Fall Trend Watch: Chain Strap Bags

Channel CoCo Chanel when you think about this trend. Chains are all over, from handbags to, built-in necklaces on shirts. Urban Outfitters is giving the frugalista the chance to jump on this trend bandwagon for just $42.

Bad Style Choices- An Epidemic

Chanel chain strap bag, check. Black boyfriend jacket, check. Patent ballet flats, check. Skinny jeans, check. A walking talking example of how to wear the trends?

A major STYLE NO NO in the flesh... I couldn't take a picture of it... Scott thought it was rude, but it was so perfect of an example I would have given into inappropriate social behavior just to share it with you...

Believe it or not, there is a difference between style and fashion. Just because a trend is in fashion, doesn't mean it's stylish. Do you hear me loud and clear?

I love a good trend as much as the next fashionista. But let's be realistic, not every body type can sport the current trends, whatever that might be at the time. One of those is skinny jeans. Being a curvy girl myself, I don't like to think of fashion being something unattainable. But that's where curvy girls fall short. Just because the skinny runway models and celebs wear a particular look and it looks good, doesn't mean everyone can or should dress that way.

I surfed the web for some great examples of bad skinny jeans to make up for not having a pic of the girl from Saturday. I kept running into curvy/real women blogs swearing "you too can wear skinny jeans."  Please understand, I don't disagree with them.  But the way they are styled (as pictured above), just makes their hips/thighs look larger.  Had they worn shirts that fell below their crotch line, their hips would have appeared to be smaller.  By having a visual line cut across the widest parts of their bodies, they actually look heavier.  Skinny jeans are tricky, even on a skinny woman.  There are other cuts of denim far easier to style flawlessly.

Pictures like above (top left) beg the question, "Why would you purposefully wear something that wasn't very flattering, when you know there are many other better option out there?" I have to assume it's because either the stylist for that pic was trying to showcase just the jeans (in which case would you want your hips looking like that?), or their client's desire to look like a celebrity overtook their sense of reason.

Forgive me for sounding harsh, but these bad style choices, in favor of following the trends, are an epidemic.

My solution for women who's hip/thigh ratio is large enough to warrant being considered "curvy", is to try straight leg denim instead. The wider-than-skinny leg of a straight leg jean will help keep you looking long and lean instead of having been stuffed into a sausage casing. America is doing it right (see far right photo).

For less than $60, you can try this skinny jean-alternative from the Gap.


Straight Leg denim picture courtesy of Gap.com

CHANEL : Make your friends "Green" with envy

Straight off the Paris runways, limited edition Jade and Jade Rose polish! See what celebrities are sporting this cool new look at Who What Where.

BUY HERE:
CHANEL : Fragrance and Beauty

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Image from chanel.com

bebe: 40's Noir Fall Trend

I am so in love with the latest collection from bebe. I don't shop here too often because I am full figured and can't wear anything from here without stretch. Thankfully, they have a lot to offer in stretchy fabrics!

I am really excited about what I've seen on their website. It has a 40's noir film feel.

Might I humbly suggest this really great dress (above)?




Images courtesy of bebe.com

A Fall Must-Have: Plaid Corset Style Vest

I love the fall. The weather is finally starting to cool down, enough to need layers, but not so cold you don't want to go outside. But above all, I love the fashion.

Anthropologie just introduced a new corset inspired collection. They have managed to take the plaid trend so popular for this fall, and mixed it up with the 40's inspired silhouette so popular right now as well. I have to have this!

The best part is, with the asymmetrical hemline it's very Nanette Lepore without the hefty price tag.



Images courtesy of Anthropologie.com and Saks.com

These Omelle Shoes Are Amazing!

OMG these shoes from Omelle are fabulous! I had to share with you. Now I just have to find a way to buy them...

Image courtesy of Omelle.com

Tim Gunn from Project Runway is Coming to Bloomingdale's San Francisco 9/26/09

Tim Gunn of Project Runway steps into Bloomingdale’s San Francisco to celebrate Kate Spade New York clothing debut.

Grab a glass of Champagne, meet Tim and get your photo taken with him, when you spend $300 in anything Kate Spade (handbags, shoes, clothing, accessories, and sunglasses). Which won't be too hard to do. Especially with their oh-so-cute new Fall clothing line out.

Tim will be here THIS Saturday September 26th from 2-4pm, in the Kate Spade shop on the second floor.

Please RSVP for this event. 415-856-5537.

You can't miss this! So "make it work" people.



Info courtesy of Bloomingdale's.

Poll: What's Your Unapologetic Fashion Vice?

Lucky Magazine asked their editors "what's your no-apologies splurge?" There were designer brands thrown out, Chanel, La Mer. Which are both amazing choices I might add. But what else do you expect from a fashion editor, right?

I want to know what the average woman is willing to spend her money on without a care. What is your unapologetic fashion vice?





Images scanned from my copy of Lucky Magazine's October 2009 issue.

Video Footage from Macy's Passport Show 2009

I don't have any still pics for you (camera issues), but here is a better alternative... VIDEO from Macy's Passport 2009!

Thank you to my good friend Erwin Montalvo for taking this footage for me.

Photo Shoot!

I am so excited! My good friend Jeff has agreed to do a photo shoot with me at the St. Regis Hotel. Stay tuned for pics...

Lace Accessories: "Guess" Who's Getting it Right?

I purchased these Lace Pumps from Guess after having seen them on one of my favorite fashion blogs, Splendora.com. I wore them to the DFSSF event the other night, paired with a LBD (little black dress).

The heel is a little on the high side, but well worth it if you don't have to stand for very long :) Available at Guess.com and Piperlime.com.

Image courtesy of Guess.com

Recession Shopping- More Bang for Your Buck!

We're in a recession. Even though it's on the up-swing, we're all still having to count pennies and buy less. The trick is to get more bang for your buck. Shopping in stores like H&M help you do that. While the quality may not be designer, and the styles are more trendy than timeless, you will look like you've been pouring over fashion magazines to get the know-how they make so easy to buy. Besides, by the time these clothes wear out, the trend will have ended and and you'll have more room in your closet for the next new outfit.

Check out their new fall line. I'm going to go pick up this well balanced outfit of faux fur scarf, cardigan, leggings, and great skirt.

Lucky Magazine: October 2009- My Mailman Hates Me!

Every Fall my mailman must hate me. I am one of those fashionistas that subscribes to one too many fashion magazines (the list is too long to name). So many of the magazines have 600+ glossy pages covered in fashion I would give my left arm for (which, once gone, still wouldn't get me even close to the weight in which I would need to be to wear most of the items comfortably :). But I digress....

I was in Tahoe on "vacation" for Labor Day with some of my friends. While trying to disconnect from the world as we know it, my friend Gina and I scrolled through tons of websites looking for a new over-sized work bag for her (can't seem to leave the fashionista at home). What we should have done was just flip through the latest issue of Lucky Magazine.

Here are my tricks to finding a good work bag:

• If you're going to invest in an expensive bag that's going to last... you want the style to have staying power as well. Look for something either in a neutral tan or black.
• If you're going for color, don't spend your rent on something everyone is going to remember you've been carrying around every day for 3 years just to make it worth the price.
  
• Go easy on the hardware and keep it simple.
  
• Make sure the bag is large enough to hold all of your essentials (laptop, books, change of shoes, etc) including a smaller handbag to take with you to lunch.
• Buy one with a shoulder strap or handles long enough to wear over your shoulder. The bigger the bag, the heavier it tends to get. Make sure you have a comfortable way to carry your load.
• Having ample pockets inside (or an easy to reach pocket outside for essentials) because it's vital to keep your bag from being a bottomless pit for small items you will never be able to find (may my Chanel No5 lost in my Chloe bag R.I.P).
  

Might I suggest this Calvin Klein bag from the October issue? I love the raspberry color, the simplistic design, and the braided handles. Available at select Macy's.

Images scanned from my copy of Lucky Magazine's October 2009 Issue.

Dress for Success San Francisco Gala: A SUCCESS!!!!

Here are my pictures from the very successful "Success You Wear It Well" event at the Bently Reserve tonight.

My donation to the silent auction....

Renee Surcouff, Executive Director DFSSF and moi!
For those interested, I'm wearing a Tracy Reese dress circa 2008 (which makes it vintage :)

Macy's Passport Fashion Show- A Not-to-be Missed Event

Macy's Passport Fashion Show comes to San Francisco only once a year, and it all starts tonight! Together with American Express, they put on one of the coolest events that supports local HIV/AIDS organizations.

Not only does it support a good cause, but it is a really fun event. This is not just a fashion show, it's more like a Vegas production. You have to see it for yourself... Fort Mason, Thursday. Buy tickets here.

Anna Sui for Target

Two days left until we get to shop the new Anna Sui line for Target. You can start purchasing online at midnight or be a little less of a fashion diva and make your purchase when the stores open at 8:00am :) I'll be in Daly City at 8am on Sunday waiting in line with the other San Francisco "frugalistas".

Fashion's Night Out at Neiman Marcus TONIGHT

Neiman Marcus is hosting the Fashion’s Night Out Event featuring the newest Men’s and Women’s collections for Fall, not one to be missed! There are activities and DJ's on every floor, fashion presentations and much more! For a full list of store specific events you can visit NeimanMarcus.com. No RSVP required.

WHAT:
For One Night Only NM becomes the hottest spot in town! Join us for eats, beats, and special treats – plus all the fabulous fall fashion you can handle.

WHERE:
Neiman Marcus Union Square

WHEN:
Thursday, September 10
6-9pm

WHY:
To kick off the fall season in style and to celebrate Fashion Week

Forty percent of proceeds from the sale of the Alexander Wang limited-edition Fashion’s Night Out T-shirt will be donated to the
National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

Info courtesy of Neiman Marcus.

Dress for Success San Francisco: Success You Wear It Well - Party at the Bently Reserve 9/16/09

My female clients know that I am a huge supporter of Dress for Success SF. Here is your chance to support a great organization and have fun in the process.

Why go?

-I'll be there
-it's a great party at a very cool venue
-fun fashions and exciting live auction
-great food from local female chefs
-bid-worthy silent auction items (including one for Beyond Black's services)
-get a free gift bag!!!
-cocktails and networking from 5:30-9pm
-help Bay Area women!!!

Buy tickets here!

Product Review: The Invisibelt- "All Belt No Bulk"

I can't tell you enough how many times I get clients telling me about their woes when it comes to finding pants that fit correctly. And the number one problem is that their waistlines are smaller than average to their hip sizes, leaving a nice big gap in the back of their pants.

I fit into this category myself. My first suggestion to the other women out there finding this a problem, is to look for companies/brands that sell styles of pants cut specifically for this reason. For example, the denim line Joe's Jeans, carried by most major department stores, has a "honey" cut jean that comes in in the waist and is a bit roomier in the butt and thighs. And if you still have some extra room in there, take them to a tailor and have them taken in.

But what if you can't get to the tailor in time and you just have to wear that brand new pair of jeans? Are you wearing belts all the time to keep your pants up, but hate the all-too-wonderful belt buckle bulge you get under your shirts?

In the mail today I received a product that addresses this very issue. Myself, along with a couple other women, wore the invisibelt for a week with various outfits. It's been featured in People, Lucky and Shape Magazine, and retails for $19.95. Here is our honest (unpaid) review of the product.

Invisibelt's Claims*: -eliminate the unsightly bulge caused from bulky belt buckles -gives the support of a belt with a flat, clear and smooth finish -provides an instant slimming effect -enables women to wear fitted sweaters over pants or skirts- no trace of a belt buckle detected -unique adjustable waist size (sizes 0-14) makes it ideal for the average woman. Larger size belt fits up to 4x -available in "naked" (clear) or "noir" (black)

What We Found:
the pros:
- Having two color options was nice to have (there are more colors arriving and others already available on the invisibelt website)
- Once we figured out how to adjust the belt properly (there is a how-to video online) there was a nice snug, but not tight, feel like your pants were not going to need to be pulled up all day long
- Because there was not a traditional buckle, there was no bulge under a shirt (BUG PLUS+)
- The belt was a nice width so that it didn't feel like it was cutting into any belly fat or love handles
- Worked very well under a long tunic style shirt and jeans

the cons:
- when wearing a dress pant with a bit of silkiness to it, the belt seemed to ride up past the belt loop and sit against the skin on your back (possibly due to not tightening enough first)
- All reviewers wished that the belt came in a fabric or leather so that when seen (such as when you sit down in a chair and your shirt tends to ride up), it looked more like a traditional belt

But just like the inventor, Kathy, says on the website's how-to section, "it's about function, not fashion." I personally appreciate the thought that went into this product. Definitely one of those "why didn't I think of that" kind of moments. However, just like the clear bra strap, while functional, it isn't the most comfortable or stylish. When it comes to plastic in outfits, it is better to not be seen at all than to be seen wearing plastic.

I give this product a B+ for ingenious design, ease of use, and functionality. Let us know when a leather version comes out!





*Images and information courtesy of invisibelt