What 2 Wear When...: TIBI

Showing posts with label TIBI. Show all posts

Thursday, September 13, 2012

...it's Fall 2012: Peplum

Peplum is huge this fall. What is peplum? It's a short, flared or gathered piece of material attached to a garment of clothing at a woman's waist. Every catalogue this season has a piece or 2 and the mannequins in stores are wearing it. It's on tops, dresses, skirt waists and sweaters. I have to admit, it's taken me a little bit to be convinced of this look. I have hips, and therefore thought that peplum would make my hips even bigger than they are. Not a good look; my hips are big enough without extra fabric floating around them.

But, a little top from W by Worth has made me change my mind and I want everyone to try out a little peplum! This is the top in question (mine is black though, not brown):

Image from pinterest.com.

It's ponte knit with a lace overlay and zipper up the back. I have to say, it changed my mind completely! The peplum didn't exaggerate my hips as I thought it would and actually defined my waist nicely.

So, the question was, do I get this or another piece? In all honesty, I think everyone should start with ONE key peplum piece this fall. Just one. See how you like it before diving into the deep end of the peplum pool. Then the question is, do you go with something dressy or more casual, everyday.

Because I needed a dinner kind of outfit for a family event, this top worked for me. I will be paring it with a black pencil skirt (also with lace overlay) and some grey suede heels. Since it also looks great over pants, I hope use it several times this fall and winter.

If you think you want your peplum to be dressy, look for it in silk tops, skirts or dresses. I love the detail on this flower print, peplum top from Zara, and can see this too over a pencil skirt, or as they show it, with pants. And, at $59.90, it's a nice way to try out the trend without breaking the bank.

Image from zara.com.

When I've seen peplum on dresses, they have usually been solid color garments with the peplum breaking up the column of color. This Sandro dress is great and I could see it easily on a brunette with an oxblood pump accessorized with gold jewelry.

Image from net-a-porter.com.

If you want a little less of a ruffle, check out this dress from Tibi. The peplum is stitched down and more subtle. I love the cobalt blue!

Image from nordstrom.com.

Lisa scored this top at the Nordstrom anniversary sale, capturing 2 fall trends in one: leather and peplum. By Halogen, this top has a leather front, jersey back, and we can see it over jeans as well as a bright pencil skirt.

Image from nordstrom.com.

For 'everyday' peplum, there are some fun choices out there. Tory Burch is showing this peplum sweater and, cleverly, features a couple of ways to wear it.

Images from toryburch.com.

I love how she showed it both with a skirt and with pants. And if camel isn't your color, it also comes in black and red. LOVE.

For a budget-friendly option, this casual top by Bobeau is on sale right now at Nordstrom for $37.70. Cute over dark jeans, pants, and in an oxblood color!

Image from nordstrom.com.

I am REALLY digging this next top for everyday wear! Am I going to break my start-with-one-piece-of-peplum rule?! By Rebecca Taylor, this top is so easy over skinny black or denim pants with ballet flats! Says 'hip mommy' to me.

Image from bloomingdales.com.

Finally, one last piece. A fantasy piece. Because at $2990, it's never coming home. As much as I want it to. Ridiculously fabulous. The Row's Loxton jacket. So simple, over a long-sleeve white t-shirt and skinny jeans with pumps. That jacket stands all on it's own. I need a moment.

Image from barneys.com.

And with that, I'll put this post (and myself) to bed. Let us know what peplum piece you love! ~ JH

Thursday, June 7, 2012

...you have a dinner right after attending kids' sports games.

This is a problem that was brought up to me at a 3rd grade girls' softball game. One of the moms was saying how she was heading directly to a dinner from the game, and had a tough time coming up with what to wear for both sitting in a field AND dining at a nice restaurant immediately after. (Personally, I thought she did a fine job in picking her outfit.) If you are like me, you want to look cute for both occasions but also appropriately dressed.

If you have the right items in your closet, this shouldn't be too difficult. Here are a couple of key ingredients you should have to pull this off.

Ingredient number 1, a chair. Whatever you choose to wear, you shouldn't be dependent on a picnic table or bench. It might be wet, covered in pollen, and you should sit on something clean. Please invest $11.99 in one of these.

Image from dickssporttinggoods.com.

Ingredient number 2, pants. I think it's important to have long pants on for this scenario, either jeans or trousers, if the weather permits. They will protect you from bugs and therefore you can avoid the 'eau de Off' smell later at dinner. Jeans are fine if appropriate at the restaurant. If you need to be dressier, I recommend looking into a darker-colored ponte knit pant. This type of pant will not wrinkle and is completely comfortable to hang around in. Either my $75 pair of Michael Kors pants will do, or these Tibi ones look great.

Image from tibi.com.

I like the idea of the pants being a little cropped too and here's why - you shouldn't wear your 'dinner shoes' to the field. Stick on a pair of ballet flats, sneakers, or rain shoes if you need to for trekking across a field, and have your 'dinner shoes' in the car for after the game. A pant that is hemmed for heels is too tricky to wear for the game, so pass on those.

Ingredient number 3, layers. On top, you'll have to layer a bit, again depending on the weather. Start off with a top that doesn't wrinkle too much. Silk jersey is good for this, and a poly/cotton blend will be the most resistant to wrinkles. Something that you are excited to wear for dinner. Diane von Furstenberg makes great tops for dining out, and this would look great with cropped, black pants.

Image from bloomingdales.com.

If it's cooler out, layer on a cute jacket or trench. Again, this jacket doesn't have to be for dinner; you can ditch it in the car (along with your 'game shoes') on the way to the restaurant. Jackets can range from cute 'activewear' jackets like this North Face one...

Image from nordstrom.com.

...to a classic shortertrench, like this one from Comptoir des Cotonniers.

Image from comptoirdescotonniers.com.

Ingredient number 4, the secret weapons in your car. In addition to your shoes and jacket that will need to be changed, these items should be in your car for the 'transformation' en route to dinner:

Change of shoes.
Change of outerwear to a blazer, if needed.
Clutch - move essentials from purse to clutch.
Change of jewelry - add necklace, stacked bracelets, and/or earrings.
Perfume sample - a spritz will do wonders
Lipstick or gloss, and any other makeup you'd want to apply to freshen up. I usually just powder my face to get rid of shine and reapply lip gloss.

And voila, you are ready to see and be seen. I put together another 'set' on Polyvore (yes, I'm addicted, can you tell?!) showing both 'at game' and 'at dinner' looks using the same base items. Hope it inspires, and please keep the questions coming. We love it. ~ JH