Outfits Not Just Clothes

Happy New Year! It's January 1st and time to start gearing up for the 2014 trends! Here are some thoughts... image via Lucky I think 2014 will the year of red! It was all over the runways and as winter lumbers on it's a good idea to have a vibrant hue to wear to cheer the spirits. And it doesn't have to be completely obnoxious. Dorothy Perkins   The peplum isn't going anywhere this year so if you're a fan, great for you. If you're a thicker-waisted girl like myself, hang in there.  ModCloth  Also I'm thinking plaid will stay strong this year, yay! Amazon  Winter winds are blowing towards skorts this spring. I'm a bit trepidatious... Shoe-wise revamped(if not slightly impractical) boots may be in store this winter.  Fashion Union  These are rough and tough (and red!) but the cutouts will not hold up in snowier climes. Oh well! Bust out this fierceness on more mild days. I'm loving the idea of an argyle knee-sock with...

With Spring right around the corner I'm thinking about new ways to layer that aren't as bulky as winter layering can be.  I really like the idea of vests.  They act like a blazer in terms of pulling a look together/topping off an outfit, but they can be less cumbersome.  And if there's one thing I love about Spring it is the lack of cumbersomeness in outfitting.  (Is cumbersomeness a word? Is outfitting? They are now!)  Here's what I'm thinking in terms of vest options Uniqlo Shopbop Top Shop Zara Asos The structure in these vests is what appeals to me.  They aren't the average buttoned up waistcoat, they are more like sleeveless jackets.  Spring can get a bit floral and flouncy in terms of outfits and I'm envisioning a structural open vest/sleeveless jacket can provide some edge, help things from becoming too precious.