How to.... Cocktail Attire 101

Hello fashionistas!! So this next weekend Im going to be at Washingtong DC as part of the Capitol City Challenge which is an Trial Advocacy Competion hosted by the Washington College of Law.  And as I found out yesterday we will be having a Cocktail Party on saturday.  First question that pop into all of my teamates head, specially the boys, WHAT is cocktail attire?? What am I supposed to wear.  This email and the questions of course, inspired me to write about How to Dress for a Cocktail Party.  First question to answer, What is a Cocktail Party?

 

Well, cocktail parties have been a popular social gathering for years. They were a hit during the first few decades of the 1900's, were fueled by Prohibition and died off a little during the last part of the century, but they're back. Typically a cocktail party lasts 2-3 hours during which guests snack on a simple spread of food and imbibe on great cocktails while chatting with other guests. Cocktail parties are great for entertaining friends or business associates, or a combination of the two. They're also great for open houses or receptions, both business and personal.

 

Now lets get to it, What to wear?  Here are some tips, and pictures to help you with our lovely dilemma.....

 

• Formally, as the name says it, women are supposed to wear cocktail attire. A cocktail dress is a knee length dress that ranges from just above the knee to just under the knee. The dress can also be tea length, in this case the dress is just above the ankle.

• My advise according cocktail dresses is that you choose an elegant gown in a dressier fabric that is flattering on your body. On a cocktail party you don't want to look too exposing.
 
• Wear colors that match with your skin tone. Darker colors will look more formal than lighter colors. A little black dress can look really chic an can be glamoured up with accessories. Other colors can also be stunning, look seasonal colors for inspiration
 
• Combine your dress with some dazzling high heeled pumps or open sandals in a color that matches with your gown.
 
• NEVER wear a large bag but go for a small and elegant evening bag. If your dress is in a basic color like black you can also choose to let your shoes or your bag stand out by letting it be in a bright color.
 
• Go for some eye catching jewelry, especially if you wear a simple gown. Wear for example a beautiful silver or golden bracelet with some flashy earrings. a beautiful necklace is also an option, in this case don't let your earrings be big and make sure that the necklace doesn't compete with your neckline.
 
• Put some effort in your hair and put some makeup on girl. During evening events your makeup can as dramatic as you want, but remeber to balance it out with your outfit and accesories. Make your eyes or your lips pop out while still looking natural.

 

 

This white cocktail dress Selena Gomez is wearing is perfect for a cocktail party! It's so simple but yet elegant, we love it. A plain dress always works great because you can wear it with stunning high heels and beautiful accessories!

 

Earrings: Serendipidity

Shoes: Sergio Rossi

Bracelet: Fine Jewellery Making

Clutch: Diane von Furstenberg

 

 

Kelly Ripa looks great in this black cocktail dress! A little black dress is always a safe cocktail party (or for any other occation) outfit because it makes every woman look beautiful! Make sure you choose a nice fabric and combine it with some fancy high heels and jewelry and you're good to go!

 

Accessories: Swarovski

Clutch: Nanette Lepore

Shoes: Casadei

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley wears a beautiful black and yellow cocktail dress. Wearing a dress in a colorful print is a great way to make your appearance more fun! Now if decide to go with prints remember to tone it down with the accesories and make up, this way your outfit wont be competing with itself.

 

Shoes: Christian Louboutin

Lipstick: L'Oreal color riche, true red

Clutch: Acne

Earrings: Polyvore

 

 

 

Eva Mendes looks stunning in this cream cocktail dress! This cocktail attire is so sophisticated and ladylike! This high neck dress doesn't need big accessories and by just wearing these small earrings the overall look became more elegant.

 

Nail polish: Essie, ballet slippers

Shoes: Bennett Harper

Clutch Karen Millen

Earrings: River Fine Jewelry

 



 

Like I said before, a little black dress like Taylor Swift wears here is perfect cocktail attire! It always looks elegant and chic, especially if you glamour it up with accessories. A little black dress you can find almost everywhere, but make sure you go for a dressy fabric and flattering model.

 

Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Bracelet: Fenize

Earrings: Diane White Topaz

Clutch: Michael Kors

 

Happy Styling!!!

 

Dior Darling

Hello Fashionistas!!!  
America's sweetheart and Dior's darling, Jennifer Lawrence, rocked her short do and her flawless features in yet another campaign for the French Fashion House.  The Oscar winner poses with minimal makeup and her short hair styled in a wind-swept ‘do, going topless under a trench coat for the Miss Dior handbag. I dont know you but I'm totally in love and OBSESSED with this Add!   

Happy Styling!! 

5 Spring Beauty Trends

Hello Fashionistas!!!  Today I want to let you on 5 spring beauty trends!!  You will find from orange lips to luminous skin.

•       Orange Lips – Like I mention in a previous post orange lips is SO IN for this season.  It may be a bold color for a lot of people but you need to think of it as a citrus hue or as classic red’s cool younger sister.  This shade is vibrant, playful and perfect for the warmer months that are to come.  You can find it in various brands such as Revlon , Dior, Maybelline, Sephora and even Elizabeth Arden.  How to know your perfect shade??? Well according to beauty experts there are no rules.  Orange makes such a statement that you an basically pull of whatever and whichever you want.  When wearing an orange lipstick remember to balance your lips and eyes wearing shadows and liners that are in the neutral side this way your eyes wont compete with your awesome lip color. (Please check out my previous posting A Little Pop of Orange)

 

•        White nails – In case you don’t know white is a neutral.  From opalescent to true white is cool, modern and flatters every skin tone.  When choosing your “white” keep in mind that true white is eye-catching, while pinkish white is more understated and chic.  Add some sparkle for a night out.

      

• Messy hair – Perfect straight hair is “passé”! Right now, it’s all about texture that’s loose, wavy and undone.  In order to get this look the trick is prep prep prep.  Get a product fro straight or wavy hair; use a texture-enhancing spray on damp strands of hair.  If you hair is curly, control the frizz by applying a smoothing cream to wet hair.  No w to get the natural effect, SKIP THE BRUSH, create a part with your fingers and blow dry with a hair diffuser until its 75% dry, then let it air dry!

•      Blue eye make up – YES you read right, BLUE! From teal to cobalt and sea foam, all the blue and aquatic inspired shadows and liners feel fun and flirty and a good thing Is they make any eye color stand out.  If you are not a fan of blue eye shadow you can get the look in an easy way and easy to wear way. Simply use eyeliner. Bright colors like teal are great when applied on the bottom lash line only.  Also on thing to know it’s that darker shades like sapphire can even be a substitute for black on both top and bottom.  One of my faves teal eyeliner is from the brand Jordana and of course the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On eye pencil in Deep end. 

•       Luminous Skin – this season calls fro glow. A glowing complexion is the perfect complement to every makeup trend this season.  When trying to achieve a luminous look, always PREP your skin, the smoother your skin looks the brighter it will appear, so exfoliate your skin first and then follow with a luminizing primer to minimize pores and create a “shine from within” kind of look. For me the best way to achieve this without making your face look “caky” or even greasy is mixing an illuminating tinted moisturizer or a simple illuminator with your regular foundation or bb cream.  The fact that you took the time to blend them both and then putting them in your face, will make the your face glow in a natural way.  For an extra glow you can go ahead and use powder or liquid highlighter an use on your nose, on top of your eyebrows, cheeks and cupid bow.

If the Shoe fits

The shoes may not make the woman, but they sure do make the outfit. You've spent hours piecing together the perfect wardrobe combination. Don't ruin it with the wrong pair of shoes!

 

 

Hello Fashionistas, today I bring you a Shoe Guide. I don't know about you but I'm practically Obsessed with shoes. I want to help you figuring out what shoe to wear with what outfit, and you'll be sure to always step out in style.  What you wear on your feet can totally transform the rest of your look. The right shoe can elongate and slim your legs, dress your gown up or down, make you flirty, business-like or vampy, and basically make or break your entire look. But heyyyyyy, no pressure at all, right?  Let's get this started.....

 

Stilettos

Stilettos -- the ultimate in sexy -- make your legs look amazing.  This shoe its a must have in every woman closet.  They take you from OK to VA VA BOOM.  They are versatile and the best part, you will always look amazing and extra chic in them. Wear these shoes with pencil skirts or slim pants. Avoid wearing stilettos with mini skirts, or at least be very careful. There is a fine line between sexy and trashy, and that pairing crosses it.

 

 

 

Boots

No shoe closet is complete without a great pair of knee-high boots.  I know we leave in an island in the Caribbean where there is no snow or cold weather.  However, what about traveling right??  I'm a boot lover, I love boots in all the sense of the words and always have a pair ready for when I travel. Equestrian boots look great over skinny jeans. Boots with a heel make a run-of-the-mill knee-length skirt into a fashion statement, and you can tuck them under your bootleg jeans for a completely different look. Even cowboy boots get new life when paired with a cute sun dress.

 

 

 

Ballet flats & Sandals

This are classics that never goes out of style.  The common denominator between the two is how comfortable they can be.  Ballet flats & sandals lend a trendy yet ladylike touch to an outfit. They are comfortable and very easy to wear.  Wear with a pretty, above-the-knee skirt or dress, capris or Bermuda shorts for a feminine look. Avoid wearing ballet flats with long skirts (too dowdy) or skinny pants (too unproportional, unless you have narrow hips).

 

 

 

Booties

This are a very trendy piece to wear.  You will find them flat or with heels.  They come in leather (faux or real), suede and in a variety of styles and colors.  They are ideal to go out at nigh during this soon to come hot summer nights.  They are very easy to wear with short, Cami's, cute tops, blazers and cardigans for a more casual look.  Also you can pair them with mini skirts, flirty short dresses, boyfriend jeans and even regular jeans.

 

 

 

 

It's seasonal

The season should dictate what shoe is appropriate for your outfit. Sounds like common sense, but everyone has seen photos of celebrities running around Malibu in July wearing their warm and fuzzy Ugg boots.

Winter calls for boots, wider heels (to avoid slipping), loafers and flats. Summer is the time to break out your sandals and espadrilles. Spring is universal -- pairing summer and winter pieces adds longevity to your wardrobe. Fall is flexible too, but avoid the sandals and espadrilles -- they are a bit too summery for the heavier fabrics of the season.

Choices, choices

Long gone is the time when a lady matched her shoes with her purse and belt.  Now Fashion is all about fun and less about looking all matchy matchy from every angle. Your choice of shoe depends on several factors, and you can go about the decision many ways.

Nude pumps with bare legs elongate and slim your gams. If you are wearing tights, wear a shoe of the same color for a similar effect. Skinny heels are slimming, but can look disproportional on thicker legs; choose a more substantial heel to balance everything out.

What color to select?

On the whole, avoid wearing a single color from head to toe, including shoes. A green top with green pants and green shoes is great for the Jolly Green Giant, but not for a stylish woman! Tie in your shoe color to another piece of your wardrobe to make that color really pop. For example, gold shoes glitter with gold jewelry, and red would make the same color in the patterned top you're wearing stand out.

What about the material?

The level of formality truly dictates that. A leather pump is not appropriate with an evening gown -- choose satin, silk or velvet instead. By the same token, leather and canvas are great with office wear and jeans alike. The words "plastic" and "shoes" do not even belong in the same sentence, no matter the occasion.

Whatever you choose, make sure your shoes are comfortable for your activity level. Nothing ruins an otherwise fabulous look faster than an expression of extreme pain on the wearer's face!

 

Happy Styling!!!

 

Spring Must Have!

It’s time to talk SPRING!!!!  The season is peeking out and around the corner and its time to talk must have.  What do we need to get ready and survive this new season looking as fashionable as ever.  Let’s check out trends you can rock all season long, from pretty and sweet pastels to leather, and of course, tips on how to wear them!

  Pastels – Pastel color are IN and not only for spring but the good thing about it is that is an all over the year color.  You can use it with lace, pleats and special details that will make the soft hues of pastels look totally different.  You can go ahead and pair pastel colors with white and other neutrals for a totally chic vibe.

 
 

 

 Florals – Spring is all about flowers.  If you’re like me, you may like a subtle almost not noticeable floral print.  However Florals are bold and oversized blooms are fresh and feminine. You can use them on dresses, slim pants and more.

  Modern Chokers – Talk about STATEMENT NECKLACES.  If you know me you are well aware that I love them.  Accessories like a necklace can take your outfit from ok to amazing.  The new statement necklaces are chokers. These minimal collars have maximum impact on your outfits and whatever your style, there’s one for you. 

Styling tip - Try to wear a choker with a V-neck or an unbuttoned shirt so it reaaaaaally stands out.

Crop tops & Skirts – I have been seeing a lot of matching sets of crop tops & skirts out in the mall.  Whether you like the entire set or just one of the items in it, this trend is definitely IN for this season and a great thing about it is that either piece looks great on its own too. These matching sets are the latest’s way to wear a crop top and as if nobody has noticed, they’re a flirty dress alternative!!  

                   

                                                                 

 

 

Styling tip - go simple with accessories; baring your midriff already makes a statement.

Shirtdresses – Loose or cinched, this “menswear” inspired look is big and it comes in every style, and color from cool to classic.

 Mules – This style of shoe is open in the backside.  It a slide on style giving your outfit an instant “on-trend” vibe.  Choose from wedges, stilettos and more.  

Here's a styling tip - pair these shoes with skirts, skinnies or cuffed boyfriends, this way you showing some heel making your legs seem longer.

 
















Perforated Leather – This one comes in neutral hues, this edgy detail feels refined on bags, shoes and more – real or faux.  

Styling tip - when in doubt stick to one piece at a time, and mix with other neutrals.

D’orsay Flats – Standard pointy flats got a little face-list and twist with side cut-outs.  Bright hues, artsy prints and different textures are only a few of the options with this comfortable item. 

Styling Tip – Slip them with casual weekend outfits to add instant polish.

Bucket Bags – Comfortable yet classy.  Bucket bags come in easy neutral or eye-catching colors and patterns.  They are definitely the “IT” daytime carryalls.

 Happy Styling & Happy Spring!!!!