Author: Nicole L.

Summer’s coming up fast, and sandals are essential. Work, meeting for coffee, a sushi date – all good opportunities to show of some strappy kicks. To make crafting outfits easy and fun, you’re going to need some versatile sandals you can wear both day and nigh – but what style to choose?

The trend is moving away from extreme platforms and spikey stilettos. The new shape is a chunky heel and bold, wide straps – platform optional.

Shopping credits: skinny – Vince Camuto, natural textures – Elizabeth and James, bombshell – Kelsi Dagger Lilliana, chic and sophisticated – Calvin Klein, eye catching – Heart Soul Pasquale.

Nicole Longstreath is a wardrobe coach in Orange County, CA and author of Reclaiming Your Wardrobe, an ebook dedicated to building a smarter wardrobe, avoiding bad purchases and uncovering your unique style. She also publishes a weekly outfit inspiration collage, exclusively for readers of Collages & Commentary.

Tweet

As of today, we are just 7 short days away from spring! Instead of using the 2012 pastel trend to my advantage, I wanted to find an art piece which which communicated the vibrancy of spring in a different way.

I love this simple Picasso line drawing of a woman with long, flowy hair. Atop her head is a wreath, and I imagined that below the neck she was wearing something bohemian - which is inherently “spring”. To interpret this into an outfit, I chose a monochromatic scheme of a drop waist blouse and wide, drapey trousers.

To invoke a bohemian look, I would suggest taking your cues from style a la 1920s vs. 70s, hippy-chic. An empire waist will always say, “groovy, baby;” whereas a drop waist hints at something more avant garde.

Shopping credits: trousers – Maison Martin Margiela, shoes – Jimmy Choo, bag – J. crew, blouse – Anthropologie, necklace – Marni.

Nicole Longstreath is a wardrobe coach in Orange County, CA and author of Reclaiming Your Wardrobe, an ebook dedicated to building a smarter wardrobe, avoiding bad purchases and uncovering your unique style. She also publishes a weekly outfit inspiration collage, exclusively for readers of Collages & Commentary.

Tweet

If you’re not acquainted with art, it can sometimes be a little intimidating. Mostly because contemporary art is usually so serious. But I was delighted when I found this series by artist Amy Sullivan on (my fave art site) The Jealous Curator.

Featured in Jealous’ post were two series; one whimsical/creepy “Little Red Riding Hood” inspired set, and the second series featured the elusive forest creature – Sasquatch. What drew me to the Sasquatch series was an image of Sasquatch, his boombox, a friend and dozens of Eames chairs stacked precariously high.

This whimsical combination of Sasquatch and Eames chairs made me think of how fashion can be seriously intimidating, unless you’re able to find the whimsy. By simply adding some pattern (like polka dots) and a little color, you can create and outfit which  has sophistication and style!

Shopping credits: crop pants – J. Crew, shoes – See by Chloe, tote bag – Cynthia Vincent, tank – Michael Kors, scarf – J. Crew, cardigan – Juicy Couture.

Nicole Longstreath is a wardrobe coach in Orange County, CA and author of Reclaiming Your Wardrobe, an ebook dedicated to building a smarter wardrobe, avoiding bad purchases and uncovering your unique style. She also publishes a weekly outfit inspiration collage, exclusively for readers of Collages & Commentary.

Tweet

The most under-rated item in a wardrobe is, hand-down, a good fancy blouse.

Whether they’re vintage polyester or expensive silk, a good blouse can be dressed up or down to suit whatever your day has in store. If it’s a casual day, pair with jeans. But if you’re going to a more formal event, a nice blouse can be the star of the outfit and get you noticed for all the right reasons. A no-fail fancy blouse combo: pair with a pencil skirt and some statement shoes.

Here are a few that got my attention. I have to say, the cobalt blue blouse from J. Crew is definitely going on my wish list!

Shopping credits: sophisticated blouse – J. Crew, ladylike blouse – Guilietta, trendy blouse – Milly, retro blouse – Anthropologie, smart blouse – Anna Sui, casual blouse – J. Crew.

Nicole Longstreath is a wardrobe coach in Orange County, CA and author of Reclaiming Your Wardrobe, an ebook dedicated to building a smarter wardrobe, avoiding bad purchases and uncovering your unique style. She also publishes a weekly outfit inspiration collage, exclusively for readers of Collages & Commentary.

Tweet

Last Fall, the colorblocking trend took over. Because it was a relatively-new trend, bloggers and fashionistas were gleefully putting together dazzling combinations of bright and bold colors – mostly in ways which would have been major faux-pas in preceding years.

The colorblocking trend has returned for the Spring, but this time it’s embracing a more neutral color scheme – which makes it more wearable for non-fashion-bloggers and those who can’t show up to work wearing hot pink and electric blue with a straight face.

This is a good thing, because for far too long, we’ve been clinging to safe beige in our wardrobes and avoiding fun accents of color. Because most ready-to-wear retailers are slow to catch on, DIY might be the only way to wear colorblocking. Below are some of my favorite colorblocking projects.

Credits: dress, shoes, clutch, pants, earrings, necklace, J. Crew skirt, fabric paint.

Tweet