Fashion Tips

Right after we saw the Tracy Reese show, Carolyn and I were excited to stumble upon James Aguiar, stylist and fashion expert extraordinaire, catching a break in between his busy schedule of shows. You may recognize him from “The Look for Less” on the Style channel, as the host of “Full Frontal Fashion,” or as the former fashion director of NYC department store institution, Bergdorf Goodman.

We couldn’t help but seize the opportunity to ask him a few questions about his favorites for Fall (because Spring 2009 is great and all, but we want to know what we should buy NOW) and his thoughts thus far about the Spring collections.

Fall Trends for Men: The return of the dressed up man.  James sees men beginning to fully embrace the suit, thanks to the proliferation of numerous menswear designers who are all designing fabulous suits. His favorite? Lanvin – for its perfect mix of trendy and classic. (more…)

Why is it that swimsuit shopping always seems so daunting? The endless amount of choices and colors, the unforgiving mirrors that force us to analyze our bodies… It doesn’t sound very fun, but knowing what styles look the best on your body definitely goes a long way. We talked with designer Lisa Curran for tips on what we should consider when buying a new swimsuit.

- Bigger is not always better. You might feel inclined to buy a bathing suit that is slightly bigger, to seemingly “hide” more imperfections. Don’t give in to that urge–larger suits will sag, especially when they get wet, and that won’t look good at all.

- There are plenty of cute one-pieces and tankinis out there. If you’re uncomfortable showing your tummy, don’t fret. Find a brand that devotes their design focus to one-pieces and tankinis as well. Designers like Lisa aim to design for women of all shapes and sizes and have a large selection of cute one-pieces and tankinis. Lisa’s Shirred V-Neck One-Piece in Cobalt has full bra support and ruching to camouflage trouble spots. Plus, it comes in several pretty colors. Cobalt is our fave because it offers a splash of brightness. For ladies with longer torsos, tankinis work well also. “They will make you look more proportional,” says Lisa. We love the Romi Tankini in Green, pictured above, with its cute print.

(more…)

The weather’s finally turned cold at my house. A sure sign is that I’m reaching for my scarves and my favorite Ugg slippers (still can’t quite stomach the boots, but I’ll admit the slippers are dang comfy).

The problem I’m having is that, while I’m super excited to pull all of my yummy fall sweaters out of storage, I still have a few things from summer I’m not quite ready to say goodbye to yet. Fortunately for me, layers are everywhere this fall, and I’m ready to hop right on the trend.

First stop has to be a great turtleneck. Throw one under the right summer dress, add tights and ballet flats, and you’ve got a perfectly darling fall look. T-necks are so very hard to get right, though. You want fabric that isn’t sheer (it is nearly winter, after all), but is still really thin so it layers easily. Nothing sucks more than that overstuffed feeling you get when your layers start bunching. Also, the neck is really important; you definitely don’t want that uber-thick chunk of fabric around your neck that you used to sport back in grade school.

My two favorites this fall are by Juicy Couture and Zooey. The Juicy version has a nice low-ish neck, which is great for those of us with shorter necks – or who just realize that covering the whole thing up isn’t exactly the idea. And it has such a very flattering cut! The Zooey is perfect for those of you who normally hate t-necks, as the neck is really loose (though doesn’t venture into cowl neck territory at all). Plus, it has nice long sleeves, which is a major perk for me when layering. (more…)

I’m so excited that one of my favorite styles is hitting it big this fall season: the sexy secretary/naughty executive look. I’ve long been a fan of silk blouses, pencil skirts, lacy cardigans and black dresses- pieces that create a very chic yet sultry type of sexy that is still appropriate for work. Unlike clothes that are blatantly bare-it-all, the sexy secretary look relies heavily on shape and subtleties, texture and design, and a whole lot of mysteriousness.

I feel like the trick to pulling off this look is finding clothes that are snug enough to hug your curves while still conservative enough to leave a lot of the imagination and accenting the outfit with something hot! Think leopard print high heels, a thin red belt, knee high stiletto boots, lacy tights, or patent pumps. Today I’m wearing a simple slim cut black wool dress from French Connection, a cream and black lacy cardigan from my roommate’s closet, and patent leather sling backs from Coach. It’s a simple outfit really but the ladylike detailing make me feel way less frumpy than your average “business casual.” Another one of my favorites is a ruffled white button down tucked into a black wool pencil skirt with a pair of killer stilettos.

Completing the look, of course, are black framed glasses. I made the switch from contacts after discovering that my eyes couldn’t tolerate 12 hours a day of staring at a computer screen. Now that I already have a pair of black ones, I’m coveting tortoise shell ones from Chanel. Yum!

For more ideas, check out Net-A-Porter’s online look book. Happy shopping!

Swimwear designer Lisa Curran is known for creating sexy, flattering styles for women of every body type. Her designs have been seen on Drew Barrymore and Michelle Rodriguez, among a long list of celebrity fans of the brand. We recently got the chance to talk with Lisa about her designs, style inspirations, and tips for finding the best bathing suit for your body!

The Daily Obsession: How did your career in swimsuit design begin?
Lisa Curran: It began because I could not find a swimsuit that fit well. I wondered why they didn’t sell tops and bottoms in separate sizes.

TDO: Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
LC: It always depends on what I am feeling at the moment. Right now I am obsessed with mod retro with a feminine touch. And I always love pink.

TDO: How do you develop new designs, prints, and patterns?
LC: Usually I have something in my head and that is how it comes together. The design usually changes a few times before it is perfect.

TDO: How do your designs cater to women of different shapes and sizes?
LC: To design fashionable, chic swimwear that fits a large portion of the world is the concept behind the line. This is why we offer everything skimpy bikinis to one pieces to tankinis.

TDO: It can be tough for a woman to find the right swimsuit to fit her shape. What advice can you offer on how to find the best swimsuit for your body type?
LC: It is difficult to find the perfect swimsuit–I can never say it isn’t. But I would say don’t always follow trends and go with works best for your body type. (more…)

It can be a daunting task to continuously look stylish at work. Some of us work at more conservative companies, and it’s hard to find flexibility in a dress code! We’ve found some great ways to dress up your pantsuits and work skirts–just be sure to gauge your own workplace and corporate culture. If you think your style may be pushing the envelope, chances are that it probably is. That being said, take a look at these tips and find what works for you at work!

Jewelry: The simplest way to dress up your work wardrobe is to add a stylish piece of jewelry to your everyday look. Strands of pearls of varying lengths or pearl pendant necklaces give a simple and sophisticated lift to your suit. The Majorica collection ($145 and up) of organic pearls are gorgeous and won’t break the bank. For more of a statement, this Mikimoto cultured pearl pendant ($960) is absolutely gorgeous. The key is making sure your jewelry is simply sophisticated and not overly flashy. A simple right hand ring or bracelet from the always classic Tiffany’s is work-appropriate, yet still stands out. We like the sterling silver Elsa Peretti pieces ($175 and up) for their designs and reasonable pricing, and the Frank Gehry collection ($195 and up) for its unique architectural inspiration and structurally-focused design.

Tops: If you don’t always have to wear button-down shirts with your suits and skirts, consider incorporating dressy tops to your work wardrobe. J. Crew’s Emelia blouse ($88) would look great under a suit jacket. This silk sleeveless top ($78) from Banana Republic would perfectly dress up even a plain black skirt. Choose tops that have details that are subtle yet still stand out, like some ruching, ruffles, or pleating. A pretty top in an eye-catching color is a simple departure from plain button-down shirts.
(more…)

This month, we are introducing a brand new section called “How To’s.” These posts will consist of tips/ advice on how to purchase or wear anything – from how to differentiate between a fake or real designer bag to investing in a classic suit. And we’re kicking it off with one of the hottest trends, Skinny Denim. So without further ado…

Unless you are one of those lucky few (depending on who you ask) who has a model-like figure, you’re probably cursing the return of skinny denim. Skinny jeans look fabulous on girls with bodies like models because simply put…they’re skinny. Now for the rest of us with curves…let’s be realistic. It’s not as easy to pull off. (I am by no means advocating unhealthy dieting or anything of that sort. In fact, I think if you take a poll, most men and women prefer the curves. But I digress.) However, the truth is that we all can still wear this look – we just need to know which pair to pick and how to wear them. Here are a few tips that I’ve picked up from my own long, torturing but finished search for the perfect pair of skinny denim:

- Proportion is key. If you’re self-concious about your tummy/ hip/ butt area, pick a pair that are more similar to straight legs than stovepipes. Pair it with a long, cozy chunky knit cardigan or a floaty top belted at the narrowest part of the waist. It’s also a great time to try that sweater dress that’s making a comeback this season. (more…)

I am incredibly delighted to have been extended the warm invitation to post my thoughts and opinions on this daily blog and I look forward to many lively discussions about the comings and goings in the fashion industry.

Along with the seemingly daily rise in temperature and humidity comes with it the expected shortening of hemlines, lowering of necklines and that urge to expose just 1 or 2 more inches of the midriff. I know that in Seattle, where its grey and cold 80% of the time, a high of 70F with a chance of sun, is as good a reason as any to break out the bikini (as I have observed, us Seattle-ites dress according to how clear the sky is, not how warm the temperature is). But unfortunately in our overeagerness to look hot and stay cool, some of us miss the mark on what it is to be sexy. Achieving that je ne sais quoi sex appeal is a tricky balancing act.

KNOW YOUR BODY: Unless you could pass for Heidi Klum’s body double, it is not advisible to base your wardrobe selection on what looks good on her. Learn (through trial and error and 3 way mirrors) what looks good on you. If you haven’t been working on your six pack, a short halter top and low rise jeans might make you feel more uncomfortable than sexy ~ even if your size 2 roommate seems to carry it off so well.

PICK YOUR PIECES: We all have (at least) one feature that we know looks better on us than 90% of the other girls walking down the street. Accentuate it and be more modest with the rest of your body. Got killer legs? Splurge on that mini skirt. Perfect breasts? Find the shirt that hugs them just right. Strong back? Wear a backless dress. And if you are lucky enough to have a flat drop stomach, you can work the outfit to expose that tiny bit of your skin as you walk. Otherwise, if you feel insecure about it, cover it up. Also, the micromini with stillettos is hard to pull off unless you are going to a club or trying to pick up some clients.

STUDY YOUR FIT & FABRIC: A stretchy, body hugging, modal dress is probably not the best idea if you’re not confident about every curve of your body. A looser, or drapier fit often exudes understated sexiness. I tend to favor this cut by Velvet or this silhouette from James Perse.

BE APPROPRIATE: What may be sexy on the beach (string bikini) is not sexy on your college campus lawn.What may look good on a date may not look good at your client meeting. Not only knowing how to dress your body but when to dress it is just as important. Often what is sexy turns vulgar when worn at the wrong time of day.