New Strategic Partner Stella & Dot Jewelry!

Jessica Sigler of Stella & Dot

Stella & Dot stylist Jessica Sigler and I teamed up to create some looks to showcase this amazing jewelry line. I chose the clothes and Jessica styled the looks with S&D jewelry. Although I am NOT a model, it was fun for me to be styled for a change!

I must admit that jewelry is not my strongest suit. I cannot leave the house without earrings - but necklaces and bracelets are tougher for me to put together, especially for myself. I also almost always wear silver. So I challenged Jessica with some diverse wardrobe pieces to see what she would do – and the result is pretty amazing…

Another reason to team up with Stella & Dot is their mission statement:

To Give Every Woman The Means To Style Her Own Life

Here are 4 looks we created, with comments from Jessica and links to see the jewels in more detail.

To shop all the beautiful pieces I am rocking below and much more from S&D, please visit my online trunk show here

Red Carpet/Hot Date Look

 
Chantilly Lace Earrings

Chantilly Lace Cuff

"Both pieces are gold plated filigree inspired by a piece of vintage lace. Because of the peplum and bright nature of the dress, I chose the matching lace earrings and cuff. The pieces book end the peplum and are neutral enough to compliment the dress as well as hold their own. From a distance, the pieces brighten up the skin tone and hair of Antonia, and the detail is a lovely surprise close up."



 

      

Uptown Dinner Look  

Casablanca Pendant Necklace

Deju Vu Studs

Arrison Stretch Bracelet

City Slim Clutch

"The darker nature of this dress called for pops of sparkle & silver but still maintaining a relaxed and elegant look. The art deco-inspired, pave-encrusted geometric pendant has a cool vintage feel. It can be worn long or short and with or without the stunning bottom two drops for 4 total looks in one piece! We paired the statement pendant with smaller studs that have a bit of sparkle and a simple stretch bracelet. We finished our look with a clutch from the newest collection to add a neutral pop."

Saturday Brunch Look

Bianca Earrings
 

Becker Cuff

"Because there is a LOT going on with the neckline of this top, I decided to accessorize around the detail. For a more laid back look and to make Antonia step outside of her comfort zone, we went gold! The earrings are a simple every day earring with a bit of pave detail for sparkle. The cuff is also a more everyday piece - it is a thick cuff, but the cut outs tone it down as well as make it very movable. "

Downtown NYC Look

Natalie Necklace

Bracelet Stack: 
Artisan Stretch Bracelet Artisan Disc Cuff Remy Wrap Bracelet 

City Slim Clutch

"This look is totally rocker and edgy! The amazing statement necklace is mixed metal to excite even a simple tee as Antonia wore it! The genuine leather collar and pave detail give it extra punch as well. We spiced up the look with a mixed medium bracelet stack and then threw in a clutch with a bold pattern. Black and White can be a neutral!"

As part of our collaboration Jessica & I discussed how Stella & Dot raises money for breast cancer research and doing a fundraiser in the future. Then my cousin Robin lost her 10 year battle with breast cancer on the same day of our shoot. So in Robin's honor, I invite you to Shop for a Cause to support breast cancer research.

From September 10th, 2015 until October 31st, 2015, 20% of purchases of the Resilience Cuff and Inspire Bracelet will be donated by Stella & Dot to the Noreen Fraser Foundation. The Noreen Fraser Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for breakthrough research that advances precision medicine for the prevention and treatment of women’s cancers.

We put together the bracelet stack below to highlight the Resilience Cuff and Inspire Bracelet. Click below for more about each bracelet in our stack.

Beauty and heart.  Another thing to like about Stella & Dot.
I'd love to hear what you think about my new strategic partner and feel free to get in touch with questions about how to style your wardrobe with Stella & Dot or how to pair your Stella & Dot purchases with your wardrobe...

Inspire Bracelet

Tribute Bracelet

Pave Triangle Cuff - Rose Gold

Inspiration Bangle - Always

Resilience Cuff
(Co-designed by actress Cobie Smulders)

  

2015 Emmys Fashion - The Fabulous & The WTF?

There was good & bad on the red carpet at last night’s Emmys – as usual. I always love or hate certain styles on certain actresses. But this year there were some truly awful unflattering styles on a few actresses – specifically the necklines. Even more shocking is that these particular actresses are usually styled perfectly, so WTF?

The glaring problem was axillary breasts, also known as bra bulge. This occurs when the skin next to the armpit is not totally taut and it literally bulges out over the edge of a garment.  There were 3 A-List victims of this phenomenon last night. 

There is literally no one on earth right now that I am more inspired by, but Amy Schumer’s dress was just horrible. Very simply, a strapless dress is not her friend. I also think Schumer chose the wrong designer for her body because Christine Baranski & Sarah Hyland (2 extremely thin women) both looked stunning in Zac Posen. 

The other two victims of excess underarm skin were Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Danielle Brooks. JLD is the grande dame of the Emmys with 6 wins and a record for nominations – and I loved everything about her look – except one thing. The dress needed two shoulders.  The strapless cut of the left side cut into her and gave her bra bulge, which ruined the entire look.

I keep saying that Danielle Brooks is doing the best work of any actress on Orange is the New Black (which is saying A LOT) but I have no idea what her stylist was thinking with that Christian Siriano circus inspired gown. I love bright colors on dark skin but it’s too many colors and showing all that skin around her armpits & shoulders did nothing for her. Here’s a note: If you are a full figured woman, please hire Queen Latifah’s stylist because she ALWAYS looks flawless on the red carpet!  

Now that that’s over with, here are my two favorites of the night - and they are good friends. Coincidence?

 Taraji P. Henson owned the carpet in this custom Alexander Wang with bold chain detail.  Her sleek hair & smoky eye also complimented this bad ass ensemble perfectly.

Winner Regina King was the belle of the ball in Krikor Jobotian. LOVE the texture, the shape, the bright white, the beading and the UNIQUENESS!!!

 

7-time winner Allison Janney in La Bourjoisie. Sparkly & elegant and hugged her curves!

 

I have to say that overall, the biggest winner of the night was the color black. Many of my favorite gowns of the night were black. Lady Gaga, Natasha Lyonne, Jamie Lee Curtis... and I have literally never seen Amy Poehler dressed better than in her Michael Kors gown. I can't post every dress I liked and no one covers award fashion like E! Live From the Red Carpet.  

Click here for all the Emmy arrivals. 

But, just two more fantastic looks:

I always say that I hate pale pink gowns on white girls with blonde hair because there is no contrast and sometimes you literally can't see them at all. Well, Elizabeth Moss in classic Oscar De La Renta showed us how hot pink changes everything.

 

 And, I know it isn't very camera friendly, but I love Zoe Kazan's dress because... 

the same way we accept Frances McDormand showing up in a black cotton eyelet dress without doing her hair (because she is brilliant), this bold Miu Miu print is totally distinctive, just like Zoe!

Is September the New January?

Everyone knows that New Year’s resolutions don’t work, right?  But still, every year right after January 1^st there is a ton of social pressure to better ourselves.  TV commercials are a barrage of women's weight watching clubs and sales on gym memberships and home storage systems, etc. etc…  But who is really motivated to change their life after the gluttony of the Holidaze?  And - It’s 70 degrees in LA every day but if you live on the east coast, January is so damn cold that all I want to do is drink red wine and hibernate. 

I love New York in Fall. How about you?

I just took a break for most of August (which is what most civilized people do in the rest of the world but that’s another story…) and now, 2 days after Labor Day, I am implementing a new social media strategy, organizing a new mailing list, reading a mind blowing business coaching book (blogpost to come on that!) and scheduling new clients through November.

Fall is just a much better time to change our lives.  There is something to school starting in the fall and we should all revert back to our childhoods and revise, renew and recreate in September instead of January.  The way I see it, we have 3 solid months before life gets usurped by the holidays, family obligations and a really good excuse to eat, drink and be irresponsible.  So I for one am using the time productively, which includes consulting as many clients as I can. 

Fall organizing is the new Spring cleaning....

What do you think?  Are you in?  If yes, awesome.  Please share this post and let’s start a productivity revolution. 

And - call me for a FREE 10 minute Skype session and let’s talk about transforming your image this fall.

  

Summer Sale Shopping Tips

As the great Billy Joel once said, “This is the time to remember – but it will not last forever…”

You may have noticed in June that many stores were announcing new summer merchandise, but everything was full price.  Now that July 4^th has officially come & gone, it’s a very different story.  July is THE best time of the year to shop clothing sales.  This month is especially great if your wardrobe needs a major overhaul.  You can get a lot of clothing at a great price. However, beware the pitfalls of sale shopping. 

5 rules for shopping sales:

• Go as early as possible for the best selection - both in the day and in the season.
• Don’t get sucked into the sale vortex.  There is a lot of merchandise and it can be overwhelming.  The sales are so good that it’s easy to buy a bunch of stuff just because it’s cheap.
• It’s best to have a clear objective of what you are shopping for before you go into a store.  You can pre-shop online to find some shopping goals.
• A bargain is only a bargain if the item is right for you – in terms of style, fit, color and price.
• If you are not entirely certain about a purchase, ask about the store’s return policy.  Most stores offer a full refund within 2 weeks with a receipt.  So – you can take it home and think about it.

Also - have fun!  It's summer, which is full of color and prints and...

If this is all sounds like your worst nightmare, it’s a great time to hire a personal shopper.  Give me a call. 

Hollywood Glamour - by Kate Hudson

There are always hits & misses on every red carpet but at this year's Golden Globes, Kate Hudson got it SO right that I don't feel the need to display anyone else.  

This form-fitted Atelier Versace gown in white is sexy and elegant, the jeweled detail on the sides adds sparkle and a bit of edge and her pulled back sleek hair with small Forevermark diamond earrings is clean & classic.  The entire look is a perfect modern take on old Hollywood glamour.  Oh - and she pulled off the plunging neckline because her breasts are on the small side.  

(Take notes JLo!) 

I don't know if anyone should ever bother to wear a gown to an awards show again. 

 It has now been DONE to perfection!