Mad Men Style...

As the journey of the wonderful show Mad Men draws to a close in the next couple of weeks, I am looking forward to seeing what will happen with some of my favorite characters, including Don, Betty & Joan!  But another thing I'm waiting for is the fashions they will be showcasing.  I love the clothes the characters wear from this era and love how they make them look fresh and chic.  The show has inspired a comeback of fashion from that time, and it's great to see the feminine silhouettes back in fashion again (for me they never stopped being in fashion!).

The show was a huge hit when it first aired a few years ago, and not just because of the amazing storylines!  The fashion became a huge hit too, and before we knew it Mad Men inspired fashions were everywhere!  As you know I am a big fan of the show and the incredible fashions they have unveiled that are reminisent of that exciting era!  I love the beautiful hour glass shape of Joan and the clothes she wears to show off her curves.  Betty Draper is the epitomy of class in her stylish and retro outfits.  She proves that you can even look chic when horseriding, which is no easy feat!!  And Peggy is cute in her flirty and almost prim buttoned up work outfits!  I love the fact that these fashions show that it's okay to look feminine, and for those of us with Joan's bodytype, that it's okay to wear figure hugging clothes and show off those beautiful curves instead of keeping them hidden under baggy, shapeless clothes!  This is what women are supposed to look like ladies, so don't try to hide it!  Be proud of your inner sex goddess and show it off!!!  Take a look at these gorgeous looks inspired by the stars of this great show...

Monaco Blue for Spring!

Monaco blue - love this color.  This shade of blue is great for this time of year, and makes you feel brighter and lighter just looking at it!  I love any shade of blue, but this shade reminds me of the colors of the beautiful Greek Islands, with the sparkling blue ocean and skies that you see there.

Monaco blue can be worn in many different ways, whether you just want to add it as an accent piece with a pair of shoes or a purse, or by wearing a pair of skinny jeans or a bold T-shirt.  Want to wear all blue?  Wear a belted sheath dress in this color and you'll be sure to look and feel great!  Little can go wrong with this gorgeous hue, so give it a try this spring!

Take a look at some of these looks in Monaco blue and try it out yourself...

Lizzy's Graduation Shopping Trip!

Today I worked with new client Lizzy, who was looking for two dresses.  First, she wanted a white dress for her graduation later this month, and secondly, another more formal dress for a scholarship dinner.  Lizzy admitted to me that she is not used to 'dressing up' and usually dons jeans and t-shirts and generally more casual attire, and she was unsure of where to look for the outfits she needs or what would suit her.  What I loved about working with Lizzy is that she was very open to suggestions and to trying something new.  It always makes it easier when working with people who are open to trying different things, because sometimes this helps understand what works for you and what doesn't.

Below you'll see some of the dresses we tried.  There were a lot of choices for white dresses, but I wanted something fun and flirty for her, something that would be age appropriate and flattering.  After trying many dresses, we decided on a simple white dress that had a ruffle along the neckline and a hi-low hemline detail that is currently very on trend.  The dress came with a tan belt, but I didn't like the belt and thought it cheapened the look of the dress, so I suggested getting a different belt that would be more of an accent.  The dress was from Macy's, but for the belt we went to White House Black Market and found a great belt that had a red and pink flower detail that was a great pop of color and accent detail.  To pull it all together we also found a pair of red wedge sandals (also from WHBM), and when she tried it all on together she looked fab!

For the second outfit I thought it would be nice to add some color and I found a beautiful royal blue Calvin Klein dress dress that looked amazing with her skin tone.  The dress was more fitted and had ruching at the waist area which is always flattering, and had an asymmetrical cut-out in the neckline area that was a nice detail that made it more youthful.  The red shoes we bought from WHBM also worked well with this dress by adding height and an extra splash of color.  This outfit, though more formal than the other one, was also age appropriate and flattering for her body-type.

Lizzy was very happy with the final choices we made and I look forward to seeing her graduation pictures and seeing how beautiful she looks!

Take a look at some of the pictures we took from our shopping trip.

This is Lizzy before her major 'trying on' session of dresses

Another 'before' photo of Lizzy getting ready to try on outfits

This first blue dress she tried on we liked, but preferred the second one's fit and  neckline detail that you'll see further below.

This form fitting dress was also in the running, but we weren't completely happy with the fit.  Also, I thought something more youthful would be better.

This was the dress we finally went with, that had the cut-out detail at the neckline.

This was the white dress we chose.  This is the  dress paired with the pink/red belt and red shoes.

Another shot of the white dress...lovely!

This is the blue dress worn with the red shoes.

A final shot of the blue dress with red shoes.....fabulous!

This month's color...Poppy!

I'm loving this month's color of the moment!  This full-throttle red gives major impact to everything from next-generation colorblocking to spring shifts and sportif shapes.

Extroverted poppy marries the sex appeal of crimson with the cheerfulness of orange, and let's face it ladies, after the winter we've been experiencing here in the 'burgh we are in dire need of something cheerful that will lift us out of the winter blues!

Combine it liberally with black, white, and shades of pink, but know that this red reads crisp and chic, whether it's turning your staples into statement pieces or reinventing your whole look with a pair of peep-toe pumps.  It also plays well with graphic prints in strong shapes.  For a more sophisticated clash, try a hit of blush or light gray.

Check out how to work this divine color into your wardrobe this month...