Bardot POW: Boho Southwestern Sparkly Princess Sunday Best

Outfit Mission Statement: To dress denim up for a special occasion look, throw on the fancy—think tulle, sparkly gems, embroidered velvet, statement pieces, and amazing shoes

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 Bardot Shirt. There are many ways to dress up a denim shirt. Check out Sparkling & Flannel Sunday Best for dressy look you can make work with a denim shirt (denim and a lace pencil would be Fab-u-lous!). One fun thing you can do is choose a very dressy skirt. Denim tends to dress things down a bit, so with very dressy bottoms, you can average somewhere dressy, but not overly dressy. Tulle can easily be very dressy. Add denim, and bam, nice special occasion look that does not go too far. Adding fancy, statement pieces as accessories ups the dressy too. Together, you can end up with a fun, sparkly, pretty special occasion look with a touch of boho. I love the tulle and denim combo. Opposites attract, right?

Tips:

• When dressing up a denim shirt, feel free to go far on the dressy side for the rest of the pieces to average the perfect amount of dressy
• Add special, striking, and/or fancy statement accessories to further emphasize the dressiness (or go the other way and add casual accessories [like cowgirl boots, a distressed leather bag, and rustic jewelry] and end up in a casual, fun look with a touch of princess)
• Mix metals for a lighthearted touch that may also allow you to bring together pieces you might not otherwise consider
• Consider tying the denim shirt in a knot at your waist to emphasize the waist and continue the lighthearted touch
• Keep colors in the same general tones for a more put together look, such as the blues and greys I focus on here, making sure each element has at least one of these colors

Outfit:

• Shirt: Bardot Shirt from cabi Spring 2016
• Skirt: 6-layer Tutu Ballet Ruffle Bridal Petticoat Princess Skirt Mini Dress (long name, huh?) from Amazon—this is only $14.89, which is a cheap way to try this trend. However, they only seem to have the red one left. For a similar skirt, but slightly pricier and higher quality (I ordered one of these too) try the V28 Women 6-layer Mid Tulle Tutu Ballet Ruffle Bridal Petticoat Princess Skirt (for $18.99).
• Clutch: This Peacock Feather Embroidered Velvet Clutch is based on a print in Combinaisons Ornementales—“the ‘bible’ of decorative Art Nouveau elements according to the Metropolitan Museum of Art Store. R While this is no longer available, there is a jewelry roll with the same design. Or consider the Peacock Feather Clutch from Its So Clutch, the Teal Feather Clutch from Red Ostrich (actual feathered clutch), or the Embroidered Peacock Feather Clutch from Paulownias all on Etsy.
• Shoes: These are from Target several years ago. Consider instead the Imagine Vince Camuto Gem, Chole from Blue by Betsey Johnson, or the Cascade II by Badgley Mischka.
• Necklace: I think this was a Charming Charlie necklace from a few years ago. For other striking pieces, contemplate the Pearl Bib Necklace by Bella Emy Jewels, the Floral Rhinestone Assemblage Necklace by Holly Glimmer, or the PICO - statement necklace by Les Bijoux De Joe—all on Etsy.
• Earrings: Vintage Crystal Studs from Stella & Dot
• Bracelet: INC International Concepts Gold-Tone Beaded Faux-Leather Bracelet at Macy’s

Related Posts:

1. Plaid POW: Sparkling & Flannel Sunday Best

2. Plume POW: The Stylish Safari Princess Thursday

1. Plaid POW: Sparkling & Flannel Sunday Best posted February 28, 2016. Turn flannel elegant by adding a dressy skirt and accessories.
2. 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.

Plume POW: The Stylish Safari Princess Thursday

Outfit Mission Statement:  For a trendy outfit with masculine and feminist touches, mix tulle and military/safari style

TTT Thursday outfits are Trendy, Transitional, and/or Terrific—in other words my choice. It can be whatever other outfit ideas the garment gave me. It may be something very trendy, transitional, terrific, or something else. The POW (Piece of the Week) is the cabi Spring 2016 Plume Top. I had so much fun with this one. It hits two of the Ts—Trendy and Terrific. Let’s start with trendy. Tulle skirts are very trendy right now (and let’s face it, pretty terrific too!). The military-style vest is back on the trendy list too! The elegance and sex appeal of the D’Orsay shoe is also in right now. The shell statement necklace follows the statement necklace trend and even reflects the Pantone colors of the year—Serenity and Rose Quartz. The ring also has rose quartz as a main color. The belt in either styling is on-tend. Leopard print is so in right now and the skinny belt is a darker rose quartz color. In addition, the mixing of feminine (tulle skirt, colors, D’Orsay shoes, top pattern) with the more masculine and tough (vest) is very trendy right now and always terrific! All of these pieces are terrific, but I especially love the skirt, vest, top, and necklace… and shoes, and ring! I can’t decide, they really are all terrific. Together, this makes for one very trendy and very terrific outfit.

Did you notice the two belts? I like them both and felt they each give the outfit a different feel. The skinny, pink, metallic belt colors with the colors of the outfit and adds to the femininity. The leopard print contrasts more with the colors and thus pops. It also goes more with the military/safari vest, moving the outfit into a more adventurous and fun direction. The wider width and popping colors draw more attention to the waist and create more of a waist and hourglass shape. They both work and are great ways to finish the outfit. Which do you prefer?

Tips:

• If you want to try the tulle skirt trend but don’t want to look too “princess” or fancy, dress it down with casual pieces, such a tee shirt and military style vests— or consider contrasting it with more masculine pieces (like the military style vest)
• When going with bold, trendy, statement pieces, accessorize in a single, more neutral color that supports the outfit and doesn’t compete (although the accessories can still be statement pieces, like this necklace, shoes, and ring)—you can even choose one that matches one of the outfit pieces like I did here with silver/gray
• But, you can still pop one accessory like the leopard print belt—look for something eye catching, but also in a neutral (and yes, oddly enough, leopard print can be a neutral!)
• Some military or safari style vests don’t have strong waists and can give a bulky look—to beat this add your own belt (wider belts work best, to a point) in a color that pops from the outfit may appear to give you more of a waist and hourglass shape
• Try out alternatives—such as different belts—to see what works best for your mood or style
• Don’t be afraid to have fun with your outfits

Outfit Breakdown:

• Top: Plume Top from cabi Spring 2016
• Vest: Explorer Vest from cabi Spring 2016
• Skirt: 6-layer Tutu Ballet Ruffle Bridal Petticoat Princess Skirt Mini Dress (long name, huh?) from Amazon—this is only $14.89, which is a cheap way to try this trend. However, they only seem to have the red one left. For a similar skirt, but slightly pricier and higher quality (I ordered one of these too) try the V28 Women 6-layer Mid Tulle Tutu Ballet Ruffle Bridal Petticoat Princess Skirt (for $18.99).
• 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
• Necklace: Grey Shell Statement Necklace by Solid Treasures
• Darker Bracelet: Cubist Bracelet by Bauble Bar
• 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.
• Leopard Print Belt: Kipling Belt from cabi fall 2015, which is no longer available. Consider the Leopard Print Haircalf Belt from Express, the Lush Leopard Print Belt from Chico, or the Lauren by Ralph Lauren on Zappos.
• Skinny Belt: This is the metallic skinny belt from cabi Spring 2013, and no longer available. Try the Metallic Skinny Leather Belt from Ann Taylor, Skinny Metallic Link Belt from Linea Pelle, the Lodis Anna Skinny Metallic Women's Leather Belt from Kohl’s, or the Style & Co. Cobra Stretch Chain Belt from Macy’s (or do a search—there are many great ones!)