Run Around POW: Simple Elegance Sunday Best

Outfit Mission Statement: For an elegant, sophisticated outfit that is easy and comfortable, pair your black skirt with a neutral silk and similar accessories

Sunday Best POW outfits are special occasion clothes for dinning, theater, opera, holiday parties, church, and other such occasions that need something special. The POW (Piece of the Week) is the cabi Spring 2016 Run Around Skirt. Sometimes simple is best. Take a black skirt add a silk blouse and there you go. The ease and comfort of the Run Around Skirt suggests an easy comfortable dressy look, something of simple elegance. Don’t get me wrong. This skirt can be dressed up all sorts of ways—lace, sequins, chiffon, more drapes... the list goes on.  For instance, this skirt is a knockout with Tivoli Top and the Vita Blouse (see Simple Affairs Date Night for the Vita with black pants for an example outfit with the blouse and black on bottom). Or you can go for power and elegance of all black with a black top. Consider either the white or black Sophia Sweater (with sheer lace backs) for another dressy look. This skirt is versatile and easily dressed up.

But, you can also pair it with a simple silk blouse in a neutral color for a classic, but easy, look. This gives you a fun base to accessorize. You could go for bright colors to really pop them. Or go for a more sophisticated look by playing off the color of the blouse, such as I did here—gray blouse and silver accessories and shoes. With the draping and layered skirt, gray silk, and silver accessories you have a sophisticated, elegant look that is easy and comfortable.

Tips:

• For a simply elegant look, pair the draped black skirt with a simple neutral silk blouse
• With a gray silk blouse, you can play up the color with silver accessories (if going with a cream or brown, consider gold)
• Keep things simple by keeping your hair down
• With neutral garments, you can show off a statement necklace as the highlight of your outfit
• For a layered, wrap skirt, consider D’Orsay heels to compliment the lines
• Choose a neutral silk blouse with minor embellishments, which as the slightly draped neckline, to keep with the simple elegance of the outfit

Outfit Breakdown:

• Skirt: Run Around Skirt from cabi Spring 2106
• Blouse: Spirt Tunic from cabi Fall 2102, which is no longer available. Consider the Nine West Charmeuse Tie Neck Blouse from Belk, the Lafayette 148 New York Gray Silk Charmeuse Bias Cut Tank from Saks Fifth Avenue and on lyst, or the 3.1 Phillip Lim Gray Classic Silk Tank Top from FarFetch also on lyst. Or go for a stunning navy on black French look with the Sleeveless Double Drape Tee from cabi Spring 2016.
•  Shoes: Audrey Brooke Glenda Pump from DSW
• Earrings: Vintage Crystal Studs Earrings from Stella & Dot
• Necklace: Sadly this Casablanca Necklace has sold out at Stella & Dot (they do have earrings and a bracelet if you like the look). If you want a longer statement pieces, consider the Nile Necklace, the Azure Tassel Necklace, or the Alila Lace Necklace.
• Bracelet: This is an old bracelet and I have no idea where I got it. Consider the aforementioned Casablanca Bracelet, the Bardot Spiral Bangle, or the Vintage Crystal Bracelet all from Stella & Dot.
• Clutch: An old clutch from Coldwater Creek; consider their current Shooting Star Evening Bag or Art Deco Beaded Clutch.

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

Go-To POW: Classic Pearls and Lace Sunday Best

Outfit Mission Statement: Sometimes simple is special—keep it simple with black pants, a lacy sweater, and classic accessories

Sunday Best POW outfits are special occasion clothes for dinning, theater, opera, holiday parties, church, and other such occasions that need something special. The POW (Piece of the Week) is the cabi Spring 2016 Go-To Trouser. The classic elegance with a modern silhouette of these trousers keeps suggesting to me simple styling, as I have for this Sunday Best and for Date Night Friday. The can also be dressed in less simple ways (check out the Black & White Manic Monday). But they do work well playing off the classic and simple styling of the trousers. To create a Sunday Best outfit, just add a lovely lace sweater, some pretty sandals, pearls, a purse, red lipstick, and a variation on a classic French twist. The looks is simple, elegant, and ready for many different special occasions.

Tips:

• A classic pair of black pants and a lovely sweater with special lace details can make an elegant and simple special occasion outfit
• Add classic details, like red lips, a French Twist, and pearls
• Look good coming and going with details in the back of our top, like the lovely lace on the Sophia Sweater
• Black and white outfits bring with them a certain classic sophistication that you can draw on with styling
• Keep in mind that black and white outfits are hard to photograph, so look for something different if you know you will be photographed at your special occasion
• Wearing classic, quality jewelry, such as pearls, increases the style and dressiness of any outfit
• When layering with lace, wear a different color under the lace to accentuate the lace—this soft pink adds to the sophistication of the outfit but a bolder and brighter color can be fun in a more playful and/or sexy outfit

Outfit Breakdown:

• Trousers: Go-To Trouser from cabi Spring 2016
• Sweater: Sophia Sweater from cabi Spring 2016
• Cami: This is the Simple Cami from a previous season of cabi, but the current Nude Simple Cami would work well
• Jewelry: These pearls were a wedding gift from my husband and they are from Robert Lance Jewelers; similar can be found at most finer jewelry stores
• Handbag: This was a gift, but seems to be the L&M convertible reversible black and gold handbag or clutch
• Shoes: Unisa Eavvi Sandal sold at DSW
• Lipstick: This lipstick is Sizzling Red by Mary Kay

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An outtake for your pleasure. I think my kid may have been modeling too!

Go-To POW: Simple Affairs Date Night

Outfit Mission Statement: For a simple date night look, take your wardrobe essential black pants, add a romantic & sexy blouse along with a few accessories and you are good to go!

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 Go-To Trouser. Sometimes the perfect look for a date night is simple. Take a pair of black pants, add a romantic & sexy blouse, then some jewelry, neutral shoes, a clutch, and you are done. This outfit is one example of why you need a pair of black pants—why these are wardrobe essentials. They work wonderfully for work, of course, but they can also be wonderful for a date. With the right blouse to balance out the practical, business feel of these pants, you can create a classic, simple, and sexy go-to date night outfit. Look for a blouse with feminine and sexy details to balance the pants and look great on your date or night out.

Tips:

• Look good coming and going by finding a blouse with some detail on the back, such as this cutout
• To keep it simple with unassuming and delicate jewelry and neutral sandals
• To make it date-ready, look for a blouse with some color and avoid unadorned neutrals
• Balance the business of the black pants with feminine and/or sexy details like a draped neck; feminine print; sheer, flowy fabric; pretty colors; and/or a striking cutout in the back
• Remember, all you need for a stunning & simple date night look is a feminine blouse and your wardrobe essential black pants, and basic accessories—sometimes less and simple is more

Outfit Breakdown:

• Trousers: Go-To Trouser from cabi Spring 2016
• Blouse: Vita Blouse from cabi Spring 2016
• Necklaces: Ice Infinity Pendant & Pisces Strands from Bauble Bar
• Clutch: Old clutch from Coldwater Creek; consider their current Shooting Star Evening Bag or Art Deco Beaded Clutch
• Earrings: Cherry Quartz Gemstone Earrings from Shine Chaser Jewelry
• Bracelet: Ivie Bangle by Stella & Dot purchased in 2014. Consider instead the Eden Bangle, Cage Cuff, or the Artisan Marquis Cuff all by Stella & Dot
• Shoes: I think these are very old Aerosoles. Consider some of the ones available, such as: Flamingo,  Ginastics,  or Lambada