I have a question for you.

What happens when you wear something sparkly?  Don’t you feel sparkly?  Don’t you feel special?  We save sparkle and bold metallic for special occasions, but I think we deserve the right to feel that way every day of the week!  Let’s break down those pre-conceived rules that metallics are not for day or everyday for that matter.  It’s time to retrain your thinking!   Silver and metallics are great for any day – because you deserve to feel special everyday and if wearing a fantastic silver skirt, blouse, dress or handbag is going to give you that feeling, then I say go for it!    

But of course that comes with my stylist stipulations: Fit is of utmost importance when choosing your silver pieces.  Clean and fitted to the body are most appropriate.  It’s also great if you want to maximize or draw attention to any area of the body.  Keep in mind the fabrication as well.  Silver knit fabrications can look chintzy and can make you look less expensive in your style.  Go for woven materials like crepes, twills and even leather.  Avoid satins as they can reflect light on your face and over define your fine lines…  Or try matte silvers, which can add even a touch more of sophistication to your look.  So wovens over knits!  And lastly – when wearing metalics, always pair it down with understated extras.  Your wow factor is your silver lead actress and everything else is just a supporting role.

Want more tips on how to wear silver every day?  Contact me for a 30 minute free style discovery and let’s talk about how to work it into your wardrobe! 

(Silver brocade skirt by Sunny Leigh)

 STYLE EQUATION #1 – Casual Chic

STYLE SOLUTION:

(Kain Striped Tee / Notify Denim jacket / Mellie Bianco Fringe Handbag / Elizabeth & James Sunnies / Sam Edelman Gladiator Flats / Haskell Bangles )

STYLE EQUATION #2 – Office Appropriate

STYLE SOLUTION:

(Juicy Couture Box Jacket /J. Crew Blouse / Pour La Victoire Structured Handbag / Banana Republic Scarf / J. Crew Belt / Michael Kors Heels / Fossil Stud earrings)

STYLE EQUATION #3 – Date Night!

STYLE SOLUTION:

(Rebecca Minkoff Ombre Baguette / Kate Spade Strappy Sandals / W118 Blouse / Rachel Roy Snake earrings / Fossil Pendant necklace)

1. Metallic Silver is an easy trend to jump on by adding bangles, necklaces, belts, and sequins into your daily look.  For more fashion savvy, try a silver shift dress.
2. Silver can be sophisticated for the office.  Try with nude and neutral tones.  Snake skins too!
3. Silver can be worn casually as well.  Just pair down with easy knits and flats and a cool summer stripe.
4. …because any form of bling rocks
5. Trends come and go but the color silver will never go out of style.  

It’s time to Beautify You! I invite you to join myself and my two colleagues, Tara Daniels and Phoebe Dawson, for a day to get back to YOU! BeautifYou {a beauty and style workshop} is a full day workshop that we’ve developed to give back to the amazing women in our world. We rarely take the time for ourselves and this is your opportunity to do it.

Watching how-to videos on line can be helpful but, really, how do we take that back to our own make-up counters and closets?

Tara, Phoebe and I have been working for the past 3 months on developing an educational day where you can learn about how to best beautify you. Our goal is to give you smart and easy instruction, room for one on one conversation, guidance with your own hair, make-up and style and a lab setting where you don’t just learn you get to try it as we are teaching it!

We just want to treat women out there to a day of beauty. We all deserve to sparkle in our lives and Tara, Phoebe and I have a joint mission to give women the opportunity to learn from us, the experts, new ways to make them feel beautiful every day of their lives.

What you will learn:

Take a day to celebrate you!

 This is a fun-filled day with real women coming together to look and feel our best! The workshop is limited to 25 ladies so we can give you one on one help and advice. The workshop includes a 6 hour class, workbook, light snacks and drinks, a lunch break and free bonus gift bag! What more could you ask for!

Please see this website for workshop dates and prices www.beautifyou.weebly.com and please do not hesitate to email us with questions! We are here to help you! beautifyouworkshop@gmail.com.

And lastly – MEN – don’t think we forgot about you. This is the PERFECT mother’s day gift for your moms and your wives…

Black and white is one of my all time favorite outfit combinations… there’s something about it that’s oh-so-chic.  Black and white stripes are on the top of my list, but there really are so many ways you can wear this trend, as seen on the Spring 2012 runways.  For our current look I thought I’d throw in a hint of a stripe and mix it up with some other possibilities… 

Athletic chic is one of the top trends for Spring 2012, so what’s better than an amazing pair of side stripe leggings like this style from David Lerner.  The vertical stripe is incredibly flattering and in this case a little bit edgy (the insets are 100% leather).  Pair your leggings with an equally sporty, slightly slouchy racer-back tank, which acts like a great layering piece under a lightweight biker jacket like this investment piece from Karl by Karl Lagerfeld.  Black on bottom with white on top works to slim your lower half, but feel free to switch it up if your top half is where you would like to minimize.  Use this color combo to your advantage and balance out your proportions however necessary! 

Glam up this outfit with a pair of black stilettos – the metal heel style maintains a sleek, sporty vibe while adding a hint of sass.  And as amazing as black and white is, I can’t help but add a pop of color to liven up the look.  Vivid blue is the color of the season and this luxe looking cross-body from Vince Camuto is completely on point.  Throw on some eclectic accessories – how cute are Betsey’s blue bird stud earrings?  They provide a nice contrast to Monki’s mixed metal ring trio.  Finally, top off your look with a killer pair of cat-eyed sunnies – our pick from Jessica Simpson is a steal compared to designer versions.  You’ll be sure to turn heads in this sporty chic ensemble… in fact I can’t wait to wear it myself!    

Meet Luisa Lucia! My current (and awesome…) assistant, and now officially a LaurieBstyle contributor! Have a question for her? Want to talk trends? Want to talk style on a budget? Email her! Luisalucia@gmail.com

May is officially here!  And what better way to kick of a fantastic spring month by getting you inspired by the things that inspire me!  I’m joining Hilary Rushford of Dean Street Society on her #StyleMeMay project.  Where each day this month you can find me along side some worthy fashionistas posting inspiring instagram photos each day.  With a different style theme each day we will be spreading style inspiration to you daily!  Follow along all the photos or join in yourself!  It’s like a fashion and style scavenger hunt. 

To get started: find me and follow me on your instagram app.  Just search “LaurieBstyle” and then join in on the fun! You can also follow my photos on twitter as well!  Click here

Day One:  “makes me want to twirl”….. and here we go!

Happy Styling to everyone! 

Photos via style.com

While the Spring 2012 runways were dotted with bright color trends (tangerine tango, pinks of all shades, minty green), a very neutral yet classic color combo also made a strong showing: black and white.  There’s something so easy yet elegant about this match-up that guarantees it’s always in style; look for it to continue trending through pre-fall.

Prabal Gurung showed a super flirty dress that exemplified this trend with a crisscrossed bodice, partially sheer skirt and sleeves – very sexy and fresh. Giambattista Valli’s structured zebra print top was tucked into a high waisted white skirt for a power glamour girl silhouette. Narciso Rodriguez’s black cap sleeved top and loose white pants were a perfect pairing.  Finally, Yves St. Laurent’s crisp white summer suit showed just a peek of black at the neck and was timeless perfection.

When wearing this color combo, remember that black separates will be more slimming than white; however, I caution against wearing black pants with a white top as for me, it always invokes the feeling of a restaurant wait staff.  I’d prefer to call upon the genius style of Jackie O by pairing wide legged white jeans with a black tee and giant pair of shades for an effortless look on a cool summer evening. 

Meet Jenny Heller! The LaurieBstyle runway trend report contributor. Have a question for her? Want to talk trends? Follower her on twitter @jennyhg and you can email her too! jennymheller@hotmail.com

**Click image to play**

So let’s talk about what is standout style. When you are in an office setting can you actually be a standout? The answer is yes. Sometimes we feel confined in our spaces and with such redundancy in our wardrobes and our co-workers, thinking outside of your style box becomes almost impossible.

So here are five tips to rocking your standout style at the office:

1. Wear your flare
2. Separate from the suit
3. Mind your details
4. Statement shoes
5. Do the do

Florals are always in for spring – it practically goes without saying.  However, this year there were a few interesting twists on the trend, and my absolute favorite is the floral pant!  I love this option because the masculinity of pants juxtaposes with the femininity of florals and provides for a quirky contrast.  Plus who doesn’t love printed pants?  They’re fun to style since they act as a statement piece to build your outfit around.

We modeled our look off of a ladylike runway pick, starting with an adorable pair of floral pants from Current Elliot.  Choose a top that matches one of the colors in your print – that will help to anchor your look.  And don’t be afraid to mix it up a little with outerwear.  This cute boxy blazer from Euro brand Scotch & Soda features contrast piping, which provides a pop against lighter colors.  Opt for accessories with a little edge to add some flair to your femme motif.  We adore these spikey stud earrings available at Topshop!  Simple flats from Steve Madden balance out the look so it’s not overwhelming, and a minty satchel from ASOS plays on the colors in the pant.  The overall look is a bit avant garde, but you’re sure to scream fashion sophisticate.  Not a bad title if I say so myself, so get moving on your own fab version of this springtime trend!

Meet Luisa Lucia! My current (and awesome…) assistant, and now officially a LaurieBstyle contributor! Have a question for her? Want to talk trends? Want to talk style on a budget? Email her! Luisalucia@gmail.com

All photos via: blog.stylesight.com

After such a fantastic response, I thought I would create another inspiring, professional style post based on European street wear.  There is just something about the way the rich and historic cobble streets create such a bevy of creative stylings.  These women are fabulous from head to toe – in every detail, pattern, texture and color.  

So how can we create that in our own lives?  I always say that style has nothing to do with the fashion, but instead with how you put it all together.  So let’s take a look at the seemingly intimidating street wear style with a fresh pair of eyes.  Remember, you can use it as a creative starting point to translate new ideas into your own daily look.  The goal is to feel confident in yourself when you step out the door.

Go visit my Facebook page to see a whole album of street style with tips and tricks to create that on your own.  Leave me comments, questions and thoughts!

I am here to help you find your style, define your style and live in style everyday.