RSS this is life in austin/aspen
Over at xlyssa.com, I posted a roundup of summer fitness tanks I just have to have, which got me started thinking … pretty much all I wear all summer is tanks. Fitness or fancy, top or dress, I love tanks! So here’s a fab summer roundup of classic racerback tanks (including my fitness faves).
Helmut Lang jersey tank top, $88
Victoria Beckham racerback tank, 52
CALYPSO ST BARTH long tank top, $75
Sea NY pocket tank, 75
James Perse racerback tank, $65
Ever racerback tank, 47
Old Navy racerback tank, $17
H M top, 3.99
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I have to amend my previous diatribes against jeggings. See, even I thought they were leggings made to look like jeans. This is not always the case–though where it is the case, my resolution that you should avoid them at all costs still stands. See, the real jeggings are a marriage of leggings and jeans: an infusion of softness and comfort into the styling (pockets front and back, waistband, button, zipper) of a jean. And those, friends, are A-OK with me. For example:
Jeggings are OK by lifeinaustin
The difference? The Bad Use of Jeg example has no actual pockets, waistband, or zipper. It is a legging moonlighting as a jean. On the other hand, the skinnies on the left are simply comfy, stretchy, flattering (sucks you in!) jeans.
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Summer arrives earlier in Austin than most places, and winter lingers longer in Aspen than most. What’s a fashion-forward girl to do? Why, get some floaty, figure-flattering summer dresses in neutrals (yep, aqua and denim count as neutrals here–name a color they don’t go with) and pair ‘em with sandals in Austin and cardigans or light jackets in Aspen!
Figure Flattery Clues:
1) Strategic draping: camouflages problem areas without looking like it does
2) Structured fabric: draping + structure = perfect
3) Shorter in front and longer in back (mullet dress? nah, not with those pretty draping pieces) elongates the legs, especially with heels
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Blazers are SO EASY. You just throw one on with a basic white tee and some jeans and you instantly look awesome.
Well. You instantly look awesome if your blazer is good. If your blazer sucks or is boring, you look like you threw one on with a basic tee and jeans and thought you’d look good but actually miserably failed. To avoid that, here are some blazer tips:
* FIT, fit, fit. It’s all in the fit. The blazer should fit across the shoulders, across the bust, and the sleeves should be long enough.
* You should be able to button a blazer.
* You can have a boyfriend blazer–slouchier, longer, bigger cut, but it must be lean. Slim. Button it. If you can fit a chunky sweater underneath, it’s too big.
* Styles for day: schoolboy/girl, basic black or navy, plaid
* Styles for night: sequins, shiny, basic black or navy in non-cotton fabrics
Blazers that aren’t basic by lifeinaustin
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It’s the time of year to start thinking about bikini weather, and dreaming about it, and perusing Victoria’s Secret’s 2010 Swim catalog, knowing it’s best to hold off another month or two before they start discounting the suits…
Anyway, in honor of this special time of the year, here are some sweet swim picks. Please note that bandeaus look absolutely awful on me. But they are the perfect solution for tan line issues, so I am constantly looking for one that MIGHT flatter me. Behold, the most-potentially-flattering-bandeau-bikinis-possible:
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One of the essentials to dressing in Austin is layering. If it’s cold outside, it’s hot inside; if it’s hot outside, it’s freezing inside. We Texans don’t do happy mediums, we do extremes. Luckily leather is great choice–almost seasonless, it’s the first piece into your closet in winter and the last out in the summer. You can pair it with lightweight dresses or denim and boots. The latest styles are sidewinders, sleek and chic jackets that cross or zip up the sides for a hip zipped silhouette and unzip for a breezy, layered look. Can’t go wrong with the following pics (love the buttery yellow vest!)
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It might get “cold” here this week thanks to an “autumnal storm,” so I’m thinking boots. Everyone else is already thinking boots around the country anyway.
Below check out my picks, all of which are perfectly appropriate for fall in Texas. Trends: booties, thigh-highs, and flat. The booties haven’t gone away, but for the love, don’t wear those peep-toe booties (obviously none are pictured). Those are a) hideous and b) defeat the purpose of a boot. Wear unique booties with special details, like the ones featured below. I have two pairs of flat suede ones like the ones pictured; maybe I can figure out a way to add a chain?
Note on thigh-high boots: I love them. But holy hell I have no idea how to wear them. Obviously a miniskirt. But that has got to be TINY in order to show off the boots. And those are expensive boots to not get a lot of wear out of. Nonetheless, this is an awesome pair for your pleasure.
This is the only way I’ll allow you to wear bleached-out denim: in cool color combos. Bleached-out denim has a tendency to lend its wearer a ratty look, so take care to make sure you’re getting what you want out of the jeans. That said, ratty on bottom + fancy on top is a fun combo that can totally work if you do it right. Examples:
When spring has sprung, people tend to think of the pastels associated with Easter and the airy summer whites you’ve missed under the weight of winter sweaters, even here in Austin. But this spring is, like much of the past year, all about color. Color everywhere, especially in strappy, sassy, flirty heels–because the simplest way to make an entire outfit pop is one eye-catching accessories, and in this case, that’s brightly-hued shoes. Thank skirt- and capri-weather for the chance to show these babies off! (Editor’s note: Don’t you EVER wear heels with shorts. MAYBE platforms. But never, ever, ever stiletto heels. Don’t care how dressy you think the shorts are. They are still shorts. And heels and shorts don’t belong together.)
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The second major trend we’re seeing is STRIPES. As you strip down for spring and summer, go ahead and Stripe Down too. Stripes never go OUT, per se, but they’re more in than ever before this year. Check out some of This is Life in Austin’s fab finds below:
Stripe Down
If you’re interested in purchasing any of the above pieces, click on the title and it’ll take you to awesome mix-n-match site Polyvore, where you can link to the retailers. Sweet! [Can they offer me a commission?]
