How To Rock A Pencil Skirt Out Of The Office
If the idea of a "pencil skirt" conjures up as much inspiration as "day-old noodles," you're not alone. In the realm of clothing items, the lowly pencil skirt has been relegated to the back of the line, only making appearances in fluorescent-lit office spaces, recruiting conventions, and other "business casual" functions. No more, we say. When worn right, the pencil skirt can be one of the sexiest pieces around (two words: Joan Holloway), and a truly versatile piece that can make casual outfits more fancy, and fancy outfits more imaginative. Here are seven ways to make a pencil skirt feel anything other than your office dress code jacket.
10 Eye-Popping Brights To Shake Up Your Winter Wardrobe
Hey, you, in the head-to-toe neutrals for the third day in a row: You're in a style rut, huh? We get it — it's cold outside and standard-issue basics are essential for layering. Besides, all of your cute getups are concealed by a heavy coat, anyway. Well, we're here to stage an intervention: Your winter wardrobe doesn't have to be the most boring thing ever. In fact, it can be awesome — and you don't even have to do anything drastic to get from here to there! All you need is a shot in the arm (or the armoire, as it were) of some truly bracing color. We did the hard work for you — we found an array of wear-with-everything staples in eye-popping shades that you can mix into your current closet. Seriously, just one of these babies will liven things up in a major way. There now — doesn't that feel better?
Another Balmy Winter Day, Another Set Of Gorgeous Spring Dresses
Last month, we shared an early peek at Annapolis-based line Kalivoda's spring collection with you, and now, we've turned up the complete lookbook. In honor of today's incredible weather — seriously, it's blissful out there — click through to check out the rest of designer Lacey Wheatley's dreamy, ethereal frocks. We spotted lots of asymmetrical hemlines (hello, major spring trend!), light-as-air textures, and gorgeous, ethereal styling. If this doesn't make you want to shed a layer or two, we don't know what will.
7 Awesome Jackets From Aritzia's Spring Preview
One of our favorite stores for unique everyday basics is Canadian new kid on the block, Aritzia, and their preview on Wednesday morning was nothing short of swoon-worthy. From soft pastels mixed with punchy bold hues, to slinky tap shorts and sheer silk button-downs, this latest batch of spring/summer designs make us want to fast-forward to February. One of the biggest eye-catchers, though, was their array of totally wearable jackets including slouchy blazers, casual anoraks, a trench in a light stretch material, and a varsity jacket that anyone could pull off. Once you're inside the gigantic flagship, you may actually question why you shop anywhere else, and these exceptional jacket options answer, "you shouldn't!"
Click through, and then tell us which style you can't wait to wear.
Photos: Courtesy of Starworks PR
Click through, and then tell us which style you can't wait to wear.
Photos: Courtesy of Starworks PR
Hottest Trends Of The Moment: We've Got 10!
The spring '12 shows were, in a word, comfortable. The trends might not have been groundbreaking, and the looks might not have been revolutionary, but—oh, boy—did we want it all. The runways read like a synopsis of Refinery29's greatest hits: preppy staples, tomboyish sensibilities, vintage inspirations, and loads of colors and prints… If you didn't have the opportunity to sit front row at all the shows, it's no sweat. We've hashed out the top 10 trends from spring '12 NYFW that we're going to start experimenting with, stat!
Jason Wu's Gothic Angels Get Light-Bright Lips And Thorny Crowns
Spring '12 is turning out to be a season rife with drama. Case in point, Jason Wu's edgy-romantic collection, which was smartly finished off with a sort of gothic-angel "thorny" hair crown and a bright (very bright!) red lip. With a hint of fluorescent pinky-orange, Wu's lip color—brought to life by Diane Kendal and MAC—already has us scrambling for the exact shade (that would be a lip pencil in Redd, lipstick in Scarlet Ibis, and Pigment in MAC Pro Acid Orange for that extra pop). As for that intricate spiky 'do by Odile Gilbert, let's just say it sure beats your typical tiara.
Rag & Bone Spring '12 Hits All The Right Notes: Layering, Color, And Thom Yorke
If there's one trend that defines fashion right now, it's nostalgia. And while plenty of designers are doing the glamorous periods from icons past ('60s Mary Quant, '70s Bianca Jagger, '80s Madonna), there are a few bad bananas among us who haven't yet found their personal style heroes manifested on the runway. Enter: Rag & Bone's spring collection, that drew upon '90s club kids, '70s surfer bros, and '00s music festival-goers for inspiration—the much-cooler 'anti-glamour' crowd, if you will. Shiny raver pants, hooded ponchos, psychedelic patchwork prints abound in the layered, mix-matched, tomboyish perfection we love about Rag & Bone clothes, all set to tunes recorded specially by Thom Yorke.
11 Super-Cool Shorts To Brighten Up Your Summer Wardrobe…
No matter what the Bay Area forecast says—summer is officially here. For those days when you don’t feel like donning a girly-girl frock, we’ve rounded up 11 of the coolest shorts for those rare (but much celebrated!) bare leg occasions. We’re not talking about your run-of-the-mill jean cut-offs either. No, our picks come in the juiciest of hues and super-graphic patterns to instantly boost your ensemble and your mood, even when the fog is about to roll in. So, exfoliate those gams, grab a blanket, and see you—and your shorts—in Dolores Park!
10 Stunning Summer Dresses Under $100
Memorial Day is rapidly approaching, which means summer is pretty much here! Of course, there’s no better way to celebrate the warm-weather season than with a flirty new frock. Check out our top 10 choices that are not only super-cute, but also supremely wallet-friendly thanks to their under-$100 price-tags. Just add a pair of shades, sandals, a hat, and a cardigan (it's San Francisco after all!), and you’re good to go.
Slideshow: Local Jewelry Line Avaasi Locks It Up This Spring With A Giveaway!
If your old standby necklaces just won't cut it anymore, Avaasi jewelry is sure to inspire you to turn your accessories collection upside-down. This local line is bursting with intriguingly draped chains and necklaces that stand out in a sea of simple pendants. The pieces are so substantial, they'll no doubt revolutionize every outfit you pair them with, opening up a completely new version of your existing wardrobe (hello, bonus points!). Click through for the latest looks and comment below to let us know which of your outfits is about to get an Avaasi makeover. One comment will win a vest necklace from the designer!
Spring Fling: John Derian & Repetto Collaborate On A Ballet Flat
As the sun makes more regular appearances and the temp gets closer and closer to bikini approved, we all start to feel a little friskier. You know what that means—hot spring hookups! The first one-night stand of the season is one we can definitely get behind—need-everything-now lifestyle brand John Derian has teamed up with French shoe line Repetto to create a limited-edition ballet flat that's perfect for the season. Since we already have about a bajillion of his decoupage trays, we're already planning our weekend around a jaunt to Derian's East Village boutique to add what's sure to be a collectable to our shoe racks. Derian is equally as amped, “I like sharing the beauty of the 19th century imagery I find," he says. "I feel my work is about people reconnecting with nature, with all its beauty, charm and mystery. I thought having that type of imagery out of the home and on the street was exciting.” He's right, but the vintage typography and bright colored fruits and flowers on this $295 pair are so delicately winning, we may have a hard time getting them out of the apartment and onto something so pedestrian as a sidewalk.
Available now at John Derian, 10 East 2nd Street (between Bowery and 2nd Avenue); 212-677-8408 .
6 Quirky Color Combos To Try Now
Let's face it: Sometimes the old everyday black and beige or gray and blue combos can be a whole lotta boring. With bold color-blocking continuing to be a strong trend for spring and summer, we decided to choose a few unorthodox color combos for spring that pushed the fashion envelope just enough. From Céline's gorgeous oxblood leather and cornflower blue to Marc Jacobs' sunny satiny pink and cool melon, these punchy pairings signal a new season of dress-up is here...finally!
Royal Blue and Crimson—It's time to make Independence Day, every day. Royal blue and crimson look best when worn in bright blocks of color. Try mixing them in a print, like this Thakoon dress, too.
Above, from left: Thakoon fall '11, image via Style.com; Mara Hoffman Red Picnic Dress, $250, available at Bonadrag; YSL Opal Lapis, $290, available at CultStatus; +J Tailored Blazer, $43.87, available at Uniqlo stores.
Royal Blue and Crimson—It's time to make Independence Day, every day. Royal blue and crimson look best when worn in bright blocks of color. Try mixing them in a print, like this Thakoon dress, too.
Above, from left: Thakoon fall '11, image via Style.com; Mara Hoffman Red Picnic Dress, $250, available at Bonadrag; YSL Opal Lapis, $290, available at CultStatus; +J Tailored Blazer, $43.87, available at Uniqlo stores.
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