5 Ways to Inject Red Into Your Look

Feel like your wardrobe’s been lacking lately? A small pop of color can be an easy solution that adds to your wardrobe without breaking the bank or taking loads of time. Festive and flattering, red electrifies all outfits all year round.

1. Shoes

Red footwear is a great way to add serious sass to any ensemble. A pair of sexy red pumps (such as the Jimmy Choos pictured above) will add style and dimension to your LBD or favorite pair of black skinnies, while red flats are a fun addition to your daytime wardrobe. Throw on these Repetto ballet flats to brighten up a jeans-and-t-shirt combo.

2. Handbag

A red bag commands attention, all while being effortless and versatile. This Marc by Marc Jacobs satchel can be taken from the office, to cocktails, to brunch, and everywhere in between. The muted raspberry shade is subtler than scarlet, making this bag perfect to coordinate (not clash!) with any outfit.

3. Nail Polish

Despite the ever-changing nail colors of every season, red varnish is always in style. A perfectly painted set of red nails makes you feel instantly polished and put-together. Deborah Lippmann makes the perfect deep shade with a slight shimmer to add dimension to your look.

4. Jewelry

For those who’d rather take the guesswork out of choosing the perfect earrings/necklace to go with their hair/neckline, a bold cocktail ring is key. A fun finger bauble adds flair to any cocktail dress without being distracting. This Solange Azagury-Partridge ring is perfect for the holiday party season.

5. Lipstick

It doesn’t get any more classic than a red lip. Always chic and appropriate for practically any occasion, red lipstick elevates any and every ensemble. Dior makes a great cherry red lip color that flatters most skin tones.

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 PaperbackKindle and Abridged Ebook Format.

Fashion Focus: Elan’s Top Three Fall Shoe Trends

It’s time for some fashion inspiration and in this post it’s all about footwear!

Shoes are a great way to transform your wardrobe in between seasons without completely overhauling your closet, and a good pair of fall shoes can also help you get mileage out of your summer favorites. From the office to the weekend and everywhere in between, we’ve got you covered for fall footwear.

Leopard Print

Formerly known as juvenile, leopard print has been getting an adult makeover these days. Sophisticated touches like calf-hair and structured shapes are finding their way onto leopard footwear and adding a wild element to fall ensembles. For the office, J. Crew leopard pumps add a chic and ferocious air to an all-black power suit, and Madewell ankle booties transform any pair of skinny jeans.

Colorblock

Based on our recent posts, it isn’t too hard to tell that we’re crazy for colorblocking, not only for its figure-flattering abilities, but for how great they look on footwear as well. Update your favorite LBD by stepping into a pair of tri-colored platforms from Brian Atwood, or some strappy Diane Von Furstenburg sandals.

Loafers

For many, loafers might evoke images of frumpy school uniforms or the teachers who enforced them, but now they’re a comfortable way to add a dose of cool menswear-inspired style to casual outfits. Add a hint of luxury to your favorite worn-in jeans with velvet loafers from Tod’s, and add polish to dark skinnies with Madewell‘s metallic loafers.

Over-the-Knee Boots

Everyone knows that a good pair of riding boots are a timeless fall staple, but for more daring fashionistas, why not take it up a few inches? Tan over-the-knee boots (like the Steve Maddens pictured above) are a great way to add flair to casual weekend outfits and to extend the life of your summer dresses. For a night out, black opaque tights and an LBD with Roland Mouret thigh-highs will help you stay warm while looking hot.

For more tips on flaunting your style, 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.

Autumn Essentials: Boots Made For Walking

There is that nip in the air now–can you feel it? We’ve been preparing you, in our last few posts to get ready for fall, for work and play and nothing says “Hello, Fall” quite like a new pair of boots. Flip flops and beachwear are making their exit and outfits are becoming more polished.

Boots are a great way to transition your summer wardrobe to the cooler months ahead, and they add a chic cosmopolitan flair to almost any outfit. Check out our favorite boots for autumn:

A good pair of riding boots is a necessary investment for fall fashion. Classic and versatile, these Zara boots will look fabulous with jeans tucked into them, or with your favorite sundress that you’re not quite ready to put away yet. For business casual, pair with light weight cords and a sweater and  you can’t go wrong.

Add a pop of color to rainy fall days with a pair of high-quality wellies, such as this scarlet pair from Hunter. Wear with any casual weekend outfit, and be sure to keep the rest of your colors muted to avoid looking too busy.

Navy blue is a subtle but unexpected hue on these suede ankle booties from J. Crew. Lace booties are very in this fall. Pair these with anything and everything–knit tights, jeans, a casual dress–for a laid-back and sophisticated feel. A great alternative to running shoes on the way to work, ladies!

Snakeskin is huge this fall and these Sam Edelman boots are right on time. With a 3.5″ heel this boot is comfortable and stylish. If you are looking for a way to snazzy up your work wear this may be it. Pair with a solid pencil skirt and peplum jacket, and you’re sure to strut with confidence in the office. If the print is too daring, these darling boots also come in black.

While over-the-knee boots can be tricky, they’re ultra-glamorous when pulled off correctly. Make sure to always wear these YSL thigh-highs with opaque tights to avoid revealing too much. This boot is definitely for play.  Keep the rest of your outfit polished and stylish; a floaty chiffon dress and a black blazer are a perfect example of an ensemble that will take take the “sexy” vibe of this boot down a notch or two.

You can’t go wrong with these $62 buckle ankle boots from Kohl’s in sand. Pair them with slacks and your favorite knit top to take a standard outfit from drab to fab. Because they are a neutral tone these can become your new go-to boots this fall.

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

Style on a Shoestring: Summer Outfits under $150 each!

You know at Flaunting It With The Image Diva we’ve got you covered. Whether it’s showing you how to pop in unusual color combinations, looking effortlessly stylish and appropriate for work, accenting with accessories or dressing to flatter your figure our goal is to inform, inspire and empower.

In this post, we want to show you how looking great is not about how much money you spend. So no, you don’t need to blow your summer vacation budget on a new wardrobe. Not at all!  We’ve got two summer looks that each cost less than $150! This includes shoes AND accessories. Without further ado, below you’ll find 2 looks that can work for the office or the weekend.

Outfit for $136.93

This entire dynamic look that can easily be worn in the office or on the weekend was just $137! Tuck the updated white tee into the skirt to give yourself a defined waist. Depending on your office, you may or may not need the cardigan. We threw it in since there was room in the budget. Plus it will help you transition this look into fall. The turquoise necklace and earrings help pull some of the color from the skirt up towards your face and for $10 it was an easy add on. Do I hear a wohoo?

$150 Outfit

We really maximized this budget. The entire outfit shown above rings in at $149.42. We love a bold ankle pant this summer. Paired with an Aztec printed top and clutch, we kept the shoe simple and neutral. These earrings we found mimic the color and overall feel perfectly. This is a great weekend/polished casual look that will flatter many figures.

Would you ever have though you could fill your shopping bag with this many on-trend items for just $150? Many of these pieces, like the shoes and jewelry, will easily mix and match with other items in your wardrobe. That will maximize your budget even further. Tell us what you think of our affordable outfits by leaving a comment below.

For more fabulous style 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.

Stylish Shoes your Feet will Love

A sky high stiletto with a platform is great- for looking at. We all need a little shoe candy now and then. But your feet will thank you for leaving those platform stilettos on the shelf and opting for something with more of a comfort and style balance. You know we’re all about fashion and comfort, so we won’t be recommending anything you’ll feel less than fabulous in. We just want your feet to feel as fabulous as the rest of you.

It can take a little research to find this balance of style and comfort. It’s probably not a lunch time shopping trip. But with our help you’ll have a good head start to filling your closet with shoes you can actually wear AND love.
Aerosoles Black well wisher Aerosoles chlambake sandals
First stop, Aerosoles for some adorable peep toe wedges. From the office to girls night out, these babies could quickly become a go-to black shoe. We also peeked in at the sandals and were pleasantly surprised by the selection of flat fashion sandals.  These studded t-straps were our favorite for the weekend. Just look at that padded foot bed. Some marathon shopping could occur in these.

Naya Eternal platform wedge Naya Kindred bootie
Our next stop is Naturalizer where they carry some really cute Naya platform wedges. These will look great with skirts and ankle length capris all summer long. Then to give you a jump start on fall we had to share these peep toe booties with cushioned insole and rubber outsole to maximize comfort. Yummy!!

Cole Haan	Air Tali Leather Pump Cole Haan Air Morgan Sandal
Now that Nike is selling off their Cole Haan division you may want to splurge on a pair of pumps with Nike Air technology before it is no longer available. We’d recommend a classic black pump and then something with a little more sass.

Now that is how you pack comfort and style into one fabulous shoe!

For more fabulous style 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.