May 11, 2015May 11, 2015 styledbylyric2 Comments

Co-Ordinate

Hey Mamas [enter Mother’s Day pun here], I hope you all had a beautiful weekend! I have had a wild past few weeks, but I’m back & more focused than ever to get some serious fashion deets your way to help prep you for the fast approaching Summer months.

So there’s a new trend making some serious headway & I want to talk it through. They’re called Co-Ord [coordinate] Sets. Familiar?

I’m referring to those freaking adorable two piece, matching outfits that basically make all fashion headaches go away [if executed properly]. & I’m obsessed with them. Plus, everyone loves an easy outfit trick that actually works. Think your moms favorite 90s skirt & pantsuit, but completely flipped on it’s ass. That’s basically the birthplace of a co-ord. & my absolute favorite part about this look is it’s versatility; every single one of my clients [regardless of age, body type, lifestyle, etc.] has been able to make these pieces work for them because there are hundreds of co-ord styles & sets. Not to mention, you simply throw them on & you’re set for the day. [Um, calling all people with busy lives, this outfit is your lifesaver].

But which one should you choose? What body type works best with which style? & how will you know you’re doing it right?

Hello! Enter: Lyric.

Picking The Right Co-Ord For You: with two piece outfits comes the subconscious fear of bathing suits & the painful reminder that your body just isn’t in the shape you want it to be. But the beauty of these two piece outfits [unlike bikini’s] is that you don’t have to show skin if you don’t want to. You can choose from long sleeve, short sleeve, halter, crop, pantsuit, sweater, floral, monochromatic, cotton, satin, & even chiffon co-ords. The limits are endless, allowing almost all women to adopt this style for their Summer wardrobe. Take note:

A long sleeved co-ord allows for more coverage & less fuss

A cropped tank & mini skirt co-ord says, I’ve got it & I wanna flaunt it

A cropped tank & knee length skirt co-ord works beautifully on any plus sized babe

[& my personal favorite] The pantsuit co-ord, appropriate for work & play

What Body Type Works Best With Which Style: with all things should come truth; knowing & being honest with yourself about your body type is the first step toward finding confidence in what you wear. It took me a long time to accept my body type, but now I work [patiently] with select pieces until I find what works best for me. It’s all a process, but beginning is the first step. That being said, co-ord outfits are amazing for the hyper-body-conscious woman, because they allow for so much versatility:

For my babes with tummy troubles; ample coverage, loose-fitted top, a beautiful floral print & a little highlight for the legs, this co-ord takes all the attention off of the mid-section.

For my sporty, athletic babes; a body-con, striped number draws major attention to those six pack abs, highlights thin stems, but still gives appropriate coverage to the shoulders & neckline.

For my curvier babes; knee length, bright print, subtle hued co-ord’s are ideal. You can choose a cropped top dependent upon your comfort level, or go for a blousier look to add comfort & confidence.

For my petite babes; a tee & shorts co-ord is perfect. Balancing out the shoulders with a squared-off top, making the legs appear longer with hot pants, & highlighting the mid-section as your smallest point, this look will make you feel like a 6’5″ model in Paris.

For my thin babes; dare to bare. An ultra-cropped tank, racerback or tee can be the perfect addition to this look. Pair it with a fun, matching pant [for some added subtlety] & you’ll be honing your inner Twiggy in 0 seconds flat.

For my mommy’s-to-be; with bright neon hues, a loose-fitting top & bottom, & ample chest & tummy coverage, this has to be the most adorable way to wear this look. Team with your favorite accessories & you’ll be the hottest MILF in the room.

Am I Doing It Right?: the best way to know you’re following the co-ord fashion philosophies of the world is to be certain that you feel beautiful. If you are immediately trying to cut the tags off in the fitting room & find something fun to do so you can showcase this new fit…then you’re doing it right. If you stand in front of the mirror wearing your co-ord, doing pirouette after pirouette, then you’re doing it right. If you are meticulously scrutinizing all of the things you don’t like about your body & how ugly you feel in the outfit…you absolutely are not doing it right.

These pieces of fabric that we lay across our bodies day in & day out are not there to simply cover our nakedness, but rather to be representations of who we are & what we exude. Take the time. Be patient. & find what speaks to you. Confidence is 90% of the gig, & the clothes tell the other 10% of your story.

Happy Coordinating, babes.

Xx.

February 18, 2015February 18, 2015 styledbylyric1 Comment

NYFW15

Is it terrible that more so than enjoying the [brilliant] designers works of art, prowling the runways with their magical prints & textures during fashion week, I prefer the street fashion? Oops. I feel bad about it. Honest.

But I do.

It’s absolutely nothing against the designers. I mean really, these phenomenal human beings are the only ones with balls big enough to spend their entire year [sometimes life] creating the perfect line for the coming seasons that they debut in front of basically the entire world. No big.

But I just love the creativity of the participants during NYFW; the wild, crazy, sexy, chic, sophisticated, almost always avant-garde stylings of New York’s finest fashionista[o]s, flaunting their creations for all the world to see, as if they’re celebrating their very own fashion lines. Not to mention, these events are like the perfect conglomeration of every single person I would want to shop with, get coffee with, write blog posts with, style photoshoots with, take a road trip with, & probably get really really drunk with [just to see where the night takes us] in one part of the world, all at the same time. Magic.

But their clothing. That’s why I’m here.

The genius ways in which these artists [I deem them this because they truly are] put colors & prints & textures & eras together in one outfit…it’s mesmerizing. Don’t believe me? Just take a look; these are my 10 favorite street style looks from New York Fashion Week 2015 thus far…

Photos by Ryan Kibler & Phil Oh

January 19, 2015January 20, 2015 styledbylyric1 Comment

Alexis Russell

As you’ve probably caught on by now, I’m basically a slut for jewelry…in the nicest way possible. The more dainty & delicate the piece, the heavier I’m drooling//panting//doing whatever it takes to make it mine. [& yes, I react the same way over statement jewelry, but we’ve already done a few blog posts on that. Duh.] Thus, Alexis Russell has become my new love affair [sorry babe, I’m leaving you for fine, gold & diamond gems]. I legitimately find myself spending countless hours on her website, Instagram & Twitter, imagining all the ways I could style her pieces with my current wardrobe & for my clients. She mixes classic metals with edgy angles & shapes, & tops it all off with a perfect little diamond or stone. Who needs more than that? Oh & Brides-To-Be, she’s got a bridal collection, too. Oof.

Enough talk…just scope her stuff out for yourself. But grab a napkin, you’ll need it.

[Images Courtesy of AlexisRussell.com 2015]

January 13, 2015January 19, 2015 styledbylyric1 Comment

New Do. New You.

Fresh year. Fresh resolutions [do we still do this to ourselves?] Fresh locks. Wait, what? Yes. It’s time. A new hairstyle is a resolution you can actually conquer. So let’s talk on it for a second.

As a woman who has serious anxiety about chopping her locks, I am more than empathetic towards this topic. However, it’s a new year & it’s time to continue that whole becoming a bigger, better, more well-rounded human thing that we’re placed on this earth to do. [Did I just compare a haircut to evolution? Yes. Yes, I did.] So, in hopes to get you warmed up to the entire concept, I’ve broken down my favorite styles making headway [ha]. Let’s decipher how you can change your look this 2015.

Here goes.

1. Parted: don’t want to chop your hair off just yet? Fine. Then keep it fresh by switching up the direction, style, or shape of your part. A simple trick that adds major change with little effort.

Center Part

Soft Side Part

Diagonal Part

Deep Side Part

Zig Zag Part

2. The New Pixie: a pixie cut has always seemed heart-stopping to me, but this new, modern take on a classic [& once terrifying] cut could be just what the doctor ordered. Think Sienna Miller circa 2006, but with a little more styling ability. This cut is undoubtedly ballsy, but so chic & will be everywhere this 2015. The key to owning it: a good texture spray//gel//cream.

3. The Pony: no not the one you used to throw into place before gym class, but the new, intentional pony. Olivia Palermo is the queen of this look [see below]. It can be worn to events, coffee//lunch dates, running errands, picking up the kids…& is so easy to style. It likely won’t change your entire world this 2015, but it will make you feel like the chicest chick in the room. The key: finding minimalist hair ties to keep the look in place without taking away from it’s clean approach [Scrunchies anyone].

Loose Pony

Messy Pony

Curled Pony

Tight Pony

4. The Soft Ombré: a softer version of the ever-overstated ombré look that’s been holding on for about four years now [it was time to finally change this up], this look takes a more delicate approach to a once severe do. Switching up the color of your hair can change everything, given you have an amazing hairstylist that you know & trust. I recommend this look for nearly any hair type, & I promise, it will make you feel like an entirely new person, without all the effort. #whycantistoptouchingmyhair

5. Shoulder Length Everything: 2015 is going to be all about shoulder-length hair. Period. It just is. & to you babes who feel the need for mega change, this is the time to take the plunge & chop it off. Truth be told, this is probably my favorite style of the year & if I had the huevos to do it, I so would. This look screams I’m a mom, but I’m sexy as fuck, so deal with it [no, you don’t have to actually have children…it’s just at thing]. & did I mention it sheds serious minutes off your morning routine.

So when should you make all these changes you ask? Don’t worry, there’s an app for that, too. Oh wait, more like an entire study & article: Lunar Hair Chart. Seriously.

As a woman who is ridiculously attached to her hair, I vow to switch it up this year, so long as you’ll do it with me. Deal?

See you babes on the other side…ya know, the new you, new do, 2015 side.

Xx.

January 12, 2015January 19, 2015 styledbylyricLeave a comment

StyledbyLyric has been up & running for just under a year now & I wanted to get on here & say a quick [but major] thank you. Thank you for your support. Thank you for your feedback. Thank you for your judgements. Thank you for reading all the verbiage I spew at you regularly. Thank you for letting me curse when I just can’t explain things any other way. Thank you for telling your friends, family, loved ones, co-workers, etc., about me & what I’m doing in this little blogosphere of the social media world. Thank you for believing in the positivity behind this brand. Thank you for being on the forefront of this vision I have for the fashion industry. Thank you.

As a fresh business owner, I find the future daunting, exhilarating, immeasurable, but mostly, ours for the taking. I hope you’ll continue to ride on throughout this journey with StyledbyLyric & get out of it exactly what I envision for all my clients: your own personal experience & style.

Peace&love.

Xx.