Fashion Makeover Challenge: The Results

Week 3: Two weeks ago, Nicole left her professional styling session with a rack full of new clothes and an arsenal of fashion tips. Since then she’s mixed up her look daily, incorporating one new item into her outfit for 14 days straight. How’d it go? Let’s find out!

Last week, Nicole gave us an update, telling us how to get three of her new favorite looks. Today, she’s back with the four items that revolutionized her wardrobe — all of which you can score in our 14-Day Makeover Challenge: Colorful Essentials sale (ending 4/26 at 10AM). Find out why Nicole loves them below!

Steven by Steve Madden Raspberry & White Paris Tote
“I love the Steve Madden colorblock bag. It is the perfect size to fit my laptop and whatever else I need to bring with me throughout my day.”

Insight Red Belted Trench
“I have avoided trenches, but this trench changed my mind. I love the bold red color, and — while it looks heavy — it is actually quite light and perfect for spring.”

N.Y.L.A. Tan Andreu Wedges
“Though they are high, these shoes are very comfortable, and I love the bold color. They instantly make any outfit pop with color and are just a lot of fun.”

Thalian Black Blazer
“This piece is so versatile. I can wear it with anything — shorts, jeans, dress pants, or a dress. And I can quickly transition from day to night by just taking it off.”

Tempted to start your own hair makeover? Learn more about Nicole’s from start to finish. Find out more about our 14-Day Makeover Series Challenge, and follow our healthy eating and hair challenges.

14-Day Makeover Challenge: Fashion Check-in

Week 2: One week down, one to go! When we left off with Nicole last week, she had a rack full of bright clothes and an arsenal of new tricks from her styling session with celeb stylist-turned-accessories designer Ariela Suster. But the real challenge was just beginning: Incorporate a new item into her outfit every single day. How’s she doing? Let’s find out!

After mixing and matching for seven days straight, we asked Nicole which tips were working best—and she was full of advice! Here are Nicole’s new foolproof ways for making any outfit pop.

Mix in versatile pieces
“Of course, I was instantly drawn to the blazer ― it’s black. But what I love most is how it makes any outfit more dressy or sophisticated instantly.”

Add color
“Because of this shirt, I've been buying a lot of teal. I love this color, even though I have always avoided blues of any kind.”

Bag it
“I don’t really carry purses, but I love this colorblock bag! It’s such an easy way to add color to any black outfit.”

Tune in next Tuesday (4/24) for the final results of Nicole’s fashion makeover. Plus, score her new favorite pieces in our 14-Day Makeover Challenge: Fashion sale. You can also learn more about our makeover series here and follow our healthy-eating and hair challenges.

Fashion Makeover: Meet the Expert

From What Not to Wear to Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style to The Zoe Report, the personal stylist has become a modern-day fairy godparent. Whether they guide us with tough love or the softest cashmere, one thing’s for sure: we all want one. Alas, we are mere mortals who, most days, only get feedback from our full-length mirrors. Last week, however, our lucky fashion makeover winner, Nicole, got to live the dream when we brought in a professional stylist to help refresh her wardrobe.

Yesterday, we introduced you to Nicole, an ideeli employee who wants to take her laid-back, all-black wardrobe to a new level of colorful sophistication. After Ariela Suster — a celebrity stylist and owner/designer of the accessories label Sequence Collection — showed Nicole how to update her wardrobe, we sat down with her to get some advice. And, fortunately, she was game! Here are Ariela’s five foolproof styling tips for updating your look.

1. Want to add more color to your wardrobe? Start with accessories! They provide the perfect pop without traveling too far outside your comfort zone.
2. If (like me) you’re vertically challenged—in other words, short!—use nude or light-colored shoes to elongate your legs. Stay away from anything dark that will cut you off at the ankle.
3. One well-fitting blazer is a wardrobe must-have! It’s the easiest way to add structure to an outfit. Plus, it makes anything you wear it with feel infinitely more polished.
4. Always highlight your waist. Even if you’re wearing a blazer or cardigan over something else, wrap a belt around your natural waistline. It will nip you in at your most flattering point.
5. Patterns can be overwhelming, so here’s a good rule of thumb: The larger (and wilder) the print the further away from your face you want it. So stick with smaller prints on tops and blouses, and if you really want to go for it, try a boldly patterned skirt.

Check out the first part of Nicole’s fashion makeover and learn more about the 14-Day Makeover Challenge. You can also follow our challenges for hair and healthy eating.

14-Day Makeover Challenge: Fashion

Week 1: What’s better than getting a wardrobe makeover? Not much if you ask us. It's like an exhilarating day shopping with your own personal stylist. So when our social media specialist, Nicole, said she was ready to punch up her wardrobe with colorful, new styles, we got right to work and asked for her three main goals.

1. Leave her all-black comfort zone for colorful pieces
2. Be more adventurous with cuts and styles
3. Update her work wardrobe, taking it from Florida-beach to New York-chic

To start, Nicole told us what she likes (A-line dresses, heels, and patterns) and what she doesn't (florals, skirts, and purses) and showed us some inspiration for her new look with magazine tear-outs. We then invited celebrity stylist and accessories designer Ariela Suster, founder of the Sequence Collection, to our Soho office for an afternoon of mixing, matching, and styling.

With a rack full of spring clothes from ideeli and a few of Nicole's favorite pieces from her own closet, Ariela put together three new looks.

Casual Summer Friday
Nicole’s own worn (but loved) jeans are the base of this casual-sophisticated look. A blouse with a bright, graphic print adds color, while a black blazer creates a streamlined polish. To step it up, Ariela chooses a pair of wedges that not only add a pop of blue, echoing Nicole's printed top, but also some welcome height to Nicole's 5'3" frame.

Presentation Perfect
A sunny yellow, A-line dress takes Nicole's look (and color) up a notch. Paired with the same versatile black blazer and wedges, Nicole’s ready for business. She looks summery, professional, and feminine.

Right on Time
This classic coat in crimson has it all: the sophisticated silhouette you’d expect of a trench and a modern pop of color Nicole wants. So whether she’s strutting down the street or walking into work, this coat makes a chic statement.

Check back tomorrow for a Q&A (plus some great styling tips) with Ariela Suster — and next Wednesday 4/18 to see how Nicole’s doing, one week in, as she incorporates a new piece into her look every day of the challenge. Want to learn more about the ideeli 14-Day Makeover Challenge? Click here.

You can also follow our 14-Day Makeover Challenge for hair and healthy eating.