Second City Style Fashion Blog - Style, Luxury, Beauty & Shopping

Ask the Bean: Swinging with Style - Scoring a Fashionable Hole in One

Dear Bean:

Golf season has started, and I am required to attend several golf outings for my company. I have never been an avid golfer, and the khaki and argyle look makes me want to resort to being a stubborn rebel teenager all over again. What can I wear on the golf course that is comfortable, fashionable, and won’t get me fired?

Signed,
Fashion Mulligan

Dear Mulligan:

Ah, the wardrobe of the golfer. Unlike most sports during which you wear a uniform or something you don’t care about being ruined by sweat, golf requires clothing with a more “refined” air. It may just be a way for one’s golf swing to look more dignified, or maybe those who started the game loved the polo/argyle/pleat-front khaki look. However not everyone can swing a golf club with a stylish air, or feel stylish in the golf ensemble.

Bad news first: Almost all golf courses have dress codes — I think the exception may be mini-golf. Since these are corporate golf outings you are attending, they are probably being held at nicer country clubs, which usually have a strict dress code for the golf course. The dress code usually requires a collared shirt, good-quality polo or mock turtleneck, and Dockers-like shorts or pants (nothing that goes too high above the knee). Some courses are more lenient on the collar rule, but it’s always smart to call ahead to the course you will be playing at to make sure you won’t get sent home for dress code evasion.

Read more "Ask the Bean" here.

Ask the Bean: Fighting the Gladiators

Dear Bean:

I see them everywhere, but I just can’t get into the trend of gladiator sandals. I adore new shoe trends, especially in the summer, but is there any of this type of trend out there that doesn’t look so…historic?

Signed,
Trend Wary

Dear Wary:

I agree, gladiators have taken the sandal trend by storm. However, some sandals are a little too similar in my opinion to those worn during the Ancient Roman era. That look is fantastic for that of a toga party, however for an afternoon of shopping or happy hour attire, it should be kept in the costume bin.

Yet some designers have taken the inspiration of the gladiator sandal to create some amazing pieces of footwear. Finding them and differentiating them between past and future can promise a quest, but its successful completion is a just reward for the journey.

Read more "Ask the Bean" here.

Ask the Bean: Chic Comfort

Dear Bean:

As much as I love fashion, when it comes down to my wardrobe I opt for comfort over style and ultimately end up wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Is there a way to dress up my casual look without trying too hard?

Signed,
Sloppy Shirt

Dear Reader:

There is nothing sloppy about being comfortable. I would never dare take you away from your favorite pair of jeans. However, I applaud you for recognizing the fine line that can easily be crossed between casual and disheveled.

First off, one woman’s casual can be another woman’s glamour. So it’s important to know where you fit when it comes to wearing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. If your jeans are held together by a piece of thread and your t-shirt should have been retired to a dishrag three months ago...then you may want to start from scratch with your task of putting some snap into your style.

But if you are just looking to update a look that you feel just needs a little bit of a kick, then examine why. Is it because your jeans are dragging on the floor due to your flip flops? Is it because your t-shirt is just a little bit too stretched out to make you feel shapely? Or is it because you have a knapsack thrown over your shoulder that boasts the opposite side of the color wheel than that of your jacket?

Read more "Ask the Bean" here.

Ask the Bean: Not Just Your Basic Tee

Dear Bean:
I dress in business attire every day for work, I dress up to go out with my friends at night, and every once in a while, I just want to throw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. However I don’t want to look like I just threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Are there any tees that aren’t so casual?
Signed,
T-Shirt Trauma

Dear Trauma,
Who would have thought the simple combination of “t-shirt and jeans” could become so complicated? It is probably the most comfortable and carefree outfit in the fashion world, however is it so hard to find a t-shirt/jeans combination that doesn’t equal baggy denim with a shapeless top? And the last thing we want to do is complicate the outfit because the whole point of the t-shirt and jeans is to be able to throw them on, look naturally fantastic, and run out the door.

Jeans are usually easy. We as women have a natural obsession with denim, thereby resulting in owning at least five pairs. T-shirts on the other hand, are usually overlooked in order to buy the blouse, jacket, camisole, or pair of shoes. So when it comes to the point on a Sunday morning to grab the t-shirt option, there just aren’t many that seem favorable.

Read more "Ask the Bean" here.

Bad Fashion! The Legs are the Last to Go

What would you do if you had $800 extra dollars to spend on whatever you wanted? New shoes, maybe? With that chunk of change you could get a new pair of Loubies, or how about a new bag? You can get an impressive designer bag on sale right now for that price. Or, if you really wanted to have a some fashion fun, how about a pair of sequined leggings?

These leggings, made by Les Chiffoniers, and sold on Net-a-porter for $815 might be the ugliest thing I've seen in a very long time.

Let's take a minute to talk about sequins. They're something fashionistas go back and forth on, because while they are shiny and fun, they do have a tendency to evoke bad memories from Show Choir camp or David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust in the 70's.

On the other hand, nothing says party like dressing yourself up as a life size disco ball, so if you just can't resist the urge to wear sequins, why not try a fun top, or a dress? Miu Miu made some awesome sequin pumps that are a fab alternative for all you sequin lovers out there. Or you could wear a sequin headband. Really I don't care what you wear, as long as it's not these leggings!

I can't wait to see celebrities trying to pull these off come fashion week. We know someone will, the only question is will it be a man, a woman, or a tranny? My vote goes for the latter, although I wouldn't be surprised to see legging lover Lindsey Lohan start wearing these  Whoever it is, we'll be sure to keep you updated!

- Alice Hayes

Ask the Bean: Working With Winter

Dear Bean:


Dear Chilled,

With the rapidly-dropping temperatures, I have found myself becoming disheartened when dressing for work. I just want to be warm, but my office definitely wouldn’t allow my chunky sweater, sweat pants and UGG boots. What can you suggest for a warmer working wardrobe option without sacrificing fashion or resulting in my getting sent home from the office?

Signed,
Chilled

The winter months are known for sweaters and slippers. Unfortunately, the stereotype doesn’t translate to the working world. The last thing I want to do in the morning is decide which wool suit to wear again, and debate which pumps won’t result in an imminent injury while trying to walk on the ice-covered sidewalks. Having a fashionable season during the winter months is a daunting task, but it can be accomplished!

The solution to staying warm and being work-friendly takes some planning. Make sure you have the basics and know how each can be mixed and matched. That way there isn’t a lot of pondering on your part every morning. Plus you know you’ll be stepping out in style while prepped to battle the snow banks.

Read more "Ask the Bean: Working With Winter" here.

Ask the Bean: Sizing up Sizes: What Size Am I Really?

Dear Bean:

I seem to face a constant struggle whenever I go shopping. I noticed that almost every item I try on that claims to be my size fits differently. The pants I try on at Banana Republic are two sizes smaller than those in Max Studio, and they both fit me the same. And the Medium in J. Crew is different than the Medium in Mango. Is there a way to know what size I am without having to try on four sizes in each store?

Signed,
Sized-Up

Dear Sized-Up:

Over the years, asking a woman’s size has become a complicated affair. It used to be very straight-forward: “I am a 6”, “I am a 12”, and so on. Now instead we have to ponder and respond: “Well I’m a size 6 in this store, a size 4 in this one and a size 14 at this other one”. Sizing has become as wide-range as the average woman’s shoe collection.

In the United States we prefer to be original and inventive. Therefore we still use miles instead of kilometers, and we created our own standard clothing sizing. We can walk into any vintage clothing store and know that those clothes were not originally sized the same as the ready to wear lines in stores now. One of the primary reasons for that is, in the 1980s, the United States created its coined “Catalog Sizes”, which are on average six sizes larger than the original standard.

Then in 2006, an article in the Boston Globe stated that many stores created new sizing measurements to cater to petites and women of a certain age (read full article at: boston.com/news). So not only has our clothing sizes changed over the years, but in some situations sizing standards are deemed irrelevant.

Read more "Sizing up Sizes: What Size Am I Really?" here

Advice. Ask The Bean: Stretching Out the Sweater Trend

Dear Bean:

Do you remember the rage over the long black cardigans several years back? I fell in love with the look and bought two, but then I noticed the garment disappeared from the fashion scenes almost entirely. I know that we hear of trends coming back in vogue, and I don’t want to let go of them. Do you see the long cardigan coming back, or should I add them to the Goodwill box?

Signed,
Sweater Gal

Dear Sweater Gal,

Oh how could one forget the moment that took fashion by storm! It was every woman’s dream — one piece that could turn a white t-shirt and jeans into a statement of class and sophistication (not to mention it provided that ever-lovely illusion of “slim”). Then once Julia Roberts donned this exact outfit in the film America’s Sweethearts, every closet seemed to be automatically filled with at least two of these magical cardigans. However with such high and fast popularity, the probability of the trend becoming the equivalent of a radio hit that has reached the status of “overplayed” becomes very likely. And unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened.

With that being said, I think the break was well worth the vacation. Because after a couple of hibernation seasons, the long cardigan is back! So don’t add to that Goodwill box yet, and start scouring the shops for some enhancements to the look. You will start to see more of those long knits back on the streets as they did their fair share of strutting on the runway this past February during New York Fall Fashion Week. But instead of the ageless black, they’ve pumped it up a notch to feature embellishments, patterns, cloth and styles to make these long sweaters not trends, but staples.

Read the rest of "Ask the Bean" here.

Ask the Bean: College Days - Dressing for the Empty Nest

Dear Bean:

My daughter is off to college this fall. I’ve been prepping myself for being used to her being out of the house. I also am realizing that not only did my schedule revolve around hers, so did my wardrobe. I have been a housewife for the past 18 years and I have the appropriate attire for track meets, soccer games, group parties and my recovery sweats when I have downtime. I don’t know where to start with a wardrobe that compliments my new open schedule. Can you please help?

Best,
Soccer Mom

Dear Soccer Mom:

The transition into the “empty nest” is difficult in and of itself. And you are absolutely correct — you’ve been a supportive parent in more ways than just the carpool coordinator. Now that your daughter is setting forth to become her own independent individual, you now have the opportunity to do the same — in style. Fall brings forth a new semester and new fashion lines. Reward yourself with attire that displays as much.

First off — pack the track pants and sweatshirt away and start donning the “Ladies Who Lunch” look, because I’m sure some of your friends are also going through the same situation. What better way to support one another through this transition than friendly banter and fashion?

My very first suggestion is this: Read magazines. If you don’t already subscribe to any type of fashion publication, do so now. Add Lucky, Vogue, Harper’s, InStyle, Elle, and any others into your reading regimen. By knowing what other people are wearing, you can begin figuring out what designers and looks you like and what you can see yourself wearing. Next step: Start shopping. Once you know what you want, take the next step and see how it fits. When you find out what looks good and feels good, you can quickly acquire the palette for your updated wardrobe. Then start having fun with accessories.

Read more "Ask the Bean" here.

How to Stretch Your Fashion Dollar. Style Series At B-Chicago. Carol's Chicago Spring/Summer Must Have List

Carol Calacci presenting tips at the Style Series wearing Nougat dress from B.

Here's what you missed if you could not make it to the Style Series at B last night. Carol Calacci, co-founder of Second City Style presented tips on how to stretch your fashion dollar and showed perfect examples of items on her "Chicago 2008 Spring/Summer Must Have List" available at the boutique.

B Model Deidre wears an alternative to the Little Black Dress,
this Roger Perry dress that Style Series attendees adored. 

How to Stretch your Fashion Dollar

Saving money on your wardrobe does not mean buying everything on sale or having to settle for low-quality clothing. Stretching your dollar and your wardrobe can be achieved by making smart decisions and only investing the items you really need. Save the bargains and sales for new trends. Purchase an item because it expresses your own personal style...not just because it's a trend!

Make a list so you will be less likely to stray off course. Just like going to the grocery store, if you stay focused you won't impulse shop.

1. Shop your own closet. You may already have some of the items on the list. However, fit is most  important. Do a little research work. Try things on. If your 'perfect' black pants are no longer so perfect, they will need to be replaced or altered. The proper underwear can do wonders for the way clothes fit. Additonally, if you notice items you never wear, get rid of them. Take note of what you actually do wear in a given week and make a list. Fill that frustrating void in your wardrobe where you "wish you had" something: maybe it’s a short jacket, a long sleeve blouse, or a dressier t-shirt.

2. Set a budget. Use the handy list you just made and jot down how much you think each item may cost and how much you will be willing to spend for quality on the item. Consider cost per wear. If you are going to wear an item every week, or even several times per week, like a jacket, it may be worth it to spend extra on something that is high quality and designer styled. A $500 jacket you wear 50 times costs $10 “per wear”. A $200 jacket that you only wear two times costs $100 per wear. You'll feel better about how you look when you wear a high quality item that you love. I have also found designer garments in a classic style holds their value because they so well designed. Shop at boutiques like B-Chicago which offer helpful (and honest!) advice and service and you'll never need to pay for a wardrobe stylist.

3. Keep the base of your wardrobe classic. The good news is that vintage looks were all over the runways for fall, and designers are always influenced by the past. So buy classic styling. Try something that has style from a particular era, like a 40's blouse or the 60's shift. These vintage classics, if the style and fit is right for you, will never look dated and you will treasure them for years.

4. Find your own personal style. This may be a tough for some, but remember that closet you just shopped in? What did you see a lot of? What are you drawn to? Also where do you want to shake it up? Think of the colors, motifs, and shapes that you are personally drawn to, no matter if it is “in style” or not. One good thing about getting older, is that you know what you like. You may realize that you've always liked animal prints. Or you may see that you need an animal print! Or you may need some color in that monochromatic safe closet!

5. Wear things over and over! You don't need one in every color. Instead, change your accessories. Keep your life simple! Fewer items and finer clothing is better. Challenge yourself to recreate a new look with what you already have. Give yourself a time frame like it’s fun a game. For example, try to put together a new look within an hour!

6. Be prepared each season! Life is so much easier when you know you have everything you need to wear in your closet! Creating a budget and making a list will make the process easy!

Invest in items from your "Must Have List" however, there are no set rules. You may find a great deal on a trench coat, and then splurge on a bright handbag. Or maybe you don't need to spend much on a casual skirt, so spend more on the trench!

Look pulled together while walking down Michigan or Fifth Avenue! Think about how many people see you when you are out and about. Remember the "Shop Cops" - Second City Style’s fashion police may be watching! You don't want to wind up on Second City Style as an example of what not to wear!

2008 Spring/Summer Must Have List
1. Blouse or Tunic (white recommended)
2. Cotton t-shirt or tank
3. Pants (lightweight wool or cotton trousers, neutral colors)
4. Jeans (dark denim, trouser cut is a good option)
5. Jacket (a great fit for your body type)
6. Cardigan
7. Trench/Rain Coat
8. Casual Skirt/Shorts/Capris (one is all you need - suit your body type!)
9. Dress (cotton is great for Chicago humidity, shirt dresses look professional)
10. Little Black Dress (for weddings and special occasions)
11. Tote Bag (Avoid paper shopping bags - get it together!)
12. Walking shoes (Nix the white athletic shoes or flip flops for the street!
Not only are they ugly - flip flops are dangerous!)
12. Closed-toe pumps
13. Sandals (heels, platforms, flats or wedge to suit your needs)
14. Scarf (can become a top, belt or wrap)
15. Proper Foundation (strapless bra, smooth nude colors, Spanx)

Trend List 2008 Spring/Summer
(purchase a la carte, a la your own style)
Try to limit these items to a few, unless it fits your budget or it can cross over as an item on the "Must Have List!"
• Shot of Bright Color (from a wild shoe or sandal to a handbag or t-shirt)
• Belts (from thick to thin can convert a dress, tunic or blouse to be more flattering,    dressy, or business-like)
• Floral/Geometric/Abstract Art Prints
• Safari (dresses, shirts, jackets, shorts)
• Statement Necklace
• Cuff Bracelets
• Patent Leather Accessories
• Gladiator Sandals
• Maxi Dresses
• Clutch Bag
• Full Skirts

—Carol Calacci

b-chicago.com
B
1117 W Armitage
Chicago, IL 60614
773-665-1102
Sale on Now! Get 40% off on most Spring/Summer items!