Style & Cheek

My obsession with lace shorts started around the time Zoe Hart started sporting them regularly on Hart of Dixie. It was such an odd concept to me because I hadn’t seen anyone else wear them. Shorts have never been an easy thing for me to wear; they either show too much booty or I feel like my legs look like stuffed sausages. Lace shorts however, come in a variety of styles including some that look like a cross between gym shorts and pajama shorts. That variety makes them easier to wear than regular jean shorts.

Now, how to wear them. You can dress them up or down, which I’ve shown below, but they’re great for showing off your legs when you don’t want to wear a skirt. Loose lace shorts can be worn with tights in fall/winter but keep the sporty or tight versions for spring/summer. And if you want more examples of how to wear business shorts just watch the entire first season of Hart of Dixie. Or check out InStyle’s Hart of Dixie Shop the Show! which covers both season 1 and season 2 of Hart of Dixie style. Anyway, here are three ways to wear lace shorts:

1. Zoe Karssen Born Wild Cotton-Blend Sweatshirt

2. Chuck Taylor Distressed Canvas Sneakers

3. Rag & Bone Highclare Short

4. Topshop Knitted Panther Spot Jumper

5. Nicholas Kirkwood Printed Elaphe Flats

The first way to wear lace shorts is to pair them with a sweet sweatshirt. Not just any sweatshirt, a really cool one. A vintage pullover will do, but I wish I had these two panther sweatshirts in my closet, especially the one with polka dots. You can wear any kind of lace short but I couldn’t resist the leather shorts with lace trim. Pair this combo with some sneakers (I like converse because they’re casual), or some pointy toe flats to offset the casual vibe. This outfit is very playful so have fun with it and don’t be afraid to clash.

1. ASOS Clutch Bag With Floral Embroidery

2. Alex Drawstring Lace Shorts

3. Joie A La Plage Nice Contrast Sandals

4. J.Crew Embroidered Gauze Tunic

5. Madewell Nantucket Bingo Bag

6. Mossimo Supply Co. Juniors Lace Short

7. Soludos Classic Stripe Espadrilles

The flowy top with lace shorts combination is perfect for summer, especially vacation. But even if you aren’t lucky enough to take a trip to some beachy resort you can still wear this day-tripping. Tunic tops are so comfortable and usually have some sort of embroidered or embellished detail which is a perfect texture pairing for lace shorts. Go casual with the rest of the outfit – sandals or flat espadrilles, and a fun cloth or leather bag.

1. Madewell Silk Boyshirt

2. Alexander Wang Prisma Tote with Rose Gold in Black

3. Zara Leather Sandal

4. ODD MOLLY ‘Twine’ short

5. Topshop Open Back Fishtail Blouse

6. Rebecca Minkoff Date Night Lissa Pouch

7. ModCloth Golden Globetrotter Heel

I wanted to show a way to dress up your lace shorts and fell in love with the idea of a monochromatic outfit. My inspiration included a long sweater which I didn’t show here, but feel free to add one in the same color as your top and shorts if you’re worried about getting chilly. The key here is to wear sleek pieces with your lace shorts: a smooth leather bag and flats or heels in a neutral. Am I calling leopard print and gold neutral? Yep. But really, you can wear tan or beige as well. I just like how the leopard flats and gold heels really add some sexy to the outfit.

- Julia of Style and Cheek

I’ve been contemplating doing a floral arrangement post ever since Whole Foods switched out their winter flowers for spring and summery ones, and now I want to buy flowers every time I go grocery shopping. Then, I saw this video on Refinery 29 of Nicole Richie giving flower advice with celebrity florist Eric Buterbaugh. It’s pretty funny. Supposedly all white flowers = insecurity, and fuchsia flowers = pushiness. Here I was thinking that flowers are just pretty accents to your home, but really they say something about you.

Flowers instantly make me happy, but I’m one of those people with a brown thumb. My flowers never seem to last very long and I’m not sure how to arrange them. A few weeks ago I picked up a few lilac branches and a tall vase, but didn’t realize that lilac branches are impossible to cut without gardening shears. I had no idea! Dan of course was not very happy with me as he was the one who had to try to cut them with regular scissors (don’t do it). As I stood next to him trying to muffle my laughter he declared, “You are never buying lilacs again! No more lilacs for you, Julia.” I thought it was hilarious. After that incident I made a point to pick up some gardening shears from Target.

What I didn’t know is that arranging flowers is an art. It’s not as straightforward as one would expect, but anybody can learn how to make arrangements. If you have the patience and some of the right equipment (vases, shears, etc), even if you’re a beginner, you can have pretty arrangements too. Here are some ideas:

You could take a floral arrangement class. Frolic blog is offering a four week long floral arranging class through Nicolesclasses.com. It’s a great way to expand your skills and since the classes are online you have the freedom to take the class anytime you want (no set class time), as long as you get your homework done by Sunday.

Oh GP, I cannot deny my love of Goop.com. This post: flower arranging by vase is so helpful! It shows you how to arrange flowers in different vases. So if you’re like me and own only a couple of vases this shows you how to shape the flowers and also provides a loose guide for which flowers to choose for each vase.

A Cup of Joe did a post on 3 ways to arrange supermarket flowers. It’s a really simple post but quite helpful for those who don’t realize that you can’t just chop and plop flowers into a vase (that’s mee!). So if you’re wondering how to showcase gerbera daisies, roses, or how to make a bouquet at a supermarket then this is the post for you.

Today is the very first “Fancy Friday”. I decided to start a new series called “Fancy Friday,” because I feel like so many of my posts are structured and really just wanted the freedom to post whatever I wanted, regardless of theme or price. These posts will feature items that I wish I had in my closet with no regard to how realistic that might actually be – if something is cute and pretty it may show up on Fancy Friday even if it costs $5,000. Or it could be a hotel, apartment, home, restaurant that I’m loving. So really Fancy Friday is also FANTASY Friday.

“Fancy Friday” is a place where people can fantasize but also give their reviews. If I have experienced the topic I am writing about I will share my thoughts, but on the flip-side, if you have had an experience (bought from this brand, stayed at that hotel) please share! I would love to be a one stop shop for info (like the Wikipedia of “the good life”) but I don’t have the ability to try everything I want (hence the fantasy aspect). So definitely talk about your glamorous experiences so we can live vicariously through you.

April May Berlin Bound Leather Jacket - Leather jacket fans should love this one. It reminds me of a photo I pinned recently of an amazing embroidered jacket. Oh, prettiness.

Free People Floral Mesh Lace Dress - I guess I’m not sick of lace yet! This is like a classier, cutesier (but not too cutesy) update to something Madonna woulda worn in the late 80s. I love Madonna. I love lace. I love tight up top, flowy at the waist dresses.

Free People FP ONE Impanema Short - These are just plain crazy. If that pattern was on a rug or a blanket or curtains it would be maybe too much, or a perfect throw pillow! It’s bright and busy, but on a pair of shorts it’s unique. I’m saying this a lot but these shorts are fun (and pretty).

Free People FP New Romantics Cariocas Cutwork Tee - This t-shirt is simple beyond the embroidery, which is part of why I like it, but the color is bold and subdued at the same time. And the cutwork pattern gives it a really unique texture. I’d wear this with jeans or a cute little ballerina skirt and some grungy badass booties.

My friend John is getting married next month. He’s been with his fiance Katie for a long time and though he’d be a little shy admitting it, he’s been waiting for their wedding day for almost as long. When he asked me to be his best man I had two pretty distinct responses: First, and with a lot of kinda embarrassing smiling – “holy crap John asked me to be his best man? that’s pretty special, I couldn’t feel better about this!” And then afterwards, a little more somberly – “holy crap I’m going to have to give a speech… AND plan a bachelor party!’ I was really happy and honored (still am) but nervous about taking on the responsibility. I’m ok at speech giving, and pretty damn good at party planning, but I’ve never really had to do either of those things with anything at stake. So I’ve spent the last couple of months with a fair amount of anxiety planning, plotting, organizing, and mostly just trying not to mess things up for John.

I’m such a great friend

Tomorrow (Friday 5/17) the bachelor party weekend kicks off in Atlantic City. I know it is going to fly by and before I know it I’ll be back at work, but I thought I’d share some of the things I’ve learned in setting this whole thing up. There are a ton of bachelor party guides on the internet, and a lot of them turned out to be pretty accurate, but generally there is no reason to adhere to complicated directions, just stick to these basics:

1) Ask the groom for a guest list - you might be the groom’s best man but that doesn’t mean that you and his friends are 1:1 or even that you know off-hand all the people he’d like to celebrate his impending celibacy with. It is important to have surprises built into the party (ie don’t tell the groom every little detail) but definitely make sure that every dude you invite is somebody he actually wants to spend time with.

2) Don’t price people out – this was particularly hard for me since I’m a snob and have never been to a bachelor party, so the question is, what is the normal cost of a bachelor party? But what the question should be is how big of a celebration can the collective group of invitees actually pay for? Don’t plan a party in a vacuum and then expect the other participants to cover your crazy costs. You do not need limos, Cristal, and an appearance from Drake to have a good time, and even if you did, a party of that size would be so big that no normal people could afford to attend. So unless you’re a millionaire, know the monetary limits of the people you’re inviting and plan accordingly.

Don’t need a Gatsby sized party to have a good time

3) Strippers are expensive and embarrassing – some guys LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE strippers, and many of those guys will someday get engaged and have a bachelor party. But if you’re the best man and you love glittery, sweaty strippers but the groom does not, keep the Eager Beaver off the itinerary. Just because strip clubs are THE cliché bachelor party experience does not make them a necessary one at every party. (You’re welcome Katie)

John and his bride to be

4) Do something active – lets face it, you’re going to drink at a bachelor party. It’s inevitable. But that does not mean that drinking should be the be all end all of your trip. The Hangover is a fun movie but it would suck to actually live through so don’t try to recreate it. Instead of drinking all day and night or all weekend why not get into something a little more guaranteed to be remembered. Go golfing, play paintball or basketball, go skiing or surfing. The better the group of guys the more fun this type of “normal” activity will be.

5) Go to a destination – this is a simple one but don’t let this party blend into every other night. Change up the scenery. You don’t have to fly to Vegas to have a great time but you 100% should leave the place the groom spends most of his time.

6) Know your audience – this one goes without saying and a lot of the previous points already touch on it, but a bachelor party will only be as fun as the group you bring together, and that group will only have fun if you know what type of setting and activities that get your group amped. This probably will be common sense unless you have a more eclectic group. And if that is the case, even if it’s not your thing, get down and dirty with some Magic cards, or WoW, or poker or whatever will get the party going.

Part of knowing my audience this weekend is knowing that I’m going to need a lot of Bulleit Rye.

- Dan

The Makeup Lady – Makeup and Outfits

Let’s consider this a Part Two of Color Theory. Last week I did a basic introduction to Color Theory and how to find the perfect color to enhance your natural eye color. This week we will dive into using those basic principles when it comes to coordinating your entire makeup look to your outfits. It doesn’t have to start and stop with just eye shadow. Use your color wheel for blush, eyes and lips.

If you’re like me you have a few pieces in your closet that make you unsure of how you would do your makeup. Most of mine are the bright neons and bold pattern pieces. The last thing I want to do is have my face and outfit conflict!

I have put together a few things that will work for ALL eye colors.  It’s super simple and I promise you can find a great pairing between your makeup and your outfits no matter what.

Bright oranges/papayas and corals are trending right now and you may find it hard to create a look when you’re wearing such a bold color already. The main key is to think Triadic: 3 colors from the color wheel that will not only complement your eyes but each other, and coincidentally make a “triangle” when linked together. This is a great option for green/hazel eyes to really amp up the look for more intensity. Line your eyes or go full force with a sweep of a teal color all over your lid. Finish off with a blush and lip color in the same hue as your dress/top and you’ve got the perfect look. For blue eyes, stick with the neutrals and kick it up a notch with a gold shimmer on your lids. Finish off your lips and cheeks the same and you now have a completed look!

- Via Appia Eye Liner

- Gorgeous Gold EyeShadow

- Mulch EyeShadow

- Aquadisiac EyeShadow

- Soul EyeShadow

- Heat Shadow Pencil

- Hot Shot Lip Gloss

- Deep Throat Blush

Bold neons? Don’t over do it by getting all neon crazy all over your face. Instead for a simple bronzed look or dramatic liner with a bold lip. Make sure to choose a hue for your lip color that compliments your skin tone. You may need to go with a more blue-red or orange-red depending. But just make sure that if you’re going for intensity that you go all out. Make sure that lip color is in the shade (or ring around the color wheel) as the color you’re wearing. Complete the look with a black cat eye and you’ve finished the ultimate neon look. If you go for the bronzed look then choose a lip color that is more nude to keep everything polished and simple.

- Winter White EyeShadow

- Long-wear Gel Eyeliner

- Candy Yum-Yum Lipstick

- Gold Star EyeShadow

- Laguna Bronzer

- Juicy Tube Lip Gloss

- Dallas Blush

Blush tones are very sweet and innocent but your makeup doesn’t have to be. Think analogous to one of these looks and find a bold red or berry that are adjacent on the color wheel (when comparing the colors in your dress/top/skirt etc). When creating your palette choose a blush, lip, and eye color that all fall into those same 3-4 spaces on the color wheel. For the above example you would choose a more blue-pink eye color to complement green eyes, a red lip and a peach-ier blush color. If you’re not one to pull off a bold lip then go with the earth tones. Let your outfit take center stage and select an eye color, lip, and cheek color that are more monochromatic. Accent with an earthy brown for a liner or crease color and you’ve found a great combination.

- Mulch EyeShadow

- Moondust EyeShadow

- Russian Red Lipstick

- Virgin EyeShadow

- Rosy Outlook Blush

And if you’re not one for color and stick with wearing black then feel free to wear anything! I personally like pairing purples, plums, and lilacs when wearing black. There is just something about an all black outfit and pop of purple tones on my lips, eyes or cheeks that always make me feel a little fancy. Or just revisit Part One and choose an eye shadow that is best for your eye color and create a makeup look around that.  You can’t go wrong with wearing black and putting on makeup.

- Trax EyeShadow

- Moondust EyeShadow

- Sheer Lip Gloss

- Violet Ink Liner

- Tender Night Pencil

- PinchMe Blush

Keep in mind:

- Not all skin tones are the same. A pale white lady like myself shouldn’t be trying to bronze the heck out of my face and slabbing on a super bright lipstick. Moderation is key and the right hue is essential. Find that perfect balance.

- Be open to making mistakes. You won’t get it right the first time and no one ever does. But experiment and play around with color.

- Pick one thing to accent on your face. If you’re doing a bold top, try a bold lip. If you’re doing a muted dress go for a smokey eye. Don’t try to do a bold lip, smokey eye and bold cheek because then you’ll end up looking like this.

- Not everything is mentioned above but you can use the same principles when working with other pieces in your closet. Find a complementary color, the analogous colors, go monochromatic or get triadic.

- When in doubt, go neutral. They are called neutral colors for a reason!

- Jamie of The Lady and The Beard

Last week’s ‘How She’d Wear It’ felt a little uninspired. Maybe because it came right after such a wonderful and varied trend – floral prints, but this week I tried to get into a groove again and found that lace just needs to be paired with other interesting pieces to shine. With lace you have to take two things into consideration – not only the color but also the texture of the lace. You want to compliment the lace and not compete with it. Lace dresses sounded like the most fun to play with, so we are diving right into those – from fit and flare dresses, sheath, and little hippie shifts, I hope you find these pairings helpful for your own lace pieces.

1. Sheridan French Saphira Clutch in Blue Ikat

2. Zara Sandals with Ankle Strap

3. A.B.S. BY ALLEN SCHWARTZ Lace Illusion Neckline Dress

1. XSCAPE Lace Fit-And-Flare Party Dress

2. Loeffler Randall The Lock Clutch

3. Zara Strappy High-Heel Sandals

I recently purchased a bright orange lace dress and found myself wondering how to style it for a wedding. When I went to look for sandals, I thought a brown pair would be best but I couldn’t find a brown pair that looked great with the orange as well as my pale skin. Black sandals ended up being the go-to for bright lace dresses and that’s ok because there are is an amazing selection of black sandals right now – from ankle strap sandals to more strappy choices. With black shoes it seemed important to pick somewhat of a statement bag, something printed or providing some contrast for the outfit, like a blue clutch with a yellow dress, or a printed bag that brings out the colors from the dress as well as the shoes.

1. Modcloth White Winged Love Dress

2. J.Crew Whistle Necklace

3. Modcloth When Life Gives You Lemongrass Cardigan

4. Ash Spiral Mid Heel Booties

You should have seen this combo coming, the hippie, gypsy style that is a little Stevie Nicks inspired. This would be the perfect transition dress from Spring/Summer into Fall if you add tights, but I’m sure you’re thinking, “We just got to Spring and you’re talking about Fall?!” Don’t worry, this dress is still perfect for Spring/Summer. One, because it’s white and two, the sleeves are lace which is really like going sleeveless. Any pendant necklace will do but I really like this whistle which is an unusual but cool choice.

1. Ray-Ban Clubmaster Half-Frame Acetate Sunglasses

2. Tory Burch Snake Eddie Ballet Flat

3. Mango Contrast Lining Openwork Dress

1. Merona Women’s Lace Keyhole Back Shift Dress

2. Sheriff&Cherry D-Frame Acetate Sunglasses

3. Gorjana & Griffin Del Mar Leather Sandal

Shift dresses usually remind me of work. Their shape and style is structured and conservative enough for the office, but shorten the hems, and boom they’re fun and casual. This combo was slightly inspired by J.Crew look books where models wear cute shift dresses and flats on sailboats. Ballet flats and sandals are great options for making these dresses feel casual. I used clashing colors/textures here by adding snakeskin flats to the black lace dress and some leopard sunglasses with the bright blue dress.

- Julia of Style and Cheek