Q: I’m heading to Amsterdam with my husband and 8 month old little girl this August. I need some advice on what to pack. I want to be stylish, yet still be comfortable and warm if temperature is cool. I will need practical, everyday outfits as well one or two dressy options.
by Colleen Geary, fashion stylist and image consultant
A: Amsterdam will be wonderful in August. Temperatures will be moderate - expect temps between the mid 50s at night and the 70s (and maybe 80s) during the day. The excellent weather, however, will bring out the crowds, so expect tons of events and festivals and the visitors to match.
Style wise, Amsterdam is a creative city. The city is known for liberalism and tolerance, and it’s certainly reflected in the clothing. If you have an itch to explore an edgier side to your personal style, you can scratch that itch in Amsterdam. You can get your inspiration from Amsterdam street style blog Dam Style.
As you have a one year old traveling with you, you will want to be comfortable but fashionable. The ideal for you will be a mix of form and function. Here’s what you’ll want to pack for your trip to Amsterdam:
Tops: Pack a variety of tee shirts (especially ones that don’t take themselves too seriously), along with an arty looking blouse or two.
Bottoms: Shorts should be appropriate for daytime sightseeing. We like tailored styles that hit at about the knee, but whatever style flatters your legs is going to be your best bet. If you dare, skinny jeans are great for the eclectic vibe of the city (but straight jeans are perfectly fine). Simple skirts will also work, and they’re easier to wear.
Sweaters: A couple of lightweight sweaters, especially ones with interesting textures and patterns, will do the trick.
Outerwear: A single lightweight jacket will work for your trip to Amsterdam.
Dresses: Try a couple of vintage-y dresses that work during the daytime - but can be dressed up for evening with the right shoes and jewelry.
Accessories: Comfortable walking shoes, a nice dressy pair of shoes for nighttime, some fun jewelry, a hat and sunglasses will round out your travel wardrobe. Not to mention a good backpack or diaper bag to hold your necessities - and the baby gear.
Last thoughts? Pack a light umbrella just in case of summer showers. And don’t forget bug spray, since Amsterdam is close to the water.
Have a great tip about what to wear in Amsterdam? Share it with us in the comments!
Posted by Trisha on July 29th, 2009 in Q&A, Women, Women's |
Who says that monochromatic dressing is boring? Just because you’re constraining your color palette doesn’t mean that you’re reining in your style. There’s more to an outfit than color–there’s silhouette and texture. Mix up the rest of these elements, and you get an outfit that’s subtly stunning. Here’s how to get the modern monochromatic look:
1. Pick a color to build your outfit around. We chose brown, a nice neutral that works in dark and light shades. The button-down shirt is a nice medium brown color that the rest of the pieces will play off of.
2. Okay, so white isn’t really a shade of brown, but it Is another neutral. We paired the brown button-down shirt with a pair of straight-leg white jeans.
3. Layer on a blazer in beige, a cross between the medium brown shirt and the bright white jeans. Note the nice linen texture on the blazer–a great foil to the brown cotton poplin shirt.
3. Finish off the outfit with accessories in rich shades of brown: a belt (yes, keep that shirt tucked in) and a pair of leather flip flops. The flip flops help the outfit relax; if you’re wearing flip flops, you probably don’t take yourself Too seriously.
How would you make monochromatic dressing fun again? Share your style with us in the comments!
Posted by Trisha on July 28th, 2009 in Men, Ready Made Outfits |
There are a few classic silhouettes in fashion that you see over and over: big over small, small over big, and small over small. (You sometimes see big over big, but usually only on the runway.) We’re huge fans of the Big Over Small silhouette, as it flatters women who may have a tummy–but also a slender bottom half. The Big Over Small silhouette allows you a bit more volume where you need it, while keeping the overall look visually proportionate. Here’s how to get the look:
1. Start with a top with some volume. If you don’t want to go over the top with volume, you can try an empire waist top. If you’re more daring, you can try for more volume with pieces like a drapey blouse or an oversized sweatshirt.
2. Counterbalance the volume on top with a skinny bottom. A pair of skinny jeans works well, as would a slim skirt.
3. If you want to play with more volume on top, add a drapey sweater over your top. Let it hang open for the most volume.
4. The look is one part vintage, one part edgy. Finish off the look with a handbag with pocket detailing (echoing the arty sweater) and a pair of adorable brown pumps (recalling the vintage-inspired top).
How would you wear the big over small silhouette? Share your style with us in the comments!
Posted by Trisha on July 27th, 2009 in Ready Made Outfits, Women |
We asked: Would you wear a Vest?
You said: Yes to Vests, with a 68% to 32% vote.
Style tip? Vests are the perfect summer outerwear. They’re a great layering piece - what’s cooler than a menswear vest layered over a simple white tank with a fabulous necklace? And the beauty of vests is that they come in both casual and formal styles - so there’s a vest for every outfit. We’re loving vests with special detailing - such as the tiered ruffles or the bold notched collar on this elegant vest.
Next question: Dresses are easy, stylish summer fare. Knee length dresses are standard, but what do you think about the Minidress? It has a certain warm weather charm, but the minidress is certainly not for everyone. Tell us, would you wear a Minidress? Cast your vote on the sidebar!
Pictured: Suspender Back Vest | $32 at Twelve by Twelve.
Posted by Trisha on July 27th, 2009 in Trend, Trend Predictives, Trendscape, Trendscape, What's In and What's Out, Women |
It’s easy to keep it simple with monochromatic or duochromatic outfits. But don’t limit yourself when it comes to color. We present an example outfit that’ll help broaden your thinking when it comes to pairing colors. Here, we’ve paired two neutrals (white and brown) with three colors: aqua, blue, and yellow-green. Note that the three colors, though distinct, still work together as a trio. Why? They’re adjacent colors on the color wheel. Blue sits next to green, which in turn sits next to yellow. The aqua color combines blue and green, while the addition of the yellow-green color brings us all the way from blue to yellow. Here’s how to get the adjacent color coordinated look:
1. Start with a blue tunic top and a pair of white jeans. Note how the oversized tunic contrasts with the skinniness of the jeans.
2. Layer a contrasting color tee under the blue tunic. We picked yellow-green, which sits close to blue on the color wheel.
3. Continue the color wheel progression by filling in the gaps. We chose an aqua handbag to bridge the gap between the blue tunic and the yellow-green tee.
4. Finish off the look with a belt and sandals, both in brown leather to contrast with the blue in the tunic.
How would you color coordinate? Share your style with us in the comments!
Posted by Trisha on July 23rd, 2009 in Ready Made Outfits, Women |
Though film is a big influencer on fashion, we don’t usually dish about the crossover. But every once in awhile, we’re so bowled over that we have to share our film-driven inspiration. Our favorite film from the Sundance Film Festival, (500) Days of Summer, finally hit theaters last weekend. An offbeat coming of age story disguised as a romantic comedy, the film tracks Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Summer (Zooey Deschanel) in non-linear fashion through 500 days of their relationship and subsequent breakup. We’re pining after Summer’s adorable but slightly offbeat look. Here’s how to get it:
1. Build your palette around the color blue. We started with an adorable cap sleeve blouse with bow detailing in a light blue, and a drapey woven skirt in a deeper shade of blue. (Yes, that’s the same skirt as in the How to Make Sophisticated Style Unstuffy post–isn’t it versatile?)
2. Cinch your waistline with a deep brown belt, to complement all of the blue in the blouse and skirt.
3. Finish off the outfit with a pair of cap-toe slingback flats (note how the bow on the flats echoes the bow on the blouse) and a long-strap purse in a gorgeous grey.
How would you get Summer’s adorable but slightly offbeat look? Share your style with us in the comments!
Posted by Trisha on July 23rd, 2009 in Ready Made Outfits, Women |
No matter how popular the color becomes, purple still tends to strike fear in the hearts of (some) men. Dust off your worries of wearing what some may consider a feminine color–and remember that purple was worn proudly by men before it was co-opted by the fairer sex. Here’s Omiru’s primer on how to wear purple for men:
1. Start with a basic foundation: a fitted button-down shirt in white, and a pair of grey jeans.
2. Layer on a purple cardigan, allowing the white of the button-down to shine through. Note the grey cuffs on the cardigan, which tie in nicely to the grey jeans.
3. Finish off the outfit with a brown belt and loafers. The brown contrasts nicely with the purple; together, they all feel richer.
How would you wear purple? Share your style with us in the comments!
Posted by Trisha on July 21st, 2009 in Men, Ready Made Outfits |
What do we love about summer? Gorgeous style at a fraction of the price of heavy winter clothes. Well, that, and beautiful weather, outdoor concerts, and beach bonfires. Get dressed for less, wherever summer is taking you. Here’s five sophisticated style steals, each well under $50:
Paisley Tunic Dress | $40.50 at Alloy
Toss on a low-slung belt to roughen up the look of this pretty paisley dress. If it’s too short, add a pair of skinny pants underneath.
Pleated Vest Dress | $24.80 at Forever 21
Grab a sweater to cover up your shoulders, and this pleated vest dress goes to work in a cinch.
Textured Gauze Bow Neck Top | $40 at Tulle
The vibrant purple color and the oversized bow on this top make it a standout. Pair it with navy (as shown), with a brown handbag.
Francine Floral Slub Tunic | $19.80 at Forever 21
We’re digging the gorgeous orange, tan, and yellow pattern on the deep navy blue. Pair it with a pair of white jeans and heeled sandals for a chic beachy look.
Daisy Dots Eyelet Tank Top | $28.99 at Ruche
Pair this eyecatching fire-engine red top with a pair of deep navy jeans to do red, white, and blue in style.
Posted by Trisha on July 20th, 2009 in Shopping Guide, Women |
We asked: Would you wear The Color Orange?
You said: Yes to Orange, with a 75% to 25% vote.
Style tip? Orange–especially a deep blood orange–is one of our favorite colors, year round. But during the summer, the vibrant orange should get even more play. Pair your bright orange with dark blue jeans for an easy, color coordinated look. Or try it with grey for an edgier, rocker girl look.
Next question: Menswear vests are all over the place this summer. They’re a great layering piece, and they don’t suffocate you in the summer heat. But they’re not for everyone. Tell us, would you wear a Vest? Cast your vote on the sidebar!
Pictured: Pintucked Crochet Top | $17.80 at Forever 21.
Posted by Trisha on July 19th, 2009 in Trend, Trend Predictives, Trendscape, Trendscape, What's In and What's Out, Women |
We were browsing the racks at Forever 21, and we were pleasantly surprised to find a wealth of fabulous skirts that don’t require a personal fortune to enjoy. The beauty of skirts are that they’re so easy to fit - they don’t require immaculate tailoring in order to look right. So they’re consistently one of the best bets at cheap chic stores like Forever 21. Plus, they’re fun and flirty…and perfect for the broiling weather we’ve been seeing. Here’s our six favorite picks for sophisticated skirts under $20:
Brushstroke Swing Skirt | $14.80 at Forever 21
What to wear it with? Allow your inner artist to come out in this brushstroke print skirt. Wear it with a solid colored top with arty detailing (drapes, pleats, and folds are always a plus) and a structured menswear blazer.
Linen Side Pleat Skirt | $15.80 at Forever 21
What to wear it with? Let the side pleat shine with a ruffly blouse (tucked in) and a cropped sweater.
Abstract Paisley Skirt | $16.90 at Heritage 1981
What to wear it with? Wear this tribal print skirt with a pair of gladiator sandals and a simple tank.
Paint Stroke Flare Skirt | $19.80 at Forever 21
What to wear it with? Mix things up by pairing this elegant full skirt with a grafitti print top. We love the mix of high and low.
Fold Over Woven Skirt | $17.80 at Forever 21
What to wear it with? Try a crisp white shirt or a sailor striped top for a classic, elegant look.
Contrast Print Linen Skirt | $14.80 at Forever 21
What to wear it with? Let this skirt shine by pairing it with a solid colored top–such as a drapey, knit blouse.
Posted by Trisha on July 17th, 2009 in Shopping Guide, Women |
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