A Little Inspiration.....

The opportunity to purchase couture fashion is something that is extremely outside of the reach of the average women, but it can be a source of inspiration to develop the evolution of your personal style. If decadent edge is your forte, then Givenchy is certainly worth examining further so that you can be ahead of the curve when the aesthetic trickles down to the mainstream.

With such a young designer (couturier) at the helm, fresh ideas are sure to keep coming. The most important aspect of couture fashion is the idea that the garment is fitted exclusively for you. Believe it or not, this is something that is within everyone's reach. Understanding your body type is the first obstacle and then finding a talented seamstress/tailor is the next objective. There really is not much that can not be expertly altered to better fit you.

Style Lesson: Next time you go shopping, think "how can this be made better for me?" with each piece that you are considering purchasing. Who says couture has to set you back thousands?

Preserving The Investment

There are certainly times in life that require that we look nothing less than fabulous. So, we venture out to find and purchase amazing ensembles that suit the occasion...and sometimes break the bank. Once you have debuted your look and knocked them all dead, what do you do with your garment next? Preservation is the key to ensuring your fashion finds are there for you in the future. It is imperative to hang, store and clean garments correctly.

I would like to echo a famous line by saying "No wire hangers!!" Just because the dry cleaner provides them does not mean that you have to use them. Everyone has experienced the misshaping of shoulders and sleeves that often happens as a result of wire hangers. It is best to use something that has both padding and grip, so that the shape of the clothing is protected and the slippage is reduced.

Plastic garment bags are not as great as you think. Plastic does not allow the fibers of the clothing to breath and can encourage the growth of mold if the temperature of your closet if wrong. YUCK! Closets should be kept dry, cool and as uncluttered as possible. There is no sense in jam packing your closet and wrinkling everything in there, you might as well have your clothes balled up in a corner. Forgetting what you have and not being able to find what you need is also a consequence of the disorder.

Lastly, it is important to have items professionally cleaned if that is what they require. During my trip to New York last week, I happened upon a fabulous cleaners for the most delicate and expensive articles of clothing. I have to admit that seeing this really made me second guess who I am entrusting my clothes to. I have never had an incident, but I think it may be a disaster waiting to happen. I am currently on the hunt to find a place like this locally.

Be good to your clothes and they will be good to you!

Showing a Little Shoulder

Early this week the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), held their annual wards ceremony at the Lincoln Center in New York. One of the common threads on the red carpet was the display of shoulders. There were many that chose to wear sleeveless, strapless or the newly revived one shoulder dresses. I have always said that the neck and shoulder area of a woman is extremely sexy and was glad to see the choices that were made.

Here are a few of my favorites and what I like best about them below:

Picture #1 -- Nicole Miller(right) and a model in her designs looked lovely. I actually prefer the white dress that Nicole was wearing with the silver accents. I must warn that this type of dress could prove problematic to the large busted woman and distract from design of collar and bodice.

Picture #2 -- This beautiful J. Mendel satin floor length gown worn by Padma Lakshmi serves as the perfect day time formal gown. It is a pity that her hair is hiding the one shoulder neckline with bow and pleating detail. If you are tall, this type of dress will be sure to accentuate your long lines.

Picture #3 -- Rachel Roy's printed peplum dress (left) is so cute! I adore her designs, and this dress that would cleverly camouflage a multitude of hip and mid-tummy concerns is no exception. The choice of the color green and interesting texture brings what would be a very conservative dress alive. There are not many people who would not look good in this one, including Kim McDonald, who wore it well.

Picture #4 -- Alexis Bryan is wearing a black and white dress done right! This dress can be worn anywhere with a quick change of accessories. The length of the skirt and the minimal detail lend itself to the versatility of this dress.

Picture #5 -- Behnaz Sarafpour (on right)has been one of my favorite designers for some time now. There is an underlying sense of youth to most of her designs. Although this dress can be worn by a mature woman it is most suited for the young woman in transition. It is the perfect mix of fun and formal

Picture #6 -- This Michael Kors dress worn by Blake Lively screams fun and fearless. The bold color is not for the faint of heart, but has big returns. Any woman will be sure to be noticed in this dress. The color compliments a sun kissed completion perfectly and gives it an extra glow.

Picture #7 -- Michael Kors gets an A+ for this maternity creation for the beautiful, and frequently pregnant Heidi Klum. She looks comfortable in the skin AND the dress that she is in. Who can ask for more?

Picture #8 -- This white dress by Kaufman Franco is not for the faint of heart or the out of shape. This dress is expertly constructed but certainly is not forgiving and the color can be a tell all as well. This dress is gorgeous none the less.

Picture #9 -- This Thakoon dress looks like a blue cloud from heaven. This is perfect for the slender gal who needs to give the illusion of a little extra curve but just as genius for the curvy gal who needs to hide a few things. Love it!

Picture #10 -- Although this is pretty printed dress is not ideal for the designer's body type, this Tracey Reese dress is no less fabulous. How could a woman not feel soft and dainty in this one?

Picture #11 -- Vera Wang is known as the go-to designer for wedding gowns, but she clearly has a fun and edgy side. This sequined ensemble is light hearted and fashion forward enough for the event and surprising flattering to many.

Can't wait until next year!!

Let Me Count The Ways......

Previously, I had managed to resist the urge to gush with envy about the style that the First Lady has displayed...but I can no longer help myself. There have been many comparisons to the late great Jackie O., however I'd like to think that she is just Michelle O. and that is clearly more than enough.

So far, we have yet to see her looking sub par. She has proven to be impeccably dressed at every official event , but I think her personal style can best be seen in more casual ensembles. Her effortless grace truly shines through when she is out and about with the children or volunteering at a school. The First Lady's relaxed look usually consists of quintessential American sportswear at its best, coupled with a smart flat.

One of my favorite looks was worn a few weeks ago at the beginning of May to a poety slam that was hosted by the Obamas at the White House. Michelle appropriately brought boho-chic to the stage with simple capri's and a show-stopping blouse. The blouse was designed by the Brazilian-British design team of Basso&Bruno for their Spring 2009 RTW collection. While their line has only been in existence for a few years, they are known for their bold graphic and prints.

Michelle's choices have expertly introduced her to us as a woman whose taste lives somewhere between conservative, whimsical and bold.....what a super combination! Oh how I love thee.