shopbop shoptalk

How to Wear Sequins for Day

From left: Siwy Hannah Slim Crop Sequin Leggings, Son of John The Striker Baseball Tee, Siwy Hannah Sequin Leggings, Gryphon Metal Sequin Tank.

I’m not a fan of over-the-top bling, but lately, I’ve found myself drawn to a hint of sparkle in unexpected places—a string of glittering rhinestones on a chunky chain bracelet, an oversized Kenneth Jay Lane ring with a jersey dress and cardigan, a few well-placed beads on an otherwise basic tee. It seems only natural that I would start to explore the sequins-for-day look that has won the hearts of so many fashionable females.

Being a less-is-more kind of girl, I was pretty clueless on where to start with this embellished trend, so I turned to Shopbop Senior Stylist Morgan Wendelborn for a little style help. “Denim and flats are the easiest way to wear sequins for day,” says Morgan. “A sequined tank, tee, or unstructured blazer can look so effortless with slouchy skinnies.”

Easy enough—I already have plenty of denim and flats in my wardrobe. But what about sequin leggings? I’ve been flirting with the embellished leg-wear trend, but have yet to take the plunge. Says Morgan: “Sequin leggings look great with a worn-in graphic tee and a leather jacket (like one from Candela).”

And with that, I think I’m ready to give the sparkle-for-day look a go. What about you? Have you experimented with this unexpected trend?

--Amie
Shopbop

P.S. The latest styles from your favorite brands have just been marked down. Check out the Shopbop sale.

Fashion Meets Halloween

The Latest by Kate, Fashion Director

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays in that it provides a legitimate excuse to dress totally over the top—my chance to actually live out that costume-y inspiration! What's not to love about wearing glitter, face paint, a sexy masquerade mask, cat ears, sequin hot pants, etc., etc.? This season's must-have leopard coat provides the perfect foundation for a frisky feline getup.

What are you wearing this weekend?

--Kate

Channeling Chanel’s Spring 2010 Runway

I spent a little time in France, and while there, I learned one thing about the French (allow me this moment of over-generalized stereotyping): they’re unapologetically sentimental. And when faced with that sentimentality, there is a little romantic within my practical shell that clicks on, overtaking my entire being. So when Karl Lagerfeld staged a runway show that could have just as easily taken place in Marie Antoinette’s cottage at Versailles, I knew it wouldn’t matter what came down the runway: I was going to love it.

The Chanel Spring 2010 collection was, to borrow the words of Anna Wintour, “very rustic chic.” The beautiful tweed fabrics the label is known for paraded out in variations of cream, tan, and grey, and the spectacle was complete with an appearance by Lily Allen and a threesome-style romp in the hay.

Since I have a few months’ wait to get my hands on any piece from this gorgeous collection, I’ll channel the country charm in a look I can wear right now, starting with a simple Porter Grey shift dress. Accessorized with tasseled, clog-reminiscent suede booties by Madison Harding and a gold Diane von Furstenberg handbag, it balances nature and luxe beautifully. Finish the look off with vintage Chanel earrings and a Lisa Stewart chain cuff (in lieu of the cool-kid Chanel rub-on tattoos models sported), and I’m one step closer to buckling down in the faux countryside with a herd of perfumed sheep.

--Amie

Fall Focus: Full Skirts

When I’m not in a tee and jeans, I’m wearing a dress of some iteration, but this fall I’ve got my eye on skirts, specifically, the full variety. It started when I spotted more than a few high-waisted jersey circle skirts at Lollapalooza, and was fully cemented when I saw this picture of the always chic Giovanna Battaglia on The Sartorialist. She pairs two voluminous pieces—a billowy blouse and a full skirt—and then counters the lightweight bulk with a short hem and chunky jewelry.

Her look has a very springy feel, but I’d like to reinterpret it for the moodier months, using Chris Benz’s blue Meg Miniskirt as my base. I’ll lighten the skirt’s tweed by wearing an airy blouse up top: Madewell’s Chantal T would make for a bold color combo, while Theory’s Macie Top appeals to my classic side. Finish it with black tights and black pumps, a statement necklace, and a men’s watch, and the look is elegant with a side of effortlessness.

For a slightly slimmer take on this look, I’ll pair ADAM’s satin pleated skirt (it’s like a distant cousin to the draping, wrapping, and gathering that had editors swooning at the Burberry spring 2010 show) with a slim tee and black ankle booties, bringing evening satin into daytime casual.

--Amie
Shopbop

The Chic Side of Maternity Wear

At Shoptalk, we’ve tried to cover maternity wear for the stylish gal (here, here, and here), but we have a confession: none of us are or ever have been pregnant. Shopbop’s Warehouse Manager Sarah has come to the rescue. Not only is she uber-stylish, she’s also eight months pregnant. Here she shares her secrets to keeping that rock star look with an expanding middle.

Sarah in two variations on her favorite pregancy look.

I am a tee and jeans gal to the core, and I realized when I became pregnant that I am specifically a TIGHT jeans gal because it did not take long before my wardrobe was totally useless. I still wanted to look rock-star cool while pregnant (i.e. not adopting the all-day, every day pajama look), and I needed to get the structure of my denim elsewhere because it was almost immediately replaced by comfortable stretchy bottoms.

Lucky for me, many of the season’s looks are cross-functional as maternity wear (like the Velvet Giani Dress) and pair up well with my new staple, leggings. And, the hard edges of the right accessories save me from looking like I’m permanently in loungewear. My flat Golden Goose boots and my new Frye engineer boots are still comfy all day and have the edginess that I crave. Throw on a big ring (mine’s House of Harlow), a signature necklace (a fringed one by Fallon), and my S.W.O.R.D leather jacket (unzipped, of course), and I can still roll with the fasionistas at eight months pregnant.

Of course, when I get home I’m turning to the softest sweats ever and asking my husband, Ben, to bring me a grape popsicle.

--Sarah

P.S. I did buy some hot mama Current/Elliott jeans during my pregnancy, which I can’t wait to wear when I can finally carry my little bundle outside of my waistline!

New Power Girls Meghan and Patricia’s 5 Favorite Work Pieces

Launched this year as an extension of the Huffington Post series The New Power Girls, NPGDaily™ tracks and profiles women in new media and internet business. Here, co-creators Patricia Handschiegel and Meghan Cleary pick 5 must-have pieces for the stylish businesswoman.

NPGDaily co-creators Patricia Handschiegel and Meghan Cleary.

Business girls like us go from talent-ready to home office to speaking at a major industry event. I sold my first company, Stylediary.net, in Marc by Marc Jacobs aviators, while Meg once hula hooped in the lobby of Zappos.com in Giuseppe Zanotti stilettos while talking to the company’s CEO. Just because we are in business doesn’t mean we can’t have a little style and sass.

A power girl wardrobe has to be versatile and flexible, capable of moving from chic business to casual meeting to work at home to red-hot date night—in an instant. And when we shop, we shop like businesswomen—with a focus on value. The same hot heels you wear to meet with the top brass at a TV network or an internet company is the same pair you’ll work with a slinky party dress for a Hollywood event. Five things we can’t live without:

1. Marc by Marc Jacobs skirt. 2. Vince knit jacket. 3. Leopoldo Giordano heels. 4. Rag & Bone blazer. 5. Gorjana necklace.

1. A polished skirt in an unexpected material is a total staple.

2. A cozy, oversized knit jacket is a travel must. Stripes mix things up a bit.

3. Stilettos with a twist—classic yet unusual—work for meetings and cocktails alike. Leopoldo Giordano is an unsung shoe talent.

4. An essential jacket is very important. Rag & Bone does great cuts in substantial materials.

5. A simple, understated necklace adds a touch of shine to any ensemble.

--Patricia and Meghan

For more from Patricia and Meghan, visit NPGDaily.com.

A Classic Combo, With a Modern Twist

Milan Fashion Week may be drawing to a close and Paris getting ready to begin, but I’m still digesting the trends of NYC’s catwalks. Though the more avant-garde looks garnered the lion’s share of attention, it’s the more down-to-earth ensembles that tend to end up in most of our wardrobes. My favorite example? The many shift dress/pumps combos spotted on the runways (check out this collection of pics from Elle.com), each showing that this timeless duo has come a long way since Jackie O. Modern details–cutouts, draping, leather accents–make this a look as fashion-forward as it is classic.

How to get a jump on the trend and make it fresh for fall? Pair an architectural shift dress (like the Hanii Y dress above) with an equally modern heel (like the pictured Robert Clergerie pumps). Then, to make doubly sure you don’t look like you copied a costume from Mad Men, accessorize with a fall trend: a rocker chain belt from Alice + Olivia or ’80s-inspired asymmetrical earrings from ACB by Annie Costello Brown loosen up this ladylike look.

--Tonya

Base Camp: Fall is Built on Black and White

I sang the praise of grey accessories, am in the middle of a love affair with navy, and have yet to meet a pair of red shoes I didn’t like. Still, year after year my fall wardrobe always comes back to black and white. This isn’t a stretch, I know that, but it does speak volumes (or perhaps merely squeaks out an observation) about the timelessness of the contrasting duo.

Take as example two simple studies in men’s shirting from Victorialand (queen of shirts) and Haute Hippie. The former black with white accents, the latter white with black buttons, they’re each the kind of fall goodness that says “I’m sophisticated, serious, chic.” And, they each let the accessories have a little fun without feeling over the top. We toss around the blank canvas moniker pretty freely, but there’s really no other color combo that embodies it so well.

With the black button-down (worn with black skinny jeans, of course), I’d don jewels with a natural inflection, like a turquoise Alex and Ani ring and a beaded Julie Rofman cuff, and with the tuxedo-inspired shirtdress, a luxe painted eel Gryson handbag and a clever Deepa Gurnani headband that might have otherwise stood outside my comfort zone.

But I want to know what your autumn uniform is. Do you fall into two-toned style like me, or do you take a more vibrant approach, like Maureen’s fall florals?

--Amie

Style Inspiration While You Shop!

The Latest by Kate, Fashion Director

From left: A floral dress goes edgy; cargo pants take a step away from casual; and the button-down gets reinvented.

At Shopbop, we’re pretty proud of the genius our stylists come up with on a daily basis. Not only do they put together brilliant styles for the lookbooks you love, but they also offer head-to-toe looks on the product pages you shop. Take a cue from their creations for a fresh look that will turn heads!

Here are 3 simple tips to incorporate now:

1. Paired with booties and an edgy handbag, a floral print looks just right. The Vena Cava Healer Nun Dress is city cool with a fringed Aridza Bross bag and Ash platform booties.

2. Make your favorite cargo pants fashion-forward by tucking them into boots and adding a tailored blazer. A slouchy-skinny pair from My Pant’s moves away from the too-casual category with a SMYTHE blazer and Joie boots.

3. Invest in an updated white blouse and roll up your skinny jeans for a classic look reinvented. An avant-garde button-down by Victorialand makes the perfect topper for J Brand skinny jeans.

--Kate

Calling All Leopard, Croc, Python, Cheetah...and Anything Else Wild

Fashion can be intimidating. When I picked up a pair of embellished leopard-print flats from Antik Batik a couple weeks ago, I found myself out of my black footwear comfort zone and unsure of how to style them. Luckily, Shopbop Fashion Director Kate offered tips on how to work au courant animal prints into an everyday look:

“Animal prints will forever be classic, and leopard is particularly big this fall, especially when it comes to accessories,” says Kate. “These wild prints are the perfect addition to the black, black, and more black many are gravitating toward this fall. Incorporate an animal-print shoe, handbag, or jacket into your neutral ensembles. It’s an easy equation for a look that's chic and a little rock ‘n’ roll.”

I’ll take Kate’s advice by pairing a black jersey dress with my new flats for work. For something a little sultrier but still daytime-appropriate, I’ll take my cue from the above DSQUARED2 runway look and pair exotic pumps with a tailored blazer, white button-down shirt, denim skirt, and leggings.

--Tonya