V-Style

Product Review: Itty BItty Bra

I get many press releases. Most bore me, some don't and there is the rare few that actually stop me, read all the way through and get my fingers tickling. Itty Bitty Bra is one of them. Itty Bitty bra is a linf of bras that caters to the "flat chested." They focus on AA, A and B cups up to a 38-inch chest. They don't have any quality looking, stylish prints, but I love the idea that they are creating a product that will not gap, pucker, or slip. They also have bralettes and instructions on how to measure yourself properly. It turns out, "Measure your ribcage just below the bust line and add 4". This gives you the band or bodice size, e.g., 32. Measure your bust at the fullest point of your breast around your ribcage. Take the difference between the 2 measurements." 

The first time it came to my attention that small breasted women would have a problem with bra shopping was when I worked with Mini Anden on a television show in 2007. She informed me that a bra with an underwire would never stay put because the size of her breasts wouldn't keep it in place. She was only comfortable wearing bralettes. There is also the gap problem I have seen with a few of my clients. There is so much gapping in regular bras. We really had to search for an underwire that wouldn't float over one of my client's rack.

Personal Stylist Purchase - Twinkle by Wenlan Skirt, Bar 111 Tank

When I was in New York last summer, I popped into a Twinkle by Wenlan sample sale and bought this stunning printed silk skirt. It was a silly purchase. It costs too much, it's in a weird size making it sit neither at my waist or my hips and hits past my knees. Months and months passed without owning the right top nor finding it to buy.

Then I was in Macy's and saw a new brand they are carrying Bar 111. I didn't have the skirt with me, but I knew this might be the top that completes the skirt. I didn't feel it was too economically irresponsible to buy a top specifically for one skirt because it could definitely be used by itself. The color does not match, but it compliments. I do feel bumbly that the skirt only has one top that goes with it, but I will just think of it as a dress with separates.

 

Fashionable Invitations and Stationery

Jonathanadler.com

I hate to detour from clothing, but I have been so impressed with something fashionable outside of fabric. The past few months I have seen numerous invitations via snail mail that are full of style. I have received beautiful wedding invitations, elegant birthday invites and funky bridal shower envelopes.

I suppose I started thinking about this in December when my mom forwarded me a blog post from Rowdy Kittens about the lost art of writing letters. I finished reading it, wiped a tear from my eye and wrote my mom a letter. She sent one back a few days later. The I sent one, then she sent two, then I sent one...

David's Bridal

We write letters to each other now, even though we talk on the phone and e-mail through out the month. I had forgotten how fun it is to get a letter. Then my girlfriend, Annette, visited from Colorado with her husband. They stayed at my place, I cooked them dinner and we had a wonderful time. Shortly after I received a thank you card. I have known her ten years and she has never sent me a thank you card. It still sits on my desk now because I am so impressed by her thoughtfullness.

E-vites and e-mails and text messages and phone calls have saved many pounds of paper and tons of time, but the most stylish way of communicating will always be the hand held note. My friends Mindy, Beck and Jempy all know this. 

Next time you want to throw a party, say hello, thank someone or have an event, here are some paper and invitations you might want to use instead of the digital version.

StylishStationery.com

Product Review: Stylish Croc Flats

There is a shoe made by Crocs that not only do I not make fun of it, I wear them with pride. Yes, it is true. The Carlie Flat by Crocs is a darling little flat that, in the right color, will go beautifully with your stylish casual looks.

When I first put them on, they were a bit cold. I don't like  being cold, but they warmed up immediately. Once at room temp, I notice the exquisite feel of them. Comfortable! Comfortable! I stormed about my apartment for a bit to see if the shoes might be able to keep up with my work schedule. My heels stayed in them and they felt great, firm yet soft. I had a hectic 12-hour day to start the morning I opened the package, but instead of putting on a trusted shoe, I stayed with the Carlie Croc because I trusted the shoe that much. Now, they were awesome for my running around for the first ten hours, but the last two hours squeezed my baby toes a bit. I was a little sad about that, but there is no shoe that can keep up with my 12-hour days of running, carrying and standing.

Since then, I have been wearing the shoes for my eight hour days and my little tootsies have been fine. I am going to bet that a normal person shouldn't have any problems with them. 

As for colors, skip the Aqua/Buttercup, Celery/Aqua, Dahlia/Fuchsia, Fuchsia/Ultraviolet and instead choose from these colors: Buttercup/Oyster, Lavender/Ultraviolet, Khaki/Espresso, Oyster/Mango and Black/Black. They will go with more of your wardrobe and have a more mature presence then the other colors. 

Personal Stylist Purchase - Unconventional Blazers

Not needing to look conventionally professional in my line of work, I love playing with the definition of a blazer. I have been on a jacket spree and picked up one from Gap, Bloomingdale's, Macy's and there is one at Nordstrom I will be purchasing tomorrow.

The black Gap goodie is light weight and perfect with slacks dresses and dressy shorts. The Aqua item from Bloomingdale's is also light weight but long. This will go with anything form fitting. I will be pairing it with white jeans, my pink denim shorts and a printed sheath.

The cognac colored, suede drape collared garment will be going with jeans and dresses. A real find at a $140 from INC. Yay!

 

Light Weight Jackets and Cardigans For Spring

Frenchi

I love warm weather! Oooh how I love it. Short frocks, dressy shorts and showing skin is one of my favorite parts of Spring and Summer. For someone who loves clothes, I sure don’t like to wear a lot of it.

Indeed, the days have warmed, but the evenings are still chilly. I can definitely wear a dress, but I need a stylish lightweight cover up. Comfortable cardigans are a great choice as are a casual blazer and jacket. Pictured below are some great options for the not so warm days and evenings coming upon us.

 Ella Moss

 Frenchi

Gap

 Banana Republic

Product Review: Nobis Headwear

I am not one to usually wear hats, but like many of my clients, I want to get more into it. Spurring my eagerness to become one that wears hats is the arrival of two Nobis hats on my doorstep, one for cold weather and one for warm weather. The cold weather hat, titled Ms Eve, is an adorable furry peice of fabulous. Exactly what talented actresses wear to the Sundance Film Festival in Utah. It is stylish, super comfortable, soft and, of course, warm. Two thumbs up.

The cap called Daisy is exactly the kind of quality stylish headwear I want to be sporting this summer. It's a crocheted beret in purple. I am still trying to figure out the most attractive way to wear it, but I adore it. I won't be wearing it to any client meetings, but maybe I will wear it on my commercial shoot with this week...

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.

Vanessa Valiente at Thread Show San Diego

San Diego's Thread Show took place yesterday downtown. I was invited along with four other bloggers to compete in a style off. We were asked to style six looks and then people would vote via Twitter. Had I known that was the voting process, I am not quite sure I would have participated, but I enjoyed myself none-the-less. I was able to create a handful of fabulous looks from the clothing that was provided by the vendors of the event: Babykakes, Redhawk Brigade, Grammatique, Hybrid Couture and Biblia to name a few. The downer of the experience, somewhat of a jab that I didn't win considering I was the only blogger that makes a living as a wardrobe stylist. Whatever happened to casting a vote via pen and paper? Or even a button. I am going to admit to you, I don't know what a hashtag is and I like it.

Photo by Chantal Gordon