Tips To Merging Comfort Wear with Style

All photography by the talented Fiona Montagne

If you physically feel good in it, you'll wear it. Comfort and style can merge into a fabulous package, resulting in you looking polished and pulled together. Can I get an amen?!!f The yoga pants, tracksuits no longer get to claim "comfort" exclusively. A sweatshirt can be chic.  It comes down to how you pair these varied styles together. Here are my top tips for rocking comfort wear with a hefty dose of style. Paparazzi can snap your picture because I've got you covered ;) 

Say hello to my little friend denim

Trust me, a pair of great fitting denim instantly makes an outfit looks more pulled together. I'm rocking a high-waisted straight leg cropped denim from Fancy Pants. High-waisted denim will change your life. The belly button is almost covered is probably what a binky feels like to a baby: safe and comforting ;) I paired it with a simple sweatshirt from Everlane and my favorite go-to in the shoe arsenal, ankle boots. 

The little details matter

Casual wear should be fuss-free so I choose accessories to elevate what I'm wearing. This Clare V fanny pack is packing (tehe) so much COOL! It leaves me hands-free as I get through my day and it adds a little extra style to a simple outfit. The fishnet socks are another fun surprise. It takes little effort and makes comfy wear sassy.

High low mix

Blending casual wear with dressier styles gives the "I tried" look to an outfit. These Coach ankle boots can easily be dressed up or down. Their chic simple style lends a polished addition to my sweatshirt and jeans combo. This high low mix can be accomplished by wearing a streamlined wool coat, a lady-like bag or a dressy silk top with your distressed denim. 

You are worth all the little effort that makes you look and feel damn good!

My Morning Date with Westward Coffee

Coffee bliss with the talented/ ma babes Karen Krum of Karen E Photo ( all images) 

It's early and it's not hard to tell what's on your mind once the alarm starts chirping ( do people still use alarms). My alarm is my hubby, he's a rooster. Seriously he wakes up at the same time, everyday, no matter what. Anyways, luckily it's the weekend and you can snooze once or twice before you dive into your weekend happenings. I shower and throw on some major comfy wear, laced with some style of course ( more on this outfit situation later). This weekend involved a serious coffee date with one of my babes.  We chat, eat bready things covered in sweet berry like concoctions and we sip away on delicious coffee. Coffee that makes your eyes smile at the sight  and smell of it. Coffee that requires a moment of silence as you cradle the cup in your hands and take that first sip....ya I know! It's java foreplay...get a room!! ;)  I'm sitting pretty in such a place. It's called Westward Coffee and Supply and it's the creation of mother and daughter Jessye White and Nicole Powell.  

Located on Main street in downtown Boise, these babes decided to bring a fresh take to coffee lovers in Boise, Idaho. They're doing so by taking what they call their "pocket size" shop and building something that goes beyond your morning latte.

What made you decide to open a coffee shop?

Nicole: "My mom and I wanted to open a family business in Boise and had both worked in coffee. I wanted to get away from "making it" ie: big city big job big commute etc. and reconnect with the things that make me happy--people, conversations, and face to face interactions."

What does Westward bring to coffee lovers?

Nicole: "We have a different vibe than most coffee places. We are more traditional in our menu and do everything with great specificity--every cup of coffee is ground and brewed to order.  But mostly, we really know the people who frequent our shop and we strive to get to k ow the new ones. For us it's not about having the most nuanced palette or creating an environment that is complicated or intimidating, it's simply about making damn fine coffee and connecting with people in a genuine way. We like coffee and we like people so it's a natural fit.

Your space has a beautiful calm to it... tell me a little about the design concept?

Nicole: "Our space is simple and efficient partly because it is so small! We wanted something minimal because we like the idea of the never ending movement of life through the space.  The base palette is whites and ashy blonde woods because they create a perfect background for this concept. It is also reflective of what we love about Idaho. The wide open spaces, the miles of empty roads, the quiet after a snow. It's a peaceful place and we want that to show! We also have amazing photography from Rick Kuttler of our favorite places in the west."

Where does Westward fit amongst the growing trend of great coffee spots in Boise?

Nicole: "Westward is the kind of shop I fell in love with living in bigger cities like SanFrancisco and Portland. It's small, intimate and well curated. We also carry and represent Idaho roasters. We carry maps (Hailey) Doma (Coeur d'alene) and AfroPhil (boise) We are not trying to take over as a massive chain or sacrifice quality for the bottom line. We are family owned and operated and happy about that. I think we are just trying to create a nice, approachable, third wave shop where everyone is welcome to experience amazing Idaho roasters."

What's your beverage of choice? 

Nicole: "A nice hot pour over!"

Nicole: "We believe that living local builds stronger communities and fosters relationships between the humans that live in them. Come in and have a cup before your next adventure or stay awhile and enjoy the atmosphere." 

Don't mind if I do. There's a closeness that happens as you sit down in this modern, bright and welcoming space. It could be Nicole's charming wit or the pour-over magic she's about to deliver. I have a feeling it's both and so much more. 

So now that you have your perfect latte in hand ( lucky you), lets chime in on the outfit situation. My obsession with style comes from a desperate need to be comfortable, like all the time. The audacity of me!! Merging both, especially when I style my clients is an exclamation that looking great can literally make you feel REAL good. I mean if that's not winning I don't know what is. So I work to create a fun balance with dressy and casual wear by mixing them together most of the time. No style stays in it's lane. We ALL play together. Sneakers with your lady like jacket, why the heck not?! :) 

This darling sweatshirt is from JCrew and it has velvet dots. That's right, velvet!! It's cozy, dress me up or down and yes, comfy. Sweatshirts are no longer ONLY privy to being stowed in your back drawer to be removed for Netflix-athon. They can be front, center and style ready.

If you're heading to Westward shoot me a message...there's always room for good company and great coffee :)

Coat: Burberry  Sweatshirt: JCrew  Jeans: Grlfrnd ( Fancy Pants)   Sneakers: New Balance  Bag: Coach

Comfort Wear With Style

Comfort wear can sometimes feel like dirty words in the style arena. Our hands are clasped praying that our casual everyday, throw on and go wear can live up to that sweet spot combination of  comfort and stylish. Well my awesome peeps get ready to rejoice because I have some easy style tips that will help you navigate this arena. Get ready to revel in comfort and still show up with style. 

Jacket: Nike   Tee + Denim: JCrew 

Say hello to my little friend denim

I know, why cant I put on some leggings. You can but a pair of great fitting denim instantly makes the outfit more pulled together. I'm rocking these straight leg front button denim from JCrew. They're a looser fit and pure comfort! I paired it with a simple white tee and my favorite go to in the shoe arsenal, ankle boots. 

Layer, layer

A denim jacket, a cozy sweater, a structured cardigan, all provide a great anchor to a casual look. Your comfy casual wear is suppose to get you through your day feeling good and crossing off your "to do" list. So having the right layering piece allows you to remove a style if needed and keep it moving. I'm wearing this chic bomber from Nike.

The little details matter

Casual wear should be fuss free, so for me that means choosing my accessories carefully. My fun detail here is my gold bucket bag. So playful right!! It adds a little glam to a casual look and makes the outfit pop. So add a great scarf, earrings that add a little glam and get your day going comfortably in style :)

All Photos by the talented Denise of Studio Boise

When cuteness + comfort collides

top: JCrew  denim shorts: Forever 21   Sandals: Madewell

A really awesome thing is happening right now in fashion. You can look fantastic and guess what peeps, be comfortable. Yes!! Let's get it straight, not so comfy you're lounging hard on the sofa. I hear this word from clients all the time and my job is to show them how we can have both. Let's break down this "comfort" situation a bit. I want you to wear styles that look and feel great on your body. You want to feel comfortable and wear styles that won't sacrifice looking great. It's doable and I'll show you how.

How to keep the comfort whilst still engaging the cuteness: The things that I find a bit unusual is what I tend to gravitate towards. This darling bell sleeve top from JCrew was just that. It's fancy but in a cotton t-shirt type of feel, which brings it right back to comfort zone. Look for styles that allow you the versatility to pair with a dressed up or dressed down style. So I can easily rock this top with denim shorts or a fancy skirt. Look for prints and texture: polkadots, stripes, chevron or a modern floral. These types of tops pack a big punch for your closet and makes you look great, effortlessly. Hallelujah! :)

I'm not saying to stay away from trends but I only date trends, not marry them ;) I find the styles I love and my clients go to over and over again are the classics. Simple, chic and you won't regret the purchase 1 year later. That doesn't mean you're entering plainJaneville (I know, it's not a word but it just felt right).  It's best to look for styles that have a classic look like this stripe top but with a little fun, the bell sleeves. Include trends in small doses. So instead of an entire tassel dress, go with a darling tassel top. 

Break some rules: Wearing navy and black together was a no no in the fashion rules arena. We can wave goodbye to it and rejoice. I'm wearing a navy and white stripe top with black distressed denim shorts. For me, it's all bout texture and print. The stripe is forgiving and I don't have to worry about matching. So you can pair your navy polkadot shirt or navy stripe with black and go about your fantastic day :)

Don't forget the FUN : Accessorizing is a great way to add a little bit of fun and the unexpected to your style. This darling Rebecca Minkoff backpack does just that. It's practical and brings a dose of happy in this blush color. These sunglasses are from Fetch Eyewear. I saw them in Portland and fell in love with the unique and simple style. Then I learned more about what they represent and fell head over heels in love. I am constantly searching for great style and brands that serve a  bigger purpose with fashion as the medium. 100% of the profits ( YEP, 100%) is donated to animal rescue. This makes my better world momentum uber happy. Click here to learn more about this amazing company, it's mission and drool over the many fabulous eyewear #purchase. 

I have to send out a really BIG HUGE GIGANTIC HUG with a squeeze for the kind and sweet messages from my last post, Loving on U.S.A. This is what I meant about feeling like home. It's love, kindness and having each others back. Now go get you some comfy cuteness and share with me your favorite finds. 

How to put the CHIC in Comfy wear #yesplease

So it's your day off and you have 223 errands to get done. You want to be comfy and plug away at your "to do"list. Before you reach for those leggings, can you and I just gab a little about how we can upgrade our comfy look?! I sensed an eye roll...so I'll have to get a little bossy :) You can still look pulled together and revel in comfort, seriously. One of my client is this amazing mom of 4. Her schedule requires a combination of meetings, picking up the kids, dropping them off and running errands. When I style her she can easily navigate from quick meeting with grown-ups to soccer matches. So how do we look comfy and stylish?? It's all in the little details.

These tuxedo style dress pants from JCrew are cool and a bit unexpected paired with my Vans sneakers ( my faves). The low profile of the sneakers works with the streamline look of the pants. These pants are tailored and polished without compromising the COMFY factor. I paired with a lightweight fitted turtleneck that off sets the somewhat looser fitting pant. The ladylike coat pulls it all together and makes comfy wear look chic. Other comfy "go to" looks include my boyfriend jeans paired with a dressier top and ankle boots. The key is to have an elevated piece paired with a casual style.

These gloves from Banana Republic makes winter days better :)

When you're tempted to throw on those leggings or sweatpants, I want you to know that you are softy killing your homegirl over here ;) Okay maybe I'm exaggerating just a bit, however I know and you know that looking good makes you feel good no matter the task of the day. So just think, what if I ran into George Clooney( is he still a big deal?)  today or whomever your "Clooney" in your head is ( we all have one ;). I want my peeps to look pulled together, effortlessly.