May 12, 2014May 12, 2014 styledbylyric1 Comment

Rent The Runway

Considering it’s Prom season & every high school babe is manically searching prom boutiques & designer racks for the perfect dress, that they will [sadly] never wear again & will wonder how they were ever that small at any point in their life [wait til your late twenties when it all starts changing, honey]…I figured this post was entirely appropriate & completely necessary for all of my promzilla moms out there. Yes, you exist & we don’t blame you; having your teen daughter running around the house screaming about her color scheme & which nail color she needs & that her strappy heels aren’t tall enough & the florist is an idiot & screwed up the boutonniere for Jimmy & she doesn’t even want to go anymore…can put a damper on your week. But be strong Mommy’s, because this is milestone #1 of MANY & I promise you, she will thank you. Later. Like much later. Like when she has her own daughter doing these same things to her.

Regardless, I found this company, Rent The Runway, remarkable. Not only for Prom season, but for literally any event in which you want to wow your friends, husband, boyfriend, co-workers…the list goes on. These geniuses created the site to allow women of any shape & size rent real designer gowns & dresses [with insurance plans included] for incredibly reasonable prices. The process is so simple: find it, book it, wear it, return it. Done. They give you a second size of your choosing, for free, to guarantee that your size will fit like a glove [otherwise, what’s the point?] & to top it all off, they have an 800 number for personal styling advice if need be. WHAT?!

Am I the only one who’s shocked by this? Where was this company when I was 16? It’s pure brilliance. I suggest you tell your friends & get to renting, because this is major.

Xx.

May 8, 2014May 8, 2014 styledbylyric2 Comments

The Biz

I’ve had quite a few people message me about the following topic & I really wanted to take some time & thought on this one. Let’s talk business attire; the one area of the fashion world that somewhat limits our options & freedom for authenticity. However, I strongly believe the following advice will bend this sad principle & help every heel-wearing, blazer-sporting, mega business babe show her voice & personality in & outside of the office. [Keep in mind, this all varies depending upon where you work & their dress code requirements.]

The big hitting question: what do I purchase? There are so many ways to wear business attire & blend in pieces from your personal, daily wardrobe, but the key to looking professional is finding timeless pieces that make you feel confident. Here are some tried & true rules:

Find The New Classics: purchase pieces that hold longevity. Sweaters, button-ups, flowing blouses & slacks are ideal. These pieces mix & match flawlessly & will never go out of style, but don’t be afraid to play it up. The shapes of these classic pieces are ever changing to keep up with the fashion world, so I say go for a wide-legged slack & a statement belt, as these slight adjustments can change the entire era of an outfit.

Be Reasonable: sky-high pumps are not office friendly. Instead, opt for a pair that won’t make your feet feel like balloons. Generally, a one to two inch heel is the “safe zone” for office wear & try to select a pair in the nude, cream, black or tan family, as these will move fluidly throughout your entire wardrobe. I usually go for a pump that I can wear outside of the office to validate my investment & assure me that I’m still respecting my fashion voice.

Draw The Line: pencil skirts are the perfect way to spice up a blank or boring office wardrobe, but be picky, as length is everything with this look. Walking the line of office appropriate & chic can be tricky with any leg-showing item, so keep it safe at knee-length & you won’t ever fail.

Blazer City: if my previous posts on blazers weren’t inspiring & intense enough, I will once again remind you of my blazer obsession. They are the perfect office attire addition & move incredibly well between business meetings & your after work glass of wine with a friend. Find yourself three favorites: one black or grey, one white or tan & one bright or bold. Having these three staples in your closet will dress up ANY look & make you feel chic & put together. Rememer: the true fit of a blazer is in the shoulders; if the stitching doesn’t line up with your shoulders, it doesn’t fit.

Add Some Pop: nothing says “put together” with more intention than a hint of creativity & personality in your outfit. Even in the most traditional work environments, a light pop of color is acceptable [& just plain fun]. Try to stick to pale pinks, blues & even light lavenders & plums. Remember: bright tops = muted bottoms. Never do both with work wear.

Slacked: the most important investment for your business wardrobe are pants. However, the 80’s are over & there are hundreds of options for business women today. The choice is yours, but I always believe that a fun pair of cropped pants or drawstring pants [particularly ones with strong pleats] can add interest & focus to an outfit, making it stand out among the sea of monotonous office wear. Not to mention, printed & non-printed pants are everywhere right now, so the options are basically endless.

Know Your Environment: if you spend your entire day out on the streets of San Francisco or New York running from appointment to appointment, then be realistic about your footwear & outfit. Always opt for slacks versus skirts or dresses & a fun pointed-toe flat; the wind-chill could seriously freeze your bones, your heels may slow down your pace & your focus will be on how quickly you can finish your meetings & ice your swollen sausage toes when you get home or where your next cab is because you can’t walk anymore. No one wants to lose agility & work ethic because of their attire, particularly your boss.

& last, but not least, keep learning what pieces & shapes work for your body & your body alone. Even if Amy in the corner cubical is rocking some amazing jump-suit & five inch stilettos, it may not be right for you. The entire purpose of fashion is about finding your own style & feeling beautiful doing it, so try not to be susceptible to trends…but you already knew that, because you’re a mega powerhouse business woman who blazes her own trail. Duh.

TGIT. Xx.

May 2, 2014May 2, 2014 styledbylyric6 Comments

Five Things

I had a reader ask me an interesting questions yesterday: If I only had five items in my wardrobe what would they be? Building a fresh wardrobe can be expensive without focus & vision. I want to pin-point the five things every woman should have in theirs, regardless of their age, size or color, that will make you fashion forward & ever-ready for whatever the day holds without breaking the bank. Let’s do it…

1. Dark [or black] Denim; dark & black denim take any outfit & crank it up a notch. It helps hide problem areas in the legs, it transitions easily from day to night & frankly, it just looks more polished & put together. I recommend a wide-legged dark blue wash, which makes any woman’s legs look 10 miles long & a skinny pair of black denim, which thins out your legs & makes for a fashion-forward look.

2. A Good Blazer; I say “good” because these trending cropped, neon blazers aren’t exactly what I mean [however, they are fun for Spring & Summer]. Today we’re talking staple pieces that will never fail you & a fantastic NEUTRAL blazer will always have your back. Personally, I choose blazers that hit me directly at my hip, allowing the top I choose to layer it with to peak out from underneath [from the rear view]. Style has a lot to do with creating definition & texture to your outfits & showing that you know how to layer & work pieces together gives you a leg up. As far as colors go, stick to whites [my personal favorite], creams, blacks & taupes, as these will transition easily throughout your entire wardrobe.

3. The Perfect LBD; Little Black Dresses are life savers when you’re mid-panic attack before a first date or night out with friends. They’re slimming, versatile as ever & pair with basically any shoe, jacket, hat, etc. The best part of an LBD is how much freedom you have with styling them. There are basically no rules or limits with accessories, pops of color or even hairstyles. My favorite way to dress up this look is with a huge statement necklace, a blazer & a great pair of heels. The only concern you should have with this wardrobe staple is fit; if you don’t feel beautiful in it, it’s not the right one.

4. A Mega Necklace; this doesn’t have to mean a large necklace, but rather a piece that you gasp over. Personally, my knees tend to give out over big, gold, layered necklaces [or layering your own few favorites], but you could also fall madly in love with a simple drop necklace or beaded number. Whatever your piece is, be sure it holds longevity & can transition from piece to piece in your wardrobe. No outfit is complete without accessories; they are what bring an outfit together & help define your look.

5. The Perfect Handbag; this is the icing on the cake for every single look, every single day. Finding a bag that will move fluidly from look to look can be hard, which is why I recommend staying within the neutral family; black, taupe, grey, nude, or even lavender or periwinkle. You want the most wear from your purchase so be sure you will love it a few seasons after you buy & more so, that it works with your lifestyle. I know personally I often carry my iPad with me, alongside a laundry list of other things, thus a tiny handbag just isn’t an option for me, so I opt for totes & satchels more often than not. But be sure to be practical with this wardrobe selection, as it will see more wear & tear than anything else in your closet.

If you buy nothing else this season than these five key items, I promise you will feel confident & ever-ready for your day. As fun as shopping is & as addicting as it can be to keep adding pieces to your wardrobe, a true fashionista only needs a handful of great pieces to speak volumes for her style.

Happy Hunting, megababes. Xx.

April 23, 2014April 24, 2014 styledbylyricLeave a comment

Mix It Up

I’ve had a few readers asking my thoughts on mixing prints & I’ve decided to put together my fool-proof guide to perfecting this look. Mixing prints can be incredibly uncomfortable, difficult & just plain…weird, if not executed properly. Below are my guidelines to understanding what prints can be deemed “neutrals” & how to make even the most outrageous print work alongside another print.

Rule #1: leopard is a neutral [yes, I really did just say that]. It goes with literally every color & hue & adds an elevated element to every outfit, particularly those among other prints. One of my favorite examples of this is the picture below; the checkered button-up with the pop of candy-apple red & leopard to top it off, is print-mixing perfection:

Rule #2: pair opposing sizes; if you choose to rock bold, wide stripes, be sure to contrast them with a tighter, more subtle print. Remaining organized & put-together is still important for this look, regardless of how far you wish to push the limits. Such as the following; the polka-dot print is small & tight, while the stripes are bold & overstated. This helps visually balance out the look, helping the prints work together rather than apart.

Rule #3: keep it in the family; regardless of which shapes & patterns you choose to pair together, be sure that they are in the same color family. [Click here for a quick lesson on all things color wheel] The biggest trick to perfecting this trend is to follow the true colors in each fabric. Find a common color that brings the look into one fluid outfit & highlight it. Sometimes it’s even more interesting to choose the less obvious of all of the colors. See below:

Rule #4: be subdued, but loud; throwing in camo prints to different looks is the perfect introduction to this type of styling, as camo is very understated & can be deemed a neutral. Add in a bold-colored accessory or two & you’ve got yourself your first mixed print fit. Helpful hint: camo’s best opposites are coral, leopard print & stripes:

Rule #5: it’s all in how you wear it; be bold with this look & trust your instincts. Personal style is about letting your clothes do the talking, so if you love your look, allow that confidence to shine through the way you walk, talk & carry the outfit:

Now that you have some basic tools for this type of styling, be sure to attack your closets & create a look that speaks for who you are & what you love. That is the entire purpose of fashion, ya know. Happy mixing, readers! Xx.

It Happened

April 22, 2014April 22, 2014 styledbylyric1 Comment

I’ve officially launched the Lyric Instagram account @styledbylyric. To stay up to date on my latest outfits, inspirations, styling sessions & advice follow the account & enjoy the ride. Thank you to everyone supporting this vision & our love for fashion & personal style! Let’s continue empowering wardrobes worldwide. Xx.

April 21, 2014April 22, 2014 styledbylyric3 Comments

CONFESSIONS OF A MAKEUP BAG

Lyric was originated to focus on wardrobes & styling, but I’ve noticed an incredibly important & under-appreciated part of a woman’s wardrobe; her makeup. While I won’t sit here & proclaim to know all-things-makeup, I do in fact know the importance of cleanliness & maintenance of your beauty products. As displayed above, today was cleaning day & I’ve decided to share the knowledge I have, my tips & tricks to keeping clean brushes & makeup bags, & some shocking statistics that may have you buying double the soap in your household. Here goes [squeamish ones beware]…

The Chicago Examiner conducted a survey & found the following results:

56% of women go months without replacing their mascara [hello styes, nice to meet you]
55% of women admit to sleeping with their makeup on daily [poor pillowcases]
53% of women simply “forget” to wash their makeup brushes [bacteria heaven]

I noticed long ago that my skin would break out along by cheek bones, nose & forehead when I didn’t wash my bronzer brush & even my eyebrows would get a blemish or two when I didn’t clean my brow brush. Then, during my [broke] college years, I would randomly wake up with a stye on my eyelid, never noticing the relationship between sharing makeup, old makeup & my new red, eye bump. I decided it was time to change these frustrating circumstances & become aware of my makeup cleanliness & have since never looked back. To this day I clean my brushes, bags, scissors, applicators & tweezers weekly. Here’s my never-fail process:

BRUSHES:

Hand wash every item in your bag with warm water & soap
Grab your daily face-wash & saturate every bristled item in your bag with a drop of this product
Wash thoroughly until bristles are back to their original color
Repeat this process with your liquid &/or powder applicators

MAKEUP BAG:

Flip bag(s) inside out
Wash & scrub heavily with hot water & soap
Repeat this process, but with your daily face-wash [be sure not to miss the corners]
Let air-dry inside out

MAKEUP SHELF LIFE:

While there are no legal requirements for makeup expiration, there are certainly suggested dates that have been compiled over the years. I recommend keeping a log of dates for each new piece of makeup as it’s purchased. Regardless, here are some tried & true timelines for your makeup:

Mascara: throw out your mascara [regardless of how expensive it was] after 3 months
Eye-Pencils: let these babies go after 2 years [keeping a clean sharpen each use]
Eye-shadow: dry shadows can last up to 2 years, while liquid shadows should be tossed after 12 months
Lipsticks: these stainers should be ditched after 2 years of use [or non-use]
Powders/Blushes: cream blushes & foundations can be held onto for up to a year, while powders can last up to 2 years
Foundation & Concealer: liquid concealer should be let go of at 12 months, while stick & moisturizing foundations can last up to 18 months

If you commit to this process weekly, you will find that your skin & pores will love you more than ever. “EVERY WEEK!?” you ask…as this experiment shows, bacteria can start growing on your brushes as quickly as 24 hours after use. Um, gross!

Your wardrobe & overall appearance is not isolated to just clothing, but rather the entire end result. These steps will elevate your look & maintain your overall well-being. Who doesn’t want that?

Happy cleaning, beauties. Xx.

Color Me Mine

April 14, 2014April 14, 2014 styledbylyricLeave a comment

Color Me Mine

Have you ever found that every time you wear that one particular top people consistently throw compliments your way? Or that certain dress that makes you feel absolutely out of your mind beautiful? It’s more than likely that these pieces are working within your color wheel. Believe it or not, your kindergarten teacher did have a purpose behind teaching you every color of the rainbow & now is your time to use it.

A person’s eye color is entirely complimentary of their clothing & wardrobe. You weren’t given those perfectly placed eyeballs for nothing, so lets find what accents yours & help them truly shine.

The best colors for:

Blue Eyes: neutrals, navy, black & white should overtake your closet, but add in there some rosy reds, blush pinks, cobalt blues, lemon & soft greens to truly make your eyes the focal point of your outfit.
Green Eyes: olive, forrest green, plum, lavender & deep purples are your go-to’s. Black & navy come in as a close second, but can often times wash out the heavy green hue to your eyes. Swap out yellow for gold & pale blue for pear & you’ll be show-stopping.
Brown Eyes: blueberry, turquoise, reds, oranges, soft yellows, & pastels will bring out the rich caramel color in your eyes. Opt out on black & try taupe instead, as well as olives, greens & plenty of whites to highlight the beautiful darkness in your eyes.

Following these basic color wheel rules will help you identify [much more fluidly] your own personal style & palette & will make this Summer’s shopping spree that much more authentic.

Stay tuned for more color wheel advice & tips…Xx.