Tuesday, November 30, 2010

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Let Them Eat Turkey! Hot Holiday Looks without the Guilt.

Who cares if you ate everything on your plate and then went for seconds? Unbuttoning one's pants during the holiday season just to keep from buying new clothing seems to be a pretty good tradition. But what if you could look cute all through December (and into January:) and still eat extra cranberry sauce and stuffing? You can.

Nicole Ritchie may be the worst example of someone gaining weight during the holiday season, but you can definitely take a cue from her cute sweater tunic. Add some leggings or jeans to this look and the loose, easy feel of the deep v-neck tunic is perfect for any gal feeling the stretch of the season. Although this piece is super over-sized, there is still an obvious shape and style. The v-neckline draws attention to your face keeping all eyes away from your mid-section. The difference in length between the front and back of the tunic may not be helping your cover-up cause either way, but it sure does look cute!

This piece is also a fantastic "I ate too much for a month" dress. It is an A-line silhouette which allows you to still show off your figure while keeping it loose around the stomach. A-line means it is fitted around the chest area and becomes wider as it gets to the bottom just like an A. How ingenious! The pattern on this dress is also your friend. It is true what they say about horizontal stripes, they do make you look wider. Picking a vertical pattern during this season is a fabulous idea! It will help give the illusion that you are longer and leaner, even though your body may be getting wider.....

This is my ultimate favorite look for the season. I am comfortable, I am cute, I am eating anything I want. Wearing a darker foundation like a black t-shirt, leggings and black boots, with a lighter, longer sweater, will keep the attention on your layering item. The sweater becomes the focal point while your actual body is a backdrop. Do not fret if you don't look like a supermodel in your black catsuit, no one can see it anyway! Stetchy materials are going to be your best option so your tummy can breathe! My only big rule is to make sure that your sweater fully covers your behind. No one want to see your backside in just leggings even if it is perfect. And anyway, isn't the point of this post that during the holiday season it might lose some of it's perfection? Got it, good.


The empire style dress will almost always work as a stylish choice for an expanding middle. Let's just call it like it is, this dress is focusing on your bust which will most likely be expanding as well during this time. There are positives ladies! The vertical pattern on the chest is also a bonus as I have already highlighted the importance of picking these types of patterns. The bell sleeve is a cute design, but it additionally draws attention away from your middle to your arms. Pick a scoop or v-neck design to encourage people's eyes to look upward even more. Opening your neckline is always a perfect choice for drawing attention away from you middle.

So there are just a few ideas for looking great even when you may not be feeling it. Style is not just for size 2 and 4's, we are all beautiful no matter what size we are.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Want Beautiful? Wear Marchesa.

I have been obsessed for a long time with the pair that create the unbelievable frocks known as the design house, Marchesa. Most likely you have seen one of their fabulously phenomenal creations grace the runway because they have been all the rage in Hollywood for some time now. There is good reason that the starlets of the moment are draping their bodies in Marchesa, their dresses are just simply amazing.









I think it is a cruel joke from God that co-designers Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig look just like supermodels and foster a creative genius far superseding most normal people. Jealousy does not begin to explain how I feel toward them. I will put my personal feelings aside for the love of their amazing pieces because I am a professional damn it and fashion is my business!


This dress on Jennifer Lopez worn at the 2007 Academy Awards was one of my favorites by the designers. She put aside her usual vamped up, sexy look for this flowing, Grecian gown. I actually saw this dress in person at Neiman's and was blown away by the workmanship. The crystals are as sparkly and big as you want them to be, but what surprised me most is that there were small crystals also sewn onto the entire gown adding that something special. Jennifer looked feminine, regal and like the A list celebrity that we all know she is.


Now this might be a bit over the top, but fashion is art and this Marchesa gown from their Spring '11 collection is just that. This thing is crazy. I cannot even imagine the pattern that is the backbone of this gown. It may not be walking down a red carpet (Though Chloe Sevigny could totally pull it off), but it will definitely grace the pages of high editorial fashion magazines.






Another dress from their spring collection is this armor inspired cocktail dress. This was a theme through many of their pieces in the collection and let me tell you, it was a pretty darn good theme. It is sexy and hard edged at the same time. Marchesa has a beautiful feminine sensibility to all their gowns so mixing the masculine energy of chain mail is borderline genius. LOVE.

So go save all of your pennies and buy a Marchesa dress for your new year's celebration. Or go to Neiman's and admire them just like I do:)

Monday, November 22, 2010

Who, What, WEAR?? The American Music Awards

I do love a good awards show. Last night, on the American Music Awards, it was simply a parade of over the top fashion and musical performances. That is my kind of programming, fabulous and fun.

Of course my intense focus was on what the fancy musicians, actors and other random attendees were wearing on their toned and trim bodies. Never in my life did I think that this lovely Monday I would be reporting that Taylor Swift was my best dressed. Her country curls and cat eye makeup are always on my annoyance radar and I think her ability to FINALLY switch it up threw me off! Obviously this is a cute dress by Collette Dinnigan and is perfectly appropriate for the AMA's, yet it is not the most amazing thing I have ever seen. BUT, and this is a big but, combined with her new 'do and smokey eye makeup, she certainly got my attention! I was so happy to finally see a more grown up, sophisticated Ms. Swift. Thank you for finally putting the curling iron down and officially joining the other side of Hollywood. Bye, bye country, hello hot!

And now for my special mention.... The product of Will and Jada Smith, Willow, is really one fantastic child. I saw her in an interview last week and I actually stopped everything I was doing to listen. She is cute, witty, funny, stylish and talented. It may sound like I am a bit obsessed with Willow, but it is really just sincere admiration for a kid who isn't even 10 years old yet. Now, with that said, I think this outfit is crazy. But, the fact that she even has the sense to pick out such editorial pieces and put it together this way forces me to give her props. She is reaching for fashion freedom and really expressing herself. I love that.




Oh my gosh. Really, what can I say that is not completely inappropriate on a blog about this look? Apparently Kesha put together this little number using VHS tape. I love a green artist and recycling is definitely cool, but seriously, where did you even find this much VHS tape to design this dress? Haven't these things been obsolete for a while? I guess not long enough because you found a way to wear a full dress made out of the material. Oy. Should mention the studded eyebrows? Um, better not.








As for this look, I think even Nicki Minaj is surprised she wore this on the red carpet. Just look at that face! What on earth is going on here??? I couldn't make this my number one worst dressed because that is just too easy. This rib cage inspired frock gets my "special mention" for craziest, most ridiculous, "look at me" dress on the carpet. And did she accidentally dip the bottom of her hair in green tie dye or is that simply a new version of hair mold? If her goal was to be visually stimulating, she definitely hit the mark. I stared at her for over 15 minutes trying to find something I liked about this and I am still lookin'......

Overall, the ladies did well and the performances were spot on. I love any excuse to talk about red carpet fashion, so props to everyone who walked the carpet and gave it their best try. I am sure someone would have something to say about my dress too if I ever make it to an official red carpet!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Hemline Heaven

Hemlines are a tricky thing. Just an inch too short or an inch too long can completely throw off the proportions of your body. This is why including tailoring in the price of your garment is a necessity. Do not think of it as the aggravating extra $20 on top of what you already paid, think of it as what makes you look like a million bucks. I cannot stress the importance of a perfect hemline!
Example number 1: Wearing pants that are too short will actually shorten and widen your legs. I have heard of a lot of fads in my day, but fattening one’s legs has never been one of them. There is certainly such a thing as ankle length pants, but there is a huge difference between pants that are too short and a “style”. Be sure you and your tailor know the difference.
On a positive note, if your flare and wider leg pants are hemmed just above the floor, you can look long and lean. This means that there should be a slight break in the front and they should be as long as possible in the back without dragging on the floor. Longer pants equal longer legs. Remember, you cannot hem a pair of pants for both flats and heels, you must pick one or the other. The only time this is even possibly an option is with kitten heels (very, very small) to flats. Otherwise, it is time to make a decision ladies!
With a skinnier leg, you cannot go as long because your foot becomes suffocated. The added bonus of this style is that you can see some of your shoes! Those things are expensive and deserve a chance to shine! For the hemline on these, you should go as long as possible before the pant leg begins to stretch. This usually means about half way down your foot. Show off your shoes!
With skirts, hemlines can often be one’s ultimate demise. Sounds scary, but with just one inch, the garment can swallow your entire body and help to lose its shape. For most women, the safest length is just above the knee. This works on all heights, shapes and sizes. It keeps the body in a classic hourglass shape. Appearances can be everything and an inappropriate hemline can immediately ruin your look. Just play in the mirror for a second by folding up a longer hemline and see how quickly your entire shape can change! It is the cheapest miracle in town.
This length is only possible on the lucky, few women who are very tall and very skinny. If you are not within this range, this hemline will instantly make you look dowdy and old. Looking like a nun has never really been chic and I don’t personally see the trend making its way to the forefront of fashion any time soon. Truthfully, even for the tall, skinny women of the world, unless the skirt is an extreme pencil style, it truly isn’t that flattering. My vote, stay away!
And finally, the mini. So scary and so fun at the same time! There is a bit of an age limit on short skirts and pushing your hemline too high can give you instant cougar status. Not something this stylist is aiming to do! If you are in shape, you can really rock this look until about 35. Adding opaque tights and boots give it an even longer life because you are toning down your bottom half and covering up appropriately.
So, no matter who you are, where you live or what you do, find a fabulous tailor. One of my favorite taglines (yes, I have them) is that a tailor is like a good (cheap) surgeon. He or she can instantly give your wardrobe a boost without ever setting foot into a store!