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Spring Trends with Maggy London

March 18, 2017

Hello, dears!
I’m so excited to bring you another post sponsored by Maggy London! They sent me this gorgeous dress (the Stephani) to share with all of you. One of my favorite things about it, along with the very flattering, curve-hugging shape, is the midi length. It’s super on-trend for spring, and versatile enough that you’re not stuck wearing it to only casual or formal events. I’ve styled it two ways here, one look perfect for going out (hello, date night!), the other is something I would totally wear to work, perhaps with a little sweater thrown over my arms to ward off that office chill.
On the note of spring trends, I must confess that I’m going a bit crazy over all of the lovely ones that are coming out right now. I wanted to talk about a few of my faves, and the standout ways to incorporate them into your daily wardrobe.
First, is embroidery. Embroidery really started gaining momentum in the second half of last year, and I don’t see it slowing down anytime soon! My favorite ways to incorporate it are in small doses. A little on the collar of a blouse, on the back pocket of a pair of jeans, or even on pretty embroidered patches sewn on to a jean jacket.
You can’t have spring without pastels, and I’m not sure which is my favorite at the moment! From Tiffany blue to canary yellow, from pale pink to celadon, I’m not ruling anything out! I love to pair a pastel mani with a darker version of the color on my toes, like a sky blue and navy, to keep the effect from looking too cutesy. You can never go wrong with pairing a floaty pastel blouse with white jeans and espadrilles, it’s kind a no-brainer spring look!
I keep seeing shoes (think flats, not heels) with bows on them, and I’m obsessed. Other footwear trends I’m currently coveting are cutouts (like both of the pairs I’m wearing in these looks!), dove grey suede, bold pops of color paired with an otherwise neutral look, like an all-white ensemble, and espadrille wedges.
As for jewelry, I’m still loving chokers, but have been gravitating towards less severe styles. A delicate gold choker paired with a couple of longer beaded strands is totally up my alley. Layered and wrap bracelets and still topping my list for wristwear, along with little gold rings and midi rings with and without crystals so that your hands catch the light when you talk with them (which I so frequently do!)
I’d love to hear what some of your favorite trends for spring are… Which prints and colors are grabbing your eye this season?
As a treat for all of my subscribers, Maggy London has been gracious enough to give away this dress to one lucky winner! Go to my Instagram and look for the giveaway picture for details on how to enter! The contest will be going until 8PM PST on March 23rd.

Dress c/o Maggy London // Heels / Dolce Vita // Clutch / Rebecca Minkoff // Rings and bracelet / LA finds

Dress c/o Maggy London // Bag / J.Crew // Heels / Halogen // Necklace and rings / LA finds // Bracelet / vintage

Shot by Holli Zenko Photography.

This post contains affiliate links. Clicking on these links or purchasing items through them may provide me with a small commission.

How to Dress for Holiday Parties Without Freezing

November 30, 2016

Hello, loves!
Well, typical Southern California, we skipped fall and headed straight on in to winter! Mark and I just returned from the East coast, visiting family, and I thought we would be coming back to moderate temps and sunshine! The temps are actually about the same, but it just feels so much colder here today. With all of the festive events coming up, I wanted to share a couple of tips on how to dress for holiday parties without freezing, because of course we all want to look cute (and/or sexy), but also don’t want to be distracted by how cold we are!

First and foremost, consider outerwear. I flash to any of the wintery episodes of Gossip Girl for inspiration. Some of their coats and jackets were more bedazzled than the dresses underneath! I love this idea, because some places you’ll end up will require you actually keep your outerwear on, so why not treat everyone to some extra glitz? Another idea is to add a lovely cluster of brooches to the lapel of a simpler coat to give it a sparkle boost. If the climate is more moderate, opt for a cape, like I did here, to create interesting lines and still show off some of your outfit underneath.

Your bottom half.. No, I’m not suggesting wearing pants for all of your holiday festivities, but a nice pair of thick, opaque tights under a dress or skirt can really help shield you from the bitter cold. If you’re rocking a solid colored dress, consider patterned tights for an unexpected take.

For footwear, heels are lovely, and I still prefer them because they make me feel more “dressed-up”, but a classic pair of heeled knee-high boots or sleek ankle booties are another great way to add warmth and coverage. Just make sure you don’t wear a pair that’s scuffed/too plain or it makes the overall look much more casual. And please, for the love of everything, no UGGS.

Lastly, I love a pashmina or fringe scarf for keeping the heat in around your neck and shoulders. It’s something you can keep on after taking your jacket off that doesn’t look too bundled up, and I LOVE a bold pair of dangly earrings against an artfully folded scarf.

Check out how I’ve styled the gorgeous Vivian Sheath Dress from London Times, and see what other lovely new dresses they’re offering for this holiday party season.

Dress c/o London Times
Shot by Holli Zenko Photography

This post is sponsored by London Times. Items contained in this post were provided to me for reviewing purposes. This post also contains affiliate links and clicking on them or purchasing items through them may provide me with a small commission. This is part of what helps keep Dressed for Time going.

12 Ways to Style an LBD

October 1, 2016

Hi loves,
I’m back with another fun post sponsored by London Times, showing 12 ways to style an LBD! I’m sharing how to take a little black dress from day to night, or from work to play. With everyone’s schedules jam-packed and getting increasingly more hectic as the holidays approach, it makes sense to have a couple of go-to pieces that can easily transition from work meetings to a movie date, or from shopping to a night out on the town. We all have accessories lying around that can make an outfit pop, like statement necklaces or a pair of bright heels, and also ones that can tone a more formal dress down, like a knit scarf, denim jacket and ballet flats. Having a basic foundation piece like a great-fitting little black dress makes it so easy to transition between events and occasions throughout the day (or the week). Here are a couple of outfit formulas I love:

Fall Layers – throw on a pair of black tights (patterned or solid), ankle booties and a knit scarf.

Brunch Perfect – Top an LBD with an olive military-style jacket, layers of gold necklaces and beige lace-up heels.

Edgy – With a shorter LBD, rock some OTK boots and a little biker jacket.

Chic & Simple – Layer on a camel knit cardigan, nude pumps, and a tan satchel or bucket bag.

Sunday Casual – Wear shiny black leather booties and a light denim jacket for the perfect weekend shopping outfit.

Classy Night Out – Choose a black belt with a metal hardware accent, pointy-toe pumps and a little clutch. This outfit also looks gorgeous with all of the accessories in white.

Transitional Layers – Pair a tan or olive cardigan with a leopard scarf, tan bag, and lace-up flats or sandals.

Pop of Bright (or Leopard) – Take a basic black dress and throw on some bright (I love fuchsia and cobalt for this) or leopard-print heels, and keep the rest of the look simple.

Relaxed Trench – Top an LBD with a grey or camel trench coat, a black leather bucket bag and white sneakers.

I know this classic lace-embellished dress is black and white, but I still feel like it can be classified as an LBD because it has versatility and elegance. I also love the little shimmer in the skirt fabric. See the three ways I styled it below.

Dress c/o London Times // Bag / Nordstrom // Heels / Ivanka Trump // Bracelet / J. Crew
Paired with a classic wool trench, rich (faux) leather bag, and ankle-strap heels, this look could easily transition from a work meeting to a night out if you carry a smaller clutch inside the tote!

Dress c/o London Times // Boots / Alfani // Tights / Hue // Sunnies / Amazon
For a cozier look, I combined this knit cape with knee-high boots and tights. I was so sad that the statement necklace I wanted to wear with this outfit BROKE as I was putting it on, because I definitely think this look could use a little sparkle, but that didn’t stop me from twirling around!

Dress c/o London Times // Jacket / JcPenney // Bag / Poshmark // Necklace / The Crowned Crane // Tights / Hue // Bracelet / Ronnie M // Sunnies / Amazon
This might have been my favorite look, and I think that it’s perfection for brunch or a casual date. The wedge booties are comfortable but still give a little height, and the military-inspired jacket and crossbody bag lend a casual vibe.

London Times has been KILLING IT in the LBD realm, and I’m loving so many of the dresses they’re offering right now. I also am thrilled that they offer their dresses in a wide range of sizes, so everyone can find something beautiful that works for their body type. Check out their new arrivals here.

Shot by Holli Zenko Photography.

This post is sponsored by London Times. Items in this post were provided to me for reviewing purposes. Any thoughts/opinions are my own. By clicking on the links in this post, I may be compensated. This is part of what helps me continue doing what I love to do, sharing styling tips and trends with you! ?

The Versatility of an LBD

September 24, 2016

Hi loves!
I’d like to talk about something I think that everyone, and I mean everyone, should have in their closet, the little black dress! They can be worn for pretty much any occasion, from work to play, to a wedding or a funeral, to cocktail parties or for date night. With the addition (or sometimes subtraction) of accessories, shoes, and jewelry, almost every LBD can be worn to multiple events, on the same day if necessary!
When looking for versatility in an LBD, I search for one with a few key factors…
Length – at my work, nothing shorter than knee-length will fly. If you’re in a more casual work environment, or your day doesn’t consist of heading in to an office, a shorter hemline is fine, just keep the taste level in check.
Neckline – the same goes in this respect for keeping it classy. You can always add on sparkly accessories and sky-high heels for after-hours, but a plunging V isn’t usually going to work for at the office, limiting it’s versatility.
Fabric – I shy away from anything particularly delicate if it’s a piece I want to get tons of use out of. Also, less sturdy fabrics have a tendency to wrinkle more easily, and it kind of takes away from the day-to-night appeal if you have to steam your dress in-between!
Embellishments – I love a beaded neckline or fun trim, just picture which accessories will pair well with a dress that already has a bit of it’s own personality.
Waistline – It may sound like a funny thing to take in to consideration, but I generally search for dresses that will look great when worn with a belt. A drop-waist or empire-waist dress wouldn’t work with a belt, so I avoid those styles.

Here, I’m wearing a gorgeous dress from the new London Times Curve Fall Collection. This style and other great LBD’s are now available online. This one was love at first sight, because I adore the mixed textures, the high neckline (to truly highlight a statement necklace), and you all know lace is pretty much my favorite thing. I could easily pair it with a bright cardigan and flats for work, layered under a trench coat with tights and booties in cooler weather, or with metallic accessories and a bold red lip. Perfection!

What’s your favorite way to style an LBD?
I’d love to hear in the comments below.

Dress c/o London Times // Heels / Ivanka Trump // Belt / Steve Madden // Earrings / vintage // Cocktail ring / Alexis Bittar // Gold rings / Forever 21

Shot by Holli Zenko Photography.