March 30, 2015
by Julia DiNardo
A while ago I made a promise to myself to do my best to only buy clothing that I could wear to work. Sure, I’ve replaced a hoodie or two, but since then, for the most part, I’ve acquired pieces that are perfectly acceptable in most office settings. What happens, when the weekend comes? I pretty much live in a camo uniform of sweatshirts, long-sleeves, shoes, and pants (but not worn all at once), but need to add some variance to that. Why not recycle a piece or two from my garments categorized as “office appropriate” into the mix?
A crisp, button-up shirt, opened up a little more than normal at the top adds a touch of understated elegance, while a contemporary choker necklace and calf-hair camo slip-ons keep it grounded to Saturday errands. My bag, usually reserved for my more dressier looks during the week, adds structure to the casual baggy-ness of my jeans, and the clean, quilted pattern of my jacket lends some polish to it all.
How have you worn your work clothes on the weekend?
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February 9, 2015
by Julia DiNardo
If you grew up in the vicinity of Pittsburgh, PA, the term “red up” can be a cringe-worthy phrase, as it would usually be in the context of, “you can’t go out until you red up your room!” Red up, or rather it’s more mainstream component, clean up, is something that most of us are doing this time of year as we hibernate in our homes where straightening up, organizing, and purging are common activities that we participate in. I’ve been doing my fair share of that, which has also been fueled by the incredibly popular book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo.
As my small apartment is becoming more tidy and streamlined, just in time for the explosion of things that is fashion week to happen, I also took on a different version of “red up” to get ready for the fall/winter 2015 collections by literally upping the shade of red in my hair to a more vibrant one. The incredibly talented Nicole Tresch at Rita Hazan was game to give it a try, and here I am before you, as a slightly redder version of myself. It also rings as a coincidence that red is the color of the week, with Valentine’s Day falling on an oh-so-convenient Saturday this year.
Here’s a look at some of my favorite pieces that I heavily rely upon on the weekend, with some new accents thrown into the mix. I hope you have a great week, and Happy Valentine’s Day!
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January 19, 2015
by Julia DiNardo
The weather is such an easy way to engage in a conversation, and as much as I’d love to go down that path since this weather is killing me, I thought I’d rather start of this personal style post with a shout out to my ever patient photographer hubby. Even when it’s 20 degrees out and windy, like the day these photos were taken, he’s cheery and patient with taking photos of me, a task that would be challenging and awkward to try to accomplish myself. He also lends a critical eye behind-the-scenes to projects that I’m working on, picking up small details that I don’t notice (he sees things that I literally can’t; ah, to have 20/10 vision…it must be nice!).
All in all, there are people in our life that are a constant sign of support, and they do it with such kindness and grace that it doesn’t even seem to be a big deal. Find that person in your life, and thank them; they probably will act like it’s no big deal, but it’s important to acknowledge those that are a true model for the human race.
And, as this is a fashion and beauty blog, I’d also like to give my two cents on this look: it’s really, really hard to look feminine in the winter. Man, is it difficult! That (among many others), is one of the reasons why I loathe the season, but hey, I haven’t moved away from it yet, so it’s time to seek out a glass half full approach. Here’s the ways that I’ve translated some ways to maintain some feminine shaping throughout the season, found in the look pictured:
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January 5, 2015
by Julia DiNardo
Throughout my entire life, regardless of where I’ve lived, what I’ve done, or been into, I’ve always worn some variation of a turtleneck or corduroy pants. Bonus that they’re back in fashion now, but I’d still wear them nonetheless. I actually didn’t realize how comfortable I felt in them, or had a life-long commitment to the styles until recently, which made me think about a bit more about what comprises a signature style. If someone were to draw a caricature of you today, what sartorial elements would be found in it that would clearly identify you?
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