V-Style

Burberry Features Emma Watson in ADs

2010-03-13T07:58:00-08:00

This is kind of a part two to my recent article in 944 Magazine featured yesterday. Take a look at the new Burberry Ad. Two kids who look 15 (they are actually 20). They can't even cocktail. How many 20-year-olds can afford a Burberry Coat? How many woman who can afford a Burberry Coat wants to see Emma Watson, a girl born in the 90's, wearing her coat? Let me know what you think. Do you think a woman wants to see young girls selling them luxury clothes? Please comment below and let me know you thoughts.

Will The Plus Size Model Sell The Garment?

2010-03-12T20:02:18-08:00

I recently wrote an article for 944 magazine about Plus Size Models. Will they sell the garment?

Get Your Label Off My Stuff - The Handbag Search

2010-03-11T13:23:00-08:00

Michael Kors, Nike, Armani Exchange, Louis Vuiton, K Swiss, Tory Burch, Gucci, Guess, BCBG, Samba, Adidas, Chanel... get your label off my stuff.

I recently went on a hunt to replace my handbag. This new purse I was after needed to meet six qualifications:

Numerous pockets with at least one on the outside (I need to get to my phone and keys, quick!)
Made of or looks like fabulous leather
A versatile color
Could fit all my stuff as well as my planner and a client file without being gigantic
Did not look cheap

And, lastly...

6. Did not have a label, insignia or any telltale signs of branding.

What a search! With clothing I can always find fabulous items without too big of a branding issue, but with handbags I was just reminded how ridiculous this label thing is. I saw a Michael Kors bag I like: branded. I saw a BCBG bag I liked: branded. And so that went on for some time.

Why would I pay someone to be their advertisement? They should be paying me. When someone puts their name on your stuff, you become defined by them. When I put on a dress or carry a purse I am giving it my identity, my style. Not the other way around. When I see someone carrying a label I think, victim.

So, my search for the perfect handbag ended with a Ferris & Mor goodie. I LOVE! It fits everything without looking too much like luggage, the lining is fun and chic versus cheesy or cheap (I saw a TON of that). The leather is butter, black is a reliable purse color, and look at those pockets. Don't you just want to stick tissues in there! I did!

I sat next to it while watching Golden Girls today. Life is good.

Matchy Matchy Look on Jennifer Lopez

2010-03-10T05:08:00-08:00

A matchy-matchy look is retro in a bad way. It looks gimmicky. That is why I will never recommend it to anyone; however, I have been known to do a few matchy looks for myself and specific others and each time someone says, "I thought you said not to do that, but that looks good!"

The reason I say the general public should not do matchy-matchy looks is because it is too delicate to pull off without a true sense of style and fashion. For many of my clients I am a teacher of fashion. Throughout the shopping process and outfit making, I am telling my clients why we choose one thing and not the other, but I can't quite explain why the rare matchy-matchy look works. It cannot be taught easily. But here is a quick try.

Pictured above it a great example (minus the cheesy earrings and hairdo) of a matchy-matchy look by Jennifer Lopez in Gucci. Why? It's fashion forward and unique, it's chic with clean lines, it's sexy. It is also matching two pieces in a fresh color and not overwhelming us with multiple bold matching pieces. Also, it is not matching a pattern (generally a no-no), it is matching a color and vibe.

Pictured below is not a good example of matchy-matchy by Paris Hilton and Victoria Beckham. They look unimaginative, girlish and costumey. (I shall refer to them as monsters of their respective themes.) So, one rule you can take away from this matchy-matchy lesson is not to match more than two items in an outfit and even then be positive it is timeless or unique.

Pink Monster

Sailor Monster (or Supergirl)

Red Monster

A Personal Stylist Purchase - Leather Mini Skirt

2010-03-09T00:12:00-08:00

When I was very young my mom bought me a little leather suit comprised of a black leather vest and a matching leather skirt. Let me preface this with we didn't buy much. My mom sewed most of my clothes until the end of elementary school - bless her. And when we did buy something it was once a year and it was a few purchases at Macys and one pair of shoes from Stride Rite. So, a leather suit is beyond out of the ordinary. (Plus where do you find a child's leather suit - Ah! The 80's.)

Back to the leather suit - I must have been 9 and I though I was hot shit for having this leather outfit that I never wore beyond my bedroom. Now here I am, a woman, when I spy this black leather skirt by Plastic Island last week - in Macy's no less- and I feel my nine-year old self scream with delight. I am going to be quite the chic street walker in this high-waist leather mini with diagonal zipper. And did I mention that leather has a slimming effect? This piece of glory is like wearing mild spanx, so my little belly is smoothed out. I will be pairing it with a tucked in thick-strapped tank top.

Product Review - A Jenny B Tee

2010-03-08T12:13:28-08:00

Last week I was sent a Tee from the new-brand-to-me Jenny B, a t-shirt and casual wear line started in 2005 by "corporate dropout" Jennifer Brawley.

Based completely on the Tee shirt I was sent, I love it! I adore this relatively new distressing technique on tees and this brand has done it beautifully. Plus, the fit and shape is modern and perfect for tucking in with high waisted trousers and skirts. I have been needing a chic fitted Tee for my new paper-bag slacks. Looser Tees often look too casual and messy tucked in. As for just wearing it with low rise jeans? A fitted Tee calls for a flat stomach - that ain't me, so, tucking into high waisted items is where this t-shirt will fit into my life.

Now to my favorite part. The Tee they sent me is beige. This is the first awesome Tee in a neutral color I have seen/found. I am beyond stoked. As for the fabric it is soft, but I thought it would be softer.

Lastly, other items I would recommend would be any tee or tank from the "Burnout" category on the Jenny B. website, particularly the animal print versions of the Tee - so fun! Items to stay away from is the "Message Tees" and "Junkie Behavior." There you will find cheesy graphics and slogans that declare you an immature person. Stick to the Burnout Selection.

Best Dressed At The Oscars 2010

2010-03-08T11:03:05-08:00

Unfortunately there were only two best dressed at the 2010 Oscars on Sunday: Miley Cyrus (Sadly) and Cameron Diaz (Yea!). Everybody else ranged from dated to boring to simply unattractive. So, I have included some honorable mentions that would have made my Best Dressed List if they had made a few tweaks to their look.

Miley Cyrus in Jenny Packham

Cameron Diaz in Oscar de la Renta

Honorable Mentions

I would have adored Carey Mulligan in Prada if it weren't for the asymmetrical train which was inconsistent with the rest of the fun fashion forward look. And her shoes were a bump in the road here. An elegant bronze strappy something would have been a far better choice then these blocky plats. Plus her hair was too white for a black dress giving her a dated look in a vague way. With platinum hair she should have gone with a warmer look, this dress calls for a brunette.

Maggie Gyllenhaal would have truly wowed me in this Dries Van Noten gown, but the sudden white at the bottom of this beautiful dress ruined the whole thing.

Molly Ringwald would have made her first appearance on my blog with a Best Dressed comment if she hadn't ruined this indigo frock with two mismatched swirly additions. I think even if she had just skipped the white swirly bracelet I would have been on board, but it really cheesed up this elegant look.

A Personal Stylist Purchase - Boyfriend Blazer

2010-03-03T13:09:59-08:00

The boyfriend blazer is a trend I have been really really picky with. Each time I saw one it looked way too trendy or it was too expensive. I wanted to stay on the cheap since I wasn't sure how much I would wear it or if it would even flatter my body. Considering how long the boyfriend blazer is supposed to be, this is more of a tall girl item, but I bought one by MM Couture by Miss Me last week. I wore it yesterday and I love it! I felt so power dressed 90's style. I paired it with light grey slacks, a black 3/4 length sleeve top and black heels. I felt pretty fabulous in my meeting.

9 Questions To Ask Yourself When Clothing Shopping

2010-03-02T01:45:00-08:00

You are walking around in your favorite clothing store - maybe it is Nordstrom, maybe a boutique, maybe it is the Gap. You see an article of clothing you like. You try it on and you still like it. Time to ask yourself some questions before leaving the store with said item. Why? To limit the amount of clothing you purchase each year. Why? To save money, to help the environment (by limiting the amount of crap being made), to keep your closet from getting overcrowded and lastly to avoid wearing mediocre things that dull your fabulous self.

1) Can you afford it?

This question can get a little tricky. If you have any kind of revolving credit card debt the answer is no, you can't.

2) Is the fit perfect?

If the answer is no then you need to ask yourself if it could be altered easily? If you are not sure: buy it and take it to a trusted tailor and ask them if what you want done could be done easily. If they say no then return it.

3) Does it flatter your figure?

Be sure to look at it from as many angles as you can before deciding this.

4) Will this item date quickly?

If it won't survive more than a year skip it - unless you are getting it specifically to experiment with a trendy trend.

5) Do you already have the shoes, jacket, and accessories that will compliment it?

You want to ask yourself this to avoid buying even more stuff.

6) How many different occasions can you wear it?

You want your clothing working as hard as Oprah. You don't want to buy a dress that can be worn to work on Fridays and no where else. You want a dress that can work for the office, dates and even parties. Ideally each item of your clothing should be able to move into the different circles of your life or at the very least can be paired with multiple items of one category.

7) How often will you wear this?

I am a huge believer in price per wear. Spending $700 on a jacket you wear constantly is an awesome deal whereas paying $30 for a jacket you wore once is like being robbed. Try to picture this item in your life. Will this be a go-to clothing item for you? If you already have something similar that you wear and love, no need to get another one (unless the one you already have is wearing out or being worn "too often")

8) Is this a quality garment?

Does it look or feel cheap? I don't care if you are paying $5 or $500 for something, take a look at the seams and the lining. Tug at the seams and make sure they stay put. Make sure the fabric feels good on your skin and doesn't scream cheapy. Sometimes items don't look cheap, but has some telltale signs like loose buttons or seams. If that's the case go ahead and get them reinforced and/or buy two, but if there are real construction issues do NOT buy it.

9) Do you love it/need it?

When you look at it do you get excited. Is this something you have been looking for or wanting for awhile. Is this going to complete a couple different outfits you have at home. Do you have an event coming up with nothing to wear and this is the item that will work? Will this make your life better?

If you answer yes to all of these questions - then my god go ahead and buy the sucker. But if you have said no to any of these questions then move on. There are items out there that will be a yes to all nine questions.

A Personal Stylist Purchase - Furry Jacket

2010-03-01T13:41:04-08:00

I have a thing for furry jackets. Pink, green, real, faux, lavender, black and my newest addition is white and probably my favorite for its versatility and light weight feel. I spotted this Sugar Lips jacket on Friday in Macy's for $98. The bomber jacket trimmings at the hem and sleeves say casual, but the fur says, "Let's cocktail!" So, I wore it to a dinner party.

Fashion Zest Interviews Vanessa Valiente of V-Style

2010-02-26T10:06:27-08:00

I was thinking about what I wanted to write about today and I just became overwhelmed with joy. I am so happy with what I do and am so grateful that not only do I get to physically work with fashion, I get to write about it too and people actually read it. The world has only been blogging for about a decade and it is amazing the doors it has opened for communication. Ten years ago most people did not have this kind of access to a personal stylist, and a personal stylist wouldn't have this kind of audience. (Granted a lot more interesting and important occurrences has happened in the last ten years, but that is not our focus at the moment).

I think today's joy for my blog was sparked by an interview Fashion Zest wrote on me concerning V-Style. To read the original interview click here.

Interview with Vanessa Valiente from V-Style

by Jenny of Fashion Zest on February 26, 2010

FashionZest got an opportunity to interview fashion stylist and blogger Vanessa Valiente from V-Style, to hear more about her blog and her view on fashion!

Jenny: Lets start by hearing a little about yourself… who is Vanessa Valiente?
Vanessa: I am a wardrobe stylist and fashion writer with a love of humor.

Jenny: What led you to write about / be involved in the fashion industry?
Vanessa: I have always loved fashion, how cliche, and although I began with a communications degree in college I changed it to Film with an emphasis in Costume Design to reflect that love. From there I jumped into Television and film, then added print styling and personal styling to the roster of what I do.

Jenny: So what is V-Style all about?
Vanessa: V-Style is all about fashion and beauty including news about up & coming lines as well as twists to the long standing brands, product reviews, where to find what a celebrity wore, fashion how to’s, outfit ideas, cheap and fabulous, stylish eco friendly finds and so on. It’s the blog you go to to find out about everything fashion from the mouth of a successful fashion stylist.

Jenny: How did V-Style start?
Vanessa: I started V-Style for my clients as a personal stylist. This was a way for my clients who I don’t always see get advice and my opinions daily. It also gave my services great exposure. From there it became this popular fashion blog that lots of people love and read.

Jenny: What do you hope to achieve with V-Style?
Vanessa: I want people to think of V-Style as an honest blog. This is a conversation between a personal stylist and the reader. I want V-Style to be the blog women turn to for positive, personal and professional fashion advice and news.

Jenny: How would you describe your personal style?
Vanessa: My personal style is incredibly diverse. One day I am chic and sophisticated, another day I am funky casual, but generally my look is very clean (not overly complicated.) I usually wear dresses or leggings. I favor rich colors and wild prints and you will rarely see me in jeans – I find jeans to be uncomfortable. I mix old and new and never buy basics. I am attracted to items I feel I will never see again. I love an untraceable look where you don’t know who made it or where it came from.

Jenny: Who or what has been your greatest fashion influence?
Vanessa: Movies are my greatest fashion influence. I don’t have one person I look to or think of when I imagine great fashion, instead I picture outfits. Audrey Hepburn dancing in her cigarette pants in Funny Face, Meg Ryan throughout the movie Addicted To Love, Sarah Jessica Parker in numerous moments throughout the Sex And The City series, Sharon Stone in Casino, Angelina Jolie in Hackers, and so on.

Jenny: Which is your favorite fashion designer at the moment, and why?
Vanessa: I hate to name one designer because I never love all their designs, and once again it is about moments. Every designer has their moments (and their flubs). Put me in any store, ANY store, and I will find something marvelous, but right now I am loving Jonathan Saunders and Jason Wu for their colors, patterns, lines and fun.

Jenny: What current fashion trends do you like and dislike the most at the moment?
Vanessa: It’s hard for me to think of what I dislike because I am always focusing on what I am drawn to versus what I am not, but I would have to say I dislike the sky high heel trend that has been going on for some time. It’s not comfortable so I want everyone to get over it. I dress fashionably because of the way it makes me feel. If I feel uncomfortable or restricted from the pace I want to walk, I do not feel stylish or sexy. I am way too busy to waddle around on 4 inch heels and deal with blisters.

Jenny: What would be the one fashion tip you would give to a friend?
Vanessa: Balance your look. If you have volume on the bottom, put on a slim fitting top and vice versa. If you are wearing statement earrings, best bet is to skip the necklace, etc.

Jenny: And finally… as the creator of V-Style, where do you see the site in 5 years time?
Vanessa: In 5 years I see V-Style as being more popular than the rag blogs. I see negativity and celebrity gossip obsession giving way to an appreciation of real fashion advice and news with a positive edge.

Perfume Dangers

2010-02-24T04:31:00-08:00

Do you wear perfume? I don't for a few reasons. First off, I rely on my hair products, body lotion and body wash to bring a subtle feminine smell to myself (and deodorant, of course). I can't imagine putting perfume on top of the four items already giving off scents. Second, I am allergic to most perfumes (and cologne) and often get a headache if I put it on. Which brings me to the last reason. I don't want to offend people.
Perfume stinks and it sticks to you. I hate hugging someone and then having their smell on me until I change clothes and shower. Most people don't even care for the same smell so by wearing a strong perfume you are irritating half the people in the room. Unlike bad fashion, you can't get away from someone with an ill chosen scent. It will trail after you. You can simply turn away from an out-of-style outfit, but if a perfumed woman or cologned man is in your vicinity nothing short of plugging your nose will solve the issue.
If you really want to add a scent to your person I recommend relying on lotions, creams, hair products, washes or, if you must, a body spray instead of perfume. These types of smells are weak and will only be picked up by the nose if the person gets really close to you. That is a whole sexier than smelling someone from five or more feet away.
Have you ever walked into Abercrombie & Fitch? Those bastards have spritzed every inch of that place. I feel as if walking into that store is a form of torture with their ear bursting music and suffocating smell. Have you noticed that the people that work there don't seem to care or notice? They have lost their hearing and they are used to that smell. That is how women can get with their scents - you get used to it and start putting more and more on. Not awesome for the people around you. Stick to the 1 foot rule. If someone can smell you - good or bad - from more than a foot away, tone it down.

Katy Perry Wears Stacked Casadei Heels

2010-02-23T16:34:44-08:00

This may seem an odd post considering I made such a stink about tall heels, but I could not pass up an opportunity to talk about lavender colored heels. Plus, with that platform going on, the heel ends up being my desired 3 inch height.
By the by, although Katy Perry appears to look more doll than human in this photo, I adore this lavender shade heel. Outrageously tall, yes. Drag Queen-ish even, yes - but I am loving it! I wonder if they are comfortable? At $590 they better be.

As a side note, don't think high prices mean comfort. I was recently at a cocktail party that became a long stroll to go salsa dancing and a wonderful Scottish woman could not keep up because she was wearing YSL heels that killed her feet. Bad form, YSL. If you want people paying obscene prices, make those shoes obscenely delicious to wear.
Back to Casadei, I went on an online hunt to find Katy Perry's lavender shoe and only came up with the fushcia version pictured above on amazon.com (who'd a thought). For other stacked heels by Casadei, try endless.com

Vanity Fair's Hollywood Issue Redone

2010-02-20T11:45:31-08:00

I love a good giggle and that was what I was treated to when a reader sent me a photo in reference to my recent blog on Vanity Fair's March Issue. Sita young, a model and actress in Hollywood got together her actor friends last weekend and did a play on the photo.
In place of the "skinny white girls" we have a (still skinny) rainbow of another cup of tea. We have Juli who is Cuban, Taye - an African American, Sita Young who is half African American and Jewish, Jenn who is Jewish and gay, Daheli an African American as well, Jane - white and gay, Anna K who is Pakistani, Ja'que a white drag queen and Amelia who is half Italian and half Argentinean. All the girls on the cover are actresses in Hollywood with work seen on Mad TV, Reno 911, Yes Man and The Ghost Whisper to name a few.
Cheers to an intelligent spoof.

Miriam Jewels by Miriam Chor Freitas

2010-02-19T02:16:00-08:00

Until recently I assumed crochet was reserved for sweaters. Then Miriam Chor Freitas sent me a pair of earrings. For her, crochet means jewelry. Instead of making a piece of needlework by looping thread with a hooked needle, she is making fabulous accessories by looping wires with a hooked needle. Her collection, tilted Miriam jewels, is based on this ancient art of crocheting, wire wrapping, knotting and knitting with metal wire, crystals, precious and semi-precious stones.

Adding more intrigue to this rare craft is the time behind it. It takes Miriam at least 3 month to create even a small pair of earrings. Using techniques like the Peruvian Stitch, each weave of wire needs a slow and steady hand to create the perfect symmetrical look of the jewelry. In the photo above you can see how intricate the wires are on these Sun earrings from Miriam's Inca collection. The knitting is so tight it almost looks like a textured circle instead of 14K gold wire crocheted into submission.

Although the Sun earrings are a small part of her extravagant collection, I must say they are my favorite. Mainly for how perfect they will go with a bold dress (my uniform). I am always looking for subtle earrings to go with my extravagant outfits and short hair, but all the earrings I am coming across seem to be too small, too boring, too trendy or too traditional. The Sun earrings have the unique edge I am looking for, but won't overwhelm my face or outfit. They are also very light weight.