styling – Page 2 – the Spiff

Styling Family Photos

September 19, 2016 2 Comments

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 knew I wanted Jackson to have a tie on, so I started with that onesie (that was waaaay to big for him). I pulled out the gray and echoed the maroon a bit in my lipstick. *kissy face.

Coordinate, don’t match.

This isn’t 1985. Your bow doesn’t have to be cut from the same material as your puffy sleeve dress.

In fact, you don’t even have to all be wearing the exact same colors.

For Jackson’s birthday party, I knew I wanted the boys in a variation of gray/black/white/army green, but I wanted to be in a bright color to mix it up. I looked around for something in a deep/bright orange but found this pink and it worked beautifully.

If you have trouble with colors, pay attention to websites you like or the colors of your favorite brand. Those colors are chosen by how they compliment each other, so it will get you in the habit of seeing what works.

Also, Pinterest. I say that like I’m on there. I need 45 more hours in my day for that.

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.

AND GO FOR FALL BECAUSE IT’S ALMOST OFFICIALLY HERE!! *runs off screaming…

Fashion, Spiffy, west town mall

How to Sneak in Fall Fashion Now

August 31, 2016 2 Comments

You guys, you guys, you guys, we are so close to fall *deep inhale* I can almost smell it.

Every year I savor these days right here. Football is about to begin, boots are about to be worn…I like being on the verge almost as much as I like being in the middle of it.

Yeah I try to distract myself by wearing the things I love most about summer for a while. But I can’t help but want to sneak in a jacket or two.

So I’ve got some ways you can start styling styling your summer looks with a more fall-like feel.

These pictures were taken by the talented Brittany of Southern Roots Photography at the West Town Mall Back to School fashion show this August!

If you’re ready for jackets…(ME!)

This look is from White House Black Market. I watched her walk down the runway and I instantly wanted every piece to get in my closet.

The sheath dress is made more fall appropriate with a great jacket (I mean GREAT jacket), neutral heels and a brown bag. The fact that the necklace, shoes and bag all echo the same warm brown color, really pulls this look together. It makes it more appropriate for fall and totally doable even if it’s still a little warm outside.

If you’re ready for layering…

This simple, comfortable and yet still totally chic look is from Charming Charlie.

And this look makes it official: the outfit possibilities with a chambray shirt are now endless.

If you’re going to pull this off, make sure the dress is simple and/or has a darker color to it so that it doesn’t look like you’re playing dress up. Add a great statement necklace like the model has on and simple stud earrings to polish up the look.

Really, this would be so comfortable and perfect for all day events.

If you’re ready for sweaters…

This ultra light weight sweater couldn’t be any more perfect for right now. This look is from The Limited and that great bag is from Vera Bradley.

Every piece of this look will go miles in your closet. I can see that sweater with the ever popular jeans/boots/scarf combo. The jean skirt would work seemlessly into so many combo’s like tights, booties, tucked in long sleep shirt and a great big necklace; or an oversized sweater and Keds; how about boots and a half tucked button down with a chunky statement necklace.

I think I just talked myself into buying that bad boy…

Pick up any (or ALL) of these items at West Town Mall! And let’s get the cozy feel of fall all revved up now. #seriously

Fashion

How to Dress for a Big Day

August 8, 2016 1 Comment

Prepare yourself: You’re going to get really jealous as you look at this outfit, but you’re not going to be able to buy it anywhere because it’s not 1998 (I say that, but it’s probably being hung in Forever21 as I type this)…

I remember specifically choosing this dress because I felt as if it really complimented my figure. And obviously comfort played a strong factor, why else would I choose to pair it with 100 pound old-lady sneakers?

So maybe I didn’t get proportions right, and maybe later that year I got the Jennifer Aniston hair-cut that ended up looking like untamed helmet hair. Regardless, I had the right thought process down.

Here are the three things to keep in mind when dressing for a big day…

1. Pick something that makes you feel like the best version of you.

I wore this lavender dress because I knew I had some pretty awesome curves to show off, which made me feel good about myself whenever I wore it. I was able to walk the halls of school confidently that day because I picked something I felt good in.

2. Make comfort a priority.

Whether it’s the first day of school, or the first day of a new job, there’s a plenty of uncertainty to go around. The last thing you want to do is be uncomfortable. Be sure to wear something you won’t have to tug on or readjust constantly.

Shoes are a bit tricky when it comes to comfort. I maybe dove off the deep end of comfort with what I’m wearing in the picture. The main thing is wear shoes you can easily walk in. You want to be able to carry yourself well in a new environment because as the new person you’re going to be a bit more noticeable (don’t worry it will quickly wear off).

3. Don’t do anything to your hair that’s going to have you second guessing yourself all day

I.E.: do I need more hairspray? Are my curls still there? Do I need to redo my ponytail?

Go with your easiest style, saving the more complicated ones for after you’ve settled in.

You have a lot to offer this world. By planning the right outfit you can relax and present the best version of you!

Looking for some good deals on clothes? The Limited has changed their format and is running some pretty awesome sales.

And here are some strategies for buying summer clothes now and wearing them later.

Fashion

The Best Striped Dress Worn Three Ways {Part Three}

March 4, 2016 No Comments

knoxville fashion blogger, ootd, west town mall, rue21, how to style a striped dress multiple ways, winter weekend wear, knoxville fashion blogger, vera bradley, friday fashion

Ever since we got married, my husband and I have enjoyed just hanging out at our house most weekends. In fact, we’ll gladly accept the title of “homebodies” because that’s exactly what we are. If you’ve got a problem with that, we’ll take you outside…wait, never mind that requires leaving the house.

Most of the time it’s my weeknights that include events right after work, so having a dress like this that I can easily transition from work to a dinner or family event saves me so much time. And if I do get a chance to go home in between things, it allows me to hang out for a second (most likely watch Live at Five at Four) and skip rummaging through my closet for something to wear.

It’s comfortable, it’s cute, it will be long enough to wear without tights – this striped black and white tent dress is just what you need.

It’s just what I need. Check out the other ways I’ve styled it all week – first way, second way.

One quick styling note: when you wear a necklace that goes straight down your cleavage, please oh please wear a tank underneath your top so that the necklace doesn’t rest in your cleavage. I don’t see that very often, but when I do it irks me. Don’t irk.

I’m not going to go into detail about how much I love this purse, I’ve already done it here and here. Get one like it here and get the dress (in multiple colors and plus sizes) here.

(Love these pictures? They were taken by the fabulously talented Brittany of SouthernRootsPhotography!)

Fashion, west town mall

The Best Striped Dress Worn 3 Ways {Part Two}

March 2, 2016 No Comments

striped dress, how to wear a dress three ways, rue21, west town mall, blue mason, blue mason coffee shop, knxoville coffee shop, knoxville fashion blogger, knoxville beauty blogger, elizabeth ogle, ootd, stripes and leopard

Dress – Sweater – Necklace (an old buy from Forever21) – Purse

One of my life’s goals has always been to establish a “regular” place where they know my name and the instant I walk in the door say, “You want your usual?”

The closest I’ve ever come to achieving that goal is with the friendly faces at The Blue Mason. It’s the ultra adorable coffee shop located off of Sutherland Avenue. The word “quaint” was born to describe this place.

They have a front porch. I’m telling you, they really threw down when it comes to cozy.

Brittany from Southern Roots Photography got some great outfit shots, but really that was just a bonus since our goal was to get some delicious drinks. They have a honey lavender latte. I mean…

In keeping with the cozy theme, I styled this black and white striped dress with an open cardigan this time. Sure, the chilly days are starting to wain (*tear *sigh) but we’ll still have cool mornings and a rainy day or two that will provoke the need to curl up in something as you step out the door.

What better way to dress for spring then layering over a great dress like this, so you can unravel throughout the day!

And since I had so much volume going on with both the sweater and the dress, I belted the dress to define my waist and added a nice little sentence necklace (it’s not really a statement necklace – so lets call it a sentence).

Hanging out in a friendly place with delicious drinks and an outfit that’s both fabulous and comfortable? I think I can cross that life goal off the list ;)

Previous page Next page