While the winter weather keeps us wrapped up, don’t miss the essential element to any girl’s wardrobe: the dress jacket. This is a jacket that 1) it’s cozy 2) we grab in an instant whenever we want to look fabulous without a care in the world, and 3) has a unique quality that stands out from the crowds.

Most of us will actually have a few of these jackets in different colors and styles to match our various moods. This winter I’ve embraced colors like red, burgundy, emerald, and eggplant. With my dark hair I like the contrast these colors bring.

A dress jacket is different form a traditional jacket in that when buttoned up it looks like a purposeful dress. Though I love this quality about them, I like to wear them open so it adds more movement with my complete look. I like the layers and length, especially in the winter. It adds depth and keeps you warm all at the same time.

There are two qualities about this particular jacket from eFashion that I absolutely adore: the ruffles and the double breasted buttons.

If a jacket has buttons this season, I either want one single well placed button or a whole bunch of them! I love how one single item can make a bold fashion statement all on its own. For this reason, I like to wear something simple underneath- like a form fitted black dress or extra long tank top. You could even add a simple scarf if you wanted to. It’s a chic and comfortable look.

What’s your favorite dress jacket color to wear this season? Find more winter essential jackets on yesstyle.com and see which one matches your personality!

It’s true, every girl needs a classic black satchel to call her own. What makes a purse classic? Well, there’s a certain simplicity about the shape and form of the purse- something structured and clean. Then comes texture and detail. Whether it’s a fine grain texture, a soft quilted design, or a smooth and flawless matte finish- it’s a fashion staple that will last you forever.

And then there’s the detail.. oh beautiful, subtle detail. Sometimes it’s the stitching of the purse itself, or perhaps as in this case- the lock and chain feature. I love how the clasp is very functional in securing the purse, but also adds a nice tough of elegance. The tassle which hangs from the other end of the chain give’s you more movement and lengthens the design.

The rest of the bag speaks for itself- a strong silhouette with a beautiful textured finish.

This is my new new little darling and it’s been getting more attention than I anticipated while I have been out and about. Enough people stopped and asked me about this bag that I wanted to share it with you, and more importantly why I selected it.

When I was shopping for a new bag, this purse called out to me from the simple glimpse of the silhouette. It seemed to be the right shape and size for what I was looking for. I wanted something somewhat lightweight, medium sized, elegant, and with plenty of pockets inside to organize my belongings. The material and structure of the purse seemed solid which was also important to me; I wanted something that wouldn’t bulge or sink when I put my wallet or phone inside.

I also wanted something that was secure, but still easily accessible. The clasp was the perfect answer, as well as a charming extra feature. There is a zipper to close the purse even beneath the clasp for an optional added security.

The handles are firm but comfortable- they keep their form and the integrity of the purse’s design. I adore this bag! And I adore it because it is exactly what I needed for me- it matches my personality, meets my purpose, and functions beautifully.

What do you look for in a classic black satchel? The beautiful thing is you can always have more than one. I know I do! One to match each of my moods and needs. This is my newest beauty and I am quite proud to show her off!

Find some inspiration or your next must have satchel on yesstyle.com. It’s my favorite place to get unique items and catch up on the latest trends.  I also love how you can not only shop by the style of bag, but also by color! Brilliant!

Featured item in this post: Moonbasa Tassled & Chain Satchel

It’s time to get a leg up on your style and start the new year with a bang. The easiest way to add more variety to your wardrobe (and keep the heads turning) is to include leggings into your look. No- not the boring and simple expected kind, but the ones that make you go “oooh!” when you see them. Texture is a big element to consider as well as bright youthful colors and prints.

To show off the designs, I’m wearing a natural toned long top. You’ll notice that even the top can be tied to change up appearances, but more on this piece in a moment. The first and the second pair of leggings have a mix of fabrics that stand out brilliantly in person. Both feature lines of a faux leather material that is ultra silky against the skin, and adds a beautiful shine to your design.

Faux Leather Leggings from SARAH: available on yesstyle.com

I’ve had many fashionistas come up to me to compliment me on the leggings, and then ask if they could touch them! Because the material is a faux leather, you get an almost liquid look that fits seamlessly against the skin (no wrinkles from a thick material that would crease). There is just enough of the material too be creative and not obnoxious, too. The tones in these two might be “normal”, but the designs are anything but that.

With a pair of boots, these leggings make me think of riding pants. With heels, they are an edgy part of your wardrobe. Wear them with a loose top, or even a simple camisole topped off with a form shaped jacket. A military style jacket with a big collar could look extremely haute, too!

Now on to some color….!

These red leggings from WiWi are a bright and bold color that will liven up any outfit. When something is this bright, I like to wear soft pastels, nudes, and cream colors to keep everything in balance. Some sheer light printed tops would look darling with these pants. It will also take an adorable dress to another level! Be daring and embrace the bright colors.

These leggings are by far my new favorite. Again, the style is simple and stunning and the material feels oh so comfortable. Very much a win – win! I wanted to show it off first in the same top so you can see how a change of leggings makes  a difference in the tone of the look, and then show you a wilder side:

With a simple change of the top, the leggings get a new kind of attitude. From classy and chic to wild and ready for a party. I’m very much in love with flowly see-through tops to layer over my outfit. The see-through factor lets the sun shine through and show the form, but give you more versatility in the volume of your style. We like volume- but we must maintain a feminine look and never look like a balloon.

So start playing with colors and prints, keep looks flowy and feminine, and add your own edge into your wardrobe!

PS The boots in the last look are my Convertible Boots which I’ve featured before. This is the newest way I’ve been wearing them. Each time I bring them out I discover a new style- you gotta love that in a shoe!

I am very inspired by yesstyle, and in fact I will share you one of my most recent inspirations for the holiday season here within this post. But now it’s your turn to shine!

Yes Style is hosting a holiday contest, and you could win an iPad 2 just for showing off your holiday outfit. It must be a Yes Style holiday inspired outfit, and you can find the complete listing of the rules on yesstyle.com.

Here’s what you do-

1. Take a photo or video of you in your “Holiday Party à la YesStyle” outfit. Upload it to Facebook, your blog or anywhere you want and tell us the URL in the comment section below.

2. Send an email with the same URL, your name and email address to: contests@yesstyle.com

3. The “Holiday Party à la YesStyle” outfit does not need to be composed of YesStyle items but should be inspired by styles found on YesStyle’s retail websites and not from The YesStylist. You should clearly state the source of your inspiration on the page where you uploaded the photo or video of your outfit.

Don’t forget to check out the official contest rules! A picture’s worth a thousand words, or in this case, an iPad 2. So get styling, you have until January 5th, 2012! Good luck, my loves!

My holiday outfit inspiration:

This season I have been inspired by deep burgundy colors, belts to show off the waist, dresses that show movement or layers, interesting sleeves, and the military jacket.

That’s why when I spotted this dress it just had to be mine. It’s a Shirred-Sleeve Buttoned Layered Dress from  CatWorld and is available on yesstyle.com. Funny thing about this dress is that everywhere I go, people stop me and ask me if it’s vintage. I’ve had so many compliments, and being a fan of the vintage style I take that as a great compliment as well.

“The color is a dream, it’s perfect!” a girl said to me at a bar. I was thrilled. The layers of the skirt portion of the dress move beautifully and add a feminine feel against the structure of the military top. The white of the belt gives a nice accent, and makes me think of snow. The sleeves give you more texture and complete the look of the dress.

Combining elements from your every day style into one piece is fun. This dress is easily one of my new favorites and has inspired me to find more. So get to taking photos of your holiday outfit! Submit them to the contest and even share them in the comments here! I’d love to see what inspires you

Tis the season… for lots of parties! Whether it is a family get together, celebration with friends, or night out on the town- it is the season to be ready with dresses that will impress the crowds.

Here are some styles that will not only give you a variety, but will also inspire you to have more fun with your party dress planning. We will start with the very “in” style: the caped dress.

Capes are everywhere- from a simple caped sleeve on a blouse to a bold heavy cape on a jacket. You can even add a cape to your favorite dress for a more dramatic character. What I like about this particular dress is that the cape is sheer and lined with ruffles. I adore texture and volume, and this shows that a cape doesn’t have to be traditional. The neutral tones of the dress work well with the shape, too.

When it comes to winter, I think of either neutral, soft shades, or I think of rich colors such as a dark purple, vivid red, dark gray or black. Sometimes the neutral shades are under appreciated. A peach dress with gold jewelry and a fur wrapped collar is a statement of elegance!

DRESS: IAIZO by Seven Princess

Next we have a classic red fitted dress which is perfect for the Christmas party season. It’s fitted with knots of fabric in the front to give it some texture. It makes me think of wrapping presents. The color is a gorgeous red! A girl understands that finding the perfect red is no simple task. I like how this one is vivid with enough depth in the color to give it a natural glow. The texture of the fabric creates subtle shadows that make the red even richer in color.

This is a dress that is sure to get noticed. Wear an elaborate jacket to keep you warm, then reveal the simple beauty of this candy apple dress.

DRESS: Knot front strapless dress from Joanne Kitten, available on yesstyle.com

Here’s another classic- a long black dress. With this much fabric the shape is very important. What I love about this dress is the back! The front is very chic and modest, while the back drops down. It’s elegant with just enough of the sexy factor to keep you feeling gorgeous all night. A strapless sticky bra will keep you comfortable so you can keep your back revealed (just something to consider! If you don’t have one, they’re a small investment and go a long way for both your existing and future wardrobe).

DRESS: Open back maxi dress from SPICY HOLIC, available on yesstyle.com

Finally we look at the very girlie “frills and ruffles” style of dress. This is one of my personal favorites to wear. I like how it is fitted at the top, shows off the waist, then gives you lots of fabric with an uneven hem. It flows, it moves, and it maintains the feminine form beautifully. It’s ruffled- but not over the top. It’s just right!

I decided to go with an ice blue color here, for a snow empress kind of look. This is the dress on its own (I wanted to show it off in it’s natural element), but for the winter season I’ll be adding either a cloak or a soft white fur wrap around the neck. Add some dark jewelry into the neckline- something heavy and jeweled, and you’ll have a completely new look. I think that’s why I’m so fond of dresses like this- feminine, soft toned, and all one color. You can constantly discover new ways to fit it into any season.

I’ve even worn this dress with a black skull necklace, boots, and a black edgy jacket for a more rock and roll kind of look. Neutral dresses really allow your own personality to shine.

This same style dress in a dark purple, burgundy, or emerald color is another thing to consider for the winter season.

DRESS: V neck Ruffle Chiffon Dress from 59 Seconds, available on yesstyle.com

Which style of dress will you be wearing this holiday season? I know I will be wearing all of them!

When I think of chiffon I think of feminine elegance- the material is so delicate and it moves beautifully. It’s both carefree and fitted the way it naturally falls against the human form. This being said, I like to break the rules and bring some attitude into the scene!

I like the contrast the softness of this chiffon blouse brings to the harshness of these boots. With the weather of the fall this makes a great outfit for the warmer days, and even a great option to wear underneath those giant coats for the colder days. The shoes show off some style, then once you are inside where it is warm, you can take off the coat and reveal your outfit in comfort.

I’ve been finding myself collecting more and more chiffon blouses- some more fitted and some almost oversized. I like playing with neutral shades in the fall, then bringing in the color in time for winter. A splash of a vivid shade goes a long way. I just recently found a bright yellow oversized chiffon blouse I’m currently playing with!

The nice thing about a neutral shade is that you can style it differently for every season. Right now I’m leaning towards matching up blacks and browns for the fall and winter season. But when spring and summer come around, I’m thinking more pastels, whites, creams, and lighter tones to brighten the look up. Layers come in handy here, too.

This particular blouse is from TokyoFashion and is available on yesstyle.com. Being a dress girl I like to challenge myself with different styles. I would challenge you to do the same- break up the routine and let some of the minor style characteristics in your wardrobe shine in the spotlight for a day. For me that means styling different shirts, skirts, shorts, pants, and leggings together. Many times I’ll pick a pair of shoes and then work backwards to create a style for them!

Fall in love with a fashion piece and then build a style of your own around it!

Winter is creeping in and you know what that means- it’s time to bring out the boots! With so many styles to consider, it can be hard to find just the right boot to meet your mood and particular outfit.

Well, consider this- instead of trying on a million different shoes looking to find the right one, get all of them in one. It’s the “Convertible Boot”. It’s a classic shape with tons of opportunities!

When I saw this I knew I had to take the challenge. As you can see there are many ways to wear this same heel, while changing the height of the boot as well as the design.

But I like to break the rules….and this boot lets me do it in all the  right, stylish ways! The buckles you see on here are optional- you can take them off and add them to your other shoes (bonus) or tie them around these boots in as many ways as you can think of.

Scrunch up the boot and add some texture and shape along with your various heights. It’s the shoe that keeps on giving, like getting a new pair of shoes every single time you create a new look. It goes from chic, to grunge, to haute, to classic. I love it! Oh, and they are also very comfortable and warm. Function and design is always a welcoming bonus.

GET THIS LOOK:

The Convertible Boot from Lane172 available on yesstyle.com

So here are some styles I have been playing with:

The removable buckles really help to completely change the look and feel of the boot. I love how it can to to perfectly smooth and chic to really textured and “rock and roll”. And these are just with the shoes on their own- adding tights that are sheer or textured could be another thing to consider.

What’s your ideal boot height? With these you can custom the height to your ideal fit, making sure it flatters your legs in the best manner possible! And if you get bored, you can always change the look in flash

*Quick Note: One thing I will recommend when ordering shoes from Lane 172 is that you order a size larger than you usually would. They run a bit small and for maximum comfort, a size up should fit you like a dream. I had a friend make the recommendation to me and I’m glad she told me! The next size up fits me exactly right.

This season’s must have accessory is the cape jacket. The traditional structured jacket feels very rigid and expected, whereas the cape brings romance into the scene with it’s carefree shape that falls and hugs your body beautifully.

It also layers very well. Where a full jacket covers your complete outfit, the cape keeps you warm while still allowing your outfit to be seen. Even with the larger capes for the winter you have that added style and romantic feel. But right now for the Fall I’m enjoying this little cape to compliment the crisp, cool air.

Anything that makes me think “romantic” makes me think curls. I love styling my hair in big curls that fall into the changing shape of the fabric I am wearing.

This particular cape is from 59th street and is available at yesstyle.com. I love how the pockets are subtle and add to the overall shape of the cape. The cape is available in other colors, too, but I find myself all too often going for the classic black and wanted to give some contrast to my outfits. Besides, my hair is so dark it can look too heavy with my hair down (black on black). I think khaki works perfectly in this shape, and really makes me think of fall.

My next quest is to find capes in more vivid colors and other jackets with different shapes!

THE JACKET:
Othermix: Sharp Shoulder Striped Jacket available on yesstyle.com

Whenever I decide to wear a bright bold red lipstick, I tend to keep the rest of my make up very nude and subtle. But this jacket screams attitude and inspired me to go with a more femme fatale look.

I didn’t want to go too dark on the eyes, so instead I went for some sharp lines that would define and open up the eyes. I used soft medium browns to blend around the eye and add some depth. Since the jacket has sharp wings, I wanted my eyes to have some sharp wings as well. I used just enough bronzer to contour my cheekbones, and then a soft pink blush on the cheeks themselves. Using multiple shades (such as a bronzer and a blush, or multiple blush colors) gives you more dimensions as well as a natural glow.

Because the focus of this look for me was about the eyes and lips, I used my favorite red shade: dominique from Stila. I’ve had a lot of people stop and ask me for the details on this color- now you know! Even with a red shade, I like to use a lip liner that matches closely with my natural lip color. It makes it easier for me to line the lips, not to mention more comfortable. I feel it is more forgiving, and it provides as a good foundation for the color. You can of course use a color to go along with your lipstick, this is just what I prefer to do.

When it comes to the eyes, I like to use a cream eye liner with a brush. I find that the cream is smooth to apply and the brush gives me more control and accuracy. It is also more forgiving if mistakes are made.  If you do make a mistake, let it set and then either use a q-tip with some make up remover or face moisturizer, and erase your mistakes. A make up artist recently taught me another trick- you can use your brow brush to brush off the mascara or eyeliner spot once it dries- it flakes right off.

THE MAKEUP:

Concealer: Calvin Klein Endless Creme Concealer
Eyeliner: Bobbi Brown Long Wear Eyeliner
Eyeshadow: KATE Brown Collection Eye Shadow and Brow
Bronzer, Lipstick,  & Lip liner: Stila (lipstick color: dominique)

TIP: Remember concealer is just for concealing little spots and dark circles. You want to make the concealer blend in with your skin and only on those necessary spots- not your entire face. Let your skin breathe and be beautiful on its own, concealer is just a helpful assistant to your keep your skin looking and feeling natural.

I like to begin with a nice oil free, alcohol free, face moisturizer. From there I move on to concealer under the eyes and in any other little areas that need a touch up. I then brush my brows and depending on the look will fill them in for more definition. Because of my bangs, I tend to just brush them and keep it pretty simple since they will be hidden anyway. If your eyebrows are visible, you will want to make sure they are groomed. Your eyebrows can completely change your look.

Now that the face is set, we are on to the look. I like to do my cheeks next.

To contour the cheekbones, take your brush from your ear and move towards the lips- but stop before you get there (about an inch or so before). This gives an illusion of more depth and makes your cheekbones look more prominent. Add some blush on the cheeks and you are ready for the next step.

*If you tend to be messy with your eyeshadow, you can wait and do your cheeks after. To avoid excess eyeshadow, tap the brush after you have your eyeshadow color, then apply for a more flawless look.

For this look, I like to begin with a soft skin tone (or slightly lighter than my skin tone) shade to cover the eye and use as my base. Then I use a dark brown on the corner of my eyes. I make a small triangle where my eyeliner will be, and blend it forward until it fades in the front. I want the shadow to be darkest on the ends and lightest in the front. On the bottom lash line, I add line of dark shadow about halfway or two thirds of the way. Next I blend in a medium brown, still keeping it darkest on the corner, and working it into my crease. I blend the two together until I get the depth and definition I am looking for. I try to keep the medium brown shade in line with the line of my eyebrow- not touching it but following the same shape with my eye’s natural shape. If needed, I’ll add a light shade on the center  of my eye lid and at the top just beneath my brow for some highlights. Adding definition to the crease will assist in the look standing out as well.

Once the blend is where I want it, I add the eyeliner. I make a long smooth stroke from the inside corner of my eye, and work my way out just past the other corner of my eye. This is the “wing”. I connect the wing with the bottom lash line, and come about a third of the way in.

For a more dramatic and eye opening look, I add white eyeliner to my tear duct. Next you curl your lashes and add mascara. I like to curl my eyelashes three times- at the base, in the middle, and at the ends. Then I apply my mascara by starting at the base, and moving the brush from side to side as I slowly move up to the ends of the lash. I feel it gives more volume and lengthens the look of your lashes.

Line your lips to create the perfect shape- either making them sharp or more voluminous, and finally add the color!

Enter your closet- find something chic or edgy, and style away for a fabulous look!