Sometimes you have to design a document around a minimal amount of text–this is often the case with announcements, lists, and those extra boring (and seemingly unnecessary) reports most employers require.

Most of the time, the first instinct is to try to make the content fit the page by enlarging the text, quadruple-spacing the lines, or (god forbid) adding little pieces of clip art.

Please don’t do this! I will hunt you down...

However, the best way to design around short text is to make the text area smaller. White space is your friend!

Start by dividing the page

I divided the page in half length-wise, and into thirds horizontally. The text area is limited to the lower two-thirds of the right half.

Have fun with text and design elements

After adding the text, you can have fun with the rest of the page! I like large type, so I changed the title to the fail-proof combination of Georgia italic and Helvetica Neue Condensed.  The page is defined with a 6-point horizontal rule at the top and bottom of the page, and the space between the title and the text is defined by a similar, thinner horizontal line.

It’s still simple, yet looks like it would much more interesting to read–which is the point of these documents anyway, right? Try it the next time you have to hand in an EBR!

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Sometimes it’s all I can do to drag myself out of bed, let alone get into corporate power-bitch mode. I’ve been a proponent of the “dressy sweats” trend for a while, and even though I usually work from home now, this trick still comes in handy when I have to look halfway decent but don’t feel like getting dressed up.

Victoria’s Secret camisole and pants

I bought these cotton & cashmere blend sweat pants from Victoria’s Secret last year, and they’ve been my go-to lounge around the house gear ever since.

Thrifted shirt, men’s watch

American Apparel cardigan, earrings from Morrison & Me, vintage ring

Note that I’m still comfy! The cardigan is stretchy cotton, and I keep the accessories light and easy.

Thrifted blazer, Charles David heels, Buxton folio

Other than the blazer (which provides warmth) and the shoes (I’ll be sitting all day, so it doesn’t really matter), I’m basically wearing the same thing I’d wear to sit on the couch. If you think you can get away with wearing sweats to work, try it! But don’t fall asleep at your desk…

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Trying to figure out what to wear? Work with pieces you already have:

Old Navy oxford, Vanessa Bruno waistcoat, Topshop skirt, Urban Outfitters tights, Anthropologie Cube Art scarf, Sam Edelman shoes

My version:

Banana Republic blouse; vintage vest, skirt, and scarf; Dolce Vita shoes

Try it yourself!

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Sometimes, styles that were once seen as fashion DEATH become socially acceptable and are canonized as part of the style lexicon. Remember when wearing heels with jeans was a no-no back in, like, 1997?

Socks and heels were long seen as anathema to the fashion community, conjuring up images of fetish-y babydoll wear most often seen on “glamour models” in Frederick’s of Hollywood catalogs, but the look has gained acceptance over the past few seasons.

Versace circa 1995, 華麗袍上釘蚤子, Peony Lim, Park + Cube, Style.com

Wearing socks with your heels is a perfectly acceptable way to extend the life of your warm-weather shoes by adding an extra layer of warmth to make them appropriate for cooler weather. It’s not just a fashion magazine/runway thing, either. Us regular folks can do it, too!

Try it out:

O Alfaiate Lisboeta, 華麗袍上釘蚤子 , Chictopia, B. Jones Style

-Boots + thigh-high socks Try this under a mini or heavy shorts. I like to wear tights underneath as an extra layer.

-Booties + ankle socks Great when you’re wearing cropped pants or booties with cutouts–the socks will show through, so experiment with a bright color.

-Low heels + knee socks Keep this from looking too Britney Spears-circa-1999 by scrunching the socks a bit and pairing with sensible, grown-up clothing.

What do you think? Have you/would you wear socks and heels?

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I tend to procrastinate wait for inspiration to strike, so there have been times when I’ve been forced–FORCED!–to put together an outfit with stuff that’s already in my closet. That’s where Instant Outfit comes in, with ideas to work with pieces you likely already have. Use what you got to look the way you want.*

Cardigan, Anthropologie; belt, Urban Outfitters; jeans, Old Navy; earrings, Noir; shoes, Aldo

My NYE plans are pretty sedate, but I will definitely indulge in some champers at midnight. Have a safe and happy New Year!

See you in 2011!

*Yes, that was a bastardized version of the infamous quote from The Player’s Club. Yaee YAEE!

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I love the detailing and cozy slouchy-ness of this sweaterdress, but when I put it on, it felt a leeeetle too short for wading through the snow and ice.

Instead of trying to find something else to wear (’cause that could take ALL DAY), I added a longer skirt underneath the dress for extra coverage and an additional layer of warmth. The proportion works because the skirt doesn’t add too much extra volume to the already bulky sweaterdress, and the skirt’s color is the same tone as the embellishments around the dress’s neckline.

Thrifted sweaterdress; Mountain Leather belt; Victoria’s Secret skirt and boots

I love the idea of wearing a dress over a skirt, and I think the key to getting the proportion right is defining your waist, and wearing a skirt that’s slightly fuller at the bottom–fullness in the hip/thigh area = disastrous no-no!

Have you tried wearing a skirt under a dress? How did it look?

Oh, and by some accident of the universe, I was chosen as one of Cincy Chic’s Women of the Year! Check out the article and all of the other winners here.

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Smack dab in the middle of the holiday season, we’re all bound to be invited to a few parties. I usually like to take time to plan and prepare for such events, but last weekend things went a bit differently. I’ll present a possible scenario* in the hope that my experience helps you.

You may be spending a cozy afternoon swathed in designer cashmere** when you receive a call from your Significant Other:

“Baby, I forgot XX party is today! It starts in half an hour. Hurry up and get ready, I’ll be there in 15 minutes.”

You might calmly say*** “Darling, I advised you to put that on your calendar so that you wouldn’t forget! Nevertheless, I shall be ready when you arrive.”

Perhaps you serenely set aside the important project you’ve been working on**** and immediately select the ideal party look from your well-organized wardrobe,***** then spend the remaining time skillfully perfecting your hair and makeup before emerging from your winter cocoon like a dewy, flawless Venus.******

Work with what you got

Or, in case things don’t work out exactly as above, you can dress up the trusty jeans+tee combo with a few party-worthy pieces:

Gap jeans; Old Navy tee; vintage jacket, necklace, and ring; Kaneesha earrings; River Island bag; Colin Stuart boots

It’s as easy as adding:

• A fancy jacket or blazer. Look for materials like satin, velvet, and faux fur.

• Statement shoes. This is where those “I’ll never wear these but I love ‘em” shoes you bought on a whim get some play.

• One or two dramatic accessories

• Lipstick

…and you’re ready to go in 10-15 minutes!

Now, Real Talk:

*Yep, this ish actually happened last weekend
**jeans and a tee I’ve had since I worked at Old Navy during college
***shout an impressive series of expletives
****scarfing down multiple packets of fruit snacks while watching episodes of Peep Show on my laptop
*****Stare in wild-eyed panic at the haphazard jumble of clothing in the closet for a good 10 minutes before grabbing something–anything!–in a fit of frustration.
******race down the stairs and out the door, trying not to trip over my feet while applying the lipstick I thought I lost, but was really at the bottom of my luggage-sized purse.

The things I have to put up with…

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