Fashion Crush Friday

I'm having heart palpitations over this silk kimono blouse from Anthropologie.  I would rock the seams off this shirt in some dark rinse skinny jeans and cooler-than-they-ought-to-be black platform heels.  This would be my weekend hang out uniform.  

Tsuru Blouse at Anthropologie - $118.00

Skinny Leg Eva Jean at Express - $79.90

Mix No. 6 Allure Pump at DSW - $49.95

A.V. Max Gold Earrings at Bluefly - $42.00

How would you wear it?


Have a question? Need to know where to find clothes or accessories you’ve seen posted on the blog? Email me at wearing.it.out@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter - @SophiaHonora.

Weekend Inspiration

I love it when a plan comes together.  A couple of posts ago on a "Fashion Crush Friday," I posted pics of a denim Helmut Lang dress, Zara sandals, and a red leather Miu Miu tote (http://bit.ly/crushonit).  This look inspired me so much that I had to try and recreate it.  Also, since I'm not a multi-zillionaire like you, I had to pull this together on a budget (read: I couldn't buy the $900+ Miu Miu bag).  Sophia keeps some tricks up her sleeve, though.  I went to Kohl's and found this chambray dress with a raised waistline and surplice neckline:

Apt. 9 Surplice Chambray Dress - $36 at www.kohls.com

The pairings:

Sleeveless Cowlneck Shirt

Leather and Brass Waist Belt

And, the accessories:

Tan Leather Franco Sarto Sandals

Medium Louis Vuitton Neverfull

What do you think?  Did I pay appropriate homage to the inspiration outfit?

Fashion Inspiration - Raven-Symoné

Photo credit: ABC Family

Half of the fun of watching TV comes from admiring the stylists' skills at making the actors look fabulous.  Case in point: I've been watching "State of Georgia," the new Raven-Symoné sitcom on ABC Family, and I'm really impressed by Raven's/Georgia's outfits.  I love the amount of color she wears, and it's great that the stylists keep her looking young and fresh, but not like an overgrown teenager.  I've liked almost everything, sans that white pirate shirt from the first episode, which gave me a wicked "Seinfeld" flashback. 

Photo credit: ABC Family

Photo credit: ABC Family

Photo credit: ABC Family

Photo credit: ABC Family

Do you have a specific character or famous person who inspires your style?  Share with the group!

Question: What to Wear to Brunch with Future In-Laws?

Photo credit: e-how

Hi Sophia – I’m going to brunch with my fiance’s sister and mother on Saturday.   They’re very sweet (no in-law troubles there), but this is our first time spending a day together without the guys.  They tend to be more conservative dressers than me.  I’m worried that too much cleavage will derail the potentially pleasant morning.  We’re either going to Murphy’s or South City Kitchen, if that helps.  --- Décolletage in Decatur a.k.a. DD

Hi DD (love it!) – Thanks for the e-mail.  As a fellow “bosom buddy,” I understand your concern.  Goodness knows that you don’t want the girls to spill over onto your future mother-in-law’s omelette au fromage.  

First, I don’t think you can go wrong with a sleeveless satin top like the one pictured below.  We paired it with pants and jeweled heels here, but you can substitute a cute pencil skirt.

 

 

Second, if you want to wear a dress, I suggest a jersey dress like the adorable burnt orange one.  As you probably know, I love the peeptoes, so we’ve included them here.  The Coach clutch is a sleek accessory.

 

 

Here are a few more options.  

Anthropologie Tops

H&M Dresses

Banana Republic Options

Let us know how it goes! 

Sophia

Have a question?  Do you want suggestions on what to wear for a specific occasion?  Email me at wearing.it.out@gmail.com.

Downtown Triple Date

SETTING:  Hip downtown restaurant (two $ on Yelp.com)

DRINK:  French Kiss Cocktail

SCENT:  No. 6 Mandarin & Ginger Lily by Trish McEvoy

Last-minute plans with friends leads to dinner at a trendy downtown restaurant.  Since you’re the first to arrive, you sit with your boyfriend at the bar and talk heatedly about the NFL’s hopes for a resolution to the lockout.  When the remainder of your party arrives, you hop down from the barstool and teeter on your 5-inch platform cork stilettos.   Inspired by the Asian fusion food served at the restaurant, you strut in a flowy kimono top cinched at the waist with a black leather belt.  The dark blue skinny jeans play well against the tan silk of your stilettos.  As you settle into your seat for dinner, you notice the other patrons admiring your shoes.  Don’t you love it when an evening turns out so well?

More BBQ Wear

Thanks for sharing your suggestions for what to wear to this weekend's BBQs.  One of our Wear It Out models, AE, shows off in a cute cotton dress that is perfect for a breezy afternoon in the sun.  In case you haven't noticed, our ladies love to wear Coach bags and Nine West snakeskin sandals to a barbecue.

Will you wear a cute outfit this weekend?  Share with the group by sending a picture (JPEG or GIF) to me at wearing.it.out@gmail.com.  Ciao!

A Luminous Summer - Barbecues

SETTING: In-town patio at dusk
DRINK: Corona with lime
SCENT: Daisy by Marc Jacobs

You've received a midweek invitation to the summer's first barbecue, so you and your guy head out for a relaxed evening.  When you arrive, you hug the hostess and hand her the Valrhona chocolate cupcakes you've brought for dessert.  You mingle with the guests and discuss a wide range of topics - from Beyonce's "Run The World (Girls)" video to the likelihood of an NFL lockout.  While dressing your burger, another guest, who is wearing an adorable brown jersey dress, asks you about your Charles David platform wedges.  You show off the woven jute wedges and rave about this season's plethora of towering, yet comfortable, options. 

See below for our model's submission for what to wear to a barbecue.


Bootcut jeans
Crisp white cotton tunic



 

Leather platforms with woven jute bottoms
Multi-color canvas bag with wooden handles


  More BBQ options coming soon...ciao!

A Luminous Summer, Part 1

Shopbop's "Moment of Grace" Lookbook

A FEW TIMES PER YEAR, I select a different term that inspires my fashion spirit for that particular season.  Funny though it may sound, these terms help when I have to dress for particular events and occasions.  For example, in Autumn ‘08 I drew constant inspiration from Mommie Dearest and all things Joan Crawford.  I wore oodles of silky tops, high-waist pants and skirts, pearls, and neutral colors.  I wore Chance by Chanel. 

This summer is no different.  Over the past month, I've been drawn to golden makeup and radiant accessories.  So, I've decided that my Summer '11 will be luminous.  Shopbop (www.shopbop.com) gives us an interpretation in their “Moments of Grace” lookbook.

One of Wear It Out's models, DB, gives us her take on luminosity with this look for Sunday brunch with the girlfriends:

Notice the lace accents on the ivory blouse and the way that the copper bracelet pops against the espresso midi swing skirt. 

To be continued...

White Hot Summer

SETTING: Rooftop patio at sunset

DRINK: Gin & tonic with a lime twist

Striped Summer Scarf

SCENT: Honeysuckle

June in Atlanta - Midtown.  You're having drinks on your BFF's rooftop patio while overlooking the night's revelers on their pre-party stroll.  Commiseration with your BFF is interspersed with sips as you laugh about the latest episode of "Mob Wives."  As you head to the impromptu bar to freshen your drink, the soft smell of honeysuckle wafts by.  The same wind that carries that aroma ruffles the hem of your wide-leg pants.  A mix of cotton and linen, the pants are a shock of white - the perfect foundation for a summer uniform.  See below for some additional white hot options for your summer enjoyment. 

 

My "Cougar Town" Obsession

Recent Obsession

EVERY NOW AND THEN I BECOME enamoured with some amazingly gorgeous accessory.  And, I'm not the only one.  Our usual suspects are shoes and purses, but the object of desire can be a little more specific.  FYI: I recently disentangled myself from a 2-year Pashmina scarf relationship.   We still see each other, but not every day.

Enter, stage left, my current obsession: the "Cougar Town" necklace.  The first time I saw that delicate gold chain with those tiny gold discs on Courteney Cox, I felt the familiar warmth on my cheeks that only comes with the onset of a fevered accessory obsession.  I doggedly searched high and low for a knockoff (I think that Cox's version is in the 3-digit arena).  I was ready to call off the search party when, lo and behold, I found a few independent jewelry designers on Etsy (www.etsy.com) who were selling handmade versions.  I selected the 44-inch version from designer Bijouxbydesif's online store.   I'm currently focused on wearing only v-neck tops, so that I may properly display the necklace's delicate beauty.

*Bijouxbydesif also has a ridiculous amount of other obsession-worthy items.  If you find something you love, please share a pic with the Wear It Out galère.

Spring Tweed Jacket

 

Casual Elegance

WHEN I NEED INSPIRATION FOR AN OUTFIT, I'll surf through my favorite sites while drinking my morning coffee.  This tweed jacket ensemble from Ann Taylor (http://www.anntaylor.com/) immediately cured my normal Monday doldrums.  My interpretation:

• The tweed jacket that contained a blend of pale blue, caramel, and white
• Cuffed, white, wide-leg cotton pants
• White lace-trimmed spaghetti strap tank top over a pale blue sheer sleeveless top
• Finishers: "Cougar Town" gold disc necklace, multi-hoop gold earrings, yellow moc-croc peeptoe d'orsays pumps, a caramel colored leather bag, and oversized black sunglasses

When a friend told me that I was channeling Jackie O, a happy day was born!