3 Major Styling Takeaways from our Live with Lev

As a small business ourselves, it always makes our day when we can collaborate with another small, female-founded business. We were so excited to team up with Lev Apparel, a Madison, Wisconsin-based clothing brand, at the end of October to share fall styling tips that can help you refresh your wardrobe for the cooler months. With more and more vintage and local clothing finds making their way to Dune’s shelves, we couldn’t resist the opportunity.

Just in case you missed our Instagram Live (you can watch it here!), we’re highlighting a few of our major styling takeaways right here on the blog. Keep reading to find out simple tricks that you can use to 

3 Major Fall Styling Tips from Lev Apparel

Double up on your jackets

Layering is the name of the game as the temps drop, but it can be difficult to see how you can look chic and bundled instead of bulky in trend-forward oversized sweaters and coats. Krystle from Lev showed us that layering doesn’t have to overshadow your true body shape. She recommended starting with a bold, lightweight jacket over a thinner long sleeve shirt, and layering a neutral coat (like the Lev Madison jacket) over the top of those pieces to create a dynamic, but cozy look. If you want to go the sweater route underneath it all, you can simply tuck in the front of the sweater to create an eye line to your natural waist and maintain a streamlined silhouette.

Make your dresses work in your cold weather wardrobe

The biggest bummer when it comes to a fall/winter wardrobe is that you feel like you have to put away your dresses for the season. But who says you actually have to part with your favorite pieces just because the wind chill is less than desirable? We worked through a few different styling options with Krystle for dresses in the autumn and winter, including pairing them with socks and booties and layering with a belted cardigan to created added warmth. 

Our favorite tip, though, was the quick trick for cropping a sweater over a dress. Simply throw your favorite chunky vintage sweater on over the dress, fasten a belt on top around your natural waist, and pull the sweater up and over the belt (leaving just a bit tucked into the belt) to create a cropped look that highlights your figure.

Mock necks are your friend

After this styling session, we’re buying mock necks in every color (our favorite is the Alison from Lev). Layered under an oversized jean jacket or under a dress, this piece is a staple in any fall or winter wardrobe. It’s essentially a blank slate, so you can choose a vintage jacket with shoulder pads or a smattering of dainty necklaces to make your outfit feel luxe. Add a tied bandana around your neck or in your hair for a pop of pattern that is the best finishing touch to any look.

Bonus Tip: Mask up!

Throughout the video, both Cire’ from Dune Gift + Home and Krystle from Lev wore masks and we couldn’t help but recognize how chic it looks to match your mask to your outfit. We carry a great selection of masks with stylish prints right here at Dune to make the matching simple.

What are you planning to wear through the fall and winter season? Let us know if you try any of these tips, or if you want to see any more live styling sessions from us. We can’t wait to hear what you think!