Style Update! #2

So I've worn this outfit (and variants of it) a few times. I'm kind of in love with it. I've worn it to interview, to lunch with girlfriends and to dinner with family. I'm digging shorts with tights for the cool weather Portland is still getting, while the combo still breaths enough to be comfortable when (or if!) the sun comes out.

Let's go over this briefly from top to bottom.

Sunglasses - Nine West - $45
You know me and my sales. I got these on a mega sale at Nordstrom Rack for less than $10! Normally I don't even pick up aviators, but these are just TOO cute!

Blouse - Michael Kors - $79
Found this one at Nordstrom. I love ruffle details and the gold pinstripes running through it make it a classic business/business casual staple. It ties in really nicely with the jacket as well, I think. The lightweight fabric also makes it ideal for warmer weather when buttoned over a tank.

Blazer - Calvin Klein - $199
I dig blazers. Especially when they fit right! Given my short stature, I always shop petites. It means having to do MUCH less tailoring and sometimes none at all. This classic black blazer with white pinstripes will never go out of style and dresses up any look.

Belt - Thrifted - $0
Unlike most of my thrifted items, this one was a hand-me-down from my mum. Straight out of the 80s, though understated, it's a soft black leather with a brass-finish buckle and is about an inch thick. It was the perfect splash of black to balance out this outfit.

Shorts - Calvin Klein - $39
This are classic khaki/cream shorts with a pocketless booty. I find pockets in the rear can distract from an otherwise crisp look and I'm glad CK agrees with me on that note! Of course I've still got to have my front pockets. For ultimate comfort, these are finger-tip length. Don't you hate it when short shorts ride up? Add a couple of inches and never worry about that little issue again.

Purse - Coach - $399**
If there is anything you should never skimp on, it's bags. My collection is almost entirely Coach, since shopping with them guarantees quality, style and timelessness. I love me my Coach bags.

Tights - Target - $5
Target has the cutest tights. I went there one day and threw one of each style into my cart. As a result, I have never been in need of more interesting tights. These purple polka dot stockings are the perfect pop of color to my otherwise neutral palette.

Shoes - Style & Co. (thrifted) - $7
When shoe shopping, even if they're thrifted, you should look for real leather uppers. These will be most comfortable and will mold to your feet much better than anything fake. These were adorable and in one of my favorite styles--Victorian-granny. Hey, don't knock it until you try it.


**To view a full-sized picture of this week's style update outfit, including my bag and my outfit without the accessories, take a look at my chictopia blog here: http://chictopia.com/ellacouture/

So that's my style update of the week! I hope you guys enjoyed! Be sure to leave a comment below and bookmark my blog. I love hearing from my followers! Love you all!

Style Update

Here's an outfit I wore to a weekend barbecue and I liked it enough that I thought I'd share it with you guys.

Normally if you asked me "so what's thrifted?" I'd smile and point out five different vintage pieces. In this outfit, I went all-out modern and purchased just about everything you see here new.

Let's go over it head to toe.

Sunglasses - Kenneth Cole Reaction - $54
Picked these up at Ross for $15! They've been oh-so-useful and $15 was a great find.

Bangles - Various Shops - $15
Places like Claire's, Target, even the dollar store. I don't like to spend a lot on accessories. I'd rather have loads of different inexpensive ones (because trends are always changing) than two or three designer bracelets that won't be stylish two months from now anyway.

Scarf - Walmart - $5
I was on my way to an Alaskan cruise last fall when I thought to myself "uh... I didn't pack a scarf." We stopped by a Walmart on the way out of town. Lo and behold, they had cute ones. For $5. I wanted them all.

Jeans - Beau Black Skinnies - $49
Another Ross find. I love Ross. Picked these up at $15. I wear them constantly.

Shoes - Michael Kors Black Zippered Berkley Sandals - $149
Picked these up on major sale at Nordstrom Rack. Only paid $36 for them! I. AM. IN. LOVE. With these shoes.

I also paired this little rocker chic look with my classic thrifted leather jacket that I picked up for $25 and my favorite patent leather Coach tote in burgundy, but I left the two of those at the door pretty much right away.

This was a perfect outfit for the barbecue. The sweater was lightweight enough for spring and throwing the scarf on made me perfectly warm as the sun started to set.

I love skinny jeans with sandals, so these shoes worked out perfectly, and gave me that rocker chic edge I love so much. I was warm, comfortable and had loads of fun well into the night!

So that was your style update of the week. Let me know what you thought by commenting on this post. I should have another style update for you next Thursday and some awesome posts in the meantime!

Take care!

How to Turn Blah Into Bam!

We all have our off days. Even style icons with racks of clothes wake up some mornings thinking "absolutely nothing looks good on me". What do we do with those off days? Default to jeans and a tee? Here is a great way to turn lazy into casual chic.





Change up the flare of your jean. If you normally grab a pair of straight legs, try reaching for your skinnies, or vice versa. If you're a devoted skinny fan, try simply rolling them up a little higher than normal, or unrolling them if you normally wear them cuffed. Changing up little things like this put a little pep in your step whether you realize it right away or not.





Try different necklines. We all have a couple crew-necks that we use for the gym or as pajamas. It can be really tempting to use these on off days. Instead, why not change up your neckline? Try a scoop or a v-neck for summer and a cowl or turtle neck for winter.

Don't be afraid to add a splash of color to your life, either! Instead of resorting to white or black, go for a bright-colored tee. Even something in more conservative colors like navy will still add a little bright spot to your day.




Add some outerwear! Layering screams "I put effort into this!" even if you didn't! Grab your favorite blazer, or a cute summer vest to punch up lazy-day basics. Plus any time you pair slouchy jersey-knits with structured pieces like jackets, the contrast amps up your casual cute look that much more.









Accessorize! Accessorizing is a girl's best friend, but can be difficult on off days. Try grabbing your favorite pair of sunglasses or a loose scarf, depending on the weather. Rock a simple belt with a tucked shirt. Stick to a bold earring, a big necklace or a chunky bangle, but keep it to one piece. If your accessories take longer than five minutes to pick out and put on, take some off.





Mix and match any of these suggestions and your next sick day will be that much more chic!

TRANSFORMATION

A woman walks down the street. Her heels are high and her head is held even higher. It's not her body that turns heads, but her look.

Whether you're the onlooker or you already are that woman, I want to welcome you to my new style blog. It's my job to print the tips and tricks that have transformed my style and my life.

A little about me, I was once that nerdy kid in class that everybody liked to pick on. I pushed my peers away and didn't care at all what others thought about me.

One day, as I was minding my own business, one of the popular boys sat next to me and struck a conversation. At first, I was on guard. Naturally, I thought it was some kind of trick, but after a few minutes I realized he was genuinely interested in what I had to say.

Through that conversation, he pointed out that people were missing out on getting to know me based on what I put on my body and the impression that gave off. He shattered my (stupid) idea that anyone worth getting to know wore black too and that anyone who put effort into their appearance was unintelligent and vain.

I thought to myself "You know, if there are more people as nice as he is who are intimidated by what I wear, I'm missing out on getting to know them, too." I decided that day to change.

My transformation was not instant, but it was completely life-changing. I am a wildly different person today because of that one boy who proved to me that other people were worth getting to know, because on my quest to make lasting friendships with genuine people, I reevaluated the image I was giving off.

I started keeping up my appearance, wearing makeup more often, mixing more color into my everyday outfits. I asked for a straightener for my birthday that year and began doing my hair for the first time.

It wasn't too long before I saw some results. I made more friends, I smiled and laughed more, people started asking me for fashion tips, and that may have been the best feeling of all. I absolutely love sharing my knowledge with my friends. Giving hair and makeup lessons and being a personal shopper became my new favorite hobbies.

So if you are already a style diva, looking for a little extra fashion nourishment in your day, I'm glad to have you! You'll find lots of tips and tricks that will keep your style fresh.

And if you're like I once was and you're just starting your style journey, I'm just as charmed to have you along for the ride. It would mean the world to me to know you found inspiration here.