Pleated Skirts For Fall!

Fall is right around the corner and nothing gets me more excited than comfy, cozy clothes, cute sneaks, and COFFEE!!! And one of my favorite go-to fall outfits for when that weather starts to change is the pleated skirt, oversized sweater, and sneaks! YES PEOPLE!!

Fall is right around the corner…

…which means comfy skirts, oversized sweaters, cute sneaks, and COFFEE!

H&M actually has a solid assortment of pleated skirts in both fall and summer colors, AND they actually fit really well! ANNNNND some of them are on major sale so I saved my favorites here for you!

I can’t wait to hear which colors you bought! So let me know in a comment below or tag @suits.and.sneaks in your fave new skirt on Instagram.

Happy weekend y’all!

-Kristin

Four Easy Ways To Look More Put Together When Working From Home

Last week I wrote a post for the guys on Four Simple Ways To Up Your Work-From-Home Style During COVID 19.  We talked from everyday work wear to how to up your look in a suit on Zoom interviews.  Speaking of suits. Ladies, there are the most adorable Gold cufflinks on Etsy if you ever need a gift for your man.

But this week, it’s all about the ladies. 

Particularly those of us who are caught in the middle of loving the comfort of WFH clothes, i.e. sweats and fabletics, but miss the confidence that comes with getting dressed up to go into the office. 

So here are my favorite easy ways to get the best of both worlds so you can go about your workday feeling more chic and confident, yet still comfortable enough to get things done.

Pleated Skirts

Photo source: Promesa USA Silver Pleated Metallic Midi Skirt

I.  Flipping.  Love.  These.  What better way to feel fab and feminine in the comfort of your own home (or in the office if you’ve already gone back) than a pleated skirt!  They’re stylish.  They’re fun.  They’re beyond comfortable when sitting and working for long periods of time.  They’re expandable for all those extra snacks you might be popping into your mouth come 3pm (guilty).  And, you can take these skirts in so many different directions.  So overall, a fantastic investment.

Keep them casual chic by pairing them with some cute sneaks, or totally dress them up 10 notches with heels for a night out like you see below. 

Photo by Vicky Cheng on Unsplash

I saved some of my favorite pleated skirts here!

The Little Fitted Jacket That Could

I cannot tell you how many times I’ve thrown one of these on for a Teams meeting and suddenly looked 10 notches more professional.  Get yourself one of these!  If you’re literally still sitting in the cami you slept in and prefer to keep it that way for the entire day, then you’re totally cool.  Because if you suddenly realize your Teams meeting that starts in two minutes requires video, then this will be your saving grace.  Check out my favorites here.

Stylish Frames

Yessss girl!  I just ordered myself a pair of blue light filtering Phonetics and they took my work-from-home look to a whole new level.  Check out my before and after pics here. 

Kristin Leigh, Phonetic blue-light filtering glasses, before and after

Jewelry

Let’s finish with a super easy-to-implement one here, keeping those Zoom or Microsoft Teams meetings top of mind.  Earrings or necklaces are a godsend for this because they’re an easy, inexpensive way to brighten up your face. 

I’m a huge fan of offsetting anytime I get dressed.  What does offsetting mean, you ask?  I always implement opposites into my look.  So if my shirt is extremely casual and plain, then I’ll be sure to include a necklace or earrings to offset that depending on my agenda for the day. 

If I’m wearing sneaks that day (duh), then I offset them with something more chic.  Offset, offset, offset.  I’m not sure that’s a technical term in fashion, but I’ve been using it as my formula for years now.

Same thing goes with materials or lines and shape of your clothing.  If what you’re wearing on top is very stiff or straight-lined, then offset it with a necklace that has a bit more depth.  You don’t have to go over the top, but even something as minimal as this Italian 14k rope chain could be all you need since the design is a bit more 3D than traditional flatter necklaces might be. 

Bracelets and watches are my absolute fave, especially minimalist simple ones with a single ornament.  Super inexpensive, super simple, and all you really need when working from home.

I hope those ideas gave you a little inspiration, and let me know any other tricks you’ve got below!

Have a great weekend!

-Kristin

Four Simple Ways to Up Your Work-From-Home Style During COVID19

Guys, this one’s for you today.  Ladies, I’m writing up a separate one for you as we speak!

Once upon a time, you lived in a world of waking up every morning, shuffling half-asleep into your closet, trying to make out the blur of clothes in front of you in order to decide what you were going to wear to work that day.

Then COVID hit, and you’re in a world now where, shoot, do you even get OUT of bed anymore to start your workday?  I mean, a laptop is the same laptop whether you’re in bed or sitting upright at your desk, right?

And so here is your new Monday through Friday norm.  Week after week.

But let’s say you DO make an effort to get out of bed and brush your teeth at least.  And you actually put on clothes. Eventually you begin to notice that you’ve been “showing up” to your virtual day job wearing your same favorite few tees every day.  Or, maybe it’s just a sweatshirt.  And, does it really even matter what’s on your bottom?

Question for you:

While I’m sure this is comfortable and all, are you starting to feel kind of blah inside?  Maybe a little dull?  Like you’re in this new work-from-home routine and it’s really not all that exciting? 

Perhaps you actually miss coming up with an outfit to wear to work each day because you could at least show off some of your personality. Or maybe, you were one to dress a level above your title in hopes it’d get you promoted faster. 

After all, getting dressed shows purpose.  But it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. In fact, just choosing SOME simple accessories that best reflect your authentic style and personality could mean everything! 

So here are four simple ways to spruce up your virtual workday look and #letthrealyoushinethrough in your next Zoom meeting:

Photo by manny PANTOJA on Unsplash

Try Out Some Stylish Frames

Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash

Prescription or no prescription, this is one of my favorite ways that guys can show off their personalities and up their t-shirt-around-the-house game.  In fact, I think frames paired with a comfy tee is a superb way to professionalize your look and show up to your Zoom meetings in casual style.  Kind of like, you make it look so easy, yet you’re so good. 

You can visit website and choose from a massive variety of top brands and styles.  You’re sure to land a brand new set of specs that frame your face and make you look even more distinguished in no time.

The Tiny But Mighty Pocket Square

If you’re more than a t-shirt guy and need to dress to impress on your next Zoom call, look no further than the humble pocket square. They are so easy, so simple, and yet so…bam!  You show up to your video calls looking like a man on a mission.  This little square is the color to your mon-o-chrome, the linen to your life, the silk to your, ok I have no idea where I’m going with that one, but you get the point. Go get yourself some!

Watch This

Photo by Tamarcus Brown on Unsplash

I love a good watch on a guy.  It just says, Hi, I’m a man.  And if your laptop camera is angled the way it should be (ahem, up angling down is a bit more flattering), then your forearms and wrists should be showing.  And who wants bare forearms and wrists??

You don’t need to drop big bucks on a watch, any priced watch does the trick  But if you can afford a Rolex or Omega, then by all means, shop right ahead!  But you don’t need to go the designer route to look great.  Any watch that is simple and well-made will add a dignified note to your look.

On The Cuffs

Photo by Josh Appel on Unsplash

Got an upcoming Zoom video interview?  Nothing tells hiring managers that you’ve got attention to detail like the fact that you’re wearing badass cuff links on a Zoom video interview during COVID 19.  As a recruiter, I would freaking love you for it. 

Why? Because cufflinks are one of the most telling, yet subtle, signs of style for men everywhere. They’re small enough to know their place, yet special enough to have their shining moment in the world. Also, please know that managers hiring candidates using only video interviews will be looking to your video screen for ANYTHING to try and get a better sense of your personality.  And cufflinks show that you are ready to bring the goods, my friend.

In Summary

These are just a few easy-to-implement ideas to polish off that top half of you for when you need to show up to work on a laptop screen.  I’d love to hear other creative ideas you’ve been doing as well so update me in the comments below!

Have a great week y’all,

Kristin

Golden Goose Sneakers

A streetwear twist to a classic, simple star. This brand is pretty dope is you’ve got a lot of extra money to spare. I’m loving these sneaks for the kicked-back season of summer. I saved my favorites for you below!

Summertime Sneakers Suitable For The Office

it is indeed Tuesday, and normally I post a podcast, but I’m not feeling too hot and didn’t think you’d really want to listen to someone talk while under the weather. Eww, gross. On a brighter note though, I cleared out my closet and got rid of a bunch of old sneaks a couple weeks ago. The problem is I haven’t yet replenished myself with new cute sneakers to wear to the office! So I figured I’d take you all along with me, while I go sneaker shopping online.

Let’s first look through some inspirational looks that you could pull of wearing to work, and then I’ll include my full list of my favorite sneaks at the very end. Also, did you know I have an entire Pinterest Board dedicated to sneaker outfits you can wear to work? And another one with how you can wear sneakers with skirts? Make sure you go follow my Suits & Sneaks Pinterest account here.

So without further delay, I present to you my favorite women’s office casual looks with sneakers that I will soon be wearing to work. Comment below on which ones are your favorite!

Let’s Start With Neutral Looks

Polish off your favorite white kicks

With a light, summertime soft gray suit.

Summertime skin tones +

Can’t-go-wrong Cole Haan sneakers.

Then Get A Little More Black & Bold

TCB in Seavees

With their timeless Huntington Middies

Or run from meeting to meeting

In a pair of comfy slip-ons.

Happy Hour requires comfort

Swap out the heels if you mean business at the bar.

Shop Even More Of My Favorite Sneaks Here

Scroll to the right on each row to see more!

Menswear: Tom Ford Eyeglasses

Men’s accessories. They’re everything. And we so quickly have fallen for the Warby Parkers and Tom Fords of the world because let’s face it, men’s fashion eyewear has come onto the scene HOT.

Just look at our lovely model for example. This is one of my favorite men’s casual outfits by the way. But look at the way the glasses jive so well with the casual sneaks. And the glasses, quite frankly, really finish off his look.

Are any of you guys rocking the eyeglasses to work on a daily basis? Would you? To help you out, I included my four favorite styles below.

Happy shopping!

-Kristin

Forget Following Fashion Trends, You Do You.

Once upon a time there used to be a season for certain colors and an era for certain styles.

We can look back on the decades of our past and pretty much generalize the fashion trends for each era. 70s were the hippies. 80s was total hair. 90s was cutoffs and hip-hop. 2000s were punk rock and skater boys and babes. And now here we are in 2018, with the onset of social media’s Pinterest and Instagram. Photography and fashion are in full swing.

But here’s one thing I’ve noticed about this new digital world that we’ve all come to love and hate. It’s given us an outlet to express our individual style.

You can scroll through Pinterest and Insta feeds for hours and hit the like button on all different types of fashion. Why? Because the pictures look good. Because the ENTIRE LOOK looks good. You fall in love with the person’s overall style. The clothes, the makeup, the expression, the background, the lighting. Take all of that combined and the fact that a girl is wearing white pants in winter is pretty meaningless because, well, her photo completely ROCKS.

Fashion is a massive part of our modern lives, especially since so much of our lives have been shifted towards showing off our looks. And with any industry, some people have such a true passion and love for it that they dedicate their whole lives to it. (Think your major bloggers on Instagram)

Once upon a time we were also taught to dress a certain way for certain circumstances or occasions.

Interviews, weddings, corporate jobs. Shoot, think of the countries where women don’t even have a choice in what they can wear! And while times are changing for the better, the fact remains that if you dress outside what certain people consider “the norm,” you very well might be looked at twice.

Is that a bad thing though?

And honestly, what does it matter to people what you wear if it’s not hurting anyone?

Well the truth is, it does. Because your style speaks louder than your words. Especially on first glance. But just because people make judgments in a matter of seconds doesn’t mean you can’t tailor a polished look to reflect your individuality.

Freedom of expression is important for maintaining our identity as individuals. You can still totally do this even if you work a corporate 9 to 5 job by adding your unique favorite trends to a more conservative polished style. I explain exactly how to do this in fashion posts throughout my site. Crazy story but I actually work in a global pharmaceutical company and I can easily think of 4 coworkers that have tattoo sleeves. BUT they balance that with a more polished professional outfit so the whole look is just totally badass! (Side note, if you’re going a tattoo route, be sure to use barrier tattoo gel)

Remember that you should dress according to what you truly like and feel comfortable in, but by also dressing in such a way that makes others comfortable and shines you in the best, most respectful light. This is what Suits & Sneaks is all about! Follow along for loads more tips on getting dressed each day that gains you respect and authority in the workplace, but also lets the real you shine through at the same time.

Cheers!

-Kristin

How to Save on Corporate Style: Clever Cost Saving Tips

Polished casual styled with Seavees

If you’re like most, you’re anticipating the arrival of the new year with hopes and dreams to bring out a new and better you. New mindset, new habits, new routines, new goals. Heck, maybe you’re even on a mission to find a new job that you love for 2019. So what better way to package up this NEW YOU than with a fresh, new wardrobe?

Except that, this is the busiest shopping season of the year and you’ve probably already spent a TON of money. (And I’m guessing well beyond your budget?) So, how do you now build a stylish work wardrobe with the little that you have left in the bank?

I’ll give you a hint. The answer is not always to start from scratch. To take the pressure off you a little, here are six ways I typically save on my corporate style.

1. Stick with the simple

I’m a huge fan of basics for two reasons. One, because they never go out of style. You can wear them in different ways forever. And two, because it’s not as noticeable when you repeat a basic piece of clothing as it is when you repeat a flashy or trendy one. (Case in point, I haven’t gone shopping in OVER A YEAR.)

Get these basic pieces for Men and Women

I would even advise being strategic with your COLOR choices and stick with basic colors like black, white, or gray. I know this sounds boring, but remember, this is your foundation. Spend minimal dollars on a few basic things and your opportunities to style in different ways on top of that are endless. See #2 below.

2. Mix and match with layers and accessories.

Shop the look here

An added bonus to the basic foundation above is that any accessories or jackets you layer on top will instantly stand out. Whether we’re talking about a diamond necklace from Ritani or a scarf from Target, if you have a basic foundation, then most likely you’re pretty much guaranteed that any accessory or layer you add on will match.

Men’s Flatlay

This is genius I tell you for yet another reason: Accessories DON’T WEAR OUT! They don’t fade with washes, they don’t get ruined from spills. They take up little space. And what’s more, they typically go on major sale at certain stores throughout the year. Set this 1:3 spending rule for yourself: I will figure out how to buy a single shirt-price worth of accessories that can translate into three different looks. Boom, financial win. It’s that easy.

3. Always check the labels.

I completely stay away from anything that needs to be dry-cleaned. It’s just not worth it to me. I actually take it a step further and stay away from anything that needs to be ironed, because well, ain’t nobody got time for that. If you’re looking for money AND time savings, checking the labels is super important.

4. Shop out of season. Heck, shop out of style.

I could care less if clothing is in season or not. Why? Because quite frankly guys, it’s not so much about the clothes as it is the person wearing them.

Let’s all get real here for a moment. Think about when you see fashion bloggers on Pinterest or Instagram. What about the pictures attract you to it? Is it 100% the clothes? Or is it the model’s hair, his or her fitness level, the camera angle, the lighting, a statement accessory? There are a number of factors that can take a look from being blah to wow, and it will always be more than just the clothing pieces themselves.

So with that, buy that’s-so-last-season clothes! They’re cheaper! Because guess what? You can make anything look attractive by adding additional layers like a blazer or accessories, and most importantly, you will strut into your office silently screaming that this look is yours to OWN.

5. Look for deals online.

Like most purchases in life, you can usually find work clothes cheaper if you shop around for them online. You can use price comparison tools to compare similar items from different stores. You can leverage online voucher sites to find coupons for money off products both in-store and online. Heck, you can go sign up for mailing lists or newsletters for your favorite retailers because they will give you a discount code. Don’t want spam mail? Who cares! You just got 25% off!

6. And lastly, wear what is provided.

I’ll save the best scenario for last, in that if you’re a uniformed worker, then you luck out and don’t have to buy wardrobes of clothes. Though many might argue this and say you wish you could wear what you want, how easy and cost-effective is it to wear the same things everyday?! Am I right? But even if you’re not a uniformed worker, many companies give out branded shirts, polos, socks, etc. for free. Why not wear them?? This means one less outfit where you can save the money to buy something else.

Make use of company-provided shirts

So there ya have it folks! I live by these rules every time I look for something new to wear. I honestly am a cheapskate when it comes to fashion and style. I buy everything at discount prices, and at most, once a year. Building a work wardrobe from scratch can be costly, but, hopefully, with these tips, you can save yourself some money as you start the new year with the new you!

Kristin, Suits & Sneaks

-Kristin

Advice For Purchasing A Wedding Suit

It’s the most, wonderful time, of the year! The holidays are here and love is either madly in the air, or it’s most definitely not. But the fact of the matter is, right around the corner, is wedding season.

There are fewer and fewer reasons to wear formal clothing these days, but one of those that still holds on is that of a wedding. Now, while wedding season might still be a few months away, being prepared for that time of year, believe me, is the right thing to do. Whether you’re buying suits or dresses, here are some things to consider before you find yourself overwhelmed shop-hopping trying to find your wedding best.

THE POCKET SQUARE

suit pocket squares

Men are in a somewhat fortunate position (actually a lot of fortunate positions if you ask me lol) in that suits tend to come in a small variety, and are quite frankly, the only expectation people have of you when it comes to formal attire. Especially for a wedding.

That said there are parts of suit buying and wearing that we should discuss, especially if you’re not used to the clothing, such as how to fold a pocket square .

And let me share with you my thoughts on pocket squares: I FLIPPING LOVE THEM. These little guys will take a look to the next level. They come in so many different styles, colors, fabrics. Oh my gosh, I just get so excited by them, for ALL looks and styles, from wedding formal to street and smart casual.

I included some of my favorites here, scroll to the right to view them all!

THE SUIT STYLE

While the number of jobs requiring suits has decreased in the last couple of decades, so too has the need for men to own them, so let’s take a look at the different styles and the etiquette of wearing one.

SINGLE OR DOUBLE-BREASTED

Suits do come in various styles, and this tends to be for different reasons. If you’re not the groom, you’ll likely be considering a single-breasted or double-breasted style and the decision will come down to your personal preference.

The double is more traditional for a taller man to wear and will usually have four or six buttons. Whereas a single-breasted jacket will have only one set of buttons - up to three - and holes that do not overlap. There’s a great article on this here

Now if you’re the man of the event, or in the main wedding party, there are of course the wedding suit and tuxedo for the much more formal look.

THE WAISTCOAT

Once you have chosen a style, you may then wonder whether or not you should purchase a waistcoat. Well, for starters, most suits will come as two or three-piece and so the decision will be made for you. The waistcoat is a personal choice once again, but it does a little more than just adding to the style. It in fact should be doing two things. One, to direct attention towards your face, and two, to keep your tie in place. It can be a great complement to your suit, but again the personal preference is yours.

SHOES

Once you have the suit sorted, you’ll need to start considering the shoes. Your dilemma could be around the color, whether to match the shoes to the color of the suit (black, brown, or burgundy are most common). OR, your dilemma could be on style, i.e. formal or casual, slip-ons or laces, minimal or funky loud. Suits or Sneaks. :) But for all the shopping in the world, make sure they are comfortable and fit you properly. Weddings can be lengthy affairs.

I just started a Pinterest Board - Wedding in Sneakers and pinned some of my favorite looks. Go check it out and follow along if you think you’ll be in the market soon! :)

ACCESSORIES

Wooden bowtie

The most important, of all the accessories that make up formal wear, is the tie. This is where it gets overwhelming and I feel for you guys. There are so many different types of ties! From the skinny traditional, to the wide traditional, to the bow tie. Your selection will need to consider several details, most importantly, your size. If you are a tall man you will require a longer tie, if you’re a short man then bow-ties are great! If you’re a skinny man then you might want to consider purchasing a tie that isn’t too wide.

The Tie Bar

And then there’s the colors. I love this part. First consider two factors - the color of your suit and your complexion. Then figure out the statement you want to make. Formal and serious? Go with your traditional colors and patterns. Prefer to be loud and proud? Then the possibilities are endless for you my friend. Go bright, crazy-patterned, and flashy for that matter if you want. Here are some of my favorite looks.

You can shop some of my favorites right here! Scroll to the right to view them all.

Finally, other accessories include the aforementioned pocket square which should complement your tie. Cuff links for a shirt with French cuffs are a nice addition to the formal attire and give you an opportunity in a limited environment to add some character to your wear. And lastly a dress watch or tie clip; both of these can complement the suit you are wearing and add an air of elegance to your wedding appearance.

Oh Happy Day!

Happy shopping!

-Kristin

It's Sweater Weather! My Favorite Comfy Sweaters

Good news! Sweater weather is here! This is an odd fun fact but I’m a native Floridian and I feel like I have more fall and winter outfits than I do summer. I’m not sure what that’s about but as you can imagine I am stoked! Sunny and…..65 here in Florida!! LOL! Regardless, we Floridians LOVE warm, comfy sweaters just like the rest of you around the world so I picked out some of my favorites and included them below. And don’t worry, I’ve covered balloon sleeve sweaters, fluffy sweaters, h&m sweaters, pullover sweaters, knit sweaters…..I’m starting to sound like Forest Gump here people. My point is, I’ve hand-selected a bunch for you. Happy shopping!

Menswear Blogger, Igee Okafor, On How To Dress For Summer

"When it comes to personal style at music festivals, anything goes." 

Read the full post by Igee Okafor & Peter Minkoff here.

Photography by: Sebastian Cintron

Women's Tahari Summer Suit Sale Is On!

Happy Friday everyone and I hope you had a wonderful 4th of July!  Many of us are taking some time away from work to recharge and relax.  And many of us love the sales that come with summer.  As you think about how you're going to finish off the second half of your year at work strong, I happened to realize Tahari had a great suit sale going on.  So I picked out some of my favorites for you below.  So get going and pick out your power suit below.  Here's to owning your workday!

Massive Brooks Brothers Sale Is On!

Hey guys, it's summer time which means major sale time.  And I know many of you trust Brooks Brothers from head to toe, so I took some time to scour their online offerings and find you the best sales in line with my favorite styles below.  Major markdowns at over 50% and more!  Enjoy!

Brooks Brothers Button-Downs Over 50% Off!

Brooks Brothers Polos Under $50

Brooks Brothers Ties Marked Down To $25!

Brooks Brothers Blazers Over 50% Off

And Last But Not Least, My Favorite Brooks Brothers Kicks!

Suits + Sneakers + Sunsets

Suits & Sneaks' smart casual attire for the end of your workweek.

Congratulations, you're approaching the end of your workweek.  And what better way to step out of the office and into a happy hour sunset than in your most comfortable and casual pair of suits and sneakers. 

Here, Brooks Brothers meets Ben Sherman.  It's my motto of offsetting at its best. The Brooks Brothers blazer is offset with a more casual Brooks Brothers tee.  BB's pants are then offset with a pair of white canvas sneakers by one of my favorite men's lines, Ben Sherman.

It's the perfect way to untuck your shirt, let loose a little, and still look like you owned the day.  Cheers gents.

-Kristin

Brooks Brothers suit with Ben Sherman sneakers

Suits & Sneaks smart casual with Brooks Brothers and Ben Sherman

How To Create 7 Different Outfits With 1 Pair of Sneaks

This was SUCH a fun concept to come up with because a) who doesn't love buying an awesome pair of shoes, and b) who doesn't love justifying them with SEVEN different outfits??

Let me introduce you to the shoe, so appropriately named the Huntington Middie.  It's casual, it's clean, and quite frankly it turns heads.  Which is why I call it my game-changer shoe.  But, GET THIS.  As is the mission of everything Suits & Sneaks, I've taken this shoe and dressed it up for you to wear to WORK, to HAPPY HOUR, and yes, to simply #KEEPITCASUAL on the weekends.

So let's dive into this amazingly comfortable pair of sneaks (which include plush insoles btw!), styled SEVEN different ways for each day of your week.  Here we go!

Monday.

When All You Want Is Comfort.

When you wake up late, still feeling full and groggy from the weekend, and for the love of God just want to feel comfortable for the next 8 hours of your day....This is the outfit for you. 

Offset Casual With a Dose of Glam

For the Perfect Polished Casual Look.

Offset the casualness and comfort of these pants and sneaks with a tan blazer.  And, bedazzle yourself in pearls.  You've heard me say this a million times: Offsetting is the way to go for that refined, polished casual look.

Shop This Look:

Get the Sneaks: Seavees Huntington Middies

Tuesday

Styled Professionally.

You made it through Monday looking good, and if your coworkers had some sort of decency, they saved those important meetings for Tuesday.  Here's where you dress up your look with the easiest, most professional color out there - Black. 

BUT, don't be boring and wear black shoes.  That doesn't interest anyone. 

Hello Game-Changer.

Goodbye Status-Quo Dresser.

Instead, look like you've got style sense by changing up the shoe color with your black pants and blazer.  Sit down status-quo dressers.  Game-Changer just walked into the room.

Shop This Look:

Get the Sneaks: Seavees Huntington Middies

Wednesday

Polished Comfort.

Halfway through the week and starting to tire out?  Simply take it down a notch with a warm, comfy sweater and this soft, muted pink scarf.  Next, offset the comfort on top with some dark fitted jeans or even a pencil skirt on bottom! 

Slipping Into Your Middies

Couldn't get any easier.

Shop the Look:

Get the Sneaks: Seavees Huntington Middies

Thursday

Work + Happy Hour

A popular happy hour day, they say.  You definitely don't want to dress like a boring professional cause you're likely to hit up the bar scene after work.  You also don't want to walk into the office LOOKING like you're hitting up the bar scene after work.  #AMIRIGHT? 

Why Limit Happiness to One Hour

When You Feel This Good.

Here's a happy medium that's fun, but smart enough for the office.  And if jean jackets are more so meant for Friday, just switch this jacket out for a cute fitted blazer!  Hello Polished Casual.

Shop the Look:

Get  the Sneaks: Seavees Huntington Middies

TGI Friday

Jean Jacket Approved.

Ahhh, the day where the jean jacket IS allowed.  Grab those comfy pants from Monday and just swap out the top!  Here you could go with a neutral shirt, or get a little ballsy with a graphic tee under your jacket or blazer.  Just don't forget the accessories with this look. 

Accessories.

They Will Polish You Off.

While your threads are totes casual, you want to offset them with some accessories, like the bandanna scarf I've done here.  Or how about fun jewelry like a wooden watch??  No matter how casual you go, accessories and jackets will always polish you off.

Shop This Look:

Get the Sneaks: Seavees Huntington Middies

Saturday

Sleep In Like A Boss.

I absolutely LOVE these Middies with shorts.  And here's where I stress how dang COMFORTABLE these shoes are.  I never even got blisters from wearing them brand new!  Take it from the girl with the foot injury that put her in sneaks in the first place.  These shoes are SO EASY to wear while you're running around. 

So Comfy

You Could Walk Miles In These Kicks.

The long cardigan takes the look up a notch.  It also covers the top half of your thighs if you're feeling a little subconscious about them.  Like in this case, I would've preferred tanner legs lol.  Florida girl problems. 

Shop This Look:

Get the Sneaks: Seavees Huntington Middies

Sunday

Brunching + Shopping

A day meant for rest that's quite often supplemented with shopping or brunching.  Pair your Middies with a soft, floral shirt.  Top it off with a neutral, fitted blazer, and bam!  You're ready to walk in the door of any occasion. 

#Goals

She Rushed Out the Door and STILL Looked Styled.

My favorite part about this look are the sneakers and the blazer.  Because the combo simply screams: This girl quickly ran out the door and STILL managed to look styled!  Can we say #GOALS??

Shop The Look:

Get the Sneaks: Seavees Huntington Middies

Speaking of occasion, today was a special day!  I mean WOW.  What a post!  You just got SEVEN different outfit ideas!  And all laid out for you with just ONE pair of sneaks!!! 

I hope you all enjoyed browsing through the pictures and outfit inspiration to pair up with your new Middies!  Click the signup or subscribe button and I'll send you an easy-access style card with all the deets!

And allow me to give mad props to my photographer Nick Pecori who took all of the beautiful pictures you see in this post.  Comment below with what you think!

I Guess I'm a Guy's Girl? My Style Explained.

I’ve never officially coined myself as such, but it was the two words that came to my mind when I thought about the history of my style.  I did an Urban Dictionary check just to be sure (total sarcasm people, but for kicks, see below): 

"Guy’s girl:  That girl who can just chill and be one of the guys.  She’s into sports, beer, action flicks, and doesn’t give a damn what others think.  However, unlike the tomboy, she has her gang of girl mates who she shops with and does girly stuff." (Source: Urbandictionary.com) 

So yeah, I guess you could say this describes me.  And anyone who’s known me throughout my life would probably agree:  A guy’s girl. 

Kristin Leigh, Suits & Sneaks

The guys of my youth:

Maybe it’s cause I was the first-born and my dad and I were (still are) super close.  My dad helped me out with everything, from homework to coaching me in softball for years, to perfecting my volleyball serves, to somehow getting the message across when my skirts were too short. 

My cousin Brian lived next door to me on one side, and on the other side of my house were two boys also my age, Keith and Craig.  So we all grew up together, playing mostly non-girly games.  You could probably label me as a tomboy in my youth.  I definitely rocked the backwards hat for longer than I’d like to admit.  But that’s what my inner circle wore.  Don’t get me wrong though, I still had what seemed like the largest Barbie collection in the world.  And yes, I thought Ken was hot AF.  But sitting right next to the Barbie bin was a bin of Legos, and right next to the Legos, a bin of cars.  I really was into just about everything. 

Anyways I guess with all of that, I just took a liking to chillin’ with the boys.  I think cause it was just that, chill.  I showed up to hang out and play games as I felt best myself.  I never really worried about having to win guys over with my appearance because they all liked hanging out with me for my personality.  I think?  (c’mon, we were like 8 years old). 

High school:

Once I hit the teenage years, my parents might argue I was anything BUT chill, but whatever that’s called hormones.  And yes, I still crushed on the cute guys in school.  So at this point my parents (poor dad) had their hands full because I basically always had a boyfriend.  I couldn’t help it, I just liked hanging out with the guys!  I liked what they talked about.  They talked about ACTUAL STUFF, rather than gossiped about each other.  Actual stuff was way more interesting to me.  And I’m not stereotyping girls NOW, I’m merely telling you what I actually experienced BACK THEN.  20+ years ago.

College:

I joined a sorority in college.  Three months of that was all I could take.  I made some amazing friends through it, who were very much guy’s girls like myself.  And basically, we just enjoyed hanging out at the frat houses drinking beer and playing games with the guys.  That didn’t sit well with the more senior sorority girls as you could imagine.  Things started to suck, people were mean, and I asked myself, why would I want to spend my free time in such mental state?  So I quit, and then I could hang out with my frat guy friends as much as I wanted.  Bye Felicia. 

The last two years in college I lived with my two best girl friends, on a floor of otherwise guys.  The guys were our “bros”, and we, although girls, were their “bros”.  Again, one giant group of friends that just enjoyed watching football and drinking beer together.  We wore some makeup.  I’d say we were attractive.  But we just enjoyed hanging with the guys.  Nothing more.  We still call each other “Bro” to this day by the way.

Me, today:

So my style today has been what it always has been, 100% me and however I’m feeling at the time.  I’ve never condoned wearing something outside of my comfort zone solely to solicit a response from someone else.  Though sometimes you just have to do it in the working world (i.e. wear a suit to an interview, please).  But such is the premise of Suits & Sneaks.  I prefer to feel myself and wear what I’ve got.  I can polish things off where needed, but otherwise I’m using my confidence in dressing as the real me, to make wearing jeans, sneaks, and a hat look cute. 

My Style - Kristin Leigh, Suits & Sneaks

If the whole “polish off your look” part leaves you feeling a little clueless, well that’s what I’m here for, so holler at me anytime.  And definitely subscribe and follow me on Instagram.  I give lots of examples on how to effortlessly spruce up your sweats, ripped jeans and then some.  But more than anything, let your confidence come from within.  Be proud of who you are now, where you came from, and the direction you want to take.  A light on the inside can almost always be seen on the outside.

Suits & Sneaks' Kristin Leigh shows off her Kicks of the Day in Tampa Bay. (Vans)

Chat soon!

Kristin

How to Style a White Blazer with Sneakers

Here's a teeny tiny teaser clip on how I styled a white blazer with jeans and pink sneakers!  Be sure to subscribe to my Suits & Sneaks YouTube Channel where I'll be pumping out tons more Suits & Sneaks outfit ideas!  Enjoy!