From the office to the holiday party!

When I am at work and am anticipating an event I need to head to right after, I always get anxious. I am forever thinking about what to wear, going home and changing, and arriving unfashionably late! Just thinking about it is giving me the chills. So I say "Self! What if you could wear what your already wearing, but bring that little extra special something along with you to throw on before heading out the door!", genius ...I know.

So I came up with looks you can wear to the office, as well as your company's holiday party.

Tuxedo blazers with structured trousers.

If you commute to work you can bring the blazer on a hanger, and keep it in the coat closet until you are ready to head to your party, or keep it in your car, but this is such an easy way to spruce up an outfit.

As far as the trouser goes, wearing something that has a pattern or pop of color is just enough for work and play.

Shimmer

Poof! The glittery shimmery fairy just stopped by and sprinkled a magic touch into your closet that has your co workers  head's turning as you walk into that party.

Okay..no she didn't, but shimmer is always great for a holiday shindig. I find embellished skirts paired with a  motorcycle jacket are the perfect blend of sweet and sassy, or a blouse for an extreme feminine look.

Leather and Lace

If you're going to an open bar in NYC, or a nice sit down dinner,  you can wear leather and lace. A  lace dress with opaque tights and a leather jacket is one of favorite things to wear in a pinch. It is comfortable and cute enough to wear to work, but also dressy enough to wear out. I always keep a deep lipstick in my bag to make the look a bit more vampy. POW! We just packed a punch.

 You can accomplish all these looks without breaking the bank. At DoubleTake we pride ourselves on giving you the latest trends by top designers at the lowest prices. Let us see your holiday looks, possibly put together by one of our stylists, and tweet the look to @DoubleTakeCon #DTholidayattire

Narrowing in on Spring Trends

When it comes to pulling off a fashion trend, proper execution is key! I see a lot of young girls trying to pull off the looks they see in magazines, television, and online.

 "Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory" 

                                                                                      - Coco Chanel 

Ladies and gentlemen, it is imperative that you follow this one, basic simple rule. It makes all the difference, from looking trendy, to looking like your closet chewed you up and spit you out. Especially now because the retro look is coming back with uniquely shaped sunglasses, colorful and textured headbands, to bulky accessories. The one mistake I see is pairing ALL of these things together to try and mimic a specific look. UNNECESSARY! 

So I am here to help! These are a compiled list of photos showing the proper way to wear the upcoming trends of Spring.

Enjoy!

So ladies, if you are inspired by everyday street style, silver screen starlets, or the most recent fashion weeks in NYC and Paris, you can master these trends!

2013 Inauguration Fashion

Iconic. Perfection. These are just some ways to describe the fashion of the First Lady Michelle Obama. The entire Obama family walked into the White House with poise and grace looking more radiant than ever at their last and final inauguration for President Barack Obama.

Michelle is wearing a gorgeous coat and dress by NYC designer Thom Browne, a belt from J. Crew and boots from Reed Krakoff.

Elegance and a great sense of fashion are a few of the many things the First Lady has passed down to her daughters. They looked like such polished young ladies yesterday.  Malia was wearing a J. Crew plum peacoat with a blue frock underneath. Her younger sister Sasha also went with a pop of color wearing a purple sleeveless dress with a matching peacoat by Kate Spade, and a necklace as her statement piece.

The Obamas were not the only ones who looked amazing yesterday. Beyonce blew us out of the water yet AGAIN with her Pucci dress and Dior coat. She went above and beyond with over 2.5 million dollars worth of emerald accessories. She looked simply breathetaking. Jay-Z didn't look too bad either.

There was more fashion to celebrate during the Inauguration Ball. Michelle changed into a beautiful red gown by Jason Wu, the same designer who made her dress for the 2009 ceremony. 

  

The Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden also look fabulous during the ball wearing a silky blue Vera Wang gown.

Also dressed to the nines were performers Alicia Keys and Jennifer Hudson; both looked awe-inspiring. 

Alicia in Michael Kors Fall 2012                                                                  Jennifer in black gown and Charlotte Olympia heels

Congratulations to the Obama family, I wish them a successful term and look forward to the upcoming fashion they have to show us!

1960's Style Revival

        During this years Fall 2012 Fashion Week, Betsey Johnson showed unique looks that had strong 1960's undertones to the beat of some of our all time favorite Beatles songs including "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds." Her collection contained colorful and retro inspired looks like these tailored brown tweed pants, flashy wide brimmed hat, and bold patterned pink and orange floral blouse (as seen above right). Betsey's Fall Collection re-vamped the outdated 60's image, combining interesting fabrics and bold colors and patterns to put a fresh spin on the era's most timeless looks.
        This style has been all the rage this winter, and the trend will continue into spring. Check out these adorable peace & love Dior sandals (above left) available at DoubleTake Short Hills! Channel the hippie within you and draw inspiration from these unique designs reminiscent of counter culture revolution of the 1960's. Don't be afraid to mix and match interesting or abstract designs with unique fabrics and colors to make a bold statement. Or, pair one bright color with a more muted palette to create a toned down spin on this look. Just remember, fashion is all about taking risks and freedom of expression, so don't hesitate to get creative and let your inner aesthetic shine through!