Beyond POW: Trendy Layers and a New Basic Tuesday

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Outfit Mission Statement: Go beyond your tee and jeans with a unique tunic tee and trendy layers

No place like Tuesday outfits are casual, comfy clothes for working from home, working at home, parenting (at home), and anything else where comfort is key and you are home. Although they will work for errands and anything else casual. The POW (Piece of the Week) is the Beyond Tee from cabi Fall 2016. In this outfit we see the Beyond Tee in its most basic form—with no extra styling of the panels. This is what it looks like—tunic length tee with two longer panels. It works perfectly in a casual, comfortable, yet stylish outfit. If you are a tee-and-leggings type of person, here is your stylish and funky version of it. You can add a warm layer, like the amazing Sweetheart Sweater, shown in some of the pictures. I love the mix of lengths with long sweater, long tee panels, and the tunic length tee underneath. Such fun! This is perfect for working from home, running errands, parenting, or just being chic and comfortable.

As a working mom, I often need to head out the door in a hurry while juggling kid, stuff for the day, and more. Adding a jacket and keeping track of it can be hard, especially when temperatures are variable. I find that a longer sweater can do double duty as an inside layer and a light jacket to run out the door with. Yes, you can throw the sweater on when heading out, or just have it as part of your outfit for when you will be doing a lot of in and out activities. It’s so much easier than stopping each time in and out to put something on/take it off. I know I am often juggling to much to do so. I love the Sweetheart Sweater for this. There are some other great choices from cabi this fall, including the Lara Sweater and Napa Vest.

 

Beyond Tee Styling Technique: Basic Beyond Tee

To work the “Basic Beyond Tee” technique:

  1. Put it on the frontwards way with the tag in back for a lower neckline
  2. Make sure the tunic and panels are not tucked in
  3. Go!

 

Tips:

  • Think outside the normal leggings or jeans with a tee and look for unique pieces that are just as comfortable, like this Beyond Tee
  • Wear a longer sweater as both an inside layer and a coat for a quick and easy day of going in and out
  • Keep your sweater lighter to not add bulk or a few pounds
  • Go for a longer sweater with shape, such as a defined waist, to give the outfit shape—this may help shorter people rock the longer sweater too!
  • Add a gray leggings to break up an all-black look, but still keep the feel; or add some fun bright leggings to liven this up
  • Keep your shoes practical and fun with some patterned sneakers
  • Thrown on an easy over-the-head long necklace to go with the flow of this easy look

 

Outfit Breakdown:

 

 

 

 

Related Posts:

  1. Cozy Layers Four Ways and a Mom Bun Tuesday: Dress down your pretty skirt with casual, comfortable layers and a mom bun.
  2. Go-To POW: No Place Like Tuesday for Sky & Earth Explorers: Dress down those work-appropriate black pants with a boxy tee, explore vest, and handmade jewelry
  3. Destructed White POW: Take me out to the ballgame Tuesday: For a cool, casual, and stylish outfit for a ballgame (or any occasion where cool and comfortable is key), wear layers in the colors of your favorite team.

 

 

If you would like the Beyond Tee, contact your cabi stylist. If you do not have one, please contact me in the comments or via email, reach out to my stylist Joni Allen (via email or phone: 770 502-5243 [call or text]), Leigh Cheatwood-Harris (a friend’s stylist whom I have worked with also and can recommend: email and her site) or find a cabi stylist near you.

 

 

What is holding back your style? My Personal October Style Challenge

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We all have our style challenges. Perhaps we lack confidence to try a style we love. Maybe we only wear blue. Perhaps we have never tried red lipstick. Maybe we tend to only wear our hair in a ponytail. Maybe we love over-the-knee boots, but just have not tried them. Whatever your challenge, and whatever your reason, here in as opportunity to grow.

Outfit: cords are classic cabi (similar), blouse is from Stitch Fix, Gray Owl Infinity Scarf from ITB Design, boots are Navy Veradley Ankle by Bucco and sold from Zulily, and , Feather ring by Solid Treasures

Outfit: cords are classic cabi (similar), blouse is from Stitch Fix, Gray Owl Infinity Scarf from ITB Design, boots are Navy Veradley Ankle by Bucco and sold from Zulily, and , Feather ring by Solid Treasures

Take part in my Personal Style Challenge for October. Think about how you want to grow and evolve your style. Think about what is holding you back and Work It! Choose to work on that one area for the month of October. They say it takes 21 days to make a habit. So, you can change this style challenge into a style strength, in just one month.

I tried this idea before, in February, and plan to make it a monthly thing. I have many personal style challenges to work on. This way I can master one or two a month!

 

 

 

 

My challenges:

For October I have two Personal Style Challenges:

  • Rings: I have rings, but besides my wedding and engagement rings, I tend to not wear them. So, I am challenging myself wear rings more in October!
  • Scarves: I adore scarves. They are fun. They are a great way to add a pop of color or print to an outfit. They keep my neck warm. I have a ton of scarves. I do not wear scarves very often thought. So, I challenge myself to wear more scarves in October—which really is a great month to do so!

 

 

My plan:

My plan for both is simple: wear more of them. I have been working for months to add more rings to my collection, and I have several wonderful ones from Solid Treasures and a fun one from Shine Chaser Jewelry. I also recently joined Le Tote (more of this later), and will rent me some rings and scarves to help out.

I may report back and post pictures. I’ll certainly be talking about this on Instagram, so follow me there for more!

 

 

 

 

 

So, what about you? Do you have any personal style challenges you want to conquer? If so, join me! Choose a challenge, develop a plan, and let’s kick those style challenges to the curb! Use the tag #WorkingMyPersonalStylechallenge to show us how you are doing on Instagram. Or, leave a note for me in the comments here. I may even have a prize for one of you who worked their personal style challenge! Don't worry about meeting the challenge every day, unless you want to. Just do what you can. Even meeting it once is an improvement!

Work it!

Fall into Spring: Rocking Your Fall Moto in the Spring

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In any good wardrobe you can mix fall pieces into your spring looks. One of the many great things about the cabi collections is the pieces work across seasons. I’m going to highlight six great pieces from the fall collection that you may have in your wardrobe and show how you can wear them with the spring cabi collection. But if you don’t have these pieces or if you are not a cabi fan, I’ll discuss how you can take similar pieces and rock the more traditional fall pieces this spring and summer!

First off—the Twilight Jacket! This is a motorcycle-inspired jacket in a dark steel color. If you don’t have this piece, any dark neutral moto jacket can be styled similarly. I bought this jacket in the fall, but am finding that I am wearing it a lot more this spring. I tend to wear it in two ways—one as an inside layer jacket (think blazer) and the other is as an outside jacket/layer (think motorcycle jacket). In either case it provides a nice edge with the moto styling. I find the dark grey softens the edge somewhat, making it work even better for office wear. The asymmetrical zip and cropped style are slimming, creating a lovely waist right at where we may have a problem area (masking it wonderfully.

If you are looking for a moto jacket in dark colors, checkout:

For moto jackets in spring colors, try:

The moto styling is a fabulous contrast to the bright, feminine colors and lace of the spring, adding an edge to the sweet. You may find this is a nice balance for you if the more feminine styles this spring are not your cup of tea (or snifter of whiskey). I especially love how the grey of the moto goes with the bright colors of the Plume Top (styled in seven other ways here). Other cabi spring 2016 tops that work wonderfully with the Twilight jacket or other motos include the Bella Top (a lovely combo), Gelato Top,  Linea Cami, Luisa Tank, Positano Top, and the Vita Blouse. From your own spring wardrobe, look for pretty and ideally colorful short or sleeveless blouses.

Style Tips:

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  • Use your fall moto jacket to add some edge to your spring florals and laces
  • For a comfortable yet edgy business casual outfit for work, wear the moto as a jacket with your bring blouse and some comfortable ponte pants, such as the Capote Trouser (as shown)
  • For a fun date outfit, consider the same type of outfit, just replace the pants with skinny jeans, perhaps the Destructed Skinny (regular or curvy)
  • Roll the sleeves of the moto up for a fresh, on-trend look that may make you more comfortable on these warming days
 

Outfit Breakdown: