GET DOWN WITH SOME DENIM

It’s time to channel your inner boyfriend jean and twist it up. The denim collared shirt is a fun, convertible way to be both comfy and chic! Depending on the occasion, the denim shirt can be dressed up, dressed down, or even partnered with some denim pants. 

Paired with an oversized vest and scarf, the denim shirt can be the perfect outfit when trying too hard is not an option. This is the perfect combo for the coffee shop and the mall alike. This look is perfect for anyone looking to flatter with ease.

Looking to prim up that denim shirt? Parter it with some prep! A cardigan, colored skirt, and statement belt is the perfect way to jazz up the denim shirt for any daytime occasion. Having the skirt belted on the small of the waist highlights an hourglass and pear shape in all the right ways. A longer cardigan lengthens a short torso, and a maxi skirt is perfect for a boyish build! 

Another way to rock a denim shirt is to literally rock it. Grunge up the shirt and show off those arms! Belting it shows off the waist, giving grunge a feminine edge.

And last but not least, the Canadian Tux. Your favorite top doesn’t need to match the pants perfectly. In fact, having a darker shade of pants slims the legs and backside region. A darker denim on top can flatter a larger bust and trim the waist. 

There are a million ways to wear that denim shirt that’s been a staple in your wardrobe for years. Dressed up or down, the most important fit is one that flatters both your body and personality!

PHOTOS:

PopBee.com

Fashionologie.com

TheSartorialist.com

Flattering Frocks at the Academy Awards

The Academy Awards is the end-all, be-all of awards shows in Hollywood.  Everyone dresses to the nines in hopes of landing on the best-dressed list.  Some were major hits, and some were major misses.  Today we’re going to focus on the winners; the women that dressed to accentuate their body type to really flatter and flaunt their curves!

Hourglass

Ellie Kemper is a lovely hourglass shape in this Armani Prive dress.  The colors suit her fair skin perfectly and the cut of the dress accentuates her enviable hip-to-waist ratio.  I will never see her as dowdy Erin from The Office ever again!

Pear

Jessica Chastain is, hands down, my #1 pick of the evening.  Her makeup is simple to balance out the drama of her perfectly cut and worn Alexander McQueen gown.  I can’t stop staring at it!  As a pear, Jessica has larger hips than her bust.  The way the beading of the dress accentuates her hips while also minimizing them is a testament to the fashion house’s eye for the feminine silhouette.  Wearing her hair down also added some volume to her upper body, which balances out the width of her hips.

Apple

Octavia Spencer is a great example of an apple body type.  She has a full bust and waist with slim, enviable legs.  It’s a shame that the Academy Awards isn’t usually a place to show some leg!  Designer Tadashi Shoji created the gorgeous ivory beaded frock for Octavia, and the intricate design of the beading gives her a nice, nipped-in waist.  The draping also helps in creating a more curvaceous body, and her up-do shows off her slender neck and gorgeous cheekbones.  

Inverted Triangle

Viola Davis worked with Vera Wang to create a vision in green for her inverted triangle body type.  Her shoulders are larger than her hips, and she has a great waistline.  Instead of hiding her shoulders, she accentuates them, along with her great collarbones.  The flowing accordion pleated bottom creates a nice balance between her upper and lower body.  Not everyone loved this dress, but I seriously can’t say no to Kelly green or accordion pleats.  Always a win in my book!

Straight

Kristin Wiig played it a little safe for the awards, but safe isn’t always sorry.  She wore a form of nude/beige for every appearance, but it looks great on her.  With a straight body type, she is slim with few curves.  The J. Mendel dress has a sweetheart neckline which accentuates her tops, and the flowing skirt helps create more of an illusion of hips.  The slight sash around her waist gives her a nice contrast between her upper and lower body.  Well done!

Flirty Florals Are In!

Out with the grays and blacks, it’s time to put a little spring into this season’s wardrobe with florals! What’s great about florals is how many ways it can be worn. Floral spring pieces don’t have to be just a floral dress. In fact, designers like Céline and Alice + Olivia have florals blooming all over their Spring/Summer 2012 collections!

Printed floral capris are the perfect vintage piece for a day out and about. Letting the hem fall from just below the knee to mid calf can lengthen the leg without looking like a size too big.

This season, it’s all about converting the floral trends into every piece imaginable. So go ahead, rock that Alice + Olivia day dress.

 Feel like a dress won’t quite make the cut? Go long with some wide leg floral pants. Paired with some platforms and a cropped top, these Alice + Olivia pants are sure to elongate the gams.

Celine definitely shows us how florals on top can flatter a bust! 

Fit Tips:

• Mix and match florals and prints for a look that’s trending this spring
• Go all florals with suit combos from faves like Celine and Asos!
• Florals can be used with solids to accentuate and compliment different body types

These looks are anything but impossible to achieve. Using these fit tips and a little imagination, florals can definitely be used to make a Spring look Summer hot.

PHOTOS: Style.com

Academy Awards Red Carpet Trends

Hollywood’s biggest night was filled with glitz, glamour and amazing gowns. Women donned their Sunday best, but one color that stood out simple and elegant: White.

Milla Jovovich in Elie Saab - The model-turned-actress looked divine in a one-shoulder dress. She brought Old Hollywood back by wearing her hair up, minimal makeup and a strong red lip. She was certainly a scene stealer.

Rooney Mara in Givenchy - The best actress nominee for ‘Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ chose a Givenchy Couture dress with a plunging neckline that was perfect for the night. She also wore another big trend of the night, bangs, which made her look like a million bucks, but what made her stand out even more was that she wore no jewels. 

Octavia Spencer in Tadashi Shoji - The supporting actress winner for ‘The Help’ wore a gorgeous crystal embellished gown that fit her like a glove and it’s perfect for her curvy figure. She chose Neil Lane diamonds, a Judith Leiber clutch and Jimmy Choo sandals. 

Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad - Jenny from the block is now Jenny at the red carpet! The presenter wore a sexy long-sleeve gown straight from the Paris runway that hugged all the right places, and even caused a stir during the red carpet and show. The American Idol judge wore her hair up in a chignon and accessorized with Lorraine Schwartz baubles, a Salvatore Ferragamo clutch and Jimmy Choo shoes.  

Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford - The Oscar winner was one of the most talked about ladies of the night. Gwyneth wore a floor-length gown and a stunning cape that is simply perfect for a screen siren. She finished the look with a pony tail and simple makeup, a diamond cuff and Jimmy Choo heels.

Cameron Diaz in Gucci - This cutie wore a gorgeous off-white mermaid gown that showed her toned arms and accentuated her fit physique. To top off her look, the presenter had $800,000 worth of diamonds from Tiffany & Co. and simple hair. 

Eat a chocolate..or five!

Steve Madden has the right idea! With all the on sale chocolate from Valentine’s Day, we’re going to need to loosen our belt buckles.

Thank goodness for the boyfriend jean, the skinny jeans’ worst enemy! Dress them up or down for because they are amongst the most versatile pieces you can own.

Dress it down with some Oxfords and a cute top or blazer. They should be slightly baggy, but not falling down! Hence where the belt comes in, extra kudos if there’s an embellished buckle.

The boyfriend jean can even make your man jealous of how good you look in them when you put on a cute pair of heels! Just remember: no matter how roughed up your boyfriend jeans are, they can always be polished up with other pieces.

Fit Tips:

• Show off the shoes by rolling your pants up a little! 
• Make sure that the waistband falls on your hip bones, not too low.
• They should be loose all around, but not loose enough to be mistaken for harem pants!

The boyfriend jean gives all of us an excuse to buy leftover Valentine’s chocolate, right? So go ahead, have a Godiva night in. Your jeans have room for it!

PHOTOS:

Fashionologie.com

Twitter.com/SteveMaddenUSA

Work it Out - Perfect Running Gear

Now that Valentine’s Day is over, it’s time to get back to those New Year’s resolutions and work off all of that chocolate we indulged in.  While we’re working up a sweat, it’s incredibly important for us to look good as well.  I’m a sucker for bright colors, especially when I’m outside running.  I like reflective clothes and stuff I can be easily spotted in.  It’s important to be safe as well as stylish!  Finding cute workout gear is a great way to get motivated into the gym, out to the trail, or to the living room to pop in a workout DVD.  Find out what inspires us below!

1.  Nike Low-Rise Capris, $27

2.  Apple iPod Nano, $139

3.  WeSC Bongo Headphones, $60

4.  Nike Ripstop Running Jacket, $54

5.  Nike T-shirt, $28

6.  Brooks Pure Cadence Running Shoes, $120

7.  Brooks Pure Cadence Running Shoes, $120

8.  Nike Running Hoodie,  $65

9.  Brooks Infiniti Shorts, $44

Grammys Trend: Back to Black

Sunday’s Grammy Awards had one dominant color — BLACK. Whether stars payed homage to the late Whitney Houston or simple opted for an elegant feel, this color is always VIP at any red carpet.

Here are some of the show stoppers of the night:

Rihanna in Armani: RiRi collaborated with Mr. Armani for this sexy number, which was inspired by Michelle Pfeiffer’s character in ‘Scarface.’ Love the deep V-neck and slit.

Gwyneth Paltrow in Stella McCartney: This dress is simple, yet elegant and it looks magnificent with the gold belt cinched at the waist. 

Alicia Keys in Alexandre Vauthier: The black and gold trend continues, and this songstress also accentuated her look with Christian Louboutin heels. 

Adele in Georgio Armani: The night’s big winner opted for a figure-flattering Armani gown that simply looked stunning. 

Jennifer Hudson in Alexander McQueen: The Grammy and Oscar winner chose a form fitting McQueen to sing one amazing tribute to Whitney Houston. And We must say that she simply looked divine.

Julianne Hough in Kaufman Franco: The dancing diva made an entrance in a sleek Kaufman Franco design with lots of textures. Her look was kept minimal with a simple metallic manicure and small earrings. 

Jessie J in Julien Macdonald: This popstar chose a dark silver number filled with appliques that sparkled all night long. The look was completed with a Lulu Guinness clutch. 

Corinne Bailey Rae in Christian Siriano: Although the singer didn’t watch ‘Project Runway,’ she instantly loved Siriano’s designs. She thought this LBD was playful and was happy to have an occasion to wear it. 

Where My Girls At? What to Wear on a Girl’s Night Out

No date for Valentine’s Day?  No sweat!  Grab some girlfriends and celebrate the best people in life – your ladies!  Whether you want to go to a swanky dinner, hit the bowling alley, or stay in watching movies and drinking wine, we have an outfit for you. 

Night on the Town

Bright colors continue to dominate the fashion world, so make a statement with a bright dress and even brighter shoes.  Wear this out to dinner, followed by drinks, followed by dancing, followed by … wherever the night takes you.  Wrap dresses are universally flattering and the deep v neck will accentuate great collarbones or décolletage.

·         Dress:  Tara Jarmon, $390, stylebop.com

·         Shoes: Steve Madden, $99, macys.com

·         Bag:  Vivienne Westwood, $355,  repertoire.com

·         Bangles:  Charter Club, $28, macys.com

·         Necklace:   Jane Hollinger, $360, ylang23.com

Bowling & Beers

Keep it casual while still looking festive.  Colored pants, a fun and chunky sweater, calf length boots and quirky accessories make this a perfect look for a laid back night of bowling, beers, and pizza.  Calf length boots and colored pants are super trendy right now, so strike while it’s hot!

·         Bag:   BCBGeneration, $60, dsw.com

·         Necklace:  Ted Baker, $52, asos.com

·         Sweater:  Fairisle, $15, garage.com

·         Ring:  American Eagle, $9.5, ae.com

·         Watch:  Michael Kors, $280, johnlewis.com

·         Jeans:  Current/Elliott, $113, my-wardrobe.com

·         Boots:  Fiorenti and Baker, $565, gravitypope.com

Girl’s Night In

So you don’t feel like braving the crowds, the fixed menus at restaurants, or seeing red heart balloons everywhere.  Why not stay in, make great finger foods, open your favorite wine, and watch some movies with your best friends?  Stay in and stay casual while still being your fashionable self.

·         Sweater:  Marc by Marc Jacobs, $157, stylebop.com

·         Leather Bracelet:  Presh, $70, endless.com

·         Cuff:  Full Tilt, $19.99, tillys.com

·         Oxfords:  Gee WaWa, $79.50, shirise.com

·         Boyfriend Jeans:  Old Navy, $35, oldnavy.com

Fit Some Valentine Love into Your Wardrobe!

Valentine’s Day celebrates all kinds of love. So it doesn’t matter if that means showing a little love to a significant other, best friend, or yourself! Fit into your best look this Valentine’s Day as a “You’re welcome, I love you too” gift to the world and yourself.

This A-Line dress Spenser is wearing works great with some strappy wedges and a good time!

J. Crew knows how to prep up some snakeskin for a great day look. Who doesn’t want to go out when they’re well accessorized?

Going on a day date? A fun red dress or a warmer sweater collared shirt combo are sure to put you in season’s spirits whether you’re grabbing gelato with the girls or lunch with someone special.  Make sure you stay within the warmer tones (pinks, reds, whites, and occasionally some orange) to stay on track with color trends and holiday theme!

Now’s a better time than ever to opt for a flirty spring dress and give your LBD a break. For extra pizazz, opt for a fun print. Ruching in the middle, seen with Emmy Rossum’s dress, instantly slims the waist. That means more chocolate covered strawberries, right?

Don’t have a hot date? Go out anyways and make someone wish they had made you their Valentine earlier in a red siren-esque dress. Jason Wu created a perfect one for his Fall 2012 collection, making his model look like anything but a sweetheart.

For a perfect fit on your form fitting dress, make sure the lining flatters you! It should naturally have a bit more room below the hips while still showing off your curves. When designers use different fabrics and structures, you get more variety. So don’t be afraid to make it your own, this style can easily be converted from siren to sassy!

Regardless of your plans, show a little love and feel great! There are so many prints and styles to play around with, so what’s love got to do with it, have fun!

Photos:

Fashionologie.com

jcrewing.tumblr.com

Colored Denim: Wear the Rainbow

                        

From the Slopes to the Streets

Ski season is here! There is no reason to look like a schlep on the slopes now that Alpine wear is all the rage. If you are planning a winter mountain getaway or spending the weekends in Colorado, Vermont or even Gstaad, pack plenty of cozy wear with a festive flair.

Ugly sweaters are a thing of the past. Pair them with skinny jeans, snow boots (UGGS are permitted) and a warm scarf and you’ll sure be the hottest gal at the hot chocolate stand — hey you might even snag a few extra marshmallows!

Always remember, when it’s cold, you are bound to wear extra layers so wear something comfortable and true to size. Don’t go for something too snug, as it may not be more cumbersome than cozy. Always make your look fun and add a pop of color to make it stand out from the pack.

Fit Tip Friday: Transition to Spring, Layer Up!

Yesterday was Groundhog’s Day, which told us that we have six weeks until Spring. Loosely translated, that means we only have six weeks to transition our wardrobe to accommodate for some Spring Fever!

To many this can be a daunting task of revamping one’s entire closet, but why does it have to be? With a few layering tips, we here at Fitiquette find layering for your body to be the best way to ease into the new season!

Zara pairs a simple long sleeve with colorful shorts for an easy Winter-Spring look

Long sleeves and shorts are a fun approach to handle the night and day temperature shifts. Wearing a fitted blazer shows off a slimmer midsection, or wearing a looser top hangs nicely if you feel like showing off your legs!



Go ahead, wear your fave spring dress with tights! Pairing a light dress with tights, a cardigan, and heels is a great way to brighten up your day (or night) while being covered up AND showing off the gams.


Mix it up with scarves and colors. No matter what body type your have, a colorful scarf is an easy and fun way to incorporate winter weather with spring spirit! It works when winter has chills your mornings and spring brightens up your afternoons.

Layering is the perfect way to transition to Spring and work with what works best on your body in both season’s pieces. So take advantage while you can and make the most out of two seasons at once!

Photos courtesy of Fashionologie.com

Denim Thursday! Find The Perfect Fit

For most of us jeans shopping can be *almost* as painful as getting a bathing suit or a wedding dress. There are so many questions to consider, such as, cut, color, length and style — but more importantly, am I ultimately going to feel good in them?

Indeed there is a perfect pair for everyone and here is an analysis that hopes to make your next shopping excursion a pleasure!

Jeans for every woman:

Skinny Jeans: Perfect for a woman with long, straight legs. This cut looks particularly well when worn with high heels, as it creates the illusion of longer gams. For the past few years, skinnies were everywhere and many gals wore them tucked inside boots, with long tunics, ballet flats and girly blazers. 

High Waisted Jeans: Another trend making a comeback is wide-leg denim. Made popular in the 1970s, these pants sit tightly on the waist while flaring on the bottom. This is a look that is ultra feminine and form-fitting. Pair it with a button-down blouse or even a tight t-shirt, and it’s a perfect ensemble for the weekend or even for work places that are more casual. 

Boyfriend Jeans: This style is baggy and loose and works well on every body type. Perfect for a casual setting and even rolled up. Pair it with t-shirts, Chuck Taylors and a cardigan and run errands or even grab coffee with friends. These jeans are perfect for daywear, as they are more geared for comfort than form fitting. As for a nighttime look, a fun fedora, booties and a tee will give it an edgy rocker look. 

Boot Cut Jeans: Nice, classic and clean. This is the one look that will never go out of style. Looks nice with every type of footwear, but it’s not usually worn tucked in like straight or skinny jeans. If you are going for the All-American look, this is the pair to pick. 

The key to a good pair of jeans is for them to sit on the waist or hips, which depends on the rise you choose. If they begin to stretch, it means you bought the wrong size so always remember when researching a particular brand to read reviews and see whether they are true to size. Some European and Asian brands run small, while American brands tend to stretch and go big. 

What About the Wash?

There are many colors when it comes to blue jeans. Dark is usually the most slimming, but if you want something lighter that transitions well into Spring go for a stonewash or a light blue. 

A great trend this past few seasons has been colored denim, which we will cover next week on Denim Thursday. 

PHOTOS: Pinterest