Archive for July, 2010

photo credit: John Fraissinet

Most of you probably dash out the door nearly every day. How does a girl have up-to-date style AND get to where she’s going in time?

I’ve found there are a few great quickies you can turn to when making yourself look fabulous day in and day out. Here’s some to start with that you don’t have to invest minutes and minutes on:

Quickstyle Tip 1: Get Your Belt On!
I love this trick because putting a belt on provides instant shape and is oh so feminizing to your figure. Wide belts are hourglass making and turn heads. While thin tight belts look smart and oh so pro. Don’t have a belt to suit? Try cinching a silky textured scarf around that torso! Think of belts as big beautiful bracelets for your waist and you’ll be in a very fashionable frame of mind!

Quickstyle Tip 2: Heel!
Every girl with any amount of glamor in her soul has got to have some heels with height in her closet. They don’t need to be skyscraping stilettos either – kitten heels do just fine and come in easy slip on styles. If you know there’s not a lot of walking in your immediately busy future then don’t sweat it and get your toes into something feminine especially if you are wearing pants! And believe me there are plenty of “comfortable” heels out there to suite any stylish girl’s taste.

Quickstyle Tip 3: Bling Yourself!
You can go from drab to fab in seconds just by pairing up a super casual outfit with some elegant blingy jewels. So if you already threw on the boy beater and jeans make it lux with some chandelier earrings and a stack of metallic bracelets. Or dress up that denim and tee shirt you’re sporting with some metallic pumps. Add a dangling bejeweled pendant to solid colored tops or a belt with some sparkle to basic slacks. Whatever you choose to add oomph to that “basic” outfit should shine with this technique.

Okay so that’s all the tips I’ve got for now cause I too am out the door!

Happy (Quick)Styling!

Since I’m up to my eyeballs in “other” work projects (yes that’s right it’s not all glamor & fashion) here’s another review for ya. I created the makeup design pictured above w/ the cheap as hell “White” eyeliner pencil from Wet n Wild. Girls, I tell ya, their pencils are a must for your beauty kits since they work beautifully and don’t cost bunches. Come on we’re still in a recession right? You don’t have to blow all that hard earned cash on pricey department store eye makeup mkay? Let me save you from yourself and those creepy ladies who work the cosmetics counter. Pick these up instead at the drugstore down the street…or whatever. My suggestions? Gray is a gorgeous neutral and white is wonderfully thick making it great for fantasy details or brightening up the inner corner. And sure black is a basic.

Happy Beauty Making! Feel free to comment below and make fun of my photo ;) lol.

Meet Stacy – a real cool girl in the fashion industry

It is said that the world of fashion is a very cutthroat industry filled with not the nicest or even “realest” of folks. Those of us outside of its arena seem to have the impression that designers are demanding geniuses and models are fluffbrained little princesses. What I have found in my recent adventures in this so called fashion world has been refreshing however. It is a world that holds some very genuine people, just like you and me. They just happen to work with a lot of fabric – from the artists that are inspired to create beautiful clothing to the graceful girls that carry the vision on the runway.

I was fortunate enough to meet one such genuine soul during a local fashion show last month – and I’ve been very impressed with both her work, her attitude, and her sense of self within this frantic and often misunderstood industry.

Stacy Rabideau: (photographed above by Jeets Photography)- fashion model and proud of it!

Along with the height, the body, and the beauty this girl has a great head on her shoulders. And she just happens to love the work of modeling, probably not for reasons you would think either.

Reason number one – she loves meeting people. Already an astute observer she learned quickly how to be a savvy and charming networker . She’s the first to tell you how important it is to go right up to people and tell them “hey, what’s your story? what do you do?” or “I love your work”. The results of having those conversations have definitely paid off too. In just one short year since starting this whole modeling gig she’s got a ton of shoots under her belt and even a bit of runway under her feet such walking for local designer Kish Carter.

Reason number two – she enjoys working with artists and creative people. Photographers, makeup artists, designers, writers, videographers, even other models. She has an arsenal of awesome friends within the industry which gives her no shortage of work. This alone makes it such a fun activity for her and has rapidly added to her portfolio and professionalism.

Reason number three – she’s always learning something new. From ways to style herself, take direction, to how to talk to industry leaders she gets to digest a lot of great information that is more than just putting on a fabulous garment. Though she has been learning a lot about fashion itself and now finds it an exciting challenge getting out of her “jeans & tshirt” comfort zone (though she’ll still probably stay addicted to her favorite shop, The Buckle).

She’s also learned to stay cool under pressure during the fast paced ever changing scenes at runway shows, etc. Despite nerves, crazy heavy hair, and last minute changes in runway she’s learned to focus, improvise and rock it with genuine confidence and poise.

I hope she does super well and we’ll see more of her awesome realness in the future. In the meantime it’s great to see someone bring those lofty heights of fashion down home for the rest of us to be inspired by day to day.

photo credit: Ed Yourdon

Hot weather putting you in a style rut? Don’t worry! Looking fab under the sun is easier than you think. And you’ve got more options than just tiny tops & shorts.

Fresh Style Option 1: Tshirts
Tshirts are a classic Summer fashion staple. And they really are awesome if you think about it. They don’t cost a bundle and also afford you easy instant style. Each year as the weather warms up you get the chance to celebrate this awesomeness – the trick and the fun of it is doing it in a fresh way. That means pairing them with more than just shorts every day of the week. Get that fresh style by wearing them:

• with a flirty skirt
• underneath a strappy cocktail dress
• with rolled up jeans & platform sandals
• with trending accessories like this year’s Lucite jewelry

Fresh Style Option 2: Maxi Dress
Another fabulous Summer item, the maxi dress lets you get your sultry goddess on in whatever way you choose. Whether you go for daring dark colors in the heat or a vibrant mix of bright patterns this gown is comfortably glamorous. Because of its elegant shape and voluminous fabric keep your accessories simple and your hair and makeup non-fussy. And don’t just wear it for the evening – add some daytime elegance while the sun is still out!

photo credit: i-live.gr Greek News magazine

Fresh Style Option 3: Short Shorts
If you have the legs for it – and I’ve found wearing tiny shorts does a fab job of lengthening those stems – short shorts are a great way to beat the heat and look hot too (pun intended ha!). The trick with coordinating an outfit with shorts is the fabric and cut of your top. Don’t go for just the super casual cut offs with your boy beater top. That just looks fashionably lazy day in and day out. Instead try satin shorts in a light color for a more dressy feel – and pair with either a casual tank top or something blousy & sheer. Or wear the snaggly cut offs with a dressy feminine top for a wildly elegant look. Add a cool belt, some chunky bangles or a stack of pretty bracelets, or even a hat like this one. Just add interest and don’t forget the details.

photo credit: Jef Harris

So try these three options in the next week and revive your style! Next #wearablewednesday I’ll bring you some more inspiration to keep your season in the sun fashionable with Pt 2 of “Fresh Summer Style”.

Happy Styling!

photo credit: HiStyley

Summer means easy style for sure. But it’s not all about t-shirts and shorts right? Stay tuned and I’ll let you in on how to keep these summer wardrobe staples fresh, fierce, and/or fun and also show you how to break out of the rut with signature summer style!

In the meantime check out this fabulous streetstyle website! Histyley.com