HOW TO WEAR 2016 PANTONE COLORS

This post is sponsored by Neiman Marcus.

Every year Pantone releases the "it" color for the year, but this year we have TWO colors: Rose Quartz and Serenity. I'm not too surprised the hot colors of the year are pastel after we have seen so many blush colored dresses and tops preceding this announcement. Being a woman with olive skin, I've steered clear of wearing pale blue and pink in the past. Usually warm tones look best on me, but I decided to take the challenge of finding some clothes that I think work well for my skin and showcase the trend. The trick that I have found is to lean on the warm side of pastels. That means more of a pink peach or a purple-y blue are totally game! See how it turned out.

This blouse by Rebecca Taylor makes me feel so beautiful. The ruffled sleeves and soft pink color are very different from what I gravitate toward as a mentioned earlier, but sometimes you just need to feel like a woman and this blouse does just that.

Equipment makes the best silk, button-down blouses. If you know me at all my favorite outfit is a button down, jeans and blazer. I would have a 100 of these blouses in my closet if I could. I really love how they made a printed silk top with hearts without making it overly cutesy. This is definitely what I would wear for Valentine's Day. I paired the blouse with a Current Elliot denim button down skirt. I would say the "it" item to have this summer would be a jean skirt, and this is a great option if you're looking for one. It's a bit a-line, which is complementary to those with hips.

If you're looking for a work appropriate Pantone inspired piece, consider this Rebecca Taylor woven jacket. I love the fringe and design details on it. It references Chanel, but inserts a cool, young vibe with the chevron-like pattern.

And if all else fails and you can't find a Pantone colored shirt you like, go with a gray muscle-t that has a graphic incorporating both colors.  This one is by Pam & Gela, and would be awesome with a blazer and skinny jeans for a casual Friday or by itself for comfy Saturdays at home.

Photos by Rennai Hoefer

FASHION APPS TO DOWNLOAD NOW

How many hours a day do you think you spend on your phone? Eeek, if you're anything like me, probably a scary amount. Running a business that depends so heavily on social media and the internet I definitely rack up the hours. I've got countless apps to make life easier, plus a few for leisure, but lately I made it a point to make my iPhone a little more fashionable. (With apps, that is.) Fashion has always been one of my biggest passions and although I'm getting more and more into the lifestyle sector of blogging, fashion will always be a part of my everyday life. These apps are my go-to's for staying updated in the world of fashion and cultivating my closet. 

Vogue Runway

Free in the App Store, the Vogue Runway app is the ultimate high fashion archive. Photos from designer’s shows are uploaded almost real-time, so you can always head here to see what’s fresh off the runways. (Download this before “fashion month” in February and you’ll never miss a show.) This app is especially fun because the archives date back to 1991, feelin’ like a flashback anyone??

Tip: This app is Pinterest friendly, so pin straight from the app to give your feed some high fashion flair.

The Hunt

You’re scrolling through Instagram and see a pair of heels. Not just any heels, THE heels. You know, the heels of your dreams that you’ve been searching for endlessly. Only it’s not on a blogger’s account, not linked, and you have no idea where these beauties came from. The Hunt begins. Open this app, post a pic of the mysterious heels and wait for the community of fashion fiends to lead you in the right direction. Seriously, this app is amazing.

FAD - The Ultimate Fashion Dictionary

Pay $3.99 in the App Store and never wonder what an epaulet or lettuce hem is again. This app is the perfect investment if you're looking to improve your fashion literacy as it covers all types of fabrics, garments, cuts, and even provides information on designers. You'll be amazed at the phrases you didn't even know you didn't know! 

Stylebook

If you're an organization guru, this app is for you. Stylebook is essentially a virtual closet, allowing you to easily see what items you have and put together new outfits. These "outfits" can then be saved and placed on the in-app calendar, so you have record of what you wore each day. The $3.99 download fee is worth never having to wrack your brain to remember what you wore last time you saw your in-laws or had brunch with the girls. 

While there are countless fashion-related apps out there, these are just a few of my favorites. I'd love to know what your favorites are, too! Drop me a note in the comments. 

THRIFT LIKE A PRO

Savings aside, there’s just something so exhilarating about thrift shopping. Finding that “fits like a glove” vintage dress which no one else at the party will have, or the exact blouse that sold out months ago at the mall, thrift shops hold countless opportunities to save money and score major style. Lately I've been finding really current pieces hiding amongst the racks of Savers. See the sweater in the pic above? This practically brand new Topshop sweater was only $6!

Finding the Right Place:

Since thrifting is about 80% luck of the draw, finding the right location is vital. A quick Google search can help you uncover some local spots, but don’t stop there. Savers and Goodwill can be great places to start but consider some smaller off-the-radar shops like nonprofit thrift shops run by churches or different charities. 

If you can, find a thrift shop that functions as a buy/sell clothing exchange. Buffalo Exchange is a great one. Since these stores aren’t donation-based their merchandise is typically of an overall better quality. It may be a little pricier but it’s still cheap and you can bring a load of clothes to sell for store credit to get the price down.

Most importantly, don’t judge a thrift shop too quickly. None of them look like much at first glance but some of the most rundown thrift shops house the greatest treasures. You just have to search. (Did I mention? Patience is KEY.) 

What to Look For:

The whole fun of thrifting is the fact that you can stumble across just about anything. However there are some particular items that thrift shopping is especially great for. Take denim, for instance. Denim seems to be one of those magical fabrics that only gets better with time. You really can’t replicate the cozy worn in vibe of a Levi’s denim jacket or the perfect naturally distressed pair of boyfriend jeans, although brands nowadays sure do try. Also, if you buy your jeans at the thrift shop you never have to wonder how they’ll fit once you take them home and wash them. What you see is what you get.

Leathers are also great pieces to thrift for. Most thrift shops are filled with vintage leather skirts, moto jackets, and purses galore. They won’t cost you a fortune and nice leathers should also wear well with time. Even if the leather you find isn’t in the greatest condition, a quick leather conditioner or shine will usually bring it right back to life in no time.

Expert Tips:

Do some research. Brush up on your knowledge of fabrics and begin to pay attention to the construction of certain garments. Not only can this help you to date vintage pieces back to a certain era, but it will also help you steer clear of knockoffs when buying designer goods secondhand. Here are some tell-tale signs of quality:

-Metal (usually YKK) zipper

-Clean but intricate stitching and straight seams

-Fabric (Is it 100%? What does it feel like to the touch? Is it thick?)

-Patterns aligned at seams

-Silk lining

-Details, details, details!

What's your favorite thrift shop find? Comment below or tweet me @avestyles! Photos by Rennai Hoefer

WORKING & CHILDCARE

I'm so glad that you have been enjoying this series, "Real Talk with Real Moms." These honest conversations need to happen in the blogging community to share the reality of the challenges we face as business owners, moms, wives and friends. Sometimes our perfect pictures can give the impression of a perfect life, and we want to make sure you guys know we are trying to figure out this mom thing just as much as the next person. Today, we're continuing the conversation with childcare and work...

AVE Styles existed before I became a mom, but when Elle came along I knew I needed to put her before my work. Motherhood is a very important job, and I take it very seriously. This is a decision I make every day, especially now that I have Levi as well.

When Elle was under a year old I designated sleeping time as the only time I would work. Occasionally there were times when I would bring her to photo shoots, but when she turned six months old I started shooting only on weekends when Ryan could watch her. There would be an exception here and there, but it was rare. One thing was certain, I was going to do my very best to be present when she was around and give her my undivided attention. 

As she grew and my business grew I ended up having my good friend's mom watch her two full days a week. I made this decision so that I could give my full attention to work, and then my full attention to Elle when I got home. The rest of my week was just us. 

Fast forward to having two kiddos, it's just not that simple anymore. My attention is divided between two kids now and my business has grown even more. Something has to give somewhere and it's not going to be my health, my marriage or my kids. My husband and I both feel that the work I am doing is a needed financial contribution to our family, and without getting too spiritual on ya, that I'm meant to continue this career path for now.

Elle turned 3 this year so she was ready for preschool when Levi was born, and she has been thriving having social interaction with friends. That has left with me one one one time with Levi two mornings a week, which I treasure so much. I was really starting to wonder when we would have that time together.

But with nap times not always synching and evenings needed for my marriage, I'm left without any time for AVE Styles. So, this year we made the choice to have someone help us for 9 hours a week in our home. Three mornings a week for three hour chunks so I can do the work I need to do to keep AVE Styles growing. I also hired an assistant to handle several writing projects and miscellaneous things, so that I can focus on the blog, my Pinterest classes and my clients.

I will tell you that I have never been more efficient with time in my life. I have never been more protective of such a limited resource, and I have never been more thankful that I can continue having my kids home with me for the majority of their weeks.

My advice to any man or woman managing a business from home is to set specific work hours so that you can be fully present with your kids. If your income is needed to continue working outside the home or what you do is rejuvenating to you so that you can be a better parent, I am in full support of you. Just give your kids 100% when you are with them so that they know that they come before your job. Put the computer down and go play because they deserve it. Not everyone is in the same situation and sometimes there are seasons when you are going to have greater workloads, but just don't stay in a place where you can't give your child quality time when you get home from work.

Hear from other bloggers on their decisions to introduce childcare and how they balance their businesses. I love that everyone does life differently with the end goal of being the best person and mother they can be. 

To see past posts in this series, check out my experience with sleep, travel and feeding.

Jen Pinkston, The Effortless Chic
Caitlin Flemming, Sacramento Street
Hilary Walker, Out Style Stories
Rebecca Gallop, A Daily Something
Em Scott, Em the Gem
Sarah Sherman Samuel, Smitten Studio
Samantha Wennerstrom, Could I Have That
Amy Anderson, Parker, etc.
Erin Heimstra, Apartment 34

Photos by Rennai Hoefer and Gina Meola

MUST HAVE SHOES FOR SPRING

This post is sponsored by Neiman Marcus.

Spring is almost here! Can you believe it? If you're shopping the malls these days you'll notice spring resort styles on display. For some of you the weather may still be too cold, but if you live in Arizona or California you are ready to start struttin' in those sandals. Here are my top five spring shoes you plan to have this season:

PLATFORM SANDALS - We have seen then come and go, but platforms are here to stay for another year. Add suede fringe, an espadrille platform, and you have yourself the perfect shoe for any vacation. These Tory Burch wedges are comfortable and easy to walk in. They also would go with any spring outfit.

FLAT SANDALS - These gold studded Ancient Greek Sandals are my FAVORITE flat sandal right now. They are the perfect combination of comfort and style. If you like adding a bit of edge to your outfits definitely consider these shoes. I paired them with my pleated maxi skirt, denim jacket and fringe cross-body bag for a casual weekend outfit.

BETTER BIRKENSTOCKS - Remember how Birkenstocks came out in full force last summer. Yeah, I'm not a fan and never was. Those shoes make my size 10 feet look like they are size 14. For a stylish walking sandal that is flattering consider these metallic Pedro Garcia shoes. They feel like butter and provide arch support for those long walks on the beach this spring.

BLOCK HEEL SANDALS - Heels come in all different shapes, and right now block heels are having a moment in fashion. Being a tall woman I feel more confident walking in block heels than stilettos. These Joie suede heels are my go-to spring heels because they work with any outfit. I feel really secure with the ankle strap and the mid-heel is a manageable height. You'll be able to walk miles in these gorgeous shoes.

SUMMER SNEAKERS - The stylish, slip-on sneaker is a necessity for your closet this year. Loeffler Randal is a shoe designer that I have been watching over the years, and every season they nail it. This perforated espadrille sneaker is a unique and ultra cool take on the classic slip on. The two tone color reminds me of Chanel without having to pay Chanel prices, and the perforated leather is so eye-catching everyone will be asking where you got your shoes.

Photos by Rennai Hoefer.