Tag Archives: summer style

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.

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

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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

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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.

Tips to Help your Style Rise to the Temperature

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When it gets hot, hot, hot outside, it’s easy to let your style slip. The idea of multiple professional layers and accessories just seems too constraining in the heat. This summer we’re challenging you to rise to our style challenge despite the temperature. You can look fabulous, and even professional, this summer. Don’t let the sun beat you down, shine alongside it with these tips.

Hot Temps: Professional Looks

Skip the accessories and go for bold color instead. A vibrant plum and orange colorblocked shirt will give you all the attention otherwise gleaned with accessories. Pair it with tailored white linen trousers to really make the color pop. This breezy material and sleeveless shirt practically guarantee comfort in the heat. We paired it with open yet chic flat sandals and a small stud earring. Even the bag is a lesson in summer comfort. Our original choice was a vibrant patent satchel, but can you say sticky! Instead we opted for this playful straw number. Then we’ve paired in a short sleeve blazer for when you’re inside the office in the AC.

Hot Temps: Professional Looks

Here we’ve paired light grey trousers with a loose and flowy top. The sheer sleeves will keep you cool and a vest is the perfect professional add-on when you want to elevate your look. The simple cross straps on these sandals paired with the rich black hue keep them office appropriate. Add on a couple simple and brightly colored accessories and you’ll be Flaunting in this look.

Hot Temps: Professional Looks

Don’t be afraid to be bold this summer! This outfit might feel like a lot to take in or take on. It is admittedly on the more attention getting end (which is a fabulous thing!), but the silhouettes and colors are there for you to play with. A sleeveless printed shirt looks great tucked into a full skirt.  If this color combo is out of your comfort zone, you could recreate it in a more tonal way. We’ve matched up heels and flats as two different ways to wear this look. Then balanced it all out with a neutral cardigan for when you are inside. Again, we only added studs here because with all this color you don’t need any additional accessories.

For more summer 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.

Style Tip: Less is More when Temps Go Up

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Ok Ladies, if you live in a part of the world where the temps are hovering around the 100 degree Fahrenheit mark, you must be as frustrated as I am about dressing in ways that help you to look cool, together and polished. Right? I mean when you walk to your car and you’re dripping in sweat, it’s hard to feel cute and fabulous. So what’s a gal to do?

Here’s a simple tip I’ve been using. Less is more. Wait a minute! I don’t mean dressing like you’re at the beach!  (Gotcha didn’t I?). What I mean is you work with less so you are unencumbered by too many trappings. So less makeup, fewer accessories, minimal layering, easy silhouettes. This is a time when you may opt to skip the belt in your outfit so you have room to breathe (sometimes literally).

I find myself drawn to simple, pretty dresses that do all the talking without the need for much accessorizing. This works for business and play.  So I may play with print and color in a sleeveless or short sleeved style dress that enhances my figure and keep my jewelry really simple. My hair will be as maintenance free as possible. The best part is I get to feel cool when I’m outside and can layer with a cropped cardigan or simple jacket when I’m indoors. The look above from Bloomingdales is exactly what I’m talking about gals.

Trust me ladies this is win/win.

If you’re on vacation, you can use this technique too. Less is more. Take a cue from Eva Mendes in this cute cotton summer dress, fab shades, hair pulled up and away from her face and jazzy sandals. She looks like a million bucks without sacrificing her comfort and great sense of style.

I’d love you to share your tips on how you’ve been staying cool this summer. Drop me a line, post on my Facebook page or comment on this post.

Stay cool and fabulous!

Natalie