Punch Up Your Look with Leopard Accessories

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Meow.

I’ve had a couple people ask me if it’s okay to wear leopard now that fall has arrived…so let me set the record straight: Leopard is a constant in my book. I wear it all year.

That’s fine if you view it as more a cold weather print. But if you’re asking this gal – the gal who is typing this while sitting on a leopard run, wearing leopard slippers, leopard pajamas and a giant leopard bathrobe – the answer will be leopard all the time.

It’s okay if you don’t want to go all out (obviously I need to seek help for my addiction), there are little ways you can add it into your look thanks to Chico’s in West Town Mall!

All of the accessories pictured are the perfect way to punch up an outfit. Whether or not you stay away from prints – leopard is something that needs to be introduced into your outfit. If you don’t wear print – leopard works. If you do wear prints (most of the time) leopard works. The exception would be if you wear other animal prints more often – in which case you don’t want to look like a walking zoo. Florals, stripes – those are great prints to add a dash of leopard to!

Think of the print as a neutral since it is made of neutral colors.

Now let’s look at these accessories…

I’m a huge fan of Chico’s accessories. I think they have nice things that you don’t see very often every where else (I’m also in love with their jackets). The earrings in the picture…they’re REVERSIBLE. How cool is that?! That little dangley pendant can be turned around to show a side that’s all black. Talk about getting full use out of those!

The bracelet pictured is just like one I own that I’ve now almost worn down to the bone. It adds so much to a stack of bangles or even just next to a gold watch, and really takes a casual outfit up a notch.

One thing to keep in mind with the print, (and in my current cocoon of leopard I’m breaking this rule in every way) try not to double up. So with what is pictured, I would wear the earrings and the bracelet, but not the bracelet and the scarf, or the watch and the scarf together. In other words, pick one area on your body to wear the leopard and leave it at that. Even with the clutches – I would carry the clutch and wear just one of the other pieces pictured.

It’s meant to add a dash of visual interest, not the whole bottle.

But again, I kid you not – I’m typing this while cocooned in leopard so what do I know. Pick up any or all of these pieces at the Chico’s in West Town Mall!

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Fall Fashion Inspiration 2017

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Have they made sneaker boots yet?

At the start of every new season, I make a style inspiration board.

It’s especially important at this glorious season when I want to pile all the scarves, sweaters and boots on my person at one time – Joey style.

I put this board together and thought I would later go back and add more, but looking over it I feel as if it covers my lifestyle and plan for this coming season.

By the way, FALL, anytime you want to show up with cooler temperatures we’re good with that. ANYTIME.

I’ll share with you my thought process behind putting together this board, so that you can remember it when doing your own. And I say, “putting together” when it’s as easy as pinning stuff to a specified board on Pinterest.

With these pictures I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel – I want everything to be congruous with my style, just set expectations for how it will translate in Fall 2017.

Those casual shoes that are pictured in the first pic from the left? Those are a great example of what I’m talking about. If they were around in 2016, I didn’t give them any thought. Now I realize they’ll help me dress up my athleisure looks without losing the comfort of sneakers. It also feeds my never-ending thirst for casual shoes.

I like to cover every level of dress in these boards because it helps give me direction when shopping for any occasion and gives me ideas for what to wear regardless of where I’m going.

Much of what’s pictured I own.

Those black leggings in the bottom middle picture? I own that exact pair (and could wear them every day). That gives me an idea of how to use things I already own – which is winning in every way.

When you set out to make your board – and I highly recommend that you do – don’t feel as if you need to change what you like, or scrap what you own – keep both your style and your closet in mind and pin things you love. Pin what you want to see yourself looking like.

Imagery has a powerful effect, so pinning what you want to look like will help you as you get dressed throughout this glorious season.

Helping you navigate getting dressed – helping you navigate LIFE – TheSpiff.com

To see all the pins pictured, go to my Pinterest board – Spiffy Fall/Winter Clothes!

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How to Style Your Fall Family Pictures

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If you think that I’m exaggerating when I say, I squeal and dance a little bit every time I see a pumpkin or hear a fall reference, you are wrong.

In fact, “squeal” and “a little bit” are under exaggerations.

In the long list of delicious autumn-related things we get to breathe in, eat up, see, wear and do in the coming months, taking family fall pictures is one of them.

I want to help you style your fall family photo shoot my letting you in on my thought process as I put our look together.

Start with one piece.

Minimize the daunting feeling of making multiple people look good, by starting with just one thing. Sometimes it’s what I want Jackson to wear, or it’s something I want to wear.

Either way, having that one piece to build off of really helps lay the ground work for all of the looks.

For our Christmas card picture from last year, I wanted Jackson in that red jacket. So I built out from there – adding texture and pattern with mine and Dayton’s looks.

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Build so that your looks are like Lego’s – they interlock.

Notice in all of these pictures each of our outfits share an element the other one has.

Above – Jackson, Dayton and I all have an element of black and white (mine in the bracelet). Jackson also has a pop of color (which you can’t see on the tongue of his shoes) but it’s one that corresponds with my orange.

Below – Dayton has a chambray shirt that goes with the stripe in Jackson’s shirt. Jackson has on white which goes with my white. Dayton’s black shorts corresponds with my black stripes and Jackson’s khakis are a nice neutral addition that still flows while adding variation. (Bonus – his shoes are stripes to echo the pattern).

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Throw in patterns.

This is my biggest tip of all. Looking back on our family pictures, my favorite thing about our looks are the patterns and how good they look on camera.

Anyone else ever notice that game show contestants are always wearing solid colors? Unless you’re immediately leaving your family portrait to appear on Family Feud, leave the solids at home.

Patterns look great on camera and give your look more depth and visual interest.

Also, a photographer friend once told me that white is a no no, and all black gets lost in the shadows.

Go for patterns.

I hope this helps take the stress out of your family pictures! Feel free to email me if you have any questions! elizabeth@thespiff.com

Need a good family photographer? Check out this girl! She’s talented and fun and will do a great job of capturing your family in photos you’ll love forever – I mean it!

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The Bags to Look for This Fall

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I’ve got hot trends in the bag.

It’s true what I start this segment off by saying… Updating your bag will freshen your whole look for fall. (But always remember my disclaimer when it comes to shopping trends).

And while it is an investment, if you’ll budget yourself with everything else in your closet you can have your cake and look on point doing it too. ;)

Everyone over at Coach in West Town Mall is so friendly and helpful, stop in and say hi! One thing I didn’t get to mention on the show, was they will monogram the tag on your new Coach bag for free! So that’s a great way to add a personal touch to your bags.

Enjoy watching for more fun trends!

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