style – Page 3 – the Spiff

Style Yourself Like a Star

February 23, 2015 No Comments

Well I tried watching the Oscar’s live in my bedroom, but that was in a different room than my husband and my dog would have none of that. He came in the room and cried at me until we were all in the same room together. Oh well, that’s what TiVo is for ;)

Even though every year I’ve seen maybe 1 of the movies nominated, of course I love to watch to see who’s wearing what. I can’t imagine the pressure that goes into choosing a dress for this thing. Can’t. Imagine. Especially since the very next day you’re going to be scrutinized by the likes of Kathy Griffin…or people like me.

But instead of just saying which dresses I liked and disliked the most, I prefer to give you something to walk away with. So here are my picks for this year and the style cues we can take away from them….

(All of these images, by the way, are courtesy of eonline)

I’m not even going to include Aniston and Lopez in this list. They brought it. They woke it up, worked it out, covered it in jewels. Done. Check. The ladies I chose for my best dressed are ones that caused me to look up from my phone. These gals really captured attention with their choices.

Anna Kendrick looks just floaty, glowy gorgeous in this coral gown. As the camera panned down to the bottom, the outer layers were billowing in the breeze as if on cue. The diamond neckline is the perfect amount of sparkle and notice how she pairs that with simple diamond clusters. This proves that when the neckline is high, you don’t need earrings fighting over your face. Go with something gorgeous and simple. Also, coral looks good on pale skin.

It looks as if Naomi Watts may make some “worst dressed” lists, but I think her dress is fresh and unexpected. She always makes an edgier choice, and in this case I love the fact that it’s the playful black sparkly band. It’s just something different and that’s nice to see (without going overboard, Lady Gaga). Again, her jewelry is subdued and I love how her hair is half back. We’ve seen A LOT of this style in the past two award shows, but I really really like it. You get to wear your hair down comfortably, but you’re still showing off your earrings and giving your look a modern edge by tucking it behind one ear. Try that next time, it’s definitely not the kind of style that requires a team of hair experts which is nice.

Finally on my best dressed, is Meryl Streep. Seems like every year someone does some version of a female suit. I think Ms. Streep nailed it this year. It’s feminine, very age appropriate yet still glamorous enough to work. Sure it’s safe and not as sparkly, but it’s a great take on a classic. Don’t be afraid to work a blazer into your formal look, especially if you’re looking for something that’s more flattering. I’d rather be simple and flattering than sparkly and slightly unflattering.

I didn’t want to use the phrase “worst dressed” because it sounds so harsh. But I would have loved to seen a few simple tweaks on these gals.

Marion Cotillard is such a beautiful woman, and I really love her hair with that deep side part and the earrings which compliment her hair style just perfectly. But the dress…girl, the dress is just meh. What would be really cool is if the bottom layer was nude and the overlay was black. That would have added some visual interest. I’m just not at all a fan of white formals, especially ones that take over your shape and make you think of paper towels.

This next gal is Adam Levine’s wife, Behati Prinsloo. I think the dress is pretty neat. It’s something different and interesting. And her accessorizing is spot on – the necklace is the right amount of pizzazz. What I’m so not a big fan of is completely slicked back hair. All I see when I look at her is her part and the unusual shape of her head (which is a phrase I don’t want passing through people’s heads when I’m all dressed up). I think this look would have been 1,000 times prettier if she would have worn her hair down, half way, or even back a little looser. Really gals, only J-Lo can pull off the sleek back look.

Finally, Rosamund Pike. Love this dress, I really do. My favorite part is how it darts in at her waste. HOWEVER, I feel like she could have taken the “less is more” rule a little less seriously. To me, her tiny earrings make it look like she just walked in off the street and tried this dress on and those are the earrings she happened to be running errands in. I just would have loved some larger maybe gold accented numbers dangling down a little bit.

Of course it’s easy to say all these things from the comfort of my couch. If I ever make it to the red carpet you’re going to love everything about what I have on, ok? Ok. ;)

Happy Monday!

Fashion, forever21, styling, sweater, sweaters, winter

Playing With Volume

January 21, 2015 4 Comments

I’ll tell you what helps motivate you to get out of a comfortable warm bed in the morning – a big cozy sweater that’s actually cute.

But when you’re going with something that’s got a lot of volume, you’ve got to balance it out with something that’s not so voluminous. Like a black skirt and tights!

This combination is especially perfect if you’re rounder in the middle. The volume of the sweater will drape over your mid-section and help draw all the attention to the smaller spaces on your body.

I picked up this sweater at the fantasy factory that is the Dillard’s outlet in Asheville, NC. That place is a shoppers paradise. Well, let me rephrase that – it’s a deal-hunters paradise. If you don’t like picking through rack after rack in a sea of sale clothing then it’s not for you. Party pooper.

And since I can’t provide a link to that, there are two similarly shaped sweaters…here and here.

A black skirt like this is invaluable in the winter. I picked this one up at Forever21 years and years ago. I’ve yet to find a substitute, but I’m going to need to fast as I’ve really worn this one out. One like this is great with black tights which I will never stop wearing no matter how old I get. They make your legs look so skinny!!

Think about the balance of volume with the next outfit you put together and see how great it makes you look!

Fashion

Earrings: The Party Pants of Your Jewelry Box

January 16, 2015 No Comments

If you’re looking to add a quick dose of fun and maybe even something different to your look this year, go for a jazzy pair of earrings.

A fun pair can really wake up your classic pieces. And what’s great about them is they’re noticeable (if you wear them right, they go right near your face), but can be small enough to where you don’t have to give yourself a pep talk to walk out the door.

If they dangle, then they add great movement and punctuation to everything you say (translation: two instant charm generators). And not to mention, a pretty pair doesn’t have to cost much (I picked these up for $6 at H&M in Atlanta).

I dare you to pick up a pair you wouldn’t normally give a second glance to, and see how just how fun they make you feel.

2015, Fashion, style setter, west town mall

Refresh Your Image for 2015

January 13, 2015 No Comments

As we all know this is the time of year we normally set goals. But instead of looking to change things about ourselves, let’s focus on refreshing our image.

Regardless of your stage in life, you want to look and feel good about yourself. And if you’re in a position now where you aren’t happy with the image you’re putting out there, then let’s work on that!

I believe that by making a few adjustments, you can set yourself on track to achieve a new level of self confidence.

1. Make Your Social Media Time Productive

If you’re spending hours at a time scrolling through social sites, filling your brain with “perfect” images of other people, that’s going to wear down your confidence and how you feel when you look in the mirror. So be very cautious of how much time you spend mindlessly scrolling those sites, and instead get on with a purpose.

Search for exactly what you’re needing. Oftentimes, if I’m stuck on how to style a piece, I’ll hop on Pinterest and search for “leather skirt” and look at images until I get an idea of what I can pair it with that’s in my closet. This will help you focus on the clothes and not the tiny waist of the people in them. If you find yourself thinking, “I wish I had her____” get off.

2. Set Clothing Goals

A couple years ago I started setting goals for my look at the beginning of the year. Goals like, “buy more color”, “buy less black”, “for the love of all things holy, quit buying darkness.” Once I started doing that not only did my closet lighten up but I also noticed my style became more polished and my buying became more purposeful. It really helps to set the tone for your whole year, especially if you choose something that’s doable (unlike, “Replace everything in my closet by next Tuesday”).

My goals for this year include, not buying something just because it’s on sale. I’ve got too many “junk food” pieces in my closet that are low quality and bought only because it cost a couple dollars. I don’t need that cluttering up my space. My other goal is when I find something I love – buy multiples.

3. Find a Good Resource for Inspiration

Magazine subscriptions cost money and take up space. Blogs are free and weightless. Find a great one (THESPIFF.COM) you really jive with (THESPIFF.COM) and that makes you laugh (THESPIFF.COM) and make it a point to check it on a regular basis. I’m not just saying this because I write one of these, oh you know I didn’t even think this would make a great commercial for THESPIFF.COM! ;)

But seriously whether it’s this amazing blog or another mediocre one, stick to reading it. It’s a great resource for outfit inspiration, beauty product testing, and ideas/tutorials for freshening up your style written by real people with unbiased opinions. If that alone doesn’t elevate your style this year, I don’t know what will.

4. Shop off Your Beaten Path

My closet has grown by leaps and bounds this year because I started shopping outside my comfort zone. In doing so, I’ve found really great deals on quality pieces that have refreshed my whole look.

I know it can be intimidating to walk into a new store, especially if you feel you’re too old/young for the place, but if you find just one piece that you love and inspires a fantastic outfit – it will be totally worth it! As Style Consultant for West Town Mall, I’d be happy to recommend a place you may not have thought of! Be sure to contact me through my social media buttons up on the right if you have any questions!

accessories, Fashion

Treat Yo’ Self to Cute Only You Can See

October 23, 2014 2 Comments

You know how people say that integrity is doing what’s right even when no one can see you? I’m going to borrow from that because I think having great style is being cute even when no one can see it. These little studs from Francesca’s are a great example of that.

The minute I saw them I knew I had to have them. And as far as I know, I’m the only one to ever really enjoy them. I’m not even sure if people can see them around all of my hair. But I wear them because they’re just another layer of cute that I love.

Same goes for the rest of these…

And yes, that one with the words on it does say “Elizabeth” is that not the coolest thing ever!? They were a gift :)

There’s a special kind of confidence that comes with secretly wearing something cute. Like your underwear. Which sounds like a joke, but it’s a good example. Cute underwear can really make a girl walk taller, can’t it?

What have you treated yourself to lately that’s something only you’ll enjoy? And maybe someone will catch a glimpse of it, or you’ll post a giant picture of it and hashtag the crap out of it (crazy kids) but for the most part you bought it because YOU love it and you want that extra secret layer of cute.

That’s fun. Let’s all try it ;)

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