The Costume Institute Gala!

This past week, New York City hosted one of the most important functions in fashion...
"The Model As Muse: Embodying Fashion" Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art was held on the night of Monday, May 6th, 2009. Many stars, models, politicians, musicians and other stars were dressed up (or down) for this event.

Looking through the gallery at http://www.peoplestylewatch.com/, my daughter and myself choose our favorite and least favorite selections. See if you agree!

Best Dressed:

Rachel Bilson in Brian Atwood for Bally (FANTASTIC color... green ruched mini dress)











Hillary Swank in Calvin Klein (for color and design, simple and striking)

Marion Cotillard in John Galliano for Dior (peach silk with jewels, need we say more)









Worst Dressed:

Unanimously it was...

MaryKate Olsen in Christian Lacroix Haute Couture (looks like a salon girl in a oversized gown) Maybe next year, Mary-Kate will let me be her stylist!

Street Style in D.C.!

I just got back from D.C. (notice the lag in posts!) I traveled on the city's Metro system into D.C. everyday and did some people watching. As an artist/stylist, this is one of my favorite jobs... to watch and observe what people are wearing on the streets in different cities and bring that style to you.

Coming from New England, I thought the style in D.C. would be inspiring and fashion forward. Well, it was both, but not a lot of different than what we wear here. I just assumed that being a top city, the Capital, where Mrs. Obama lives, Washington D.C. would be jet setting, extreme, on the edge when it comes to style. I was right and wrong. As I said, the style was fashion forward, but not like you see on the streets of Manhattan or L.A.! It was sophisticated (thank you Mrs. Obama) and classic. With our economy on the down spiral, it appears that women are dressing safer and more traditional.

My favorite trend I spotted was the classic dress neatly worn with a thin cardigan over top. A lot of the dresses were classic shapes in vivid colors. Like this shirt dress from New York and Company (http://www.nyandcompany.com/). Worn with gladiator sandals or thong sandals, this style is flattering on every body type.
I spotted one young woman in a tribal print dress with a navy cardigan unbuttoned and jeweled thong sandals. It was beautiful and now I'm the search for a tribal dress to wear this spring.

Also everywhere were pencil skirts and simple button down cotton blouses. Also worn with sandals (the weather was in the 70's), this style is also simple and classic.

As for accessories, everyone seemed to be carrying large totes, maybe because you can bring your laptop or book for the Metro ride into the city, or maybe because totes are so fashion forward this spring. Scarves are also still going strong in lighter fabrics like silk blends. Jewelry was kept to a minimum with emphasize on the complete outfit.

I will keep observing different trends in different cities and try to update and create your style.

Time to Purge!

With Spring in full bloom, now is the time to purge all of your out-of-date, haven't worn in 5 seasons, will never fit in again OUTFITS!

I usually go through my closest and clothes at least twice a year. Once in the spring and again in the fall. Mainly because I have limited closet space so I need to change out my seasonal outfits to fit the weather in New England.

I have a couple of great ideas to help you weed out your clothes. First of all I suggest having 3 empty laundry baskets...1 for clothing to keep, 2 for clothing that will be given away to Goodwill or brought to a consignment shop to sell and 3 for items that could go either way!

The first rule when taking clothes out of storage is if you are not sure if it fits put it in basket #3 and try it on. Seems simple, but how many times do you rotate your clothes and then never wear it because it doesn't fit the way it use to. Which leads me to my favorite rule of purging, if you have not worn it in over the last 2 years (because it doesn't fit, doesn't look as good as when you bought it, or needs repair) YOU HAVE TO PURGE IT. You will not wear it again, it will not come back in style, you will not save it for your off springs, you will not fit in it again...purge it!

I recently read somewhere that if an item has sentimental value (for example: the leather jacket that you went to your first concert in) take a picture of it and then put it in the appropriate give away basket! Great idea! When you have finished going through your clothes... go through basket #3 and make hard but truthful decisions. Put the clothing to keep away in the appropriate spots, bag up the clothes for Goodwill and the clothes for consignment. It feels great to go through your clothes and filter them out. And remember the more you purge, the more room you will have for your new outfits!

Keep creating and updating your style!

A Sweater Named After A Commander

If you go to http://www.wikipedia.org/ it states... A cardigan is a type of sweater that ties, buttons or zips down the front. The cardigan was named after James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, a British military commander, following his service in the Crimean War. What a great honor for Commander James Brudenell and in case you didn't realize, the cardigan is my all time favorite type of sweater!

So to continue my piece on Spring 2009 Outerwear, we are going to find fabulous cardigans to wear! Personally I do a lot of my shopping and browsing online (I will be discussing this in future post), so researching cardigans was quite fun! This Spring you can find ANY length, tons of wonderful feminine styles and a spectrum of wonderful colors to bring you fashion forward this spring.

If you go to http://www.gap.com/ and click sweaters, then cardigans, you will find one of the best choices out there. The "Summer Cardigan" for $44.50 comes in great colors and is versatile enough to wear with t-shirts and dresses. With cropped sleeves and a cropped length, this trend is SO Spring 2009! Did you check out the names of the colors...parrot green, goldfish, purple heath... what fun? And it comes in florals and stripes!

While you are on The Gap website, they have this handy feature called "Quick Link" which pops up in the bottom right hand corner. Just click on it to go to the Gap Inc. brands sisters sites which are Old Navy and Banana Republic. Old Navy (http://www.oldnavy.com/) has a mid length, feminine "Ruffled Cardigan" for only $26.50 in more color choices than a rainbow. Banana Republic (http://www.bananarepublic.com/) has a great even longer (we're talking to your ankle long) cardigan called "Linen 3/4 Long Ribbed Cardigan" for $125.00. And at Gap Inc. Brands website, check out the shipping deals if you order from all the sites!

For a more investment piece, nothing says fashion forward such as a "cashmere" cardigan! I absolutely would invest in at least one cashmere piece for Spring 2009! Go to http://www.bodenusa.com/ and check out their "Cashmere Cropped Cardigan" on sale right now for $108.80! This classic will last you for many springs to come and can be worn into cold summer evenings and crisp fall days! The price on cashmere can range from truly expensive to truly inexpensive, just watch your plys that is where it makes a difference in pricing (a larger ply number, a better quality of cashmere, a more expensive price tag.)

And lastly for a trendier and more affordable cardigan, check out http://www.chadwicks.com/. They carry embellished beaded styles, short sleeve tunics and more classic style cardigans at reasonable prices. These pieces are worth a look to bring your outfits fashion forward this spring.

April Showers Bring Fab Trench Coats!

Here in the northeast, it has been raining since April 1st (OK, so it's only the 4th, but still!) Today I am going to focus on one of your many options for outerwear this Spring 2009! The weather in Spring can start and end chilly, so you need some type of outerwear to keep you fashion forward and update last year's outfits!

The Number One choice is "The Trench Coat!"

I love my grass green trench that I bought last spring from Ann Taylor Loft (http://www.anntaylorloft.com/) but for a more traditional choice, check out Lands' End Spring 2009 collection featuring the SunShower Trench in Desert Khaki or Black for $119.50 (http://www.landsend.com/). The price point isn't too steep and it will be your go-to classic trench for years. And while you are on the website, you have to check out the Sunflower Raincoat for a funnier approach to the trench. I actually saw a woman yesterday wearing the Bright Pistachio Floral Raincoat and it looked fabulous!
More fun and inexpensive options for trenches are at Old Navy (http://www.oldnavy.com/). Their Belted Twill Trench Coat comes in amazing colors and is priced at only $49.50, but hurry, there are only limited sizes/colors online. I love the length of this trench, it is a perfect car coat (meaning you can drive in it without getting caught in it.)

And I love, love, love Target's Merona Double Breasted Jacket in yellow plaid! (http://www.target.com/) It is bright and cool to make you stand out on those overcast rainy April days!

You don't need to spend alot on a trench and these are only a small portion of the trenches out there for Spring 2009, but with April showers, don't you need something to brighten your mood?

Watch for my next choice for Spring 2009 outerwear....the cardigan!

SHOES!!!

Shoes!!! Ok, so I am really partial to shoes, and probably own more than the average woman, but hey, with this great accessory, you can change your entire outfit from last season to this season without taking out a third mortgage.

For Spring 2009 there are numerous styles and colors that will make you fashion forward.

Metallics are really big for Spring 2009. I'm talking silver, gold, bronze and copper! I am on the hunt for a comfortable, flat metallic that will dress up my khakis and jeans. Payless Shoes (http://www.payless.com/) have adorable styles that won't break your budget. Like this Dexter Silver flat called "Parker Buckle Moc" for only $19.99 this week!

Also back from 2 springs ago, and bigger than ever is the gladiator sandal. From extreme high to flat, this style sandal is so trendy, it will fashion forward you into Spring 2009 no matter what you decide to wear. I wear my 3" heel black gladiator sandals with my cropped boyfriend jeans. Check out a very cool shoe website: http://www.piperlime.com/ to find the latest and greatest gladiator styles.

Lastly, I would like to talk about the "wedge." Still going strong from last spring, this shoe has many new options. Different colors, different heights, and different toe shapes. One of the trendiest options for Spring 2009 is the peep toe wedge. Again, Payless Shoes and Macy's (http://www.macys.com/) have an enormous selection at great prices points. You can wear this wedge with skinny jeans, spring capris and skirts.

I can't end my SHOES post without mentioning my favorite website for shoe shopping, browsing and styling.... you HAVE to check out http://www.zappos.com/. The selection is unbelievable, the brands are numerous and the prices go from extremely affordable to extremely unaffordable. Have fun checking it out, and always remember, shoes make or break an outfit!

For Every Season... Change, Change, Change!

"When seasons change, you need to change your handbag to reflect the weather."

I have felt this way since I started carrying purses and continue to change out my bag when the weather outside changes. This spring I am carrying a soft hobo bag that screams "spring is here!" This simple change in an accessory can make a dramatic difference. For Spring 2009, we have a huge selection of bags to chose from to make us look fashion forward!
Below I will chose my top 3 favorites for this season:

I will start with the over sized tote that seems to be in every fashion magazine and was on every runway for spring. The size of the tote and easiness of stuffing everything in them (plus the kitchen sink) make these bags extremely popular. I have seen many examples of this bag in Target (http://www.target.com/) and at TJMaxx (http://www.tjmaxx.com/ - which carries designer handbags at reasonable prices and the selection is unbelievable!) The totes can be constructed out of canvas, leather, faux leather, and even eco-friendly burlap. I would suggest purchasing one at a reasonable price point, since next spring, this trend might be over and you might want to downsize. They come in beautiful spring colors or your traditional neutrals.

Also popping up everywhere is the over sized clutch. They can bring you from day to night in an instant. Big enough to carry your office supplies, but small enough to carry in your hand. Lucky Magazine (http://www.luckymag.com/) has a great article on this clutch with different examples and different price points.

And last but not least (and my personal favorite) is the hobo bag. This is the definition I got from http://www.wikipedia.org/: The hobo bag is a style of handbag that is typically large and characterized by a crescent shape, a slouchy posture and a long strap designed to wear over the shoulder. Hobo bags are made out of soft, flexible materials and tend to slump, or slouch, when set down. I have seen this bag in many colors for spring, pastels being the most common. The hobo can hold a lot of stuff and are easy to pull off! Check out this hobo from Franco Sarto's™ called "Lombardy Large Hobo" which can be purchased at http://www.zappos.com/.

These are my top 3 favorite styles of handbags for Spring 2009 ~ and just remember if you don't like any of the spring options, summer is just around the corner!

Necklaces, Bracelets and More, Oh My!

The Land of Oz can't compare with this Spring's collection of jewelry! It is bold, bright, big and beaded! Wearing one of this season's pieces can totally update and change your outfit. Here are a few of the pieces that I have seen in designer collections and on the streets!



Necklaces: The "Bib" necklace is in for Spring 2009. (Like the one pictured above at http://www.carole.com/.) It usually consists of bold clusters of gems. You can wear it over a favorite spring t-shirt or light crew neck sweater. The fashion magazines have been calling them "statement necklaces" and I'm sure once you wear them you will see why!

Bracelets: BOLD, BOLD, BOLD! Big 3"-4" cuffs with big bangles. See Lucky Magazine's April 2009 issue or go to http://www.luckymag.com/ for a how-to guide on wearing them!

Earrings: Cluster drop earrings in brilliant colors are all over! I purchased a pair at Target (http://www.target.com/) that are turquoise blue and gorgeous and the price point was under $15! I wear them with a neutral palette, so they pop! Also big are "multicultural" beaded earrings, that incorporate brilliant primary colors, so they look like you traveled to foreign lands to purchase them!

Rings: I have seen a slew of metal organic rings! They represent nature and the trend towards "going green!" Like vines twisting around your finger, these rings embrace spring and nature perfectly!

More brilliant then the horse of a different color, Spring 2009's Jewelry is sure to update and create your style!

It's not your Grandmother's scarf...

I remember when I was little going through my mother's "scarf drawer" thinking why does she have so many different scarves. Well here we are in Spring 2009 and I am addicted to scarves.
Maybe because scarves are "in" this season, maybe because they can hide a not so perfect outfit, and maybe because they can UPDATE your old spring clothes. The newest trend seems to fit all of our needs! (And I'm not talking about your Grandmother's scarves...)
Last years' (or many years ago) outfits can easily and afford ably look updated with an inexpensive scarf. I have been to many stores, researching prices, looks and textures of this latest trend.

Here are the main conclusions I have found to help you in this new trend:
Color: I opt for the spring colors of 2009, they can update old colors instantly.
Light green, lemony yellow, cool blues, and my favorite...melon orange.
These springy colors can take greys, and browns into spring beautifully.

Texture/Fabric: I love the soft knit fabrics (like an old t-shirt). I have seen 100% cotton, broad cloth (a little heavier than cotton) and chiffon. The main objective with texture and fabric is that it flows when you wear it (and doesn't itch your neck).

Width/Length: I like to fold my scarf in half, then put the ends through the loop (your head goes in the middle), so I prefer my scarves long and not too wide (or it will be too bulky around my neck). I noticed most spring scarves are long and thin!

What-To-Wear Them With: I wear my scarves with t-shirts to dress up the look! I love them with V necked light sweaters or cardigans. This adds umph to any old spring outfit!

Price Points: I have found adorable scarves at Target (http://www.target.com/) priced under $20! (Okay, I purchased one).
Wal-mart (http://www.walmart.com/) has a beautiful selection also, reasonably priced. I went to Macy's (http://www.macys.com/) and found gorgeous scarves, many colors, but the price point ($38-$45) seemed high for me (since I will probably not be so-into scarves next trend!) But if you have a coupon to Macy's or wait for one of their terrific sales, it would be well worth it. Lands' End (http://www.landsend.com/) has an amazing color and affordable collection also.
I could go on and on about scarves, but I believe the key is to try them on and just go for it! I'm wearing my new Target scarf tomorrow with a graphic t-shirt, open cardigan sweater and jeans!
It will brighten up my wardrobe, bring it into Spring 2009 and make me feel fashion forward!

Spring Fever!

It hit 60 degrees here in the northeast yesterday, so I have spring fever... and nothing to wear!

In the next couple of days, I'm going to give you ideas how to update your existing spring wardrobe without spending a lot! I will be purchasing only a few accessories this spring (with the economy, who can afford to update every article of clothing) so I will cover what are some new and fashionable accessories to purchase for Spring 2009!

I will cover the following:
Scarves
Jewelry
Handbags
Shoes
And a little on Outerwear!

Hope you enjoy! As always, I appreciate feedback, positive and negative!

What's In, What's Out... Who's to Say?!

Most people really don't care about fashion's ins and outs... but obsessed with fashion at an early age, I can't help myself. Oh course, there are some advantages and some disadvantages to this obsession!

As a mom, I try to be stylish, but some days I just don't have time (or the energy). But let's face it, when you look good, you feel good.

In this blog I will explore current styles and trends that everyone can wear. I will research websites and fashion magazines and weed out what the average woman really can wear. I will tell you where the bargains are, where the trends are going and what you should invest in when it comes to moving fashion forward! I will help you create and update your style!

I hope you enjoy this blog and I appreciate any feedback from what you want to see or hear about fashion.