WHIMSY

Lace is BIG this season. There’s no doubt about that. Whether it’s lace insets, lacey ruffles or a lace overlay, it’s the ultimate feminine touch—maybe because it’s reminiscent of lingerie, but men seem to love seeing a woman in lace, too. Check out my favorite lacey picks below!

I found this ballet pink silk and lace skirt on Etsy that’s super girly. It’s made of two vintage dresses and is reversible, giving it two different but similar looks. I like the silk tiered side a little more because the lace looks nice, just peeking out at the bottom.

I actually own this floral lace top in ivory from Charlotte Russe, and I love it. I usually wear a lace-trim cami or a plain jewel-tone tank underneath it to make the lace detail stand out. And I like that the bottom isn’t cinched—a look that I find makes most women larger than a size 6 look chunky in the mid-section.

If you want lace-inspired jewelry, try this bracelet from New York & Company. With a line of rhinestones running down the center, it’ll give your outfit a bit of sparkle along with a girly touch.

Wide headbands are always in style because they’re an easy way to dress up a casual hairdo like a low, side ponytail or a messy bun. This pink lace headband on Etsy caught my eye because it reminds me of—dare I say—Victoria’s Secret Barely There thongs. The headbands are stretchy and fabulous and would be right at home in your lingerie drawer—just be wary when getting dressed in the dark!

For a small flash of lace, try lacey pumps like these black peep-toes by Georgina Goodman. Black lace is sensual and edgy, so they offer a nice alternative to girly pink lace fashions. They would look great worn with a satiny LRD (little red dress). The website on which I found these pumps also has a variety of “sets” (i.e. collages) with items that would look good with them, making it even easier to put a stylish outfit together.

-Keri

Keri is a 23-year-old aunt, blogger, editor,

wanna-be fashionista and marketing chick

who loves M&Ms way too much and reads  

It seems the super-long necklace has been popular for quite some time, so watching the reemergence of chunky chokers on fashion runways is rather exciting. I mentioned just yesterday that a simple business suit looks great with a bold statement piece like a multi-strand necklace, and what I should have said is a multi-strand choker. They’re back in a big way (literally) this season, and who wouldn’t love a look that accentuates your sexy collarbone? They look great with a simple cardigan or a chic strapless dress, so you can dress them up or down—any which way you like!

A chain link collar with attached brooch from Forever 21 is certainly a sophisticated option. It’ll add personality and shine to a party dress, and your friends will be dying to know where you got it.

A braided mesh necklace from Express is effortlessly chic and glam. Pair it with a simple white button-down for some added style that won’t overpower the classic look.

For an entirely different style, try a fringe choker like this one from Guess. With its mixed chains, it’ll add edge to any low-cut top.

Adding a bold pop of color is deliciously daring, so try this red beaded choker from Ten Thousand Villages, a fair trade organization that employs artisans from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. All of the eye-catching jewelry on the site is handmade, meaning you’ll have a one-of-a-kind piece to accent your fabulous wardrobe.

Animal prints are in this season, and if you want to incorporate it into your wardrobe without going all-out, Kohl’s offers a multi-strand necklace with a leopard print pendant. This is definitely a statement piece, so go easy on any other accessories.

-Keri

Keri is a 23-year-old aunt, blogger, editor,

wanna-be fashionista and marketing chick

who loves M&Ms way too much and reads

(real) books.

Every businesswoman needs a great suit, and that suit should be a high-quality but affordable investment. In a man’s working world, we need to look professional, but we don’t want to give up our femininity for shapeless suit jackets and clunky shoes.

To my delight, Victoria’s Secret has a ton of great work-appropriate clothing like this pencil skirt and double-breasted suit jacket. The ¾-length sleeves allow for ease of motion and the skirt hits right at the knee—the perfect length for work. Unfortunately, it only comes in charcoal grey, but we could always petition for more choices!

VS’s Christie Fit pant, with flare leg and straight fit, comes in a number of colors. It has a touch of spandex for a little “give” in case you go overboard during lunch hour and comes in 30-36” inseams. There’s also a Christie Fit in black and brown tweed.

If you’re allowed to deviate from the norm, this checked pencil skirt from TopShop has gold button and ruffle details for a twist on the traditional. I would love to pair this with a simple white button-down shirt and sexy pumps!

New York & Company did all the work and put together full outfits on their website, so all you have to do is choose sizes and add them to your shopping bag. I personally like this convertible suit jacket that can be worn open or double-breasted style. Versatility is always a plus!

NYC&Co. also offers a two-button jacket, skirt and scarf combo that’s very flight-attendant chic. And for a more casual look, try their double-breasted vest with a pair of matching dress pants.

Pair any of the above with a bold accessory like a chunky bangle or a multi-strand necklace and you’ll look so effortlessly professional and fashionable!

-Keri

Keri is a 23-year-old aunt, blogger, editor,

wanna-be fashionista and marketing chick

who loves M&Ms way too much and reads

(real) books.

If you’re feeling backed into a corner when it comes to popular fashion, you’re not alone. The pages of most fashion magazines show super-thin models who look good in just about everything. They can pull off tight clothing because they don’t have little rolls here and there to hide, and they can pull off baggy styles because—let’s face it—a size small looks purposely loose and flowy.

I know I’ve encountered many-a-style that looked great on the size 2 mannequin display but just absolutely ridiculous on my size 8 body. Even the “Street Chic” page on Elle.com, which consists of photos of fashionable New Yorkers, makes me think that no one in NYC really eats or wears/needs a bra.

Most of us will never reach a waifish figure (and that’s totally fine as long as we’re healthy and happy!), so we’ve got to learn what works and what doesn’t for how we’re built, which can be a daunting—and often frustrating—task.

Find a signature style. Whether you rock skinny jeans to show off your legs, racer-back tanks to show off toned shoulders or you layer on long strands of pearls, find a style that you love so much you want to wear it all the time. I knew a girl who stacked a ton of jingly silver bangles on one wrist, and I always thought it was such a defining look for her.

Accentuate your assets. Have a great bottom half? Wear booty-hugging jeans with embellished back pockets or short shorts with high heels. Great top half? Show it off in a low-cut halter or partially unbuttoned blouse. When you accentuate your favorite body part, you focus less on the features you aren’t as crazy about and you exude confidence, which other people can sense.

Buy one in every color. When you find a top or a pair of jeans that you absolutely love and that makes you feel hot, buy one in every color. Make them look different by adding embellishments and accessorizing them so they always look fresh.

Avoid what doesn’t work. The ultimate cure-all for fashions that just won’t work for your body type is to just avoid them altogether. Buy yourself a cute new necklace or brooch or handbag—that’s my strategy to liven up my wardrobe if I come out empty-handed after a shopping trip for clothing. Just don’t fill your closet with clothes you wish looked great on you—it’ll make you feel bad about yourself, not to mention it’s a huge waste of money.

Have any other shopping suggestions? Comment away!

-Keri

Keri is a 23-year-old aunt, blogger, editor,

wanna-be fashionista and marketing chick

who loves M&Ms way too much and reads

(real) books.

Sparkly things make me happy. Sequined clutches, tanks and dresses—I can’t get enough of them. Which is strange because I don’t think I own a single piece of sequined clothing or even a sequined bag. Time to change that!

A simple Google search for “sequin clutch” sent me to SequinBags.com. How perfect. A striped clutch with multiple shades of blue adds life and shine to a little black dress without overpowering its sexy simplicity. It’s an oversized clutch, with plenty of room inside for your evening essentials.

Sequined bags also look great with a lacey camisole and dark skinny jeans. Try this champagne-colored clutch from La Regale for a little glitz with a semi-casual outfit.

Combining fuchsia and sequins makes me a happy girl. This tank also comes in black, brown, red and yellow—meaning I have absolutely no idea how I could resist buying one in every color. Great for showing off some toned shoulders! It’s a jersey blend top, though, so it may cling a bit in the tummy region.

If it’s not completely covered in sequins, it has to have a great pattern, which is why I fell in love with the peacock feather design on the back of this tank. The tunic-style top looks great with a pair of slimming jeans. It may look like a classic black tank from the front, but you’ll leave them staring as you walk away!

Reminiscent of rain or the New York City skyline, this silver sequined mini skirt from Bebe adds sparkle to a night out on the town. Pair it with a simple black top and stilettos to keep all eyes on your sexy legs!

For a slightly more demure look without sacrificing glamour, try a longer silhouette like this striped sequin pencil skirt. As you move in the light, it’ll shimmer like crazy, leaving a lasting impression—definitely a statement piece.

The key to pulling off a sequined dress is to find one with sequins on the smaller side and a cut that isn’t heavy but also doesn’t show off too much cleavage—after all, you want to look modern Tina Turner-esque, not showgirl-esque.

This strapless tube dress would look fantastic with black or white heels and a bright yellow (non-sequined) clutch.

I absolutely love this ruched one-shoulder dress because it has just enough sparkle for the woman who wants something a little racy but not too daring—a great take on the classic little black dress.

-Keri

Keri, WHIMSY marketing director, is a 23-year-old

(soon to be 24-year-old!) lover of Chinese food and

Sex & the City. She desperately wants to move out of

her parents’ house and get a puppy!  

Kelly Clarkson rounded out a wonderful week of food, fun and music at the Delaware State Fair in Harrington, Del. on Saturday. Her presence brought fans from all over to fill the Grandstand for a packed concert, where Kelly performed chart-topping hits like “Walk Away” and “My Life Would Suck Without You”. Crowds even gathered near the fences in front of the gates in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the former American Idol contestant.

The following Delaware-based companies “swagged” Kelly with great products:

WHIMSY™ Worldwide (www.WHIMSYWorldwide.com), Pike Creek Coffee (www.PikeCreekCoffee.com), Winterthur Museum & Gardens (www.Winterthur.org), You’ve been Sentenced! by McNeill Designs for Brighter Minds (www.McNeillBrighterMinds.com), Delaware Today (www.DelawareToday.com), Currie Salon & Day Spa (www.CurrieDaySpa.com), The Best of the Saratoga Special by Sean Clancy & Joe Clancy (available on Amazon.com)

The fair brought a variety of artists from different music genres to Delaware fans; pop, rock, country, hip-hop, and even a great comedian! We can only imagine what next year’s Delaware State Fair will bring–the performers, the music, the food, the fun!

-Keri