Elevated Style Tip of the Week: Don't Go Over the Top!

I don't always feel as feminine as I'd like because of my height. I've discovered though, that you don't need to wear excessive make-up, pile on the accessories, or flaunt a shorter skirt to look and feel more feminine. To look more feminine, just be subtle and elegant. A few smart pieces can go a long way.

I tend to avoid piling on the jewelry. If you look through my posts, you'll see that my signature style for bracelets is very minimalistic!

READERS - Do you like to pile on the jewelry or do you feel comfortable wearing only a few key pieces?

Elevated Style Tip of the Week: Try Essie's 'Really Red'

A true, classic red nail polish like Essie's Really Red is a great way to instantly add drama and sophistication to any outfit. It's the perfect pop of color without looking too crazy.

I try to explore other colors, but I always find myself coming back to Essie's Really Red! If you're looking for a truly rich red color, look no further. The name says it all!

Elevated Style Tip of the Week: Try Something Nu!

Yes, we're talking about the NuBra here! I bought this one from Amazon for $30 and was very skeptical at first. I mean, how long could a sticky bra last? Would it actually provide any support?

Surprisingly, this sticky bra works wonders! It does look a bit awkward and it certainly feels a bit awkward at first, but one you get used to it, there's no turning back to regular strapless bras. And no, that's not me in the photo!

I bought my first and only NuBra last August. I've worn it about 40 times and it still has a bit of wear left. I'm an a-cup, so I can't speak for women with larger cup-sizes, but the NuBra provides plenty of support and coverage. This one in particular doesn't have any extra padding, so if that's what you're looking for, I wouldn't recommend it. It does, however, enable you to enhance your cleavage. All you have to do is stick the cups further apart and use the clasp to pull them together.

I guess my secret's out! Here are some outfits where I'm wearing the NuBra. Can't tell, can you? It's perfect for strapless and backless dresses/shirts.

I'll definitely be purchasing another one. It's totally comfortable and feels like you're not wearing anything!

Elevated Style Tip of the Week: Seek Outfit Inspiration

Outfit inspiration can sometimes come from very obvious places (like the March 2012 J.Crew catalog pictured above!). All you have to do is find something you like online or in a magazine, and then reproduce it with whatever you have available in your closet. It's basically foolproof!

You can even get inspiration from the pose, as I did! Looks like I need to work a bit on my modeling :)

A similar way to get outfit inspiration is to check out how the mannequins are dressed when you're out shopping. Since you know a professional styled them, this is a no-brainer. An added bonus is that if you like the look, you can buy the pieces.

For the most part, I like to come up with my own outfits, but I do have those days—just like everyone else—where I have no idea what to wear. That's when I pull out a J.Crew catalog or my pinterest account!

Elevated Style Tip of the Week: Put on Some Studs

Want a way to instantly look more polished? Put on a pair of pearl or diamond stud earrings (or look a-likes!). Women have been wearing these timeless accessories throughout history as an elegant complement to their look. Better yet, if you own a pair, they'll match any outfit in your closet!

Here are some of my picks:

Elevated Style Tip of the Week: Take a Trip to the Buffalo Exchange

It's that time of the year again—time for Spring cleaning! Instead of tossing your unwanted clothes, why not take a trip over to the Buffalo Exchange to earn some extra cash?  Here's how it works:

1. Bring in your clean, gently-worn unwanted items (clothing, shoes, bags, jewelry, etc.). Before you go, call your local store and ask what they're currently buying to get an idea of what they're looking for.
2. The buyer will let you know what they're interested in purchasing and how much they'll try to sell it for.
3. Decide if you want 30% of that in cash or 50% in store credit. If you take the store credit, you have to use it that day. If you take the cash, you don't have to wait until your items sell to claim it (which is awesome). You can just take it and run!

I've been to Buffalo Exchange twice now, after my friend introduced it to me a few months ago. I think it's great because they buy and sell all sorts of sizes—included long sizes. I haven't bought anything from here yet, but my friend has scored a bunch of great deals, including a pair of barely-used Kate Spade pumps for $40 in size 10!

Elevated Style Tip of the Week: Explore Polyvore

I recently discovered Polyvore and fell in love. Now, I can plan my outfits online without having to take a single item out of my closet! Below, you can see the outfits I planned for my upcoming long weekend in Washington DC. The weather is supposed to be mid 60s to low 70s, so I made sure to choose a mix of layers that will work with one another.

Polyvore is fairly easy to use. Essentially, all you have to do is search for the items you want to wear, and then drag them on to the design builder. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions!

Washington DC Trip by khshea featuring a trench coat

Elevated Style Tip of the Week: Invest in Nice Hangers!

There is nothing worse than cute tops falling off of plastic hangers. Enter the velvet hanger. I bought these pink velvet hangers two years ago from TJ Maxx (you can find similar ones on Amazon) after my grandmother recommended them to me. Even though my boyfriend complains about the color, I LOVE them.

Here's why I love them:

1. No slippage. My clothes will never slip off again!
2. Extra space. These hangers are so thin that they increased my closet space by 50%!
3. Closet organization. Now I can actually see what I have in there!

Elevated Style Tip of the Week: Plan Your Outfits!

Isn't it the worst when you're staring in front of the closet with no idea what to wear and you have to leave in 5 minutes? If you plan ahead of time, this won't happen!

Every Sunday, I lay out my outfits for the coming week complete with jewelry, belts, and scarves. This saves me time in the morning (so I can sleep in longer!) and prevents me from stepping out of the apartment wearing something atrocious.

Here are some tips:

1. Create some space for your outfits. It can be anything from the top of a bureau to the side of an ironing board.
2. If you're using a particular accessory twice in the same week, put it with one of the outfits and use a sticky note for the other. 
3. Before planning your outfits, look at your calendar to see what events you might be attending. This will help guide your outfit selections.

Elevated Style Tip of the Week: Stop Buying on Impulse!

I'll admit it...I impulse buy all of the time. I see a good deal and I just can't help myself. This has lead me down a path of regret and wasted money over the years.

Lately, I've been keeping track (in Microsoft Excel) of everything I need to build out my wardrobe. So now, when I'm at the mall or surfing the web, I only purchase items that I've carefully considered and researched. It's done wonders on my wallet and it really has helped me to say no.

Next time you get the urge to buy on impulse, think to yourself how every $5 impulse would be better put towards a polished wardrobe. If you don't love it or need it, put it back!