August 2013 | Blueprint for Style

back to school looks, back to school for college

Dresses & Outfits

Back-to-School Looks for College

Any college girl heading back to school likely finds it a bit difficult to keep her wardrobe fresh and on-trend without blowing her book money….but Kmart and Sears are excellent options to help her make affordable fashion statements! Here they took one dress and did it up four different ways….. Which is your favorite? The “chic” look is my fave…plus a colorful belt! When you think of Kmart and Sears, think of brands like Bongo, Levi’s, French Connection, Kardashian Kollection

2013/08/30

Accessories

Thanks Mizhattan for Leopard Print Shoes

While I love leopard print, this post is 100% inspired by a fellow style blogger, Mizhattan because it just made so much sense. Leopard print is a staple print and it’s coming back in a big way; and one of the easiest ways to integrate the print into your current closet is shoes. Flats are something that every woman should own and, yes, leopard print in small doses is just as essential. Think about it ~ have you ever just

2013/08/28

Etiquette

How Can I Get Thru Security Quicker?

August is a HUGE travel month because it’s the last chance for most parents to vacation with their kids and, if you’re in a city like D.C., it’s right before the political machine kicks back into high gear. So, getting thru the airport quickly is a precious commodity post-9/11. Well we know of three ways to get through quicker and to save your style points for later in your trip: TSA PreCheck or Global Entry {this is what I have….whew!} Clear

2013/08/26

Just Because...

How Much Do You Have To Make To Be Successful?

I saw this article in the August 2013 Esquire and I had to share. I remember when I first moved to D.C. and I had a firm price in my mind of what I wanted to pay for my home based on my salary….which was great (or so I thought)! Then I started looking and I started adding up all of the little items that were getting to be costly like registering my car, etc. Needless to say, when it

2013/08/24

Fall Trends

Top 5 Fab Fall Finds

This fall you will find a bit of everyday common sense rearing its sensible head! The colors for the season are navy blue and berry; prints are all over the place; statement jewelry for everyday is adding polish to looks; camouflage can’t hide from the runways; and leather will be rocking to a walkway near you. My list of wants for the season is growing fast so I wanted to share my top 5 fab fall finds that (fingers crossed),

2013/08/23

Footwear

Spruce Your Shoes For Fall

It’s easy. It’s ‘what’s hot‘. It’s inexpensive. It’s colorful. Colored shoelaces ~ available lots of places but we found them at Hook and Albert, and settled there because they were between $6 – $8.

2013/08/21

Men's Matters

How-To Update Your Look From Confused Teen To Full-On Adult

This was the question posed from a 20-something year old man who really wanted to add a bit of “edge” to his overall look without going full-on motorcycle man. The answer is to look for a style icon, or someone you can emulate. And that person would be John Varvatos. Add a few edgier touches like a leather jacket and moto-inspired pieces Always wear some type of scarf Include boots in your rotation more regularly Think put-together-then-tossed-around as your look

2013/08/19

Accessories

A Warning About BaubleBar!

I love jewelry. It adds to any outfit and, in most cases, works to complete your look. I’m a little bit of a girly girl, so I like all things shiny, bright, big, and fun. As a stylist, I constantly tell my clients to think about statement pieces whether for accessories or everyday wear so when BaubleBar jumped on the scene, I feel in love! I’ve recommended many pieces to clients across the last year and they’ve been very happy

2013/08/16

Clothing Maintenance & Organization

Eight Essentials Steps of Luxury Leather

Last week we talked about the history of leather and this week {still focused on an easy transition into fall}, I want you to know the essentials of luxury leather. First off, I give 100% credit to ahalife for providing this information. Sharing it with you just makes you more educated and savvy when you start looking… leather and components selection ~ to make a high quality piece, you need to start with high quality hides pattern making ~ nailing

2013/08/14

fall fashions, cbs, wusa9, fall fashion in summer

Dresses & Outfits

[Video] How to Wear Fall Fashions In Summer

Have you ever wondered how you can get better use of your fall wardrobe? Well if you watched CBS/WUSA9 on Thursday morning, you would have caught Blueprint fro Style sharing some great style insights on how to wear your fall fashion now [during summer]. This was for the ladies and gents and while I’m sure you’ll listen to the four minute clip, let me share the big takeaways: Add pops of color using jewelry and shoes. Men can rock colorful

2013/08/13

Footwear

Fall Footwear for Men

Looks from: Saks Shoes by: To Boot New York Socks by: Hook & Albert and Paul Smith Fall footwear for men: we love this look because you can turn your favorite pair of shoes into an entirely new pair with some whimsical socks and bright laces…..

2013/08/07

Clothing Maintenance & Organization

The History of Leather

Don’t act like you don’t know that I’m a hug fan of leather {or that I didn’t collaborate on a collection of leather goods earlier this year}. But before you can develop a true love for leather, at least know the history of leather! Leather went from being used to protect us from the elements to supplying us with footwear and handbags not to mention meat! Approximately half of all leather produced today is used to make shoes, and about

2013/08/07

Color Combos

Fall Color: Berry Pretty

Call it plum, wine, burgundy, aubergine – this color palette is running between deep red and violet on the spectrum, and is everything rich, luscious, and saturated. It’s BERRY pretty……

2013/08/06

Contests & Giveaways

Use ASOS To Usher In Fall

Have you ever heard of ASOS? If not, you’re missing out on a retailer that does everything from bargain basement deals to high-end designer duds for men and women. They ship for next-to-nothing (and for free if you can find a promo code) and depending on what you get, you can make it work for less than in-store prices! We teamed up with ASOS to do a $200 giveaway! And I wanted to share the good news with you. For

2013/08/05

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