Last winter, I was talking to a coworker about trends I didn’t think I’d be able to get behind and mentioned velvet pants. I explained the material had basically been ruined for me from every Christmas dress I owned from 1995-2002. She laughed at this and told me I wasn’t allowed to have an opinion on the fabric until I had worn it as an adult.
I came into work literally the next day wearing velvet and sporting a new attitude.
Whenever I see this material, I immediately think “holiday” and while there’s nothing wrong with that, this material is so much more diverse than given credit for. It’s not only elegant, but it’s insanely worm. NYC can get so chilly in the winter and having an extra layer blocking the wind never bothered anyone.
Typically, I wear these crops to parties as a statement piece or to work with a blouse, but wanted to challenge myself to create new combinations for this piece. I wondered “Can I take these pants and dress them down” and in challenging myself, I may have created some of my new favorite outfits.
Because no challenge is complete without accessories, I restyled my black french bulldog bag I featured in my most recent post with Kate Spade and paired each look with my favorite loafers from Kenneth Cole Reaction.
Daytime Chic
For a perfect weekend friendly look, I styled the crops with my favorite political t-shirt – read “Champagne Campaign” and a denim jacket.
I have a petite build and often have a tough time finding casual shirts that fit my shoulders. Francesca’s is one of my favorite stores and anyone who has ever shopped with me will tell you it’s near impossible for me to leave the store without spending at least $100. When I tried on their casual wear and tried on their t’s it was a total game changer – they’re super soft but also come in a variety of necklines, sleeves and bottom cuts – perfect for a your favorite jean or to wear with leggings for a movie night I bought this shirt last fall, but etsy has a wonderful selection of handmade shirts similar to this – go shop small!
Pro-tip: don’t discount the stores you loved when you were younger, sometimes you’ll find hidden gems hanging on the rack! This denim jacket? Snagged it from H&M this past summer for under $50 – what a steal!
Holiday Party Approved
How many of you have a holiday party to go to in the next few weeks and you’ll be heading there straight from work? Aka all of us… This little combo is perfect for your photo booth picture with your work besties but also has you looking sharp and the furthest thing from an ugly sweater sporter.
I love pairing bold patterns and textures together that I think may compliment each other and I’m beyond thrilled the leopard print of my top goes so nicely with these crops. This combo pairs so perfectly not because of the print on the items, but because of the textures of the garments. The pants have a shine and “pop” in all photos they appear in while the top appears to be more subdued.
Pro-tip: leopard may be my favorite neutral – you can quote me on that – but the pattern is a diva. Never pair leopard pieces together that aren’t part of the same collection, otherwise they will appear to be mix-matched and look cheap together. With great patterns come great responsibility….
While my pants be last year’s collection RL has a beautiful line out just in time for the holidays this year! When purchasing, keep in mind this material has very little stretch and you may want to go up a size for a comfortable fit.
