Outstanding Outfit Bloggers

Houston Tomboy

Houston-based Rosamarie Quintero is a freelance writer and neurobiologist who documents her outfits over at Audrey Is a Boy. Her style is mostly casual and relaxed with Tomboy and Sporty influences. Our 40-year-old blogger likes to experiment with trends, enjoys mixing masculine and feminine elements, and is a fan of flats and sneakers. 

“I always look for comfort. As time has passed, I’ve incorporated more classic pieces and try to mix comfort and elegance; the idea of mixing masculine and feminine pieces is and will always be part of my style.”

Rosamarie - 1

Rosamarie has a thing for overalls, and she is rocking this denim pair. You often see them paired with a tank top, tee, or shirt in Summer, but layering a thicker sweater underneath is a bit more unexpected. Our 5″6 blogger has paired them with a cream chunky cable knit sweater for a casual Tomboy Winter look. The asymmetrical ribbed collar is a fun design detail that adds extra oomph. The slim fit on the overalls streamlines the look. The black leather biker jacket adds a touch of Hard Edge. This is balanced out by Rosamarie’s high-heeled booties with strap detailing and her bright red lipstick.

Rosamarie - 2

Rosamarie - 2

The shoes and accessories make this Audrey Hepburn-esque outfit. Our blogger is wearing a simple black slim-fit sweater and a pair of tailored ankle-length trousers. Sequins on the sleeve cuffs provide a pop of colour, but it’s the mustard yellow satchel that adds a true ray of sunshine to this all-black gamine look. The gold in the classically tied scarf echoes that happy colour. Pointy-toed loafers with long fringe create stylish textural interest. Dainty gold rings, black sunnies, dark red nail polish and Rosamarie’s signature red lipstick are the finishing touches.

Rosamarie - 3

For this borrowed-from-the-boys look, Rosamarie paired distressed boyfriend jeans with a wool crew neck sweater and black blazer. Mixing feminine and masculine pieces is our blogger’s trademark. Here, the straight fit on the blazer together with the black socks peeking out from under the rolled jeans and rugged brown suede oxfords are the masculine touches in an outfit that is reminiscent of Ines de la Fressange. Going with baby blue for the sweater on the other hand adds feminine softness, as do the red lippie, the simple bracelet and stud earrings.

Rosamarie - 4

Rosamarie built this outfit around an elegant knee-length full skirt with eye-catching nature print. Tucking a lightweight black turtleneck pullover into the skirt lengthens the leg line and showcases the fabulous print in its entirety. Black opaque tights keep our blogger’s gams warm and, together with the wood block-heeled wedges with dainty straps, further elongate the outfit. Opting for an equally eye-catching topper like this red mixed-media leather and suede jacket amps up the style quotient even more. Butterfly sunnies are the glam finishing touch.

Rosamarie - 5

Rosamarie - 5

This is a great example of Angie’s Denim on Denim Lite formula. Wearing two different shades of blue denim creates a tonal look that is visually interesting and doesn’t feel overly masculine. Rosamarie is wearing a bleached denim shirt with distressed boyfriend jeans in a medium blue wash. Rolling the shirt sleeves and popping the collar emphasizes the relaxed nonchalance of this Sporty look. Rolling the jeans once creates structure and exposes the fun green details of the Stan Smith sneakers. The black quilted crossbody with chain strap adds a girly playful touch, as does the red lippie. Rosamarie has kept the rest of the accessories simple: a single silver bracelet, her trusted sunnies and a belt with buckle that echoes her gold watch.

When asked which footwear trend for Spring 2017 she is looking forward to the most, Rosamarie said:

“For me it’s all about comfort. I’m looking for colorful sneakers, metallic oxfords and flatforms. All of these pieces can be used with monochromatic tones, my favorites.”

Rosamarie - 6

Rosamarie’s vibrant red moto jacket comes out to play again in a feminine casual look that makes me smile. Tucking the white V-neck tee into the cropped kick flare jeans elongates the leg line. At the same time this showcases the waistband with thin animal print belt. Pairing the on trend cropped kick flares with equally trendy square-toed ankle strap pumps also ensures a longer leg line. The kicky red shoes and leather jacket make the outfit sing. Neon red nail polish complements the outfit colours in a playful non-matchy way. Wearing her hair back in a signature knot showcases the dainty necklaces that fill the V-neckline of the T-shirt.

What do you think of Rosamarie’s Tomboy style? Let us know in the comments and then hop on over to her blog to browse the rest of her outfits.

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Wear a Dress over Flared or Straight Crops

Wearing dresses over skinnies or leggings is an easy combination that some will wear forever. Wearing the frock over flared or straight cropped pants or jeans is a fresher version of the combination, and one I’m into quite a bit. The subtle or fuller flare on the hems of the bottoms adds a more fashionable sensibility to the outfit. To my eye the vibe looks chic, elegant, fun and a little avant-garde. 

Combine a length of dress that falls somewhere between mid-thigh and above the kneecap with a pair of flared or straight cropped jeans or pants. Straighter knee-covering midi dresses can work (here I am wearing this with jeans last year),  but you’ll probably need a heel with that pairing unless you have a very long leg line. Finish off the look with footwear that works with the bottoms, accessories, and add layers for warmth if necessary.

Keep the contrast low, the colours tonal, or create a column of colour between the dress and crops if you’re concerned about chopping up your long lean line. You’ll want a dress that is fluid over the waist so that you can’t see the silhouette of your jeans or pants. Unstructured shirt dresses are ideal for this look. That said, waist-defining dresses made of thicker fabric, or with strategically placed ruching can glide over the waistband of the bottoms quite successfully too. No grinning. 

I don’t have great visual examples, but the Summery renditions of the vibe below and in this pin might get your creative juices flowing. Mess around in your closet and combine a dress with cropped flares or straights, and see what happens. Heels are not essential for the look.

REDVALENTINO Cashmere and Point D'esprit Mini Sweater Dress

I wore my linen and denim shirt dresses over straight white cropped jeans quite a bit last Summer. I finished off the outfit with pearls, flat white sandals, and a gold or white bag. I find the insulating and structured feeling of the jeans under my dress quite comforting. 

Just last week, I pulled together a dressier version of this vibe for a friend’s birthday party at a restaurant. I combined my new black holiday dress with dressy black cropped flares, black Heattech socks, cream booties, and pearls. I finished off the outfit with an orange bag, chartreuse coat, matching patterned scarf, watch, and green specs. I enjoyed how layering the dress over the pants amps down the dressiness of the frock. Here are the exact items of the outfit. I was very comfortable, and felt fab.

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Turn a Shopping Weakness Into a Signature Look

You know you have a shopping weakness when you’re wild about certain items and have a hard time saying “no thank you” when it comes to purchasing them. With these items, your shopping discipline often goes straight out the window. They follow you home at the drop of a hat, even when you have multiples in your wardrobe already. They often result in wardrobe orphans, unnecessary duplications, or a wardrobe for an imaginary climate and lifestyle.

On the other hand, a well managed shopping weakness can be a positive thing. I am a firm believer in keeping the emotion alive in your shopping adventures because it leads to more successful purchase decisions. Your shopping weakness is merely a heightened passion for something you love, so harness it to create a signature look that reflects your personal style.

The shopping weakness I struggle to keep under control is my love for Spring fashions. I go giddy over the fresh colours, crisp textures, pretty patterns, lightweight fabrications, flirty silhouettes, lack of heavy layers, cotton knitwear, assortment of light-coloured neutrals, and the imminent hope of warm weather. Early Spring is absolutely my favourite time to shop. And as the new season hits retail over the next three months, I want it all. 

But when you live in Seattle and run cold like I do, it’s a shopping weakness that quickly leads to shopping for an imaginary climate. Just last week I had to give myself a good talking to as I was browsing some early Spring arrivals (see the collection below.) I need to hold out a little longer before I refresh for Spring so that I can actually wear the items soon after I purchase them. And then I need to be careful that I don’t make too many purchases.

There are also shopping weaknesses that I’ve harnessed as important parts of my personal style. For example, handbags are by far my favourite accessory and I have a large collection that I’ve built over a long period of time (my Chanel clutch is more than 25 years old). Part of my signature look is to swap them out frequently and I feel odd when I don’t have just the right bag to finish off my outfit. I keep things under control by sticking to a budget, and by not purchasing more bags than I can comfortable store visibly in our small walk in closet.

Here is my current collection:

White booties are another weakness of mine. When I see a pair, my heart skips a beat and I have to try them on to see whether they are comfortable. I find them graphic, crisp, modern, a little retro, an effective bookend with my blonde hair, and fresh in a sea of dark footwear. They have become a signature look and a wardrobe essential. I’ve had many, many pairs that have bitten the dust due to constant wear, but I still have quite a large current collection.

What are your shopping weaknesses? How do you manage them? Do you have a weakness that has turned into an important part of your personal style?

Roundups

Simpler Items

This week's list of top picks list is about basic pieces.

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Assorted Items

Items for Summer, both in and out of air conditioning.

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Casual Summer Vibes

This week's top picks are good for a casual Summer vibe.

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Summery Earth Tones

These items are for those who like to wear casual earth tones in warm and hot weather.

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Hints of Spring

Some tried-and-tested winning items to refresh your style for Spring.

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Dressier Items

An assortment of dressier top picks might be just what the doctor ordered.

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Travel Capsule For an Eight-Day Trip

I’ll be flying to the Netherlands over the weekend to see my darling Papa who turns 85 later this year. I’ll be on my own while Greg and Sam hold the fort back at the Cox Castle in Seattle. Including travel it’s an eight-day trip, and this is what I’ve packed. 

A few things upfront before I delve into the details:

  • I’ll be visiting family and friends, and hanging out with Papa in Velp and Arnhem for the week. I’ve been visiting these quaint Dutch towns all my life, and thoroughly enjoy it. I can keep my outfits casual, although I’ll have a few smart casual engagements too.
  • The weather will hover around freezing. Rain, snow, sleet and frost is common at this time of year. I do a lot of walking when I visit my Dad, which means wrapping up to brave the elements, and wearing the right footwear. 
  • I’ll be popping a larger suitcase in the hold as I like to have more dressing options than a carry-on can accommodate. I’ll also be bringing presents for family and friends, which requires extra space. 
  • I will NOT be doing laundry on the trip.
  • The capsule includes the outfit that I will wear on both ten-hour flights. It’s the same outfit, and I’ve included it at the end of this post.

I’ve kept my dressing formula the same for each day: cropped flared jeans + pullover + booties + accessories + outerwear. 

The palette combines neutrals and brights: ink blue, cream, chartreuse, citron, Dutch orange, and a smattering of black. Most of the darks are ink blue, although they look black in the photos. For me, the LIGHT neutral accents are essential because they brighten a dark outfit and complement my pale complexion. A bright bag adds life to a dark puffer and jeans, and screams ‘cheerful outfit’, when I pair it with the chartreuse coat. The variety of colour, texture, footwear silhouette, pattern and accessories across the capsule keeps the formula interesting. The current silhouettes of the jeans, pullovers and footwear keep the outfits on trend. 

Here’s more detail on each part of the capsule. Note that basics like undies, camisoles, thermals. sleepwear, loungewear and socks are not represented here. For the rest, these are the exact wardrobe items that I packed and will be wearing en route. I can combine any of the tops with any pair of jeans and either pair of shoes. The coats, bag, hats, scarves and gloves work with all outfits.

Footwear

I build a travel capsule around my shoes because it’s extremely important to have happy feet when you’re walking around a city and using public transport. Once I knew which shoes I was taking, I planned the rest of the outfits to work with them. 

Two pairs of shoes are sufficient for the eight-day trip. I’ll wear my casual fleece-lined Converse sneakers most of the time because they’re great in cold, wet and frosty weather. I’ll wear my dressier cream boots for the smart casual engagements. Both pairs are very comfortable, tried and tested, and go the distance. 

Bottoms

I’ll be wearing dark wash flared cropped and straight jeans each day. I’ll wear them with Heattech socks and high-shaft footwear for comfort and insulation. Paired with the footwear, my outfits feel sufficiently fashionable. 

Knitwear

I’ve packed five pullovers, although I’ll only be wearing the solid black pullover for the flights, so it’s essentially four tops. I’ll wear some of them twice. 

I chose pullovers because I’ll be too cold in blouses and shirts. I chose turtlenecks for extra warmth, which means no pearl necklaces on this trip. I’ll also be sporting my pullovers untucked, which means no belts either. I selected five turtlenecks that differ in colour and texture so that I don’t get bored with my look. Ink blue, black, orange and citron across cables, dot stitches, and colour blocking for the win. 

Outerwear

It would have been easier to bring one coat for the trip, but that wasn’t wise because I’ll need my ink puffer for very cold days, and the lighter wool coat for less cold days. I’ll also need a dressier coat from time to time when the puffer won’t do. Plus, my Papa loves a dressier, ladylike look, which means that I had to bring my new chartreuse coat!

Accessories

I’ve kept accessories minimally maximal this time round. I’ll wear my green specs, gold watch, pearl bracelet, pearl ring and an orange bag each day. Then I’ll choose between two woolly scarves and two cream hats for insulation when I’m out and about, and add my gloves when I need them. I chose patterned scarves for outfit interest, and black and chartreuse options so that I can create low and high colour contrasts with either coat.

I will also be travelling with an umbrella and a cashmere wrap. I’ve left the wrap out of the capsule because it will not be styled into these outfits. It’s loungewear and a cosy blanket for plane travel only. I’ll keep the umbrella in my bag just like I do in Seattle. 

Travel Outfit

This is the exact outfit that I will wear on the flight out to Amsterdam on Sunday, and the flight back to Seattle next week. A turtleneck and cosy socks are insulating on long flights. The coat is in case I get really cold on the plane, and for when I travel to my Dad from the airport with arranged transport. 

You can visit this collection page to see my travel capsule in its entirety. The picture below shows the items just before I started packing. I’m ready to go now that my little in-house fashion stylist gave his pose of approval.

Travel Capsule

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Link Love: Defying Gender Labels

Lucy Rycroft-Smith wore men’s clothes for a month and documented her findings diary-style.

Cara Barrett, the only female writer at Hodinkee, a go-to website for watch aficionados where the readership is 93% male, talks about breaking into the boys’ club of watches.

W Magazine rounds up four gender-neutral denim brands who are getting into the unisex game.

Fab Links from Our Members

It’s cold outside but Lisa has Spring on her mind so this review of the top 10 collections for Spring 2017 hit just the right spot.

A while ago, some YLF members were talking about unisex clothing. Texstyle came across this brief article listing some good options for menswear that women can easily wear. She also says: “What I’ve noticed personally is that much of the clothing I purchase for DH is of better quality than some of the items I buy from the same brand. So sometimes I do buy the men’s version of a tee, top or hoodie.”

Kathryn wanted to share this New York Times article about the impact of Michelle Obama’s fashion choices and the thoughtfulness behind them.

Gradfashionista found reading Garance Doré’s account of moving from New York City to Los Angeles really cathartic and reassuring, “considering that the style blogger and photographer was so well-positioned to benefit the most from the city (career, connections, income, etc.).”

As someone who has SOFT as an adjective to describe her aspiring style, Angie likes Sally’s suggestions for how to soften your look.

While reading a thread about careers in danger of being automated, modelling was mentioned, says Annagybe. As was the company Looklet, who provide dynamic fashion images for retailers. Annagybe adds: “But so much for seeing clothes on a real body.”