Inspiration of the Week: Three Ways to Wear It

I saw this little cropped, crocheted top at Express and literally skidded to a stop. Available in black and ecru, it’s delicate, feminine and oh, so versatile. I couldn’t wait to style it for you this week. On the Express website they show it (pictured above) with a peachy colored skinny jean and sparkly sequined tank layered underneath it. I think almost any color of jean would work. I’d particularly be excited to try it with hunter green or kelly green. But I wondered if you could do a more glam going-out-with-the-girls outfit and also a casual picnic-with-your honey ensemble. I decided to try to do both for you, my loyal, blog readers, so you can see three ways to work the same top.

Night Out With the Girls

For going out for drinks with your girlfriends, you want to look polished, glam and pulled together. A pop of color and gold sparkle add just the right touch of fun and flirtatiousness. Add a camel-colored or leopard print trench coat to the items I’ve selected below and you are both warm and perfectly pulled together for a night on the town.

Picnic in the Park with Your Honey

For a picnic with your honey, you want to be cute, but casual. Switch out a few of the more blingy things from above, add a tank and jeans, and you are ready for some relaxed romance. He won’t know what hit him. Complete the look below with a cute cropped jean jacket or just let him keep you warm.

And lest any of my more bodacious beauties think I forgot you, you can also pull off the above looks with a more figure skimming, less-cropped version of the top. This one at Etsy (or one like it) I think would be really cute. If you aren’t a fan of showing off that much arm, there is no reason you couldn’t layer it with a long sleeved shirt.

Here’s me, modeling the top the way I wore it to work today. It’s casual Friday so I kept the look relaxed yet pulled together. Since I’m so pale, I went with a bright under layer to keep the ecru color from washing me out.

So there you have it: three ways to the wear the same top (Four actually, if you count the way I wore it today). Remember every item in your closet has a myriad of possibilities just waiting to be discovered. I often get asked if I ever wear the same thing twice. The answer? I never wear the same thing in exactly the same way twice. You’ll get quadruple the mileage from your wardrobe if you adopt the same philosophy.

Have another way you’d like me to style the top? Think I missed the mark? Have something you want to share to inspire me for my next “Inspiration of the Week” feature? Feel free to comment below or email me at princessheathab@gmail.com. Also, I’m always looking for new topics and guest bloggers.

Future blog topics include:

• To Buy or Not To Buy, That is the Question

• How to Dress Appropriately for Any Occasion

• The Five Shoe Staples Every Girl Should Own

• How to Get Down in Black and Brown

• The Bra : On the Frontlines of Fashion

• Colored Jeans, A Rainbow of Possibilities

Be Fierce. Be Fashionable. Be Yourself.

XOXO

H

Sequins: Not Just For Parties Anymore!

Heatha Be took a short Thankgiving break, but she’s baaaaaack. I hope everyone’s Thanksgiving was fulfilling and filled with all those you love.

One thing I’ve always loved is anything with sequins. I have skirts, dresses, pants, shoes, scarves, and more with sequins. You might say I have sequin OCD, which is a problem because sequins are having a big moment right now, particularly as daywear.

The key to wearing sequins in the daytime is to pair them with something cozy and warm and decidedly un-shiny. Think sequin skirt with a cozy sweater, or skinny jeans and tee with a sequined scarf. See my outfit below for my take on the trend. You’re looking for chunky knits, angora sweaters, wooly boots, and the like.

Sweater, Skirt – www.express.com, Shoes – www.stevemadden.com, Jewelry – www.macys.com

I also have a cute sequined sweatshirt from Express.com that really captures the vibe of the sequins for the daytime trend. Pair it with some skinny jeans and some killer boots and you are set. See below.

www.express.com

Also, when wearing sequins as daywear, only wear one sequined item of clothing at a time. So if you have a sequined skirt on, don’t also throw on your matching sequined boots. Keep the jewelry minimal and also warm feeling, like my purple necklace above.

The next thing to keep in mind is that you want to keep the colors subtle. A bright scarlet sequined skirt is probably not daytime appropriate. Keep the color palette soft and subtle. Anything gold, blush, silver, pearl, navy, or black works well. Anything you’d be able to picture on a Vegas showgirl is a no-go. There are even a lot of looks out there right now where they’ve used matte sequins, instead of the super shiny variety to make the look even easier to pull off and more subtle.

The goal is a hint of shine and a slight sheen. My skirt above is not completely covered in sequins but scattered with them which makes it easier to pull off with a sweater.

As with any trend, you can start small if you aren’t sure about trying it. See my blog on Colorblocking for Beginners on how to do this. Maybe even just some dangly sequin earrings to ease yourself into it.

The great thing about trying this trend is you probably already have something sequined in your closet. Most of us girls do! So with some creative pairing, you won’t even have to spend a lot out of pocket to give it a try. See my post on Shopping Your Closet for some ideas on how to do that.

The best part about sequins for day time is that it makes it super easy to switch up your look for a little night time play. Some sassy satin heels and you are ready to rock at the club.

So, shine on, ladies. And if you see a crazed woman out there running from sequined rack to sequined rack, it just might be me on a sequined shopping bender.

To share with me your ideas, get advice or just comment on something I’ve said, email me at princessheathab@gmail.com or just comment below. I’d love to hear from you. Oh, and please subscribe to my blog to keep in the fashion loop.

Future blog topics will include:

• To Buy or Not To Buy, That is the Question

• It’s a Croc, The Ugg Effect

• Holiday Dressing for Dazzling Effect

• How to Dress Appropriately for Any Occasion

•The Five Shoe Trends I’m Loving Right Now.

And as always,

Be Fierce. Be Fashionable. Be Yourself.

XOXO

H

The Five Coats Every Woman Needs In Her Closet

The weather has turned chilly here in San Francisco. It’s crisp and beautiful with a razor’s edge to it, and it has me thinking coats. I know I had a whole list of other things to write about, but the cold snap has frozen them clean off for now.  I promise I’ll get to them soon, but first, to keep you cozy AND chic during the winter months and beyond, here is a list of the five coats every woman should have in her closet.

1. Trench Coat. Whether thigh-skimming or ankle-dusting, find the one that works for you. I recommend camel or black in color to really up the versatility. If you splurge on one coat on this list, it should be this one. It will be your go-to. A trench looks great over jeans, stylish over your work suit, and smashing at the club. It’s warm, stylish, and says, “I have it together.” See the two below to get an idea of what I’m talking about.
   
   

www.victoriassecret.com

www.nordstrom.com 

2. Denim Jacket. When spring arrives, the sun dresses come out and a denim jacket is the perfect complement. It keeps things relaxed and breezy. Over any dress, it can take the look from club to a more relaxed, “I’m heading for a hike or to the beach” feel. A denim jacket is for when you don’t want to take yourself or anything you have to do too seriously. It’s sort of the anti-trench coat. There are many styles and shapes out there. Pick the one that flatters your body. Dark washing or light, it’s your call; just avoid anything that smacks of acid wash, unless you’re attending an 80’s party.

3. Leather / Pleather Jacket. I’m sort of a sucker for leather. I have way too many leather coats for any one person, but that’s because they give any outfit an instant edge. They are the coats I grab when I want to let people know not to mess with me, give off a bad girl vibe, or up the cool factor. Biker chic, cropped, ruffled, quilted, or simple and sleek, there are a lot of options. Find the one that makes you feel like a badass and rock it for all it’s worth. Again, I wouldn’t skimp price-wise. Leather lasts a long time and actually looks better the more worn it gets, so as long as you don’t pick anything too trendy, a leather jacket will be with you a long time. Throw this jacket on over a party dress or over jeans and a white tee shirt and you are the coolest girl in the room. Lately I’ve seen them over maxi-dresses for a super cute way to extend them into winter/fall. These are my current favorites.
   

www.bebe.com

www.victoriassecret.com

4. Something Practical.  This is something you won’t hear out of my mouth very often. Depending on the climate in which you live, this may be a rain coat or a parka. This is the coat you throw on when you walk the dog, go for a hike, or go skiing or sledding. Practical doesn’t have to mean shapeless, though, so make sure it flatters your figure AND makes you feel warm and snuggly. The coat pictured below is similar to the one in my closet.
   

www.neimanmarcus.com

5. Something Outrageous, Sumptuous, and a Little Over the Top.  Mine are faux-fur. I can hardly keep my hands off myself when I wear them. They make me want to purr at their softness. I instantly feel more glamorous the second I throw one on. However, I just saw a lace trench coat at Bebe that would do the same thing. Maybe yours is velvet. Whatever it is, this is your formal coat. This is the coat you put on with your nicest dress and your red lipstick. This is the coat that lets people know you didn’t just show up -- you arrived. This is the coat that makes you smile just to wear it and a little sad when you have to take it off. Below is my newest faux-fur crush. It looks even better in person and is twice as soft as you think it is. Meeeeoooow!
   

www.express.com

Whatever coat you choose to wear, remember your outerwear is the icing on your fashion-cake. It can make or a break an outfit. Sometimes it pulls an entire look together into a cohesive whole, so choose wisely and stay warm out there.

Need help finding a coat?  Shoot me an email at princessheathab@gmail.com with your size, shape, and budget, and I’ll do my best to assist you. I’d love to hear your suggestions, advice, blog ideas, and comments as well. You can either comment below or email me at the above address.

Next on my blogging agenda is:

• Shopping Your Closet

• Sequins: Not Just For Parties Anymore

• To Buy or Not To Buy, That is the Question

• It’s a Croc, The Ugg Effect

• Holiday Dressing for Dazzling Effect

I hope you’ll come back and read them all. Until then…

Be Fierce. Be Fashionable. Be Yourself.

XOXO

H