Archive for March, 2013
Trend Report: Sheer Genius
Mar 28th
As we start to say goodbye to the snow (seriously, snow, it’s time for you to melt already) and hello to the sunshine, we also will bid adieu to our sweaters and embrace new, lighter clothing trends—in particular, sheer clothing. This spring, sheer is absolutely everywhere, from skirts, to dresses to blouses. Sure, the trend may seem a little daunting and risqué, but when worn correctly, sheer can be classy and cute for any occasion—from a night out to the office.
Wearing sheer in the workplace may first strike you as a little inappropriate, and in some cases, that’s true. For most working women, wearing a sheer blouse with nothing but a bra underneath it is definitely not fit for an office environment. However, that doesn’t mean that we should write it off entirely. There are still many ways to rock spring sheer without getting disapproving side-glances from your coworkers. The biggest tip to wearing a sheer blouse in the office is layering. Try a sheer button down blouse in a pastel color (I love pale pink or baby blue) and then layer an oversized boyfriend blazer on top. The blazer will cover up the more risqué parts, but will still show off the sheer material underneath. Finish the look with a pair of cropped pants and a nude pump. Going out after work? Just take trade the blazer for a leather jacket and you’ll have the perfect outfit for post-work cocktails. Think you’ll get a little too toasty under the blazer? Don a cute nude or cream colored cami underneath your blouse—the cami will allow you to show off your gorgeous sheer blouse without showing too much skin.
Rocking a sheer ensemble for the evening allows for a little more versatility. Without workplace restraints, don’t be afraid to wear a sheer blouse with a flirty lace bra or a fun bandeau underneath! Still a little nervous about sheer, even at night? Don’t just limit yourself to tops—dresses are also a great way to sport the sheer trend. Try a cocktail dress that has a sheer neckline and sleeves—you can show off your arms without revealing too much. If you’re a little more adventurous, bring attention to your legs in a sheer maxi skirt with a short slip underneath. The short slip will add an opaque contrast to the skirt without fully covering your legs completely as most maxi skirts do.
The next time you spot a sheer top in your favorite pastel color, don’t let the thin fabric deter you! You can still rock this hot spring trend for absolutely any occasion.
~Alyssa, fashioniSTA
(Image credits: vanessajackman.blogspot.com, shopdailychic.com, neimanmarcus.com, tinacious.me, asos.com)
3 Essentials for a Sunny Spring Vacation
Mar 20th
Spring Break is one of the most anticipated times of the year: for those of us who are lucky enough to take the time off, we get to escape our busy lives for a few days of rest and relaxation. While some like to travel to snowy ski destinations, I prefer the sun and the beach. The only difficult part? Packing for warm weather when the temperature at home is still hovering around a crisp 32°. But have no fear! After having gone through the difficult packing process myself, I’ve compiled a list of the top 3 beach essentials not to be forgotten when you go on your spring break getaway.
1. Wide-brimmed hat
For both the fair skinned and those who turn that perfect shade of golden brown, a wide-brimmed hat is absolutely necessary for any sunny destination. Not only do hats protect your face from harmful UV-rays (and premature aging—yikes!), they are also effortlessly chic. An image of Grace Kelly tanning on a beach in Monaco in To Catch a Thief instantly comes to mind with this accessory; if that’s not beach fashion inspiration, I don’t know what is.
2. Wedges
If you’re like me, in October, you dutifully put your best summer wedges in the back of your closet and traded them for booties. Well, it’s time to bring them out again! A great pair of wedges is honestly the only heel you need on Spring Break (and this is coming from someone who normally packs four pairs of stilettos for a weekend trip). Wedges are fun, comfortable and versatile and scream warm weather and summer. This is also a great way to try out the latest trends, don’t be afraid to mix a colorblock wedge with a patterned outfit!
3. Neon
I’ve always been a bit iffy about neon—it brings back not so great memories of the orange and hot pink Espirit outfits that my parents would buy for me in the 90s—but this season, it’s making a comeback. Spring Break is the perfect time to experiment with this new color trend (and neon looks great with a tan!). Whether you choose a highlighter green bikini or a hot pink asymmetrical dress, you’ll stand out in the crowd when you rock some neon on Spring Break.
~Alyssa, fashioniSTA
(Image credits: everythingbutwater.com, dvf.com, stylecaster.com, musingsinfemininity.tumblr.com/, lspace.com, harpersbazaar.com)
Trend Obsession: Monochrome Moment, Part 2
Mar 14th
Last week, we focused on monochrome looks in their most classic form: black and white. Dressing in just one color can be daunting, so starting with all-black or all-white ensembles is a great way to experiment with the monochrome trend. But now that we’re a little more comfortable with the look, why should we just limit ourselves to black and white? As we enter into spring, we want our outfits to reflect our sunnier moods—that means color, and lots of it!
Once you’ve mastered black and white, try out a monochrome look in one of spring’s hottest colors; my favorites are emerald, blue-green, or orange, but don’t be afraid to try something new! The most important part of putting together a colorful monochrome look is to wear the color in a variety of tones—make sure your look isn’t matchy-matchy and stay away from choosing all pieces that are too similar in shade.
For a casual day-to-day look, choose one piece of clothing in a bright color and build the rest of your outfit around it. Try pairing a pale blue silk blouse with a pair of electric blue pants and accessorize with a navy blazer or a patterned blue scarf. Choosing a suit in a bright color (as seen above) is an even bolder way to try this trend, just make sure your accessories and other components aren’t the identical shade as the suit. To transition the outfit to evening, add a brightly colored clutch or a vibrant pair of blue pumps to your ensemble. Color-coordinating your accessories to your outfit is an absolute must with this trend.
The key to wearing colorful monochrome is not being afraid to experiment; just because you’re limited to one color doesn’t mean you can’t play around with different shades and patterns! Step into spring in a fun, colorful monochrome look-you’ll be sure to stand out!
~Alyssa, fashioniSTA
(Image credits for collage: www.nyanzi.com, carolinesmode.com, www.asos.com)
Make Your Prom (or Any Special Event) Red Carpet Worthy
Mar 12th
Spring is right around the corner (according to the calendar), which means that prom season is upon every high school fashionista. Instead of blending in with every black dress that hits the dance floor, assert your style stardom by taking a cue from this year’s red carpets. This year’s trends range from pastel hues to gold embellishments, so choose a trend and dive right in!
1. Bejeweled Beauties
Another hot red carpet trend has been unexpected accessory sparkle. From backwards necklaces (hello, Jennifer Lawrence at the Oscars) to embellished brooches styled as hair clips, claim your style star status by styling your jewelry in unconventional ways. You can also kick this trend up a notch by using colored gemstones, or by doing a larger statement piece. Grab a statement necklace – like these – and finish it off with a smaller hair jewel or an oversized cocktail ring.
2. Lighten Up
If you watched any of the Oscars red carpet coverage, then you saw the endless parade of pale-hued gowns that graced the event. Trying out a pale pink, blue or gray dress is very on-trend and it is also a classic color palette that won’t embarrass you later. You also don’t need to be afraid to embrace white, you can easily pull off the trend by going with a sleek silhouette instead of something tulle-enhanced to avoid looking bridal.
3. Go Bold for Gold
Last year was all about the neon, but this year has been focused on embellishments and gold accents. Whether you’re comfortable going for gold like Kate Hudson at the Golden Globes, or you like the whole pseudo-lamé thing like Jennifer Lawrence at the premiere of The Hunger Games, this is definitely a trend for the bold. To try it subtly, go with a large, gold statement necklace, or belt a black gown with a high-shine gold belt. Don’t forget the gold-embellished clutch!
4. Matching Colorblocking
If you’re looking to go with a bright color, pair your accessories accordingly. Not only is colorblocking still a huge trend - read: a bright pink dress with a yellow or blue clutch - Another great red carpet look is matching your shoes/bag to your dress, or choosing a close shade and playing off the monochromatic look. To take on this trend with an unexpected silhouette, go with a t-shirt-inspired sleeve – like that on Nina Dobrev at the SAG Awards or Niki Reed at the Golden Globes after-party. This unexpected silhouette is strikingly modern without being too trendy.
5. Softer Shades on Your Face
Stark makeup has had its moment, but it was refreshing to see a more ethereal look on many of the red carpet stars this year. From Amanda Seyfried at the Oscars to Nicole Richie at the Golden Globes, pastel hues were a huge hit with young Hollywood. Plus, while bold makeup shades can make you look older, no one wants to look washed-up at their own prom.
Want to get the inside scoop on this year’s prom must-haves? Join us at our Haddonfield, NJ store on March 16th from 12pm – 6pm for our exclusive prom event! You can bring in your unwanted gowns and consign them, browse our first selection of prom dresses, snack on sweets, enter our giveaway for a $50 gift card, plus watch hair and makeup demos from two stylists with the Verde Salon in Collingswood. See you there!
Photo credit: JustJared.com; PopSugar.com; FashionMagazine.com
Why a Consign & Buy is STA’s Best Promotion
Mar 6th
We all love a good promotion (who doesn’t like getting an extra discount or added perk?), but there are certain ones that really break the mold. For us, it’s the Consign & Buy, easily our favorite STA initiative, and it’s not just because everyone gets a 50/50 split (10% more than usual). Whether you’re a shopper or consignor, this is the promotion that beats them all. Allow us to break it down for you…
1. It makes spring cleaning about 1000 times easier. Have you looked at your closet lately? Yeah, we know, it’s scary (don’t worry, we’re in the same boat). It can be daunting enough to rifle through your wardrobe, nevermind think ahead to making a consignment appointment. With this promotion, you don’t need an appointment! You can just put your items in a bag and drop them off at any STA store on your way to brunch or dinner. (Can you tell we like to eat?)
2. You get extra STA credit that you can use on the items you want, and it’s easier than you think. Unless you go years without cleaning out your closet, you might think that you don’t have enough to maximize your extra STA credit. Most people don’t think to look at their accessories when cleaning out their closets, but bringing in jewelry, sunglasses and other small accessories is a great way to capitalize on the credit.
3. Tons of new product, enough said. A Consign & Buy makes it so easy to consign your items, the amount of new merchandise that goes on display is incredible. Plus if you’ve taken advantage of the consigning part of this promotion, you can shop these new goodies using your extra STA credit!
4. No wondering about your drop-off. With a Consign & Buy, a store associate will immediately evaluate your items, so you know right away what has been accepted and you can take any unaccepted items home with you. You get the best of both worlds with this promotion, you don’t have to make an appointment, but you get all of the benefits of one.
What are you waiting for?! Get yourself to any Second Time Around store from Thursday, March 7th - Sunday, March 10th to get in on the best promotion around!