STYLE

We live in an interesting time.

The same thing was also said amidst the boom of print media, especially when haute couture glossies first hit the market and the whole fashion industry became more of an “event” as opposed to a utilitarian means to an end (read: being clothed).

I’d argue that when online blogging hit the scene roughly 15 years ago — the late ’90s — fashion underwent a notable shift. Once “the people” received a megaphone (in this case, the Internet), their amplified voices slowly began competing with the opinions of fashion designers and magazines across the globe. Don’t get me wrong, to this day designers and glossies certainly have a huge say regarding what we wear, but the whole social aspect of the Internet indubitably turned the style world on its head.

Fast forward another five-ish years or so — into the early 2000s — when “all about me” social media websites such as MySpace were at their height. The early 2000s also marked the dawn of the Facebook era, a website which has a bigger influence on the world than most even realize. It was also around this time when deep and thought provoking online diaries shared between close friends (hello, LiveJournal) lost their luster and lifestyle blogs gained momentum.

Today, you can’t go anywhere on the web without running into a blogger or a niche website that focuses specifically on fashion/style or beauty. And with the prevalence of smart phones and Apps (fashion-focused and otherwise, including Instagram), we can’t even pick up the phone without seeing what other people are wearing or buying.

This social media/Internet whirlwind frenzy makes me wonder: Are we better dressed now compared to 10 years ago?

The Stylish City’s own founder, Mirela, says: “Everybody — stores, bloggers, fashion magazines, etc — has “looks” to draw inspiration from. There are literally thousands of bloggers, personal stylists, celebrities and reality shows we are exposed to every day.”

This undoubtedly affects our decisions when we walk into a store or peer into our closet. With the potential for more people to see how we’re dressed, are many of us less apt to throw on scroungy sweats even while sauntering around the house? And do we make better fashion choices now as a result of being exposed to the more fashionable who want to put themselves out there for the world to see?

Another question I have, in regard to the Internet/social media influence:  Do we approach fashion on a more “individual” level these days? Or does the influx of online/media inspiration cause us to all sort of look like each other?

Personally, I think cities such as NYC, where there a lot of people coming from all walks of life, are more likely to dress individually, but there’s still this “NYC vibe” that permeates all fashion in the city.

Perhaps the boom of social media has made us dress better as a collective whole, but with that have we lost a sense of individuality when it comes to fashion choices?

What do you think? Have your wardrobe decisions changed over the past 10 to 15 years as a direct result of the Internet and social media? Has it gotten worse? Or have you sort of shrugged your shoulders and not changed much at all? Share your comments below!

By Wendy Rose Gould

Say sayonara to your clunky, boxy shoes, ladies. At least for a little while. Pointy toed shoes are a definite do for spring and summer and I’m here to tell you how to wear them well. In addition to some styling tips, I’ll also give you a brief 411 on choosing a shoe that fits as it should.

Throughout the story, you’ll also see pictures from NYC’s very own Boutique on 57, a store that provides high fashion must-owns that won’t send you into a panic attack after buying them. In other words — they’re affordable. Boutique on 57, which happens to be across the street from Bergdorf Goodman, truly embodies the sophisticated New York shopping experience. Shop ’til you drop for designer label business suits, casual attire, cocktail dresses, red carpet gowns, handbags, shoes, and jewelry at up to 75% off retail.

Kasia Bosne

Boutique on 57

Styling Your Pointy Shoes

Fact #1: Pointy shoes actually elongate your leg, making you look longer, leaner and taller. And if they’re nude and pointy? Even longer! Your legs will look like they go on for days.

Fact #2: Pointy toed shoes can be worn with anything. Anything. Skinny jeans, cigarette pants, trousers, leggings, bodycon dresses, maxi skirts, cropped pants, midi skirts, summer dresses, shorts. Seriously — anything!

I recommend owning a pair of high quality (read: invest), pointy toed shoes in nude, red, black and white. There’s not an outfit in your closet that won’t go with one of those colors. From there, branch out into funkier colors or prints. Trendier shoes don’t have to be as high quality since you won’t wear them for as long, but they do need to fit well and be comfortable (read below for tips on that).

As for heel height, right now the pointy-toed pump is actually your trendiest option. That’s not to say it’ll ever really go out of style, though — it’s just what everyone’s wearing this season. I find pumps are your most versatile option in terms of styling, as they work in a variety of settings (office, casual meetings, dinners, etc.).

Pointy-toed kitten heels are another option. Though I find that kitten heels aren’t as flattering as pumps, they’re an ideal option for someone who wants a wee bit of extra height without worrying about falling.

Pointy toed stilettos are less easy to style, simply because they have a sort of sexy appeal to them. If you’re going for a business professional, casual or serious vibe, opt for the pump or kitten. If you’re heading out for a night of cocktails, rock those stilettos.

Oh, and I can’t forget flats. Pointy toed flats aren’t extremely common, but they do exist. I recommend them with jeans or a breezy summer dress. Basically, wear them anytime you want to go for an ultra casual or carefree vibe.

Comfort Is Important

You want to know what isn’t sexy? A woman hobbling around in ill-fitting shoes.

You never want to wear shoes that are too tight, nor do you want to wear shoes that are too loose. Heels that are too loose can lead to twisted ankles and even tripping if your foot accidentally slips out.

Shoes that are too tight are a more common problem with pointy toed shoes. That’s because the toes jut inwards quickly, leaving less room for your toes. For pointy toed shoes, you may need to go up a 1/2 size (this also allows for extra room when your feet swell during PMS, air travel, etc.).

A properly fitting, pointy toed heel should allow your toes enough room to wiggle around slightly. They should never be so cramped that you can’t move them at all. Additionally, your arch should be completely supported. Higher quality shoes typically come with some sort of padding that eventually molds to the interior of your foot, so look for that padding when buying. Mid-End brands I recommend include Ivanka Trump, Jessica Simpson, Steve Madden, Nine West and Cole Haan. Almost all of the luxury brands you’re familiar with (Jimmy Choo, Badgley Mischka, Prada, Gucci, Manolo Blahnik, Alexander McQueen, etc.) will also have that necessary padding. For example, the shoes pictured here, found at Boutique on 57, are all winners.

Ralph Lauren Heels

YSL Pumps

Manolo Blahnik Suede Pumps

Brian Atwood Booties

Blue Girl Leopard Print Heels

D-Squared open toes heels

Tip: Buying in stores is always a better choice. This gives you an opportunity to walk around in the shoes and see how they feel on your feet. When buying online, read the return policy very thoroughly and never buy unless you can return the shoes for a full refund or exchange them for a different size.

I’ll leave you with the following advice: Always have a pair of rollaway flats in your bag. Wear the flats when you’re running to catch the train or walking long distances and switch into your heels later.

By Wendy Rose Gould

If there’s one thing I noticed about the season 6 premiere of AMC’s Mad Men, it had to be the abundance of facial hair. Particularly, the variety of rumpled beards and ultra long sideburns, even on otherwise clean-cut characters such as Pete Campbell.

But I digress. I’m not here to talk about the abounding “manscapes” that are sure to become even more prevalent as the season progresses; I’m hear to discuss the clothes and accessories of the first episode. Naturally.

I will say that the slow migration toward the ’70s was ultra apparent in this season’s premiere, and not just because of the scruff and all those “dope” and “reefer” references.

Don and Megan’s Resort Wear

I’ll start at the beginning (though I will skip the weird CPR flashback…). We find Don and Megan lounging it up along the tropical beaches of Hawaii and both look fab in their resort wear digs. For the most part, Don adheres to his sort of stringent, stiff apparel, but we do catch him in a pair of seashell-laden red swim shorts. We also see him stray from his standard suit to wear a pale, avocado green number at the impromptu wedding he becomes a key player in.

It’s Megan’s fashion choices that made me swoon though. I’m just going to say it: the best look of the entire episode was worn by Megan on the beach as she snapped a picture of Don at the wedding. The bold purple and orange breezy number, her floppy lavender sunhat, carefree hair and those round, oversized sunglasses came together perfectly. And I may or may not be buying a pair of those sunglasses in the near future. I need them, okay?

Picture Perfect Joan

If I’m going in order of the show, the next outfit to highlight is the form-fitting, frilly purple frock worn by fiery-haired Joan. (Note – ruffles are so hot for SS2013.)

Though we only saw a few minutes of our favorite voluptuous character in this episode, Joan definitely made a statement while standing on the staircase waiting to have her photo taken. Even Roger, who’s forever dapper, muttered something about not wanting to follow “that act.”

Funeral Duds

This whole episode was rife with underlying, mysterious messages and nods toward death. Roger’s mother’s funeral was a more blatant moment in the recurring motif. And while somewhat dark, I couldn’t help but fall in love with another outfit, my second favorite of the episode: Jane’s black and white ensemble.

Roger’s second ex-wife made a brief appearance and, my heavens, she looked divine. Her raven hair was swept up tightly and hiding underneath a tall, off-center hat. The kind of hat that belongs on the cover of haute couture magazines. It was paired with the perfectly applied makeup, oversized pearl earrings and non-form fitting, funeral-appropriate sheath.

In my opinion, Jane has sort of always fulfilled the “on the cutting edge of fashion” role in this show. This particular outfit only furthers my point.

I must admit that I’m excited to see where this late ’60s fashion goes this season. I have a feeling that, in addition to the dapper apparel worn by the Mad Men, we’ll be seeing more of the gritty and gruff sides of fashion that the era was known for, as well. Can’t wait!

By Wendy Rose Gould

Fashion is clearly the highlight of any runway show, but never forget about the thoughtful hair and makeup that completes the designer’s full concept. Below are four fall 2013 NYFW beauty trends that you can wear tomorrow.

Let us know what your favorite (and least favorite) beauty/hair/fashion trends were in the comment section below.

Dramatic Indigo Eyes

Christine over at the Hair Romance blog shared a series of her favorite fall 2013 NYFW beauty trends, and among them were Jason Wu’s dramatic, bluish-purple eyes. The look was done by makeup artist Diane Kendal, who used a lilac on the center of the eyelid for a little bit of dimension. Kendal also applied a smudgy line of color underneath the eyes and up toward the brow for a futuristic, winged effect.

Berry Pouts

While a deep, red oxblood hue adorned the lips of models on last year’s fall runways, this year it was all about berries. For example, Rachel Zoe and Derek Lam showcased berry-stained lips, as did Vera Wang. Check out the tutorial by The Platform on Youtube that shows you how to create a sleek and simple makeup look with berry lips.

Velvety Skin

ChickAdvisor‘s Alexandra was particularly fond of the velvety, au naturel skin worn by Fall 2013 NYFW models. Highlighting and contouring was kept to a minimum, she writes, as was blush. The key to achieving a velvety finish is to apply a primer before a tinted moisturizer or BB cream and then blend, blend, blend. Only apply heavy foundation or concealer where you truly need it and allow the rest of your skin to breath.

Art Deco Nails

Sahra Schukraft at Feminspire gushed over the Fall 2013 NYFW nails. “At NYFW it’s all about creating something unique, something that’s your own,” she said. For example, DKNY and The Blonde’s adorned their models’ hands with spikes, chains and an assortment of bells and whistles. Also spotted were dark, earthy browns and murky greens very reminiscent of scenic woodlands.

By Wendy Rose Gould