Sequence Still Sparkles

The sequenced look still stands and the summer sun makes the sparkles shine bright! Looks can be casual, subtle or sexy while remaining comfortable and classy. 

I adore a comfortable slouchy tank. What I adore even more is one that is bedazzled with dimension like this J.Crew Tissue Sequin Tank. Clear discs of shimmer act as the foreground to this style which is available in a collection of innocent summer colors. 

For a longer, sexy-sleek look, this sequin lace tank from Express can be worn as a dress or paired with a compatible legging for a less flashy interpretation.  

Throw in a little glam with your casual get-up. Another selection from Express, their embellished oversized sweatshirt, is rocker-rough with a tribute to '80's style. Express is spelled out in clusters of metallic sparkles in a ragged design to throw the eye off. 

Dazzle up your Tom's with a little glitter! With Tom's One-for-One program, purchase a pair for yourself and a pair gets donated to a child in in need. 

You can see the comfort in this blouson dress. The silhouette is simple but with the perfect kiss of sequence, the look is taken from smooth to sexy! 

Take your outfit from day to night by sassing it up with a sequin cardigan. This International Concepts Style is a versatile piece you can pair with many options. Wear it over a tank with black jeans as shown in the photo above, dress up the look with a pencil skirt or couple it with your LBD for a classy cocktail creation! 

Men's Fashion Friday: Nordstrom Sports Gear

Spring Training is just two weeks deep and as baseball fans come out from the winter wood-works, we all stand excited for the regular season to start! For those of you who like to purchase a new piece of fan gear for your favorite team each season, Nordstrom's collection of Sports Fan apparel is FAN-tastic!

I love the crew neck tee's that have a jersey vibe.

Their selection of throwback and vintage tee's are styles you won't find at the stadium.

If you're really a fanatic, and perhaps someone who likes to dress up for an athletic event (?), they even have a collection of cuff links! 

We all have been to a ballgame and sat freezing in the stands. Trade in your sweatshirt for a zip-up hoodie. 

Shop Nordstrom's online Fan Gear collection by clicking here. Visit your local Nordstrom for a wider variety. 

Trend :: Tribal Tribute

“...dance to the beat of a tribal drum with modern, African-inspired pieces”

~Vogue

The Tribal Trend is back with a full throttle revamp for Spring 2010! Think multi-colored, multi-faceted and...a trip to Africa. Tribal is your opportunity to be vibrant without being predictable. Here is your chance to pull out your ikats, batiks and treasures you have collected during your travels and sass them up for one of this seasons hottest looks.

Update any boho chic style with a twist of tribal by pairing it with statement jewelry, scarves and shoes. Or take the trend by it's horns and convert your look from head-to-toe. Jungle prints will mingle with slashed up, asymmetrical and rugged tribal impressions, while ethnic mosaics will be drenched with unexpected color combinations. The look is day-to-night dynamic and can even be pulled off with the "clog" that is making its comeback this spring too! (thanks to Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel...)

Givenchy's Spring 2010 (left) tribute to streamlined tribal was immaculate. This zebra-esque print is splashed onto rich silk for an intense impression. From one end of the tribal interpretation to the extreme opposite is celebrity, Kayley Cuoco (right). She taunts her tribe in a colorful maxi-dress that is printed in a vibrant asymmetrical mosaic pattern.

Stella & Dot's Cortez Cuff has a larger medallion design made of turquoise, glass and wooden beads. The espresso leather base makes the colors pop with drama. Finally, the handmade cuff is finished with a two-snap button closure for a secure fit. 

 

If you want just a touch of the trend try the Tribal Dance Scarf at Nordstrom. Innate artwork pops with hues of blue, coral and canary yellow's for a fresh take on inspirational pieces.

The Tribal Rhythm Tank at Anthropologie has a boho-chic vibe to it. Ethnic artwork is patched onto a cotton and silk blended tank in a sporadic fashion.

The Native Habit Skirt from Forever21 is a great piece to jazz up! Hide the elastic waistband under a chunky belt . Then, skew from the basic white tank by mixing in a dustier blue top for the hot "blue on blue" trend. When going tribal you can mix in mismatched colors for a kaleidoscopic and loud look!

Finish your look at your feet with the REPORT Redding sandal at Nordstrom. The medallion embellishment is dressed with earthtone and energetic colored beads for a distinctive look.

Shape Up with Zella

Need a little "umph" to keep your New Years resolution of hitting the gym exciting?  If so, Nordstroms private label activewear line, Zella, offers comfortable work-out clothes you will want to wear all day long. Maintain moisture control and comfort while looking fashionable at the gym.

Zella's Skinny Booty Pant (left) offers a lean fit with a wide waistband for ultimate comfort. A slight flare at the hem provides a great fit over your shoes.  If you prefer the tighter legging look, which is great for yoga and pilates, try the Live In Leggings (right) cut from thick and stretchy fabric. 

If you prefer capri's to keep you a little cooler at the gym, try the Live In Capri's (left) or the Skinny Boot Capri's (right). Both are constructed from comfortable fabric that works and moves with you. 

Get a feminine fit in the slimming Cherish Tank (left) with curved seams and ruching at the goreline. Tucked inside is a shelf bra equipped with removeable cups. If you are one for more coverage, the Z Tee  (right) is a great pick. Its shaped silhouette is cut from breathable fabric for extra comfort and breathability. Then, it's finished off with cap sleeves for the more conservative gym-goer.

Warm up an outdoor jog or walk with the Fresh Breeze Jacket. This lightweight, yet protective jacket, is shaped for a superior fit. The stand collar offers more structure and coverage while mesh inserts keep you cool as you work up a sweat. 

Men's Fashion Friday: Working Wardrobe

Revamp your working wardrobe by taking those subtle fashion risks you wouldn't normally take like mixing prints and patterns or throwing in a pop of contrasting color.  If you're a suit guy, make sure the three fashion points of suit styling are met: shoulders, cuffs and break.  

Yes, plaid and stripes coordinate. Keep one print subtle and let the other print pop so they don't compete. Staying in the same color story makes a fluid statement. Make sure the prints you pair don't overpower each other and you'll be sure to make a contrasting style statement. 

 

The color story is still present with this combination, but a pop of distinguished and coordinating pink is present in the stripe of the tie. This is a great way to mix in color while keeping it classy.  Most men might not ever put this combination together, however, you can see how well it harmonizes. 

 

Go with a bolder shirt and a more subdued tie with this combination. The gridded checkered pattern pairs great with the pin dot tie available at Banana Republic. 

The Chambray shirt is a must have for workwear this season. This type of shirt is more casual so if you want to pursue this look outside of casual Friday, be sure to pair it with more structured pieces.  Tailored pants and a trench will instantly dress it up. 

Suit Tips: 

1) Modern bold shoulders are in. Make sure the shoulder seam does not hang over your arm. If it does, downsize.

2) The cuffs also make a statement. It's a fashion slap if you're shirt doesn't peep through your coat cuff at least 1/4 of an inch, however, no more than 1/2 inch. 

 3) Make sure your break isn't bunched. The break is the point where the cuff hits your shoe. If fabric is stacked on top of itself, visit your tailor to clean your edges.  

Men's Fashion Friday: Tip Your Hat

What's old is old :: Kanye West slitted glasses, painted-on skinny jeans for guys, and over-sized polos. On the contrary, what's old is also new again. The year of 2010 will reunite pastime vogue hats with forefront trends and hit the list of must-haves for men's accessories.  No matter what your walk of life is Fedora's, Newsboys and Kangol Caps toast to traditional with a revamp to modern swag.

I love this Goorin Brothers brand fedora because it skews from conventional fedora's with its houndstooth print. A contrasting gros-grain ribbon finishes the detailing along the brim for a runway touch.

 

If you like to pay tribute to tradition but still want to be modern-day, this fedora flaunts a sophisticated pin stripe with a contrasting geometric print for defiant pop with the season's best colors.  Also a Goorin Brothers style.

The oh-so-classic newsboy in knit. The ribbed look and five-piece outer construction of this style gives it texture and dimension. Great for casual gatherings and to finish of your layered look.

Kangol hats get their name from the "K" in silk and ANG from angora, a type of wool. Once made famous by soldiers and golfers, this type of hat leaked into athletic and ready-to-wear fashion.  Dip back into1938 tradition with a classic Kangol style like the one featured to the left from Nordstrom.  If you're a fashion go-getter, try the contempo style on the right available at Lids in a variety of different color combinations. 

Jimmy Choo 24:7 to Launch in January

First, Choo tapped into H&M with a more affordable ready-to-wear line for the average consumer.  Next, comes Jimmy Choo 24:7, a collection of "investment shoes" that can comfortably bring you from day to night. Jimmy Choo founder, Tamara Mellon explains that Choo 24:7 is for the busy working woman with a full schedule who has no time to mess with fussy shoes.  24:7 encompasses a selection of 28 styles to bring you from work to play without skipping a beat but dodging the blisters.


Slide into your "perfect cut platforms" for work, your pumps for that lunch date with the girls and your sexy strappy shoes for cocktail hour. Then as the weekend hits, go comfortable in flats.  


The styles, including the trend "Private" (left),  were created keeping the busy, working mother in mind. It's supportive ankle cuff is balanced by a built-in platform to make the heel seem lower than it really is.  Designed to dance with you day to night with casual colors like nude and patent red to formal fabrics like black glitter and embossed crocodile in gold. 

Dabble in other trends such as "Quiet" which offer versatile peep toe pumps in colors that work with most of your wardrobe.  And if you fancy flats, Fiona and Findlay are two styles that offer everyday comfort and colors. 

The collection launches this month and will be available at top retailers like Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman and of course, Jimmy Choo Boutiques. Unfortunately, the collection still comes with a JC price tag, however, the upside is that these styles were created as "investment" pieces with colors and silhouettes being basic, everyday, year-round styles. So if you are one who can't find that "perfect cut" pump and catch yourself buying new black stiletto's every season that chew your feet up, it might be a thought to invest in a pair that is both comfortable and will grow with you as seasons quickly pass us by. 


Shop the collection available at Nordstrom for pre-ordering now by clicking here.  It's good to know that high end brands are offering products that won't fade as fast as the money in your wallet! 

Men's Fashion Friday: Slub Tees

We all know that great creations can come from mistakes such as the production of Coca-Cola.  Well, in the ever evolving world of fashion, our defect turned stylish is the "slub".

Slubs are sections of yarns that appear thicker or fuller in certain areas than the rest of the yarns and are created as the fibers are being spun into fabric. Originally, these lumps were considered defects in production and were rid of before the fabric was finished. However, over time, the slub became stylish and accepted in such a way that machines were designed to create slubs on purpose and more frequently in fabrics. Thus, the mistake or defect turned into a fashion statement.

Slub T-Shirts are the most familiar form of slubbed fabric to the average consumer, "shopper." Another type of slubbed fabric is slubbed silk, also known as dupioni silk, which appears to have thicker areas of yarns so that some areas look as though the yarn was spun on top of itself. If you look close enough at the picture to the right, you will see that areas of the fabric are lighter than others, making it appear streaked. The darker areas are the slubs where the fabric is thicker and thus absorbs the dye heavier. There are not two different shades of dye which makes the beauty of this "defect" even more interesting.

Slub Tees can be some of the most comfortable shirts a guy can have as a basic in his wardrobe. Because of the purposeful defects in the fabric, the slubs make the shirt appear more stylish and can be passed off as more formal versus casual.

Old Navy's Slub-Knit Jersey Tees are heavyweight and come in a variety of colors and offer a more stylish look than a basic jersey-knit tee.

The Howe 'Moment of Glory" Split Neck slub shirt can be found at Nordstrom. This style has a more rugged look with long raglan sleeves and an added hem to incorporate a contrasting color at the sleeve hem and the neckline.

Also at Nordstrom is the short-sleeved Penguin V-Neck Slub Cotton T-Shirt. The slub in this particular shirt is more visible than some shirts that have subtle slubs. The heathered look is more apparent in this style, especially in darker colors and can be more easily recognized as a slub shirt.