Feb 1st is National Wear Red Day®,
February 1st will mark National Wear Red Day®, a campaign that encourages everyone to wear red to bring awareness to women’s heart health. Heart disease is the #1 leading cause of death among women, and since the red dress has now become synonymous with heart health, I thought I’d look all over the web to find some of my favorite dresses and hopefully, inspire you to wear red on Friday. Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, so you can recycle your red ensemble for a special date night or anti-Valentine’s Day night out with the girls. Note: Men can participate too by wearing a red tie or shirt.
Ruby Tuesday Red Sequin DressLove it!, $62.00
Sequin and Chiffon Blouson Dress, $39.00
American Living Harper Cap-Sleeve Side Ruffle Dress, $50.00
Tahari Short-Sleeve Lace Dress, $83.40
Cap-sleeve Ponte Dress, $88.00
Ring in the New Year with Flirty Dresses
In just a few short days, the clock will strike midnight on January 1st, 2013. What will you be wearing when it does? I’ve pulled together some of the hottest dresses I could find on the web, that will make you stand out in a crowd of glitter and overdone hair.
Add a little color: If you want to stand out in a crowd, sometimes the only thing you need to do is wear a unique color.
Deco Sequin 2-Fer Dress, $36.99
Accentuate your figure: Body-hugging bandage dresses show off your silhouette.
BCBGMAXAZRIA Petite Beret Cocktail Dress, $156.99
Jazz it up: If you must wear sequins, opt for a style that doesn’t make you compete with the New Year’s crystal ball. Subtle hints of shimmer in unexpected areas of your dress will make heads turn.
Blondie Nites One-Shoulder Dress, $199
Have fun: You don’t always need to bring out the bling at a New Years Eve party. Dresses with fun patters and embellishments show off your personality.
Silver (SL) Fringe Hem Dress $42
Couture Fashion Week – Isabel Zapardiez – Couture Bridal Designs
On Friday, February 16th, I attended the fashion presentation of Spanish designer Isabel Zapardiez, who unveiled a selection of stunning couture bridal designs inside the iconic Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.
Every model emerged as poised goddesses draped in silk satin, muslin, organza, tulle and brocade. Embellishments of Chantilly lace, crystals, mother-of-pearl and silver added to the drama and ethereal feel of the gowns they adorned. These creations had movement and body, instead of the usual stiffness of traditional wedding gowns. And, even though the fabrics were dancing in the air as the models walked, the silhouettes of the designs still consciously hugged and accentuated the feminine figures of the women.
February 3, 2012 is National Wear Red Day®
Friday, February 3, 2012, will mark National Wear Red Day®, an annual event that encourages Americans to wear red as a symbol of their support for women’s heart health awareness. In February 2003, The Heart Truth® campaign launched the Red Dress as the national symbol to inspire women to take better care of their cardiovascular health, and to build awareness of heart disease among woman. Heart disease is often perceived as something than mainly affects men; however, it is actually the leading cause of death among women. Since the red dress has now become synonymous with heart health, I thought I’d look all over the web to find some of my favorite dresses and hopefully, inspire you to wear red on Friday. After you flaunt your sexy silhouette in a fabulous red dress, you can hang onto it to wear in a few weeks…Valentine’s Day is right around the corner 
Note: Men can participate too by wearing a red tie or shirt.
Red corsage one sleeve dress, $21.00
Blondie Nites Juniors One Shoulder Gown with Micro Sequin Detail, $174.00
Drape-front Bra Top Dress, $39.50
Promiscuous Kami Dress, $47.50
Holiday Parties – What would celebrities wear?
So, the holidays are upon us, and the inevitable party invitations have made their way to your inbox, and you are posed with the natural question of, “What am I going to wear?” It’s December, and ‘tis the season for holiday parties, whether it’s with the company you work for, or a friend’s bash. When looking for ideas for my holiday outfit, I thought I would draw some ideas from some of the most fashionable celebrities. Below are some suggestions:
What would Jennifer Lopez wear?
It may be cliché, but wearing a red dress to a holiday party will always make you stand out. I sought out the below Lipsy Organza One Shoulder Cocktail Dress (£35.00 – about $46), which mimics the folded and tiered pleated one-shoulder design, and a sweetheart neckline J-Lo rocked at the Samsung Hope for Children gala this past June.
What would Beyonce wear?
Beyonce knows how to stand out in a room. She stunned in a Roberto Cavalli navy mini dress at the launch of her new fragrance Pulse in September. That’s why I love this Blue Sequin Dress ($49.00). There’s something about sequins that scream holiday, and are sure to make you the center of attention no matter where you are.
Photo of Beyonce by PacificCoastNews.com
What would Paris Hilton wear?
When in doubt about what to wear to any kind of event, you can never go wrong by pulling out a little black dress. I love the figure-hugging dress worn by Paris in the picture below. You can get a similar dress by French Connection for $168.
Nolcha Fashion Week: Danilo Gabrielli, Guljan Yrys, & KabukiU
On Monday, September 12th, I attended the Nolcha Fashion Runway shows of designers Danilo Gabrielli, Guljan Yrys, KabukiU at the Metropolitan Pavilion. Before the shows began I had a very brief moment to check out the booths of the amazing sponsors of the night including Kiss, VitaBath, and LypSyl (this stuff is amazing! It melts right onto your lips).
The show began with the Spring/Summer 2012 collection by Italian designer Danilo Gabrielli, and featured rich earthy tones, free flowing dresses, sparkling sequin pieces, ruffled skirts, and a breathtaking short dress flanked by a long fur train.
Designer Gulzhan Rysbekova’s line Guljan YRYS followed Gabrielli’s show. Daring little black dresses sauntered down the runway in every type of fabric and design imaginable. Although these dresses were monotone, they were designed so intricately and were so unique, that they were truly nothing short than mesmerizing. Rysbekova didn’t stop there. Immediately after the sea of black, followed white gowns that looked as if they were channeling a chic wedding in the Hamptons with soft fabrics, detailed embellishments and figure-flattering silhouettes.
Models pose after the runway show (Gulzhan Rysbekova line).
Designer Telina Webb’s KabukiU latest collection, Romantique, closed the show. The collection combined the designer’s Euro-Asian heritage with romantic 1950’s evening, lounge and lingerie styling. Vibrant, multi-colored kimonos and dresses filled the room, featuring flowing silk, pastel brocades, and cream embroidered fine chiffon.
Models pose after the KabukiU Spring/Summer 2011 runway show.
Tips for styling a Little Black Dress for all ocassions
Every woman should have a little black dress (LBD) in her closet, as it is the most versatile, timeless piece of clothing she can own. The perfect LBD is supposed to be something simple that can be dressed up or dressed down for every occasion. But, not all LBD’s are created equal. While it’s most convenient to have one dress that you can makeover, it can also be a good thing to have LBDs in a variety of styles, so that you always have options.
Lunch
Dress down your LBD by keeping your look casual and soft. Wear as little jewelry as possible, but if you do want to accessorize choose a colorful scarf, oversized bag, sunglasses or chunky jewelry. For shoes, do not wear any fancy pumps. You want to keep this look as casual as possible, so opt for ballet flats, flip-flops, or sandals. Top off your look by adding a flower to your hair.
halter dress $34
Interview
A Classic black sheath dress is the perfect option for an interview. If you are going to own any kind of LBD, this is the style you should own as it is the most flexible. Pair it with a blazer and simple accessories to dress for success on your interview.
AGB Dress, Sleeveless Denim Belted Sheath, $29.99
Date Night
What to do with your Bridesmaid dress
It seems that in throughout pop culture there has always been some stigma associated with bridesmaid dresses. When a female gets the invite to join her friend’s bridal party, she can’t help but feel honored, excited, but then fearful…of the bridesmaid dress she will have to wear.
When I think of bridesmaid dresses I think of the scene in the movie 27 dresses in which Katherine Hegel’s character opens a closet full of the most hideous gowns she’s had to wear at various weddings. It’s no secret that some bridesmaids have to spend money on ugly dresses that they may never wear again, but refuse to part with, because the dresses are never cheap. So, instead of tossing the expensive, ill-fitting, ugly dress, it remains in their closet as a reminder of how devoted they are to their friend, and how annoyed they are that they had to spend money on the frock.
But, why have some many women throughout history been forced to wear the most horrid gowns for the sheer amusement of their engaged friend? I’ll tell you why. No bride wants any other woman in the room looking more beautiful than her, so she makes it her duty, her passion, to make sure that you look like nothing more than…a bridesmaid. Don’t take offense, because when your day comes, you’ll probably do it to.
In the meantime, if you own a bridesmaid dress that you longer wish to hoard, head on over to newlymaid.com. This company allows former bridesmaids to mail in their hated gowns in exchange for a discount on a little black dress. I should also point out, that they also accept dresses from various social occasions as well such as prom and mother-of-the –bride outfits. When they receive your dress, they recycle the fabric to manufacture new garments or they donate them to a charitable organization, Clothes4Souls, which gives clothes to people in need all over the world.
If you want to have more fun with your bridesmaid dress, head over to Minnesota, which is hosting their first-ever Bridesmaid Bar Crawl on Friday, June 17th. Attendee’s purchase a ticket to wear their old taffeta masterpiece while enjoying drink specials offered at bars, pubs, and clubs in the downtown area. They also have the opportunity to enter a raffle to win some cool prizes. Proceeds from the event benefits Operation Glass Slipper, which provides prom dresses to underserved teens. Learn about donating prom dresses here»
Easter Fashion
When I think of Easter and fashion, I think of soft pastel colors, bright florals, and free-flowing clothing. Easter dresses capture the nostalgia of springtime, and usher in feel-good vibes of the summer to come. Here are some tips on picking out your perfect Easter outfit:
1. You can be sexy on Easter. Choose form-fitting dresses with floral patterns such as the White/Turquoise Floral Print Strapless Dress or Bisou Bisou® Scoopneck Allover Pleated Print Dress (both pictured below). You can evoke the colors of springtime and the innocence of youth by picking a dress with beautiful patterns; your dress does not need to be covered in little bunnies and yellow chicks.
Bisou Bisou® Scoopneck Allover Pleated Print Dress - $59.99 (left) and White/Turquoise Floral Print Strapless Dress - $54.90 (right)
2. Let the Breeze in. There’s nothing more sensual than the gentle kiss of a soft, springtime breeze. By wearing light, freely-flowing clothing, such as the Turquoise Floral Twist Strap Empire Waist Halter Dress or Halter print dress, you are able to celebrate the breezy days.
Turquoise Floral Twist Strap Empire Waist Halter Dress - $34.99 (left) and Halter print dress - $39 (right)
3. Add some Spring to your step. Wedges are a very popular accompaniment to a fashionable Easter outfit, but you can wear any type of shoe. Pick shoes with floral accents, patterns, pale or vivid colors. I adore the below floral pumps, available at Payless and Forever 21, respectively.
L-R: Inlove Flower Pump ($27.99) and Floral Mary Jane Heels ($24.80)
Help an underserved teen go to prom: Donate your old dresses
The highlight of my high school existence was getting ready for prom. Months before the big day I went shopping and found the perfect dress: a pale pink mermaid style gown with black bows adorning the bottom. Now, years later the possibility of me ever attending another prom is pretty much zero. Even if I had to go to a formal or charity event that required me to dress up, I don’t foresee myself pulling out my prom dress from eight years ago, as my style has since evolved. Plus, there’s also the chance that the dress no longer fits me. So, instead of throwing it away or allowing it to collect dust in the back of my closet, the best solution is to donate the dress, which I only wore once, and will never wear again.
Every year, thousands of girls look forward to their prom; but, in these tough economic times some girls may have to struggle in order to be able to afford the cost of the big day. They have to pay for tickets for the event, transportation, an after party, and most importantly, the dress. For some girls, finding the gown of their dreams is the most exciting part of getting ready for prom, and there are many organizations out there that give undeserved teens the opportunity to find beautiful dresses free of charge. Help make their dreams come true by donating formal wear that you no longer want.
I’ve compiled a list of organizations that accept dress donations. This list is not exhaustive, and please feel free to suggest additions.
