The Swing Dress

As the temperatures here in Atlanta reach the 60's and spring is approaching {wishful thinking!}, I wanted to discuss a spring staple in my closet. Enter, the swing dress. I love this classic and casual dress that is versatile enough to dress up or down. I like to call it the "daytime dress." So many of us have the little black dress and others that we pull out for cocktail parties, dinners out and more. But what about a daytime dress? I'm thinking the swing dress fits the bill this spring. It has a girly, classic shape and can be accessorized in almost any way. Here are a few examples, many from one of my favorite online shopping sites - asos.com {if you haven't been to this site, they always have great deals and totally unique pieces!}::

1) ASOS Swing Dress in Knit - pair with a bright patterned scarf, like the Stella & Dot Wild Hearts

 

2) Carmina Halter Swing Dress - I love this pretty shade of pink. Take it from day to night with a white blazer, and belt to draw in the shape a bit

3) Anthropologie Savant Swing Dress - I love this for a casual day of errands, lunch, or whatever your day might bring you. Simple black and white stripes make this an effortless look. Just pair it with a long necklace like this Makena Pendant Necklace. Pairing a blousy dress or top with a long necklace as opposed to a short one will draw the eye up and down, creating a slimming effect.

4) ASOS Swing Dress in Paisley - This pattern is so much fun. Dress it up or down with booties or heels. It doesn't need much in terms of accessorizing, just a simple long necklace like my favorite Rebel Pendant, and you're good to go!

5) ASOS Vero Moda Swing Dress - This casual fabric is perfect for almost any activity, and the dark color allows it to be taken from casual to dressy in no time. Pair with a leopard belt, and dress it up with a black pump at night.

So will you be adding a swing dress to your closet? I'll be posting some real outfit photos of swing dress ideas on Instagram and Facebook, so be sure to follow along!

As for now, I'm headed to sunny Florida so I won't be blogging for a few days! But you can keep up-to-date on my beach-chic outfits through social media, as always.

Wishing you a happy & stylish week!

xoxo.

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,

2014 Color of the Year :: Radiant Orchid

Yes, I know it's February... but it doesn't make it too late to discuss the 2014 Pantone Color of the Year! Announced at the beginning of January, it is... drum roll... Radiant Orchid! I am loving this color, which I describe as a lovely sunny mix between fuchsia & lavender. It is flattering on virtually any skin tone and is sure to brighten up any blustery day. AND, I'm not only loving the fashion aspect of it -- I'm inspired to put pops of radiant orchid in my home, on my nails and in my makeup palette!

Here's some of my favorite radiant orchid inspiration; from pants, to pumps, to polish ::

I think this color is going to be perfect for spring, and you can bet it will be making more features on the blog in the upcoming spring months! We'd love to hear from you - share your favorite radiant orchid looks with us!

Use the hashtag #radiantorchid & tag @lifestyledatlanta on Instagram and show us how you're wearing it or incorporating it into your home.

XOXO,

the look :: for less

It may be snowy in Atlanta, but we've got spring on our minds! Case in point, these springy floral dresses that make you happy just looking at them. In today's "The Look for Less," we'll show you which is a style steal!

#1 :: Anthropologie Quinby Dress. This dress is flowy and effortlessly chic. Perfect to throw on with some sandals, wedges or even boots. As we inch our way into spring, pair with a military jacket, cardigan or blazer ontop and add your favorite gold jewelry. We are loving the bold floral pattern and colors on this. It rings in at $168.

And, onto #2 :: Sightsee for Yourself Dress from Modcloth. This also features a bold floral pattern in beautiful colors, but we are loving the neckline on this dress even more than the Quinby. Fashion tip :: A v-neck is more universally-flattering on various body types than a crewneck or boatneck. So, at nearly 1/3 the price, why not "spring" for this lovely?

As always, if you'd like us to find you a particular look for less, just comment below or shoutout on facebook or instagram using the hashtag #lookforless

Stay tuned tomorrow for our Friday Feature!

Stylishly Yours,

:: Friday Feature ::

TGIF! Today is the first of many "Friday Features" to come! Each Friday we will highlight a different product that we are loving; whether it be clothing & accessories, beauty or skincare. We'll be sharing our favorite things with you!

Today's Friday Feature :: Lorac TANtalizer Bronzer

I was in the market for a new bronzer a few weeks ago, and decided to trust the advice of the Ulta makeup consultants {which I rarely do}. I'm glad I did! I love the slight shimmer to this bronzer. It immediately brightens up your face, no matter how pale or tired you are. {A tip :: when applying bronzer, apply it not only to the apples of your cheeks, but also to the tip of your nose}

Another great thing about this bronzer? It is huge, and it only takes a few sweeps of the brush to get enough for your whole face. With this product less is truly more, so don't be overzealous! I can guarantee this bronzer will last you for at least one year. Last but not least, it is the perfect shade to take you from season to season. This is great for pale winter skin, but will also highlight your bronzed summer skin perfectly, and keep your skin bright and warm for all the months in between.

What are your favorite bronzing products? Share with us! We'd love to hear from you.

Wishing you a stylish {and warm!} weekend!

kicking off :: 1 outfit, 2 ways challenge!

Today, LIFE.STYLED. is kicking off the "1 outfit, 2 ways challenge." Each day for the next 10 days, we will be featuring one outfit, showing you how to wear it two versatile, different ways. You can use these ideas for outfit inspiration in your own closets at home. Outfit #1 features this simple striped shift dress from LOFT. Pair it with your favorite statement necklace {like the Stella & Dot Norah seen here}, tights and riding boots or booties. Then, choose a fun pattern to mix your stripes with, such as leopard print. http://instagram.com/p/jPTXnvH_Sv/

We'd love to see your outfits, too! Simply hashtag #1outfit2ways on instagram or twitter, or post to the LIFE.STYLED. facebook page here

Stay tuned for outfit #2, coming tomorrow!

New Year, New You!

It's that time of the year again :: all the gyms are packed, the healthy items at the grocery store are disappearing off of the shelves and we are making New Year's Resolutions! Whether your goals for 2014 deal with weight loss, lifestyle changes or attitude adjustments, LIFE.STYLED. can help you feel confident in the new year.

Do you feel like you are stuck in a style rut, or just need someone else to tell you to "get rid of that 80's sweater for good"? If so, consider making one of your New Year's Resolutions to be more confident in your style everyday with LIFE.STYLED. We will come into your closet and weed through the items that are dated, unflattering or worn out. Then, we will create between 20-30 new outfits from your EXISTING wardrobe :: Yes, it's like going shopping in your closet! We will make new combinations with clothing and accessories that you have trouble with, or don't know what to pair with. As we do that, LIFE.STYLED. will create a shopping list of items that you can use to build upon your current wardrobe. I can promise we won't make you get rid of everything in your closet. You'll receive a handy "Cheat Sheet" with photos of all of your outfits, along with a shopping list that you can use to shop on your own, or shop with us.

LIFE.STYLED. also offers an array of other styling options, from family photo shoots to bridal styling to personal shopping. So make 2014 the year of style! Discover your own personal style, or get back on track.

2014 is a New Year, New You!

You can visit www.lifestyledatlanta.com for more information on services.

LIFE.STYLED's Christmas Favorites

This Christmas brought lots of goodies; among them many fashion and beauty favorites! {Here are a few of LIFE.STYLED's favorite things from Santa}

1) Fur Collar Coat :: This winter fur is in. And we're loving the fur collar trend on coats like this Tory Burch coat, in navy.

2) LORAC Pro Eyeshadow Palette :: This shadow palette has just about any color you could ever need; from mattes to shimmers, from light to dark. I have used it EVERY day since Christmas!

3) Booties :: Booties are one of our favorite trends; they are so versatile and can be dressed up or down depending on your outfit. These Tory Burch Milan booties are the perfect shade of camel, and the wedge is super comfortable.

4) Embellished Sweaters :: Ever feel like you want to wear a sweater, but don't think it's dressy or polished enough for the occasion? Enter, embellished sweaters. Like this one, from LOFT - with gold sequin embellishments on each shoulder and always-classic black and white stripes.

5) Philosophy "Purity" Facial Cleanser :: Enough said! This face wash smells amazing, takes all of your makeup off, and leaves your face feeling soft, smooth and pure - the name says it all.

What are some of your favorite Christmas/Holiday goodies? LIFE.STYLED. would love to hear from you! Just leave your comments in the comment box.

Happy New Year!