How to Style Tucker Prints

I can't believe it's been nearly THREE years since a blog reader last hired me to do a wardrobe consultation! So when one of my favorite fellow BLOGGERS emailed me and asked me to help her revamp her wardrobe, I was a little nervous but mostly thrilled to dive back into styling. Here's her "Diabolina Styled Me and I Liked It" story.

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Diabolina and I first “met” when I used to have a fashion blog, The Style Rules, and we would frequent one another’s blogs. The first time we met in real life was at a Tucker sample sale in 2010. I loved D’s style: how it was a mix of polished and pop with some fearless accessories and fancy shoes thrown in. So when she started doing styling and wardrobe consultations back in 2009, I knew I had to enlist her help.

Fast forward a few years, and I’ve just graduated from law school and am in dire need of a wardrobe revitalization. I used to work in fashion PR, and going from that creative environment to the seriousness of law school discombobulated my sense of style, to say the least.

I found myself shopping and shopping but never taking the next step to wear most of my purchases. And when I did, I did so with little effort and began wearing the same outfits for the same occasions over and over: Tucker blouse, skinny jeans, 5 inch heel, repeat. Worse, when I was in class (which was much of the week) I would stick to basic tees and jeans for fear of looking like “the fashion-forward girl” in a class full of academics.

I knew D would be able to help me navigate through my closet and find new outfits waiting to be worn for both play and business alike. Since I will be an attorney soon in either public interest or family law, I needed D’s help to find outfits that could be serious and modern, but with a hint of pop thrown in.

I was shocked at how D was able to take all of the things I had already purchased and mix them in ways I had never thought of. My favorite outfit of the day was my Theory blazer (which I had only ever worn paired with its matching wide-leg slacks – boring!), a polka dot top, skinny black pants and, for an added pop, a bright orange necklace and Miu Miu leopard print heels. 

 I loved how mixing and matching unexpected pieces turned into an outfit that could be worn from a lunch meeting to drinks with my girlfriends. The whole look made me feel so confident – and it didn’t look crazy at all, given the mix of patterns and textures. D also gave me great casual options that didn’t look too put together, but just put together enough to show I had some style. The kind of style that reads as effortless – love that! 

D was great at offering objective advice on what worked on my body. She told me what to focus on and what to stay away from, which made a huge difference and is something I had never really noticed before.  D  pointed out that I was buying sizes too big for my shape – something I had always done thinking it made me appear thinner. Also big and long lapels and jackets that hit at the thigh = BAD on my frame!

Jackets that hit closer to the hipbone = better, more proportional.





D also suggested adding some colored shoes to my collection as well as some polished flats instead of my go-to flip flops. Also more structured tops. Unbeknownst to me, I had been solely buying shoes of the black and brown variety.  And I did not own ONE structured top. All I had in my closet were billowy Tucker blouses or loose tanks.

Included in my wardrobe consultation was a lookbook that D put together for me with all the pieces she suggested I purchase to round out my wardrobe. It also included inspirational pictures of my favorite stylish celebs (Lauren Conrad, Nicole Richie, Rachel Bilson) wear the pieces I need in my closet. It was like Christmas morning and I can’t wait to purchase some of those pieces to go with my newly revamped wardrobe!




D was a pleasure to work with and be around – like a friend I’d known forever. I felt completely comfortable with her, even when discussing things like what looked best on my body and the negative feelings I had associated with attention. As D eloquently pointed out, “Not all attention is bad attention.”





Thanks D for getting me excited to put together beautiful outfits
as I begin my journey as an attorney in the months to come!

***

How gorgeous is this honey child, right? Loved helping her identify the gaps in her amazing Tucker-filled wardrobe as she prepares for a big career shift. But particularly enjoyed giving her a boost of confidence to realize that standing out doesn't have to be a bad thing. Humbled by the opportunity to hand yet another lovely lady that bit of sartorial wisdom. 

The Scene
Fabulous wardrobe consultation with a pretty kitty new client this morning. She is blog shy so no pics. Hope Ms. X didn't start a trend.

One DEFINITE theme emerging during these appointments: a serious lack of prints, jackets and bold jewelry. Maybe I'll do a post addressing these issues and some simple tips. Send me any specific questions you might have.























In the evening, Mr. D and I hit El Compadre for machaca madness. We are, um, addicted.














































Ended the night watching The Soloist. We've been putting it off for months. Hits a little too close to home. You see, someone close to us has been struggling for a long time, and earlier this year, that person attempted suicide.

As you can imagine, it's been devastating watching someone reach the brink and then struggle to come back from it. There is no pain like the pain you feel watching someone you love endure so much despair at the hands of mental illness. Brings back everything I saw my stepfather go through.

But like all things in life, even pain brings about beauty and healing and hope. It has brought Mr. Diabolina and I closer, added a whole new layer to our love story. It's underscored what and who is important to us, what we can and can't control. It even gave me the courage to finally visit my dad's grave, find some level of closure with his death.

And it also has me thinking about going back to school. To become a therapist. That's what I grew up thinking I'd be. After all, listening to and helping people with their problems has always been my "thing." I even studied psychology as an undergrad. But when it came time for grad school, I abandoned the idea. Thought I wouldn't be able to deal with the emotional toll a career as a psychologist would take on me.

But I'm older and hopefully wiser and definitely stronger now. It's certainly not a glamorous or lucrative field but god would it be satisfying to help people in need. We'll see. What is meant to be will be...










































The Outfit
Forever 21 dress

The Accessories
Forever 21 headband
YSL bag
Missoni scarf
Marni platforms

The Grade
A


























The Commentary
Built the outfit around my new Marni platforms. My third and final Decades Two pop up store purchase while in NYC. I puffy paint heart how totally impractical and fabulous they are.























They are from Fall 2007 and have all the Marni signatures: wood, satin, color and ice pick taaaaall platform.






















































































































Marni shoes have given me some of my favorite fashion moments over the past two years. Always so unique and whimsical and sexy in an Italian kind of way.





























































































































































































































































































































The Fall 2009 show was no exception. Particularly loving the patterned tights.














































































































































































The Spring 2010 Marni shoes: not as hot. They are a little Asian lola with the sensible heel and styled with socks.





















































































































The LBD was a safe choice for the debut of the heels. But I am loving the retro feel of this dress with the headband and the liquid eyeliner.




































































Also loving the shoulder detailing. Very on trend for fall.






















































































Click here, here and here for some fall DIY shoulder tips from the queen of DIY. I ...love Maegan.