Winter Wedding Outfit

Reader Question: I’m attending a wedding this month in Chicago. What the heck does one wear to a winter wedding?!

Style Me Thrifty: Winter weddings can be romantic, cozy, and well, freezing cold. Here are a few easy tips keep in mind when putting together a winter-friendly outfit for a wedding.

• Pick a dress in a rich color like burgundy, eggplant, or peacock blue. These colors are great for cold months and look lovely with non-tanned skin.
• Stay warm in your cocktail dress by adding tights. I especially love textured tights – they add personality!
• When in doubt, a little black dress is a solid choice but spice it up with colorful heels or jewelry.
• Pack layers — a pashmina for when you’re indoors and peacoat and gloves for the trip home.
  

Sidenote: I’ve started using Polyvore, an interactive site that let’s you assemble outfits and links directly to the retailers that sell the items. I’m still learning the ropes (which is why some of you got an email saying the outfit was posted, oops!) but I think it’ll be fun. Let me know what you think.

Winter Wedding Outfit by stylemethrifty.

Dot tight
$8.99 – kohls.com

Forever21 fringe earrings
$4.76 – forever21.com

Forever21 bracelet set
$6.80 – forever21.com

eShakti – Dressed in Pink
$100 – eshakti.com

Kohl’s Sacred Heart Amano Platform High Heels
$60 – kohls.com

Looking Chic on the 4th of July

Reader Question: Help! I’ve been invited to a July 4th cookout. Any tips on how to stay cool and look patriotic but not look like I’ve worn an American flag?

Style Me Thrifty:  Fireworks. Hot dogs. Backyard BBQs. Cold beer. How can you not love the 4th of July? This year, show your patriotism for the America’s birthday with a few subtly festive outfits — no cheesy flag outfits allowed!

The Breezy White Dress
A lightweight white dress is perfect for a hot 4th of July cookout. It’s a classic summertime look that is easy to wear and super appropriate for balmy weather.

Where to Shop (L to R): Fish Bowl Flutter Sleeve Dress ($23.90 from Nordstrom); Pure of Heart One Shoulder Dress ($46.99 from ShopRuche.com); Heaven Sent Ivory Dress ($35 from Lulus.com).

Navy + White + Polka Dots
I love how crisp and classic navy and white look together. Add polka dots to the mix and you have yourself a 4th of July outfit with a wink.

Where to Shop: Ruffled Drop-Waist Top ($24.94 from Old Navy); Shirred A-Line Skirt (on sale for $12.50 from Old Navy); Braided T-Strap Sandals ($22.94 from Old Navy).

Go Gingham
Gingham makes me think of picnic blankets. And you can’t get more patriotic than a good, old-fashioned picnic! It’s the perfect pattern for the 4th (and who doesn’t love a cute red belt?).

Where to shop: Martinique Escapade Gingham Dress by Tulle ($54.99 from ShopRuche.com); Beamish Red Plastic Belt ($13.98 on sale from Aldo); Zodiac Quanton Wedge Sandal ($69.95 from DSW).

Make a Straw Hat the Focus
When in doubt, a straw fedora — or any type of summery straw hat — is both hip and functional for an outdoor celebration. Keep rest of the outfit casual with a navy or red t-shirt and laid back capris.

Where to Shop: Striped Ribbon Fedora ($12.80 from Forever 21); Flutter-Sleeve Embellished Top ($14.50 on sale from Old Navy); Julie Casual Twill Pants ($59.50 from Loft).

Game Day Fashion

It’s 80 degrees here in Washington, D.C.  Summer is finally in sight!  This heat and humidity has me brimming with anticipation for hot dogs, cornhole tournaments, and drinking Bud Light Lime at a Washington Nationals game.

If you’re attending any type of outdoor sporting event in the coming months — baseball, tennis, even NASCAR (I’m going to a race this weekend, gah, wish me luck!) — I want to remind you that it’s possible to look both chic AND sporty, while also staying cool. So get ready to embrace your inner Sporty Spice!

I fully support wearing a tee or baseball hat that features your team’s logo or colors. It’s a sporting event after all, not a fashion show! But let’s ditch those oversized t-shirts in favor of something tailored, topped off with a few key girly accessories. Victoria’s Secret makes a whole collection of cute gear for MLB teams. Pair a tee or tank top with shorts or capris, instead of a skirt. You’ll be much more comfy in shorts while making the hike up to the cheap/thrifty seats!

Where to Shop: Washington Nationals Metallic V-neck Tee ($29.50 from Victoria’s Secret’s MLB line); F3959 Sunglasses ($5.80 from Forever 21); Bueno Straw Bag ($34.99 from Target); Colorful Bangle Set ($6.80 from Forever 21); 5″ Chino Short ($42.50 from JCrew).

Above (all from Victoria’s Secret): Chicago Cubs V-neck Tee ($32.50); Boston Red Sox Bling Baseball Hat ($24.50); Philadelphia Phillies V-neck Tee ($26.50).

Dare to Re-wear

Reader Question: In today’s social media age, where photos spring up online almost as soon as they are taken, what is your advice on re-wearing a dress to a wedding that your friends have probably already seen on your Facebook page?

Answer: This blog is not called Style Me Thrifty for nothing! Here is what I recommend you do:

Step 1: Wear the dress to the first wedding.

Step 2: Pose for a million photographs because, heck, you look good.

Step 3: Post the photos on Facebook for the world to see, which includes those ex-boyfriends that you haven’t spoken to in approximately 7 years.

Step 4: Re-wear that same exact dress to the second wedding, snap some more photos, and share them on Facebook. Now sit back and smile in triumph. You have just proven that you are a confident, THRIFTY fashionista. Style Me Thrifty is so proud!

All joking aside, I think this reader’s question is really interesting. We have hit a point with social media that it’s beginning to influence the way we dress. Crazy — but it’s a reality!

With 500 million active users, Facebook has become a part of everyone’s daily life. For example, how many times have you posed for a photograph with friends and immediately demanded, “Make sure you post that to Facebook!” It’s almost as though a photo doesn’t exist until it’s on Facebook. But that doesn’t mean Facebook gets the upper hand!

I believe in living — and dressing — for the moment. The second we start worrying what our virtual friends will think of our clothing, or the fact that we’re re-wearing a $15 dress from Old Navy (true story, see photos), then we lose sight of what’s important. Be in the moment, at your friend’s wedding, and feel pretty in that dress.

Now, let’s say the guests at the wedding saw you in the same dress last weekend. Why not change up your hair and accessories? It’s amazing how a loose chignon and a chunky necklace can change the overall tone of an outfit.

Final verdict: Re-wear the dress and spend the next day counting the dollar bills that are still in your wallet from not having to purchase a new dress.

PS – Shameless plug but appropriately timed: have you “liked” Style Me Thrifty on Facebook yet?!

My Latest Fashion Don’t Moment

Everyone has a “fashion don’t” moment in life. For Jessica Simpson, it was those unfortunate high-waisted jeans she was photographed in a few years back. Two words: mom jeans. God, they were hideous.

And believe it or not, Style Me Thrifty has off days, too.

My latest “fashion don’t” was this past weekend at the Lil Wayne concert at the Verizon Center.

(I dare you to read that sentence with a straight face, it cannot be done! ME at a Lil Wayne concert?! Gah!)

My BFF Robin begged me to see Wayne, who is on tour with Nikki Minaj, Drake, and a slew of other baby faced rappers I’ve never heard of. You see, Robin has a thing for 5″-nothing rappers with gold teeth and face tattoos. What girl doesn’t love that look?!…

I had a feeling Robin and I were going to stand out at this concert… we are 28 years old and white, after all… but I definitely was not prepared for the scandalous outfits we encountered.

It was as if each girl at this concert was trying to one up each other with the height of their heels — some were teetering on heels so high they could not walk. I saw spandex mini skirts, plunging necklines, thigh high boots, skin tight jeggings, and a whole lotta skin. The Verizon Center made us go through metal detectors but I couldn’t help but wonder, where would a girl hide a gun in these hoochie outfits?!

I’m sad to say that my go-to “concert chic” outfit was a little casual and boring for this occasion. I wore a brown leather jacket, scarf, jeans, flat boots, and glasses. I was essentially an emo girl at a hip hop nightclub. Sure, I was comfortable but there was nothing particularly unique or sexy about my getup.

While I still maintain that I looked cute, I don’t think Wayne’s future baby mammas got it right either. What exactly does one wear to a rap concert anyway? For the next one I attend (ha), I’ve come up with a do-over outfit below. What dya think?

The moral of this fashion story is this: we all make fashion mistakes, especially when we’re taken out of our comfort zone. I could find an outfit for a bridal shower in my sleep… but a rap concert? Not so much. My advice is to plan ahead and embrace these new experiences as a chance to experiment with a new look!

Where to shop: Waterfall Detail Blue Top from ShopFirstDate.com (what a fun web site!) for $59; Really Skinny Pants from Gap for $59.50; Diamond Dust Coin Earrings from Charlotte Russe for $4; Marguerite Platforms from Nine West for $99; Metallic Snake Skin Clutch from Charlotte Russe for $14.90.