Nay. Yup, we know Kate and Pippa are rockin‘ them, but we still say…nay.

If you are going to insist on doing it, avoid the nude or suntanned stockings. So, what’s a girl to do when she is looking sheer-ish coverage on her legs? Fishnet tights. As in nude micro fishnet tights. And my personal favorites? The Orublu “Tricot” and Commando’s barely-there option.

You’ll still get the coverage you are looking for, but not the “old lady” feel of pantyhose.

of course, you can’t go wrong with burberry and love how the best-trench-ever gets a makeover in a tangerine hue. but, if a grand isn’t in your coat budget, never fear. this old navy option is cute, fun and easy for everyday wear, while Australian designer, ladakh,  gets flirty with a nipped in waist and flared jacket “skirt.” the clean, mod feel of this marni coat also tempers the bold color.

when wearing said orange coat, stick with softer neutrals like camel, denim, beige, navy blue. black with orange can feel halloween-y.

]]> http://dcstylefactory.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/fresh-squeezed/feed/ 0 dcstylefactory burberry http://dcstylefactory.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/here-comes-the-groom/ http://dcstylefactory.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/here-comes-the-groom/#comments Thu, 08 Sep 2011 14:11:52 +0000 dcstylefactory http://dcstylefactory.wordpress.com/?p=381 ]]>

I am working with a bride today so naturally my thoughts float to diamonds, lace, silk, gowns, veils…but wait. What about the oft-ignored groom? Oh yeah, we’ll stick him in a run-of-the-mill rental tux…not! I have been absolutely loving what a I’ve been seeing in grooms lately, which is ditching the traditional and thinking outside the box when it comes to wedding attire. Granted not everyone is Mark Ronson and can pull off candy stripes, but he is seriously perfection with that satin tie and flower on his lapel. Dare I say he stole the show from his gorgeous lingerie-model bride?

Well, no one steals the show from Kate Moss, but again, Jamie Hince’s powder blue suit and boots prove that the groom can take a bit of the spotlight. Love.

And if all this is a bit much for you, I’m sure the Lauren Bush-David Lauren wedding pics — said to be “black tie with a Western twist” — may be more to your liking. Although when you’re the son of Ralph Lauren…

Check out what we love this summer, plus get 15 percent of during the month of July…

Read on…

I love my mom clients. Whether you’re working, stay-at-home or something in between, the whole motherhood gig is no joke. As a mom of two small ones myself, I just want to give a virtual fist pump to all my fellow mothers out there.

For Mother’s Day this year, I also wanted to give moms the gift that keeps on giving…15 percent off your next two hours with DC Style Factory. You can use this any which way you want: purging with a Closet Audit; figuring out new ways to wear what you have with a Shop Your Closet consultation; having someone else do the grunt work of finding the right jeans for you; and more.

So, from now until Mother’s Day (May 9), send an e-mail to dcstylefactory@gmail.com to pick up your special gift! And, if you’re giving the gift of style to a mom, we’ll hook up that 15 percent as well.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Marni Balloon Tote Bag

DC Style Factory Tip #321: Invest in a statement bag. If you’re going to spend oodles of money on something, make it an iconic purse. You can literally wear sweatpants with elastic around the ankles pulled up to your chest. If you leave your house with a Berkin…all is forgiven. Need some ideas? This is a pretty good list to start…
]]> http://dcstylefactory.wordpress.com/2010/04/01/329/feed/ 0 dcstylefactory marni balloon bag http://dcstylefactory.wordpress.com/2010/03/05/style-obsession-ali-mcgraw/ http://dcstylefactory.wordpress.com/2010/03/05/style-obsession-ali-mcgraw/#comments Fri, 05 Mar 2010 02:02:57 +0000 dcstylefactory http://dcstylefactory.wordpress.com/?p=317 ]]>

So, there’s mine…how about yours? Who is your personal style icon?

Kurtz backpack. Photo courtesy of Madly Bags.

It’s hard to find a bag that works for me professionally and personally. Some days I’m toting around binders, papers and measuring tape. Some days I’m hauling snacks, toys, and water bottles. I want something utilitarian and sturdy, but stylish and of lux quality. Timeless and classic, but youthful and fun.

Enter Madly Bags. The line of leather carryalls are the brainchild of real-life couple Melanie Dizon —  women’s shoe and bag designer extraordinaire (if you shopped at Circle Boutique, you likely remember her unforgettable line of purses, which I still carry to this day) — and Jake Quellman.

Yes, they’re for boys, but  that’s never stopped me before. Because they’re designed to “get better with age,” I can’t imagine a more perfect bag for both my professional days working with clients and mommy days running after a toddler and preschooler. As for design inspiration, think Coppola’s “Apocolypse Now,” which the duo channels for their second season together.

I am especially coveting the vegetable-tanned leather of the “Kurtz” backpack (above). Filipino tanners (the line is produced in the Phillipines where Dizon’s family hails from) produced the cracked leather straps using a local treating method. I can see the bag both with a tailored, professional look and with skinny jeans, boots,  and a toddler on one hip.

Guys, check out the cross-body bags and the sleek business bag that will house your laptop and day timer in style. Not available locally (but I can see them at For the Greater Good, hint-hint); at least not yet. They will soon be available online.

In the meantime pictures will have to suffice…enjoy.