Culottes - wear them Like a Fashion Pro

Culottes - wear them Like a Fashion Pro

If you love the midi skirt trend, here’s an alternative! Culottes have made it back to the future and i'm loving how they have been modernized. They’re comfortable, versatile, and somehow make lady-like feel edgy. In many ways, they achieve what jumpsuits or rompers do by mimicking a dress or skirt with all the practicality of a pant.

As one can imagine, there are numerous ways in styling this look; ranging from super casual to chic to smart casual, and so I recommend letting your imaginations run wild! Not sure where to start? These basic guidelines below should help!

When shopping for culottes, keep these tips in mind:

• They are generally high-waisted, so they should fit snugly around the waist to really accentuate it
• Buy your first couple of pairs in classic colours that will pair with most of what you have in your closet
• Go for a clean, simple style that’s not too voluminous at first—so you can get used to the look
• If you’re bothered by the length, add a heel then look again
• Pair with a fitted top that is comfortable and hits the waistband so you balance out the look and show off your assets

Still a little wary? Need some help envisioning how you’ll wear your new culottes? We’ve got you covered.

1.   Think of them as you would an A-line skirt when going about styling them (tucking in a    blouse, for example, or choosing a high-waist pair and adding a crop top), and stick to basic colours like black, navy, and off-white to get yourself started. Before you know it, you’ll be living in culottes and experimenting with fun prints and colours, but this is the best way to start.

2.  midcalf is the best place for your culottes to fall on your legs.  Which will give the appearance of wearing a fun swingy skirt. If you’re on the petite side, opt for a pair that falls right below the knee, and tailor them if you need to.

3.  Arguably the whole point of culottes is getting to show off your shoes. Sleek ladylike options (you really can’t go wrong with a pair of pointy toe pumps with a slim heel) work best, and will instantly elongate your shape. For advanced culottes wearers, think of the pants as your carte blanche to go to town with more daring options like a thick-heeled platform or fun booties.

4.  Culottes are most definitely not just a summer staple.  Wear them with stalking peeking out, a blazer and a scarf for those slightly chilly days, or even with boots, which will give the illusion that you are wearing a continuous pair of pants.

MY MUST HAVES

Whether wide, cropped, or ankle length —there is a culotte out there for every taste. Shop my picks for the chicest culottes to try this season.

1.  Spree Culottes Cobalt STYLE REPUBLIC R365

2.  Spree Printed Culotte Neutral STYLE REPUBLIC R335

3.  WOOLWORTHS Culotte Trousers R 399.00  

4.  MR P OAKRIDGE culotte R119.99

STREET STYLE INSPIRATION:

Scroll through for great ways to wear your culottes.

I’d love to know how you like to wear your culottes or if you have any questions, so feel free to leave a comment below.

Trend Report: Statement Necklace

Trend Report: Statement Necklace

The Power of The Statement Necklace.  Statement necklaces were huge throughout spring and summer, but they haven't lost any momentum heading into fall/winter. The bold neon and soft pastels hues that caught our eye during the warmer months have transitioned to bold jewel tones, sparkling crystals, and elegant tortoiseshell. 

Whether you're wearing a crisp collared shirt or a chunky cable knit sweater, add a statement necklace to your ensemble to create a fierce fall fashion look.  Brighten up your neckline with a fun bejeweled necklace

• This standout piece looks best when styled with a simple outfit. Styling your go-to little black dress with various statement necklaces is a fabulous way to add a trendy twist to an old classic.
• Keep the rest of your jewelry simple, especially your earrings. You don’t want to look like a little girl who overindulged in her mom’s jewelry box. By keeping your jewelry simple, you are letting the statement pieces speak for themselves.
• If you have a larger bust, it is important to opt for shorter necklaces that don’t lie directly on your chest.
• When choosing a bright coloured necklace, think of the colours that you wear the most frequently and purchase a necklace that will compliment your existing wardrobe.
• Store your oversized necklaces on hangers, to keep them from tangling, bending or breaking. This will keep your necklaces from sliding and clumping together.
• A statement necklace is most versatile in metal.  Gold or silver, or both, it doesn’t matter.  What does matter is that it is interesting while being versatile.   While you can have statement necklaces in colours,  having one that is gold or silver, depending on preference, will get you the most mileage because it will match everything you wear while adding a pop.

While a piece so distinct can seem constrictive, it’s actually super versatile! It adds glamour to an otherwise boring work ensemble and dresses up casual Friday’s t-shirt & jeans. We love how much a statement necklace can change your look… and the fact that it really will go with everything. Will you be making a statement in 2014?

how do you wear your statement necklaces, are they a wardrobe staple for you and how many different outfits do you manage to wear them with? tell us by leaving a comment.

Building A Capsule Wardrobe: The Little Black Dress

Building A Capsule Wardrobe: The Little Black Dress

"When a little black dress is right, there is nothing to wear in it's place." -Edith Piaf

During the 1920s Chanel created a little black dress which popularized black dresses for women. After her lover Boy Capel died in 1919, Chanel wore and made black dresses inspired by the women in mourning she had seen in the French villages as a child. In 1929 Vogue printed an image of one of Chanel's black dresses in their article on Parisian Fashion. Implying the popularity and instant long term appeal of the 'LBD', Vogue dubbed the dress 'the Chanel Ford', linking it with the popularity of Henry Ford's Model-T motor cars. 

Ford was known to have said "any customer can have a car painted in any colour that he wants so long as it is black". 

Practical, flattering and sophisticated, the little black dress could carry women from the afternoon through the popular cocktail hours. Made from crepe de chine, the 'Chanel Ford' dress featured a slashed neckline, a bodice that bloused slightly at the front and sides, a tight bolero at the back and diagonal pin-tucks across the front. It was simple, elegant and very in keeping with the modern way of life. Over time the dress grew to become a staple in the wardrobe, as women heeded Chanel's advice. 

"One is never over nor under dressed in a little black dress."

In 1961 the world went a little mad for the wardrobe of Holly Golightly, elegantly portrayed by Audrey Hepburn, dressed in Givenchy for Breakfast At Tiffany's. Personally this one is my favorite. Adopted each generation in a different way, the little black dress is synonymous as the essential item in a women's wardrobe. Today it can take you across any occasion, it can be styled simply or paired with accessories. I love that a black dress offers a reliable outfit in my wardrobe that I can turn to knowing I will have something to wear, no matter the occasion. Somehow, even wearing the same one again and again, (something a little taboo of a printed or coloured dress) is not an issue. Should you choose to wear a little black dress again and again, it is simple attributed that you have 'style', are 'classic' and elegant. 



Cue The LBD. New to Australia, The LBD is a manufacturer and online retail boutique with a unique concept certain to revolutionize how women source and select their perfect LBD. Finding the perfect LBD until now, could prove to be a challenge. Fit, price, availability and seasonal collection changes all conspire together to make it a challenge to find the right one for each woman. Over the past 12 months, the design team at The LBD have been crafting the capsule collection, built around classic, timeless designs to create a versatile foundation wardrobe. Each LBD is available in styles to enhance the individual customer's assets. These days the average Australian adult female is an average size 14, but the LBD designed to suit body shapes rather than label sizes. Adapting necklines, sleeve and skirt styles and hemlines, there is a whole range of silhouettes to choose from, each dress is made of trans seasonal high quality fabric for year round wear. The site also features a unique Dress My Shape Guide complete with a shape guide and calculator. Each dress has been sized against its counterpart, meaning the sizes remain the same no matter which style of dress you choose. I personally find the unstandardized clothing sizing system in Australia to be extremely frustrating. I am a size 8, no a 6, no a 10... or all three, depending on a garment or brand. Not with The LBD! I calculated my size, and it fit perfectly.   

I will share my outfit post in the dress I chose in the coming days, (below is one of my styling boards I have made up featuring it) but in the mean time, I thought I would share a link to The LBD so you can check it out. I can not stress enough how useful a little black dress is in building your capsule wardrobe! 

If you have missed any of the 'Building A Capsule Wardrobe' series, check out the previous posts here. 

I will be bringing you more of this sort of post in coming weeks, so stay tuned, and please share any comments or ask any questions below. 

Happy Capsule creating! 

xx Jenelle

Facebook / Twitter

Tumblr / Pinterest

Instagram @jenellewitty

Building A Capsule Wardrobe: Pants and Shorts

Building A Capsule Wardrobe: Pants and Shorts

Let's get it straight, pants, are the greatest freedom. Pioneering for women to wear pants was one of the greatest things women like Gabrielle Chanel ever did. Now, I love dresses, skirts and feeling feminine, but I like to do this with a touch of manliness. The juxtaposition between male/ female is the perfect spot to reside in for me. Comfort, is a major factor for me when it comes to getting dressed, women who kill themselves to fit into something uncomfortable for days on end make me frustrated. A lot of primping and product application can be fun, but everyday it is just tiring. I am not a fan of lots of hairspray, product, etc. I do love to dress up and feel beautiful, but I do not like to sacrifice my sanity and comfort to achieve this. In the world of fashion, I often feel perplexed watching what I dub as 'overdressed' women. Posing in platform neon heels, a bikini and bangles for photos is confusing. Wearing heels on grass, is confusing. If you are going to an event like the races, or a picnic, please do not wear heels! I feel at odds with myself the second I step on to unsturdy ground in a heel- even if this is for a moment. I find flatform shoes confusing, they are just so unattractive! The list goes on, but at the end of the day, to each their own.

I wear jeans, a lot. For a while, when I had gone through a super girly phase, jeans really bothered me. I hated seeing them on everybody- all looking the same. The thing is though, it is comfortable, often warmer, and you CAN personalize your style even if you are simply 'in jeans'. These days they are also widely worn in dressier circumstances, with a good pump heel, or ankle boot they can elongate the legs and look amazing. Find a good brand and stick to it. For me I love Rag and Bone, J-Brand (they are worth the $$ because the fit it is incredible), Sass and Bide, Dr.Denim and One Teaspoon. 

I do prefer to wear trousers or jeans as an everyday thing- rather than when going out for dinner, to a show or the like. For occasional wear I will switch back to a skirt or dress. Don't underestimate how valuable a well tailored black trouser can be, they will come in handy, are great for the office or official business and work in summer or winter. I ensure I have a matching black blazer, just in case I want to suit up.

For years I thought shorts were for men in summer, for Mickey Mouse and for children. I didn't see that they had much of a place in a womens wardrobe. It took me a while to see how I could feel like they were appropriate and found a place in my own day-to-day. Now I wear them all summer, and consider them to be a staple- again, in my day-to day, I leave shorter shorts out of the office and prefer not to wear them out to an event or dinner. They certainly can be worn in dressier ways- when tailored correctly, I feel they can look rather nice. The trick is to get the proportions right. A short short with an exposing cami top feels to me like I am showing too much skin. A cami top and longer shorts, is a little better, but best suited to culottes. Shorter shorts I feel team up best with a shirt or tee which has full or 3/4 length sleeves. When it comes to buying denim shorts I tend to go up one or two sizes, so they are looser around the thigh area. It is more flattering that way, and gives you plenty of room to move. I don't mind the torn hems, as long as the overall short covers your butt (ensure you bend down when you try them on- just to check you actually can without exposing cheek!) and I tend to stay away from embellishment, at least when building the essential capsule wardrobe.

Here is the breakdown of my 'Must Have Pants and Shorts For Any Woman':
- 1x Dark Denim jeans (skinny, fitted or flared- to suit your own body shape best)
- 1x Blue, Khaki, Bone, White or Oxblood coloured jean (again to suit your own body shape)
- 1x Torn 'Boyfriend' jean (I love the One Teaspoon Awesome Baggies, buy in a size or two larger)
- 1x Black linen long shorts- around knee length, slightly wide in the leg
- 1x Black tailored dress trousers for occasional wear and office wear
- 1x Black jeans (again, in a cut to suit your body shape)
- 1x Light Grey suit-shorts, can be short or longer, wear with an elegant flat or kitten heel for a dressier look
- 1x light washed denim or black denim cut off shorts (long enough to house your butt and worn tastefully!)
- 1x White leather shorts (or black- you would wear both, but start with one)
- 1x Black Leather Shorts (I wear mine too much!)
- 1x Culottes (not pictured) midi length, wear with cropped tops or blouses

If you have missed any of the 'Building A Capsule Wardrobe' series, check out the previous posts here. 

I will be bringing you more of this sort of post in coming weeks, so stay tuned, and please share any comments or ask any questions below. 

Happy Capsule creating! 

xx Jenelle

Facebook / Twitter

Tumblr / Pinterest

Instagram @jenellewitty

Figure Skating Costume Minute--Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia 2012--Pairs

Figure Skating Costume Minute--Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia 2012--Pairs

The Pairs--Some Fab, Some Blah...Some 80s...Some 90s...and Much More:

Top Pairs: (left to right) Silver Medalists from Russia Vera Bazarova and Yuri Larionov, Gold Medalists from
Russia Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov, and Bronze Medalists from USA
Caydee Denney and John Coughlin, ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia 2012, Megasport Sports
Center Moscow, Russia

Continuing with my Costume Recaps of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia 2012, I've discussed the MEN and then the LADIES and now, it's time for the PAIRS. Some of these costumes I have already talked about in my Skate America, Skate Canada and Cup of China blog postings but I'll still give you a quick recap of what I said of these 2012-2013 Season costumes...

Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia: Once again, these two won the Gold Medal for Pairs (they won the Gold at Skate America 2012) and in my Skate America 2012 posting, I discussed both their Short and Free Skate costumes. For their Short Program, they skated to "Love Theme from The Godfather" (top) and for their Free Skate, they skated to "Violin Muse, Partita for Violin No. 2 and Chaconne" (below
photo). Their Free Skate costumes were far more interesting. Although I
did like her Short Program deep violet halter costume with neck chains.

Illusion-less? Tatiana Volosozhar at Rostelecom Cup 2012

I also thought that her high-low dress was especially interesting because if I am not mistaken her back features little or no illusion and instead is held by a very strong elastic nude strap. I will discuss the Illusion vs. No Illusion Dilemma in Figure Skating Costumes on another posting soon!

I liked their Free Skate costumes. I felt they were much more ethereal,
exploratory--costume-wise--than their Short Program. His was especially ultra feminine. PS: it bears repeating that Maxim is a MAJOR Hottie McHottie. Seriously. Can someone tell me how you say that in Russian??

Caydee Denney and John Coughlin of USA: I also commented on Denney and Coughlin's costumes in my Skate America 2012 post HERE. Essentially, I liked both of their Short and Free Skate costumes, even though they were a bit "old school" in terms of styling, silhouettes. Nothing really modern or directional about them, but still OK. For their Short Program though, they made a slight change. Previously his costume was solid black and a SOLID bore, but....they decided to spice it up a bit and add some sequin applique across his chest. I LOVE how some of her sequins "spilled" onto his blouse-y top.Great update!

For their Free Skate, they skated to "Phantom of the Opera". Very old-school figure skating pairs costumes for sure. Safe, cute...and very "American". PS Part 2: John is another Hottie McHottie. Sorry, but...just had to add that.



Speaking of Safe...

Tiffany Vise and Don Baldwin of USA: Vise and Baldwin skated their Short Program to "Open Arms" ( the famous Journey song) by Piano Classic Players. I really love these two skaters and think they are a beatiful pair to watch. However, I am beyond bored by these costumes. This is past the point of SAFE. Her halter-neck tie-dye costume is so uninspiring. the fabric looks like it came from the End-of-the-Year fabric sale at JoAnn's. The only saving grace are the little bits of crystals but even those look like a ten year old glued them on. And handsome Don. A tuxedo. How original. Not.

Now, I know that the Journey song they skated to is a staple of weddings, especially 1980s weddings...and proms...and Jr. proms...but does that mean they need to look as if it's Last Call at someone's wedding in 1981? I guess, that's probably what they were going for, but my suggestion is to take it even further...more campy, more 80s...just Go For It!



Now, moving on to the next decade: the 90s

Nicole Della Monica (R) and Matteo Guarise of Italy: Mamma Mia Rock-and-Roll! They skated to the early 90's power ballad "Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica.

Maybe I need to retract my above comment about going "campy", because these two did and it did not work AT ALL!  Here shiny black spandex tights mixed with a checked 90's leotard is just not working. Add in his vest and T-Shirt combo and it is a bad night at the Italian Disco all the way around.

Vera Bazarova and Yuri Larionov of Russia: For their Free Skate to Music from the Spartacus soundtrack by Aram Khatchaturian. I thought these costumes were FABULOUS! They were both on-point with the movie reference yet still had "fashion" elements--such as the arm straps, gold and maroon colors and detailing. They somehow combined both the "old" Spartacus:

 Kirk Douglas in "Spartacus" (criss-cross leather harness)

As well as the New:

Australian actor Liam McIntyre of "Spartacus: Vengeance"...although, a little part of me wishes that they (OK, maybe Yuri) did more of the "new"

Paige Lawrence and Rudi Swiegers of Canada: For their Short Program to "Robin and Marian" , the music to the 1976 romantic adventure period film based on the legend of Robin Hood (of course) starring...

Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn (above)--Lawrence and Swiegers' costumes were a let-down for sure. I wish there was a little more "Period Costume" to them. She looked very "Jr. Skater 2002" and he, was (at least) slightly closer to the music and theme. I LOVED the colors of Paige's costume but the design needs to look a little more "Period Couture". There two costumes were very disjointed and seemed to not be harmonious.



I'll end on Pairs Costume Fab:

Anastasia Martiusheva and Alexei Rogonov of Russia: For their Short Program to "Cornish Rhapsody" by Hubert Bath, they wore these colorful and very "Broadway Dinner Theater Meets Carnival Cruise Figure Skating Show"-like costumes. And I loved it! Anastasia's red and silver sequined costume was very "I'm a Baton Twirler in a James Bond Film" and Alexei looked liked the STAR in the Russian version of "A Chorus Line". Very campy...but I love it! Those two things made me give them a "Nick V. Pairs Costume Star"!



*** Up Next--the final Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia 2012 Costume Recap--The Ice Dancers!