To end the week, a few quick fashion questions. White blouses and sweaters, dry skin, rose gold earrings, and more. Let’s close the week out right.
Hi Abra –
I am hoping you can help me find some classic white tops/sweaters that are not see through and are durable (aka, will last for awhile with no discoloring, piling, etc). Any suggestions?
Thanks! JTC
Classic white blouses and sweaters are a wardrobe essential. Here are some suggestions:
Blouses. A sleeveless Haute Hippie bow top. A Michael Kors Silk Crepe Blouse. A Boden lace top. A Brooks Brothers Nine-to-Nine Top.
Plus? Talbot’s Wrinkle Resistant Popover and Land’s End Peplum Blouse. Petite? Calvin Klein Pleated Sleeveless Blouse. Maternity? Pea in the Pod Sheer Detail Blouse.
Sweaters. An Everlane chunky cotton crew. A J.Crew Mockneck Tunic Sweater (it pills a bit, but is easily cleaned with a stone). Michael Kors Shaker Cowlneck Sweater.
Plus? Karen Scott Luxsoft Sweater. Petite? LOFT Stitchy Cable Sweater. Maternity? Pea in the Pod Open Front Cardigan.
Hi!
I have dry, flaky, “winter” skin under and around my eyes, and regular moisturizer just isn’t cutting it. I don’t know if I need to moisturize or exfoliate or what. Any suggestions for this delicate area? Thanks!
– Whitney
If you want to exfoliate around your eyes, it’s best to do it gently with a nubby wash cloth. Your goal is only to remove the driest skin. I find that when nothing is working, coconut oil or Aquaphor is your only hope.
Hi Belle,
I’m on the hunt for some every day rose gold earrings. I’d like to keep it under $100. Any ideas?
Thanks! Claire
These modern rose gold droplet earrings are the perfect mix of feminine and chic. Sailor knot studs are a classic. I also like these textured hoops. Need clip-ons? Try these Kenneth Coles.
Belle,
I finally invested in a DVF wrap dress for the office and I’m in love! Unfortunately, it’s not quite appropriate due to the deep v neckline and my non-existent chest…you can see the between-the-cups center portion of my bra no matter how I tie the dress. I’m on the petite side, so I’ve run into this issue before with wrap dresses. Any suggestions?
Thank you, JS
Your first option is a simple alteration. You essentially shorten the distance between the shoulder and the bust. It takes a good tailor to keep the dress from looking like an empire waist post-alteration, but this often works for me.
The second option is a v-neck camisole. This lace camisole or this mesh camisole will work nicely. The closer you can match the neckline, the better.
Hi Abra!
It’s getting cold in DC and, unfortunately I can’t wear heels. How do you style low/no heeled boots with slacks for a business casual appropriate look? (i.e. with slacks, not jeans). Thanks!
– Sari
These black Michael Kors boots have a narrow upper opening to accommodate being worn under pants. These grey suede Delman Wiley boots are also worth a look. And don’t miss these Hudson London Chelsea boots.
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For Whitney – I found the solution to the winter under eyes was adjusting the heat where I sleep. Try moving your bed or adding an air deflector to prevent the air from blowing on your face. Also, Clinique’s “all about eyes” works wonders!
For JS- check out “second base” camis (love the name) or spanx arm tights. Both fit tight undertow bustand raise the neckline without bulk on the torso so they maintain the look of the dress. I’ve also had luck with a tailor adding a hook in the neckline
Regarding the reader asking about the DvF dresses: I used to have this issue as well. I found that going up a size in a DvF wrap dress really helps–you can get more of the wrap around your body to make the neckline higher. Since you’re wrapping it, the waist and body still fit correctly. If the sleeves are too long in the larger size its an easy alteration.
For flat boots in the office, you might also like:
Blondo Lynne Waterproof Boots
https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/blondo-lynne-waterproof-bootie-women/4684503?origin=keywordsearch&keyword=blondo+lynne
Munro Lexi Boot:
https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/munro-lexi-boot-women/3739893
RE: dry eye skin – I purchased the TINIEST jar that they sell of the La Mer Creme De La Mer a while back (which, don’t get me wrong, was still incredibly pricey) because I had to see for myself what all the fuss was about with this supposed miracle cream. Turns out, it’s too heavy for my skin type, even as a night cream on my driest days. But I found that it works wonders just around my eye area as an eye cream. One light tap of my ring finger in the jar is enough to cover the area around one eye, so the jar is going to last me forever. If I had to do it again I would skip purchasing it and just request samples of it when I make my other makeup and skincare purchases. It might be a little extra effort, but places like nicer department stores and Bluemercury will usually decant pretty hefty samples for you in-store.
I’ve had trouble with small flakes around my eyes and nose this winter- Ole Henrikson’s Sheer Transformation has worked wonders. I put it on morning and night in my problem areas and it totally made the flakes disappear.
For Whitney: is it just dry, or is there a chance it could be eczema? I started getting eczema around my eyes this past summer, so it’s definitely a thing. In that case, you may need to see your derm.
Just chiming in to agree with this comment. I had the same problem and it was perioral dermatitis (could also be seborreic dermatitis.) If no moisturizers help, definitely see a derm. I got a prescription that cleared it up fully after about a month.
Your rose gold suggestions were exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much for taking the question! Off to purchase…
Whitney, I also get weird dryness around my eyes in the winter and have started using this First Aid Beauty serum in the morning, after I cleanse and before I put moisturizer on my whole face and I have found that it works really well! https://www.sephora.com/product/eye-duty-triple-remedy-am-gel-cream-P406291?skuId=1784776&icid2=products%20grid:p406291
For the DVF wrap dress, would finding a full length slip work? That’s what I do for added modesty and to stretch time between drycleaning.
You can also have a small clasp or snap sewn in where you want it to close. I do this with my wrap dresses and it’s very inexpensive at the tailor’s.
Hope it’s OK to ask a question here for a future edit–
I have a lob and almost always pull back the strands around my face to get a bit of a “bump” effect and keep myself from playing with my hair at work. (The old half up, half down, but it’s more like 1/8 up, the rest down.) Can you recommend some grown-up barrettes or clips? I’m ready to upgrade from drugstore plastic clips.
I’ll toss this in to next week’s roundup.
For the DVF dress – I have the opposite but same problem – my shoulders are SO broad, that the wrap never crosses in my bust in a modest way (even sizing up). I wear a plain black non-v neck cami (or whatever color works with your dress colors) – and it looks great! Love DVF dresses.
How many sizes do you go up? I have broad shoulders too, esp. on a small frame, so I go up two sizes. It’s chic, modest, and I can go up or down in weight without issue.
Re: DVF wrap dresses- I have the same small bust issue but own a handful of them anyway. Ordering up helps, but not completely. I’ve had a snap sewn into one, but it never sat right. My solution is to wear a full slip underneath. You don’t have to worry about a cami rolling up and bonus- if the wrap of the skirt separates (gets caught on something, gust of wind) you are also covered.
Good tip.
I have also worn mine to the office with a scarf to cover up the clevage and/or a blazer the covers up.