Pencil Skirt POW: Trendy, Elegant, and all Choked up Date Night

Outfit Mission Statement: Look good coming and going in a classic, feminine pencil skirt and a trendy, elegant lace back blouse

Friday Night Drinks POW outfits are for going out on a date, getting drinks, seeing a band play, going to dinner and a movie—something where you want to look good and may wear some sexier clothes and statement pieces. The POW (Piece of the Week) is the pencil skirt in general, and the cabi Fall 2016 Sigourney skirt in particular. The pencil skirt is a perfect date night option. It’s sexy, chic, classic, and feminine all in one. Given the power of the pencil skirt, you have a lot of options to finish the date night look, from a tee shirt to an elegant silk blouse. In fact, you can even wear flannel and look hot! Here I went with a trendy, yet elegant option—lace back blouses. I love this look because it is clean and simple in front, but has the surprise of lace and a bit of skin in back. You look good coming and going! Since it is the transitional time of year where some still have winter and some spring, I am showing a colder weather version and a warmer weather one. They both are a similar look—turquoise or green pencil skirt and a lace back blouse. I went with black, boots, and a choker for the colder weather look and white with green heels for the spring look. Of course, with the right shoes/boots either can work for any time of the year.

for cooler temps

for warmer temps

Tips:

• For a trendy and sexy, yet elegant date night look pair the on-trend lace back tops with a pencil skirt
• If you want to show some skin, but don’t want to be too revealing, the lace back top is a fabulous choice
• If you wear a lace back top, think of other ways to draw attention to your back—such as a lovely updo and a statement hair pin
• Consider a neutral top color when rocking a bold pencil skirt and a lace back to draw attention to the lace and the skirt
• If you tuck your top into your pencil skirt and blouse it, you’ll draw attention to your waist and create more of an hourglass look
• If you leave your top untucked, you'll create a longer torso  and hide tummy issues
• Chokers add a dash of Victorian and a pinch of sex appeal—don’t be afraid of this trend, anyone can rock it:
  • If you have looser neck skin or a larger neck:
    • Go for a wider choker in a lace or something with varying edges, which will hide issues and be more forgiving
    • Wear it looser and lower, almost at collar level for the same look without the feeling of having something tight around your neck or creating bulges; this also works better if you have sagging skin
  • If you have a double chin or a little extra right there, go lower rather than higher to not add to this—I tend to go just under halfway or lower
  • Think about what you want to emphasize—lower will draw eyes to your collar bone, shoulders, and chest, whereas higher will emphasize your face more
  • Layer! Chokers work wonderfully with almost any length necklace, other chokers, or even a scarf
  • For a more cohesive and possibly monochromatic look match the color and material with something in your outfit (like black lace)
  • Not sure? Go for a thin one and wear it at your collar like a very short necklace, then work your way up and bigger as you feel comfortable
  • The more bare skin around the choker the more it will stand out and draw attention to that bare skin, so for greater sex appeal consider deeper cut neck lines, cold shoulder, and off-the-shoulder tops, and even put your hair up (if it is longer). To tone down the sex appeal, have your choker peak out of a button down or other shirt that does not show much skin.
  • A longer neck can rock any width of choker
  • A shorter neck may want to go with narrower chokers worn lower, which will add length—a thicker choker at mid neck will likely make your neck look shorter

Outfits:

Sigourney Skirt Outfit:

• Skirt: Sigourney Skirt from cabi Fall 2016, which is no longer readily available. See my introductory POW post for ways to get this skirt, turquoise alternatives, or other pencil skirts
• Blouse: Tempest Blouse from cabi Fall 2016, which is no longer readily available. Check out the same cabi options in my introductory POW post)
• Boots: Unnati boots from JustFab (use my referral code to save money) 
• Clutch: Old clutch, unsure of brand
• Choker: Lace choker from JustFab, that is no longer available—consider the Laser Cut N Strut instead (use my referral code to save money)
• Hair pin: Starburst hair pin from Lilla Rose, which is not available now, but there are many other options (I worked with Abby McElroy and she was very helpful)
• Earrings: older gifts

White Blouse Outfit:

• Skirt: The Cassie from LuLaRoe (The LuLaRoe stylist I have worked with the most is Emily Henry lularoeemilyhenry@gmail.com or via Facebook)
• Blouse: Ely Lace Back Detail Blouse by Q&A from Stitch Fix (use my referral link for$25 of your first Fix)
• Shoes: Hannley Mary Jane Strappy Pump by Nine West from Stitch Fix (use my referral link for$25 of your first Fix)
• Clutch: Geo Woven Box Clutch by Octavia & Co. from Le Tote (use my referral link for a free Tote!)
• Earrings: Beaded Fringe Earrings by Jessica Simpson from Le Tote (use my referral link for a free Tote!)

Related Posts:

1. Plaid POW: Date Night Flannel Heat

2. Plume POW: Touch of 70s Date Night

3. Love POW: Just add Sparkles, Fur, and Beads to make it Sunday Best

1. Plaid POW: Date Night Flannel Heat Posted February 26, 2016: Don’t rule out a flannel shirt for a sexy date outfit—just add other pieces with plenty of sex appeal
2. Plume POW: Touch of 70s Date Night Posted April 08, 2016: Reference your favorite style decade to add fun, glamour, and sex appeal to your night out looks
3. Love POW: Just add Sparkles, Fur, and Beads to make it Sunday Best Posted February 07, 2016: Take a pretty blouse and a neutral pencil skirt and turn it into a sophisticated special occasion outfit with fur, sparkles, beads, and mixing a single metal

Or check out the other date night POWs for more inspiration for a fabulous date (outfit).

Three Tips for Fabulous Fourth Style: Tip Three—Find one versatile new piece and mix it with red, white, and blue you already own

For better or worse, the Fourth of July only comes once a year. You can style a few more patriotic days if you want, such as Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day (and Bastille Day, if you want to get your French on). But, most of the rest of the year, red, white, and blue just may be too much, especially items that are clearly for the Fourth. Thus, buying specific clothes for the holiday may not be an effective use of your money or closet space. Instead, start with a new piece that you can also wear other days of the year. Bonus points if it suggests the Fourth of July, such as stars in red, white, and/or blue, but doesn’t scream it, so you can wear them the rest of the season too. Then add red, white, and blue pieces you already own for a practical, closet-, and budget-friendly look!  Not sure what to get? Check out “Not just for fireworks: Nine Versatile Pieces for your Fourth of July and Patriotic Wardrobe” for some new pieces to add to your wardrobe.

Tips for making it work:

This skirt is perfect for the Fourth but it also can work for work, church, special occasions, and more! Outfit: PLEATED STAR SKIRT, SLEEVELESS DOUBLE DRAPE TEE, AND BOW BALLET FLATS.

• If you find your closet lacking either, go for stripes or stars for your new pieces—there are lots of options that easily work for everyday wear (my favorite may be this lovely skirt)
• Look for new pieces you can clearly see yourself wearing to best ensure you do
• If you add a new red item, you could possibly rock it for other “red” holidays, such as Christmas and Valentine’s day (a red dress a red or a top you can layer might be best for this) (this idea could also work for blue for Hanukkah…), making it even more versatile
• Keep in mind how you are celebrating the Fourth, while I love this skirt or this jacket, neither will work for my plans to be outside in the hot Georgia weather walking around a festival and having a casual picnic before watching fireworks (although I wore them to work around the Fourth for a patriotic touch)
• Look for fun pieces, such as red shiny wedges, as star scarf, or dangling star earrings for a celebratory touch
• Feel free to go overboard if you are adding anew accessory, as they can easily be styled “down” the rest of the year (Such as this blue and red star scarf—clearly has a Fourth of July vibe, but could also work with a navy suit)
• Shop your closet for the rest of the outfit, focusing on red, white, and blue items
• When putting together the outfit consider these previous tips:
  • Wear two of the colors, pop one
  • Mix prints, especially stars and stripes

This scarf is clearly ready for the Fourth--but think of all the ways you can wear it all summer long! OUTFIT: STRIPED FAVORITE TANK, PICNIC SHORT, STAR PRINT SCARF, AND THE BOW BALLET FLATS

Amazing jacket, right? It also rocks for work! OUTFIT: CRUISE JACKET, and everything else is older (Aersoles shoes, Target shorts, Stella & Dot necklace, past season necklace.

I hope you enjoyed my Three Tips for Fabulous Fourth Style. Be sure to check out Tip 1—Wear  Two & Pop One and Tip Two—Mix Prints for a more Festive Look!

I’ll be back to the POW posts soon, never free. But look forward to more posts of this kind. I had a lot of fun with them. Let me know if there is another day or topic you would like me to focus on for style tips!