what & what not to wear in your holiday family photos

TGIT! December is now in full swing which means many of you are getting ready to take your annual {and sometimes dreaded} Christmas --let's be honest...New Year's -- card. For once we decided to get something done early this year and it felt great to get it checked off the list. Today I'm sharing some guidelines on your holiday, and family photos in general. Many people struggle with the do's and don'ts so I'm here to clear a few things up for you.

So let's talk about some tips to follow for your family photos ::

DO coordinate color tones/families... It looks put-together and uniform to have the same color family on. But...

...DO NOT match. Matchy-matchy Christmas cards are long gone and they should stay there.

DO patterns. Plaid, checks, stripes & subtle dots are okay. But...

...DO NOT do busy + bright ones. As much as it pains me to say this, stay away from leopard, bold polka dots and BRIGHT colors/patterns. You want the photos to focus on the family... not your shirt.

DO casual. You can do denim & an untucked shirt as long as you do it right. Which means...

...DO NOT do light wash denim. If you have light wash denim in your closet, it may be questionnable. In the right form or fashion light denim looks great, butt not in family photos and not in any dressier settings.  Also, try to mix it up a bit with each family member. You may not want EVERYONE in denim, but a little variety. Untucked shirts are okay as long as you have a sweater over them and the shirt doesn't hang too long. If the man is just wearing a button down, always tuck!

Here's what he wore :: 

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And here's what I wore ::  [show_shopthepost_widget id="433904"]

P.S... it always helps to have an adorable dog in your Christmas picture. I'd highly recommend picking one of those up!

friday feature :: styled engagement shoot

TGIF! Today I'm featuring some beautiful photos from one of LIFEstyled's recent styled engagement shoots. I love styling photoshoots because so often they can go SO wrong. Being strategic about the outfits you pick is key. We chose three outfits for Alex and let her fiance Jake {did I mention he's British?!} follow suit. The outfits were themed as follows so that we could make sure there were plenty of photos to love ::

• Bridal in White
• Colorful + Bright
• Classic + Understated

A super-flattering white BCBG dress paired with a statement pearl necklace and white wedges fit the bill for our all white look. It also aligned perfectly with the chic backdrop of J.C.T. Kitchen.

Anyone who knows or works with me knows that I love fuchsia; from clothing, to accessories to home decor and art. I think it is such a pretty hue that compliments virtually every skintone. Pair this Milly top with the turquoise Harlow necklace by Kendra Scott and the colors really pop together! White denim on bottom balanced out the colorful top half.

For the last outfit we went with simplicity. Both of the previous outfits featured a statement piece of some sort and we wanted to leave one basic option. We chose a Splendid cobalt maxi that really brought out Alex's eyes, and a fun chartreuse + gold elastic belt at the waist {I wish we had more pictures of this unique belt!} If you're getting married soon and want help picking out the perfect outfits for showers, photoshoots, engagement parties and more, LIFEstyled can help. Check out our SERVICES for more information.

Wishing you a fun + stylish weekend ahead!

friday feature :: styled shoot

TGIF! I hope the work week has been good to you and you have a relaxing weekend ahead. A few months ago, LIFEstyled helped style the ladies of Emiko Ferrer Designs for their photo shoot with Morgan Blake Photography. Amy, the owner, really wanted their style in the shoot to reflect their style of interior decorating; timeless, classic, light and chic. I love working with fellow small business owners and creatives. Today I'm showing you some of these gorgeous photos of equally gorgeous [not to mention incredibly talented!} women! Owner, Amy Ferrer, in Banana Republic blazer {on sale now!}, top & necklaceWe used pastels when styling Amy, Erin and Leigh to create a bright and airy feel, with complimentary colors like white, grays, peaches and subtle turquoiseA bright citrine and patterned pants for Amy's second look, accompanied by crisp white and cream for Erin and Leigh.

We tied in the neutrals and colors in Amy's home with the ladies' outfits as not to distract from the decor, but to enhance it.

Do you have a photo shoot, special event or occasion coming up? LIFEstyled can help style you appropriately and perfectly no matter what the occasion; from family photo shoots, to weddings, to high school reunions. For more information on all of our services, click HERE.

Wishing you a happy + stylish weekend ahead!

spotlight on :: calypso st. barth

Happy Wednesday, style lovers! Today is my Friday  and my hubby and I are flying down to the beach for some much-needed R&R this Fourth of July weekend. So today I'm bringing you some of my favorite looks from the beachy Calypso St. Barth. This line is ritzy  + unique + dreamy. It comes with a bit of a heftier price tag, but brings you lots of looks that you won't find elsewhere.

• the silk dress

This bright teal silk dress is so light and airy; perfect for both day and night. It has the most intricate stitchings around the neckline in bright golds, pinks and blues to compliment.

•  the morrocan maxi

Y'all... this dress is everything. The pattern, the colors and the detailing are nothing short of fabulous. Perfect for dressing up and down, summer outings and taking into the fall with a jacket.

• casual stretch pant I've always been a little iffy about this type of pants. I still won't say they are my go-to for flattery purposes, but man are they comfortable!! I would throw these babies on around the house or to run some errands. So lightweight and already pre-wrinkled for you moms. **A post on this cute tassel necklace coming up tomorrow!**

• the metallic tee

This has to be one of my favorite pieces. I love everything gold and metallic, and this simple tee is no exception. Easy for throwing on, layering and dressing up. Not to mention the perfect amount of metallic. Not too flashy, not too soft.

• the embellished teeThis light peachy linen tee has gold sequins. Need I say more?

 And for all you Atlantans, be sure to check out Calypso St. Barth and their dreamy store at Westside Provisions District. We'll be back in a few days to kick off a new blog series, "Made in America," where I'll feature some of my favorite locally made products & companies. Wishing you a Happy Fourth of July and God Bless the U.S.A!

going nautical

Summer is here, the Fourth of July is around the corner, and the nautical trend is isn't going anywhere! I'm headed to the beach tomorrow {yay!} which makes today the perfect time to talk  about going nautical with your look this summer; when done right, nautical is timeless, classic + chic. Not to mention the perfect amount of preppy.

Here's how to get it right ::

• Start with cool blue stripes. A thinner stripe can go horizontal or vertical, but if you go thicker, make sure it's vertical for slimming reasons.

• Add a warm accessory or statement. Yes, you've got the BLUES, in essence, but don't go too crazy with it! Add some contrast with another color, particularly a warm one if your stripes are cool.

• Don't be too matchy. This is more of a *life rule* that just happens to also apply to the nautical trend. Don't match your shoes to the exact blue hue in your blouse. Don't do the matching earring / necklace set. Don't be afraid to add something bright and bold into your nautical look, like neon, or play around with complimentary colors.

 So there you have it, nautical done right! This summer, pair your nautical with any denim; from white, to dark, to coral or mango.

Wishing you a happy Fourth of July week ahead! Tomorrow, we'll kick it off with our Beauty Giveaway, just in time for your sunny weekend plans. If you haven't entered, now is your LAST CHANCE! Click here and leave your comment to enter.

Friday Feature :: Styled Shoot

Happy Valentine's Day to all my fellow style lovers! I love this day because it means showing my love for style by wearing pretty shades of pink, looking at lovely flowers, eating inordinate amounts of chocolate, and showing the love to family and friends!

Friday's Feature highlights someone I love dearly. Britt Bass Turner is a long-time friend and incredibly talented painter in Atlanta. A few months ago, LIFE.styled. had the pleasure of styling Britt for her featured shoot in Anthology Magazine. Britt's paintings may be bright, colorful and bold, but her style stays a little more classic and neutral. We worked together to find looks that complimented her paintings while still staying true to her personal style.

For Britt's first outfit, we chose a navy striped peplum top from Anthropologie. This really complimented the navy and bright pink tones in her paintings behind. Since her paintings are so bold, a simple stripe was all we really needed in terms of patterns & colors in her outfit. We paired that with one of her favorite go-to necklaces, a cream braided tiered necklace, and a bold red lip against her fair complexion and dark hair.

  

The back of the shirt featured a cream crochet pattern, a fun little detail shown here ::

For her second outfit we decided to lighten things up. A neutral chevron dress with a cream sheer overlay achieved that. Cinched around the waist for figure-flattery and also paired with a bold lip, this lighter look really made the colors in her paintings pop behind her. It also tied in nicely to her two bottom paintings which featured more neutrals, as well as the white walls in her studio.

But seriously, how gorgeous are Britt and her paintings? You can check her out at brittbass.com 

You can be sure we will be doing more stylized shoots featuring Britt and her art in the upcoming future!

Wishing you a happy & stylish Valentine's Day with the one(s) you LOVE!

xoxo,