Celebrity Style File: Ginnifer Goodwin

Although there are still a few days left to vote in the monthly poll for May, the number one request (so far) has been for posts related to celebrity fashion. Well, the other day I was viewing my FAVORITE fashion blog, Who What Wear, when I came across a picture of Ginnifer Goodwin. What caught my eye was the simplicity of her outfit- sunglasses, a cute cream sweater, skinny jeans, and flats. I started Googling her, and her style is actually quite cute, and seeing as I haven't really seen her style showcased on a lot of other blogs, I thought I'd be a little eccentric and pick her for my first celebrity style file!

Ginnifer is best known for her role as Margene Heffman on the HBO series Big Love; however, you may also recognize her for her roles on Mona Lisa Smile and Walk the Line.

Here are a few things you might want to know if you are considering translating elements of Ginnifer's style into your own wardrobe:

-She stands at 5'6", so take that into consideration when analyzing the proportions of her outfits!

-A lot of her outfits very classic with a youthful touch. Although she is 32 years-old, her style can work for 20-somethings, 40-somethings, and every age in between!

-After looking at more recent pictures of her, I feel like Ginnifer's style is moving into an androgynous-meets-noir phase. If you are into lots of black and complimentary pixie cuts, stay tuned!

Exhibit A: Daytime Attire

It was like pulling teeth trying to find daytime/casual pictures of Ginnifer, which I love and hate: love because it shows she tries to stay away from the limelight unless it's in a professional setting (i.e. an award show) and hate because it makes my job (writing this post) super difficult. Ugh! Anyways, here are a few pictures of Ginnifer's casual style, which is composed usually of skinny jeans, a charcoal color pallet, and flats.

 
If you like Ginnifer's daytime style, here are some wallet-friendly items I could definitely see her wearing:

Exhibit B: Evening Attire

There are two eminent motifs when it comes to Ginnifer's eveningwear: purple and ivory. She also tends to incorporate a lot of draping and floral elements into her nighttime frocks. Furthermore, Ginnifer pretty much always sticks with above-the-knee cuts, which I think compliments her style and body shape really well! Here are some pictures to demonstrate what I mean:

Picture Information (left-to-right):
Cobalt draped dress at the 2010 Golden Globe Awards
Purple frock dress at an Oscar after-party in 2009
Dior dress at a Vanity Fair and Christian Dior-hosted exhibition in LA

Photo Information (left-to-right):
Prada frock with patent black rosettes at the Prada book launch party in Beverly Hills
Ivory tiered dress with black ribbon at EMA Awards in Los Angeles
Metallic dress at the Genesis Awards

Here are some more inspired-by items that will get your creative juices flowing when trying to incorporate Ginnifer's style into your evening outfit:

Let's Review

Here are some "catch words" when trying to emulate Ginnifer Goodwin's style into your own wardrobe!

 

Casual Attire:

CHARCOAL COLOR PALLET

FLATS

SKINNY JEANS

LOOSE-ISH TOPS

CLASSIC

OVERSIZED CARDIGANS

BLAZERS

Evening Attire:

PURPLE

DRAPING

SATIN

WHITE/IVORY

ABOVE-THE-KNEE

FLORAL DETAILING

DROP EARRINGS

Want to see more? Check out this timeline of Ginnifer's style, presented by Cosmopolitan.

What do you think?
 Do you like Ginnifer's style? Are there any celebs you'd like to see on Celebrity Style File? Let me know with a comment or e-mail me at info at remchic dot com!! 

PHOTO CREDITS:

http://www.fash-eccentric.com/tag/ginnifer-goodwin/

http://www.whosdatedwho.com/fashion/?RD=000006101&pageno=2

http://www.celebrityfashiontips.com/tag/ginnifer-goodwin-style/

http://www.denimblog.com/celebs/celebs-in-denim-ginnifer-goodwin-in-anlo/

Old Navy swim sale is a pleasant surprise!

 Photo Credit

Actress Donna Drake taking aim with a rifle on the balcony of her home, dressed in a two-piece swimsuit, her dog lying on a cushion nearby.

Life Magazine, 1942. Photographer: Peter Stackpole.

My younger sister's birthday is in a few days, and for her gift I promised her I would take her swimsuit shopping before the end-of-the-year pool party at her school. Of course, being in 6th grade any party is a fashion war between all of the girls in her group. It's like Mean Girls junior high edition, but hopefully not that bad.

Anyways, we decided to hit the usual prospective stores for swimwear for a girl her age...Pac Sun, Dillards, Target...all unsuccessful. The suits we found were way out of budget ($100 for a girl whose shoe size changes every full moon, no thanks!) or just not fashion-forward enough for her (she strictly told me no pink, no flowers).

I was seriously about to give up when we decided to checkout this new marketplace that had recently opened with an enormous Old Navy. Enormous. This place was the Mecca of all the other Old Navies I had ever seen. Literally.

We opened the recently Windex-ed doors and trekked straight back for the girls’ swimwear section. It was a goldmine! There were two pieces, one pieces, tankinis, pink, ruffles, sparkles, and polka dots galore. To top it off, there was a little yellow tag that read “All Swimwear $10.” Score!

My mind started wandering, and I thought hmmm I wonder if there are any cute swimsuits in my size. My sister grabbed about six suits to try on, and we headed for the women’s section. In the women’s section there were about 8 rows of swimwear for every shape, in every style and color imaginable. Additionally, the same yellow, plastic tag adorned the bar of swimwear, “All Swimwear $10.” A complete adult suit for $20?!

About 5 minutes later, I told Lauren, my sister, we were going to need a shopping bag. About 5 more minutes later, I told her we were going to need a cart. About 10 minutes after that, we headed to the fitting room with 30 suits to try on. Remember, 6 of them where my sister’s.

Anyways, I ended up with three complete suits, and the moral of the story is…expand your shopping horizons and you fill find high-quality merchandise at low cost. If you are interested in the Old Navy swim sale, check out their website or contact a store near you!

Here are three really cute example suits, all from Old Navy!

Quotes & Couture III

“In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.”

-Coco Chanel

Ask RemChic: How to pull off Nike boots

Time for another post for Ask RemChic! Remember, if you have a question for RemChic you can...

1) E-mail me at info at remchic dot com with the subject line "Ask RemChic"
2) Become a fan of RemChic and ask via Facebook!

Here is our question for the day... 

Question: "I have these amazing Nike boots but have only been able to wear them once. Do you have any suggestions for how to pull them off? Or should I give up?"

After this particular reader posted this question on RemChic's Facebook, she immediately got some great feedback...here's what was said:

One other Facebook user replied,  

"I'd say some skinny dark jeans, tucked in, and a cute v neck tee, the shoes are wild so I'd say keep the rest of the outfit tame. Unless your feeling rockstar a think a dress could look weird with it."

I definitely agree with what this person said and via Facebook I wrote,

"I agree...dark bottoms are essential here and neutral pieces (like a v-neck t, for example)..."

Furthermore, the person who originally posed the question asked about what type of hair styles would be appropriate with these boots, in which case I suggested,

"I would say something natural or effortless like tossed up into a loose/messy bun or something...just because these boots give off an athletic vibe you don't want to look done up...nothing weirder than a girl with full fledged makeup and curls in athletic-esque wear."

Well, this is my advice in a nutshell. For these boots definitely stick with neutral pieces, such as v-neck t-shirts and black skinny jeans. There isn't a way to avoid the athletic appeal of these boots, so play into it! Here are some example outfits:

  

Outfit 1: Neutral Meets City Girl

This outfit has a neutral color pallet with some edgy/urban details. The asymmetrical zipper on the jacket along with the wide collar adds a little bit of detailing to this outfit without competing with the boots. The boots should be the strongest element in the outfit because they are very unique and have bright green/yellow threading. I chose a pale green beanie to complement the green in the boots without being over-the-top.

Black Skinny Jeans- Levis (available through Zappos)

White V-neck T-shirt- Forever 21 

Viscose Knit Beanie Hat- TopShop 

Watson Fleece Jacket- Element (available through Zappos) 

Deena & Ozzy Canvas Menswear Tote- Urban Outfitters 

Outfit 2: Athletic All Around

This outfit definitely plays on athleticism. I chose some really comfy leggings and a great warm up jacket as the two core pieces of this ensemble. The black and white combination of these two core pieces will go well together, while simultaneously allowing the boots to become the "pop" of the outfit.

Jersey Stretch Leggings in Black- Plan B (available through Bluefly)

Harmony Tank in Brown- Athleta 

Roland Garros Warm Up Jacket- Adidas 

Autumn Cap- Pistil (available through Athleta) 

Sian Sunglasses in Black- Guess 

Time to Checkout!

What do you think about my suggestions? Do you have any additional tips? Leave a comment with your thoughts!

Happy Graduation from RemChic

To everyone who is graduating, whether it be high school or college, CONGRATULATIONS! Change is a crazy thing, but you should be very proud of your accomplishments! Three cheers for the classes of 2010! And of course a little wisdom for you while you embark on the next chapter in your life...

“You have brains in your head. 

You have feet in your shoes. 

You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. 

You're on your own. 

And you know what you know. 

You are the guy who'll decide where to go.”

-Dr. Seuss

Photo Credit

Fierce L.A.M.B. shoes brighten my day

This morning I woke up with the finals week blues and was in desperate need of a pick-me-up. It thankfully came only a few hours later in my e-mail's inbox. In my previous article on shopping outside of the mall, I expressed how I frequently shop via online sample sale sites, such as Hautelook, Gilt Groupe, and Rue La La. Well, just about every morning these sites send me updates on their active sales.

Today, I received notification that L.A.M.B. shoes, bags, and watches were available on Gilt Groupe for a fraction of their regular retail price. I could not get my fingers going fast enough as I typed away at the keyboard. Of course, my anxiety tricked my fingers into spelling G - L - I - T - . - C - O - M instead of G - I - L - T - . - C - O -M perpetuating my excitement. Oh the power of fashion. Anyways, when I finally signed into my Gilt Groupe account I felt like a kid entering an online candy store.

Here are some of the shoes I thought were really interesting/fabulous. Let me know what you think!

ZANE SANDAL

VALORA PLATFORM SANDAL

JONA PUMP

TANSY PUMP

all shoe photos are from Gilt Groupe

I hadn't really taken Gwen Stefani seriously as a designer until her recent Fall 2010 RTW collection (click the link to view- it's worth the browse...trust me). This collection showcases that after seven years, Stefani is finally narrowing in on her fashion niche. Her collection plays with more of a vintage-meets-boudoir-meets-military vibe. I noticed this collection had a lot of belts, harem pants, and leather, and the overall color pallet is subtle with mostly blacks and grays. Of course, the collection has rocker undertones, which makes sense considering Stefani's experience in the music industry.

Here are a few of my favorite looks from her Fall 2010 RTW collection:

 photos from style.com

Not to mention how humble Stefani is. Romney Leader of style.com writes:

"She pointedly didn't name the label after herself, because she wanted people to buy the clothes for their own merits and not 'because of me.'"

What do you think about L.A.M.B.? Do you like the shoes I posted? Why/why not? Let me know =)

4 fabulous reasons why you should try shopping outside of the mall

 Time to fill your closet with amazing clothes =)

Photo Credit

Oh, the mall. Don't get me wrong, I love grabbing a smoothie and venturing from store-to-store; however, sometimes the florescent lighting and stale air conditioning really just turn me off. Lately, I've been shopping more and more outside of the mall, and I definitely think it's something everyone should try.

Here are a few reasons why you should try shopping outside of the mall:


1. Support the Local Economy

 Photo Credit

There are always really cute local boutiques in every city, and if giving back to the local community means shopping it's really a win-win situation for everyone! Plus, it's never fun walking through the Student Union and seeing another girl wearing the exact same dress, so why not go for an eclectic find?! When you stop by any local shop ask if they have a mailing list- chances are you will nail some great promotions! Above is the logo for one of my favorite boutiques, Marchesa's Fine Shoe Salon in Sedona, Arizona. They are always so nice, their products are adorable, and the interior decor is to die for.

2. Get Name Brands for Cheap

Photo Credit

Although there are daily sales at the mall, sometimes you can find even better deals outside of the mall. I've been using a lot of invitation/sample sale sites such as: Gilt Groupe, Hautelook, and Rue La La. These sights feature a wide range of brands from Rag and Bone to American Apparel for 50-85% off. Want more info? Check out this article by College Fashion.


3. Practice Keeping an Open Mind

Yesterday, my roommate and I went to Ross to try and find a cheap scale for our bathroom (random, I know). Anyways, I kind of always kind of stereotyped Ross as a dirty/poor quality store, but I ended up buying the Guess platforms above in bronze for THIRTY DOLLARS! They retail at over ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS! Needless to say, we didn't find a scale.

4. Give a Little and Get A Little 

Photo Credit

Have you accumulated a pile of clothes you haven't worn since 2001? Bring your unwanted clothes to your local exchange retailer, such as Buffalo Exchange (above) and get a little in return. If you aren't familiar with these stores, they basically allow you to bring in gently worn clothes in exchange for either store credit or cash. If you aren't keen on getting used clothes, opt for the cash! Bonus: most of these stores will donate the items they can't take to local charities if you don't want to lug them back home.

What do you think? Do you stick with the mall when it comes to shopping? Do you ever shop online or at local boutiques? Share your insight!

Happy Mother's Day from RemChic

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day. I know there is no way I'd be where I am today with out my mom, Edith! And p.s. how adorable are these cupcakes? I hope to bake some with my mom...yum! Enjoy your Mother's Day, and be sure you tell/show your mom how just how much you care =)

Photo Credit

Runway Wrap Up: RemChic favorite looks for Spring 2010 RTW

I know this is super, super late, but I haven't had a chance to write a post compiling all of my favorite RTW looks from Spring 2010 fashion week. I based my selections off of outfits I could see myself wearing, innovative designs, and/or quality of the construction. Although I saved over 60 looks from the Spring 2010 RTW collections I viewed, here are nine that show a wide range of the looks I selected.

all photos are from www.style.com

Ask RemChic: How to bring girly/trendy elements into an outdoorsy style

 A beautiful sunset in Flagstaff, Arizona

Photo Credit

One of the main reasons why I started this blog is because I've had a lot of my friends ask me for fashion advice over the years and some of the questions I've received have definitely come up more than once. I love helping all of my friends/readers with their fashion questions, so I've decided to start a feature called Ask RemChic. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me at info@remchic.com with the subject line as Ask Remchic. If you prefer that I answer privately instead of through a post, please let me know. I completely respect your need for confidentiality =)


Here is our first question for Ask RemChic...

Question: "I live in Flagstaff [Arizona] which is a pretty hippie/outdoors community. Most people are seen wearing jeans and Patagonia pull overs. How can I wear cute heels, dresses, bags, etc. without coming off as over-the-top?"

This type of predicament isn't as rare as one may think. I know I for one have definitely encountered situations where I've felt the need to rework an outfit to accommodate the "mainstream" style around me. It may be acceptable to wear leather leggings and faux fur vests in New York, but I know in other places these items would be seen as faux pas.

Although I am an advocate for creative freedom, I understand sometimes the social setting/circumstances can influence your wardrobe. That is not something to be ashamed of! Together we can totally add in elements (in this case the need for girlier/refined/trendier pieces) into a scene where those notions may not be prevalent (in this case the norm is a more earthy/lax look).

Step One: Analyze What Comprises the Local Fashion Scene

Flagstaff, Arizona is in the heart of Northern Arizona, meaning high elevation, pine trees, the San Francisco Peaks, and a generally cooler climate. This generates a very earthy vibe and the need for outdoorsy brands that keep you warm (hence why brands like Patagonia are so popular). Of course, this is a pretty gross generalization, and I definitely don't want to offend anyone.


When I think of Flagstaff I think of the following elements:

Earth Tones: Obviously, Flagstaff is very influenced by the environment. Here is my compilation of earth tones. Of course, there are many more hues that can be considered "earth tones," but here is something that I generated to give you a general idea. All of these colors are fairly muted and have undertones of gray in them. However, that does not mean that they are not beautiful or unworkable- I happen to love earth colors more than other color pallets.

Hippie-Meets-Outdoorsy-Meets-Vintage: Whew! That's sort of a mouthful, but I think those three words really describe the style of Flagstaff (and other similar communities). Here's a little photo montage that encompasses all three of these elements, so you can see what I mean.

 Photo Credits* (clockwise from upper left): 

Hippie Girls, Northface Jacket, Black and White Photo, Girl with Polaroid, Couple in the Snow

Step Two: How to Work What You Want Into Your Wardrobe

Okay, so now you have to take what you have and give it a little punch. This reader wants to know how to add heels, dresses, bags, and the like her her wardrobe. Here are my recommendations/tips for incorporating girlier/trendier items into ensembles that work well with the Flagstaff style.

Stick with black, dark brown, muted browns, and/or reds. I would also try and test the waters with a wedge, as the connotation of a wedge is a little big more on the casual side. You could also try pumps or sling backs with low heels, but again, I would try a wedge first.

Bags are pretty diverse. I would just steer clear of name brands like Coach and Louis Vuitton. I think the style community in Flagstaff would have a greater appreciation for a great thrifted bag. I would also recommend trying satchels and other "funkier" shapes. Slouchy, oversized hobo bags are always a great choice, especially if you are like me and carry a million things around everyday. Lastly, try to look for natural fibers or interesting textiles (canvas or woven) and cool prints/influences (floral or geometric).

 

As far as jewelry/hats, I looked for items that were first and foremost cute without being too loud or over-the-top. I also chose items that were somewhat eclectic in that they were hybrids of some of the different qualities demonstrated in Flagstaff style (hippie, outdoorsy, vintage). I also wanted accessories that could go with a wide range of outfits.

For dresses and tops I went with the same philosophy that has become a motif throughout this post: earthy, boho-inspired, etc. However, I noticed that I tended to pick garments that were loose or oversized. I'm not sure if this is just a personal preference, but it seems to me that if you are worried about looking overdone that looser items give off a casual/laid back vibe. Don't go too too big; however, or you will look frumpy! 

As far as bottoms, I picked bootcut and boyfriend jeans. Skinny jeans are also a must, but stick with dark washes. Skinny and bootcut jeans will do you wonders in Flagstaff, mostly because they are the best jeans to wear with boots. Shorts are easy as pie- anything that is dark denim, khaki, chocolate brown, navy, or black will be fine. For the solid colored shorts stick with cotton blends or corduroy. Steer clear of silky or tweed versions...it just won't go well with the Flagstaff vibe.


Step 3: Find Inspiration and Go Shopping


I use the website Shop Style religiously for tasks like this. It's a really good way to get the creative juices flowing, even if you aren't planning on buying anything online. I put together a sample collection of items that I feel fit girly/trendy/refined niche, while also complimenting the Flagstaff fashion philosophy. If you want to use Shop Style for this purpose, I would recommend typing any/all of the keywords below to help you meet the criteria of this post: 

VINTAGE

HIPPIE

BOHO

OUTDOORS

KNIT

OVERSIZED

CANVASS

GO GREEN

NATURAL

EARTHY

Okay, so here is my little montage of clothing items that I would recommend for this reader to consider when facing this challenge. Of course, some of the items aren't the most budget-friendly (Frye boots, for example) but everything here is meant to be inspirational. The number one rule for personal style, in my opinion, is to make it your own. Feel comfortable and confident because beyond protection from the elements, clothing serves as a reflection of YOU. Have fun and happy shopping =)

I hope I answered this question! Do you have any other tips? Do you agree with my advice? Let me know with a comment!


*all photos are licensed under Creative Commons

RemChic Recommends: Must-Have Products May 2010

Once a month I'll be posting all of the wish list items I've accumulated. I find these items through other blogs, my own online hunting, in-store window shopping, and/or through recommendations from other fashionistas. Here's my list of RemChic picks for May 2010!


Item 1: Orjen Iris Dinnerware at Anthropologie

I spotted these when I went to the local Anthro with my roommate before we got sushi at RA, and I fell in love. I was so distracted that I even left my cell phone in the store! By the time I realized it the store had closed, and I had to come back the next morning to pick it up...oops! Anyways, the artistry here is incredible! The white background makes these plates easy to match with a variety of other kitchen items! These dishes are made of porcelain, are dishwasher/microwave safe, and are imported. Oo la la!


Item 2: Pins and Needles Ruffle Dress in Black at Urban Outfitters

Thanks to my best friend, I've entered this phase where I have an affinity for silky-ish/black/loose clothing items, and this LBD meets all of the criteria. I am sort of disappointed in U.O. because the online photos do not do this dress justice. This dress is super comfortable and effortlessly cute. You can wear it loose or belt it, and in my opinion it will look good either way. Forewarning: you will probably need to wear a slip with it because its slightly sheer, but nonetheless it's a great find.


Item 3: SM Sparkle Earrings by Kate Spade (available through Piperlime)

I actually love pretty much all of the Kate Spade earrings featured on Piperlime, but these ones I feel are the most classic without being too blingy. Although I usually stick with silver or white gold, these are really elegant and would be a great buy for graduation, spring weddings, etc. I also featured another pair of K.S. earrings on this post, so if you like K.S. earrings and want to see an outfit with them check it out!


Item 4: Globe-Trotter® Centenary 28" Suitcase in Sour Lemon (available through J.Crew)

I am obsessed with vintage-inspired luggage. Although I own a chocolate brown, synthetic blend, rolling suitcase, I'd like to think that one day I will trek around the world with a bright yellow suitcase like this one. I also like this suitcase because it's really chic, without a bunch of LV's stamped all over it. And you'll never question which bag is yours when you're in baggage claim! Too bad this case costs $1500...a girl can still dream, right?!


Item 5: Realness Of Concealness by Benefit Cosmetics (available through Sephora)

Photo Credit

This is the best touch-up kit I have ever seen, and I can't wait to get my hands on one! This kit includes:

Ooh La Lift- dream cream for the under-eye area

Lip Plump- speaks for itself

High Beam- liquid highlighter for a dewy, radiate afterglow

Lemon Aid- hides redness/discoloration on your eyelids

Boi-ing- the king of concealers...literally.

I've heard nothing but great things about this kit, and it has even won the Cosmopolitan Beauty Award for "Fabulous Face Kit." Lastly, out of the 284 reviews on Sephora's website, this kit has earned 4/5 stars. Not to mention the handy mirror for those parked-in-the-car-before-class-and-I'm-touching-up moments.