The quest for the perfect Women’s Tunic.

So thanks to Tory Burch (and a small army of stylists, wardrobe consultants, and less successful designers before her) the women’s tunic is a known and needed staple in any woman’s wardrobe.  But how and why did it get to be so needed?

According to Wikipedia, a Tunic is:

“A tunic is any of several types of clothing for the body, of various lengths reaching from the shoulders to somewhere between the hips and the ankles. The name derives from the Latin tunica commonly worn by both men and women in Ancient Rome, which in turn is based on earlier Greek garments.

The Roman tunica was worn by citizens and non-citizens alike; citizens, though, might wear it under the toga, especially at formal occasions. The length of the garment, the presence or lack of stripes, as well as their width and ornamentation, would indicate the wearer's status in Roman society. Soldiers, slaves and manual workers generally had tunics to a little above the knee; those in more sedentary occupations to about the ankle (unless they were expecting to ride a horse, when a shorter one would be worn).”

So I guess Tory wasn’t responsible for the invention, merely the popularity of this ancient garment into modern times.  Tunics are still found today in uniforms and among religious groups but why are they so popular now?  It appears to me that women’s tunics became popular right around the same time that skinny jeans and leggings started to regain popularity.  Tunics allow real women a reasonable option to pair with both skinny jeans and leggings as well as a fashionable top that is less restrictive and revealing as knit tops can be.

How do I find my perfect Women’s Tunic 

Shape

a.      Shape is always the most important piece to evaluate when choosing a tunic top or any top for that matter.  Know what works for you best and follow these basic guidelines:

                                                               i.      Apple- Undefined waist

1.      You look great in: Tops and jackets with structured shoulders and/or shoulder pads, monochromatic outfits, tops with ornamental detail at the neckline, straight pants and skirts.

2.      You should avoid: highly tailored clothing, high necklines, tapered pants and skirts, belts or anything attracting attention to the waist such as tucked in blouses, and large patterned fabrics.

                                                             ii.      Inverted Triangle – Top heavy with broad shoulders, large bust, and narrow hips

1.      You look great in: lower necklines, a- line skirts and dresses, bracelet length sleeves, and flowing fabric.

2.      You should avoid:  Big collars and high necklines, tops or dresses emphazing the shoulders.

                                                            iii.      Hourglass – Hips and shoulders are about the same width and a well defined waist.          

1.      You look great in:  well tailored clothing with defined waists, lower necklines, and straight or slightly flared pants, skirts and dresses.

2.      You should avoid:  Baggy or classic cut clothing, and tapered pants for the most part.

3.      Perfect Women’sTunic: 

                                                           iv.      Pear – Narrower shoulders and wider hips.

1.      You look great in:  tops with ornamentation, structured shoulders or shoulder pads, and a hemline that is shorter than the widest part of your hips, high necklines, clothing with a well defined waist, skirts and dresses that are straight or slightly flared, and straight or slightly boot cut pants.

2.      You should avoid:  longer shirts that fall to your body’s widest point, baggy garments, tapered pants

3.      Perfect Women’sTunic: 

                                                            v.      Straight and Narrow – bust and hips are about the same and an undefined waist with slim legs and arms.

1.      You look great in: wrap dresses, a-line shirts and tops, short sleeves and sleeveless tops  and dresses.

2.      You should avoid:  The extremes – super tailored clothing and baggy clothing.

3.      Perfect Women’sTunic: 

Fabric

Blouses with stretch wrinkle less and fit better.
Find a blouse that has stretch in it. I would advise keeping the other 1+ natural fibers for a nicer hand and a better wear/look to the blouse. Our light weight stretch fabric that makes up our Violet Women’s Tunic is 68% cotton, 28% nylon, and 4% spandex and has a great hand (soft not polyester feeling), comes in amazing colors (nylon holds dye the best of all fabrications), and best of all can be laundered at home in your washing machine and line dried with minimal wrinkling. Fabric that has stretch has give and is far more comfortable even if it’s worn a little tight to the body and wrinkles less then anything that is 100% fiber.

Length

Length is a size, shape, location, and age appropriate question.  As a general rule, tunics should be longer when paired with tighter fitting bottoms and can be shorter when paired with looser fitting bottoms, a shorter tunic can be appropriate depending on shape and size.  If you are choosing to wear a tunic with skinny jeans or leggings, we recommend the tunic length coming to at least your finger tips when standing with arms by your sides.

Accessorize

Making sure that your tunic is able to look different and be dressed up or down with jewelry or shoes is very important and should be considered when making the purchase.  In order to make your tunic top as versatile as possible, ask yourself: Can I change the look and feel of the tunic  with jewelry?  How about a belt? 

Although they are popular and for good reason,  a well thought out purchase that is shape, length, and age appropriate in the right fabric and is easily accessorized will yield a perfect purchase, happy wearer, and a great cost per wear ratio (total cost of the item/estimated days worn = cost per wear)

Example our Violet Tunic is $249.00 if you wear it 1 time every 3 weeks for 3 years, the cost per wear is $4.88 per wear.  Pretty affordable especially when considering our construction, fabric quality, and design aesthetic will last much longer than 3 years.

Happy Shopping!

Kate

Move over LBD, this fall it’s all about the CBL (comfy black leggings!).

As sad as it may sound, those BTS (back-to-school)ads are going to be blaring through your TV in the next couple weeks.  Although as adults we miss out on the fun BTS shopping, we can take some time to take stake of our wardrobes and assess where we are vs where we want to be for fall.  A good place to start are those basic items that you can’t live without like black leggings.

Black leggings are just as important for fall as that trusty pair of dark wash denim or a great fall coat.  At Kate Boggiano, you have a few options for your must have black leggings  so you might want to buy a few pairs of one or one of all the options depending on your preference.   Let’s start with the basics.

Kate BoggianoSeamless Leggings

 

Our seamless leggings are great because they have a wider waistband ensuring the waist stays where you want it to and won’t roll down, they are made of 8% spandex which means the come back to shape after every where AND no baggy knees, and finally there is only one seam making them the most comfortable pair of leggings you will ever put on.  We do have 2 different lengths available our full length (comes to the ankle) and our cropped or short legging which comes to the calf.  Both lengths are available in Black, Gray, and Dark brown as well as a few other colors.

Shapewear Leggings

 

If you've tried our leggings and felt you could use a little more support, we were listening!  These were discovered by accident on a trip to NYC and I just had to have them!  MeMoi uses top quality fabrics, better than Spanx in my opinion, and well placed panels to provide comfort and shaping  in one great legging! 

Shapewear Leggings for Women 

• firms and supports your legs, thighs, and tummy without revealing panty lines
• lifts the bum while shaping the thighs
• special seamless fabric panel smoothes your tummy and makes for a great high waist legging!

Bamboo Footless Tights 

Not quite a legging, but our new Bamboo footless tights are great for this fall!  Super comfy, these Bamboo Footless Tights  will not only look great with any outfit, they will quickly become your favorite pair because of the moisture absorption qualities and soft hand of bamboo.  We call these footless tights instead of leggings because they are less opaque than Kate Boggiano Leggings or our Shapewear Leggings and we don't recommend wearing them on their own.
                  
Bamboo Footless Tights are:

• made from a renewable resource - bamboo.
• dyed using mild vegetable dyes - no chemicals or pesticides.
• extremely comfortable due to the high moisture absorption qualities of bamboo
• luxurious organic fibers.

• Special features include:  1 1/2" substantial waistband and 2" elastic cuff at the ankle ensuring they stay put.

So which of the 3 options will you choose?  The best part of these 3 options are they are very affordable.  From $24.95-29.95, you can’t go wrong!  Get free shipping by signing up for our email list and stock up on us!

Have a good one!
Kate

Try our amazing women's tunic - the Stripe Violet!

Finding an age and office appropriate women's tunic can be difficult. Our Violet Tunic fills this gap with its perfect length, appropriate and interesting neckline and collar, and tailored silhouette.


• Ends at mid thigh
• Slim fit
• Features include: double collar for interest (inner collar is a standing ruffle and outer is a flat shawl collar), long length that is great over leggings or jeans, functional side seam pockets, longer short sleeve that covers any trouble areas on the arm while elongating and slenderizing the arms, beautiful details such as a back belt, back tucks on the bodice, and double breasted closure that adds interest and attention to your outfit
• Click here for more info on our high quality craftsmanship.


Our Violet Tunic runs true to size. Try pairing with Kate Boggiano full length seamless leggings or shapewear leggings. I'm going to live in my Violet Tunic this Fall!!

Did you save 20% on your Violet Tunic at our Warehouse sale? 
Email me if you didn't but you still want to - I think we can work something out.

Happy Monday!
Kate

Achieve your best look fast!

As women, we have to do it all - work, family, home, friends etc. etc.  Being nice to ourselves and our appearance is one of the first things sacrificed in order to make more time to do other things for others.  Finding easy ways to maintain femininity in your everyday appearance will help you feel good about yourself and increase your mood when dealing with the outside world.  Here are a few of the easiest ways to boost your confidence and to help embrace your femininity (bonus - these are all things that men can NOT do!)

1. Wear lipstick.  Even if you don't have time for make up, wearing lipstick will instantly make your eyes pop and your skin look great.
2. Add interest around your neckline.  By adding chunky jewelry or a pop of color to a slightly exaggerated neckline, you are dressing up an area that makes you different than any man.
3. Nail polish even if it's clear!
4. Wear dresses, skirts, or tights.  These are some of the only types or categories of dress that women can wear and men cannot - take advantage!
5. High heels or lower heels with shape or interest (more negative space)

Try adding one or more of these into your life this week-it always makes me feel better about myself when I do!

A few of my favorite Feminine Pieces... Tank tops are a great inexpensive way to add a pop of color to a neckline.  I love our super stretchy tank tops and probably wear one 5 days a week.  Womens Tank Top Short Tank Top   Extra Long Tank Top Tights are another staple in my wardrobe.  It helps extend the life of a dress as well as make it more practical and warm for cooler days.  I love our new Bamboo Tights!                          Spiral Optic Tights         Bamboo Footless Tights  Dresses always sound like a hassle until you get in the habit of wearing them.  They are simple to get on, they are cool, and the good ones make you more comfortable than anything else you could wear.  These are my favorite picks for this summer:                   McKenzie Wrap Dress            Sleeveless Isadora Dress