My Stylebook: Stripes

Stripes, you are my obsession. No matter the season, no matter the weather, you and I are always together. Vertical, horizontal, thick or thin... stripes and I are inseparable. Yes, it's an addiction that I've tried to kick. Whenever I walk into a store I make a beeline straight for the stripes. But now I happily accept that most of my closet is filled with this bold pattern. Sporting stripes is super easy, but there are some who get it all wrong. They either look like they're wearing old prison uniforms or a really bad Halloween costume. Beetlejuice! So as a self-proclaimed stripes aficionado, I believe it is my duty to educate you on my basic rules of wearing stripes.

First things first. Go for the stripe you love. I'm not picky when it comes to horizontal, vertical, or even asymmetrical. What I am ore concerned with is the fit of the garment and making sure the stripes don't get distorted on your body. I tried on a cute pair of striped pants the other day. The fit was super skinny and looked fantastic on me, but the curves of my hips made the pattern look off. So I opted for the more boyfriend cut to keep the stripes in order.
Now that you've got your stripe picked out, let's find other things that complement it. Keep the rest of your outfit simple. Unless you're good at mixing prints, I'd say stick with solid colors that won't distract from your statement piece. One color I would definitely stay away from if you're wearing black and white stripes... orange. Hello Ms. Jack-o-lanten! Ok, on to accessorizing. Add a little bling with a fun cocktail ring and bracelet. When it comes to your bag, keep that small. Once again, don't distract but complement. Shiny, reflective shades are always a plus. And since I get photographed texting all the time, a cell phone is a good accessory too.
The right shoe can make or break your entire look. Have you ever seen someone who looks so sharp but once you look down at their feet, the outfit's been ruined. Don't be that person. When wearing a thicker stripe, I like a sleeker shoe to balance the outfit. Of course you can rock a brighter colored shoe if the rest of your clothes are more monotone. And if you're going for punk, rock a boot with studs or spikes. Don't be afraid to take risks.
Surround yourself with a stylish entourage. This tip is by far the best. When I bought my most recent striped items, my girl Taye was right there giving advice. She loved the Stella & Jamie vest but wasn't too keen on the Zara striped blazer. I mean, the shoulders are a bit off-fitting and I already have another jack that is a dead ringer for this one. I listened but opted to buy it anyway. Anyway, look how awesome we look together in our patterns! I think my stripes look hella good next to her peachy floral jumper.

Now that you've got the basics, give these stripes a try. I love a little black and white French Connection dress paired with heeled oxfords by Charlotte Olympia. Crown earrings by my new fave jewelry company Tatty Devine. And this Kate Spade clutch is too freaking smart. Instead of boring red lips, go for a pop of color like Mac's Morange. Sweeeeet!

However you decide to wear your stripes, you better own it. Rules are made to be broken. As long as you're confident, you can rock anything.

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NYFW Day 3 / 4

Me with LA bloggers Sydne,Taye, Amelia, and Grasie. Photo by Keith Morrison

What day is it? By the time I made it to the weekend, the days really became a blur. All I can remember is go, go go! Once again, I woke up that morning in a rush. Oh God! What am I wearing? That shirt's too wrinkled! I've just got to throw something on. But it was too late and I'd already missed Lacoste. Who schedules a fashion show at 10 am on a Saturday anyway? Absolutely ridiculous. Besides, considering my luck the previous day, I figured I wouldn't make it in even though I did RSVP.

The ladies and I decided to make our rounds and schmooze while we waited for another show. The fashion paparazzi was out in full force. Taye, Grasie and I couldn't walk a few steps without getting our pictures taken. Photographers all the way from places like Australia, Russia, and Japan were snapping pics left and right. During the frenzy, I had the pleasure of running into beauty maven Ariana Pierce and Atlanta fave Tami Reed of Talking with Tami. I remembered them from the Ebony White presentation a few days early, and they are both sweet as a Georgia peach.

Photo by Taye Hansberry- Full review on Stuff She Likes

Finally, we made it inside Lincoln Center for the Mara Hoffman Spring/ Summer 2014 collection. The show was full of vibrant colors and vivid prints. Gorgeous silhouettes and breathable fabrics. Each model looked as beautiful as the Girl from Ipanema as she walked down the runway "tall, and tan, and young and lovely". Every detail from the styling to the hair to the music was so well planned. The collection made you long for a South American vacation that you'd hope to never return from. To make things even better, the love of my fashion life Marcelo Burlon was sitting in the front row. Swoon. This was exactly what I'd wanted of New York Fashion Week.

That evening, the girls and I stopped by an event for Amika to celebrate the company's new hair products. Then it was on to The Standard for the BCBG party. We drank champagne and shook our moneymakers until we couldn't stand up anymore. I woke up the next morning determined to take it easy. The first stop was the Vogue Runway Retreat where I stuffed my face with snacks and met the talented Priscilla Barroso, designer of Crowned Bird. She and friend Jenny are super awesome chicks with really good style. Over at the tents the girls and I ran into our favorite street style photographer Keith Morrison who happily snapped us for Stylelist.com. He is so great to shoot with. He knows what he wants, and when he's taking a photo it looks like he's in some crazy yoga pose. Oh, I also saw cutie pie Ty of Gorgeous in Grey. Oh oh! And freaking June Ambrose! She's the business.

Even though I tried to chill over the weekend, days three and four were still pretty productive. My final days in NYC are coming next.

xoxo

NYFW Day 2

Photograph by Pavel Denisenko

Have you ever woken up one morning, you start going through your day and suddenly you're like "Whoa, déjà vu"? Day two would be the first of many days just like that. We woke up late and realized that we only had a few moments to catch the show we wanted to see. We pulled a huge fashion don't and just threw on the same thing we were wore the night before. We'd only be at Lincoln Center for a second. Besides we didn't have enough photos in those outfits. Needless to say, we didn't make the show.

After missing out on that and having run out the apartment without being properly caffeinated, Taye and I went upstairs to the Samsung lounge for some Illy coffee. Totally quenched my thirst. Next stop, we decided to go outside and people watch. Mercedes Benz Fashion Week is always good for this. I mean, the characters really come out. You've got your style elite that only wear Carolina Herrera or something similar, pearl necklaces, and delicate pumps. Think Park Avenue socialite. Then there's the In Crowd that looks cool no matter what they're wearing but they're never photographed without shades. And finally there's that other group that looks "avant-garde" but it's almost as if they are begging for attention. You know the ones I'm talking about.

Anyway... in the courtyard area of the Lincoln Center we ran into Hallie Swanson of Hallie Daily. This adorable blogger managed to score big on Vanity Fair's Best Dressed list this year. Love her style. As we were standing there chatting it up, photographers began to swarm. Was it Hallie? Was it me? Or maybe they were attracted to the black cape Taye was wearing. Who knows, but we had to get out of there. After a quick outfit change, Taye and I went to the GBK Lounge at the Empire Hotel and scored some sweet stuff from Hard Candy and a few other vendors. The next up for me was Milk Studios for Cushnie et Ochs. Just like the show that morning, I never made it inside. This would be the story of my fashion week. Oh well, at least I ran into some familiar faces from LA.

Day three coming up next.

xoxo

Any Excuse to Shop

Fashion bloggers are obsessed with clothes. Shopping for us is a sport. We're not only competing with other bloggers to find great sales, but we're challenging ourselves to score the best deals. When we get together we're like "Oh my gosh! Where'd you get that? It's sooo cute!" So leave it to clothing line Stella & Jamie to add some extra fun to our favorite pastime with a blogger shopping event. Oh yeah!

The event was hosted by my girl Taye Hansberry and Sari Tuschman of Foam Magazine. When I got there the party was in full swing. There was plenty of bubbly and lots of fantastic clothes. Some of LA's best bloggers were there to enjoy the festivities and drool over the hot male models passing out drinks. Oh and no party is complete without a photo booth and wacky accessories to play dress-up. The pics were bananas.


I got there a little late and missed the munchies especially the macaroons. Sad face. But I did get to indulge in champagne while I snapped photos. The deals were crazy. These ladies were snatching up clothes left and right. And could you blame them? The spring/summer line was on super sale. Practically a steal. We were also able to preview the new collection and order some goodies at a great price.


Stella & Jamie really brought out a spectacular group of fashionable bloggers. I ran into Jenny from GoodBadFab, Rachael from Everything Hauler, and the fabulous Tosha from Bambi's Armoire. They all looked so fly as expected of course. On a side note, Taye was as sweet as a candy-striper in her Stella & Jamie pink suit.
This party was dangerously fun. Although I was on photographer duty, I was still able to snag a sexy vest from the summer collection. Just wait until you see it! Do yourself a favor and check out Stella & Jamie too. Thanks for the invite, darlings.

xoxo

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

"La di da di. We like to party..." Let's flashback to junior high in the 90s when we all obsessed over boy bands, watched the original 90210 and wanted to dress like the girls in Clueless. In a swanky hotel room in West Hollywood, we kicked it old school at a slumber party hosted by my girl Taye of Stuff She Likes and Jenny Wu of GoodBadandFab. It was all courtesy of beauty giant Wet n Wild. Makeup, ice cream, and pillow fights. It was like totally amazing!



Taye and Jenny invited a few LA bloggers and gal pals to enjoy a night of pampering and partying at the London Hotel. I swear. I haven't been to a slumber party in forever and I don't know why we don't have them as adults. They are sooo much fun. There was plenty to do. We watched our favorite chick flicks, gossiped about boys, and played Twister. See, there's DJ Lady Sha and Aneesah looking fab next to hostess with the mostess Taye.




Makeup artist Brie let us try out some of Wet n Wild's newest beauty products including the Fergie collection. But it's kind of hard to get your face done when you're busy stuffing it with hot dogs and french fries. And we were also surrounded by tons of candy, champagne, and root beer floats. Somehow in between grabbing up lip gloss and nail polish and overindulging in food, these ladies found the time to strike a pose.



By the end of the evening our bellies were full of sweets and we were extremely giggly. We didn't trash the hotel room, but let's just say we took advantage of the space. Pillow fight! And I walked away with a goodie bag filled to the max with lipstick, bronzer, blush, mascara... the works. I won't have to go shopping for this stuff for a whole year. Aren't you jealous? Dear Wet n Wild, can we please do this again soon!
xoxo


P.S. If you're a little upset that you weren't in on the fun... I've got a surprise for you to make up for it. Stay tuned.

Tastemakers Garden Party

Me, Jae Joseph, and Taye Hansberry. Photo courtesy of Guest of a Guest

Back at it again. The usual suspects just doing what we do. On a lovely spring afternoon, my most fashionable friends and I got together just for the sake of hanging out, but we made an event of it. Give us any excuse to sip mimosas, socialize, and look cute, right?!



The Tastemakers of LA Garden Party was officially hosted by Jae Joseph, Taye Hansberry, Reinaldo Irizarry, Andres Matsen, Leanna Lewis, and Judy Chang but the guest list was full of other stylish bloggers and glitterati. The crowd couldn't be better. I mean, just look at how adorable model Devin and PR superstar Tashah are. And then there's the ever gorgeous Taye Hansberry and the handsome Andres Matsen. When I asked Andres how he decided he'd sport that crisp ivory jacket, he said "It's a garden party, so I figured I can wear white."

Reinaldo, Me and friend. Photo courtesy of Guest of a Guest

The day was just divine, but I was multitasking terribly. It's a lot to try and take pictures, network, and consume as many cupcakes as possible.  Talking to people with a mouthful of sweets comes off a little rude. I also had to pleasure of meeting one of my Instagram followers who is just fabulous in his own right. Oh, and I have to say that Donna Karan's Urban Zen is just heavenly. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Let's do it again very soon, lovelies.

XOXO

From Russia With Love... Part Two

Seriously! How does this happen? Someone up there must like me. My dear friends Taye Hansberry, Jae Joseph, and I got an early Christmas gift this morning...

We're in the December issue of Vogue Russia! 

The lovely Laura Djaga shouted out the news via twitter. The photo was taken of us at the Lublu presentation during New York Fashion Week. I think we look fabulous, don't you?

This is such a blessing.  Thanks for the love Laura and everyone at Vogue Russia. I heart you!

I Heart Russian Vogue

Who knew that going to a party would lead to this! A few weeks ago, my fashion homies Taye Hansberry, Jae Joseph, Matsen Andres and I were invited to the debut of Kira Plastinina's new collection. I had no idea what to wear, but decided on a sheer deep orange top and striped skirt. I looked like Halloween, but it was still cute. Low and behold, I meet up with my friends and Taye and I are wearing the same color. Too funny. But no time for changing clothes, we had a party to go to.

When we arrive at the Lublu store, we skip the red carpet and head straight for cocktails and cupcakes. I'm always thinking about sweets. My funkiness about looking like Taye and I had color coordinated our outfits was finally put at ease. Apparently, many people at the party had citrus on the brain. I swear, every other chick had a pop of tangerine in her outfit. Kira's new collection shares the same love for orange too. Pantone was not kidding about Tangerine Tango being the hue of the year.

Anyway, in between sips of bubbly and icing I was able to meet some great new people including Laura Djaga, social editor for Russian Vogue. She's absolutely darling! Her life seems so adveturous. She basically travels the world and covers events for Russian Vogue. And she's the perfect social butterfly for the job. It's because of her that my friends and I are on the magazine's blog today. LA meets Russia. Love it!

xoxo,
Никия Феникс
(my name in Russian)

P.S. Read more about our adventure on Taye's blog Stuff She Likes.