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

POW 9: The Southwestern, Boho, Boutique Staple Denim Shirt

I’ve never been a fan of the denim shirt, at least not for me. They look great on other people. They are a wardrobe staple. They are incredibly versatile—easy to dress up and down, wear as layer or wear on its own. But just not my thing.

That is, until I met the Bardot Shirt. Yes, this is another cabi Spring 2016 piece. It is also not your typical denim shirt. It is a faded blue, which you can find many a denim shirt in. But, it also has a boho, Southwest feel with lovely navy embroidery. This shirt makes me think of New Mexico or maybe Arizona. Clear blue sky, turquoise jewelry, horseback riding, red dusty ground, and that desert vibe. It also has a casual, but tailored fit and distressed silver buttons. Plus, each one is unique with the fading of the denim. My cabi stylist, Joni Allen, says this is like a boutique version of a denim shirt, and I must say I agree.

Outfit: Bardot Shirt, Villa Pant, and the Marisa Top from cabi Spring 2016. Earrings and Necklaces by Shine Chaser Jewelry. Bracelets by Solid Treasures. Acme Bootie by Crown Vintage, sold at DSW.

Outfit: Bardot Shirt and Destructed Curvy Skinny jeans from cabi Spring 2016. Yet Another sandals from Aerosoles. English Arrow Wrap Bracelet by Sloan Ranger. Earrings by Solid Treasures. Necklace from Target.

Outfit: Bardot Shirt, Fresco Dress, Villa Necklace from cabi Spring 2016. Unisa Eavvi Sandal sold at DSW.

I see this shirt being what a flannel shirt is to me in the winter and late fall—a cozy shirt, a layer, something I throw on when cold or needing the lightest of jackets, something easy, practical, and worn on its own and as a quick go-to addition to nearly any outfit.

Now I’m a big fan of this denim shirt. And I may find my way to loving the more typical denim shirts. Yes, the Southwestern, boho, boutique Bardot Shirt will be my ninth POW (Piece of the Week). If you do not have the Bardot Shirt and are not interested in buying it, feel free to use any denim shirt in the styles I will show you. It will work best if the denim shirt is a bit loose so you can tie it. Otherwise, pretty much any denim shirt will work. You can also replace your denim shirt with a flannel shirt for fall and winter and try similar styles. I did feature a flannel shirt for the third POW, so feel free to follow those styles replacing the flannel shirt with a denim one!

If you would like the Bardot Shirt, contact your cabi stylist. If you do not have one, please contact me in the comments or via email, reach out to my (Joni Allen via email or phone: 770 502-5243 [call or text]), or find a cabi stylist near you. If you want a more typical or different denim shirt, check out L.L. Bean’s Denim Work Shirt (in two colors) or the Signature Chambray Shirt (on a huge sale!) or the classic Levi's® Long-Sleeve Denim Western Shirt at Macy’s (on sale and in four colors).

Do join us for the ninth POW and discover seven ways, from the office, night on the town, playground, home, and more to style this casual, versatile, unique wardrobe staple the Bardot Shirt!

POW 8: The Swingy Summer Staple Sundress

Until fairly recently, I did not have many sundresses. Then my husband pointed this out, so I tried to add more sundresses to my life. Now, I’m not sure why I did not have them! Sundresses are a prefect easy answer to nearly any outfit choice in the summer. Dinning al fresco? Sundress. Summer fair? Sundress. Errands on a hot day? Sundress. Work? Sundress with a cardi or jacket. Cook out? Sundress. Hot date? Sundress. Really anything? Sundress. A sundress is another wardrobe staple we should all have. And you probably were smarter than I and have several already!

Outfit: Margherita Dress and Villa Necklace (as necklace and bracelet), and Dolce Charm Earrings from cabi Spring 2016. Unisa Eavvi Sandal sold at DSW

For this Piece of the Week, I’m featuring a particular sundress—the cabi Spring 2016 Margherita Dress. This fun, boho-styled dress has a few features that make it not your typical sundress. First, pockets! I love me a dress with pockets! And it doesn’t get much more carefree and fun than a sundress with pockets. It has a longer length, not a true maxi, but longer than what I’d consider a midi length, which is perfect for, say... playing with your toddler. It has a handkerchief hem and is quite fun to twirl in. The straps are not spaghetti straps, but are a bit wider. Some of us may be able to get them to cover our bra straps. The waist is an easy elastic waist—forgiving when you have that extra burger at the cookout. Also, this dress comes in two colors. I’m featuring the classic navy and white one, which is cabi’s regular season dress, but also have a “limited addition” dress in white, yellow, and green geometric pattern. I’ve only seen the latter online, but it looks great too.

Like the other POWs, you can follow the styling tips with something you already have in your closet or something similar you purchase. Look for a longer length sundress, with a full skirt to best match the lovely Margherita Dress.

Do join us for the eight POW and discover seven ways, from the playground, to the boardroom, to the special occasion, to wonderful date night, to style this fun, swingy, summer staple Margherita Dress!

If you want to buy, please contact me in the comments or via email or my stylist (Joni Allen via email or phone: 770 502-5243 [call or text]) and we can get you set up.  It is possible any order you make will be included in a show total for me. If that is the case, for each $250 spent in my show, I get one half priced item. So, I’d be quite grateful of any orders! I promise to blog about what I buy!

POW 7: The Versatile, Go Everywhere Black Skirt

We all need a skirt we can wear on the playground, a sexy date, and the boardroom, right? Or did such a thing never occur to you? It didn’t occur to me, until I was introduced the rather amazing, very comfortable cabi Spring 2016 Run Around Skirt. This skirt is a wardrobe miracle! It should be in every woman’s spring and summer suitcase, as you may wear it in so many different ways. To start with, this is clearly a flattering sexy skirt. No questions asked. You will look hot in this. But, you will also be incredibly comfortable in the Lenzing fabric. You will also be covered! This skirt has layers—a maxi layer in back, a scoop in the front, plus a drape in front, plus another layer that keep up covered underneath, should you need it.

You will LOVE this skirt!

This skirt is a unique piece and may be hard to find alternative of in your closet or elsewhere. In some ways, this skirt reminds me of the M’Legging cabi has had variations of over a few seasons (see the Mesh M’Legging this season). The leggings provide cover for the skirt and the skirt covers the butt, so you can wear the leggings without an extra layer. This skirt has those same layers of coverage. But, if you want a skirt without leggings that does this… I’m not sure what to tell you. I did a search and found little that had the layers, ease, sophistication, and sexiness. A few options that work more casually are the Seaside Fold Over Maxi Skirt which has the length and a fold over style, but not the extra layers or dressier styling, and the Ribbon Stripes Skirt which has the wrap styling, but only a single midi length and not the extra covering layers both by Athleta. If any of you know of anything else, let me know.

However, a black or dark knit (ponte, cotton, Lenzing, stretch jersey, and more) skirt knee-length or longer would work for a lot of what we will go over this week for styling—such as the cabi Spring 2016 Lido Skirt. You may need to choose a ponte pencil for some of the dressier outfits and perhaps a tee shirt material skirt for the more casual to really make it work. But, regardless, you can make these styles word for a variety of skirt. Work it!

Do join us for the seventh POW and discover seven ways, from the boardroom, to the special occasion, to the playground, to style this unique, go anywhere, practical, packing-friendly Run Around Skirt!

If you want to buy, please contact me in the comments or via email or my stylist (Joni Allen via email or phone: 770 502-5243 [call or text]) and we can get you set up.  It is possible any order you make will be included in a show total for me. If that is the case, for each $250 spent in my show, I get one half priced item. So, I’d be quite grateful of any orders! I promise to blog about what I buy!

POW 4: Business in Front, Flutter in the Back

Our fourth POW was inspired by one of the biggest fans, if you don’t mind me calling you that, of this blog—Wendy Wiech (IG @wwbsts). She asked for a POW on the cabi Fall 2015 Tearoom Cardigan (an amazing piece) and the discussion lead to her mentioning this cardigan. So, Wendy, instead of the Tearoom, I give you the Michelle Cardigan, currently available as part of the cabi Spring 2016 collection, for our fourth POW.

Outfit: Michelle Cardigan, Slimmie jeans, First Mate Tee, Dolce Charm Earrings from cabi Spring 2016.The cardigan and jeans are a size too big--expect a closer fit. Shoes are the Restricted Newport Flat from DSW.

This is a fabulous classic navy v-neck cardigan, made unique with the bolt of cobalt trim and the graceful flutter of chiffon in the back. I heard someone call it "business in front and a party in the back," but let’s not degrade such a striking cardigan with mullet references.  I’m thrilled by this cardigan, in part because I loved the Belle Cardigan from the fall, which has some lace were the chiffon is on the Michelle, but I could not wear the yellow. Plus, I just cannot get enough of navy! It’s such a practical, yet beautiful, color. This will be part of my first show order!

The Michelle Cardigan is a great piece for the office, especially cold offices come this spring or summer. It’s a fabulous transition piece—in fact it is one of my seven recommended transitional spring pieces. It’s great to buy now and wear the rest of the year. It can also be dressed up or down, as we will soon see. So, join us for the fourth POW and discover seven ways, from the boardroom, to the playground, to the fancy dinner, to style this classic, unique piece.

Once again, I am breaking this “week” of outfits over two weeks. I will start later today with the Manic Monday work outfit, and then post on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.  The next week, I will post Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday this week.  Then, that Sunday I will announce the next POW, which is also an item that is currently available cabi Spring 2016 garment.

If you want to buy, let me invite you to purchase it as part of my current cabi “party.” We should be placing the order soon. Please contact me in the comments or via email or my stylist (Joni Allen via email or phone: 770 502-5243 [call or text]) and we can get you set up. Any order you make will count toward my show total. For each $250 spent in my show, I get one half priced item. So, I’m be quite grateful of any orders! I promise to blog about what I buy!

Outfit: MICHELLE CARDIGAN, MARTINI TOP,  CITRON CURVY SKINNY, DOLCE CHARM EARRINGS,  LAGOON NECKLACE, WORN BACKWARDS TO SHOW THE SILVER ON THE BACK OFF), AND THE UNISA EAVVI SANDAL from DSW.