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.

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.

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