Bay Area Fashion

Western ruffles

 in Bay Area Fashion / General Fashion  tagged casual style / fall 2016 / outfits / proenza schouler by

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Wearing: bold shell earrings / Chanel sunglasses / MAC Lipstick / Topshop blouse (sold out, also love this one, and this one-not similar but SO CUTE!) / bold lapis ring / Chanel Gris Obscur nail polish / Gap jeans (old, similar pair here) / black Proenza Schouler satchel / guitar strap for handbags / burgundy suede loafer pumps (under $150!!)

Have you ever been drawn to an article of clothing because it reminded you of something? This ruffle shirt reminded me of two things; my childhood obsession with western clothing, and a television show named “Little House on the Prairie.”

The ruffles on the blouse reminded me of the costuming from the show, and they also reminded me of the ruffle shirts I wore when I was around seven and eight years old. I used to put outfits together with brown cowboy boots, a cowgirl hat, corduroy skirts, and ruffle shirts! My western themed phase lasted until I was on a boat with family friends one day sailing around the bay and that cute little western cowgirl hat of mine blew right off my head into the bay! Cue massive amounts of tears . . . I get a little sad just thinking about it.

This ruffle blouse definitely takes me back in time to my childhood, and it has turned out to be a great piece to wear right now! I love pairing it with jeans, a-line midi-skirts, and denim skirts. The fabric is on the thick side, so it is definitely better suited for temperatures below seventy degrees. I know I will get more use out of it as we head towards winter here in the Bay Area.

Unfortunately this ruffle shirt sold out quickly. If you are looking for a great shirt this fall season which can easily be worn casually, check out this striped blouse, and this understated ruffle shirt. You can see an outfit post of the second choice here.

Do you have any pieces which bring back memories?

Puffy sleeves for fall

 in Bay Area Fashion / Trends  tagged fall 2016 / jcrew / mansur gavriel / outfits / topshop / valentino by

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Wearing: gold mother of pearl earrings / Chanel sunglasses / MAC lipstick in Fabby / puffy sleeve navy top (runs big, order size down if between sizes) / navy pleated skirt / gold sculptured ring / Chanel Emeraude nail polish / patent leather pink east/west tote / blue grey patent pumps

Volume seems to be the silhouette of the fall 2016 season. We are seeing ruffles, puffy sleeves, ruffle sleeves, puffy hi-lo skirts (for dressy occasions), and sleeves which could be mistaken for something from the 1980s. While this was a little runway trend for the fall 2016 season, it seems to have exploded on the streets.

Exaggerated puffy sleeves are a bit much for us here in the San Francisco Bay Area. Although puffy sleeves are intimidating, they can be worn daily when done in an understated way. That is what drew me to this navy puffy sleeve top. There is enough volume in the sleeves to make them puffy, yet they are not over-the-top. This makes the top on trend, puffy, yet understated. How very Bay Area! Love that!

I wore this puffy sleeve top with my favorite navy pleated skirt to church, and then to dinner over the weekend. It was really comfortable, and I felt runway ready. This is a great top to wear now while the fall temperatures are moderate. The fabric is comfortable, the sleeves offer volume, and it is easy to dress up or down. Just wait until I pair it with jeans! Fabulous!

This puffy sleeve top can also be worn in a creative work environment since it is not overbearing, yet offers a little bit of sass with it’s volume. It is also perfect for weekend-wear such as jeans, a denim skirt, dress shorts (weather permitting), mini skirts, and midi skirts; such as how I styled it in this post.

This puffy sleeve top runs a little bit big. I feel like I should have ordered one size down. It looks a little bit large on me. If you are considering ordering it, and are often between sizes, go down one size. You can find this puffy sleeve top in navy online here, and online here.

What do you think of puffy sleeves or ruffle sleeves for the fall 2016 season? Is this a trend you will be rocking?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

ruffle-sleeve-top-mansur-gavriel-sun-bag

Understated ruffle blouse for fall 2016

 in Bay Area Fashion / General Fashion  tagged banana republic / fall 2016 / gap / kendra scott / outfits / proenza schouler / rebecca minkoff by

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Wearing: Chanel sunglasses / bold mother of pearl earrings / understated ruffle shirt (on sale!!) / frosted pink lipstick / Larimar ring c/o / Kendra Scott nail polish c/o / black top handle satchel / fall guitar strap / dark wash boot cut jeans / pewter high heel loafer pumps

Do you love the current ruffle blouse trend, but would like to rock it in an understated way? Me too! I was thrilled to find this blouse which featured ruffles, yet a conservative shirt silhouette. It is perfect for my personal style, and can easily be worn to the office, church, or for day to day activities; like how I wear it!

Ruffle blouses and ruffle shirts were everywhere when I attended fashion week last month. There were bold off-the-shoulder versions, revealing cropped versions, and avant-garde ruffles which were eye-catching and downright fabulous. I loved them all! While these bold ruffle shirts looked amazing on the streets of New York, and I bet they look amazing in the South, and in Southern California, they don’t really fit into our style here in the San Francisco Bay Area. We are an understated bunch in Silicon Valley.

This does not mean we cannot rock the ruffle shirt trend here in the Bay Area, we just need to do it our way. So when I spotted this shirt with ruffles, a crisp collar, and modest bell cuffs, I knew it was the perfect way for me to wear the ruffle trend; while still fitting into our San Francisco Bay Area style. Love it!

This ruffle blouse is super comfortable, and I love the blue stripes. It was also priced well under $100. Loved that! While it is super cute, and comfy, it does wrinkle quickly. I think most people understated this type of fabric wrinkles, and can be forgiving when you are walking around, or you are at work with a few wrinkles. My daughter took these pictures of me after I had been sitting in the car, and shopping with my daughter, so you can see the wrinkles that accumulated after driving and running errands. They are there, but not too bad.

I would also like to give a shout-out to this guitar strap! Fendi introduced this trend a few seasons back, but I never wanted to spend an-arm-and-a-leg for a novelty strap. I was thrilled when more designers and brands came out with whimsical guitar straps priced under $200, and under $100. You can see all my favorites this season online here. I picked out this strap for under $100. Since it is a trendy item, I didn’t want to overspend on it, and I am thrilled with my choice! I love being able to wear trends without breaking the bank!

What do you think of the ruffle shirt trend? Will you be rocking a ruffle blouse this season? How do you wear it in your part of the globe?

You can find my ruffle blouse on major sale online here. Pink version, also on sale, online here.

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

Cathy

Shop the look:

office approved ruffle blouse