Working the Wedding

Most of us have already kicked-off wedding season this year, and are scouring our closets or shopping for the perfect outfit. A few friends have reached out to me looking for styling help with items they have already worn or purchased. After a few trips across the wonderful world wide web, I found the perfect pieces to complete their head to toe looks.

Here's an example. My lovely friend Blair was asked to photograph a friend's wedding. She already bought a skirt and wasn't sure if it would work for the occasion. She sent me a pic and I got movin' with a few ideas for tops, shoe,s and accessories.

 

This skirt is a great fit for the occasion since she will be running around and taking photos. To complement the look, I gave her two options for tops: go with sleek black, or add another pop of color. 

 

The black lace top adds pattern without being too busy against the bright pink. The blue, one shoulder blouse is flirty and fun, and tucking it into the skirt will keep the look cool and professional. 

Another option is this white tank with a scarf pattern inlay. I love that the pattern looks like it was pulled off of a country clubber, but, with the long flowing skirt, the two concepts contrast well.

 

Onto the best part...Shoes and accessories! Since Blair will be on her feet throughout the wedding ceremony and reception, I picked two gladiator sandal options with lots of color, of course. 

 

Either option goes well with the black top. I'd pick the yellow shoes to pair with the blue blouse, and the baby blue wedge with the white tank. For accessories, I suggested...

 

A funky chain link fringe necklace over the black lace top to give the outfit a bit of shine with an edge, or, for a simpler look, the turquoise pendant necklace seen below.

 

 For the flowy blue blouse, I picked beaded earrings to add some texture and play up the blue and pink.

Quick tip: In terms of accessories, a common rule is to keep it simple and pick either a bold pair of earrings or a bold necklace. No need to do both.

All of the pics above are clickable, so you can see where I found each piece.  Enjoy!

Bridal Showers Bring Bright Flowers...errr Floral Prints!

My lovely friend Laura was my first official client, and I'm so excited to share the outfits I styled for her! This summer, she has several bridal showers to attend, all at different venues, so I spent about an hour pulling different pieces and composing the looks you see below.

For the country club shower:

This look, while conservative, has bright colors that keep it interesting. The tangerine top Laura is wearing is actually a dress that no longer fits her, so I had her tuck it under the fuchsia pencil skirt to make it look like a cute tank. This is a great way to keep clothes when you no longer like the silhouette. Just disguise it! We paired the top and skirt with simple accessories, heels and a cardigan that add sparkle without taking away from the bright pink and orange combo.

Laura's outfit from head to toe: vintage inspired floral earrings and crystal bead and thread necklace from Ann Taylor Loft, tangerine dress and fuchsia skirt from J.Crew, beige cardigan from H&M, Michael Kors gold watch, and nude sandals from Banana Republic

For the restaurant shower:

Laura is dressed a bit edgier for this occasion in a bright floral pattern dress that you can't miss! This silhouette is perfect for summer with it's flowy three-quarter length sleeves. The cinched waist shows off Laura's figure without being skin tight and too revealing.

A tip on how to choose accessories for this type of pattern is to forget about matching your accessories to one or two colors from the dress. Have fun with it and pick a color that compliments the colors instead! I chose the turquoise earrings to contrast against her blonde hair, a gold snake skin belt to brighten up the dress and add texture to the outfit, and a peach floral ring to keep in theme with the floral pattern without matching one color. I couldn't resist adding the bright pink pumps to top off the outfit, but since the other colors of accessories are relatively tame, the pink adds a flirty feel to the look.

Laura's outfit from head to toe: turquoise drop earrings from Imelda's Closet (comparable to Francesca's) Rebecca Taylor floral tunic dress, gold snake skin belt from J.Crew, peach floral cocktail ring from Forever 21, and pink pumps from H&M.

Notes of the appointment:

• Everything Laura is wearing is from her own closet. I want my clients to use what they have rather than feel the need to go out and buy a new wardrobe.
• I took about an hour and twenty minutes styling the looks and taking the photos. Styling appointments don't have to take all day and shopping appointments can be scheduled separately.
• We had a blast! Thanks for letting me peruse your closet Laura!