Pretty Pregnancy: The Wedding Bee Photoshoot

I have been working with the lovely and talented Bee Kim for a little while now. She is the founder of The Wedding Bee blog which features everything and anything wedding related. Having conquered her own wedding, she has recently become a mother. These lovely shots are from a shoot she did during pregnancy (obviously!) in Central Park. I was lucky enough to help her out with the styling for the shoot. Knowing where she was shooting, I wanted it to be ethereal and colorful. Kind of "earth mama" like. I think the shots turned out pretty perfect if I do say so myself..... Take a look!

What Jeans to Wear When. Color DOES Matter.

Yes ladies, there is an answer to the age-old question, "What jeans should I wear today?". Ok, maybe this is not an age-old question, but many of you still ponder this thought when you wake up and when you go out. I am here to explain the proper place to wear different washes for jeans. There are about 9 million different colors for jeans, so I am just going to stick to a few basic go-to washes.

First up, the all-mighty dark blue wash. It is going to be the staple of your wardrobe so you should definitely own a pair. No matter who you are, what you do, where you go or how old you are, you should own a pair of dark blue jeans. They are definitely the most flattering and the most versatile. They will be your constant best friend and take you from the day into the evening effortlessly. They are the no-brainer choice for any occasion or time of day. I am making this pretty easy, eh? They are sophisticated for the daytime and classy enough for an evening event. The blue wash makes them accessible for more casual events, yet the dark color allows them to be easily paired with a funky top.




Next up, light blue. This really is a wash that is best left for the warmer months. Think spring and summer. Anytime after that just seems like you are confused about the season. They are a casual, comfortable, easy look, which is exactly what the warmer months are about. 'Nuf said.





And now for my favorite wash, gray. I just love these! Last season they were no where to be found and now this year, I walk into Bloomie's and there is an entire section dedicated to them. Apparently they got the memo... Finally! Just like the dark blue jeans, these are great for both day and night. I love them because they are neutral and different. Most people own some version of blue jeans, go outside of the box! These have an edgier feel, yet they are completely appropriate and wearable.This particular wash can also really go in any direction. Add high heels, a white tank and a motorcycle jacket for a great going-out look or layer on a longer cream sweater with black riding boots for daytime casual. They really do work always.


And now for your rough and hard side, black jeans. Depending on who you are, you can wear these during the day, but for most ladies this is an "only evening" jean. You have to have a pretty casual or funky career to be able to pull these bad boys off during the daylight hours. If you are part of the more straight- forward working force, these are reserved for a hard night of fun. They instantly give your look an edge. Unlike plain black pants, these are meant for rough riding even if you are only walking down the street to get a drink. They will add a tough side to even the daintiest of ladies which is why they are so alluring. They are just jeans at the end of the day, but they can add just that little something to the calmest of outfits. Have fun and go be tough with your black jeans.

Ok, the jean companies have gone 80's crazy. I completely understand that looks come and go, but this one should have stayed gone. It really does freak me out a little. But, for those of you that would like to wear this oh so 80's trend, I will give you a few tidbits of advice. This is your pop piece and nothing else can compete with them. You MUST keep the rest of your ensemble plain. There is no need to add any more 80's items to play up the theme. The theme is poured on your legs, people get it. Now, I may think I don't need to mention this, but I am going to just to make sure... These are only for nighttime!!! Your fun dive into your yester years should only be after 8pm. That's right, I put a time on it.

So there you have it. All of the information you need on when to wear every pair of jeans you have ever owned. Obviously there are exceptions to every rule based on who you are and where you are going, but these are the basics. Now you can rock out in every wash of jeans ever invented.....

Burburry boot-cut jeans $195
AG premiere skinny jeans in 20 year wash $255
7 for all mankind straight leg jeans in tailor grey wash $189
DL 1961 "Nicole" skinny jeans in black diamond wash $178
J Brand tie dyed skinny jeans in oz wash $198

Maternity Maven: Looking Fab at any Month

I absolutely love working with pregnant women. They are going thourgh a crazy, body changing period and getting dressed (never mind actually looking cute) seems borderline painful. Being able to give them back their fashionable confidence is definitely a favorite part of my job.

My first pregnant client ever was lucky enough to go through it on television. That is obviously a joke. Imagine having to handle your body continually evolving for 9 months, and then most likely another year past that, and having to do it all on camera. You know the term, "the camera adds 10 pounds"? Think how frightening that statement would be when combined with your first pregnancy. Lucky for her I am a fabulous stylist and I love a good challenge!

Ladies, it is really all about making sure that no matter what month of pregnancy you are in, you still show that you have a body. Much like I promote wearing silhouette conscious clothing when you are a curvier woman, this is very similar. Once you put on a garbage bag of a dress, you look even BIGGER than you are. Stop with the frumpy, slouchy clothing when you are pregnant! In fact, my biggest pet peeve for lovely pregnant women is when they try and shop in the "regular" sized section until their 7th month. You are pregnant, not fat, wear clothing that is made for your new, curvy body. The maternity section is designed to fit this new body of yours, therefore it is going to fit you properly. What a fabulous concept!

This particular dress is a great example of a silhouette that will truly work on almost every pregnant woman at any month. It clearly shows that you have a womanly figure by being fitted around the arms and bust. An empire waist, when it cinches just under the bust, is a fantastic choice for any stage of pregnancy. It allows for movement and comfort around your stomach while remaining fitted on the upper half of your body. Also, this particular neckline is great to not over-accentuate a growing bust line. It does not drape over your boobs drawing attention to them, but rather draws the eye upward to the neck. Of course the fact that it is a jersey material is only more enticing being that it will feel like you are in a nightgown! Comfort and style DO go hand in hand.

Photo courtesy of showhype.com
Long sleeve babydoll maternity dress $29.98

Sass N Style: 5 Minutes and Fabulous!

A Bikini for DDD! That's right, I found it.

I love to help a friend out and this was my most recent query, "Where the hell do I find a bikini that will fit my medium sized body and size DDD chest???". Well, I found it. And why not share it with the world since I am sure there are many other busty women who have this same annoying problem. You want to look hot on the beach, show off your curves and not be spilling over. I don't think that is too much to ask!

Well curvy ladies, Shoshanna Loenstein is here to save your day.... And accentuate your God-given gift! Who is this amazing designer who has made a career out of helping busty women in this world? You may remember her from years ago when an older Jerry Seinfeld picked up a hot NYU student who was a mere 18.... Well she is all grown up now and has a thriving fashion design company. She is also a member of the "over DD" size club and felt the very pain that all of the others felt while out shopping. So, she did something about it.

This bikini is a perfect option for curvy ladies who want to feel secure and sexy at the same time. Nothing is going anywhere in this style top. It gives you wide coverage while showing a bit of cleavage because of the cinched center. As opposed to a plain bandeau top that leaves you with one big boob, this top is complimenting the bust perfectly. You can now run down the beach Bo Derek style and not worry about anything going anywhere! Braids not included.

Shoshanna "Tulum" Floral Bow Bandeau Bikini
$118.00

'50s Style Swimsuits: Bringing Curves Back!

I love a good throwback and I definitely love it even more when it compliments a real woman's body! A la the "Mad Men" era, women were sultry, sensual and most of all, complimented for their curves! Their real, round, voluptuous curves. Ah, the days of yonder.

One of the most fabulous things about this era is that styles were really meant to fit and accentuate these oh so wonderful waves. The up, the down, the contour of every angle. With actual curves being a fad of the past, it is often hard for the rest of the real world to find beautifully tailored items that show off their '09 curves.

Swimsuit season is certainly no exception. The one piece seems to have become even more scarce in reference to providing material. So, I did my homework ladies and found you a suit the is here to protect and serve! This rouched body, sweetheart neckline and halter strap is screaming for a curvy lady to throw it on! It has all of the ingredients to be stylish and comfortable on a sunny day for any lady that isn't necessarily a fan of the pool.

Let's talk details here. The rouching effect is a perfect compliment to anyone who feels their mid-section isn't up to snuff. The loosely bunched material gives a distracting effect that actually draws attention away from any overt imperfections. Moving up... The criss-cross bust is a perfect support system for any woment that feels her chest sometimes has a life of its own. It actuallly gives the effect of a full-blown bra by having under breast support. And now that the girls are so nicley held up, it is no surprise that you would want to show off a bit of your sexy, curvy cleavage! The sweetheart neckline is a busty girl's best friend. Support, style and sex-appeal all in one! Add a halter strap for complete support and your curves have never been so happy to be on display! And of course I have to give a shout out to the coverage on the bottom half of the suit. It is rare these days to find a swimsuit that has all bases covered, but this seems to have curvy women running for water!!!

Jantzen "Vamp" Maillot Swimsuit
$100.00

Sex- Goddess: One Piece Cut Out Swimsuits

So much for a two piece bathing suit being the sexiest, most revealing thing you could wear on the beach. The one piece cut-out swimsuit may actually have more material on your body, but there is no denying that this style certainly will get many pulses going. I am personally writing this blindfolded because the model's bathing suit is making me nervous.

If any of your watch as much bad television as I do, then you may recognize this. As worn by Kelly Bensimon on "The Real Housewives of New York", this suit is not for the faint of heart. I mean, I truly feel like I could hide more about my imperfections if a had on tooth floss. But alas, there are some women who take no prisoners and apparently do not fear the all mighty tan line. Oy, what they hell would you look like after a day in the sun wearing this thing?

The one piece cut out swimsuit is still the trendiest of suits right now. I believe that it was designed by a man who knew many rich and skinny models who only did spray tan and sat with a big, floppy hat and over-sized sunglasses drinking Evian by the side of the pool. Did I mention the Evian is in a wine glass?

If you can pull this sucker off, go for it! The real issue is that any shadow of a love handle or my favorite, back fat, is going to be overly accentuated in this type of swimsuit. You also must have fairly small hips because the cut of the middle, being down the center, will actually make your hips look bigger. Adding a tie on each hip certainly does not help your cause.

So, be brave, be bold and go out there and find the perfect one piece cut out bathing suit to compliment your sexy self. But make sure to have your yacht and SPF 45 ready to go, both must be included when rocking this vampy suit!

Sexy (Yes that word is really in the title) Crochet One-Piece Swimsuit
$92.00

Ruffle Bottom Bikini

Continuing my series on finding the perfect bathing suit for your body type.... Up next, the ruffle bottom bikini. Cute, sassy and a little bit 5th grade, this style is usually a hit with the guys. Why is it that guys always like a throw back to our younger years?

Unfortunately for us grown up ladies, this style really only works on people that have the hips and flat stomach of a 5th grader. It seems appropriate enough that the little skirt would serve to hide some of our extra derriere, but it is quite the contrary. Such a small amount of ruffle is actually adding to that shelf we are so proud of (at least I am:). This model clearly has no hips or thighs and that is why she looks perfectly ready to go and play in the sandbox. There is nothing bad or womanly to accentuate.

The greatest part about this adorable suit is that not only do you have to have a smaller behind, but you also need a larger chest to pull of this top. What evil person created this? Unfortunately, it is completely cute! You need to have some sort of a shadow of a chest to wear this bandeau style bikini top. Busty with a flatter tush, fabulous. DON'T sign me up for this one. Alas, if you do fit these standards, congratulations. Not only because you have proportions that most women dream of, but because you can actually rock this bikini.

Betsey Johnson "Rockin' Robin" Two Piece Bandeau Swimsuit
Top: $82.00
Bottom: $98.00

Tummy Tucker: The Ultimate One Piece Bathing Suit

Everyone is always looking for that perfect bathing suit. The one that they can slide on without feeling dread and despair. The one that allows them to actually enjoy the sun without constantly tugging and tucking. Ladies, as your personal on-line stylist, I think I have found that suit.

There are many teeny tiny bathing suits, finding them is not a problem. Having time to work out five times a week and prepare overly healthy meals to achieve a bikini bod is. So, for the more realistic body types with curves, here is a bathing suit that you can drink a pina coloda in without feeling guilty. Mmmm, pina coloda.

This tummy tucking miracle suit is not only stylish, but literally has a panel around your mid-section to tuck you in! Ah, how the gains of modern science have truly helped us all!! The full coverage of the suit (including the backside) accentuate your hour glass figure while allowing you to be comfortable because everything is in place. As I discussed in my "Perfect Tank Top" post, the rouching and ruffle dead center only help in your quest to look more slender. When the material is bunched up as such, it detracts from any extra pounds you may have on your mid-section. The ruffle is drawing the eye to the center of your frame only again slenderizing your body. A wider sweetheart neckline is the perfect top to this figure flattering suit. It makes sure that "the girls" are in place while giving just a hint of cleavage. The key is to be comfortable, not hide your sex appeal!!!

With this great line of bathing suits going up to a size 16, it is appropriate for all curvaceous body types who want to get a little sun. The only thing that is not included is a big brim sun hat and spf 30!

Miraclesuit Solid Camilla Swimwear
$140.00

White Hot: The Triangle Top Bikini

Now, I wouldn't usually make it a habit of putting a picture of myself in a bikini on-line, much less next to a barely dressed Marissa Miller. But, for the sake of teaching you, the reader, I will sacrifice:) The real purpose of me making this painful comparison is to show you that the triangle bikini top is flattering on many different bust sizes. The real key to why a triangle bikini top works has more to do with the placement and shape of your boobs. They must be closer together so you have some sort of natural cleavage and also still maintain some natural lift. The triangle top leaves little to the imagination, no support or coverage, so your breasts must still be in tact!

Choosing a string bikini bottom, as the lovely and curvaceous Marissa Miller is rocking, is sometimes a scary concept. It is actually more flattering than some other styles that have more coverage. The first thing that it promotes is creating hips for a straighter figure. Adding a tie on each hip give your body that extra illusion of curve by extending your hips. Also, the string bikini does not cut into your stomach which often times actually only accentuates that you have a few more inches on your mid-section. Obviously, if your stomach is beginning to hang over the top of your bikini bottom, this might not be the best option for you!!! Just remember that string bikini does not always mean teany tiny. There can be a good amount of coverage to keep your derriere properly covered.

As far as your white hot look goes, keep it heavily lined! The last thing anyone wants to see on the beach is ALL of you!!!

Victoria's Secret Triangle Bikini Set
Separates: $24

The Bandeau Bathing Suit Top

With bikini season not only creeping up on us, but literally knocking down the door (hello 80 degree weekend?), it is time to talk bikinis. I can literally hear you cringing through my computer screen right now. (You speaking) "I am too white. I need to go to the gym about 45 more times. Why are my nipples beginning to point south?" Whatever the excuse may be, get over it. Bikini time is here!!!

So let's figure out this dilemma together. The truth is, like with any good fashion problem, it is all in the fit. Now I may be good, but I am certainly not a miracle worker. Your thighs will still be the same size, the back of your arms will still swing when you wave and your stomach will always need to be flexed in pictures. But, I can offer you the best advice for styles that will properly accentuate your sexy self.

So first up in this fabulous series about bikinis, the bandeau top. Truthfully, it is NOT my best friend. I am a B cub (not a full one at that) and it makes me look like a pancake. Lovely. You need to have at least a full B cup through no more than a D cup to make this style look fabulous. It has a lot of coverage, so with a flatter bust you are losing any sense of having breasts. For a fuller figure, this has great support and just like I mentioned, coverage. The key is to always make sure the center string is cinched so that you have some sort of cleavage. There should be two boobs here ladies so make sure to separate them!

The other important attribute that makes a bandeau top perfect for you is having more delicate shoulders. Having broad shoulders with a center tie will only accentuate your broadness.

So, done and done. I think I have sufficiently covered the bandeau top and helped to show off your ultimate hotness in this comfortable yet sexy bikini style. Now go buy some SPF 30 (no wrinkles ladies) and hit the beach.

Marine Geo Print Bandeau
$64.50

Sass N Style: Jeans

Salute an Officer! Sailor Jeans

Owning the perfect pair of jeans is probably one of the most difficult tasks that we have as a woman. How is it that we can go into a dressing room with 15 pairs to try on and we walk out feeling beaten and battered with nothing to show for it? Stop the madness.

The sailor jean is a quick answer to fix most ladies jean shopping problems. The high waist and flared leg allow for movement and comfort because you are not having to suck, tuck and squeeze yourself through your day. Shorter ladies must hem these to wear with heels because the overwhelming width of the leg will be too much for your petite frame. Unless you are at least 5'4", buy some stacked heels in addition to your sailor jeans. Also, be sure to have a back pock or at least the illusion of one unless you have the perfect heiny of a twenty year old. Ah, the days....:)

This style also allows you to play with your funky sailor side (we all have one) as well. Jeans are a basic concept, but this design puts a spin on them that is definitely worth playing with. I am always screaming about adding your own personal flare to any look and here is a simple way to set yourself apart. Plus, during fleet week (one must live in NYC for this Labor Day extravaganza) it will be an easy way to have something in common with all of the cute sailors....

KUT Stretch Sailor Jeans
$93.00