I Totally Learned How to Tie a Tie for This Outfit

January 17, 2011

Scarf-as-Tie-1-10
Boys Club Close
Blazer – Theory Amanda B, size 00
Shoes – Manolo Blahnik, size 34.5
Belt – Ann Taylor Perfect Patent skinny belt in Granite, size xs
Scarf – Unknown (from Mom’s closet) – tied like a men’s tie

The sudden urge struck me to toss on a blazer over a button down (collar out, baby!) after watching an episode of…wait for it…The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills…

I know…terrible, just terrible of me to watch such smut. But come on…how awesome is Lisa? And Jiggy! I know I’m not the only one who watches that show…admit it!

Well…two of the ladies wore blazers with button downs in an episode filmed in NYC, and I took a mental note to put together a similar outfit.

Then…Sal over at Already Pretty linked to this outfit from The New Professional…and I fell in love! Scarf as a tie? Yes, please! Girly it up with a sparkly necklace?  Don’t have to tell me twice. 

I wore this outfit (with different shoes) to meet Jean of Extra Petite and Liane of Petite XXS in Los Angeles over the holidays, and only one thing bugged me. I like to push my sleeves up to about 3/4 length, but my sleeves kept falling all night. This time around, I tried a little something to keep my sleeves where I wanted them.

Sleeve-Rubberband

Yup, that’s a hair tie. I had it neatly hidden under my cuff, and it helped keep my sleeves up where I wanted them! Cheap and easy.

PS…I got sneaked up on while taking these photos by a couple of tandem bike riders (as in, bicycles built for two) on vacation from Canada. I pretended to be “testing” my camera, because admitting to taking outfit pictures of myself is just embarrassing. They told me I was stylish, and then asked to get their picture taken. All the while, Clinton rolled around in dirt and spider webs under the stairs. Ahhh…the joys of taking outfit photos of yourself in an apartment courtyard. =P

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  • Petite Mom

    I like this outfit on you! It's casual yet refined. I love the scarf tie too! You'll have to do a tutorial on how you tied it. It's great how inspiration can come from anywhere. NO shame in watching Real Housewives of Beverly Hills – at least you get ideas there. I got nothing out of watching the Jersey Shore…

  • curls-and-pearls

    Ooh I'm glad someone commented – now I can comment :P For some reason I can only comment in a "pop out" window!

    I sent you some condensed thoughts on twitter :P

    I really love how you wore that scarf! I have so many scarves I'm always looking for new ways to wear them – I admitedly don't wear them enough! I don't know how to tie a tie, so this might be a useful tutorial for you to do :P

    Most of my blazer sleeves tend to stay up ok but I do have that problem with one blazer in particular. I think I will try that hair elastic tip out.

    I LOVE the picture of the Canadian Tandem bikers :P So gute, and you are most definitely stylish – Canadians wouldn't lie hahahahaha! :)

  • Elizabeth

    I'm really glad you posted this, because I just got the prettiest scarf from Talbot's and I had no idea how to wear it. Now I do!

  • Elle

    It is so nice where you are (I am looking outside at foot-high snow banks everywhere…that is AFTER things have melted quite a bit)…*JEALOUS*. Thanks for the tip about using hair ties to keep sleeves in place, I have been wondering how to effectively do that and now you resolved my dilemma. I really like how the Amanda B fits on you.

  • ReallyPetite

    I love that Blazer and was never able to find it!

    Thanks for the tip on the hair tie :)

  • kileen

    i love this outfit on you! it's casual yet very stylish. the scarf as a tie is the perfect addition and i'll have to give that a shot sometime! and what a nifty trick with the hair elastic!

    cute and little

  • PetiteXXS

    I've been wanting to try this look ever since I saw it on you IRL, and especially now that I finally joined the Theory blazer club! The hair tie thing is very neat, I love learning these 'tricks of the trade' from you guys!

    Kudos for braving the outside… I still haven't managed to venture out yet. And I wish my Mom had cool stuff in her closet like yours that I can raid!

  • daisy351

    This is such a well put together look! Love it! It makes me want to add more blazers to my collection.

  • Cee

    Kelly, I love this look on you. I've been wearing the scarves with blazers look a lot lately too and the sleeves rolling down has been bugging the heck out of me. THANK YOU for sharing your tips. I'm going to try that the next time!

  • Anonymous

    Totally love your "menswear" inspired outfit du jour. This style suits you so well.

    More edgy if you can change the Manolo B to a pair high heel short boots.

    Thumbs up!

  • AubreyOhDang!

    Real Housewives is not smut! HAHAHA. I just like how u used that word. I love Lisa. How beautiful is this woman? I hope to age as well as she has.

    I like that you tucked the shirt into your jeans.

    Been noticing that pin. It's so unique!

    The couple is so cute. It's now confirmed. You, Kelly, live in a retirement community. HAHAH. like that movie: In Her Shoes.

  • SewPetiteGal

    I love the menswear look and thanks for the tip on keeping cuffs in place! The scarf is the perfect touch.

  • PetiteAsianGirl

    LOL at the tandem passerbys demanding a personal photo shoot. The pic came out nicely…did they leave an email for you to send it to them?

    Great tip for the sleeves. The elastic will have to be just the right size for me or else my arms are very sensitive to having circulation cut off. I looove your Amanda B! I hope they'll make it again in fun fabrics and colors and then send it to the outlets : )

  • Alterations Needed

    @Petite Mom – What do you mean you never learn anything from Jersey Shore…I learned some great new vocabulary words. LOL. =)

    @Elle – Ugh…you poor thing. We've had beautiful weather here in SoCal lately, but don't worry, it won't last long and we'll be back to shivering again soon. =P

    @PetiteXXS – Can't wait to see you in your new Theory! Having a petite mom definitely has it's perks…like when I can raid her closet for petite accessorizes. Thanks mom!

  • Alterations Needed

    @Cee – Glad I could give you an idea to keep your sleeves up! It's so annoying when they fall all the time!

    @AubreyOhDang! – Hehe…RHOBH viewing party? In my retirement community? Who's in? And I think I know my next pet's name…Cedric!

    @PetiteAsianGirl – The tandem bikers actually have a tandem bike business! They showed me their business name so I found their website and emailed the pic to them. I hope the Amanda B comes back as well…I could use one in tweed. =)

  • fashionforteens

    I love this tie! I don't know how to tie a tie either lol. Oh and that's such a good idea to put a hair tie under your cuff. I really want a theory blazer they seem to fit so great!

  • Stylepint

    What a great menswear outfit! I love it and I sometimes tie my scarves like that too…I find it easier to tie a men's knot than the normal ways of tying scarves. You have that casual but dressy look down pat! =)

  • Tara

    I love this outfit, you look great! I totally watch The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills also…but I'm pretty much obsessed with most of the Real Housewives spinoffs (especially Orange County and NJ)

  • LaLaaLove

    Oh my god, I'm SO in love with this outfit. I couldn't stop staring during my break at work! The new Talula blazer would work well to replicate this look, and I think my mom has some scarves I could borrow, although I'd personally wear it with a pink fluffy skirt (I'd look like a ten year old boy otherwise, I think.).

    I'm loving the little details – The sleeve length, the pin, & the tucked in shirt.

  • Callandra

    That's funny!….(you're tricky) hee hee Love this outfit and what a great idea to use the hairbands. I'm wondering if they make your arms itchy or cut off circulation? I'll give it a try at any rate ….see how it works out;)

  • Vicky

    Kelly, I laughed so hard when I read about your "lame" reason of having a camera out, that I think I woke some of my cube mates. I just had a chance to comment. :) Did you come up with the "testing out my new camera" on the fly or did you think hard and came up with that before you went out? lol. What if they show up again? What are you going to say? I'm sorry I just found your story extremely funny. :)
    You always pull off the shirt/jacket/jean look so well. I wish I could too. The scarf as tie is a great idea.
    I have to keep your rubber band trick in mind. I am sure I'll use it sometime.
    Thank you for the post.

  • Michelle

    Aw! Too funny about the bicyclists! You are very brave for carrying your camera to the pathway!

    I love the way you tied your scarf! And I love that your ensemble is predominantly navy!

  • Angeline

    Thanks for the shoutout! I think you totally one-uped my version with your fun shoes and striped shirt. And Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is my new fave show (poor husband).

  • AubreyOhDang!

    haha you're so funny Kelly. Cedric would be a great name for your next dog. I will always associate that name with that guy from now on.

    I'm excited for the reunion!!

  • littlenashua

    OK Kelly, you inspired me today. We had school canceled due to the infamous New England "wintry mix", so I decided to sew a new blazer today. It's not done yet but if it comes out OK I can call it my "Inspired by Kelly" outfit.

  • Anonymous

    Maybe just me, but you look super tall in your first picture! Camera placement? Monochromatic color? Hmmm? And what a great idea to tie scarf as tie.

  • Nukem

    I love this outfit and the scarf as a tie, genius! I will need to try this out.
    And I love RHOBH. I have to watch it when my hubby isn't around though or he just rolls his eyes and goes to the other room.

  • Nancy

    You look amazing, Kelly! I love the pointy shoes with this (I didn't know Blahnik made size 34.5) and the scarf ties it all together, while adding interest…. Back when I worked I wore scarves all the time. Now I feel over-dressed wearing them just to take the kids to school or to the grocery store, but I may break my huge collection out again just for fun! I could pair with my omni-present jeans, a lightweight sweater, and a more casual bomber or velveteen jacket, perhaps. Of course, here in Quebec (I'm transplanted from San Diego) one has to put a heavy coat on top this time of year and then the entire outfit is "lost" under there!
    I think the reason you look so tall in a lot of your photos is that you have great proportions (just read your Jan-29-2010 post on this last night). When I first saw a post from you on Loft's Facebook page modeling a petite Loft outfit, I thought you must be a 5 foot 4 petite, because you didn't look small. When I linked back to your blog and learned how tiny you were/are, I couldn't believe it and just thought to myself that [you] are as perfectly proportioned as some fashion models, just shrunk ("shrunken"?) down to perfection!

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