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Business Dinner

We have all had to attend at one time or another a business dinner either for ourselves or our significant others.  Going to these events ususally sends women into a panic with "what to wear".  

Here are a few tips to help pick out the perfect outfit.

TIP 1

Better to be overdressed than underdressed.

When in doubt, opt for a dress and heels.  A maxi dress is a perfect solution too.

http://impressionsnwa.com

TIP 2 

No mini skirts or short dresses...PERIOD.

Now is not the time to bust out your shortest skirt or tightest dress.  This is a business dinner, not a rock concert.

http://www.nastygal.com/

Need I say more???

TIP 3 

Dress conservatively.  

You are not going on a "date" with your significant other so keep the bare skin to a minimum.  It is not appropropriate to look like a hooker.

http://simplyme091909.blogspot.com/

TIP 4

 "Casual" does not mean "Sloppy".

If your dinner dress code is business casual, wear your denim with heels and bold jewelry.

Olivia Palmero

Photo Courtesy of http://apieceoftoastblog.com/

What I Wore

Brandon and I went to a business dinner in Boston

Us in the hotel lobby of the Fairmont Hotel.

My new shoes!  

J.Crew (on sale), Jewelry (Stella & Dot)

Faux Wrap Dress (J.Crew - Old)

Dining Spot

My dinner looking at me!

P.S.  I was overdressed :)

Pattern Play

Mixing prints can be tricky.  Here are a few tips to pull it off successfully.

1. Start with a stripe

Striped clothing are becoming the new basics and can be mixed with florals, dots, or even other stripes.

http://www.brooklynblonde.com

Photo courtesy of http://www.azcentral.com

2. Use accessories to play with patterns

Of course leopard is my favorite accessory to play around with! 

Photo courtesy of http://shelterinteriordesign.blogspot.com

Photo courtesy of http://asequindressatbreakfast.com/

3. Pick a color and go! 

Have fun and choose a color that coordinates instead of clashes.

Photo courtesy of http://atlantic-pacific.blogspot.com/

What did I wear?

I kept it tonal with dots and stripes.

Top - Francescas (last year), Skirt - J.Crew (gifted from a friend), Jewels - Stella & Dot

Added a pop of color with my shoes from J.Crew (similar)

Happy Mixing! 

Summer Soiree

summer essentials part 3 by jmewbourne featuring vintage necklaces


Let's get real here.  It's hotter than hell in the summer time.  Trying to pull off an adult evening without looking like you just sat in a steam room for four hours can seem impossible.


What can we wear?  Dresses my friends.  They are like a one stop shop.  Run out this weekend and buy a few with all the Memorial Day sales going on.  You will thank me later, I promise.


Your Top 3 Summer Dress Essentials


1. The Maxi Dress
Just let it all hang out - no one will know, unless you let the "girls" hang out.
Then we will know.

Jessica Simpson - $148

or

Target - $33

2. The Knit Dress
Throw on to run errands, go to lunch, or hang out by the pool.  Looks great worn with flip flops or dressed up with wedges and fun jewels.

Target - $30

or 

The Loft - $49.50

Currently $39.50!

3. The Printed Dress
Everyone needs a fun flirty print to wear to parties, or on a date with your special someone.  

Felecity & Coco - $78

Enjoy your long weekend! 

and 

Happy Shopping!

Poolside

Well hello summer! 

summer essentials part 2 by jmewbourne featuring tory burch shoes

The only people truly excited about the pool opening this weekend are small children and women who look good in bathing suits.  You know who you are.  You lost all your baby weight the day you got home from the hospital, you "forget" to eat during important meal times, you can't find a two-piece smaller than a size 2.  Yeah - I have three words for you...Eat a cookie.


For the rest of us - sitting poolside is not as glamorous.  The second part of my summer uniform is a bathing suit and a cover up.  A great cover up can take you from the pool to a casual restaurant without feeling too slimy from the day's events.


Key note to take away from this - a cover up is just that - it should "cover" you up.  Find one that leaves a little to the imagination - especially if you plan on doing a little dinner after the pool.


Don't forget your sunscreen!

Summer Uniform

Summer Essentials by jmewbourne featuring summer tops

School is Out! 

As a mom of two, my summer uniform is going to need to be simple and to the point.  My "Go To" pieces are going to be bright colored bottoms, stripe tee's, printed tee's, and flats.  My cell phone is of course a necessary accessory.  I might as well be naked without it.
It is okay to be casual and comfortable during the summer months.  Just don't let yourself go completely.  It is possible to look pulled together and keep cool.

What will your summer uniform be? 

White On White

One of the best things about Pinterest is I get to stalk fashion giants like Tory Burch, and Fashion Guru, Nina Garcia, without them getting a restraining order against me.  These women who know everything fashion post pictures of up and coming trends on their Pinterest boards.  It is like my own personal oasis.


After discovering Nina's boards (yes, we are on a first name basis), I stumbled across her Fall 2012 trends.  Fall, you ask?  It's not even summer!  Well people - we have to be one step ahead of the game.  So one trend that caught my eye was "White".  

Jil Sander

Tory Burch

Prabal Gurung

Philosophy di Alberta Ferreti

Oscar de la Renta

I laugh to myself because one thing New Yorkers forget about southern women is that we do not wear white after Labor Day.  Oh, you can certainly try, but you'll get an eyebrow raised in your direction or a snicker made behind your back.  White on pasty white skin is not the greatest color combination.


So why not wear white on white now???  It's after Easter, the sun is out, our skin tones are evolving into a sun kissed glow.


Here are a few tips for trying the trend -

1. Your whites don't have to match.

2. Add a touch of sparkle or texture to add some dimension to your look.

3. Break it up with a jacket to add interest.  You can also insert a denim jacket here too.

Happy Shopping!