fashion with Rachel

Hi guys! I have a full day today at school. Class from 9-4 and then a gym date with Sarah!

Rachel from Boston Not Common was so sweet and offered to write a guest post about the new clothes I purchased while in NYC and how she helped “style” me with a new wardrobe. Listen in to her tips and explanations, and please if you have ANY fashion questions for her – leave them in the comments and she’ll answer.

I’m getting very excited for our new Fashion Friday series starting this Friday! – Laura

Hey Odd Duck readers, I’m Rachel from Boston Not Common! While we were in New York I helped Laura pick out some cute clothes that she can wear in lieu of t-shirts and yoga pants or boot-cut jeans. I helped her break out of her comfort zone and she in turn, forced me (asked nicely?) to articulate how and why I made the choices I did for her.

I have helped “dress” people and myself for so long that I can do it intuitively but not everyone can, so I’m going to showcase Laura’s new clothes and discuss why the pieces work for her. Just for fun I added in cute jewelry and shoes for each outfit. Ready?

A Note on Basics

Laura is the exact opposite shape as me – tall and curvy – so it might surprise you that we have the same basics. How!? Why!? Because they work on nearly every body. First up, skinny jeans.

I know some of you are thinking, “My body was not made for skinny jeans,” but trust me everybody can wear them. It’s all about finding the right shade, fabric, and cut. Also different cuts will change dramatically when put on different bodies. These jeans are my loosest pair in terms of cut because I am short and straight. The ankles bag out on me whereas they fit Laura perfectly.

Three reasons the Gap Legging Jeans work for every body:

1. Shade – We stuck to dark denim and black here. Chambray denim (chambray shirt here) emphasizes shape and width. Dark denim gives the illusion of smaller width and de-emphasizes shape. Ever notice that when you put on a black V-neck fitted tee you look ten pounds thinner than the white version? Exactly. I don’t make the rules, I just follow them. As you’ll see later it doesn’t mean sticking to all dark colors all the time, but when it comes to slim fit jeans everyone looks better in a dark wash.

2. Fabric – These jeans are called legging jeans for a reason! The fabric gives and molds to you without clinging the way sturdy denim would. This allows you to show off curves (or none!) without suffocating and creating unsightly rolls.

3. Shape – These jeans are skinny without being matchstick. The tapered ankle gives the appearance of skinny jeans and creates a long lean line, but they aren’t as unforgiving because of the first two reasons.

Second – shirt length. A universally flattering length for tops is the spot where your hip and leg bones meet in the front. I stuck to this rule when picking tops for Laura and I stick to it for myself as well. It elongates your top half and, because it covers the top few inches of your pants, gives a long clean line from shoulder to ankle.

Outfit One:

The common theme you’ll see in all of the following outfits is the way we played with proportions. The legging jeans are fitted and slim, so to balance them out you need something a bit more voluminous on top. Nothing Laura bought was “baggy” in the traditional sense of the word, but this wrap shirt was a perfect way to add some volume and camouflage an area Laura – and most of us – aren’t quite ready to show off: that pesky section between your natural waist and your hips.

I found this top in the workout section (!!) and Laura just added a tank underneath. Another option Laura has is to add a striped tee underneath to break up the solids. She didn’t plan this, but the ponytail adds to the casual vibe and her necklace hits perfectly between the base of her neck and the start of her tank. I’d round out the look with these classic Jack Purcell’s.

Outfit Two:

Here Laura sports the same jeans and tank with this top. This is more fitted than the first top but it still works for a couple of reasons. The “drawstring” as Gap calls it (where it gathers in the middle) draws your eye to the center and down, giving the illusion of a thinner width. You can’t see it in the picture, but the bottom of this top is gathered or “banded,” which makes it a bit looser than a regular t-shirt.

It can be dressed up with standout jewelry and cute metallic flats. I like this necklace from Francesca’s ($28) with these Steve Madden Kinnetic Flats ($49.90). She could also wear this necklace from Anthropologie ($48) with these Kenneth Cole Reaction flats – a great brand by the way – in Pewter.

Outfit Three:

Please ignore the price tag. The lengths of both of these shirts are longer and the sweater is looser, creating that same long lean line. The stripes and ruffles add contrast. There is enough going on here to not really need a necklace, but I love this leather cuff made from an “upcycled” belt ($35). This would look adorable with Sperry Top-Siders ($75).

Outfit Four:

This was Laura’s first experience with a belt worn on the waist and I love it. How cute is she? The belt and cardigan (in stores only but this is similar) are from New York and Company and the striped V-neck is from Gap. Laura has a classic hourglass figure so the belt emphasizes her tiny waist. Remember that a belt works as a piece of jewelry so you don’t need to add in four other accessories. I’d just wear a pretty pair of earrings (love these!) and the Kenneth Cole flats from outfit two.

What do you think of Laura’s new clothes? Have any fashion questions for me? I’d love to answer and hear your thoughts!

I want to add two things to this topic:

1. Everything I bought was on sale. The jeans were 40% off, the wrap shirts were $25 and the other shirts were around $13 each. Buying new clothes is NOT that expensive right now because everything is on sale (because our economy sucks)!

2. I bought a range of sizes in the tops, including Mediums, Large AND Extra-Large. If something doesn’t fit you quite the way you like, don’t be afraid to try a different size. This is something I had never done before, so I want to encourage all of you to do the same.