Sunday, June 21, 2015

If the Hat Fits...






















If there's one seasonal accessory that we love, it's hats. They're functional, both as a statement piece to liven up an outfit and as protection from the summer sun. As C's dermatologist reminded her this week, those of us in our mid-twenties are ALREADY AGING. Terrifying. Anyway, we've been wearing hats of various types for years, even before hipsters made them cool. Exhibit A: one of C's male friends identified J by the nickname "hot hat girl" for years. The power of a good hat should never be underestimated.

 In this post we are featuring what J calls "the lady hat," a.k.a. any hat with a fitted crown and a wide brim (either floppy or stiff). As you'll notice, the vibes from these looks are very different. C is sporting a preppy, light, daytime look, perfect for outdoor picnics, church, or graduation parties.  J is rocking a toned-down sultry ensemble, great for evening drinks or live music. 

J's black floppy felt hat is super versatile and can be worn in every season. She is also wearing one of our favorite bargain finds of this year, a full midi skirt from Express (wait for sales). Most of our favorite fashion bloggers wear similar looks from designers like Tibi. With a full skirt like this, a crop top is a must to accentuate the waist and to avoid looking too swallowed up by the clothes. We also suggest sticking with a color like black or white with the bright red hue of this skirt. We've featured the shoes on this blog before, and we find them to be the best and cheapest knockoff for the cult classic Stuart Weitzman "Nudist" sandal. Add a fun clutch to avoid looking vampy. We really like the message of this one...and pretty much anything that Kate Spade says, ever. 

C is wearing a wide-brim straw hat in a neutral tone, which is also very versatile for all of the warmer months. This hat was actually the inspiration behind this post. C recently went into the most amazing hat store ever, Salmagundi, and loved it so much that she brought J back a couple of hours later. Not only do they have over 9,000 hats in all price ranges, they also have incredible--and more importantly, affordable--accessories and clothes. We could live in there probably, if you gave us a steady supply of snacks and white wine. Anyway, C decided to amp up the traditional vibe of this hat with some classic pieces, including a peplum top and gingham pants. The pop of red adds dimension to the outfit while also emphasizing the waistline. A wedge or casual sandal looks perfect with these pants (which are so inexpensive!), and also allows you to roam around comfortably for hours at a daytime event. Side note, comfortable shoes are also suggested for trespassing on random people's property to take photos for your fashion blog.

On J
Hat: Forever21
Top: Forever21, similar here
Skirt: Express (here in white)also love this one
Shoes: Abound from Nordstrom Rack (Leopard print still available!)
Clutch: Kate Spade

On C
Hat: Salmagundi, similar here
Top: Anthropologie, similar here
Belt: Unknown, similar here
Pants: H&M, this fit, tons of colors/patterns
Shoes: Nine West, similar herehere, and here

Keep it classy,
J & C

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Groundbreaking














Whenever we wear florals, we always make fun of each other with Meryl Streep's quote from The Devil Wears Prada: "Florals, for spring?...Groundbreaking." However, there is a way to revitalize this classic pattern for fun and edgy spring and summer looks. Floral prints are the great equalizer of fashion; everyone can integrate this classic pattern, regardless of personal style. 

J, abandoning her traditional edge, is sporting a Kate Spade skirt.  To feel comfortable in such a preppy piece, however, she paired it with a lady-like crop top, metallic silver shoes, and two turquoise rock necklaces for a rustic look.  While traditionally, such a skirt is styled with similarly looking lady like pieces, J wanted to spice up her look, but still maintain the femininity this beautiful skirt offers.  The skirt flares at the hips and tapers down towards the thigh to maintain structure so as to not lose your figure.  If you have child-bearing hips, like J, a skirt of this nature is an alternative to a pencil, which, depending on the cut, can sometimes make ladies look like they are ready for the club, despite all intentions to look like a classy, sophisticated lady. When wearing a busy pattern, it is best to keep your other half (top/bottom) simple and classic so as to call attention to the statement piece.  Having said this, don't be afraid to put edge back into your look by adding other statement pieces within the same color scheme, in this case, the rock necklaces and metallic shoes.  Although J does not gravitate towards pieces like her skirt, she immediately tailored the look to better suit her "bad-assery".  Remember that when wearing bright colors, to keep them in the same temperature (in this case vibrant pink, turquoise, mint, purple)

C's straight pencil skirt with a delicate floral pattern calls for bold accessorizing in order to avoid looking like she makes clothes out of her grandma's upholstery fabrics. Pair a skirt like this with a simple, structured crop top. You should choose a crazy color that isn't in your patterned piece. We still haven't gotten tired of cobalt blue and are obsessed with all cobalt errythang. The mod look of the shades plus the additional pop of color they add help make the outfit look youthful. The red lip ties in the glasses, but don't get too matchy-matchy with your lipstick and accessories unless you're going for an Effie Trinkett look. A statement necklace and interesting shoes are a must, but staying with a neutral metallic look helps balance out this already busy look. Last but not least, beachy waves go with everything. C uses a 1-inch curling wand, starting about 2 inches from the root and ending an inch before the ends of the hair to avoid perfect ringlets. 

On J:
Top: Forever21 Similar here
Skirt: Kate Spade Similar aesthetic here
Necklaces: Forever21 & Anthropologie Similar here
Shoes: Target Similar here
Clutch: Kate Spade Similar here

On C:
Top: Forever21 Similar here
Skirt: Romeo and Juliet Couture
Necklace: Forever21 Similar here
Shoes: Chinese Laundry Similar here
Bracelets: Kate Spade
Shades: unknown Similar here

Keep it classy,
J & C


Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Ladies in Red









Let's face it, when it comes to finding that perfect little red dress (LRD) or little black dress (LBD) its nearly impossible.  Or, it is ENTIRELY possible, but you love every different type of LRD and either cannot decide just what to buy or can't afford it (cough cough J and C's problem).    If you are like us, your closet ends up full of black/red dresses because how do you settle on just one?  Formal (for a statement) or casual (for versatility)?  Strapless or long-sleeved?  Form fitting (sexy) or A-line (ladylike/flirty)?  No woman can settle on simply 1 LBD/LRD, right?  Well, living through the struggle now, we thought we would share with you two red pieces we settled on because of how incredibly unique and versatile we find them to be.  Two pieces that don't make you hungry to buy another LBD/LRD are DEFINITELY a staple every woman needs.

As is typical of J, she never goes the traditional route when it comes to something as crucial to a woman's wardrobe as the staple red dress.  Instead, she chose a jumpsuit for all occasions and seasons, but mostly because when she wears it, she feels like a 'HBIC", she says. While not the traditionally "girly" red dress, the fitted V-neck top and overly flared pant leg add femininity and edge for an alternative to the traditional LRD. Whether you are large or small-chested, a jumpsuit can be flattering on anyone.  Just be careful if your hips/chest are not equally proportional (but whose are?) because jumpsuits, like rompers, can fit well on the top but not on the bottom and vice-verse. If small-chested with larger hips, this flared leg look is extremely flattering and lady-like.  If you are narrow through the hips/legs, try a jumpsuit that is tapered or narrow at the angle.  You will maintain the lady-like feel, but you might not look lost in the rest of the suit.  J chose to present the jumpsuit in a more formal/date-night/out on the town style, but this piece can easily be made more casual with a light colored summer wedge (instead of heel) and more neutral-colored accessories (instead of black--which has a tendency to make red pieces look very "evening")

C invested in this dress when she found it on super sale at Nordstrom Rack, one of our favorite hunting grounds. The classic cut and craftsmanship of the piece ensures its place in C's closet for at least a few seasons to come. We also love the sporty cut of the top, very flattering for those of us with athletic body types. The necklace adds some edge to the look with spiky detailing. Any accessories with spikes are a must for both of us right now (so much so that C's dad recently asked why J dressed like a barbed wire fence). The shoes are a perfect and much less expensive alternative for the popular Stuart Weitzman Nudist sandal. They are surprisingly comfortable despite being held on by straps the width of dental floss.

On J: 
Jumpsuit: Forever 21
Belt (old): Nordstrom Rack Alternative here
Earrings (old): Banana Republic Alternative gem earring look (Another similar look)
Bag: Forever21
Bracelet (Old): Polka-dot- Kate Spade Similar here

On C: 
Dress: Milly Similar here
Shoes: Abound Similar here
Necklace: H&M Similar here
Clutch: Ted Baker Similar here

Keep it classy,
J & C


Thursday, June 4, 2015

Something Borrowed






Welcome to When Off Duty. We love fashion, but we're in our mid-20s and chose to follow our passions career-wise, so we can't afford what we see in the pages of Vogue and Lucky (yet). Because we are on a budget, we invest in classic staple pieces and get creative with the rest. In our inaugural post (yay!), we are showcasing how to re-purpose different items in your wardrobe.

Here, J is wearing an over-sized men's shirt from Goodwill as a dress. We love menswear as a trend, but because wearing shirts as dresses makes for a short hemline (shocker!), make sure to get a big size to avoid looking like, well, a harlot. J is also wearing a fitted leather jacket--one of her staples--to add structure to the look. The popped collar, while criticized by many as a relic of preppy days past, also elevates the style. Without it, she would look like a confused Puritan. Finally, a must for pulling off this look is the high boot due to the receding hemline of the dress/shirt (but keep those over-the-knee black stiletto boots in the hotel room with Richard Gere...for now).  On a hot summer day, try substituting a mid-calf gladiator sandal. For accessories, a feminine statement necklace is a must.

C is wearing a souvenir scarf bought from a street vendor in Paris a couple years back (and yes, we realize how incredibly pretentious that sounds. I studied abroad, ok?). With a strapless look like this, the shoulder blades and clavicles are a focal point, so wear your hair up in a chignon (again, pretentious. We're aware. Sorry not sorry). Even though the top is busy, mixing delicate patterns makes things interesting. We love these polka dot fancy pants, but let's be real...we love ALL fancy pants. So much. You'll get sick of them. You could also pair this busy top with jeans or a solid color fancy pant (navy--basic, black--getting there, cobalt--bold). These peep toe nude heels add a neutral retro vibe that makes C feel like Audrey Hepburn riding through the streets of Paris on a Vespa...which J says is 'basic' but LET ME LIVE! Anyway, stay minimal with those accessories because the patterns are very busy, honey.

On J:
Dress: Man's shirt from Goodwill
Jacket: Forever 21
Necklace: Anthropologie
Boots: Forever 21
Shades and Earrings: Banana Republic

On C:
Top: Scarf from Paris
Pants: Banana Republic
Heels: Michael Kors
Earrings: Kate Spade

Keep it classy,

J & C


Burning questions? Fashion advice? Lonely on a Friday night? Email us at whenoffduty@gmail.com.