From the category archives:

fashion

As an island girl, winter always feels waaaay too long to me. Granted, I also live in a country where winters are pretty long. And cold. And dark, and gloomy.

Frankly, when I wake up on the average winter day here, I want to stay in bed. It also takes a bit more work that usual to get my creative juices flowing in winter (maybe they are frozen and need time to thaw?), so after using considerable mental energy to talk myself into getting out of bed and getting dressed, my outfits are… if not quite outright boring, definitely much less imaginative than they are in summer. There’s definitely enough black and grey to go around.
True, I often add a pop of color (with my favorite purple scarf or colored tights) or a bit of sparkle, but… a gal needs options. And a great option to instantly wake up a boring outfit is a fabulous statement necklace. Right now I am craving a sparkly, colorful, playful bib necklace, like these ones:

Craving: bib necklacesPictured: 1. Kendra Scott Harlow necklace in green (available in 10 colors), $195;
2. Carole layered teardrop necklace, $16;
3. Penelope’s Teardrop necklace, $29;
4. Blue Bijioux bib necklace, on sale for $60 (used to be $125);
5. Stella & Dot Cotez necklace, on sale for $49 (down from $148);
6. Amrita Singh Kristina necklace, $150;
7. Amrita Singh Stannard necklace, $100 (down from $150);
8. Coast Phia necklace, £22 ($29).

Just think about it: all you have to do in the morning is grab a few basic pieces, add your statement necklace… et voilà! Instant glam.

And if you are thinking that they are a bit too sparkly, too large, too… much for you, let me direct you to Exhibit B:
How to wear your statement necklace: Day & Night
How to wear your statement necklace: Work & Play

See? Super wearable. Give it a try, and it might just become your secret weapon to look fabulous without much time or effort.

Now, there’s just one question: which one to pick?

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OOTW: the no-brainer

by Elisa on December 10, 2011

in fashion,Outfit of the Week

Some days you have to fight your way out of bed. It’s cold outside, maybe even one of those hateful dark, gloomy, grey late fall days, and you have a long to-do list and little patience. Some days you are just not in the mood for dolling up. What you need is your trusted basics, something comfortable enough to run around in all day without looking like you just rolled out of bed.

Leggings and a long cardi used to be the cousin to the “mom jeans”: a sloppy outfit for someone who put comfort ahead of everything, and was just short of leaving the house in their pjs. But you know better. You know that a bit of structure and the right accessories can turn that DON’T into a DO.

OOTW: the no-brainer

Here’s my no-brainer for fall.
Treggings have more structure than leggings but are just as comfortable; however like leggings, they should only be worn with a top that reaches past your bum, about mid-thigh.
A soft cardigan in a similar length as the tunic but a contrastic color (grey is my favourite neutral!) will add warmth and the ever-popular layering touch.
Biker boots are my usual choice of footwear with this outfit, but a nice pair of riding boots or simple ankle boots would work as well – the important thing is that you choose something with some structure and stay away from anything floppy or Ugg-like.

Add a beautiful scarf and don’t forget a little jewelry – a feminine touch can make a huge difference in the way your outfit turns out! Not to mention a little sparkle or a pop of color can go a long way to bring a simple outfit to life. I wear a lot of black in winter, but I always add jewelry and a pop of color, even if it’s just in my nail polish ;-)

What’s your no-brainer outfit?

{ 3 comments }

Copyright Elisa Bieg, 2008-2009.