3 ways to wear it: denim cut-offs

Memorial Day has come and gone, and really it’s feeling more like July than May out there…which means it’s time to break out those shorts!!  We love finding pieces in our wardrobe that go with everything.  And we are pretty sure that denim cut-offs fit the bill!  As Angela mentioned in her interview, they are the “skinny jeans of summer”.  They allow you to wear all of your summer tops, from casual tanks to dressy blouses.  They can be found in a variety of lengths – so they really are for all ages!  Here are 3 easy ways to wear denim cut-offs this summer featuring these shorts from Madewell!

 

  swimsuit     ::     hat     ::     tote     ::     sandals     ::     kimono (similar)

top     ::     sandal     ::     tote     ::     earrings

top     ::     jacket     ::     sandal     ::     earrings     ::     watch

How do YOU like to wear your cut-offs?  Leave a comment below!

Get to know the girls of ReDress….

If there is one thing we’ve learned after 7 years in business, it’s that style is PERSONAL.

The clothes in your closet are not just clothes.  They’re memories; purchases you bought at points in your life that bring back emotions.  You have sequined dresses from your trip to Vegas.  Old college sweatshirts.  Pants to fit pre-and-post baby bodies.  Your clothes reflected who you were then, and who you are today.  And inviting some strangers in to see and inspect and discuss each and every one of these items – that can be intimidating!  We’re here to tell you that we do not judge, rather we hope to take these sentimental pieces and give them new life!

So, in an effort to take away the stranger-ness, we’d like to introduce ourselves and invite you into our lives and closets.

First up:  Cara

Name: Cara Logsdon

Hometown: Upper Arlington

Family: Husband Jeremy, kids Evy (7), Wyatt (5), and Daisy (3)

photo credit: Danielle Lehman Photography

Tell us about your background in fashion:  I kicked off my retail career as a sales associate at The Gap back in high school!  After college I completed the Executive Development Program at Neiman Marcus and was an assistant buyer in Designer Sportswear.  I then moved to Abercrombie & Fitch and worked in merchandising (women’s and girls knits) and then market research/focus groups, where I met Angela!

How would you describe your style:  Classic and feminine with some trendy elements…yet comfortable and practical.  Being the mom of little ones, I don’t want to worry about ruining my clothes.  I like pieces that are versatile: appropriate to wear walking the kids to school, driving them to sports practices, or going out to dinner at night.  I really just try to buy pieces that are interesting and that I love!

What is your go-to item in your closet:  My Rebecca Minkoff crossbody handbags.  They’re just big enough to hold all my essentials and allow me to keep my hands free since I always seem to be carrying something (or someone)!  When I need to carry a bigger bag I just throw it into a tote and go!

What is the oldest item in your closet:  A denim jacket circa 2001 (!!!).  I was studying in Italy for the summer and left the denim jacket I had brought with me at a train station.  I headed to the nearest Benetton (which seemed to be conveniently located on every street corner) and quickly replaced mine.  It’s a medium wash and a classic fit…and I still wear it today!

What is your spring must-have?  A white eyelet midi skirt.  Stylish, classic, and versatile!  I plan on wearing it dressed down with a nautical striped tee and flat sandals, and dressed up with a silk cami and wedges.  And probably my denim jacket!

What are your favorite places to shop:  Madewell and J.Crew, and since I seem to do a lot of shopping online, Shopbop and Zappos!

What’s the best part about being a wardrobe stylist: Seeing the confidence and excitement on our client’s faces after we complete a closet clean-up.  For many people – no matter how stylish or trendy they are – getting dressed and creating outfits can be stressful.  Knowing that we helped make their lives a little bit easier, or made them feel a little bit better about their their personal style, is very rewarding.

And here’s a look into my closet:

 

Coming up….an interview with Angela!

 

 

 

 

Packing for a two week European vacation…in a carry-on

When Erin of Earnest Home Co told us she was taking a trip to Europe this spring, we couldn’t have been more jealous.  Walking the streets of Paris, tasting wine in Burgundy, strolling along the beaches of the Italian riviera, and touring historical Rome…sign us up!  And then she told us she was packing for her two week trip entirely in her carry-on.  This sounded like a challenge that had ReDress all over it!  Versatility?  Mixing and Matching?  Maximizing what you have?  We love it!

Before we even met with Erin, we thought about what pieces would give us the most bang for our buck.  What can be worn in a variety of ways, can be dressed up or down by swapping out accessories and shoes, what can be easily packed, and what pieces can be layered in case of changes in weather.  Here are just a few of the items we came up with right off the bat.

Packing essentials by redress featuring a blue button shirt

 

After we had the basic pieces, we talked about how to mix the pieces to make outfits, and took pictures of what we created on Erin’s phone so she could easily reference her outfits while she is abroad.  Just using the pieces above, we could create the following outfits:

Outfit 1: Touring the Museums…..Chambray Shirt + Stripe Skirt

Outfit 2: Date Night Dining…Silk Cami + Stripe Skirt

Outfit 3: Wine Tasting…Graphic Tee + Stripe Skirt + Military Jacket

Outfit 4: Beach Strolling…Silk Cami + Denim Cut-offs + Military Jacket

Outfit 5: Country Hiking…Graphic Tee + Denim Cut-offs + Chambray Shirt

So as you can see, just by using the pieces above (not even including accessories or shoes!) we were able to come up with 5 quick outfits that can work for a range of activities, both dressy and casual.  We added some more items to the mix to include some pants and jeans, dresses, another skirt, a lightweight sweater, and more top options and were able to create 35 outfits, just by mixing and matching!

Next we moved on to accessories.  The accessories we wanted her to bring also had to be versatile and really make a statement.  Here are some of the key accessories we came up with.

accessory essentials by redress featuring vintage sunglasses

These accessories can easily transform any outfit, taking it from day tonight quickly and effortlessly!  Take Outfit 1: Touring the Museums from above.  See how a few accessory swaps can take it from museums to dinner.

Day:  Chambray Shirt + Stripe Skirt + Panama Hat + Sunglasses

Night: Chambray Shirt + Stripe Skirt + Statement Necklace

Luckily accessories don’t take up a lot of space in your carry-on (remember to wear your hat on the plane so it doesn’t get smashed), so we added a few more necklace options to Erin’s packing list, and she was able to expand her outfit options even more!  Accessories will make you feel chic and put together in addition to adding versatility to your wardrobe.  Do NOT forget these!

(we loved our furry little helper!)

And finally shoes.  This is a hard one, and a place where most people tend to over-pack.  Over-packing was NOT an option for Erin, considering how much space shoes can take up!  Here was our initial suggestion:

shoe essentials by redress featuring Jeffrey Campbell

Ankle boots for cooler weather (to be worn on the plane), sneakers for lots of walking, sandals for warmer weather, and one pair of versatile heels.  We ended up having room to add another pair of sandals so Erin could change up her looks even more!

We added a tote bag (to be carried on), a clutch (used inside the tote to hold essentials and then taken out for nighttime use), and a cross-body for all day touring, and we were finished!

We loved this challenge of Erin’s, and we think she did to!  You can read about her experience here and follow along with her on instagram (EarnestHomeCo) to see how she wears her outfits in Europe!  Have a great trip, Erin!

If you would like for us to help you pack for your next vacation, send us an email!  ReDressColumbus@yahoo.com.  We’d love to help!