A Diva State of Mind

It’s great to help clients get their wardrobes ready for a new season, but it’s even more fun helping them put together a look for a special occasion. My clients James and Celia attended a surprise birthday party this past Saturday. The dress code called for no jeans. Here are the looks we created.

James wanted to channel his inner GQ for the birthday party. Although we could have tailored pants he currently had in his closet and found a vest, James wanted a new outfit from head to toe and I completely understood. Sometimes when you know you have an event to go to, you just want a new outfit.  We spent a couple hours shopping earlier this month which resulted in a nice Tommy Hilfiger navy pinstriped three-piece suit (the jacket wasn’t necessary for the party), grey shirt and grey pinstriped tie. The look was completed with brown shoes and belt.

One great thing about having James as a client is that I am consistently challenged. I’m well versed in woman’s wear, but certain things like men’s suiting was a new avenue for me. It was also new territory for James since he’s lost weight last year and is working on dressing a new body.

When Celia first heard about the party, she was ready to go shopping for a gown!! But after seeking some clarification on the wardrobe, it was determined that she did not in fact need a gown; she just needed to dress up.

Last year, I found a black Urban Outfitters jumpsuit on sale for Celia which served as the perfect option for her to wear to the party. We went shopping earlier this month to find heels & accessories. After trying shoes on for what seemed like hours, we found a pair of black pumps from Nine West that had a black/white chevron design on the heels. Since she LOVES mixing prints, I recommended she purchase the Love, Cortie “Ashleigh” clutch.  Celia is in need of more clutches to her wardrobe arsenal anyway and since animal print is a neutral, she will get a lot of use out of the clutch.  The look was completed with black earrings from ASOS and a gold ring and cuff from Macy’s.

Celia really does become another person when she gets dressed up and shows off her new figure! I love the confidence she exudes every time she takes a photo.  It’s very different from the woman I met a year ago. Such a transformation!

Both James and Celia looked great at Saturday’s party if I do say so myself! ;) Their enthusiasm and upbeat personalities makes styling them so much fun! They own every look they wear. I am looking forward to more GQ moments and fabulousness with these two this year!

Special offer: schedule a styling appointment now through April 26th and save 20% off! For more info on styling services, visit www.styledbykeri.com.

Bobby Pen invites you to escape your busy life for an afternoon of pampering.  Guests will enjoy a brunch station, manicures & eyebrow waxing by Sassy Nails Salon & Spa, chair massages by therapist Sean White and more!

Gather your girlfriends for a fun afternoon of pampering!

Date: Sunday, April 6, 2014

Time: 12:00pm - 4:00pm

Location: Penn Social (801 E Street NW Washington, DC)

Tickets: $35 click here to purchase

Although it snowed on Tuesday, it is officially spring! Which means if you haven’t done so already, now is the time to start working on your wardrobe. The start of a new season warrants a time to take inventory of what’s currently hanging in your closet and look for ways to incorporate the season’s trends (of course ones you can wear year after year) into your wardrobe.

Here’s a list of the hottest trends of the season!

Crop Tops

Do a crunch or two because crop tops are here! This is probably the season’s hottest trends. Crop tops are everywhere. Keep the look classy and feminine, by pairing them with high waisted skirts or pants allowing just a little bit of skin to show.

Pastels

While we are used to seeing bright colors during the warmer months, this year is all about pastels. Infuse this trend into your wardrobe with pastel dresses, shirts and jackets. If you don’t want to spend the money on apparel, add a pastel scarf or printed pastel scarf to your wardrobe; this will allow you to incorporate the trend without feeling like you’re fully committing to it like you would if you purchased a dress.

Florals

It wouldn’t be spring without florals. Like leather is a fall staple, florals are most certainly a spring staple! Have fun with floral dresses and tops. You can also switch things up and look to add florals to your wardrobe with a new floral clutch or shoes with floral details.

All White

Between pastels and all white, this spring season is all about clean lines. In this case, less is more! All white is a major trend this season and I think it’s one of the sexiest. You can wear dresses or tops with pants, skirts and shorts.

Tomboy Chic (aka sporty chic)

Love mesh, sweatshirts, bomber jackets, track pants and chunky heels? Then this trend is for you! Tomboy chic plays on the balance between masculine and feminine details. Pair bomber jackets with shorts, boxy tops with slim pants or mesh tops with skirts to create the perfect tomboy chic outfit.

Geometric Prints

Every spring season it’s all about prints! This year, along with florals, the focus will be on geometric prints. I’m glad to see geometric prints are popular this season; it is something different than traditional stripes. Geometric prints adds a breath of fresh air to the print trend as a whole.

Sheer

Another sexy silhouette this season is sheer. Discretely show skin in a sexy but classy way with sheer tops and skirts or with pieces that have sheer panels.

Suiting

The popularity of suits returns this season. But don’t be shy when it comes to your suiting options. Experiment with color and print this season; meaning you can have fun with colors other than black, grey and navy. Remember, visit a tailor; fit is key to looking great in a suit!

Will you be incorporating any of this year’s trends into your wardrobe?

Last week I mentioned I’ll be one of the guest speakers for the Love Your Life Tour DC. Hosted by Fem-Pow!er Movement CEO Kenesha Williams, this event will help you tap into your personal power through relationships, personal style and finances. You’ll also enjoy a continental breakfast and have the opportunity to network with other awesome women in attendance.

I would love for you to join me for this morning of empowerment! Purchase your ticket this week and receive $10 off your ticket price using discount code DIVAS. Click HERE to purchase your ticket.

I hope to see you and your friends on Saturday, April 19th!

We don’t often see trench coats with a feminine flair. “Traditional” trench coats are single breasted with a belt but don’t offer much else in terms of design. Although traditional, that can get boring at times.

Whitney is on the hunt for a feminine black trench coat and asked that if I found any to send them her way. While there aren’t too many feminine coats out there, I did find a few that offer fun feminine details like high/low hems, exaggerated collars, skater skirt silhouettes, ruffles and more.

If you’re like Whitney and want a less traditional black trench coat this spring season, check out these offerings below: 

More T Tahari…

A few years ago I came across the Dareen Hakim collection via social media. I loved collection of handbags and clutches so I reached out to designer Dareen Hakim for an interview (read it here). Since that interview, I kept in touch with Dareen and her team and last October I finally had a chance to meet her!

On a nice October day, I caught an early bus to NYC to visit. I arrived in the city around 1pm and headed straight to the Dareen Hakim offices. Dareen and her Marketing Director  Farah were so pleasant! We had a great time sitting around talking for hours about the collection, styling, fashion and more!

Farah introduced the current collection to me and allowed me to take a look at each piece. Dareen Hakim pieces are currently sold in 30 countries and 300 stores including  Charmed Boutique in Georgetown. I was impressed when I first saw the collection online; I was even more impressed seeing it in person. Sumptuous leathers, arabesque calligraphy, dramatic hues all form the basis of style for each creation. 

I had a great time taking a day trip to NYC to visit Dareen Hakim and Farah! I hope to visit them again this year.

Be sure to check out the entire FW13/SS14 collection HERE.

Although I sent this offer via my newsletter, I wanted to make sure I shared it with you in case you currently don’t receive the newsletter, which you should! You can sign up here.

Although it snowed on Monday, according to the calendar, today is the first day of Spring! That means if you haven’t done so already, it’s time to get your wardrobe ready for the new season. To help you get a head start on preparing your wardrobe for spring, I am offering a special discount!

If you need help putting together new looks with your current wardrobe, learning how to mix and match or need to update your wardrobe, I am here to help! All appointments booked now through April 26, 2014 will be 20% off!! All new clients will receive a FREE style consultation prior to their first appointment. 

Please click HERE for more information on styling services available. To schedule your consultation and to book an appointment call 301-836-1451 or email me at [email protected]. I look forward to helping you put your best foot forward this springs season!

Now that we know Radiant Orchid is the color of the year, you may be wondering “how can I incorporate this color into my wardrobe?”

Some may be interested in featuring the color via accessories. Others may like the idea of buying garments that have radiant orchid in them like dresses or skirts. Whatever your desire, I hope these outfit suggestions will provide inspiration on how to wear this year’s color during the spring season.

I really like the idea of incorporating the color of the year in an outfit with accessories. Two of spring’s hottest trends this season are crop tops and wearing all white so for this first look I thought it would be fun to combine the two.  All white is sexy ladies! Pair white pants with a white crop top. Add pops of color to the look by adding radiant orchid jewelry and a bold clutch. Bring the look together with gold and bronze accents: shoes, sunglasses, bronzer and aviator sunglasses.  I didn’t include a statement necklace because I did’t want to distract the eye too much from the all white silhouette.

The easiest way to dress up a pair of jeans is by pairing them heels and a cute top. This is what I like to call a casual chic look. Dress up your favorite pair of straight leg jeans (more flattering than skinny jeans) with a printed top and silver heels (on my wish list). Although the shirt is printed, it is not extremely bright so you can add a radiant orchid bag to add a pop of color to the ensemble. Another big trend this season is pink, purple and berry lipsticks. Add your favorite lipstick for another pop of color. Don’t forget your trench for those cooler spring days!

You can wear a radiant orchid dress but that may get boring after awhile. Instead, opt for a printed dress that includes this year’s color. Prints are more fun and never go out of style for the spring season, so you will more likely wear a printed dress year after year than a solid radiant orchid dress. Since the dress like the one below is such a statement piece, keep your jewelry and makeup neutral. You can include a neutral clutch; for those that are a fan of mixing colors and prints, pair the printed dress with a clutch or purse in a bright color.

I have seen different shades of radiant orchid online. Most sites feature items in the hue I’ve shown above, but some variations show radiant orchid to be close to the color fuchsia. If you’re a fan of fuchsia, this last outfit may be right up your alley. Florals will always be associated with the spring season, so you can pair an a-line (remember, a-line skirts are flattering on most body types) floral skirt with a blouse that is the same color as one of the flowers in the skirt. Showcase your love for radiant orchid or a variation of the color by pairing the outfit with fabulous sandals. Keep the look lady like with pearl earrings and a pearl bracelet. Since the shirt and shoes bring so much color to the outfit, keep the makeup light with a nude gloss and neutral eye shadow palette. This is a great outfit for those who like to brunch after church!

What do you think of these looks? Are you feeling inspired to incorporate radiant orchid into your wardrobe this spring season?

Topshop and Adidas have teamed up to create a new spring collection and I must say that I am impressed! The collection is sporty chic, comprised of printed pants, sweatshirts, tanks, high top sneakers and more.

“Topshop and Adidas Originals working together is a total celebration of the greatness of fashion and sportswear and how important and influential they are to each other,” said Topshop creative director and Vogue contributing fashion editor Kate Phelan. “We wanted to bring some femininity to the range and make the collection fit with all your fashion staples; the beauty is in how you combine it together. We’re in a sportswear revolution at the moment. Fashion is really driven by what’s happening in the sportswear world, it’s at the top of the radar in the fashion stakes - so to have Adidas Originals as a starting point was fantastic.”

The printed pants and graphic sweatshirts featured in the collection are right up my alley! Check out the collection below:

The collection launches in stores March 20, 2014.  Are there any pieces you want to add to your wardrobe?

Source: Vogue UK

If you are in the DC area, I’d like to invite you to join me at my table for the Safe Shores’ Cherishing Childhood Breakfast on Tuesday, April 22, 2014 from 8:00am to 9:30am.

This is a free breakfast for those who are compassionate about the welfare of their community and want to learn more about the organization. Safe Shores was the beneficiary of last month’s Brunch For A Cause. The organization works tirelessly to support children and families who are victims of abuse; the work they do is truly amazing.

Safe Shores is a direct service nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and working directly with child victims of sexual and physical abuse in the District of Columbia. Through its child-friendly facility and multidisciplinary team approach, Safe Shores coordinates the work of medical and mental health providers, social services professionals, victim advocates, law enforcement, and prosecution officials to reduce trauma and promote healing for child victims of abuse.

Although this is a free breakfast it is also a fundraiser; guests will be asked to consider making a contribution, however no minimum and maximum gift is required. We simple want people to attend and learn more about the incredible programs and valuable services Safe Shores provides in the community.

If you are available on Tuesday, April 22nd for breakfast, I would love for you to join me!! Please email me at [email protected]. If you have friends that are also interested in attending, please let me know and I will add them to the guest list as well.  The location of the breakfast will be provided once you RSVP. I hope you’re able to attend!

Learn more about Safe Shores by visit www.safeshores.org