Color Combination Camel and Noir

Hello There,

Color blocking, in fashion and design, is the art and use of contrasting blocks or panels of solid, typically bright colors. I fancy utilizing some of my favorite color combinations using the color blocking method through my outfits. One of my all-time favorite color combinations is red and pink, think Mandy Moore in Brandon Maxwell at the latest Emmys. I think this color combination has the perception of being chic and sophisticated if done with the correct hues. Some sure-fire ways to execute an effortlessly cool color blocking look:

1) Use complimentary colors. If you Google color wheel, you can easily see which colors fall next to each other on the circle. Colors that are across from one another are complimentary colors, so purple and yellow, blue and orange and red and green are all complimentary colors. Any of these color combinations would look excellent in a color block look.

2) Monochromatic color blocking looks are always a hit. Choose one color on the color wheel and find multiple shades of that one color to achieve depth in your look when wearing it from head to toe. Mix fuchsia with pale pinks, for example, to achieve a monochromatic affect.

3) Wear a head to toe neutral look but incorporate a pop of color to add dimension to your color blocking outfit. Pair a great navy-blue power suit with a bright red under shirt to really mix it up.   

Now I’m not a color connoisseur. I tend to dabble more in the neutral realm. With this is mind, I thought what better way to kick off the first of October, the considerably spooky month, with my take on a black and orange color blocking situation. I bring to you my Camel and Noir workwear look from today. Outfit details are below OR, as a friendly reminder, you can always follow me in the free LikeToKnow.it app to instantly shop all of my looks. Just search for “sincerelysydneyblog” under the Influencer Search tab and select the image you want to shop for product details. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments or send me an email! Happy Spooky Season yall!

Black Marc Fisher Block Heel Pumps & Another Similar Pair Marc Fisher Heels // Black Cotton Camisole // Black Boyfriend Blazer & Another Similar Boyfriend Blazer // Black Sunglasses // Camel Colored Trousers & Another Similar Pair of Trousers

Sincerely,

2019 Fall Fashion Predictions

You can instantly shop my looks in the free LiketoKnow.it shopping app. Once you’ve downloaded the app, go to Search, switch over to the Influencer Search tab and look for “sincerelysydneyblog”. Once you find my profile, hit follow to shop my daily looks!

Hello There,

One of my favorite things to do after a Fashion Week or at the beginning of a new season is to take some time and write down what I think the biggest trends are going to be. I’m talking what are people going to be walking down the street wearing and what are our stores’ racks going to be lined with. If you didn’t know, when Fashion Week happens, it’s always showcasing collections not for the upcoming season but for the season after that. This past Fashion Week in September showcased all new Spring and Summer 2020 collections. That’s how far in advance the fashion world has to plan for getting pieces from the runway to producing for consumption.

With this in mind, Fall and Winter 2019 Fashion Week happened back in February of this year. That was the first glimpse the fashion industry got of what’s to come for Fall this year. I studied those runways like I was taking the SATs and have compiled some of my predictions for what I think we’ll be seeing a lot of this upcoming season. Hint: I’m wearing one of my predictions above!

1. Zebra

I have been seeing so so so much zebra prints lately! I think this is going to replace the uber popular snakeskin that took over this past Summer. Ann Taylor recently came out with a capsule collection that highlighted zebra print in many different styles. Influencers and celebrities have been seen prancing around Fashion Week, some in head-to-toe zebra looks. I have a feeling this will be the new go to print this upcoming season. Remember when we were 13 and everything we owned from blankets to pillows to rugs to school notebooks were all zebra print? Funny how cyclical the design space is!

2. Puffy Sleeves

This silhouette was very prominent in February’s Fashion Week. Fashion designers like Marc Jacobs and Ulla Johnson made them staple pieces in their collections. They add the perfect feminine touch with a hint of flare. If you are interested in trying this trend out, I recommend making the puffy sleeve the center of your outfit. Try pairing an over-the-top sleeve with a pencil skirt or simple pair of jeans. These statement pieces aren’t going anywhere.

3. Shiny fabrics like leather

I personally saw a lot of shiny fabrics walking down the runway. Silk and leather were among the most evident. Leather played a leading role in Alexander McQueen’s show, showcasing full leather dresses. If you don’t feel comfortable taking that big of a risk, you can remain on trend by wearing a faux leather pant with a simple blouse or wear a leather shirt in a minimalistic silhouette paired with your favorite jeans. This season leather goes beyond just a jacket.

4. Fall 2019 Colors: Cheddar Yellow, Pistachio Green, Grayish Blue, Cream and Lavender

Tons of variations of these colors walked down the Fall 2019 runways. I wouldn’t consider these colors all “jewel” tones, but they have more of a softness to them this season. I almost envision this as taking your typical Fall color palette and putting the Fade filter on them to make the palette more muted. Since the colors don’t make as much of a statement as in year’s past, I think the best way to wear them this season would be with loud statement pieces. Compare and contrast with accessories to knock a look out of the park. Also, don’t be afraid of monochromatic looks meaning top down all the same color or different levels of intensity of the same color. This is definitely in!

5. Plaid and Preppy

Just looking at those two words together makes me think of Gossip Girl. But in all serious, that is exactly what will be returning this Fall. Clueless inspired matching plaid sets and absurdly good plaid outerwear. Many designers, like Burberry of course, showed off their plaid best. Ginghams, Madras and Houndstooth of all varieties will be all the rage. My recommendation…go for it here! The more the merrier. Wear head-to-toe plaid, even incorporate the same plaid print in your hair accessories. You’ll totally be the cool kid.

What do you think will be a prominent Fall trend this year? Put your prediction below!

Sincerely,

Dry Goods Try On Haul

Hey Peeps, Happy Thursday!

I am not much of a mall person. Slowly, in the technologically advanced world we live in, I am becoming more and more of a shop online kind of gal. Recently though, on our way to a dinner date, my friend and I briefly stopped at the mall to check out this new store that had just opened up. All about the new and shiny thing. The store is called Dry Goods. Just hearing the name, I envisioned a rustic Homegoods type of vibe, which is why I had no idea why my friend was dragging me there, i.e. not my vibe at all. To my surprise, I walked into what I like to call the Francesca’s, Gap, Madewell married in heaven store. The styles can tend to fall a little on the boutiquey side BUT they have really great classic pieces that you can elevate in your everyday style. Those are the pieces I gravitated toward and actually purchased.

In all transparency, I thought this place was reasonably priced. I bought 7 items and spent around $200. This was my one good Fall fashion haul for the season, or at least that’s what I keep trying to convince myself of. What really sold me was the quality of the pieces. Everything feels like it’s going to last me years, which I love and justifies the money spent in my personal opinion. Why spend $10 on something that will fall apart after a couple of wears when you can spend $40 on something that will last multiple seasons? For all intents and purposes, Dry Goods is like a boutique. All clothes are not “Dry Goods” labeled on the tags, each piece comes from other companies, but they manage to select pieces to showcase in their stores that are cohesive and on brand. I also love that they carry Love Your Melon hats. If you don’t know the mission and value of Love Your Melon, check it out here.

If you follow me on Instagram (@_sydthompson), you may have seen the video I just posted. I have never really been a fan of the typical blogger “try on hauls” so I tried to take the same concept and switch it up a tad. I have either linked the exact item from the video below, or if items were sold out, I liked similar ones from the Dry Goods site or something I found on a different retailer’s site that is super similar and around the same price point I paid. Fall fashion is quickly approaching and I am super excited to have discovered this new brand to make shopping for the new season that much easier!

Black Jumpsuit (Sold out so linked similar) // I LOVE the fit of this piece because it hugs in ALL the right places. The cropped pant also makes it great to wear with multiple kinds of shoes and makes it a great transitional piece. The all black also speaks to my heart. I think this runs true to size, I got a Small and it fits perfectly. Another similar one here in Navy // Another similar option currently on Sale

Blue and White Stripped Blouse // I was nervous about this one because I thought it was going to be extremely see through, but to my surprise, it surpassed my expectations. I just wore a nude bra underneath and you couldn’t see a thing. I think this runs a little big so I would size down for a tighter fit. I purchased mine in a Small.

Marigold Print Blouse // Even though I’m not a huge floral print fan, I liked this piece because I don’t have much yellow in my closet and I thought this would be a great Thanksgiving Day shirt. I love the lightweight material and think this fits true to size. I got the Small.

Emerald Green Peplum Blouse // I love peplum shapes and I think this color is about to have a major moment this Fall season. The button detail makes it super feminine and it feels so super soft. The arms run a little tight, so I would probably size up. I got this in a Small.

Chambray Shift Dress // I loved this piece because I think it’s a classic that you can style so many different ways and layer so many things on top to make a completely different look each time. It runs a little big, I got the Small but could have easily fit into the XS. I couldn’t find anything similar to this on the site right now, so I linked a VERY similar option from Macy’s.

Gray Sweater Dress // Winter is calling my name in this dress. It is so cozy and heavy, which will be great paired with over the knee boots in the bitter cold months. I do think this dress runs a tad on the smaller side so if you are between sizes I would size up here. I am wearing a Small but would be more comfortable in a Medium I think.

Camel Turtleneck // Hands down my FAVORITE piece out of my whole purchase. I think I’ve already worn it a hundred times since I bought it. It is slightly cropped, which makes it perfect for a French Tuck in the front. The color goes with everything and the sweater is soft yet on the lighter side, which is why I’ve been able to wear it now! I am wearing a Small, it fits true to size.

Sincerely,

How To Transition Summer Clothes to Fall

Hi There,

Often times, when either flowers start to bloom or the leaves start to change colors, people think that it’s time for a whole new wardrobe. Well, I think those people are crazy. The fun part about fashion is finding new and innovative ways to wear things we already own. To take an article of clothing and completely transform its makeup. Hey, you also help the planet that way as well.

Right now, at this time, we are about 13 days away from the first official day of Fall. All that being said, don’t go Pumpkin Spice Lattes and Halloween Town on me yet…because there are some fun ways you can transform the pieces already in your closet into chic, cooler-weather masterpieces. Save money, save the planet and save your sanity. Your lightweight, flowy Summer staples aren’t going into hibernation just yet. Here are 5 simple ways to transition your Summer clothes to Fall:

1. Pair a strappy dress with an undershirt.

This is totally a 90s vibe and I am here for it. I feel like for the past couple Summers, slip dresses have been all the rage. I indeed have a few in my own closet that I’m proud of. The last thing I want to do is put them away just because of a change in season, so my style hack is to pair these Summer numbers with an undershirt. Like literally, I got one from the boy’s section at Target for like $10 in a size Medium. Wear it underneath your slip, strappy dress to cover your shoulders and keep you warm in the Fall months.

2. Mix and match season pieces.

One of the best ways to slowly transition from piping hot temps to cooler ones is to mix and match pieces from each season. Throw a sweater over your favorite Summer dress or wear a turtleneck with a pair of shorts, like I am doing in the above images. Mixing and matching also helps you feel like you get to hold onto the best parts of each season for a little bit longer.

3. OTK Boots.

This hack is a super easy one. The toughest part for me about transitioning into a new season is deciding what kind of shoes to wear. Is it hot enough to wear sandals or are my toes going to freeze while walking to work? OTK (or “over the knee”) boots are perfect for a season transition because they can literally be worn with every kind of bottom. Skirts, shorts, pants, leggings, even dresses, over the knee boots feel Fall while still having the ability to wear some of your lighter, perhaps even shorter in length, Summer styles. Bonus, these boots are super chic and make your legs look 10 feet tall.

4. Layer, layer, layer.

I cannot stress enough that as you transition your wardrobe to Fall and start to dust off pieces you put into storage months ago, the first items that should start to slowly come out are your lightweight Fall jackets. Trenches are great, cardigans are great, leather jackets are great. These styles are simple enough to go with many things currently in your closet and the best part about them is that when those random last Summer days creep in before Fall really hits, you can easily remove them from your outfit to adjust to the unpredictable temperatures. Now is the weird time in the Midwest where it’s freezing in the morning but scorching in the afternoon. Wear a lightweight Fall jacket with your everyday outfit, and when it gets hot, simply remove that outer layer. Style hack: I even like undoing my Summer wrap dresses to wear as open, breezy dusters!

5. Tights for days.

I can promise you tights are not for older women. I actually think wearing tights is super chic. This is also the easiest way to keep wearing your dresses, shorts and skirts for even longer, even way into the thick of Fall. Get a pair of opaque or black tights to pair under all of your current Summer bottoms. If you don’t already have a pair of tights, you can run to Walgreens or Target and get them for under $10. Not only will it elevate your everyday look, but tights also keep your legs nice and toasty, which is what you want when the crisp Fall air starts to swoop in.

If you are someone who wants to buy all new clothes for the new season, kudos to you. I admittedly have already bought some new Fall pieces, but I always like to think, work and shop smarter not harder. If I can save a dime, I’m all about it. If you found ways to transform your Summer clothes for the Fall months, I’d love to know below! As always, I hope this helps!

Sincerely,