How to Rock Your Boots

There are so many types and styles of boots today and many of you are wondering "How do I wear them?" "Am I wearing them correctly?" "Can I wear these even though its not winter?" "Are boots appropriate for a wedding?" "Do I need to wear ankle or knee length?"

Well ladies, you're in luck, I am here to help!

Ankle Boots 

The most versatile boots because they are nearly season-less. They are perfect for spring and fall, great in the winter and you can even rock them in the summer with the right outfit.
The thing I think most women struggle with with the ankle boot is how to wear them properly with jeans and leggings {the most common way they are worn}.

Cuffing your jeans is the key for the ankle boot 
Ankle boots look amazing with jeans, they give off an effortless feel that looks fantastic. Cuffing your boot just right is the key, the images below will help. What I have found is the less worried I am about the cuff, and making it a little messy the better it looks.

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Wearing with Ankle Boots with Leggings 
Ankle boots and leggings are my favorite combo. I personally wear my extra extra think Nikibiki leggings with my black ankle boots almost every day...I love to be warm, cozy and look good. With leggings you want to still have a touch of your ankle showing. With the extra think leggings I actually cuff them like a jean. The photo of the right she is rockin' her booties with thick socks, a great option for added warmth, with this trend you need to be sure and pair this look with a simple tunic/sweater {you don't want to pair it with anything too long or the look will get too bulky} The sock trend is also best for those ladies with great legs or tiny ankles. It's all about Balance.

 
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Ankle Boots in the Warmer Seasons 
Ankle boots are the perfect transition shoe for every season or any chilly summer evening. They are perfect with skirts, maxi's, shorts and dresses. In doing this look be sure your socks go unseen.



 

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Knee High and Thigh High Boots 

I have always loved knee high boots because they do a great job at hiding my very white legs. Plus they are super cute. There are plenty of varieties for every day to evening. The biggest problem women have with boots now are them fitting their calves, not all women have tiny little barbie legs are that is just fine. They do make "wide calf" boots now! They are more easily found in larger box stores or online. BUT if you don't want to mess with all of that, simply stick to the ankle boots! 

  

Knee High 
You can go with a heel or rider {flat} boot. These are great for work, hanging out or rock the heel for and evening out. Knee High Boots are super easy to rock and there is not really a wrong way to wear them!
Boots can be worn with leggings, bare legs, skinny jeans, or even over the boot {this really only works with heeled boots & be sure your boot cut jeans just graze the middle of the top of your food, that's how you know they are the correct length {not to short and not too long}.
Don't have a pair of skinny jeans? No problem, you can make them skinny by cuffing them!
This style of boot works best with the leg warmers, boot cuffs, boot socks. You can add them to help balance out an outfit, add some bulk to the top of your boot or even just add for a "pretty". When adding these to an outfit be sure you don't have too many trending/frills/colors/etc happening with your outfit.

 

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Over the Knee
Over the Knee boots have always had a "naughty" connotation {yes, like Pretty Woman}. I  however have always like them because they cover almost your entire leg which keeps you warmer and again no one is seeing my very white legs. This is definitely a style that is easier to wear if you have great long legs BUT can also look fabulous on anyone {assuming id you have larger legs or very muscular legs you can find some that fit correctly}. The most important thing to know about the over the knee boot is that they need to fit slightly loose on your thigh, make sure they are not pinching or compressing your legs at all. This is going to make you look bigger.
Here are some great outfit options that includes jeans, bare legs and leggings.


 
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Ankle or Knee Length Boot?
This is one of those things that is completely up to you! If you are ever wondering, simply put one boot on one foot and the other style on the other foot and look in a mirror then rock the one you love the most! When dressing down go with a flat boot, then choose between ankle or knee. When dressing up go for the heel, then choose between the ankle or knee {ankle is going to be dressiest}

How Dressy is your Boot?
Black/Dark Chocolate "shinier" heeled boots are the dressiest style of boot {to keep it simple}
Plain ankle are always going to be dressier than a knee/above length boots.
Here is how I persoanly determine what shoes are acceptable for the event {and YES even when its freezing and snowing you should not just wear the boots because they are warmer and more confortable... sorry guys!}
Wedding/Special Events
                - Boots are acceptable IF it is a non-formal event {business casual to casual}
               -  Boots are NOT acceptable for a formal/semi formal event {cocktail, formal, black tie}
The invitation to the event will hopefully help you in determining formality - always check out the location of the event, style of the invitation, is the event inside or outside, does the invitation tell you what attire to wear, can you check online {website or Facebook} to get some more specific information or check out images from past events to see what attire others wore.
**The dressiest boot is going to be a heeled, simple, shiny leather ankle boot.**

Find your fabulous,
Emma

Lyn-Maree's Boutique
209 N Main St
Auburn, IN 46706

Leggings & all the questions we have about them

Leggings...
Am I too old? Are they flattering? Are they appropriate? How do you wear them? Can I wear them? Are they too much of a trendy thing?

Ladies - Leggings are great for every woman, it's not about CAN you wear them, its about HOW you wear them.
They can be worn to work, out with the girls or to walmart.. 
Simply follow the rules and ideas below so your wearing them in the best and most flattering way.

For which body type would leggings be suitable?

If you follow some of the guidelines below, all body types will be able to wear leggings. 

1. LEGGINGS ARE NOT PANTS. No matter your age or your size, still not pants.

2. Treat leggings as they are thick tights..again not pants.

3. Always make sure your booty and crotch are covered by your top (dress, tunic, lace slip dress, etc)..because again they are NOT pants. 
4. Don't wear super tight tops with leggings, always remember to pair tiny(tight) bottoms with loose/flowy tops. Similar to the "if your showing off your legs cover your chest" or "if your wear lots of eye makeup go for a nude lip" etc. you don't have to wear lots of tight clothing to be sexy. 
5. Stick with darker colors (this goes for jeans too!)

What garments work well with leggings?

Leggings are ideal to combine with tunics and short dresses. I often wear a short dress over leggings. Leggings are also great contenders to wear with boots. In general, your ideal garments to combine with leggings include:

• Tunics
• Slip Dresses (available at Lyn-Maree's)
• Slip Skirt/Shirt Extenders (available at Lyn-Maree's) 
• Short dresses
• Long knitted sweaters
• Boots
• Longer asymetrical pieces
• Long cardigans
• Big wide sweaters (depending on your shape always belt these)
• Sweater dresses

What not to wear with leggings over 40

• Avoid any tops that are higher than mid thigh
• Don’t wear tops that are too tight
• Avoid animal prints and disco fabrics.
• Avoid any way you wore them in the 80's

What is the ideal length of your leggings

You can never go wrong with full length leggings (ankle or slightly bunches at ankle). These elongate and will make your legs appear longer. Another length I like in warmer climates is just below the knee. If you are short though, mid calf and short leggings should be worn with caution as they will make you look smaller.

Which shoes to wear with leggings?

It is great to wear a shoe in the same color as your leggings as it elongates your legs even further. Tall, flat boots are a "go to" in the winter. Try short booties and ballet flats in the fall and spring. Heals can be a yes, but proceed with caution here, always be sure your wearing ankle length leggings with heals and a dress.
**Never wear leggings with tennis shoes... remember ladies this is NOT the 80s**

What about jeggings, skinny jeans or printed leggings?

For me the same rules that apply to leggings also apply to jeggings and printed leggings. Always be sure to wear a PLAIN top with printed leggings, and add some accessories (statement necklace) to draw the eye up to your face. Stick with a vertical print. 

With skinny jeans, make sure you stay away from very tight fitting tops. 

As always if you are still unsure or need any help at all just stop in and I'll be happy to help! 

What does the size of a garment mean?

What does the size of a garment mean? 

Dictionary.com definitions it as: "One of a series of graduated measures for articles of manufacture or trade:

children's sizes of shoes."

It's simply a letter or number someone has deemed that "size" for a  particular piece of clothing. 
As I've begun selling a few clothing items I've realized each company has different sizing:  some of the items may come in "true to size" (whatever that means) and some items made by that same exact company may run small or large. Some items come in larger in the bust, some come smaller in the shoulders, some come narrow in the hips, some come so stretchy this fit "almost" everyone...all of which they have deemed a size M. (Yikes)

Before I started selling clothing, I didn't realize how insecure ladies are about the size of clothing they may have to wear. 
I feel like I'm constantly saying... "The size doesn't actually matter, its how the piece fits your body and how you feel in it. Plus, you can always cut that size tag out..."
Much like the clothing we are ALL shaped and sized differently and our hips, busts, waists, legs, thighs, calves, arms, ankles, feet, etc are ALL shaped and sized differently too. AND THAT'S OKAY! 

I know that I am currently a size 2 to 10 and a size XS to XL... its depends on the brand, shape of the garment, fabric, and if it is going on my top half or bottom half... 
There are A LOT of factors that go into what size I may end up with. 

When the garment you choose fits YOUR body, that's when you look your best. No one is looking down the back o your top to check out the size...all they will notice is that it fits you correctly and you look amazing. When you choose an garment based on size and not fit, you end up looking like you borrowed your outfit from a toddler or your dad or your daughter or some girl on the street. You want YOUR clothing to FIT YOU not the "size" you wish you were (too small) or the "size" you think hides it all (too big). Wearing too large or small of clothing makes you look bigger. 


If your wondering how to dress your body shape to show off your best "assets" just stop in and let me help. Sometimes its simply the placement of a belt, a or the length of a skit or shirt and voila you'll see yourself in a whole new light! Find your Fabulous and let it out! And please, please, please stop making all those terrible comments about your body, BE PROUD OF WHO YOU ARE INSIDE AND OUT! 

Lyn-Maree's 
209 N Main St
Auburn, IN 46706
Mon-Fri 10-6 and Saturday 10-3
http://www.lyn-marees.com