Shop the Look: Faux Fur Vests

I love faux fur vests - they make any look more fun, more chic don't you think? The uber fashionable folks at The Envied share their picks on what I consider a staple in any wardrobe!

Photo courtesy of The Envied

It’s undisputed that fur vests ran the runways for fall 2010, with dozens of designers trying their hand at plushy, fuzzy, and luxe versions.  Rebecca Taylor, Bensoni, Charlotte Ronson, Jen Kao, Vera Wang and Hermés are just a few of the major names that supplied a version of the fur vest during their Fall 2010 collections. At TheEnvied, we believe that everyone can get behind the trend, which works with any body shape and comes in a variety of cuts, colors, and fabrications. Our preference is for the faux variety, hence we’ve decided on a very well-edited selection that will endure, style-wise for seasons to come.

Which one is your favorite?

Halston Heritage Faux Fur Vest

Ann Taylor Loft Faux Fur Vest

Arden B. Faux Mongolian Fur Vest

Rebecca Taylor Fab Faux Fur Vest

MICHAEL Michael Kors Faux-Fur Vest

Tips from a Stylist

Taken from the fashionable pages of LollieShopping.com...

Guest blogger Lauren Schugar is owner and mastermind behind Modern Image, an inclusive image-consulting firm. Schugar has more than ten years experience in the fashion industry, including personal shopping, fashion merchandising and managing multi-million-dollar retail establishments tied to Las Vegas’ most exclusive shopping destinations. Modern Image’s cliental ranges from business executives to stay-at home moms all looking to either renovate themselves or create impeccable impressions. She is an image coach, personal stylist and shopper, along with being a Vegas know-how. Check her out at www.imagebylauren.com and don’t forgot to shop her store at www.laurenspicks.com.

As a wardrobe stylist I come across a multitude of wardrobe needs from client to client. Yet no matter what those needs are from say a complete wardrobe overhaul to styling them for a business interview or even what their own personal style is for that matter, there are five key points I stress time and time again. These are simple, yet monumental tips and guidelines in presenting not only best you, but creating a streamlined fashionable wardrobe that makes leaving the house stress-free and you looking chic. And who doesn’t want that?

So here is my list of the most important tips and tricks I share with clients everyday.

1.) Proper Fitting Foundations:
Investing in the right sized bra and body slimmer will make you look flawless day in and day out. You could have the most expensive, fashionable wardrobe available, but if you have unnecessary bulges from the wrong bra or have visible lines from the ill-fitting undergarments, your look just went out the door.

Body slimmers are a girl’s best friend and should not be confused with the girdles of the past. Having a great slimmer is like never having a fat day again, it hides your bumps, muffin top, and smoothes your rump out. Now finding the right bra size can be a challenge since major retailers don’t carry every size. You must get fitted to know what size you truly are and a good place to go for a fitting is Nordstrom. They carry tons of sizes and a variety of brands. You don’t necessarily have to buy everything they suggest or even at all, but it’s a great place to start and to find what size you really should be wearing.

Having the right foundations makes a HUGE difference in not only the way your clothes fit and lay on you, but also on you personally. Knowing that your look is flawless and you have nothing being seen except your own style, makes you more confident. And nothing is more attractive than confidence.

2.) Alterations:
Become one with spending money on alterations. Having a closet full of clothes that do not fit you properly does you absolutely no good and is like not having any clothes at all. When you alter something to fit your specific body it looks like it was made for you, cause it kind of was. Spending the time and money into altering your clothes will make you look like a million dollars, even when you only spent twenty, because they fit the way they are suppose to. Even the simplest alteration such as adjusting a hemline for a better proportion your body or fixing the gap in your jeans’ waist will change your look drastically for the better.

This is always the trick I use to help my clients’ clothes look more expensive than say they actually are. Another stylist trick, always buy a cheaper dress and get it altered verses an expensive one that doesn’t quite fit right. This way you will get more mileage out of your budget while looking impeccable.

3.) Nude heels:
Want one item that will work with practically everything in your closest while making your legs look leaner, then you need a classic pair of nude heels. Nude heels are amazingly versatile, as they are a neutral and should be used as one. Pair them with black dresses, bold prints, skinny jeans, pretty much everything, as they will match every single item in your closet. Of course these need to the closest color nude to your own skin tone, so everyone’s nude will be a different. The perfect nude for you should almost but disappear on your foot, therefore elongating your legs because they give the illusion of a continuous line. Trust me, your nude heels will go further than your black ones ever did.

4.) Good Makeup Brushes:
Your face is beautifully unique and is usually what people first see, therefore needs to represented in its most flattering way at all times. There is no other way of achieving results like a professional makeup artist without using a good makeup brush set. I think makeup brushes tend to be overlooked as an essential for every woman because many makeup products come with their own applicator or maybe simply because many women just don’t think they are worth the price. But the thing is quality brushes make applying makeup easier, faster, and even more pleasurable because they are made in specific shapes and sizes for the job at hand. Think of the makeup brush rule as similar to the rule of proper fitting foundations, your makeup will only look as good as how good the tools are that you’re applying it.

And don’t forget every few weeks, or at least once a month; gently wash them in a mild liquid detergent or baby shampoo to keep them clean and bacteria free.

Candid Recommendations: Elie Tahari Fall Sample Sale

Need I say more?

Fashion Review: Royal Underground

From the fashionable pages of Lollieshopping.com...
It sounds more like the beginning of an adult joke rather than a tale of fashion: a high-profile socialite and a heavy metal guitarist walk into a bar….

Okay, there probably was no bar. I don’t think so, anyway. But there really is a high-profile socialite and a heavy metal guitarist who have paired up to create a rock chic line of fashion called Royal Underground. The two founders are Kelly Gray, former CEO and face of St. John (since age 15), and Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue. Established in 2006, Royal Underground has captured the attention of high-end retailer Neiman Marcus, and I figure if Neiman Marcus thinks the label is good, then it must be.

So I attended a Royal Underground fashion runway show at Neiman Marcus in Las Vegas and learned that Neiman Marcus is not off in their assessment of the brand. There is definite potential for something special here, especially when it comes to Royal Underground’s outerwear. The general retail prices of the line are, well, expensive. However, their outerwear is so unique, chic and well-made that it is worth the pretty penny. The rest of the line (tops, dresses and men’s tees) is not nearly as impressive.

Images courtesy of Lollieshopping.com

If you crave rock chic pieces in your fall wardrobe, then definitely check out Royal Underground’s outwear, for both men and women. The women’s jackets and coats are ultra stylish and fashionable that they truly have a royal, regal appeal to them. You may not be an heiress, but you will look like one in outerwear by Royal Underground. In fact, you will look like a rebellious heiress, which I assume is the intent behind the designs.

For the guys, Royal Underground men’s jackets are cut to slim your waistline and strengthen your shoulders. The men’s outerwear is masculine while staying very on-trend. I am particularly impressed with how the line never compromises masculinity while maintaining a high sense of style.

You can purchase Royal Underground at Neiman Marcus or online at www.neimanmarcus.com. Log onto www.royalunderground.net for more information on the label.

NYFW: Candid Look Love - Derek Lam

When I first saw Derek Lam's Spring 2011 designs, the first thing I thought was how I could actually see myself in most of the ensembles. While I love fashion that shows the true imagination of the designer, there's nothing like couture you truly see yourself in.
Image courtesy of Style.com
Lam's collection the epitome of what I'd dream for my ideal Spring wardrobe. Long lines and silhouettes with a tinge of classic detail - oh a girl can dream! There was something slightly dated about Derek's offerings that seemed to work well with the overall tone. Loose fitting pants were dressed up by adding a crisp white shirt and chunky wedges. Dresses of all lengths were made from muted solid-toned fabrics as well as bolder prints on silkier threads. Each look was as whimsical as it was structured - a good mix IMO.

Derek presented a collection was fresh, clean, and above all - easily approachable and without doubt wearable. These looks are polished and aged yet young and fun. I absolutely love it!

My favorite?
The flowing tunics, dresses, and shifts that evoked the graceful casualty of Spring with the glamour of high-fashion.