fall – Page 2 – the Spiff

fall, Fashion, Spiffy, wbir, west town mall

More Help Styling Family Photos

October 11, 2017 No Comments

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One big happy color coordination.

If styling your family for fall doesn’t stir your creative juices, awaken every excited cell in your body and cause you to dance with open arms singing of how you love life, then thank God cause this world can only hold one of those weirdos.

Now that I’m done singing and dancing about it, let’s talk about how you and your loved ones can look their best in pictures this year!

My go-to stop for this annual segment is GAP at West Town Mall – not only because they’re a one stop shop when it comes to picking up clothes for the whole family, but also because they do a great job of coordinating their colors throughout each section.

Hit play and see the best tip for even deciding which colors to do!

Have more questions? Read my post from yesterday with more great tips!

Fashion, Spiffy

How to Style Your Fall Family Pictures

October 10, 2017 No Comments

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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.

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).

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!

Fashion, Spiffy, west town mall

On the Hunt for a Jean Jacket

October 3, 2017 No Comments

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Ready, set, look good.

The jean jacket I’m wearing in the picture is one I picked up over ten years ago at a second hand store. It’s Old Navy, actually, and it’s worn well over the years.

In fact, I’m still wearing it, but this year I felt as if I needed to get an update.

So I’ve started a hunt for a new one. And I’ve found that it’s a lot like shopping for jeans. It’s hard, and not something I want to do regularly because I have very specific requirements in mind. But with these ground rules I can find one that will flow with my style and last me for another 10 years!

Going into shopping for something that will be a staple in your closet it’s good to know what length you want – a jean jacket should hit no longer than your hip bone. You can go longer as large ones are on trend right now, but that’s also a downside as they might not be en vogue next year. I would stick with the classic length.

Also, stay away from super duper distress for the same reason. A well loved jacket will naturally distress (the elbows of the one I’m wearing are proof) so unless you’re just really into that and feel you will be for a couple years, go for light distressing.

Don’t be afraid to shop second hand stores for a piece like this. A jean jacket is like wine a woman and stew – time makes it better. So I don’t mind picking one up at a second hand store because that means it will be broken in and moving well in all the right places.

Some stores do sell jackets with a blend so they’re not all denim and thus super stiff. Chico’s, for example, sells a great jacket that has a nice feel to it – soft and not stiff like new denim. The upside to buying your own fresh off the rack is that you can break it in around your body.

Think about adding fun patches to it if you’d like! Personalization makes it more you and it’s a lot less permanent than a tattoo!

Here’s a cool miliarty-esque version from Chico’s and here’s a great one from Gap.

I’ve said it a million times – a jean jacket will go over so many things in your closet and will make layering (and keeping warm) a breeze! Stay tuned for outfit ideas as I find my own and start pulling them together.

Happy shopping!

fall, Life

RELEASE THE PUMPKINS

September 22, 2017 1 Comment

All of the happy emoji’s.

Why do I squeal with delight at the sight of pumpkins? Or smile broadly as I walk by a grocery store display of fall mums?

Because, as a true millennial would put it, fall is everything. Now let me unpack that massive statement with a list of things you didn’t know you loved about fall. Because lists are everything ;)

ONE: Fall brings more clothes and what do more clothes mean? Shaving less often (insert your own interpretation of “less often” ;)

TWO: A sharp change in season is fun because it awakens a new part of your closet. Fall opens the door to layering, jackets and tights! If you don’t feel as if you can master fall dressing – keep reading this blog! I’ll help you out with that.

THREE: The holidays are such a fun time of year. And to me, I like to start savoring them now. Use the upcoming cool days and cozy nights as reminders of the fun times ahead!

FOUR: No more bugs! Gah, I hate bugs.

FIVE: Sure there’s a time change and I’ll admit, now that I have a little boy reason to stay outside longer it’s not as exciting. But two things I like to focus on when I start to get sad about the darkness…first, it always makes you think it’s later than it is. Bonus time! And second, it’s a great excuse to pile up on pretty lights and candles outside and actually get to enjoy them! In the summer by the time it gets dark enough for lights, it’s so late. But once the time changes you can enjoy the ambiance longer.

If you just can’t WAIT to start building your fall looks, here’s some great fall fashion advice ;) Also here.

fall, Fashion

Window Pane Shift Dress & All Its Possibilities

November 7, 2016 No Comments

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Earlier this year I lived gloriously close to the mall.

I used to say that most people like to live near a great view of the mountains, while I was perfectly content living within the glow of the Belk sign. And it’s true.

Now that I can’t consider the mall an extension of my closet, I’ve been popping into Target more often for when I neeeeed something new to wear. I picked up this dress on super clearance.

I’ve done that a couple times with dresses at Target – which completely breaks my rule about not buying something just because it’s cheap. But in this case it worked out beautifully because I saw the potential and how it could follow me well into winter.

It’s comfortable, pairs perfectly with tights and is a nice pattern that’s not stripes or full on flannel.

Plus I’m excited about layering it under some really cozy sweaters and switching up the necklaces later on.

That’s one thing I love about the cooler temps. Tights and a cozy open cardigan can really help you get extra use out of those late summer/fall pieces. As long as it doesn’t include light fabrics or colors, you can totally work it well into winter.

Here’s a very similar version from JCP for under $30!

Here are some ways I plan to style this dress and others this fall/winter.

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