Glam Guide: How to Look Glam in a Sweater

When putting together a glamorous look, a sweater may not be your first pick but with the freezing forecast just around the corner, it's going to be a necessity. That doesn't mean your style has to suffer. I put together three looks in a beautiful gray quilted sweater that I found at Forever 21. I thought I'd do something a little different for this blog post. Instead of making outfit collages, I wore the pieces in a photo shoot. Special thanks and shout out to Lucas-Murray photography. So, here are  three ways to look glam in a sweater.

1. Pair it with a Pencil Skirt

Call it office glam or sensational scholar. In this first look, I layered my sweater with a denim collared shirt and an ivory necklace. I paired the top with a gorgeous, burgundy,faux leather pencil skirt. Tucking it all in felt like a lumpy idea but it turned out great because if you've got hips like mine, fluffing the sweater on top help create some balance on top. I added blue pumps with a brown lining to play off of the denim collar. This look is a stunner. I love it!

2. Add a Jeweled Collar

On a night out with my girls there's nothing like a pair of black shiny leggings and suede booties to stay warm a cute at the same time. This combination takes the sweater up a notch. To take it up all the way, I added a dazzling necklace that has the same shape as the neckline of my sweater to create a jeweled collar. If your sweater has a v-neck, wear a v-shaped necklace. You can create a whole new sweater everytime you change your necklace. So much fun!

3. Wear a Fitted Embellished Blazer

This urban glam look is for my city girls, especially if you're from Brooklyn! I kept the leggings from above but switched my heels for J's. The glam is all in the jacket. Match your sweater up with a fitted, embellished blazer to create more of a silhouette than a slouchy effect because we tend to have better posture in heels than in flats. The structured jacket will keep your look together effortlessly and the studs, chains and patches are sure to keep trouble makers away. Tough glam baby!

Now that I've given you some ideas to look glam in a sweater, get your own and get to styling. Shop sweaters below.

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Luxe Glam Guide: How to Look Fab in Florals

As the flowers wither from the trees this month, you'll find them revived in your wardrobe this fall. I don't know about you but I've noticed lots of floral print already. Within one short block's radius on my way to the city, I saw 5 women ranging in all ages wearing flowers on their garments. Here's another addition to the Luxe Glam Guide: How to Look Fab in Florals.

1. The Right Print

Take into consideration the color, shape and size of the floral prints. Compare the color of the flowers to the background. Now, take a look at your features; skin, hair and eyes.

If your features are highly contrasted, the right floral for you will also have a high contrast. This looks best with more flowers and less ground showing. The farther away your dress goes from this concept, the more washed out or invisible you will look compared to the piece. Anne Hathaway's fair skin is highly contrasted with her dark eyes, hair and also dark, pronounced eyebrows. The dress on the left has a high population of roses, varying in shades of red against a mostly covered up black ground. Anne looks fab in this floral as opposed to the patchy one on the left. Not to mention, the cut of that dress makes her look a bit juvenile. Below is a similar situation with Kim Kardashian. Her skin is darker than Anne's, (which would place her in a medium category), but her dark hair, eyes and also thick brows lean her towards a high. Now, the "yes" dress definitely works. The "no" on the other hand is more of a "meh" for me because I like the blue against her skin but I am drawn to the dress more than I am to her face, so it's a no-go from me.

If your features are lower in contrast, so should your floral number. The print should also be bigger and spaced farther apart. If it's too busy, you'll look like a billboard for the botanical garden. No bueno.

Let's look at the fashionable Lupita Nyong'o. She has medium to dark skin and her hair and eyes are dark as well. This means that she has a medium to low contrast. The dress on the left also has a low contrast and she looks radiant! On the right, the boldly stated yellow flowers on the deep blue are pulling your eyes towards it and the lighting away from her face. Hence, the first dress works a lot better than the second. On the other hand, Cameron Diaz (below) with her light hair, eyes and skin, (also considered a low contrast), looked great in the black dress but washed out in the beige and black. In fact, the flowers look like they're crawling up to eat her head.

2. Shoes and Print

Matching shoes with florals are fun and easy because there are so many options! Here are three. First, go neutral with a nude (find your shade of nude here), black, white or (careful with this one) an earth-tone shoe. In my outfit on the right, I kept the booties subtle but sexy to allow the shirt to shine. Your second option is to go with a metallic. Accent it up with an understated gold or silver shoe. No pungent Austin powers gold members or the likes please. Last but not least, my absolute favorite, choose one color from the mix and match it with your shoe. I used the pink suede shoes to go with the pink petals hiding amongst the red. Choosing a color that is least shown adds an element of surprise to your overall look. I chose suede (in both looks) instead of say, patent leather, to avoid a clashing competition with the "centerpiece" of the outfit. Give it a try and let me know how it works out.

3. Accessories on Print

With a busy floral print in high contrast, you want to keep your jewelry minimal. Compliment the shape of your flowers with your jewels (round with round and so on). In my first outfit, I used stud earrings. I pulled from the light blue and semi oblong shapes on the dress and cut the total match-up with white. The silver clutch is an example of how to pair a floral with metallics. The second look has larger flowers on the side and near the neckline thus a large necklace would be fighting for attention so I added a long, thin one instead with rhinestones for some bling. Longer earrings work with this look because it acts as a continuation of the large designs on the blouse. Pretty way to be casually fab in florals.

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Well! Now that you're an expert in looking fab in floral, here are a few pieces I've pulled to help you shop for your own. Good luck!

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Your Glam Stylist,

Luxe LeBlanc

How to Be Glamorous in a T-Shirt

It's laundry day and you've got places to go and people to see. You're a glamorous girl with nothing to wear but that white tee (above) in the back of your closet. How are you supposed to be glamorous in a t-shirt? There is simply nothing glitzy about a t-shirt and most of us only wear them to the gym. Can it be worn elsewhere? Of course! Here are two instances you wouldn't think to do so and I'll show you how.

Casual Glamour - Brunch with the Ladies

Brunch in the city with the ladies in a tee? Oh no! Calm down, it's okay. Luxe to the rescue! This Majestic Filatures t-shirt is a v-neck which automatically adds a feminine appeal. I've paired it with a high-waisted mint green mini skirt to smooth out the gym shirt effect at the bottom. Leave a little breathing room at the top for a flirty effect like a blouse instead of tucking it in stick straight. This beautiful kimono tops the look off. You won't even remember you're wearing a t-shirt. The base of this piece is also a mint green and is balanced out with a bright and dark extreme, orange and black. The gold necklace, cuff and earrings add a metallic accent to the overall look. I finished it off with a gorgeous pair of burnt orange Jeffrey Campbell sandals and Michael Kors medium travel tote. Voila! That's how you can be glamorous in a t-shirt on a lovely weekend out on the town.

Social Glamour - Bridal Shower Dinner

There is no possible way anyone would dare wear a t-shirt to a bridal shower right? Not if it's all you've got. Let's work it out. I started with the same t-shirt from the prior look. I added a rich red and pale yellow print pencil skirt, also high waisted. This beautiful blazer from Mango falls just right, leaving room for a little bit of the tee to show and closes at the top of the skirt. I added a pretty YSL gold chain belt to draw attention to the smallest part of your waist and away from your t-shirt. I finished the look with a lovely pair of suede Gianvito Rossi olive green shoes, simple earrings and clutch. Incredible look don't you think?

Let Not Your Wardrobe Limit You

Now do you believe you can glamorous in a t-shirt? You can achieve these very same looks with your own pieces at home. Just think outside the box within the guidelines I've given you. 1. Tuck the t-shirt in loosely to give a blouse effect. 2. Layer with feminine pieces like the kimono in the casual look. 3. Accessorize to draw (good) attention away from the t-shirt.

Give it a try and have fun!

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Shop versatile t-shirts below. Who said you couldn't be comfortable AND glamorous? No one needs to know you're in a tee. It's our secret.

Love,

Luxe LeBlanc

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