The Big Bang Belt

Yesterday on my personal blog Postcards From Omaha, I wrote about how I was in need of some new clothes and ended up purchasing almost a dozen pieces at Ann Taylor. Yes, that Ann Taylor. I am surprised by how many great staple pieces I bought both this past weekend as well as another trip I made there fairly recently. On my blog I spoke about how I'm a good editor: how I can spot the good items from the bad (read: dowdy, corporate 80s looks that Ann Taylor kind of has the bad reputation for) and quickly edit through a whole store's merchandise. But what I forgot to mention is that once you have these key pieces, it's all about the styling.

When I opened Trocadero, I wanted to concentrate on all my favorite things. Those included accessories, shoes and gifts. And within the category of accessories, I really focused mainly on handbags, jewelry and some scarves. Some people have wandered in the shop looking for belts. We don't sell belts. And there's a reason: I don't really like them. I am not a fan of wide, garish belts with buckle ornamentation. I don't like the belt as "a trend." If anything, I like belts very sparingly. And perhaps that's why I like vintage belts and not so much new ones that are "new to the scene."

On one recent shopping excursion to Ann Taylor, I happened to purchase this top to the left. It didn't seem to be very popular as many sizes were still available and it was on sale like 4 times. I think it was "take an additional 50% off the sale price" sort of thing. I think I might have paid between $25-$35 for this top (originally $88). I liked the gray neutral of the top with the daytime shimmer of matte sequins in a bronzy gold.

I also happened to snag a great gold lurex cardigan from the super sale racks and thought it would pair nicely with the gray top.

I'm still a bit top heavy to date and my waist line has seen slimmer days so with those two in combination, I I find that most shirts fall on me in an unflattering boxy way. Add the cardigan and it just looked really flat and boxy.

Lo and behold, what did I learn? I discovered that the one accessory that would really put the whole look together was a skinny belt! And thankfully for me, Ann Taylor had one in a great gold lizard. I couldn't have picked out a better match for what I needed.

I still don't think I'll be stocking belts anytime soon at the Troc. Instead I recommend you head over to Ann Taylor and check out their wide assortment of skinny belts. This is one item that you'll want to own in different colors and it's just the right accessory to create a waistline and break up a head-to-toe color look.

source: top

Make Your Summer Wardrobe Work for You

Living in Nebraska, one of the most common questions people ask me is "How do you stay fashionable and cool in the ridiculously hot weather while still remaining work appropriate?" (or at least something to that effect). Since this summer we've experienced some BLAZING temps, I thought I would finally share some tips for staying stylish and cool while keeping it professional at the same time.

Fabric choice is key in hot and humid situations. Look to lightweight fabrics like silk, bamboo, linen and other light knits and sheer fabrics to keep it breezy.

While fabrics like silk and linen require a little extra care and handling, the few extra steps are well worth the beautiful outcome and heat relief.

Lightweight tops and shirt dresses are perfect for this weather, offering ease and breath-ability. Blousy shirts look smashing tucked into a skirt or belted with a summer cardigan.

A winning office look from the blog Alterations Needed.

This silk "Blythe" shirt from J. Crew is easy to wear and super chic.

Ann Taylor's tank dress may seem casual at first glance, but when paired with a summer blazer and a smart pair of pumps or flats (or sandals where appropriate) this number will get you through the work day, cool and collected.

Roll up your sleeves in a cotton blazer, flash a bit of color and texture detail with a bracelet like this snakeskin link option from Kara Ross, and add a simple belt to tie it all together.

Banana Republic's ruffled blouse is a feminine twist on a classic white dress shirt and still holds up the sophistication factor when paired with a slacks or a pencil skirt.

Sea foam green and red come together to make a simple work outfit pop. A feather-light cardigan like this linen version from Banana Republic is perfect to keep you cool outside and cozy in the office.

Tory Burch's linen skirt is both work and weather appropriate and stunning in this bold coral shade. I love the idea of it paired with a lacy top like it's shown, with a crisp pale blue dress shirt or even a silk sleeveless blouse.

Pant options like these from J. Crew are perfect for the office and the cropped fit adds a more fun take on traditional, boring khaki.

Photo sources:

JCrew, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Tory Burch, Kara Ross, Alterations Needed

Ruffle into Spring

The other day, I couldn't help but notice Cygne's gray ruffle sweater. I loved the lightweight cashmere look, the soft gray, the pretty ruffle yolk and I really loved the "belled" sleeve-cuff. She admitted she stole it out of her Mom's closet; it goes to show how a simple item like this sweater can really span ages. The sweater happens to be from Ann Taylor, a place known more for its work looks for a more mature customer. Let's just say when I was an editor, it was pretty rare for any of us to wear clothing from Ann Taylor, Talbots and the like. But as I believe I have mentioned before, Ann Taylor has really put out some really good looking items as of late and I'm definitely going to have to check out what's new for Spring.

Speaking of Spring...where did it go? The warmer weather came and disappeared in Omaha this past week. April is always a bit fickle but I can't really complain as I know we're heading into summer, slowly...but surely. And that means it's finally time to start thinking about Spring Wardrobe Updaters. All month long, we'll be offering our ideas of what to incorporate into your spring and summer wardrobe from head-to-toe. The first tip comes courtesy of intern Jamie. With the transition from colder

temps to warmer ones, it's the perfect time to step out in the peep-toe bootie. We really love this one at the Troc from LAMB...and it's on sale! This bootie also incorporates another one of Jamie's Spring Trends: Cutouts. Seen all over the runways from Balmain to Marc Jacobs, cutouts didn't leave much to the imagination. So if you're a little shy about baring your soul (and shoulders and stomach), try the cut out peep toe bootie. You'll be knocking off two trends in one item...