Genius Packing Advice From The Smartest Traveler We Know: Our Own EIC
I don't care what anyone says, packing properly is harder than actually planning and booking a vacation. Anyone can throw everything they own into a rolly bag, but it takes real skill to thoughtfully plan just the right mix of essentials to bring along for the ideal travel wardrobe. Given I am on a plane several times a month, I have made packing my absolute obsession. And after a lot of trial and error (and way too many dresses that have gone unworn!), here's what I've learned:
1. Weather check. Yes, it's more fun to wing it, but so NOT fun when you're preparing for a dinner on a gorgeous 75-degree evening and all you have is a heavy wool dress. Boo! Take the time to check the weather and make sure that everything you do bring is climate appropriate.
2. Edit, edit, edit! Lay everything you really want to bring out on your bed, and then, piece by piece, take away half of what's there, leaving you with only the pieces you truly love wearing that you will feel good in. Traveling is never a time to "road-test" something you haven't worn before. If you haven't worn it on your home turf, you sure won't wear it somewhere else.
3. Extra accessories equal extra options. I absolutely never check luggage (such a time drain!), and I make sure the clothes-to-accessories ratio in my bag is always 1:2. Choose a few key pieces that create a bunch of flexible outfits, and then double the number of accessories you bring. One pair of flats, one pair of evening heels, a chic clutch, oversized earrings, matching cuffs, a statement necklace (or two!), and a few cocktail rings can make even your most basic outfit feel special and unique. And they take up the least amount of room in your bag.
4. The bag matters. That old overnight bag you inherited from your mom or your last boyfriend? Toss it. Immediately! Never, ever, ever think your travel bag doesn't matter. It may be "luggage" but it actually defines your travel look, and when it's great-looking and functional, it actually makes it more fun to travel with and pack.
Reserve Tip: Speaking of bags that matter, want to score the ultimate city-girl-friendly suitcase? The gorg and lightweight Lipault foldable carry-on above is now available on Reserve in four R29-approved colors.
Dirty Little Styling Secrets From Three Industry Insiders!
In the age of The Rachel Zoe Project, everyone (and their mother) aspires to be a celebrity stylist. But it isn't as easy as it looks. Making it to the upper-echelons of this industry is like joining an Ivy League secret society, including the hazardous-to-your-health hazing (have you ever schlepped twice your body weight in clothes around town?). That's why we rounded up three styling wonder women who have the wherewithal and work ethic to become The Next Big Thing. And after years of climbing the styling ropes, they've sifted through the very best of the how-tos, easy tricks, and dish-y wardrobe secrets. From repurposing panty liners (don’t judge!) to a quick tip for avoiding a tailor when time is scarce, these glam gals are happy to share what makes them tick and how they’ve risen to the top.
Reader Pickles: "What Do I Wear With Overalls?"
Julia from Los Angeles has a fashion pickle she needs solved: "I recently picked up a vintage pair of overalls that I LOVE. They've got a slight tapered, cropped leg, an engineer stripe, and cool brass straps. I'm just confused about what to wear with them so I don't look like an Osh Kosh kid. Help!"
Fellow readers, if you have helpful advice to help solve Julia's pickle, leave your comments below. In a pickle yourself? Send your style dilemmas to advice@refinery29.com with a photo if applicable.
Photo: Via Madewell
9 Genius Styling Tips From L.A.'s Hottest Parties
With so many holiday parties on the horizon, it’s easy to get into a bit of a styling rut. So, instead of rocking the same look to multiple parties, just pick up some outfit advice from L.A.’s best-dressed ladies. Whether their local lovelies or A-listers with a killer closet, here are nine of our favorite festive outfits—with easy-to-replicate styling tips—to help kick your holiday look into high gear.
Dude Dressing 101: Fella-Friendly Fashion Tips
With the entire industry focused on the womenswear shows in NYC this week (followed by London, Milan, and Paris), it’s easy to get swept up in the fashion fantasy and forget that sometimes, basic is best—especially when the boys are concerned. Thankfully, Put This On’s latest list of helpful sartorial dos and don’ts is tailor-made for the clothing-challenged dude in your life. With their indispensable article, 25 Pieces Of Sartorial Knowledge So You Don't Look Dumb, this L.A.-based blog covers everything from never buttoning a third button to the inexcusable cell-phone holsters (and flip-flops), to the perfect sleeve length. Trust—this is a funny, fashionable, and helpful list you should definitely forward to your brother, boyfriend, and sock-and-Teva-wearing dad, stat.
Photo, courtesy of PutThisOn.
Photo, courtesy of PutThisOn.
Hailee Steinfeld's Styling Team Dishes Their Fall Must-Haves
Olivia Wilde, Hailee Steinfeld, Alexis Bledel, Anna Paquin…yes, their exclusive clientele list may read like a who’s who of A-list Hollywood, but that doesn’t mean styling team
Kemal + Karla
don’t have helpful fall styling tips for us mere mortals. This bi-coastal duo are known in the biz for bringing their clients the best of cutting-edge fashion and outfitting the stars with that insouciant, Cali-cool vibe. So, when these industry influencers make fashionable predictions, we make a point to listen—closely. From the hottest shoes to wear with the season’s wide-leg pants and the prettiest makeup trends right from the runway—bold brows!—autumn's essentials are right here, hand-picked by two styling stars on the rise.
Photos courtesy of Kemal and Karla.
Photos courtesy of Kemal and Karla.
What To Wear To Summer Festivals
Tickets for this year's Coachella festivities sold out faster than you could say "Jimmy Eat World is still around?" But if you've managed to score yourself a spot, don't think that you can rest on your laurels. You've still got to figure out what to wear to the most stylish music festival all year. Dressing for the event is a balancing act: You've got to combat the heat, harsh sun, hours of standing, and your fellow, drunken peers...but we've got eight tips to get you there in style. Here's our simple guide to what to wear to Coachella and all the other great summer music festivals to come!
Choose Clothes In Printed, Lightweight Fabrics—There's no fabric on Earth more breezy than a lightweight silk. Just avoid those awkward sweat stains by picking one in a crazy, on-trend print.
Above, from left: Paul & Joe Cat-Print Silk-Crepe Pants, $340, available at Net-A-Porter; Sparkle & Fade Printed Pants (not shown), $29.99, available at Urban Outfitters; Wren Silk Cutout Dress, $242 available at Satine, 8134 West Third Street (at Crescent Heights Avenue); 323-655-2845; Alice + Olivia Silk Play Shorts, $176, available at Singer 22; Madewell Triangle Ballad Dress, $135, available at Madewell.
Choose Clothes In Printed, Lightweight Fabrics—There's no fabric on Earth more breezy than a lightweight silk. Just avoid those awkward sweat stains by picking one in a crazy, on-trend print.
Above, from left: Paul & Joe Cat-Print Silk-Crepe Pants, $340, available at Net-A-Porter; Sparkle & Fade Printed Pants (not shown), $29.99, available at Urban Outfitters; Wren Silk Cutout Dress, $242 available at Satine, 8134 West Third Street (at Crescent Heights Avenue); 323-655-2845; Alice + Olivia Silk Play Shorts, $176, available at Singer 22; Madewell Triangle Ballad Dress, $135, available at Madewell.
5 Spring Dresses To Wear Right Now
If we tell you that we've lately found ourselves forlornly standing in front of our closets running our fingers through all the silk, linen, and cotton spring dresses just begging for warm weather...would you judge? Seriously, we've cracked under seasonal jealousy, and we have a feeling you all want to start wearing those spring dresses, too. So, we've happily rounded up five of our favorite warmer-weather frocks, and paired them with easy pieces to winterize 'em. Here are the five spring dresses, and how to wear them right now!
10 New Year's Eve Styling Tricks
With the shopping frenzy finally behind us, you've got the green light to give yourself a little extra TLC. And if you're thinking of putting grandma's Christmas cash to good use, we've got a few fun ideas to make your New Year's Eve styling pursuits a little extra special. Either use pieces from your existing wardrobe or invest in one or two of our dress-up essentials, either way you go, each of these last-minute moves will make New Year's a fashionable night to remember.
The Guy's Guide To Holiday Dressing
As much as a great girlfriend or discriminating eye can lend a helpful sartorial hand, there's no doubt about it: Dressing up after-dark for guys can be utterly stressful. Go too subtle and you end up on the dullsville casual side…or go too festive and feel paranoid all night that everyone's secretly snickering at your tartan cumberbund. Well, whether you're a guy with a full holiday dance-card or his best girl hoping for a little Mad Men role play, we've got 6 snazzy outfits sported by some super-cute fellas who show us how to make holiday dressing work whatever your vibe may be.
Rachel Bilson's Blue Moment At William Rast x Target
Rachel Bilson's style doesn't usually disappoint. This past Saturday Rachel was seen on the red carpet to celebrate William Rast x Target, and her winning outfit streak stayed perfectly intact. Wearing a baby blue Christian Dior dress and Brian Atwood heels, the OC stunner proves that JC isn't the only one who knows how to bring sexy back. We also think her pale blue ensemble is a great dressing inspiration for a holiday party—just because you're not wearing green or red doesn't mean you can't find a festive frock that is party-ready. So go ahead and pick a pale colored dress, just remember to pair it with a neutral pair of shoes, and you'll be all set all season long. (TheCut)
5 Easy Outfits For Holiday Dress-Up
It never fails, at this time of year, our wardrobe—and all its gorgeous contents—goes into serious red alert. While we wish (really badly!) we could employ the tricks of a holiday outfit guru to help us get a little more mileage out of our tried-and-true pieces, we're just not that flush. But lucky for us, we've got a whole lot of dress-up inspiration right in our own office. So, in order to help you—and yours truly—get a few more festive looks out of the old closet, we, and two of our favorite office-mates from RoAndCo, took a stab at whipping up our best holiday ensembles. From super feminine and classic to preppy-eclectic, we've got five easy holiday outfits you can copy yourself...and consider our shopping tips even more inspiration to add to your seasonal wish-list.
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