Hello, it’s great to see you! Today I want to share my love for the pencil skirt; and I want to show you how to style this old classic with a modern twist. It’s always a good idea to have at least one in your closet. Even if you don’t work in an office, a pencil skirt will serve you well. Whether it’s date night, a business-y meeting, or event, this classic separate is always a stylish choice.
The Summary
Today, Kelly is styling an old classic with a modern twist: a pencil skirt from J.Crew and puff sleeve top from Everlane
The outfit is modeled, and she pulled together 3 alternates
The outfit is shoppable via a text or image widget
Each alternate is shoppable via a text widget
How To Style An Old Classic With A Modern Twist
1. Petite No. 3 Pencil Skirt
(J.Crew)
When I worked in an office, I regularly wore pencil skirts. I had at least 6 or 8 in different colors, prints and fabrics. My go-to for pencil skirts is J.Crew. Their petite No.2 Pencil skirt sizing has always been spot on. So easy to style with button ups, sweaters, blouses and t-shirts, no matter the season.
Petite No. 3 Pencil Skirt (J.Crew) | Eyelet Puff Sleave Top (Everlane) | Bembien Marfa Bag (J.Crew) | Kiera Lugsole Sandal (similar, Madewell) | Italian Leather Buckle (similar, Everlane) | Loli Ankle-Strap Sandal (similar, Madewell) | Zodiac (similar, Zappos)
Say hello to the petite No.3 Pencil Skirt. The difference between the No.2 and No.3 is the length. The No.3 falls just below the knee. The bi-stretch cotton is perfect for summer; so is the selection of colors offered right now. Pale lavender and periwinkle are options. Along with the classics, navy and black. I went for white!
To me, this is a fun outfit. Perfect for brunch, or a dinner date. The color combination feels fresh, the moss green of the puff sleeve eyelet top is brightened up by the bright white of the skirt. I really did think this top would be overwhelming on my frame with the puff sleeves, But it was worth trying because I love how it fits, feels and looks! It’s fun, flirty and feminine with the eyelet material. The moss green just takes it to a new level of fun.
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2. Shopping Everlane Online
If you haven’t shopped at Everlane online, I highly recommend you take a look. The shopping experience is very user friendly. And their returns are the simplest out there because they work with a third party called Happy Returns.
Happy Returns operates out of select FedEx Office locations. When you make your return online and select the Happy Return option, you get a list of FedEx Office locations near you that offer Happy Returns. You get a QR code emailed to you and all you have to do is take the item to the FedEx location. You don’t need a shipping box, there is no shipping label to print. Just let the FedEx employee scan the QR code in your email. They package it up and your return is complete. Your refund will automatically be refunded to your original payment method when they scan the code. It’s super easy and fast!
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3. Puff Sleeve Eyelet Top
(Everlane)
This moss green puff sleeve eyelet top is from Everlane. I am wearing regular size xs. The sleeves are a little longer on my arm, but the waist hits just right for me. For average-height people, this top would be a little cropped but is still great with high-waisted jeans, skirts, shorts, and pants. I love the tie detail on the back.
Petite No. 3 Pencil Skirt (J.Crew) | Eyelet Puff Sleave Top (Everlane) | Bembien Marfa Bag (J.Crew)
Pointy toe flats would be really cute with this pencil skirt, but I decided to go with neutral heels. These are several years old, from Madewell, but any neutral strappy sandal would work. Here are similar versions:
Similar Loli Ankle Strap Sandal (Madewell) | Kiera Sandal In Woven Leather (Madewell) | Italian Leather Buckle Heel (Everlane) | Similar Zodiac Ilsa Sandal (Zappos)
For an extra summertime vibe, I have my Bembien Marfa Bag from J.Crew. We are at the Famous Georgia Theater. The rooftop offers views of historic downtown Athens. This rooftop bar has a cool refreshing breeze, just perfect on a hot summer night. Cheers everyone!
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Alternative Stylings
Top Board: Supima Bozy Crop T-Shirt (Banana Republic) | The Point (Rothy's) | The Bucket Bag (Rothy's) Left Board: Whisper Cotton V-Neck Tee (Madewell) | The Sneaker (Rothy's) | The Wristlet (Rothy's) Right Board: Button-back Linen Tank Top (J.Crew) | Kinsley D'Orsay Flat (Madewell) | Transport Shoulder Crossbody Bag (Madewell)
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Hello, it’s great to see you today! Yesterday, Beth shared a variety of chic and classic wedding guest dresses. Today, I am sharing a wedding guest dress perfect for a casual or cocktail-attire summer wedding. After planning and organizing my own wedding three years ago, being a guest at a wedding feels like a vacation! For the few other weddings I have been to, I quite enjoy the ease of being a guest and just enjoying the celebration of the day.
The Summary
Today Kelly shows us a variety of petite summer wedding guest dresses
One of the dresses is modeled and the others have been put together on boards
The dress is shoppable via a text or image widget
The boards are shoppable via a text widget
Petite Summer Wedding Guest Dresses
1. Love The Label Poppy Dress
(Neiman Marcus)
For a casual or cocktail-attire summer wedding, a shorter hemline dress that is fun and feels celebratory is in order. And the Poppy Dress by Love The Label fits the bill. This dress is sold as a mini dress, but for a petite like me, it falls just above the knee. I found this dress locally, here in Athens, but you can find it online at Neiman Marcus. I am wearing size xs.
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2. Dress Details
To me, being an infrequent wedding guest means not going crazy buying a dress that I will never have the opportunity to wear again. I don’t know about you, but we don’t have much opportunity to attend black tie galas, or super fancy events. So, I like to look for a dress that will fit the occasion and that I will be able to wear again.
This is where the dress’s details matter. While the shape of this dress is a loose shift, or tent shape, the sharp pleats of the double cap sleeve and neckline give it a more polished look. Similarly, the gathering of the bottom tier of the skirt creates a slight ruffle. If the structure of the dress is simple, or casual, it’s details like this that can elevate it to wedding guest attire.
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3. Accessories
Another leveling-up comes with the accessories. To emphasize the bright Kelly green color of the dress and to create a stark contrast, I went with black accessories. The Poppy Dress has a 1960’s vibe to it so I decided to go with a modern take on the block heel sandal. These J.Crew suede Penny Sandals are a few years old, but here are similar styles.
(HOBO) Waver Wristlet | (HOBO) Lana Convertible Bag | (Loeffler Randall) Rayne Pleated Clutch
And then my go-to for dressy handbags, my TSATSAS Black Tape clutch. I have gathered a couple similar bags by HOBO, plus one that’s not so similar but that would be a ton of fun with this dress, the Rayne Pleated Clutch by Loeffler Randall.
(DSW) Aerosoles Emmex Sandal | (Cole Haan) Josie Sandal | (Ann Taylor) Two-Strap Block Heel Sandal | (DSW) CL by Laundry Jody Sandal
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Petite Wedding Guest Dresses
While I have dressed up this dress with black accessories, I can see wearing this dress for a variety of occasions; pairing it with wedge espadrilles; or flat slide sandals for something more casual. An easy, breezy dress, fit for a variety of occasions, now that’s my kind of summer dress! xo Kelly
Top Board (J.Crew): Stretch Linen Sheath Dress | Cupro Gwyneth Slip Dress | Stretch Linen A-Line Dress | Bottom Left Board (Banana Republic): Radiant One Shoulder Dress | Belay Silk Dress | Ramie Open-Back Dress Bottom Right Board (Banana Republic Factory): Linen Midi Dress | Color Block Midi Dress | Ruffle Dress
Who says you have to wear a dress? A comfortable Linen Suit might be the way to go!
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Hello, it’s great to see you today! As a petite, I mostly shop online. Very few brands carry a wide range of petite styles in their brick and mortar stores. Large retailers like Nordstrom and Macy’s are a little more generous in their petite offerings in store, but the options are still pretty limited. So, I decided to talk today about my favorite petite brands.
Like many of you, fellow petites, I have come to rely on certain brands for their consistency in petite sizing. This is helpful on one hand because there’s not a lot of guesswork or returns involved; but on the other hand it can limit our wardrobes to those few brands.
My Favorite Petite Brands
1. Spanx Wide-Leg Pant
(Spanx)
Every so often I like to branch out and try a new brand. Aside from Spanx leggings (which I love), this is the first pair of pants I have purchased from Spanx. And I am happy to share that the Spanx Stretch Twill Cropped Wide Leg Pants are a safe bet.
Personally, I think they fit true to size, I am wearing petite xs. The website suggests sizing up one size if you’re between sizes. The color I am wearing (Parchment) is out of stock in petite, but there are other colors available and I would say go ahead and join the waitlist if this is the color you want – they are worth the wait!
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2. Spanx
Wide leg cropped styles for petites are often hit or miss. Many petites feel this style will not work for a shorter frame. And I totally understand that – I used to feel the same way. In fact, I am pretty particular in the way this style fits: I look for a crop that is not too short, with a high rise and a leg opening that is not too wide. A tall order indeed!
The high rise helps to elongate the leg, which for a shorter person, helps to make this style feel a lot more wearable.
While Spanx may not have the plethora of pants to choose from that say, J.Crew or Banana Republic might have, their popularity and product offering is growing. Having one more go-to petite brand for pants is a great thing for mixing up your wardrobe.
So add Spanx to your list of go-to online brands when you’re looking for petite pants in a wide range of sizes. I also want to share the brands I shop online and what I usually go to those brands for; the petite items that I have found to be consistent in their sizing and fit.
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3. My Go-To Brands for Online Petite Shopping
J.Crew is probably my top shop for petite wardrobe staples like button ups, blazers, chinos and skirts.
Ann Taylor is great for petite skirts and blouses. I have found their petite pants to be kind of hit or miss, but often worth a try.
Banana Republic is a reliable option; especially for petite dresses and pants.
Thank you for stopping by today! I am sure most of you are aware of my go-to brands for petites; and I hope that I have given you some inspiration to branch out beyond your go-to brands to add some fresh, fun, reliable petite styles to add to your wardrobe.
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