Style Dilemma: Designer Prints for a SAHM

DesigningMom and I emailed this weekend:

DC Celine:

I recently bought this dress from Target's website.

When it arrived, I was a bit underwhelmed. I think it's OK, I just don't know what to do with it. Since I'm a SAHM*, I feel a bit "out of the loop" when it comes to fashion. Do you feel like giving me some advice?

It has 3/4 sleeves, and now that it's fall, I think maybe I need to wear it with a jacket or a cardigan? Also, I like animal prints, but the whole dress is a (maybe) bit much and the jacket/cardigan will be useful in covering some of it? What about shoes? Boots? Flats? I don't like bare legs in the winter, so I probably want to wear tights...or not? It comes with a little fabric belt. Should I replace it with something more substatial? If so...what? How about jewelry? I have a free-lance interior design client now and will occasionally have some meetings with them in their fabulous house, along with some buying trips to the Washington Design Center, so I need to look somewhat business-casual-chic (is that a category?).

Dear DesigningMom:

first thoughts...more later...

like the animal print.

love the concept of the shirtdress, but yes, they can be underwhelming.


yes, your instinct on a "more substantial" belt is a good one. big 80s style wide belt would work well - or if you can't stomach that, a skinny belt would be fine, too - solid color - as fun or as neutral as you can handle. might sound weird, but think of the print as a sort of neutral.


on jacket - no, don't think you need a jacket or sweater. 3/4 sleeves are 4 season - and the best. i love them. find some plain gold (no chains) bangles - wide ones - or some plain bakelite or lucite bangles - clear or a color - and that should do for accessories. if you are chilly, i'd say a 3/4 sleeve cardi, but you'd need to belt that, too, to withstand the tendency towards boring.


and on shoes - whatever you want - all of those would work, though i'd lean to pumps, and boots (though dear to my heart) would be my last choice.

Dear DC Celine:

This is fun. Love it! How about a camel-colored belt (the lighter color in the print) and then chocolte brown tights and shoes? I love the idea of a bunch of bangles. If only I had some.


Dear DesigningMom:
 
i'd actually go with something not in the print - a black patent, or even a yellow or green.** camel would blend, and you want it to pop. yes, you could do brown tights and shoes - monochrome legs/feet = length/height. for the bangles, hit a claire's. or a thrift store. and i'd say go for wide ones, big chunky things instead of little clanky ones. something bout those and the leopard rings "jersey" to me. or you could do that to be cheeky...in which case, go as high as you dare with shoes. wedges would be a good option, too, as they just are.



it is fun. i'd say use your design aesthetic...think about how you'd accessorize a room, and you're probably good.

I happened to see DesigningMom at her daughter's birthday party Sunday, and she gave me an update. She's excited about the idea of a boldly colored belt. Now, if she could just find the time to get one (more online shopping, dear?). The thing is, she has a great sense of style. She's the one I always admire for being together, and her home? Well, she and I apparently have the same taste. I pretty much want her kitchen. And dining room...and...

*Stay at Home Mom

**Alright, folks. Apparently the way to go here is pushing the Jersey envelope. Exhaustive web search and the only wide bold colors I could find in belts were black patent, gold or red. Black is mildly predictable, but fine. Gold - well, that fits into the camel category - would work, but would blend too much. And red, well, I'm always a fan of red, but you'd just have to have fun with it. In that case, maybe finding a sweet little cardigan (emphasis on the word "sweet") would be in order, to temper the tendency to get your nails airbrushed and tease your hair. Belt sources (having posting issues, sorry!) are JC Penny & Kohl's. Yup.

Style Dilemma: Black & White to a Nearly-Spring Baby Shower

31204ever writes:

Have wanted a skirt like this for a long time and finally found it at H&M last week. I maybe would like to wear it tomorrow to a baby shower. But I think that the skirt still screams "spring" and the weather's not quite there yet. What could I wear to make it less springy? Or should I just bag it for now and maybe wear it to another event when it really *is* spring? (Ahem, your shower.)

I have various long sleeve black tops, I have a corduroy black blazer, I have various black tights (textured and non), I have various black heels and knee-high black boots. I don't have anything nice that's pure white (all are off-whites).

Dear 31204ever:

First, great selection on the skirt. B&W is always, always, always stylish. And there are so many ways to wear it.

Second: to your dilemma. Part of it is solved by the fact that tomorrow is going to be very, very spring-like in the Baltimore-Washington area. So no need to pile on a big sweater - or even to wear your boots because you feel like it's "too springy."

That said, the boots and a fitted black sweater would work well and be appropriate. But only if you promise to throw on a piece of big, primary colored jewelry - like a big red or blue cuff bracelet. Yellow or green would work, too. Other jewelry, like the D.C. insitinctual jet beads would just blend in with this. You need a piece to "pop" alongside of the beautiful, strong pattern of the skirt. Either one or three (always an odd number, in my book) Alexis Bittar big bangles at left would work.

Black pumps - or better yet, flats, would work, too (with the black sweater, above), and be perfectly acceptable and lovely. Even better than that would be to take advantage of the weather and go barelegged with a brightly colored pump - again, primary colors (like the Taryn Rose peep-toe, at left, or a pretty pink, too, doing a monochromatic thing on the legs, and letting the skirt stand out). The colored shoes would take a little more fashion chutzpa, though. And if you have even more, drag out the colored (not textured) flats or low pumps and pair with plain black tights (as long as you can't see the tights through the white skirt). But if you do the bright shoes, go gold or silver (preferably gold) with a big bracelet.

And, of course, let us know...