A button-down collar tops a polished shirt-dress styled with roll-tab sleeves and a narrow metal-trimmed belt.
Hidden front button closure. Epaulets, flap chest pockets, removable adjustable belt. Machine washable.
You can find 0 – 10 in one Nordstrom listing and 1x – 3x in a separate listing.
Price $185.00
Last Call by Neiman Marcus – Hers – Skirts – Bottoms (clipped to polyvore.com)
Pair this tribal-print skirt with a earthy shades for an of-the-moment neutral look that can be dressed up with a low-heel pump or down with a flat sandal.
Orange is all around me like a beautiful sunset. With all of the color blocking and genius back to the tropics textiles, I am exploring the sunset shades and adoring them. I love that orange is a hair away from fuschia and a breath away from red at the same time. I don’t think that orange or any of these shades are the new black – lets face it, ladies, none of these colors will EVER be a new black! But the vibrant color can be a fun addition to play with.
This maxi is perfect. The material is a wonderful and it will stand the test of time. With bright colors you want quality fabrics. Bright colors tend to show flaws rather quickly.
Gucci sandals (see more high heels)
Sandals are a good way to dip your foot into the color pool. You don’t need a dress. You can get a belt or shoes to start and work your way up if you fear that much of a shock. This is more of a burnt orange. This is also more of a subtle dive into the color pool.
Dorothy Perkins dress (see more cowlneck dresses)
This dress is to die for. I like the clean lines. Very much in the style of Roland Mouret without the price tag. This number rings in at $50 and goes up to a 16. The style is clean and the color is bright.
Diane Von Furstenberg makes great prints. You can always move in the direction of a print if you like a dramatic effect. I love Diane Von Furstenberg, I think her prints last a lifetime.
Hermes bracelet (see more bangle bracelets)
Hermes is always classic. I thought a bangle or cuff would be fun.
Halston is comfortable and easy. You can do a bit of color blocking or try a kaftan, but if you are not crazy about Halston, Calypso makes a stunning orange kaftan.
Thinking ahead, I wanted to get a jump-start on that great black bag. Now is the perfect time to find something inexpensive to use now or find a classic piece to keep for the next five years. Shopping off-season is a smart way to save a few dollars. I compiled a few fabulous black bags at varied prices under $500.00 to give you all a guiding eye. Happy hunting!
MICHAEL Michael Kors messenger bag (see more messenger bags)
Country chic goes luxe: delicious texturing and an 18K gold logo charm bring sophistication to this MICHAEL Michael Kors “Saddle” crossbody bag. Made of leather, adjustable crossbody strap with 24″ drop and a flap closure with magnetic snap. The “Saddle” bag is $228.00. Crossbody bags are good for vacations when you are sight-seeing. The flap ensures safety and the crossbody keeps the bag out of your way. I carry a crossbody when I go to places like Disneyland with my kids – I don’t like to sacrifice style when I’m on a family outing either!
STEVEN by Steve Madden black leather ‘Bflynn’ pleated crossbody bag at… (clipped to polyvore.com)
Steven By Steve Madden makes a decent bag for a decent price at $149.99 for the budget-conscious woman. As I have said before, don’t break the bank if you can’t. Start off small and replace as you can. This is a nice starter bag. Supple wrinkled leather with polished gunmetal hardware, horizontal pleats along front, decorative studded tabs along top sides, striped logo print twill fabric lining with two compartments, zip pocket, elasticized cell phone pocket, and elasticized PDA pocket.
See By Chloe black perforated sheepskin ‘Lifou’ tote at Bluefly (clipped to polyvore.com)
See By Chloe is a great bridge line and makes a soft and supple leather product. The price point is much lower than that of the Chloe line at $436. Folding detail at handle bases with logo engraved, pockets at sides with magnetic snap closure metal bars and grey cotton lined interior with zip pocket, cell phone pocket, and PDA pocket.
Red Valentino black sequin bow detailed convertible clutch at Bluefly (clipped to polyvore.com)
Red Valentino black sequins bow clutch – OMG!! From shoulder bag to clutch this bow-detailed leather convertible bag from Red Valentino is perfectly suited for wherever your day or night may take you. Need I say more? The bag rings in at $413.99. I thought it was important to include one clutch.
Hype black leather striped canvas ‘Harry’ tall tote at Bluefly (clipped to polyvore.com)
Hype tall “Harry ” tote, discover what all the buzz is about with fashion savvy handbags from Hype. The bag is inset leather striped canvas with a canvas back patch pocket. This is another perfect budget savvy bag, priced at a super $79.99. This bag is something you can keep for a few years if you treat the leather and care for it. Hype makes a good product. Adored by Paris Hilton and Eva Longoria, Hype offers high fashion, New York treasures without the high price. Made of 100% real leather, Hype bags cover the gamut in color and style.
I know how hard it is to pick sundresses, so I thought I might show a few picks for ages 20 through 40+. This can act as a guide to picking the proper sundress for your body and age. Most of the dresses out there look like they should be on our daughters or some girl walking out of Abercrombie. I think we all have choices, we just need to be pointed in the right direction. When starting off with short sundresses and you are unsure, go with a solid color until you feel like you have mastered shapes that work on your body. After you master silhouette, venture off into prints.
DKNY dress (see more cotton summer dresses)
20’s: I like this little DKNY eyelet dress; it has lots of color and it feels young. The sweetheart neckline will work wonders and the skirt will do the same, plus you can change the belt out. DKNY has a nice built-in bra but I would add your own.
30’s
ASOS dress (see more knee length cocktail dresses)
This ASOS dress is a great light weight shift. ASOS offers black as well however we are going with summer and blue is a great year-round color.
The hem on the dresses for the 30-year-old sect is just a bit longer, but not by much. I still go shorter once in a while. I like short! Some women like the length, but we are not dead and these are not maxi-dresses so don’t go too long. The navy on this ASOS is rich and sultry. The Prairie New York dress below is shorter and brighter. The neck has a fabulous wide embellished rounded halter.
ASOS dress (see more asos dresses)
40+: These dresses can be worn by women well over 40 in my opinion. The aqua color and flowing fabric will be a winner on any frame and skin tone, and the belt is interchangeable. The Michael Kors dress below is also simple and easy. I know this dress might be hard for some women who are afraid of prints in short dresses, however I like the simple cut and the clean lines. As I said in the beginning, master the lines first, then move on to the pattern.
I am obsessed with this woman’s hats. It turns out I am not alone. Her hats are popping up on every celebrity and socialite head alike. From turbans to straw to felt floppy hats she has in my opinion cornered the mainstream market on larger stylish head accessories. Summer and winter alike her dashing head pieces are feeding a new category among us all, the hat. A statement it looks like more of us ladies are willing to embrace again. I think it is a marvelous thing to add to the wardrobe. It is yet another layer of sun protection and a chance to further pull a look together.
Eugenia Kim hat (see more eugenia kim hats)
About Eugenia Kim from her website:
One day after getting a bad haircut, Eugenia Kim disguised her shaven head with a red guinea-feathered cloche that she made in millinery class at the Parsons School of Design. Instantly spotted by boutiques in Soho, they asked to see her other creations, and, soon after, her business was born. Since her start, Eugenia Kim has successfully altered the millinery landscape by making hats a staple for celebrities and for stylish women and men. Eugenia Kim is known for her innovative wovens shapes in luxe fabrications and inventive, quirky felts and straws trimmed with vintage ribbons and feathers.
Eugenia Kim hat (see more mohair hats)
In 2004, Eugenia Kim won the CFDA award for Accessories Design. In 2006, she wrote a quirky how-to book entitled Saturday Night Hat. EUGENIA KIM® hats and accessories can always be found at Barneys New York, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Net-a-Porter.com, as well as over 200 specialty boutiques worldwide. Her hats are a constant runway fixture every season. Some of her runway collaborations include: Diane Von Furstenberg, Michael Kors, Donna Karan, and Ralph Lauren. She has also done limited-edition collaborations for Opening Ceremony, Coach, Urban Outfitters, and Target. She is a celebrity favorite of Beyoncé, Chloe Sevigny, Madonna, Sarah Jessica Parker, Gwen Stefani, Jessica Alba, Nicole Richie, Joel Madden and Mark Ronson- just to name a few.
Eugenia Kim hat (see more feather hats)
Eugenia Kim hat (see more eugenia kim hats)
Eugenia Kim hair accessory (see more hair bands accessories)
The true test of every woman is buying vintage. I tell ladies a few important things and set them free into the wild.
1. Just like buying new you want to check the fabrics. Yes, the item has made it 30 plus years. However, this does not mean the white shining polyester that is snagged and rubbed is going to fight the good fight even another year. You want fabrics that still look finished and clean. That means no holes, rips, moldy smells, stains, and piling. Next you want to check the seams. The seams are very, very important. You don’t want splitting. If you see splitting can it be fixed? Please check all the buttons and zippers, you would be surprised how many zippers only zip halfway. The dress below is an excellent example of something you would go over with a fine tooth comb. Bead work can often have hidden areas with large pieces missing. With all the details in the dress a shopper often misses this.
Valentino gown (see more vintage evening gowns)
2. A label will not make your vintage find gold. No matter how coveted that high-end label is, sometimes a designer made a fashion misstep. A designer label does not equal you wearing it; a designer label does not equal quality. You have to use your eyes and edit, edit, edit. The fun thing with vintage is you can find anonymous labels and mix them with your new pieces and have a completely different look all your own. The goal is not to walk into a store looking for the best labels; you are looking for the best quality.
3. Will the item fit you? Sizes as we know have changed over the last fifty years, and the sizes in Europe are also different. Please don’t read the size labels and go by an outdated version. Look at the clothing and be prepared to try it on. If you are not comfortable trying an item on in the store and they don’t provide dressing rooms, carry a measuring tape with you. Get to know your body and your measurements. This will help you in the editing process.
4. I have helped women with serious vintage clothing addictions. A shirt for a dollar is NOT a good deal if you NEVER wear it. If you have three hundred pieces of clothing you paid $1 – $5 for and you have never worn one of them, that is $700 on average if we averaged it to $2.50 an item. Think of all the other things you could have purchased with that money. It is important to EDIT. Ask yourself, will I wear this? Do I like it enough to get it altered if it needs that? Remember the point is to compliment your wardrobe. Buy timeless / classic pieces that will mix into your collection. Think about vintage acquisitions as a curation process.
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