Category: Alloy

Can an outfit turn an introvert into an extrovert?

12/13/2013

Holiday parties. Holiday parties. Well, I've never been the life of the party. I'm much more likely to slink into the background & look for an individual to talk to. What about you?
But here it is, party season again, & I'd like to change things up a bit. I'd like to come out into center stage for a change.
Or at least not hate the entire night.

So here are my outfit options:
1. sparkly top, jeans
2. calm dress, black tights
3. shiny dress, red tights!

That's it! I'm going shiny dress, red tights! I'll check back with you to let you know if wearing something bolder resulted in a bolder outcome. Or at least if I enjoyed the party.

Here I come! I'll be the one dancing on the table.

GAP Outlet top, Anthropologie necklace, Alloy jeans

Boden dress

H&M $20 dress, Swell tights, Payless boots

Update on the experiment Sunday morning:

Did I dance on a table at the party last night?--no. But did the outfit make me laugh a little louder, greet friends & strangers more freely? Well, yes, yes, I think it did!

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Two dresses for eating large meals

Tartan returns

Mixing patterns with Lena Penteado

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Football Sunday

10/6/2013

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When it comes to football tees, I always strive for a t-shirt I'd actually be wearing anyway, even if I weren't a fan.
(Tees below chosen for style, not for team commitment--except for the Broncos! :)

Eastbay Nike NFL Stamp It 3/4 Raglan T-Shirt, $33.99 or 2/$50 (many teams avail)

T-shirt Sunday Tees

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Side-by-side: leather-like leggings

8/30/2013

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"Every girl should have a good pair of leather leggings! Super chic! Makes her stand out!"
--Noah Dingley (The Nomadden)

Do you remember the episode of Friends when Monica and Rachel give Phoebe a pair of leather pants when she's pregnant with twins? Well, you may feel like you need a pair of leather-like leggings almost as much as Phoebe did then.

But sometimes you want to look a little tough, a little edgy.

If you want to give 'em a try with low commitment, you may want to know the lowest priced options out there. Most of the leggings are not leather but leather-like, cruelty-free.

J. Crew shows you some ways to wear your p/leather pants here. Click on "Leather."

Warning: wearing leather-like leggings, you might make you feel HOTHOTHOT, & I don't mean because it's still summer.

Expensive Pair of Pleather

This is the pair we're comparing against.
Garnet Hill offers these leather-like leggings for $140.

Details:
Leticia Faux-Leather Ponte Leggings, Poly faux leather in front; rayon/nylon/spandex ponte in back. From Velvet by Graham & Spencer. USA/Imported.
XS inseam: 29 1/2"
S inseam: 30"
M inseam: 31"
L & XL inseam: 30 1/2"
Rise: Low from Velvet by Graham & Spencer

The Pair I Want that has Some Cotton Involved

This is the pair I'm leaning toward ordering. They're only $12.90, and they're made with COTTON and spandex, which seems to me a good mix.

Details:
Body Central Solid liquid leggings. 26" inseam. Domestic cotton/spandex. Sizes S, M, L, $12.90

The Least Expensive Pair of Pleather

This is the least expensive pair I've found out there, very low commitment factor.

Details:
Alloy High Waist Pleather Legging, stretch high waist pleather jegging, 8" leg opening, poly/spandex, By K Too
USA, 29", 34" inseam, $9.90

If You Want the Real Thing...

ASOS Skinny Leather Pants with Biker Detail, $118.13, free shipping

Eek!

Madewell leather leggings, $550

J. Crew Collection Leather Pant, $695

This pair of leggings from Victoria's Secret has a lot of leather in it but still isn't 100% leather. It's $298.

Victoria's Secret Ponte and Leather Legging, $298

Two More Pairs

dELiA's Pu Legging

Details:
Solid stretch pleather legging.
Poly-spandex
S-L, 28" long, USA
Catalog and web exclusive, $16.90

Express (Minus The) Leather Ankle Zip Legging

Details:
Banded waist, hidden side zipper
Hidden ankle zippers at outer seams
Inseam 31"
Polyurethane coated Polyester
Machine wash
Imported,
$41.94

So what's your poison? Real leather or fake? What do black p/leather leggings say to you?

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Who's Noah?

Planes, trains, & buses: clothing & public transportation

The basic black skirt

Underrepped tees

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Inspiration equation: sunshine & sangria

6/3/2013

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Sangria is the perfect beverage to drink in the yellow sun. So why not pair up the colors in your wardrobe this summer?
I don't own much yellow, but I have a million variations on blush/berry/coral/rosé/sangria. Every store is carrying both colors. The combo seems to me warm, flattering, & fun for summer. I prefer lighter yellows--not too much sun--but plenty of sangria :-)

Who's got a great sangria recipe? Will you share it with me? Here's to summer! :-)

yellow sun

+

sangria

=

About half the things I found in my closet & drawers in these colors

A few of my favorites in stores...

Garnet Hill Eileen Fisher Linen Asymmetrical V-Neck Sweater, $218

This open-weave pullover above is too expensive but pretty much a perfect top to go with yellow jeans.

GAP 1969 legging skimmer jeans, $31.99 minus 25% with the code GAPMORE (also avail. in peach)

Alloy Poppy Blouse, $34.90

Love Culture V-neck Buttoned Cardigan, $13.90

More posts you might like:

No money & nothing to wear:
tips for revitalizing what you've got

Inspiration equation:
cranberries & icy blue

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Side-by-side: striped maxi tank dresses

5/31/2013

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Alloy Maci Tank Dress, $19.90-$21.90

Black stripe, racer back, pocket, rayon/spandex, 58" long (about ankle length), 11 colors, XS-XXXL (7 sizes), 4.3 stars

Garnet Hill Scoop-Neck Maxi Tank Dress, $98

Natural/navy stripe, fitted through the top, A-line from hip to hem, cotton/rayon/spandex jersey, ankle length, 2 colors, XS-XL, 4.5 stars (mostly good reviews but a few really bad ones)

More Side-by-side:

Strappy sandals

Swimsuits

Studded sandals

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Let's talk swimsuits

4/26/2013

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Swimsuits cost too much, don't you agree?
It's one of those times I'll hazard any alternatives to find more affordable choices.

Seeing spots...
Retro is in. If you love dots & stripes, check out dELiA's, Alloy's, and Old Navy's swimsuits--cute & affordable.

dELiA's Cinch Bandeau, $24.50, & high-waist bottom, $19.50, avail XS-XL

A couple cover-ups...

Lands' End Stripe Crewneck swim tee cover-up, $39, minus 40%=about $23

Stripe Rash Guard, $75

Compare to J. Crew rash guard

Amazon Nice cover-up, $12.99

J. Crew top, $54; bottom, $50

Compare Alloy suit to the left with
J. Crew spotted bikini>>>

Old Navy Mix & Match Tankini, $19; boyshort botton, $15, all minus 20% off

Alloy cinch bandeau, $13.90, & string bottom, $11.90, avail XS-XL

My summer swimsuit...
My suit for this summer comes from two unlikely sources: my top was on sale last summer at Long Tall Sally,
a British clothing company for tall women (I'm not tall), and my skort is from Lands' End girls' department.

Girls' swimwear is less than half the cost of women's. Lands' End Girls' Plus sizes will fit women up to about a size 10.
Ask me for help with the sizing if you're thinking of ordering a girl's suit for you.

I could sure use some color! :-)

Where's your swimsuit from for this summer?

Here's the swim skort I'm wearing>>>

Lands' End Girls' Woven Swim Skort, 7 colors, avail in sizes 14 & 16 & plus sizes, about $15

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Side by side

4/11/2013

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The Alexi sandal below is all leather while the Alloy one isn't. But I wear flat sandals like these into the ground, and I've found that rubber (vs. leather) soles last longer, and the man-made uppers are just as comfortable. I ordered the Alloy ones. They're backordered till June 6th, but that's ok--they'll show up right when I need them for summer. :-)

Neiman Marcus Michael Kors Alexi Studded Flat Sandal, $135

Alloy Stunner Sandal, $14.90 ($9.90 if you buy 3 or more)

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The eyes have it

4/4/2013

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Last year we saw a little eyelet lace along with other fabrics that both hide and reveal what's underneath. This year eyelet is everywhere--in jackets, dresses, tops, in every color, many variations, and now quite affordable.
Perfect for work but also fun in shorts!

the many kinds of eyelet lace

J. C. Penny Joe Fresh Eyelet Blazer, $59

Eyelet lace dresses are popular this season in sheaths and other styles like this split neck...

GAP Eyelet split-neck dress, $69.95 (minus 30% with the code GAPHAPPY)

Love the slip-like sheer overlay on this skirt. Dress it up for work or a wedding or dress it down with a white tee...

Kohl's Jennifer Lopez Eyelet Mesh Pencil Skirt, two colors, $35 (minus 15% with the code SKIES)

Peter Pan collar

Target Xhilaration® Juniors Peter Pan Collar Lace Top - Assorted Colors, $17.99

J. C. Penny Joe Fresh sleeveless lace top, $29

Is this a must-have skirt? Such a powerful color for work.

J. Crew Factory Pencil Skirt in Exploded Eyelet, $79.50 (minus 30% with the code MOREPLEASE=just under $60)

Peplum

Alloy Alissa Top, $24.90

Embellished

Long Tall Sally Broderie Dress, $115.00

shorts shorts shorts!

J. C. Penny Eyelet Shorts, $25

GAP Clean front eyelet shorts, $34.99

Target Merona® Women's Eyelet Short (7") - Red Rave, $17.99

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From a year ago

Spring jackets

Back story

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What Oprah, Madonna, and teenage girls can teach us about how to dress at any age

5/23/2012

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Dear OMF:
What kind of clothing do you think is appropriate for 50-somethings? Deciding what is age appropriate sometimes can be tricky. I don't want to look matronly nor do I want to look like a hoochie mama. --Susan

Dear Susan:
Thank you so much for your question! I've been thinking about a couple role models and a few clothing tips to keep women looking great at any age. Please let me know what you think....

Oprah is better with age.
Did you see the cover of this month's O magazine? At age 58, Oprah looks better than ever because she dresses to accentuate her body. She also looks much more confident now than she did in her 20s. The cover story in this issue talks about how to improve with age: the article features several women who have come into their own as they have grown up. What I take away from Oprah's lead is age-appropriate clothing is what makes you feel beautiful--inside and out! Find your strengths and celebrate them. Love your curves, dress with sex appeal but stay classy.

"The best age is the age you are"
--Maggie Kuhn

More below or click "read more"

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You're up and you're down

4/11/2012

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The fashion industry sometimes challenges us to question what we've come to believe. Take high-low sweaters, skirts, and dresses. We'd never have thought it was ok to have our sweaters stretched out at the sides into a bell shape. We'd have worried if the back hem on our skirt or dress were drooping or falling.
But a little dropped hem might be all right—how many of us want to show off the backs of our thighs anyway?