Lingerie as Outerwear: Casual Chic

What a messed up winter we’re having this year! I’m never sure how to dress for the office these days because the temperatures are zooming up and down willy nilly. I think I need to take old man Winter out back and give him what for! I don’t care if it’s Winter or Spring... just make up your mind and stick with one for a reasonable period of time!

I’ve been dreaming of taking a mini break vacation; just a weekend so I can go somewhere and experience somewhat predictable weather. I may also be feeling that old cabin fever again and looking for an escape. Since I can’t actually jet off to a sunny locale or a wintry retreat, I decided I would create an outfit and play pretend. Our destination of choice today is partly cloudy, not too hot and not too cold Bermuda, land of the variable weather patterns that aren’t quite as extreme as around here.

Considering the island has a history as a previous British Colony, I though I would go for a slightly polished, almost nautical and country club-ish look. But wait, how does one wear lingerie as outerwear at a super posh yacht club? Never you fear, my fashion friends, where there’s a will there’s a way.

Let’s start off with the lingerie. Zinke has the perfect romper to build this outfit up. The lazy, deep V-neck of the top is offset nicely by the full coverage of the cups. You can keep that beautifully proportioned, white, button down shirt unbuttoned all the way to your sternum without worrying that you’re showing off an unreasonable amount of cleavage.

Make sure you tuck the shirt into the waistline of these amazing Stella McCartney corduroy pants, so the button top details can be fully appreciated. Your heeled oxford shoes will be on full display thanks to the ankle length of your pants, so don’t let the laces drag. Although I would highly recommend that you not take them out for a walk on Elbow Beach, heels and sand are never a fun combo.

Your earrings deserve a little face time, so be sure to pull your hair back in a loose chignon and show off those highlights, real or faux, with some Oribe gold hair pomade. Cocktails out on the patio of the Swizzle Inn can get blustery, so don’t worry too much about the neatness of your hair. Those rings won’t take well to tangling in and it’s hard to look all Jackie O., when you need to beg for the bartender’s help to unwind your unruly tresses from your lovely crystal and gold rings.

Never fear, you can recover nicely by jauntily grabbing your super sexy bag heading to the ladies room for a quick spritz of Heaven’s Alchemy and a blush busting daubing of highlighting bronzer. When you reappear, your dear friends will have a fresh dark and stormy ready and far safer seats at the bar.

Who knew there were so many potential avenues of danger for a klutzy lingerista?

1. Zinke Circa39 Romper: I love this romper for two reason. 1. It’s made of super soft, hammered silk and 2. It flashes me back to the delicately feminine lingerie of the 1920’s flapper era. The frill around the middle will be tucked in for this outfit, but would look lovely untucked with a skirt or more formal pair of trousers.

2. Sequin Peach Cluster Ring: The sweet pink crystal will pick up the pretty highlights of your tear drop earrings and the beautiful streaming gold highlights in your hair.

3. Ralph Lauren Collection Peg Oxford Pump: I’m pretty taken with these casual oxford pumps! The 3 ½ “ stacked heel is a bit unusual and elevates them to a more femininely dressy status.

4. Gabrielle Sanchez Rutilated Quartz Small Teardrop Earrings: Not too big, not too small, just right! Goldilocks would be proud and you’re going to love the way they can match so many different outfits. These will quickly become a wardrobe favourite; especially when paired up with the lovely rings I’ve chosen too!

5. Benefit Sun Beam: Benefit brings bronzer into the new millenia by capturing a few golden rays in their easy to carry bottle. Sun Beam is a pretty cool way to fake a few hours spent cavorting on a beach in a healthy and non-comedogenic way!

6. DanniJo Naomi Collar Necklace:The solid band of color on this necklace is a bold statement piece that will have your friends oohing and ahhing over your fabulous taste. The open back and the way that it is designed to glide along your collarbones makes it the perfect choice to stand out from the that fine leather jacket.

7. Stella McCartney Skinny Ankle Corduroy Pants: Did you ever envision corduroy as being a fitting frame for high end, luxury lingerie? No? Well, we’re all about breaking down conventions and challenging expectations here. It doesn’t hurt that these skinny, ankle length pants are pretty much the coolest pair of corduroys I’ve seen in a really long time.

8. Michael Kors Skorpios Ring Tote Khaki Canvas: The slouchy nature of this bag is the perfect casually cool accompaniment to this upper class relaxed look! It’s large enough to hold all of your essentials for a fun night out and the classic fabric and leather combo set off the deep colors of your sexy blazer.

9. Campbell and Kate Signature White Shirt: A plain white dress shirt is one of those things I have coveted from afar for a really long time. You see, the majority of them are styled for women with no more than a C cup and I am fairly even proportioned except in the bust department. So, what may seem like a basic wardrobe staple to most of the population, is only a pipe dream for me and those of my ilk. I found these shirts through twitter and am thoroughly impressed with their design and attention to detail. They haven’t just been sized up all over, nope they have been designed to fit the figure properly while accommodating a larger bust size! Genius!

10. Oribe 24 Karat Gold Pomade: Haircare just jumped up to the next level. This 24 karat pomade actually contains 24 karat gold flakes, so you know that your high powered shine is genuine. Perfect for catching those stray hairs that try to run free, this pomade will leave you with just enough control, while nourishing each strand.

11. Heaven’s Alchemy Milan Perfume: It’s a shame you can’t find a way to walk around with the bottle because it really is gorgeous! You’ll just have to settle for showing off the scent and beguiling all the noses close by. The blend of rare amber and patchouli sets the stage for the top notes of coriander and clean green to really round out the experience.

12. Zara Simon Harp Ring: This multi strand gold ring is visually stunning and perfectly simplistic. The 18 karat gold plating and spectacular texture of each individual ring in the set makes it the perfect mix and match jewelry.

13. Rachel Zoe Sullivan Tailored Leather Blazer: Rachel Zoe has me swooning with this blazer. The leather looks buttery soft and has that vintage, well worn and perfectly molded to your unique figure quality that has me combing vintage stores with a semi-obsessive glee. The medium brown tone is a lovely neutral to better show off your crisp white shirt and that light and airy romper beneath.

Is it sad that even in my daydreams I’m clumsy? Meh, it makes it more realistic that way! I wonder where next week’s outfit will be going? Tune in next time when our coordination-challenged fashion blogger takes her lingerie out on the town for another mini break outfit!

Cheers,
Maggie (Blog Contributor for Bella Bella Boutique)

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Lingerie as Outerwear: Spot The Fever

It could be due to all the extreme media attention paid to Valentine’s Day or it could just be cabin fever setting in. It is February after all, the perfect time to be going a little stir crazy with the isolation that Winter tends to bring. Nevertheless, I think you’ll agree that the outfit I’ve put together for this week is more than a little aggressive.

Frankly, I blame the lingerie for starting it all. I look at the animal print panel running down the tummy of the Dirty Pretty Things Bodysuit and I can’t help myself. I just need to give a good “raorhh”. Even after my partner began complaining and I tried to hold it in... I was still “raorhing” in my head, except now I was doing the cat scratch hand motion just to annoy him (figuratively speaking of course, after all this was all occurring in my mind).

Yup, pretty safe to say that I’m one good ‘redrum’ short of a Shining moment. May as well indulge in it fully right? If we’re going to do this beautiful mesh and leopard print bodysuit justice, then it needs a severe-ish looking, naughty librarian, pencil skirt like this Hugo number to really set it off. Covering up the bra cups with a tie top cardigan keeps the look safe for leaving the house, but still lets you show off those black mesh panels and part of the exposed backing.

The McQueen boots are fabulous, fully laced up and with a militant heel to provide that bit of ‘oomph’ to punch the look up and really commit to the whole idea. C’mon, admit it... you really want to give a little “raorhhh” now don’t you?

The jewelry is over the top decadent and screams out for attention with bling on every corner and fragment and why shouldn’t it? Named after one of the greatest characters in literature, Miss Havisham, the ultimate queen bee of her domain (never mind that she was batcrap crazy), these jewels are more than just sparkle and shine, they’re in your face decadence.

Now I had to add in the Tarte smoky eyeliner and the Stila lip gloss because you just can’t do a sex kitten, Brigitte Bardot without either. Wouldn’t this outfit make you want to bust out of your hibernation and reclaim your social life? Me too! But only if I get to at least do the hand motion while I “raorhh”. Once? FINE.

1. Dirty Pretty Things Vivian Fluoro Bodysuit:This bodysuit is so versatile, it could sex up plain old jeans and trousers just as well as this skirt. The black mesh panels create an alluringly slimming silhouette and highlight the central animal print panel beautifully.

2. Tarte EmphasEYES:I love a smoky eye and am so pleased that the look has made a come-back on the style scene. Tarte cosmetics are devoted to using the most natural of ingredients and not including any of the yuckies! The pigments of this eyeliner give a solid line, that’s waterproof and oil absorbing too. What more could you ask for?

3. Ca’Vagan Cardigan: This silk/cashmere blend, knit cardigan has a front closure that will only just conceal the bra style top of the bodysuit but falls away to show off everything else. The cropped nature of the cardigan’s hemline reveals the high waist of the skirt and works with the tall black boots to frame the skirt and bodysuit as the focal points of the outfit.

4. Alexander McQueen Lace Up Boots: Have you noticed that I’m always drawn to the lace up boots? I don’t know why, but they always look so lovely with all of these outfits, I just can’t help myself. These ones are no different. They will only just brush up against the hemline of the long line pencil skirt and create that covered, yet so very sexy look that we’re going for. The metallic accents on the boots will pick up the clasp on the skirt and your many points of bling to give the look a cohesive edge.

5. Hugo Dark Beige A Line Cotton Skirt: This skirt can look as sexy or as proper as you choose. However, with the addition of the Dirty Pretty Things bodysuit, it’s a pretty safe bet that we’re going for sexy here! The high waist of the skirt gives a structured and restrained look and keeps the lingerie in check.

6. Alexis Bittar Gunmetal Imitation Grey Quartz Earrings: These earrings are simply amazing! I think Alexis has outdone herself with this collection and you may notice that I’ve chosen all of our jewelry today from her. What can I say, when the lady’s right, she’s right!

7. Alexis Bittar Miss Havisham Drusy Droplet Ring:This ring is more than a statement, it’s epic. The dark colors and insistently blinding shine will have you swatting your hand in that annoying cat scratch hand movement that would torment my husband to no end, if he knew I was still doing it.

8. Stila Silk Shimmer Gloss: We can’t let the jewelry do all the shimmering, so Stila is helping your lips to keep up! You could easily go for a bold and brash lip color for this outfit, but I like the subtle shine and pout that an almost clear gloss will bring. No need to over do it after all.

9. Best of Miss Peggy Lee:Fevah! Peggy Lee belts out the song that was running through my head as I created our lingerie as outerwear outfit for this week. Her perfect timing and sensually dusky voice can be your anthem as you strut along in your mile high boots with your super shiny jewels dangling every which way. Just try not to look too Jessica Rabbit while you do, otherwise people are going to know you’re going all karaoke in your head.

10. Alexis Bittar Crystal Encrusted Pool Ring:This pool ring of crystals is the perfect accompaniment to the super long necklace. Whereas the necklace features a restraint with it’s use of jewels and pearls, the ring goes for an over-abundance that will glint and gleam all night long.

11. Alexis Bittar “Miss Havisham” Long Station Necklace:Since our cardigan will be tied at the bustline, I would recommend that you double up this luscious necklace to properly highlight your collar bones and chest. One loop can be close to your neck like a choker, whereas the other loop can dangle a bit lower and draw the eyes downwards to your decolletage.

Using lingerie as outerwear generally involves quite a bit of restraint and subtlety. I wasn’t channeling that principal today and am wholeheartedly endorsing a full-on, over the top, sexed up look for once. There’s nothing showing that shouldn’t be, but it’s a fabulously fun outfit and I would appreciate very much if you would take it out on the town and show it a good time while I continue to annoy the heck out of my hubby with continued, well placed “raorhhhhs” and cat hands. You’d think he would enjoy the change from my usual over-reliance on jazz hands....sheesh, clearly he has cabin fever!

Cheers,

Maggie (Blog Contributor for Bella Bella Boutique)

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Lingerie as Outerwear: A Casual Affair

Most of the outfits I’ve seen people creating for Valentine’s Day seem to focus on big grandiose evenings out and decadently dramatic lingerie installations that probably only remain on the body for all of 30 seconds. Which is all rather nice, if that’s what you have planned {you lucky thing you!}.

But what if you’re more inclined to more casual fare? Does that mean you have to err on the side of overdressing/underdressing in order to properly honor the fashion muse on Valentine’s Day? Nah, we’re all about individuality and choice in our Lingerie as Outerwear outfits here at Bella Bella Boutique, so I decided we needed to show just how glamorous a casual and subtley sexy outfit could be!

It all began with Marika Vera’s absolutely stunning Bella Silk Chiffon Teddy. The beautifully draped, deeply plunging neckline is so pretty while still being rather sexy. Once again, if you are of the shyer type and like to keep a little bit back, feel free to pop on some pasties for delicacy. However, if it’s really a night in, then I say let the candle light provide the cover and enjoy the sensation of silk chiffon on bare skin!

Speaking of candle light, I’ve included a Naked Princess massage candle, in my favorite flavor to provide you with an after dinner treat. Having burned through out your meal, imparting a soft, subtle scent of deliciously warm vanilla and almond, you can use the all natural, melted oils for a sweetly relaxing massage.

The teddy ties with a lovely wide silk satin ribbon that will add that touch of shine and sophistication and save you from having to let your belt out a few rungs after dinner. The bare back of the Bella teddy will show off your every muscle and curve, but you don’t need to reveal that sensuous detail until you remove your Lanvin cashmere shrug.

Fendi’s tailored wool trousers are the perfect accompaniment to the teddy, as their structured styling offsets the fluid movement of the lingerie and gives all the naturally neutral tones a base to work from. If they weren’t from different designers, I would swear that these heels were created expressly to compliment the teddy with their soft fabric edges and petal-like embellishments. They also pick up the silk flowers in your necklace and shrug without overdoing it all.

Each of the accents in this comfortably sexy outfit enhance one another and raise the bar on a night spent at home with your favorite company. The feminine bow detail of the ring, the metal worked knots of the earrings and brass ring hearken back to the idea of a couple tying the knot and making a loving commitment. Not a bad idea to pay homage to on this day of lovers. That handmade leather bound book is just begging to hold all of the details of your wonderful evening and could fit quite nicely in your roomy Gucci shoulder bag. Don’t you just love it when a plan comes together?

1. Marika Vera Bella Silk Chiffon Teddy: This teddy is meant to be seen, so please don’t relegate it simply to the bedroom. With it’s leather details in the back and the draped coverage at the front, it can easily play the part of a top, however, it really shines on it’s own as a teddy! The multiple layers of chiffon pleats create an opaque cover for your body, while luxurious silk whispers gently against your skin.

2. Naked Princess Love Lust Light Vanilla Blanc Candle: Multi-tasking at it’s best! Not only does this candle provide light, warmth and a seductive fragrance but it can also be used as a moisturizing massage oil! Pretty impressive right? After a delightful meal and cuddle by the fire, you can take turns soothing away all the knots and worries and reconnecting through loving conversation.

3. Badgley Mischka Dusk- Nude Heels: These shoes actually beat out a phenomenal pair of Louboutins for pride of place in this outfit. I love how delicate they are next to the solid wool trousers and they way the echo the design of the teddy and the silk flowers. The heel is still fairly towering, and keeps the outfit from becoming so casual, that you may as well have shown up in your bathrobe.

4. Fendi Tailored Virgin Wool Cigarette Trousers: The beautiful green color of these pants is so luscious and versatile. They can be dressed up or down and their superior styling and luxurious details will make them a classic piece of your wardrobe. Frankly, I am very much coveting them and doubt they will be absent from my closet for very long!

5. Lanvin Flower Embellished Cashmere Shrug:A cashmere shrug with a silk flower is the perfect accessory for that fireside, after dinner cuddle, while you listen to Adele vocally punish the idiot who was stupid enough to lose her. Don’t be surprised if after you remove the shrug to get more comfortable, you find your date stroking the super soft fibers, and who could blame them? It’s even lined in silk chiffon, you may as well be wearing a cuddly cloud.

6. Kreativlink Journal Handmade: Now that we’ve set the stage for a fabulous evening in, what better activity is there then to start writing the greatest love story of all time! Starting with the day you first laid on eyes on that Marika Vera Teddy. Oops, I meant recording all of the wonderful shared experiences and memories you’ve created with your Valentine.

7. Anthropologie Knotted Weave Ring: The minimalist nature of this ring is fabulous. It’s all about smooth curves and undulating knots in a butter soft, gold color of brass. What more do you need on Valentine’s Day?

8. Gucci New Jackie Large Shoulder Bag: Good friends always recommend Gucci. As your good friend and fellow lingerie lover, it behoves me to point out how fantastic this bag is with the entire outfit. You could even fit a small giftie for your date in there. I hear underwear is a universally pleasing gift on Valentine’s Day!

9. Mallarino Caroline 24 Karat Vermeil Bow Ring: Okay, I admit it. This ring is incredibly girly. I’m sorry, but you may have noticed that I successfully avoided including lingerie that was either red or pink yet again! That took a lot of effort and quite frankly, I think it’s pretty darn cute, don’t you?

10. Lanvin Silk Flower Necklace: I love this whimsical necklace. The silk flowers are so innocently cute, yet distinctly decadent that I just couldn’t resist adding them in. Whether you decided to wear the cashmere shrug or not, you’ll have your date enthralled with all the soft textures of your outfit.

11. Kate Spade New York Sailor’s Knot Hoop Earrings: Once again I found the long lost twin of something from another designer. I swear they were all on the same page last season, weren’t they? How did they know exactly what I needed? These Kate Spade earrings are perfect with the Anthropologie knotted ring and you need to make sure everyone knows it, so keep twirling that curl over your ear, the candle light’s bound to catch a glimmer at some point!

I hope I’ve given you a few ideas to create your perfect Lingerie as Outerwear outfit for your date with that special person, I know my biggest issue now is whittling down the choices to better suit my planned activities. I’ll be going for a slightly more casual evening on the actual Valentine’s Day, but on the weekend preceding, I plan to whoop it up in pure Bella Bella style!

Cheers,
Maggie (Blog Contributor for Bella Bella Boutique)

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Lingerie as Outerwear: Kiss Me Pink

It’s getting closer and closer! Can you feel it yet?
I have a secret I need to share with you all...

I think I’m succumbing to this upcoming holiday, because I couldn’t help myself, I just had to put in pink! And not just a little either. Nope it’s the balance to the glossy black lingerie we’ll be showing off in this outfit!

I have always tried to use pink in very small doses after watching the movie “Steel Magnolias” and hearing Julia Robert’s character, Shelby, say, “Pink is my signature color!” The church she is getting married in, is a bloom in every single shade, tone and cousin of pink and basically looks similar to what I assume a colonoscopy scan would resemble. Nevertheless, it looks like I’m a joiner after all, although you will note that the lingerie isn’t pink. I haven’t gone that far.

Yet!

I can’t promise I won’t go completely swoon-ey next week.

The whole look centers around the showstopping, all-lace bodysuit from La Lilouche. There’s no hiding anything in this all over black lace. The gemstones scattered throughout will add a seductive glimmer and glint to your every move and will match the luxurious pasties from Toad Lillie. But don’t feel that you have to wear the pasties, they have been included for the reserved or shy fashionista, who may be spending her Valentines in a more brightly lit and therefore more revealing environment.

The pants are curve hugging and comfortable so that you can shimmy and shimmer without any annoying wardrobe malfunctions or limits. The understated black silk chiffon top will be swirling and coiling around you and only slightly obliterating the view of the fabulous bodysuit beneath. The draping translucent fabric gives you a goddess-like grace and creates the third layer of this multi-story lingerie outfit.

Do you love the boots? I love the boots! I’m not sure I could walk in the boots, but I am in deep smit with them. From the laces to the mid-calf rise, these boots would look fabulous with almost any outfit. You may need to lean heavily on your date for balance and safety, but that’s just another excuse to get close and let them nuzzle your honeysuckle perfumed neck. It may be wise not to attempt that before dinner though, as the Honey dust really is that tasty and could start a feeding frenzy in the back of the cab. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

The jewelry is all soft polished surfaces that won’t catch or pull on the delicate chiffon or lace or demand too much attention from your admirers. The lipstick is one of the signature brown/pinks from Bobbi Brown the woman who introduced the cosmetics world to restraint with color, and just like her, I wanted the outfit to focus on highlighting all of your natural beauty. With each of your curves hugged and only slightly hidden, I’m sure you’ll agree that this ensemble deserves a night out!

1.La Lilouche Alex Lace Bodysuit with Gemstones: I have been dying to show you this all lace bodysuit from La Lilouche! It’s embellished with gemstones that highlight the lace design and add an extra bit of glitter to your look. There are the cutest little ruffles on the legs that won’t be visible with the pants, but will make for an excellent striptease after a delightful evening out.

2. Mulberry Pink Lilly Mini Bag: Just a tiny pink accent to wrap up the look. Either over your shoulder of clutched in your hand, there’s just enough room for that Bobbi Brown lipstick, your phone and a homemade card for your wonderful date.

3.DSquared2 Black Leather Women’s Ankle Boots: With such a blousey chiffon top I wanted to keep the pants and booties shapely and minimalist. These lace up boots are as feminine as possible and certainly show off the long line of your legs to the super sexy heels.

4. Vivienne Westwood Petite Ring Light Pink : The lacquered pink finish on this ring is adorable and not likely to show up in something bought from a candy machine! Picking up the glow in your cheeks, the shade of your D&G pants, your accessories will be supporting your every fashion choice tonight.

5.Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Colour in Rose Petal: Who doesn’t want to be completely kissable on Valentines Day? Bobbi Brown is the queen of creating natural looking shades for lips and skin tones of all colors and you’re sure to find the perfect natural pink to beguile your date with. I’m suggesting Rose Petal, but will certainly defer to your better judgement.

6. Toad Lillie Minx Jeweled Pasties: If you’re going to wear nipple pasties, they may as well be absolutely fabulous right? These pasties match almost too perfectly with the bodysuit. They have that lovely sheen of black satin with extra hand stitched crystal beads to show that while you’re modest you aren’t overly humble!

7. Kama Sutra Honey Dust: This body dust should really be listed under lingerie! It’s one of the most amazing things you can treat your body to before you go out for the evening. The gentle honeysuckle scent will lure your date in closer and carries the added bonus of a sweet tasting memory left on the lips.

8. Dolce & Gabbana Shiny Low Rise Pants: Now, generally I’m not really a fan of pants with a bit of a satin sheen to them... I’m always reminded of those unfortunate 1970’s styles from the casinos in Vegas. BUT, these have a far more subtle approach and don’t demand that your hair be teased within an inch of its life. Not to mention that this is for Valentines day and if you can’t have a wee bit of drama on this holiday, then what’s the point?

9. Katie Decker "Jane" 18k Yellow Gold and Freshwater Pearl Earrings: These earrings are definitely worth the splurge. Their timeless setting will never go out of style and they add an elegant air of luxury and taste to every ensemble.

10. Marika Vera Nydia Silk Chiffon Top and Silk Satin Knickers Set: We’re doubling and tripling up on the lingerie as outerwear today to accommodate for the transparent nature of each piece. The chiffon top will combine with the lacey bodysuit to create an opaque silhouette of your body while helping to blur the line between showing it all off and keeping some secrets. You can choose to wear the lovely silk satin undies that come with the set or just go commando (but not really) in the bodysuit.

So what do you think of this Valentines outfit? A bit sexy and a bit sweet all at the same time right? I think I can squeeze in another outfit before we actually get to Valentines day, but I don’t know if I can hold out against traditional holiday themed color choices in lingerie... Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

Cheers,

Maggie (Blog Contributor for Bella Bella Boutique)

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