Jeffrey goes city casual with this well thought out look that any man could wear. Once again layering at its finest. We start with a red polka dot button down shirt from the Gap, and added a black and white hounds tooth check tie from Chaps. This is our base. The shawl collar sweater from Marc Anthony allows just a little peek of the colorful shirt and tie combo. Grey dress slacks from the Gap make this feel a little more dressed up without looking corporate.  The tan suede coat from Claiborne is a classic outerwear piece that can be worn both in the spring to come and well into fall weather too, thereby making it indispensable. The classic Kangol cap and Jeffrey’s own brown leather dress shoes (purchased from Goodwill) add those small fashionable touches that create memorable style. Dressing up a little can be fun AND masculine too!

Jeffrey's Favorite Item: Dress shoes - To Boot NY

Jeans, jeans, jeans. We all love them, that’s a given, but what about dressing them up a little? On our model Damara, we’re showing how to add some style to those work-a-day denims. We started with a pair of our model’s own jeans that she feels fit and flatter her figure. From there on it’s just about adding unexpected elements to give them some glamour for an evening out on the town. A black sequined tank top from Forever 21 is a great layering piece and will add just a little glimmer under our trendy leopard print blazer from Bandolino.  These two pieces are the real transformers here. Unusual accessories like the long feather earrings and wooden bangle bracelet add texture and more interest without distracting from the overall look. Classic black peep toe pumps from Jessica Simpson give her some height and balance the ensemble. Classic pumps like these should be a staple in every gal’s closet!  Damara looks fresh, flirty, and fabulous!

On our model George, we really show you that separates are what actually builds classic style. All the pieces you see here are tailored, as in they have definite design lines and are well fitted to our model’s frame. We start with a Dana Buchman blouse in a neutral mustard/beige tone that is easy to pair with other tones. The high-waist textured cotton slacks from Zara Woman were a real great fashion find!  The wider leg is on trend for spring, and the weight of the fabric can transition into fall and winter just as easily. We have illustrated these base pieces with two jackets to give us different looks. The square-shouldered graphic jacket from Canvasbacks gives it a modern and crisp vibe. Conversely the burgundy cardigan jacket with its ruffled shawl collar has a softer feminine feel that takes the entire outfit in another direction entirely. Classic gold jewelry staples, such as the locket and medallion, as well as the earrings add just the right touch of shine and polish for either look. The black leather vintage shoes with gold flower detail on the vamp pull it all together without calling too much attention to themselves, thereby making them an awesome addition to anyone’s wardrobe. George radiates the confident, cool, and most of all, comfortably-fashionable look that we can all strive for in the New Year!

George's Favorite Item: Burgandy Fever jacket 

Go bold or go home! Who says you can’t do bold patterns in menswear? Just witness the revival recently of the colorful casual sweater. Here, our model Devion sports a fantastic retro-hipster knit pullover from designer Beged-Or.  While this crazy pattern isn’t for every guy, finding a fun graphic sweater that suits your personality should be on every man’s fashion resolution list!  We’ve also demonstrated the idea here that white is not just for summer with the H.I.S. denim jeans shown with our awesome sweater. They help to create a color balance and make the sweater stand out even more in a positive fashion-forward way. The only thing a fine gentleman needs with this outfit are a cool pair of shoes like these navy and white lace ups by LaCoste that were already in Devion’s closet. Add in a simple belt and watch and you’ll be good to go. The fashion rule when utilizing a bold piece like this colorful sweater is to keep everything else on the neutral side. He looks bright and bold, and ready to take on the stylish life in the New Year!

Devion's Favorite Item: Red/green Beged-Or sweater

Hayley our model search winner is a fabulous illustration of the layered boho look for fall. Taking a cue from the runways, we’ve pulled together an ensemble that combines, color, print and texture for a classic yet up-to-date daytime look.  Like we always do in this section we’ve asked our model to provide us with her favorite pair of jeans as a starting point since she loves the fit and wash. I couldn’t agree more! A great pair of jeans sets the stage for the separates we’ve carefully yet casually combined here. A Jones New York paisley print silk blouse is a great counterpoint to the Aerie fuchsia sweater. This sweater has a loopy, loose weave that makes it a terrific layering piece. The colors work well together without exactly matching. The rich brown velvet fitted blazer from Ann Taylor was a fantastic find and brings the color palette down a little bit while allowing the colors to “pop." This jacket adds just the right touch of luxury that we’re going for.  The real fun was bringing in the cool accessories, such as the paisley scarf we’ve used as a headband, the beaded watch, and the gold earrings. The Relic red leather handbag keeps the look crisp and ties in with the green leather heels. By swapping the handbag for a slouchier one, and adding some boots this could become even more casual in an instant. She looks confident, classy, and cozy doesn’t she?

Jeffrey was another of our model search winners making his debut this month. Let me tell you, this guy knows a thing or two about shopping at Goodwill! He found this Banana Republic two-piece windowpane plaid suit at his local Goodwill Store for $12.99.  I asked him to bring it to our photo shoot so I could show him a few tricks to update his bargain-priced classic suit. FYI, every guy should have a suit, or at the very least, a jacket and pair of dress pants. We started with a light blue cotton button down dress shirt that most guys like him already own, and then added some interest with a red and blue paisley necktie. Instead of a vest, we’ve added a rich Concord-grape color merino wool v-neck sweater from Merona. See how it really makes the colors of the tie and suit stand out? To keep the look fashion-forward, Jeff brought in his own dark gray lace up trainers. This is an ensemble that could have been pulled directly from a men’s fashion magazine! All the tones work in harmony yet stand out in a masculine way. Men’s style is all about being up-to-date without being too trendy. Thinking outside the box and not being afraid of playing with color will set you apart from the rest of the guys, just like our model and Goodwill shopper Jeff!

Jeff's Favorite Item: Banana Republic two-piece windowpane plaid suit

Charley, our grade school age model, shows us that some girls really like to glam it up! Sophisticated tones of black, gray and pink in an amusing pattern on this tunic dress from Haven Girl, was just the beginning for this pint size fashionista.  From that auspicious start we brought out the black velvet jacket from Cherokee, that adds both warmth and a little edge to our very stylish little girl. While we were doing the photo shoot Charley insisted on helping us with accessories, so she slipped on a silver ring, faux turquoise and silver earrings, and a long silver necklace that made her feel less drab and a lot more fab! Utilizing her favorite go-to leggings in black (for girls her age, you just can’t have too many pairs of leggings!) and her own sparkly silver flats, this little dynamo shows us that over the top can sometimes work perfectly! She naturally has a great eye! Goodwill is a wonderful place to allow your kids to explore the world of fashion, with a price tag that any parent can definitely get behind. Charley really rocks this look with ease and confidence!

This month model Devion shows us the perfect way to come across cool during the unpredictable weather we have during the end of summer and beginning of fall. Layered looks are always a great bet for casual occasions as well as weekend explorations. Starting with his own favorite gray pants to work off of we added in a vintage look Couch Potato graphic print t-shirt in a light green to kick up the color a notch. Over that great start, we layered on a short-sleeved button down plaid shirt in a complementary (but not matching to the tee) pattern of blue, brown, black and white to give a nice contrast to the other rather plain pieces.  Always make an outfit more interesting by following my rule of “complementary not matching.” Your eye will tell you if you’ve hit the mark or not!  Keeping it all grounded are these two-tone deck shoes by Faded Glory, which add a stylish fashion forward touch to this fun and playful everyday look.

Our model Matt does his version of casual upscale so well in this awesome ensemble. He wears a classic “Havana” which is a short-sleeved men’s shirt that is untucked by design and functions well to keep a guy cool in hot weather. (And cool looking!) This men’s shirt found it’s way here to the U.S. with the immigrant populations from below the equator, and sometimes features pockets on the front. Here we have a modern take on the style in a deep navy blue with contrasting light blue design by Centro. This shirt goes so well with a nice pair of khaki slacks, like these that have a more polished, fitted look from Dockers. Matt is an avid thrift shopper himself and his sandals are a Coach find from one of his many trips to his local Goodwill Store! A classic silver watch completes his summer look. He could also wear the khaki’s with a variety of other shirts, as well as wear the shirt with different styles of shorts. So you can see clearly, that quality pieces are always a great bet for building a better and more fashionable wardrobe!

Transitional clothing is what spring and summer is all about. For example on Makeena, our model search winner last year, a midi-length silk chiffon shift dress by Robbie Bee is paired with more casual accessories to give it a daytime look. Double duty is the watchword for key pieces in a successful wardrobe. By using the Style & Co. turquoise handbag as our pop of color, we immediately get an informal vibe for the otherwise more delicate and girly floral dress. LA brand black flats don’t provide any competition to the bag, and the eclectic jewelry help promote the fashion fun. Black wooden bangles, simple earrings, a vintage white beaded bracelet, crystal flower headband, and trendy round sunglasses read her as a stylish bohemian spirit. After her busy day, she can simply pull her hair back into a sleek ponytail, trade out the flats for high heel sandals, the turquoise bag for a beaded clutch, and the jewelry for a single statement cuff, and she’d be all set for an evening date! A gorgeous dress like this is a prime illustration of the kind of items that keep your style classic and up to date at the same time!