The Little Red Dress
May 4, 2010
This spring and summer is all about mixing nudes with a splash of color. The little black dress may be a classic but what about the little red one?
When the design is simple and classic, dare to add some bold color! The trick with color is to find a balance, you don’t want to over do it. Keep the contras in balance with soft natural tones and controlled splashes of color (as in this case, very light clean make up paired with a bold red dress and red lipstick to match).
The same could be done with a pink or yellow, only in the case of yellow keep your lipstick a peachy tone or play with a hot pink. Find your color and go for it with a classic design. This dress pictured here is a pleated tube dress from KENZI on yesstyle.com. You can view more styles from Kenzi on YES STYLE by clicking below.
A design so simple that stands out from color gives you a lot of options. On its own it is fabulous, but when you mix in accessories it becomes an entirely new look. This dress can be worn simple for the earlier afternoon, and then can be glamed out in the evening with some black tights, accessories, and an elegant updo. Of course, in all of these styling ideas you must maintain a balance.
For this look, I kept my make up simple with soft skin tones for a glowy and natural look. KATE has some great colors that leave a clean and flawless finish, but also goes on smoothly.
I just started using them recently and have been happy with the results. Sometimes eye shadows are flaky and don’t cover, or worse they cover too much and leave a mess. So far these have been treating me nicely, and it feels light on the skin which I like.
I am going to have to try their lipstick and lip glosses next. I wanted to start with the eye shadows to get a feel for quality and I am thrilled. Their mascara is really nice, too. I’ve been using it for a few weeks. It feels very silky, and though sweat-proof it is designed to come off gently with warm water. That’s something I am pretty cautious of, I don’t like anything too harsh. Even normal waterproof mascara is something I use only when I need to since it is rough on your eyelashes. We’ve got to keep them, soft, luscious, and long after all!
Dreaming Of Elegant Silver Styles
April 18, 2010
(And An Elegant Side Braid…)
Spring is here and is filled with beautiful colors, pleasant pastels, pinks, nudes, and shimmers of silver. I like to play with the youthful attitude spring provides for us in our fashion by keeping looks simple, clean, and very fresh. This means in both our clothing items as well as our hair and make up.
Here I have kept the focus on two solid and bold colors: hot pink and silver. Everything else is natural, nude, and soft to build a pretty contrast without going over the top. Because the make up is so light and clean, save for the bold lipstick, I wanted to do something with my hair to break up the symmetry.
With a bubble style dress, tiered in this case, there is plenty of volume so I want to allow more for the feminine form through the limbs and neck, rather than the waist which is hidden. And so I swept all my hair to one side to make a simple and thick braid. When your hair is as thick as mine, you can also add some form by making a curve to rest on your shoulders.
The dress is from designer TIAN MU of YESSTYLE.com. I purchased this some time ago and am enjoying it now in the sunny weather. The shine is mesmerizing and I love how the tiers go slightly longer in the back. If you wanted to make it form fitted then all you need to do is add a belt and change up the style completely. Gotta love that in a dress!
You can view more styles from TIAN MU by clicking HERE.
Are you dreaming of silver this spring?
Kimono Satin Sleeve Luxury
March 2, 2010
Those who know me well know that I love fashion that is bigger than life. The bigger the sunglasses, the bigger the watch- I love it and am there. And I love volume. All of course within a balance, but that is what makes fashion so great. So in this case with my latest find from designer Nabi on yesstyle.com- Gigantic sleeves? Oh, yes you better believe it.
Flower Print Kimono Sleeve Satin Dress From Nabi
The fabric flows feeling like silk against the skin and is covered in a bold black and white print. On such giant flowing sleeves such as these, you have an animated and bold look. This print with the volume of the sleeves gives a fresh style making you ready for any soiree. A belt has been designed to come through the middle without disrupting the sleeves, allowing them to move fully and show their gigantic form. The dress looks killer both with and without the belt; the belt just adds a slight bit more structure.
It is kinda like a mix between a kimono dress and butterfly wings, lol. I love this movement and the angles the sleeves form even when the dress is perfectly still. It is a statement piece that looks elegant on its own, ready for any event.
I also like how the length is kept short so you can really focus in on the sleeves. If it was long and full, the sleeves would just blend in unnoticed. Instead, this gives you a jagged edge on either side, which looks great when you are walking and the sleeves are in motion. Since they are thin they pick up the slightest breeze nicely, giving you animated volume in each step. Simply beautiful!
Nabi translates into “me” and “free” and is inspired by traditional and international fashion, bringing great new styles and welcoming prices. I like what has been done here with this dress as it is an instant statement piece. I have my eyes on a couple of other items from Nabi and look forward to seeing what else becomes available.
The Suit Jacket’s Daring Edgy Factor
February 5, 2010
We all know and love the classic suit jacket, with its fitted structure, collar, and buttons. But sometimes we want a more edgy look: something daring, bold, and exciting. Enter in the leggings!
Traditionally a suit-type jacket is worn with matching trousers or a pencil skirt and collared white blouse underneath. It is a classic look. But when you want more of an edgy factor, that same business style garment suddenly opens many more opportunities. This is also a great way to expand your style from the pieces you already have existing in your closet.
Take for instance what I have done here with my gray double-breasted long jacket from BLACK QUEEN and leggings from Peplum, both of which I found on YESSTYLE.com (check out more of their leggings here).
Just a simple classic jacket, great for any occasion paired with some edgy leggings for a daring look.
Rethink your wardrobe and see what creative mixes you can find. And think of your future fashion finds: what new item would reinvent nearly your entire closet, or maybe just some of your favorites? Leggings go a long way from pairing up with dresses, vests, t shirts, and jackets. They also make your shoes look like something new as well.
A traditional styled jacket is great for those classic looks on the formal side, worn with a pair of skinny jeans on the casual side, or worn here with some bold leggings for the edgy side. Remember, a new item doesn’t mean just a new outfit- it means many new possibilities for all of your existing outfits! Expand your style in volumes.
Dreaming Of Silver Links
January 31, 2010
There is something dreamy about a bunch of silver strands and links elegantly combined, especially when it comes to necklaces. My normal accomplishment of such a look is by cleverly combining necklaces of various lentgths together, making sure the end result is elegant and bold but never a mess. Every now and then you find a piece that on it’s own accomplishes the look beautifully. This piece from Truffles Co. is just on case!
The combination of links and strands with a decorated piece bringing the links together, gently hanging down at an angle depending on how it is worn, works beautifully.
The miss match of link sizes with collected strands and a decorative piece with beads makes for a unique and fashionable look. Worn alone is fantastic, but it also gives you the opportunity to mix another piece into this already elaborate setup. The entire piece is designed quite long, in fact it is long enough to be worn as a belt (it is not unusual for me to find link styled belts and wear them as a necklace, lol).
The way I like to wear this style is by having half of the necklace show in the front, and have the other half decorate the back. This works great with dresses or tops that scoop in the front and the back. It can really dress up the look.
I like to wear it where half of each design is showing for a different kind of look. You could certainly wear it where each uniformed style shows from one view- one in the front and one in the back, keeping the decoration resting on the shoulder. But I like the dynamic of the mix.
Another possibility I am playing with is mixing it up as a choker or or very elaborate bracelet. With the length and change of styles there are many opportunities to explore.
I love playing around with shapes and textures, especially when they are in the same color scheme. Elaborate earrings are another fun area you see the trend in, most commonly with chandelier type earrings. I like earrings that are unique and miss matched; having the same theme so you can tell they belong together. When earrings resemble each other but have different lengths, I think that, too, is a fun style with a lot of opportunities. Take for instance this set that also plays into the links feel. This find is another item from Truffles Co. available on yesstyle.com.
Anyone can miss match a pair of earrings, but getting them to feel like a part of the same set is where it gets interesting. They either have to have been designed that way or play as a part of a theme. They have to look like they belong.
This piece from yesstyle.com does that well. You have all the same elements presented only slightly different, giving it a very unique and bold look. I love it. And it has the links and strands that I have been craving in my fashion.
What fashion cravings have you been having?
Lace Takes A Walk On The Wild Side
January 8, 2010
Lace can be such a delicate and dainty material that gives you a feminine attitude in your style. But then there’s the other side of lace’s personality: the wild one!
With a pair of patterned stirrups tights like the ones pictured above, the word that comes to mind is FIERCE. There is an animal print quality in this pattern that when combined with the texture of lace is absolutely stunning. There’s nothing dainty about this lace, it’s all about the bold killer style approach.
This particular pair is from designer MELISSA found on YESSTYLE.com and is the perfect element for creating a daring look. This is style that stands out from far away, absolutely lovely.
I’ve been getting into leggings and tights more than ever before since I’ve discovered so many interesting and unique styles. I think it is great how a strong design on the legs makes your existing shoe and dress collection take a whole new dimension. Everything is new again, and always exciting.
If you are looking for more creative styles to expand your closet with, do a search for “leggings” within YESSTYLE’s site and I think you will find some fun ideas and inspirations. A walk on the wild side never felt so fabulous!
Double The Lines For Glamorous Eyes
August 5, 2009
A color looks extra bold and brilliant when it is brushed up against a simple black line, double it and you have one strong and glamorous look. Add some sultry lashes and you have a lovely look!
I like to change my make-up look on a regular basis. Otherwise I get bored and it’s hard to get excited about things when you are feeling bored. So I’ll play with anything from classic to exotic. It varies from my mood, the season, and my outfits. If you’ve ever picked an outfit revolving around a shoe, I’m sure you’ve done the same with make up as well, lol.
I love this look, I invent it back into my style here and there. Sometimes I just forget until the idea strikes me again- you know? But I do love how elegant this look feels, and how incredibly simple it is to match with any outfit. It dresses up the casual wear and balances beautifully with the more formal styles. The flair finish of the blue eye shadow at the edges of the eye mean they have an attitude for anything!
A very simple look that takes very little time. Gotta love that. When I have my eyes dressed up in a bold fashion, I like to keep the rest of my face simple. Just a touch of blush or bronze on the cheeks- like a subtle sun kissed look, and then either nude or glossed lips.
It’s all warm and sunny outside today, so I’m going with the lip gloss look. A nice, simple shine. Maybe later in the evening if I want to be more dramatic in this look, I’ll wear a nude shade of lipstick. That will really make the eyes stand out.
Some Fashion Favorites Are Simple And Fabulous
June 27, 2009
What are some of your favorite fashion pieces in your wardrobe? For me, no matter how many new fabulous finds I discover, some of the oldest pieces still to this day will stand out to me. It doesn’t matter the name, the price, or where it was found- some of our favorite styles continue to treat us well each and every day when we need them most.
I have many pieces that do this for me, but yesterday I brought out a skirt I haven’t worn in ages. I love this skirt, and if I remember correctly it wasn’t much more than ten dollars in price. The color, ruffles, and movement always make me feel pretty and fabulous.
I decided to curl my hair to match the texture of the skirt, that way when I move there is balance and luxury in every step. I love it. And with a skirt as brilliant in color and texture as this, not much else is needed. It is simply bold and beautiful on its own.
Normally I will wear a fitted simple black top with this skirt, but I decided to bring out another fashion favorite of mine, though newer to my collection- a loose fit elegant black top. Both of these pieces are from forever 21, and I will combine them with my more expensive designer items all the time.
I love how the loose-fit black tops can go with anything- even with shorts they look so elegant and effortless. Not to mention how comfortable they are. Sometimes this style of top will fall off the shoulder, giving just a hint but it works so well the feel of the outfit. I don’t mind it at all. It just flows so naturally.
I also like the contrast of a smooth, flowing top with a basic structure matched up against a skirt that is rigid and uneven at the end. When it flows from one piece into the other it feels so lovely.
With a look like this I am ready for anything- running errands, enjoying an evening to myself, or going out for cocktails. The skirt is old but the top is new. I think there is always room to mix our old loves with our new ones when it comes to style. After all, that’s what makes it our own unique style.
Vintage Floral Hat For An Elegant Look
June 21, 2009
I love my collection of vintage hats, though it isn’t too often I get the chance to wear them. In the summer months though, I will occasionally bring out one of the more delicate hats I have and combine it with a french twist updo for an elegant and sleek look.
The hat here plays more like a hair accessory- it is feminine and delicate but very bold and stylish. I love the little details and colors of this piece, mostly consisting of a floral theme. But if you look carefully, the very back row piece is a beautiful line of bows. So darling!
The theme is almost as if from a fairy tale, but very wearable even in our modern times. I like to keep the rest of my outfit very simple with just a classic black dress, and maybe get playful with the accessories. Colors to accent are ideal and gold works very well with this hat in particular.
I think there is still room in our world for hats, kept classic with a modern twist.
Wearing this hat always makes me feel at my best, powerful, and elegant. I love that feeling! It isn’t an every day piece, but when worn it definitely makes the day a special one to remember.
