Say “HI” to Thigh-High

Boots, a common must have for winter. Not only do they keep us warm, but they fashionably accompany numerous outfits as we bare through the winter cold. But a question that has haunted me through many winters is: how do i wear boots and be unique? Since boots don’t come in a large variety of daring styles or dashing prints (due to the fact that they must accompany various outfits during the winter season) one often finds oneself wearing boots oh-so-similar to the girl sitting next to you. But, while looking through the fall-winter 09 collections, I came across a boot not so timid. Thigh high boots are appearing on almost every runway. No trend came up in so many designer’s look’s as much as the thigh high boot. 

Here’s how to wear your thigh highs. NEVER wear them with dresses that are longer than the top of the boot. Preferably pair them with tight-skirted dresses or skirts that end at least a couple of inches above the top of the boot. The waistline of the corresponding skirt should be above the hip, yet no higher than the smallest point of the waist. Make sure not to wear too out-there garments with thigh high boots since they are a statement themselves.

Noir

Rad Houranie has a love for the color black and androgynous looking models. Since he rarely uses any hue other than black, he is unable to rely on colors to make his creations appeal to his audiences. His limited color pallet forces him to rely on the originality of his designs. In my opinion, his decision to apply the same color theme to almost all of his designs is a very bold move, as it forces him to work harder to make his designs appealing by other means than color, whereas designers like Diane von Furstenberg, tend to rely more on the color and prints of their materials instead of the design, shape, and silhouette of the actual piece. In a way, this could be considered cheating, but at the same time, using colorful prints and different materials is a form of art and hard work as well.

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Trend: ballet skirts, the high waisted style. these fluffy, usually chiffon skirts add a cute, sweet, and playful touch to your ensemble. while one can get them in colors like pink, i would recommend trying a more sophisticated version. Trend: corset tops. These have been trend for a while, yet one should be cautious with corset tops. Make sure you don’t look slutty by making sure they fit perfectly. One should also wear not so revealing garments with this. The corset style tight top contrasts well with the feminine fluffy skirt. Trend: sexy mary janes. The cute shoe with some naughty heels is a good add on to outfits like this. The clean cut, large, blazer adds a little clean, masculine edge to the outfit.

Faces?

I was flipping through the pages of  Elle  and I came across the photo of a dress. At first glance I thought the dress was pretty but then I saw a face on it. I highly doubt that I am the only person who found this strange. The picture on the dress was beautiful but the two ideas clash. High fashion+beautiful painting might seem like a good idea but in all reality it isn’t. It’s as if you are marketing your look with somebody else’s face, not your own. For example, last year, there was this shirt that was really in. It was white with a black and white picture of a pretty girl wearing oversized shades in front of some high rise buildings. The people who wore it wanted to give the impression that they would wear oversized shade, when in reality, they lacked the confidence to take fashion risks. High fashion is all about you, the dress complements you, and you are part of the look. By having somebody else’s face on your outfit, it gives off a vibe of confusion, insecurity and unfashionably failed wannabe-ism. Who are you really- because the clothes you wear are all about you, made to fit you, look good on you, and accompany you through life.

Socks, Socks, Socks!

Style Tip of the Day #6: Socks, Socks, Socks!

Socks. They seem like a commonplace thing, everybody wears them… but few people actually maximize their stylish capacity. In grueling fashion wars where runways are the fuel of the fight, yet streets are the battleground, socks are an unknown and powerful weapon.

Don’t ever stuff your bulky pants into tight socks. Not even for biking. If you do want to tuck your pants into your socks, tuck skinny jeans (solid colored, with no rips) into below the knee, preferably black or gray, socks. Make sure there are no creases where the jeans fold. Then put on a pair of boots that are about an inch to two inches lower than your socks, like a pair of cute old rain boots.

If you just want socks you can slip on under tennis shoes, make sure that they end below your ankle and are not longer. Socks that end a little above your ankle make your legs look short. Try to minimize sock usage for tennis shoes and sneakers. Try not to wear socks with flats and never wear socks with sandals.

And lastly, my favorite type of socks: knee socks. Knee socks that end below the knee should be worn with preferably tight skirts or dresses that end 3/4 way down your thigh or higher. Above the knee socks should be worn with dresses and skirts that end 1/2 way down your thigh or higher. These should also be worn with tight garments. Knee socks are a must have, and are great for adding a little bit more style to your outfit. Preferably start out with either black or gray above or below the knee socks. I personally prefer above the knee socks, since they give your legs and outfit a longer look of unity and flow.

LBD: Not Only Must-Have Myth

Style Tip of the Day #5: LBD: Not Only Must-Have Myth

Of course, everyone knows that, according to numerous magazines, every girl must have a little black dress. And yet, here we are, with jeans, t-shirts, and a party dress, not even having a desire to base our outfits off of a small black garment. But with experience, i have found that an LBD is actually a great item to have. At first, i was planning on sewing and creating something with this little black dress i bought, but as it hung in my closet, i decided to wear it. Honestly, apart from belts, the LBD became my best friend this winter. 

A basic little black dress should be tight. Make sure that it is well fitted, for an ill fitting dress will distort the lines and smoothness of the overall look. It should be, as if this dress is part of you. A little black dress should also, in fact, be little. It should end at you’re mid thigh, yet can vary an inch or two depending on your leg length and preference. A little black dress should also have short to elbow length sleeves, depending on the fabric. If it is jersey, the sleeves can be up to elbow length, yet LBD’s out of hardier, more textured, fabric, it should be short. Try to avoid sleeveless dresses with high and tight necklines. If you do get a sleeveless dress, make sure it fits will and has a wide and relatively low neckline. 

An LBD is fashion canvas. Pair it with scarfs, accessories, jackets, belts, tights… it can be one style one day, and another style the next. Trust me, all you need is an LBD and you are style set!

Wish List: Dresses

My Top 3 Favorite Designer Dresses at the Moment

 

This Oscar de la Renta dress, costing $2,066. 40 has light, beautiful blue tie dyed streaks all covering the cream colored dress, reminding me of water. The skirt of the dress is strategically layered, tucked, and puffed to create easygoing architecture, while the top half is tight. It would be great to wear to a dinner at the beach with these $99 Steve Madden heels.

 

This Alexander McQueen Ombré Fringed Dress is a $9,095 piece of art with layered multicolored fringe. It has a one-of a kind, unique, and fragile look, and would be perfect for events and glamorous dinners. The dress needs a pair of sleek shoes to accompany it, like this $50 Jessica Simpson heels.

 

Ever since I, half asleep, saw this $1,160 Balenciaga dress in the Brittish Vogue while in Amsterdam Airport, it has been one of my favorites. Color blocked red, and cream, it also has some black mesh offering diversity in fabric. It is folded and tucked in all the right places to create a fantastic dress, a perfect fit for a party or event. This dress looks great with a pair of strappy heels, like these from Fendi, $240.

When in Doubt: Belt It

Style Tip of the Day #4: When in Doubt: Belt it

Here’s how i got through the winter stylishly: I raided my mom’s closet and wore her skirts. I know what you might be thinking… knee length, usually worn to work kind of skirts can be extremely dull and not to mention too big for me. Well, i belted them. I wore them at my waist with a wide belt and and a tucked in top, creating new, unique looks. I folded the top of the skirt to the side so it comfortably fit my waist and now had a tulip shape. Then, i safety pinned the tulip shape and wore a belt over it all. This is a great option for tighter and smaller tops or blouses, yet can also be pulled off with looser tops. It  looks especially good with ruffled blouses. So when you don’t know what to wear, or have items that don’t fit so great… belt it, and you’ll get a stylish outfit!

Be Bold!

Summer is the season of freedom. Summer is a time where you can do whatever you want, whenever you want. Yet summer offers not only freedom from school/work. It also is the time of unlimited fashion freedom. You can wear almost anything without the consequence of being found outrageous. Summer is the time when the boldest new styles emerge and the mild finesse of winter heads to the back of the wardrobe. So I urge you to take advantage of this freedom to try out new things you might not have dared to wear otherwise. Like wild, bold, and colorful prints on the cutest of dresses. Slip these on with for or no accessories and modest shoes on a hot summer day and you have an instant hit. Pair these with some light brown shades and maybe even a wide brimmed straw sunhat. Be Bold! Be Stylish!

(1. 3.1 Phillip Lim $294  2. Emilio Pucci $500  3. Tibi $360  4. Roberto Cavalli $1,436   5. Anna Sui $291  6. Single Printed mini dress $280)

The Big Bangle Theory

One of my latest obsessions? Big bangles! You can stack them up and make them the center of your outfit, wear only one to add the finishing touch, or somewhere in between. Unlike their smaller, thin, relatives, these can also be worn alone without looking ridiculous. Large and chunky, they are definitely statement jewelry, adding pizzazz, snazz, and a bold attitude to your outfit.