Currently Coveting: Pops of Neon

Maybe it was Madonna’s halftime performance at the Super Bowl, but I gotta confess: I am currently coveting a serious 80’s trend.

Neon!

A pop of neon mixed into an everyday outfit is a fun and flirty fashion do. Yes, even in 2012! I’m not asking for a head-to-toe neon getup that you (and Madonna) used to wear in 1988. Just throw on one brightly colored accessory. Here are a few ideas on how to have fun with neon.

 

Zip top clutch
$45 – asos.com

Portfolio clutch
$36 – asos.com

Plastic watch
$36 – asos.com

Cuff bangle
$4.80 – forever21.com

Is it spring yet? ring
$9.99 – modcloth.com

Heart charm wristband
$8.95 – asos.com

Faux patent leather belt
$15 – thelimited.com

Stila lip enamel in giggle hot pink
$22 – stilacosmetics.com

Naughty and Nice Christmas Sweaters

Merry almost Christmas! ‘Tis the season for spending time with family, drinking egg nog and wearing ugly Christmas sweaters! Wait… please tell me my stylish readers are NOT wearing tacky Christmas sweaters. You all are better than that!

Don’t get me wrong, I do love a good “Ugly Christmas Sweater” party — yet I’m always amazed that retailers sell these atrocious things. So I thought it might be fun to see if we could use these ugly sweaters as inspiration and find a few chic sweaters to wear Christmas morning. Happy holidays!

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Reindeer Sweater
Instead of letting Rudolph’s nose steal the spotlight, rock a cardi with a whimsical reindeer pattern.

 

Embellished Sweater
Can you believe this embellished Santa sweater is $89 from Dillards?! Ho ho NO. I much prefer one with more subtle embellishments.

 

Applique Sweater
An applique Christmas tree is cheesy. But suede applique elbow patches? Stylish!

 

The Vest
Sweater vests can be risky, but a skinny belt and flattering cut keeps this one hip — unlike the barf-enducing blue number.

 

Where to shop: all “nice” sweaters found at Forever 21: Reindeer Sweater Cardigan for $24.80; Pearlescent Sweater Top for $27.80; Elbow Patch Sweater for $13.50; Fair Isle Vest for $24.80.

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Style Challenge with GlamSoup

What can YOU do with a basic black tee?

This was the style challenge that Jerrita from GlamSoup — a girly web magazine — threw my way. GlamSoup features DC-area bloggers on the site and I was very flattered when asked to be interviewed! Once I revealed my penny-pinching ways, GlamSoup decided to test my thriftiness and asked me to style a black tee using items from my closet.

You can read the full interview over at GlamSoup. Moral of this challenge? Always have a few basics on hand to serve as the base for any jazzy outfit.

Thanks Jerrita, for featuring Style Me Thrifty on your site!

[My outfit: Target tee, White House Black Market belt, JBrand jeans (c/o), Etienne Aigner heels, F21 short-sleeved cardi and earrings (old)].

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When In Doubt, Add a Belt

When in Doubt, Add a Belt

Ever have one of those mornings when you open your closet and cannot find a single solitary item to wear?

The women in my family have a coined a phrase for this: clothes crisis. Tops look blah, pants are wrinkled, nothing fits. Before you know it, your closet has exploded into a crumpled mess on the floor and you’re late for work.

Guess what? I have experienced enough of these frustrating clothes crises that I have come up a trick that I wanted to share: when all else fails, add a belt!

A belt that cinches your waist can instantly raise the bar and tie an outfit together. This morning I assembled a pretty basic outfit – a cardigan, loose tank top, and grey capris. Snooze city. Nothing special. See:

I thought, what can I do to make this ordinary outfit special? Then I remembered the fun elastic waist belt hiding in my closet. Just like that, a basic outfit was upgraded to an actual outfit that made a statement. Clothing crisis averted!

I’m especially digging elastic belts that fasten in the back, like the one I’m wearing (found it for $6.99 on the clearance rack of New York and Company!). Love a good embellishment, too. Here are a few other ideas:

Where to shop:  Express Stretch Belt  ($29.90); Urban Outfitters Kimchi Blue Floral Filigree Stretch Belt ($24); Charlotte Russe Lurex-Front Stretch Belt ($9.50).

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The Case of the Missing Trench Coat Belt

Reader Question:  Recently I picked up my spring/fall lightweight khaki trench coat from the dry cleaners and much to my horror, they had lost the matching belt! Do you have any suggestions for a “replacement belt”? I don’t want to try to find a perfect match because, inevitably, it will not be a perfect match. The trench is Banana Republic circa 3 seasons ago so there is no hope for getting a replacement belt from them! Help!

Style Me Thrifty:  This means war! Just kidding. Instead of getting mad at your lame dry cleaner, let’s get even by using this fashion obstacle as an excuse to freshen up your go-to trench coat look. Sure, the khaki belt that came with the coat blends in nicely, but how about jazzing things up a bit with some color and texture?

The goal is to find a belt that is long enough and also flexible — a typical stiff leather belt is too structured for a trench. A few suggestions:

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Men’s Tie
My first idea is FREE to try (boo yah!).  I want you to go into your husband’s closet and grab the skinniest tie he owns. A man’s tie is the perfect length for a trench coat belt and I love the pop of color it adds!

Colorful Sash Belt
Since khaki is such a great neutral color, I perused Etsy and found two cute fabric sash belts, which hang nicely in the belt loops and are easy to tie. Etsy seller ccdoodle has two especially cute ones for $28 each:

Top: Simple Obi-Wrapped Belt-Sash in Silk Fabric. Bottom: Simple Obi-Wrapped Belt in Textured Cotton Vintage Fabric. Both $28.

Wide Belt
For a more neutral look, how about a cute woven belt with an oversized buckle for super cheap from Forever 21?

Top: Braided Leatherette & Rope Belt for $7.80 at Forever 21. Bottom: Woven Elastic Belt for $8.80 at Forever 21.

Slouchy Woven Belt
And finally, I like how the shape of this woven belt mimics the trench coat belt. Plus, it’ll work nicely when you don’t want to buckle/tie the belt.

Women’s Beaded Macreme Belt in olive green for $17.94 from Old Navy.

Case closed!