POW 11: Pleated Star Skirt

Stars. Stars are my thing.

Pleated Star Skirt from Canvas by Lands’ End. cabi Spring 2016 Muscle Tee. Athena Necklace andMermaid Earrings by Kelly Annie. Yet Another sandals from Aerosoles.

I used to have glow-in-the-dark stars on my bedroom ceiling growing up. I would stargaze in the crisp, clean Maine nights. I accessorize with stars. I love stars. When I saw this Pleated Star Skirt from Canvas by Lands’ End I was smitten. Not only were there stars, and in a lovely blue, but it was also a pleated skirt! I adore the fancy skirt trend—from tulle to pleats. This skirt is a great mix of two loves! The cascading star print is fun, but also something that can read professional or dressy, more so than an all-over star print with all the stars the same size. It does read as fairly feminine, which is why I considered it for a Piece of the Week (POW). I like to take garments that have obvious stylings and find some that are less so, while playing with feel of the garment. So, thus, the lovely Pleated Star Skirt from Canvas by Lands’ End became my eleventh POW.

Pleated Star Skirt from Canvas by Lands’ End paired with the cabi Fall 2016 Cable Cowl sweater and Chelsea Charm Necklace. Boots are Wonderful by Aerosoles.

The skirt may also read as summery too you—white, airy, with patriotic stars. While it is great for summer, and a festive Fourth of July, it can totally rock in the fall or winter too. Yes, you can wear white after Labor Day.  In fact, you can even wear this in winter—imagine a cozy, soft sweater for a Christmas or Hanukah look or with a glitzy top for New Years. I’m using this POW as a summer to fall transitions; showing looks that may feel more summer-like or more autumn-like (and possible even variations of both). Stars can rock year round, and you can work this skirt year round too!

If you love the looks but maybe not this particular skirt, feel free to take another pleated skirt or other type of fancier skirt and style with it instead. Much of these outfits and inspirations can easily be restyled with a tulle skirt, a solid color pleated skirt, a lace skirt, or a lovely satin midi skirt. Have fun with it and work it!

Join us in the 11th POW as we rock these stars and pleats at work, on the beach, on a date,  and in warm sunny days and crisp falls days!

Pleated Star Skirt from Canvas by Lands’ End with cabi Spring 2016 Kris Top, Unisa Eavvi Sandal sold at DSW, and classic pearls from Robert Lance Jewelers.

Pleated Star Skirt from Canvas by Lands’ End with the cabi Fall 2016 Recess Tank and Recess Topper, and Chelsea Charm Necklace. Crazy Lace Agate Sterling Silver Cuff Bracelet by Solid Treasures. Shoes are older Aerosoles.

Interested in purchasing? If my post inspired you to buy the lovely Pleated Star Skirt from Canvas by Lands’ End or other items from Lands’ End, please consider using my referral link. I’ll get 25% off my next order and be very grateful! Let me know you used my referral link, and give you a shout out including links to your social media.

Other Fancy Skirt Inspirations

Use these as additional ways to style your Pleated Star Skirt or as inspiration of other types of fancy skirts you could style along with.

1. Plume POW: The Stylish Safari Princess Thursday

2. Plaid POW: Sparkling & Flannel Sunday Best

3. Bardot POW: Boho Southwestern Sparkly Princess Sunday Best

1. Plume POW: The Stylish Safari Princess Thursday posted April 14, 2016:  For a trendy outfit with masculine and feminist touches, mix tulle and military/safari style.
2. Plaid POW: Sparkling & Flannel Sunday Best posted February 28, 2016: Turn flannel elegant by adding a dressy skirt and accessories.
3. Bardot POW: Boho Southwestern Sparkly Princess Sunday Best posted May 29, 2016: To dress denim up for a special occasion look, throw on the fancy—think tulle, sparkly gems, embroidered velvet, statement pieces, and amazing shoes

Fall into Spring (or Summer) 5 & 6: Bring Your Fall Blouses Forward into Spring and Summer!

This is part five and six of my Fall into Spring adventure (see below for a list of the previous four). I’m highlighting six great pieces from the cabi Fall collection that you may have in your wardrobe and showing how you can wear them with the spring cabi collection or your own spring pieces. 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!

Outfit: Love Blouse from cabi Fall 2015. Capote Trouser, Portico Shrug, Dolce Charm Earrings, Locket Necklace (part of it as a bracelet),  and Dolce Charm Necklace
 from cabi Spring 2016. With the Unisa Eavvi Sandal sold at DSW.

Outfit: Stained Glass Blouse from cabi Fall 2015.
Citron Curvy Skinny jean (also available in regular), Michelle Cardigan, Dolce Charm Earrings, and Dolce Charm Necklace
 from cabi Spring 2016. With the Unisa Eavvi Sandal sold at DSW.

Since the fifth and sixth pieces have much and common, and because it is now summer, I am combining them into a single post. Most of the tips can be applied to either. The fifth piece may look familiar, as this lovely pieces was our second POW, the Love Blouse! This is a pretty, longer-length sleeveless blouse with a gathered collar. It’s a great year-round piece, as I will show. Another great year-round piece, is another sleeveless fall blouse—the Stained Glass Blouse. This blouse has over twenty different colors in it, and is a striking, artistic blouse that goes with anything. The bolder, darker colors may see more fall-like, but they can work perfectly for the spring and summer. If you do not own either of these cabi blouses from Fall 2015, look in your closet for other colorful, sleeveless fall blouses (or really any colorful sleeveless blouses). Or, you can consider spring blouses instead, such as the Bella Top, the Blossom Top (which will work well in the fall too—another year-round option!), the Gelato Top, or the Vita Blouse.

Tips:

• Make your fall blouses more spring or summery by mixing them with bright warm weather colors like citron and bougainvillea
• Add spring layers, such as shrugs and cardigans, over the fall blouse to help bring them forward
• Since they are sleeveless, consider wearing the blouses without layers and with shorts or skirts for a quick warm-weather look
• Wear the blouses with the classic summer neutral, navy, for instance summer appeal (consider the Mariner Trouser, Capote Trouser, Michelle Cardigan, Lido Jacket, and Lido Skirt)
• Add summer accessories and shoes, like off-white sandals, for a summer feel
• Combine the fall blouses with spring fabrics, like chiffon and linen, to aid a spring air
• Wear the blouses more casually, as summer and spring have a more casual feel
• Consider lighter layers, such as ones with three-quarter sleeves (or rolled up) or thinner fabrics to enhance the summer vibe
• Wear button-up fall blouses, such as the Love Blouse, unbuttoned over tanks, camis, sundresses, and even swimsuits for a fall twist on a summer layer
• Rock the blouses with some of the spring trends to give it a fresh feel—such as the Traveler Pant

There are many other ways to spring that fall blouse forward—mix with summer colors, styles, and weights and wear it in ways you wear your normal spring and summer sleeveless blouses. Let me know how you are rocking them!

Check out the other Fall into Spring Posts:

1.       Fall into Spring: Rocking Your Fall Moto in the Spring

2.       Fall into Spring 2: Mediating Your Fall Media Jacket in the Spring

3.       Fall into Spring 3: Back in Your Black Fall Jacket for Spring

4.       Fall into Spring 4: Bring Your Navy Lace Forward into Spring and Summertime!

Fall into Spring 4: Bring Your Navy Lace Forward into Spring and Summertime!

This is part three of my Fall into Spring adventure (see below for a list of the previous three) I’m highlighting six great pieces from the cabi Fall collection that you may have in your wardrobe and showing how you can wear them with the spring cabi collection or your own spring pieces. 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!

Our fourth fall piece is the London Top in a lovely navy lace. One great thing about navy is that it is a year round piece—great for fall, spring, winter, and summer! You can check out another styling of this pieces that will also rock for spring in A Chic & Vintage About Town Thursday. This top is a fairly seasonless top, as it is a dark year-round color, lace, and short sleeved. In fact, it may seem more like a spring piece given the sleeves. As it happens, this is a very on-trend style for this spring too! The button-down style makes it versatile too—wear it as a shirt (buttoned) or a light jacket (unbuttoned). The color fits perfectly in to the cabi spring 2016 collection and the spring navy trend in general.

If you do not have this top, there are some other options available, including

• Cap Sleeve Lace Top by Eliza J on Gilt (not a button-down)
• Elvia Back Button Lace Top with buttons down the back on ekstock
• Lace Button-Front Blouse from Banana Republic (long-sleeved)

Tips:

• Layer over a pretty spring blouse, such as the Bella Top, Positano Top, or the Fall Love blouse (as shown in A Chic & Vintage About Town Thursday, which can work for spring too
• Mix it with the spring navys for a single color look, such as the Lido Skirt, Lido Jacket, and the Drape Double Drape Tee
• Wear it under the denim Bardot Shirt (or other denim shirts) for a fun peek of fancy under the boho casual shirt
• Make it part of a power suiting outfit, as shown here, by mixing it with a single bold color, such as this amazing jelly bean green you see in the Verde Jacket and V-Neck cami
• Or turn it into a sexy date look with a pop of color by taking off the Verde Jacket, and wearing the London Top with navy  Lido Skirt and the jelly bean green V-Neck cami
• Pop any bright cami under it for some fun (either V-Neck cami for example)
• For a cute date night look, wear it as a light jacket over your favorite sundress, such as the Fresco Dress
• Create a lacey nautical look by wearing it with navy stripes, such as over the Boat Stripe Dress or under the Cruise Jacket
• For a pretty safari look, were it under the Explorer Vest or some other olive military or safari style vest
• For a pretty date night look, find a fun flirty summer skirt, such as the Isabel Skirt, and wear it with a cami as a top

It goes well with a number of spring styles for pants and jeans:

• Wear it with a nautical style navy pants, such as the Marine Trouser, for a lean long lacy nautical look
• Go for a light hearted casual look by pairing it with the Strand Pant
• Combine new neutrals, while mixing opposites by pairing ti with the olive utility style pants that are all the rage, such as the amazing Traveler Pant
• Go for an easy, breezy look by pairing it with a casual white linen pant, such as the Piazza Pant
• Create fun contrasts in style by pairing the pretty lace with the destructed skinny jean (in curvy or regular)
• Create fun contrasts in color by pairing the navy with the bright citron (in curvy or regular)
• Go edgy, casual, and feminine by combining the London Top with the white Destructed Slim Boyfriend jeans

I could keep going because there are so many ways you can rock your all navy lace with your spring navy, nautical, destructed, feminine, and other pieces and fall into your spring and summer wardrobe!

Outfit Breakdown:

• Lace Top: The London Top from cabi Fall 2015. See above for available alternatives
• Skirt: Lido Skirt from cabi Spring 2016
• Jacket: Verde Jacket from cabi Spring 2016
• Cami: V-Neck cami from cabi Spring 2016
• Necklace: Lagoon Necklace from cabi Spring 2016
• Earrings: Lagoon Earrings from cabi Spring 2016
• Shoes: These are beige suede pumps from Target last year. Here are some available options:
  • Lainee Pumps at Target
  • Glamorous by Aerosoles
  • Doppler Radar by Aerosoles

The Fall into Spring Posts:

Photography by Bill Ruhsam of The Evil Eyebrow. Check out more of his photography.