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!

Fashionista Prep (and me!) in the NY Times!!!

READ ALL ABOUT IT!!!

NY TIMES ARTICLE
Eric Wilson: Style Section

Those Who Can, Teach

Business has been tough for the dressmaker Kathlin Argiro during the recession, as it has for virtually every small business on Seventh Avenue. Seeing other designers close their doors, she was determined to save her studio by whatever means she could dream up.
“Out of necessity comes creativity,” Ms. Argiro said last week, speaking over the din of a half-dozen teenagers who were sprawled on her floor, cutting pages out of magazines. For four days, she set aside her design work for a venture that taps into the career aspirations of the “Project Runway” generation, basically a stylish boot camp, called Fashionista Prep. For $495, students learn the ropes of design, public relations and styling from Ms. Argiro and her colleagues.
“Purple shoes, I think, might be a bit too much,” Amy Salinger, a professional stylist, instructed Lizzie Borowiec, 15, from Summit, N.J., who had paired a J. Crew navy blazer with a lace dress, two intertwined belts, a pearl necklace on a satin ribbon and fingerless lace gloves, for a good-girl-gone-bad assignment. The outfit was Rachel Zoe worthy, but missing something. “Pointed toe makes it sexy,” Ms. Salinger said. “Round toe makes it sweet and innocent.”
In another corner was Maggie Hemphill, a precocious 14-year-old from Scranton, Pa., who, while in the sixth grade, started her own magazine, called Maggie-Zine. When she was littler, as in 3, she wanted to be a designer. But her career focus has since shifted into editing and styling; and, as a result of her training, she now thinks, “I kind of want to own a publication company so I can work with a number of different magazines.”
Feeding into the interest in fashion careers, LIM College hosted a seminar for teenagers this month, Teen Vogue has its Fashionista University and other summer fashion camps have popped up around the country. Ms. Argiro said that she was somewhat frustrated to hear from potential investors who were more interested in her instructional business than her dress line.
“Everybody wants to get into fashion,” she said. “God help them.”

"Ms. Salinger" Teaches Styling to Teens!

It is hard to imagine that I am double the age of my fashion students from Fashionista Prep. Take this picture for example: I pride myself on the fact that it takes a moment to figure out who the 31 year old is. Add in the blue bow on my head and it becomes a "Where's Waldo" of age. I love this, thrive on it and refuse to believe that you found me right away:)

All that aside, I am 31 and am twice the age of these lovely gals which means I do have the experience to teach them all about the styling world. For 4 days last week, I took 7 lovely young ladies under my wing and taught them the in's and out's of fashion styling. From personal styling to photo shoot styling, each and every one of them showed off their creative skills. I was overwhelmingly impressed with each of their innate abilities to style fabulously! I can tell you this, at 15 years old my style was non-existent. I believed I knew what I was doing, but until around 23, I really had no idea. I look back at pictures with my Doc Marten boots and Abercrombie sweaters and just ask myself, "Why!?!".

So any good styling class is going to have to be hands on. I remember sitting in lecture halls in college thinking, "Who the hell is really paying attention to this overhead slide and monotone teacher?". Well, certainly not me. I believe in bringing students into the mix and actually getting their hands dirty!

One of the challenges for the class was to create a "fashion closet" for the girls to style from. What better way then to have them each bring in their own favorite pieces and borrow a few from their sister or mom. Of course I brought in a ton too. With jewelry, shoes, belts, bags and clothing, we were ready to go!

Before we could dive into the styling, I wanted each of the girls to create an inspiration board for their "photoshoot". Arts and crafts never gets old! Everyone brought in their favorite fashion magazines and began to chop. I directed each of them to not only cut out fabulous outfits that would match their concept, but also to choose a model with the right look for their shoot. They were to create full concepts from clothing to models to set design.

The best part about this little project is that style writer Eric Wilson from the NY Times was there to watch the whole thing so he could write a story. Check him out in the mirror!

And now for the finale! I encouraged the girls to be creative and think outside of the box when creating their outfits. We were not specifically pulling clothing with a concept in mind when we created our "fashion closet", so we had to work with what we had. Luckily, in addition to bringing in our personal wardrobes, the class was held at Kathlin Argiro's design studio so we had tons of couture pieces to choose from!

Jaclyn and Catherine decided to go with an "Alice in Wonderland" theme. They created a gown utilizing different loose pieces in the showroom. As opposed to many shoots where there would be a bevy of gowns to choose from, they had to be super crafty and create their look from what we had. In styling, a lot of times things are technically one thing, but are used as another. Just like the scarf they used to create a skirt, not a usual place for such a thing, but it works!

Overall, the class was a smashing success! Each of the girls individually thanked me for taking them into the world of styling and showing them what it is all about. It is crazy, it is fun, it is often times overwhelming. But, at the end of the day, you are being creative, doing what you love and playing dress up for a living!!!!

Summer Styling Class with Yours Truly!!!

Summer Styling Course for Tweens, Teens

and Young Adults 11yr.-24yr.

Do you know someone who is dying to be a Stylist? Join Nationally recgonized Stylist Amy Salinger and Fashionsita Prep along with Elle Girl Model Search:

Class Starts Aug. 2nd -5th M-F 11am-4pm $495
ONLY 20 students per class!!

Sign Up ends July 15th!!

Students will learn how to style for high fashion photoshoots and how to work with personal clients to develope their individual looks / wardrobe by buying what they need and using what they have. In addition the students will put together a mock business based off their individual interest in the fashion styling industry.

Students will take a trip to Bloomingdales flag ship store to learn how to put together a great outfit at any price and a class photoshoot will let them feel like a real nyc stylist! Students will walk away with a new sense of individual style and the knowledge of how to present themselves in the fashion industry. With Amy Salinger there is no such thing as having "nothing to wear."

www.FashionistaPrep.com