Wardrobe Essentials Every Woman Needs

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One thing I've always aspired is a a carefully curated closet. The older I get, the more particular I become in regards to what I wear, how I style myself, and what brands I invest my coin in. Also, I'm really just tired of the laundry.

I've found myself listening to the Myleik Teele's MyTaughtMe podcasts and have been greatly inspired by her discussions of money management, savings, and the importance of cost-per-wear. There is a certain wisdom to investing in higher quality pieces that offer true longevity (albeit them being more expensive) pieces instead constantly purchasing lower end/lower quality items over and over and over again. These lower quality pieces that constantly need to be re-purchased - or a barely worn because the low costs equates to low value - will, slowly but surely, bite a bigger portion of your wallet than it initially seemed. Just get a pair the Nike Tech Fleece sweats instead of 6 pairs of Old Navy and Target sweats bought on sale and barely worn. Because, one the the higher price tag will do is definitely drive you to wear the pieces.

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After reading Elizabeth Suzann discuss her pricing model for her brand (and the very insightful follow up interview on Racked on changes in consumerism practices in fashion), I've decided to double down on my efforts to curate my closet. So I'm clearing out my closet of the unused/barely worn items and vowing to make better use of the quality pieces I do own. In my quest to make sure I do have the best pieces in my wardrobe, I ran across this amazing list of "Essentials" compiled by What Do I Wear. Check it out! Let's work smarter and not harder!

The Coveteur | Miranda Kerr

1. Black Leather Jacket - goes with everything, plus makes any outfit look awesome and instantly more stylish.
2. Black + Grey Blazer - another wardrobe staple, but a little lighter and more dressed up than the leather jacket.
3. Tan Well Fitted Trench Coat - the ultimate feminine coat
4. Denim Jacket - a more casual version than the leather jacket
5. Black Midi Skirt - essential and easy to throw on with another basic piece 
6. LBD - a proper length, and a well fitting black dress
7. Black Ruffled Mini Skirt + Printed Skirt - sexy with heels and perfect with Birks. Worn with Converse and opting out for boots is another option. 
8. Slouchy Silk Pants - one of the most comfy but dressed up pants to own.
9. Black Suit Pants/Trouser pants - an ongoing favorite 
10. Boyfriend Jeans - plus your boyfriends knit, a sneaker or sandal





The Coveteur | Monica Rose



11. Basic Skinny Jeans - for that perfect little getaway of all black everything.
12. White Skinny Jeans - clean and simple
13. Maxi Skirt - in silk, chiffon, wool.. simply perfection
14. Leather Shorts - perfection
15. Vintage Levi’s Denim Shorts - for hot lazy days 
16. White, Grey, Navy + Black T-Shirts - the inevitable basics.
17. White Beach Cover-Up - need I say more?
18. White + Black Silk Shirts - in the same inevitable basics category as all the t-shirts
19. Light Blue Cotton Shirt - for when you want the mannish chic and dress up like a boy.
20. Flannel Plaid Shirt - over sized and comfortable for any casual outfit





The Coveteur | Tracee Ellis Ross



21. Houndstooth Sweater or Blazer - for a subtle touch of a trend 
22. Black Oversized Knit - a good throw-on for when it gets colder
23. Heeled Sandals - for events/dinners/date night outs
24. Black/Creme or White Converse - for airplanes, shopping and running errands.
25. Black ankle Boots with a little heel - the ultimate everyday shoe
26. Black Birkenstocks - for comfort
27. Leopard/cheetah printed loafer - they go just as well with boyfriend jeans as they do with skinny’s.
28. Sneakers - for street wear or running 
29. Black Shoulder Bag - giving in to that ‘it’ or trend bag of the season
30. Black Everyday Bag - for when a bigger bag is needed





The Coveteur | Gaia Repossi



31. Carry-All Pouch - good for going out, or to grab a coffee
32. Wool Scarf - layering, and warmth
33. Plaid Printed Scarf - adding that subtle color or pattern to a simple and basic outfit. 
34. Black Wool Hat - the perfect circular shape, not quite a fedora and not quite a farmers hat
35. Black over the Knee Socks - ideal for outfitting as the cooler weather approaches
36. Sunglasses - black, classic, and the right shape that compliments your face. 
37. Boyfriend Watch - something slightly to big but not overly 

The Coveteur | Tina Craig

While I do own a most of items on the list, I guess I should stop being stubborn and finally get a trench coat, vintage Levi shorts, white Chuck Taylors, and a good proper leather jacket. 

Starting over and being wiser feels awesome.

xo,

jana-lynn

Wardrobe Essentials: An Update

A little over a year ago, I wrote a post entitled 'A Woman's Wardrobe Essentials'. The post included a list of 37 things every gal needed in order to maximize her closet's potential. At the time, my closet was in need of a serious makeover. I had too many expendable, trendy pieces and was not properly spending my hard earned dollars on quality pieces. That list definitely helped me to shuck some pieces and helped me become a wiser and more meaningful shopper.

Since then, I've aimed to tone down my closet even more as I try to become more minimal in my aesthetic. I found this Wardrobe Essentials graphic a few days ago and decided to adapt it to my closet. I marked it up to see what I have, am planning on purchasing, and what I know I can do without. 

summer style

i recently got a request to post some summer inspiration styles on my Tumblr so i dusted off the old Polyvore account and get to work. 

Check out some of my favorite summer looks below :)

summer style

summer to me is all about loose easy fabrics. looks that can transition from lunch with friends to happy hour with new(er) friends. i paired this leather + lace bralette with this loose fit drappy white tank. i think the peekaboo bra look is so sexy and fun. d'orsay flats, scallop-hemmed polka dot denim shorts, and a fringe bag come together to make the simple "tee and jeans" look not so simple.

Co-Ordinated Sets

boohoo is one of my favorite UK retailers, especially when it comes to well-priced co-ordinated sets (all three of these from from the shop!). i think all three of these sets would look awesome with a classic nude heel and a popping purple lip. Revlon's Colorburst Matte Lip Balm in Shameless is my current favorite shade - it keeps lips moisturized while still giving a nice bold color.

Styling: Co-Ord Sets

Short suits and coordinated sets have been all the range for the past year. What started off as just an incorporation of masculine European tailored suits into womenswear has blossomed into more sleek and classic feminine looks, including a more use of bold prints and classic feminine silhouettes. Crops, culottes, circle skirts, and much more have gotten the look. I, personally, love the coordinated sets trend and all the flexibility in can bring to one's wardrobe. Check out these style sets and let me know what you think!

Organza Co-Ord

I love this classic feminine look to a coordinated set. Strappy black heels and subtle gold accents really allow the focus of the look to be on the beautiful organza checkered set. It looks like a dress when worn together but as soon as the fabric starts to move, you see a hint of skin at the waist for a very understated note of sexiness. Wear the top with distressed boyfriend cut off shorts and nude heels to add an edgy feel to the organza. A classic white button-down and black pointy toe wedges can turn the skirt into a whimsical office look.

Palm Print Co-Ord

Fun palm tree prints with a bold splash of neon. A little festival-y. Or brunch-y. While I love my heels, I love running around and being outdoors more. And heels aren't really the appropriate shoes for impromptu bar crawls or day-long music festivals. The neon brogues are inspired by style savant Nick Wooster, bringing a masculine edge to a fun a flirty outfit. If tomboy chic isn't you're thing, these neon jelly sandals or neon flatform espadrilles should do the trick.

Floral Boy Looks

This one is my favorite look because I love adapting menswear into my looks. I blame the old tom boy living in me. The shirt and shorts are from H&M's Men collection; a dope mix of floral and leaf prints. In styling these, I would cuff the shorts and roll up the sleeves for a more slouchy feel. The oversized cateye sunnies, red lip, and ankle-wrap heels add a bold feminine accent to the look. Perfectly girly and perfectly tomboy. xo, Jana-Lynn

Mad About PLAID

The last couple of weeks ...or maybe months... has left the biggest taste of plaid on my mouth. My free moments are spent oogling plaid pieces from Fly Jane, ASOS, Free People, Urban Outfitters all while becoming obsessed with men in tartan suits (and this look too). So I decided to get on Polyvore and whip up a couple of looks that work well into the rise in tartan over the past few months.

Maddd about Plaid

I'm pretty much obsessed with this leather peplum top. I figured pairing it with a tapered silk trousers from Shop Nouvelles would be a great softening juxtaposition to the rugged nature of the leather. Plaid loafers to accent and create a play on mixed print. I think this would be an awesome look for a casual day date or brunch with friends.

Polka & Plaid

You know what I love? Mixing Prints. You know what I love even more? Mixing Bold Prints. The polka dots and the architectural design of the shoes attracted me so much. While this could be paired with a black pencil skirt for a bold minimalistic look, I liked the idea of the plaid skirt to bring in a bit of fun. The glitter frames top off the look by adding a bit of magic.

Styling: The Zara Striped Sheath Skirt

Zara Striped Sheath Skirt

Horizontal stripes, especially on the bottom half, often receive a bad rep - many shy away from wearing it in fear of appearing too wide. I'm a firm believer that anyone can wear anything, especially when you pair it with the right dose of confidence and attitude. Remember, 95% of pulling off any look is believing you own the look. Clothes only make up the other 5%.

With that being said, let's move on to some styling! From time to time, people seek me out to give them fashion ideas for items they lust for but had no clue how to wear. A few days ago, someone reached out to me on Tumblr and asked me how I would style the Zara Striped Sheath Skirt. I came up with 5-6 looks and decided to put a couple of them on here and garner some feedback from you. Check out the looks and tell me what you think!

Zara Striped Sheath, Pt 1

This look is reflective of the first things I thought of when I saw this skirt. An easy chambray top plus bold red lip and nude sandals. I paired the skirt with a cropped chambray top in this pictorial but I think a boyfriend chambray with the top 3-4 buttons unbuttoned would be a delightful twist. The chunky crystal ring and snow leopard clutch bring an unexpected twist to a pretty normative look. I think its much so classic and chic.

Zara Striped Sheath, Pt 2

I love the idea of wearing a high-waist midi skirt with a cropped top and showing a slight hint of skin. In the previous set, I paired the skirt with a cropped chambray top but this time I liked the idea of pairing it with a loose cropped tee for a more casual look. It reminded me of a summer concert or movies in the park. Maybe brunch and window shopping on an international vacation. I am increasingly obsessed with that lucite box clutch. It's the perfect summer accouterments. 

Zara Striped Sheath, Pt 3 

This look is a more work or church friendly look for this skirt. I liked the idea of pairing complimentary yet mismatched striped prints. The mint is a give the perfect bomb of color and the the snakeskin bag is a bold yet classic statement piece. Midi finger rings are all the rage these days so they're a definite must for this look.

Zara Striped Sheath, Pt 4 
This last look is a fun date night look. Or maybe just a night on the town filled with cocktails and friends. Vibrant neon, water color heels, and the most jaw-dropping crystal necklace piece to top it all off. This is definitely the look that most describes my personal style.

So... what do you think? Love it? Hate it? Make some slight changes? Let me know what's on your mind!

For more styling points or tips, shoot me an email or send me a message in my Tumblr Ask.

xo,
Jana-Lynn

The Basic Black Tank

A white tank looks right at the gym and for casual outings, but a black one can be worn with everything from khakis to a cocktail skirt. Wear it for a night on the town or to your favorite summer music festival or even just while running errands. The basic black tank, very similar to the little black dress, is one of the most versatile pieces you will ever own.

The simple variety of cut and style offerings are one of the main reasons that the black tank is all the more classic and chic. Whether leather, cotton, cropped, sheer, racer back, spaghetti strap, or low-cut back, you'll be able to style this piece with just about anything in your wardrobe. Great tanks can be found just about anywhere from Forver21 to Zara to American Apparel to T by Alexander Wang. To keep your closet well stocked and ready, check out retailers and get your own tanks here.

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'How To Take A Truly Amazing Picture' by Refinery 29

I feel like I've been doing the same two one pose in all my pictures since the age of 3. Smile, head slightly tilted, and one hand on waist. Head tilt angles may slightly vary and degree of smile may fluctuate but I pretty much look a great deal the same (minus different clothes offerings, of course) in most of my pictures. Its all so very third grade and, because I always look awkward and no where near glamorous when I attempt the Beyonce-bent-hand pose, I still do it. 

I feel like there is a certain science to always photographing well and I have yet to master it. Its a cold world out there.

Because I have yet to reach the point of existence where Iyanla needs to fix my life, I figured I'd strick out on my own and research proper posing etiquette (don't judge me). I ran across some great tips from Refinery29 and thought I'd share. Because, quite frankly, it takes a village...

Wear A Blue-Red Lipstick — The right shade of lip color can make your teeth look whiter. Look for blue-red lipsticks, or dab on a sheer blue gloss over your regular color. Your smile will look instantly brighter. Magic!

Don't Do The Teapot — While it may feel instinctual to put your hand on your hip to create a slender line with your arms, the pose can be a bit cheesy. Instead, keep your shoulders back, and hold you arms slightly bent and away from the body — same effect, without the Mrs. Teapot impersonation.

Sign Of The Cross — Popping a knee, while comfortable, can break up the length of your leg. To create an extended line, cross the ankles and point the toe at an angle creating catwalk-ready, long gams.

Loved the tips and I can't wait to use them so I can be great. To see the full list, check the story at Refinery 29 by clicking here.

Styling: A Color-less Spring

The ironic thing about this year's "it" Spring color is the fact that... well... there is no color. Winter's love of minimalism seems to be spilling over as the black & white trend remains steadfast into the weeks and months of warmers days & nights. Seeing that I haven't done style sets in a while, it is only apropos that I set out some looks that embrace the color-less dreams of Spring 2013.

Black&White, Pt 1

Despite the fact that I never wear them, Cropped tops are some of my favorite things about the summer. Add a maxi skirt with a thigh high split and, in my book, we pretty much have the best summer outfit ever. I'm really loving lucite heel details and midi rings this summer so I figured I'd use these current trends as a fun twist to a classic look. And, of course, you can never go wrong pairing a nice red pout with a black and white look.

Heat

The introduction of the Isabel Murant sneaker wedges a couple of years ago brought in a new wave of athletic wear into the fashion scene. The obsession with sneakers soon lead to our favorite street style stars and fashion brands incorporating chic sports-inspired style into their look. One of my favorite style bloggers, Karla Deras of Karla's Closet, has a knack for the perfect execution of chic sports wear. Her looks for a cropped sweatshirt, track pants, and cut out sweatshirt are some of my favorite sporty chic looks to date. In attempting to keep with the black and white theme but paying homage to my favorite NBA team, I created this look minimalistic-esque sporty look. I feel like it is achievable.

Printed

This River Island dress is everything my striped-obsessed dreams are made of. And, unfortunately, it is already sold out and not found on eBay so that dream is being differed. I love the draped, asymmetrical hem and how the dress flaunts shape.I believe these mixed print lace-up shoe from Zara would be the perfect thing to offset it. Add a leather jacket for a bit of cool to keep you warm on chilly nights and a feather bag for an unexpected twist of texture. Whether worn to a wedding or just a fun night on the town with friends, your red carpet and paparazzi await!

xo,
Jana-Lynn

Style Diary: The Diet Denim That Isn't Denim

Chambray made it’s way into America in the early 19th century and quickly became one of the staple fabrics of the workforce. The lightweight weave, used for it’s sturdiness and durability, became so widely accepted that the term “blue collar” was coined.

Most individuals (including myself) use 'chambray' and 'denim' interchangeably but the fabrics are quite different. In fact, when researching for this post, I found that the only similarity between the two fabrics is the fact that both are cotton fabrics and made by weaving white yarn through indigo dyed yarn.

Chambray originated in Cambrai, France in 1595 where it was used to used primarily to make sunbonnets. It made first appearance in America in the 1800s and, today, there are chambray shirts, skirts, dresses, shorts, pants, ties, pocket squares, and jackets. Denim comes from a fabric that was made in Nimes, France in the 1500s ('denim' is an abbreviated form of 'de Nîmes' which is French for "from Nîmes") which was popularized in America when Levi Strauss, a German immigrant, used it for creating work pants during the California gold rush of the 1870s.

Chambray is a the lighter of the two fabrics and usually light blue in color with less durability. Denim is a twilled cloth (weaved using an iconic diagonal pattern which produces an overall tougher material) and chambray is woven with crossed threads (weaved in the fundamental plain weave: the filling yarns pass over and under the warp yarns).

Chambray and denim shirts are most definitely a year round favorite for me. I usually wear my chambrays in warmer weather and denims in cooler weather. They are, by far, the most versatile pieces I've ever owned, as I am able to dress them up and dress them down for nearly any occasion.

Best. Wardrobe. Staple. Ever.

xo,

Jana-Lynn

Styling: Louis Vuitton Bags

I entered another styling contest on Polyvore. I'm not sure if I'll ever win one of these things but I think its great practice. There are tons of magazines, fashion house, fashion professionals, and amateurs with their own pages so it's proving to be a great place to learn just absorbing what people put out.

Anyway, this contest asked users to make sets based on you're favorite Louis Vuitton bag. My all time favorite LV bag is the Speedy 30 (in Damier Ebene and (now discontinued) Epi) and I made not one set based around that bag. Mainly because speedys are my favorite bag of choice and I style them nearly every time I walk out my home when I'm carrying one of mine. So, I choose to work with LV bags I wouldn't necessarily gravitate to instead and see what I could pull together.

Tribal Prints & LV

Yesterday's post on peplum and African prints inspired this look with Speedy Cube PM from the Spring 2013 collection. This new iteration of the speedy bag reminds me of a relaxing southern California vacation in 1962. I love the soft yellow shade and mod-inspired box design. Because the feel of the bag is so classic but with a twist, I wanted to style a look that brought about the same feeling. Midi skirt, classic black heels, peplum top but I believe the leather fabric and African print bring an unexpected surprise to a classic look. The lucite bauble jewelry was used to envoke that 60s feel into the look as well.

Alma

I've never been a big fan of the graffiti bags but this limited edition Louis Vuitton Graffiti Alma MM (designed Stephen Sprouse exclusively for the 2001 collection) really stands out to me. It seems to be the perfect balance between street and chic. Because it's such a bold black and white bags, I wanted to keep that black and white theme going but lightening it up with sporadic notes of color (i.e. yellow shoes, red nails, the hint of blue in the dress). I think this is a very fun and youthful look.

Noé

The Noé Louis Vuitton bag debuted in 1932 with a very specific purpose in mind: carrying a bottle of champagne. It, of course, expanded beyond its original purpose and became wildly popular in the 1980s when drawstring bags were the trend. I wanted to attempt to update this bag by pulling it away from the classic vintage art scene and meshing it with an art-inspired business casual look. In my mind, this look works really well. I'm still not sure if there should be heels or if the flats work.

What do you think?

xo,

Jana-Lynn

Styling: Grey Top(s)

At this point, we should all know how much I love styling. I joined Polyvore as a means to stretch my creativity in regards to pulling looks together. I put together looks that are akin to my personal aesthetic but also try to capture other styles/preferences as well.

I joined the Simply Stylish group on Polyvore because they have styling challenges every so often. Here are a couple of looks I created for their "Grey Top" challenge.

Boucle

I love the texture in this jacket! By keeping an overall muted and neutral color palette, there is more room to play around with different textures such as boucle, leather, denim, suede, studs, and lucite. The Versace heels are very playful and fun. You'll be the talk of the town whether you're walking the red carpet or hanging out with gal pals.

Monochrome

My current love on monochrome pairings inspired this look. I think the teal leather trousers and studded clutch provided an edgy splash of color to an otherwise flirty and feminine look. The over-sized braided straps on these Marco de Vincenzo sandals are the perfect amount of pop for this look.

Gray Floral

This set is inspired by the wild prints and bold colors of the 60s. Strong architectural patterns in the skirt, earrings, and bracelets fused with the classic Chanel 2.5 bag. I think this floral gray blouse from Stella McCartney really softened the look and took it away from being too "time capsule"-esque. I'd definitely wear this look to church, a graduation, or any family affair.

What do you think?

xo,

jana-lynn

Waist Beads

I didn't know anything about waist beads until I was visiting a friend for a weekend and noticed them dancing around her waist as we got dressed for a night on the town.

Me: Huh? What's that necklace on your waist? They're pretty...

Friend: These? They're just my waist beads. My friend gifted me with them when she came back from Africa.

Me: What are they for? Just regular waist decorations?

Friend: They mean a lot of things, really. I use mine as a marker for my weight. When they get a little tighter then... you know...

*both of us erupt into laughter*

Something about the beads just seemed so beautifully sacred and feminine to me. They were subtle yet still sexy and enticing; like a shared secret between you and your lover. As females, we all know the pressures of body shape and the waist/stomach conundrum; we're told to keep it tight and in good form and worthy of display. Crunches and Yoga and Pilates and Zumba and Running and all matters of exercises done in order to attempt to get the best  possible waist-to-hip ratio. So, to have this adornment that boldly celebrates this often over-scrutinized part of our physique... I just thought it was really beautiful.

Waist beads date back to as early as the 6th Century.
The most well known relief of women wearing waist beads
can be found on the tomb of Nebamun

After researching the meaning of waist beads for a bit, I've learned that they have been worn in Africa thousands of years. Different groups wear them for different reasons and, often, different colors used in beads can symbolize different things. The most common uses seem to be for size management, losing weight, maintain/form nice shape, confidence enhancing, female bonding, strength, wisdom, initiation/rites of passage, healing & power, sexiness, femininity, foreplay, and fashion.

So, when my friend told me her friend was selling waist beads, I immediately got on board for them!

How could I not wear something so beautiful and empowering every single day?

You have to find a way to embrace you're womanhood and live as sexily as possible every day.

You just have too!

Halima has a beautiful selection of beads. Different colors to suit different tastes. You can just wear one strand of beads or stack them up I just received my order (blue/brown/green/gold, pink/yellow, and gold) in the mail today and I don't ever want to take them off. If you want your own beads, feel free to send her an email and add these beautiful pieces to your collection! I'm sure you will absolutely love them as much as I love mine.

xo,

jana-lynn

Nina Garcia's Decoding Style

Nina Garcia has a webseries on YouTube that is absolutely fabulous! With each mini episode (each is no more than 5 minutes), she works with a client to help define their style according to their personality and what works best for their life. She gives great styling and fashion tips along the way. I ran across an episode on Nina's Tumblr page and thought I'd post all 6 episodes here. Feel free to checkout more videos and subscribe to AOLonStyle.

Frames for Your Face

Do you know what kind of frames best suit your face?

For many years, I constantly bought pairs that I thought were cute and would look decent on me just for me to hate them after the first or second wear. Also, because of the low retention rate of my frames, I never invested in any high-end frames no matter how obsessed I was at the moment. Somehow, over the past couple of years I have managed to hold on to a few frames and have created a slight collection. Ironically, I only wear two consistently.

I finally think I'm starting to finally understand what styles best suit my face. I have this mostly-oval-yet-slightly-round thing happening and, thus, find that over-sized frames or angular frames (i.e. wayfarers) suit me best. As much as I want to try a cat-eye frame, they just haven't proven to be in my best interest.

Do you know what frames suit your face best? Here's a quick guide:

Styling: Mixed Prints

It only makes sense that I follow up the post on Solange's amazing mixed print style with a couple of simple and easy styling options for how you can achieve you're own mixed prints looks. Remember, try to keep the prints within the same (or within a harmonious) color palette and play with different sized prints, patterns, or textures. Click on the links beneath each set to get access to names, stores, and prices of individual items. 

Tribal Stripes

Its An Art