StyleWhipped

Hard & Soft

I talk a lot about the importance of including pieces that are "edgy" (hard) and pieces that are "feminine" (soft) in your wardrobe. I don't think that any wardrobe is complete when it is predictable or expected...even though we all need to define what our personal style really is, there need to be a few surprises to keep things fresh, and to keep our ability to be creative with our look active. With that said, whenever I find something that is both edgy and feminine at the same time (especially in a cheeky, yes-I'm-confident-enough-to-"play"-with-fashion way), I am super happy. No, more like I'm escastic and have to share it with you rightaway.

So here goes. Vince Camuto is one of my very favorite shoe designers. He is on-trend but doesn't produce exact knock-offs (never cute), his shoes will run you around $110 on average, and for some reason, they are seriously comfortable. Like, even the ones that have 5.5" heels. I have worn multiple different styles to go dancing, to stand for hours on end, and to run around Manhattan. And my feet never, ever hurt. He also manages to do one key thing, relevant to this article...there is a beautiful merging of edgy and feminine in his designs. And this pair, the "Jamma" is a perfect example. Available in multiple colors, the "petal" (or super pale off-white/palest nude-pink leather) is the best. It has a solid stiletto (not one of those pin-thin heels that are impossible for shoe mortals to walk in...), but it isn't at all too thick either. And while the heel has serious pewter studs lining it, so does the...bow in the front! What?! Yes, there is a stud-covered, oversized leather bow at the front. It is subversive, unexpected, and the absolute epitome of "edgy & feminine."

Your wardrobe (whether it is filled with frilly florals or toughie motorcycle jackets) will thank me.

~ Alison.

Joseph Ungoco: Belt It In!

I recently decided that I was no longer going to let TSA interfere with my fashion choices when travelling by air.  I’m glad to report that I seem to be able to remove and replace my belt at airport security and still arrive at my gate on time.  I’m doing my bit to bring style back to air travel. 

The reason I bring this up is that people are always asking me about how things should fit (I recently brought you advice on the proper length for mens' pants, even broken down by how tall you are!).  And any good pair of pants deserves an equally well-fitting belt. A belt with a buckle fits properly when you can secure it at the center hole.  One hole toward the end of the belt is still within the range of a strict regimen of diet and exercise or the new wave of technologically advanced undergarments (yes – I mean Man Spanx...they really do exist!)  One hole tighter means that the end of the belt is flapping about beyond the keeper, the strap that holds the end down between your buckle and the first belt loop on your pants.  Two holes from the center – either way – means that it’s time to acknowledge that you are no longer the same size as your belt.  

-- Joseph

Me + Ikat = Stylewhipped

Most people know about my love for a great print. Very few people know that my love for a great print is how Stylewhipped came to be. Before this magazine was born, I was writing the fashion column for another online publication. And I wrote a column about Ikat prints and how they kept popping up as a trend over and over again, in many different forms. And one of those forms was an $8,000 Oscar de la Renta dress. Now, yes, the target audience of that particular publication probably wasn't buying $8,000 dresses (um, not many people are...), but I was using it as an example of how a trend begins with certain top-tier designers and makes it all the way to Forever 21 before you can blink. Apparently, my editor saw it differently, and hence...Stylewhipped (my own magazine, where no one would have any issues with an $8,000 dress as an example) was hatched! 

Now, how is this a relevant story today? Because Ikat print is here yet again! And I still love it! I will not feature anything from Oscar de la Renta (!), but rather something you could go out and buy today (and still be able to pay your rent for the rest of the year). From Lucky Brand Jeans (which, by the way, is one of my go-to denim designers for super comfy but still stylish & flattering everyday jeans), we get this sheer, Ikat printed tunic. This is a two-for-one, really...it combines both the resurgence of Ikat as well as the current sheer trend. With it's muted but strong color palette, this is a great winter-to-spring transition piece. It also does a great day-to-night duty...layer it over a wife-beater and flared jeans during the day, and swap out the tank for just a great black bra and the jeans for latex leggings for a night out. Add in some serious gold jewelry and 5-inch platforms and suddenly Ikat goes from bohemian chic to downright sexy... 

~ Alison.

Danielle Aspromatis: The Bucket List

One of my favorite party decor tricks is....drum roll....a bucket! I know, pretty lame, right? But actually a bucket or a pail can be an amazing party detail! There are so many uses and styles that I could go on for days. One use for a pail that is my favorite is a centerpiece. Whether you are putting flowers in it, decorated centerpiece picks, or another filler, you can customize a pail in so many ways.

This chalkboard tin pail from the EventDesignShop on Etsy.com is fabulous for a rustic shabby chic party....write your message and/or table number on the pail, and then erase it when the day is done. You can use it over and over! Perfect for chilled wine or champagne, this is one centerpiece that actually makes perfect sense!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For a chic baby shower, I love this centerpiece...its so simple yet stylish and all you need is a pail, a ribbon, some tissue paper and a few decorated picks from the CreativeEvents shop on etsy.com 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Using pails as planters is an obvious idea...but this centerpiece puts a twist on the norm, and your guests will all be asking to take home part of this centerpiece. With three pails per centerpiece, there is plenty to go around! These are from the MinSvenskaLandgard Shop on Etsy.com 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A bucket is simple, yes, but what you can create with them is amazing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Danielle

Letter From the Editor: Priorities, Priorities...

I have been sick for the entire past week. And I mean SICK (I never expect, as an adult, to have a fever for five days straight!). I would take a shower and expend every ounce of my energy. The two times that I had to walk the dog because my husband wasn't home each induced a 2-hour nap (and my little fluffball goes on "walks" that last about 6 minutes!). Both of my parents were leaving me desperate voicemails, wondering why I wasn't calling them back (talking for more than three seconds led to insane coughing fits). However, when Thursday rolled around and I actually realized what day it was, my first thought was "my manicurist won't be available again until Monday!" (please note that my first thought was not "holy h*ll, I've been sick for four days already!") And suddenly, I was up. I was showered, I had make-up on, I even wore an actual outfit. I walked the three blocks to the nail salon, made it through my hour-long appointment without using a single tissue, and chatted with my manicurist Maggie (who took one look at me and said "Alison, what happened? You look so bad!" By the way, thanks so much for that...). I then walked back home...and CRASHED. And I mean couldn't-move-from-the-couch-to-get-my-own-juice-from-the-kitchen crashed. And I stayed on the couch for another two days.

But you know what? My nails looked amazing. And sometimes, you just have to embrace your seriously misplaced priorities. What if I had been suddenly all better and gotten invited to something fabulous? (Even though that was clearly not going to happen, considering I totally knew I had a fever while at the nail salon. I was just ignoring it.) What if a really important new business opportunity had come up and I had to Skype a meeting? (I don't Skype. And no one could have seen my nails if I did. But you get the idea.) But I do believe in mind-over-matter. I do believe that once your fever has broken but you are still coughing, you really just need to put some mascara on. Or for you guys, give yourself a great shave. Because sometimes, just sometimes, when you look good, you really do feel good, too. (Or, um, as good as you can feel after being an adult who had a fever for five days...)

So take care of yourself. And try OPI's "I Brake For Manicures," my color du jour. It's totally worth that inappropriately-timed trip to see your Maggie.

~ Alison.

Rebecca Gordon - Talking to Strangers

For some reason the childhood lesson, “don’t talk to strangers” did not stick for me.  I love talking to strangers (at least if I approach them, I am not a fan of randos walking up to me unless they are a crazy man on the subway telling me my hair is like a waterfall. Then I am flattered. Thanks, guy.).  In college and my early 20's, this meant I would ask strangers for cigarettes on behalf of my smoking friends.  This satisfied my love for talking to strangers (some of them cute men), but was not great when the cigarette donor insisted on lighting my cigarette (those first drags probably added up to a few packs and I am not much for smoking). In recent years, this skill has been put to different use – picking up men for my shy gay friends (who have no reason to be shy). 

My signature move in my cigarette days was a tap on the shoulder followed by “can I get a cigarette”. My signature move in my straight-girl-in-the-gay-bar days is a tap on the shoulder followed by “you should meet my friend.” Works like a charm*, and after being tricked into going to the Gansevoort on gay night** (which my friends only got away with once – now I know which night it is, gents), it was my ticket to going home. Once my handsome friends were deep in conversation with equally handsome men, I pulled a Houdini and made my way home.

~ Rebecca

*Seriously. I take credit for a relationship that has been going strong since the summer.

**Nothing against gay night, but as a single straight woman this is not a target rich environment and this was night two going out with my gay boyfriends. Upside is the rule I created: “I don’t pay for drinks at a gay bar."

Joseph Ungoco: Men's Pants...Finally, the Right Fit!

The mark of the well dressed man is that his clothes fit properly. I’ve been very lucky to know some of the best tailors in the nation in the various cities where I have lived and I’ve learned a thing or two.  Today, I’d like to address some of your questions about how pants are “supposed” to fit. This is actually a very complex question so for now I’ll be addressing issues below the knee. We’ll tackle the rest another day.  

I live in the Wall Street area and nothing is more offensive to me than the legions of men who – for some reason unknown to me – seem to be anticipating a flood of epic proportions. Otherwise nicely dressed men are running around with their pants three or more inches off the ground! Your pants should touch the tops of your shoes in the front. How much of a break appears in your razor sharp creases is a matter of fashion and personal choice – yours or your trusted tailor’s. The general rule is that men who are between 5’8” and 6’2” should have one full break. If you’re shorter than 5’8”, you may not want to break the visual line of your pants creases at all. The pants should just graze the tops of your shoes.  The opposite is true for men who are over 6’2”, multiple breaks will cut the visual line.

In the back, your pants – cuffed or not – should reach the seam between the upper of your shoe and the heel. To most of you - unless you’re prone to wearing YSL Johnny boots - that means ONE inch from the ground. If your pants are uniformly short front and back, then they’ve shrunk and I suggest that you not trust the cleaner who did that to them to alter them properly. Trust a tailor who makes it his business to know such things. If your pants are only short in the back, then you have other problems. Lay off the squats at the gym and/or second (or third) helpings at meals! 

-- Joseph

Danielle Aspromatis: Ombre, How I love thee, Let me count the ways...!

For those of you who don't know what ombre is, it's best described as graduated tones of color, usually fading from light to dark or vice versa. For those of you who don't know me, I LOVE ombre! I always have loved ombre in my past career as a clothing buyer. Now as a wedding planner, my appreciation has just grown. You can use one color and actually turn it into multiple colors just by graduating the shade lighter or darker. It adds dimension immediately, and a soft, feminine quality. There are so many ways to incorporate it into your wedding day (or just your life!)

Another reason I love ombre is that it really can be applied to everything, not just weddings or parties. I love to be inspired by wedding trends, and then apply those ideas to other aspects of my life as well...furniture, home decor, and my wardrobe.

Take a minute to look through some inspiration for ombre weddings and some fabulous ombre details and ideas to incorporate ombre into another aspect of your daily life. I can't get enough! 

These images were making me want to run out and update my home and closet!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love this Tadashi bandage dress from Neiman Marcus... (click to buy)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I love the look (and price!) of this Express chiffon infinity scarf (click to buy)

 

 

 

 

 

And for the super bold....ombre your hair color!

 

This trend isn't going anywhere, so pick where you want to incorporate it and go for it!

-Danielle

Sherin Botros: Behind the Screen, from Hollywood to Home

Do you remember those vintage folding screens used in old Hollywood movies where actresses would flirtatiously go behind to discreetly change clothes? Thanks to the likes of Hayworth, Monroe and Harlow, those screens became iconic, as these bombshells draped dazzling garments over the top while carrying a conversation with their guest standing in the same room. 

Once epitomized for their mystique and glamour in the world of apparel changes, folding screens now have made a significant revival in home fashion. While still functional, they are now incorporated throughout the home for decorative appeal. 

Also known as room dividers, they create and define a space. You can use them as partitions to separate areas, block your nosy neighbors view into your window, or hide that little mess you've been meaning to get to.

But I love them for their sheer beauty! 

They come in many different colors, themes and materials. There is something for everyone...do you want an Asian flair, a tropical escape or French elegance? Modern or antique? Wood, leather or rice paper? The options are limitless, you can pick the one that serves you best! I found this great 4 panel leather dark room divider at foldingroomdividers.net

It's handsome yet luxurious...hmm, a little bit out of my normal "oh so girly" things I love, but I've got the perfect spot for it in my own living room!

Folding screens are extremely versatile and are a fantastic way to freshen up and add aesthetic value to your home. They can make a large room cozy and can be used as a striking backdrop behind furniture. They make gorgeous headboards in your bedroom, stand-alone wall art behind a buffet in the dining area, and are more traditionally used to add a little pizazz in that harsh empty corner of the room. 

So what are you waiting for, pick your spot....I know you're thinking about it! You may even be thinking about pulling your own Marylin moves behind the screen!

-Sherin

* Top photo is a portrait of Dolores Costello, Drew Barrymore's grandmother, leaning against a folding screen. Image from www.theshoppedesigns.com

Earth Mother

I have a small obsession with cocktail rings. (Ok, ok. It's a massive, ridiculous obsession. Whatever.) You can wear jeans and a white t-shirt, but once you put one oversized cocktail ring on your hand, the whole vibe of your look changes. It starts to say "yup, I live in the lap of luxury...I just choose to wear jeans and a t-shirt..." It gives you a punctuation mark for every single time you dramatically talk with your hands. And it shows the world that you actually do go every week to get a manicure (note: do not wear a big cocktail ring without a nice manicure. Everyone will notice. Everyone.). However, you don't always want a standard, giant-cut-stone-with-some-extra-sparkle ring. Sometimes even I want something a little more, well...earthy. But I still want that earthiness to have some level of glamour. And there is a very specific way to achieve that "luxe bohemian" look...

Geodes, raw turquoise, uncut agate...these are all stones that possess that earthy feeling (in fact, even set in gold or platinum, they look like you just dug them out of some exotic cave). They offer natural sparkle, a little cool-girl, rough-around-the-edges image, and make you look like you just came back from Bali. I found four of these amazing, wear-with-those-jeans-and-t-shirt-or-with-a-ballgown rings on one of my very favorite online shopping destinations, Max & Chloe. Max & Chloe stocks both fine and fashion jewelry, and it's pretty much impossible for me to just browse (there is always something that I just have to own...).

Check them out below (and simply click on each image to buy!) and bring out the bohemian, earth mother in you by simply slipping any of them onto your finger...

~ Alison.