Winter Essential: The Dress Jacket
January 31, 2012
While the winter weather keeps us wrapped up, don’t miss the essential element to any girl’s wardrobe: the dress jacket. This is a jacket that 1) it’s cozy 2) we grab in an instant whenever we want to look fabulous without a care in the world, and 3) has a unique quality that stands out from the crowds.
Most of us will actually have a few of these jackets in different colors and styles to match our various moods. This winter I’ve embraced colors like red, burgundy, emerald, and eggplant. With my dark hair I like the contrast these colors bring.
A dress jacket is different form a traditional jacket in that when buttoned up it looks like a purposeful dress. Though I love this quality about them, I like to wear them open so it adds more movement with my complete look. I like the layers and length, especially in the winter. It adds depth and keeps you warm all at the same time.
There are two qualities about this particular jacket from eFashion that I absolutely adore: the ruffles and the double breasted buttons.
If a jacket has buttons this season, I either want one single well placed button or a whole bunch of them! I love how one single item can make a bold fashion statement all on its own. For this reason, I like to wear something simple underneath- like a form fitted black dress or extra long tank top. You could even add a simple scarf if you wanted to. It’s a chic and comfortable look.
What’s your favorite dress jacket color to wear this season? Find more winter essential jackets on yesstyle.com and see which one matches your personality!
Step Into The New Year In Style
January 3, 2012
It’s time to get a leg up on your style and start the new year with a bang. The easiest way to add more variety to your wardrobe (and keep the heads turning) is to include leggings into your look. No- not the boring and simple expected kind, but the ones that make you go “oooh!” when you see them. Texture is a big element to consider as well as bright youthful colors and prints.
To show off the designs, I’m wearing a natural toned long top. You’ll notice that even the top can be tied to change up appearances, but more on this piece in a moment. The first and the second pair of leggings have a mix of fabrics that stand out brilliantly in person. Both feature lines of a faux leather material that is ultra silky against the skin, and adds a beautiful shine to your design.
Faux Leather Leggings from SARAH: available on yesstyle.com
I’ve had many fashionistas come up to me to compliment me on the leggings, and then ask if they could touch them! Because the material is a faux leather, you get an almost liquid look that fits seamlessly against the skin (no wrinkles from a thick material that would crease). There is just enough of the material too be creative and not obnoxious, too. The tones in these two might be “normal”, but the designs are anything but that.
With a pair of boots, these leggings make me think of riding pants. With heels, they are an edgy part of your wardrobe. Wear them with a loose top, or even a simple camisole topped off with a form shaped jacket. A military style jacket with a big collar could look extremely haute, too!
Now on to some color….!
These red leggings from WiWi are a bright and bold color that will liven up any outfit. When something is this bright, I like to wear soft pastels, nudes, and cream colors to keep everything in balance. Some sheer light printed tops would look darling with these pants. It will also take an adorable dress to another level! Be daring and embrace the bright colors.
These leggings are by far my new favorite. Again, the style is simple and stunning and the material feels oh so comfortable. Very much a win – win! I wanted to show it off first in the same top so you can see how a change of leggings makes a difference in the tone of the look, and then show you a wilder side:
With a simple change of the top, the leggings get a new kind of attitude. From classy and chic to wild and ready for a party. I’m very much in love with flowly see-through tops to layer over my outfit. The see-through factor lets the sun shine through and show the form, but give you more versatility in the volume of your style. We like volume- but we must maintain a feminine look and never look like a balloon.
So start playing with colors and prints, keep looks flowy and feminine, and add your own edge into your wardrobe!
PS The boots in the last look are my Convertible Boots which I’ve featured before. This is the newest way I’ve been wearing them. Each time I bring them out I discover a new style- you gotta love that in a shoe!
Contest! Show Off Your Holiday Style
December 16, 2011
I am very inspired by yesstyle, and in fact I will share you one of my most recent inspirations for the holiday season here within this post. But now it’s your turn to shine!
Yes Style is hosting a holiday contest, and you could win an iPad 2 just for showing off your holiday outfit. It must be a Yes Style holiday inspired outfit, and you can find the complete listing of the rules on yesstyle.com.
Here’s what you do-
1. Take a photo or video of you in your “Holiday Party à la YesStyle” outfit. Upload it to Facebook, your blog or anywhere you want and tell us the URL in the comment section below.
2. Send an email with the same URL, your name and email address to: contests@yesstyle.com
3. The “Holiday Party à la YesStyle” outfit does not need to be composed of YesStyle items but should be inspired by styles found on YesStyle’s retail websites and not from The YesStylist. You should clearly state the source of your inspiration on the page where you uploaded the photo or video of your outfit.
Don’t forget to check out the official contest rules! A picture’s worth a thousand words, or in this case, an iPad 2. So get styling, you have until January 5th, 2012! Good luck, my loves!
My holiday outfit inspiration:
This season I have been inspired by deep burgundy colors, belts to show off the waist, dresses that show movement or layers, interesting sleeves, and the military jacket.
That’s why when I spotted this dress it just had to be mine. It’s a Shirred-Sleeve Buttoned Layered Dress from CatWorld and is available on yesstyle.com. Funny thing about this dress is that everywhere I go, people stop me and ask me if it’s vintage. I’ve had so many compliments, and being a fan of the vintage style I take that as a great compliment as well.
“The color is a dream, it’s perfect!” a girl said to me at a bar. I was thrilled. The layers of the skirt portion of the dress move beautifully and add a feminine feel against the structure of the military top. The white of the belt gives a nice accent, and makes me think of snow. The sleeves give you more texture and complete the look of the dress.
Combining elements from your every day style into one piece is fun. This dress is easily one of my new favorites and has inspired me to find more. So get to taking photos of your holiday outfit! Submit them to the contest and even share them in the comments here! I’d love to see what inspires you 
Party Time: Which Dress Will You Wear?
November 30, 2011
Tis the season… for lots of parties! Whether it is a family get together, celebration with friends, or night out on the town- it is the season to be ready with dresses that will impress the crowds.
Here are some styles that will not only give you a variety, but will also inspire you to have more fun with your party dress planning. We will start with the very “in” style: the caped dress.
Capes are everywhere- from a simple caped sleeve on a blouse to a bold heavy cape on a jacket. You can even add a cape to your favorite dress for a more dramatic character. What I like about this particular dress is that the cape is sheer and lined with ruffles. I adore texture and volume, and this shows that a cape doesn’t have to be traditional. The neutral tones of the dress work well with the shape, too.
When it comes to winter, I think of either neutral, soft shades, or I think of rich colors such as a dark purple, vivid red, dark gray or black. Sometimes the neutral shades are under appreciated. A peach dress with gold jewelry and a fur wrapped collar is a statement of elegance!
DRESS: IAIZO by Seven Princess
Next we have a classic red fitted dress which is perfect for the Christmas party season. It’s fitted with knots of fabric in the front to give it some texture. It makes me think of wrapping presents. The color is a gorgeous red! A girl understands that finding the perfect red is no simple task. I like how this one is vivid with enough depth in the color to give it a natural glow. The texture of the fabric creates subtle shadows that make the red even richer in color.
This is a dress that is sure to get noticed. Wear an elaborate jacket to keep you warm, then reveal the simple beauty of this candy apple dress.
DRESS: Knot front strapless dress from Joanne Kitten, available on yesstyle.com
Here’s another classic- a long black dress. With this much fabric the shape is very important. What I love about this dress is the back! The front is very chic and modest, while the back drops down. It’s elegant with just enough of the sexy factor to keep you feeling gorgeous all night. A strapless sticky bra will keep you comfortable so you can keep your back revealed (just something to consider! If you don’t have one, they’re a small investment and go a long way for both your existing and future wardrobe).
DRESS: Open back maxi dress from SPICY HOLIC, available on yesstyle.com
Finally we look at the very girlie “frills and ruffles” style of dress. This is one of my personal favorites to wear. I like how it is fitted at the top, shows off the waist, then gives you lots of fabric with an uneven hem. It flows, it moves, and it maintains the feminine form beautifully. It’s ruffled- but not over the top. It’s just right!
I decided to go with an ice blue color here, for a snow empress kind of look. This is the dress on its own (I wanted to show it off in it’s natural element), but for the winter season I’ll be adding either a cloak or a soft white fur wrap around the neck. Add some dark jewelry into the neckline- something heavy and jeweled, and you’ll have a completely new look. I think that’s why I’m so fond of dresses like this- feminine, soft toned, and all one color. You can constantly discover new ways to fit it into any season.
I’ve even worn this dress with a black skull necklace, boots, and a black edgy jacket for a more rock and roll kind of look. Neutral dresses really allow your own personality to shine.
This same style dress in a dark purple, burgundy, or emerald color is another thing to consider for the winter season.
DRESS: V neck Ruffle Chiffon Dress from 59 Seconds, available on yesstyle.com
Which style of dress will you be wearing this holiday season? I know I will be wearing all of them!
Fall into Elegance with Attitude
November 16, 2011
When I think of chiffon I think of feminine elegance- the material is so delicate and it moves beautifully. It’s both carefree and fitted the way it naturally falls against the human form. This being said, I like to break the rules and bring some attitude into the scene!
I like the contrast the softness of this chiffon blouse brings to the harshness of these boots. With the weather of the fall this makes a great outfit for the warmer days, and even a great option to wear underneath those giant coats for the colder days. The shoes show off some style, then once you are inside where it is warm, you can take off the coat and reveal your outfit in comfort.
I’ve been finding myself collecting more and more chiffon blouses- some more fitted and some almost oversized. I like playing with neutral shades in the fall, then bringing in the color in time for winter. A splash of a vivid shade goes a long way. I just recently found a bright yellow oversized chiffon blouse I’m currently playing with!
The nice thing about a neutral shade is that you can style it differently for every season. Right now I’m leaning towards matching up blacks and browns for the fall and winter season. But when spring and summer come around, I’m thinking more pastels, whites, creams, and lighter tones to brighten the look up. Layers come in handy here, too.
This particular blouse is from TokyoFashion and is available on yesstyle.com. Being a dress girl I like to challenge myself with different styles. I would challenge you to do the same- break up the routine and let some of the minor style characteristics in your wardrobe shine in the spotlight for a day. For me that means styling different shirts, skirts, shorts, pants, and leggings together. Many times I’ll pick a pair of shoes and then work backwards to create a style for them!
Fall in love with a fashion piece and then build a style of your own around it!
Fall/Winter Must Have: A Cape Jacket
October 13, 2011
This season’s must have accessory is the cape jacket. The traditional structured jacket feels very rigid and expected, whereas the cape brings romance into the scene with it’s carefree shape that falls and hugs your body beautifully.
It also layers very well. Where a full jacket covers your complete outfit, the cape keeps you warm while still allowing your outfit to be seen. Even with the larger capes for the winter you have that added style and romantic feel. But right now for the Fall I’m enjoying this little cape to compliment the crisp, cool air.
Anything that makes me think “romantic” makes me think curls. I love styling my hair in big curls that fall into the changing shape of the fabric I am wearing.
This particular cape is from 59th street and is available at yesstyle.com. I love how the pockets are subtle and add to the overall shape of the cape. The cape is available in other colors, too, but I find myself all too often going for the classic black and wanted to give some contrast to my outfits. Besides, my hair is so dark it can look too heavy with my hair down (black on black). I think khaki works perfectly in this shape, and really makes me think of fall.
My next quest is to find capes in more vivid colors and other jackets with different shapes!
Polka Dot: Classic With A Twist
August 31, 2011
Get The Look:
OrangeBear Dotted Shirt Dress from yesstyle.com
Classic: the pattern, The Twist: it’s sheer.
Here we have a beautiful shirt dress with a feminine design and a classic dotted pattern. Make it sheer and now you have something very interesting to style. I wanted to keep it simple and let the sheer material show hints here and there, but still remain classy.
I decided to go with a black strapless bra and some fitted high waist shorts as the undergarments- they are just darker than the color of the dress so it blends in very nicely while an appropriate amount of skin just ever so slightly peaks through. Continuing with the idea of keeping this look simple and classy with a twist- I kept my make up nude with red lipstick as well as a pair of red shoes for some more color. And because I was feeling inspired, I braided my hair into two very loose french braids. From a distance, things may look familiar but up close everything has a modern and creative twist (however slight it may be).
I like an outfit that brings up a challenge, and anything sheer will do that. Sheer with a pattern takes it to another level. You can always be safe with a classic black slip, but sometimes it is fun to experiment and see where your creativity may lead you. This time I went classic, next time I may not. It makes this one single dress have tons of different looks- looking like a completely new outfit each time depending how far you go with the styling. How many looks will you create and are you up to the challenge?
Must Have Look: The Boyfriend Shirt
August 1, 2011
This is a simple clean look with a powerful statement. It’s carefree but controlled with a subtle sexy feel. It’s “the boyfriend shirt” fitted properly for the female form. I’ve been hunting for the perfect boyfriend shirt for some time now, hoping to wear it as a dress or with some leggings and some heels. Then I found it- the shirt I had been dreaming of! It’s from yeomong on yesstyle.com and is exactly what I have been wanting.
The material is soft and delicate (as well as very comfortable) and falls beautifully against the feminine form. Because it is longer in the back it wears really well with a pair of shorts. Just tuck in the front and let the rest flow- adding more to that sexy flair. It could be worn with leggings, too, but with the heat of the summer still out I found shorts to be the perfect route. Add a pair of classic black heels and you are in business.
Another way to wear this look is with lots of long necklaces and bracelets, then maybe some more grunge styled boots. From Classy to Rock and Roll- there are plenty of ways to make this look your own.
I’m excited. When I find a piece that I really like I tend to buy several and in every color. I know my next purchase will be the same shirt in black- then maybe wear it with either jeans or with beige shorts and beige heels to reverse the look I have here. It’s my new favorite look!
Sleeve Inspired
July 24, 2011
Get The Look:
Layered-Hem Fringed Tunic from Othermix available on yesstyle.com
My latest obsession is all about sleeves. Whether it is pure volume, interesting textures, abstract designs, or even off to one side- it is an instant attention grabber and gives a new shape to your style.
Take for instance these sleeves from Othermix available on yesstyle.com. They are fabulous with fringe and balanced out with sheer fabric so that the arms are still visible. This gives you volume but also reveals the feminine shape. With sleeves this big, you want to make sure you don’t turn into a block of fabric- make sure there is still an elegant form. When it comes to sleeves- think about the movement the fabric will make as you walk, the silhouettes you are creating, and the overall shape that compliments to your natural body.
Make things interesting and get creative with different forms. They don’t have to be big to be interesting, sometimes something as subtle as a winged corner, like a horn, on the shoulder can give you an edgy and daring look. Here are some styles I have my eye on for inspiration. All of these looks are from Othermix and are available on yesstyle.com. I adore their sense of style and creativity, as well as their use of color. With designs like these it is easy to look like an instant fashion icon.
Click Here to view more from Othermix!
