Beyond POW: Versatile Layers for doing it all Saturday

/

Outfit Mission Statement: On days where you have too much to do, choose versatile pieces that can adjust with you and add a bright pop for color

Play Day Saturday are clothes for taking your kids to the park, running errands, walking your dog , shopping, picnicking, traveling, going to a museum or a zoo, doing last minute holiday errands—out and about or home having fun clothes. These are the clothes you often live the best parts of your life in! The POW (Piece of the Week) is the Beyond Tee from cabi Fall 2016. This is a perfect day before Christmas outfit. Not only does it have a pop of red, but it is cute, cozy, and very practical. With the Spacedye M’leggings, you can assemble a bike, make cookies, wrap gifts, greet Santa, play the dreidel game, or make latkes. The leggings and skirt combo is practical, comfortable, and cute. The layers make it versatile, should your errands or bike building make you hot. The mix of dark neutrals makes the red pop without the harsher contrast of only black and red. All three garments in this outfit are adaptable, so you can make adjustments to change things up:

  • Cobblestone Cardigan: This fiery red color light and soft cardigan fully unzips in the back, so you can wear it zipped for a traditional cardigan look or unzip it for open back look and show off your cute top underneath, or in this case the knot and draping of the Beyond Tee. This is a great layer over any top that has a cool print, lace back, or other cool feature you want to show off. It adds an element of surprise and gives interest to your outfit coming and going.
  • Spacedye M’leggings: These skirted leggings are a great mix of leggings and a skirt. They have the style of a skirt with the ease of leggings. The skirt covers your butt and means you do not have to layer a tunic or longer to over the leggings, and it works whether you think leggings are pants or not pants! If you wear a tunic, the skirt tend to look like another layer, creating a long, multi-layered look, which you can see in some of these pictures. If you wear a shorter shirt, then it makes the skirt more obvious, giving you the skirt with matching tights look.
  • Beyond Tee: We all know how versatile this is, as it is the focus of POW 12, and I style it at least nine different ways. Check out the other posts, if you have missed the multiple ways you can wrap, drape, tie, and otherwise style this amazing ultra-versatile tee. In just this post, I show you three techniques for styling it!

 

Beyond Tee Styling Technique: Simple Back Tie

To enjoy the “Simple Back Tie” technique:

  1. Put it on the frontwards way with the tag in back for a lower neckline
  2. Take the two panels and wrap each back on its side—so wrap the right on around to your back on the right and left on the left
  3. Tie the two panels in back at about your natural waist
  4. Wear the tunic part of the tee as a tunic for an easy loose look

 

 

 

 

 

Beyond Tee Styling Technique: Double Tie

To flaunt the “Double Tie” technique:

  1. Put it on the frontwards way with the tag in back for a lower neckline
  2. Take the two panels and wrap each back on its side—wrap the right on around to your back on the right and left back on the left
  3. Tie the two panels in back at about your natural waist
  4. Make sure the tunic part of the tee is out (not tucked in) and pull it down over your leggings (or whatever) as a tunic
  5. Gather the tunic fabric on one side and knot it high on your hip for a sassier, slimming take on this tee

 

 

Beyond Tee Styling Technique: Hip Tie

To flaunt the “Hip Tie” technique:

  1. Put it on the frontwards way with the tag in back for a lower neckline
  2. Wear the tee with the tunic part of the tee down over your leggings (or whatever) as a tunic and the panels out and down in their natural state
  3. Gather the tunic fabric (not the panels) on one side and knot it high on your hip for a fun look with distinct layers
 

Tips:

  • On busy days, layer versatile, easy pieces that allow full ranges of motion and activities
  • Consider the legging and skirt look, whether a single garment or separate, for the style of a skirt and comfort of a leggings with no worries about your butt being covered!
  • If red and black are too stark a contrast for you, consider combining red with dark neutrals, such as dark grey, navy, along with black
  • If you are shy about bright colors, consider an otherwise neutral look with one bright pop in a blazer, cardigan, or accessory—that way you can always remove it if it feels like too much
  • If you have tops with cute backs, such as lace, prints, or a pretty fabric, consider one of the on-trend toppers that open in the lower back, such as this cardigan or a split back sweater
  • Layer two simpler necklaces for a polished, easy touch
  • Consider simple variations on your pieces to fit the day or to make adjustments based on what you are doing during the day, without needing to change your outfit
  • Do not be afraid of mixing dark naturals—but if you are not confident doing so, then mix a solid dark natural with subtle print/pattern dark neutral, such as a spacedye  

Outfit Breakdown:

 

 

 

If you would like the Beyond Tee or other cabi, 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.

Related Posts:

 

  1. Pleated Star POW: Cozy Cabled Rocky Coast Saturday: For a cozy take on a pleated skirt, add comfy pieces like a big cowl-neck sweater and suede boots
  2. Bardot POW: Casual, Easy Boho Saturday: For a distinctive, comfy, boho chic outfit, think outside the jeans box—wear flowy pull-on pants and a denim shirt instead.
  3. Love POW: Sweater Saturdays are Pretty Cozy: Start with a cozy sweater and add feminine and practical pieces for a casual, pretty, and lifestyle-friendly look

 

 

Michelle POW: The Cropped & Contrasted Thursday

/

Outfit Mission Statement: Don’t rule out a trend before you try it on

TTT Thursday outfits are Trendy, Transitional, and/or Terrific—in other words my choice. Whatever other outfit ideas the garment gave me. It may be something very trendy, transitional, or something else. The POW (Piece of the Week) is the cabi Spring 2016 Michelle Cardigan. I’m going more for trends this week. This outfit employs a few trends. First the crop top. Perhaps, like me, you shuttered when crop tops came back in, know that it was not a look for your body now. I was shocked when I tried this cabi Crop Top on. It’s longer than many, but still has the cropped silhouette and styling. It does not show off what I call my “mommy tummy,” as I feared. In fact, it’s rather flattering. I do plan to wear mine with higher waited items or perhaps a cami underneath so there are not occasional flashes of skin (or worse—the mommy tummy!). I’m shocked to say, I rather adore this cropped top! In fact, I think the length cuts right in the perfect spot to mask that tummy. Another trend in this outfit is mixing navy and black. This is such a fun, modern mix, which I have discussed previously. The navy and cobalt cardigan really add a pop of color to the outfit and cut the starkness of just black and white. It’s a pretty & fun layer over to other fun pieces. Stripes are also very in. These add a slight twist by being diagonal. And, yes, another m’legging sighting. These seem my go-to TTT Thursday pants! But that is because they are trendy, comfortable, and flattering. Really, if you don’t own a pair, go out and buy these. Trust me. You will wear them Thursday and the rest of the week!

 

Tips:

  • Don’t rule out a crop top, even if you are not skinny and don’t think you have the best tummy area! Just look for one in a flattering style for your body type. You may find the line of the top work perfectly to hide (not flaunt) your problem area
  • Wear navy and black together—this is a modern, trendy look, with a classic history (very French)
  • Add a navy cardigan to a black and white outfit to tone down the starkness of the black and white and add an unusual pop of color
  • Don’t be afraid for mixing different styles, like this bold and almost edgy crop top with the classic and elegant cardigan with chiffon. This mix is fun and more interesting that an outfit composed of the same style of piece.
  • Buy thee m’leggings and thank me later
  • With a neutrals only outfit, wear bright, fun jewelry that pops

 

Outfit Breakdown:

  • Cardigan: Michelle Cardigan from cabi Spring 2016 
  • Crop Top: Crop Top from cabi Spring 2016 
  • M’Leggings (the leggings with a skirt): Mesh M’Leggings  from cabi Spring 2016 
  • Necklaces: Helios Necklaces (a pair sold together) from cabi Spring 2016 
  • Bracelet: Helios Bracelet from cabi Spring 2016
  • Earrings: Stone Twilight Earrings from cabi Spring 2015, and no longer available. Consider these alternatives, which also work with a white, black, and navy outfit:
  • Booties: These are old Aerosoles. Here are some current ones that could work:
    • Sundae: The black wedge boots have an elastic cross strap
    • Soterday Night: These Oxford-style ankle boots are also wedges
    • Duble Trouble: These low heeled (1”) ankle boots that look like you could keep up with twins wearing them

 

 

Plaid POW: Flannel Geek Chic

/

Outfit Mission Statement: Mix geek with trendy and a comfy flannel shirt, for a practical geek chic look

fullc.jpg

Play Day Saturday are clothes for taking your kids to the park, running errands, talking your dog for a walk, shopping, picnicking, travel, going to a museum or a zoo—out and about or home having fun clothes. These are the clothes you often live the best parts of your life in! The POW (Piece of the Week) the L.L. Bean Slightly Fitted Scotch Plaid Shirt in Deep Evergreen Tartan. This outfit is the first of my chic geek outfits—waving your geek flag in chic ways. Expect more of these. They are so much fun. Not only does this outfit work for the above, but add to the list gaming, comic, and other geek conventions; going to the latest superhero movie; playing games in a coffee shop; a day or night of role playing with friends; drinks and video games at a geek bar.

Here I had taken the amazing cabi M’Leggings, which provide comfort and style and just a bit of sexy with the short skirt. I swear these are flattering on anyone. They cover the tush and front, so no need to wear a tunic over the leggings. Feel free to throw on even a geek t-shirt! The flannel adds comfort and can cover any tummy issues. Then add a geek necklace, some fun earrings, and animal print shoes. You are chic, geek, comfortable, and cute.

Tips:

  • Mix trendy with geeky for a geek chic look
  • Keep the geek aspects limited—go for one or two playful geek focus pieces (too many will be distracting and overwhelming)
  • Add fun on-trend pieces that are comfortable to compliment to geek and allow you to demonstrate that kick butt move your character just made
  • Flannel is a great layer and cover up and if you get warm at the con, you can always take it off and wrap it around your waist

Outfit Breakdown:

 

Want to try this with denim and dragons? Check out this Game-of-Thrones-ready geek chic outfit: cabi Spring 2016 Bardot Shirt and Mesh M’Leggings with the Dragons are a Girl’s Best Friend tee from Snorg Tees, Chemistry Periodic Table Necklace, Target’s Ellie Ballet Flats, and Sun Chaser’s Simple Hematite and Wire Dangle Earrings.

geekchic.jpg