January 2012 Lookbook: Urban Explorer

Omiru's January 2012 Lookbook: Urban Explorer
This look is part of Omiru’s January 2012 Lookbook series, which builds upon our 16-Piece January 2012 Capsule Wardrobe.  See more information about this look.

Exploring a new place has to be one of my favorite things, hands down.  And whether you’re venturing out in a new city or rediscovering your own, you’ll want a chic, comfy outfit in which to roam.  Pack up your backpack with all of your essentials (mine are a Moleskine notebook and an iPad - can’t get enough of Flipboard and the NYTimes app) and head out to explore.  Here’s what to wear:

1. Start with a foundation of brights - a cheeky yellow tee paired with a bright blue colored denim pants.
2. Layer on a sweater - the aztec print on this short sleeved sweater gives it personality.  (If your urban hike doesn’t make you sweat, you’ll probably want to add a coat to keep you warm.)
3. Finish off the Urban Explorer look with a pair of moccasins (Minnetonka is my personal fave) and a leather backpack.

How would you wear this look?
  Share your style with us in the comments!

Posted by Trisha on January 5th, 2012 in Ready Made Outfits, Women |

January 2012 Lookbook: How to Wear Colorblocking

Omiru's January 2012 Lookbook: How to Wear Colorblocking
This look is part of Omiru’s January 2012 Lookbook series, which builds upon our 16-Piece January 2012 Capsule Wardrobe.  See more information about this look.

Colorblocking is nothing new, but it’s still a fun way to perk up your winter wardrobe.  How to keep colorblocking looking fresh?  Make a statement by pairing blocks of bright color with winter neutrals - whites, greys, and blacks.  We deliberately echoed the colorblocking on the dress with the tote bag to create a cohesive look.

1. Start with the colorblocked dress, paired with a slim legging to keep your legs warm.
2. Pile on the layers.  First add a cozy hoodie to winterize the look - and then bundle up in your winter coat.  Notice how the striping on the winter coat echoes the colorblocking on the dress.
3. Finish off the look with a pair of chunky black boots (solid, yet fashion forward) - and a colorblocked tote that pulls the look together.

How would you wear colorblocking?
  Share your style with us in the comments!

Posted by Trisha on January 4th, 2012 in Ready Made Outfits, Women |

Omiru’s 16-Piece January 2012 Capsule Wardrobe

Omiru's 16-Piece January 2012 Capsule Wardrobe
Want to take a closer look at the capsule wardrobe?  Here’s more information about it.


January is all about renewal - taking out the old, and bringing in the new.  And what’s new is electric colors, fun with silhouettes, and rich textures, from silk to sequins.  We’ve edited down the best of January 2012 into a high/low mix of 16 easy pieces - ranging from a leopard print jacket to a vibrant cobalt blue denim pant.  These sixteen pieces - with the help of some fun accessories - are all you really need to put together a month’s worth of looks. 

Today, we’ll outline the 16 key pieces you’ll want this month to keep your closet on point.  And for the rest of January, we’ll show you how to mix and match these pieces into key looks that you can recreate with your own wardrobe.

Without further ado, let’s get started.  From left to right, top to bottom, here are the 16 pieces you’ll want to have in your closet this month.

The New Winter Coat

J Crew Stadium Cloth Striped Wool Blend Coat | $400 at Net-a-Porter
January 2012’s answer to the winter coat.  Cozily warm, and just a little bit cheeky with the variegated stripes.

The Statement Denim Jacket

Current/Elliott The Snap Leopard Print Stretch Denim Cropped Jacket | $270 at Net-a-Porter
Make a statement with a fun color or pattern. Here, we’ve chosen the pattern of the season, animal prints, to liven up the classic denim jacket. 

The Wear Everywhere Sweater

Knitted Cable Lurex Jacket | $90 at Topshop
The beauty of this sweater is that it can be dressed up or dressed down.  We love the black trim that gives it a more formal feel - but the pink stripes keep it from getting too serious.

The Classic Parka

Burberry Brit Gabardine Drawstring Parka | $795 at Net-a-Porter
The classic parka, as envisioned by the quintessentially British Burberry Brit.  If you don’t want to shell out for the designer version, there are plenty of more accessible versions at the likes of H&M and Zara.  Mine’s actually a children’s version with a faux fur lining on the hood, unfortunately past season & not available for purchase online.

The Silk Blouse
Blythe Blouse in Silk | $98 at J Crew
It’s the classic silk blouse in a casual camp shirt style.  But what really makes this blouse is the rich, purple color.

The Chunky Knit Vest
Malene Birger Anninas Chunky Knit Wool Cardigan | $395 at Net-a-Porter
Vests (aka gilets) are fantastic layering pieces that are great for transitioning between outdoors & indoors.  And they’re a great way to add texture to your wardrobe without adding unflattering bulk, as you can offset the chunky knit with a slim arm.

The Bright Tank
Curve Hem Tank | $20 at Topshop
Instantly make the winter blues go away with a brightly colored tank. 

The Comfortable Hoodie
T by Alexander Wang Knitted Cotton Hooded Top | $170 at Net-a-Porter
The ultimate in comfort - the hoodie.  We love the neutral grey color, which goes with everything in your wardrobe.

The Colorblocked Dress

Diane von Furstenberg Colorblock Silk Dress | $375 at Net-a-Porter
It’s the perfect work dress - serious, with a splash of bright color.  But paired with the right items, you can wear this dress out to cocktails - or on the weekends.

The Layering Shirt
Chiffon Placket Shirt | $70 at Topshop
Airy chiffon makes this shirt the perfect item for layering.

The Sequinned Dress
Vince Sequin-Embellished Crepe Dress | $495 at Net-a-Porter
We love sequins, period.  And this sequinned dress does double duty - wear it by itself at night, or dress it down with a pair of leggings and wear it during the day.

The Bright Shift Dress

Tuck Neck Clean Shift Dress | $72 at Topshop
Cobalt blue is big for Spring 2012 - and this shift dress works great alone, paired with neutrals, or even paired with other brights.

The Grey Cords
Madewell Rail Straight Cords | $89.50 at Madewell
Why go with the standard camel colored cords when you can sport them in a refreshing grey?

The Bright Denim Pant
Toothpick Jean in Garment Dyed Twill | $108 at J Crew
Colored denim is just what your closet has been coveting.  We love this bright blue color - it’s gorgeous, easy to wear, and it pairs beautifully with spring’s brights.

The Leather Panel Legging
Faux Leather Panel Legging | $56 at Topshop
Consider this piece to be Leggings 2.0 - the original legging made better with (faux) leather panels.  You can dress this piece up and down, and it’s the ultimate in comfort.

The Pleated Skirt

Invert Pleated Flippy Skirt | $60 at Topshop
This A-line pleated skirt is fresh and youthful - but it has enough structure to give it gravitas.

Let the inspiration begin!
Trisha

Posted by Trisha on January 3rd, 2012 in Ready Made Outfits, Women | 2 comments

Mea culpa…I’m back!

Hello world,

It’s been a year since we’ve talked, and I’ve missed you dearly.

What happened? Long story short, I quit my job, my home, my old life, and within three whirlwind weeks, I divested myself of most of my worldly possessions, packed up two carry on bags and headed out to see the world.

Life on the road was lovely and unforgettable. I took French lessons in the heart of Paris. I did an afternoon tea taste-off in Hong Kong. I met fascinating people all over the world. I was blessed with inspiration, from the haute art exhibitions at the Venice Bienniale to the street grafitti in Berlin. But while living on the road was lovely - and it broadened my worldview & my perspective of what fashion can be - despite best intentions, I’ve been horribly remiss about keeping up with you. My sincere apologies for going missing in action without any warning. It won’t happen again.

The silver lining on the cloud is that being away gifted me the perspective to give Omiru more focus. My goal from the start with Omiru was to make style more accessible - to provide inspiration that’s achievable and that reflects how people like you & me actually dress.

My “aha” moment came to me while I was on the road. I realized that while I missed having my full closet with me, I really didn’t miss it *that* much, and that I could dress myself just as well with only the clothes in my two carry on bags.

This idea inspired me to revive & refocus Omiru on our most popular feature - our foundation wardrobe series - where we first edited down the best of the season into a capsule wardrobe, then showed how to mix and match these pieces into a variety of layered looks.

I’m pleased to announce that tomorrow, Omiru is officially back, loaded with a fresh capsule wardrobe for the new year. The January 2012 capsule collection will show you exactly what you need to update your closet to stay on point this season. Tomorrow’s post will introduce the 16 key items you’ll want to have this month, and subsequent posts will show you how to take those 16 easy pieces and create a month’s worth of fresh looks.

It feels great to be home, and to be back with you. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow.

Trisha

Posted by Trisha on January 2nd, 2012 in Off Topic | 28 comments

Tulle Underwire Tank

tulle-underwire-tank_032511

Vintage French swimwear inspired this heavenly one-piece swimsuit, with its layers of sophisticated (and fast-drying) tulle. What we love is the versatility of the suit (you can remove the straps for a bombshell look) and its figure flattering cut - the layered tulle is kind to those not blessed with a washboard flat stomach. Grab this suit (or the bikini and brief version) now - it will surely sell out quickly.

$125  at J Crew.

Posted by Trisha on March 25th, 2011 in Shopping Guide, Women | 42 comments

How to Wear a Cape

how-to-wear-a-cape_112910

Pictured: Hooded Duffle Cape | $160 at Topshop, Shirt with Tailored Front | 25.99 GBP (approx $40.50) at Zara, Black Ribbed Ankle Leggings | $36 at Topshop, Studded Ballet Flats | $138 at J Crew, and City Bag with Straps | 59.99 GBP (approx $93.60) at Zara. Note: For US customers, Zara items are available in store only.

Supersize your style this Fall with a cape worthy of a style superhero.  Deliciously dramatic, the cape delivers an exaggerated silhouette to play with - and keeps you warm all the while.  Do as Sofia Coppola does and have some fun with the dramatic cape with an equally exaggerated silhouette.  We love how she pairs her voluminous cape with something super skinny on the bottom, juxtaposing an elegant "uptown" cape with a "downtown" pair of leggings.  Here’s how to get the look:

1. Start with a tailored white button down shirt and a pair of skinny black leggings or trouser pants.  Bonus points for picking a pair that hits just above the ankle.
2. Layer on your voluminous cape, creating a gorgeous big-over-small silhouette.
3. Finish off the look with a structured bag and a pair of ballet flats, which pair perfectly with the cropped pants.

How would you wear the cape?  Share your style with us in the comments!

Posted by Trisha on December 3rd, 2010 in How To, Ready Made Outfits, Women, Women's | 32 comments

The Guys’ Guide to Layering

mens-layering-jcrew_112910

J Crew’s seasonal lookbooks are filled to the brim with fantastic (if not over the top) examples of layering.

Proper layering is absolutely foundational to a man’s style.  Whether you live in snowy Boston or sunny Miami, whether it’s the peak of summer or the valley of winter, the principles of layering will help you craft the right look for whatever your day brings you.  Presenting our five golden rules for layering:

Rule 1: Keep the First Layer Slim
Let’s face it: layering can be bulky.  But it doesn’t have to look that way.  How do you add layers without adding bulk?  Keep the first layer slim - in terms of both material and fit.  Your base layer should consist of thin fabrics that fit somewhat snugly; that way, other layers can fit on top without creating layers of bulk.

Rule 2: Mix Up the Length of Your Layers
When you’re layering, each piece on each layer has a purpose.  And for the most part, you want the layers to be visible, as this creates a more visually interesting look.  How do you make sure that each layer is visible?  Vary the length of each layer, so that each layer can be seen.  For example, if you have a tee shirt, a button-down shirt, and a sweater, let the tails of the button-down be seen from underneath the sweater.  And let the tee peek out from under the button-down.

Rule 3: Play with Textures
Women can play with silhouette when layering, but for men, the best bet is to play with texture.  Especially when creating monochromatic or duochromatic looks, a little texture goes a long way.  Pair a chunky knit with a smooth jersey - or a cozy thin knit sweater with a rough corduroy pant.  A little fabric juxtaposition can really make your look.

Rule 4: Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment with Color
Even if your wardrobe is dominated by blues, greys, and blacks, you don’t have to limit yourself to these colors.  And the easiest, least risky way to add color to your wardrobe is through layering.  You don’t have to gamble nearly as much on that blood orange sweater when it’s an ensemble player in your look instead of the star.  We love it when a bit of color peeks out from under a jacket lapel - or sweater - or even from between your pant leg and shoe with an arresting pair of socks.  

Rule 5: Add an Element of Surprise

No great look is complete without that je ne sais quoi - that element that makes it uniquely you.  Maybe it’s the hint of a purple sweater peeking out from underneath your navy blazer.  Maybe it’s a well-placed handkerchief in your jacket pocket.  Maybe it’s a motorcycle boot that you paired with your trouser pants.  Whatever it is, this element of surprise is what makes your look your own.  

Have a great layering tip?  Share your style with us in the comments!

Posted by Trisha on December 1st, 2010 in How To, Men, Men's | 7 comments

You Said: Yes to Miniskirts

omiru-poll-result-miniskirts_112810

sequin-miniskirt_112910We asked: Would you wear a Miniskirt?

You said:  Yes to Miniskirts, with a 57-43 split in votes.

Style tip? Miniskirts aren’t just for teens and twentysomethings.  Liberated from sartorial rules that limit its wearing to the young (and to spring and summer months), the miniskirt is surging in popularity.  While you may choose to wear your mini with bare legs during the spring and summer, it’s wiser to layer up when it’s cold out.  In warmer climates, a pair of tights will do - but when temperatures dip towards freezing, you’re going to want a bit more coverage with a pair of heavier weight leggings.  Extra bonus?  When you layer your miniskirt over dark tights or leggings, you visually slim your legs - making the mini just *that* much easier to wear. 

Next question: The ponytail is at once polished and ladylike - and demure and girly. And it’s perfectly on trend as styles evolve towards more refinement this fall/winter.  But what do you think?  Tell us, would you wear a ponytail?  Cast your vote on the sidebar!

Pictured: Monogram Sequin Miniskirt | $98 at Banana Republic

Posted by Trisha on November 29th, 2010 in Trend, Trend Predictives, Trendscape, Trendscape, What's In and What's Out, Women | 6 comments

Classic Peacoat

wool-peacoat_112310

Outerwear is the foundation of your winter look, so invest in a great fitting piece that will keep you warm all season. We’re digging this classically styled peacoat for its trim fit and rich navy color - which pairs fantastically with this season’s neutrals. Plus, we haven’t forgotten about Black Friday. Score an extra 25% off with code TURKEY (bringing the price of this coat down to $191.25) through 11/28/2010.

$255  at J Crew.

Posted by Trisha on November 26th, 2010 in Men, Shopping Guide | 5 comments

You Said: Yes to the Camel Coat

omiru-poll-result-camel-coat_112110

zara-camel-coat_112110We asked: Would you wear the Camel Coat?

You said:  Yes to the Camel Coat, with a 90-10 split in votes.

Style tip? What better investment to make this season than the Camel Coat?  We’d argue that the Camel Coat is not merely on trend - it’s a classic that will stand the test of time.  As your Camel Coat will complete many a look for seasons and years to come, this is a coat on which it is OK to splurge.  Invest in a coat that fits like a glove - and one made of the best fabric that you can afford.  If this is your first camel coat, look for one in a streamlined style - without any bells & whistles, like the one pictured.  But if you already have a classic Camel coat in your wardrobe, feel free to mix things up with extra detailing - such as a more dramatic voluminous silhouette or a Peter Pan collar.

Next question: Despite the falling temperatures, hemlines are rising.  We’re seeing the miniskirt (paired with tights, of course) all over….but what do you think?  Tell us, would you wear a miniskirt?  Cast your vote on the sidebar!

Pictured: Studio Straight Woolen Coat | 129 GBP (approx $206) at Zara.  For US shoppers, only available in store.

Posted by Trisha on November 23rd, 2010 in Trend, Trend Predictives, Trendscape, Trendscape, What's In and What's Out, Women | 1 comment

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