Style Buzz: Shopping Success Toolkit + Styling a Denim Vest
- Eugene Stylist
- Sep 11
- 4 min read
Three Ideas to Inspire Your Style This Week
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Wait...that's me?"
Full disclosure: I said this, not a client!
I'd just bought the denim vest featured below and then popped into Anthropologie in Las Vegas. I saw this pink skirt and while I knew I wouldn't buy it, how fun would it be to try on! Such a Carrie Bradshaw moment. But I didn't want to try it on with the blouse I was wearing, so why not try it with the vest? And OMG what a revelation - they were great together and I felt like a totally different person than how I usually dress. I highly recommend trying styles out of your usual comfort zone - you never know what will happen!
xxx rachel
SHOPPING SUCCESS KIT
Shopping for clothes sounds so easy: you go to a store, find pieces in your size, try them on, and if you like them, you buy them. Oh, if only!
The reality is never that straightforward. You never know what styles, cuts, sizes, or colors you're going to find. Collections might be for the wrong type of weather, too formal or too casual, or in a material you don't like. It's also harder when you're looking for a very specific item and things are close but not quite hitting the mark. It's weird, though - sometimes you're spoiled for choice and everything in the store seems to fit you and your style, and sometimes you don't find anything.
So with all these factors to take into consideration, what can you do to make sure it's not a complete waste of your time, making you leave empty-handed -- or worse, with something you don't love and won't wear but bought just because it's better than nothing?
Here are my top 8 items that I take (plus a bonus one!) when I go shopping.
The right bra: You know that a correctly-fitting bra changes how clothes hang on your frame, which is why I ask clients to not wear a sports bra to try on clothes. But this is more than that. Think ahead of time if you're going to be trying on styles with specific bra needs, like a racerback, strapless, or deep plunge, or a certain color like black or nude. It's harder to imagine how something would look when the bra straps are showing or neon green is showing through a delicate fabric. Invest in a specialty bra that works for the occasions and style in your world, and either wear or take it with you when trying on those items.
Shapewear: Not everyone is a fan, but shapewear will definitely help smooth things out and put the focus on you rather than unusual shadows or pulling. You don't need something that looks medieval, but just a simple pair of compression shorts can help enormously. If you're trying on dresses, skirts, or jumpsuits, shapewear can affect the fit, sometimes up to a full size difference.
Shoes: Just like how certain clothes need specific undergarments, they might also need certain shoes. A flat sandal will be perfect with a sun dress but ruin the look of a long trouser. Don't stand there on your toes, slightly off balance, trying to imagine how they'd look. Just take your shoes with you and know instantly.
Accessories: if you're out looking for clothes to complement a piece of jewelry, take it with you. Or if you don't know exactly what kind of jewelry you'd wear with what you're trying on, just take something that represents what you usually wear. Just use a lot of caution to not snag the clothes as you're putting them on and taking them off.
Makeup: Just like shoes and accessories, it's best to see the whole picture as you're trying on clothes. Plus the lighting is rarely flattering in a dressing room, so adding a bit of color to your face is helpful. This can be as simple as a bold red lipstick, which, you have to admit, brightens most situations and is such an easy hack for looking put together.
Socks: Just like going through TSA, you don't want to be wandering around a dressing room in your bare feet. Take a pair of skin-colored no-show socks to pop on while you're getting changed. They'll keep the grime off you and won't be too distracting, like a colorful, chunky wool pair would.
Bevvie: Water is not only hydrating (trying on clothes is a workout!) but if you accidentally spill any, you're not risking staining any of the clothes in the dressing room.
Snack: You're burning energy in those dressing rooms, so be aware if you start to fade before you get hangry. Set a timer if you like, reminding yourself to stop periodically and do a quick assessment. I like to take a little snack with me - something that doesn't melt or make my fingers sticky, like a Lara bar in a wrapper. I also make sure I eat well before I go, but not so much that I'm over-full and need a nap.
And lastly, one of the most helpful things to take with you is a personal stylist! If shopping is not your thing, I'm here to take the sting out of it and make it - dare I say - fun? Yup, I dare!
3 WAYS TO WEAR IT: Denim Vest
I brought this denim vest back from Las Vegas this week - it's by Madewell and already has so many potential ways to wear it! I like its structure and length (mid-hip which is a welcome change from all the cropped tops out right now), and I can imagine wearing a long sleeve tee or blouse under it during the cooler months.
A variation on the Texas Tuxedo! The two denims play nicely together, and I love how the cross on the sandal straps is mimicked in the vest.
The vest is a tad longer than most so it sits really nicely over the waistband of the skirt. I like the high-low pairing of denim with pleated chiffon.
Polished up with a black pencil skirt and bronze kitten heels makes this a lovely outfit for a date night or an office party.
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