November 16, 2015November 16, 2015 styledbylyricLeave a comment

Tighten Up

Why do tights seem like some archaic accessory that our moms wore a hundred years ago? Every time I pull them out of my drawer I cringe a little at their sad, limp shape & wonder, “how can I style you better & not age myself ten years?”

Well, today’s the day.

I’m breaking down my five favorite winter looks incorporating tights, in hopes to eliminate any weirdness we have toward these sheer, wardrobe gems. It’s time to look cute, age appropriate & actually be warm while out in the city having a holiday beverage this season.

Let’s go.

One of my favorite ways to style tights; rock your favorite pair of dress shorts [keep the sex appeal with a pair that hits way above the knee], a fun ankle bootie & a long, seasonally appropriate vest. This look gives your legs amazing shape, showcases each individual piece of the fit & keeps you warm in cold winter months.

Want to own your inner Parisian? Work an extra short, fitted skirt with a pair of deep opaque tights & an extra pointed-toe ankle bootie. Add a pullover sweater & some great bracelets & you’ve got the best day-to-night outfit in all the land.

Ancient fashion rules would cringe over mixing black & brown, but this is one of the best color combos. That being said…take your favorite pair of black tights [distressed or not], throw your favorite winter tunic over them & layer the crap out of it. Add a wool coat with a heavier jacket & maybe even a fun printed scarf. The more layers the merrier. Your fit will be screaming “I’m winter ready, bitches!”

Not ready to put those summer shorts away just yet? We can compromise. Find an ultra sheer pair of tights [black preferred], mix them with your favorite button-up or blouse, add a chunky pair of heels or booties & work those short shorts, girl. The key to this look is mixing grungy pieces with ultra feminine pieces; balance is everything, right?

Staying in or keeping it casual? Grab your favorite flannel tunic & find the heaviest knit tights you can. Add a boyfriend watch or simple gold necklace & you’ve got the perfect homebody outfit this winter. Need to head out? Throw on a pair of rugged lace up boots & a beanie. You’ll be a sexy cross between a lumberjack & a Victoria’s Secret model. Who can’t get with that?

There is a happy medium between the looks our moms used to wear & the great winter looks coming off the streets of New York, San Francisco & Milan. The key is to keep the rest of your outfit current. Tights can look stale & outdated if you’re mixing them with pieces that aren’t comparable, so work your tights into an outfit with an extra short dress or skirt & don’t look back. When else would you be able to show so much of your stems without fear? Exactly. #workitgirl It’s the holidays after all…

Happy Tightening, babes.

Xx.

November 2, 2015November 3, 2015 styledbylyricLeave a comment

Party Problems

Well babes, November is here, which means it’s officially all-things-holiday. This is the one season of the year where sequins, patent leather pumps, opaque tights & champagne make the best of friends & you don’t have to apologize to anyone for it.

Thus, today I’ve chosen my top five male & female looks to rock this 2015 Holiday. Making a statement during these few months is the name of the game. With so many fun prints & colors && textures to work with the options are pretty endless. Plus, you don’t want to be the one in the corner with Barbara from Accounting eating your feelings at this year’s holiday party, right? So it’s time to rework your wardrobe & accessories && make this your best outfit season ever!

Menswear: the looks I’ve chosen work for nearly any body-type & allow my male clients to feel enough creativity to represent their own personal style, but not take away from the professional atmosphere of work//family//co-worker-realted parties. Each piece varies from causal wear to black tie, all dependent upon the invite.

For super casual environments, try a black on black ensemble with a subtle pop of metal or color.
Not ready for a suit? Work a nice slack, a simple button-up & a great pair of loafers.
Event too casual for full suit & tie? Ditch the tie & work in a great shoe & pocket square instead.Time to suit it up, but want to stand out? Try a fun color or print on for size. Black Tie? Opt for true black hues, a vest, & a unique pocket square & tie [at max].

Womenswear: the looks I’ve selected for my ladies today are versatile, flirty & on-trend with the season, yet they allow serious room for creativity & personality. Women get to cheat a bit with party-wear because our looks often fit somewhere neatly between casual & black tie dependent upon the woman’s tastes & preferences. However, each piece chosen has either a unique shape, texture or print & will help kick your holiday season up a solid ten notches & still be invite-appropriate.

Not down with a dress? Try a great blouse & unique skirt. Top with a killer heel & you’ll be show stopping.
Keep it classic & professional with a beautiful burgundy lace dress, but spice it up with some sequins.
Want to keep it comfortable? Rock some amazing sequin pants. Tip: keep everything else simple.Nothing says Carrie Bradshaw like a tulle skirt. Perfect for holiday parties, but always add tights. Need some color in your life? An emerald cocktail dress is my go-to this holiday season. #sogood

So whether you have corporate events planned, your in-laws in town, or you just want a night out with friends & a hot-toddy, this season is the time to try new pieces & looks. Put on those leather chestnut loafers, guys. Purchase those five inch Louboutins, ladies. && get ready to own the shit out of Winter. You’ve worked hard the last ten months…

Happy Partying, party animals.

Xx.

July 22, 2015July 22, 2015 styledbylyricLeave a comment

Maximum

As the Summer heat continues to assault my sweat glands, I find myself wishing I was naked pretty much everywhere I go. I mean really. The thought of a layer of clothing even touching my skin makes me cringe. Thus, I opt for maxi dresses as perma-summer-wear. They’re simple, comfortable, lightweight & make me feel naked enough to stay sane. However, I have a weird love//hate relationship with them. The length has to be just right, the print can’t be too OC Housewife, but above all is my footwear-if the shoes ain’t right, it ain’t going down. & more frustrating than my own obsessive commitment to maxi-perfection is other babe’s struggle with it.

So, today I’ve created The 5 Commandments of Maxi’s. How to wear them, what footwear to rock & why prints matter, so we can all look polished & Summer-ready, no matter the occasion.

Let’s go.

Commandment #1: No flip flops allowed. Ever. Throwing on a pair of cheap flip flops only perpetuates the laziness factor. Unless you’re backpacking in Europe or your name is Kate Moss, just don’t do it. Instead, spruce up your look with a cute sandal or heel [if you dare] & complete the entire look.

Do’s & Don’ts:
vanessa hudgens maxi KK flipflops Commandment #2: Length matters. Looking comfy is great, looking frumpy is just sad. The length of your maxi dress can entirely change its intention. Too long says “I just bought this cuz I was in a rush & the mannequin looked cute in it.” Before you take that maxi home, see where it hits on your leg. Ideally the perfect fit should hit right at or just below your ankle, to accent your shoes & show just a little skin.

Do’s & Don’ts:
Commandment #3: Print is everything. Even perfectly-fitted, beautiful-shoe-wearing maxi outfits can be hindered; without the right print & color the dress is rendered useless. Although the actual style of a maxi rarely changes, the prints are constantly being updated. Stay current & age appropriate & you’ll nail this look.

Do’s & Don’ts:

Commandment #4: Leather is the perfect addition. Almost always. Eventually the Summer sunshine will let up & you’ll likely be left shivering in the cold of the night. Thus, I team my maxi dresses with a leather jacket or blazer, but be wary, as fit & style are key to nailing this outfit addition. Tip: less is more.

Do’s & Don’ts:
Commandment #5: To shoe or not to shoe? I haven’t quite decided my thoughts on wearing full blown sneaker with a maxi dress. I see it happening everywhere & I don’t know if I love the casual-factor or absolutely hate it. However, I think it’s important that we at least attempt to style this look, so here goes: when wearing a shoe with a maxi, be sure you focus entirely on casual pieces. Don’t team lacy//chiffon//floral-print dresses with Chucks. Go all cotton, all solids or just don’t even. Tip: if you do take on this look, clean your sneaks first.

Do’s & Don’ts:

Summer has some of the trickiest, but most rewarding styling options, you just have to take a few extra minutes to find what pieces work best for you. The ultimate goal to styling a wardrobe is to make the user feel like their best self.

If you feel as comfortable & free as you do dancing around your apartment//condo//house completely naked to MJ’s Greatest Hits, yet you’re really just rocking a full blown killer maxi outfit…then you’re doing it right.

Go be your maximum self, babes.

Xx.

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.

dress your truth

April 1, 2014April 14, 2014 styledbylyricLeave a comment

Tonight’s bit of honesty may be harder to hear & openly agree to for some of my readers, but I assure you my words come from a place of compassion & care. That being said…

Let’s be frank, the fashion industry is an entire world based upon image. Yes, I did just say that. HOWEVER, a person’s image makes up 97% of first impressions during the first 5-30 seconds upon meeting someone new & the fashion industry is the medium from which your wardrobe speaks. Which is why choosing the right pieces for YOU is dire.

I cannot stress enough how aggrivating it is to watch my friends, family & clients struggle through department stores, only to come home with the entire outfit that the [size zero] mannequin was rocking. They swear they love it, place it in the deep, dark, sad corner of their closet [with the tags still on it] & then donate it to Goodwill or a friend when they’re participating in their yearly Spring purge. Or better yet [& my personal favorite], the “I’m going to lose weight for this” outfit…we’ve ALL done it & I love the intensity, but chances are life will happen first.

So why don’t we cut the crap & just be real, honest shoppers. Be real about our body type & honest about what clothes truly work for us. Trends are the exception, not the rule. They are the building blocks from which consumers are to be inspired, not mimicked. If you know a particular shape or cut doesn’t work for your body type or doesn’t make you feel like a better version of yourself, then it needs to be left behind.

I always tell my clients that they should never make a purchase unless they agree to these tried & true questions:

1. Will I wake up tomorrow & want to immediately put it on?
2. Will I be wearing it in a year? [Always consider the investment & it’s longevity]
3. Do I absolutely LOVE it in the store? If not, don’t buy. [Department stores are perfectly groomed & planned out to help motivate their shoppers to buy, so if it ain’t working in the fitting room, it’ll work even less at home].

If you can answer those three questions with a yes, regardless of a trending item or not, then it’s worth your money. I just ask that the next time you find yourself aimlessly shopping, that you consider whether or not your purchase is bettering the way you feel about yourself & your intrapersonal perception. Let’s change the way we view shopping as a whole & start creating our best self, today. We deserve it. Xx