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This site is for those who wear pajamas outdoors.
Rachel Zoe Outtakes From Funny or Die
We can only hope that Amy Phillips creates more of her spot-on Rachel Zoe impressions for Funny or Die. It’s so hard to pick a favorite line, but I am leaning towards her whole Gwyneth Paltrow schtick or “I thought it was that bird again.”
Video via BravoFan
I have my 15 year high school class reunion coming up in September and am looking for a sexy but classy outfit or dress to wear.
The event is a private catered dinner at a local restaurant and then afterwords some are going to a local bar for drinks. Its not formal by any means but I want an outfit that shows that I’ve still got it after 15 years and 3 kids later lol.
Do you have any budget friendly suggestions?
Thanks,
Amanda H., Illinois
Dear Amanda,
Ticket to high school reunion? $75. Cash bar? $40. Still having it after 3 kids? Totally priceless!
Ordinarily I favor over-dressing above under-dressing, but the high school reunion presents a very particular pickle: you want to look amazing, but not like you’re trying too hard, and certainly not like you’re either a) a frumpy oldster, or b) someone who is still clinging to their youth by dressing like a 16 year old.
The goal is to look subtly (almost accidentally) hot, and the key is picking the right dress. Depending on the degree of formality of the dress you ultimately choose, you can either downplay it by keeping the accessories to a minimum, or, if it’s on the more casual end of the spectrum, you can dress it up with some well-chosen jewelry.
I’ve put together a few potential dresses to start the reunion ball rolling (editor’s note: Amanda mentioned in a subsequent email that she tended to like greens and blues, ombre, halters, and single-shouldered pieces). I think the decision to avoid the LBDs is a wise one, and I’m personally also a big fan of the one-shoulder silhouette. Most of the dresses I picked are well under $200, but I did throw a couple spendy ones in that I thought were worth including.
My personal favorites are the French Connection, Laila Azhar, High Tide, and Forever 21 dresses. Since the accessorizing is so contingent on what dress you ultimately select, please let me know if I can be of further help once you’ve chosen the foundation of your ensemble.
Most importantly, have a fabulous time at your reunion!
Blues and Greens
Nu Collective’s Drape Dress, $82.50 (originally $165)
French Connection’s Cara Dress, $69.99 (originally $98)
Black Halo’s Jackie O Dress, $345
BCBG’s Pleated Jersey Bubble Dress, $168 (originally $280)
Nicole Miller’s Shutter Pleated Dress, $312 (originally $520)
One-Shouldered
T-Bags’ One Shoulder Dress, $129.50 (originally $185)
Jessica McClintock’s One Shoulder Cocktail Dress, $138
A Common Thread’s One Shoulder Dress with Tie Waist, $214.20 (originally $306)
Laila Azhar’s One Shoulder Twist Dress, $381
High Tide Dress, $74.99
Prints
Curtsey’s Leaf Print Jersey Dolman Sleeve Dress, $89 (originally $148)
T-Bags’ Printed One Shoulder Dress, $135.80 (originally $194)
Anna Sui’s Beaded Chevron Dress, $187.50 (originally $375)
T-Bags’ One-Shoulder Grecian Dress, $134 (originally $224)
Halters
BCBG’s Laser Cut Satin Halter Dress , $129.90 (originally $198)
Nicole Miller’s Cowl-Neck Halter Dress, $190
Ombre
My Tribe’s Ombre Knit Dress, $62 (originally $78)
Simply Vera by Vera Wang’s Dip-Dye Dress, $53.99 (originally $78)
Antonio Melani’s Mirabella Dress, $179
Cheap Chic Options
Charlotte Russe’s Satin Tulip Dress, $29.99
Forever 21’s Delilah One Shoulder Dress, $19.80
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Help! My boss’ wife has invited me to lunch at their country club. The majority of the dresses that I have are appropriate for dance clubs, not country clubs. I want to look presentable but I don’t want to splurge on a boring Sunday dress that I may never wear again.
Do you have any suggestions???
Thanks!
Lynne S., Sacramento, CA
Dear Lynne,
A country club lunch sounds so delightfully retro (or at least, delightfully pre-recession). On one hand, you could go the nouveau preppy route and Waldorf it out, but depending on your boss’ wife’s sense of irony, you may want to play it a bit safer.
Unless her country club has ultra-formal dress code rules, the good news is that as long as your dress hits the knees or thereabouts, you’re already off to a smashing start, and there’s virtually no semi-formal wardrobe emergency that a cardigan and nice jewelry can’t fix.
If you absolutely want to buy a new dress, there are plenty of cute and thrifty choices available at retailers like Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe, and you won’t have to feel guilty if you never wear it again. Mix in some higher end pieces from your closet, and no one will be the wiser.
I’ve put together four potential ensembles for you. As always, they are ultimately meant to provide some inspiration to incorporate into your pre-existing wardrobe.
Potential Outfit #1
Outfit #1 is centered on a colorblock dress that retails under $30, paired with accessories that you probably already have in your closet: a simple black shrug/cropped jacket to conceal the dress’ spaghetti straps, and neutral peep toes. A nice piece of statement jewelry (in this case, a chunky onyx and coral necklace), pulls together and elevates the overall look.
The Items
Potential Outfit #2
Outfit #2 goes the Jenny Humphrey/UES punky princess route, with the sweetness of the bow dress being offset by the slouchy dolman shrug and cage heels. Mabe pearl earrings and an antique cameo brooch tie the ensemble together, for an overall look of dressy with an edge. Much like Outfit #1, we start with a very affordable dress and just add to it.
The Items
Potential Outfit #3
Outfit #3 offers an alternative to the dress and heels route. Since the high-waisted full skirt and frilly blouse are so feminine, the accessories should remain more low-key. I opted for a sleek feather headband, stud earrings, and metallic flat sandals.
The Items
Potential Outfit #4
Outfit #4 is the least complicated ensemble of the bunch. But really, what says WASP more than a striped boatneck Tory Burch dress? Pyramid stud earrings and red cork heels add an appropriate amount of personality and contrast.
The Items
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I love all things Gwen Stefani, I love her music, but mostly her style. She has these gold stud earnings that she wears often in photos and they are on her L.A.M.B. website main picture. I love them because they are small and stylish but have a little bit of punk flair, my favorite style.
I have looked everywhere and searched the internet but have not been able to find ones that are similar. Can you help? You seem to have a great way of finding wonderful styles.
Thanks,
Allison C., San Francisco, CA
Dear Allison,
I have to agree with you: Gwen Stefani is one of the very few celebrities who has managed to successfully transition into fashion. L.A.M.B. has not only invoked Gwen’s enviable style, but transcended it. Remember these heels? And this jacket? And basically everything that she wears in this video? Drooooooooool. But I digress.
Gwen’s earrings in that photo are commonly referred to as pyramid studs, and they have a nice punky yet rich look (especially since they bring to mind Hermes’ Medor pieces, which are synonymous with the pyramid stud).
I am fairly certain that the particular earrings that Gwen is wearing are the work of Bing Bang/Anna Sheffield (she also does an amazing oversized version). Since it never hurts to have choices in fashion, I’ve also included a few other similar styles. Hopefully one of them is just what you’re looking for!
Bing Bang’s Vivienne Stud Earrings, $85
Bop Bijoux’s Pyramid Stud Earrings, $60
Urban Outfitters’ Pyramid Stud Earrings, $16
Lena Wald’s Small Spike Earrings, $242
Have a fashion emergency, or just looking for a helpful hint or two? Email Fashion Orbit’s Personal Stylist!
My niece is getting married this summer and has honored me with the request of being the officiant at her wedding. When I asked her what she would like me to wear for this important duty, she said that whatever I chose would be fine. Her only request was NOT GREEN (probably because she will be using a tomato red color for her bridesmaid dresses and flowers).
I purchased a champagne colored dress with lace at the hem that I really like for the occasion. It is a very neutral color and should match just about anything, but I’m wondering what exactly to do with it. Despite what my niece says, I want to make sure that I am appropriate for the wedding, and am a little concerned as the dress has spaghetti straps.
Oh, and one more piece of information…this is taking place in Ohio in July and it will be HOT!
Many thanks,
Deanna H., San Francisco, CA
Dear Deanna,
I’ve learned that in general, no matter how much you agonize over what to wear to someone’s wedding, there will always be someone a) more overdressed than you, b) more underdressed than you, and c) more inappropriately attired that you could ever conceive of being. That being said, you are in the unique situation of officiating over the wedding, and despite your niece’s laissez-faire approach, it is important that you are without a doubt suitably dressed for the occasion.
It sounds like you have a good neutral base for your outfit with your dress. I think it’s best to err on the side of conservatism in this particular situation, so given the spaghetti straps and the heat, I would strongly recommend donning a lightweight shrug or shawl over your dress.
I’ve put together three possible officiant ensembles for you. As always, they are ultimately meant to provide some inspiration to incorporate into your pre-existing wardrobe.
Potential Outfit #1
Outfit #1 is the most neutral of the ensembles. An ecru shrug corresponds to the dress easily (the shrug’s beaded texture makes it less necessary to match the color exactly). It would be nice to bring some of your niece’s wedding colors into your outfit, but unless you have an exact swatch of what she’s using, it would be difficult to match the color exactly. A skinny tomato red belt is small enough that it won’t draw attention if the color is slightly off, and it keeps this outfit from being too monochromatic. See if your niece’s florist can give you a flower to pin to your shrug or wear in your hair, and complete the look with neutral metallic sandals.
The Items
Potential Outfit #2
If Outfit #1 is too much of a vision in beige for you, consider bringing another neutral color in to mix things up. Outfit #2 features one of my favorite color combinations: grey and beige. Here a grey beaded shrug and gunmetal heels are matched to your ecru dress for a look that is rich yet muted. Vintage coral earrings match back to the wedding colors and add a little extra personality to the outfit without going overboard.
The Items
Potential Outfit #3
If you would like to go for a slightly less structured look, Outfit #3 uses a shawl in lieu of a fitted shrug. A loosely knitted (and not-too-oversized) shawl is draped over your shoulders and fastened with an oversized statement pin. Silver-toned earrings and sandals complete the look.
The Items
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I have recently started dating a very nice guy and we have been going on dates several times a week. My challenge is that during the weekdays I find it extremely taxing to rush out of work to go home and get ready for our dates. However, my work clothes are so boring that if I wear them to my dates I feel totally unattractive and therefore lack the confidence I need during my dates.
I was hoping you can give me some advice on ways to transition my work attire to date attire without a complete shower and change of clothes.
Thanks,
Tina M., Chicago, IL
Dear Tina,
Assembling an outfit for a date or for the office alone can be a chore, so it’s no surprise that finding an ensemble that satisfies both scenarios is especially daunting. Even outside of the date/office continuum, most of us want to have pieces that are versatile enough for various situations or levels of formality.
There are some easy quick tips (think the 80s movie librarian pulling off her glasses and shaking out her ponytail to suddenly become the dream girl). A fitted blazer or grandpa cardigan can make your after business hours outfit more work-appropriate; likewise, date night trinkets can be stashed in your purse during the day and added later to liven up your work gear.
I’ve put together three possible office-to-date-night ensembles for you. As always, they are ultimately meant to provide some inspiration to incorporate into your pre-existing wardrobe.
Potential Outfit #1
Outfit #1 is for those who want absolutely no wardrobe transition from work to play. The neckline and hem on the dress are both work-appropriate, but the ruffles lend it a flirty appeal. Similarly, the closed toe heels have side cutouts to prevent them from being dowdy. The cardigan can simply be removed once it comes to date time. I would add a favorite belt, buckled over both the cardigan and dress, as a finishing touch to tie the ensemble together.
The Items
Potential Outfit #2
Outfit #2 is a good example of the sexy librarian look. A fitted knee-length pencil skirt is paired with a scarf neck top (made less risque for work by adding a lightweight cami underneath). A statement ring and patterned heels, if both kept neutral enough, add business-appropriate personality to the look.
The Items
Potential Outfit #3
Outfit #3 is definitely the most happy hour oriented of the lot, and probably not an option for a super corporate environment. The key here is adding leggings so that the somewhat short dress functions more as a long tunic. I am a big fan of YFB leggings, as they are more like pants than tights (yet not bulky), but any heavier weight leggings should do. Come 5 PM, you can ditch the bottoms and add your layered necklace.
The Items
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I am a Graphic Designer looking for work and will soon be going on interviews. I want to be taken seriously but as a designer, I also want them to see a little bit of personality and creativity.
I have a black suit but it feels too stuffy and corporate, and a slew of unmatched dress pants and blazers. Is there anything I can do to spruce of a black suit or do you have any pant/blazer/blouse suggestions?
Thank you,
Lisa E., San Francisco, CA
Dear Lisa,
Picking the right outfit for a job interview is about as agonizing as picking an outfit for a first date: you want to look good, but you don’t want to look like you’re desperate and trying too hard. Interviewing in a creative industry, like graphic design, brings in a whole new level of difficulty. You may very well end up in a workplace in which tees and jeans are the norm, but under-dressing for an interview could give the impression that you don’t take the job seriously.
In general, when given the choice between under-dressing and over-dressing, I always err on the side of formality. The trick is to selectively show personality. If you have an interesting top, make sure that the paired jacket is relatively classic and plain. Unless it’s a super corporate environment, I would lay off the suit entirely, but the pieces can certainly be used separately.
Prints are somewhat of a slippery slope for interviews, but introducing some color into your ensemble is not. Darker, richer jewel tones like amethyst, dark teal, and emerald green can add a little sophisticated individuality. Of course, there are always certain absolutes, at least for the first interview: closed toed heels, skirts knee-length or longer, ixnay on the dangly jewelry, and no cleavage of any kind.
I’ve put together three potential interview looks for you. As you can tell, I am a huge fan of Chie Mihara shoes, but they are truly ideal for work-type situations - they are extremely comfortable, gorgeous but unique, and chunky enough to be taken seriously. All of the components in each outfit, however, can be altered according to your tastes and the contents of your closet. Hopefully these looks will provide a good jumping board to your winning interview outfit.
Potential Outfit #1
Remember Jerell’s winning outfit for the Working Girls challenge on Season 5 of Project Runway? I love the idea of substituting a cardigan for a blazer for a job interview. Of course, any old cardigan won’t do: a heavier weight (but not chunky) and finer quality cardigan is obviously preferable. I also think that an open cardigan (i.e. no buttons or ties) is best - buttons can be distracting, as well as a bit too casual.
This cardigan ensemble can be switched up in a number of ways. You could add a more neutral statement pin to the cardigan, or substitute a slightly bolder belt. If you opted for either, I would recommend changing the color of the top underneath the cardi to something a little more subdued.
The Items
Potential Outfit #2
Here the basic black blazer in your closet gets paired with less matchy matchy (but still interview appropriate) wool pants and a more chic ruffled top. The color palette of this outfit is very neutral, but special touches in the individual pieces keep it from being boring or typical. If you didn’t own a suit, the well-coordinated but not matching top and bottom pieces are a good way to go (two pieces made of different materials in the same color do not a suit make).
The main individuality factor of this outfit derives from the ruffled top, so if you wanted to change things around a little you could experiment with different shirts. A tie neck poplin top that buttons to the neck could be a cute alternative.
The Items
Potential Outfit #3
This outfit, which is missing the extra layer on top of the two others, could be construed as the most casual of the bunch. The blouse, however, is the most formal and “professional.”
I generally loathe the typical collared “work appropriate” blouses with the fire of a thousand burning suns, but this one breaks the mold with the ruffle details and more pronounced buttons (which subtly match back to the earrings). This top could also be substituted with a crisp, long-sleeved tuxedo-type top. Little splashes of color with the shoes and earrings add individual finishing touches.
The Items
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Item of the Day: L.A.M.B.’s Tawny Sequin Pumps
Regardless of the time of year, there are certain items that I refer to as “perfect birthday ____.” Perfect birthday dress, perfect birthday skirt, perfect birthday shoes. Perfect birthday items are always dreamy, generally flashy, sometimes out of character, and usually outside of the budget.
These L.A.M.B. Tawny Sequin Pumps, with their tarnished paillettes and sexy shape, are most definitely perfect birthday heels. Currently available at $399.
I really hope you can help me! I am getting married in less then 3 months, and I have not been able to find a pair of shoes for ‘the’ day.
I’m about 5’2”, and have found a wonderful dress that fits my frame. It’s a floor-length, off-white silk chiffon gown, with tonal satin stripes. It’s strapless and very airy and light looking (if that makes any sense). I was hoping to find shoes that would fit the style, but that also have a platform (a la Christian Louboutin), with a fairly high heel. I would love to find something for under $300 (otherwise I would go with Christian!).
Can’t wait to hear what you might find for me - I’m getting close to the cut-off date and getting nervous about not finding anything.
Thank you!
Julia P., San Francisco, CA
Dear Julia,
First of all, congratulations! Having gotten married myself last year, I completely feel your sole searching pain. Finding the right pair of wedding shoes is ridiculously difficult; unless you’re able to completely throw caution to the wind and eeny meeny miney mo it, even the most reasonable of brides can find herself obsessing over the most frivolous of details. Your eyes start to glaze over, all of the shoes start looking the same, yet none of them are what you’re looking for, and then you start questioning what you’re looking for in the first place. Don’t start thinking about the fact that your floor-length dress will more or less obscure your shoes no matter what, unless you want to spend the next week or so picking up pieces of your brain off the floor.
Imposing practicality on your selection helps the decision making process. I am personally biased towards non-bridal bridal shoes (no dye-to-match or cheesy rhinestones here, please), and neutral metallics. Matching your shoes exactly to your dress is sort of a hopeless and pointless endeavor, as is buying a pair of shoes that are so specific to your dress that any future use is ruled out. A neutral metallic – such as soft gold, antique silver, platino, etc – matches just about anything and is appropriate year round.
Given that you want to wear a high heel, I think your preference towards some sort of platform is a wise one, even if only for comfort’s sake. Since your wedding is in spring/summer, your dress is strapless, and by the sound of it, fairly ethereal looking, I think a dressy sandal would be your best bet.
I’ve found a number of shoes with good wedding potential, listed below and divided into various categories. The great news is that a lot of styles are on sale right now (yay, recession?). My personal favorites are the Claudio Merazzi dress sandals, the Badgley Mischka Marsilia peep toes, and the Pura Lopez Lana sandals, but ultimately you know best in terms of your own personal preferences, appropriateness with regards to your dress, and the general look and feel of your wedding.
A couple last pieces of advice that, like many sage bits of wisdom, originated from Martha Stewart. Make sure to wear your shoes of choice around the house to break them in at least several times prior to your wedding. If the bottoms are somewhat slick, take a piece of sandpaper to them to scuff them up a bit. Your feet will undoubtedly be hurting at least a little at the end no matter what you pick, so it’s good to do a little damage control beforehand.
Platforms
Stuart Weitzman’s Glo Hot Bird Platforms, $201 (originally $335).
Hale Bob’s Billie Heels, $109 (originally $136).
Betsey Johnson’s Deandra Heels, $225.
Demure Peep Toe Pumps
Stuart Weitzman’s Turban Pumps, $159.99 (originally $298).
Badgley Mischka’s Marsilia Peep Toe Pumps, $235 (originally $539.95).
Theory’s Mariel Pumps, $275.
Slingbacks
Delman’s Siana Sandals, $201.20 (originally $394.95).
Jinny Kim’s Cupid Pump, $216.
Straps Galore
Pour La Victoire’s Bethanie Sandal, $279.95 .
Michael Kors’ Wink Heels, $229.
D&G’s Gold Sandals, $245.63, (originally $399).
Channel the Inner Greek Goddess
Pura Lopez’s Lana Sandals, $179.85 (originally $359.70).
Pour La Victoire’s Ellie Sandals, $126 (originally $210).
The Rock N’ Roll Options
Strutt Couture’s Madelaine Pump, $338.41 (originally $594.95).
Claudio Merazzi’s Dress Sandal, $285 (originally $629.95).
Girlie Details
Linea Paolo’s Rachael Sandals, $139.95.
Sergio Rossi’s Bow Pumps, $273 (originally $539).
Have a fashion emergency, or just looking for a helpful hint or two? Email Fashion Orbit’s Personal Stylist!
Item of the Day: Farylrobin’s Wakiko Sandal
Perhaps it’s my old age speaking, but I consider a good pair of flat sandals (or 10) to be a wardrobe necessity. Of course, any old pair won’t do; sensible choices always require a degree of frivolity. These Farylrobin sandals, with their paneled diagonal upper, take the good work that Birkenstock started to fab new levels. Currently $198.
