Spring Forth And All Shall Be In Color

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As we bundle ourselves in fitted knits, oversized scarves and bury our heads deep into an abysmal winter somber it’s refreshing to realize there is a beaming light at the end of the tunnel. And with Spring just over the horizon the GetStylin’ team will be bringing you a collection of pure happiness for what to look forward to once Spring 2012 knocks at our doors. If you need a little boost, never shy away from the color wheel.  Although we are all guilty of staying in the same fashion ruts (yes, I own more neutrals than would like to admit) a good reason to usher in change is for the pop of color and surge of life you can add to your ensemble, with just the right blocking.

Color blocking, although not new to the fashion world, unites everything that is wonderful about experimenting with apparel, completing ones look, and showcasing the construction of an outfit in multiple magnitudes.  By adding, essentially layering colors, there is an element of dimension that unifies an ensemble.  Ultimately, creating a one of a kind story that solidifies each and every piece.  The key to mastering your color block pieces is to make them look effortless, too much thought and scrutiny on this technique makes the execution lack luster and appeal. Colors should be flattering to your specific skin tone, not forced, and pick hues that coordinate well with each other (nothing too outlandish that does not in return complete an entire image). Staying’ in the color family reflects a safe and natural flow to your image so this is great for any starters out there: work with the same color family until you are ready to add outsiders.

 

While you start piecing these together, first look a colors that are part of the same family, three different shades of blue or different variations of red. Notice how these colors create their own presence when presented next to one another—completing the look as a whole. When working with separates it’s great to pair a neutral hue with a bold one (so take out that black skirt and start experimenting!) One you got a first bold hue start adding more until you have unified the entire piece—more is better and the more dimension you have with outfit, the more intense the color will pop and shine. Now I know a few might be afraid of the Rainbow Brite syndrome and think they’ll overkill their look—while this is a definite risk, you won’t know what you’re working with until you’ve gotten there. Hint: If you have a headache when you stare at yourself in the mirror, tone it down a shade or two)

Accessorize is key to complete; don’t be afraid to pick out vibrant bracelets, rich earrings, or a bold statement necklace—-you’ve already taken yourself to the next level, keep going gorgeous!

 

Anything about Spring Fashion is appealing at this time in January so it’s fairly easy to get excited about the smallest hint of sunshine and warmth. In preparation for your spring style ahead and the new you that is waiting to be unveiled once that sunlight beams through your windows—start planning your wardrobe now and start thinkin’ big and fantasizing in COLOR. Only brighter days await you!

Move Over Judgement Day, Good Fashion in 2012 Is Ready To Reign

While 2012 may bring flying skateboards, horrific weather conditions, and the potential for Noah’s Ark II I’m content with updating my style duds and make a vow to break those repetitive fashion blunders.  Even the most Fab beyond FabFashionista has a few set-backs they can’t seem to break—For 2012 I’m throwing out all stops and pledging my allegiance to the Fashion Gods:

#1: Step outside the Black Box: “Black goes with everything, but it’s time to lighten up”

Scan my closet for a hot minute and you’ll think you opened the Adam’s Family Wardrobe trailer: I love the neutrals, particularly the always-flattering black; so for this year I need to see the light—The multi-colored floral light that is. For 2012 I vow to add some color blocking options to my day to day look and try to not rely so much on all my neutrals. In with a plethora of shine—and hopefully—out with my “Morticia Adams”    go-to pieces

A few faves I already have my eye:  

Express Fashions must be reading my mind: Today they launched their “Think Spring” Collection online and already I’m drooling—-This season be sure to see a lot of pastels, particularly this shade of coral.

Even in below zero temps I’m going to need some color to light the way: J Crew offers this amazing cashmere, loose fit, sweatshirt that could easily be tucked into any high waisted skirt, paired with a good trouser, or simply added to a pair of jeans. The perfect versatile piece to keep me resolution ready all year. 

#2 Find a new pair of Jeans: “Baby’, from behind we got a lot of catching up to do.”

Every woman dreads that ill-fated quest where she must find a new pair of jeans.  If you’re like me, you usually end up locking yourself in a dressing room, praying there is such bad lighting you won’t even be able to see yourself OR after 10 attempts to shimmy into a spandex infused pair—you end up hitting up Auntie A’s cookie stand and call it a day.

With new styles surging the waves daily; I’ve been able to narrow down my choices and if you give yourself enough options— bound to find a winner:

While we live in a world skinny-jean obsessed; I have to admit I have the hardest time finding jeans that can work with my 5’2” frame. Most skinny jeans I try on are just too long and bunch at the bottom making me look like I stepped into the land of awkward jean to shoe length.

Express offers a boot cut look that is still provides a slim cuff but allows us shorter girls to still get away with a decent length jean.  The small flare also adds more depth to the denim and in fact elongates the leg to make one’s silhouette appear slimmer and taller.  Win, Win on all accounts.

Gap must have heard every short girl’s woes because they’ve been working hard at perfecting the perfect skinny jean for those petite ladies.  Their 1969 Skinny Cropped Jean allows a slimming fit without having to worry about those infuriating pieces of extra denim bunching around your ankles.

#3 Explore New Make-Up Routines: “Oh, Make Me Over.”

We all find ourselves in the same make-up rut every morning—grabbing the same go to eye make up, same eyeliner style, and topping it off with mascara.  I need a re-birth of sorts; with a make-up palette that can transform my winter blahs into Spring ready beauty. So when the 65 degree temps start winding back up—I’ll be one step in front of the rest.

Kat Von D has introduced a limited edition make up line, in part with Sephora, that offers sexy shades and a guarantee to replicate your very own smokey eye, and girlfriend even offers us her own video tutorials. Thanks Kat!:

Grace, perhaps your next give-away?

I’m getting fairly tired of the everyday eyeliner look and since I’m ushering in a world of new—why not brighten up from head to toe?

Urban Decay offers a great line of eye-liners that range from subtle chocolate brown to ultra stunning violet—to dazzle up your eyes, no matter your style.

Their 24/7 Glide-On Eyeliner offers smooth coverage that not only opens up the eye but adds a little kick to your once “blah” shades. And with a whole color palette to choose from, every blue-eyed beauty to brown-eyed babe is sure to find their perfect match.

All in all, if 2012 does bring forth flying skateboards you better believe I’ll be Fashionista approved and abiding to all my new year resolutions.

Happy 2012 Everyone, May this be YOUR year for everything glamorous!

Christmas A Go-Go

As we quietly tuck this past Christmas away and toast in the New Year, it's amusing to reflect on the good times and of course, great steals and deals you received this holiday season. From one gift giver to next I welcome you to share your holiday hits and misses:

Kat Von D's Limited Edition Eye Make-Up Series:

Recently, Kat Von D joined forces with Sephora and introduced her limited edition eye make-up series that merge "punk and pretty" to satisfy everyone's eye palette---and give a little something extra this holiday season.

Plus, this line serves to benefit one of Kat's favorite charities: The Art of Elysium.  So feel good and look good--this is a win-win combo.

Kat Von D's Make Up

Lush Cosmetics--Northern Lights

This Holiday Season, Lush Cosmetics was all a buzz at major hotspot Macy's and rightfully so---these handmade cosmetics are the best stocking stuffers and perfect care packages to send to the all your loved ones.

My personal favorite is the all wrapped up--Northern Lights Set--that gives you a taste of everything Lush-tastic.  Not only does Lush boast some of the best smelling suds around but they also provide natural ingredients that get down to the nitty gritty of all your skin problems.  One night with a Lush product and you'll be singing their song for years to come!

Check out all their amazingness here:  Lush Cosmetics

What did you find under your tree this year?  

That’s The Spirit—Say, Holiday Spirit, This NYE!

With 2012 fastly approaching and all the talk of what this daunting year will bring forward, I can’t help but want my New Years attire to scream “I’m ready for 2012 and I’m ready to ring in 2012 in style!”  Who doesn’t want to embody that this month? (And in case the world does end, I want to be sure I looked impeccable on my way out…)

Per Francesca’s Collecions, an online boutique and fast growing retail around the country, I found this number entitled fittingly, “That’s the Spirit” dress which only costs a whopping $44 to be yours truly! As a fan of color block and fitted skirts, I enjoy the fact that this number offers a two tone color scheme (definitely more party on the top, wouldn’t you say?)

Oh! And a girl’s gotta look good from head to toe—so I’m pairing this one with Betsey Johnson’s Teaseey Pump; the perfect balance between sophistication and a wild edge.  You better believe that once midnight hits, I’ll be be putting these babies to good use on the dance floor—

A perfect new years dress may have a lot of shine and sparkle,but for me this year, I’m setting my sights on a piece I can wear again throughout the new year—Hello birthday parties, girls nights out, and even a Summer night unwind.  Who says we can’t? Just ditch the boots and add a sandal or wedge and poof, you’ve turned this little number into a Spring lust!

What are you wearing when the countdown begins?

Airbrushed Abs Just Got A Little More Intense.

This past week a surge of activity heat the press as H&M unveiled its new ads for their lingerie collection; but it was not the underwear that got people in an uproar, rather it was the models in each photo.  It's no mystery that majority of main stream retail companies and advertising agencies rely heavily on computer touch ups and re-constructing before printing a major add but after closer examination of the photos it was clear there was something a little too digital about the photos.

New Yorker's CutBlog reports, "Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet in which H&M press officer Håcan Andersson confirms that their new lingerie-clad bodies are "completely virtual." For H&M's website or catalogues, much of the store's clothing is now shot on mannequins, which are then humanized via photo-editing software." (TheCutBlog)

Interesting enough the heads of the models were superimposed onto the "created" bodies which adds more fuel to the already heavily debated discussion that companies go too far with re-touching bodies in order to promote a better ad or image.  H&M stresses that in no way was this disrespectful to the models or the human body in general, rather they wanted to focus more on the garments itself, not the human modeling it: "It's not about ideals or to show off a perfect body... we are doing this to show off the garments" (TheCutBlog).  
You have to wonder with H&M taking such drastic measures in order to promote a seemingly simple collection, why resort to such extreme measures?  Why isn't the body of a model good enough to promote their line and what are they are truly trying to capture by superimposing artificial bodies in their ads? Perhaps a new wave of fashion art is ushering in and more retailers will jump on board in this strangely bizarre new twist on fashion.
But for this moment, H&M's decision and completed ad seems a bit too uncomfortable for the public to take in just yet; what doors will this ad open next?

They're Singing Deck The Halls

Black Friday certainly kicked off the start to the holiday shopping season,  and now it's time to see what's in, what's great for New Years and what you absolutely must have.

A few favorites to jump start the holiday fever:

Francesca's Collections

Express Fashions

H&M

ModCloth.com

Transitional Pieces for Winter's Arrival

As winter is vastly approaching us, or has it already arrived? There are many opportunities to re-vamp your style and work on thinking outside your comfort zone when it comes to creating the pieces for everyday appeal or a winter's night out...

Katie's look is easily versatile for whatever kind of look you are aiming to achieve.  This ensemble is perfect from hopping out of the office and straight to a happy hour with co-workers.  It's also a great look for an afternoon out with friends or a Sunday get together with close friends.  Paired with a high boot or solid wedge and you're bound to turn heads.

Katie's second piece is crucial to understanding the power of turning your summer frocks into winter staples.  Both of these items definitely possess a summer's edge to them but when put next to contrasting colors and adding the right accessories you have officially winterized your look.  Shorts are in full swing this holiday season and with the right color tights and boots you can find multiple ways to add keep using what you got until Spring rolls back around.

One of my favorite pairs of shorts this winter is Victoria's Secret "Tuxedo Short". A classic fit high waisted short that can easily add a slimming look and ideal paired with any blouse or cardigan.