Pleated Skirts For Fall!

Fall is right around the corner and nothing gets me more excited than comfy, cozy clothes, cute sneaks, and COFFEE!!! And one of my favorite go-to fall outfits for when that weather starts to change is the pleated skirt, oversized sweater, and sneaks! YES PEOPLE!!

Fall is right around the corner…

…which means comfy skirts, oversized sweaters, cute sneaks, and COFFEE!

H&M actually has a solid assortment of pleated skirts in both fall and summer colors, AND they actually fit really well! ANNNNND some of them are on major sale so I saved my favorites here for you!

I can’t wait to hear which colors you bought! So let me know in a comment below or tag @suits.and.sneaks in your fave new skirt on Instagram.

Happy weekend y’all!

-Kristin

Four Easy Ways To Look More Put Together When Working From Home

Last week I wrote a post for the guys on Four Simple Ways To Up Your Work-From-Home Style During COVID 19.  We talked from everyday work wear to how to up your look in a suit on Zoom interviews.  Speaking of suits. Ladies, there are the most adorable Gold cufflinks on Etsy if you ever need a gift for your man.

But this week, it’s all about the ladies. 

Particularly those of us who are caught in the middle of loving the comfort of WFH clothes, i.e. sweats and fabletics, but miss the confidence that comes with getting dressed up to go into the office. 

So here are my favorite easy ways to get the best of both worlds so you can go about your workday feeling more chic and confident, yet still comfortable enough to get things done.

Pleated Skirts

Photo source: Promesa USA Silver Pleated Metallic Midi Skirt

I.  Flipping.  Love.  These.  What better way to feel fab and feminine in the comfort of your own home (or in the office if you’ve already gone back) than a pleated skirt!  They’re stylish.  They’re fun.  They’re beyond comfortable when sitting and working for long periods of time.  They’re expandable for all those extra snacks you might be popping into your mouth come 3pm (guilty).  And, you can take these skirts in so many different directions.  So overall, a fantastic investment.

Keep them casual chic by pairing them with some cute sneaks, or totally dress them up 10 notches with heels for a night out like you see below. 

Photo by Vicky Cheng on Unsplash

I saved some of my favorite pleated skirts here!

The Little Fitted Jacket That Could

I cannot tell you how many times I’ve thrown one of these on for a Teams meeting and suddenly looked 10 notches more professional.  Get yourself one of these!  If you’re literally still sitting in the cami you slept in and prefer to keep it that way for the entire day, then you’re totally cool.  Because if you suddenly realize your Teams meeting that starts in two minutes requires video, then this will be your saving grace.  Check out my favorites here.

Stylish Frames

Yessss girl!  I just ordered myself a pair of blue light filtering Phonetics and they took my work-from-home look to a whole new level.  Check out my before and after pics here. 

Kristin Leigh, Phonetic blue-light filtering glasses, before and after

Jewelry

Let’s finish with a super easy-to-implement one here, keeping those Zoom or Microsoft Teams meetings top of mind.  Earrings or necklaces are a godsend for this because they’re an easy, inexpensive way to brighten up your face. 

I’m a huge fan of offsetting anytime I get dressed.  What does offsetting mean, you ask?  I always implement opposites into my look.  So if my shirt is extremely casual and plain, then I’ll be sure to include a necklace or earrings to offset that depending on my agenda for the day. 

If I’m wearing sneaks that day (duh), then I offset them with something more chic.  Offset, offset, offset.  I’m not sure that’s a technical term in fashion, but I’ve been using it as my formula for years now.

Same thing goes with materials or lines and shape of your clothing.  If what you’re wearing on top is very stiff or straight-lined, then offset it with a necklace that has a bit more depth.  You don’t have to go over the top, but even something as minimal as this Italian 14k rope chain could be all you need since the design is a bit more 3D than traditional flatter necklaces might be. 

Bracelets and watches are my absolute fave, especially minimalist simple ones with a single ornament.  Super inexpensive, super simple, and all you really need when working from home.

I hope those ideas gave you a little inspiration, and let me know any other tricks you’ve got below!

Have a great weekend!

-Kristin

Forget Following Fashion Trends, You Do You.

Once upon a time there used to be a season for certain colors and an era for certain styles.

We can look back on the decades of our past and pretty much generalize the fashion trends for each era. 70s were the hippies. 80s was total hair. 90s was cutoffs and hip-hop. 2000s were punk rock and skater boys and babes. And now here we are in 2018, with the onset of social media’s Pinterest and Instagram. Photography and fashion are in full swing.

But here’s one thing I’ve noticed about this new digital world that we’ve all come to love and hate. It’s given us an outlet to express our individual style.

You can scroll through Pinterest and Insta feeds for hours and hit the like button on all different types of fashion. Why? Because the pictures look good. Because the ENTIRE LOOK looks good. You fall in love with the person’s overall style. The clothes, the makeup, the expression, the background, the lighting. Take all of that combined and the fact that a girl is wearing white pants in winter is pretty meaningless because, well, her photo completely ROCKS.

Fashion is a massive part of our modern lives, especially since so much of our lives have been shifted towards showing off our looks. And with any industry, some people have such a true passion and love for it that they dedicate their whole lives to it. (Think your major bloggers on Instagram)

Once upon a time we were also taught to dress a certain way for certain circumstances or occasions.

Interviews, weddings, corporate jobs. Shoot, think of the countries where women don’t even have a choice in what they can wear! And while times are changing for the better, the fact remains that if you dress outside what certain people consider “the norm,” you very well might be looked at twice.

Is that a bad thing though?

And honestly, what does it matter to people what you wear if it’s not hurting anyone?

Well the truth is, it does. Because your style speaks louder than your words. Especially on first glance. But just because people make judgments in a matter of seconds doesn’t mean you can’t tailor a polished look to reflect your individuality.

Freedom of expression is important for maintaining our identity as individuals. You can still totally do this even if you work a corporate 9 to 5 job by adding your unique favorite trends to a more conservative polished style. I explain exactly how to do this in fashion posts throughout my site. Crazy story but I actually work in a global pharmaceutical company and I can easily think of 4 coworkers that have tattoo sleeves. BUT they balance that with a more polished professional outfit so the whole look is just totally badass! (Side note, if you’re going a tattoo route, be sure to use barrier tattoo gel)

Remember that you should dress according to what you truly like and feel comfortable in, but by also dressing in such a way that makes others comfortable and shines you in the best, most respectful light. This is what Suits & Sneaks is all about! Follow along for loads more tips on getting dressed each day that gains you respect and authority in the workplace, but also lets the real you shine through at the same time.

Cheers!

-Kristin

How to Save on Corporate Style: Clever Cost Saving Tips

Polished casual styled with Seavees

If you’re like most, you’re anticipating the arrival of the new year with hopes and dreams to bring out a new and better you. New mindset, new habits, new routines, new goals. Heck, maybe you’re even on a mission to find a new job that you love for 2019. So what better way to package up this NEW YOU than with a fresh, new wardrobe?

Except that, this is the busiest shopping season of the year and you’ve probably already spent a TON of money. (And I’m guessing well beyond your budget?) So, how do you now build a stylish work wardrobe with the little that you have left in the bank?

I’ll give you a hint. The answer is not always to start from scratch. To take the pressure off you a little, here are six ways I typically save on my corporate style.

1. Stick with the simple

I’m a huge fan of basics for two reasons. One, because they never go out of style. You can wear them in different ways forever. And two, because it’s not as noticeable when you repeat a basic piece of clothing as it is when you repeat a flashy or trendy one. (Case in point, I haven’t gone shopping in OVER A YEAR.)

Get these basic pieces for Men and Women

I would even advise being strategic with your COLOR choices and stick with basic colors like black, white, or gray. I know this sounds boring, but remember, this is your foundation. Spend minimal dollars on a few basic things and your opportunities to style in different ways on top of that are endless. See #2 below.

2. Mix and match with layers and accessories.

Shop the look here

An added bonus to the basic foundation above is that any accessories or jackets you layer on top will instantly stand out. Whether we’re talking about a diamond necklace from Ritani or a scarf from Target, if you have a basic foundation, then most likely you’re pretty much guaranteed that any accessory or layer you add on will match.

Men’s Flatlay

This is genius I tell you for yet another reason: Accessories DON’T WEAR OUT! They don’t fade with washes, they don’t get ruined from spills. They take up little space. And what’s more, they typically go on major sale at certain stores throughout the year. Set this 1:3 spending rule for yourself: I will figure out how to buy a single shirt-price worth of accessories that can translate into three different looks. Boom, financial win. It’s that easy.

3. Always check the labels.

I completely stay away from anything that needs to be dry-cleaned. It’s just not worth it to me. I actually take it a step further and stay away from anything that needs to be ironed, because well, ain’t nobody got time for that. If you’re looking for money AND time savings, checking the labels is super important.

4. Shop out of season. Heck, shop out of style.

I could care less if clothing is in season or not. Why? Because quite frankly guys, it’s not so much about the clothes as it is the person wearing them.

Let’s all get real here for a moment. Think about when you see fashion bloggers on Pinterest or Instagram. What about the pictures attract you to it? Is it 100% the clothes? Or is it the model’s hair, his or her fitness level, the camera angle, the lighting, a statement accessory? There are a number of factors that can take a look from being blah to wow, and it will always be more than just the clothing pieces themselves.

So with that, buy that’s-so-last-season clothes! They’re cheaper! Because guess what? You can make anything look attractive by adding additional layers like a blazer or accessories, and most importantly, you will strut into your office silently screaming that this look is yours to OWN.

5. Look for deals online.

Like most purchases in life, you can usually find work clothes cheaper if you shop around for them online. You can use price comparison tools to compare similar items from different stores. You can leverage online voucher sites to find coupons for money off products both in-store and online. Heck, you can go sign up for mailing lists or newsletters for your favorite retailers because they will give you a discount code. Don’t want spam mail? Who cares! You just got 25% off!

6. And lastly, wear what is provided.

I’ll save the best scenario for last, in that if you’re a uniformed worker, then you luck out and don’t have to buy wardrobes of clothes. Though many might argue this and say you wish you could wear what you want, how easy and cost-effective is it to wear the same things everyday?! Am I right? But even if you’re not a uniformed worker, many companies give out branded shirts, polos, socks, etc. for free. Why not wear them?? This means one less outfit where you can save the money to buy something else.

Make use of company-provided shirts

So there ya have it folks! I live by these rules every time I look for something new to wear. I honestly am a cheapskate when it comes to fashion and style. I buy everything at discount prices, and at most, once a year. Building a work wardrobe from scratch can be costly, but, hopefully, with these tips, you can save yourself some money as you start the new year with the new you!

Kristin, Suits & Sneaks

-Kristin

It's Sweater Weather! My Favorite Comfy Sweaters

Good news! Sweater weather is here! This is an odd fun fact but I’m a native Floridian and I feel like I have more fall and winter outfits than I do summer. I’m not sure what that’s about but as you can imagine I am stoked! Sunny and…..65 here in Florida!! LOL! Regardless, we Floridians LOVE warm, comfy sweaters just like the rest of you around the world so I picked out some of my favorites and included them below. And don’t worry, I’ve covered balloon sleeve sweaters, fluffy sweaters, h&m sweaters, pullover sweaters, knit sweaters…..I’m starting to sound like Forest Gump here people. My point is, I’ve hand-selected a bunch for you. Happy shopping!

Women's Tahari Summer Suit Sale Is On!

Happy Friday everyone and I hope you had a wonderful 4th of July!  Many of us are taking some time away from work to recharge and relax.  And many of us love the sales that come with summer.  As you think about how you're going to finish off the second half of your year at work strong, I happened to realize Tahari had a great suit sale going on.  So I picked out some of my favorites for you below.  So get going and pick out your power suit below.  Here's to owning your workday!

Got an Upcoming Interview? I've Got 5 Pieces of Advice For You.

Hey y’all I’m back with probably the biggest interview tip I could ever give you.  You could be the sweetest, smartest, most hardworking person in the world, but if you don’t have this one skill, I’m really sorry, but you likely won’t advance in the interviewing process.  You have heard it before, but I can’t stress the importance of it enough. 

And so I tell you that, COMMUNICATION SKILLS are EVERYTHING.  Now, before your two-second attention span closes this window because you’re like, yeah Kristin I already knew that, realize that there is in fact a LOT more to this communication word than you might realize.  And you not being seriously self-aware and socially aware of each of the five points below could very well cost you the job.  I have seen it many times.

So without further ado, let’s examine the most critical parts of communication:

1.       Your energy

Communication skills are key

If you have naturally low energy, I implore you, I beg you, to do whatever it takes to up your energy level, even if slightly out of your comfort zone.  If you lose someone in the first few minutes, it will be close to impossible to get them back. 

Try your best to be dynamic and bring feeling into your conversation.  The reality is, it’s you and a handful of other people interviewing.  You need to come to the table with a level of professional energy that can outpace your competition. 

2.       Your flow

It ain’t just for yoga class people.  Strive for really good flow in your explanations.  Think chronologically high level with the ability to dive into detail where needed. 

Chronological, high level points will make it easy for the interviewer to follow you.  It shows them you know how to get the most important points across quickly.  Then, dive into detail when asked for specific examples.  This will validate to the interviewer that you’ve actually worked through your situations and can recap your processes and learnings for someone else as well.    

3.       Your questions

While there’s always a balance between quality and quantity, please at least have some questions put together for your interviewers.  A lack of questions will make us think either you don’t care, or perhaps you’re not as well-versed in the subject area as you say you are. 

Very important though, really think through how what you’re asking might be perceived.  For example, I cringe when I open it up for questions and the candidate goes, “what are the working hours?”  Seriously, that’s your first question for me?  Now there could be a legit reason you’re asking, i.e. you have kids to pick up at 4pm, but you need to ask questions demonstrating your interest in the role first, then you can ask logistical questions later.    

4.       Your tone

Be very, very careful with this one.  I’ve seen really good candidates mess this part up in the interview and instantly lose the hiring team’s trust.  If you have a tendency to let annoyance or sarcasm creep into your conversational tone, make sure you check that, and any potentially demeaning words in your vocab, at the door. 

Your ultimate goal for this interview is to remain as positive as possible.  Now sure, you will be asked about difficult situations.  And you most certainly should answer them truthfully.  But you can do this by explaining your difficult situation in a more neutral tone, and then wrap it up by explaining what you learned from that particular situation. 

5.       Your ability to read the room.

Learn to read the room

Otherwise known as social awareness.  Since nobody can be perfect, the next best thing you can do is at least learn to read your audience and adjust accordingly.  If you notice any of your interviewers' eyes start to glaze over, or they lean back in their chairs and sort of slouch, then you’re not talking succinctly or dynamic enough.  So try to make your points a little clearer and a little faster.  If you notice your interviewers suddenly raising eyebrows or looking uneasy, something you said is causing them to question their trust in you.  Don’t be negative and consider adjusting your tone. 

At the end of the day, you should always be you.  Just remember that technical skills can be taught a lot faster than communication skills can.  So as you prep for your interview and gather your technical skills together, use the five points above to make sure you can communicate your experiences to your interviewers as best as possible.

Good luck and as always, comment below if you have any questions!

-Kristin

How To Create 7 Different Outfits With 1 Pair of Sneaks

This was SUCH a fun concept to come up with because a) who doesn't love buying an awesome pair of shoes, and b) who doesn't love justifying them with SEVEN different outfits??

Let me introduce you to the shoe, so appropriately named the Huntington Middie.  It's casual, it's clean, and quite frankly it turns heads.  Which is why I call it my game-changer shoe.  But, GET THIS.  As is the mission of everything Suits & Sneaks, I've taken this shoe and dressed it up for you to wear to WORK, to HAPPY HOUR, and yes, to simply #KEEPITCASUAL on the weekends.

So let's dive into this amazingly comfortable pair of sneaks (which include plush insoles btw!), styled SEVEN different ways for each day of your week.  Here we go!

Monday.

When All You Want Is Comfort.

When you wake up late, still feeling full and groggy from the weekend, and for the love of God just want to feel comfortable for the next 8 hours of your day....This is the outfit for you. 

Offset Casual With a Dose of Glam

For the Perfect Polished Casual Look.

Offset the casualness and comfort of these pants and sneaks with a tan blazer.  And, bedazzle yourself in pearls.  You've heard me say this a million times: Offsetting is the way to go for that refined, polished casual look.

Shop This Look:

Get the Sneaks: Seavees Huntington Middies

Tuesday

Styled Professionally.

You made it through Monday looking good, and if your coworkers had some sort of decency, they saved those important meetings for Tuesday.  Here's where you dress up your look with the easiest, most professional color out there - Black. 

BUT, don't be boring and wear black shoes.  That doesn't interest anyone. 

Hello Game-Changer.

Goodbye Status-Quo Dresser.

Instead, look like you've got style sense by changing up the shoe color with your black pants and blazer.  Sit down status-quo dressers.  Game-Changer just walked into the room.

Shop This Look:

Get the Sneaks: Seavees Huntington Middies

Wednesday

Polished Comfort.

Halfway through the week and starting to tire out?  Simply take it down a notch with a warm, comfy sweater and this soft, muted pink scarf.  Next, offset the comfort on top with some dark fitted jeans or even a pencil skirt on bottom! 

Slipping Into Your Middies

Couldn't get any easier.

Shop the Look:

Get the Sneaks: Seavees Huntington Middies

Thursday

Work + Happy Hour

A popular happy hour day, they say.  You definitely don't want to dress like a boring professional cause you're likely to hit up the bar scene after work.  You also don't want to walk into the office LOOKING like you're hitting up the bar scene after work.  #AMIRIGHT? 

Why Limit Happiness to One Hour

When You Feel This Good.

Here's a happy medium that's fun, but smart enough for the office.  And if jean jackets are more so meant for Friday, just switch this jacket out for a cute fitted blazer!  Hello Polished Casual.

Shop the Look:

Get  the Sneaks: Seavees Huntington Middies

TGI Friday

Jean Jacket Approved.

Ahhh, the day where the jean jacket IS allowed.  Grab those comfy pants from Monday and just swap out the top!  Here you could go with a neutral shirt, or get a little ballsy with a graphic tee under your jacket or blazer.  Just don't forget the accessories with this look. 

Accessories.

They Will Polish You Off.

While your threads are totes casual, you want to offset them with some accessories, like the bandanna scarf I've done here.  Or how about fun jewelry like a wooden watch??  No matter how casual you go, accessories and jackets will always polish you off.

Shop This Look:

Get the Sneaks: Seavees Huntington Middies

Saturday

Sleep In Like A Boss.

I absolutely LOVE these Middies with shorts.  And here's where I stress how dang COMFORTABLE these shoes are.  I never even got blisters from wearing them brand new!  Take it from the girl with the foot injury that put her in sneaks in the first place.  These shoes are SO EASY to wear while you're running around. 

So Comfy

You Could Walk Miles In These Kicks.

The long cardigan takes the look up a notch.  It also covers the top half of your thighs if you're feeling a little subconscious about them.  Like in this case, I would've preferred tanner legs lol.  Florida girl problems. 

Shop This Look:

Get the Sneaks: Seavees Huntington Middies

Sunday

Brunching + Shopping

A day meant for rest that's quite often supplemented with shopping or brunching.  Pair your Middies with a soft, floral shirt.  Top it off with a neutral, fitted blazer, and bam!  You're ready to walk in the door of any occasion. 

#Goals

She Rushed Out the Door and STILL Looked Styled.

My favorite part about this look are the sneakers and the blazer.  Because the combo simply screams: This girl quickly ran out the door and STILL managed to look styled!  Can we say #GOALS??

Shop The Look:

Get the Sneaks: Seavees Huntington Middies

Speaking of occasion, today was a special day!  I mean WOW.  What a post!  You just got SEVEN different outfit ideas!  And all laid out for you with just ONE pair of sneaks!!! 

I hope you all enjoyed browsing through the pictures and outfit inspiration to pair up with your new Middies!  Click the signup or subscribe button and I'll send you an easy-access style card with all the deets!

And allow me to give mad props to my photographer Nick Pecori who took all of the beautiful pictures you see in this post.  Comment below with what you think!

I Guess I'm a Guy's Girl? My Style Explained.

I’ve never officially coined myself as such, but it was the two words that came to my mind when I thought about the history of my style.  I did an Urban Dictionary check just to be sure (total sarcasm people, but for kicks, see below): 

"Guy’s girl:  That girl who can just chill and be one of the guys.  She’s into sports, beer, action flicks, and doesn’t give a damn what others think.  However, unlike the tomboy, she has her gang of girl mates who she shops with and does girly stuff." (Source: Urbandictionary.com) 

So yeah, I guess you could say this describes me.  And anyone who’s known me throughout my life would probably agree:  A guy’s girl. 

Kristin Leigh, Suits & Sneaks

The guys of my youth:

Maybe it’s cause I was the first-born and my dad and I were (still are) super close.  My dad helped me out with everything, from homework to coaching me in softball for years, to perfecting my volleyball serves, to somehow getting the message across when my skirts were too short. 

My cousin Brian lived next door to me on one side, and on the other side of my house were two boys also my age, Keith and Craig.  So we all grew up together, playing mostly non-girly games.  You could probably label me as a tomboy in my youth.  I definitely rocked the backwards hat for longer than I’d like to admit.  But that’s what my inner circle wore.  Don’t get me wrong though, I still had what seemed like the largest Barbie collection in the world.  And yes, I thought Ken was hot AF.  But sitting right next to the Barbie bin was a bin of Legos, and right next to the Legos, a bin of cars.  I really was into just about everything. 

Anyways I guess with all of that, I just took a liking to chillin’ with the boys.  I think cause it was just that, chill.  I showed up to hang out and play games as I felt best myself.  I never really worried about having to win guys over with my appearance because they all liked hanging out with me for my personality.  I think?  (c’mon, we were like 8 years old). 

High school:

Once I hit the teenage years, my parents might argue I was anything BUT chill, but whatever that’s called hormones.  And yes, I still crushed on the cute guys in school.  So at this point my parents (poor dad) had their hands full because I basically always had a boyfriend.  I couldn’t help it, I just liked hanging out with the guys!  I liked what they talked about.  They talked about ACTUAL STUFF, rather than gossiped about each other.  Actual stuff was way more interesting to me.  And I’m not stereotyping girls NOW, I’m merely telling you what I actually experienced BACK THEN.  20+ years ago.

College:

I joined a sorority in college.  Three months of that was all I could take.  I made some amazing friends through it, who were very much guy’s girls like myself.  And basically, we just enjoyed hanging out at the frat houses drinking beer and playing games with the guys.  That didn’t sit well with the more senior sorority girls as you could imagine.  Things started to suck, people were mean, and I asked myself, why would I want to spend my free time in such mental state?  So I quit, and then I could hang out with my frat guy friends as much as I wanted.  Bye Felicia. 

The last two years in college I lived with my two best girl friends, on a floor of otherwise guys.  The guys were our “bros”, and we, although girls, were their “bros”.  Again, one giant group of friends that just enjoyed watching football and drinking beer together.  We wore some makeup.  I’d say we were attractive.  But we just enjoyed hanging with the guys.  Nothing more.  We still call each other “Bro” to this day by the way.

Me, today:

So my style today has been what it always has been, 100% me and however I’m feeling at the time.  I’ve never condoned wearing something outside of my comfort zone solely to solicit a response from someone else.  Though sometimes you just have to do it in the working world (i.e. wear a suit to an interview, please).  But such is the premise of Suits & Sneaks.  I prefer to feel myself and wear what I’ve got.  I can polish things off where needed, but otherwise I’m using my confidence in dressing as the real me, to make wearing jeans, sneaks, and a hat look cute. 

My Style - Kristin Leigh, Suits & Sneaks

If the whole “polish off your look” part leaves you feeling a little clueless, well that’s what I’m here for, so holler at me anytime.  And definitely subscribe and follow me on Instagram.  I give lots of examples on how to effortlessly spruce up your sweats, ripped jeans and then some.  But more than anything, let your confidence come from within.  Be proud of who you are now, where you came from, and the direction you want to take.  A light on the inside can almost always be seen on the outside.

Suits & Sneaks' Kristin Leigh shows off her Kicks of the Day in Tampa Bay. (Vans)

Chat soon!

Kristin

How to Style a White Blazer with Sneakers

Here's a teeny tiny teaser clip on how I styled a white blazer with jeans and pink sneakers!  Be sure to subscribe to my Suits & Sneaks YouTube Channel where I'll be pumping out tons more Suits & Sneaks outfit ideas!  Enjoy!

A Gift of Time for Mom

JORD Wooden Watch in Mint

I’ve heard it many times, “There is nothing greater than being a mom.”  While I’m not one myself, I’m awed by the fact that every time I hear this, I’m watching the words come out of a somewhat exhausted-looking woman’s mouth.  I can tell that underlying those words are hours, days, and years of worry, sleepless nights, and money hard spent.  And I can’t find any other way to describe witnessing motherhood as witnessing a life of complete selflessness.  While these two words can’t ever truly portray that amount of gratitude I have in my heart, I want to say to my own mom, thank you.

Mother’s Day is around the corner and chances are your mom, or your wife, to this day continues to run around the house, checking off her to-do lists, cleaning up after your family, cooking you dinner, and transporting your kids.  Basically, everything you somehow never remember to do, yet she always does.  Because Mom always knows the time and when to be where...

 

 

I came across a totally unique Mother’s Day gift idea to share with you. 

Have you ever seen a wooden watch? 

JORD Wooden Watch in Mint

Now when it comes to shopping, I am one who tends to venture off the beaten path.  If the rest of the world has it, I don’t want it.  So as you can imagine, when I came across such a unique watch I didn’t think twice about getting one.   

If you’re shopping for Mom, here is a link to the women’s watches.  Or, if you’ve already fallen in love with the glowing mint-faced watch in this post, here is the link to this specific mint-faced watch. 

Now that I own one, I can tell you what I love about it:

1.  Shipping is free and mine arrived in two days! 

2.  The packaging makes for the perfect gift. 

I opened the packaging to find this beautiful wooden keepsake box.  Spend some time looking at this box because you’ll even see it has a little hidden drawer.  Perhaps, the perfect place to store your most treasured rings or earrings. 

JORD Watch Keepsake Box

3.  The wood color on these watches is beautiful and so different than the typical metal watches.

And when you finally get past the packaging, you’ll notice your brand new watch resting on its little JORD pillow.   

4. Because it’s wood, it’s lightweight. 

Which means there’s no sweat piling up between your skin and the watch. 

5.  The face color options they have are so springtime and beautiful.

All of the models and colors for women can be found here.

And GUYS, men's models and colors can be found here

BONUS:  Best of all, the company, JORD Watches, will engrave the watch for you.  Honestly, could this timing be any more perfect for Mother’s Day?

If any moms are reading this, I wish you all a Happy Mother’s Day.  Whether your kids are with you or far, know that your time is cherished and you are so greatly loved.

~Kristin 

Thinking about a Grad Gift or Father's Day surprise?  Follow @suits.and.sneaks on Instagram where I'm giving away $100 for a JORD Watch on 5/21/17!

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The Turquoise Series: Bright. Bold. Becoming.

You guys.  I'm not even exaggerating when I tell you I wore this outfit to work today and got compliments ALL DAY LONG.  They went a little something like this:

1. Nice job on the outfit!

2. You look so bright!

3. Omg, that is so springy and summery!

4. That is a total springtime color, I love it.

5. Omg even your shoes match!

6. I just love that color it makes me smile.

7. Wow I've seen you twice today, I can't believe I've never met you prior!  

See what good outfits can do you??  Can we say #makeyoumemorable??  I mean gosh, who wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of such love every day?  And while at work!  

As such, get ready for an explosion of turquoise on my Instagram feed.  In the meantime, get in on the color pop!  I put together my some of my favorite turquoise dresses and sneaks for you ladies below!  A separate makeup and accessories post will follow. And guys, I have a whole separate post for you hitting suitsandsneaks.com right after this one.  Happy shopping!

Suits & Sneaks Turquoise Chuck Taylors

Meet Turquoise Chuck:

My Favorite Turquoise Dresses

Suits & Sneaks: How to Look Polished Casual

So you’re one of the lucky ones who got hired into an office casual workplace.  Your brilliant HR department recognizes that productivity, creativity, and innovativeness can be directly correlated with comfort.  I mean let’s be real here, how can you think freely when you’re being choked by your necktie or trying to sit still to avoid wrinkles?  Ladies, how can you run down the halls cranking out work when you run the risk of tripping over your heels?  So much for efficiency.

But now you can breathe a sigh of relief.  Those days are behind you.  No more ironing or dry cleaning.  You get to wake up and throw on whatever the heck you feel like and waltz into work straight up Zuckerburg style.  You’re ready to innovate, produce, and speak freely in your white tee and jeans.  Your productivity has soared.  You feel like a gazelle flying through the Sahara.  Nothing is stopping you now.  At least nothing YOU seem to notice.  But not so fast speed racer. 

Let’s face it.  Work clothes are annoying.  They’re expensive, and they put many of us in a bad mood even before we put them on.  But I think we can acknowledge that, when worn correctly, they make a good employee look really good.  A serious employee look seriously driven.  An all-talk employee look, well, believable.  Basically, work clothes make a worker look legit.  Put someone like that next to the t-shirt and jeans guy and let the stereotype answer the question for you – Mr. Suit-and-Tie surely has to be the other guy’s boss, right?  Not necessarily.  But you must realize, perception is everything.  And whether you like it or not, a HUGE part of one’s upward movement in a company, no matter the size, industry, or location, is based largely on the element of perception.  Perception of your work ethic, your accessibility to others, your willingness to help, and, wait for it, your appearance.  And guess which one is recognized by most people first?  Ding, ding, ding!  First impressions are everything, right?  This still holds true in an “office casual” setting, yet this logic often gets thrown out the window with the dry cleaning bag full of no-longer-needed white collar shirts. 

So let me introduce you to a concept I like to call, “polished casual.”  This is my inspiration, my passion, my main purpose behind creating Suits & Sneaks.  You can dress as casually as you want, exactly to your personality, and still look driven, passionate, and promotable.  So, some tips:

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1. Rock the Suits and Sneaks look (obviously):  I’m not even kidding, blazers are the godsend to the office casual phenomenon.  And yes, I know they can get hot, but listen here, if I can sport this attire in Tampa, Florida’s 100 degree, 98% humidity months, then y’all can too.  The look here is to be yourself, with an added layer of professionalism (blazer), offset with an added layer of hip (sneaks).  Contrary to the full business professional attire, you’ll rock the same fashionable look while appearing as if you didn’t even try.  [suddenly singing Beyonce’s “I woke up like this” song…]  I can’t even tell you how many times people have stopped me and said, “I love the Chucks,” or, “You’re rockin’ that outfit, nicely done!”  So find a few good fitted blazers or jackets, pair with some hip, casual sneakers, then get ready to rock. 

2. Wear the right balance of fit vs. comfort:  Obviously fitted clothes will always look better than baggier clothes.  But, you can totally mix both!  Gentlemen – Wear that comfy t-shirt with an added sport coat on top.  Add fitted jeans, and finish off with some spankin’ new casual kicks.  I can’t speak for all women, but for those who share my style, gentlemen - you will look HOT (again, that Beyonce song is in my head).  Ladies – there are some awesome linen pant styles out now that finish off fitted at the ankles.  Tuck a loose fitting shirt into these, add a scarf, pull your hair back, finish off with fashionista sunglasses, and voila! You’re totally comfortable, yet look like you stepped right out of a Pinterest board.  Which leads me to my next tip...

3. Accessorize!  Guys and girls both.  Guys – you can do this by rocking all different watches, belts, ties, and shoes.  Girls – Scarves are the easiest, most manageable, versatile, cost effective accessory you could buy.  Check out some of our favorites on our Shop page.  Accessories will instantly dress up your I-rolled-out-of-bed-and-threw-on-what-I-had look. 

4. Carry a trendy laptop bag.  This is getting easier as more purse-laptop bag hybrid styles are hitting the market.  Buy a few different colors so you can swap them out with your outfits then get ready to rock your new arm candy.  See some of the styles we picked out on our Shop page.

5. Look crisp.  This is all about ensuring you look polished in your comfy clothes.  So give them a good starch and iron before wearing them.  Don’t come to work in wrinkly, casual clothes.  That is when you look like you don’t care.

And finally, be yourself!  Dress to your personality.  Make your base truly reflective of you and use some of the above tips to simply polish off your look.  Then, go into work feeling fabulous in your body, because your outer shell better reflects the inner you.  And to have a feeling as fabulous as that during your 9 to 5 workday is truly rewarding.

So you get the concept but need some inspiration ideas?  You came to the right site my friends, because this is what I love to do.  Follow Suits & Sneaks on social media and check out new outfit inspirations weekly!  Want to contribute your inspirations to Suits & Sneaks?  Go ahead and tag us on social media or submit your best kicks here. 

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The Most Flattering Piece of Clothing You Should Wear Today

While the name “Suits and Sneaks” speaks for itself, I wanted to take a quick moment and share with you why the “Suits” part is so key to your polished causal wardrobe.  Guys and girls, read on for the top four things simply wearing a jacket can do for you.

1.       You can wear whatever style you want underneath.

Photo credit: http://mensfashionworld.tumblr.com

I love when I see professional on the outside and then something so stylish, trendy, or heck, even downright funny underneath it.  It shows the world that you can be professional and have a totally kick-ass personality shining through at the same time. 

2.       It shapes you where it counts.

Ladies, the blazer tucks you in on both the waist and chest lines so you can walk into work with clean edges.  Guys, if you’re looking for size, the jacket gives you the broad shoulders and chest you’ve been working towards (with no extra reps needed).  And just as the ladies benefit, it also polishes off your waist line by hiding that little bit of extra you might be carrying.

3.       It hides wrinkly or sloppy shirts.

Photo credit: stylemeblue.wordpress.com

Even if your shirts are perfectly pressed in the morning, they’re going to soften up and wrinkle as the day goes on.  The jacket however, being the heavier material it is, will stand strong for you, keeping you crisp looking and sharp for the entire day. 

4.       It shows you care.

Throwing a nice, fitted jacket on top of your outfit is the easiest way to one-up your level of professionalism without actually having to do any extra work.  It gives you an added layer of clout, of stature, and it simply polishes you off.

Suits & Sneaks' Kristin Leigh

So hold up your jacket my friends, give it a great big smile and say, “Jacket, you complete me.”  Because that’s exactly the look it’s giving you, one of polished completion.  Be sure to check out some of my favorite styles I picked out below.  And of course, follow @suits.and.sneaks on Instagram for your dose of daily Suits & Sneaks fashion posts.

Jackets for the Gals:

Jackets for the Guys:

Sending You Chooka & Cheer

Suits & Sneaks recognizes that sometimes the weather could be a little better, and when moments like that strike, one must save the sneaker from the elements and don the next best thing: The Chooka Boot.

To start, the brand name itself is just adorable.  But you really haven't seen adorable yet until you've browsed through their collection.  It's large, and it's versatile.  So we took it upon ourselves to pick out our favorites and share them with you here.

For the Trendsetter Who Screams "Look at My Baby Blues" :

For the Timeless Designer Who Loves a Gray Slate:

For the Plaid Lover:

The Horse Rider:

And For the Love of Dots & Designs:

These are the easiest gifts for any girl on your list.  May you send her Chooka & Cheer!

~Kristin, Suits & Sneaks

Orange & Gray: How Cole Haan Kicked Us Into a Color Obsession

Ode to Cole Haan and their attention to detail.  Who would've thought the little orange tag affixed to their Grand Ox lace-up shoe would send Suits & Sneaks into a serious color obsession? 

Not that Kristin's downtown condo wasn't already decked out in orange and gray... 

...But let's just say this got her really excited.

For starters, this lace-up shoe is so versatile, it can be worn just about anywhere.  To work, to shop, to school, to teach school, to fun gatherings, to...ok you get the point.  To anywhere.  Second, it is SO light and so comfortable.  We dare you to just stop what you're doing and see how high you can jump in them.  And third, the orange accent makes it so fun to pair with other pieces.  And you can do so in such a way it looks like you didn't even try.  Actually, you don't even have to try, it's as simple as this picture below.

We pulled some of our favorite gray and orange accessories and included here.  The shoes are marked down from $150 and the scarves are, well, just flipping adorable.

Way more to come with this color scheme and shoe so be sure to like Suits & Sneaks on Facebook and follow us on Instagram!

Suits & Sneaks Goes Two Ways With the H&M Slit Skirt

This just might be one of our favorite fashion features yet.  This slit skirt can be glammed up or dressed down, and both with you in your sneaks!

Classy Elegant:

We absolutely love the color of this H&M button-down blouse tucked into their navy blue slit skirt.  Both fabrics are super light, super chic, and super comfy.  Crank the glam factor up a notch with this pink and gold studded clutch held in your fancy Lagos-blinged hand.  Want a true kicker?  Grab these pink and navy Pumas for a match made in heaven. 

Classy Casual:

Winter is around the corner and we're just going to say it - the only things missing from this look are snowflakes.  Here is a classy casual, comfortable, yet oh-so-adorable everyday take on this H&M skirt.  We were fortunate enough to snag this simple, light-blue fitted tee for just $5 during an H&M sale, and we found the deal of a lifetime with this beautiful H&M scarf.  Which kick did we pick to finish it off?  Our vote goes to Toms for total comfort.

Shop similar styles below!