50 Shades of Style

Style Tips

Capsule Wardrobe

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If you are asking what a capsule wardrobe is and how do you build one; well you have come to the right place. 

A capsule wardrobe is a term coined by Susie Faux, the owner of a London boutique called “Wardrobe” in the 1970’s. A capsule wardrobe consists of essential items of clothing that stands the test of time, never going out of style. 

As time has gone on the term “capsule wardrobe”  has grown to refer to “a collection of clothing that is composed of interchangeable items only, to maximize the number of outfits that can be created. The aim is to have an outfit suitable for any occasion without owning excessive items of clothing. This is usually achieved by buying “staple” items.” – Wikipedia 

This capsule  includes 2 pairs of pants, 2 skirts, 2 dresses, 2 pairs of denim and a few tops mixed with casual and dressy options.

Here at 50 Shades Of Style I like to add my spin on things. So with that said I have decided to curate a capsule wardrobe for you ladies and added to this 2 options for outerwear, 2 belts and 3 pairs of shoes topped off with 2 bag options!!

So here is my capsule wardrobe for you to shop and be inspired by! Remember too that these pieces can all be augmented with a few seasonal options to carry you through as the seasons change.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Best!

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“Take time to do what makes your soul happy.”  ~Unknown~

Do you make time to do things that truly bring your soul joy?  Leave a comment and let me know!  I started 50 Shades Of Style to share my love of fashion and hopefully inspire you with new ideas.  All of those things truly brings me joy!   But what brings me the most joy has been the most meaningful connections with some amazing ladies that I have made on Instagram.  One of them being Barbi of Southern Blonde Chic.  Barbi is so fabulous & I just adore her, be sure to check her blog post today with all the details of her Sunday Best! 

Look how gorgeous she looks today!   Her beautiful smile certainly brings me joy and she just radiates positivity!

So,  Barbi & I are back with our second installment of our Sunday Best series!  As I said before, we both love to get dressed up, especially on a Sunday! 

There is just something about wearing a beautiful dress on a Sunday that makes me happy and know that it is a special day.  It brings back such fond memories of my mother.

How gorgeous is this dress from the White House Black Market?!  

I recently had my colors done with Color Guru.   It was a no brainer when I was shopping and saw this beautiful dress especially now that I know what my color palette is.   I can’t recommend her service enough.  Use my Code Kelley10 for 10% off if you decide to have your colors done.

 

From head…

To toe…

I am dressed in my colors and I feel confident and put together.  I can’t tell you the difference it makes when you wear colors that compliment you the best.   Everything from head to toe is from WHBM and I have linked them for you.   Shop my dress  and these fabulous teal pumps that add the perfect unexpected POP to this outfit as well as this beautiful gold headband.  GOOD NEWS!!!!  WHBM is having a SPECIAL SALE and these pieces are currently 30% off!

This bag is from ages ago, but I found one similar for you to shop! 

Happy Sunday & Happy Shopping!!  Hope to see you back here next Sunday! 

 

Xo, 

Kelley 

 

 

 

 

 

Still ‘WILD’ about Peach!

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A while back I introduced you all to my favorite activewear line Peach ! I am here to say that they are still my #1 go to for athleisure wear but also amazing wardrobe Fall and Winter wardrobe staples with the launch of their new Autumn 19 Collection ‘Into the Wild’ !

Let’s start off with this fabulous look that to me fall under athleisure wear AND also casual chic style!  I am wearing their Kora Pullover in this rich color Garnet (size S).   The satin detailing along the sides is gorgeous and the fit is a relaxed fit.  I sized up one size to give me a bit more length for wearing with leggings.  And speaking of leggings, can we just please talk about these FABULOUS Nina Leggings also in Garnet! (Size XS). These are beyond show stopping, with their leather-like front they will truly elevate any look!  I love wearing these pieces together, but they totally stand on their own.  Both pieces come in other colors but I highly suggest the garnet color as I promise you will get heads to turn in this beautiful rich color!

Now, to demonstrate my comment about how Peach is now my ‘go to’ for wardrobe staples, this amazing Mara Moto Jacket (sz XS) is from their new Autumn Collection!  I selected this beautiful Khaki color, but it also comes in a beautiful shade of olive.  This jacket is made of a stretch vegan suede, and has fabulous silver hardware details.  You won’t believe the best part of this jacket…….wait for it……..it is MACHINE WASHABLE!!  I promise this piece will be on major repeat for me all Fall and Winter!

I might have saved the best for last!  You all know much I love wearing dresses, and this gorgeous Marula Dress in black (sz XS)  jumped off the page for me and I knew I needed it in my closet ASAP!  It is the absolute perfect combination of Chic and Comfy!  The fabric is a French terry with polished satin details along the sides which elevates this dress to the nines!!!  I love it paired here with snakeskin boots, but I also can’t wait to style it with some fun sneakers for an edgy street style look.

You all know that I only share what I love and would wear myself and I am so honored to be a Peach Ambassador.  I am so impressed with all the pieces that I own from them and I give them the highest recommendation.  Make sure to check out this Autumn 19 Collection and don’t hesitate on ordering as their pieces tend to go fast as they are truly the ULTIMATE in style and quality.

 

XO

 

 

Five ways to wear leopard!!

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I have to say I am SUPER EXCITED about today’s blog post!  Why do you ask?………….Because I love to incorporate leopard when I can in my outfits!

There are so many ways to do this, from ALL OUT to just a subtle touch.  So, depending where you fall in this category, let me show you some examples of how to accomplish this, starting with ‘just a sprinkle’!

#1.  Hair Accessories

Since leopard is the rage right now, you can find some really fun hair accessory pieces and sprinkle it in this way to get your feet wet.  🙂  Whether you select a fun headband like I am wearing or a scarf, or leopard scrunchie, that would be the easiest way to start!

 

#2.  Add a leopard purse OR shoe

First of all notice I said add a leopard purse OR shoe, not BOTH!!  That would be too much!  Look how each look pictured above because that much more interesting by adding a leopard print to the mix.  Super easy to do right?  Make sure to scroll down to the bottom of this article when you are finished reading to see all these great pieces that you can shop directly from here.  🙂

3.  Add a fun leopard skirt

This is probably my most favorite way to add leopard, a leopard skirt!  Whether it is a pencil or a maxi skirt, this is the look I love to style the most.  Just add one of your favorite graphic tees, and you have the perfect ‘casual chic’ look, and you will be the envy of all your girlfriends (trust me)! 🙂

 

#4.  Add a great leopard jacket

So, hopefully I have gotten you excited about what a game changer adding leopard to your look can be!  Are you feeling a bit more comfortable about stepping up your leopard game?!  If so, let’s add a leopard jacket to the mix!  This is really a simple formula (don’t be scared) just start with something all black, like in this example above I am wearing a fun black jumpsuit (notice I am wearing black shoes too) providing the perfect canvas to introduce an amazing jacket!!  (p.s. I will have some good ones linked at the end of this article for you) Trust me on this one, add a great jacket (like above) to your wardrobe to add an amazing impact to your ‘style game’!

 

#5.  Add an all leopard piece

Yes!  We graduated all the way to wearing an ALL LEOPARD for the main course!!!  What do you think?  It looks really great right?  Not too much right?!  Whether it is an all leopard dress (as seen above) or a maxi dress, or a jumpsuit, you will look like you walked right off the cover of your favorite fashion magazine!  But, there are a few rules you need to follow to pull of this look.  1.  Keep the accessories very subtle.  No, wild earrings, shoes, or purse.  In the photo above, notice you can’t even really see my earrings (I am wearing gold hoops BTW) and my purse if solid black.  This is really important to follow along, also notice my shoes are really toned down.  The 2nd rule to pulling this off is really simple, BE CONFIDENT!

I promise you can pull this all leopard look off, but you need to ‘feel the part’ to ‘look the part’, so hold your head up high when you walk into the room looking like the million bucks that I know you are!!!

 

 

 

 

 

How to wear denim on denim!

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One of my favorite looks to style is wearing denim on denim!  Have you ever tried it?  Well, I hope after reading this post, you will be excited to give it a try.  So, let’s start with something easy yet very chic.

So, if you want to play it safe, there is nothing better than a great all denim dress.  When the temps are rising in the summer, a classic shift dress works perfectly and can be worn to a number of occasions.  This particular dress shown above is a darker wash, lightweight denim and I think it is perfect for brunch, a work function and even church.  The fact that it is a dark wash really makes the difference I believe, in why it works for a dressier daytime event.  When it comes to accessorizing dark denim, my suggestion is keep the purse and the bag light. (especially in the summer).  You can see, I chose neutral tones, in all of my accessories above and it creates a really nice blend.

 

Next, we are going to pair two  denim pieces together and create an outfit.  It might sound like too much, and that you couldn’t see yourself doing it, but I hope from seeing the look above, you see that it looks great!  I started with this great midi-length denim skirt, and added a slightly lighter shade chambray top.  Yes, they are right next to each other and it works perfectly.  In fact, I think it looks very chic, and I bet you your friends will tell you how much they LOVE your outfit when you try this!!  Once again, I kept the accessories, light, and in this case, added fun bright colors.  They work perfectly together, as you want your denim pieces to be the canvas for these colors to work off of.  Am I winning you over yet?   Okay, let’s keep moving.

 

Okay, this is basically a play off of the last denim on denim skirt I showed you previously, but now we are going to take this look ‘on the town’!!  So, we are starting with this adorable denim frayed skirt, took the same top as previously shown, (which is also a little bit of a lighter wash than the skirt) and now we are going to take this up a notch!  How do we do that?  We do it with the accessories, which you all know I believe are the ‘star’ of any look!  So, since we are wanting this to be a ‘fun night out’ look, we need to add some amazing shoes and a gorgeous bag.  I would say we hit a ‘home run’ with these multi-colored snakeskin booties and this rich colored velvet bag!  Can you see how that totally changed everything!!  Pretty easy formula wouldn’t you say?

 

Lastly, I want to show you that you can mix you denim with other colored denim!  Now, don’t go crazy with this.  I would just keep it monochromatic for the most part and have your one piece be the different color.  It is really important to keep your shoes black as well, to achieve this affect.  So, in this example we are taking an all black denim look and adding the blue denim jacket as the ‘pop’ and focal piece of this look.   Do you see how your eye gravitates towards the denim jacket?  This trick really will set up apart and you should feel very proud of yourself for pulling off such a chic look.

I hope these examples gave you the confidence to put together your ‘own’ denim on denim looks and I would love to hear from you how you did and most importantly all the great comments that you are going to get!

xoxo

 

My new favorite athleisure line…..Peach!

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If I have to be honest,  you will find me in activewear most days of the week!    Between my workouts, and accomplishing all of my errands that I typically have in a day (can you relate?) it just makes the most sense.  But, I do have two major requirements when shopping for athleisure wear!  It must be comfortable, and most importantly it must look stylish!!

Well, I have fallen in love with a new women’s athleisure line that exceeds my expectations.  The line is called Peach, and they have versatile comfy styles you’ll LOVE on repeat for gym, work and play!!  I am also excited to have been selected as a member of their Peach Ambassador Team!

In the photo above, I am wearing two pieces from their Summer 19′ Collection.  The Mayra Tank $45(wearing an xs) and the Santo Legging $79 (wearing an xs) in the color Pacific Blue.  I love the cut of this tank as I feel it is flattering on all body types, and it is hard to describe how beautiful the blue is on these leggings!

When they describe their line as versatile, I feel like this next look says it all!  I have styled this look for a lunch with my girlfriends, and you would never know these are athleisure wear pieces!  I could be heading to a doctors appointment, or a planning meeting for a fundraiser I am apart of, and I feel as stylish as ever, but most importantly comfy and cool!  I live in Central Florida, and our temperatures have already hit the mid 90’s and I do not break a sweat in these clothes!!  The think I am most excited about is how perfect these clothes are for my upcoming beach vacation!

The Mayra Tank $45

The Verano Pant $89

My last look to show you is this gorgeous Isla Dress (wearing an xs) in the gorgeous color Pacific Blue ($99).  This dress features a sheer ‘peekaboo’ stripe overlay with a under slip layer, to create the perfect summer look!  You will be the envy of all your friends when you show up at the next barbecue wearing this beauty!  Not only is this dress so flattering, but this moisture wicking fabric will keep you as cool as can be!

In closing, I can’t say enough about the quality of fabrics they use as well as the impeccable fit of each item I ordered.  I also wanted to mention that I love that their sizes range from xs to xxl.  Something that more brands need to do!  I hope you will take my recommendation and order these pieces and also check out the other gorgeous styles by clicking this link and I can’t wait to hear back your raving reviews as I know you will fall in love with them like I have!

xoxo

 

How to ‘Pop’ your neutral looks with color!

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Are you feeling like you are in a bit of a neutral rut when it comes to your outfits?  Are you playing it too safe and basic when you are getting ready every morning?

Well, I have a solution for you for that is so easy to do, your friends and family will think you walked right off the pages of your favorite fashion magazine!

 

Example 1.  Adding a pop of ‘bold color’ to your neutral looks.  Grab your favorite all neutral look, and then add ONE color to make it pop!!!   In this look below, I am wearing my favorite cream linen jumpsuit from Anthropolgie!  I wanted to keep it canvas neutral, so I added these fun raffia mules.  But, watch what happens when I add a BOLD PINK statement earrings from 4th and Jones, it takes the whole look to another level!  Not hard to do right?  Isn’t that so fun??

Anthropologie Jumpsuit

Up close of these amazing earrings!

 

Now let’s take Example #2  –  Here is another look, beautiful white blouse with a blue and white linen striped skirt from The Loft.  This outfit would totally work with a nice nude pump.  But look how by just adding a fun unexpected yellow pump, that is the first think your eyes are drawn too in this picture.  A simple change with big results (if you ask me)!  Once again, something that anyone can do, and your results with be noticed by your girlfriends!!!

Yellow Pumps adding the Perfect Pop!

Example #3 –   So this is a two part upgrade!  I took what would be considered super casual look-  khaki joggers, and a white tee, but I wanted to challenge myself to create a look for a fun date night.  So, I decided to add this fun satin bomber jacket (still considered a neutral) and grabbed a pair of heels to dress it up, but I decided to grab these leopard pumps (to add quite a fun statement) and then to complete our formula of adding one item for that ‘pop’, this bright yellow shoulder bag did the trick (don’t you think)?!

Leopard Pumps and Yellow Purse does the trick!

 

Example #4 – For my last example on how adding just one POP of color to your outfit can elevate your style, I grabbed a pair of dark denim bermuda shorts from Express, and added an amazing BOLD neon yellow top!  YESSSS!!!!  Mission Accomplished!!!  No one will pass you by and keep walking in this number!!!  Super easy, but quite the fun statement!!  You are now a Pro!!!

Bold Neon Top is the star of this look!

 

I hope these examples and simple formula was helpful for you, and now that summer is here, it is time to ADD COLOR!!!

xoxo

If you like this post you can shop all the items here!

 

 

 

 

 

One Outfit Styled Two Ways

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Since I love fashion and shopping SO MUCH (who doesn’t)?  I have learned to be pretty good at getting the most BANG out of my buck by learning how to take one outfit and styling it two ways, that works for different occasions.

It actually is a really good way to think when you are out shopping.  You need to ask yourself, will I really get some good wear out of this, and would I be able to change it up just a bit, and take it from day to night?

I am excited to show you three different outfits, styled exactly that way.  Day to Night!  So, here we go…………..

 

First up is Athleisure-

Athleisure Day Outfit

Here I have an example of a fun Athleisure outfit that works perfect for daytime.  Whether I need to run errands or meet a girlfriend at Starbucks, I am feeling comfy and chic in this oversized sweatshirt and fun leggings.  Notice the accessories in this outfit (because those are the things I am going to change out to take this into night)!  This fun cross body bag and leopard sneakers add the right touch and pops this outfit just perfectly!

 

Athleisure Outfit for Night

So, notice here how I took the same exact outfit (oversized sweatshirt and leggings) and just added a sleek pair of mules, a fun studded black bag and this amazing black bolero hat!  Now, I am ready to hit the town, whether it is meeting my husband for a date night, or having a girls night out for dinner.  Either way, I am feeling chic, dressy and most of all comfortable!!

 

Example #2 –  Cropped Pants and Blouse Option – Daytime

Cropped Pants and Blouse- Day Outfit

For this outfit which consists of these amazing herringbone cropped pants and fun red Versace inspired blouse, I am styling this for day by choosing the right accessories.  These silver oxford lace up shoes are just the right touch to take this outfit out for a business appointment, luncheon or a fun day of shopping.  I grabbed this clear lucite with black accent tote bag which also adds the right feel for daytime.  Once again, I think this looks daytime chic and also bonus points for it being comfy (with these great oxford flats)!

 

Cropped Pants & Blouse Nighttime Version

Once again, you will see  I just changed out my accessories, adding these sleek black mules (yes, they are one of my favorites), changed out my tote for a fun dressier shoulder bag and grabbed a great pair of sunglasses for the perfect look to head out for an early dinner with friends.  (It really is that easy to do to achieve a different look).

 

Example #3 – Taking an outfit from Desk to Dinner

Blazer and palazzo pants- Office Attire

In this last example, I wanted to show those of you who wear work attire, how easy it is to take this perfect outfit for work and just carry with you a change of shoes, bag and jewelry to swap out when the clock hits 5 o’clock.   I love this particular combo that I put together consisting of this stunning white blazer (which btw we all need to have in our wardrobe) a great grey tank, and these amazing floral palazzo pants!!!! (Obsessed)!  I accessorized this day look with these great suede flats and this white leather bag with fun gold hardware.  I finished it off with some great hoop earrings and a pretty  gold necklace.  So chic for work wouldn’t you say??!!

Work outfit – Styled for a Night on the Town!

So, the clock hits 5pm and all you have to do is take off your jacket, reach into your bottom desk drawer and pull out these gold suede platform mules, the fun leopard clutch (always remember, leopard is a neutral), and these amazing rose gold statement earrings and you are ready to get in your car to head out to meet your significant other (or the girls) either way they will gasp when they see you!!  I mean how easy was that??!!!

I hope this article was helpful to you, and by giving you these examples you will now be able to take some existing pieces already in your wardrobe and use this same formula I gave you to go from day to night!!!

xoxo,

Kelley