Check Out My Feature on HerFuture.com!

A few months ago I did a photo shoot with inspirational speaker Gabrielle Bernstein. She is the brains behind HerFuture.com, a site that provides a platform for successful, inspirational women to be mentors for other girls just making sense of their future. As a lifestyle/career coach, Gabrielle has toured the country helping young women be their best selves. I was lucky enough to be featured on the site this week as a mentor to the fashionable ladies of the world! Read and inspire yourself along the way! Be sure to follow Gabrielle at @herfuture or on her fan page on Facebook: Gabrielle Bernstein Motivational Speaker.

Tell us about you and your business:
I am a fashion stylist and expert in New York City. I not only do personal styling to help the everyday gal or guy feel like and look like a celebrity, but I also work with magazines, television shows and commercials. I have appeared as a fashion expert everywhere from The Today Show to MTV to Martha Stewart Living Radio. I love to create beautiful images, but most of all, I love to make people feel fabulous about themselves. Everybody needs a boost of style inspiration to get us going sometimes and that is where an expert like me is your best friend!

How did you start this project?

I have always loved fashion and beauty growing up, but never realized it could truly be a full-time job. When I was about to graduate from college I realized that a "real job" was not for me so the search for a creative career began. I used my networking skills to contact the right people to ask for advice or opportunities. Utilizing my innate creative talent combined with learning from the right people, I created a styling business that allows me to style everyone from models to business women.

Who are your mentors?

I would say anyone that works hard and is successful is my biggest mentor! Talent can only take you so far, you need to really want success and have extreme drive when working in a creative and extremely competitive field. I strongly admire Andrea Lieberman who works with Gwen Stefani and is the co-creator of LAMB, one of my absolute favorite clothing lines. She truly thinks outside of the box and has developed some amazing looks that have helped to re-define current styles.

What inspired your business?

The people of New York City inspire my business everyday. The forward thinking of this fashion community sometimes even surprises me. They are constantly encouraging me to challenge my own styling capabilities and giving me new and fabulous ideas for future shoots and clients. Inspiration can truly come just from walking down the street in this city.

What kind of advice would you offer our members?
The best advice I can offer your members is to understand that how you feel when you walk out the door can affect your attitude and confidence all day long. People often call fashion superficial, but having been in the business for over 8 years, I can tell you that helping people to look more fashionable is the the best confidence booster. I have literally seen my personal clients start posing in the mirror and walking around on a "catwalk" like a model just by having on an amazing outfit I styled for them. Sometimes we forget that loving the way we look can ultimately change the way we feel. Being fabulous is a great gift for one's self. And in this holiday season, a great gift for someone else!!!

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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.

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:)

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!

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!

Top Ten Fall Shoe Styles

Fall is by far my favorite season. 100 degree weather has finally subsided, the air feels crisp and something about life just seems calmer. Although all of these things really do put a smile on my face, let's just be honest, fall fashion is one of my reason's for living. It may sound a bit extreme, but the excitement of being able to layer on fabulous new trends is sometimes almost too much for me to take! And then there are the shoes......

So, as discussed this morning on Martha Stewart's Sirius radio channel, here are my top ten picks for the best shoe trends for fall:

Back again, for an encore presentation, the over-the-knee boot. Love them. They are incredibly sexy without the "I am trying really hard" connotation. Surprisingly, they are pretty acceptable for most age groups. Of course, you have to be in fairly good shape to pull these off if you are over 45. In addition, as you become "more mature", you should delete the heel. It just becomes a bit too over the top.

This particular pair by Dolce Vita is a great option. The cut out behind the knee is a superb design allowing for the boot not to get crunched and caught. Also, remember that neutrals can be more then just black or brown. Taupe is a fabulously fantastic choice!




Apparently over-the-knee just wasn't enough for designers, so along came the thigh high. This really takes a special kind of lady to pull this shoe off. People always want to know if it is "age appropriate", well this boot really should be put back on the shelf after 35..... Sorry! It is the ultimate in sexy, men are going to love you, footwear. Realistic no, fabulous yes. Christian Louboutin knew what he was doing when he pushed the envelope with this $2,375 pair. Meow!







Up next, brogues. I nearly fell over myself at fashion week chasing down a girl wearing these YSL shoes. For $1000, you better love them, but does it get any better then studded, patent leather lace-up brogues? I don't think so:) This menswear inspired look began last spring, but has really blown up for fall. Look modern, fun and trendy buy adding these to any outfit.



Just this past Friday I was working with a client and got stopped in my tracks by these Libby Edelman shoes. Granny chic is so in right now! It is rare that I purchase something when working with a client, but she knows me well enough and my fashion conscious would not have allowed me to leave the store without them. They were priced at $49 (holy cow!) and I got an additional 30% off leaving them at $34. I am really good. Without the leopard print and studded toe, these shoes could be just as doubty as you remember on granny. Libby Edelman (of Sam and Libby ballet flat designers of the 80's) added this punchy material making them uber modern and super fun.

I LOVE LOVE these Kelsi Dagger boots for $200. Ankle booties will not be going anywhere for a while, so invest now. They can be a tricky shoe if you have bigger calves, so choose a lighter color if this is an issue for you. You are always looking to elongate your legs and wearing a darker color will do the opposite by cutting you off at the ankle. This pair is fabulous because it is classic and simple, but adds in a fantastic architectural toe. This is a big look for fall and instantly ups the glamor quotient of any ensemble.



Military is back! I have fond memories of my Doc Marten's from high school and apparently I am so old that they are back again. Sad for my psyche, happy for my feet! This studded pair by Free People is pricey at $388, but really fun and interesting. The studding is not too over-powering to the boot meaning that they can be worn with multiple looks. Sometimes, when a shoe is too overwhelming, it loses it's ability to be worn regularly. Be ready to rock these boots with everything from dresses to skinny jeans. This is a fairly young shoe and should be limited to a "Forever 21" type of crowd. The great thing about them though is that even if you are not an alternative rocker, you too can pull this boot off. Have fun and go out of your comfort zone!


Don't worry if you can't wear the studded military boot anymore, you have another high heeled option! By toning down the sharp utilitarian feel and adding a heel, these boots become instantly more sophisticated. They are so much more accessible to every age and style. Try pairing them with a simple ensemble such as jeans and a blazer to add some trend and edge to your look. If you are really feeling fun, a simple, straight style dress is a great combination as well. Push yourself to try something new! You won't break the bank in these Guess boots for $150.


Ahhhh, riding boots. I loved them 3 years ago, I love them today and I will love them 3 years from now. These babies aren't going anywhere and I am thankful for that! They are so chic, so fantastic, so rugged. I instantly feel like I should head out to the Hampton's for a polo match when I put them on. I don't know a thing about polo (other then hot men seem to play it), but I sure do know how to dress for a match. The great thing about riding boots though, is that you don't have to be going to a polo game to wear them! Rock them in the city, rock them in the suburbs, rock them in the country! Throw on leggings and a longer sweater and you are ready for a casual stroll in the park. You really just can't go wrong with these boots no matter your age, social status or style.

One of my personal favorites for fall shoe trends is the funky sneaker. Realistic for function, realistic for style. These PF Flyers are just above what I would pay at $130, but will really kick your outfit up a notch! I walk around NYC for a living, so comfort and style must go hand in hand. These two concepts do not have to live separately. I refuse to wear sneakers unless one of two things is going on: 1. My back is killing me. 2. I am going to the gym. This allows me to be happy and comfortable at the same time. Yea for dressy sneakers.


Rounding out my top ten for fall is the platform pump. Just when you thought they couldn't get heels any higher, they did. The great thing about this trend though, is that the higher you make the platform, the flatter your foot actually is. Your foot is not technically painfully arched because you have balanced out the heel with a toe platform. Finally, designers have caught onto the fact that pain should not equal fashion!!!! These Brian Atwood Maniac pumps for $575 have been all the rage for a while now and have spread what some would consider an epidemic of platform heels across the nation. I am just happy it is an epidemic I can handle:)

So ladies, even if you purchase just one new pair of shoes this fall season make sure you will love them, cherish them and most of all, wear them. Enjoy!