V-Style

Stylish Ways To Cheer Up When You're Sick

You know when you are just sick enough to be disgusting, but not sick enough to just lay there? After a ridiculously terrible night's sleep that involved no use of my nose, a burning throat, and freakish dry mouth, I cancelled all my clients today. As my morning client put it, New York will do that to you. Small city, big germs was my reply. After wondering why my teeth hurt and feeling oddly dehydrated, I managed to take my sick self on some errands where I dripped snot on myself. I dripped snot on myself at home too, but found it more noticeable in public. 

Although I accomplished the trip to the donation center, post office and tailor, I found it difficult to run my office work at my usual lightning speed. The writing wasn't coming, my inbox seemed too full, the accounting seemed irrelevant, and the virtual closet I needed to update was just too much. Then I realized something. I'm sick. I'm not supposed to be working.

There is this song, Let Her Go. It speaks of not knowing what you have until it's gone. Realizing you were happy only because you have become sad. Well, I'm the opposite. I think I am happy all the time. It's difficult to realize I am sad until I am happy again. I learned this a couple years ago, and felt the lesson again today. I am sick. Being sick hurts and makes me useless. Hurting and being useless makes me sad. Took me half the day to realize I was sad about being sick, and took me until late at night to finally stop trying to work. (Although, technically speaking, I'm working now.) With no more attention on work and no energy, I thought of fabulous fun things to do at home that requires very little energy.

Online Christmas & Birthday Shopping

It really doesn't matter what time of year, planning ahead is good. I looked at Vocla's masculine underwear for the men, and Jelly Egg for the children. I also looked at more traditional retailers like Nordstrom.

Wear Anything

Today I wore a purple sports bra, a chartreuse racer back top, and denim shorts printed with humming birds. I topped it with a chic runway worthy lightweight coat, bad hair and a face so devoid of color, both artificial and natural, I looked like a young boy. The post office loved it. My tailor was concerned. Earlier in the day I wore a horse printed dress with brown leggings and mismatched boots. The pieces were new. They just arrived at my doorstep and I was trying them on. I also highly recommend wearing lightweight dangling jewel earrings with sweats. There is nothing more refreshing when you are ill. 

Hunt For The Perfect Thing

You are going to be sick for awhile, so start that time consuming online hunt for the perfect boot, essential earring, trench coat, or party dress. 

Plan Your Outfits For When You Are Healthy

I found myself packing for London today. I leave in six weeks. Be less extreme and come up with a fun outfit from your closet that you haven't worn to work yet. Leave the crazy bag lady stuff to me. Unless of course you're into that.

Sort & Make Lists

Sort your laundry. Don't try to do it. That's exhausting. Just sort it. You know, get ready for when you could do it. Then make a list of things you would like to get done. We are so busy doing things, we forget there are other things that could be getting done if we just add it to the list. Whether it be a call to the mechanic, organizing your scarves, or realizing you need new jeans. It's nice to have a moment and organize your thoughts and life.

Everyone Needs Black Pants

"Everyone needs black pants, right?!" My client exclaims to me as we edit her closet. She is mocking herself, but would also like an answer. At this point in the closet purge, this is the sixth garment she owns simply because she thinks everyone needs one or "just in case." She has just-in-case leather pants, just-in-case black dress, just-in-case black blazer. She wears none of these items, but keeps them just in case and then shops for items "everyone needs." One of these "everyone" items she picked up was a white button front office appropriate shirt. As an out-of-the-office mother of three she does not need this garment, but the "everyone needs a white button front blouse" motto that shows up in fashionable literature year in and year out, rings in her head. 

No garment is necessary. No one needs a blazer. No one needs black pants. No one needs leather pants. Each item you purchase should fit and flow with your body type, personal style and lifestyle. You could even eliminate an entire category of garments if you wanted. If shorts are not your tasty delight and have no utilitarian need for them, don't wear or own them. 

If you are reading in hopes of finding a great pair of black pants, here is my tip. I have been high on Ann Taylor's straight leg slacks. Between the different fits, like Modern and City, I have yet to find a body type it doesn't slim and lengthen, and the quality and price are perfect. Just to warn you, it won't flare like most slacks and this is good. A flared dressy black pant is dated.

Emerald Green For Spring

Blonds look far better in forest green than brunettes, but the brown haired ladies sparkle in emerald green. Pantone made the call on green for this spring, but emerald green is always in style. A jewel tone that was once rarely available can finally be in our closets.

Upon seeing the first emerald green top of the season, I promptly bought the brilliant Joie blouse and wore it for my shot in Riviera Magazine's "What I Want Now" feature. Still on my excited emrald train, I recommended a pair of green Alexander Wang Johanna Ankle Cuff Sandals to their readers. On the page, there are also emerald rings, but I did not actually recommend those, which was odd. The rings' color is brilliant and beautiful, but the shape is garish and cheesy.

For your own emerald pleasure, my  top is no longer available, but Joie also has a short sleeve Berkley, perfect for warmer weather. Another option is Vince Camuto's fux wrap top. I would love to show you more emerald peices, but the hue has not fully bloomed in stores. As Spring approaches, more emerald options will present themselves. I recommend keeping your eye out and snatching them up as this shade of green will soon go back to being as rare as a blurry bigfoot.

New Year Fashion Resolutions

Obviously there are some pressing matters when  a new year rolls around. Work harder, finish that book, learn the piano, speak Spanish with your Grandma, lose thirty pounds and more. Many resolutions are daunting. I can't help you with those, but I can offer some resolutions that will weigh light on your shoulders, but can have a heavy positive affect on your wardrobe, and more importantly, your self esteem.

1) Pack up or throw out clothes that don't fit you.

2) Buy a fabulous party dress for no reason to avoid hurried shopping the week before an event. Once you find the fabulous party dress and realize you have months before an appropriate event, make an excuse to wear it. In fact, dress up more.

3) Accessorize! Take the extra moment to add that colorful scarf, pow bracelet or unique earrings to your usual uniform.

4) Make a list of all the items you have been wanting and schedule weekly or monthly excursions to find the perfect version of your fashion desires. Versatile black blazer, the perfect clutch or all gold heels can take time and organization to find.

5) Acquire and organize your wardrobe tools: shoe trees, seam ripper, needle and thread, topstick, pasties, foot pads, boot protector spray...

6) Tailor every garment that needs to be tailored. You may even have a bag started from months ago. Go through that bag and see if you still like the item. If you don't, toss it, if you do still like it, tailor it. Do the same for your shoes and purse. Fix that hole in the pocket of that purse and replace those heel tips. 

7) Buy yourself fine jewelry. If you can somewhat afford it, spend a couple hundred or thousand on that cocktail ring or jeweled earrings you have been eyeing. In the words of Samantha Jones, "I work hard, I deserve this." 

8) Do not buy drab items or garments you already own. Do you have a drawer full of the same white t-shirt? Quit buying them.

9) Do you have three black tank tops used for the same purpose? Keep only the newest and cleanest version. Toss the one you never use and keep only your go-to's.

10) Find your style.

The Montblanc Worldsecond

Vidéo virale par ebuzzing

V-Style has recently partnered with Ebuzzing for various sponsored posts. I have never entertained the idea of sponsored posts, but when I realized it was creative video campaigns, I was in. I adore a well made moving image. With a judicious eye, I accept only the most interesting of videos from companies I respect. The first of these sponsored posts is brought to you by Montblanc, featuring a campaign that declares, every second counts. With precise graphics and life affirming images, The Montblanc Worldsecond asks you to find the true beauty of the tiny everyday moments with this global Ap based photo project.

Why Does Your Clothing Make You Happy?

I recently hung out with a bored fella. He has traveled the world, enjoyed many women, worked with celebrities and has a life threatening job, yet he is bored. He implied his boredom is a result of having done it all so to speak and is now numb to excitement, I suggested it was due to he himself being boring. He didn't really like that idea. Can't say I blame him, but I'm sticking to my guns.

After hanging out with him, I was even more aware of the thousand little things that make me happy: sunsets, my home, champagne bubbles, riding my bike, sparkling bodies of water,  kids with bad haircuts, my clothes, my god my clothes! I wandered into my closet after seeing the bored gentleman and just laughed at how much I loved my closet and all its contents. Then my smile fell. I'm so superficial. This idea creeps up on me sometimes and fills me with hesitation. I could be saving the world, but I choose to dance to in a closet full of clothes instead? I have probably spent hundreds of thousand dollars on fashion. What is the point? I didn't actually NEED any of these beautiful dresses and shoes...

It's okay. I am not going to go into depth as to why it's okay. To write out the hundred thoughts that save me from doubting my career path and fashion collection could easily be a novel, but I will let you in on the last line of the imagined book. It's okay my clothes make me so happy because it makes me so happy. I'm pretty sure the "point" is happiness and fashion assists in mine. Deposting my foot into a butter soft ballet flat with a tiny gold belt buckle on the toe cap tucks me into comfort. Feeling the weight of a rope thick gold chain around my neck fills me with purpose. Stepping into a printed silk skirt is a stairway to heaven.

How about you? You may not be as crazy as me with your wardrobe, but what item in your closet makes you happiest?

Selling Out As A Blogger

All sorts of things show up in my e-mail inbox. Some things I even requested. I am subscribed to all sorts of updates from group buying sites and my favorite night life haunts to my favorite stores and fashion related content like Independent Fashion Bloggers. This morning, the IFB sent me an update with a post titled 10 Signs You're A Blogger Sell Out.

Obviously, the idea did not shock me - every occupation and art form can be corrupted by greed, but I was disturbed by the laid back attitude of the article... "if you’re finding yourself in a position where you’re saying things like 'I love Crocs' on a regular basis, and you hate Crocs, it’s time to asses if these types of partnerships really makes you happy, and if they really benefits  your readers."

The words that jumped up at me from this sentence are "on a regular basis" implying that straight up lying once in a while is fine as long as it's only once in a while. I'm going to have to disagree. Rrecommending something you wouldn't actually recommend is bad every single time. It is a lie. I don't care for lying. I value honesty more than anything. One of the biggest attractions to working for myself  as personal stylist as well as blogging, is never feeling pressure from various hierarchies to lie. As my "small time"  self, I am in fact, paid to tell the truth. My reputation and livelihood depends on my being honest with my clients and my readers.  

Modern day blogs are based on this"small time" independent, personal and honest spirit, whereas today's "big time" newspapers and magazines are backed by conglomerates and major advertisers that send orders down an extensive line of communication to employees who did not choose the tasks they perform. If they do not perform assigned tasks, they can lose their job. Although there are numerous corporate multi-employee blogs, the blogosphere is still dominated by the one-man-show method. I am a one-woman blog.  This means the person that requests any tasks (me) are performed by the requester (me). This  means I am the only person that can take my job and blog away. No one else. 

With this power, I choose my advertisers. I choose my words. I do not accept guest authors and I certainly do not say I like something when I do not. I am not saying I never lie in my life. Put a police officer in front of me and my nose will grow into the next state. I am not saying I don't exaggerate. When I weave a humorous tale, usually involving me being extremely awkward in an inappropriate situation, I am sure to double the level of my awkwardness as well as the reaction to said awkwardness. But I don't lie about fashion. I have never lied about fashion. 

Personal Stylist Fashion: 4th of July Style

 

On July 2, 1776, USA's original thirteen colonies legally separated from the kingdom of Great Britain. Two days later the Declaration of Independence was signed. Every year since,  Americans have celebrated the creation of this country on July 4th.

I like the Declaration of Independence. I'm excited about its level of maturity and plan for progress. I don't take pride in it though, mostly because I am not Thomas Jefferson, the document's main author. I didn't have anything to do with it. I'm not sure you can take pride in something you didn't do. Pride confuses me, actually. I don't think I care for it, but I do care for celebration and acknowledgment of progress. I also like parties.

The day before John Adams attached his name to Jefferson's words, he wrote a letter to his wife saying our country's independence "ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade." He said some other things that involved devotion to god, bells and guns, but I like the pomp and parade comment best.

With that said, it is my duty to dress in fabulous imitation of America's flag and go to my oldest brother's party down the street. Like all of Dominic's parties, I will be overdressed. As usual, I will walk through his front door carrying two bottles of champagne and be the only one in heels. Although my 4th of July attire always makes waves, I tend to make the biggest spectacle at his Super Bowl parties. Apparently traditional football viewing attire does not involve high-waisted silk shorts and a Beret.

Alright, my bicycle is waiting for me. It's time for me to ride over to the festivities. Happy 4th! May we always be willing to progress beyond past accomplishments.

Cardigan: Charlotte Russe

Top: Splendid

Belt: ?? (Random Purchase in Belfast)

Pants: J Crew

Heels: Michael Kors 

Book Review: I Have Iraq In My Shoe

I am not a fan of fashion How-To books in general. There are certainly a few pleasant or informative ones out there, but  often the advice is logical or too general to be of use to one person. As for fashionable novels, the characters seems shallow and the story line limp. I get press releases to review all sorts of these books. I'm never too excited about any of them, until I was sent, I Have Iraq in My Shoe: Misadventures of a Soldier of Fashion .

I know all about fashion, but I know very little of Iraq and even less about an Iraq high-fashion relationship. I have never been more intrigued by a fashionable book title. 

I Have Iraq In My Shoe is a memoir of a broke, fashion-conscious American woman who moves to Iraq for a high paying teaching job in order to pay of her extravagant credit card debt. After reading its 392 pages, I turned the book over and read its one sentence description. I chuckled immediately at the first word: irrelevant. How accurate! How delightfull that they own it! As I read the rest of the sentence, I realized I had misread. The first word of the one sentence description is not "irrelevant." It is "irreverent." Oops. Although I find the word irreverent is also accurate of this tale, the end of  the one-sentence description ends in complete disagreement with me. 

"Irreverent, hilarious and completely relevant." 

This memoir does give some insight on on the Kurdistan culture, but its collection of relevant information was minimum and, like most fashionable novels, the character is pretty shallow and the storyline uneventful. This should lead to an immediate trashing of the book, but the culprit of the dull book is also its savior. The author, Gretchen Berg, is a talented writer with a modern and robust sense of humor. I found myself immediately involved in the dull story, turning page after page. Even during the pathetic chapters involving a crush on a young student, I found it easy to keep reading. Is there anything intriguing about said crush? No. Does this make the main character look like an idiot? Yes. Do you see it going anywhere? Absolutely not. Does it go anywhere? Of course not. Do I keep turning the page? Sure! This is saying something. I am having a real difficulty reading these days. I had to renew my local library's edition of The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by  Stieg Larsson twice and still had to return it a week late. The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest is a mind grabbing novel that begs to be read and yet I needed two months to complete it. I finished I Have Iraq In My Shoe in a week and it is not nearly as interesting. It's that smooth writing style I tell you, all concise and fun.

Back to the content... Danny Devito once said, "No one wants to look at a photo they are not in or hear about a dream they did not dream." Actually, I have no idea if Danny Devito actually said this and I am pretty sure I did not word this accurately. This is half-remembered third person knowledge via my friend Jempy. The point is, I Have Iraq In My Shoe reminds me of a photo I am not in and half the book is a list of complaints. Her luggage is lost. Her driver is late. She couldn't afford $500 shoes. There is no more diet coke. She was charged too much for something. Someone ate her sandwich. Yes, all this sucks. I feel stressed when my luggage is not where it is supposed to be. No one likes to wait for a ride. $500 shoes would be nice. I don't drink caffeinated drinks - I can't relate there, but I detest being over charged, and I do like a good sandwich of mine to stay mine. I don't talk about these things though, and I certainly don't write about them (until now). Why? Conversations and stories involving such things bore me, even when it involves me, I still finding it boring.  Last Summer, it took me 24 hours, numerous cars, a few flights, and one boat to get from Greece to San Diego, California. In between the cars, planes and boat I was in a wheel chair because two days before my departure I was thrown from a horse onto concrete, leaving me unable to walk. (I can walk now, by the way - whew!). When people asked about my trip home, I simply said it sucked. There really is nothing else to say about it. I'm sure I could write a book chapter about it, but just thinking about typing out the insignificant tale of my torturous travel bores me. If it's boring to write, it's even worse to read. 

Although there was some wonderful writing, one  laugh out loud moment and heaps of smile inspiring, self-deprecating wit, I learned next to nothing from I Have Iraq In My Shoe nor did it inspire me on any level. Humor is fabulous, but education and inspiration is kind of the point of my reading a book. And although I am positive the main character and author Gretchen Berg is a hoot in person, she does not translate well to paper. Her thoughts and accounts of her actions remind me of something that happened with my client last year. A client told me his company was going paperless. I asked him what he was going to do with the current paper files. He told me he shredded them. For some reason, I inquired about the step to follow the shredding. He looked confused and then declared he used the slim strips of paper to light fires in his fire place. Doesn't seem that interesting, right? Do you see any humor there? Not really, right? Well, I laugh about this all the time. I laughed just now typing it out. I can laugh at it because I was there for all its comedic nuances. There is no way I can retell this story  in a way that makes you laugh because the humor of the situation is not strong enough to survive the dilution of the retelling process. You had to be there. Same with Gretchen Berg. She comes off more whiny and shallow then witty and fabulous. The witty and fabulous aspects of Gretchen are implied throughout the book and even announced to you in certain sections, but it got watered down in translation. You had to be there.

Summary: You want an easy read? Pick it up for a plane ride or a vacation read. This is also a great book for someone wanting to get into reading. In fact, do you know a girly teen with a neglectful relationship with the written word? This is the perfect starter book.

My product reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I never accept payment for product reviews although I am given the sample to keep. If I am sent something that is unimpressive or boring I don’t write about it.

Dressing Up in Pants? Add a Sheer Button Front Blouse

I was in Los Angeles last week to style a commercial. Usually when I pop into LA for work, I pop right back out and head on home, but I revised my habits this time. The commercial wrapped on Wednesday, but one of my childhood best friends, Jen - now a resident of LA, scheduled her 30th birthday party for that Saturday. Driving to and from LA twice in one week is a form of torture, so I made the bold decision to refuse clients and stay through the whole week.

I usually have issues with not working, but I discovered my workaholic tendencies had gone on vacation too. I found myself in a magical world of peace as I hung with my dear friend and her fabulous husband. Maybe I felt I earned the serenity after the hard work I put into the shoot. Or perhaps my old friend cued today's me to fall back into the non-workaholic me of my youth. Either way, the normalcy I felt doing nothing shocked me. Jen's fold out couch became attached to my body as she and I read, talked about nothing, napped, watched movies, and talked about nothing some more. Just like when we were nine. Just like when we were eighteen.

Of course we got off the couch occasionally...

Our first outing called for shopping. I picked up this baby blue $60 silk button front top from H&M and nine pairs of panties from Forever 21, an underestimated source for fabulous underwear. I had forgotten to pack underwear for the trip, ergo the large purchase. I only needed five of course, but when neon orange and pink lace thongs reminiscent of the pricey "Hanky Panky" thongs are to be had at $1.50, you buy nine. With $73.50 of my money spent, I then helped Jen spend thousands of dollars on dresses and jeans. 

Our second jaunt out was more like five jaunts since we went to every bar and club in Hollywood. When preparing for the evening, I realized I hadn't partied in LA in years. Not knowing the fashion we would be running into, I wanted to be fabulous, but not dressy. The perfect fabulous non-dressy outfit could involve jeans, but denim automatically says more casual then fabulous. Enter my J Crew pants. They are tight, giving me some sex appeal, but I needed more sexuality. Enter the the recent sheer H&M purchase and fabulous Guess heels. A sheer button front blouse paired with tight non-denim pants and heels, as seen on Miranda Kerr as well as myself, is a fabulous dressy-casual or casual-dressy look. You will fit in anywhere and you don't need to shave your legs.

Wearing pants and  a secure blouse also comes in handy when you ride a mechanical bull at The Saddle Ranch... or when you find a man beating another much smaller man senseless outside the Supper Club and you are the only one willing to stop the psychotic meat head with a high kick to his torso. Had I been wearing a dress, instead of this blouse and pants, the disgusting rubberneckers would have caught sight of my new bright pink panties. Such horrible people do not deserve to see such wonderful undergarments.