Gindi Vincent

The Dish on Career, Fashion, Faith, and Family

fashion friday

Fashion Friday: Shoe-plosion

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Happy Fashion Friday girls!

Do you love bows?

I don’t typically.

But you know where I love them?

On shoes! I love interesting details on shoes.  And it seems these fashion days, there is a bow-splosion on shoes.

I generally purchase my shoes on DSW because I’m a woman on a budget. Surveying my summer wardrobe, I’ve got more pinks and navys that usual.  Yet my shoe wardrobe is a little short on shoes that work well with those colors.  I needed some more neutral flats or wedges as well as a new pair of kitten heels (we have a huge work campus and I do a lot of walking).

Since DSW had a big sale ($60 off of $199), I headed over to their website and typed in BOW.

Mercy. Did they have bows.

I usually stay fairly sophisticated for work (a little nuttier for play), but you can utterly do that with the bows out there.

(Confession: today I am wearing my glitter flats.  This is a rarity at work but I’m wearing pink ankle pants because it’s FRIDAY and as I mentioned I’m a little short on flats I like to pair with pink and navy.)

One thing I love about the bows out this fashion season is how geometric they are.

Lots of bow angles and different ties. (All the below are from DSW and all well below the $100 mark.)

I love these Gunmetal kitten heels. The stripes.  The angle of the tie. It feels French to me.  They are unique but still versatile.  If you want an even cheaper version, Kelly and Kate has a similar tie and stripe for $30 less.  Because they’re gray and white stripe, they’ll pair with everything. And since this style of bow, and striped fabric, is EVERYWHERE, you can find it in sandals and pumps too (like these super cute origami flats from Nine West).

 

A couple of seasons ago, Valentino threw these oversized geometric bows on all their pumps. I adored them but Valentino was well outside my price range.  Well, they’ve hit the budget market now.  Nine West has these Shamrock pumps in all colors and the bandage bow at the toe is fabulous.  Fun, feminine, yet still lovely for work.  If I could justify spending $70 on hot pink ones, I would own them now.

But it’s not all work.

You have to have fun too.

And who’s more fun than Betsy Johnson? (Aren’t here things all just FUN?!?!)  These espadrilles with the multi-colored rattan bow tie scream fun.  I actually did break down and get these.  Because my evil friend and work out buddy told me Target was having a buy-one-get-one-half-off of all their dresses.  So once I picked up a couple of “run around on the weekend” dresses at Target for a steal, I “needed” Betsy Johnson espadrilles.

Little bows, big bows, bright bows, black bows, whatever your fancy. They’re all in stock.  And it’s a trend everywhere, so if you’re on a bigger budget, search for bows at Nordstrom or Zappos or wherever your favorite shoe stop is.

S.W.A.P.: Shopping with a Purpose, After Knee Surgery

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Remember our fun with S.W.A.P. on Fashion Fridays? I love when we’ve got a goal in our shopping outing!

Well, I have a friend recently bemoaning her fashion dilemma.  She usually wore a lot of dresses as her base for work outfits.  She works in a business casual environment.  And she has a penchant for heels.

But… she just had knee surgery.

This means she’s not comfortable with wearing dresses right now as the knee is healing.  Heels are out the window for some number of months.  Plus, she’s shorter than me so worries about pants dwarfing her frame with flats.  She’s looking for polished casual.

Without buying an entire new wardrobe, she has every intention of returning to her closet, she needs a few items to get her through the next couple of months.

Buy a couple of pairs of fitted ankle pants.  It works well on short frames, and if they’re narrowly tailored then they won’t overwhelm a smaller frame.  AND, big bonus, they look great with flats.

They are literally everywhere – I just got the most adorable pink pair from Banana Republic.  Now, if she plans to revert entirely to dresses, then select pairs in neutral colors, but if this will be another ongoing style for her, then feel free to select a few bold colors too (I have a black pair but I also have mustard, bright blue, red, and now pink)!

One word: Flats.  I typically buy zany fun prints or colors, but these flats have to mix and match with an assortment of outfits.  So look at comfy (but sturdy) ballet flats in a neutral color – preferably a tan or gray because it mixes easier with blacks and navys than black or navy flats will.  I love these Bellini ones from DSW for $50 because they are sturdier than most but still sleek with a cute detail.

Use existing dress toppers to business-up the outfit.  Sharp cardigans and blazers already in her wardrobe polish of a simple outfit for work, and allow for versatility when the bottoms will largely stay the same.

Also, use any longer skirts already in the closet, as they can be paired with a fitted sweater and flats for a super cute but professional look. Don’t universally eliminate skirts with dresses because of surgery.

How about you?  What’s your fashion dilemma – we’re need a few new episodes of S.W.A.P. for the blog?

Photos courtesy of: HelloGorgBlog, Boden, TheDiaryofaDebutante, and Styleoholic

Fashion Friday: On Pink

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Hello friends! I’ve missed you.  How about we tackle a color for today’s Fashion Friday?  Excuse me?  That’s right, let’s tackle pink.  I know, you didn’t realize pink needed to be tackled.  In fact, of all the colors, it seems the most averse to tackling.  Yet here we are.

I don’t wear pink. I might have one or two pink-ish items in my closet.

But you know what I’m seeing a lot of this spring? PINK.

Here’s my theory. The world is a mess.  There’s a lot of fighting and nastiness and talk of bombs and war.  And while fashion can’t do one stinkin thing about the hard and sad in the world, I think designers might just want to cheer us up.

Hence pink.

Because pink is intrinsically a happy color. And regardless of your skin tone, there’s a shade of pink that will work for you.

Where are you seeing pink? Everywhere.

Let’s start at Talbot’s. I actually broke down and bought this jacket.  I haven’t gotten it yet so it might go back but I’m just so nuts with the classic lines and bright cheery color.  I’ll pair this with a fun necklace or scarf and navy trousers and heels for work.  Or with jeans and a tee for brunch on the weekend.  And look at their cover add.  The thing is peppered with pink!  From pants to dresses to accessories.

Ann Taylor is doing it less in a head to toe way but it’s all OVER their blouses. This adorable bell sleeve blouse comes both in blush and in “Bollywood” pink and they have oodles of sunglasses and shoes in shades of pink.

 

Banana is doing different shades – super soft pinks, I’m nuts about this blazer but have no money in my shopping budget right now, and then smack-you-upside-the-head neons. (I may go sell a pint of blood to get these adorable pink ankle pants though…)

Nordstrom, of course, has a million options including this perfect shirt by BP for less than $50 and fabulous dresses. Would someone please go to a fancy summer wedding and wear this dress and send me a picture?  I love it but have nowhere I could wear it…

Why oh why, is Boden so expensive? They’ve got such cute things. I’m seeing a lot of pink and green which takes me back to my sorority days and to super preppy looks, but I’ll just go with it because it’s happy.  Boden and Talbot’s both are showing a lot of pink with green.  I love this green Martha dress with pink polka dots, plus Boden has everything in a lovely deep pink shade they’re calling carnival pink – from sweaters and blouses to skirts.  This is generally a flattering color for most skin tones.  (They are running 20% off today y’all!)

So what say you? Are you a pink wearer?  Are you going to break down and wear it this season because it makes everyone happy?  If not, what spring shade brings a smile to your face?

Fashion Friday: Random Turtleneck Commentary

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Okay. Sometimes on Fashion Fridays we clean out closets.  Sometimes we do makeovers.  Sometimes we talk about emerging fashion trends.

Today, I’m offering a random turtleneck fashion commentary.

It’s cold.

Heck, it’s likely a lot colder where you are than where I am. But in Houston, it has been very cold (on and off) for weeks.  When it drops into the 30s down here, everyone pulls out their turtlenecks.

Unfortunately, a lot of folks are pulling out their turtlenecks from 15 years ago.

What happens when you rarely wear an item (think evening gowns and shimmery sweaters): you keep it forever. It doesn’t get stained or ripped and it resides in your closet for most of your adult life.

Except most things shouldn’t.

Most items of clothing have an expiration date or fade or stretch – you get the idea.

I know, I know, turtlenecks are timeless.

I actually agree.

SOME turtlenecks are pretty timeless.

You know what turtlenecks aren’t timeless?

Thickly ribbed turtlenecks.

Not oversized ribbed turtleneck sweaters that look like you’re about to go skiing in Colorado.

No, actual ribbed turtlenecks you wear as your underneath layer piece.

However, they’re not entirely underneath.

They are being worn under jackets, vests, or worse yet big, chunky cardigans.

This isn’t a finely delicately ribbed item; this is circa 1990s heavy thick ribbing on an under-layer piece.

They pill more than your typical turtleneck. They stretch more than your typical turtleneck.  And worst of all, they make you look heavier than you are.

So I’m on a mission to declutter closets by starting with dated, worn, ribbed turtlenecks.

And maybe no turtlenecks at all if you have a very short neck. It can make you look like, well, a turtle.

HOWEVER, do not despair if you love turtlenecks. There are still plenty out there.

Take a gander at these three.

The first two photos show a dark un-ribbed turtleneck from Banana Republic (I love Banana Republic turtlenecks – my favorite is my cashmere button cuff dove gray one).

But the next two do have texture.  The sherbet turtleneck is from Nordstrom and is fine ribbing.  But you can’t tell from looking at it far away.  That’s the key.  The final one has pointelle detailing in it, which isn’t my favorite, but can be a fun detail if you want an alternative to heavy ribbing.

Now, go forth and turtleneck well my friends.

Fashion Friday: Lessons from Oscar de la Renta

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Oscar de la Renta.

The name immediately brings to mind visions of red carpet, stunning detailing, and high fashion.

I love high fashion. Not the kind of “high” fashion that involves wearing garbage bags or creating jeans out of Ziploc bags.  That is someone who didn’t get enough attention as a kid who’s now trying to make a mark.

But true high fashion which oozes sophistication and beauty.

I received a lovely invitation from a friend to join a small group of women for cocktails and a private showing of the Oscar de la Renta exhibit which is currently at the Museum of Fine Arts of Houston. I love MFAH.  And I’d seen the exhibit advertised and had tried to go several times.  Alas, life intervened and my visits kept getting pushed.

Well, I finally got to see his gowns up close and personal.

It brought home a few fashion themes near to my heart:

Vibrant color is good.

You know I’m a color girl.  I have my fair share of neutral pants for work and basic turtlenecks.  But there’s nothing like a shimmering silver cocktail dress or a bright red sheath to catch my eye.  Well, Oscar sure loved color.  From head to toe solid colored evening gowns, to bright patterns, to marrying of less obvious colors to create a stand out profile.  He knew how to go bold!

Details make the outfit.

The most touted gown in the collection was Amal Clooney’s wedding gown. It was stunning.  What made the simple silhouette extraordinary were the details.  Incredible individual lace flowers.  Tulle peeking out the bottom.  A mantilla with a lace border mirroring the gown’s lace flowers.  But it wasn’t just the wedding gowns.  Details ranged from layers of “petals” on a gown to bows and bodice seaming to unexpected collars or sleeves.  Finding detailing which fits your personality and style really glams up an outfit.

Fit is imperative.

There were photos and videos of the women wearing the items displayed. ODLR knew how to fit a dress.  I know we don’t have high fashion access, but I remain a proponent of having a tailor.  I don’t use tailors nearly as much as a I should.  Not to mention, our size might shift from time to time (ahem).  But the reality is that most of us don’t have an off the rack fit.  Longer pants, shorter sleeves, nipped in waist.  Spending a few extra dollars on tailoring, and it usually is very reasonable, will pay dividends every time you wear your clothes.

For you Houstonians, the exhibit will be there for a few extra weeks (they extended it – yea!), and it’s worth the viewing.