Wide And White

   

As dreary as it is outside, today I am thinking about some items I want to wear for Spring this year.

 

I have started noticing WHITE WIDE LEG PANTS are being shown more and more. 

This makes me very happy, let me tell you why……

I am on the short side, 5’4” and lets just say I have been blessed with very sturdy legs and thighs that are also on the short side.

Straight leg, or boot cut pants look best on me because of my proportions. 

I CAN NOT stress how important proportions are Ladies. If you are interested in finding out what silhouette and proportions you should wear, check this site out HERE!  I found it to be very helpful in the past.

The other thing that I have to contend with is I can no longer wear  a higher heel/wedge shoe which truly looks the best with a wider leg pant silhouette.

With this in mind I make sure that my pants just graze the very top of the front of my foot, and just barely miss the ground. Longer is better when wearing a wide leg pant

If you have a nice waistline a higher waist pant is also more attractive.

If your waist is not what it use to be than wear a tighter to the body fitting top.

SOMETHING TO REMEMBER:

When Looking for a wider legged pant these are the 5 points I try to keep……..

With all this in mind lets look at some of the wider leg pants and how they are styled.

VIA

A couple of things to notice here. Wearing all white helps elongate the body. 

This model is petite and has chosen the correct proportions. Also, notice how long the pants are. 

One leg looks a bit too long, but it might be the way she is standing. Oh how I envy you long legged beauties out there!! Sigh!!

 via

Another all white look, which is how I probably will wear it this Spring/Summer most of the time. 

This lady has a cute cable knit sweater in a light weight knit. It fits close enough to her body to give a nice silhouette. 

She also wears her top slightly tucked in to create the shorter top look. this is easy to do ladies and a great look.

via

Personally I can not wear a top this short, but I am showing it to you so you can see the concept of how a shorter top will make your legs look longer, if need be. I would wear a black top that fits closer to my body with sleeves with wide leg pants in white.

via

Another petite model that has elongated her body by wearing a higher waist pant with a nice long leg. The top she is wearing is fitted and very flattering. This silhouette would be attractive on most woman.

via

I wanted to show this image to point out a few things, and also to show you some wide leg pants in a color.

This girl is beautiful, and young so she can carry this off, BUT!  She appears to have a longer torso because the pants are a dropped waist which is not the look you want if you are trying to make your legs look longer. 

She also looks like about another half inch in length needs to be added to the pants. If I were to wear this combination it would be with flats, (of course, sigh), the waist would be higher, and the sweater just a smidge shorter length. Love the combination and the accessories used here.

via

Fun combination as far as the elements go, BUT think of how much better it would look if the top were tucked in, and a gold belt was added. 

That would give a longer silhouette, and make her look taller and leaner. Remember it is all about proportions. The jacket nips in at the waist so that is a great choice and the length is the perfect length for this look.

Case In Point!….

via

This is the runway show for Ralph Lauren for Spring.

Of course this model is perfectly proportioned so anything goes for her, BUT for us less perfectly proportioned ladies like myself, the jacket would have to be a bit shorter by an inch or so less shoulder pads for me since I have pretty broad shoulders, but the rest I could carry off and I bet if you changed a few things to go with your proportions you could too.

Wide leg pants are not for every one, but they are a fun look that is being shown this Spring, and a look that I have worn in the past so it is a welcomed look in my wardrobe..

Now the hunt begins for the perfect wide leg white pant!!!!

I will keep you posted on what I find!

BTW: To see more of the looks I like go

Here

and

Here

 

 

A Winning Formula For Easy Entertaining

 

This week was a fun week for me I got to spend time with two life long friends that I had not seen for awhile.

It is so amazing how you can just pick up like you saw them the day before.

That is how good friends are. I consider myself very blessed to have some wonderful lady friends, friends of the heart, chosen family, soul sisters.

Both days were talking marathons, we talked for 5 hours straight, and to be honest we probably could have talked even longer if time would have allowed.

One of the days was spent here in my home, talking and visiting in my family room. 

It was a rather cold dreary day so the fireplace was ablaze, and we stayed warm and cozy in my little home.

On my kitchen bar I always have a tray of some sort with bowls of nuts and dried cranberries. 

It is such an easy thing to do, and it is out every single day, whether we have guest or not. 

In fact my friend asked if we always had it set up like this and it felt good to say, “YES!”

 The other thing I do is always have soft music playing in the background, and candles are lit. None of this takes great effort, and to be honest it is such a habit I don’t think much about it at all. 

Each morning I get up, make a cup of coffee, and as it is brewing, I turn on the ambient light, light the candles, and turn on soft music. 

I am not sure when I started doing this. It is obviously a very long time ago, because it is now a way of life.

(Large basket tray filled with seasonal goodness)

The other thing I try to do is to have fresh flowers, whether it is greenery from outside, or a flower that is blooming in the yard, or a grocery store bunch, I like to have life in my home with real flowers and plants.

(a simple sprig of fern in antique bottles on the window sill)

Another easy way to have snacks out for your family and your guest.

You will notice it is really nothing fancy at all, it is just displayed nicely so that makes it feel special.

It is amazing how a touch of greenery in a white vase makes a beautiful, clean, fresh statement in a room.

These are all such simple things to do, and these are things that my guest will inevitably comment on, and ask me if I do this all the time. I can always answer with a, “YES!”

With the cold, and dreary months ahead of us, do this for yourself, family and friends. 

It is like a dose of good medicine!!

 

 

My Monday Mood!

 

This Monday I am in a  

RED shoe kind of mood!

There is nothing like a pretty pair of rich, red patent shoes to elevate a basic outfit.

Sometimes we get so use to wearing basics, and neutrals we forget how a touch of a fabulous colored accessory will just make the outfit.

If you choose to wear this formula remember to only wear the color in one area. 

Don’t try matching your shoes with your purse, with your jewelry, with your belt. I am sure you get my point.

Since I am in a red shoe kind of mood I am going to show you some basic outfits that are elevated with the addition of red shoes……

 

via

This is as basic as you can get, jeans, striped tea, trench coat , black purse, and just one touch of color in the red shoe. I love this look!!

via

LOVE this look and will definitely be duplicating this once I find the perfect red flat shoes.

via

A classic D'Orsay flat is timeless. (I am still on the hunt for some.)

Next I am going to show you an outfit that has the nice addition of red, but they over did it by adding a matching red purse. Just visualize this outfit with a solid simple black purse. IMHO it would be so much better.

DON’T MATCH YOUR SHOES 

WITH YOUR PURSE!!!

via

What I would change:

  Definitely a black purse in the same style as the red, yellow gold for the watch, and pearl studs for earrings. I dress pretty classic so these pieces suit me better.

via

The collage below shows a range of looks. The red shoe is just the right addition. 

via

via

I find this particular outfit stunning! I even like the color blocked purse in the mix. The reason it is working for me, is the purse is such an unusual and different look, it is unique so it works.

via

Another great basic outfit elevated by red patent pumps.

via

One thing I have noticed is I seem to be drawn to red with a touch of leopard as well.

This next image has a mix of prints, all of  which I would wear. I wanted to show you this option that is not particularly basic, but in my book it works and I would wear this.

via

This darling lady made a very smart choice by using a basic brown leather bag with this mix, it works better than even a black bag would work, just a little bit more interesting to the eye. 

I know not everyone is comfortable with mixing patterns like this, but if you are, this is a darling casual outfit for you.

Back to Basics!

via

There is not one element in this entire outfit that matches, and yet it works beautifully. 

This is a good study in color, and texture combinations. In fact when I found this post I was thrilled to see so many options that I loved. Check it out HERE!

See how it works?

Now let me show you some red shoes that I really like…..

CASUAL

via

via

I actually have a pair of red ked mules that I wear all the time, especially when we go to the beach in Carmel, so easy to slip off to walk in the sand. These are an all time favorite of mine.

via

Sam Edelman makes a really comfy ballet flat, in fact I have two pairs of flats by Sam Edelman, and they are beyond comfy. I am not an easy gal to please on the comfort front, since my foot is so hard to fit.

CASUAL/DRESSY

via

I found these to be adorable and I think these are a dress-up, dress-down kind of shoe. I can see wearing them with jeans or a dressier option in an outfit.

If money were not object these would definitely be on my shopping list……

via

As I stated earlier, I love a touch of leopard with red and this darling Kate Spade shoe would give me both…..

via

I really had fun writing, and sourcing this post. I hope this opens up some new possibilities in your wardrobe. 

Keep in mind, it does not have to be a red shoe, for you, that is just what mood I am in, it can be any brightly colored shoe that you enjoy wearing. 

Just remember the formula……

Have a very HAPPY MONDAY!! Whatever your mood is, just go with it!!

BTW: I WOULD  wear one more red element with my red shoes, and that is the perfect red lip color. You can read about the perfect red lip color I found....
Here!!