I’ve been trying to find different ways to wear old items, instead of constantly buying new stuff. Looking through my closet, I spotted this beautiful skirt which has not gotten much wear. I initially struggled to pair items with this bolder color, but after understanding some general color schemes (blog readers, I apologize for the repetitive content), I can now give this skirt the love it deserves.
Find your perfect red skirt:
– Express Double Weave Pocketed Pencil Skirt in 00 – 12 reg (use 9372 for $30 off)
– Ann Taylor Wool Crepe Pencil Skirt in petite & reg 00-18 (use GIFT50 for $50 off)
– J.Crew Wool Crepe Pencil Skirt in petite & reg 00-16
– The Limited Stretch Wide Waistband Pencil Skirt in reg 2-16 (use 404 for $15 off $50)
Color schemes shown in video:
1. Black and/or White – Clean and Crisp:
– H&M; lace-neck blouse (similar)
– H&M; $9.95 white blouse, AA sheer dot tights, Ann Taylor Patent Pumps, eBay pearl studs
– LOFT lace print tee, BR belt, c/o t+j Designs bracelet, Talbots tweed flats (similar)
Also try: a freshly-ironed, white button-down shirt with patterned pumps, or a black & white striped top.
2. Neutrals – Soft and Warm:
– (from this post) Gap blouse, Michael Kors tortoise watch, Calvin Klein leopard pumps
– Makeshift camel shawl (love this camel crewneck pullover)
Also try: pairing neutrals + red with brown, cable, or herringbone tights.
3. Prints and Patterns – Fun and Modern:
– (from this post) LOFT floral top, Jcrew cardis, CL Simple pumps, Target Versie pumps (review)
– Ann Taylor leopard cardigan (similar in XS-XL) (similar in cashmere), Gap button-up shirt
Also try: layering chambray under prints and patterns for a casual look. 
After reviewing this video, I realized with chagrin that every outfit was a top tucked into the skirt. I spend an inordinate amount of time at work, and my go-to outfit has morphed into the blouse + pencil skirt + pumps. Now that I have plenty of those, it is my style resolution to push myself out of that comfort zone, and build an interesting casual wardrobe that’s reflective of my personal style.
When I first started blogging, my goal was merely to find some work clothes that didn’t make me look & feel like a kid playing dress-up. After that foundation was achieved, I made some fashion resolutions in 2010, and now one more. Many of us (or myself, at least) are not born stylists, so it’s a continuous learning experience to dress ourselves well, in a way that flatters our bodies and helps us feel confident. For that reason, I’m thankful for the opportunity to share my trials and errors through this blog, and I’m thankful for your tips & constructive feedback.
Hi Jean,
could you please do a video on pairings with gray skirts? i have 3 in my wardrobe, and no idea what to pair them with, besides black or white.
thanks you in advance
Thank you for all your tips!
Your hardwork has paid off.
Hi, Jean. Your continuous learning spirit in fashion is really very inspiring! Browsing your blog back to a couple of years ago, you are really transforming yourself to a more and more professional stylist. I agree with you that a good fit is very important in dressing. Could you recommend a good tailor in the Boston Area? I started to realize I do need a fitter wardrobe to look nice as a petite woman.
Thank you for sharing! I love the look with the white blouse.
I'm looking forward to following your blog as your pursue your new resolution :]! As a petite person, everything is helpful and I love watching what you come up with.
Love your blog!
I love love love the third look with the colorful ruffly blouse- so fun!!
http://www.saysskippy.blogspot.com
Another great post, Jean! I have a certain go-to look for work, too. Mine involves any size 0 skirt from The Limited (yes, they are a little roomy in the waist) paired with a turtleneck sweater (usually black) with a fun scarf, black tights and tall black boots. It's comfy and still dressed up enough for a Chicago Loop office, but I feel like I need to expand my style. You have inspired me to find some fun leopard print shoes or a sweater… =). ~ Laurie
This is a comment somewhat unrelated to the content of your post (though I do have a red skirt, and that was great!). I just wanted to say how much I enjoy reading your blog.
For one, your content is often extremely helpful in more than just a shallow, cursory way. You talk about quality and what to look for, tips on alterations and fits, and also do a great job of explaining how to find pieces from all over the price spectrum and how to make those into one cohesive closet — or outfit. These are all things that I, as an admittedly style-challenged person, have found helpful that go beyond the sort of no-duh fashion advice I've seen in other places. Being of a similar size and build as you, I'm certainly part of your target demographic, but I feel like much of the information you've given would be good advice regardless of size.
Not only that, I also appreciate your attitude in blogging and interacting with your followers. Obviously I don't know you in person, but from my occasional perusal of the comments I've seen that you make an effort to answer your readers' questions and have taken the occasional criticism/advice in a mature way. I cannot tell you how much respect I have for you when you respond to things like, "That might not be the right pant length for you," with a reply closer to, "Maybe you're right; I'll think about it," rather than anger or dismissal.
tl;dr: In short, I enjoy reading your blog! Thanks for the good advice and the great attitude. You seem like a really nice person.
great ideas for mixing with red. i think a light blue, chambray type top would work well too!
Thanks for the video! The timing is perfect! I just bought the Front Pleat Crepe Skirt in flame red from LOFT and haven't figured out how to style it. I can't wait to try your tips.
Great video, Jean! Love it!
Since you are a pro at tucking tops into skirts, any tips on keeping everything smooth underneath? I will try to tuck things in but then that sometimes makes for unsightly VPL or you can see my blouse tucked in underneath
Every outfit is perfect on you!! Anyhow the skirt is quite pink instead of red (at least from the video). You look great!
The Life After
Thanks you for the post, I just bought a new red pencil skirt at The Limited which I absolutely love, but I have been looking for inspirations for how to style it. I wore it to work this week with a cream colored, ruffle placket blouse & caramel pumps & handbag. Thanks to you, I have bunch more ideas now! : )
Hi Jean! I really enjoy the black/white color scheme paired with RED, the lucky color being said!
May I know which part of China do you come from?
A reader from Hong Kong =)
Great video! I especially love the leopard-red combo – there's something very Mad Men about it that I adore. I've been eyeing the AT wool mini for some time, but haven't yet bitten the bullet and bought it. Red is (as you've shown) very versatile!
I am pretty petite myself and love tha you take the time to explain what works for that kind of body.
http://cincity26.blogspot.com/
This year I tried to stop wearing jeans all the time and try different bottoms. I am so amazed about how my wardrobe has changed! My new resolution would be to try to buy more quality clothing, only buy things on sale (I'm allready pretty good at that -thanks to online shopping), learn about good fitted clothes and maybe try some sewing. Yay, I'm so excited!
i love the way recycle your wad rode instead of buying every single piece new but i will really want u to do bags video wich ones u own which one we should spend there is so many designer bags please do it
I love that you give stylish ideas that are trendy and high fashion yet very affordable because you use items from stores you can find at almost any mall!
thank you Jean for the nice video! I love the colour red and I have many red things in my closet, but I never took really the time to think what to pair it with to make it look more interesting. Thanks for the ideas and greetings from Germany, merry Christmas
love it!
http://glamourgirl-bg.blogspot.com/
really helpful tips!
3lin
Wonderful video. I recently brought a red skirt during the Black Friday and haven't wore the skirt yet. I'm so glad you do a video on red skirt. Now I have more ideas. Love all your pairing.
One of my resolutions for 2012 is to incorporate more colour into my work closet. As it is, close to 99% of my bottoms (skirts, pants) are blacks and the 1%? dull browns :'( sob!
I will definitely be coming back to you for style references. I love your coloured skirts collection and really admire how much thought you put into your ensembles.
i love how classy you look in everything and that red skirt goes well with soooo many things!
i was just thinking about buying a red skirt. love this post! where is your red skirt from?
You have a lovely blog! Glad that I came across it! Please check out my blog Style-new arrivals clothes
Would appreciate your feedback:-)
fashion and change are in sync with each other.Indian fashion is too good with the trends in fashion and with the advent of western influence in the indian designs ladies' smile gets wider with the quest of new arrivals clothes.Be it any online store in India or elsewhere, New-In section on websites get most clicks..I would like to open some clothing website in India.
Great video! I love that you wore your camel skirt as a top just to show us how nicely it pairs with the red. That plus almost toppling over so we could see your dotted tights shows your dedication to us readers (and we are thankful for it). I'd like to see the red skirt plus stripes for a Parisian take or with a plaid / gingham for a preppy spin 🙂
I recently purchased a red-orange skirt and I think everything you did here can be reapplied – that makes me a happy camper!
I love the top and the shoes!!! 😀 Cute post
teaandbubbly.blogspot.com
What an interesting Video! I never imagined I could try red clothes. Your Video will help me a lot!
I LOVE your H&M; black lace-neck blouse. Looks really sexy and sophisticated.
Love them all! I saw the black n white dress shirt at H&M; the other day but couldn't find a size 2!
I know you just got back from a trip to Europe not too long ago. It looked like you had fun! 🙂 Is it cold over there? I'm going on a business trip next week (my first one ever) and I was wondering, will one coat be enough for a week-long trip? Or would it be better to dress with more variety since it's a work setting? Thanks!
The leopard pairings are so great! Amazing with red!
Lol!! Do you usually say "woosh, woosh, woosh" when you tuck in your tops? That was too cute! :p
I am excited to see your more casual looks!
great video and very informative. i've been on the lookout for a nice red pencil skirt because of you. 😉 i haven't found one yet but this video gives me lots of inspirations. thanks!
The tutorial was great! Haha, I tend toward the safe side b/c my fav combos (in terms of what I'd try out) were the skirt + black/white top and the skirt + the neural top. My outfits tend to be jeans-/pants-oriented w/ a gray/navy/white color scheme, so I think my style resolution would be to wear more color and to wear more skirts & dresses.
I struggle with re-styling dresses. Sure you can wear it as is, add a blazer, or a cardigan, a vest and so forth. I am not a huge fan of layering things under a dress, like a blouse, nor do I like to turn a dress into a top by tucking it under a skirt…it just sounds incredibly uncomfortable and restricting while sitting in my office all day. Great job on styling the red skirt.
so trendy with the red skirt! I just bought one over black friday and am waiting for a holiday party to wear it!
I have a random question kind of unrelated to this post. I remember you said you were debating between this pair of louboutins over the new simple pumps. Why did you choose this pair over the new simples? I was just curious since I think I'm ready to invest in a long lasting pair of heels, and am debating between those two styles. Thanks!
This is random but what is the book you were showing the colour wheel with?
Also, the video was great! I think I see a red skirt in my future.
I love red with neutrals. You are right, it's "Pleasing to the eye."
http://www.thegirlieblog.com
http://www.geekettegazette.com
Jean, love the video and all the pairings. My top faves were with the b&w; H&M; blouse and with the slouchy LOFT tee 🙂 Just curious, have you ever thought about wearing your leopard sweater with your leopard pumps? or do you think that would be too busy?
Thank you so much for the video!!! I didn't think a red pencil skirt could work for the office, but now I see that it can. 🙂
This is great – thanks! I love your videos!
Very informative post/video, Jean. Loved all your pairings! One of my faves is with the $10 blouse..so classic! In my teen years, I wore a lot of red and now that I look at my closet, I realize that all of my red clothes have disappeared. Sooo weird. I keep going through these phases. 😛 I look forward to seeing your style evolve in the next year. : )
I love how shiny your hair looks! May I ask what shampoo and conditioner you use? 🙂
Super informative video, Jean! I love your red skirt. One of my style resolutions is to incorporate more color into my daily outfits. I think I've somewhat accomplished that. This year, I'd like to get into sewing more. Hopefully, I'll be able to do my own alterations.
Thanks! I am guilty of wearing pants only and none of my cute skirts. I have a burgundy skirt that will work well. Do you think the tucked in look will work for us more top heavy, short waisted petites? Yeah, new style resolutions for me!
I'm more ExtraLARGE than ExtraPetite but I love your blog and videos. Even as a plus-size woman I get so many ideas and inspiration. I hope you do more videos with items already in your wardrobe. I think that is more true to life than seeing uber expensive items that the average woman can't afford (and I suspect many fashion bloggers are given to feature on their blogs and in their videos. Yes the occasional splurge of a high end item but not something new and expensive every post). I also love that you show a price range of options (like the Louboutins and the similar shoe from Target). I just wanted to comment and say thank you.
My staple outfit is a dress pants and a cardigan. I have tons of cardigan… in about every color possible…
But, I totally know what you mean about the kid playing dress up part. Even with the way you dress now, do you still get asked 'how old you are'? Or has the way you dress changed your entire look?