Fall Uniform: The Lightweight Jacket

It’s an odd time of year; we know Summer has left the building, but it’s not time to break out the Parkas yet. For us commuters we can’t freeze our you-know-whats off on the bus stop, and I am not a fan of sweating on a packed train car. So what am I supposed to wear? Enter: The Lightweight Jacket.

Thanks, Puma!

It's sleek, easy to pack away if the temperature spikes, and in most cases this thing is water repellent. However, the Lightweight Jacket is a cautionary tale because: its name gives it away! This piece light, and more of a Fashion statement. I only scream say this because you cannot wear a tank top or a mini skirt and expect a warm, cozy feeling. Dress appropriately folks!

As always, here are my tips on styling the Jacket:

• Ignore the color and go with your gut. I generally use this rule for shopping overall, but since this piece of Outerwear isn't designed to go with your outfits, avoid buying something that accommodates your entire wardrobe. It will be frustrating to do so, and you might miss out on a great find.
• Drawstrings and Belts are key! Unfortunately, all Outerwear adds unnecessary bulk but that doesn't mean you have to loose your shape. You can pick Outerwear with drawstrings or a belt to battle the budge, or you can add one from your own closet! Like this:

• My favorite length of Outerwear is above or below the hip. Like I said, the jacket adds the wrong kind of poof, and it's easy to get lost in a large piece of Nylon or other Lightweight fabrics. Jackets that hit above the hipbone highlight your hips, and below accentuates the natural curve from your waistline down. Either way you go, these lengths are pluses for us Curvy girls. ;)

Last but not least, the transition from this season to Winter is a short one and your coats shouldn't break the bank. Below are my picks for Lightweight Jackets all under $100. Let me know what you think & check out a new feature on the blog, "Curvy News":

Merona® Quilted Jacket

Worthington® Single-Breasted Mod Coat 

Belted Zip Cape Coat

a.n.a® Quilted Faux Leather Jacket

ELLE™ Faux-Leather Jacket

In Other Curvy News...

• "We're surrounded by absolutely unrealistic ideas of beauty because girls in photos are, well, not real. They're the result of a hairstylist, a makeup artist, a manicurist, a personal stylist, a tailor, good lighting, correct angles....And to get that one photo that makes the cut, sometimes a thousand or more need to be taken. So, look at pictures of celebrities for artistic inspiration ... but don't think for a second that you should look like them. Because nobody does, not even them." Love who you are!

                        *Lauren Conrad from her new book 'Beauty' Via She's In Color

• Lady Gaga joins the Body Revolution! The pop superstar says: "My boyfriend prefers me curvier. When I eat I am healthy and not so worried about my looks, I'm happy. Happier than I've ever been." She was born this way! Via Daily Mail & @AlexandaMariaE
  
  
  

Thanks for visiting :)

Until next time, 

-TLW

Midi's Are NOT Your Mom's Work Attire!

Remember how I told you that fashion was cyclical? Well time to kick it old school baby, because the Midi Dresses are a good shape for us Curvy Girls!

I was really inspired when I saw the exquisite Emily Blunt on 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' yesterday. I know you're wondering why I reference this Show as of late -I set up my Tivo for Ellen because the guest spots have been amazing; but I digress. Emily was paling around with Ellen yesterday in a collared Midi Dress from Victoria Beckham's Fall 2012 line:

Emily Blunt in Victoria Beckham Fall 2012

Victoria Beckham RTW Fall 2012

Photo's courteous of The Ellen DeGeneres Show & Vogue.com

Ms. Blunt loves her dress- she says it's very "Posh" and you should too!

I love to shout about Curves on this site, but I also like to celebrate being who you are on whatever the occasion. I think the 'Midi' is the perfect opportunity to show your sexy curvy side appropriately, within the realms of Corporate America. The dress is a professional silhouette, and because of both the sultry and work appropriate length, you can pull this look off in the sometimes unfashionable hours of 9-5. Here's how:

• If you remember my first post, Ever Wonder Why You're A Fruit?, I highly recommended pencil skirts. I still do, and this is it in full dress form!
• High Heels - high as you can go for work. The only possible negative of this style is that it takes over your whole body. However, wearing heels will give a presence to your lower half and give you height to show off that slender chic look from the Midi Dress.
• Prints! The best part of this dress is that it's slimming, right? Well prints in one direction have the same, if not better effect. Experiment! It's you best opportunity to.

All of my suggestions are from Global Beauty & Fashion online retailer ASOS. They carry & create this style of dress with utter perfection. PLUS- there's a 70% of sale these days! Check it out:

Motel Midi Dress With Cut Out Racer Back In Aztec Print

Motel Zoe Midi Racer Dress Batik

Motel Midi Dress Cut Out Racer Back in Leopard Print

ASOS PETITE Exclusive Midi Dress In Squiggle Print

Motel Midi Zoe Dress in Abstract Pebble Print

Ganni Striped Midi Dress with Button Detail

ASOS PETITE Exclusive Midi Dress In Scarf Print

ASOS Midi Pencil Dress With Wrap Skirt

Tell me! What are some other ways to rock this 70's inspired trend?

-TLW

I'm Not Biker Chic, I'm Metallic Chic!

It's that time again, folks! So let's get straight to our Hump Day Post :)

The Internet is a blaze as of late, with Spring, Pre-Fall/Fall 2012 Trends and one that seems to be here to stay is the Motorcycle Jacket. Here is the thing: We have seen Biker Chic before, and while Leather is truly a closet staple in any form, I personally don't have a style aesthetic that matches "Grunge" or "Biker". HOWEVER! I can completely agree with Metallic (remember: Let It Shine ?), Glitter (how about Glitter Is A Girls BFF ?), Or Sparkles as Outerwear: 

IRO Spring 2012

IRO Spring 2012

Atelier Versace Spring 2012 Couture

Photo Credit: Monica Rose  & Fashionologie.com

These jackets are BEAUTIFULLY constructed. They have the same Edge-y feel as the Moto frame, but there is a lot of POP going on. With IRO, the jackets have strategically placed zippers, stained leather, and a fashion fave: sequins. With Versace, glitter & revolutionary detailing create the beauty of these pieces. These Jackets are a far cry from Harley, (Sorry Mr. Davidson) and should be in every girl's closet ASAP!

So, how do you do it?

• Again, this trend is obviously NON Biker Chic. Everything you wear underneath should be clean. Straight-legged or Skinny Jeans, and simple colored Tanks/Tees, or Dresses. The idea is to be innovate with the jacket - step outside the Moto box!
• Play up the color! As seen in a few pieces above, there is nothing wrong here with matching. You can match one (if not all) the colors of the jacket to a piece you are wearing, OR you can make your own suit and add color to your bottom half.
• Don't over-accessorize! This trend is in a very central location. You won't need a lot of 'POP' elsewhere. Try and stay simple with jewelry - Gold and Silver Studs or plain colored Bangles.
• Identify your shapes - be mindful of where on your body the Jacket ends. If it hits you at the waist, identify your waist with either a belt, or a long top so this fabulous trend doesn't "chop" your body. Show your silhouette from head to toe.

Look at some of these for inspiration:

ASOS Metallic Collarless Leather Biker Jacket

KARL Octavia Sequined Biker Jacket

Royal Underground Ruffle-Trim Metallic Motorcycle Jacket

Calvin Klein Faux Ultrasuede Metallic Moto Jacket

Ralph Lauren Jenski Metallic Suede Jacket

Blaze the trail in a Glam way!

-TLW

Chanel Pre Fall 2012 - I Want It NOW!

I know, I know I just told you about Jumpsuits, but I couldn't resist another post. As an aspiring designer myself I love looking at iconic collections for inspiration, or just an understanding of where our Fashion Leaders of today see us going as we embrace new textiles each season. Today however, after stumbling upon the Chanel Pre-Fall 2012 Collection I felt awestruck. I love prints, intricacies in simple garments, and pure  brilliance in craftsmanship. In these pieces today that is all. I. see.

According to Vogue, this collection "combined force of the likes of Lesage (the embroidery house headed until a very short while ago by the recently passed 82-year-old François Lesage), buttons and jewelry by Desrues, metalwork by Goossens, flowers of lace, silk, and velvet by Guillet, and the newest addition to the stable, announced only yesterday, Montex, another storied Parisian embroiderer."

Seriously? in ONE collection? I die.  

Here are my most favorite works of art:

Photo Credit: Vogue.com

To view all 79 looks visit Vogue's Chanel Review- Slideshow.

Don't mind me, I'm just going to get lost in the majesty of this all over again.

TLW!

American Music Awards 2011: Hottie Highlights

This post will be straight to the point - unlike the snoozefest that was last nights awards show. To be honest, I didn't know a good chunk of the songs performed - but at least there was more music than any production from MTV these days. I digress.

Of the red carpet there were 5 looks I adored (winner Jennifer Lopez scored 2) and here is why:

Photo Credit: Tom & Lorenzo & US Weekly

Queen Latifah in Georges Chakra

I love anything asymmetrical. I think what Queen did here is perfect. The colors are classic and appropriate for a formal occasion, and black is the dominant color which we all know is slimming. I am also a fan of the stripe. Horizontal shapes are hard to pull off - they lead the eye to look across the frame which in most cases, can make you look wider. The stripe here creates a much better emphasis at the top of her body.

Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad

Ms. Lopez was blowin' up all over the block last night, but my favorites are the two looks in this post. While I'm not a fan of the particular hue of nude (I'm more aware that there is knitted nude covering her body, rather than the illusion of her bare skin), I am a fan of the dress overall. Again, there is asymmetry here with he hem line, but also as a lover of print I am definitely an advocate how the print is used here; it becomes closer together as you travel vertically down the dress illuminating more of her bodaciousness vs "skin". The train is also amaze.

Jennifer Hudson in Jenny Packham

These days Jennifer can wear whatever she wants, but I am glad she chose this Metallic Mini. I think the color brings out the natural light of her complexion, and she is not overstyled with makeup or jewelry. The draping is outstanding - this technique of sinching fabric causes a lot of volume in a garment, but I think it minimizes her body since the draping is done around her cleavage. There is some draping at the bottom but again, it's vertical not horizontal, which makes her look leaner in this shiny number.

Jenny McCarthy in Victoia Beckham

I told you I love vintage :) This is perhaps my favorite look . I think Jenny stands out more than the other attendees because her dress is unexpected. The purple is bright and very on trend for Fall/Winter '11 & '12 and the cut is very Vintage inspired. It's form fitted at the top with a distinguished neckline, and full circle skirt with a short hemline. Her Vintage hairstyle also tops off her look for me :)

Jennifer Lopez in Emilio Pucci

I am pretty much a fan of anything Pucci makes, and would argue that this is Vintage inspired here with the fringe. But I think my favorite aspect of this dress is that it's a Mini done right. First, there is so much going on at the top with the Fringe, Metallics and Print, that the length is slightly ignored, and those 3 aspects are all used equally among the garment. The boatneck neckline also takes away from the hemline and honestly, I think this is the sexiest way you can show off your body, without looking like this.......

Christina Aguilera in Herve Leger

Sorry Xtina :(

You can see the full list of Red Carpet's at both Tom & Lorenzo and Us Weekly.

Let me know what you guys think!

TLW