by Renae Virata

Usually, we pick out what to wear to please ourselves and (admit it!) others.  But today is one of those days where what you wear makes a statement.  In support of National Wear Red Day from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute to bring awareness of heart disease, we have some red looks that are sure to look great and support a great cause.Mango dress, $59.99; Mango jacket, $179.99; Mango convertible purse, $34.99; Mango platforms, $109.99.

Fergie Beatnik platform heels, $89.99.

ModCloth Heart tee, $27.99 (and perfect for some Valentine’s Day cheer)

Photo | Sports Then and Now

Are you ready for some football?!  It’s that time of year, once again, to gather ’round the tube with your favorite sports fans to watch the Giants versus the Pats.  But even if your team isn’t battling it out on the field, you can still look your best wherever you watch the game.

Tips for Super Bowl Style

• Don’t be afraid to rock a team jersey like the guys.  These days they make fabulously slim-fitting, ladies jerseys.  Try Touch by Alyssa Milano or go to NFL.com and shop their selection of Pats and Giants gear.

Touch by Alyssa Milano Patriots slim-fitting tee, $29.99

• Maybe you don’t want to spend money on an actual team look but want to let everyone know who you’re backing?  Sport their colors!  Tru Colors, started by two Southern sorority girls where football is BIG, has a great line of team color-based silhouettes that you can wear anytime.

Tru Colors apparel, Stafford dress in Giants colors, $78

Outfit Ideas

• Leggings/skinny jeans, jersey (if it covers your you-know-what), casual boots, flats, wedges
• Simple dress in team color, scarf in other team color, tights, boots
• Jeans, jersey, chic street sneakers
• Thick denim shorts, team tee, long-sleeve tee underneath, casual boots if it’s cold, wedges if it’s warmer with no tights

The holidays are over, but it’s still winter, right?  If you are lucky enough to squeeze in a couple more good ski trips in through March, then good for you!  I got some great insight from John Gates over at the fabulous European-based ski-wear boutique Jet Set for trends and tips on what to wear in the ever-popular snow sport destination, Aspen, Colorado. Thanks for the great advice, John!

Photo | Marie Claire

by Sinta Jimenez

Dressing for Thanksgiving is one of those occasions where one has to think realistically as a major consideration for stuffing, mashed potato and turkey related bloat must be made! There’s nothing that makes an outfit looks worse than discomfort, and I am never comfortable when I can’t eat what I want or if something feels too tight. Thankfully most clothing during the holiday season isn’t revealing and definitely meant to be cozy. I love traditional classics, especially for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but there are always ways to bring fashion inspiration to tried and true coordinates.

Sinta’s Top Tips

• Thanksgiving isn’t Christmas, so don’t pull out the fancy tartans, bright whites and hunter greens yet.
• Do think of autumn colors as a way to say goodbye to Autumn — warm purples, amber, gold, orange.
• November can be downright frigid in some parts of the country so definitely stay warm – another reason why if you haven’t invested in some good cashmere for a warm but semi-formal option yet, go on and do so this year. Silk is light and breathable for the summer but also warm as a layer beneath a knit for the colder months, so again, if you haven’t invested in a silk blouse yet do so now!
• Low waist skirts, loose or drop waist dresses are perfect to give you the extra comfy room after dinner
• Lots of people go home for Thanksgiving and it’s a time of reunion. If you’ll be going out the same night as dinner with old high school buddies think forward for what would double as a going-out coordinate.

If your family and friends are doing it ultra-casual, try pairing a super low-key shirt such as a plaid flannel with a comfy satin skirt, opaque tights and low-heeled booties.

Click to shop: Esprit plaid shirt, $59.50; Mango satin skirt, $49.90; G by Guess booties, $69.99

For a more proper dinner go for a high quality cashmere sweater and a silk or brushed wool skirt for a cozy, comfy but chic ensemble. Or try a drop waist dress worn under a long knit duster. Dress up with traditional baubles like pearls and diamonds but layer your necklaces and bracelets heavily for a modern sensibility.

Click to shop: Pure Collection 100% cashmere sweater, $198; Esprit wool skirt, $79.50; Modcloth heels, $133.99.

Going out on Thanksgiving with old friends calls for a bit of dress-to-impress but also comfort for a long evening of catching up. Your favorite jeans may be a little tight after feasting so again consider wearing a skirt or dress. Try a sexy leopard print dress to add some fun to the inevitable of wearing tights and a heavy coat.

Click to shop: Minnie Rose leopard print dress, $187

Think of creative contrasts for your old favorite holiday pieces. Many people have certain items they re-use year after year. By thinking of adding a different texture to your coordinate or how to incorporate current trends to your own wardrobe, you’ll definitely come up with something new and exciting for Thanksgiving!

• J.Crew for cashmere and updates to your traditional holiday pieces
• NetAPorter for that necessary touch of couture
• Shopbop for a trendy piece

About Sinta

Sinta Jimenez’s previous incarnations: rolling stone, financial analyst, law student, herbal specialist, waitress, model, wild child, ballet dancer, student, surfer, world traveller. Current incarnation: mother, lotus amidst fierce flames. From birth to death: artist, writer, poet. A lifelong student of the arts, she received her Masters in Fine Arts from Otis College of Art and Design in 2010. Born in Manila,  she was raised and lives in DC. Check out her fabulous blog Hail to the Chic. Photo taken in Los Angeles.

Read Sinta’s posts.

Photo | Tumblr

by Renae Virata

This week we bring back Monica Barnett, the image curator (read: image consultant for women AND men, extraordinaire), of BlueprintForStyle.com.  Monica has helped clients from athletes to politicians revamp or find their style direction across the country.  We were lucky to get to talk to her about style in our nation’s capital, where she currently lives.  In this 10-minute video interview, Monica gives us the lowdown on how to describe fashion and style in Washington DC, where it’s going, what to pack, and where to shop. 

WATCH THE VIDEO >

• BlueprintForStyle.com – Contact Monica and her team for all of your style needs and questions.  Also, set your appointment while your in DC to get your very own local shopping tour with Monica!
• Greater Washington Fashion Chamber of Commerce
• DC Magazine
  

• Critique Boutique – Chic effortless clothes in National Harbor, Maryland
• Simply Soles – Fabulous shoes and accessories in National Harbor, Maryland
• Urban Chic - Georgetown
• Sassanova - Georgetown
• Charm – Jewelry store in Georgetown
• Muleh - Higher-end and terrific, unique pieces in the U-Street Corridor
• Caramel Boutique – Upper Northwest area

Below is the collection of items included in the video for your shopping pleasure.   Just click on an item for more details!

WATCH THE VIDEO >

Outerwear

Boden pinstripe jacket $228, Boden sweatshirt $78, French Connection $198

Cardigans

French Connection long cardigan $148, Boden antique look cardigan $148, Boden cropped cardigan $78

Tops/Dresses

French Connection top $98, French Connection dress $268

Shoes

Boden tweed heels $194, Carlos Shoes tan bootie $119.99, Fergie wedge shoes $99.99, Chinese Laundry metallic heel $79.99, Carlos taupe heel $98.99, Steve Madden wedge sandal $59.95, Steve Madden color block wedge heel $179.95

Jewelry

Mango bracelet $29.90, Charm and Chain Bali pendant necklace $150, Banana Republic multi-chain necklace $59.50, Mango stones bracelet $29.90

Belts/Scarves

Mango coral belt $29.90, Mango leather double-buckle belt $59.90, Mango braided belt $29.90, Mango scarf $29.90

Bags

Michael Kors handle clutch $198, Lodi red leopard clutch $168, Inge Christopher metallic clutch $215, L.A.M.B. Signature clutch $258, Coral clutch (more colors!) $50, French Connection cross-body bag $188

by Sinta Jimenez

Nautical fashion is one which is extremely practical. Quite simply put, being on a boat requires specific kinds of clothing, being that you are engaging in sport.

• Sweaters, knits, pullovers of all sorts are required for a day at sea even during the warmest months as it is always colder on the water. Late afternoon and sunset sails get downright chilly.
• Chinos are always a good idea as they withstand sea water just fine and aren’t damaged by salt. They are warm as they breathable and they dry quickly.
• Boat shoes are great though not required for more luxurious cruising. The rubber bottom heel which can grip the floor are great for boats sailing low on the water.
• Nautical trends have lasted for a good hundred years. Stripes, reds, whites, and blues will never go out of fashion!

For a day sail: Sunblock, a brimmed hat, a tank top and light knit to layer, shorts

Click an item to shop this look: Alba Hawaiian Natural Sunblock with Green Tea, SPF 45, $7.19; Delia’s crochet cardigan, $14.99; Miss Sixty singlet tank, $19.47; Southpole cut-off shorts $33.99, Crocs flats $34.99,

For a sunset sail: A medium knit sweater or pull over, close-toed boat shoes, a jaunty scarf

For a dinner cruise: Dinner cruises rarely require seaworthy duds!

• Saint James

• Le Minor

• Sperry

• stmichaelsmd.org
• www.capecodtravel.com
• www.mvy.com
• www.capemay.com
• www.sailingmontauk.com

About Sinta

Sinta Jimenez’s previous incarnations: rolling stone, financial analyst, law student, herbal specialist, waitress, model, wild child, ballet dancer, student, surfer, world traveller.  Current incarnation: mother, lotus amidst fierce flames.  From birth to death: artist, writer, poet.  A lifelong student of the arts, she received her Masters in Fine Arts from Otis College of Art and Design in 2010. Born in Manila, raised in DC, she currently lives in Los Angeles.  Check out her fabulous blog Hail to the Chic.  Photo taken in Los Angeles.

Photo | Tumblr

by Sinta Jimenez

To write about “the fashion” of New York would take far longer than an article but could be the material for a sartorial encyclopedia.  New York fashion must be separated into subsections of the many scenes and lifestyles which compose this brilliantly diverse urban kingdom.  Fashion and New York go together like steak and eggs, M.I.A. and Santogold, infinity and beyond! But we have a finite space here so let’s talk about Brooklyn’s famous hipster scene that I’ll call a decadent apathy.

The last time I was in Brooklyn wasn’t so many years ago, but it was before my husband and I married and settled into life as parents.  We partied with an artful recklessness with other young eccentrics and let me tell you, there is certainly a vision when it comes to fashion in Brooklyn.

Since the early 2000s Brooklyn’s status has matured from art school mecca to commercially verified hipster haven.  Flocks of sallow skinned androgynous boys and girls roam the streets with their bicycles, awkward haircuts, and high-waist cut-off shorts.  Occasionally a beauty willows through and this look, which is seriously anti-pretty, anti-clean, cuts through with a vulgar precision and will haunt you later as you pass the Alexander Wang section at Barneys.

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What else should you wear for your trip to New York? Fill out our My Stylist form to find out!

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The key to this look has been and remains remixing vintage styles and a clever show of skin.

Top Tips

• Practical items: Cigarettes, nicotine, your chosen poison, a Bachelor in Fine Arts, and a smart phone
• Fashion staples and current trends: Alexander Wang camera bag, ugly printed leggings, vintage sunglasses, black leather platform booties, high-waist denim shorts, cut-off t-shirts,  Rick Owens tank tops, Kitsune skinny jeans, Comme des Garcons striped shirt, lace bras meant to be seen, crop top

Hipsters are always casual!

Hanging Out: High waist denim shorts, crop top with African print, black converse hi-tops with the tongue out, a bracelet or stamp from a show seen the night before, red Rayban clubmasters, a bike

Polished but Relaxed: Maison Martin Margiela tank dress,  oxfords, Alexander Wang Rocco bag, crucifix necklace, light wash denim jacket  Click here to learn more about the sample outfit below or click on an item.

More Formal: Alexander Wang cropped neck mock tank sweater, Alexander Wang Suvi booties, vintage floral tube skirt

DJ Louisahh

Photo | WhoWhatWear.com

• Tourism and Online Resource: www.freewilliamsburg.com
• Fashion: www.alexanderwang.com
• Fashion: www.rickowens.eu
• Fashion: www.maisonmartinmargiela.com
• Fashion: www.kitsune.fr

• Thrift stores
• Vintage consignment
• Barneys

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Don’t leave for your trip without Access America Travel Insurance. From travel delay coverage to missed connection coverage, they’ve got you covered!

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About Sinta

Sinta Jimenez’s previous incarnations: rolling stone, financial analyst, law student, herbal specialist, waitress, model, wild child, ballet dancer, student, surfer, world traveller.  Current incarnation: mother, lotus amidst fierce flames.  From birth to death: artist, writer, poet.  A lifelong student of the arts, she received her Masters in Fine Arts from Otis College of Art and Design in 2010. Born in Manila, raised in DC, she currently lives in Los Angeles.  Check out her fabulous blog Hail to the Chic.

Photo | J. Crew

by Sinta Jimenez

Washington DC style is conservatively trendy.

I grew up in Washington and the style of natives is quintessential North East trad/prep chic.  Hardly any girlfriends of mine even knew how to put make-up on senior year of high school. The style was very much an easy breezy natural Americana.  DC’s general culture is heavily influenced by the professional character of the city, many people’s being employed in staid jobs as attorneys, federal office workers, and other supporting industries which call for an austerity to workplace fashion. Nonetheless the DC yuppie, due to her age still longs to express herself fashionably. 

Given her lifestyle, though, she cannot go full-on couture like her friends in New York or LA. There is a slight international influence due to the high population of diplomats, consulates and other foreign workers. And certainly, perhaps more in-step with trends, would be the urban style of some DC natives.

Practically speaking Washingtonians adhere to the classics because it’s acceptable career gear and for busy folks Ralph Lauren and J. Crew can be a mindlessly chic uniform!  Those who’ve struck the perfect balance have outfits fit for work but also trendy enough for happy hour or dinner after.

Sinta’s Tips

•    When choosing a suit, pay attention to the blazer.  If you can find a blazer that is not too boxy and that is obviously meant for professional wear, you can use this same blazer as a cool menswear accessory.

•    Patterned tights can help add an ultra chic look to any demure work outfit.  Polka dots, pointelle, or vintage style hose work well.

•    Fashion staples should include one highly luxurious item such as an heirloom Rolex watch, grandmother’s diamond earrings, or a Prada bag.  Extra points for passed down luxury items as this speaks to the old wealthy WASP culture of DC!  This one haute couture staple is more than enough for conservative Washington to be considered highly fashionable!

•    Current trends are a funny thing to talk about in Washington.  I cannot stress the love for trad style here.  Whenever I go home, as I live in Los Angeles now, it is as though nothing has changed. The only trend here if you want to look like a local are office shirts and pearls.

Casual Outfit for Siteseeing

Dressier Outfit for a Nice Lunch

Don’t forget a large, good quality leather bag big enough to hold your smart phone, a bottle of water, metro card, and book for the train.

Nightlife Outfit

A little black dress is all you need to wear in a city where not many dress to impress.

May kicks off cherry blossom season with an average high of 74 degrees F (24 degrees C) and a low of 50 degrees F (10 degrees C).  This kind of weather calls for light layers to protect against the chilly early morning and evening hours – make sure you bring a jacket.  And an umbrella and wellies!  May has the most rain with an average of 12 days.

June through August sees warmer days with slightly less chances for rain (monthly average 10 days), an average high of 85 degrees F (29 degrees C) and 62 degrees (16 degrees C).  It’s warmer on the East Coast, AND it’s hurricane season, so be sure to watch the weather forecasts, wear sunscreen, and wear light clothing during the day and a light cardigan or thin cotton wrap at night.

♣    Tourism |  http://washington.org/

♣    Fashion | http://www.councilcommunications.com/

• South Moon Under | According to their website, “…South Moon Under offers a unique mix of fashions while remaining true to its laid back and free spirited mindset instilled in the founding store over forty years ago.”

• Tari |  Georgetown – MAP | “This elegant boutique offers something for all.  While women seek the one of a kind piece for themselves or a rare gift for someone special, the men that accompany them, discover this gem on their own and  are thrilled to finally find an upscale consignment boutique where they can shop AND consign!…TARI offers gowns, cocktail dresses, party, professional, weekend and men’s wear.  Many accessories, handbags, shoes, jewelry…All with a special touch of you in mind!”

• Rugby Ralph Lauren | Georgetown – MAP | “Launched in 2004, Rugby translates Ralph Lauren’s legacy of authentic prep into an eclectic, irreverent collection for young men and women.  Cool and rebellious, vintage varsity and heritage classics are reinvented with a chic downtown flair and playful, sexy vibe for an individualistic approach to personal style.

• Tysons Corner Center | McLean, VA – MAP | “With Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor and Macy’s, and an impressive 300+ specialty shops and restaurants, Tysons Corner Center is one thing all of Washington, D.C. can agree on.”

About Sinta

Sinta Jimenez’s previous incarnations: rolling stone, financial analyst, law student, herbal specialist, waitress, model, wild child, ballet dancer, student, surfer, world traveller. Current incarnation: mother, lotus amidst fierce flames. From birth to death: artist, writer, poet

A lifelong student of the arts, she received her Masters in Fine Arts from Otis College of Art and Design in 2010. Born in Manila, raised in DC, she currently lives in Los Angeles.  Check out her fabulous blog Hail to the Chic.

Photo: Philadelphia Reflections

by Renae Virata

Philadelphia is a hotbed for American history, but it’s also a fashionable place to visit.  If you get the chance to visit this fall, you only have to remember two things: be yourself but do it fashionably.  According to fashion writer and current Philadelphia Style Examiner Kate Concannon, “We love clothes, we love fashion, more than anything we love to express ourselves through fashion, but it isn’t over the top and it isn’t unobtainable fashion, meaning labels aren’t everything to us.  Yes, every girl dies for a designer something-something here and there, but you won’t get dirty looks if you aren’t rocking Chanel through Rittenhouse Square.”

Concannon describes Philadelphia style as “fierce ease.”  As far as East Coast cities go, Philly is closer to Boston than the more label-conscious New York and DC. “We are fashion forward and dress powerfully but don’t feel the need to rock a Prada collar necklace during an average day,” adds Concannon.

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What else should you wear for your trip to Philadelphia? Fill out our My Stylist form to find out!

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Staples for your trip to Philadelphia should include leggings, a funky pair of flat boots (you will be doing a lot of walking if you do some siteseeing!), and items to layer as the temps can go up and down in a given Philly fall week.  Have a great go-with-it all jacket that can take you from day to night – a trench in a funky color or in the new military styles will help you stay in style, look put together, and keep you from overpacking. Don’t forget a great scarf in a pattern that expresses you and that has a color scheme that can go with all of your outfits.

Our tip: Start with a simple color palette then work in the individual pieces with your shirts, sweaters, accessories and shoes.

Having lived just outside of Philadelphia her whole life, Concannon “The thing I love most about Philly fashion right now is the diversity. If you stand on Broad Street, you won’t see the same look twice, and those looks are ones you can like, but can also not be afraid to make your own.”

Fall is wonderfully mild in Philly, giving way to very cold but not unbearable winters (unless it’s a freak year of snowstorms like last year). Prepare for another white wonderland with staple waterproof boots or fashionable wellies.  They’re also a good idea to bring if the forecast calls for rain as the city gets about 10 full days of rain each month throughout the year.

Concannon had a blast using our My Stylist tool to create the looks below based on current Philadelphia weather.  Here are her looks for what to wear for different occasions during your stay in the “City of Brotherly Love.”

Click below to learn more about each item and to shop this look: Arden B Jacket $69, French Connection Dress $98, Report Signature Ankle Boot $295

SHOP THIS LOOK

Click below to learn more about each item and to shop this look: French Connection Sweater $198, Isabella Oliver Tee $99, Black Orchid Jeans $105, Myrtle Boots $169.99

SHOP THIS LOOK

Click below to learn more about each item and to shop this look: Athleta Jacket $59.99, Casual Living Blouse $39, Isabella Oliver Leggings $69, Naughty Monkey Boots $99.50

SHOP THIS LOOK

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Don’t leave for your trip without Access America Travel Insurance. From travel delay coverage to missed connection coverage, they’ve got you covered!

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Gisele in Boston

by Renae Virata

Boston is one of the smallest big towns in America.  That’s how one Travelista I talked to described the city after having moved there from Texas a few years ago.  “With schools like Harvard, Tufts, Boston College, and Boston U [among 50 other schools] within miles of each other, the city definitely has that casual college vibe,” says Jen, a transplant from Texas who’s enjoyed the charm that the city offers. “Plus, you walk, cab it or take the T everywhere, so it’s important to be comfortable.”

Make the most of your time in Boston. Click here for vacation and tour ideas.

Go on a walking tour around the city, bar hop in Cambridge or Back Bayl, visit the waves of restaurants around the city or catch a Pats game in Foxborough- there’s no shortage of fun things to do in this historic city.

Do you live in or have visited Boston?  How would you describe Boston style?  Leave your comments below.

Jen’s Tips

- When you visit the North End, be sure to ditch the pumps for a more flat-footed option like wedges if you want some height. The Little Italy of Boston, the cobblestoned areas and hard-to-find parking situation in this tiny but popular area of the city make walking in heels a challenge.

- Wellies are popular, especially this time of year, when it rains and then snows in November.  You can buy the traditional rubber kind or opt for more stylish waterproof leather boots like the kind that brands like Merrell offer.

- Jeans and a dressy top with heels will take you from dinner to a bar for most nights out unless it’s a more formal occasion. 

Weather in Boston

Fall comes early in Boston with an average of about 55 degrees F (12.8 degrees C) in October.  The city usually gets about 3 – 4 inches of rain at this time, so Bostonians eagerly break out their wellies in order to stay dry but stylish through the fall and into the winter months when it starts to snow before or around Thanksgiving.  Once November and December hit, average temps rapidly dip down about 10 degrees F each month to 45 degrees F (7.2 degrees C ) and 34 degrees F (1.1 degrees C), respectively.

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What else should you wear for your trip to Boston? Fill out our My Stylist form to find out!

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Stay comfortable but look good with these trip staples for Boston:

- Stylish pair of comfortable boots.  Tuck them into jeans, where them with tights and a corduroy skirt or under a sweaterdress.

- A go-with-it-all scarf in a fun color to add a little punch to every outfit.

- A trench or military-style coat to go from a football game to dinner to a night out.

TRAVEL DEALS:

• Boston Freedom Trail Day Trip From New York City
• Daily Trips From New York City
• $50 Off – BedandBreakfast.com Exclusive Travel Deals

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Don’t leave for your trip without Access America Travel Insurance. From travel delay coverage to missed connection coverage, they’ve got you covered!

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