11 Style Questions Answered
HOW DO I DO A FRONT TUCK PROPERLY?
Front tucks are the in style tuck right now, so this is a question I get a lot from clients. They take a bit of finesse to get right, but once you figure it out, it's like riding a bicycle.
An easy way to create the perfect wave in your shirt, which you want to appear slightly above hips or at your waist, is to grasp the shirt at the front, in the middle. Twist the front as if you were wringing out a towel. Take the twisted part and tuck it into your pants or skirt, leaving all other parts out. Once it's in, blouse it out a bit to make a soft fold from the twist to the rest of the shirt.
Ta da! You've got it.
A front tucked shirt (like this one) produces the same look as a full tuck, except it's more relaxed and on trend.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WAIST AND A HIP BELT, AND WHICH ONE'S RIGHT FOR ME?
The difference between a hip belt and a waist belt is where you put the belt on your body. A hip belt goes right above your hips, and a waist belt goes directly around your waist. To determine which belt is the best fit for you, you need to know your body type. If you're an hourglass or pear shape, a waist belt will accentuate the significant difference between the narrowness of your waist and width of your hips. A waist belt will exaggerate your curves.
If you're an apple, inverted triangle or rectangle shape, a hip belt will accentuate your slender legs and balance your proportion.
For an hourglass or pear, the waist belt should sits directly on your waist to accentuate the curves of your body and highlight the slimmest part of your torso.
HOW DO I KNOW I'M ROLLING UP MY JEANS CORRECTLY?
Rolling jeans can give your look an extra element of style, but its main purpose is to make sure your pants don't collide with the tops of your shoe and disrupt the natural flow of a look.
To properly roll, you can choose a single or a double roll. A single roll is one fold up. A double roll is two even roll ups. With a double roll, you'll get a bit more thickness at the bottom of your pants, so avoid this if you're worried about the jeans looking too chunky. Also, if you're petite, a double roll can bring an onlooker's eye downward, causing you to look less statuesque.
Since the purpose of the roll is to avoid the top of your shoe, you know you're doing it right when the jean and the shoes aren't bumping up against each other when you stand still. It's okay if there's a bit of friction when you walk, but if it's a distraction, bring your roll up higher. Your outfit should never distract you. Instead, it should allow you to focus more clearly on whatever you're doing.
HOW DO I ONLY SHOP FOR THE PIECES I NEED RATHER THAN BUYING A BUNCH OF STUFF I DON'T?
Knowledge is key to creating a mental list of what's missing and needed in your wardrobe.
You must know what fits your lifestyle. Are you a professional, a stay-at-home-mom, or a little bit of both? This will allow you to shop for clothes based on category. Professionals need business casual clothes, moms needs casual, and if you're juggling both, a wardrobe filled with mostly dressy casual items might also be the answer.
You also need to know the items that specifically fit your body type, color palette, and personal style. At Greer Image Consulting, I teach you all the components you need to shop with intention and knowledge, so shopping becomes more streamlined and satisfying.
A service like The Greer Style Session gives you all the tools necessary to do exactly that.
WHERE ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP IN AUSTIN?
Austin is filled with boutiques to fit every price point and style. Some of my personal favorites include Beehive in Westlake for playful weekend wear, DYLAN WYLDE on South Lamar for edgy, going-out looks, and The Art of Shoes on South 1st for rare vintage and modern footwear.
WHAT DRESS OR SKIRT LENGTH IS APPROPRIATE FOR WORK?
Two inches or less above the knee is a good place to stick. When choosing a skirt or dress at two inches, pair a flat shoe (closed or open-toe) to ensure your look is conservative and work-appropriate. For a knee-length pencil skirt, feel free to pair a pointed-toe pump or stacked heel. The longer length of the skirt gives you freedom for higher heels.
The right dress or skirt length also depends on your height. If you're petite (5'4" and under), you have a little wiggle room to go with a little shorter length (2-2.5 inches), because you’re showing less leg than if you're 5'5" or tall.
If you're 5'8" or taller, a knee-length or midi (mid-calf) dress is a great option. Not only will it work for your stature, but it will create an elegant silhouette.
A knee-length pencil skirt is a safe and sophisticated choice for the office.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I CAN WEAR BOOTIES WITH DRESSES AND SKIRTS?
Everyone can wear booties with a dress, even if you're 4'11". The key is to choose the right bootie for your body type. If you're petite, try lighter-colored booties in a shorter boot. Colors like taupe and nude will elongate your silhouette and boots that hit under the curve of your ankle won't overwhelm your stature.
If you're tall, you have more freedom with color and height. Try a bootie above your ankle in colors like grey and red or prints like snakeskin and jacquard.
HOW DO I KNOW WHAT MY BEST COLORS ARE?
The colors that look best on you are the colors that mimic your natural attributes, a.k.a. your skin tone, eye color, and hair color. Within each of these elements, you can have characteristics like softness, lightness, warmth, clarity, depth, and coolness. A combination of these elements makes up your personal color palette.
HOW DO YOU TRANSITION YOUR WARDROBE FROM SUMMER TO FALL WHEN IT'S STILL HOT IN AUSTIN?
It's easy to think, in a warm climate like ours, that transitioning from summer to fall is an impossible task. Without sweater weather, it can feel like you're trapped in summer sundresses forever. On the contrary, there are many ways you can incorporate autumn vibes into your outfit without actually adding heavy layers.
To create your fall look, start with color. Instead of adding sweaters, swap out your summer brights for deep, warm autumn colors like burgundy, plum, olive, mustard, or navy.
Another way to incorporate fall elements without a full coat is through a vest. Vests are one of my absolute favorite Austin pieces, because they add a little layer, but not too much for the Texas heat. Add a long knit vest over a sleeveless shift dress. Pair a faux fur vest with a mini dress for a night time look. Or try an olive utility vest over a t-shirt and jeans for casual weekends.
Use light-weight layers to create a fall look that isn't too heavy for Austin.
WHAT ARE PILLS, WHY DO THEY HAPPEN AND HOW CAN I AVOID THEM?
Pills are those little annoying balls you get on the outside of your sweater or t-shirt that make the garment appear worn out.
Pilling happens when fibers in a garment get tangled or rub together, creating little balls on the exterior of your clothing. This is common in single-fiber garments like a cashmere sweater, but you may also be noticing it in blended fabrics like a rayon/cotton/wool mix. This occurs because different types of fibers can cause greater friction.
To avoid pilling, wash pieces inside out and hang dry. If your garment is already pilling, try a pill shaver to smooth out the look and feel of the piece.
Sweater are often susceptible to pills, so to avoid pilling, hang dry after washing them.
HOW DO I MOVE AWAY FROM THE SAME OUTFITS I WEAR ALL THE TIME AND GET SOME FRESH IDEAS ON HOW TO STYLE WHAT'S IN MY CLOSET?
It's important to look at your closet as your creative outlet rather than a puzzle you have to solve. There are many ways to put together a successful and stylish outfit, and know that you can do it using only the pieces you have currently in your closet.
Use colors with similar characteristics to pop two pieces off one another. Pair two brights like an aqua earring and a coral sundress or try mixing up neutrals by adding a navy shift dress under a black blazer.
Think outside the box, consider what occasion you wear certain pieces to. Try repurposing your weekend graphic tee under a blazer, along with a dressy denim, for the office. Pair your high-waisted work pencil pant with a crop top for a night out look. Throw your jumpsuit on under a blazer to create a business casual look that's edgy and clean.
Always finish your look with accessories and a bag that link to the whole look.
