!

Designer Denim Guide: The Perfect Jeans For Tall Gals

Designer Denim Guide: The Perfect Jeans For Petite Gals

Designer Denim Guide: The Perfect Jeans For Slim or Straight Gals

Designer Denim Guide: The Perfect Jeans For A Flat Bottom

Designer Denim Guide: The Perfect Jeans For Curvy Gals

Designer Denim Guide: The Perfect Jeans For Athletic Figures and Fuller Thighs

What are your favorite jeans?

New Year, New You

Happy New Year! I have never been big on making New Year’s resolutions but this year I am offering a few fashion related resolutions to help make you look and feel beautiful all year long. These are simple, easy things you can do that can make a big difference.

1. Mix Up Your Routine: We all get stuck in a beauty rut, wearing the same colors over and over again. Get out of the rut by buying a new lipstick in a shade lighter or darker than what you normally wear and by adding black eyeliner to your eye makeup routine (if you already wear eyeliner daily try using different colors like, charcoal, brown, purple or navy). These two simple things will perk up your look and polish your face.

2. Take Care Of Your Skin: Get serious about taking care of your skin, wear sunscreen on your face everyday and invest in a good quality anti-aging regimen. Try a wide variety of products until you find the perfect combo. Wash off your makeup every evening before bed.

3. Buy A Great Fitting Pair Of Jeans: If you still haven’t found the perfect pair of jeans, don’t give up! Take your most honest friend to a large department store that carries a wide variety of brands and styles and spend as long as it takes trying on everything. You will find the perfect pair, it just takes kissing a lot of frogs! You can never go wrong with a dark denim, mid-rise bootcut style, universally flattering.

4. Spend The Money On Alterations: It amazes me how many women think that everything they buy should fit them perfectly off the rack. Not True! That is usually not the case, if you love something but it needs a bit of tweeking take it to a good tailor and pay to have it altered so it fits you perfectly. Eventually, your wardrobe will look like it was custom-made for you.

5. Follow Trends To A Degree: Read up on the trends each season but choose wisely which you will invest in, stick to what makes you happy and flatters your figure. Invest in classic, well-fitting pieces and add in less expensive trendy items to look current. Don’t forget, skip a trend altogether if it looks stupid on you, (ie This Spring nudes and neutral colors are everywhere but look very bad on my pale skin, so as much as I love them, they will have no place in my closet).

Happy Fashionable New Year!