The Target Challenge Part III: Staple Item on a Budget

There is a short list of clothing pieces that every Honeey should have in her closet to make for the complete wardrobe!  I call these Staple pieces.  They are those few pieces that you can wear in a hundred different ways and make an outfit a true outfit every time you wear them.  You could have a thousand things in your closet but without these key pieces you just have stuff and you'll forever be one of those people who stand in the closet looking at all that stuff shaking your head and mumbling "I don't have anything to wear!"  A staple piece is often times referred to as a classic and timeless piece.  That's because no matter what trends are going on, they never go out of style and they always keep things together.  They compliment the flamboyance of the trends, sophisticate any look and makes getting dressed easy.  Staples are also great on the pocket because if you decide to spend a little more it's always worth the investment because they last forever and at the same time, you can always find an affordable staple piece at great places like Target on any give day because they are forever in demand.  I personally love to mix low end staple pieces with higher end designer/brand pieces, similar to like what I did with this look...can you Honeeyz guess which piece is actually the affordable Target piece? Ok, I'll spare you the suspense... it's the denim button down!! Every other piece I'm wearing in this particular outfit cost me $200 or more individually, while this perfect Target piece cost me nothing because it was a gift from my BFF (yaaayyy) but wouldn't run more than $24.99 at Target!!! 

A denim or button down chambray shirt is not only a staple that never goes out of style and is perfect for dressed down and even dressing up, it's also all the rave this season! I really, really love this shirt because it's so simple yet really diverse, comfy and chic.  I can wear it with leather, linen, other shades of denim; shorts, skirts, or pants; when I'm chilling or even at work on a Dress Down Friday, like I did here! That's a true staple! Below is a list of other staple pieces every Honeey should have in her closet:

-THE 3 WHITE TOPS: BUTTON DOWN OXFORD, WHITE TEE &WHITE TANK

-A TAILORED BLAZER, PREFERABLY IN BLACK, NAVY, GREY, OR TAN 

-A FITTED TROUSER OR BOOT CUT DARK DENIM JEAN

-A CARDIGAN

-A PENCIL SKIRT

-A SHEATH DRESS

-A BLACK PUMP

Denim Shirt: Mossimo for Target; Red Linen Pants: United Colors of Benetton; Pouch: Gucci; Metallic Sandals: BCBGMaxAzria; Sunglasses: Balenciaga; Watch: Gucci; Bracelets: BCBGeneration; Necklace: 14K White and Yellow Gold, My Own

**CLICK BELOW FOR MORE PICS AND FEEL FREE TO ADD TO OUR STAPLE LIST!!! 

For Pleats Sake...Can A Girl Get A Break??!

Pleated Skirt: Calvin Klein; Peplum Shirt: French Connection; Small Hobo Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs; Cut-out Booties: L.A.M.B.; Sunglasses: Balenciaga; Watch: Marc by Marc Jacobs

I've been working like an absolute crazy woman this week so my dress attire has been relatively subdued, as it is taking the back seat to being a grown up in a professionally demanding world.  The reality is, even with a relaxed work environment and all the creativity in the world, you can only go but so far with the fashions during business hours (not to mention that it becomes even more difficult when all your hours seemingly are business hours and there's no time to play or think too hard about what to wear!!) Anyways, I promise this weekend I'll take some time to dip back into the fun play world, including playing dress up, and I'll have some new fun posts for you Honeeyz next week!  For now, see how I called on some accordion pleats (and bright colors) to bring just a little bit of action in the work day... I mean for pleats sake...can't a girl have just a little fun??!! :-) 

Monochromatic Dramatic

Typically when you think of a monochromatic look you often associate that with plain, basic, simple and even boring.  However, that doesn't have to be the case.  Some of the most stylish, sophisticated and well put together looks are made of a monochromatic color scheme.  I've found that the best way to pull this off is by mixing textures and shapes and adding just a pop of color or umph via your accessory or your shoes so that although the color palette is similar from top to bottom, the look is nothing near boring or plain!  And with that I must digress (bare with me...this is a necessary digression so keep on reading....).  

In my new found love of blogging, which includes reading other blogs, I've noticed that a lot of honeeyz seem to be misconstruing the concept of fashion forward, savvy, unique and stylish with thrown together yet contrived looks of mixed patterns and colors.  Grabbing a plaid shirt, polka dot top, striped shoe, and layering it with an animal print jacket simply b/c these patterns and colors are not the same does not make it stylish per se.  Even Carrie Bradshaw, in all her unexpected and unique style, had a method to her madness and was able to put together some of the most memorable yet gorgeous looks with mixed patterns but it was authentic and there was a story and a concept behind the looks she put together. There was still a flow and consistency. That's the difference between looking like a clown and looking like a fly chick.  And I'm not saying there is only one way to be stylish.  I truly believe that style is original to each person and what they make of it and there is an individual art to it.  I am a huge fan of mixing patterns and textures but in an authentic way.  What I'm trying to say is I don't believe that merely mixing up unexpected non-matching patterns just bc they don't match is necessarily stylish; and at the same time, wearing classic cuts and pieces of subtle or neutral color tones is not inconsistent with being fly and stylish.  Some of the most trusted Style Stars, including Halle Berry, Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, Miranda Kerr, Gwen Stefani, Kim Kardashian, Olivia Palermo, Jessica Alba and the likes keep things very tailored, classic, and subtle but with a stylish twist that makes them the Style Stars that they are.  And even those who are more eclectic and daring like Solange Knowles (lovveeee this chick's style) and Rihanna, also do what they do with taste and strategy but have some of the best looks when they are simple and clean.  I just thought that was important to put out there and at the end of the day, you do what is natural to you and what you can wear comfortably. Don't feel bullied to be "unique" by putting together a bunch of stuff for the sake of being deemed fashionable and don't feel confined to the expected b/c you are afraid to be too daring.  

Now back to where I started... a dramatic yet monochromatic look... Here, I paired a leather A-line skirt of a plum/brown/maroon color with a more plum button down top of a polyester like material (yes, freaking polyester) and for that little piece of unexpected to add the drama I paired the look with some leopard pony hair knee boots and a navy and yellow scarf for outdoors layering.  I loved this look. Is anyone getting a Diana Ross in Mahogany vibe?? B/c I am and I'm loving it! 

A funny fact is that this leather is skirt is from the Gap. I purchased in the early 2000s during that magical era when the Gap put out phenomenon pieces.  It's a size 1 (yea I was nice and svelte back in the day) and I have to put it on over my head b/c this thing is not going over my butt! LOL.