I covered leggings a few days ago, now its time to talk about the perfect tops and tunics to cover them! Everything from oversized knits to blousy tunics and tops work perfectly provided the crotch and bum are covered! If there are no pocket or zippers keep that area concealed with a longer length top. Tops and tunics need to also have more volume if paired with leggings – its all about balancing the silhouette – so since the bottom are slim keep the upper half a bit bigger – this doesn’t have to mean huge – it can still be tailored nicely to the body (for example longer top with a fitted blazer) but just provided you’re not pairing skin tight with skin tight. I said it a few days ago – leggings are not pants and must be treated as so – so choosing the appropriate tops and tunics to wear with them is key to pulling off the look… Also, these aren’t your 80′s leggings so while you might go with an oversized knit on top make sure you’re not also pairing them with chunky socks on the bottom – a fabulous little boot (motorcycle or ankle) is ultra cool and modern. Check out some of my favorite tops and tunics to pair with your beloved leggings and look fabulous this winter!
MOMMA NEEDS… under the dress essentials (what lies beneath)
The under the dress essentials are the lingerie and other helpers that lie beneath and can be as important as the dress you put on . These underpinnings can make or break your look. As a stylist, I have a kit, and in this kit there are safety pins, clams, double sided tape and the biggest assortment of under the dress essentials (from spanx, to nude thongs, strapless bras and the cutlet inserts that go in them) you could imagine. I have to be prepared for every styling need – from a celebrity on a red carpet that will have no retouching and be seen from every angle to celebrities on a photo shoot in their lingerie who want all the lifts, tucks and proper coverage they might want. As you get ready for all your holiday parties it is imperative that you start to consider what under the dress essentials you might need for your dress. I tend to go with nude colored bras and thongs (find ones that are closest to your natural skin tone) and then consider the various multi way bras, inserts and spanx that can give you all the support you might need. This isn’t your sexy lacy underwear – this is the utilitarian stuff that will make everything you put on top look ten times better! I’m going to share with you all of my favorite under the dress essentials that can transform your look and give you that million dollar celebrity finish.
MOMMA’S UNDER $100… fabulous fashion for less
Finding the most fabulous fashion for less is more than just a past time for me, more than a career but actually a sport. It’s all about searching out the same great designer style for a fraction of the price. Retailers these days understand that people don’t just want clothes that are well priced they want clothes that are super stylish that are well priced and so our needs are met and I get to share some of my favorites with you! Incredibly fashion for less is all about finding those items that have people asking, “is that Balenciaga?” and then say behind your back “boy, did she win the lottery?” Great style for under $100 will keep you looking your best and keep everyone else around you asking where you got that! Check you some of the my favorite fashion for less this week and enjoy some guilt free fabulous!
MOMMA KNOWS… spring 2015 fashion trends (europe has spoken)
London, Milan and Paris runway has shown and the spring 2015 fashion trends have emerged and it looks like everything is going to be sexy, fun, futuristic and fabulous. As we saw in during the New York collections black and white dominated the runway but the european shows gave us a more glamorous edgier side to look forward to. Spring 2015 fashion trends seem to be a very slow shift from fall/winter as we still see plenty of traditionally cold weather fabrics and hues but with a bit more skin… The european collections have always been more directional, experimental and edgier – we don’t just see where fashion will be in the next 6 months but where it’s going well beyond that… Some things that come down the runway (which you can see more of on style.com may never see the light of Bergdorf Goodman’s racks but may just make it on to the red carpet and the pages of vogue. The Spring 2015 fashion trends we see on the runway today will certainly be moderated for public consumption, but it’s a beautiful thing to see where it starts… Fashion, after all, is an art and far more than the sum of the clothes on our back. Enjoy my preview of the spring 2015 fashion trends – it’ll give you some inspiration for what you can buy this fall that you will be able to keep wearing come spring!
Mad men – 60′s & 70′s eat your heart out! That’s right, everything from a bit of floral print hippie boho chic 60′s at Gucci, Chloe, Valentino and even Prada to a touch of 60′s mod at Versace and Balmain progressed into super hot 70′s studio 54 glamrock chick (or chic as the case may be) courtesy of Tom Ford and Saint Laurent. The 60′s and 70′s have long been 2 of my favorite fashion decades and now the merging of these retro stylings means we have a LOT to look forward to come spring. Kate Moss, eat your heart out – swinging london meets boho traveller has exploded on the runway (think Edie Sedwick and Bianca Jagger had a baby) aka fashion heaven. Micro mini shift dresses, grommets, caged silhouettes with peekaboo plastic, clashing floral prints under suede trench coats and those 3 70′s s’s (sequins, sheer and shine) are major and certain to set your fashion heartbeats racing!
Black, white and black & white… As I mentioned after New York collections – one of the big spring 2015 fashion trends is the colors black (on black), white (on white) and, of course, black on white. While you will find New Yorkers in black all year round it’s rare for it to be so dominant on the runway for Spring but here is it – black is the new black, white is the new white and it’s all about looking clean and crisp. I would talk about who featured this trend but it was so dominant there was hardly anyone who didn’t! So hold onto your black and your winter whites because they’ll take you through the next 12 months!
Pretty pastels – while black and white reigned supreme we did see a nice bit of pastel injections throughout the european collections. Pretty powdery hues of pinks, lavenders, blues and so forth peppered the runway bringing color to spring. Powerhouse designers such as Fendi, Balenciaga and Christian Dior made sure to include some sprinkles of these pastels to take us back to our warm happy place.
Leather and Suede – that’s right, another one of the unexpected spring 2015 fashion trends was the presence of leather and suede, a traditionally cold weather fabric made it’s way on multiple runways. For spring the leather seemed lighter in weight and was often laser cut to create a more interesting warm weather dimension. With design houses such as Versace, Fendi, Chloe, Chanel, Givenchy, Mcqueen, Chanel, Gucci & Prada it is impossible to ignore the fact that we will all be wearing leather still come Spring!
Coats (for spring?) Once again, it appears that designers aren’t quite ready to let go of Fall just yet because there were plenty of coats in the Spring/summer collections. Everything from trench coats to duster were heavily (pun intended) featured. Perhaps we’re looking forward to another very long winter and designers want to make sure they have plenty of layering options… Also, lets not forget that we tend to start to see the spring collections hit stores when snow is often still on the ground – so smart move! Versace, Gucci, Christian Dior, Chanel, Prada, Balenciaga, Celine and so many others made sure to include a spring coat for your layering “warm” weather pleasure.
Gladiator – that’s right, New York we saw utilitarian, military influences and while we still see a hint of that in the Mialn and Paris collections the gladiator clearly dominated. Givenchy, Valentino, Chloe and Alexander Mcqueen included a truly desirable gladiator influence from the amazing footwear (get me those shoes!!) to the more editorial headpieces at McQueen. From toga inspired (with a beautifully feminine 60′s touch) at Valentino and Chloe to proper foot soldiers ready to do some battle at Givenchy and McQueen I think the gladiator trend is going to have many layers of fabulous come spring!
Cropped and cutouts aren’t going anywhere! As we saw during New York collections (and for this Fall and last Spring) cropped tops and cutouts are here to stay (well, at least until fall 2015 then who knows). The midriff continues to reign supreme among the fashion elite so keep doing those crunches and put down the oreos (she says while tucking into her 3 package of pumpkin oreos). All you have to do is check out Versace, Fendi, Alexander McQueen, Dolce & Gabbana, Balenciaga, Tom Ford, Celine and Balmain (to name a few) to know the cutout and cropped trend is alive and even dominant. Of course there is a new modern, even futuristic (whilst still referencing 60′s mod) take on cutouts which is interesting – everything from caged to laser cut to slashed – designers are certainly not resting on their laurels by coming up with new innovative takes on last season’s trend.
Sheer and Mesh – again, not a new trend but the take on is fresh and modern while still referencing that 60′s mod. Now you see it now you don’t is the name of the gam – it’s illusion its layered – the sheer and mesh spring 2015 fashion trends has more texture than ever before. Micro mesh to wide netting was layered over over and under garments giving new dimension to spring looks giving a sexy yet coy appeal. We saw mesh and sheer everywhere including at Versace, Balenciaga, Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel, Givenchy and Tom Ford to name a few – it was one part rock chick and one part modern muse but 100% fabulous.
Future perfect/Architectural – designers have been playing with structure, silhouette and the idea of what will the future hold since the days of Cristobel Balenciaga and Christian Dior – and here we are decades later still playing with these notions. Of course, textiles have come such a long way that it’s completely awe inspiring to see how this futuristic, architectural trend continues to emerge. Structure is supreme and silhouettes exaggerated to create surprisingly desirable garments that will make phenomenal editorial images but can still be wearable (once the volume has been condensed) for the marketplace. This futuristic /architectural trend wowed fashionistas at Balenciaga, Dior, Givenchy, Alexander McQueen and Balmain’s runway shows just to name a few.
Embellished – while there were a lot of austere minimal moments for spring there were also a lot of over the top details. Embellishment may not have dominated but it was certainly widely featured and put some flash into fashion. Everything from feathers and appliqué to sequins and beading made pieces that much richer. Exquisite details at Fendi, Saint Laurent, Chanel, Alexander McQueen, Dolce & Gabbana, Celine, Chloe, Givenchy, Balenciaga and Tom Ford gave an extra luxe touch to the collections.
Menswear vs Ladylike – everything from pretty polished to slouchy cigarette pants and blazers or vest came together on the runway. The play on masculine and feminine reigned supreme and it was all about tailoring. The ladylike pieces were all about fit, flare and femininity while the menswear inspired pieces were all about exquisite tailoring and a long and lean silhouette. Every designer was loving on this masculine/feminine play – but some of my favorites were: Tom Ford, Chanel, Celine, Balmain, Fendi and Dior.
Sporty spice – another trend that’s not going anywhere is the play on sportswear. Techno fabrics and sporty styling giveaway to an athletic aesthetic which plenty of designers are still including in their collections. Balenciaga, Fendi and Versace all included nods to the sporty trend. Perhaps it’s the masculine/feminine, sheer/mesh and cropped/cutout trends that naturally lend themselves to a more sporty look but whatever it is – it’s working out (ha ha pun intended). Whether you prefer a more feminine tennis inspired little dress or a more literal cropped top and shorts look these style will certainly inspire you to get to the gym (while looking fabulous en route).
And of course we still saw quite a bit of red, mixed media, florals and clashing prints – so hold on to your fall wardrobe because spring 2015 fashion trends aren’t such a huge deviation – it’s all about mixing, matching and celebrating the trends that resonate with you and your personal style! Street fashion is so huge and such an inspiration for today’s designers because the modern approach to style is all about what real people are really wearing – how we’re putting our looks together. We are the modern muse – so when these trends hit the store always make sure to shop for your own aesthetic – what you are most connected with – this is what modern style is all about.
SHOP THE LOOK SUNDAY… how to wear the ladylike look
The ladylike look is all about polish. It’s about being pretty, feminine but also grown up and pulled together. This week I focused on trends like pastels and maxi skirts – both very girly trends but also quite versatile. A ladylike look doesn’t have to be stuffy it just has to feel feminine – a combination of sweetness but with the strength of some girl power. Today’s woman isn’t just arm candy or behind the scenes – she’s the boss, she’s a mother, a wife, a role model and she can be anything she wants to be. The ladylike look is all about embracing being female without losing an ounce of pretty. Today, I’m showing how to get the ladylike look with maxi skirts, pastel hues and on a budget – with everything in the look being less than $100 – these looks are versatile, classic and always lovely. Check out my tips for how to wear the ladylike look!
MOMMA’S UNDER $100… great style on a budget
Its that time again – time to check out some great style on a budget – everything fabulous for under $100! The fact is there are SO many amazing deals out there but never enough time to navigate it all – so I’m doing it for you. Having worked for 15 years in fashion I know 2 things are true – people love to look great and they LOVE a great deal. Getting amazing style on a budget means feeling incredible in what you’ve got on and not feeling guilty about how much it costs! By the way, great style doesn’t mean having all the money in the world – it means knowing what looks great together and fortunately there are so many great retailers out there bringing out high fashion for a fraction of the price. Check out some of my favorite picks that are under $100 and can give you amazing style on a budget before it sells out!
SHOP THE LOOK SUNDAY… how to wear the preppy look
The preppy look is the classic collegiate style of dressing that insinuates a bit of americana, sportswear (think tennis and golf) and classic styling. While it can often be considered quite conservative, I can show you how to wear the preppy look in a more modern and versatile way. Again, I bring up the world’s favorite princess (and style icon) Kate Middleton who illustrates so perfectly how to wear the preppy look while remaining feminine, elegant and incredibly contemporary. Yes, we are talking about polos, shirt dresses, cardigans and chinos but its all about mixing things in a way to keep them young, fresh and even a bit sexy. The preppy look is super versatile because it is polished enough for the workplace and yet casual enough for any weekend activities. It is also a very safe and easy look to wear. We’re not pushing the boat out here – there’s nothing particularly wild or risky – its simple, classic and beautiful. Check out some of my suggestions for how to wear the preppy look from desk to date and from the park to brunch.
SHOP THE LOOK SUNDAY… how to wear boho trends
This week’s shop the look Sunday is all about showing you hot to wear boho trends in a modern and practical way. Over the week I covered tie dye and harem pants which references the 60′s era hippie but in a totally modern way. The key to how to wear boho trends is to not to go all in with the hippie references and pair the pieces with more structured, feminine and simple options. Taking these bohemian trends and translating them from desk to date and from the park to brunch means making them wearable. Never go head to toe boho as this can look costume-y and dated always opt for clean lines and find a balance in your overall look. Tone down the hippie with feminine, modern even a bit of edge or glam in order to keep the look contemporary and current. I’ve also included some suggestions for how to wear boho trends from desk to date and the park to brunch where everything in the look costs less than $100. Dressing well is easy – keeping a look chic and on budget can be a challenge. Check out some of my suggestions and having (guilt-free) fun shopping this Sunday!
SHOP THE LOOK SUNDAY – style tips for getting the most out of the trends
Shop the look Sunday is here again and time for me to share some style tips for how you can translate the latest trends into your every need. This week I covered ruffles, neon accessories and rain gear – and now I’m going to show you how to wear the trend from desk to date and from the park to brunch. Fashion doesn’t have to be complicated and I’m here to give you the style tips to show you how to get the most wear from your clothes. No matter what your lifestyle or personal taste I’ll show you great suggestions for how you can wear the trends to suit your needs. Don’t forget, as with just about everything on this blog you can click the pic to shop the look! Check out my latest style tips for getting the most out of this week’s trends!
MOMMA KNOWS… nude heels make legs look longer
I’m about to let you in on one of my favorite stylist secrets – nude heels are the ultimate shoe. Beyond the obvious fact that they’re a neutral so they go with everything – they are also the best way to make legs look longer. Think about it – the perfect nude heels give the illusion that legs keep going and going… There’s no cut off, no color block at the end – just legs for miles. As a stylist I have worked with countless models who, let’s face it, don’t need much help in the long legs department, but when working with celebrities who are often petit this little trick always works a charm. The versatility of nude heels is amazing – from a casual jeans and a t-shirt look, to a conservative professional look to a sexy night on the town – these shoes go the distance and always make you look taller and perfectly polished. The heel height is almost irrelevant – choose a pair of nude heels you feel comfortable in and find a tone that most closely matches your skin and voila! Whether you prefer stripy, platform, sling backs, sandals or pumps there are some amazing nude heels that will be sure to give you the legs you’ve always wanted! Think about it, there’s a reason that fashion icons such as Kate Middleton and Anna Wintour have their favorite pairs of nude heels which they wear constantly (LK Bennett and Manolo Blahnik respectively) – because they always work and look chic! Check out some of my favorite nude heels and get ready to show of some great looking gams just in time for spring!