The bachlorette party is the night the bridesmaids look forward to the most (and the brides, the least) as it will most likely be a long series of embarassing moments for the soon-to-be Mrs. It is the perfect night to let your hair down and wear your most "escanduloso" outfit as most of the attention will be focused on the bride and her ridiculous sashes and crowns. Just remember the cardinal rule - short OR low-cut - NOT both. Let's get to it!
This top is festive, but not over-worked and the saturated purple color suits most complexions and hair colors.  Grape jersey ruffle v-neck tank - BCBGMAXAZRIA $65 Pair the longer top with super skinny black pants with ankle zippers for a rocker (and kinda Jersey) look. (P.S. As a native New Jerseyan, I am totally not dissing the Garden State, but celebrating its unique and quickly identifiable style that happens to be perfect for an all night party extravaganza.)  Zip Hem Skinny Pant - bebe $99 My best advice that I always share with others - if you are going to do heels when going out - ALWAYS wear ones with at least a half inch platform. They are so much more comfortable than stilettos-sans-support. These purple ones with the studding contribute to the edgy vibe we've got going and are an appropriate height for some walking and dancing.  Fiesta - Naughty Monkey $59.99 I would skip the necklace since the top has so much going on around the neckline. You never want your style to compete with itself because then nobody wins. Complete the ensemble with a cuff and some dangly earrings.  Silvertone Fish Scale Stretch Cuff - Ann Taylor Loft $29.50  Silvertone Wire Teardrop Earring - Ann Taylor Loft To add an element of interest to this otherwise standard outfit, I added an over-the-top (and most likely out-of-the-budget) clutch. I like that this clutch is a little larger so that you can store your survival kit (see below) in it.  Tie Dye Easy Rider Date Clutch - Rebecca Minkoff $375 Bachlorette parties are more like marathons than sprints with many hours spent getting ready, going to dinner, gabbing over cocktails, making fun of the bride, dancing, and more dancing. It is essential that you come prepared, so I have put together a list of necessities for the big night out.  Because no one is fun when they have a pounding headache, I swear by Excedrin Migraine and have shunned every other analgesic. Just be careful combining with alcohol and giving your liver a one-two punch.  Mentha Lip Tint in Pink Mint by C.O. Bigelow is the best for making your lips super glossy, but not super sticky.  Shimmer is ok, shine is not. Keep your face looking fresh (even after 5 tequilla shots) with Guerlain's Terracotta Light Summer Bronzing Powder. Alert: expect to see this baby a lot on this blog. I am obsessed with it.  shoes.  When you can't take another step, you will be glad you packed these roll-ups instead of the fruit variety.  Good luck, soldier! May you make it through the night with nary a drunken fight nor missing bride (unless you go to Atlantic City where those events are certain to occur).
A bridal shower is one of the girliest events you will ever step foot in, so why not go with it and pull out the florals!?! The JCrew dress below has a tranquil pattern and a flattering, modern cut.  Watercolor garden Bridget dress - JCrew $285 If the shower is outside, grab a floppy hat to keep the sun off your face.  Crochet Raffia Sunhat - Shopbop $98 Nude sandals elongate the leg and *BONUS* these Nine West ones are on sale!  Versell - Nine West $49.99 Pearl earrings in a vintage style contribute a classic element to the style.  Pearl jewl box earrings - JCrew $68 The pearl, bubble ring has a modern and playful feel.  Bombay Ring - Kate Spade $89.99 One of my favorite parts of this ensemble is the clutch. beegee bags has the cutest collection of bags that would make perfect presents for bridesmaids (hint, hint all you brides out there!).  Gracie's Dandelion - beegee bags $82 REMINDER - in this post I featured a look that would be perfect for a wedding shower, but don't forget to keep searching or those deals! Let us do the hard work for you and pick out an amazing ensemble for your next event while staying within that budget!
One of my best friends sent me a request to post about rompers, or as she put it through a tweet: "@haconsulting PLEASE for the love of god, write a blog post on jumpers, aka ROMPERS, i hate that word. i dont understand them." Well @katie_howard, I have all you need to know about "ROMPERS" right here!
Rompers are both easy and hard to wear. The easy part is that you just throw on one piece of clothing and you have a statement making outfit. The hard part is finding one that fits your body and your personal style.
It can be difficult to find the right fit in a romper. You want the crotch to be slightly lower than normal so that it does not pull up in the back creating a very unflattering look. It should not, however, be so low that you look messy and disheveled. If you are trying out the romper style for the first time, I suggest getting one of the two styles below. The top purple and orange romper would be perfect as a bathing suit coverup or a super casual day outfit. The gray one is a little bit dressier while still being casual and is perfect for shopping or lunch. I would pair both with a wide belt right at where they cinch in below the waist so that you break up the pattern and/or color and avoid a boxy effect. Both of these options are perfect for trying out the romper style as they have great price points at only $19.99 each!  Xhilaration Juniors Knit Romper - Target $19.99  Xhilaration Juniors Cinch Back Lace Romper - Target $19.99 If you are thinner on top with a small waist and larger thighs and butt, this look can be hard to pull off. The romper below is a good option for you because it has more structure on top and the deep v-neck draws the eye up while the fuller bottom disguises problem areas. Just make sure the bottom is not too full as it will only make your butt look bigger. Add some nude sandals to make your legs look longer and leaner. Try to steer away from super high heels with these more casual rompers as you could cross over into the dreaded "trashy" area.  v-front tie romper - fredflare.com $42 If you are going for a dressier look, try rompers with flowy materials and longer sleeves. The subtle print on the one immediately below and the lovely draping of the one two below grabbed my interest right away. You can go a little higher on the heel because these styles at least cover your arms. Pair with gold bracelets and earrings and you have a trendy outfit for dinner and drinks.  Amara Romper - Joie $298  Cross Front Romper - Rachel Pally $104.50 Rompers can be a chic addition to your wardrobe and are a good alernative to sundresses when you want an unfussy, cool ensemble; however, there are many ways that you can mess up this style. See the two rompers pictured below and FORGET THEM! Do not ever wear these unless you are going to bed or want to look terrible in an unflattering and tacky outfit. I am not even going to give you the links to these because I dislike them that much and would not want to embarass the designers.  No, no. This was not in a PJ section. They want you to make a fool of yourself by wearing these in public!  Sequins and rompers do NOT mix. And what is with the cut of the shorts?!? You should see the back of them. It looks like a diaper. **Sorry for the outburst! I just really dislike trends gone awry.**
Animal jewelry is cheeky yet glamorous at the same time. Many of the pieces are very quirky, but, if you wear them with the right outfits, they can look very sophisticated. Pair animal jewelry with basic colors or neutrals for work. When going out, try wearing the jewelry with complimentary colors, but don't shy away from putting them with patterns!  House of Harlow 1960, Pave Peacock $110 I featured a few of my favorite pieces below. I really love the idea of a serpent ring, but have not found one I am completely infatuated with. The Keneth Lane one (below) comes close, but I would like mine to be super sparkly and have it wind up my finger more. I think I will check out Eastern Market next weekend and see if they have anything like that. I got a cute giraffe bracelet there a few weeks ago (see extreme bottom pic). My friend, Meredith, has a serpent ring that I absolutely covet, but she had in made specially for her in NYC. The search continues - will let you know if I find one!  Kenneth Jay Lane, Twisted Snake $137.50  Betsey Johnson, Beetle Ring $45  Owl Dangling Necklace $5.80  Jane Aldrich of Sea of Shoes blog wearing a gorgeous fox belt and necklaces. Her site is perfect for getting tons of fashion inspiration!  Super low budget pic of my cute giraffe bracelet! Easter Market $24
Ikat and other global prints are turning out to be a big trend this spring, however, I do not think they will last past this year, so I do not recommend spending a ton on this trend. I love the colors and patterns of these prints and will probably add touches of them in my spring and summer wardrobe. This scarf is perfect for late spring into summer and can be worn with a white tank and faded skinny jeans or it can help dress down a maxi dress. Pipperlime $35.00 These clutches are a little expensive at $150 from Jayson Home and Garden, but I just love their simple shape contrasted with their colorful and loud patterns. These clutches will be the centerpiece of an outfit and should be worn with a simple dress or toned-down separates. This top from Old Navy is super budget-friendly at $14.50 and is a perfect example of how to easily incorporate this trend into your wardrobe. I love that all these prints are in bright colors as they are becoming difficult to find this spring with the blush tones being all the rage. The purple along the neckline is an almost universally flattering tone. This top can be worn with jeans and a boyfriend blazer in the spring and then with a pair of cut-off shorts and lots of bangles in the summer.(Update: This style is now sold-out at Old Navy, but there are sure to be similar ones popping up as this trend gains traction this spring.) Sorry for the poor quality of this picture, but I thought that these shoes would go perfectly with the ikat trend. I picked up these Chinese Laundry platform sandals for $15! They will go perfectly with a summery dress and equally as well with more casual shorts and tank combos.
If you have not yet tried on jeans at Gap lately - I highly encourage you to do so. I was skeptical of straight and skinny jeans due to the fact that I have athletic legs - aka bigger thighs - so I was worried that they would be too tight and unflattering. Then I tried on Gap's "Real Straight" jeans (dark wash) and fell in love! The stretch ensures a snug fit, but they do not look overly stretchy nor do they lose their shape. In my opinion, Gap jeans run a little large. I usually wear a size smaller so that the waist fits.
I am thinking about going back to get the mid rise "Always Skinny" jeans in the saturated dark wash which are perfect for a night out when paired with a looser top and super high pumps (the jeans do run long, so the higher the heel - the better!).
Bonus: 20% off of women's denim for the next three days (online only) and 30% off denim in store when you bring in an old pair of jeans!! For a casual Friday, pair your Gap "Real Straight" jeans with an embellished, silk top from Ann Taylor (25% off two full-priced items and 40% off three full-priced items). Top off with a long boyfriend blazer from JCrew (on sale for $175) and gray Nine West pumps. This is a good winter-to-spring transition outfit as the blouse is very light, but the blazer and shoe add weight to the outfit. Looking forward to getting these "Always Skinny" jeans in the saturated dark wash! I would pair it with a silky, flowy top like this one from BCBGMAXAZRIA. I always tend to pick nude shoes and I think these would really stand out against the dark jeans. Pair it with this faux-croc clutch (only $9.80 from Forever21) and you have the perfect ensemble for dinner and drinks!
My client, Sarah, just had her fitting yesterday. We worked out a fantastic inaugural price for her "Fashion Evaluation and Action Plan". After her evaluation, we decided that she needed 5 outfits for professional marketing presentations and set her budget at a low $500. We wanted to incorporate a bit of color since she tends to stick to black-and-white and I made sure most of her pieces could transition fom work to dinner and cocktails. I shopped and shopped all week and came up with the five outfits described below...
Outfit #1 Deep purple is a great shade for Sarah's coloring. The black-and-white skirt is definitely something she was comfortable with and loved, but she never would have considered adding color to the ensemble. Accessories were not included in her budget, but Sarah could add a pair of great purple pumps and a fun cocktail ring to complete this look.
Original Prices
Sweater - H&M $20
Skirt - Calvin Klein $50
Outfit #2 Sarah was very interested in tailored dresses, so this is perfect for a big presentation. The dove grey and the cream and khaki striped blazer are beautiful colors for spring. Sarah will be able to lose the black tights soon as the weather warms up and can add a colorful statement necklace and nude heels to complete the look.
Original Prices
Dress - Calvin Klein $100
Blazer - Theory $355
Outfit #3 Love the layering! In order to make it easier to travel, Sarah needed multiple outfits using some of the same pieces. Here she is wearing the grey CK dress with the H&M cardigan over it to create a classic sweater and skirt combination. We added a fantastic blazer with slightly edgy lapels. Sarah is a big fan of jackets and loved this different, but still professional, blazer.
Original Price
Blazer - H&M $50
Outfit #4 I might have to go out and get this dress for myself! The bold colors are softened by the watercolor pattern. The simple tailoring creates a chic silhouette that is universally flattering. Throw a black blazer over it for work and then wear it alone for cocktails. These colors can be worn pretty much all year long. A long necklace will add some sparkle to this ensemble.
Original Price
Dress - Theory $295
Outfit #5 These pants are a great length for spring and are perfect for showing off fabulous heels. Sarah borrowed my nude patforms for the picture and has decided she needs some for herself! The coral color looks great with her skintone and the pants really elongate her legs. The shell is an interesting find as it is silk, but is in a racerback style so it can be dressed up or down.
Original Prices
Pants - Theory $190
Camisole - xhilaration $15The Bottom Line...
Staying within her budget of $500, Sarah got five fabulous and versatile looks with a total original value of $1075 without having to step one foot in a store! Savvy chic for the business geek! Please contact us for information on our services which are aimed at saving the busy professional both time and money.
Love the idea of layering as the weather in DC changes from absolutely inhuman to slightly more tolerable. As we near the end of March, we might be able to get away with wearing a blazer as a jacket, but would probably need something more than a t-shirt underneath. That's why I encourage light layers such as those pictured here. The key to not looking bulky is to pick thin material and complimentary colors. The nude colors of the jacket and cardigan are in step with the nude trend of the upcoming season. The cardigan also has a floral print, which is another spring trend. The light denim gives the whole outfit an airy feel. Perfect for brunch on an outside patio (can you tell I am looking forward to warm weather??). Shop this outfit here.
Welcome! I thought it was about time that I (in)formally introduced myself and told you a little bit about why I started hayleyanne consulting and where I plan on taking it...
I firmly believe that women should be able to enjoy fashion and dress in their favorite style without spending a fortune doing so. Quality items at reasonable prices are available – if you have the time and patience to look for them. As a fan and veteran of “deal finder” shopping, I do not understand why anyone would not want to spend their day rummaging through a crowded store or running around town looking for the perfect item at the right price, but alas, there seem to be many of you who would much rather hand off that task to someone else. That is why I decided to start hayleyanne consulting. I love the thrill of getting a great deal and completing the perfect outfit. Your confidence soars both at work and in your personal life when you feel and look good. I have come across many women who would love to save time by avoiding shopping altogether, but can not afford the steep personal stylist fees. I will work within your budget and offer suggestions for looks according to your personality. I approach fashion with a scientific mind (as that is my educational background) analyzing the material, color, and structure of a garment and how it would best suit your body type. I also infuse wardrobes with special touches that help develop a signature look.
As I develop my organization, I will add additional services, such as “Closet Consultation” and “Look Book Development” in the near future. On this blog, I will document my “projects” as they are completed, showing you before and after pictures (anonymous, if requested) of the various wardrobes I have “spruced up”. I will also feature fashion tips on this blog and really anything I (or my staff) feel like writing about! Please contact me if you have any requests, comments, suggestions, or you would like to inquire about consulting services!
-hayleyanne
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