Michelle POW: Date Night Aflutter

Outfit Mission Statement: Mix a cardigan with flirty and romantic pieces to set hearts aflutter

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 cabi Spring 2016 Michelle Cardigan. There are many ways one could style this for a date. I went sweet and romantic. Skirts are always good for dates, as they give you a chance to show off your legs. Guys seem to like this. Gals seem to like it too. The flounces on this skirt are both fun and flirty. They also mimic the flouncy chiffon trim in the back of the cardigan, creating some nice continuity. The flounces and the chiffon add a romantic air to the outfit, which is supported with the locket necklace and charm jewelry, resulting in a romantic and flirty outfit for having a date or finding one.

Tips:

• Cardigans make wonderful layers over cute date outfits, especially if you need a layer of warmth or have a cute cami or tank and you don’t want your bra straps to show
• Look for skirts that have ruffles, flounces, or other romantic and flirty features for date night outfits
• For some classic romance, add an antique style locket, like the one here—even better if it is a functioning locket with a picture of your love or a lock of hair (this locket is function. I will soon have pictures in it)
• When wearing a navy (or other neutral) cardigan for a date night, pair it with a colorful skirt to keep a playful air

Outfit Breakdown:

• Cardigan: Michelle Cardigan from cabi Spring 2016 
• Cami: Simple Cami in nude from cabi Spring 2016
• Skirt: Isabel Skirt from cabi Spring 2016 
• Earrings: Dolce Charm Earrings from cabi Spring 2016 
• Necklace & Bracelet: Both part of the Locket Necklace from cabi Spring 2016
• Shoes: Unisa Eavvi Sandal sold at DSW

Love POW: A Chic & Vintage About Town Thursday

Outfit Mission Statement: Take romantic, vintage-inspired pieces and mix them with sleek, trendy pieces for a sweet, fresh and modern look

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. This week I went with cute, classy, and trendy. The POW (Piece of the Week) is the cabi fall 2015 Love Blouse. This outfit could easily work for a date night or a night out with the girls. I see a Valentine's day celebration, fancy drinks, gallery openings, dinner with friends, a weeknight celebrations, and theater in this outfit’s future (and it's great for standing in a driveway with the family’s chalk art!). This outfit is a fun mix of pretty and sweet with sleek and stylish. I love it! The trick is to not go too far with either the sleek & stylish or the pretty & sweet. The romantic Love Blouse, the pretty lace top, the vintage bead clutch, and the darling rose quartz earrings all add a pretty and even vintage feel. But add skinnies with rolled hems and sleek sexy shoes and you have a balanced fresh look. The neutral navy in the blouse, lace top, and jeans also pulls the look together with a more modern feel and tones down the sweet pieces so this is not sugary sweet. The mix of gold, a pewter, and silver in the earrings give it a chic touch that is not too matchy-matchy.

Tips:

• Pair romantic, vintage-inspired (or vintage) pieces with sleek modern pieces for a look stands out (and doesn’t go overboard in either direction) 

• Draw the outfit together with a darker neutral theme—this will tone down any sticky sweetness and provide a modern feel

• Roll those jean hems to show off sexy shoes

• Accessorizing with different metals adds a chic touch and compliments (and updates) the vintage pieces

• Consider a side ponytail when you want both sleek and free (this works especially well with waves and curls)

• When you have clothing that has its own “built in” accessories—like the ruffles collar on the Love Blouse or the lace of the lace top, you do not need to add a necklace, as it could distract. But have fun with things further away from these built in accessories, like a clutch or purse and shoes.

Outfit Breakdown:

The clothing items in this outfit are all cabi Fall 2015, and no longer available. Contact me if you must have something and I may be able to direct you to a stylist who has it. Look for substitutes from your own closet or check out the alternatives below. I normally will make the POW a currently available item, but my blog launched later than planned and I wanted to share these outfits. The next POW will be of an available item, I promise!

• Blouse: This is the cabi Fall 2015 Love Blouse. To find a substitute from your own closet, look for a feminine blouse with a special feature. If you don’t have quite the right blouse to substitute in your closet, consider these cabi Spring 2016 alternatives:  
  • Vita Blouse: This gorgeous draped blouse is also sleeveless and has a sexy cutout in the back
  • Bella Top: This feminize, fluttery blouse has a similar feel to the love blouse
  • Positano Top: This flowy top reminds me of vintage fabric but with very current colors
  • Gemma Top: This bright green beauty has eyelets and lace for a vintage and trendy feel
• Jeans: Skinny jeans are everywhere. If you don’t already have some dark skinny jeans, I’m sure you can find some you will love. If you want something a bit less skinny (and white), consider the Slimmie. 
• Lace Top: The London Top is, yup, a cabi Fall 2015 item and no longer for sale. Here are some different directions you can go: 
  • Capri Top: With crochet ivory lace in a flowing oversized design, you get a vintage bohemian feel. Consider wearing a bright cami or tank underneath to pop color and add some pizazz, such as the Tiger Lily Layer Tank or either V-Neck Cami. 
  • Piccolo Shrug: This bright, cropped shrug has a 60s feel
  • Portico Shrug: Another bright shrug, this has more of a modern feel with dolman sleeve and an open design
• Earrings: These are Rose Quartz Dangle Earrings by Shine Chaser Jewelry
• Clutch: This is a vintage clutch (I’m guessing from the 1950s or 1960s) that my mom bought me for Christmas. I’ll put the shop name in where she got it when she gets back to me.
• Shoes: These lovely gray and pewter pumps are the Audrey Brooke Glenda Pump, which I recently got for a steal (under$20) at DSW, but are showing as $39.94 online

For a spring version with currently available pieces, consider: cabi’s2016 Spring Bella Top, Slimmie jeans, and Piccolo Shrug, with the Audrey Brooke Glenda Pump, Rose Quartz Dangle Earrings, and a vintage clutch.

An added bonus. Y'all want to see pictures of my adorable kid, right?

Love POW: Spicy Sweet Friday Night Drinks

Outfit Mission Statement: Mix romantic pretty items with ripped denim and black leather for a look that is both sugar and spice and certainly nice

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 cabi fall 2015 Love Blouse. In many ways, this blouse is ready for a romantic date without any work at all. But, sometimes we don’t want to look all sweet and romantic. Sometimes we want some spice with our sugar. For the spice I added ripped jeans. These give a real edge to the outfit, creating some flirty fun. The jeans balance the sweet of the Love Blouse and scarf combo. The black shoes also add a bit of spice with the cutout and black leather, even though the style is reminiscent of Victorian style. The amazing faux fur trimmed Twist Scarf adds to the romantic sweetness, and gives a bit of warmth and a bit more filtration. Together we have a spicy sweet Friday night look, perfect for a romantic night out with your sweetie, out partying with friends, or anything in-between.  

Tips:

• Don’t be afraid of mixing romantic pieces with edgy pieces 
• Find ways to balance out a romantic blouse to make your outfit multidimensional
• Consider rolling your jeans to show off your shoes and look a bit more street and trendy (for tips and a tutorial from PopSugar) 
• Add a scarf for added flirtation potential (and warmth)
• Think details like ruffles, fur, tassels, and rips to make sure your outfit is not boring (we can’t make promises about that blind date) 
• When choosing an ombré blouse, go with one that goes from light to dark as you go down. This will lighten your face while making your waist and hips look smaller 
• When wearing an ombré blouse, choose pants that are similar in color to the colors at the bottom of the blouse to create a longer, leaner look

Outfit Breakdown:

The clothing items in this outfit are all cabi Fall 2015, and no longer available. Contact me if you must have something and I may be able to direct you to a stylist who has it. Look for substitutes from your own closet or check out the alternatives below. I normally will make the POW a currently available item, but my blog launched later than planned and I wanted to share these outfits. The next POW will be of an available item, I promise!

• Blouse: This is the cabi Fall 2015 Love Blouse. To find a substitute from your own closet, look for a feminine blouse with a special feature. If you don’t have quite the right blouse to substitute in your closet, consider these cabi Spring 2016 alternatives:
  • Vita Blouse: This gorgeous draped blouse is also sleeveless, and has a sexy cutout in the back
  • Bella Top: This feminize, fluttery blouse has a similar feel to the love blouse
  • Plaza Top: This classic, flowing blue and white blouse has a cute Henley collar
  • Tivoli Top: This fierce black and taupe blouse has plenty of cool features
• Jeans: These are the cabi Fall 2015 Dark Destruction Slim Boyfriend, and yup, no longer available. However, there are two great cabi Spring 2016 options:
  • Destructed Skinny in Curvy or Regular: This is a soft jean with a darker wash
  • Destructed Slim Boyfriend: These are white with contrast stitching
• Scarf: The Twist Scarf is cabi Fall 2015 also and it sold out during the regular season. Consider:
  • Flora Scarf: This is a colorful floral scarf from the cabi Spring 2016 collection
  • Dunand Deco Floral Scarf: This stunning black, white, and gray has a leaf design based on a beautiful lacquered wood panel and is from the Metropolitan Museum of Art Store
  • Monet Water Lilies Scarf: This striking scarf is mostly blue with pops of a red color and is  also from the Metropolitan Museum of Art Store 
• Shoes: These are an old, beloved pair of A2s from Aerosoles. Here are some in stock options: 
  • Glamorous: Black leather with an open toe and side cutout-sleek and sexy!
  • Mirage: This buckled ankle bootie with an open toe are edgy and fun
• Earrings: These are Rose Quartz Dangle Earrings by Shine Chaser Jewelry

Looking for a Spring version of this? Here is a version composed of the alternatives listed above and the available earrings: Vita Blouse, Destructed Skinny in Curvy, Dunand Deco Floral Scarf, Mirage bootie, and Rose Quartz Dangle Earrings.