Smart Business Casual With Spring Trends

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Natalie & Carina

For most professional women, looking polished is crucial. Even on casual Friday it’s important to avoid looking too comfortable, as you can risk looking unprofessional. Though business casual looks are necessary, they don’t have to be boring. Check out our 3 daring ways to rock business casual while letting your unique style shine through:

1. De-Frump Your Slacks

Slacks are a business casual staple, but you don’t have to get lost in a sea of beige. Add some cool to your khakis with a chambray shirt and a neon statement necklace.

2. Go Monochrome

Monochromatic looks are everywhere this season, and they’re an easy way to make a statement in the boardroom. Choose a flattering hue (don’t worry too much about matching shades perfectly, just make sure they’re in the same family) and rock it! You’ll love the confidence that comes with rocking your power color head to toe. Make sure your pieces are clean and tailored, as this is a bold look that leaves no room for sloppy lines.

3. Swap Your Sportcoat for a Trendy Topper

Bootcut jeans with a blazer is a foolproof way to do business casual, but try losing your plain black blazer for a trendier alternative. We show you how to do it with this season’s ubiquitous military-style jacket, but there are countless jackets out there; floral, pastel, and mint blazers look just as chic.

Which spring trend are you most likely to rock at the office?

Be sure to visit Elan Image Management’s website for more style tips. If you find yourself struggling with how to coordinate your spring wardrobe Contact Us to explore how we can help you with one of our image consulting services. Are you subscribing to the blog feed to get weekly updates in your inbox? Do so Here.

Be Fabulously You!

3 Ways to Style Shift Dresses

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Natalie & Carina

Shift dresses have been in vogue since Twiggy rocked them in 1960s London, but many women today seem to avoid them. It’s easy to choose the wrong accents to go with a boxy silhouette (say no to ankle boots and shifts!) and end up looking frumpy. Shift dresses are flattering to most figures on the spectrum, from petites to curvy ladies, so don’t be afraid! Check out Elan’s 3 favorite ways to style a shift:

1. Day (wedding, afternoon party, corporate luncheon)

This rose-colored shift from Phillip Lim proves that pink can be for grown-ups, too. Keep your accessories classic and timeless to draw focus to the vibrant dress. Beige pumps and nail polish, which usually look matronly when worn together, are chic and keep the bright pink from looking childish. Add nude lace tights if you’re looking for more texture.

2. Night (Cocktail party, birthday dinner, dancing)

A boxy silhouette can give your LBD a fresh makeover for the new year. Sheer sleeves and a short hemline add sexiness to this ($55!) Dorothy Perkins shift without showing loads of skin. Make sure you slick on some scarlet lipstick to avoid getting washed out by this all-black ensemble.

3. The office (Presentation, work trip, interview)

Boxy shift dresses are great for the office, because you don’t have to think twice about form-fitting silhouettes or looking office-appropriate. Grab one in a smart fabric like tweed (we found this one at Kohl’s for less than $30!), add a watch and your red power bag, and voila! You’ve got a boardroom-ready outfit in seconds.

For more styling tips, check out Natalie’s bestselling book, Frumpy to Fabulous: Flaunting It. Your Ultimate Guide to Effortless Style. It is available in Paperback, Kindle and Abridged Ebook Format.

Dressing for Success: Fabulous Skirts for the Office

Posted on October 9, 2012 by Natalie & Carina

Fall is here, and with that comes an array of great new ensembles to wear to work. Since most of us haven’t reached sub-zero temperatures yet, there’s still plenty of time to sport chic skirts to work. Take a look at some of our favorite skirts for the office:

J. Crew kicks up the classic pencil with shiny satin and a vibrant emerald hue. Pair it with a subtle navy or gray to avoid an over-the-top look.

Trumpet hems are everywhere this season, and the office is no exception. A beige blouse would be the perfect addition to this violet skirt from Nanette Lepore; the deep jewel tone is perfect for autumn.

For the more daring fashionistas out there, leather can be worn in the office when styled correctly. Command attention by pairing this Zara skirt with a pair of severe black pumps and a structured blazer for a modern take on the power suit. After hours, counter the toughness of the leather with a feminine chiffon blouse.

We’ve already touched on the colorblock trend for sweaters, but don’t be afraid to focus on other areas as well. This colorblocked a-line from J. Crew is equal parts elegant, fun, and fashionable. Top it off with your go-to white oxford for a simple and sophisticated look.

For more outfit ideas for the office, check out Natalie’s bestselling book, Frumpy to Fabulous: Flaunting It. Your Ultimate Guide to Effortless Style. It is available in Paperback, Kindle and Abridged Ebook Format.

Turn a Basic Tee into a Professional Wardrobe Staple

Posted on July 25, 2012 by Jennifer & Natalie

At Flaunting It with The Image Diva our goal is to making looking and feeling good as effortless as possible. We had a great idea to take a basic foundation garment–a fitted Tee–and show you a few fun ways to style it for work.

There is just something about a well fitted tee that’s as comfortable as your favorite blue jeans. You just want to wear it everywhere, but it doesn’t always feel appropriate, right?. We show you a couple of ways to make that comfy tee work for more than lounging on the couch. Follow our tips to look fabulous in your tees!

How to Wear a T-shirt in the Office by fortheloveofblueshoes featuring an elastic waist skirt

Tuck a t-shirt into a high-waisted skirt and accessorize. By adding a belt or statement necklace you’ll direct the eye away from your cotton tee. This striped skirt from White House Black Market is made for tucking. With a built in bow at the waist you don’t need a belt or even too many accessories. We added a soft sea glass bead necklace to counterbalance the graphic skirt. The matching clutch keeps a touch of color moving through this look.

How to Wear a T-shirt in the Office by fortheloveofblueshoes featuring a military jacket

You can also use a t-shirt to add a pop of color to a neutral blazer. This ruffled cadet blazer, we also found at White House Black Market, has so much detail a solid color is all you need underneath it. We chose arm candy instead of a necklace in the form of an on-trend cuff. Notice we pulled the color back in here. Your basic black pants also get a wake up call with those two-tone studded wedges.

Wasn’t that easy!?! Now your favorite tee can leave the house and go to the office while you still look fabulous!

For more tips on how to maximize your basic, check out Natalie’s bestselling book, Frumpy to Fabulous: Flaunting It. Your Ultimate Guide to Effortless Style. It is available in Paperback, Kindle and Abridged Ebook Format.

What to Wear? Comfortable yet Stylish Shoes for Work

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Natalie

As an image consultant and personal shopper one of the questions I get asked most often is where to find comfortable yet stylish shoes for work. It amazes me that many women will forgo wearing skirts and dresses because they do not have the right type of shoes that give them the comfort they desire yet not frumpy. My answer is typically that options now are so much more plentiful than they used to be. Designers like Naturalizer, Aerosoles and Cole Haan have made comfort a priority in their shoe designs.

Naturalizer has a whole line–the N5 comfort series designed for women with these challenges in mind. There are also brands like Sofft shoes, Born, Dansko and Munro Italian that can be found in major department stores that offer designs that are a more fashion forward than your grandmother used to wear, while still keeping the ‘comfort first’ mentality in tact.

I typically advise women to look for a shoe with at least an inch and half heel to wear with skirts and dresses because a slight heel will be more flattering than no heel at all (in other words ballet flats really can’t be worn with a sheath dress!). Also examine the type of heel. A kitten heel with a narrow base on the bottom is infinitely harder to walk in than a block or wedge heel. Some platforms can also be forgiving in the comfort department.

So you don’t just have to take my word for it, here are a few stylish options for work that keep your foot comfort in mind (all available at Nordstrom).

Anyi Lu Dainty pump