Suzanne Carillo Style Files

Comfort is Key

Putting together a cute outfit can be fun and make you look great but if you don't feel comfortable in it then you simply won't wear it. Comfortable doesn't mean sweats and running shoes. You can still look great and be comfortable, it just takes some effort.

The most challenging part of making an outfit comfortable is the footwear. There are loads of wonderful shoes available that look amazing, but they aren't so fantastic when you put them on your feet and try to walk in them. My personal test to decide whether or not I should keep footwear is to buy the shoes, leave the tags on them and then go for a walk on my treadmill for at least a kilometer. If after a 1-2 km walk I don't have any  blisters or soreness I keep the footwear. I've taken many gorgeous shoes back to the store after my treadmill test. It's sad, but in the end I've decided I want to be able to wear my shoes, not just look at them in my closet.

Here is an outfit I wore when I went to Europe this past year. At the last minute I switched out the boots for some that were more comfortable. I'm glad I did. I literally walked for hours and hours all over London in this outfit.

Yes...that is my sister with me in the shot : ).





Dress, Belt & Scarf - H & M
Jacket & boots- TJ Maxx

1950's Style

I absolutely love the styles of the 1950's and 60's. Yes...I am a huge MadMen fan. It's going to be weird to finally be able to watch it again in Feb. Those 1950's styles are iconic and very flattering to the female form. Everyone looks good in a tight bodice and full skirt. In the 1950's the hemlines were lower than what I prefer so the updated versions are easier to wear since you don't need to be 6 ft tall to make it look good.

I was shocked to find this super cute 1950's inspired dress at Forever 21 in NYC, Times Square. The cut was brilliant...the colors I knew would be perfect on me and even better yet...it has pockets! Score! Yes, I'm a freak about having pockets in dresses or skirts. I'm not sure why...it's not like I'm carrying around tons of stuff in them, but I think it speaks to the amount of effort that has gone into making the garment and hey, it looks cute when you can put your hands in your pockets.

Shoes - Boc - TJ Maxx
Handbag - vintage
Necklace - by me : ) Suzanne Carillo
Sweater - Betsy Johnson
Brocade Coat - great shop in Anaheim that I can't remember the name of...sorry!

Love Card

Little card I quickly made with my new printable vintage cards and one of my digital papers.

Staples

Staples in a wardrobe are key classic pieces that go with just about anything. Good examples of staples would be a great pair of jeans, a well cut leather jacket, an animal print bag or a basic well cut cardigan. I love cardigans. They are comfortable, layer well and are great for traveling. All cardigans are not created equal. Finding a cardigan that works well with your body type is essential. I know that the over-sized "boyfriend" cardigans currently in fashion can look cute on on the mannequins but unless you are very tall and lean you will look short and sloppy when you put one of these on. A cardigan should fit smoothly against your body but shouldn't pull or gape at the buttons when it's buttoned up. It's length should be just above the hips or at your natural waist. In general, the shorter the cardigan, the longer it will make your legs look.

Different necklines on cardigans will also impact how you look. A scoop neck or v neck will elongate the body whereas a crop or high neck will make you look shorter. Keeping part of your neck line open will always make you look taller and thinner.

Skirt - Francescas
Cardigan - Joe Fresh
Shoes - TX Maxx
Handbag - Anthropologie
Necklace - by Me : )

*Wish*

I've been designing like crazy and I came up with this late last night. I really like how it turned out. I'm hoping to have a printable page of these on their own for purchase on Etsy soon.

Classic Hermes

Fashion as of late is quite disposable, which is a shame for us and our environment. In my Grandmother's era you would wear pieces in your wardrobe for years and years. One great blazer or dress might last you 15 years. Now it is difficult to even imagine that. Not only do our bodies change but fashion changes almost as quickly as technology. It's difficult to look current if you're wearing pieces from 5 years ago, let alone 15 years ago. There are some definite exceptions to the rule however and scarves are one of these exceptions. A beautiful scarf was fashionable when my Grandmother wore them and they are just as fashionable today. I treasure the stunning Hermes scarf my husband bought me many years ago.  Here I've paired it with a knit dress by PreLoved. PreLoved is a wonderful Toronto based company that up-cycles vintage sweaters into contemporary clothing. The look is completed with my favorite suede boots and the leopard bag. Animal prints are considered neutral and will go with anything in your wardrobe and are in fact another one of those items that are timeless, especially when in the form of a classic handbag.

Boots - Saks 5th Ave
Dress - PreLoved
Scarf - Hermes
Jacket - Danier
Bag - TJ Maxx

Valentine Hearts

Valentine's Day will soon be here and this is me wearing my "heart on my sleeve". Both the skirt and cardigan are from Forever 21 . The look has a cute retro vibe that I like and the Betty Boop shoes are perfect for it. The necklace I'm wearing is one that I've created and have for sale on Etsy.

Stylin' Girlfriend

I got a chance to practice my stylist skills this past week when I went and created 19 fab new looks for my girlfriend from her wardrobe. I just purchased a portable photography studio that allows me to set up in a person's home so I can get some good photos of the outfits. Each image is then attached to a Style File and cataloged into Spring - Summer and Fall - Winter binders.  Like Martha Stewart says...it's great to be organized! and like I say...even better to be looking hot while you're at it.

The papers and new embellishments on this layout are some of the new designs I've been working on.

Best Pie Recipe Ever!

What is better than peanut butter, chocolate and pretzels? Putting them all together in one amazing pie. LOVE this recipe by Nadia G from Bitchin' Kitchen my current favorite cooking show. If you've never seen it try to find it on the Food Channel. It's hilarious and the recipes are great.

Here is how mine turned out... I'm glad I got photos now because it's not going to last long.

Comfy Cowgirl

This look is unique in that the entire lower half is all cowgirl country while the upper half is big city.  Everything works together in part due to the colors and fabrics. The leather on the jacket ties into the leather boots. The top has so many colors in it I can choose any one to base the rest of my outfit on. Here I chose the orange and dark brown colors from the top.

Jean skirts are wonderful because they match anything.I have five different styles and lengths of jean skirts in my closet and I wear all them regularly. My legs look longer in this outfit because of the length of the mini skirt. The shorter the skirt...the longer your legs will appear. If you're nervous about wearing shorter skirts just pair them with tights or leggings, you'll still get the same elongation benefits without the risk of exposing yourself.

Cowboy boots are classic and will never go out of style. Personally I love them since they are so easy to walk in and I can wear them with dresses, shorts and jeans.

Top - Saks 5th Ave
Boots - TX Maxx
Skirt - 7 for all Mankind
Jacket - Danier
Handbag - Lucky
Belt- Tommy Hilfiger