Ladies in Hats

Fashion Alert: As usual hats are all the rage this winter

Kokin Angora Beret

The classic french hat also known as the beret is being shown everywhere for the winter's it hat. The beret's that are being designed today are not what you'd typically expect.

Take this angora beret. I think this is a great update. It adds a funky new twist to a timeless classic. Since it is made out of wool it will provide warmth as well as looking trendy. This beret which is available at Neiman Marcus, comes in a variety of colors. The camel is my personal favorite as it is so versatile.

Joy Fur Felt Cloche

The cloche hat which to me seems ripped from the pages of the Great Gatsby is making a comeback. I have to admit I really like this style, it is just so chic looking. However, it defiantly does not work on all face shapes. If you have a round full round face this probably is not the hat for you. This hat can be overpowering, so you need to be mindful that it doesn't take over your face.

Michael Kors Mink Hat

Fur hats are always stylish and cute, granted that they are real fur. This Michael Kors mink hat is gorgeous. Faux fur is just unacceptable. Although I think it looks a little like a mink chefs hat it's still chic. I would suggest getting a rabbit fur hat because they still make the same statement but are a more reasonable price.







Bottom Line: Ditch the pom pom hat and try something new and more grown up looking. The hat you wore when you were in your teens is no longer appropriate in your twenties. Try one of these hats and obtain a sophisticated look that will not only keep your warm but keep you stylish at the same time.



Until Next Time...Ciao Fashionistas

Skinny Belts

Michael Kors

Patent Dress Waist Belt
Fashion Alert: Skinny belts have replaced the wide belt.

Big wide belts were all the rage last year. Those days are gone and thin belts have replaced them. Cameron Diaz shows off this new style by belting a long gray tunic. She looks exceptionally chic as she struts through the LAX airport. I particularly like this Michael Kors belt which is great with pants as an accent piece with longer tops and sweaters. It has also become very popular to wear a skinny belt with a dress. Celebrities like Anne Hathaway, Gwen Stefani, and Jennifer Connely accessorized their dresses with skinny belts. It instantly cinches the waist and accentuates their womanly figures. Make sure there are enough belt wholes on the belt, because these belts don't have a lot of stretch or give to them. Therefore when you sit down you might want to loosen the belt and then tighten it when you stand.

Don't put your wide belts into the back of the closet yet. They are still great to wear with blazers and jackets or anything too bulky to be worn with a skinny belt. A skinny belt wouldn't work with this black blazer the wide belt is the perfect accessory.

Bottom Line: Don't toss your wide belt but rather find new uses for it. Try the skinny belt with long tops and dresses, it just adds a little something extra to an ensemble. To top it off the skinny belt also helps give the appearance of a smaller waist, what could beat that!


Until Next Time...Ciao Fashionistas

Bring on the Plaid

Fashion Alert: Plaid is the hot pattern for the winter season.

I give full credit to Gwen Stefani and her L.A.M.B line for bringing plaid styles into the mainstream. She first donned the look in her own personal style then incorporated it into her line.




This is a dress from the L.A.M.B line. I absolutely adore this dress. It is not at all frumpy which is what I believe first comes to women's minds when they think of plaid. Yet this dress is so chic and elegant. It helps that it is very tailored and body fitted. The plaid is also redesigned. This isn't your catholic school girl plaid! It is more much pleasing to the eye, which also makes it appealing. This dress can be more casual or more dressed up with a pair of heels as shown in the picture. The attention to detail on this dress is also flawless. I love the pleating at the bottom, as well as the belt. That instantly adds another level of sophistication to the look and makes it polished.

Plaid patterns are also being shown for outerwear. Coats in plaid have become all the rage this season. This coat by Alice & Olivia seems to be the most versatile considering it's black and white. It's pretty pricey at $440, but honestly that isn't too bad considering the hefty prices these days.

Bottom Line: Give plaid a try. Since I don't think this will be a lasting trend I would suggest buying a dress because you can wear it starting now through the winter, and you won't feel devastated if this style doesn't last. If your concerned about not being able to pull off plaid, don't be I think that if you find the right style for you that anyone can wear this trend.

Until Next Time...Ciao Fashionistas

Anti-Semitism

Hello Fashionistas,


I know this is a blog dedicated to fashion, but something I found to be interesting and important has come up which I would like to discuss. A march by neo-nazis in Prague, Czech Republic was scheduled the day after Kristallnacht, the night in 1938 when the Nazi's attacked synagogue's and Jewish homes and businesses throughout Germany and parts of Austria. This hits very close to me as I am Jew and I consider my second home to Prague for my dad and brother live there and I travel there at least twice a year. Authorities had banned the march by the Young National Democrats which is linked to the National Resistance, a neo-nazi group through the Jewish quarter of Prague. The group however did not listen and marched anyway.


"Hundreds of Jews and others gathered in the historic Jewish quarter to commemorate the Nazi pogrom, protest the march and be ready, if it went ahead, to prevent it from going through the neighborhood." This event deeply saddens me and horrifies me, and further makes me more aware of how prevalent antisemitism still is.


neo-nazi resting after being hit by anti-facist activists in downtown Prague



Here is a video I found on youtube to show you the chaos that insued. I hope this incident as enlightening as I did.

Adios Leggings!

Fashion Alert: Leggings are so passe. I'm sorry to say it because I loved them too but leggings are finished. Black leggings worn instead of pants were all the rage last year, however they no longer posses the same allure that they used to. Celebrities like Nicole Richie, Hillary Duff, and Jessica Alba helped catapult leggings to the height of chic.

The appeal of leggings had to be their comfort factor and the ability to wear them with almost anything. They could be worn during the day with a long sweater or translated into an evening look with a tunic top and heels. Every designer incorporated leggings into their lines. Pucci even created a leggings in their signature pattern.

Leggings have now become a thing of the past only to be worn for super casual occasions or to the gym. Unfortunately, Lindsay Lohan doesn't seem to heed this advice and it still sporting the once popular trend. It seems that this is the only item of clothing she owns. Maybe she should rehire Rachel Zoe as her stylist. Nicole Richie also has been photographed lately wearing leggings. She has a legitimate excuse, being pregnant and all. For this I will let her off the hook.

Bottom Line: Take the same ensembles you would have worn with leggings and put on a pair of skinny jeans instead. Leggings can no longer pass for a sophisticated look, so if you aren't in junior high save the leggings for the gym.

Until Next Time...Ciao Fashionistas

Desperate for Flats

When I think of flats one woman comes to mind, Tory Burch. She got on the map with her clothing line but became huge when she designed her leather flats with her signature emblem on it. Now the Prima Reva Ballerina flats comes in an array of colors and textures. In her latest flat designs she has ditched her gold emblem and gone for a more subtle flat with a cute tassel.

I also don't enjoy the knockoff Tory Burch flat. It is clearly fake so why try to pass it off as the real thing? I understand that the Burch flats can be expensive but then why not just buy one by another designer? Quite honestly, I would suggest splurging on the real thing for they last for a very long time, and they don't seem to be going out of style.

Having owned the original black flat since June 06' I have become bored by the flat. The problem is there are no other fabulous flats. Browsing through the flats section on Neimanmarcus.com I saw a pair of Manolo Blahnik leopard flats.

Of course they are insanely pricey at $515. I don't even like them that much. Honestly, I like the Tory Burch leopard flats better which are a fraction of the cost of the Manolo's. I guess if I want to get a new pair of flats I will have to settle for being like one of the pack and purchasing another pair of Burch flats. Except these faux snake skin flats are unique.

Bottom Line: The Tory Burch flat doesn't seem to be going anywhere. If your a fan of them I suggest purchasing a pair, I believe they are actually starting to go on sale at this point. My friend got a pair of the classic black ones on sale at Plaza Too. Don't buy the fake ones, it is obvious that they are not authentic, splurge on the real thing.

Until Next Time...Ciao Fashionistas

Update

Update: Very important information I learned from my dermatologist yesterday. When you buy makeup, moisturizer or any product you will put on your face make sure it is non-comedogenic. It doesn't matter if it says dermatologist recommended, non-allergenic, etc. Non-comedogenic means that the product will not clog your pores causing acne. Fortunately enough Bare Minerals are non-comedogenic. If your products do not say this on the bottle, go to the company website and check it out.

FYI: I began a post on high-waisted pants a while ago however I just finished it on Monday. Therefore when I posted it, it appeared after my posting on Bare Minerals. Be sure to check it out.


Ciao Fashionistas