9 Lessons from Madewell's Stylist on Pairing Color and Stripes

Did you girls see Madewell's 'How to Mix Well' lookbook? You didn't? It's time you take a peek, especially if you need a little inspiration for your outfits. Check out these useful lessons in the art of pairing colors and stripes coming from the brand's stylist, Lisa, and get ready to win the spotlight!

Oh how we love Madewell's 'How to Mix Well' lookbook! Now, if you need a little inspiration for your outfits, have a nosey at some useful lessons in the art of pairing colors and stripes coming from the brand's stylist, Lisa.

Dress up your boots

Wear your favorite rugged, low-key and just plain cool pair of boots with a beautiful, silk gallery-stripe boulevard dress and a lovely striped cardigan with elbow patches. Well, you can also add a special touch to your overall look with a pair of bookshop glasses such as the ones spotted in Madewell's first eyeglass collection. Hot, hot, hot!!! The brand's stylist advises us to "keep the stripe theme going and let them peek out of ankle boots."

Multiply your stripes

Stripe invasion everyone! Boy oh boy, there are a lot of striped goodies that look incredibly stylish and can be mixed and matched at ease. For example, you can team your mixstripe drape tank with a super-soft shagstripe cardigan, legging jeans in chasm wash and a pair of platform sandals. Lisa says that "the trick to pairing stripes together is playing with scale."

By all means, don't be shy

"I always encourage pattern play - as long as you stay in the same color family," Lisa explains. Well, it's time for you to have fun with your styling and dare a little bit more. So, wear a lanestripe tee with a silk colortread cami dress, a perfect chambray ex-boyfriend shirt in harvest wash and a pair of lace-up oxfords.

Colorblock your tops

Forget about dull, simple tees and choose instead a silk colorblock boyshirt, the perfect silk meets a tomboy shape kind of piece. Team it with skinny high riser jeans in black frost wash and a bright-colored belt. Oh, and you could also take a cool striped backpack!

Liven up rainy days

Okay, we know that playing dress up during rainy, gray days is not the most pleasant thing to do. Still, you have to cheer up and liven up your wardrobe! Think a striped miniskirt worn with a bowbell tee and a pair of colored old-school wellies. "Everything in this look is graphic - the oversized bow, the stripes, the bright boots - that's why it works so well," Lisa says.

Get loud with the accessories

Yes, we know that you are totally aware of the important role accessories have in your wardrobe. And it is true indeed. The stylist's tip is to "start out with a low-key tee dress and get creative with bold accessories." The best example? Take a flirty little black dress and wear it with a pair of happy printed socks and platform sandals.

Color your cords

We are pretty head over heels with those red skinny ankle cords! But how can we wear them? Lisa tells us how. "Maritime stripes and colored pants pair perfectly - adding a silk boyshirt underneath keeps things off-center." Therefore, wear your notice-me-now pants with a pencil-stripe pullover, a soft silk boyshirt and a pair of mini-wedges.

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Old Navy Spring/Summer 2012 The IT List

The new season is bringing an array of flirty fun trends to our attention, so check out which must haves will make you turn heads this spring/summer 2012 season by checking out Old Navy's IT

List. Mix and match various fashion items and create custom looks that suit your personality best with the following Old Navy styles!

The new season has been sprinkled with variety as an abundance of eye catching trends have made it to the podiums. Experimenting with various fashion styles can help you maintain a fresh, inspirational style every time, so dare to mix and match to discover your own personality. To make things easier, Old Navy has put together the 'IT List', an inspirational guide to looking fabulous this spring/summer 2012 season, so take a peek at the following new season must haves and pick your favorites.

Floral Prints

Nothing underlines best femininity this upcoming season and floral motifs and Old Navy It List spring/summer 2012 underlines the importance of flirty floral prints by creating an array of uberly printed items that will make you turn heads. From cute tank tops to lovely dresses, floral prints can adorn your most favorite day to evening ensembles, underlining your fashion-forward style. Whether soft or heavy, floral motifs are definitely a must have this summer, let your imagination go wild and mix and match your favorite floral detailed pieces. 

Neons and Neutrals

These two hues, whether mixed or individual, look perfect for the season, so dare to go bolder and opt to infuse your stylish wardrobe with neons and neutrals. The powerful combo matches women with a strong personality who don't mind standing out of the crowd and aim for a well balanced look, so choose the color combo that suits your personality best.

Pop Pants

Forget boring hues such as black, white or navy as far as your pants go as now colorful pants are taking over the scene. Opt for a cool and stylish pair of colorful jeans that you can mix and match with monochrome or printed items and accessories so you can underline your fresh, flirty and fun personality.

Chambray

Create a stylish casual look with your favorite chambray shirt or dress as Old Navy demonstrates that power behind this timeless fabric. Layer your fav chambray item and create chic and stylish looks that cannot go by unnoticed. Sometimes less is more, so select a chambray design that compliments your figure and put your imagination to the test!

The Trench

Keep warm in style with the new season's stylish trench designs. From long classic trenches to cool modern trench vests anything goes, so opt for the trench design that suits your body type best. The color palette when it comes to new season trenches is amazingly vast, so go classic and opt for nudes, browns and black or spice up your look and go for a contemporary look with bright colors that are meant to steal the spotlight. 

Stripes and Color Blocks

Nautical styles are still super popular and Old Navy has put together a lovely collection of nautical tops that juxtapose comfort with style. Stylish striped tops featuring various color mixes enable you to make your best pick and put together a nautical theme outfit that suits your personality best. Color clashing details make all the difference when it comes to a modern look, so create an eclectic look by opting for the best seasonal color blocks.

The Maxi Dress

The maxi dress has conquered through the high dose of comfort and style it manages to bring with every design, so no wonder that it's still holding firmly a top position among the new season must have trends. Old Navy brings some stylish and simplistic maxi dresses to choose from this season, designs which can make you look sizzling especially if accessorized to the max!

The Flare

Flare pants have made a huge comeback, so if the 70s style suit your personality, don't hesitate to mix your stylish flares with cool and casual tops, flirty shirts, wedges, platforms and other boho-chic accessories. 

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