Category Archives: how-to

how to dress like a french girl

french style emmanuelle alt

Emmanuelle Alt & team, image via (for more Parisian style goodness, see my Pinterest page)

Hi, friends! I’m back, I’m caffeinated, and I’m finally ready to start telling you all about that wonderful trip I took. Before I get into the official travel reviews, tips and all of that goodness, something’s been nagging at me. Something I noticed literally nonstop on this trip, time and time again. I’d sit in a café, sometimes for hours, just people-watching. Or, more specifically, scoping out all of those gorgeous Parisian girls whose style we’re always trying (and failing) to emulate over here. And by about Day 6, something clicked. I finally realized they’re all doing the exact same thing. The clouds parted, and the secret formula for how to dress like a French girl was finally bestowed upon me by the fashion gods. Are you ready? Read on →

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asked and answered: what to wear to that holiday party

Some of you told me you’d be curious about my advice for holiday party attire. And, since this is officially the week for holiday parties and I know I’m you’re fretting about what to wear, I thought I’d pass on some of my favorite “rules of thumb” for holiday party outfits. Read on →

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the how-to: bundle up in style

When one of you (hi, Amy!) suggested that I talk a little about bundling up for winter, I got pretty excited. The truth is, winter is my season! While I hate the cold, I absolutely adore cold weather style. So, today I thought I’d dispense a few of my favorite tips for staying chic no matter the weather. Read on →

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the how-to: 15 minutes to a happier closet

Beautiful closet, clean closet, organize closet, how to clean your closet

Image via California Closets

We don’t talk enough about the realities of fashion, do we? The difference between “them” (those gorgeous stylesetters you admire endlessly on Pinterest) and “us” (who are openly thrilled when we manage to successfully assemble an outfit with more than two components). But the chasm can feel wide. How is it that “they” make themselves look so fantastic, so often? I’ll tell you. Read on →

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asked and answered: what to wear with leather?

Yay, reader question! Being answered in a timely fashion! I’m pretty proud of myself. Amy asked such a great question over the weekend, I had no choice but to answer straightaway:

All the leather out there reminds me of my unresolved question from last fall: how do you match leather tops/skirts to boots? Do we avoid leather boots completely? Do the boots need to match the color of the leather top/jacket/skirt? If not boots, then what kind of footwear, especially in the colder months? Thanks! ~ Amy

Amy, you’re so not the only one wondering about this. Matching leather is a hurdle it took me years to master – and finally, I realized I was worrying too much (as usual). In general, the only rules I stick to are these: Read on →

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the how-to: stacking rings in the real world

Images via Pinterest: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4

Stacking rings has become this season’s answer to the “arm party” phenom we all couldn’t get enough of last year. And just like with those armfuls of bracelets, a pile of rings on every finger might look good on Instagram, but for those of us with jobs to do, emails to type and dogs/kids to wrangle, wearing 32 rings on each hand can be a bit much.

Personally, I’m all about taking inspiration from the extremes and paring it down for real life. So, I teamed up with the lovelies at Workhorse Jewelry to show off a real-world take on the trend.  Read on →

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quick trick: solving the “i have nothing to wear” blues

Photo via Pinterest…if you know the actual source, pleaseplease tell me!

I know “spring cleaning” is supposed to be where it’s at, but really, it’s more mid-February (hey, that’s now!) when my “clean it up, toss it out” juices get flowing. This is when I’m officially beginning to tire of my winter wardrobe, when I’m coming to terms with which fall/winter pieces in my closet are officially not getting worn, and which are due to be retired.

Besides tackling my own treasure troves, I’ve been helping a dear reader with a major closet clean-out/reorganization this month (truly, there are few things I love more in the world than editing closets. If you need a hand, you know where to find me). And it’s gotten me thinking that I have a few tricks up my sleeve I may not have mentioned. Like my no-fail solution to the “I have nothing to wear” wail that issues from my closet at least twice a month. Want the secret?

Read on →

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test case: the best black leggings

That’s right – no clever title, no beating about the bush. This post is a mission. It’s also ungodly long, so settle in.

For all of the shopping I do (and believe me, it’s a lot), I’ve never been able to find truly perfect basic black leggings. I’ve tried just about everything, but nothing hit the mark. Either it was a ponté knit that pilled after a few wears, or a matte knit fabric that quickly looked worn and gross, or a fabric that looked too shiny and athletic, or it was too thin and showed more than it should. I’m pretty sure this makes me the Goldilocks of black leggings, but that’s okay.

All of this is compounded by the fact that…well, I don’t really believe in leggings. That is – let me say this loudly, and with gusto – leggings are not pants. No matter how many celebrities or 19-year-olds we see doing it, I have a real problem with any sartorial use of leggings in which my ass is that plainly visible to anyone. Sorry, but I need layers – or at least pockets, for the love of god – to cover that sh!t up.

But of course, the tunic-and-leggings pairing went out with the ’90s. So, what’s a girl to do when she wants to wear her PJs out into the world without being judged?

Read on →

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