Creating Fits: Two New LL Necklaces

By Cool J in Minneapolis

You know what else I love about hanging out with LL in Montana?

Necklaces!

I returned with two new accessories, courtesy of LL Originals.

This green and gold number! 

Green and gold...Packer colors?

And she also gave me the below gray and gold necklace, which paired perfectly with my Madewell Gray Sweatshirt dress. Yes, Minneapolis has a Madewell store at the Southdale Mall now. Check it out! This dress is casual and so, so soft. I feel like I can accessorize it with lots of bold colors...or original necklaces made by LL!

Thanks LL for the two new great accessories!

Finalize My Fit Follow-up: BCBG Bonanza/Wedding Recap!

By Jess

Remember last week, when I posted the four mystery dresses from BCBG, and I asked you to guess out of three friends and me (Kelly, Susie, and Jen) who would be wearing which one?

If you missed it, check out the post here!

Well, this guy got it right!

He credits his wealth of fashion insight and cocktail dress knowledge to watching endless episodes of What Not to Wear! But I'm not sure; maybe he just knows these four ladies really well? Maybe he just pays attention? Maybe he's a thoughtful kind of guy (and yes, he's single. And no, he doesn't usually wear life jackets in public. Unless you want him to.)

Nonetheless, he was right! Way to go! Thanks for guessing.

Here are the 4 dresses again:

Mr. Mason correctly guessed that I would wear the bright fuchsia princess dress :)

I accessorized as follows:

Shoes: Silver BCBG heels

Bracelet: BCBG (similar found here)

Earrings: not shown, BCBG 

Clutch: not shown, silver, from the Limited

He also guessed correctly on the three other dresses!

Here we are in our finalized fits (with an additional BCBG number on the far left too! Love it!)

Dress #1: BCBG Ink and Tan Striped Spaghetti Strap Dress (in the middle above) was accessorized with a gold statement necklace and taupe shoes.

Dress #2:  BCBG Cobalt Blue cocktail dress (on the right) was accessorized with black heels, a black clutch, and a fun, silver necklace.  The below necklace was SUPPOSED  to be the perfect accessory (find it here) but it  broke upon first wear.

Say What? Failed Fit. Must return!

Dress #3 Blue Depth Jersey Christina Asymmetrical Dress (second from left) was accessorized with limited jewelry, just as many of you suggested! The dress spoke for itself. It was paired with black heels and a black clutch .

But beyond what to wear, and what not to wear....The wedding was a BLAST! 

We danced all night, and those perfectly accessorized shoes came off quickly!

We had plenty of fun in the photo booth-

And most importantly, we were so happy to be part of this special night.

The bride and groom make such a lovely couple!

 Congratulations you two!

Fundamental Fit: Accessorizing the black suit

By: LL
Not many things can be more boring than a black suit. Yes, it is a fundamental piece to have in your wardrobe, but it can seem so stale and forgettable. So, what are some good ways to make this fundamental piece fit better in your colorful wardrobe? This is a question that I work with quite a lot in my current work situation (which as I stated in this post, is supposed to be business casual, but has ended up more professional than that). Whereas I am able to add a little flair to my daily "uniform," I am sometimes stuck in situations where it is frowned upon to be too flashy.

When trying to style outfits in these circumstances, I use a tip that I learned when I was first starting out in the professional workforce, which is to ACT: Add Color and Texture.

Color: A subtle pop of color can go a long way while still looking classic and not looking cheap. Whether it be in your top, your accessories, or your shoes. Unlike my weekend looks, I try to keep my color palate simple and not mix too many distinct colors/shades (don't want any of the older ladies to faint!). If you are one who only invests in classic colors for work tops and shoes, then add in the accessories. Try a statement necklace or scarf...or what about a nice brooch to brighten up the top half! Bracelets are always a good way to add in a few other colors to compliment your main color piece.

Texture: Nothing gives a boring outfit more pizzazz than the dimension that comes with mixing textures. If your suit is plain or subtly patterned (think very faint pinstripes or plaids) add in some bold textures on top, whether that is from your blouse or scarf. And then compliment that texture will something different in your shoes, such as leopard or suede. Keep in mind that too much bold print with the texture might overwhelm the outfit and you'll wind up looking cheap (aka too much animal print).

And, you can always mix in a few trendier business separates, like a seasonal blazer or a pencil skirt with pleating at the back vent.

Here is on way to accessorize a black suit:

Here is a look at the way that I am accessorizing my suit today:

I recently picked up the turquoise J.Crew Bubble necklace and have already worn it to work twice (with a steeper price, I have to get my fair share of wears), and these tan ruffle & bow pumps are probably one of my most comfortable pair of heels! Perfect for a presentation to potential donors!

Details:
Suit: The Limited Travelers Suit
Lace Top: New York & Company
Necklace: J.Crew
Watch: Pulsar
Suede Pumps: Apt. 9 (Kohls - 3 years ago)