V-Style

Photo Shoot: Rangoni Footwear

My most recent catalogue shoot with Rangoni footwear is now available to the public. When the creative director called me in to style their Fall catalogue shoot, I was more than excited to take on the project. Shoes and purses are usually chosen last in life as well as most other shoots, so to start with the accessories, is a styling treat. Another delight from the Rangoni shoot is working with model Kim Cozzens, an awesome gal I went to high school with. Small world.

The gold belt I wanted to use with this dress was too big, but when I tried to use a traditional clip to hold it back, it refused to grab onto the metal texture. In order to make it look like the gold belt fit her in the front, I ended up stuffing a rolled up wide belt between the dress and the gold belt.

Fashion Forward Boudoir Photography

I get calls to work with all sorts of people on various projects - shoe catalogues, infomercials, wedding editorials and more. Recently I got a call from Helene Cornell to make a boudoir shoot fashion forward. I was told to go deep into creative freedom. I couldn't say yes fast enough. 

To begin the shoot, I started with the forgotten doll. I wanted the first look to emulate a doll that was tossed aside by its owner. Neglected, the doll rebels by piling on all her accessories to prove she doesn't need anyone else. She can play by herself. For the second look pictured I called it the Tuxedo. I love a black tie affair.

La Fresh Waterproof Make-Up Remover

Last week, the commercial I styled for La Fresh featuring Fairly Legal's Virginia Williams started airing. I loved dressing these fabulous young women and the beautiful Virgina Williams, but I am so bummed the commercial didn't show off more of the fabulous outfits! My favorite look I put on Virginia Williams would have to be the BCBG red bondage dress that is only shown for one second from the shoulders up. It always breaks my heart when a fabulous look ends up on the cutting room floor. 

As for the products, I love them. One of the biggest perks of styling commercials is the generosity of the companies. I took home handfuls of the La Fresh waterproof make-up remover. At home, I use Artisana 100% Organic Raw Coconut Oil to remove my eye make-up, but when I travel, which is often, I can't be taking a big 'ol glass jar of oil with me. The awkward jar issue is quite the bummer because I am making a serious move to choose simple and healthy products over complex chemical products as much as possible. Thankfully La Fresh is paraben free and contains no alcohol, making it my go to for make-up removing on the go. I also use their acetone free nail polish remover pads, which is a serious godsend. Every other "good for you" nail polish remover my mom has tried to get me to use does not work. La Fresh's remover absolutely works, comes in an efficient rectangular shape, and has a thick texture that can remove nail polish off both hands with a single  pad. All the nail polish remover pads I have used in the past are flimsy thin circle shapes that make you use a bunch in one sitting. La Fresh's nail polish remover also smells shockingly good. I am so in love with it, I actually volunteered to give a testimonial for the nail polish remover. That too ended up on the cutting room floor. Bummer.

My product reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I never accept payment for product reviews although I am given the sample to keep. In fact, La Fresh is unaware I have mentioned them.

Backless Clothes: How To Show Off Your Back Without Showing Your Flaws

Aurelia V

Vanity has crept up on me. My concern for my physical appearance is at an all time high. Having never been one to look in mirrors all that much, I found it necessary to examine the root of the unappetizing characteristic. I thought maybe it was because I was aging, but it turns out I don't really care about getting older. Instead, my new vanity is about losing the two features that have always been "my thing" beauty wise. Before the last few years tackled me, my assets were my skin and my back. I always had amazing skin that never needed face wash and my back was the talk of my friends. Now I have a spotty complexion with blemishes and discoloring, as well as back fat. Interesting enough, I have never looked better. My chicken legs have grown calves, my belly has leaned out and my arms have some shape. My hair has always sucked and it keeps sucking, but I appreciate it not sucking more than it has in the past. It's a nice constant.

If I hadn't loved my skin and back so much, I know I wouldn't be so concerned. I barely acknowledged my scrawny legs and fat belly back in the day, but today I catch myself staring at my skin and obsessing over my back.  It must stop. So, I told myself, "Hey Little Lady, you work out and you wash yo' face. Yeah, you'll look into some back firming exercises and investigate that skin, but until a clear solution is revealed, you must accept the new you."

Max & Mia

How do I accept the new me? Once I have cleaned and prepped my face in the morning, I am not allowed to look at or touch my skin until it is time to wash my face at the end of the day. That is my rule. Once I tell myself something is wrong, it's easy for me to walk away from it. As a result, staring at my skin is quickly coming to an end (and my complexion is improving to boot - go figure).

Ending the back obsession is a different story. I love garments that show off the back. There is no reason to give up on the back in its entirety because of a couple issues. Instead, I have sought items that indulge in my need to show the back as well as cover my two insecurities. My first insecurity is the back fat located at the top of my sides. I'm sure some of you know about it. It's that area that folds above your natural waist when you twist around to look at something behind you. The second insecurity is the blemishes at the high center of my back (perhaps from sweating in my sports bra, the sports bra I use during the workouts needed to improve my back fat - go figure). 

Lush

When dealing with acne on the back, racerback tops and dresses are fabulous. The skin revealed by a raceback top is rarely affected by blemishes. Another solution is a sheer top or a top with a sheer back. Although see-thru, a diaphanous fabric is a filter between prying eyes and the details of your back. The translucent layer lets people see the shape and color of your back while hiding small blemishes and scars, as well as the subtleties of fatty tissues. 

If you have good skin and you are more concerned with the fat deposits on your back, the obvious tip is to find clothes that cover the fatty areas of your back, while exposing the rest. Having searched for these types of garments for some time and not finding many options, I designed a line of tops to fit my needs. Besides wanting to expose as much skin as possible without revealing side fat, I also wanted my tops to hide armpit fat, camofluage the belly and elimnte the need of a bra, hence the high sides in the back and through the neck as well as the blousy front. Titled Aurelia V, the line of tops are made-to-order.

Elizabeth & James

First For Women Magazine Photo Shoot

Last month I styled the lovely Mary Jo for her feature in First Magazine For Women. Her professionalism and endurance made the shoot an absolute delight. 

Photography by Rob Andrew, Make-Up and Hair by Elaine Garcia

Personal Stylist Purchase - Bebe Blazer

I adore the casual blazer! I can feel so claustrophobic and uncomfortable in the usual structured blazer. When I spotted this for a client in Bebe, I made sure to go back immediately and pick up the exact one for myself. It is the perfect light grey, it is so yummy soft and the fit is sexy fabulous. I pair this with jeans, pencil skirts, shorts and some dresses. This cotton blazer is so fabulous and versatile I can wear it with a client, to a party and even use it in a photo shoot. Definitely one of my favorite purchases of the year. 

Product Review: gla.MAR.ous Headbands

When I cut my hair smoldering short last year I was in a constant state of panic, not because of the look so much, but because there is hair in my face. There is hair in my face. There is hair in my face. Ah! I couldn't stand it. Now, my hair is about chin length and although I can tuck it behind my ears now, it is still a bit of a battle with these darn wispy bits hanging about my face.

To avoid all the hassle, I have been on the look out for attractive and smart ways to comfortably keep my hair away. Not too much turned up for me. Standard headbands looked too neurotic to me and eventually gave me a headache. After that I was left with hats and sporty elastic things. Which is fine, but mostly I have been wearing this purple cotton thing my mom made in the early nineties. Obviously, all this goes down in my private life, not with clients. 

Luckily, I was shipped a sweet piece of headband from gla.MAR.ous. I could even get away with wearing this in front of some of my clients. Made from a zipper, the gla.MAR.ous patented headband is embellished with various colors, textures and adornments, but the one I love is the simple black metallic headband. It is adjustable, stylish and effective. My only qualm with it is the pink logo. As you know I am not a fan of logos, and the dash of pink does not work with all outfits I would want to pair with the all black headband.

Apart from the headbands, gla.Mar.ous collection also has adorable fringe tops. Fabulous additions to a beachy lifestyle or warm season get-up. I even used one in a photo shoot I styled recently for photographer Jonah Gilmore.

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.

My Most Recent Photo Shoot With Exquisite Weddings

My most recent work for Exquisite Weddings magazine is now on newsstands, but to see my favorite shots simply scroll down. My favorite part about styling this bridesmaid spread was taking a more fashion forward view on the idea. 

   

A Recent Photo Shoot I Styled

 

Hands down, my favorite part of my job is styling for the frozen image. Of course I love changing the lives of my clients as a personal stylist, but putting together an outfit or look for a camera rev's my little engine. Here are a few images from a shoot I styled for photographer Helene Cornell last month.

 

  

 

How To Look Slim In Pictures And On Camera

Last week I was hired to dress eight fabulous women and one upbeat fella who have lost anywhere from 25 to 275 pounds using a popular weight loss program. Although it is obvious how much weight they lost, the goal was to make them look their most slim for their testimonials. 

Before I share with you the fashion tips to looking your most slim in front of the camera, I want to give a whopping praise to the dedication and strength it took for these people to change their lives. I had a perpetual tear in my eye listening to these people talk about their life before and after the weight loss. These people feel unstoppable now. Nothing is too hard or scary for them anymore. Applause.

Now to looking slim in front of the camera. For Kelly, pictured above, when I first asked her to try on the skinny jeans she was upset. She thought skinny jeans would make her look bigger instead of slimmer. I asked her to trust me and try them on. She had never looked slimmer. The slim fit with slim leg will make a woman look... slim. Boot cuts, and flare legs interrupt the long line of your leg making you look wider and as a result look shorter as well. As long as the skinny jean isn't skin tight, you can bet on a flattering look.

I chose the top she is wearing because it hits her mid hip and has center front ruching. A top that has a close-to-the-body fit and hits mid-hip will create a long torso. The ruching will hide any imperfections on the belly with it's subtle bunching.

For Melissa, our second girl pictured, I used the skinny jean tip as well keeping in mind that solid colors are the most slimming. Three-quarter length sleeves also creates lean arms and the look-at-me buttons marching in a line up her torso gives a longer look. 

For our last woman, I put her in a v-neck blouse with a band at the end. The v-neck is a thinning look for all the women because it shows off unaffected skin and creates a flow to the look. With a band on your top you can raise the top up a bit, so it can lift away from her belly to hide any imperfections while still showing the thin width at the high hip. I chose the slacks for the straighter leg to create that lean look, but in a thick ponte fabric to hide imperfections. Also, you will notice I put all the women in heels.