7 Things I Learned from the People StyleWatch Event

Posted on September 13, 2011 by Lena

We have now finished our second week of the People StyleWatch Celebrity Stylist Event. We launched the program last March (in 6 cities) giving one-on-one style advice through individual consultations. (All complimentary to the public—THANK YOU to our sponsors for this!) I am running the Detroit market. After having spent a significant amount of time at Twelve Oaks, here are a few things I’ve recently learned.

1. Popping your collar is no longer for preppy polo wearing high schoolers. Add length to a short neck or interest to your jacket. Such a small change, yet it makes a better difference.

sporting the Glamour Shots pose

2. 100 dogs a month are adopted from Petland. I know! I was surprised too. And happy to hear each one gets taken home.

3. If you have a lightweight material dress, try wearing it as a top under a skirt—extend the life of your purchases (and prevent you from being bored with your clothes).

4. The Kardashians launched a clothing line at Sears last week. Everything is spelled with a “K”—shocker! There’s lots of leopard…pieces are about $100. I overheard people being pissed about that. I wonder how the line will do.

5. Where would teenagers go if malls did not exist? School has been in session for one week; why do all girls already have their homecoming dresses?

6. I am pleasantly surprised by GAP’s overhaul on their designs, really. I am using quite a few of their styles inside our Denim Bar. The material is amazing! (And by that I mean, super soft and doesn’t loose its elasticity—you can wear something a few times and it doesn’t become loose/sag.) I’ve been wearing their wide-legged 1969 jeans. They are high-waisted, mega flare, and have a center seam (that makes it look more expensive). Recommend.

I also like their olive green riding pants. Suede patches on the inside of your legs? Sounds frightening, right? I was surprised at how versatile they can be (worn with heels, flat boots and so on).

7. A strong looking necklace can wake up a basic sweater & corduroy combo.

If you want to know how to wear…anything! (yes, specifically for your body & your lifestyle), then get thyself to one of our locations. Only two more weekends in September left!

People StyleWatch Magazine Events

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Vote For Me In Lucky Magazine

Posted on August 28, 2011 by Lena

Lucky magazine is in need of a Lifestyle Contributor. I read the description, it seems right up my alley, so I’m going for it.

My first assignment was to write about your everyday look (for work, family, hanging out). Then write about how to make the transformation into a ‘glamorous’ look through your hair, makeup & outfit.

You can vote for me here: Lucky Life Contributor

Or if you don’t like me enough to vote without reading my entry, then read below…then vote!

“Now that I think about it, I’m actually embarrassed as to how many times, I’ve shown up in this ensemble. The nice thing is that no one has seen me wear it more than once. This is the beauty of my lifestyle—I can be a repeat offender! Ha.

I’m able to pull this off for these reasons:

I work from home and therefore I don’t see the same group of people on a daily basis. I run a style consultancy, and part of the service of my job is that I come to you. I’m meeting with clients in their homes or offices, collaborating with like-minded people on new projects over lunch and pulling clothes from various shops to create a look the client would like to achieve.

I have to look legit, but not intimidate. Before I walk out the door, I make sure that I can hang with the savvy fashion conscious but also feel down-to-earth and approachable.

A quick dissection from the bottom up:

Shoes: I love wedge shoes. Doesn’t matter what season we’re in. They are casual enough that you don’t look like a diva (which sometimes happens in heels) but they are also have an element of dressiness. If I’m going to lunch or dinner with friends, it works. If I’m seeing a client somewhere informal like his/her house, it’s acceptable. If I’m walking into a high rise office building, I don’t feel like a hillbilly. Also, because I outfit so many of my clients in custom clothes, having a shoe that gives me some height helps when I am measuring [people taller than me].

Skirt: Have any of your clothes surprised you? I bought this skirt in the beginning of the season. I ran into Target to pick something up. (I think shampoo; this was when I was going through my paraben/sulfate-free product phase). Then this piece caught my eye. It’s not amazing or anything but it’s a 2 in 1. I felt I could get some serious use out of it over the summer—tube top dress style for bbq’s or to throw on over my swim suit and high-waisted skirt style for…anything else? I love the length. Maxi’s are great, but I was sick of that summer look, so this cropped version became my ideal.

Top: I’m smaller up top. (Which you probably can’t tell as this bra is waay padded.) Therefore, wearing large scale stripes with wider space gives the look of a bigger top. Also, I like the mix of pairing two different types of stripes.

* I have also subbed in this crop top on a few occasions. Not ideal for business but for dinner or outdoor festivities—yes.

Jewelry: Simple jewelry here. Because the length is short enough, the necklace draws the attention up towards my face, after all, that’s where I want people to be looking (especially when I am talking)!

When we’re talking about the solid grey crop top, then yes (!) we most definitely need a necklace with some presence.

Bracelet: Bracelets are the accessory that I find myself always gravitating towards while shopping. This is weird, because it’s the item that I have the most of; I really should be looking for earrings. I opted for a simple bangle. When I’m talking with my hands or pointing/showing clothes to people, I don’t want this big bangely, noisey bunch of bracelets distracting anyone from what I’m saying.

Hat: Hats are funny. They give off a vibe that says you ‘know what you’re doing.’ But really, a lot of times people wear hats because their hair wasn’t working out or they haven’t showered.

Glamourous side: Glamour can mean different things to different people. For me, it’s about rich textures and exotic material. This vintage mink & leather coat (inherited from my Aunt Stella) is the most luxuuuurious item I own. The bias cut, light carmel fur evenly separated by its leather panels, a long length that screams ‘timeless’—oh it’s heaven!

Mixing metals and fabrics (lace, leather, velvet, fur, sequins (?))—try it! Even if in small doses.

In terms of makeup, I always think of that little piece of advice we’ve all heard as teenagers, ‘Your lips or your eyes, but not both.’ Deep lip colors and soft metallic eyes or a pale glossy lip and attention on the lashes—those combos seem the most alluring.

For hair, instead of wearing it ‘down’ with volume, why not pull it back and off of your face?”

So vote here: Lucky Life Contributor

Thanks everyone!

Lena

 

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Peacocking & Other Style ‘Rules’

Posted on August 23, 2011 by Lena

As most of you know, the September issues of fashion magazines—male or female, are the thickest of the year. This excites me.

Trends change (more so for women), but the format of the magazines remain the same. For men, it’s always some time of ‘guide’ or ‘rules’ of style.

One of the first magazines I tackled was Men’s Health. (It just happen to be on the top of the pile.) These are their ‘rules’ that I want to highlight:

  1. “It’s more important to look good every day than to look different every day.”
  2. “Wear a tie when you’re asking for money.”
  3. “A man wears a watch. (Match the watch to your look.)”
  4. “Bosses wear white shirts. Drones wear blue shirts. That’s why they’re called ‘white collar’ and ‘blue collar.’”
  5. Keep a set of clean clothes in your car or office. You never know when you’ll spill mustard on yourself…or your boss. (I added that last part.)

Of the 58 rules, the one that caught my eye was #23 ‘Dare to be noticed.’ This advice was given by Neil Strauss, author of The Game, his 2005 bestseller about a secret subculture of pickup artists. Have you ever seen the show, The Pickup Artist? Complete comedy! I remember my roommate & I watching…as ‘terms’ where given for how to get a girl to talk to you by offending her (a neg), keeping her interested (push-pull), and techniques for closing (kiss close).

As a ‘two-set,’ we both agreed that if a guy wearing a fuzzy costume hat or cape approached us at the bar, we probably wouldn’t give him enough time to show us his ‘magic tricks’ with or without his sidekick, Matador!

The technique of wearing something amusing to use as your ‘opener’ is called peacocking. By wearing, aviation goggles (?) you are letting someone ‘open’ you…

 

If you push away all this nonsense and really get to the point, much of it does make sense…to a certain degree.

As you read peoples’ rules of style and ways to get her to go home with you, or just text you back, remember that the best piece of advice is to wear your confidence. When you put something on and you feel ready to see and be seen, those are the right clothes. (Even if someone else thinks it’s ridiculous!)

(Yes, I do feel like I just gave a pep talk to a recently broken-hearted friend. Ha. But I meant everything I said.)

 

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New Favorite Accessory: My Engagement Ring

Posted on August 16, 2011 by Lena

Yes, that’s right. I’m getting hitched! My (now) fiancé proposed on August 4 in front of a lighthouse in Portland, Maine. It’s a pretty cool story…

I had known this was coming, for several reasons actually. One of them being because I recently picked out my ring. Scratch that—I put it on HOLD. I know that sounds terribly, ballsy? of me. And honestly, years ago when my girlfriends and I would sit around and wonder who we would be with (and who would be the first to get married), we also questioned how the whole ring buying would go down.

For the guys reading this, yes, it does sound a bit nauseating. This is what young single women discuss over multiple bottles of wine. To the female readers, you know what I’m talking about.

We used to chat about things like, how would we get him to know what kind of ring we liked? Do we pick it out together? Is that anti-climatic? Do I show my craziness and drop hints all over the damn places hoping he gets ‘it’? Do I make sure my best friend, sister or nearest female knows of the style I like as to avoid any unwanted surprises? And of course, there’s always the girl that says she wouldn’t care what it looked like. (Most everyone else in the group was annoyed by this.)

Do Americans place a high importance on every part of the engagement process? Yes. Is some of it waaay out of hand? Absolutely. Is some of it actually kind of fun? I hope so.

When I was younger, I did not picture me putting a ring on hold like some kind of ‘this is what you are getting me’ take charge woman. But you know what? I’m glad I did it that way. What started as a mere, ‘I have no clue what shape I like, I guess I should take my friend’s advice and go to the antique shop down the street so I can try them on and give my boyfriend some feedback.’ turned into me getting the first ring I ever tried.

The point that I want to make here is that ladies should know what they want and not be afraid to let the person in your life know it. I think of the male clients I work with and I can’t imagine someone telling any of them that they will have to wear something for the rest of their lives; they have no say in it; they will get it as a surprise, and will have to like it. (Oh and everyone they know and even people they don’t know, will want to see it.) Why should women have to like being surprised? If it’s a birthday present, fine. But for an engagement ring? It just makes no sense.

The story of the day I tired on rings is quite entertaining or maybe just how my little sister tells it. One thing I learned is that you really have to try on different shapes as you may like a particular shape, but not how it looks on your hand. Also, if you walk into a jewelry shop…with your sister…wearing a sports bra (hey, we were on a bike ride), people will think you have a fictitious boyfriend and that you just want to play ‘dress up’ with rings. Awesome feeling…no.

My ring is vintage (from the 1920s). I love it. I’m obsessed with it. Thank God Mike did go back and get it (because I would stare at the picture I took of it on my phone. See, there’s a little bit of crazy in us all.)

If you are looking for jewelry now, or plan to be in the future, I would highly recommend going to see Pamela at her shop, Antiques by Pamela in Rochester, MI. Inside, you’ll find an eclectic mix of new and old. Because it’s only stocked with ‘one-of’’ pieces, they sell quickly. (Hence, the need for the hold, ha.)

Pamela is a certified Gemologist, so I listen to the woman! When you have nice things, you want them to stay nice. The first few days of having this ring, I was so afraid I would ruin it. I.E. When washing my hands, I would take off the ring and hold it in my mouth until I had dried my hands. Ridiculous, I know.

I’m learning bridal sites/magazines can be filled with nonsense. Upon reading that vodka and a toothbrush can clean your diamond, I consulted with Pamela on this. Her response, ‘No vodka! Just in my martini!’

Another phrase I’ve heard a few times from her, ‘It’s the first thing you take off  in the house and the last thing you put on before you walk out the door.’ That may be a little too cautious for some, but she stresses not to wear your ring in the shower (shampoo/conditioner cause soap scum build up) or while you sleep (not sure why on this one?). She is also giving me a bottle of some type of cleaner. If it works well, I will post the name of it. So all of you can have sparkly gems!

 

 

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DIY Barn Wedding

Posted on July 12, 2011 by Lena

Last weekend I was ‘up north’ (Charlevoix, MI) at a wedding…on a lake, then in a barn. There’s a lot of topics to pull from here: what to wear in such an environment (type of shoes, does outdoor automatically mean informal, what to pack—hello, bug spray!) but right now I just want to highlight some of the adorable DIY accents that tied into the reception.

Yes, it’s the couple’s day—that’s very P.C. to say though. Let’s be honest, it’s about the bride. When you walk into the reception, you should be able to say, ‘Oh, this is so (insert name of bride)!’ It may not fit with your taste, but most brides strive for a theme.

The couple that was married last weekend is very ‘outdoorsy.’ They live in Salt Lake City and seem to always be hiking, biking or skiing some sort of mountain. The bride has a laid back/vintage flair, which was seen in the ring, the dress and the 1920s band that played.

I believe that, at times, the term DIY can get a bad rap. DIY (do-it-yourself) doesn’t mean you are poor, like to knit creepy things then sell them on Etsy nor enjoy putting your bridesmaids to work—wait, ok, sometimes it does mean all that, but not always.

This may be a very old school way of thinking, but if you want something done a specific way, then why not do it yourself? A friend of mine styles creative displays for weddings and while she amazes me with the themes she draws up, so many brides come to her armed with an exact vision. People aren’t more creative than they used to be; there are so many more resources now from which to draw inspiration.

I’m writing captions under each picture. Read them if you choose.

craft beer in a canoe–groom's influence

Sure, let's just tie some ribbon on a branch. Easy to spot, easy to set up.

Um, what?

 

the barn

 

the bride, in a corn field

 

I specifically took this pic to show that she had a flower from her belt taken off and used as a hair accessory. ALSO, this dress originally was a strapless, sweatheart neckline. She had it turned into a v-neck, with straps...& the back was a circle...which I don't have a photo of-knew I forgot something!

 

Aww, look at the cute mismatched bar stools that 'come w. the place.'

 

Does anyone else think this is cute? I mean, if you brought it in, no. If it's already up on the wall, yes.

 

I don't remember the whole story, but there was some sort of flower dilemma—like hundreds didn't arrive. Nice improvising!

chocolate covered Michigan cherries—a staple in the area. The bag reads: 'and they lived happily ever after.' The only people who weren't happy, the bridesmaids who were stamping these the night before! Kidding, they looked like they were having fun.

private labeling vino "It is better to travel well, than to arrive." my motto?

thumb print wedding tree: it starts off bare and then guests put their thumb print & name on it. A nice change for a guest book.

 

 

 

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What Tree Did You Fall From?

Posted on July 7, 2011 by Lena

I was going through old emails and came across one that I wanted to share.

It has nothing to do with clothes, so I hesitated to post it. But it’s just so spot on that I couldn’t resist!

While my family was over to celebrate my dad’s birthday yesterday, we went around and read each person’s ‘tree.’ My sister got pissed when hearing ‘decorative’ and I, admittedly, had to look up the definition of capricious. (not my finest quality!)

The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree…

Find your birthday and then find your tree.

————————————————————————-

| Dec 23 to Jan 01 | Apple Tree |

|————————————+————————————|

Jan 01 to Jan 11 Fir Tree

Jan 12 to Jan 24 Elm Tree

Jan 25 to Feb 03 Cypress Tree

Feb 04 to Feb 08 Poplar Tree

Feb 09 to Feb 18 Cedar Tree

Feb 19 to Feb 28 Pine Tree

Mar 01 to Mar 10 Weeping Willow Tree

Mar 11 to Mar 20 Lime Tree

Mar 21 (only) Oak Tree

Mar 22 to Mar 31 Hazelnut Tree

Apr 01 to Apr 10 Rowan Tree

Apr 11 to Apr 20 Maple Tree

Apr 21 to Apr 30 Walnut Tree

May 01 to May 14 Poplar Tree

May 15 to May 24 Chestnut Tree

May 25 to Jun 03 Ash Tree

Jun 04 to Jun 13 Hornbeam Tree

Jun 14 to Jun 23 Fig Tree

Jun 24 (only) Birch Tree

Jun 25 to Jul 04 Apple Tree

Jul 05 to Jul 14 Fir Tree

Jul 15 to Jul 25 Elm Tree

Jul 26 to Aug 04 Cypress Tree

Aug 05 to Aug 13 Poplar Tree

Aug 14 to Aug 23 Cedar Tree

Aug 24 to Sep 02 Pine Tree

Sep 03 to Sep 12 Weeping Willow Tree

Sep 13 to Sep 22 Lime Tree

Sep 23 (only) Olive Tree

Sep 24 to Oct 03 Hazelnut Tree

Oct 04 to Oct 13 Rowan Tree

Oct 14 to Oct 23 Maple Tree

Oct 24 to Nov 11 Walnut Tree

Nov 12 to Nov 21 Chestnut Tree

Nov 22 to Dec 01 Ash Tree

Dec 02 to Dec 11 Hornbeam Tree

Dec 12 to Dec 21 Fig Tree

Dec 22 (only) Beech Tree

 

TREES (in alphabetical order)

Apple Tree (Love) — quiet and shy at times, lots of charm,

appeal, And attraction, pleasant attitude, flirtatious

smile, adventurous, sensitive, loyal in love, wants to love

and be loved, faithful and tender partner, very generous,

many talents, loves children, needs affectionate partner.

 

Ash Tree (Ambition) — extremely attractive, vivacious,

impulsive, demanding, does not care for criticism,

ambitious, intelligent, talented, likes to play with fate,

can be very egotistic, reliable, restless lover, sometimes

money rules over the heart, demands attention, needs love

and much emotional support.

 

Beech Tree (Creative) — has good taste, concerned about its

looks, materialistic, good organization of life and career,

economical, good leader, takes no unnecessary risks,

reasonable, splendid lifetime companion, keen on keeping fit

(diets, sports, etc.).

 

Birch Tree (Inspiration) — vivacious, attractive, elegant,

friendly, unpretentious, modest, does not like anything in

excess, abhors the vulgar, loves life in nature and in calm,

not very passionate, full of imagination, little ambition,

creates a calm and content atmosphere.

 

Cedar Tree (Confidence ) — of rare strength, knows how to

adapt, Likes unexpected presents, of good health, not in the

least shy, tends to look down on others, self-confident, a

great speaker, determined, often impatient, likes to impress

others, has many talents, industrious, healthy optimism,

waits for the one true love, able to make quick decisions.

 

Chestnut Tree (Honesty) — of unusual stature, impressive,

well-developed sense of justice, fun to be around, a

planner, born diplomat, can be irritated easily, sensitive

of others feelings, hard worker, sometimes acts superior,

feels not understood at times, fiercely family oriented,

very loyal in love, physically fit.

 

Cypress Tree (Faithfulness) — strong, muscular, adaptable,

takes What life has to give but doesn’t necessarily like it,

strives to be content, optimistic, wants to be financially

in dependent, wants love and affection, hates loneliness,

passionate lover which cannot be satisfied, faithful,

quick-tempered at times, can be unruly and careless, loves

to gain knowledge, needs to be needed.

 

Elm Tree (Noble-mindedness ) — pleasant shape, tasteful

clothes, Modest demands, tends not to forgive mistakes,

cheerful, likes to lead but Not to obey, honest and faithful

partner, likes making decisions for others, noble-minded,

generous, good sense of humor, practical.

 

Fig Tree (Sensibility ) — very strong minded, a bit

self-willed, honest, loyal, independent, hates contradiction

or arguments, hard worker when wants to be, loves life and

friends, enjoys children and animals, sexually oriented,

great sense of humor, has artistic talent and great

intelligence.

 

Fir tree (Mysterious) — extraordinary taste, handles stress

well, loves anything beautiful, stubborn, tends to care for

those close to them, hard to trust others, yet a social

butterfly, likes idleness and laziness after long demanding

hours at work, rather modest, talented, unselfish, many

friends, very reliable. Extremely intelligent. Loves life.

 

Hazelnut Tree (Extraordinary ) — charming, sense of humor,

very demanding but can also be very understanding, knows how

to make a lasting impression, active fighter for social

causes and politics, popular, quite moody, sexually

oriented, honest, a perfectionist, has a precise sense of

judgment and expects complete fairness.

 

Hornbeam Tree (Good Taste) — of cool beauty, cares for its

looks and condition, good taste, is not egoistic, makes life

as comfortable as possible, leads a reasonable and

disciplined life, looks for kindness and acknowledgment in

an emotional partner, dreams of unusual lovers, is seldom

happy with its feelings, mistrusts most people, is never

sure of its decisions, very conscientious.

 

Lime Tree (Doubt) – intelligent, hard working, accepts what

life dishes out, but not before trying to change bad

circumstances into good ones, hates fighting and stress,

enjoys getaway vacations, may appear tough, but is actually

soft and relenting, always willing to make sacrifices for

family and friends, has many talents but not always enough

time to use them, great leadership qualities, is jealous at

times but extremely loyal.

 

Maple Tree (Independence of Mind ) — no ordinary person,

full of imagination and originality, shy and reserved,

ambitious, proud, self-confident, hungers for new

experiences, sometimes nervous, has many complexities, good

memory, learns easily, complicated love life, wants to

impress.

 

Oak Tree (Brave) — robust nature, courageous, strong,

unrelenting, independent, sensible, does not like change,

keeps its feet on the ground, person of action.

 

Olive Tree (Wisdom) — loves sun, warmth and kind f!

feelings, reasonable, balanced, avoids aggression and

violence, tolerant, cheerful, calm, well-developed sense of

justice, sensitive, empathetic, free of jealousy, loves to

read and the company of sophisticated people.

 

Pine Tree (Peacemaker) — loves agreeable company, craves

peace and harmony, loves to help others, active imagination,

likes to write poetry, not fashion conscious, great

compassion, friendly to all, falls strongly in love but will

leave if betrayed or lied to, emotionally soft, low

self-esteem, needs affection and reassurance.

 

Poplar Tree (Uncertainty) — looks very decorative,

talented, not very self-confident, extremely courageous if

necessary, needs goodwill and pleasant surroundings, very

choosy, often lonely, great animosity, great artistic

nature, good organizer, tends to lean toward philosophy,

reliable in any situation, takes partnership seriously.

 

Rowan Tree (Sensitivity) — full of charm, cheerful, gifted

without egoism, likes to draw attention, loves life, motion,

urn! est., and even complications, is both dependent and

independent, good taste, artistic, passionate, emotional,

good company, does not forgive.

 

Walnut Tree (Passion) — unrelenting, strange and full of

contrasts, often egotistic, aggressive, noble, broad

horizon, unexpected reactions, spontaneous, unlimited

ambition, no flexibility, difficult and uncommon partner,

not always liked but often admired, ingenious strategist,

very jealous and passionate, no compromise.

 

Weeping Willow (Melancholy) – likes to be stress free, loves

family life, full of hopes and dreams, attractive, very

empathetic, loves anything beautiful, musically inclined,

loves to travel to exotic places, restless, capricious,

honest, can be influenced but is not easy to live with when

pressured, sometimes demanding, good intuition, suffers in

love until they find that one loyal, steadfast partner;

loves to make others laugh.

 

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My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Lena

Have you seen this show? It’s on TLC. I recently watched it for the first time. At the commercial break, I looked at my friend and said, “I just realized I had my mouth open this whole time.” It is ridiculous.

When I hear the word ‘gypsy’ I picture a woman at the Colosseum in Rome holding a crying baby while her other children run around…and try to steal whatever is in my pockets. Ha. These gypsies are different. They refer to themselves as ‘Travellers,’ have strong Irish accents and their wedding dresses…whoa. In the episode I saw, the bride couldn’t fit down the aisle; her dress was too wide. I feel like some of the sentiment is lost when you are fighting to get to the alter, no?

While I found their dresses to be completely tacky, (Glued on applique? 30’ trains? Enormous crowns?) these girls definitely got what they wanted—and isn’t that how most cultures view the big day? Make that bride happy!

Photo: tlc.com

Last week I met a girl who told me she had two wedding dresses, not intentionally. She bought one and while she was waiting for it to come in, found a different dress. Most stores are ‘final sale’ leaving brides in this situation, stuck. I know some of you reading this are in the market for a wedding dress. Take a look at this one and read the description. I mean, for God’s sakes, it’s never even been tried on!

P.S. It’s an A-line cut—the universally flattering style. I especially like the diamonds on the back of the train. If you are interested, please contact Brandi directly: brandi.n.odell@gmail.com

P.P.S. I have nothing to gain from showing this dress, other than helping out two future brides-to-be!

Description: “Mon Cheri 18255s. Ivory, more of an off-white. Brand New with tags. Shipped to the store and never even tried on. Still sitting in a bag at the store. No alterations done. Strapless, empire waist, goddess style. Beading on top of bust, below bust, and 2 diamonds on the back down the train. Light weight. Comfortable. Paid $1,500. Final Sale. Will ship anywhere in US, Canada, US Territories. Accept pay pal. Will take other offers. Bust 36, Waist 28, Hips 42, Height 6′ 0″.

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You Dirty Girl!

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Lena

In a conversation with my brother, he brought up how messy girls can be. Using ex-girlfriends for reference, he pointed out how ridiculous we are, specifically with our ‘3 piles of dirty [clothes]’—dirty but can wear again, dirty but can wear around the house, filthy and needs to be washed.

I’m somewhat of a neat freak, but I realized I too use this system. My brother’s observation was funny, admittedly sad and very true. While I still think we dominate as the cleaner sex, here is my reasoning for each pile; see if you feel me on this one!

1. Dirty but can wear again.

‘Hey, I wore this to lunch only!’ We girls do tend to unknowingly put an ‘hour’ minimum on something before it qualifies to be washed. (Note: if you have to use a laundry mat to wash your clothes, the minimum is upped.)

2. Dirty but can wear around the house.

‘I’m sorry, do my sweatpants need to be freshly pressed?!’ Contradicting the above hour requirement, somehow 8 hours of sleeping doesn’t seem to ‘count’!

3. Filthy and needs to be washed.

Anything that’s been sweated in, spilled on, touched an airplane seat, smells like Mexican food or has been worn multiple times in the above numbers 1 & 2.

So yes, he’s right. We’re somewhat dirty. But, I would like to point out a few statements I’ve heard guys say…and disagree with them.

* Just because you dry clean everything does not mean you are cleaner or neater!

* A few strands of our hair in the bathroom is waaaay less gross than your trails of facial hair (from shaving) around the sink.

* We may use ‘3 piles of dirty’ but at least we wash (& use) our sheets!

P.S. Check out my commentary on Sunday’s U2 concert with Florence and the Machine:

U2 & Florence and the Machine at Spartan Stadium: what they wore

Stage at U2 concert Spartan Stadium

 

 

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An Inside Look At A Custom Dress

Posted on June 24, 2011 by Lena

From what I’ve heard, the only occasion in which a woman would think to have a custom dress made, would be for something truly epic, like her wedding. And why is that? Because you assume it’s ungodly expensive and out of reach? You don’t know where to go? The idea of having something that fits perfectly sounds amazing but you’re intimidated by the whole process? You’d love to stand out from everyone else in a ‘one of’ but aren’t creative nor want to exert the energy to figure out what you want it to look like?

 

These are all very legit reasons for swooning over the idea of a custom dress, but not pulling the trigger. Had I not grown up around my grandmother’s sewing business, I would feel the same way—no doubt.

 

Here, I’m going to show you what’s involved in making a custom dress—from the vision to the finished product. Hopefully, it will make you feel more comfortable about the whole process and maybe even spur you to try the custom route!

Step 1: What’s in your head?

For this example, I wanted a dress to wear to a wedding—wait, make that two. I was invited to 3 weddings held on June 18th and ironically, 2 were at the same hotel! Lately, I’ve been drawn to anything asymmetrical.

Photo: Netaporter.com

 

Photo: shopbop.com

Therefore, I was stuck on having the bottom of the dress NOT be one length. Also, I had this criss-cross/halter image in my head for the top. It’s important to note that your ideas need to work well with your body’s features. I have a long neck. Styles that ‘choke up’ on my neck, visually short the appearance of it, which is good because I have the length to spare. I also don’t have a large rack. Ha. So any kind of gathering or detailing on top is ideal in creating more volume/distraction.

 

Photo: netaporter.com

 

Photo: asos.com

Step 2: Picking the material

A lot of factors go into this step. Where do you intend to wear this garment? Will you be at a beach wedding or in a hall? What time of year? If your attending a wedding in December, indoors, the dress will usually be heavier and darker in color. If you’re at a backyard wedding, you’ll want something that moves nicely and is lighter in color. (I.E. Not a black satin dress!)

 

I picked this turquoise crepe material. Summer is a great time to try bright colors and the event was in a hotel, so I wanted to stay with a darker hue. (We did end up making something out of the yellow material too—more on that later!)

Photo: Lena Piskorowski

Step 3: Measurements & cutting

Tip: wear your better underwear. I’m not speaking about the frilly lacy kind—I just mean whatever pair you won’t mind a dressmaker seeing.

 

Note the measurement are in Polish so don't try to guess which is my hips!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 4: Start sewing

Plan on trying the dress on at least twice after it has been cut. It needs to be pinned to determine where it should be taken in. Then you need to try it on again to figure out the length. Only after the top has been fitted can you finish the rest of the garment. Think about it, when the top moves up, so too does the length. Tip: try to wear the bra you intend to wear at the fitting. (i.e. not a sports bra). Remember, this is being made for you—don’t be lazy!

 

I don’t have a picture to aid in the visual, but at the first fitting, I hated the top. I felt so covered up and nun-like. True, we used an old school pattern, but this was not a cool vintage look! SO, I started tugging around at the top—gathering it at some areas, moving it up and down…until voila! I found something that didn’t make me feel claustrophobic. We added a little key hole just to make it more interesting. Ooooh.

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Edited Pictures From Vegas

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Lena

Hi!

I was in Las Vegas last week for J.Hilburn meetings. We launched suits, sport coats, light weight sweaters, tees, ties, custom belts, outwear (vests) and a partnership with AG jeans. Exciting stuff! We also added on to our core (more custom shirting fabrics and cuff link styles). Oh boy, American men are going to be looking better than ever!

I stayed at The Cosmopolitan; have you been? Probably not. It opened in January.

Below are a variety of pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Have an awesome weekend people!

Lobby of The Cosmopolitan: The images on these pillars change. (shown here: light bulbs)

 

See & now the display changed to look like a library!

One of the many reasons why I think this hotel was designed by a man.

Look closely. This bathroom wallpaper is actually naked women. The walls in all the rooms had hidden pictures-sort of cool-sort of tripped me & my roommates out.

The new face of J.Hilburn (yum-o!)

The debut of personalized suits!

Sterling Silver dipped in Rhodium cufflinks: Subtle, classic or w. pops of color

Examples of how to coordinate our shirts & ties

White contrasting collar shirt-no longer the 'banker' look! Try it.

The Chandelier Bar: as sexy as it looks

The All Saints shop. entire window display stacked w. old sewing machines

Leather dress-very Vegas! (although not very dance friendly)

Marquee: apparently the largest club in North America. The mermaids in the pool were a nice touch (sort of wanted to be one?) quickly got bored of the techno they played.

Young the Giant playing on top of a bar

Art-o-Mat: have you seen these before? A vending machine full of independent artists from across the U.S. It's like Etsy in a machine...& for $5 a pop!

AND the icing on the cake! My filthy headrest on Spirit Air. Have you ever felt that if you wear your hair down...it will somehow 'protect' your head from getting dirty?

Should mention—if  you like any of these sharp clothes, go to www.JHilburn.com to set up a time to get measured for your new custom digs. Or email me: lena.piskorowski@jhilburnpartner.com and I’ll do it for you. Bam!

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