BB Dakota "Barden" Dress

1. Invest in great basics and skimp on the trendy stuff: A good way to drain your bank account is to spend money on things that the fashion world would classify as “trendy”. Usually, these are items that you will only wear for a season or two so there is no reason to spend the same amount that you would on great classic pieces. That’s not to say that you can’t invest in a few unique pieces that really fit your personal style, just don’t go overboard. The BB Dakota “Barden” dress is classic enough for years from now, but the sheer peek-a-boo back gives it just enough trendiness for today.

2. Take more fashion risks: Sure, playing it safe can certainly save you from embarrassing fashion choices, but it is so boring! We spend most of our time trying to not offend anyone while we walk through life with our heads down. Embrace who you are, and celebrate that person through your dress. Try a trend that you’ve been curious about or even just add something unexpected to your daily uniform. Who cares what other people think? You are fabulous, and just remember in the words of Dr. Suess, “Those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind”.

3. Clean out the closet: Let’s not lie to ourselves, we all have things in our closet that we’ve been waiting to lose some weight to be able to wear again. Stop waiting and start tossing. The only purpose old clothes that are two sizes too small have is to remind us that we once were thinner. Why would we want a daily reminder of something that makes us feel so bad about ourselves? Clothes like that shouldn’t hang in our closet taunting us and taking up space that should be occupied by pieces that will celebrate our bodies as they are.

This dress can't even make a Victoria's Secret model look good

4. Embrace you body when dressing instead of trying to cover it up: I have met so many women who say that they hate shopping because they hate how clothes look on their bodies. In reality they just don’t know how to dress for their body type. You can still create a flattering silhouette for your unique body type by knowing what to emphasize and what to disguise. I’ll post a dressing for your body type guide either later today or tomorrow with more specifics for your body.

5. Spend some time creating new looks with pieces you already own: Whenever you have some spare time, take stock of what you own.  Then go and watch the Style network, flip through some magazines, and check out street style pictures online and find looks that you are drawn to. Recreate these looks using the pieces that you already have. They don’t have to be the exact same as the look you are drawing inspiration from, they just have to suggest a similar shape and style. This will not only give you some practice with being creative, but it will breathe new life into your wardrobe.

Just remember, fashion should be fun, and it shouldn’t feel like a chore.

Happy New Year!

xoxo

Sarah

Lomography Diana F+ camera

1. Your artistic older sister: Give her something that will satisfy her need to be creative with the Lomography Diana F+ camera ($50, souslelit.com). The pictures that it takes are beautifully saturated with light, flattering, and feel like they are stills from your most incredible dream. The camera can be modified for a number of exposure settings, different shutter speeds and two photo sizes. It is perfect for creating whimsical, dewey portraits that she’ll treasure forever, and that will make great additions to her portfolio. 

Monserrat de Lucca "Western" bracelet

2. Your funky friend who has everything: All of us have that person in our life who doesn’t really NEED anything because usually when they like something they just buy it for themselves. These people typically are the types who want to have something before anyone else does. They had a pet rock before anyone else, they “discovered” the Spice Girls in 4th grade, and being called a “hipster” is a compliment for them. These people are the hardest to shop for because unless you can find something that they don’t already know about, then it just isn’t good enough, fresh enough or obscure enough for their elitist tastes. Well, I have discovered the Holy Grail of gifts for the impossible friend, and his name is Montserrat de Lucca.  The NYC based jeweler creates the perfect combination of kitsch and creative in his collection of necklaces, rings and bracelets. Not only will you give her a piece of wearable art, but she will also be impressed that you found such an amazing designer before she did.

Miz Mooz "Solis" boot

3. Your vintage-chic BFF: Looking to give someone a gift that says “old” but looks new? Before you go wading through the musty racks at your local second hand store, check out the Miz Mooz’s “Solis” boot. ($198) The creators behind the brand set out to design shoes for women in NYC who want footwear that is both stylish and comfortable enough to walk a mile to work in (and who said you can’t have everything?). The “Solis” is not only both of the above, but the cognac leather and lace-up front give the boot a Victorian-era look that will stay current season after season. If the gift of style isn’t enough, once she puts them on her feet, she’ll feel like she is walking on clouds of marshmallows. These boots really are the gift that keep on giving.

4. Your “kinda-sorta” friend: The “kinda-sorta” friend is exactly what it sounds like; someone who you don’t really go out of your way to hang out with, but when you do, you usually have a pretty good time. This could be anyone from your co-worker to someone on your co-ed softball team. You shouldn’t really take too much time shopping for this person because as a “kinda-sorta” friend, you probably don’t know too much about them. Usually a good generic gift is the perfect fit for this person. I would recommend getting this person something that everyone needs and that isn’t dependent on their likes or interests. For the people on my list that fall into this category, I have always had luck with scarves, cute gloves, or a fun pair of socks. First off, who doesn’t need socks?  A new pair of socks will also give them an extra day to put off doing their laundry. Secondly, living in Denver requires a bunch of cold-weather gear to wear with a number of outfits. If you are buying them a scarf or gloves, make sure you buy a good neutral so that they can get the most use out of it as possible. 

If you follow those recommendations, I promise you, nothing you give will be returned. And if someone on your list doesn’t like your gifts (not likely), every store has a return policy. And don’t forget to get yourself a gift because you should always be the most important person on your list (I would suggest a massage). Good luck out there and happy shopping!

xoxo

Sarah

If a.) it is warm enough to wear a skirt that short or b.) you are at the BEACH then you definitely shouldn't be wearing furry boots

 No more sandals, no more shorts, and definitely no furry boots with shorts! If you wear furry boots, by definition this means that is it so cold that there is no reason for you to wear shorts or a skirt with bare legs. You look silly, it isn’t stylish, you’ll still be cold and it gives me a headache. It’s like a sleeveless turtleneck. A fashion oxymoron that really is moronic. Questions?

Now that we’ve gotten that all cleared up, let’s talk about something you SHOULD be wearing these days. While our bodies regulate themselves to stay right around 98.6 degrees, when you venture out into the cold your body has to fight against the actual temperature around you. There are a number of ways to dress for self-insulation and help your body win the fight. My favorite is simply by wearing a hat. Did you know that 30% or more of your body heat can escape from your head? Don’t argue. It’s science. But seriously, hats are a great way to stay warm and look super cute. The only problem is that most of us don’t know how to wear them. When wearing a hat, the hat and the other thing that lives on your head permanently (your hair)  need to get along, so today we are going to learn how to facilitate that friendship.

1. The Knit Cap: If you have bangs you should always use a product or bobby pin to sweep them to the side and keep them out of your face, this also creates a nice frame for your eyes. Texture is always something nice to add under any hat; if you have shoulder length hair try a messy, unkempt look, if you have long hair then try loose waves or a chic side ponytail.

Fedora + Loose waves = Match made in hat heaven

2. The Fedora: Since the fedora exudes such masculine vibes, balance it out with an ultra-feminine hair style. Loose waves or a low messy bun are the perfect partners for this menswear inspired hat.

3. The Headwrap: This look is perfect for anyone who has thought about trying the turban look but isn’t quite ready to fully commit to the bold style. If you have short hair, this is a great option for you. Simply flip your ends up underneath the wrap and viola! you have an adorable 1920′s retro-glam look. If you have longer hair, try loose braids to create a relaxed feel and contrast the wrap’s sophisticated air.

4. The Riding Cap: If you like the structure provided by the riding cap, wear a sleek side ponytail or braid to keep things lady-like. *WARNING* This hat works best with medium to long hair, avoid if you have hair shorter than chin-length.

If you have questions about which hat style bests suits your face and hair length, please, feel free to stop in and have one of our lovely associates help you find your hat soul mate. Stay warm out there!

Happy shopping!

Sarah

Victoria Beckham demonstrating how NOT to do military

After a long, hard Monday playing with clothes at Sous le Lit, all I wanted to do was go home, sit on my couch, and watch “Gossip Girl”. You can imagine my dispointment when I learned that a.) “Gossip Girl” was a re-run! and that b.) every commercial on that night was an angry political ad. Democrat or Republican, I think we can agree that we are lucky to live in a place where we have the freedom to wear what we want.  And no matter our stance on war, we can all agree that the military inspired looks gracing the runways this fall, are worthy of a salute. But runway to real way is definitely something that requires careful interpretation.We may live in a country that gives its citizens the right to bare arms, but this does not mean that you have the right to wear camo, let’s leave that to those of us who have made it through bootcamp. You don’t want to look campy do you? Yes, I went there.

Even celebrities sometimes have trouble pulling off this trend. Victoria Beckham (right), considered one of the most stylish women on the planet by some, looked more like someone who should be pointing a gun rather than giving fashion pointers. EVERYTHING about this outfit is military (aviators, hat, double-breasted coat) except for her bag which I can’t find the words to explain. One word…overkill.

Knitted Dove Willoughby coat

So, how do you pull of this look without one of your friends mistaking you for Rambo or a Top Gun pilot? Find a piece that suits your tastes and that flatters your figure best and wear it with something you might wear every day. Never wear more than one piece in an outfit to avoid pulling a Posh Spice.

Level 99 skinny cargos

What is so great about most military inspired piece is how tailored they are so your clothes are never wearing you but instead enhancing your shape. Throw a great double-breasted coat with button detailing over what you were already planning on wearing to add a little militant to your look. Try this one on the left from Knitted Dove in brown. If you are a “skinny jeans with everything” girl, try swaping them out for a pair of skinny cargos in green or navy. Level 99 makes a great pair that is so incredibly comfortable that you’ll feel like you’re wearing fatigues. We have some great pieces in right now to help you pull of this look flawlessly, so if you have any questions just march right over!

Happy shopping!

xoxo

Sarah

::the zebra print dress – it’s a really fresh take on animal print.  I see this looking hot with heels for a fun night out, or with tights and a cardigan for a cool office look.

::the chunky tan cardigan – it’s soooo soft and cute you’ll NEVER want to take it off!  I love sunshine, but this sweater has me wishing for a little chill…

There are more great pieces in, so I highly recommend a little jaunt to Sous le Lit this week.  See you soon!

xo Amy