Last week, we invited all of you to send in your problem piece - that one piece on your least worn shelf that just never seems to make it out of the house - to win the opportunity to have it styled by the Stylitics Fashion Office!  Well, after sorting through some fabulous pieces, we chose one lucky winner, Elissa, with an awesome (but slightly difficult) pair of hot pink ankle boots to style right here on the blog.

The boots in question:

At first glance, these might seem a little difficult to wear because of the color.  But after surveying our team, all with very different personal styles and fashion backgrounds, we came up with four foolproof ways to wear these puppies, based on the items in our winner’s closet (and with a fabulous closet, she made our job that much easier!)

For a classic, every day feel, pair them with black skinnies, a chambray top, and a pop of gold on your wrist, like this great bangle from Coach.

To add a little edge, pair with some distressed denim, a graphic Tee, and a blazer.  Top it off with a cuff - something with some hardware, like this fabulous Marc by Marc Jacobs piece!

For an Isabel Marant vibe, wear with a neutral day dress (this one from Club Monaco is perfect) and a low slung belt.  Effortless, casual, and oh so cool.

Want to wear them now?  Throw them on with some distressed skinnies, these fabulous Prada baroque sunnies, and a plain white Tee!  Add on a mustard handbag for a color-blocking feel.  This is the perfect transitional outfit into Fall.

Hopefully, boots that were once a problem piece will turn into one of the most versatile pieces in Elissa’s closet!  Check out Elissa’s Style Profile for some more of her favorite looks.

How would you wear Elissa’s boots?  Tell us in the comments!

It’s no secret that it’s pretty much every girl’s dream to have a personal stylist, especially someone as well-versed in the latest trends as Kate Voegele!  So, when Cara, the final winner of our Style Corner contest, got to have her Stylitics closet personally styled by Kate Voegele herself, I think I speak for everyone when I say that I turned a little bit green.

But cast your jealousy aside, because Cara has graciously decided to spread the wealth and share her style advice with all of us!  Read below for some great advice from Kate and notes on personal style from Cara!

Stylitics: How would you describe your personal style?

Cara: Becoming more classic. I find myself living in fisherman sweaters, striped shirts, and fitted pants. But I still try to incorporate a few trends into the rotation, like a chambray shirt under my sweater or a maxi skirt with one of my striped shirts.

S: What is some of the advice that Kate gave you for ramping up your wardrobe this season?

C: Kate suggested trying to incorporate pops of bright colors, especially tangerine which she said is the “color of the year.” She also suggested using fun collars to dress up an outfit.

image via Glamour.com

S: How will you incorporate her suggestions into your style?

C: I have a ton of closed-toe flats and no summer shoes. Kate suggested Sam Edelmen shoes, and they’ve got a great simple summer sandal that I think I’m going to get in neon yellow. Plus, I’ve seen some adorable DIY Peter Pan collars in the blogosphere (here’s a great one!). I’m definitely going to try to make one or two. Kate’s totally right. They seem like such an easy way to add a little quirk to a sundress or tee shirt!

S: What’s the best piece of style advice you’ve ever received?

C: I think watching Breakfast at Tiffany’s is the best piece of style advice any woman can receive! If there is anything in the world that’s going to convince you to invest in gorgeous, classic pieces, it’s seeing how chic Audrey Hepburn still looks in that black dress, her trench coat, and those slim cut trousers.

S: What’s one trend that you’re dying to try for summer?

C: Only 1? I really really want a simple, structured white day dress that is still effortless to wear. (I also love the resurgence of polka dots, and I’m really into neon jeans still too!)

S: And the question we’re all dying to ask: how are you going to spend your gift card?

C: This is kind of boring, but some of the gift card went to getting a new suit from J.Crew. But then the rest of it went to a pair of bright green skinny jeans!

Thanks so much for sharing, Cara!  Sounds like you got some awesome advice and some cool new threads!

What’s the best piece of style advice you’ve ever received?  Tell us in the comments!

Do you ever wake up in the morning, look in your closet, and feel like you have nothing to wear?  Me too.  So today I sat down with singer-songwriter, “One Tree Hill” alum, and fierce fashionista (yes, I just used the word “fierce” non-ironically) Kate Voegele to get the low-down on her amazing personal style how to get inspired.

Oh, and did I mention she has a Style Profile?

1)      Who are your fashion icons?

KV: Helena Bonham Carter has to be one of my biggest fashion icons. No one rocks a Vivienne Westwood dress quite like she does, and she’s definitely not afraid to take risks. There’s just something so elegantly whimsical about her fashion choices. I also adore Audrey Hepburn’s timeless class, the way Miroslava Duma plays with color, and Cory Kennedy’s ultimate embodiment of indie rocker chic.

2)      How has your personal style changed over the years?

KV: I grew up in a little suburb in Ohio, so needless to say everyone around me was decked out in Abercrombie galore growing up. I always liked to be different and stand out, and when I was in high school I’d buy all my clothes in New York when I took trips out there to play gigs. I loved that nobody had the vintage finds and cool up-and-coming young designer pieces I could get there. I think as I grew up and started to travel a lot for my music, that really dictated the evolution of my style. It started with New York, and then I spent some time on the West Coast, then Paris and London and Rome…I think it all ended up swirling into one and landing me in a sort of boho ballerina meets vintage rock chic realm. (I love this!)

3)      What advice do you have for those days when you feel like you have nothing to wear?

KV: This happens to all of us far too often doesn’t it? For me on those days, if I’m in a big hurry, I have my go-to outfits that I know will work and are staple combinations. If I have more time on my hands, I love to get inspiration from fashion blogs to find looks that I can create with similar pieces in my own closet. Sometimes it ends up reminding me of things I forgot that I have! Looking to other stylish people for inspiration can help me completely repurpose a skirt or see a top in a totally new context. 

4)      What’s the biggest fashion faux pas you’ve ever made?

KV: There are far too many to count when you perform music onstage for a living. As artists, we tend to think that gives us a ‘get out of jail free’ card, but looking back on photos of early gigs I’m ashamed to say it does not! My worst phase was when I first started playing live and would over-accerssorize like nobody’s business, and not in a good way. I’d put on a red costume jewelry big beaded necklace… with matching red earrings, matching red belt, matching red bracelet, matching red shoes… not OK. 

5)      What’s your favorite item in your closet and why?

KV: My favorite item in my closet is a vintage Chanel scarf my mom bought me for my 22nd birthday. I don’t get to wear it often because it’s so bright and colorful and really speaks for itself, but it’s a beautiful design with big, bold primary colors, and I absolutely love it. When I do wear it, I feel so vibrant but very elegant at the same time.

Thanks so much for the style advice, Kate!  To follow Kate’s style, check out her Style Profileand make sure you add items to your closet for a chance to win a personal styling session with Kate and a $250 gift card!!

Happy Friday.