V-Style

Familiar Face Fashion: Kate Bosworth in Belly Baring Proenza Schouler

I want to see some belly. Yes, I am talking midriff here, ladies. And for some reason I believe showing high up on your belly is classy, where as showing bellybutton is childish. This is the kind of thing where you just trust me. To pull off displaying your stomach, you start with a high waist garment whether it be a skirt, like Kate Bosworth Proenza Schouler's design, shorts, or even high waisted silk or linen pants, preferable wider in the leg. Then you pair it with a shorter top. Voilá! I just love that high midriff look and Kate Bosworth's outfit is a fabulous example of why. She looks edgy, sexy, stylish and fun! Note too, that hideous color of lipstick looks amazing on her. All you fair skinned, blond girls can pull this off, us brunettes will have to find a different shade to pair with our bare bellies.

Tip: showing your stomach while wearing anything denim is not the most stylish practice. Softer fabrics are more fashion foward.

Personal Stylist Purchase - Affordable New York Shopping

When I go to New York I put aside money to shop and shop and I am not talking Stella McCartney or Bloomingdale's. I adore the cheap shopping in New York. Here are my favorite purchases. Pictured above and below are two items from Amsterdam on Broadway. The sparkly butterfly I will pair with black leggings or denim shorts. It has no real purpose in my current wardrobe, but I had to have. The dress below is an easy, printed throw on.

This overpriced polyester breezy orange thing from Variazioni is my favorite purchase of all. It must always have a belt and you can't wear a bra unless you are going for a modest look, in which case I will need a navy under tank to put under it. I tend to go for skin whenever possible, so I will mostly skip the tank, stick on my pasties, a skinny plaid belt or gold belt, bronze heels and wear it out for drinks this weekend.

I adore these earrings! You can find some overpriced versions in Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's or you can stop into Chameleon Designs and pick them up for $20. I will pair them with everything from a top and jeans to fancier pieces like my new orange frock. Obviously the clear ones are more versatile. The pink earrings will be paired with my lavender, pink and blue focused outfits.

This locket was purchased from a street vendor on Spring street. It is handmade and under the label, Urbanrose. It is a magical peice I have put on a long chain and will pair with higher neck tops or plunging necklines. Pictured below are my Forever 21 purchases. I am loving the presence of the terracotta and "Navajo" prints that are available for sale these days. I have been wanting items like this for some time. Finally the stores have fulfilled my wishes. Yea.

Product Review - T-Post T-Shirt

I return from New York after a long journey and find numerous packages at my front door from companies and PR firms as well as on line orders I made before I left. It's midnight my time, 3am New York time. Exhausted and excited, I kick the boxes in the door and throw my suitcase inside. It's like Christmas! I am delighted as I work my way through each parcel. The last one is in a plastic bag with no identifying marks beyond it being addressed to V-Style. I open it and find no paperwork, just a folded white t-shirt with splashes of color. I unfold it to reveal the most disturbing images on it. Maybe because I am tired, but I drop it on the ground and feel as if someone has threatened my life. I look down on it and see the shadow of typed words inside the t-shirt. I pick up the Tee and turn its soft fabric inside out so I can read the first sentence of the 480 words located on the back of the shirt..."Prescription medication advertising in the US is out of control."

I recall now the press release that was sent to me and the e-mail confirming a product being shipped for me to review. The t-shirt was sent to me from T-Post. They call it a wearable magazine, but you might call it subscription fashion. You can't just buy one T-shirt, you have to buy a subscription to X amount of Tees at 27 euros ($37) a month. Once you sign up, each subscriber receives a new t-shirt in the mail. The t-shirt has a news story on the inside of the back and then a graphic interpretation of that story on the front. Like a magazine subscription, you have no idea what you are going to get until it arrives. 

The news story on the shirt sent to me was about pharmaceutical companies' advertising dollars and the risks of prescription drugs. The disturbing images inspired by that article included a creepy man with half a body, vomiting, and a child that appeared to have its organs coming out of its butt. On closer inspection, I realize it is diarrhea, not organs - which is much less horrifying, but gross nonetheless. I richly dislike this t-shirt and absolutely would never wear it, but I adore the idea and love many of the other graphic Tees from their archives.

T-post begins its process by going through news stories submitted by fans and T-post subscribers. The T-post team then chooses one topic to feature each month. Once the story is chosen, they select an artist to translate the news story into an image, graphic or drawing. Each t-shirt is created by a different artist to keep T-Post fresh.

The cons of this amazing idea is the price of the surprise. If I had this subscription and I had paid $37 for the grotesque pharmaceutical Tee, I would be bummed. I wouldn't want to spend that many bones on a shirt that frightened me. My Vogue subscription costs half that for the whole year - then again I can't wear that without some major creativity and some glue. 

The other con is the fit. For men the standard boxy fit is great, but for ladies I recommend Tees with some shape. I think as soon as they add the option of a shirt better suited for the female form, we'd be in business.

All and all, the garment is an awesome use of fashion and the t-shirts are wildly unique if not attractive and cool. I always welcome clothing that can start a conversation, especially when that conversation can shine some light on a topic worthy of an audience.

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.

Fashion in New York

I just returned from the east coast for my yearly peak at the goings on in New York and the fashion that goes with it. I wiggled through the Occupy Wall Street Movement, dress code ranging from casual chic to controversial. I witnessed Sex and The City's Patricia Field's personal style first hand. I roared at the Comedy Cellar alongside comfortable style. I drank at the Plaza next to the over dressed and over charged. I attended the Greater Refuge Temple Sunday service to enjoy the extravagnat singing, foot stomping and tambourine waving of the women in skirt suits and extravagant hats. Lastly, I attended the opening of the Denim Habit boutique in the Meat Packing District. In between all the adventures, I shopped the many areas of Manhattan. My purchases will be featured on Wednesday. For now, Enjoy the traveling pictures and please excuse the non fashion images, I just thought they were fun.

Client Outfit Feature - BCBG Printed Silk Top

I adore this BCBG printed silk top, I have put it on a few of my clients... something I rarely do. Each client has their own body type, taste and lifestyle, but this item works on so many levels for so many people. For one of my clients I showed her how to sport it casually on the weekend as well in the office. For casual wear, we paired it with soft GAP pants and for work we paired it with a Classiques ruched-on-the-side pencil skirt in a ponté fabric with a Gibson blazer in the same fabric and color. By just tucking the BCBG top in, it goes from breezy tunic to sophisticated blouse.

Familiar Face: Catherine Middleton in Amanda Wakeley

I have not been awed by Catherine Middleton's fashion or thin appearance, but did enjoy this white Amanda Wakeley dress paired with nude heels and a champagne colored minaudiere. The fresh combination of nuetrals with the sharp shoulder and chic accessories needs a round of applause. 

Personal Stylist Purchase - Presley Skye Dress

A stylish dress that can be worn with clients as well as a social outing is a must in my wardrobe. This Presley Skye dress with its sophisticaed silhouette and artsy print fits the bill perfectly. A tip though, it is great for long waisted women. I have to get it altered to take away some of the extra blousing above the self belt and cinch of the waist. 

How To Dress Your Breast Implants

Many of my clients come to me to dress a new body. Often it is weight gain or loss, but every now and then it is due to breast implants. They have spent years dressing a smaller chest and all of a suddent they have no idea what do with their curves. Here are the top five issues we run into...

1) Long necklaces are best left to the smaller chested. When you you are busty, long necklaces will consistently catch and frame your boobs.

2) Turtle necks or High necked tops can make you look wide, best to have an open neck like a vee or a scoop neck blouse to show some skin.

3) Anything low cut is going to show your cleavage. Stay away from anything that dips too low. 

4) Buy garments that fit your bust and then take in the rest of the dress. You will notice now, not only will your breasts fill out dresses, it may overfill them. Best to go a size higher and get the rest tailored to your waist and hips.

5) A Tee shirt doesn't seem so frumpy anymore. This is where the busty trump the lean chested. A cute Tee goes a long way you have the curves up there to fill it out. Time to take advantage. 

 

Product Review - Bullets2Bandages

I hate waste, love unique and respect "cause" fashion with real style. Bullets 2Bandages is a line of accessories succeeding on all three accounts. The creators, two retired Naval Explosive Ordinance Disposal officers: Erik Spalding and Cole Evans, launched the line of jewelry as a campaign to help the veterans and families negatively affected by the the current war USA is waging. Made from demilitarized bullets and decorative dog tags, they chose these materials to convey their vision: turning an instrument of harm into a symbol of hope and healing. The symbolism is completed with proceeds from the sales going to the Travis Manion Foundation, a non-profit organization created in honor of a respected friend of Spaldings and Evans from their Naval Academy days.

As for the fashion of it all, the bullet bracelet ($49.99) I get to discuss is edgy, stylish and heavy. This is made from actual expended 9mm bullets and a M27 linkage for machine guns. It's not feather light, but I find the weight, comforting. The way I feel about a large turquoise necklace that I own. 

Other noteable qualities, I love the engravings on the bullets and the size of the accessory. It is large enough and certainly unique enough, to make a statement, but won't get in your way at an inch wide and 1/2 inch tall. I also thought stupidly that it might leave marks on my clothing - of course it doesn't. The metal is war worn, but clean and ready to go.  

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.

Client Outfit Featured - Bar 111 Dress

I know I have laready beaten the horse dead about Bar 111, but I could not help but discuss one of my favorite client's 30th birthday attire. I put her in a teeny, ruched red and nude party dress that was comfortable, flattering and fabulous. We did Nordstrom earrings and ring with sparkly gold Jummi Choo peep toe heels that we had also used on her wedding day. I always say, no one-hit wonders. When you buy something, it better be able to move to other ocassions and avenues of your life.