My favorite designer...

The other day I was in a showing with a client and she had just received a new Susana Monaco dress. The dress looked fantastic on her and was a great fit. It donned on me then that I have to share this designer with the rest of you all, because she just happens to be one of my favorites. Now, of course, I love MANY designers, but my go-to for a great top or dress is Susana Monaco. Her clothes are always flattering and so very comfortable. Most of her tops and dresses have a great amount of give and stretch in them, so the material is soft and comfortable without being too tight. The other great thing about her clothes is that because of the material they can easily be dressed up or down. This dress to the right is a great example of that. The color is perfect for the Fall or Winter and could easily be accentuated with gold or silver accessories. It also can easily be worn to the office or to dinner with friends. The 3/4 length sleeves and rouching under the bust, add detail without going over the top. The back side of the dress scoops down a little bit to reveal the most flattering part of your back. Overall, it's a great look and I recommend Susana Monaco to everyone! Happy Shopping!

My modeling adventure...

I am by no means a model. At 5'3", I can barely see over my steering wheel in my car. Yet, last night, I "modeled" in my first fashion show. I use the term modeling loosely, since I am not sure I did anything but smile and pose, and try like heck to not look nervous. The fashion show was part of a girls night at a local winery in town that raised money to help benefit their scholarship fund. It was a great event, and a great chance to drink wine and mingle with other professional women. I have to say the best part of my adventure was getting to wear a great new Fall look. I modeled an outfit from Banana Republic, which included a pair of navy blue skinny cords, a heather grey wrap sweater, great metallic flats and a white blouse with lace detail. None of the items I think I would pick out for myself normally (except for the shoes of course).. but surprisingly they all looked great and fit really well. I especially got a lot of compliments on the sweater, which I have determined is an absolute must have for the fall (see picture on the right). Also, the skinny cords were very flattering on, and for someone who doesn't normally rock the skinny pant look, I think they might be worth investing in!

Happy Shopping!!

Fall 2009 Fashion Trends

Here is a great article from the website: www.whowhatwear.com outling some of the top Fashion Trends for Fall 2009 straight from the runway. Even though it talks about high end fashion designers (with high end prices).. it still is a great outline of the trends to come! Enjoy!

Look Forward To: Fall 09 Fashion Trends

Platform Pumps
Though we definitely love the brazen statement of the thigh-high boot (more on that in a moment), we're also crazy about the new wave of platform pumps. Some of our favorites thus far include Yves Saint Laurent's Imperiale Pumps ($795), as seen on the runway above, and Nicholas Kirkwood's Python Web Suede Sandals ($1800). Hopefully this isn't wishful thinking, but we have a feeling there will be some amazing high-street versions of these pronounced platforms shortly!

Razzle-Dazzle Legs
Tights are always a major component in our autumnal outfits, but this season we're going to take our opaques to the next level and try an embellished, textured, ornate pair. Look to Cynthia Rowley for some of the season's best examples; we're obsessed with her Embellished Tights ($250), which will be available on her site the first week of September. All in all, it's the perfect way to upgrade some of your more basic pieces for a relatively minimal investment.

Chokers
Cascading chains captivated us last year, but this time around the statement necklace has gotten shorter and turned into the chunky choker. Whether said piece involves metal rings, bold beads, or sparkly rhinestones, this is definitely a trend to start wearing now.

Lingerie Display
The neckline of the moment isn't for the faint, as it plunges nearly to the waist and turns the spotlight on your lingerie! That said, we loved the unabashedly revealing look of a peek-a-boo lace bandeau at Balenciaga and the simple neutral triangle bras at Miu Miu. Note to self: start stocking up on those beautiful bralettes and bandeaus now...

Winter Shorts
While we've waffled about the whole tights-with-shorts combo, it's indisputably a full-blown trend these days. The good news is this key piece comes in an assortment of fabrics—from wool to leather to lamé—so finding the right pair shouldn't be hard. Daring readers will flip for the Leather Hot Pants ($650) at 3.1 Phillip Lim, which looked amazing over burgundy opaque tights, while more conservative dressers might like Proenza Schouler's salt-and-pepper Tailored Wool Suiting Shorts ($780).

Sculpted Shoulders
The power shoulder continues to dominate this season, which is no surprise really, especially considering how influential the eighties are right now! Early proponents of this look (Givenchy, Balmain) are still endorsing the silhouette, though fall's look is more refined than previous iterations. This time around, try jackets and dresses that have a subtler sculpted shoulder—it's a more wearable look anyways!

Slouchy Overcoats
There were gorgeous jackets galore on the fall runways, but when the weather starts to cool down, there's only one piece you're going to want: the slouchy overcoat. This oversized item is a must-buy investment piece with a bit of a menswear-meets-dressing-gown attitude (so very Lloyd Dobler). If that doesn't make sense, just look to the unstructured styles from Chloe and Louis Vuitton to get the right vibe.

Thigh-High Boots
In addition to the more ladylike platform pump, the thigh-high boot is still going strong for fall. The shape can be either super skinny (à la Rodarte and Isabel Marant) or relaxed and easy (per Etro and Dries Van Noten); obviously the latter is a little more forgiving. There are lots of covetable designer pairs in stores already, like Brian Atwood's Suede Thigh-Highs ($1235) or Costume National's Over-The-Knee Boots ($1455), so if you're going to invest, you probably should take the plunge soon.

Long-Sleeve Mini Dress
If you're going to buy one dress this season, make it a mini with long sleeves. Whether it's sequin-emblazoned, detailed with zippers and studs, or simply asymmetrical, this style is having a major moment right now. Alexander Wang's fall collection contains a number of excellent examples, like the Slim Grommet Dress ($550) and Long Sleeve Goddess Dress ($590), that are sure to be a big hit with the downtown crowd.

Metallic Mix-Ups
The fall runways were stuffed with lamé looks and outfits made from metallic materials (it's a serious shine-fest out there). While we're not shying away from the glitz, it's best to mix these theatrical fabrics with more sober matte pieces. We'll look to the styling at shows like Isabel Marant and Dries Van Noten for guidance on how to incorporate these shimmery pieces in a wearable way.

Behold the return of color

I have so many clients who look great in jewel tones, and lucky for them they are all very "in" this Fall season. There are so many great skirts, dresses and tops out there in colors like mulberry, topaz and boysenberry. One of my clients was just shipped this great BCBG cocktail dress in azalea and I wanted to share it with you. The cut is very flattering and the flair at the top really adds to the overall look. You could easily accessorize with some great gold earrings or a great gold cuff. Plus, it's simple enough to wear to work with black heels and simple back cardigan or blazer or you can really dress it up for a night out on the town! Enjoy!

Fall is in the air...

Here in Oregon, throughout the year we tend to get more rain than sunshine (hard to believe, I know), so the thought of summer ending, tends to send me into a bit of a depression. As a California girl, I thrive off of the sunshine and warm summer nights. But lately, nights have been getting cooler and cooler... ugh!! The only thing that tends to snap me out of my depression is shopping for new Fall clothes and shoes!! :)

I think this Fall is going to be exceptional for fashion. I love all the rich deep colors out there and the great skirts, jackets and of course shoes. In particular, I am a huge fan of Franco Sarto shoes, mainly because they are comfortable, fashionable and always within my budget. As I was perusing the Internet the other day, I stumbled upon the Franco Sarto website and stumbled upon these must haves for Fall. The top shoes are the blue "Wasabi" pumps in suede. The rich blue color, is a must have for Fall and is a versatile enough color that it can be paired with other rich jewel tones like eggplant, hunter green and dark grey.

The bottom shoes are the "Cameo" flats that feature an over sized buckle wrapped in glossy patent leather. They are versatile enough to wear with skirts, slacks or even jeans. Plus the great plaid pattern adds flair and style to any outfit!

With so many great shoes, dresses and jackets out there, I think I am starting to embrace Fall a little more!

Happy Shopping!

Fashion Disaster #453

I just returned from an amazing vacation in Sunriver, OR (located in Central Oregon). The weather and company could not have been more perfect. We hiked, biked, canoed and best of all got some sunshine. Overall, it was a GREAT vacation... minus one small incident. On Tuesday, we decided to go for a hike to an obsidian lava flow (which was beautiful) on the way back we stopped at some nearby falls (see picture).. also, very beautiful! We walked to the top to get an overall view and then decided to walk a little further down to get the view from the bottom. About half way down we all stopped to take a break and decide if we wanted to continue walking down the hiking trail. Me, being the very athletic hiking girl type.. ok, maybe I just think I am... somehow managed to slip on the dirt and fall flat on my butt. Ok, so it's just dirt right? Wrong!! I managed to fall on the only, jagged edge rock on the whole trail! It hurt so bad, I didn't know whether to cry or scream. Needless to say, I didn't continue down the path to see the rest of the waterfalls.

By the time, I got home the bruise was already starting to show. I will save you all the horrible details and just say that it was very black and blue, and took up a large portion of my rear end.

Flash forward to Tuesday of this week.. back at work and back to the grind, still bruised and a little sore though. I'm trying to enjoy my last few weeks of summer sunshine so I decide to wear the white pants with a flowy top (it's not labor day yet). It took me about half way through the day to realize my pants are a bit see through. Upon realizing this in the bathroom, I turned around remembering that I have a large black and blue spot on my rear end, that now can be seen through my pants. Thankfully, my top was long enough to cover most of said area until I was able to get home and change immediately!

I've now come to realize that saying shouldn't be "no white pants after Labor Day" but rather "no white pants if you fall and bruise the entire left side of your butt"!

"The Great Denim Event"

Last night, I attended a fashion show at my local mall, entitled "The Great Denim Event". It was showcasing all of the latest denim trends and fashions, as well as tips for looking great in all types of jeans. So, I thought I would pass some of that insight onto you!

• First off for Fall, colored denim and jeans are still very much in fashion! Particularly, grey or black!
• For most shapes and sizes a dark wash is going to be your best bet, as it is flattering on just about everyone!
• The skinny jean is still going strong! Don't be afraid to try and pair on, especially with high heels, you might be surprised that they will work for you!
• Always remember to get the best fit, not too high but comfortable enough to take care of that "muffin top"!
• And remember, be creative! Don't be afraid to try new looks and styles!

Happy Shopping!!