APPAREL

Fashion is your yellow-brick road to expressing your personality through apparel. To some it’s an art form and to others it’s a religion. If you take a look around you you’ll realize that fashion controls everything from media to even how your cell-phone looks. It’s been around ever since man desired modesty, not to mention protection. The human characteristic of competition has fueled our species to come up with new designs to flaunt everything from our social status to personal taste. If you take a trip back into history you’ll be able to dissect a civilization’s whole history through what it’s people were wearing.

Designers have a major impact on what will be in vogue. Designer fashion shows are held five months ahead of season. Explaining why Spring/Summer collections are shown in Fall/Winter months and vice versa. The media including fashion editors and buyers view the designers’ collection and get to work immediately picking out what they think will seduce their readers and customers in the coming season. Celebrities and other glitterati are usually the first to sport the brand new looks by the designers. Hence, inspiring the more commercial market, simply speaking, the mall. In the end it’s you who decides if the trends are either in or if they’re out.

Fashion is nothing unless you make it your own, meaning dress your body in trends that flatter your figure and not falling for trends that make your body look less than perfect. The whole point of dressing well is to look slim and tall, no matter what your figure. So I decided to share some of my basic rules of dressing.

Have a color palette.
I can’t explain how important it is to have your own color palette. It’s basically sticking to a palette of 6 colors or less in one color family. This insures everything in your closet will match. Pick a color palette to match your skin tones. If you have cool undertones (blue, green, or a porcelain skin coloration) stick with cool colors like white, blue, purples, silvers. If you have warm undertones (red, yellow, or an olive skin coloration) stick with an earthy color palette , which includes greens, yellows, reds, browns. Remember everyone can wear black and white.

Get inspired.
Sift through magazines and websites monthly to stay abreast of the new tends. Fashion is always changing and you don’t want to be left behind. It’s important to invest in classics you can wear for seasons to come but it’s just as important to freshen up your basics with a fun trendy piece. Find one or two celebrities who share your style and follow their outfits. Celebrities spend thousands on professional stylists who stay on top of the latest offerings and depend on them to create unique and exciting outfits. Get inspired by your favorite celebrities’ outfits and emulate them!

Buy for quality not quantity.
Women in France look Fabulous all the time. Why, you ask? They’re wearing those oh so chic designer digs day in and day out. The next time you’re out shopping check the tags. Stay away from synthetic fabrics and look for luxurious fabrics like 100 percent cotton, silk, etc. Also every wardrobe needs at least one piece of cashmere it’s the greatest wardrobe indulgence.

Don’t be a slave to trends.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of piling on all the trends of the season at once. Trends are fun but they can get ugly if they don’t fit your style, personality or body. Instead pick one trendy item and pair it with a classic piece. For example take those huge Boho beaded necklaces and pair them with a basic Gap tee and keep your ears bare instead of pairing your gigantic beaded necklace with huge earrings along side a flashy club top. You get the picture.

Dress your body for what it is.
Bright colors like hot pink and yellow draw your eyes to them. Use this to your advantage by wearing these hues in areas that you’d like to flaunt. Wear high heels! Whether you’re vertically challenged or lucky and statuesque high heels will help you have fabulous posture and automatically look long and lean. I’ll devote a whole article on dressing each kind of body in another issue.)

All in all fashion is a wonderful thing. It’s one of the world’s leading industries and it’s defiantly here to stay. Have fun with fashion, play with it, be creative and most of all make it your own.

By Millissa Mathai

The cheer and glamour of the holidays is in the air and we all know what that means, gingerbread lattes from Starbucks, peppermint pedicures and the frantic dash to find the perfect outfit for “that” Christmas party. Whether it’s an office party, a dinner with family or a crazy night on the town with girlfriends there are a few DOs and DONTs to keep in mind while getting dressed for winter holidays.

DO Keep It Simple Sexy
A Little Black Dress is really perfect for holiday parties. It is a very cliché choice, but and LBD is always classy and fabulous. Keep the lines simple and the hem short. Wear it with opaque black tights and killer embellished booties for mile long legs. Don’t forget to pair this simple look with one bold accessory, – it is a party after all. Try a statement necklace or an eye-catching cocktail ring.

DON’T Take It Too Literally
Stay away from the obvious Holiday details. Don’t wear a Santa or light-up Christmas tree sweater. Stay away from the traditional Christmas colors (red and green). A better way to show your Christmas spirit is by wearing something ultra sparkly and glittery. Try a heavily beaded or sequin dress in silver or gold. My favorite not-so-obvious yet festive colors are royal purple and silver. If you really do want to incorporate red or green into your holiday look, do it in small doses, especially when it comes to accessories. Try a glittery red bag or red shoes paired with a short white or black shift dress.

Try The Little Red Dress
When you want to stand out in a room opt for a fitted red sheath that hugs all of your curves. Try on different shades of reds to find your perfect match. Reds with blue-green undertones are perfect for those with fair skin while ladies with tan and darker skin look amazing in orangey reds. When choosing handbags and shoes to match your red dress don’t opt for red. Instead try nude or gold heels.

The One Shoulder Is Festive And Sexy
One-Shoulder dresses and blouses are festive and sexy. Look for one-shoulder styles with embellishments for an ultra glamorous party look. Pair your one shoulder blouse with black cigarette pants or a hip-hugging pencil skirt. One shoulder chiffon dresses are a classic and can be worn well into the New Year and beyond.

DO Be Dramatic With Your Makeup and Hair
Christmas parties are a great time to go the extra mile with makeup and hair. One of my favorite beauty looks from the fall runways is the application of bronze eye shadow on the brow bone instead of the traditional light highlighting color. This is a fresh take on eye makeup and it looks really chic. I suggest you use glitter shadows in gold and silver under your brows to really shine under the lights. As far as hair goes, the bigger the better. Also headbands are huge right now thanks to Gossip Girl and they’re here to stay all the way into next season. Try an up do paired with a bejeweled headband with soft eyes and a bold red lip.

DON’T Forget To Have Fun
There are so many brilliant designs in stores right now and it would be a shame to not have some fun and flaunt something outrageous. Whether it be feather detailing or extremely bright, don’t be scared to try something new. I always say, it’s better to be over dressed than under dressed and most of all…

DO Try To Make An Effort
Have some courtesy and at least look presentable. Your host has spent much time and money to put together the party, and your most fabulous presence is required.

Millissa Mathai 

Easy Ways To Wear This Season’s Hottest Trend: Leopard Print
Leopard print is all the rage this season! Seen all over the catwalks from Dolce and Gabbana to Mulberry, leopard print seems to be everywhere this season, and by looking at the SS11 collections, this trend isn’t going anywhere. This statement making print is easy to wear and can be worn tastefully. Here some ways to look classy in leopard print:
Editor’s Tip:
Before you go shopping for Leopard print accessories and or clothing make sure you study what a leopard print actually looks like in terms of form and color. Try to view Dolce and Gabbana leopard print clothing and accessories to get a feel for leopard print done right. Stay away from any colorized leopard prints in shades of black and white, pink, blue or yellow, those prints are not chic.
DOs & DONTs Of Leopard Print
Do add one leopard print piece to your outfit to add Sicilian sensuality to your look.
Don’t wear more than one piece of leopard print at a time.
Do invest in great leopard print basics by designers who are known to do leopard print well like Dolce and Gabbana as they will always be in style.
Don’t break the bank on leopard print accessories if it doesn’t fit your overall personal style. But there’s no harm in trying a few wallet-friendly leopard print accessories to freshen up your look and be on trend.
If You’re Nervous About Wearing Leopard Print Start Small With A Leopard Print Scarf:
For those who are very nervous about wearing leopard print a great place to start is with a leopard print scarf. It will look best when paired with a two-ply ivory cashmere sweater and ivory dress pants topped with a gold and ivory chain belt. Don’t forget to finish the look with nude sling-backs.  Look for silk scarves and stay away from tiny prints. (Editor’s Pick: YSL Leopard Print Scarf, $995)

It’s A Jungle Out There Dress Accordingly in Leopard Print Heels
Leopard print heels are a great way to try the leopard print trend. Look for shoes made from calfskin for the most luxurious look. A leopard print sling-back is the best option. Pair them with a little black dress or a black silk tunic and black tights. (Editors Pick: Paoletta By Nine West Originally $84.00 Now $60.00)

Make A Statement With A Leopard Print Handbag

You should invest in a fabulous leopard print handbag as it is a classic and will look great today and forever. A mid-size leopard print tote is a great option for day while a small leopard print clutch is the best option for nighttime. Pair your leopard print handbag with a classic white collared shirt and jeans with patent black pumps for a casual daytime look and for night try your leopard print clutch with a plum cocktail dress and satin plum platforms. (Editor’s Pick: Alexa Leopard Print Handbag By Mulberry, Price On Request)

By Millissa Mathai

Jackie O is undoubtedly one of fashion’s most revered style icons. She was known for her poise, grace and class, which she also translated seamlessly into her clothing. We all can take some notes from Jackie when it comes to style, here are some tips on how to incorporate Jackie O style into your own wardrobe.

 Keep It Simple With Monochromatic Dressing
Jackie O was very refined and known for her simplicity. Dressing head to toe in one color is one of the easiest ways to convey simplicity and elegance. When dressing monochromatic make sure that all the shades are of the same shade and or one family. Also make sure to add great accessories like a long gold chain necklace or a belt to break it up a bit.

Diamonds Are Nice But So Are Pearls
Jackie loved to wear a strand of pearls with many different types of outfits from casual to dressy. You can find a great strand of freshwater pearls for 100 dollars but if you want the Rolls Royce of pearls opt for Mikimoto.

Classic Handbags
Jackie was not into trendy handbags but stuck to her few favorite classic designer handbags which are still in style and coveted even to this day. The three classic must have handbags are the Louis Vuitton Speedy 30, Gucci Jackie O hobo bag, and the Chanel logo chain-link quilted bag. Most of the other bags on the market are usually a variation of these three handbags.

Natural Hair and Makeup
You would never find Jackie O in too much makeup. She preferred a very natural and sophisticated look when it came to hair and makeup. You can achieve this neutral look by finding your exact shade in foundation, sticking with neutral eye shadows and blushes and finishing off with a rosy pink lipstick. As far as hair is concerned Jackie opted for a bob with natural highlights. You don’t have to cut your hair short to get the same feel, just make sure your hair color looks natural against you skin tone and also make sure that your highlights are very fine rather than big chunky steaks.

 White Jeans
Jackie loved white jeans and knew that they made for a great foundation for cashmere      sweater sets to Pucci printed tops. Look for slim fitting white jeans with a straight leg and pair  them with nude slingbacks or peep-toes.
Oversized Sunglasses
Jackie O style wouldn’t be complete without a fabulous pair of oversized black plastic sunglasses. Opt for a shape that suits your facial structure. If you have a round face go for square frames and if you have more of a long face try the round styles. Chanel’s latest sunglass collection features fabulous oversized sunglasses with signature pearls on either side. Very Jackie O!

By Millissa Mathai