Wearable Wednesdays: The perfect cocktail dress

A cocktail dress can be one of the most difficult things to style from time to time- do you go for the tight body con dress or the family friendly Sunday dress. Find a happy medium! A cocktail dress is designed for fancier situations but make sure it completely embodies your personality and the event itself. This week I will be attending a cocktail dress event and am currently searching my closet for the perfect cocktail dress.

I love love love peplum outfits- not only are slimming at the waist but they cover that trouble area of hips and love handles (you know it's true). In addition to a dress, pair it with a tailored blazer. This can make a great combination of going from the office to a cocktail hour with some close girlfriends.

The rules of a cocktail dress:

1. Keep it covered - this is a formal event and you want to make sure all the necessities are fully covered and you look like a classy adult. 
2. Keep it classy- darker colors are typically worn in cocktail settings so that neon club dress from Miami might not be the best idea
3. Keep it memorable- in the midst of a large room with strangers, state your 'hello' with a killer outfit. Wear complimentary colors, fit and length according to your body.  

The 4 things to make your Monday a little better

No matter how many Starbucks you drink or if you’re having a really good hair day, Mondays are the worst day of the week. Personally for me, they are crazy busy from running to work to class to chapter and planning my outfit to fit all three places can be stressful. Finding a balance between class casual and business casual is not hard when you pack the four necessary chapter items in your bag for Monday:

1.              Pencil Skirt
2.              Blazer
3.          A statement accessory
4.             Business appropriate shoes

These items transition perfectly from casual outfit 1 to dressy outfit 2 and are easy to layer. When dressing for a busy day like Monday, keep things simple. Pick items that can transition nicely from outfits like a sheer collared button up. I like to keep my shirt and jewelry the same in both outfits since it’s the easiest to changeover. A pencil skirt is versatile and easy to pair with a bright colored blazer. A statement piece of jewelry can jazz up any outfit from drab to fab and don’t forget those shoes! A basic pump or flat are easy to throw in your sorority bag and switch into on your way to chapter.

Outfit 1:

 

       

Don’t be afraid to rock a neon lipstick this spring!

 

Sheer top (Charlotte Russe), Infinity Scarf (handmade), Jeans (H&M), Sandals (Last Chance)

Pick pieces that show your personal style and will be easy to make into two outfits. My go-to outfit when I’m in a rush in the morning is my favorite dark wash skinny jeans, a flowy blouse and a scarf. It’s comfy yet still looks polished.

 Outfit 2:

 

Outfit 1 shirt added with pencil skirt, gold skinny belt, watch and black pumps

A black pencil skirt is a business women’s best friend. It is the most versatile piece when dressing up for a meeting and easy to throw in your purse for a quick change. I added a gold skinny belt and basic closed toe Mary Jane black heels. Don’t overthink your outfit; make sure you’re professional and keep pieces simple.

 

Pencil Skirt (Pitaya Boutique), Watch (Betsey Johnson), Heels (Ross)

Outfit 1:

 

I love this coral sheer top and it looks beautiful with a chunky turquoise necklace

Don’t be afraid to mix shorts in with winter pieces during the transition period between winter and spring. Combat boots took center stage in 2012 and don’t forget to still rock them this spring — they make any girly outfit a bit more tough and edgy.

 

    

Sheer top (Charlotte Russe), Printed shorts (Pitaya Boutique),

 Necklace (Rue 21), Combat boots (Goodwill), Watch (Betsey Johnson)

Outfit 2:

 

Just like the first outfit, keep the same top and add a pencil skirt! I paired them with brown leather flats and swept my bangs out of my face. Bright colors are acceptable in the workplace as long as they are acceptable length and in appropriate taste. Although it’s only February, it’s practically spring in Tempe so bring out those floral prints and start celebrating the warm weather.

 

     

Pencil Skirt (Charlotte Russe), Brown Flat (Kohl’s)

Transitioning from class to chapter doesn’t have to be a headache. Remember the key four items of a pencil skirt, blazer, statement accessory and dress shoe! If you don’t own a sheer button up, I strongly encourage you to go find one. They won’t bust your wallett and will become your go-to piece in your closet on Monday’s!

Xoxo,

Audree Kate

Feminine Fairytale

As Valentine's day is quickly approaching, the perfect date outfit is in your closet. Whether you are having a girls night in drooling over Ryan Gosling movies or out with your sweet valentine, bring out your feminine, fairy-tale look with bright lipstick and voluminous hair. 

Fuschia Fever by Maybelline is my new favorite lip color for 2013. This bright pink color is a great compliment to almost all skin tones and is a fun alternative to classic red lips. I picked this color up at Wal-Mart and it's become my go-to color when I'm feeling gutsy. 

You can never go wrong with big voluminous hair. Take 1/2 inch sections of you hair and curl - once finished  take hair at the crown of your scalp and tease. Tease sections around the top of your head until desired volume is reach. Smooth out unevenness with your comb. Hold the curls by spraying a good quality hairspray like CHI or Big Sexy. 

Add a little sparkle to your look by wrapping a double strand of sequins around your forehead and tie in the back. Take the extra strands in the back and braid into your hair (no need to use an elastic - this will just create extra dimension to the fairy-tale like hair. 

A sheer lace shirt and dainty gold jewelry is the perfect outfit combination for this romantic day

Thank you once again to Alejandra Vidal (Imaginale Design) for this awesome collaboration and check out the video she made from this photoshoot (She's absolutely amazing isn't she?!) 

http://imaginale.blogspot.com/2013/01/audree.html

xoxo,

Audree Kate

Wearable Wednesdays: Spicing up the office

Who needs a little spice and variety from their typical pant suit or pencil skirt in the office? I know I do! A few months ago I scored a pair of royal blue dress pants from a thrift shop and there is no denying these babies were from the 80's. With pleats and a high waistband I found that these retro trousers were actually becoming popular in clothing stores. I paired it with a striped button up, neon belt, flats and a hippie band.

blue trouser (thrift)

striped button up (thrift)

pink skinny belt (pack of 3 from Target)

flats (Goodwill)

headband (pack of 3 from Claires)

pearl bracelets (Charlotte Russe)

Wearable Wednesdays: Rainy Day

The past couple days in Tempe have been cloudy, cold and even rainy! Surprised that Arizona gets rain?? Yes most people are when a storm blows in and all we have in our closet is a light zip-up hoodie and flip-flops.   Although it might not rain a lot in Arizona, it never hurts to be prepared an have a few staple items in your closet.

- Pea Coat: This is perfect for winter, rainy days and makes any outfit feel a little dressier. Don't be afraid to purchase a fun bright color
- Nautical striped tee: A navy and white striped shirt is one of the most versatile pieces in a woman's closet. It goes with most colors and is way more fun than a plain colored v-neck
- Acid washed skinny jeans: The 80's are back and if you're feeling a little risky, try a pair of acid washed skinny jeans
- Combat boots: From school to even a night out, combat boots are the biggest rage at the moment. Now they are even coming with studs on them (my fav!)
- Gold watch: A gold watch is always a classic staple piece of arm candy. You don't have to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars- just find one that makes your feel like a million bucks
- Fun umbrella: Although I rarely use mine, go grab one from H&M, Target or Forever 21. They come in handy when needed for rain, sunshine or even a fun photoshoot!

Wearable Wednesdays: 21st Birthday Dress

Recently I was introduced to Polyvore; and maybe I'm just behind the rest of the fashion world but it was so cool! I have always wondered how people put together those mood boards in magazines or Pinterest and figured you just have to be really good with photoshop or graphic design- wrong; even a newb like myself can do it!

If you're wondering what Polyvore, let me enlighten you. Its an online social community website where members can curate products and put them into mood boards called 'sets'. A lot of these boards end up on websites like Pinterest or fashion blogs. If you haven't checked it out before, definitely do so!

I am testing out a new lookbook of these sets and they are called Wearable Wednesdays. Hopefully each Wednesday I will have a new board with a new theme. This week is in honor of my close girl friend, Lindsey Lucero. January 22nd was her BIG 21st Birthday!! She kindly asked me to help style her for her night on the town.

Gray with embellisments birthday dress: Express $20 (on sale from $60)

Black Tights: CVS

Black Booties: Dolce Vita from Dillards (clearance)

Black Necklace: Forever 21

Black Ring: H&M

Red Lipstick: Hourglass in Icon from Sephora

Check out the first Mood board and get Lindsey's look:

Hope you enjoyed and let me know what you think about the mood board on my facebook page!

xoxo Audree Kate

DIY turban headband

Last week I presented to a new club at ASU called Sun Devils wear Prada and it was so much fun! I was asked to do a DIY craft for the members and I chose to do turban headbands. All you need is an old t-shirt, a pair or scissors, and hot glue.

Twist Turban
1. Cut the bottom half of the shirt off (under the armpits). Cut in fourths!
      > OR cut the length of you hand and then cut in 1/2
2. Place two strips in a perpendicular fashion
3. Grab two ends and glue together; do the same to the other side
4. Take the two sides and glue together
5. Take an extra strip of fabric (ie: neckline, finished cuff of the sleeve) and wrap around the back side to cover the glue and hold together for extra support

* You can also do this for bandeau tops. Just cut the  shirt vertical (cut off sleeves and neckline and cut in fourths and follow the same fashion.

Knotted Turban

This turban is a bit more difficult but I have looked at several tutorials online and will post their links on here

1. For this you can use the other two strips of fabric you had left over or I had an old pair of tights that I used. Nylon fabric is easy to stretch and easy to work with
2. If you use tights cut off the top part and just use the legs
3. Take one strip and make a loop like the 'Support the Troop Ribbon' and right over left
4. Use the second strip and make a U-shape with the right side under the bottom right side of the ribbon
5. Now take the left side of the U-shape under the loop of the first strand
6. Take the right strand of the U-shape and thread over the loop, under the left side of the U-shape,  and over the other side of the loop
7. Pull the edges out so the knot comes together and tighten
8. Glue together the edges like how you did for the twist turban
9. Cut off the waistband of the tight and use that as your security strip
10. Wrap the waistband and glue in place

Tutorial for steps 3-7
http://pinterest.com/pin/61713457364591841/
http://www.lovestitched.com/my-tutorial/knotted-jersey-headband-tutorial/

 

Hope you enjoy!

XOXO Audree Kate