Tag Archives: style trends

Trend Report: Velvet and ways to Wear It

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Heavy and regal, velvet has been cropping up on runways and in department stores everywhere this year. A single velvet accent can add texture and intensity to your outfits, but beware of overkill. Leave the full velvet dresses reminiscent of the 90s to younger fashionistas and play with smaller pieces instead. Check out Elan’s favorite ways to style velvet below:

Footwear

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One way to ease yourself into the velvet trend is with a pair of menswear-inspired velvet loafers. Throw them on to add a preppy, put-together vibe to any casual outfit. Stick to laid-back pieces like a floaty blouse or your favorite distressed jeans to avoid looking stuffy.
Trousers
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Sleeker than cords and much less stiff than slacks, velvet pants strike a stylish medium. Dress them up for a night out with ankle booties and a blouse, and stand out among the LBDs while keeping warm. To dress them down, try pairing them with a relaxed chambray shirt.

Outerwear

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Both luxurious and functional, a velvet blazer could easily become a work wardrobe staple for the colder months. A black velvet blazer swallows light, so be sure to pair it with a less severe bottom, such as a gray pencil, to avoid looking too intense. Allow the blazer to be the main focus of the outfit–stay away from tweeds, pinstripes, and other accents or textures. For a night out, pair the blazer with a silky camisole, dark denim, and simple pumps.

Which celebrity rocks the velvet trend best? 

Glamour UK

Is it SJP, who dresses down a velvet blazer with skinnies and heeled chukka boots?

Celebrity Street Style

Jessica Alba, who dresses down velvet jeans with a t-shirt and a cotton scarf?

Huffington Post

Or is it Kim Kardashian, who goes for a much bolder look with a full velvet jumpsuit?

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.

 

Grin and Bare It: How to Wear Sheer Tops

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We know it’s getting milder every week, but the cold weather does not have to weigh your look down. Add some levity to your ensembles with a dose of sheer.

Sheer fabric can be tricky, especially for those who are no longer in their 20′s, but when done correctly, showing a bit of skin can look demure and elegant. For nights out, weekend afternoons, and (dare we add) even the office, here are a few great ways you can rock the sheer blouse look.

Paper-thin tees are a great way to add easygoing luxury to denim. Pair this drapey Kain tee with your favorite jeans and a blazer, and you’ve got a foolproof weekend look.

Few things are more chic and timeless than black chiffon, and this silk tie-neck blouse by Diane Von Furstenburg is no exception. Keep your look monochromatic with black skinnies and black pumps. Chunky gold bracelets and watches add sparkle and depth to the look.

Sheer fabric can be done in the office, it just has to be done tastefully. Layering and darker, more professional hues are key. Pair an opaque camisole with this navy J. Crew blouse, and then top that with a gray blazer. This would look great with a high waisted pencil skirt or with slacks.

This Diane Von Furstenburg number combines classic chiffon with an in-demand trend for the season–animal print. For more daring fashionistas, we think that the liquid leggings pairing looks just fine. For those who want to tone the shirt down, black denim would look just as great, and a bit more subtle.

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.

Fall Trend Watch: Pretty in Peplum

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With peplum waists popping up on everything from skirts to jackets this season, we naturally wanted in on this trend. What is a peplum? It’s that design element that adds a gentle or dramatic flare from the waist to the hip in a top, jacket, dress or skirt to create the look of an hour glass figure. What is great about this style is that it can flatter many figure types and is a great way to camouflage a tummy or to give the illusion of more curves at the hip.

One peplum accent on an outfit is a great way to change the entire silhouette of your outfit without sacrificing your personal style.We’ve chosen our favorite peplum pieces below. The best part? The first four of our picks are under $100.

This poplin blouse from Zara adds a hint of high fashion to a classic wardrobe staple.

Savor the last days of summer with a fun peplum tank, such as this blue number from Anthropologie. Pair with jeans or your favorite pencil skirt.

Subtle jacquard print (and an $80 price tag!) makes this Zara dress perfect for an after-hours work function. The perfect LPD (Little Peplum Dress) to have in your wardrobe for fall.

Pair this Topshop blouse with black cigarette pants for a sophisticated Hepburn-inspired ensemble.

Turn the “no white after labor day” rule on its head and stand out with this little white dress by Alice and Olivia.

 

Update your fall staples with this satin-trimmed Alexander McQueen peplum jacket. Note the subtler flare here.  Throw on over everything to insta-chic your look.

For evening sass, try this LPD from Bebe. Curves ahead for sure!

The photo above of Thandie Newton in a peplum dress shows you how chic and effortless this style is for so many occasions;  lunch date, dinner with the gals, seminar, concert, or business meeting (paired with a jacket)–just update your accessories accordingly.

For more tips on wearing a peplum jacket at the office check out our post on Tailored Jackets. Have fun rocking this fabulous, feminine trend!

Need help figuring out what type of peplum is good for you? Send Natalie a note from Elan Image Management’s website.  

Leather Jackets or Skirts at Work? Thumbs up or down?

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Leather is a big trend for the fall season—leather skirts, jackets, even dresses. So the question is,  is wearing leather (or faux leather) work appropriate?

 

There is no argument that context, preferences and goals play a huge role in ALL our clothing choices. At work, context plays a significant role, so any fashion trend should be incorporated into one’s wardrobe judiciously, whether it is leather or polka dots. Each professional has to understand their position, career goals, professional context, and industry and make smart choices about how “outside the box” they can take their style.

Great leather jacket from Hinge that can be paired with skirts or slacks

What I am pleased to see as an image consultant, with the new leather designs is their versatility– there are so many great options available this season to suit many tastes and preferences. This is the case in small doses, such as leather accents in a jacket (collar, sleeve, waistband etc.) which I believe for women with a more dramatic flair can be so on point. It is also the case with a tailored leather (or faux leather) jacket paired with a coordinating skirt or slacks. This type of ensemble is great for the non-conformist, and those looking for an edgier, more provocative style statement. I see no reason why a female CEO of a company who matches this style profile, cannot rock such a look.

Pair this Lafeyette 148 banded leather skirt with a peplum jacket and stand out!

After all, I for one do not want to look like a clone of hundreds of women. I want to stand out and project attributes that match my specific persona and goals. If I am going to wear a coordinated suit, it better have something very distinctive and unique about it–which might include leather, but could also include other fabrics, textures, colors, prints, design. The point is, it is in these very details that we project our individual personal brand, even in a suit. In my work with women,  I take such pleasure in finding those signature pieces that reflect a professional woman’s singular taste and love the obvious positive response she gets when she dresses authentically to who she is. There is no more power than that!

 

Great professional ensemble for the woman with more unique style sensibilities

So when is wearing leather to work appropriate? I think it’s important to note that many women are employed in a vast array of fields and positions that are not that “formal”. Women are artists, entrepreneurs,  store owners, realtors, coaches, CEOs of traditional and non-traditional companies, architects, consultants, graphic designers, advertising directors, technology gurus etc…We are industry rock stars! Looking at it from that perspective, leather and its derivatives are not so outside the box when the field is so wide open. I think the more important question if you work in a creative field or are your own boss is whether an edgy style statement reflects you. If it reinforces your personal brand, I say rock on!

Have fun with fashion trends, be appropriate, be professional but most importantly be true to yourself!

 

Natalie

Natalie@elanimagemanagement.com

Rock Summer’s Top 3 Trends with… Maturity

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We think summertime can be a great time for self-expression with your clothing. The vibe is more relaxed, you’re on vacation with the kids, there are all these great outdoorsy events to indulge in, and it’s simply a fun time of the year when you can let your hair down a little more. Right? This summer, there are quite a few trends that might make you wonder if designers have lost their collective minds. But sometimes it’s these very brow raising trends that can challenge us to think outside the box a little and experiment with some new looks. Within reason :-)

So while there are a few trends circulating now that might look like they are just for the teens, we want you to have a little fun too. Here are 3 we think you can rock at any age with grace and style. And without looking like you’re trying too hard!

So follow our tips below to rock some of the fun trends en vogue now and add a dose of playful youthfulness to your style regime.

1- Nail Art
Source: google.com via Kristen on Pinterest

One rule this summer seems to be, if you can paint it you can wear it on your nails. Nail art has become a huge trend! This is not the acrylic painted nails either. This is individuals getting creative with their polish. The younger set are taping off their nails like we’d tape a wall for painting! Not to fear, we found a way for you to shimmy along side this trend with a little grace. Ombre nails! They are the perfect way to embrace the trend without looking like a teeny bopper.

Louboutin nails

Another fab idea is the notion of modeling after every woman’s favorite shoe designer, Christian Louboutin, and painting the backs of your black nails red. This is just plain cool and a great conversation starter if nothing else. See, the idea is to use ANYTHING as inspiration. Go for it!

2- High Low Skirts

Another biggy this summer is the high low skirt. While some are taking it to exaggerated extremes, it is possible to wear this trend with a little more subtlety. This neutral sheer skirt is a great example of how to make this style more ladylike. We’d go for a simpler shoe though! We also found a sophisticated summer dress with the same idea. Isn’t it gorg? And look how long her legs look in those nude heels. That’s an asymmetric hemline worth rocking!

OK so above would be taking the look too far. We think you get the idea!

3- Floral Denim
We know you’ve seen girls walking around in skin tight jeans with floral prints. It can be cute on the right body type. We say skip the denim skinnies and go for a trouser with a flattering pattern and fit. This cropped style is great for the weekend with ballet flats or sandals and a simple blouse.

Have we opened your eyes to some new possibilities with this summer’s trends? It’s all about how you style the looks to fit your personal image. Think just outside of the trend and we’re certain you can find a way to make it fabulous for you! Flaunt It!

For more tips on how to create stylish summer ensembles, 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.