I recently shared my favorite non-black winter coats for those of you who love color. Today I share more inspirational looks – check out these examples and vote below on your favorite!
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Style Inspiration: Bomber jackets
As a personal stylist in Seattle, I see the benefit of bomber jackets! Earlier in the week, I wrote a post about the trendy bomber jackets in this season. They may remind you of the 80s but I’m here today to show how they can worn in a variety of ways: professional, oversized, casual, contrast sleeves, or leather. Vote your favorite below!
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Trend Alert: Bomber jackets
The “it” jacket this year is the bomber. Bomber jackets hit at the waist or slightly shorter and have elasticized waists. They generally have zippers and elasticized sleeve cuffs as well. The collar can vary from moto style, crew neck w/band, funnel neck, or even folded over collars.
Here’s what you need to know about bombers:
1) Fabrics – Bombers come in a variety of fabrics. There’s something for everyone. Leather is typical, along with wool. We’re also seeing lightweight cotton and even silk!
2) Casual options – Bomber jackets are naturally associated with casual outfits. Easiest outfit is to throw on a pair of jeans, a t-shirt and a bomber and you’re ready to go. You can also wear them with skirts and dresses. The shorter, sometimes cropped length, makes them incredibly versatile.
3) Professional options – Because bombers are available in a variety of fabrics, including higher quality like silk, they can be worn to the office! This is an exciting alternative to the typical blazer. I love the look of bombers with pencil skirts – they add bulk and balance out the form-fitting pencil skirt. Slim leg pants or slouchy pants can look fabulous with bombers as well. And of course, they can worn over dresses too!
4) Modern bombers – Bombers are not a new concept but this time around there’s a different take on them. You’ll see many have contrast sleeves, quilted leather versions are also popping up everywhere, and baseball bomber jackets are popular as well. If you want to make sure you’re choosing a modern bomber, look for these touches.
My verdict: I already purchase an office-ready bomber for the Fall. I’m looking forward to wearing skirts and dress pants with it instead of reaching for my blazers! What about you? Will you be on the look-out for a bomber jacket this Fall?
Zip Picks: 4 modern H&M pants and shorts
In honor of H&M opening their US online store, I’m picking my current favorites in a series of posts. Check out my guide to shopping at H&M and H&M shoe picks.
Here are my current favorite H&M pants and shorts from the online selection:
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(L) H&M Boyfriend Jeans
At $39, here is your chance to try out boyfriend jeans. Love the light shade. (R) H&M Jean Shorts Offered in white, blue, black and grey flower pattern for $20. |
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(L) H&M Slouchy Pants
Slouchy pants are in – perfect for inverted triangles and pear shaped women. (R) H&M Dress Pants Simple, basic black pants with a slim leg. It’s surprisingly difficult to find dress pants that aren’t wide, these are worth checking out! |
Summer Office-Attire: Colorful pencil skirt
This is the third post in my Summer Office-wear series. Learn how to dress for the heat and still look professional! Check out the other posts: Summer office-attire shopping guide and Lightweight blazers.
Skirts are perfect for the office and the heat. I suggest having at least one colorful option for the Summer that you can easily mix and match with neutrals. You’ll want to choose a solid color or pattern that has staying power – one you will not tire of quickly!
Here’s how you can make the most of your colorful skirt at work:
1. Pair it with neutral colored tops: Most colors go with black, white or grey so you can easily pair your neutral dress shirts and work-appropriate sleeveless tops. All of the pencil skirts shown below can be worn with black, grey, or white tops (One exception: I wouldn’t pair the pink with black).
2. Wear with a black and white graphic top. If you want to add a pattern to the mix but you’re nervous about making sure it matches, stick to black and white. Check out these examples for inspiration:
3. Choose a quality fabric– It may be tempting to buy a cheap, thin jersey skirt so you’re comfortable and cool, but they tend to look less professional. Stick to sturdier, well-made woven skirts or thicker knits like ponte.
4. Choose length carefully – It almost goes without saying that you’ll want to choose a work-appropriate length. A general rule of thumb is to not go higher than 2 inches above your knee, but I find that shorter women can get away with shorter skirts because they have less skin exposed compared to taller women. You’ll also want to make sure you can sit down without feeling uncomfortable – skirts often ride up when sitting.
5. Wear it with a denim shirt – Denim shirts act as a neutral and go with most colors. If you choose a well-fitting, wrinkle-free shirt, you can wear it to the office. I love the look of denim collared shirt in a business casual environment as it’s a nice mix of casual and formal. However, if you work in a conservative office a denim shirt may be too casual. Love the blue with yellow options below:
Outside of work: After hours, you can get more wear out of your skirt by throwing on a t-shirt or tank top. It’s a quick way to make a pencil skirt look more casual and comfortable. Add a necklace and sandals and you have an easy Summer outfit.
For those of you with small closets or mostly neutral wardrobes, buying a colorful skirt may seem too bold but with the right choice it can be an incredibly versatile item – worn at the office and after work. Keep an eye out for one!