7-Tin-7: Blocks of Color for Benefit

Check out my 7-Trends-in-7-Days challenge on my Midsummer Night's Dream... of Fall post.

Day 7:  Gala to benefit the Idaho Shakespeare Festival
The Trend:  Color Blocking
Color blocking is the fine art of mismatching monochromatic items within an ensemble so much so, they match.  Sounds brilliantly confusing, huh!  On the contrary this is one of the most brilliant trends to experiment with this season or next.  Without question you already own enough in your closet to color block yourself into style. Even if you live in NYC where black is the new white, brown, or red, use it!  Black counts too.  If you don't dare go as Crayola crazy as I did here, pair something gray with something black with something white & throw on some red shoes, you are officially color blocked.  I love the 2-toned items we are starting to see, a new & welcomed take on the stripe obsession.  Pair your 2 tones with 2 more & you are color blocked.  At the very most, find your favorite color flavor of the season & grab some pumps to pair with countless ensembles you are sure to drum up within your own wardrobe.  I guarantee you can put together outfits appropriate for a casual family gathering to a night out with the girls in those same colorfully brilliant pumps (so make 'em comfy).  Here I wore a breezy  A+O dress (!!! it's getting hot in here!!!) & some purple pumps I think I bought for a wedding & had literally never worn, yet received more compliments on than any other shoe I've donned regularly (WOW! major perk of the challenge).  I put on a few bangles, a lovely cocktail ring, carried a bright clutch, & called myself color blocked for an evening of serious-sweltering-loot-raising-loveliness!

Dress:  Alice + Olivia
Clutch:  Mar Y Sol Billie Raffia Ruffle Clutch

My years as a dancer!

Shades:  Tom Ford Yvette
Lips:  MAC Cremesheen Lipstick LICKABLE
Earrings:  can't remember

Bangles:  Forever 21, Kate Spade
Cocktail Ring:  uggghhh, can't remember

Shoes:  Gianni Bini (never rec'd so many compliments in 1 night!!!)

Color Blocking is "HOT" (like 99 degrees)!


<Covet Corner>
Similar dresses:
 Halston Heritage Womens Sarong Knot Cocktail Dress
 Bcbgeneration women's Pleated Tube Dress
Similar Shoes:
Butter Women's City Pump

Stylishly yours,
DKG

7-Tin-7: Brits Love Lids

Check out my 7-Trends-in-7-Days challenge on my Midsummer Night's Dream... of Fall post.

Day 6:  Idaho Shakespeare Festival Performance - "Cabaret"
The Trend:  Hats!
I am going to go out on a limb here & say that the royal wedding has had an impact on fashion this year.  With the lady-like themes all over the runway & Kate on the cover of every gossip magazine I am pretty confident that practical sun repelling lids are going to morph into more refined & chic looks this fall.  Perhaps we don't need to go as extreme as the royal cousins, but there's nothing wrong with a twist on the old classics.  For my 7-Tin-7 night at the Idaho Shakespeare amphitheater I opted for the ever-chic straw fedora.  I paired it with a denim romper & colorful accessories.   This fall I intend to pull out some of my felt fedora-esque lids & hope to maybe acquire a few new shapes & styles.  I believe in head wear as an active accessory rather than a functional deterrent from elements or bad hair days, so feel free to sport one as an accessory.  The chicer the more appropriate according to etiquette experts.  The way I see it, if Queen Kate is sporting them during the day & inside it must certainly be etiquette approved for my purposes.  Go get a sweet lid & rock-it with style this fall!

Romper:  Rich & Skinny
Fedora:  JCrew
Bag:  Furla
Shades:  Tom Ford
Earrings:  gifted
Bracelets:  Forever 21 (blue), JCrew (skinny orange), gifted (left hand orange)
Flops:  Rainbow (my most comfy flops!!!)
Lips:  MAC Vegas Volt

Stylishly yours,
DKG

7-Tin-7: Solid Gold

Check out my 7-Trends-in-7-Days challenge on my Midsummer Night's Dream... of Fall post.

Day 5:  Awards Celebration at the Golf Club (the sequel to All That Glitters Isn't (necessarily) Gold)
The Trend:  Big Bold Gold... everything

This trend does make me feel like a throw-back from the 80's, but who doesn't love Solid Gold?  According to the catwalk you can wear this trend however you choose from a solid gold dress to skinny pants to a layer of simple gold chains.  I tend to lean towards the Mr. T side of the spectrum as you can tell by my not-so-subtle, Vegas-style jacket.  However, I appreciate the fact that I tend to take a few more fashion risks than most.  Suit yourself with this trend, but don't be afraid to pair a "loud" item with something as simple as a pair of jeans & a cotton tank.  One of my favorite looks is jeans, a wife beater, a blazer, a pair of stilettos, and a few gold (or silver) chains.  I am, however, on the prowl for some glamorous gold leggings, oh so godess-esque.  When I find my goddess-ness I will pair it with a sheer blousy top, some form of rockin' taupe pumps, & as many gold chains & bangles I can find in my bodouir.  Until then, I will sport my LaRok jacket into the fall & winter to represent this "Bold Gold" trend.  As part of my summer twist here I went with an all white ensemble to contrast the gold jacket & of course, give it a more summery feel.   As a side note:  wearing all white to this Awards Celebration turned pool party kept me from getting thrown in the pool!  Nice one!  Who says that BOLD fashion choices can't also keep you safe (and dry)?

Jacket:  LaRok
Jeans:  Rock Revival
Tank: C&C California

Bangles:  Forever 21, JCrew
Ring:  Lucky

Watch:  Invicta

Shoes:  Tory Burch

Voila!  Big Bold Gold trend... complete with summer twist.  Your turn...

Stylishly yours,
DKG

7-Tin-7: Lace Revisited

Check out my 7-Trends-in-7-Days challenge on my Midsummer Night's Dream... of Fall post.

Day 4:  Backyard BBQ complete with Beer & Brats
The Trend:  Lace
Is it lingerie?  Is it a table cloth?  How should one wear lace & when is it appropriate?  Lace seems to stand the test of time in it's various forms within decor & clothing.  I find it luxurious, a staple, a stamp of tradition in an ever-changing world filled with fly-by-night trends.  I love it's feminine quality & I love it's versatility.  On the dramatic side I've seen fellow bloggers successfully pair lingerie shorts with a poplin top.   Being a sucker for contrast, I love the dramatic look of a rugged pair of ripped up jeans & something as refined as a lace bodice or blouse.  The runway showed the gamut of lace embellishments from layered lace dresses to monochromatic blouses with a subtle lace trim.  Lady-like looks are everywhere for fall & they are the perfect place for lace.  If you are so lucky to own an heirloom pull it out this fall & experiment with contrast pieces.  If not, pick up a piece or two, it is an investment that will not go out of style.  On to my outfit... because I looked a 97 degree backyard BBQ in the face, I opted for short shorts with these layered lace tanks.  Once again, Tory Burch completed my look in the form of patent leather wedges.  Simple, but a "cool" way to revisit a trend I adore so much!

Tanks: Free People
Shorts:  JCrew
Shoes:  Tory Burch

Layered Lace tanks

Bracelets (top down): Kate Spade, Forever 21, Anthropologie

Lips:  MAC lickable lipstick, Magenta liner

Stylishly yours,
DKG

7-Tin-7: All That Glitters Isn't (necessarily) Gold

Check out my 7-Trends-in-7-Days challenge on my Midsummer Night's Dream... of Fall post.


Day 3:  Big Bets at the Calcutta before the Big Golf Tournament (Frank being the golfer, of course)
The Trend:  Shimmer
Shimmer & shine graced the catwalks like it was going out of style, and it might be, so bring it on with as much enthusiasm as you can muster.  For some this may be a trend that gets quietly ignored, for others the idea of fall being shimmer's swan song could send them into a shimmer-filled tizzy.  I'd say I fall somewhere in the middle.  Love it, of course, but I don't mind the idea of wearing it even if it goes out of style (who am I anyway... watch it become ballet flats).  The runway showed more metallic-esque materials than sequin laden items as has been the main source of "shimmer" in seasons past.  There are still plenty of sequins out there so don't send them to the Salvation Army yet, but perhaps use this season as an opportunity to experiment with various textures & colors that are sure to line the department stores this fall. Here is my concoction for what my husband calls a "Cougar-prowling-night at the club".  I'm not sure I saw any "Cougars" that weren't attached to one of the golfers, but to humor my husband's self-flattery I still felt the need to up the anty a bit.  The result:  the perfect night to represent this trend during my 7-Tin-7-Week.

Lips:  MAC Up the Amp
Earrings:  gifted

Tank:  BCBG
Belt:  Hot Topic
Skirt:  JCrew
Bangles:  Banana Republic, Forever 21, etc.

Shoes:  Michael Kors

Stylishly yours,
DKG

7-Tin-7: Loafers, Lace, & Leather

Check out my 7-Trends-in-7-Days challenge on my Midsummer Night's Dream... of Fall post.

Day 2:  Grandpa's Memorial Service
The Trend: Loafers
My Grandfather passed away this past December.  He was a healthy 95 and died while dreaming.  Although the oldest of 3, he outlived everyone in his family & all of his friends.  I think he lived that long because he never took himself too seriously, kept his mind very active, & had a glass of scotch every night.  The portion of his life that I witnessed was full of love & laughter.  His memorial service happened to fall within my 7-Tin-7 week & rather than ignore it on this blog I feel that it deserves to be acknowledged because his life was so beautifully lived, something I strive for everyday.  Gramps loved brightly colored plaid pants & loafers so it is only appropriate that I honor him with part 1 of this post by featuring loafers as a hot trend.  He would be so proud!  I fully plan to expand upon this trend in my own closet with a pair or two of flat loafers & at least 1 pair of the ever-so-cool heeled loafers (I am COVETING a turquoise pair at Anthropologie).  But you know the rules of my challenge, so here are my Kate Spades that I have worn into the ground, but for good reason they are casual-cool, comfortable, & go with everything!  So put on an old pair of loafers or invest in a new pair & when you come across the attendant at the gas station or the cashier at the grocery store tell them: "you are a good man Charlie Brown," for Grandpa.

T-shirt, Sweater, & Belt:  JCrew
Shorts:  Theory

Watch:  Michele

Lips:  MAC Wonder Woman gloss, Brick liner 

The flag at Veteran's Memorial Cemetery

Day 2:  Dinner at the pool
The Trend:  Lace
This is not the best example of the lace frocks that graced the runway, but I simply could not resist the 3-L's in my title for this post.  Here you see my afternoon attire to the pool with the ladies & the kids.  I love this cover-up for is subtle see through sexiness & its beautifully embroidered jaquard lattice.  I paired it with a 50's style ruched halter swim suit & a fedora.  Take note of my favorite Tory Burch flops.  The wedged height makes me feel like I'm in heels (I always say that I was born in heels) but with the comfort of flip flops.  Way to go Tory, your shoes are well worth the investment!  Once the days of pool-side happy hour have come to a close, find a lacey frock & wear it ever so stylishly, perhaps with a pair of Tory's heels.

Cover-up:  Anthropologie
Suit:  Anthropologie
Fedora: JCrew
Flops:  Tory Burch

Day 2:  Ray Johnston Band concert to benefit First Candle
The Trend:  Leather
Day 2 started off with a lot of love & emotion and the end of the day was no exception.  The Ray Johnston Band was formed by Ray Johnston, a professional basketball star turned 5-time cancer survivor, turned "live life to the fullest" musician.  He came to town to help raise money for First Candle, an organization dedicated to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) research & education, in honor of sweet baby Logan (see my post on danasangels for the heart-wrenching story).  The event was a celebration of life & a wonderful reminder to not take ANYTHING for granted.  So here we are with another great message for part 3 of this post...
You will probably not find it surprising that I am THRILLED to see loads of leather everywhere.  It has a denim-like timelessness but with that little bit of edge I love so much.  I love stepping a little outside of the box for events like a concert.  Here I paired my sweet TART leather dress with Converse sneakers & a denim shirt, the epitome of contrast in texture & casual coolness.  Grab some leather pants if you dare or find a sweater subtly trimmed in leather for fall, life is too short to not rock it everyday!

Dress:  TART
Shirt:  Banana Republic
Shoes:  Converse
Purse: Betsy Johnson
Watch: Michele

Lips:  MAC Wonder Woman, Brick liner
Dog:  Maya
Bangles:  Forever 21

The risks of blogg-ing while Mom-ing
Cute Little Boy:  Rowan

Stylishly (& humbly) yours,
DKG

7-Tin-7: Pour me another, please!

Check out my 7-Trends-in-7-Days challenge on my Midsummer Night's Dream... of Fall post.

Day 1:  Dinner downtown with friends
The Trend:  Vino Rosso!
It is very apparent that wine (pick your poison: Bordeaux, Cabernet, Merlot, Rouge, or Rosso) is the shade-du-fall.  I love it!  The variations are so yummy just about every skin tone will meet their match in the shades-of-wine color wheel.  On the runway it was paired with everything from hot pink to red to gold to taupe.  I paired these Shiraz hued shorts with a bright pink pullover.  The shoes came about because they were literally the only other wine colored item in my wardrobe (you know what that means... time to shop!).  The turquoise on the shoe started the evolution of turquoise accessories.  I added some organic textures & tones to contrast the gold pieces then glommed on a little bright red gloss for an unexpected pop to complete my look on Day 1.  Off to dinner downtown with friends...

Sweater: Jcrew
Shorts: BCBG
Clutch: Banana Republic

Necklaces: Jcrew
Bangles: Forever 21 (mostly)
Cuff:  can't remember (shucks!)
Nails:  OPI Alpine Snow

Shades:  Prada
Lips:  MAC Wonder Woman gloss, Cherry liner

Wedges:  BCBG
Toes:  OPI Alpine Snow

... a lovely evening, featuring the fall shade of choice, completed only by a bottle of Sangiovese.  Not only do I love a big glass of Cabernet during the months of fall, but I am greatly looking forward to ripening my wardrobe with Merlot!

Sylishly yours,

DKG

A Midsummer Night's Dream... of Fall

As the fall looks leave the runway & start to appear online & in store fronts I feel it my duty to not only interpret the trends & strategize the future of my wardrobe, but also to inform you, my fashionista friends, of the looks you will come to know & love when the flower petals fall & the leaves change. My first instinct was to pull my fave snapshots from the catwalks of the hottest designers & describe to you in detail the trends, my opinion, & ideas for integration.  In fact, I had a full blog entry written & ready to post, but in reading it back to myself I decided it was BORING! And, that's not my style. I slept on it & dreamt up a challenge to myself: present 7 trends in 7 days with items already in my wardrobe.  It helped that I had a weeks worth of plans lined up, ranging from a backyard BBQ to a Gala, all of which would require diligent styling anyway.  I loved it! An opportunity to take a few risks, challenge my closet creativity, & keep it cheap.  Not to  mention the perfect personal runway, in the form of social obligations, ready for snapshots.  This made my newly devised 7-Tin-7 challenge the perfect forum to fulfill my personal look book. The caveat to all of this is the distinct summer twist to the trends (for obvious reasons... uhhhh 95 degrees!).  Regardless, I decided this was a much more fun (& down-to-Earth) way of revealing the fashions of fall to you.  So try to look through these summer ensembles to see the fall trends & take the runway & run with it.  From my closet to yours, I hope you enjoy!

Stay tuned...  7-Tin-7:  Day 1... coming soon (tomorrow)!

Stylishly yours,
DKG