Occasion:    Client meeting
Cabana stripe dress:    Target
White buttondown:    Nordstrom
Jacket:    Levi’s
Bubble necklace:    Ebay
Animal print bangles:    Pier 1
Watch:    Target
Bracelets:    Vintage and H&M
Wedges:    Target

It’s no secret that stripes are big this spring. Little stripes and big stripes alike have been seen in every store window, in many designer collections and walking down the streets on fashionable women everywhere.

In a recent online collaboration between stylist Rachel Zoe, Joe Zee of Elle Magazine, Neiman Marcus Fashion Director Ken Downing, and supermodel Coco Rocha, praises were sung of the “cabana stripe”. The cabana stripe is bold, it’s brave, and it’s popping up everywhere. (Watch the video here.)

As a personal stylist who gets this question from clients all the time, I know what you’re thinking… “There is no way I am wearing big ol’ horizontal stripes! Won’t that make me look heavier???”

The answer is a simple, “No.” And here is why:

The secret is to create an hourglass shape. In my outfit today, this simple tank dress really lacks the structured shape that flatters my body. To make the stripes work for my curves, I added a crisp buttondown shirt and denim jacket, both of which have clean, tailored lines. I also chose these two pieces for their length. Each layer gets gradually shorter as it nears my waist, drawing the eye to the smallest part of my body. Or, at least where that small part was before it began to be overtaken by baby bump! I topped the outfit off with a bold statement necklace (round baubles to contrast the hard lines) which also points the eye toward my waist. Putting my hair up in a (ridiculously) high bun helps to exaggerate the elongated silhouette created by the line of the floor-length maxi dress.

To sum it all up, I am letting my clothes do the work of creating a flattering image for me. With my ever-growing belly, this will get harder and harder. But I am determined not to “let it go” and to do my best to remain stylish at all points during my pregnancy. If you’re pregnant, or know someone who is, here’s where I’m getting a lot of my preggy-style inspiration these days. Happy Spring, Everyone!!!

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 { Linking up with these lovely ladies today. }

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Check out this look at Lucky!

Click here to check out my post on fun ways to wear belts!

Occasion:    Women’s community group and lunch with friends
Dress:    Old Navy Maternity
Chambray:    Target
Jacket:    ModCloth
Earrings:    Guess by Marciano
Belt:    Local boutique
Watch:    Target
Bracelets:     Vintage and HM
Boots:    Target

Style inspiration is everywhere. It’s in magazines and on websites. It is walking the runway and the sidewalks. And sometimes, it’s right there in your own closet.

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of finding style inspiration on Pinterest. So when I saw this look by Blair of Atlantic-Pacific, I knew I had to recreate it and make it my own:

I love the layering in her look and how she took a dress with a sweet print and paired it with a rough utilitarian completer jacket. I made the look more “me” by wearing my fave chambray with my new Old Navy maternity dress. Then I added my go-to ModCloth utility jacket (which I’ve been wearing a ton lately), and a bit of bling to finish the look. Plus, the look worked well with my growing baby bump. I had also planned on wearing my cream fedora, but well, the day dawned and I was having a good hair day. Who wants to cover that up???

I truly believe style inspiration is everywhere. Here are a few of my fave places to get a little fashion infused into my life:

• Pinterest:     This one is obvious. I love following other style bloggers, as well as fashion industry giants like Stacy London and Olivia Palermo.
• Magazines and other print media:    Vogue is a perennial favorite, but I find the fashion sections of magazines like InStyle to be more practical and relatable for regular girls like me.
• TV and movies:     I love watching shows like New Girl with Zooey Deschanel, as well as (guilty pleasure shows) Pretty Little Liars and Gossip Girl for up to the minute inspiration. Gotta love modern technology where you can just go online and find out where each actress is being dressed from.
• The streets:    It’s not only famed fashion photographers like Scott Schuman who can find fashion gems on the city streets. Go sit on a bench downtown and people watch for a while. Areas around universities and cultural centers are usually the best. Don’t hang out at tourist traps unless you wanna see a lot of logo tees and fanny packs.
• Unexpected places:    We have so much media at our fingertips. I love following designers and bloggers on Instagram for looks they wouldn’t otherwise have time to share. I receive catalogs in the mail that I peruse for ideas too. I was even thumbing through an ad for a local drugstore chain featuring a woman with the cutest layering. I will be recreating that look very soon!

 { Linking up with these lovely ladies today. }

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