If there’s a trend I’m already seeing for spring, it’s the mix of suit pieces with casual. It’s not a new trend, but for springtime, it’s a great opportunity to take a bright and colorful blazer and pair it with a vintage style sneaker and jeans. It’s also a great way to take your suit pieces from work and get some extra use of them as more of an everyday look. I’m all about versatile pieces. As far as the sneakers, these Nike’s are trending and I love the chunky style heel.
I’m wearing a 4 petite in this tweed blazer and it fits true to size. I paired it with a basic crewneck t-shirt, a colorful headband, a blush purse, and oversized sunglasses. The jeans are some of my favorite ankle jeans from Abercrombie and I wear them regularly! I consistently wear a 27 short in their sizing which translates to a 4 petite.
Purchasing a home is the biggest financial decision you will ever make. It’s a stressful and rewarding time that causes a whole range of emotions from the highest of highs to low moments of frustration and anxiety. What should you wear to important life events like a home closing, big presentation, or huge job interview? I’m here to help you dress the part because what you wear impacts how you feel about yourself and how other people will perceive you. You also want to look put together and exude confidence in the moments that matter most.
My husband I recently purchased our second home together. Knowing how to dress for important life events is part of playing the game and I wanted to dress well for our closing. Dressing the part made me feel confident in my decision making and I didn’t want to look sloppy. I’m showing you what I wore on that big day so that you have a good idea of what to wear to your home closing when that day happens (or any big meeting that’s in your future!)
Onto the outfit!
I wore these Carrson Heels from Steve Madden. An alternative to the tall version is the Irenee Sandal, also by Steve Madden. It’s a touch shorter and a little more demure. A heel is a must and if you don’t like a tall style, shorter versions are always an option!
I paired the heels with a Petite Strappy Cami from Banana Republic and Petite Modern Sloan Skinny-Fit Washable Pants, also by BR. Other options are these Richmond 7/8 Pants by Boden. They come in a TON of colors like Lupen and Moroccan Blue. These Slim Fit Stretch Crepe Pants are available in petite sizes are a great alternative. They will be included in the big Nordstrom Anniversary Sale in August! I love bright colors, but during big events, less is more. Neutrals and basics don’t necessarily equal boring. You can stand out, without overdoing it!
My blazer is an older version from Ann Taylor, but Boden’s Smyth Ponte Blazer comes in petite sizes. It is available in a wide range of colors ranging from Berry Sorbet to Black. Other options are the Petite Classic-Fit Washable Blazer by Banana Republic and the Notch Collar Cotton Blend Blazer from Nordstrom that will be included in the Nordy Sale!
If you have major milestones coming your way, I I hope this post helped you think about how to dress for important life events. It’s a hectic time and what you wear shouldn’t be stressful! Dress comfortable, dress confident, and the world will open up for you!
Skinny jeans and high-waist pants have been the in-trend for a number of years now, but if you remember the 00’s, you remember the trend was low rise jeans and boot-cut jeans. After a long period of being dormant, wider leg are finally making returns to the mainstream!
I am giving you the scoop of how to style a wide-leg jean (in case you’ve forgotten, it’s been a while). I am also giving you my top ten choices to rock a boot-cut or flare jean.
First off, lets discuss the difference between flare and boot-cut jeans before we dive into how to style a wide-leg jean. A flare leg has a narrow knee and a wide-leg opening vs. a boot-cut jean that is not as tapered at the knee. A boot-cut is less dramatic (slightly more practical) and more of a 00’s jean and a flare is more classic and carries a 1970’s vibe. The biggest modern twist with both boot-cut and flares is that cropped styles are popular in both, meaning your have a lot of options in terms of styling and shoe selection. My outfit is a cropped retro flare look and I’ll be sharing it below.
Now let’s talk about styling!
For this week’s look, I paired myHigh Rise Wide-Leg Crop Jeans from Gap with a balloon sleeve top! I’ve said it before, but Gap knows jeans. They turn out a quality jean in a variety of styles and lengths and I return to their jeans over and over again. This Mock Neck Top from Banana Republic is almost identical to mine and is light and feminine. The Zala Wedge Platform Sandals are from Chinese Laundry and Kristin Cavallari is a shoe wizard. She’s a petite girl who makes short legs look fantastic. For me, platforms give me confidence and the wide-leg of the jean is offset by the height of the shoe. These jeans are high-waisted and they make me look taller than I am. Why? The wide leg is drawing the eye upward and creating a nice even symmetry with my top half. The high waist is also flattering and balances the wide style of the leg opening.
Here are my selections for both flare jeans and boot-cut jeans! All pairs have a petite option and include a couple cropped styles that are more popular than traditional jean lengths right now.
Styling a wide-leg jean is fun, flirty, and classic! I hope you feel inspired to try something new!
If you are petite, you know the struggle of pants and sleeves being too long, tops that slide off of your shoulders, dresses that overwhelm your frame, and clothing that makes you feel like you are about two-feet tall. I am here to tell you that there is hope and there are tips & tricks to make your life as a petite woman easier! Below are my top five pieces of fashion advice for petites.
My first piece of fashion advice for petite women is to wear a monochromatic look. By picking something in a singular color palette, you are not breaking up your body at a midpoint, it’s all one smooth line! Monochromatic looks will make you appear visually longer than you are and that’s the name of the game! As short gals, we rely on visual tricks to make our bodies look taller and monochromatic looks are a great way to achieve that.
My second and third hacks for petites are both shoe related. When picking out a shoes, the best shape option is a pointy toe. Why a pointy toe? Pointy toe shoes make your legs appear elongated and who doesn’t love a good pointy-toe? Pointy toes are some of my favorite shoes in my closet and it’s another visual trick that helps petite women appear taller.
My third hack is to go for a neutral colored shoe vs. a colored or black shoe. Neutral shoes reflect natural skin toes and by wearing a cream, tan, or beige colored shoe, you’ll blend your skin color with the shoe and create the illusion of height that we all want. Along those lines, ankle strapped shoes visually break up the ankle from the foot. If you are looking to maximize your height, a non ankle strap shoe is the most visually pleasing on petites.
Nude color bag and nude heels are great options for petite women.
My fourth hack is a simple one, less is more! Use a small purse or clutch and not a large purse when picking a bag. Having a big back makes petites look heavy and off balance. Instead opt for a mid to small bag and you’ll look more proportionate. It’s easy for smaller frames to get weighed down and being aware of accessory sizes is important.
My fifth and final piece of fashion advice for petite women is to opt for v-necks type shirts and blouses over scooped or round neck shirts. V-necks make your neck appear longer and draws the eye upward. With a round neck, petites appear to have a shorter torso and midsection.
These are by no means all the petite hacks that are out there! It’s also important to note that you can wear a round toe shoe or scoop neck top. I absolutely do! I don’t want my readers to think that I’m saying to avoid certain looks entirely, I want to emphasize that! These are merely some hacks that I’ve learned and they don’t have to be followed daily. BUT if you do have a big interview or important event, give these hacks a try and let me know what you think!
Below is a representation of these hacks at work! I am wearing a white colored blazer, white jeans, and white v-neck style cami. This look is paired with a nude colored heel that is both strapless and has a pointed toe. I finished this look off with a small, neutral colored bag.
The pieces that I am wearing are linked below with a few extra options included!
I am a girl who loves a good blazer. Blazers are a rotating staple in my closet because they come in SO many cuts, colors, and fabric types. Blazers are like a good purse, they reflect your personality and you can wear them practically anywhere. I also love colorful blazers because they can enhance any outfit.
I just snagged the Ann Taylor The Hutton Blazer in Texture in Hot Pink Poppy. It hits me about about mid thigh in length and I can’t emphasize this enough. I LOVE this color. It is SO fun for spring. Leave the blacks behind and join me on the color train!
An alternative to the Hutton Blazer, ASOS has the ASOS DESIGN jersey wrap suit blazer-Purple retailing for $48.00. It comes in both petite and regular sizes and the soft lilac color is gorgeous! The tie is also perfect for cinching the waist and showing off your figure. Rock whatever curves you have, they are meant to be celebrated!
My next look is the Ann Taylor The Hutton Blazer in Texture paired with a ribbed black tank-top and Whit & Wisdom Ab-Solution Raw Hem Skinny Jeans in petite. Whit & Wisdom is a great petite/curvy brand and I find that they fit my frame well without comprising on comfort. Dark wash jeans make a bright color blazer pop even more and I paired it with a black strappy heel from BCBG. This BCBG Cairo Suede Stiletto Mule is a must have to add a little edge to my outfits.
My last look is a black jogger pant paired with the Hot Poppy Pink Blazer, black ribbed tank, and animal print loafers. My joggers are from Gap and they are currently not in stock, but Anthropologie has the Sydney Waisted Joggers in two colors, Washed Black and Sky. They don’t have petite in stock in the black, but they do have the black in standard fit, as well as the Sky color in both petite and regular. My loafers are Steve Madden and although they aren’t new, they have the Steve Madden Feather Loafers in Black & Tan Cheetah at DSW. Most sizes are in stock for $91.00. I’ve also got to mention that DSW has one of the best reward programs. It’s free to sign up and I feel like I am always getting $10.00 to $20.00 rewards. The dollar to reward system is great and they let you combine your rewards with most any sale going on. I’ve bought shoes for $60.00 and with my rewards and discounts, I’ve paid $5.00. I would be happy to go into more detail if you would like to know more about what reward programs I’m using!
Let’s talk about denim! Wide leg jeans are in and there are so many ways you can wear them.
I love a good wide leg jean. They are flattering for petite gals over skinny jeans because they give the illusion of length, which is excellent if you have a smaller frame. I’m happy to see that they’re making a come back! Culottes immediately spark a 1970’s vibe and I love mixing retro fashion with modern.
I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect pair of denim culottes and I found this pair of high rise culottes from Gap and they are seriously SO comfortable. They normally retail for $80.00 and are currently on sale for $32.00. What a steal! If you’re looking for a more distressed look, Banana Republic has a pair that retails for $98.00 and is on sale for $39.00. Wide leg cropped pants are also versatile and can be worn in an infinite number of ways. I added a pair of Gola Tennis Sneakers from J. Crew. The denim jacket is also a Gap find from many years ago and investing in a jean jacket should be a staple of every wardrobe. Pair it with a Basic T Shirt and bam, you have a go to outfit that is both basic and timeless.
You can also pair a wide leg crop pant with a Bootie (I love a cognac color) and a tie top. This outfit is great for spring in Colorado because it’s not too heavy and is perfect for weather is the high 50s or low 60s. Tie tops can run big and even though I’m traditionally a small, I usually go for an extra small with tie front tops. Madewell has a white tie front shirt that retails for 79.50 and is currently 40% off.
Wide leg pants also look great with a collared shirt or a blazer. The Essential Shirt at Ann Taylor comes in both regular and petite. It comes in a variety of colors and the shirt featured in the photo was a gingham version from Ann Taylor’s winter collection. The mules are Steve Madden mules in a faux leather. A similar style is this Saddle Colored Mule by Matisse Camelot at Nordstrom. If you want to create a dressier look, I added the corduroy Parke blazer from J. Crew and an animal print flat for a pop of pattern. It looks like the corduroy blazer fabric is sold out, but they still have the Parke Blazer in linen in a variety of colors.
