I like my cars silver and my jewelry gold. I also enjoy piling on a bunch of rings. In fact, I usually detest pictures of my hands for obvious wrinkly, scarred, large reasons; but when my gentleman caller showed me this image of my accessorized hands, I found myself smiling. Nothing like distracting from ugly hands with some charming rings. That is the power of fabulous fashion, or in this case, fabulous accessories. They can remind you how interesting and beautiful you are.
A fantastic go-to for delicate rings is Ariella and your local boho chic boutique. I have also found some delicious stacking rings by Kris Nations.
San Diego, Europe, the islands... wherever you are traveling to this summer, here are 10 essential tips to take to avoid fashion malfunctions on your vacation.
Minimum Shoes
Pack a flat or low wedge, a heel for dressier evenings, a flip-flop, and a true walking or running shoe. Anymore than that is going to weigh you down. You may think the day shoe and the walking shoe is the same shoe, but on those days you get to walk less and want to be more stylish, that is the cute day shoe. My traditional "day shoe" is a Kensie two-inch wedge that works for more casual evenings as well. The walking/running shoe is for your days of miles upon miles of sightseeing, pyramid climbing and what have you. A tip for you walking shoes, do not buy a new pair for a trip without trying them out. Buy early, and then make sure to walk in them all day at least once before putting them in your suitcase. Once you zip your suitcase shut and board that plane, you are basically committed. Not trying out a pair of shoes before a trip is like creating an arranged marriage for your feet. Sure, sometimes those marriages work out, but I wouldn't bet on it.
Two Purses
Leave your everyday purse at home. Instead, try a backpack, a light weight shoulder bag, or a cross body bag. You want it in a flexible material, light weight, and with outside pockets that zip. For night, bring a versatile clutch that can still carry your mini language or guide book.
Double Zip Travel Wallet
When I am jumping from different currencies, I like to save time by distinctly dividing my monies. Especially in coin driven cities like London.
Stick To One metallic
If you really want to pack efficiently, coordinate your entire wardrobe so that everything will go with silver. Or gold. Or bronze. Whatever metallic you favor, pick one and stick to it. Then pack two pairs of earrings, one necklace, one bracelets and one ring to go with everything.
Cover-Up
Bring a versatile sweater and jacket to keep you warm on those chilly evenings.
Shellac Manicure
Before a vacation, I love to get a shellac manicure to ensure long lasting nail strength and color with no effort. If you leave town with a regular manicure, your nails chip three days into your trip. You then have to pack nail polish or nail polish remover, or worse yet, seek out nail polish remover in the middle of your vacation to fix the mess. Then you end up with a stinky hotel room.
You can use a scarf to block sun, warm your skin from a chill, and add style to your outfits.
Leave Prized Possessions At Home
Your dead grandmother's scarf? Leave it at home. Your favorite heels? Leave it at home. That rare vintage dress? No. Your diamond earrings? No. Pack the cubic zirconium and leave hard-to-replace peices at home in case of theft or general negligence.
Wild Luggage
Don't risk someone taking someone else's bag or they taking yours. Skip the generic luggage, and pick a case with some zest.
I recently discovered Traveller, a website that has all the things you need for your vacation, or as the Brit's call it, holiday. They even have a discreet fanny pack to go in your shorts or jeans.
I've been going out less. Less parties, less cocktails, less events, less socializing. I have taken on too many clients and I get up too early for pilates and runs. My dedication to my work and my body has gotten out of hand. How did I let this go on unchecked? I have never been one to miss out on adventurous evening fun time, and now look at me. Rich and fit and completely neglecting the edgier side of my wardrobe. I am ashamed of myself. Day in, day out I am sporting simply chic outfits that I'm barely aware I am wearing. I have no choice when my days are filled with runs across the mall, hauling heavy items, and kneeling on the floor to play with pant hems. My, now all consuming, job demands this comfortable, almost sporty look of flats, wedges, shift dresses and J.Crew's minnie pant. Yes, I am still very stylish, but there's nothing at all complicated about the looks I wear with clients. No feathers, elaborate heels or piles of jewels. Last night it really hit. As I was getting ready to attend a Finest City's improv show, I was craving complicated. I wanted heels! I wanted bracelets! More bracelets! And more! I put on as many bracelets as I owned that complimented my ASTR dress and covered my face in blue eye shadow and still I felt under dressed. I suddenly wished my heels were even higher and my dress crazier, but I hadn't the time to switch.
I vow to bring my social life back. I vow to drink more, and I vow to dive back into outfits and garments that really let me know they are on me. When you are aware of your outfit (in a positive way) it can transform you. I miss the way eccentric clothing would alter my personality. I do love my tremendously comfortable chic wear, but too much comfort really brings out the logical version of us. It puts the focus on everything outside ourselves, which is amazing 80% of the time. The other 20% of the time I want to tap into the other versions of me. Nothing does that faster than 3-inch heels and endless bangles... ahhhh bangles. Bangles are the best. They make me feel sexy, cool and interesting. They also go with nearly every outfit. The night me is dying to pile them all over my arms, but the work me loves to play with 1-5. A bangles purchase is a win-win.
I put on the search for the perfect bangle. To my absolute pleasure I found Kris Nations as well as fabulous gypsy decor by Lauren Ralph Lauren. (Both are available in silver and gold.) Kris Nation's stacking bangles comes in 5's and are made from recycled 14k gold filled for $119. I adore their lightweight and silent presence. The Lauren Ralph Lauren bangles are not real gold, but less expensive at $68 for 20. They are great quality for a gold imitation, loud, medium weight and are oval shaped for a fantastic piled on look when they dance on your wrists. Singled out and pulled close to the eye, the Ralph Lauren bangle looks a bit cheap, but altogether on your arm, they are absolutely luxe. I bought both my discoveries. The Lauren look is exactly the kind of awareness of fashion I am looking for, while the subtler Kris Nations stack of five is great for my work days. I actually want to buy four more stacks of the Kris Nations pieces to enable even more bangle pile options, but I must not spend $500 on bangles after some recent purchases I made for myself at Nordstrom and J.Crew. Talk about personal shopping.
When I say stylish studs, I am not talking about men or horses, although both can be quite stylish. I am talking smaller earrings. I usually use small studs like diamonds, gold balls or pyramids to compliment a larger necklace, but sometimes you want a earring that can pack a punch without dangling. It's a charming, even whimsical look that looks great with hair up and complicated necklines like the Caslon t-shirt pictured above.
I particularly enjoy these gold elephant earrings by J Koppel. I like that this delightful ear décor comes from shopbevel.com. Shopbevel works with independent designers to bring interesting jewelry into design. Designers submit designs, the community votes, and Shopbevel produces selected winners. The idea is quite unique as well as the pieces, and I love the free return policy. These earrings were gifted to me along with a discount to share with you, so feel free to try out shopbevel with 25% off code: BBSTUDS. As a note, the elephant earrings are a more distressed gold then they appear in the image.
Do you wear larger stud earrings? Share in a comment below.
Rose gold came to popularity in Russia at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Considering its origins, it used to be referred to as Russian gold, but with everyone embracing the copper-gold mix, that term died. Although available, it was hard to find five years ago. Now it's standard in any jewelry department from Nordstrom's Junior's section to Tiffany's. At it's first flush into major department stores, it was referred to as a trend. Soon enough, the trend talk dropped and the selection doubled. It is now a regular part of your metallic shopping, and perhaps your wardrobe. Like all metals, some shades look better on certain skin tones. The hue of rose gold or rose silver aren't the best on yellow skin tones and the most flattering shade of rose gold on everyone is the blushier pieces with a less percentage of alloys and copper. The more copper involved in the metal concoction the more orange-red it gets. While pink is delightful against most skin tones, orange-red is not.
When adding rose gold to your collection, be delighted by the variation out. Be picky and be sure to select more than one piece. Don't just get the earrings, get a ring and bracelet as well. And know rose gold is for all occasions whether it be dressy, work or everyday.
There is a time and place to buy cheap. These items tend to be the garments you wear once or replace often like tights and Tees. Especially when it comes to T-shirts... that soft cotton Tee really does feel and fit quite similar whether it is Forever 21 or Helmut Lang, and both will end up mangled after one toss in the washing machine. Then there are the moments that call for cash. Obviously if you have the budget, buying high quality is a great idea 95% of the time, but whether you are making $300,000 a year or $30,000 a year, these are the items you should invest in...
Gold & Silver Studs
Studs are essential for the gal who loves necklaces and the woman who adores simplicity. Fake gold & silver studs will tarnish easy, look trashy and need replacing. After dropping the money to replace them over and over again, might as well drop the money all at once and put sterling silver and 14k gold in your ears.
The Everyday Watch
If you are wearing a watch everyday, you are going to want a quality one that will last.
Jeans For The Jean Lover
If you live in jeans, splurge on Citizens of Humanity, Paige or whatever designer jeans hug your ass right. You will get that great fit, less stretch and lasting glory.
The Perfect Purse
Butter leather, perfect pockets, and stunning color is not going to cost $40. Drop the dollars on the everyday, everywhere purse.
Versatile Flats
I am horrified by the amount of uncomfortable flats, priced both high and low. Take the time to try on shoe after shoe, walk quickly around the store numerous times and then spend the money on the flat that can keep up, blister-free. I have found cheaper shoes that are comfortable, but inevitably deteriorate after I have stomped around in them. I work shoes hard. A cheap pair will break down and become uncomfortable in the end.
Cheap boots are extremely obvious, let in water and chill, and often offer no support. Search for the perfect boot in color, comfort and style, and then splurge. You will find you may not have to replace them for at least a decade if you take care of them. If you wear them hard and often, polish them and eventually resole them. A quality boot is made like a car. With the right maintenance, expect to have it for ages and then hand it down to your 16-year-old child.
Statement Necklace
Just like boots, a cheap statement necklace is extremely obvious. Search out a versatile, amazing statement necklace and drop the dollars.
Investing and splurging is not for the indecisive. Investing in a piece is a commitment. You are vowing to love it for an extended period of time. If you are still unsure of your style, investing does not make sense. You need to know you will wear the jeans often, sport that necklace every other week or strap on that watch every morning. Otherwise it becomes a waster instead of a saver. Finding the perfect garment and spending an unusual amount of money on it is to ensure you don't waste money purchasing numerous items of similar characteristics. So often we buy something to tide us over for various reasons or get impatient and purchase something only close to our desires. In order to invest in fashion, you need to have patience, and you need to get to know yourself.
How men wander the streets with only a wallet in their pocket is beyond me. Even when down to the basics, I am carrying my ID, money, business cards, sunglasses or eyeglasses, lip blam, sunscreen, keys, cell phone and tissue. Did I mention that my keys have a sizable pepper spray attached to it? I can't fit it in any of my pant pockets, let alone my dress pockets, without someone thinking I am a transvestite with a boner.
Thankfully, a purse can solve that, but there are times I just don't want to carry around a fabulous handbag that fits everything I could possibly need. On the flip side, there are times I don't want to be Kate Middelton with my teeny pocketbooks. Sometimes I want to carry more than the basics and less than my everyday action. For those occasions, I recommend the crossbody bag - a bag of smaller proportions (8-9 inches wide is a good size) with a longer strap. You place the strap over your head and slip one arm through so that the strap sits across your chest and has the bag rest against your hip. If you are the prowl, Chloe handbags' have some marvelous pieces.
The key to having a crossbody bag is knowing when to wear it. The crossbody bag can wrong you if worn inappropriately. One second you are feeling stylishly adorable with your crossbody bag, a moment later you realize you should have brought more with you, or it turns out the crossbody bag is too casual for the occasion.
1) Metropolitan Travel
New York, London, Chicago, Boston, Mexico City... any city you are not renting a car needs a bag that can carry your everyday stuff without weighing you down on your walks, cab rides and public transportation. It's also the hardest purse to mug.
2) Casual Hiking/Walking
A casual day walking a park, or hitting some not-so-steep hills doesn't need a big bag or camping gear, but may call for sizeable items like sunscreen and sunglasses.
3) Shopping Event/Crowds
Perhaps you are dressed up a bit, heading into a crowd, picking things up, putting them down. The crossbody leaves hands free to mosey the merchandise while de-bulking your look in a crowded room. No one wants to bump into your purse.
4) Concert/Dancing/Amusement Park/Crowds
No one wants to dance with a bulky bag or hands full. Nor do you want to pop onto a roller coaster and watch your things go flying. A tightly shut crossbody bag is the way to go.
5) Work
Depending on your job, you may need to bring a lot of things into the office, i.e. laptop, research, lunch etc; but all that can go in your computer bag. Once all your materials are in the office, you may end up outside the office for meetings, gym or taking a break, where a large tote is not needed.
Where do you carry your crossbody bag? Share in a comment below.
My mother made it her duty for us to dream, create and invent. I have memories upon memories of fabric stores, crafts shops, and art supplies. Everyone of us children always had a drawing pad at our disposal, though I was a terrible artist. Unlike my brothers who could draw X-Men characters with their eyes closed and went through sketch paper like water; I drew tables, chairs, awkward faces, and dresses in barely used notebooks.
Despite my inept rendering skills, my mother's arty enabling was infectious. I barely noticed my lack of genius. I even remember standing in the backyard with my dog, wondering if I was going to be the next Picasso. I was that young and that adored by my mother, the possibilities of who I could be and what I could do seemed endless. It was more out of boredom, then realizing I had no talent, that had me drop the pencil and pick up Vogue and Instyle. The moment I saw my mother tear out sheets of beautiful images from the Condé Nast pages, I wanted part. I only had to ask once before she started giving me most of her fashion and decór magazines, and eventually my own subscription. Once the magazine was in my hands, I followed suit and tore out the images I found interesting or beautiful. My drawing pads were no longer empty. Soon they were filled with stylish collages.
I have only realized recently the moment I began tearing up Instyle, I began my path as a stylist. As a stylist, you curate, not create. Sifting through the magazines, finding the best images, then putting them together to form an attractive and balanced collage was practice for what I do today. Realizing how powerful this practice was, at such a young age no less, made me realize my mother's influence on my career. It was my mother that provided me the prerequisite tools to becoming a stylist... Mom deserves some recognition. In fact, let's give her a day. Let's give her May 12th. Let's give all mothers May 12th to thank them for all they have done for us. I shall call it Mother's Day. Let's talk gifts.
This is what my mom gets this year. Not to worry, I am not publicly spoiling her gift as she has already received it. Since I am in London most of May, I gave it to her early. She watched it every day until the last episode and now awaits the next season. She is wild about the 20's decadent fashion as well as the fiery heroin of the series.
I love holding and smelling a good book, but with all the traveling I've been doing, books have become a weighty nuisance. I just bought the e-reader Kindle and am really impressed with the light weight reading. All those books on one little thing? Seems like magic. If your mother travels a lot for work, retirement or other reasons, a kindle is divine. Particularly now that a new ergonomic Kindle case is coming out, your mom will love it.
A go-to gift, I love a beautiful scarf, especially a colorful one like Jonathan Adler's retro floral. The navy tones will wake up her skin, while the yellow says fun. A bonus, have her watch Nordstrom's "4 Ways to Tie A Scarf" series. I am sure she will learn something new.
4) Sentimental Jewelry
There is something so beautiful about jewelry. It can become an everyday piece - a constant reminder of someone's affections, in this case, yours. Or it can be a special occasion piece that makes the evening or event that much more memorable. Tiffany's Paloma Picasso olive leaf collection has caught my eye as a perfect gift that will last for years. From the earrings to the necklaces, they are stylish yet subtle pieces your mother could wear often. I also love Argento Vivo jewelry as a gift, especially the Chalcedony's pendant necklace.
5) Shoes
An odd choice, especially if you don't know her size, but I have fallen in love with Zoe + Luca flats at Macy's. Oddly, they are not available on Macy's website and literally cannot be found on the internet. But in San Diego's Fashion Valley Macy's there they sit: weaved, comfortable (!), stylish and available in various colors. I am putting them on so many clients, including myself, and I can't emphasize enough their everyday-fabulousity. Plus, who gives a shoe? It's a unique gift. Pop into Macy's or give their shoe section a call and ask if they have Zoe + Luca flats.
What are you planning on getting Mom? Please share in a comment below.
My mom wrapped four baby bums in cloth diapers and took large totes to the grocery to avoid their plastic bags. At 26 years old in 1982, Gwendolyn Valiente was beyond her time as a young mother of four in a decade of wasteful decadence. She taught us to protect the earth and care for the people on it. Earth day always reminds me of my childhood and the "caring" lifestyle I was taught and strive to mimic today. To celebrate, here are some fashions that keep the earth and humanity in mind...
annie & jade is a modern eco-luxury brand of women's clothing that uses earth-friendly Siro-Micro Modal (knitwear), 100% pure silk and a new 100% natural wool with woven elements to create color and tone without the use of dye. They also contribute to the Carbonfund.org for any part of their line that cannot be made in an eco-friendly way.
Sseko began as a way to generate income for high potential, talented young women in East Africa to continue on to university. Every woman who has graduated from Sseko is currently pursuing her college degree. In addition to their university-bound team, Sseko also employs a full-time team of women from all walks of life. Sseko Designs provides the opportunity for these women to end the cycle of poverty and create a more equitable society.
Dalia MacPhee is a vegan clothing line that plants a tree every time you purchase a gown in the Tahoe National Forest. An illegal campfire destroyed much of the area a few years ago leaving black tree skeletons. Dalia's goal is rebuild the entire forest.
All Raven & Lily products are fair trade and eco-friendly. Their employee women in need from all over the world to hand-make these stylish goodies from recycled and naturally-dyed materials.
Social Good Network turns your everyday online purchases into support for the causes you care about. When you shop your usual retailers from Amazon.com to Bloomingdale's, the purchases you make through socialgoodnetwork.com generates donations to benefit the causes you select.
This cosmic print scarf is designed, produced, and naturally dyed by the L.O.V Project. Their philosophy focuses on being close to nature. Every scarf is handmade, fair trade and one of a kind.
My belly sticks out. A lot of my clients' bellies stick out. Then there are others that just don't like muffin tops or pressure across their lower belly. Jeans in particular can really emphasize a belly insecurity. The solution to belly bee-bop is a higher waist. My clients are loving the high waisted jeans I am showing them from a size 26 waist to a size 16. Here are my favorites...
Citizens of Humanity is my go-to for jeans anyways, but their high rise 'Rocket' jeans in black, white, and traditional blue are exactly what I am seeking for my clients. We love the comfort, softness and flattering aspect of the jeans. Also in my high rise denim dressing room is J Brand, NYDJ, Seven For All Mankind and I am trying out Habitual.
In a world filled with hungry sales associates and unrealistic fashion magazines, V-Style is a safe place for a style conscience woman to get real style advice and relevant fashion updates from an authentic expert.
most of May, I gave it to her early. She watched it every day until the last episode and now awaits the next season. She is wild about the 20's decadent fashion as well as the fiery heroin of the series.
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