New Year, New Looks, and how you can rock it in 2016

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Hello all, happy 2016!

I've got a lot of new projects coming up that I can't wait to share.  2016 started looking good before it even arrived, and now here it is!  How was everyone's year?  I'm so grateful for a wonderful year of life experiences and amazing people.   In the year ahead, I'm looking forward to more new experiences, travels to new places, meeting new people, and introducing everything in between here on the blog.  

To start, I want to share this dress designed by Minika Ko.  Minika shared her designs with me a couple of weeks ago, and I loved her work.  One of my favorite pieces of hers was this metallic gold goddess dress.  It was draped from just one piece of fabric, and sewn at the side with just one seam.  How cool is that?  

 

 

The dress is like wearing liquid gold.  Luxurious, sexy, and not for the faint of heart.  Its fluid draping falls in all the right places, with a surprise baring of skin in the back.
Of course, this is a dress for a special occasion - like a celebrating new year.  The key to pulling off a dress like this? Already believing you can rock it.  When talking about certain looks or styles they love, many people tell me they "couldn't" - whether it's the dress, the hair, or a certain makeup look.  My response to that is always: you never know until you try! Perhaps you can't wear an exact look someone else is wearing for whatever reasons, but why not try tweaking it a bit? Tailor the idea to your body shape, face, or skin tone.  Shortening the hem a couple of inches, adding a belt, choosing a hair color a couple of shades darker - there are many ways to make it work!  One of my goals this year is to help more people with these obstacles and to share advice in order to get you to pull it off.  Stay tuned, and please share in the comments about some tricky style issues you'd like me to write about!

Here's to the new year!
xoxo
 

Photos by Lucas Huang

Casual Chic Fridays + Weekends

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Sweatshirt - Elizabeth and James
Jeans - Iro (on sale!)
Shoes - Kathryn Amberleigh

Weekends.  You don't wanna dress up, but you want to look cute for brunch.  Sweats sound great, but you want to avoid looking like a bum.  
Solution: keep the sweatshirt.  Throw on jeans, add heels.  This is a perfect Friday look because it's still the weekday but you're just about ready to throw the towel in- and still appropriate through Sunday.  A pair of fun heels (like these cool velvety ones) will instantly turn your comfy sweatshirt outfit into what you can call a "casual chic" look.  Added bonus: plenty of room left to binge on truffle fries and pizza without anyone even noticing. 
Oh, and as you can see- it's not just any old sweatshirt.  Wearing a sweatshirt with quality material or a little bit of structure will distinguish the difference between sloppy and "casual chic".  Embellishments don't hurt either.  (This little sample sale find made me want to dust off the bedazzler and hit up the craft store to bling up the rest of my sweatshirts.  I refrained.)  I did score this top at a sample sale, but I've found some similar pieces you can check out below.  Go forth and find your comfortable chicness.

 

Photos by Dennis Christians


Jumpsuit style and a Designer Revival

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Jumpsuit - Norma Kamali
Hat - Topshop//Belt - Nicholas
Cape blazer - Nasty Gal
Bag - Loeffler Randall

How much do I love a simple black jumpsuit that's equal parts stylish and comfortable?  Let's just say this piece is on heavy rotation, and I don't care who knows it.  Basic black, easy to style.  A belt to give it shape and a jacket.  "Is it a cape? Is it a blazer," you ask? I don't really have the answer to that, but it does have arm holes and I love it.  Worry-free fashion girl on the run.

Photos by Myesha Evon


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Bill Blass is back and with a completely new aesthetic.  I got a first look at their collection at their launch party last week and loved the whole new look given by creative director Chris Benz.  The pieces are designed to be the "cherry on top" of your outfit, and I want all of it.  Ruffles, bright colors, and embellishments, funky and ladylike all at once.  Get a look at the pieces now.  Tell me what you think.  

And we're back...from NYFW!

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I'm back from the whirlwind of a week that is New York Fashion Week.  I'm exhausted, inspired, and full of ideas.  I want to share everything with you all at once, but that would be overwhelming.  I actually started my NYFW the day before official "Day 1", so I am going to start with "Day 0" and take you through.  Hope you find some inspiration as well - let me know what you think!
*All NYFW photos are mine unless otherwise specified

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Day 0

My NYFW kicked off with Daniel Silverstain.  Futuristic cool with asymmetric yet clean lines, whites and neutrals with splashes of colors, and several metallic pieces mixed in.  Hair was sleek with cool braids spiked into structural slicked back ponies.  The futuristic tribal feel that was emitted from the clothing was completed by the simple dotted white eye makeup. 
The aesthetic of this collection spoke to me and my style because it is innovative and creative in textiles and structure- without going overboard.  Much like the Silverstain jacket that I own and happened to wear to his show.

How To Wear a Fancy Dress During the Day

You may remember this dress that I'd worn previously with an elaborate neckpiece that was nowhere near subtle.  Well, I always try to re-wear and restyle my pieces in new ways, so that I get the most out of them, but no one will even notice I wore it twice (because in the age of social media- gasp! Who wants that?). 
This time, I paired my dress with Daniel's jacket, and along with my metallic Adidas to downplay the dress that, by itself, would have been worn to a fancier occasion.  If you're going to wear a long dress to anything other than a formal party or wedding, balance is necessary.  Heels are overkill and flats are casual, but not quite flattering with the maxi length.  Sneakers portray the casual-cool chic look in a clearly intentional way. 

More updates on my week continue here tomorrow!

 

*I was unable to find a link to my exact model of Adidas, but I will be opening my shop where I will be selling them soon, so keep an eye out!

 

Feeling Pretty in the Park

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Skirt - Topshop, similar here
Bodysuit - American apparel
Shoes - Isa Tapia//Clutch - Lauren Merkin
Jacket - Zara

 

It's amazing how much quiet ground there exists in this city of millions where you sometimes feel there is no personal space left.  I took a trip up to the conservatory garden up on the north end of Central Park, and aside from a few wandering couples, I had the place to myself, and was able to explore the garden and pretty paths.   

A skirt like this is something that makes you feel girlish and pretty as soon as you put it on.  Pair with a fitted bodysuit, keep the color theme simple so as not to overwhelm the look.  Also, I'm in love with these Isa Tapia shoes, aren't they gorg? Bloomie's sale rack.

Take the time to slow things down a bit and stroll through the park, because life goes too fast- just as this summer has.  I plan to visit a couple more parks and takes some hikes before this beautiful weather turns gray, and I hope you do the same!

x

 

Photos by Dennis Christians