outfits – Page 50 – Investment Piece

Business Thoughts (#beltbag)

Investment Piece: Business Thoughts (#beltbag)

Some Business Thoughts:

*** If belt bags are a thing (I can’t bring myself to call these fanny packs, and today’s belt bags are ever so chic!), why shouldn’t we use them as belts? Clearly the point is to have them around your waist (or thereabouts. Side benefit? You get your hands free to do all the things!) So, why not use the belt part of your bag to keep pants up or keep your blazer (or top) closed?

I tried it. And I loved it. It was like pockets with added purpose. I don’t think that’s a thing, but we can make it one??

**** I can’t quit a blazer with nothing on underneath. There was this Heather Locklear show a few years back where her character wore looks like that, and I just loved them. It’s boss lady means super feminine. Appropriate for office wear? Maybe not. Or at least make sure your blazer buttons high enough (yes, Mom, if this one weren’t leather I would have used a pin here. I can’t bring myself to pin leather. You do you). But for a night out, or one those days where you can risk a bit more? A blazer as a top is perfect. And yes! It’s a great look for more black tie looks as well (there’s also something I love about women in tailored tuxes, but that’s another post).

(Super side note: no matter what your business, a great blazer is a must. They can lend structure and class to any outfit, and are often the perfect outer wear. This is an item I think you should buy at the highest quality level you can, and don’t forget that your local tailor can work wonders!)

*** Other Thoughts: I’ve found a lucky someone these exact shoes for $78 (linked below), I love them. A pleated skirt is always a good idea. But blazers and belt bags as belts: we may be onto something!

I’ve linked shopping options below, and as usual would love to hear your business thoughts!

XO RA

Note: this post does contain affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!

Shop this look here.

#croppedjacket

Investment Piece: #croppedjacket

There was a recent time when I got a little obessed with a great cropped jacket. Yes, it was from Instagram and yes, it was vintage. But it seemed perfect: classy with quilting yet edgy with the crop. So, I began looking for my own. I hit the usual spots: etsy and eBay. Yet, I couldn’t find what I was looking for. Until, I looked at Jcrew.

Say what you will about modern versions of things that we love vintage; sometimes, the modern is just as great, if not greater than the vintage. This little (literally) number hits on the mark: I love the classic look, but the pattern is fun, and the crop is just perfect (not too high not too low). And loves, the lining makes this jacket so comfy. I wear it often as a top, and for some reason I can’t wait to wear this jacket over a slip dress and combat (ish) boots.

I love how vaguely 1970s this outfit ended up being. A great flare is a must, I think, for your denim collection. They elongate your legs, and just feel a little more dressy than skinny jeans (to me). My new favorite jacket, and a great pair of wedges.

Investment Piece: #cropppedjacket

I know, I know. This picture is slightly ridiculous, but it shows off the shoes. And it makes me laugh. Win/win?

And loves–there’s nothing wrong with a little 70s vibe. I promise.

If you’re like me and you. Can’t wait to find your own perfect cropped jacket, I’ve linked ones for you below!

Happy Shopping!
Xo RA

Note: this post does contain affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!

Get similar Jcrew jackets here.

Jeans and Jackets (some amazing vintage!):

chic hand warmer

Investment Piece: chic hand warmer

There have been hints of spring. Maybe it’s not FREEZING outside. But my hands are still cold. And what to do when your hands are cold? Use a chic hand warmer to warm them up!

The thing about a mink muff–they’re chic, different, the best purse, and a way to stay warm. I also recommend gloves, but with a muff you can still use your phone. There are pluses and minuses to everything. My choice?

A chic black suit.
–There’s just something I just love about a suit for women. Or a blazer without anything underneath.
Sexy. Chic. Business. The ultimate power suit.
(This blazer is vintage Thierry Mugler and it fits so exquisitely, the pictures don’t do it justice.)
Then I paired it with AMAZING shoes (old Celine, thank you very much) and a muff?
Are you killing at the office? Off to the opera? Happy hour? All of the above?
You’re in charge.

The pieces can be mixed and matched and worn with anything. Especially this muff. It’s the winter accessory I love reaching for at this time of winter, when it’s cold but beginning to warm up. The muff keeps my hands warm, holds my wallet and my phone, and is such an elegant piece! I use the term “elevate” a lot, but what I truly love about this chic hand warmer is how it makes everything seem a little more special.

Do you love a good muff? Would you rock this chic hand warmer?

I’ve linked some muffs and similar pieces for your own suit below. Happy shopping–I can’t wait to hear the stories you’ll tell with your chic hand warmer!

Xo RA

Note: this post does contain affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!

School Girl Twist

Investment Piece: School Girl Twist

Not all cliches are worth avoiding. And not everything in your “get rid of pile” should be given away. Weird advice? But very true.

School Girl, or prep, done right is fun and a little cheeky, as well as classic. (Tory Burch has made a career of this fact.) Pairing a great sweater with a plaid skirt? It doesn’t have to be cliche. And amazing and fun shoes aren’t the only way to do it–though I think amazing shoes always help. Classic combos are classic for a reason. Cliches become fun when you make them your own.

For me, with a school girl or preppy look, it’s in the details. Like necklines and colors. Hair and make-up. And of course, amazing shoes. Perfect for work, or after work.

Investment Piece: School Girl Twist

I stand by the statement that not everything in your “to-go” pile needs to go. This vintage skirt was my moms. And clearly, the moths loved it too. And while that may be a deal breaker for some, I don’t mind when my vintage is a little beat up. This skirt is still a stunner-deep plaid, soft wool, and just the right length. Give away the things that no longer serve you, but don’t be afraid to keep pieces that fit perfectly (you and your life), even if they’re a little flawed.

These are the questions I have. How do you school girl twist? Or take a fashion cliche and make it your own? Also, what do you keep that’s a little worn?
I’d really love to know!

Similar items to my own school girl twist are linked below. Happy shopping!

Xo RA

Note: this post does contain affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you. Thank you for your support!

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#Adolfo

Investment Piece: #adolfo

One of the best fashion investments you can make? A vintage #Adolfo suit.
One of the best conversation starters? A vintage #Adolfo suit.
One of the things you should be buying today? You guessed it : a vintage #Adolfo suit.

Part Chanel-like chic, but much more affordable, Adolfo is one of those vintage brands that screams timeless but feels modern. And the great part about a suit? You can wear it seperate, it looks great with even just a white tee, and it elevates everything.
A little bit about Adolfo:
Adolfo began his career as a milliner and apprenticed at Balenciaga before moving to New York in 1948 to apprentice at Bergdorf Goodman. After receiving several awards for his hat designs, he opened his own millinery house in 1962 with a loan from Bill Blass. He began designing clothing for his models to wear while showing his hats and by the mid 1960s his celebrity clients ranged from the Duchess of Windsor, Gloria Vanderbilt, and Betsy Bloomingdale to Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Nancy Reagan, who wore a red Adolfo dress, currently in the Smithsonian, to her husband’s second inaugural ball. In the 1960s Adolfo’s designs were playful and even flamboyant, though by the 1980s he was best known for his ladylike, Chanel-inspired cardigan suits.

Adolfo is collected by many a vintage fan. My favorite places to find it are eBay and etsy. I personally love how versatile the pieces are, and how “grown up” the suits make me feel. I’ve found some #Adolfo suits for you below. They’re perfect with any sort of top, for your big work day, date night, or anytime you want to feel like a lady.

Happy shopping!
Xo RA

Note: this post does contain affiliate links. While that may not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!

How To: Lingerie Dressing

Investment Piece: How to Lingerie Dressing

In the next week or so, many people will come to you with ideas about date night dressing, or Valentine’s Day looks. I’m not against any look for any kind of date night that makes you feel absolutely amazing. However, among the red, and pink, and hearts that will be on display:
Investment Piece: I HEART YOU
Investment Piece, fashion blogger, color block, Red//Pink, Jcrew, Zara, Gucci, CA, TX
(See, I love those ideas, too!)
Might I suggest something new for date night or Valentine’s Day.
Lingerie dressing.

Investment Piece: slip into something more comfortable

It’s like PJ Dressing’s older sister, just as comfy, and adds an unexpected element to any outfit.

Investment Piece: how to lingerie dressing
So, new ideas in mind, the question becomes how do you lingerie dress?

I’m glad you asked!

Lingerie dressing can be as simple as letting your new lacy items be seen through your outfit, or it can be as involved as wearing lingerie as the main component of your attire. My favorite ways to lingerie dress:

1. Wear a vintage slip as a dress or shirt
2. Wear something sheer and let my black lingerie peek through
3. Wear a corset or teddy as a top (if you’re a little shy, a blazer or sweater over looks amazing!)
4. Wear a great bra as a top (again, partially covered if needed)

There is so much room of personalization and layers with lingerie dressing, it’s hard to go wrong. I personally love the vintage looks (and yes, often pair them with sweaters of jackets to give just a peep!). There are ways to show as little or much as you like! Do you lingerie dress? Would you?

I would love to hear about it!

I’ve linked some of my favorite lingerie items to wear out below! Happy lingerie dressing!
Xo RA

Note: this post does contain affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!

Slip into Something More Comfortable

Investment Piece:Slip into something more comfortable
Investment Piece: slip into something more comfortable

The phrase “slip into something more comfortable” can mean oh so many things. It’s no secret that I’m a fan of PJ dressing (see here, here, and here. So I tend to take the phrase “slip into something more comfortable” a little literally. As in, why not slip into your pjs? Or, more specifically, wear your pjs out?

Leather and lace are a classic combo (another thing I love? Juxatipositons!) so the thought to wear a vintage slip over leather leggings was a natural for me. (Side note: I love vintage slips: they make great dresses, tops, and are perfect under sweaters.) Leather leggings? Your life will change when you start wearing them like jeans (and bonus: they can dress anything up). Together? A little tough, a little sweet, a little perfect.

I love looks like this for date night (the kind where you go out or stay in), any sort of night on the town, or happy hours when you really want to be on the couch.

Care to slip into something more comfortable? I’ve linked shopping options for you below!

Xo RA

Note: this post does contain affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for the support!

Shop: here
And:

Wildness

Investment Piece: Wildness

The stories that you can tell with a graphic tee? Endless. Maybe you make a stand, are cheeky-er than you can be with your mouth, showcase your wit and humor, or maybe it’s just something you love. I adore pairing graphic tees with anything and everything for these very reasons.
Graphic tees let you show off your wildness, and to me, that’s beautiful.
This graphic tee? Just letting you know how much I love dinosaurs (like a 5yo), and that maybe there’s a little wildness in me.

A story I love to tell with my fashion?
Traditional (or classic) with something a little wild. Classic pants with a graphic tee. To me, it says that I’m a little bit old school and a little wild. (And maybe a bit funny!)
What story does that outfit say to you?

I’ve linked similar items for your shopping and story telling pleasure!
Xo RA

Note: this post does contain affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!

Wildness in Shopping
Or shop these pieces:

#Blazer

Investment Piece: #Blazer

There is something I love about the stories that suits and Blazers tell. I’ve always felt that a great blazer lets the world know that you’re in control, chic, powerful, and a boss. Do I work at a place where I have to wear a blazer or suit? No. But I still love them. And still firmly believe that they are a fashion investment that you should make.

And Blazers? Blazers can be such a source of creativity in your closet.
Cold? Blazer
Need a pop of color? Blazer
Need to feel in control? Blazer
Pull things together? Blazer

And if you don’t “have” to wear a blazer, you can get interesting. I personally feel that even if you “have” to wear a blazer that you can show personality with a color or print. (This snake number? It’s in).
One of my favorite ways to wear a blazer?
As a top

Yes, I love the look of nothing underneath your blazer–which is perfect for cocktail parties. But a blazer as a top? Next level.
My tips: do this with slim cut Blazers, balance them out with your bottom, and most importantly, have fun. Let your blazer as a top tell a story of someone who is so confident that she doesn’t have to play by the rules.

I would love to know: what kind of stories do Blazers tell for you? Do you wear Blazers as shirts? Would you dare?

I’ve linked pieces I love below for your story telling pleasure!
XO RA

Note: This post does contain affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!

Decisions, Decisions

Investment Piece: Decisions, Decisions

At the end of the day I like to think we have more in common than we think. There are days that I spend in sweats (or some version of yoga pants). Times when it feels like I have NOTHING to wear, times when I want to start over in my closet. And times when I don’t know what shoes to wear with an outfit.

When it comes to shoes, there are two “traditional” schools of thought:

*Always wear shoes at least a shade darker than the hem of your clothes

*Use shoes as a pop of color

But what if neither of those and both of those sound good? What if there are so many options that look good that you’re not 100% sure what to do?

Sometimes it comes down to decisions, decisions.

Investment Piece: Decisions, decisions

I’ve always loved this vintage wool number; and, lucky me–I have shoes that match all of those pops of color. Or I could always wear black pumps (I have a few of those too!). So, why these turquoise stunners? No real reason. I felt that they popped the best (and loved the contrast with the tights).

Decisions, decisions. Sometimes there is no wrong one. My take? Wear the shoes that you like the best with your outfit. Sounds too easy? Maybe. But it’s a sure fire way to make sure that you love what you’re wearing and I can think of no better decision.

Investment Piece: Decisions, decisions

I’ve linked similar decisions for you to make below!

(Also–love this dress? It’s in my “get rid of” pile in my closet cleaning. If it’s an addition to your collection you’d like to make, email me and let’s get it to you!)

XO RA

Note: this post does contain affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!