Pantone's 2014 Color of The Year, as I'm sure you all know by now, is Radiant Orchid.

According to Pantone..."Radiant Orchid blooms with confidence and magical warmth that intrigues the eye and sparks the imagination. It is an expressive, creative and embracing purple—one that draws you in with its beguiling charm. A captivating harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid emanates great joy, love and health."

If you aren't the type of person to wear a lot of color (anyone else totally guilty of living in black clothing for the winter...?), now is the time to bust out a little something something for your outfits. Spring is fast approaching, or so we New Englanders like to hope, and everyone is pining for something to rejuvenate their dull wardrobe.

Let me show you how to wear Radiant Orchid, whether you love wearing bright colors or refuse to wear anything that isn't monotone.

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Radiant Orchid by asmallbit featuring a clear nail polish

LOOK #1
Going Out With The Girls

Black is such a safe color to wear when you want to look put together but also dressy. Wear a flowy cropped tank top with high-waisted jeans or pants and strappy heels for the perfect outfit to get your groove on! Incorporate a bit of Radiant Orchid with your accessories, whether it be studs for a subtle touch or a small crossbody bag to break up the black.

It'll give your outfit a little more interest and on the bright side, you'll be able to spot your bag easily if you leave it somewhere!


LOOK #2
Lunch, Brunch, Dinner Date

A striped top is an essential. Skater or circle skirts have been in trend for a while now and pair well with fitted tops to give the illusion of an hourglass figure. Go for a cropped version for a more springtime appropriate look and choose a skirt that is bold in color. The Radiant Orchid color will speak for itself and the brightness of the color will lift the entire tone of the outfit. It's a wonderful alternative to the showstopper red that most people would consider a "sexy" or "attractive" color if you plan on wearing this on a date.

Tie in the color of your skirt with a necklace and keep the outfit balanced with some nude heels (they'll lengthen your legs, too. bonus!). If you really aren't feeling the colored skirt, pair the top with a black skirt and opt for a bright lipstick instead. It'll instantly brighten up the face.


LOOK #3
Frolicking in the Fields

Whether you plan on going shopping or having a picnic, this outfit is great for casual activities. Overalls have been making a comeback in the form of skirts and shorts. Go for a lighter wash denim to contrast with a bold colored top. The graphic tee I chose is fitted and cropped, to maintain the figure against the looser silhouette of the overalls. Graphic tees are fun and easy to wear. Depending on the graphic, it can be a great way to showcase your personal style and be a conversation starter!

Don't like how crazy the print is? No problem. This will look just as good with a white tee. Try a bold nail polish color to add a bit of color to the outfit. If you just aren't a fan of the brightness of the Radiant Orchid color, try a lighter tone of purple in your accessories or your shoes. Canvas sneakers are an easy way to incorporate color to an outfit (and they're wicked comfy!).


I hope these tips were helpful and you can use them as a general guide to wearing any kind of color. Happy styling!



~Jenn

Hello, all you beautiful people.

I'm back with another wardrobe tip and this time, I'll be discussing textures (not to be confused with patterns).

Everyone's style varies. Sometimes, it can't be stuffed into one ominous category of grunge or punk or girly or classy. If you're the type of girl who hordes piles and piles of black or white clothing, then investing in pieces that differ by texture can help liven up an outfit.

The reason I single out black and white is because those colors tend to look very clean and put together when used as the entire color palette of an outfit. Trying this with bolder colors can be overwhelming for day to day wear but please keep in mind that these are just my personal tips and opinions!

By all means, as I mention in all wardrobe tip posts, play by your own rules first!

That being said, the whole texture thing can also be applied if you aren't a monochromatic dresser. Then it would depend mainly on the actual silhouette, texture, and fit of the clothes.

HERE IS AN EXAMPLE WITH AN ALL BLACK WARDROBE

Monochromatic: Mixing Textures by asmallbit featuring a fur collar coat

For specifics, click here.
The foundation is simple: chiffon tank top and leather pants, which everyone and their cats now own. Don't worry if you don't have them, though! I'll talk about alternatives near the end :)

FUR: With the base of the outfit, you already have 2 different fabrics/textures. Adding on a fur anything will instantly give the outfit more depth because the fur is three dimensional and usually has more volume than something thin like chiffon. By using fur, the sheer chiffon can peek through and give a hint of subtle sexiness.

SHOES: Change up the look with a pair of suede shoes to tone down the fur and the leather or opt for leather boots if you choose to omit the fur.

ACCESSORIES: Jewelry can be overlooked sometimes because there can be an excessive focus on color or pattern but those types of accessories can add texture as well! Beading, embroidery, lace, chunky bits...the actual material of the necklace or ring or earrings can make a nice contrast against a plainer outfit.

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Mixing Textures: Part II by asmallbit featuring a mint green skirt

Click for specifics!
Okay, let's talk about alternatives. Like I said before, everyone dresses based on personal preference and you might not like leather pants or chiffon shirts.

No problem.

This works with t-shirts, corduroy shorts/pants, silky bottoms, furry sweaters, you name it. As long as you keep in mind what type of material each piece is, you can successfully create an intriguing outfit. Remember, balance is important too!

If you're wearing something chunky or fuzzy up top, keep it lighter or sleeker on the bottom for a more streamlined look.

I find that things like velvet or corduroy can be pretty "heavy" when worn as bottoms so pairing them with light cotton shirts/tank tops will definitely help prevent the whole ensemble from becoming too overwhelming.

Just because one piece may be bold on its own, it doesn't mean you can't wear multiple bold pieces. Take the first outfit, for example. The royal blue is bright in color but lacks texture while the skirt has a reptile print and is leather but is completely black. Mixing something like a rainbow sequin tank top with a brown snakeskin pair of shorts would be disastrous because there's too many loud elements going on.

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That's all I have to say about this wardrobe tip. What do you guys think? Are you a fan of wearing lots of different textures or would you rather keep it simple? Let me know down below!

~Jenn

As with at least 50% of my posts, inspiration strikes most when I'm shopping. Forever21 is probably the place to go if you want to buy trendy and kind of inexpensive clothes. So, while I was browsing through the sale section, I found this really sheer maxi dress with no slip underneath and thought, how would anyone wear this without flashing their goodies to the entire population?

Here is where the second wardrobe tip comes in and it branches off of the first one, which was versatility.

LAYERING.

Holy smokes, how many times have you heard someone say "this piece is great for layering" or "I would love to layer this over this"?? Probably more times than you can count with your fingers AND toes.

But layering truly is a way to take pieces in your closet that have been worn to death and turn them into fresh new outfits. It's wicked useful, especially if you're low on money but still want to have fun with styling and creating different ensembles.

The whole concept of layering is probably best used during the Fall and Winter when you want to stay toasty and warm but not look like an oversized marshmallow that's about to combust (You know...those 50 lb jackets that your mom used to force you to wear when you wanted to go play in the snow for fear of catching some deadly cold).

BUT, that totally doesn't mean you can't layer in the warmer months.

To layer in Spring and Summer months, simply use lighter fabrics. Tada.

ANYWAY. Let's get back to what I was saying earlier.

SHEER MAXI DRESSES.
- Awesome for summer because it's freaking hot enough to melt your skin off. But let's keep it classy by wearing a bodycon dress underneath. I especially recommend ones that are strapless just because I think the silhouette looks better but if you're not comfortable with that, then, of course, wear one with straps!

- Wearing a bodycon dress means you can accentuate your figure AND play around with patterns.

- Some maxi dresses can be very flowy and shapeless so by wearing something that really cinches you in, your figure won't be lost. Let's say you are absolutely worried about the dress being TOO wide...wear a belt!

- If you aren't normally comfortable wearing bold patterns or just think it's too much, then wearing it underneath a sheer dress can help tone it down.

Here is an example! (Just for the purpose of visuals, I'll be using all F21 products but you can get things like this virtually anywhere now.)

Polka Dot Sweetheart Dress
PLUS

Sheer Lace Back Maxi Dress
BODYCON DRESSES
- Ok, scenario #2: You have a crap load of bodycon dresses in all colors and patterns. You're going out. It's girls' night. It's a little breezy but you really don't want to wear anything heavy like a blazer or cardigan. What to do?

- Grab a sheer sleeveless shirt dress or just a shirt tunic and play around with complementary patterns and different hues.

- This can be an alternative to an oversized sweater, which is what I would opt for if it was a winter look.

- If it gets warmer somehow later in the evening, the shirt is sheer and light enough to just stuff it back into your purse or clutch. Easy!

Example time!

Strapless Bandage Dress
PLUS

Geo Print Trapeze Tunic
OPEN BACKS/TULIP BACKS/LACE BACKS
- Summer time is the time for see-through, cropped clothes. I get it. I'm guessing for most of those tops, people like to style it with bandeaus or bustiers or just plain tank tops. Cool.

- But another fun way you can wear them is by layering them over a romper/jumpsuit/playsuit, whatever you call them!

- I especially love wearing cropped shirts over dresses or in this case, rompers for movie dates because it gets cold in there but wearing a sweater is a little impractical if you plan on being outdoors afterward.

- By wearing a romper in a fun floral print or maybe even just a simple polka dot print, you can show off the print AND the back design of the top you're wearing without revealing any excess skin.

For example...

Polka Dot Print Romper
PLUS

Dotted Swiss Tulip Back Top
OR

Double Bow Back Tank
OR

Lace Back Trapeze Tank
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Last thing before I go! These tips can be used for other pieces as well. If you're going to the beach and you want to wear your bathing suit ahead of time, an open back shirt plus some denim shorts and you are good to go!

Bodycon skirts are also amazing for layering. Try wearing them under a shorter but fuller skirt! It has a peplum-esque effect!

You get the point.

Well that's all I've got for today. I hope you enjoyed reading it, as always :)


Until next or whenever,
{kissies}
~Jenn

Thanks to all the fashion gurus and bloggers of the internet world, we're all familiar with this wardrobe tip. Curious?

It's versatility!

What the heck do I mean by that?

One way to conserve space in your closet or just make creating outfits much easier is to buy pieces that can be worn multiple ways. That can mean a piece that transcends genres or just a piece that works for many occasions.

One Dress, Four Looks. by asmallbit featuring opi nailpolish

For all the delicious details, please visit my polyvore!

Some people make the mistake of thinking that these versatile pieces can only be staples like a basic white T-shirt or a nice pair of denim jeans. While those are a must have in your closet and can certainly act as a versatile piece of clothing, you don't have to limit yourself to just those pieces.

It's always important to remember your own style and what you like to wear. Don't think a white T-shirt is something you'd pick out very often? Don't buy it. Maybe skinny jeans aren't your cup of joe. Try a boot cut, straight cut, flare, or wide leg!

Also note your body shape and what cuts of clothing work better for you. It's not just about playing by the rules.

Now, back on topic.

WHEN SHOPPING FOR TOPS/SWEATERS:
-Pick colors that complement the rest of your wardrobe.

-For me, shades of navy or aqua plus corals, oranges, or light oranges equals awesome.

-For cardigans or blazers (depending on your preference), ask yourself "what is the main color in my wardrobe? what can I wear this cardigan with?". If you have a lot of dark colored dresses, I recommend investing in a black cardigan as well as a grey one.

WHY??
-A black cardigan will go with black dresses but they can also work with other deeper colored dresses.

-Sometimes, you'll have events that call for something lighter or not so formal looking. A grey cardigan is nice because the contrast isn't as stark as a white cardigan but it helps lighten up the darker colored dress.

-Likewise, if you have a lot of light colored dresses like pastels, I recommend going for a white, cream, or grey cardigan.

-I also say yes to a colored cardigan, one in your favorite color, because sometimes white on white can be a little too...clean looking. For the summertime, a bright colored cardigan against a white dress will really bring a look together.

This post is going to go on for miles if I continue with all types of tops and sweaters so I'll move onto pants.

WHEN SHOPPING FOR BOTTOMS:
-If you can't live without skirts and you attend formal events often, I recommend getting a basic black skirt that is an appropriate length for your body type. I don't suggest anything too short but that's your choice! The nice thing about medium to longer length skirts is that you can always lengthen your legs with heels so that the look can go from office to night out easily.

-Navy colored skirts are a staple because they have the potential to be dressed up but can remain casual at the same time. It's also perfect if you want to go for a nautical look or fourth of July outfit.

WHEN SHOPPING BASED ON PATTERNS:
-Polka dots will always be around. I'm convinced. Get one with smaller polka dots if you prefer looking more put together and a little more mature. Go for bigger ones if you dress playfully or plan on wearing it casually.

Forever21

Forever21

-Stripes are awesome. Afraid they'll make you look ten times bigger? Go for vertical ones. Or, go for horizontal ones that start near the lower half of the shirt. Even better, if the background is black! And make sure they are skinny stripes. But if you're ready to say "the heck with that!", then try a bigger bolder stripe to make a statement.

Ann Taylor

-If you're buying patterned bottoms, the only thing I would suggest is asking yourself if you'd really wear it, how often you'd wear it, and if there's more than one top you'd wear it with.

And, voila, that's it!

I hope I didn't bore you guys with this extensively long post and that you found it somewhat helpful. Case and point: shop wisely! There's no point in spending all that money if you're just going to throw it away when the trend dies down. :)


Until next time,
{kissies}
~Jenn