V-Style

The Grown Up Fit and Flare Dress, Who Should Wear it?

Eliza J $138

The fit and flare dress can seem girly, but no longer. Women with no waist or narrow hips are celebrating. Prior to this year, most fit and flare dresses were far too girly for a woman over the age of 14. Now, with the style in full bloom in stores, there are options a lady can actually don without feelings of fake tea parties or an Easter Sunday egg hunt.

A fit and flare dress is form fitting at the bust and then starts to flare at your natural waist. It gives the illusion of hips to those without hips and the illusion of a waist on those without a defined waist. It also hides lower tummy bulge and an overzealous behind. With all this information you may think the pear shape, women with voluminous hips, are left out, but it turns out this baby works on everyone. Obviously hour glass and well proportioned bodies may also wear the fit and flare. 

Each dress pictured was put on three different clients of mine to rave reviews and happy body images. The Hugo Boss dress is great for work, while the BCBG dress is great for a party. My client wore it to a wedding. The Eliza J frock could do work or weekend. Last tip, the fit and flare is best with a heel or wedge, not flats. 

Hugo Boss $595

BCBG $338

Red, White & Blue 4th of July Outfit Ideas

Celebrating our country's creation does not mean you must plaster the flag across your body. Instead, you can be appreciative, patriot and celebratory by embracing the colors. The combination of red, white and blue is absolutely stunning. In fact, I look forward to wearing this combination all year. As do some of my clients. Yesterday I put together a fabulous Independence day look with J.Crew red shorts, J.Crew white 3/4 length sleeve Tee, a blue draped cardigan, and metallic trimmings. You can also try a red dress with a white blazer and navy wedges. Perhaps a white dress with blue & white striped shoes, silver& gold stars in your ears and a red cardigan. The red/white/blue combinations are endless and the pieces you buy in these shades, you can wear year round. That flag sweatshirt you can not.

If the flag is truly calling from deep within, I adore Durango's flag boots. I have also held a strong affection for the flag bikini. What can I say, my lady parts covered by said Bikini are passionate voters, hence my admiration of Wendy Davis. 

What will you be wearing this 4th of July?

Nadri $38

Durango $142

Billabong $38

What Should I wear On A Plane?

Whether you are off to Europe, Asia, New York, Australia, a 1-hour flight north, you are getting on a plane and you want to be appropriate for both the flight and the trip ahead of you. For hot weather destinations, I recommend a maxi skirt, a tank top and a soft sweater. I recently put a client in this Bobeau maxi skirt, and I am always putting recommending this Bobeau cape sweater for travel. Each item can be used repeatedly on summer vacation trips, but still keep you warm on the ever freezing plane. 

If you are traveling to a bi-polar location with possible rain, chill and heat, I recommend wearing your warmest outfit on the plane. In fact, I always recommend packing at least one outfit for the opposite weather expected. If you are flying to a colder weather destination, pack a sleeveless dress or shorts look, and it is always a good idea to have a summer top at the base of a cold weather outfit. You never know what mother nature has in store and there is always the chance  you walk out of the cold and into an artificially heated room with an overzealous operator.

As for warm weather vacations, I highly recommend wearing a warm outfit on the plane. By wearing pants, lightweight boots or closed toe flats, and a heavier jacket or sweater, you are now prepared for unexpected cold and rain without taking up space in your suitcase. Not to mention that cold plane again, goodness. I recently packed a client for the Riviera and she was dumbfounded when I recommended wearing boots and a chic raincoat on the plane. When I say dumbfounded, I mean she was horrified. I explained I was just in Cannes and despite the warm weather during the day, it rained periodically and I was freezing at night. To convince her this travel outfit had emergency use as well as versatility, I instructed her how to wear the boots with shorts for warm weather days that involve a lot of walking or risks of water and trash stepage. The right boot is far more comfortable than a sandal or simple flat, and far more stylish than proper walking shoes. Then I showed her how to wear the raincoat with her cocktail dresses for nights out that come with rain. Finally, she said okay. She gets back in a week. I am pretty sure she will thank me for the just-in-case flight outfit; although, there is the chance she may hate me for making her carry that rain jacket everywhere.

What do you usually wear when you fly? 

When To Keep A Plaid Maxi Skirt

You saw a skirt. You put it on. You loved it. You bought it. That was five years ago. You have yet to wear it. You have no idea what to do with this skirt. 

Many people have this one skirt, dress, belt, scarf or shoe that they love, but have no clue how to wear it. More often then not you don't actually own the items to work with this particular garment. When we come across this predicament during one of my client's closet purges, sometimes we decide the time and money needed to make an outfit out of the confusing item is not worth it and we donate it. Other times we keep it and seek out the missing puzzle pieces. 

The most recent "keep and seek" garment on my mind is Katie Farris' maxi plaid skirt. Katie is a writer and dream client. Nothing is too edgy or too funky and she trusts me completely. She is also delightful as all hell. When she presented me with this sensational Scottish piece, I knew she was the client that could handle the outfit this skirt demanded. Inspired by Sharon Stone's look at the Oscars in 1998, I asked if we had a glamorous button front. Katie showed me a baby blue version of what I wanted. The shade perfectly picked up the thin light blue stripe in the plaid. We then looked through her belts and selected an ornate gold thrift shop find of Moroccan or Ottoman influence. We then added one of Alexis Bittar's stunning rings to her long fingers. All we need now is Dolce & Gabbana's elaborate gold heels from their Mosaic winter 2014 collection. Too bad today is Spring 2013 and the heels may not be in our price range. This is where the seeking begins. We had a few of the pieces to make this skirt work, but not all. After seeing the skirt's outfit potential, Katie was more than excited to search out the missing shoes and necklace.

Although the look we want with this plaid maxi skirt will be interesting, flattering and appropriate for cocktail or holiday parties for years to come, it is Katie's love for the skirt that ultimately made us decide to seek out the items the skirt needs instead of donating it. When a client loves something and turns to me for help, as Tim Gunn says, I make it work. I can always find a way to freshen, modernize or fabulize (not a word, I know) a client's beloved garment. 

This picture of my client was taken as part of the outfit creation portion of my services. This picture was published with my client's permission. No client photos are used on V-Style without the client's consent.

Client Favorite: Gold Ballet Flats

If you are an earth tone or gold jewelry gal (most women are) then you need yourself a gold flat. A gold flat solves the which-shoe-works-with-this-outfit problem faster than any other colored shoe. Browns don't always work. Nude can be too neutral and all other colors can go wrong easily. 

When working with my clients I always put a gold flat on our shopping list. Which gold flat depends on the client, but my go-to gold flat choices are Jimmy Choo's "Finlay" flat and Michael Kor's Aria ballet flat in gold. The Michael Kors flat I get at Macy's, but they do not have it available online, so I have linked to it's pewter, and equally fabulous, sister on Zappos. Both these flats are incredibly comfortable, especially the Michael Kors. Every single client comments on its comfort.

Today, I put a pair of the Michael Kors on a lovely fifty something woman and ordered four pairs of the Jimmy Choo for a client that fears the "Finlay" will stop being made. A smart move. The perfect gold flat will never go out of style. 

How To Wear Pearls In A Modern Way

The fabulous Linda Rocco of Hot Rock Jewelry always tells me pearls are a woman's true best friend. Under her passionate talk of pearls, I often nod then move on to her more fabulous gems, but I have been thinking about her dedication to pearls recently. Pearls often look fuddy duddy, old, retro or conservative, but so many of my clients have pearls in their jewelry cases. I too have pearls in my collection. They sit there in a girly vintage way, confusing us, yet demanding to be used. "I am classic!" They scream at us. "I am your mother's!" They yell. "I am your Great Grandmother's!" They taunt. Then you put them on with with a dress and you feel like a 50's housewife, or your grandmother, which may or may not be one and the same. 

Try skip the dress. Pearls and a dress often say girly conservative. This most likely is not your personal style. Instead pair it with casual separates. Pictured below is a fabulous pearl necklace paired with a chambray shirt on my client, Katie Farris. Try your pearls with a bold colored blouse and jeans, or perhaps a dressy shorts look. Stay sophisticated, but have fun. Be casual and use soft fabrics and upbeat, even unusual prints.

If you adore pearls in general and want to add more to your collection, look for more complicated pearl pieces versus the standard strand. Look for mixed mediums like pearls and diamonds, pearls and leather, or pearls and fabric. A creative combination of the mediums will put pearls in a modern mood.

Katie Farris

This picture of my client was taken as part of the outfit creation portion of my services. This picture was published with my client's permission. No client photos are used on V-Style without the client's consent.

Client Favorite: Mid-Calf Black Boots With A Heel

Comfortable, stylish and just plain cool, these Circa Joan & David - Xenobia mid-calf black boots with a three inch heel are an absolute client favorite as well as a new item in my own closet. I was initially attracted to this boot for it's rare mix of smooth leather and suede. I knew they were a keeper, when the first client I tried them oohed and ahhed at the comfort. Even though you get three inches of respectable heel height, the comfort is solid. Between the built in platform and quality of construction, you feel the sexiness of the heel without actually feeling the heel. It feels like a two inch wedge. 

As for the shaft, it's on the wider side. If this was a near-the-knee boot, I would only recommend this boot to wider calved women so you don't get a gap, but when we are talking mid-calf boots, a wider shaft can be a funky look. True to form, the combination of the wider leg opening, bronzy hardware and mixed textures, this boot has an edginess as well as an elegance. Of course, the wider calf opening still means women with wider calves can enjoy the boot. 

Shorter women can also sport this boot. For my clients 5' 2" and under, I always show them a large selection of mid-calf boots when they request tall boots. Standard (a little below the knee) boot heights often bang a petite women on her knees or just don't sit right, making a shorter boot a better choice for shorter women.

Tall, short, wide, thin, this boot is for anyone in need of a stylish black heeled boot. Now, that's a statement. 

Client Favorite: Lightweight Teal Rain Coat

 

I have run myself ragged catering to all my clients' needs this season. Truly, this has been my busiest December in my seven years as a personal stylist with two to three clients every day. Between vacations, present shopping, events and travels to colder areas, it seemed every client expressed a need for an appointment now versus later. I felt like I was running a political campaign with my attitude, "No client is left behind!" To their satisfaction, and mine, I was able to prepare everyone for their holiday season. 

A big ticket item for my clients this season was cold weather outerwear. Many clients needed true snow jackets for their trips back east and north, but most clients requested a lighter winter cover-up that could do well with the San Diego rain and wind. I placed various jackets on numerous backs, but I found the Laundry by Shelli Segal quilted zip-up jacket in sardinia blue ($99) to fit the bill perfectly while flattering numerous body types and skin tones. The lean silhouette implies proportioned curves for all shapes including petite and plus size, while the teal color brings out the stunning eyes of a blond mother of two client and makes the skin glow of an African American client. This color is also extremely versatile. Teal will go with earth tones as well as blacks. This is the most fabulous rain proof goodie I have seen in ages. 

Client Favorite: Diane Von Furstenberg "Della 2" Shift Dress

I have one client that calls upon me about every other month to buy outfits for events. Sometimes it is as serious as a ball, as casual as a bridal show, as dreary as a funeral and as detailed as a weekend away with her boyfriend's family. She prefers to shop for one outfit at a time versus buying numerous garments at once. Although efficient, purchasing a lot of clothing at once can be overwhelming for some of my clients. 

Recently, we found her this DVF shift dress for one of her more conservative parties she attended. We love how the tie at the waist covers any belly bulge and adds a little creativity to an otherwise simple dress. My favorite part is the color. When sporting a simple silhouette such as this, I want it in a bold color. We paired the dress with nude heels and a shorter blushy cream sweater. 

This dress will work with endless body types, with the exception of extremely busty. This higher neckline combined with a very large bust can make you look heavy. 

Replacing Buttons on A Blazer

So many of my clients have not utilized a tailor. Many shoppers go into a store, try something on, notice it is slightly baggy in the waist, too long or has some other easily fixable flaw and move on. Clothing isn't always what it appears to be. Take up that hem, shorten those sleeves, lose the bow and you have a fine garment. 

One issue in particular that can be easily fixed are buttons. Every now and then designers put cheap, boring or non-versatile buttons on a shirt, blazer or sweater. The garment is perfect, except for that silly button they threw on there. That's okay, just take them off and replace them with better ones. You don't even need a tailor, replacing a button is easy enough to do on your own. Recently, I switched out the button on a client's cream colored Bobeau fleece wrap cardigan. I replaced the original shabby brown button for a gold one. Whereas the original button was dowdy, the gold button is fresh, modern and works well with the gold jewelry I am always putting on her. 

When searching out new buttons, make sure the new one is the correct size. If a button is too big for a button hole, it won't go through the button hole and the shirt or sweater will not shut. If the new button is too small, the shirt or sweater will fly open constantly. Keep in mind too, sometimes the buttons on a shirt's cuff or blazer is a different size than the front buttons. I like to take the original buttons with me to the store I intend to buy the new button/s to ensure they are the same size. I usually get my buttons from antique shops, Michael's and fabric stores.  Also, if you are doing a full switch out of a bunch of buttons, make sure you have enough of the same button - unless of course, you are feeling artsy and want to switch out a coat's matching buttons for a variety of different buttons. If you decide to skip matching buttons, I recommend doing this on a plain solid colored coat so your creativity is well noticed.