Metropolitan City Winter

Winters can be harsh, especially in the North Eastern cities of the USA. Some days can feel mild and humid with a slight chill then the next day the temperatures can drop 20 degrees with a 30 mph wind! Weather around here has become quite unpredictable, sure you can imagine what it will be like according to the current season, but lately that tip isn't really imperative. Here, in Philadelphia, you live and die by your outerwear. I have flirted with frostbite many times, and I can tell you it's not fun. Nor is sweating in your cashmere finest, during your 10am conference call! I have learned throughout my many Philadelphian winters, the key to defeating old man Winter is dressing in layers. Cold weather chic is possible. 

Winter Essentials

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

It's totally safe to say that winter has made his comeback! The polar vortex that has recently struck our nation has left us all yearning for that first day of Spring weather, but until then we have to make sure we have the right pieces to keep us warm in this frigid weather! As much as I dislike the Winter season, I still make sure to step out in style while staying warm!

Ombre Denim

Photos by Melissa Alam

Wearing denim is a trend that will absolutely never die out. It's casual, easy going, versatile, ageless, the list can go on forever! Although, wearing the same old blue jeans might get a little boring especially to someone like me who loves the diversity and eccentricities of fashion! Those indigo blues have upgraded from tattered and worn to patterned and coated. Denim has evolved to become such a mainstay in the fashion industry and I'm totally loving it! 

Wearing denim on denim is a fun and fashionable move, the variations on how to wear it are endless! As soon as I found this ombre denim top, I knew it would look amazing paired with one of my favorite Spring staples, white jeans. 

Top: Forever21, jeans: Free People, cardigan: Buffalo Exchange, belt: Club Monaco,  sneakers: Steve Madden, earrings & headband: Urban Outfitters

This Spring I definitely want to incorporate more denim on denim combinations into my daily ensembles. It's effortless and yet still very put together! Dear readers, how do you like to wear your denim pieces? 

It Girls, Tees to Live In

By Jacqueline Davis Moranti

The time has come to strip off those heavy, wintery layers! Put away the wool and cashmere outerwear pieces and soak up some sun in your favorite tee shirts! Tee shirts are the perfect essentials for any warm weather occasion, they're perfect for days when you have to get dressed up and great for the days when you just have errands to do and need to be comfortable! Tee shirts are the perfect components to look effortlessly cool. Check out my favorite tee shirt styles!

The photographic tee shirt is a great and fun choice. It also reminds you of that place where you want to be, in this case somewhere warm and beautiful with palm trees! Paired with a leather jacket and leather pants, makes for a great evening look and a conversation starter. 

The band tees, many of us have tons of band shirts in our closets! If you're like me, then you've collected shirts from all of the shows you've ever been too! I'm a big music buff, I listen to a lot of not so mainstream musicians which my tees clearly represent and because of that, stir lots of fun conversations.  Plus band tee shirts have the best graphics and designs!

The slouchy, slub, v neck tee, one of my favorite styles. It 's one of the most versatile tee shirt styles, looks amazing paired with a blazer and pencil skirt and still manages to look great in a pair of jeans! Most would prefer to wear this style in a more weekend appropriate ensemble, but I actually like to don the more professional or dressed up scenario approach. It's all about keeping cool in the warmer months! 

The fancy tee shirt, everyone needs one! This one in particular has a mesh material for sleeves and on the sides, making it a very sexy and interesting shirt. The fancy tees are the perfect blend of sporty and feminine. Every fashionista needs a shirt with a cool flair!

Dear readers what tee shirt style do you claim as a favorite? How do you prefer to wear a tee, casually or dressed up?

                        

Sweatshirt Redefined

Lately there's been a lot of talk about wearing sweatshirts. I know, sounds a bit farfetched to wear your workout clothes in public and in a fashionable way. Well, i'm not talking about what you would wear to break out in a sweat, im talking about it's fashionable little sister! Who wouldn't want comfort and style all in one piece?

This sweatshirt in particular is a lot of fun! It has a black, faux fur body and black sleeves. It's as comfortable as a Northface fleece, which is perfect for this frigid, negative 1000 degree weather here, in the North East. Now I just need to find a pair of acceptable sweatpants to wear outside! 

Overcoat: J.Crew, sweatshirt, belt, and gloves: Club Monaco, jeans: J. Brand, necklace: Anthropologie, boots: Bakers

Dear readers, what do you think of this sweatshirt trend? Would you wear one, out in public?

Plaid is Back!

Plaid, one the 1990's biggest mainstays is having a major moment right now.... but it's not like it ever left! Whichever way you want to call it, plaid or tartan are both similar. and have roots that date back to the ancient Scottish history, think kilts! It is also synonymous with the punk and grunge scene. As seen on many tv shows, music videos, and actors. One of my favorite 90's show, My So Called Life, frequented the plaid trend and Gwen Stefani, No Doubt, one of my fashion idols always looked great in  her tartan ensembles! 

Recently, the trend was spotted on the F/W 2012 runways, specifically Michael Kors' show and J.Crew. It's back and better than ever, it's not just on pants and pleated skirts. Plaid looks great paired with so many different prints, textures and colors. Its one of the most versatile patterns in history that can be worn streamlined or unconventional. 

Here are a few ways I like to incorporate plaid into my wardrobe! 

plaid button down: thrifted

tartan skirt: Forever21

plaid blazer: Guess

plaid coat: Club Monaco

It has become a pattern that's inevitable for me to avoid! It also has a comforting effect on me, I guess it's why I wear it so much! Are you a fan of plaid? How do you like to wear it?

                                                                                                                            Xoxo,
                                                                                                                                Jacqui

Feast- ival Dressing!

By Jacqueline Davis Moranti

The time has come to that time of the the year, where we spend most of our days with families and close friends, and we stuff our faces with a little more than we are used to because we don't know when the next time we'll be getting that fabulous meal again! Thanksgiving is only a few days away, so it's time to think of an outfit that will impress and look great with all the family photo taking!

The perfect Thanksgiving ensemble should be comfortable enough to contain a full belly, kitchen helping, table setting, tv watching and chasing your little niece and nephew! Another thing to keep in mind, which may not mean much to some, is dressing in seasonal colors.

During this time of the year, neutrals play a big part in fashion and bold, less saturated colors too. I love mixing in jewel tones with the neutrals, think burgundy, ochre, forest green, sapphire and plum strewn in with navy, black, camel, grey and wintery white!

The first outfit, top left, combines this gorgeous forest green blazer with a camel/ gold sequin dress. This is an outfit for the girl who wants all eyes on her! What's great about this dress is that it's a shift/ sheath style, meaning it is more of a straight line. Making it a pretty forgiving style!

The top right look is for the edgy girl who has no problem with standing out! Put together a sapphire blue maxi dress with a metallic silver blazer and a black and white striped blouse and you've got a winning look! Maxi dresses are a great option, hides bloated tummies really well and provides you with a long, lean, flattering figure.

The bottom left image is a more low key look. A black and white A- line dress paired with a long sleeved, sheer blouse. One of the key points to think about when it comes to family functions is to not be overtly sexy.... unless, for your Thanksgiving dinner it's just you and your significant other! Honestly, when you show too much skin, it tends to make you feel a bit uncomfortable because you start to wonder whether this or that is too short or too low. It's not fun going a whole day thinking that way. The sheer blouse under the dress, provides the right amount of "sexy" plus it's a great way of updating a summer dress into the cooler months! This dress has an a - line shape, making it the perfect amount of forgiving!

For the girl who wants to wear pants rather than dresses or skirts, try patterns! Patterns help distract the viewers from one part of the body, to the part with the patterns, in this situation, the legs. But why not mix it up with another pattern?! The key point to mixing prints is pairing a smaller print with a bigger print, that way it doesn't look confusing. Wearing a chunky sweater is also very comfortable and accommodating to a full belly. 

The best thing to remember this Thursday, is to be comfortable and suited to your personality. Have fun, eat as much as you want, get rested and then prepare to shop afterwards! Happy Thanksgiving readers!

                                                                                                                          Xoxo,

                                                                                                                              Jacqui

Frumpy No More.

by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

The truth is, as I am sure many of you can relate, we all have chunky knitted sweaters that we may not know what to do with. Those oversized sweaters can actually be very chic, think of that special body con dress or skirt that you wear for Girls Night Out, now you have a new and comfortable outfit for the daytime! When people think of oversized sweaters, many think of frumpy, lazy day, sweat pant wearing kind of gals. Okay, so a baggy silhouette is not what comes to mind when you think of chic and flattering lines. Think not! I'm here to change you opinion, or at least try to inspire! All it takes is the right balance and some sneaky styling tips!

I have a few big cardigans, but this one, top left, is by far my favorite. It is the perfect length for a makeshift sweater dress! If you have a big cardigan why not pair it with an oversized oxford shirt and make sure to add a belt to define the waist. OR if you're feeling a bit more adventurous, wear the cardigan backwards! Either way you'll definitely turn heads with your fun aura of casual chic! 

Top left image combines an oversized, asymmetrical sweater with an asymmetrical maxi dress. Ever think of what to do with those silky, or chiffon summer dresses? Long or short, try it with a big sweater on top, You'll love the variety it can accomplish with just a simple layer. 

How about taking that chunky, knitted sweater (bottom left image) that you got from your grandmother, last holiday season and pairing it with something seemingly unconventional like a leather skirt? It will make that sweater go from 4th grade to college alumni status, in no time! Make sure to tuck the sweater into the skirt to show off your curves!

The last image is for all of those gals that love to wear their leggings as pants. As we all know, leggings worn as pants are a major fashion faux pas, no one wants to see your panty lines! The right way to do it  is by pairing it with your tunic length sweater, and then try layering it with a vest or a cropped jacket to display your feminine features, under all of that fabric. 

Hopefully i've demonstrated four great ways to inspire you into diving head first into this wintery season. Chunky knits can be easily worn, you just have to get the right balance of opposites. Next time you look at your closet and pull out your oversized sweaters, you'll consider sophisticated ensembles that are anything but snoozy! 

                                                                                                                Xoxo,

                                                                                                                   Jacqui

Bootie Craze

Adjustment by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

It's that time of the year where we ditch the sandals and open toed shoes for a cute pair of booties! If you're not familiar with the term, "bootie," let me break it down for you. "Bootie" is just a shorter version of saying ankle boots. This season the shorter boots are making a come back, in sleek wedged styles, lace up, and chelsea boots. All of these styles mentioned look great with just about anything like skinny jeans, pleated mini skirts, oxford shirts, frocks and list goes on! 

Booties make for the perfect investment piece for this season, they're comfortable and will last all season. They also can easily be transitioned into the Spring months! 

Shoes from
Steve Madden
Shoemint
Bakers
Forever21
Thrifted

                                                                                                                           Xoxo,

                                                                                                                              Jacqui

Red Zinger!

As you all may know, I'm a huge fan of trousers, all shapes and colors. This particular pair, from J.Crew is probably my favorite one, the vibrant color is a fun choice to pair with the more neutral Fall colors. I mean just imagine pairing it with a big oversized, knitted, beige sweater or a sleek brown leather jacket, with a black, faux fur vest on top? Comfort and versatility equal an A+ in my book! All of these photos were taken by my amiga, Chaucee!

Trousers and top: J.Crew, jacket: Levi's, wedges: Shoemint, bag: H&M, jewelry: gifted, Forever21,  Juicy Couture

                                                          Xoxo,

                                                                    Jacqui

Wedge Sneakers

I must share with you my love for one of my latest finds! Browsing through Nastygal one day, I came upon a pair of incredibly unique sneakers. Whoever came up with the concept of making high fashion sneakers was a genius! I know Isabel Marant brought light to this fashion trend last fall, by introducing the Bekett sneakers. I'm a short gal so whenever I can wear heels and be comfortable, I run with it! The best part is that the wedge is concealed, making it less obvious that you are wearing heels. I seriously love it! I think I need it in more colors too!

Oxford shirt: borrowed from the BF,  peplum top: H&M, skirt: Forever21, sneakers: Nastygal

What do you gals think of this sneaker trend, love it or hate it?

                                                                                                                              Xoxo,

                                                                                                                               Jacqui

Barely There Tee

One of the best fabric blends ever, cotton + modal! Usually when you buy a t- shirt you don't really think of the fabric, because we are predisposed to believe that t- shirts are comfortable, no matter what it is made of. Trust me, i've owned several tees that were not so great, although they did make great cleaning rags. 

This tee, the official Fashion's Night Out shirt is unbelievably comfortable, so much so that it almost feels like you aren't wearing it. Now that's what I call true comfort! Plus it's a great design, I'm a big lover of typography!

Tee: Fashion's Night Out,  pants: American Apparel, sneakers: Nastygal



                                                                                                                                     Xoxo,
                                                                                                           Jacqui

Fashion's New Year.

It Girls by Jacqueline Moranti

September is probably my favorite month of the year, if you're as addicted to fashion as I am you might agree. I mean besides the perfect weather, September is the beginning of the new year for fashion, new trends, brands, designs are introduced. And one of the starting events for the fashion new year is FNO(Fashion's Night Out). I'm pretty sure most of you are familiar with Fashion's Night Out, and if your not check out the site, ASAP! It takes place on Thursday evening, September 6, all around the world! If you're in the Philadelphia area, make sure you check out all the awesome events happening, i've already built my itinerary! Figuring out where to go is a big part of that night, but so is what to wear. Since you will be doing a lot of walking around, comfortability plays a big role. Stilettos, out of the question! Wedges, platforms and booties, yes! You're going to want to wear something that says you know the trends and know how to incorporate it into your daily wardrobe.

With these looks I've put together, I tried to do just that. The first one, top left, is the printed denim shorts, a popular trend from the early spring season that still has moves to make this Fall. I've paired it with a colorblocked blouse, and gold accents to dress it up. The next image, top right, is the animal printed top,with a stream lined, black maxi skirt. Honestly, animal print won't go anywhere, that trend is here to stay! The bottom left image features the peplum trend. Peplum is super flattering and looks great with so many pieces. I've paired the peplum top with a calf length, printed skirt and tucked a complimentary blouse underneath the peplum top. The last image uses the metallic trend and coated denim trend together. Pieces with sheen look particularly good together, just make sure the colors aren't overbearing. 

PS, illustrating the outfits down is such a great way of planning your looks. I know exactly what I want  to pair with this and that because I already have an image of what it will look like! Hopefully your FNO outfit woes are cleared away and I hope to see some of you on September 6!

                                                                                                               Xoxo,

                                                                                                                 Jacqui