STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Born In The U.S.A.

July 14th, 2015 at 2:00am

The Fourth of July may have passed, but that does not make it a fashion faux pas to continue to wear the colors red, white and blue. All of the rad, patriotic looks I saw over the holiday weekend led me to start thinking that these three colors should be paired together way more often. There are many ways to continue pairing the three colors without looking like you’re headed to a parade with your family or to catch the fireworks show.

I really loved this Fashionisto’s classic light blue and white gingham print blazer. Your standard blazer is usually a solid color, typically not white or light blue and definitely not with a print. This blazer stood out from the crowd even with its subdued colors. With the blazer the Fashionisto looked formal, but fresh. If he wanted to, this Fashionisto could easily dress down the outfit by taking off the blazer. I also loved that this Fashionisto decided to wear colored pants. He could have easily stuck to khaki or navy blue, but decided to don a red pair instead. His crisp white button-down was the best way to tie in both the blazer and the pants to create a perfectly patriotic outfit, but one that can be worn again long after the Fourth of July is over.

The white button-down is the easiest piece out of the three to style over and over again. It is a classic and could be paired with any color pants or shorts and still look nice. The red pants are another story, as many people tend to steer clear of pops of color that are not your typical neutrals.

Even with these two great pieces, the gingham blazer is still the highlight of the outfit for me. For many, a blazer is associated with a formal event or as an article of clothing set aside to wear to work. It doesn’t have to be this way, though. A blazer can easily replace a denim or cargo jacket. Doing so creates a more structured and polished feel to any outfit, even if that outfit may be your favorite graphic T-shirt, boyfriend jeans and slip-on canvas sneakers. A blazer can completely change your outfit. One can also bring you from running errands in the morning to a dinner date later that night. Having a black or navy colored blazer in your closet is undeniably one of those pieces every Fashionista or Fashionisto must own. Choosing a blazer that makes a statement in a bright color or a pattern adds a level of interest to your ensemble. I highly encourage you to start putting it in to more use. Next time you feel your hand searching in the back of your closet for your denim jacket, pull out your blazer first. You may be tempted to roll the sleeves or drape it over your shoulders but I promise you’ll like what you see.

What is your STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK? “Even though this particular blazer is intended for use during the warmer months, finding one to wear during the cooler months can allow you to keep wearing other summertime pieces all year round.”

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