BEST OF LUCK

I love bandeaus - but finding them hasn’t always been...

Sat, 16 Jun 2012 23:24:27 -0400

I love bandeaus - but finding them hasn’t always been easy. Before the bandeau trend was overwhelmingly popular, finding a cute one that had underwire was IMPOSSIBLE. Because I don’t have the largest chest in the world, I frequently wore them under strapless tops or dresses, even when they had a built in bra to ensure I wouldn’t have to consistently pull up my outfit all day or night long. Not to mention with its elastic all around the bottom, and usually the top, they are a lot more reliable than just strapless bras.

Now lots of girls are rocking bandeaus under sheer or lace tops. I’m not a huge fan of this look. It has a very 90’s, gross, club look to it. Not to mention it makes me want to give any girl sporting it hot pants, and plastic heels. There is a way to wear a bandeau tastefully- to make it a classic look, and not one that would make your mother scream.

When wearing a bandeau underneath a top, I always choose a black top, its much more subtle and when risking that much skin - one bad turn and you can look quite skanky. A shirt thats ALMOST sheer is the perfect one for a bandeau underneath - not completely sheer.

Another way to wear a bandeau: look for a longer bandeau one that hits about 2-3 inches below where a normal one would hit. And pair it with a highwaisted skirt, pant or short for a more elegant and classy rendition of the look.

Just going to tan on the beach and not planning on splashing in the waves? Don’t want to spend extra on a strapless, bathing suit top? Especially one that wouldn’t stay up in the water anyways? Opt for a bandeau (a thinner one of course) you’ll achieve a flawless, strap-free tan, perfect for sunbathing!

Here are some of my favorite bandeaus, click the link to shop the look:

Peacock Paisley Underwire Bandeau Top in Casablanca Blue

Nameless Hold Me Tight Bandage Bandeau

Sequin Midi Bandeau Top

Return of the Mackinac Bustier Top

Microfiber Bandeau Bra

There are important factors to a summer wardrobe- things like a...

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 23:11:02 -0400

There are important factors to a summer wardrobe- things like a floral print dress, wedge sandals, or beach cover-up, but they don’t easily transcend through other seasons wardrobes- and these are pieces you will have to invest in. With the right set of mind you can buy the perfect summer pieces, that fit you and your wardrobe!

An ultimate wardrobe should consist of a majority of key pieces, or wardrobe staples (An article about what these pieces should be and where to buy them in the future!). But it should ALSO consist of those gotta-have items, the ones that stand out, that bring through your personality, that styleize those key pieces into an outfit fit for you.

A summer dress - is a summer wardrobe staple. Every girl has to have AT LEAST one. With this brief style guide - I hope I’ll be able to help you in choosing the perfect ones for you.

First, if you don’t have one already - I would invest in a simple summer dress. By simple, I mean no extreme cutouts, or open back, of a moderate length, and neutral color (creams, white, black, navy, or brown). I say this because you will be able to do much more to a simple summer dress, and it will last you through many many summer seasons by not limiting your to a specific color or a pattern trend.

Second, make sure to invest in one of a finer material- like silk. The color in cotton tends to fade easily, and jersey tends to stretch too much after many uses. Don’t be afraid to spend about $50-$100 on a dress - for the most part you do get what you pay for, and if you want a dress to last you through the seasons, than spending a little more can really be worth your while.

You really want to be conscious of your body type and what does and does not flatter your figure when buying a dress. A flattering dress can do your body wonders, and highlight the best parts - take advantage of that, and skip what you know just doesn’t work, no matter how gorgeous it might be on the hanger or a friend. For example, I know I’ll never be able to pull off a dress with a plunging neckline. As much as I love them, and as many times as I’ve tried them on, they just aren’t the best for me and my body type.

Another piece of advice - and listen to this one! When entering your favorite store, stay focused on the goal - buying a summer dress, don’t allow yourself to get sidetracked. If it benefits you, ask a sales-person for help in locating all the summer dresses in their inventory IN YOUR SIZE. That way you stay away from dresses that are ill-fitting just for their beauty. And, they may hand you dresses in colors or cuts you never would have picked up. THIS IS A GOOD THING, DON’T JUDGE IT BY ITS HANGER APPEAL ALONE, TRY IT ON AND GIVE IT A SHOT!

Now by buying a rather simple dress you have the ability to accessorize and transform it any way you want. Add tights, a belt, a broach, a crew neck full knit sweater on top (to transform the dress into a skirt), and of course, there are unlimited jewelry possibilities.

Because summer dresses are rather light weight, keep in mind that a sweater over top, or tights underneath should be airy and light weight as well. And to keep it ready for day time pair with sandals, embellished flip flops, or wedge sandals. For night, add flats or pumps.

Here are some great rather simple summer dresses to add as a staple to your wardrobe.

Rebecca Minkoff, Eyelet Strapless Bustier Dress

Torn by Ronny Kobo, Brooklyn Pleated Dress

Cefian, New Colors on the Block Belted Dress

French Kiss, Of My Shoulders Mini Dress

Nine Bird Under the Sun Tank Dress

You’ll noticed I included a mint in my branch of neutral, safe dresses to gear towards. Although mint is in season, it is a beauitful pale color which will always be trendy - because spring, and summer = pastels, and brights. Pastels are the new timeless summer answer to florals. I didn’t display a bright, because adding tights, a pump, and a leather jacket could eaily transform a pastel dress into a fall or winter evening out, which is not so easily done with a neon.

And remember, if you have the extra cash to spend, feel free to add a more colorful or patterned dress to your closet for summer. The point is to shop wisely for what you can afford - assuming that might only be one dress to last you for quite a while.

Oh La La! Look at those nails! I tend to keep my nails rather...

Sun, 27 May 2012 17:56:00 -0400

Oh La La! Look at those nails! I tend to keep my nails rather short- to make them easier to maintain and more practical- I also tend to keep them rather neutral, with either just a top coat or a soft pink or coral. But with brights all the rage this summer season - i decided to take a little beauty risk and try the bright pastel shades on my lovely digits.

I knew just the color I wanted to try, since green is my favorite color - naturally I chose a bright mint green. But it sure was hard to choose, lots of nail care lines are recognizing the latest trends in bright pastels and neons and stocking the drugstore shelves with all of the above.

One thing I won’t do and this is really up to your preference and of course, your budget - is spend a lot of money on a shade I just gotta have. My secret to avoiding the high price tags? Walk into the store with $6 dollars in cash (so it’s impossible to spend any more) and your nails unpainted. Look at ALL of the nail color displays and pick some of your favorites- then if possible, open them up and try a test swipe of each on each finger. You can take a few minutes to finish browsing through the store and then select which lovely shade you like once you see the dried, finished project. If you can’t decide between two shades, lots of times drugstore’s offer a buy 1 get 1 50% off special within a line. So get both!

If there is a color within a high-end line you MUST have, then take that polish with you as you browse around the store and color match it as best as you can to a color within a cheaper line. No other color is going to be exactly the same but you can get pretty darn close!

There really isn’t a difference between high-end or lower-end nail care lines. When the color chips off depends on a lot of things, something a few extra dollars on a bottle of your favorite shade cant change. I always go through a 3 step buffing system with my nails prior to painting, and always finish with a top coat - and I usually get about a week before they need to be touched up. Also make sure to let the color dry before you go about your business - as not to mess up your freshly polished fingers.

I’m not too into painting designs on my nails- one because I feel I am awful at it and two the design can’t usually transcend a versatile wardrobe. So I tend to stick with solid colors, but feel free to express yourselves. With a neutral or more plain outfit- your nails can really add some spice.

Happy Painting!

Wedges! Wedges Wedges! It is that time again! In honor of my...

Sun, 27 May 2012 03:05:00 -0400

Wedges! Wedges Wedges! It is that time again! In honor of my current fashion search - I thought I would do a little about you guessed it, the wedge. And more specifically- the wedge sandal. I love wedge sandals, they let your cute toes breathe, maintain the summer look, and have a heel, not to mention they are super comfy, and easy to walk in. The wedge may be in fact - the perfect shoe!

On my last trip to the big apple for a NY Design Week event, I wore cute black flats. Rather simple, yet professional, and most importantly comfy. I have been to NYC plenty of times but never for work, so I faced a HUGE dilemma - how do I stay fashion forward, professional, and comfortable for an entire day walking through the big city?! In a time and money crunch - flats were the way to go.

On June 6, I will be visiting the city again - still doing lots of walking, but this time what about some wedges? So I have been doing some research on ultra cute wedges and would love to share with you some findings. Although I tend to stick to more neutral colored shoes, wedge sandals do allow you to experiment with a subtle color on the strap or buckle - they bring a little flare to an otherwise simple shoe - perfect for the summer season.

Below are some AMAZING wedge sandals I’ve come across. Which one’s are your fav?

Steve Madden’s Tampaa

ALDO’s Larhonda

French Connection Eva T-Bar Sandals

Theory Zakia Open Toe Wedge

Cynthia Vincent Espadrille Wedge Sandal

Of course the beach is one of those places we look forward to...

Fri, 25 May 2012 02:39:00 -0400

Of course the beach is one of those places we look forward to most once the sun comes out, and the weather warms up. I absolutely love the beach - I’m not a big swimming in the ocean fan, but I love sunbathing, reading a good book in a lawn chair, and the glow it gives my skin, and the natural waves - the seasalt and wind, give my hair.

Unfourtunately I haven’t been to the beach in almost two years - and I’m missing it dearly. All this work has me in need of a MAJOR vacation - no stress, no worries, just warm weather, and of course A BATHING SUIT!

Picking the ultimate bathing suit, or shall I say SUITS is a huge part of my preparation for summer. I don’t see the beach too often since its quite a few hours of driving away, but through many bathing suit horrors - I have some helpful tips for all you sunkissed beauties.

Probably my BIGGEST piece of advice on bathing suit shopping is to completely avoid the stores. Sounds crazy right? How can you possibly find the perfect bathing suit without visiting tons of boutiques and department stores and trying on all your favorites? BY SHOPPING ONLINE!

Store dressing rooms are awful, they leave little room for movement, and the intense bright lights could make a super model look drab and unappealing. A bathing suit is EXTREMELY revealing and having a ton of confidence is required to fully work your suit of choice. And let’s face it, trying on any bathing suit in that lighting will do nothing for you but further highlight your flaws. AND THATS THE LAST THING YOU NEED!

Please check your online store’s return policies prior to purchasing - but many online stores are participating in a no-risk bathing suit shopping policy. My favorite store participating in such? J. Crew. For a limited time, you can purchase ANY bathing suit in their online catalog and try it on in the comforts of your own home, and then if you don’t like it - return it no ifs, ands, or buts!

Trying a bathing suit on in your own home as tons of advantages. Your free to move around freely to make sure no fine china slips out, and you can try it on under regular every-day lighting. If you can, try swimsuit shopping at the end of summer, when you are already sun-kissed and can more easily imagine yourself in a suit. Sometimes I find it unrealistic to try on a suit when I’m as pale as the white wall I’m standing in front of. With a glowing skin complexion you can pull off colors you would never try before.

Another piece of bathing suit advice - buy two suits, a neutral and a pattern that coincide with the same color palette. Then your free to inter-mix them- wearing a pattern top with a solid bottom, or a solid top and a pattern bottom. By spending the money on two of the same color palette suits - you can create 4 suits instead.

A beach trip would be nothing without the right bathing suit - but accessorizing it for the boardwalk or covering up by the pool is just as important. One accessory to completely avoid when sitting by the pool or splashing in the water - jewelry. Jewelry rusts when it gets wet- so don’t even take your chances, not to mention I can’t even estimate the times I’ve lost my favorite bracelet, necklace, earrings or rings somewhere in the ocean. Feel free to pack jewelry for your beach trip - just place them on once all the crazy water activites are through.

If your’e not going in the water, and just relaxing pool side you can also transform that typical bathing suit look. I love to wear a bandeau top rather than a bathing suit top- they usually have an elastic band around them so you get a perfect strapless bathing suit tan (free of awkward strap lines) without the worry you might lose your top! You can also bring an oversized thin white button down with you to wear over top of your bathing suit rather than those typical sheer beach cover ups. The beach coverups made of towel material are just god awful. Towels are for drying not for wearing!

A cute floppy hat, great beach tote, and embellished flip flops (sandals are too hard to get on an off and they easily trap sand) can be a girls best accessory friends for a beach trip.

Below I have included some of my FAVORITE bathing suits, available for your online purchase - all from you guessed it, J. Crew:

Caspian Paisley Triangle Halter Top

Antique Paisley Twist-Front Bandeau Top

Deck-Stripe Underwire Top

Lifesaver Halter Top

Oxford-Stripe Tank

And here are some awesome beachy accessories, Enjoy:

ALDO Vallie Shoulder Tote

Steve Madden Troppic Flip Flops

Forever 21 Star Studded High-Low Shirt (buy a few sizes bigger - and this will be the perfect bathing suit coverup)

Theory Raffica Crochet Wide Brim Hat

7 For All Mankind Tarzana Sunglasses

Express Padded Bandeau Top

*By the way, the picture I posted above is actually from one of my beach trips a few years back. This is a lovely beach in Lucaya- a goregous town in The Bahamas. Ugh! Doesn’t it make you want to jump on a plane!

"Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you."

Wed, 23 May 2012 01:40:00 -0400

“Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

So at one point in our lives, whether we are working our way...

Mon, 21 May 2012 01:33:00 -0400

So at one point in our lives, whether we are working our way through school, need a second job after the birth of a child, or just simply gotta pay that rent/mortgage - we dreadfully get a job with a uniform. But if your a fashion lover- don’t dreadfully put your hair in an ugly bun, and tuck that awful polo into those work pants, WORK IT!

I love fashion, and expressing my style in no matter what I want to or are forced to wear. Right now, although I love my interning position in the fashion industry- it doesn’t pay the bills, so for the time being - waitressing does. The job isn’t glamorous, I get mustard and soda on my clothes, and leave with my face oily, and smelling of grease. But I DO service the public - and meet a lot of people, so why shouldn’t I look my best all the time?! Like Coco Chanel said, “I don’t understand how a woman could leave the house without fixing herself up a little - if only out of politeness. And then, you never know, maybe thats the day she has a date with destiny. And it’s best to be as pretty as possible for destiny.”

So I have contributed some of my ideas for accessorizing and accentuating your drab uniform into a true fashion statement of undying style. There are simple and yet creative ways you can update your hair, makeup, and even the uniform itself with your own personal touches.

Why not try a ballerina bun, a bun with a double headband, a ponytail with a silk scarf as a headband or hairwrap, a messy ponytail with a fishtail braid, or a side braid into a sleek bun or ponytail. For makeup - try using glitter eyeshadown to brighten up those eyes without being too dramatic. You also can experiment with your manicure. Picking up nail polishes at the dollar store - can be an easy and cheap way to transform those hardworking hands into lovely digits. For the actual uniform your grudgingly forced to wear- try pinning back the extra fabric on the side with a lovely broach or pin!

And sometimes, fit is everything in an outfit. So spend some extra time finding a work pant that fits you instead of swallows you whole. If your work is a little more lenient with their “black pant policy” you may even be able to rock those comfy yoga pants- ones with a black fold over of course.

Happy Working!

Causing a returning stir among racks in department stores and...

Sat, 19 May 2012 23:59:00 -0400

Causing a returning stir among racks in department stores and boutiques alike is the peplum. The peplum top or dress are lovely - and very flattering on lots of different body types and figures- it’s no secret that women have been using the look for decades to accentuate their figures - into perfect hour glass shapes. Not to mention many brands have since modified it - so you should have no problem finding the perfect style and color for you and your body!

In this post I thought I would help you with not only different ways to wear a peplum top or dress but show you some of my favorites to provide you with lots of added inspiration!

I love the peplum because it provides you with the appearance of an hour glass shape by accentuating your skinny waist (no matter how true it might be!) and adds extra fabric in that tummy area - where most women want to distract all eyes from. With the extra fabric down lower, it helps to pull focus to the beautiful neck and shoulders of a lady - the perfect top for hair pulled softly back in a low bun and sporting dangle earrings of an eye popping color!

Try wearing a peplum top with a long maxi skirt of another color, or a strapless peplum dress over a lightweight sweater! The peplum is also a perfect top for a thin waist belt- and a perfect style for the office, as well as an evening out with your girlfriends.

Remember, just take one small fashion risk a day - and you’ll develop a beautiful style all your own in no time :)

Here are some great peplums, check them out:

Alice + Olivia Victorian Peplum Dress

Marc by Marc Jacobs Eames Peplum Blouse

Julie Haus Novak Peplum Top

Nanette Lepore Bev Hills Lace Peplum Top

Beauty Haul: The Ballerina Bun :) The ballerina bun is one of my...

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:46:00 -0400

Beauty Haul: The Ballerina Bun :)

The ballerina bun is one of my favorite hairstyles, and it has become quite the trendy up-do. Who knew we’d be channeling those prima donna’s in today’s fashion? But inspiration can come from anywhere in the fashion world.

I love to wear a messy ballerina bun- because of my smaller frame I don’t like my bun to be too sleek or too serious. My hair is naturally wavy so keep that in mind - but here are my steps to creating the messy, fun, ballerina bun.

1. Take a shower the night BEFORE you plan on styling this look in your hair. Use shampoo and conditioner - but while shampooing all your hair, reserve conditioner for the ends- helping to keep the soft, and damage free and preventing an oily scalp from conditioner build up near your roots.

2. Brush your hair, tossing it upside to briefly towel dry - but mostly let your hair air dry- don’t play with it or really touch your hair until it’s 90% dry. And, a little side note my mom always taught me - never go to bed with wet hair.

3. Gather all your hair and fishtail braid it to nearly the end. Leave about 1-2 inches at the end free from the braid. I do this- because throughout the day pieces may fall out of my bun and I prefer them to not be awkwardly crimped!

4. Enjoy a goodnights sleep in your braid :)

5. Wake up, tilt your head upside down and gather your hair at the top- combing through with your fingers for a messy look, or brush into a bun for a sleeker look.

6. Gather your hair into a ponytail using a clear elastic.

7. Twist your pony tail and pin it around the base of the clear elastic, and voila!

Now you can wear the ballerina bun with pretty much everything, I tend to pair it with edgier clothing to give it an innocent edge. It’s also great to pair with dresses that contain a back cut out - to accentuate the dress design and that lovely, sexy back of yours.

Now, if your’e loving the way your dried hair looks in the morning prior to placing it in a ballerina bun you can stick with the down and carlessly wavy look. I always straighten the last 1-2 inches of my hair though just to keep it a little more maintained. This down and wavy look is in fact, my favorite hairstyle! It’s put together yet seamlessly easy and carefree. Perfect!

Enjoy whatever hairstyle you choose and feel free to post in the ASK section any other hair or fashion advice you might need! I’m always here to help!