Sweatshirt: Splendid

Skirt: Moschino Cheap and Chic

Earrings: Jewel Mint Kaylin Earrings JME 0315 $30

Bracelet: Jewel Mint Spiral Galaxy Bracelet JMB 0353 $30

Shoes: Henry & Henry

One of the things I love about fashion is how sometimes it's okay to wear things you never dreamed of pairing together.  I know a few very athletic people who always tell me they never know what to wear when they go out.  I thought about starting an outfit with a piece that would make them feel very comfortable, just like they are wearing their everyday clothes.  Realizing that yoga pants would probably not be the thing to build upon, I settled on a sweatshirt and remembered seeing one paired with a pencil skirt that looked amazing.  On the hunt for the perfect pencil skirt, I found this sequined one.  The contrast is just amazing; it's so dressy but so casual at the same time.  The sweatshirt perfectly turns the over-the-top sparkle into this casual, laid-back thing.  I tried to do the same with the jewelry, pairing a feminine drop earring with a chunkier bracelet, and the shoes bring it home with a little bit of edge.  They will be deceptively comfortable for the girl who doesn't like heels because they are built on a wider rubber sole.  

The new comprehensive MintStyle catalog has finally arrived, and I only just realized that even though I was really excited for new pieces, I would have been really upset if some of my favorites were sold out.  I was so happy to see two of my favorites, the Coquette Collar necklace and the Caspian cuff on the cover as well as the Baroque Bloom necklace inside.  My other favorites, the Lantern Tassel, Victoria Cameo, and Heirloom Tassel pendants are back as well.  Everyone who has purchased a piece or attended a showcase has commented on what great quality the pieces are for the price.  My new favorites are the Chombard earrings and the Honeycomb bangle.  If you'd like to see samples, arrange a showcase, or place an order please contact me.  If you book a showcase, you will receive credit from any purchased made toward your own purchase of jewelry.  I hope you enjoy the new catalog, and I'd love to hear what your favorite pieces are.

Top: Jason Wu

Skirt: J Crew

Bag: Miu Miu

Bangle: Lulu Frost

Earrings: Vivienne Westwood

How about a little bit of lace on lace?  It would be easy to pair another black lace top with this skirt, but the contrast cream keeps it from being overly formal.  It's still a feminine and ornate outfit without being too sweet.  Also keeping it from being too sweet, the edgy cracked leather bag.  The bangle and earrings are delicate with the bangle adding an antique, vintage look.  This outfit doesn't stray into the overly young outfit that some lace pairings do making it completely appropriate for a woman over 40.  The pencil skirt is so good for an hourglass figure, and the top has enough fabric to keep it from clingy around areas we don't want it to.

It's actually a very simple outfit with a lot of heavy silver jewelry.  If you are feeling it, by all means spike your hair and go for it.

Blouse: Diane von Furstenberg

Pants: J. Crew

Socks: Forever 21

Loafers: Dolce Vita

Earrings: Marc by Marc Jacobs

Necklace: Bauble Bar

Bracelet: Ligia dias

Ring: Jules Smith

Dress: Wallis

Bracelets: Forever 21

Clutch: Issa Collection from Banana Republic

Sandals: Tahari

Necklace: MintStyle JMN0371 

Summer's coming to a close, and although I'm happy about that because I don't like the hot weather, some people are really sad to see it go.  Of course, here in Southern California, it will be warm for a few more months, but if you are someplace with more distinct seasons, and the kids are already going back to school, you might want to fit in one more casual outfit for an evening spent outside.  Sitting on a patio or at a concert in a loose, comfortable, classic dress is perfect, and this tribal print has colors that are great for the fall, too.  You could easily transition this dress with brown tights and flat boots for the next season.  You can channel a little bit of Kate Middleton with this clutch from the Issa Collection at Banana Republic.  Use it here for your date night and then carry it inside of your tote to the office to use during your lunch hour.  I always love an envelope clutch, and this one has a good size, so your wallet will actually fit in it.  With such a bold print, go for more delicate jewelry, but you can still have an arm party with this stack of bangles from Forever 21.  I always pick up inexpensive pieces to stack from Forever 21 and H&M.  The MintStyle necklace has a very Egyptian feel to me.  I think it will look great in the neckline of this dress, and you can always use the Buy Now button to the left to order it.  

Blazer: Rebecca Taylor

Pants: Vanessa Bruno

Sweater: Clements Ribeiro

Pumps: Kate Spade

Bracelet: MintStyle

Handbag: Kate Spade

I recently had an important meeting with a potential corporate client, and just like everyone else, I couldn't figure out what to wear.  Should I wear an all-business black suit with a white blouse paired with sensible black pumps and briefcase?  If I wore that would they think that I'm too boring and plain for a stylist?  Should I wow them with bright colors and something avant-garde?  If I did that, would they think I was too over the top for their professional business?  I decided to go with something tailored, feminine, but edgy and to make sure that I had a least a little bit of color to be eye-catching.  The blazer's leather trim provides some edge but maintains a traditional tailored cut.  The pumps and handbag are traditional too, but the chains on the bracelet are bold as are the stripes on the cashmere sweater.  Remember that important meetings or job interviews are not the time to scrimp on budget clothes.  You want to show that you are investing in your best asset: you.

Sweater: Dorothy Perkins

Blouse: MANGO

Bracelet: JewelMint

Skirt: J Crew

Pumps: Boutique 9 

Blazer: Reiss

It's around this time of the year, every year, that I'm really tired of the summer and warm weather, and my thoughts turn to fall dressing and layering.  The key to layering is to keep everything fitted; if you layer big bulky things, they are going to make you look big and bulky, too.  J. Crew makes absolutely the best pencil skirts.  If you have an hourglass figure, pencil skirts are something you should build around because they are universally flattering on you.  I always like to add a collar beneath a crew neck especially if you are trying to wear one that builds on colors that aren't necessarily in your color pallet.  I really shouldn't wear beige, but when I add a white collar under a beige-toned sweater, I can get away with it.  Shoes are finally losing their excessive platforms and going back to more feminine structures.  These are a beautiful ballet pink, but if you like to be more match, they also come in crimson to match the sweater, or you can get them in black for an even edgier feel.  

Tee: Iris & Ink

Jeans: MANGO

Boots: Madewell

Bracelets: Mint Style

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

Jacket: 2nd Day

Perfume: Jimmy Choo

I never felt that I could pull off the jeans tucked into boots look.  Somehow I always felt it looked dated as though I had never stepped out of the 70s.  Last fall, I bought a pair of Hunter boots, and started wearing them with leggings and long sweaters.  I loved the look so much, this fall I've vowed to give the jeans and boots thing another try.  I think the key to it working for me this time was the fact that I stuck to a flat riding boot.  It gives the look a much more modern casual look than a stacked heel.  This is an ideal outfit for someone with an apply body type.  Keep the top loose and flowing with a loose-fitting tee and super soft, draped leather jacket while keeping the bottom more fitted with these dark wash mid-rise jeans.  If you are on the shorter side, though, you won't want to tuck the jeans in, so go for a boot cut and wear them outside of the boot.  As usual, there is a Buy Now button to the left if you'd like to order the bracelets.  I'm intrigued by the description of Flash by Jimmy Choo, which contains pink pepper and is described as sophisticated, provocative, and magnetic.  Who doesn't need a little of that?  

Dress: Helmut

Bracelet: Bauble Bar

Ring: Mint Style Class Act Ring 

Clutch: ASOS

Pumps: Shoe Mint

Recently someone asked me to help her put together a outfit to wear to a wedding.  It was an outdoor, evening, black-tie dinner.  She knew it was going to be really warm that day, and she had waited until the last minute to try to pull something together because she knew she'd have to wear a dress, and she didn't want to.  We talked about it being okay for her to wear pants, but she really felt she had to go in a dress.  I found this silky racer back dress that could be dressed or up down.  She has an athletic, inverted triangle body, so this cut works really well on her.  She incorporated chunky jewelry like the pieces here and let the neckline of the dress speak for itself.  This clutch is huge and squeezable, which makes it the perfect clutch for carrying an envelope for the couple as well as a pair of foldable flats to wear while dancing.  

Coat: RED Valentino

Blouse: Rebecca Taylor

Pants: J Crew

Cuff: Mint Style JMB0165 $44.00

Shoes: Shoe Mint

Bag: Cambridge Satchel

If you work in a casual or artistic environment, it can become really easy to get sucked into wearing paired down outfits of jeans and tee shirts.  It doesn't take much more effort than putting on these old staples to pull together an outfit like this one.  The shoes and large cuff add most of the drama here, but the unexpected pairing of colors adds dimension.  If you'd like to order the cuff, please use the link to email me or look for they Buy Now button to the left.

Eyeshadow: Maybelline Color Tattoo in Pomegranate Pink

Earrings: Mint Style Milano Drops

Lipgloss: MAC in Baby Sparks

Dress: Rebecca Taylor

Luminizer: Buxom Divine Goddess

Bracelet: Baublebar Noir Tassel

The busy season of weddings and graduations is over, but there are still a few weekends committed to special occasions over the rest of the summer.  This late in the season, most events are occurring in the evenings to avoid the heat of the day.  Evening weddings make it perfectly acceptable to wear black, but this dress with a pink underlay is lighter than something that's all black.  Keep your accessories and makeup on the pink side to keep it from being too dramatic.  If you are interested in purchasing the Mint Style earrings, you can you the Buy Now option to the left, or send me an email at bespokegina@gmail.com.