Golf Digest Woman

The Style Blog: Bright Ideas

Ever let your clothes do your talking for you? Watching Rickie Fowler in his head-to-toe Sunday orange makes that old adage "silence is golden" pop into my head. If clothes can actually speak, Fowler's get-ups scream.

I love bright, bold hues but I don't want to be dipped in one color from top to bottom. There's something energetic and fun about a pop of yellow, a dash of purple, a hint of turquoise, and all go amazingly well with a pair of understated khakis (ahem, ever try that, Rickie?). Wearing a shirt and pants in the same tone denotes a remedial style -- even my 3-year-old niece knows pink goes with pink.

My point is, when I'm in a group of people and everyone is speaking really loudly to be heard, my attention usually goes to the person using the softest tone. Style is the same; a little goes a long way. Here are some polos in fun colors, and I suggest pairing them with a pair of khakis from The Gap or H&M. It will make a great statement of just the right volume.
--Argy Koutsothanasis

The Style Blog: Know when to fold 'em

Most days I walk around with a tote bag so big that the majority of airlines wouldn't allow me to use it as a carry-on. It's a jam-packed and heavy "purse" that takes its toll on my shoulders and spinal cord, but somehow I can live with that. The thing that's beyond my comprehension is how many sunglasses I've scratched, chipped and broken inside this black hole of a bag. The glasses are too big to put in one of the inside pockets, which means they have to battle with the rest of the junk I carry around. It's the same thing on the golf course: my sunglasses don't quite fit in the smaller compartments of my golf bag, so I have to place them in one of the bigger pockets, where they get lost or damaged.

The answer to my dilemma is sunglasses that fold. They take up so little space that they can easily be placed in a make-up bag or small pocket on my bag, so I'll never misplace or break them. Here are some of my favorites:


--Argy Koutsothanasis

The Style Blog: Belt it out

Ever get that itch to just buy yourself a little something? I know it well -- it gets me in trouble every time. But there's something to be said for giving the itch a quick scratch. It boosts your mood, and a happy golfer is usually a better golfer. So when I get the I-need-to-buy-something-new urge, I pick myself up a little something that satisfies the craving without giving me that bloated feeling when I'm done. For instance, a belt. Belts come in all shapes and colors, and they're a great way to liven up a golf outfit without breaking the bank.

Go ahead, try it. It's a cinch.

--Argy Koutsothanasis

The Style Blog: Diamonds are forever

I'm not suggesting you wear your 6-carat rock on the golf course--even if they do manufacture golf gloves with openings on the ring finger that allow your diamond to poke through. No, I'm feeling a bit nostalgic for that classic diamond pattern synonymous with golf-wear and best suited for a cozy sweater.

Argyle jumpers fall into the category of dressing known as a classic. And guess what? Classics are all the rage these days. Thirteen-year-old boys are sporting grandpa-style cardigans because they don't want to look like grandpa in oversized, striped, double-mercerized polos. It feels smarter and fresher to dress more like Arnold Palmer than Johnny Miller. And as far as us ladies are concerned, think more Babe Zaharias and less Dottie Pepper.

This patterned topper is easy to throw on over your favorite polo shirt and it lends your look a traditional vibe that's all golf and all the rage.

Here are some of my favorites:
--Argy Koutsothanasis

The Style Blog: Head Case

There are some tried and true styling tips that come in handy when selecting a pair of sunglasses. For instance, if you have a heart-shaped face, stick with round frames; if you have an oval-shaped face, be a little more adventurous. Too bad these rules fail miserably when confronted with the sporty, wraparound styles that are most commonly found on golfers. But really, who cares about style? When it comes to golf, the key is to wear a frame that won't obstruct your vision during the swing. This usually means no frame at all, or a good wrap-around style. Select the right type of lens color so you have minimal distortion when reading the greens. Protect your eyes from the sun with UV lenses. Then there's fit: your sunglasses should stay put without moving down the bridge of your nose when you swing or bend over.

It's not easy to make sporty frames look stylish--most of the time people end up resembling weird sea creatures or the Terminator. I like to pair my sporty pair of shades with a hat or visor, just to give myself a little style cred. Here are some of my favorites:


-- Argy Koutsothanasis

The Style Blog: Golf gifts that give back

The clock is already tick-tick-ticking away and gift-giving time is a little less than a month away. I always intend to put extra time and thought into each individual gift, but I'm typically railroaded by big sales, big crowds and too much confusion. So this year I thought I'd sideswipe the insanity of holiday shopping by making most of my purchases on line, and by selecting gifts that give back. I'd say that's a hole-in-one!

  • The Style Blog
    Clarins FEED Set, available at Bloomingdales, $90: FEED is a non-profit started by Lauren Bush in 2007 and distributes meals to hungry children across the world. When this gift set is purchased, 25 meals will be provided to kids in need. Visit website
  • The Style Blog
    Ralph Lauren Pink Pony Customizable Polo, $125: 10% of net proceeds from Pink Pony sales goes to the Pink Pony Fund for Cancer Care and Prevention. Visit website
  • The Style Blog
    Vineyard Vines Tied to a Cause Totebag, $95: Each month Vineyard Vines highlights a different charity to support and donates all of the proceeds from sales directly to that charity. Visit website
  • The Style Blog
    Picnic at Ascot Golf Trunk Organizer from Gifts that Give, $55: Gifts that Give is a website that donates $1 for every $5 that you spend. $11 will be donated to the NYC Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society with the purchase of this gold organizer. Visit website
  • The Style Blog
    Nike Golf Ball Gift Tin from St. Jude Children's Hospital, $15: 100% of the profits benefit St. Jude Children's Research. Visit website
  • The Style Blog
    Livestrong Phenom Jacket, $100: Purchases provide support to Livestrong programs and services for cancer survivors. Visit website
  • The Style Blog
    Cultivate Wines Boxed Wine, $35: 10% of sales are donated to causes related to education and basic human needs. Visit website
  • The Style Blog
    Charity Charms Special Olympics Golf Ball Charm, $40: 25% of the purchase will be donated to the Special Olympics. Visit website
  • The Style Blog
    Val Skinner Pink Ribbon Bear Headcover, $20: A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Val Skinner Foundation which supports breast cancer research and education. Visit website
  • The Style Blog
    BVLGARI Save the Children ring, $370: $75 is donated to the Save the Children campaign when ordered through December 31, 2011. Visit website
  • The Style Blog
    Toms Sunglasses, $135-145: For every pair of sunglasses sold, Toms donates a pair to help give someone the gift of sight. Visit website
--Argy Koutsothanasis

The Style Blog: Kicking it old-school

The last few years have brought some challenging economic times. As a result, people have become more savvy about how and when they spend their money. So it's no surprise that one of the hottest trends in fashion has been a return to classic American brands with a long history and heritage (think Levis jeans, Frye boots, Woolrich blankets, Timex watches). Brands that don't sport an obscene price tag and still manage to offer durability and a knowing style.

In the past two weeks I've noticed this trend trickling into the golf market. It's the time of year when the bigger golf brands like Nike roll out the apparel collections that will be in stores starting February. The first preview I went to was Nike, and it was thrilling to see the new Dunk golf shoe (below) that will be available this winter. Its roots can easily be traced to the Nike Air Jordan--it feels fresh and new, but substantial with its historical reference.

GDWNikeDunk.gif
(Courtesy of Nike Golf)

I was also really excited to take peek at the newly relaunched Oakley golf line. It offers polos inspired by the brands cool West Coast culture--one polo in particular is a replica print of a rash guard (see below) also available in the line. It's exciting to see what we can expect for the 2012 golf season.

GDWoakley.gif
(Courtesy of Oakley)

--Argy Koustothanasis

The Style Blog: Q & A

Golf is a sport that poses some interesting wardrobe dilemmas, and GDW style guru (and Fitness Magazine fashion director) Argy Koutsothanasis is constantly asked questions from readers. Here are some of her answers:

Q: I love golf but hate the tan lines I get on my feet when I wear shorts or skirts (even though I wear sunscreen). What can I do to combat this problem?

A: I hate to admit it, but I don't get the chance to play golf enough to have this issue--but I've talked to the LPGA Tour's boldest shoe-fanatic, Christina Kim, about it before. Christina says sock tan lines are inevitable for avid golfers, even if you use plenty of sunblock and reapply every other hour, as you're supposed to. It's not a great look when you want to slip into a pair of sexy pumps and head for cocktails after a round, but Christina's secret is to leave the pumps behind and opt for cute, strappy heels instead. A shoe with an ankle strap works especially well, since the straps serve to disguise the tan lines.

GDWkim.gifDon't try this at home: Christina Kim shows off a pair of her own strappy heels at Chelsea Piers in NYC.
 
Q: What's the most flattering way to hide a spare tire when you're playing golf? (I'm especially referring to the finish of the golf swing when the shirt rides up; I'm very self-conscious about that.)

A: There's no two ways about this one: wear a golf dress. The best thing about this one-piece solution is that you don't need to worry about tucking or adjusting, and there's no exposed skin during or after your swing.

GDWcreamer.gifPaula Creamer doesn't have a spare tire to hide, but she still enjoys the tuck-free experience of playing in a golf dress.

Q: Where can I find cool women's golf apparel on line? My pro shop doesn't carry much, and I'm tired of getting my golf clothes at The Gap.

A: Online shopping is definitely the way to go. Most e-tailers have great shipping and return policies, often allowing you to either receive or send back items purchased for free. Many of your favorite active golf brands have great selections to shop from on their own websites (such as shop.adidasgolf.com, store.nike.com, pumagolf.com), and there are several great online shops directed to women golfers, such as trendygolfusa.com, lorisgolfshoppe.com and ladygolf.com. Each has a very eclectic selection that caters to different needs. Trendygolf is great for he edgiest and most fashionable finds. Lorisgolfshoppe offers classic golf styles in a variety of sizes. And Ladygolf has the most luxurious offerings of shoes and apparel.

(Photos by Getty Images)

The Style Blog: Get Carried Away!

"That's just not my bag baby." Oh how I wish I could echo the sentiment Mr. Powers. But alas in my world, I say, "yes please" to every bag--the bigger the better. Although I'd never carry the kitchen sink in it--I always like my totes big enough just in case I do decide to stick some kitchen appliance in it! I like them roomy enough to fit my golf shoes, a make-up case, a sleeve of pink golf balls and of course my keys...
Here are some suggestions:

--Argy Koutsothanasis

Style Wednesday: Sporty Chic

It's an occupational hazard: I think about clothes way too much. No matter what task I'm tackling -- doing the laundry on the weekend, running out to grab a coffee, going to the driving range -- it doesn't matter, my first thought is always, "what should I wear?"

Generally, I tend to dress up because it makes it easier to looked pulled together. Even on the golf course I'll opt for a dress; it's just the safer bet. But dressing up is also exhausting. I'm dying to relax things a little, and if the Spring 2012 fashion runways are any indication, I'm not the only one in the fashion pack looking to go casual. "Sporty" is definitely a key trend. It got me thinking that I need to be comfy when I go to the driving range for my next lesson. "Comfy and cozy" is the best way to describe fall dressing. I like the idea of donning a pair of track-style pants with a classic turtleneck sweater. The mix of the classy and athletic aesthetics will keep me looking fashionable but relaxed and ready to improve my swing.

Adding color to your look is also a great way to stay casual without trying too hard. Think colorful accessories like shoes and gloves. For inspiration check out any gossip magazine -- with their lattes in hand, the celebs rock this look with such ease.

Here are some suggestions:

--Argy Koutsothanasis

The latest on golf digest

Golf Digest Woman Tweets

Close

Thank you for signing up for the Tip of the Week newsletter.

You will receive your first newsletter soon.
Subscribe to Golf Digest

Golf Digest Rewards

Golf Equipment: 3Balls.com - New and used golf equipment

Sign-up for Golf Digest's Above The Cut


Subscribe today