fashion styling – Stylishly Zen

Style Spotlight – How to Style a Sweatsuit

Published on February 8, 2021February 7, 2021 by soreiyaLeave a comment

Happy Monday Everyone!

It’s official, I am a sweatsuit convert. Pre quarantine I would NEVER have considered buying a sweatsuit. It’s not that I have anything against comfortable clothing, but I have always been more of a leggings girl and rocking a sweatsuit is something that I thought I had left behind in elementary school. But now after months of being in lockdown, the sweatsuit is my favourite item(s) of clothing in my wardrobe.

I think that my reluctance to rock a sweatsuit pre-quarantine stems from the idea that it can look dowdy and sloppy but, as many fashion forward beauties have showcased via social media it’s actually quite the opposite. Sweatsuits are really easy to elevate to fabulous street style, and if you have been struggling with the dowdy vs. stylish dilemma of how to rock a sweatsuit this post is for you. Here are my favourite ways to upgrade a sweatsuit:

Accessorize Intelligently

There is no need to go overboard but elevating a your outfit with a few choice accessories is a great way to elevate your look. Adding a chunky necklace or a gorgeous bag is a great way to enhance your look with a touch of glamour. By accessorizing intelligently with a few accessories your entire look becomes thoughtful not just thrown together and sloppy.

Add a Great Topper

I love how a sweatsuit looks when worn under a great wool coat. Whether the coat is plaid, solid, teddy, or puffer adding a coat over a sweatsuit make it looks styled, and the entire look deliberate even when paired with running shoes. I love a casual glam look and this is one of my favourites. Two of my favourite style inspiration stars Rosie Hunnington Whitely and Haley Bieber are queens at rocking this particular look. I especially enjoy the layered look when the top is a hoodie instead of a crewneck. You will frequently catch me rocking this look at the grocery store (it’s the only place we are currently able to venture out) as I am a true believer in practicing what I preach:)

Footwear Matters

It turns out that sweatsuits look great with a wide range of footwear, from boots to sneakers and most in between. I love styling sweatsuits with boots as I feel like it elevates the overall look but sometimes you just need to throw on some sneakers and still look like a fashion superstar. I find that the best way to keep the look stylish is to create a little bit of space between the bottom of the sweatpants and the sneakers. This works by pulling your socks over the cuff of the sweatpants, if it’s warm enough show off a sliver of skin via your ankle or if your sweatpants has a thicker elastic cuff at the bottom keep it visible so that there is a slimmer line going into a chunkier shoe. This helps to keep the look sleek and not frumpy.

Opt for a Sleeker Style

There is something very cool about dressy sweat pants, especially ones with pin tuck details. Pair it with a matching knit or sweatshirt. To keep things sleek, do a half tuck so that the entire look is more together.

And there you have it – my favourite sweat suit looks and how I like to style them. Let me know what you think and how you like to style your sweatsuits in the comments below. Thank you for stopping by Stylishly Zen today, I hope that you have a beautiful and stylish day! XXS

Photo Credits: http://www.pinterest.com, @charlotteemilysanders, @rosiehw, @styleandthebeach

My Favourite Closet Staple

Published on April 17, 2018April 15, 2018 by soreiyaLeave a comment

Hi Everyone!

according to the calendar it is finally spring, and while in reality the cold weather has decided to stick around a little longer (as I write this, it is currently pouring ice rain and snow is expected shortly) I am ready to start shedding a few layers of clothing. Closet staples are a personal thing that depend on your lifestyle and fashion needs but there are a few key items that work in most people’s wardrobe – a white t-shirt and a well fitting pair of jeans are perfect examples of this. Then there is my favourite closet staple – a white dress shirt. This key item has the ability to elevate any look that you may be rocking, be it classic, sexy, conservative or modern to name a few. I prefer my dress shirts to be loose fitting so that I can easily half tuck it into jeans or dress pants. Here are a few of my favourite looks featuring the white dress shirt:

Photo credit: http://www.pinterest.com, Instagram (@pipedwards, @fashion4perfection, @ariviere, @agathapw)

What is your favourite closet staple? Let me know in the comments below!

I hope that you have a beautiful day! XXS

Trendspotting – Velvet Crush

Published on October 8, 2017October 7, 2017 by soreiya1 Comment

Love it or hate it, velvet has the power instantly elevate an outfit. Because it has such a distinctive look, velvet tends to either be trending or just completely outdated – there is no in between. I love that velvet is currently trending this fall, but that unlike previous seasons when velvet was popular, this season’s looks are edgier, cooler and a lot more streamlined. Many designers sent velvet looks down the runway for Fall 2017 but my favourite by far were the gorgeous pant suits from Tibi and Altuzarra – love it! Here are some of my favourite looks featuring the velvet trend:

Images via http://www.instyle.com, http://www.whowhatwear.com, http://www.vogue.co.uk

I hope that you have a beautiful day! XXS

Street Style Favourites from Copenhagen Fashion Week S/S 18

Published on September 3, 2017August 31, 2017 by soreiya1 Comment

Copenhagen held it’s bi-annual fashion week a few weeks ago to showcase designs for the Spring Summer 2018 collections. As expected the local fashion elite was out in full force. While it would be easy to group the fashion from Scandinavian countries into one group, the truth is that each country has it’s own unique style. Copenhagen’s style stars used the spotlight to show case their styling prowess by mixing bold patterns, bright colours and hi/low fashion with a quiet confidence that most people can only dream of pulling off. Many elevated the cool girl factor by arriving in style on bicycles – not something you would normally see from street style stars. Here are some of my favourite looks from Copenhagen’s Fashion Week S/S 2018:

All images from http://www.harpersbazaar.com.sg and http://www.telegraph.co.uk

I hope that you have a beautiful day! XXS

Street Style Favourites From Oslo Fashion Week S/S 18

Published on September 1, 2017August 30, 2017 by soreiyaLeave a comment

In the fashion world February and September are referred to as fashion months. It is during these months that major fashion shows in New York, London, Milan and Paris are held. Bloggers and the fashion elite flock to these cities and in recent years are photographed headed to the shows – this is often referred to as street style. While the major shows are great and show the upcoming collections from well known brands and designers along with a few that are gaining traction on the world stage, I love looking at the styles from the lesser known fashion weeks. If you have been following this blog for a while, it should come as no surprise to you that I have a special place in my heart for Scandinavian design. While I normally show my affection by spotlighting various interiors with Scandinavian influence on Stylishly Zen, I would be remiss if I didn’t shine the spotlight on the fabulous street style and fashion from these countries. As a former fashion executive, I find the fashion styling in these countries fabulous, inspiring and distinctly Scandinavian. Fashionable yet effortlessly cool and unique, these looks are gorgeous and inspiring. Love! Love! Love!

This past August Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm all held their fashion shows to showcase their Spring/Summer 2018 collections, so over the next couple of weeks I will be showcasing my favourite looks (both street style and shows) here on Stylishly Zen starting today with street style from Oslo. So without further adieu, enjoy!