Fashion Mission Monday for May!

Your Assignment:
Chambray and Shirt Dresses!

I have a HUGE soft spot for chambray (a lightweight denim blue cotton) and I am so glad to see it coming back this spring and summer.  Another hot trend right now are shirt dresses so I thought I would just combine them both into one blog, since finding shirt dresses in chambray is such a natural combination.


As we go, you'll see styles that are short, to the knee, strapless, sleeveless, waisted and non-waisted.  Think about your body shape, the areas you want to highlight and the areas you want to conceal and I know you'll find a style perfect for you.  We'll start off with the youngin's this week.

This strapless dress is a steal from Old Navy for only $35.  Paired with a jacket or scarf or a piece of statement jewelry, this chambray look is great for day or evening.

I love this cute mini mixed with strappy sandals and the bright yellow flower pin.  That is the beauty of chambray denim, it looks good with so many colors and/or neutrals.  Here are some more examples for you to see.

Chambray mixed with coral reds and browns....

And our most popular stripes combined with neutral browns and layering shown here.  (PS I might even add a pop of floral to this combination above.)

Now for the moms.  Again I recommend dresses that hit just above or to the knee or the fabulous shirt/dresses that can be worn over leggings or skinny jeans.  (And don't be pulling out those old thick denim jumpers from the 90's thinking you've got this one nailed.)  Here are some samples:

And how they can look as an outfit...

I'm sure you are getting the idea by now.  Any of these dress or shirt/dress additions will be pieces you will wear over and over again this summer and can always make look different with your layering and accessories.  And best of all there is chambray for every age, every style and every body shape.

So get out of your closet blues and add some "chambray blues" to your wardrobe!
Next week we'll be talking about swimsuits.  Self tanner and cover ups here we come!
(Thanks to Real Simple May 2011 and Polyvore.com)

Quick Pick Monday

My Sunday Best....

Easter is always a fun day for me (and an excuse) to wear a new dress that I have picked out just for this occasion.  BUT with Colorado being as volatile as it is in the spring, usually my best laid plans fail to work out. So this year, I had a back up plan....boots, knee socks and fishnets!  So here goes!

Dress: Anthropologie sale room, knee socks: Marshalls, boots: 9 West from one of my FAVORITE second hand shops Cotton Kloset Consignment, fishnets: Nordstrom hosiery department

So, I basically packed all of our recent posts into one outfit hoping I wasn't too obvious, but it really was an accident that this all worked out.  That is one of the beauties of "shopping from your closet".  With this outfit I was able to enjoy horizontal stripes, a little bit color blocking with my sash, and for my cold legs, boots with knee socks.  You just never know what kind of an outfit you can come up with when the need arises!

And if I can just make a very quick plug here for "fishnet" tights.  They are my most favorite item I own.  I have a nude pair and a black pair.  They never seem to go out of style, can be worn in any season, they are almost impossible to make a run in and if you are shy about going bare legged in the spring/summer then this is the trick for you.  Here is a picture of them a little closer up.

Not only can you hardly see them but another nice benefit is they actually add a bit of warmth like hose/stockings would, and give you that body coverage us older (I mean wiser) moms have come to know and love.

So that is all for me, I'll let  Aubrey take over from here...

Hi everyone!  This outfit is yet another walking advertisement for Nordstrom Rack, but I can't hide the fact that it has high quality clothing for WAY less money :).  I put this outfit together using the knee socks and boots idea that we posted earlier.  Yes, I am wearing the same boots as the last Quick Pick Post, but they have been my go-to boots the whole winter season, so why not show them again in a different way?

Dress: Nordstrom Rack Sale rack (no one could probably figure out how to use it since it was extremely low cut).  Tank under dress: Target.  Jeggings: Nordstrom Rack.  Knee Socks (purple): Khol's. Boots: The Rack. Bracelets: Walmart and The Rack (layered of course).  Belt: Forever 21.

I love this outfit because it incorporates all my favorite things: lace, long flowy shirts that cover the bad part of my thighs hehe, knee socks, and boots.  It was so fun to pick this out of my closet!  And I so enjoy finding and wearing shirts (or in this case a dress/shirt) that no one would ever know what to do with.  You can always fix something up with a belt or layering!  

We hope this encourages you to look at your closet in a fresh way, mix and match some new combinations and remember to always make it about you!

Love, Missy and Aubrey

Makeover Monday!

...or almost Tuesday this week. 
(I'm not good at being out of town and blogging at the same time, quite yet.)
Today I am featuring a long time friend, "Barb".  Barb has always enjoyed being chic and fun with her clothes, but after her divorce she realized she had neglected care of herself and her wardrobe.

One thing Barb was brave enough to do, was to let me go ahead and get started in her closet even though she wasn't at her goal weight or able to invest in new clothing.  You would be surprised how much we can accomplish even with the pieces in your closet you aren't quite ready to be done with because of size or budget.  I am here to show you how to express your style and beauty no matter what your weight, and it is amazing to see what a belt and strategically layered clothing can accomplish.

Here is how Barb started out when I came to go through her closet, round one:

 

Barb was working in the school system at the time and it was totally dictating how she got dressed.  When I got to visit with her again, she had since gotten a new job that would call for more "professional" looking clothes AND she had lost over 30 pounds.  So, round two was focused on getting rid of frumpy and baggy clothing out of her closet.  Then off to shopping we went.

Barb's body shape is mostly athletic now that she has trimmed down and her style is romantic and trendy.  We also had her hair cut into a more "young" professional style which probably made one of the hugest differences in her appearance.  One thing I help my clients determine is their "style statement" and Barb's was to be Elegant, Unique and Attractive.

So, here is the new Barb.  Still the same kind and sweet friend on the inside, but on the outside, watch out.  She also happens to work in an office of almost all men and I know this has made her so much more confident.

 

And no matter where we are or what we are doing, Barb always looks nice.  Here she is at a summer bbq...

 

Here are a few words from Barb.   "I have known Missy for years and always admired her style.  It was so fun to go shopping and have her magic rub off on me."  

I am so proud of Barb and all the positive changes she has made to her life.  Thank you Barb for letting me be just a little part of that!

Help Me Monday!

What is COLOR BLOCKING?

Although this term might not be familiar to you, you are probably seeing it all over magazines and in the stores.  Color blocking is one of the most simple ways to be fashionable right now, so all you chicas who claim to have "no fashion sense" can hop right in!  Here is a formal definition thanks to Real Simple, May 2011...
Color Blocking:  A striking mash up of contrasting shades creating a visual impact with minimal effort. 
So, how does this look? ...

Basically, it is wearing pieces and accessories that start and stop with obvious sections of color, whether it be bright, soft or even neutral.  If you are like me, and the pieces in the style above don't quite fit your taste, below is a more every-day approach that I could see more ladies like myself wearing.

This is a VERY TRENDY look for the spring/summer...white jeans and this beautiful citrus orange color.  You can see how even her purse is color blocked with bold sections of color.  Now I know for MOST of us, wearing white jeans is not going to happen, so just think of them like leggings and cover your bootie instead of tucking in your shirt.  Aubrey and friends, I give you permission to go for it, just remember to wear nude colored underpants.  Any other color (including white) will show through!

 

Some more examples of switching it up and putting color on the bottom and white on top.

And shoes are really fun to wear in color blocks.  These will look good with so many outfits.  To buy: they are from Kohl's.

My little dog Miss Beans also had a great suggestion for this week's blog post....

Even a bright scarf used around your waist or neck can bring in a touch of color blocking.
We hope this helped.  If Beanie can do it, we can too! 

Have a great, colorful week!

Missy, Aubrey and our guest model Miss Beans

Mission Monday for April 2011

Preppy and Cheerful Stripes!

With April still being a month of volatile weather, I thought this might be a good time to try out this spring trend of stripes in all colors, not just your typical navy and white.  When looking at shirts in particular, you will see them in 3/4 to full length sleeve, which again is great as a layering piece and can easily be mixed with skirts and shorts as the weather gets warmer.

So, your assignment this month is to add a striped piece to your wardrobe.  If you are nervous, you can start with a scarf or piece of jewelry and for you risk takers, I say go for the dress.  They are SO much fun!  Here are some great examples of how to do it classically all the way to dramatic chic!

This is your classic look, layered under a fitted blazer, boy friend jeans and lace up booties.

This next look I love for you younger gals, pairing your striped shirts with whimisical skirts and either high heels like shown here or flat oxfords and socks.  Anything goes!

I know for some of you, this classic look just isn't enough, so here are some stripes in exotic, eye catching colors.

 

And lastly, I'll end with some suggestions on how to mix this all up...

So with this classic look of denim and stripes, please pay attention to the bright red nail color and/or lipstick and the floral scarf peaking it's head out of the straw bag.  Stylist Kate Young suggests that when mixing animal prints or florals with stripes, that at least one color in the print matches the same shade in the stripe.  

And if you are worried about stripes making you look wide, then stick with the shirt only and tuck it in.  Horizontal stripes will give the illusion of broad shoulders and a narrow waist if worn this way.  Horizontal stripes can also be very forgiving in the chest area whether you are big or small.  The stripes make it hard to see, which in some cases is a good thing (like me who has been deprived in this area).

So, no excuses not to give this a try.  I bet some of you may already have this item in the closet but haven't thought to wear it in a while. Just make sure you make it about you and not just what you see in the magazines.  You've got stripes with blazers, stripes with skirts, colorful bright stripes and even stripes with animal or floral prints. So really, the only way to make your stripes "un-cheerful" is to not wear them at all.

Missy and Aubrey

(Pictures thanks to polyvore.com, In Style and Real Simple, April 2011)

Quick Pick Monday

Okay, I will admit, this is probably the hardest week of the month, knowing you all are staring down what Aubrey and I have on and not being able to hear what you are thinking.  But, oh well, here goes!  I'll go first.(Dress and Jacket - The Rack, Lace top - Lucky, Leopard scarf - The Rack, Socks - DSW, Flats - Palladium from The Rack)

So, just a little background on what I have chosen.  I purchased this dress at the end of the summer, last year on the clearance rack.  I liked the maxi length and the light weight sweater material and imagined having fun with t-shirts underneath and denim jackets on top for cooler weather.  What I DIDN'T imagine was how self conscious I would feel when wearing it knowing how snug it was on my "booty".  So after wearing it once, with full Spanky body armor, I decided I could not bear it another day and to the back of the closet it went.

Then, when I wasn't even expecting it, I noticed one of the sales clerks at Lucky, wearing this lace tank ON TOP of her clothes.  How did she know to do that and why didn't I think of that?  So I ran home (with my Lucky purchase in hand) and pulled this dress back out and I have not stopped wearing it ever since.  What a difference layering can make which is why we did a whole blog on just that.  Just by changing my top layer out I can make this dress work for any season and for any occasion.  And another fun tip, try wearing your scarves as belts for a more colorful and eye catching look.

Okay, so here goes Aubrey...

This is one of my favorite outfits, I wore it at my bachelorette party!  If you haven't noticed already, my mom and I LOVE Nordstrom Rack and everything in this outfit except the long tank is from the Rack!  The tank is from Anthropologie, wrap bracelets from Walmart (yes, Walmart), and the necklace is from our dear friends who own We Three Designs.  My favorite thing about this outfit is how comfortable it is, yet still super chic! Down here in Texas, we are seeing the last of the cold days for a while, so I'm glad I got some use out of this outfit before it's bye bye to the cute boots I stole from my mom :).  The jeans are actually "Jeggings" which are a recent trend for us younger gals.  But, moms, if you want to try them, this kind of outfit would work for you because it hides the areas that you might not want to be seen with tight pants on, and it makes your legs look super skinny!  Who doesn't want that?!

So, thanks for tuning in this week.  Next Monday is the first Monday of April so it will be time for Mission Monday and we have a very fun wardrobe assignment waiting for you!  Have a great week!

Makeover Monday!

I always love these kind of articles where you get to see before and after photos.  What a difference just a few changes can make!  Today I am featuring a long time friend and very brave soul that allowed me to "practice"  with her image, closet organization and even shopping.  Thank you Renee for letting me now use you as my first blog guinea pig!

So here is Renee:

Renee is a quite adorable, petite mom of four with an hourglass/athletic shape and a style that is a mix of edgy modern with cultural fusion.  Her goal in having me spend time with her was to pare down what was in her closet and update her look so she didn't feel so frumpy when getting dressed in the morning.  Probably one of the most dominate issues in her closet was this plethora of boxy over-sized jackets that swallowed her up and was not reflecting her style within.

In case you haven't had me come over to go through your closet, here is a glimpse of how good it can feel to get those pieces you aren't wearing (or shouldn't be wearing) OUT and on their way to someone that can use them.

Renee's closet is now organized by color and clothing type (ie shirts, dresses and pants have their own sections) and she can actually have fun shopping out of her closet each morning, which is the ultimate goal in closet makeovers.  Your closet needs to be full of "pieces" not "outfits" so you never grow tired of all the mixing and matching.  So, with a list in hand of specific wardrobe pieces needed to finish off her closet, we headed to the Outlet Mall, now with more confidence and direction.

The first thing we did was concentrate on Renee's waist.  This is a common body part we wish to hide but in hiding we tend to make the situation worse.  So, I was determined to see Renee show off her waist with some new belts and more fitted tops and jackets.  Here we are experimenting with layering and different styles and widths of belts:

We had such a fun day, the time flew by.  We got Renee started in the right direction and since then she has done a beautiful job of bringing new pieces into her closet that get worn and are right for her, not for the masses.  I'll sign off with one last pic of Renee, in one of her completed ensembles and a few words from her....

"Thank you Missy for helping me with my wardrobe problem.  Even though I now have much less in my closet, I feel like I have many more wardrobe choices.  I am actually saving money when I shop because I am no longer buying clothes that are not right for my body type.  Shopping is so much more efficient.  What a boost of confidence this whole experience was for me.  Thanks again!"

Thank you Renee, you look gorgeous and so youthful!  She is a kid at heart afterall! 
Missy and Aubrey