The Social Look Wrap Up

SocialStylists — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 01:48:21 +0000

SocialStylists.com wrapped up our first Social Look Contest this week.
We are excited to announce the winners:
First Place – Closetology ($250 Gift Certificate to Shopbop)
Second Place – Shoe Slut ($100 Gift Certificiate to Zappos)
Third Place – Laney ($25 Gift Certificate to Ulta)

Day Look from Closetology

It was loads of fun going through the entries and seeing how people created their styles. We want to thank everyone that shared their style and their opinions. We learned a lot from both the styles and from the comments.

So here’s a short summary of the standouts and the lessons –

Style isn’t buying a pre-made outfit. It is about adding different pieces to create a look or a mood, not just a “set.” The sales assistant having style is wonderful, but you need to create you own fashion identity by blending items from your own closet. Laney showed us this with taking the LBB and changing the look for day or night.

Unexpected pairings can have a big impact. When you stick to the anticpated, there isn’t much interest. Having something a little off balance grabs your attention. We loved the pairing of pearls with the biker-studded clutch on Shoe Slut’s night look.

Night Look from Closetology

Takes some risks. One of Closetology’s standouts was pairing textured cream tights with an open-toed shoe. It goes against the standard “rules” but looks fantastic. Also, she didn’t play it safe when choosing to match the tuxedo blazer with the oxford shoes. An easy option would have been to add a pair of pumps and say “Voila, evening.” She opted to go with the very fashion forward shoe instead and create the evening look through feminine details.

All of the winning looks had something in common: the masculine/feminine balance or the tough/soft balance. Overly feminine seems sugary sweet while too much masculine just seems rough. Today’s best looks strike a balance between the two.

Developing individual style takes time. But creating your own looks will give you confidence to go into your closet even when rushed and come out looking (and feeling) spectacular. Keep Styling!

Opposites Attract

SocialStylists — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:09:48 +0000

One of the most challenging parts about dressing is creating the “outfit.” That complete look, that once achieved, can make you feel fabulous. This fall opposites attract, and it looks great. This season’s “Look” is pairing contrasting pieces to create a sense of balance. Whether it is in the textures, silhouettes, colors or the yin and yang, the looks that contrast this year are taking hold.

Ruffled jacket paired with leggings

Silhouettes –
Leggings are everywhere- I personally love them and I am eternally grateful for whoever invented them- but I’m also excited about the possibilities they have now. Paired with an oversized sweater or fur vest the lean look of the legging and the volume of the top flatters so many women.

Masculine, feminine-
Leather pieces worn with ruffles or studded accents paired with pearls are being seen now too. A nice little push for this look started with Sex and the City, whose style always influences many fashion lovers. Sarah Jessica Parker wore many of these looks, creating the feminine / masculine contrast and hitting the spot every time. One thing I love about this look is that it’s nice not to have to go all-out girly, or to be a tomboy, but to strike a happy medium. All year and looking to next we see these contrasts and it’s a very cool look, but with this a little bit goes a long way.

Feminine Shirt with Masculine Belt

Contrasts create interest in an outfit, which, for most fashionistas is the reason we love fashion so much to begin with. Not everything works for everyone- If you are a little nervous to wear it its probably ok…if you are real nervous, get some input first. Trend talk is a perfect place to throw out an idea and see what others think to help you tweak it before you debut it.

Social Stylists » pearls

The Social Look Wrap Up

Opposites Attract