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What goes down must come up: lowly knits & fancy skirts

12/30/2013

A couple weeks ago, I noticed the trend toward a casual knit--even a hoodie--over a dressy skirt. Somewhat obsessed, I've compiled all our views & attempts at this look below...

What started the fire...
This was the first pairing of the fancy skirt & casual sweater that I saw, a photo in a Garnet Hill catalog.

Garnet Hill Sequin Pencil Skirt, $74

And then this one.
I found this outfit in Outfit Obsessions on the J. Crew Factory website.

My attempts
My husband bought me the J. Crew Factory wool henley hoodie for Christmas. I don't have a sequin skirt, so I just tried it with the dressiest skirts I own.

J. Crew Factory hoodie, Forever 21 skirt

J. Crew Factory hoodie, Talbots pencil skirt

And Monica gave it a try...
After I posted the topic in Facebook, my friend Monica looked for a similar combo in her closet.

Monica didn't love the color combo of green & red, but the overall look came out nicely, huh? She's wearing a red necklace to pull the outfit together.

And we read about it...
Noah, who has a new Wordpress blog The NoMadden, also directed us to this short article on the topic--Knits & Glitz...

"This high-low, casual-fancy pairing is one of our favorite approaches to dressing these days—whether it’s sequins and sweaters or high heels and distressed denim—because it leaves room for endless pairings and makes everything in your closet twice as wearable."
--TaylorDavies (@shutupilovethat)

from LifestyleMirror--Alexa Chung in Marc Jacobs

Most recent sightings...
I found this one via Sole Society, a great online shoe store. It would be hard to wear a pure gold skirt like this without toning it down with a casual sweater & even flats, don't you think?

Two from Nordstrom/Nordstrom Rack

Nordstrom Rack Sequin Stripe Ponte Skirt, $24.97

So--will you join our story?--have you tried paring a casual sweater with a fancy skirt? I'd truly love to know.

You may also like...

Opposites attract

Sequin skirts, $10 & up

Don't put that fancy dress away! Repurpose it for work.

Several spring dresses you don't need

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Comparison shopping: Ten NYE sequined skirts

12/29/2013

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Just in case you need a sequin skirt for NYE...

Least expensive...

H&M Sequined Skirt, $10

Close second (& I like the cream color)...

Joe Fresh Fringe Sequin Skirt, $19.99 minus 15%

American Eagle Sequin Striped Mini Skirt, $24.95

Gold & silver...

Express Gold Sequin Flippy Skirt, $59.90

<Cute & flippy

Garnet Hill, Sequined Skirt, $74 minus 20%

Longer length

Maurice's Pull-on Sequin Skirt, $34

Nordstrom Sequin Pencil Skirt, $58

Express High Waist Sequin Midi Skirt, $69.90

Garnet Hill Sequin Pencil Skirt, $74 minus 20%

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Caravan Tshirts

12/29/2013

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The simplicity of these Caravan t-shirts appeals to me...

Caravan Tshirts Green Eggs - T-Shirt Long Sleeved, $29.95

Caravan Tshirts Heart on Sleeve - T-Shirt Long Sleeved, $29.95

Caravan Tshirts Regular Coffee - T-Shirt Short Sleeved, $39.95

Caravan Tshirts Miracle Fish T-shirt Long Sleeved, $29.95

Caravan Tshirts Pi (white) - T-Shirt Long Sleeved, $29.95

Follow Caravan Tshirts on Facebook here.

Follow Caravan Tshirts on Twitter here.

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Don't put that fancy dress away!

12/28/2013

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Most us of hide our fanciest frocks in the back of the closet until the holidays come round. On January 2, we typically return them to the depths. But instead of putting them into deep storage, why not top them with a light pullover & wear them to work?

My friend Monica created 3 great new outfits out of dresses that might otherwise be too dressy to wear to work by topping them with lightweight sweaters.

Amazing transformations! More clothes formerly hanging passively in the closet now earning their keep at work!

Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful & inspiring creations with us, Monica!

Before

Dress is by Molly from Mondo's Exchange for Changes

Monica happened to notice these two items hanging next to each other in the closet & suddenly realized how beautifully they go together!
Not only is the trim color along the neckline almost identical to the color of the dress, but we can see the dress peeking through its embroidered edging along the bottom of the sweater.
A great outfit for work created from a fancy dress. >>

After

Sweater is by Moth

Here Monica tops a simple tank dress with a dolman-sleeve pullover to create a casual outfit she can wear to work.

Before

dress from Express

After

Dolman top from T. J. Maxx

Before

A stunning dress but too fancy for work--

Dress is Kirna Zabete, a Target collaboration

After

Topped with her slightly sheer black sweater & skinny belt, the dress is now work-appropriate. What a lovely outfit!

Maternity sweater

What holiday dress can you repurpose for the new year?

You may also like...

Come & spend the day at Monica's

Monica's rings

Monica's blog:
Now Let Me Tell You Something

No money & nothing to wear: more ideas for getting more of your clothes into circulation

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Several spring dresses under $30 that you don't need

12/26/2013

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These are just the types of dresses that keep me up at night. You don't need them, not one bit. They didn't all even get very good reviews. But they're $29 & under ("but it was 99 cents")! And they're cute!

Do you buy things you don't need sometimes because they're an amazing deal?

Piperlime Paisley Dress by Ark & Co. Final sale, $34.97 minus 50%

Piperlime Ruched Mini Knit Dress by Tinley Road Final sale, $34.97 minus 50%

Victoria's Secret Dolman-sleeve Dress, solids $29.99

Piperlime Sequin Floral Motif Dress by Rhyme Los Angeles Final sale, $34.97 minus 50%

Zara Dress with Crossover Neckline, $29.99

Piperlime Print Mix Shift Dress by Pim + Larkin Final sale, $34.97 minus 50%

Banana Republic Belted Shirttail Dress, $39.97 minus 50%

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Seasons greetings from The Countess

12/25/2013

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The Countess of WEssex has so kindly sent us this holiday update rife with seasonal fashion tips...

Well, once again Christmas (are we still allowed to say that?) is upon us, and once again it’s time for our chauffeur, Benson, to point the Bentley northwards and head for Balmoral to join the rest of the Royals for the annual knees up.

Balmoral Castle

To be perfectly honest, I am not looking forward to it this year as, once again, it will be the same old game of charades with Charles doing The King's Speech followed by the lads joining Phillip's shooting party whilst the Queen and the rest of us ladies sit around knitting booties and the suchlike for the latest addition to the line of succession. Phillip will then return with the Count and the others clutching a brace of various defenceless furry creatures mixed in with a few unfortunate ramblers who had just happened to wander within range.

The evening ends with a masked ball, and this is where the dilemma starts...what to wear? Last year's theme was children's historical book characters, and unfortunately the Count had not noticed the word ‘children's,’ and he came dressed as The Marquis de Sade with me trotting along behind as Lady Godiva. The Queen (dressed as Mary Poppins) was not amused, but Humphrey Stigbolt-Jenkinson-Smythe (Noddy) and Lady Henrietta Dugdale Plympton (Wonder Woman) thought it was hilarious.

This year the only requirement to adhere to is a mask, and I have gone for a simple venetian affair in 9 carat gold encrusted with diamonds and framed with feathers from the rarest of endangered species. For the dress I have elected to go really traditional and stick to plain reds and greens with a full-length ball gown in red satin complemented by a green off-the-shoulder wrap in chiffon with a pair of emerald earrings and matching necklace. Although I would usually wear high-heeled Deltra Escarmoix sling-back shoes in gold with a sapphire buckle, this year, due to a painful bunion, I will make do with a pair of Reebok Trainers.

The Count, once again, has misread the invitation and is attending wearing only a mask. He says his ‘manhood’ will receive very little attention, but I disagree as most of the people there get great pleasure in looking down at the unemployed.

It now leaves me to wish you all a Very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year and remember be careful over the holidays and don’t do anything that I wouldn’t (which leaves you with plenty of scope).

The Countess of WEssex

For more witty repartee, follow the Countess of WEssex on Twitter by clicking here.

Also by The Countess...

Dressing for
the ball

The history of the brassiere: part 1
& part 2

The Countess' ring

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Say hello (again) to my little friend

12/23/2013

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Gray & I have always been friends, but black & I have gone up & down--what about you?

My junior year of high school I hung out with a slightly punk, slightly crazy crowd & wore all black (to the disdain of my parents).

In college, I wore a lot of black sweaters & jeans until I couldn't stand that look anymore.

In the early 2000s, I decided to lighten up & turned completely away from black. I started wearing off-white jeans with colored blouses.
I decided my friends would rather see me in something brighter, & I decided black was too severe.

But now I'm back in black! Few outfits make me feel more powerful than all black. I wear all black about once a week, & now I buy black again too. Suddenly I think it's elegant & classic & classy again. I don't feel dark or severe in it anymore; I feel New York & edgy & put together.

Have you gone through anything similar in your history with the color black? Please tell!

Here are a few of my black-based outfits:

I just bought this dress...

Garnet Hill Belted Shirtdress, $29

J. Crew top & Charley sweater, Talbots skirt

Zara sweater, Victoria's Secret black cords

Anthropologie sweater, Joe Fresh skirt

very old Banana Republic shift dress

very old Victoria's Secret sweater & pants

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A daily dose of glamour

12/18/2013

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Smoky eyeshadow, a candlelight dinner, a martini in a hotel bar. What makes you feel glamorous?
If I were to make one New Year's resolution, it might be to include something glamorous in my life every day.
Other people needn't even notice; it's enough to enjoy small luxuries just for yourself.

Here's my short list of glamorous things...

leather gloves
red lipstick
a wrap or shawl
silver candlesticks & photo frames
a fine polka dot blouse
silk or satin pjs
a (faux-)fur stole
Amy Winehouse & Portishead music
jewels
big sunglasses
velvet shoes
a camel coat
big rings
fine white sheets
cuffed palazzo pants
fancy reading glasses
thigh-high boots
a long cardigan
a shiny silver or gold ski jacket
a clean car
anything lavender-scented
a tiara or jeweled hair wrap
fur-tipped gloves
earmuffs
a bulky bracelet
Tiffany's
champagne
a leather-bound journal
animal print

Silver candlesticks, silver servingware, brandy snifters...

Pottery Barn Eclectic Silver-plated Candlesticks, free shipping, $29 – $69

Pottery Barn Hotel Silver-Plated Tray, monogramming available, $79

Jeweled collars, big sunglasses...

J. Crew Necklace Sweatshirt, $79.99 minus 40%, & J. Crew Sunglasses

Red lipstick, faux-fur collars, metallic...

Macy's Laundry by Design Asymmetrical Faux-Fur Collar Puffer Vest, $94.99

Thigh-high boots

6 p.m. Guess Rumela Boot, $159.99

Anything from Tiffany's

Animal print

Sole Society France pointed toe heel, $46.87

Silk or satin pj's...

Garnet Hill Classic Silk Pajamas, $198

Victoria's Secret The Afterhours Satin Pajama, $59.50

A fine cotton or silk polka dot blouse

Garnet Hill Casual Cotton Shirt, $68

Velvet...

Sundance Catalog Vali Velvet Mary Janes, $140

Stoles, wraps, snoods, capes, muffs, &
fur-tipped scarfs...

Banana Republic Fair Isle Faux-Fur Neckwarmer, $69.50 minus 40 (just sold out :-(

Leather gloves

From Nordstrom Rack

My sister-in-law gave me these leather gloves for the holidays last year.

A leather-bound journal

Best American Arts Handmade Leather Bound Journal, $34

A full-length, classic camel coat...

Journelles in Burberry

What feels glamorous to you?

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2 years in quick review

12/16/2013

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So it's been 2 years since I started Open Mind Fashion (OMF), and I'd say I've come a long way!

Here's what I've learned...

The best thing I've learned is that the blog is not about me.
It's about people in general & what we all go through when we shop & dress. We're all trying to get through the day when we're dead tired or have lost a love. We all shop with friends on occasion. We all go to the dentist and travel. We've all lost a favorite sweater or necklace; all of us have rings that tell a story. We all wonder if we should give in to the trends, & we strive to wear the clothes that make us feel the most like ourselves.

Shopping with a friend

Amy's star sapphire ring

Your signature colors

Great way to promote your blog: #MondayBlogs. Each Monday bloggers from around the world share & read posts that are posted in Twitter with this hashtag.

What I'm not, What I like, What I am
I'm not a "personal style blogger," a blogger who posts pictures of herself in various outfits each day, although sometimes I do.

Instead, I post items that appeal to me (like flounce skirts or suede ankle boots or tartan) with links to the items or stories about clothes in general. I'm not a professional stylist, just a normal gal on a budget talking about clothes.

Flounce skirts

Suede ankle boots

Tartan

I put a lot of energy into trying to find new ways to wear the clothes I already own such as looking to the lining colors of my skirts, pants, & bags; mixing patterns, or pairing high/low, heavy/light to help make new combinations.

Hints from the linings

Mixing patterns

Opposites attract

OMF is not for high fashion types but for everyday women. It displays trends from the stores, not from the runways.

Thank you to those who've supported me these past 2 years! I love talking about clothes with you!

If you're a regular, will you tell me what you like best or least on the blog? That'd be really helpful. Cheers and happy holidays!

Some of my best tips:

You can be hip at any age.

Stand tall. Own every inch of your height.

The nature of clothing is so personal that just the simple gesture of helping someone on with her coat conveys a striking tenderness.

Picture yourself in what you're wearing speeding to the airport in the back of a stretch limo. Everything looks glamorous in the right setting.

"You look nice today." Our first words of greeting often involve clothes.

It's not about the money. One can spend a fortune & look dull. One can spend very little & look fab.

Never wear something that will elicit the comment “Aren’t you cold?” or “Aren’t you hot?”

Some old clothes are like old friends.

A good hour of housecleaning is as good for your skin as a facial.

No place is too far to walk if you have the right shoes.

I find myself saying, “Oh, I’ll wear something like that [something a little flamboyant or glamorous] when I’ve really come into my own.”
But if not now, when?

One way to get yourself to wear a new outfit is to make it one of the only things you pack for a trip.

Someone to dress up for: me! :-)

If I'm wearing a starched shirt, I'm probably wearing a short skirt.

A sparkly skirt is easier to wear than a sparkly top or shoes.

Dressing well is like writing well. It's about choosing the right word for the sentence or the right outfit for the weather or the event.

Everyone wears black to a party. Wear a color.

Every life is glamorous.

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