Posts with tag 'How To'

August 23, 2011
- Classics vs. Trends

Fashion changes quickly and it is easy to built a great wardrobe only to realize the next season that your favorite pieces are no longer in style! Instead of having to replace an entire closet, mix trendy items with classic pieces to create a wardrobe that is always up to date!

90% of your wardrobe should be classic! Classic pieces stay in style through the years. Every women needs classics such as a little black dress, a tailored jacket or a great pair of jeans as go to staples. One Dress, Different Looks

Classics should be high quality items that flatter your body and will survive over time. Higher quality clothing will be more expensive however are worth the investment because they will not need to be replaced as often as those that are a lower quality.

10% should be trendy! Trendy pieces are important because they keep your look up to date. Mix in trendy items, such as accessories, with classics to create fashion forward look. This will keep your wardrobe exciting by creating multiple outfits. Trends change quickly so spend the least amount of money on them. With less money spent you can easily update your look as trends come and go.

Phoebe

phoebe@milenaconsulting.com

May 3, 2011
- The Long and Short of it on Men's Shorts

At what length do men’s shorts become manpris (capris for men) and at what length are your short shorts too short? There is no magic length, but here’s the long of the short of it:

Show Your Knees

Your shorts should hit no longer than your knees. If you have major reservations about exposing your knees, then compromise by having the short hit mid knee. Any person looking directly at you will not be able to see your knees.

Don't Overexpose

If your boxers are showing out the bottom of your shorts, they are too short. Your shorts shouldn’t be any shorter than the top 50% of your legs. Aim for having 75% of the top half of your leg covered. Anything shorter starts looking like your Dad’s shorts from the 70’s.

And a few more tips…

Khakis are Keepers

Nothing beats a simple khaki short in the summer. They go with everything. Wear a flat front or single pleat style on the golf course. A cargo style short is easy and works for casual days and nights.

Plain to Plaid

A plain short is easy, but a plaid short can be a stylish way to add print and color to your summer wardrobe. Buy at least two shirts to wear with your shorts so you have options to mix and match. A canvas belt paired with polo or well fitted t-shirt looks effortlessly stylish.

No Jackets or Ties

There is no occasion that would give you reason to wear a jacket and shorts or a tie and shorts. Any situation that is dressy enough to require a jacket or tie is certainly formal enough to also require pants.

March 9, 2011
- How to Wear Spring Trends Now

The fashions in stores right now may say it’s spring, but the weather is often telling us otherwise. The good news is that there are a few great ways to wear springs hottest trends now, while not looking out of place and keeping you warm.

A punch of color. Bright, bold colors are everywhere this spring. We are excited to see the pendulum swing from monotonous grays and blacks to vibrant hues such as electric blue and sunshine yellow. Color blocks of contrasting colors like chartreuse and magenta prevail for warm weather, but pair your brilliant colors with more muted or soft colors like taupe to tone down the look now.

Modern white. White is everywhere this season. Keep the look fresh with tailored pieces that are simple, yet sophisticated. Create a white-on-white monochromatic look for added drama. Pair your white tops with dark denim while the weather is cool and gradually transition to the white pant suit for spring.

Bell bottom pants. Spring is all about 70’s glamour and the bell bottom pant is a staple of this era. Wear your bell bottom pants with tailored button-ups and fitted jackets. You’ll see an abundance of white denim and dress pant styles this season that can be paired with loose and sheer tops for warm weather.

Striped Tees. Nautical stripes scream resort wear, so choose stripes in orange reds and bright blues to keep your look less predictable. Layer your stripes under winter essentials like a fur vest and cropped jackets now and show them off with racerback tanks and loose fitting tees for summer.

January 19, 2011
- 2010 Post-breakup Hair Trends

The post-breakup hair cut has been a long-standing ritual for women to let go of a past relationship and feel fresh and new again. If your 2010 wasn't anything to be remembered we suggest you put a twist on this tradition: Take on a new style instead of a new cut. It's less risky and gives you the freedom to change things up while avoiding emotionally charged hair tragedies.

Top Knot Braid. Take your hair and braid it in a reverse French braid from the nape of the neck to your crown. Gather the ends and secure in a knot at the top of your head. This is definitely a style for long hair and looks best messy.

Big Sultry Waves. Perfect for long thick hair. Wind one inch pieces of hair around a 2” barrel, leaving ends out to keep the look playful. Add a shine serum to the ends to smooth and add shine.

The Chignon. It looks effortless and it is. Pull hair to the nape of your neck with a soft part. Secure with a ponytail and fasten with pins. Keep the look soft by curling and teasing hair prior to putting it back.

Side Braid and Pony. Curl hair into loose waves with an iron. Then, simply pull your hair to the side and begin a soft braid. Don't make the braid too perfect, it should be loose and soft looking.

November 5, 2010
- Style Your LBD Three Ways

Style is not about having a closet full of desinger clothes . With a little mixing and matching, you can get more out of your pieces and put together outfits that are appropriate for any occasion. For instance, take a knee-length black dress. It’s a staple for evening, but change your accessories and you create multiple outfit options for any day of the week. Let me show you how I would style it for work, weekend, and evening.

Work. Keep your look professional while fighting off office chill with a printed cardigan. We are loving leopard print because it is classy but still very trendy. Cardigans that hits mid-hip will lay better than cropped versions and will keep your look from being too sexy. A thin leather belt will draw the eye up and complete the overall look. Add conservative heels and accessories and you are ready to take on the world.

Weekend. For a casual weekend look, pair your black dress with a classic jean jacket. Take the look one step further by adding a rugged leather belt. You can find great options in the boys' section at practically any thrift store. Throw on your favorite casual flats or riding boots and you’ve got a look that doesn’t sacrifice style for ease. Avoid this look if you LBD is silk or has sequins or shimmer on it.

Evening. This look is as simple as adding one bold statement piece and amping up your makeup. This season we are loving collar necklaces (shown), chandelier earrings, and over-sized cocktails rings. Pair with your sexiest heels and you’re ready for any event. If you will be dancing or walking a lot, stow a pair of bejeweled flats in your purse.

October 12, 2010
- Denim Wednesdays at The Blues Jean Bar

Every 3rd Wednesday of each month you can shop with Milena for free! Make your appointment today to have Milena and the denim baristas at The Blues Jean Bar find you the perfect pair of denim this fall. Ethan shares his experience - it's easy and fun!

October 12, 2010
- Faux Fur at EveyK Boutique - Milena's Must-Have

Style expert Milena Joy was at EveyK Boutique and found some great Must-Have items for Fall. With temperatures dropping, this jacket and leggings combo is going to be a hit. Find out how to pull off the look now!

August 13, 2010
- Skinny Jeans at The Blues Jean Bar - Milena's Must-Have

December 9, 2009
- Your Winter Coat: Pick the Perfect Wrapping!

Keep warm this winter by wrapping yourself in a stylish jacket. Just like wrapping paper on a present, the jacket you wear says a lot about what is inside! Make sure these messages are in sync. You wouldn't put Happy Birthday paper on a holiday present. A gift wrapped in newspaper looks like the giver either ran out of paper (not prepared) or the gift isn't quite that special.

Take a look around you and you will soon notice a miss-match of coats with outfits and people that don't work together. Are you wearing your nice skirt suit with your puffy parka? That's a mis-match. Is your jacket dirty or ready to fall apart at the seams? It could be making you look dated and disorganized.

The good news is that jackets will go on sale right after the holidays so be sure to take inventory of what you need and get yourself prepared for the rest of the season. Here are a few good types of coats that will get you through most of winter's cool occasions.

Wool Coat: This is the staple that goes with your suits and dresses. A 3/4 length version is most versitile because you can easily dress it up or down. If you are blessed with long legs then a floor length one can be fun and dramatic for your dressier occasions. Most people gravitate towards neutral colors like black, grey and tan. This is a safe bet, but if you want to spice it up, try rich dark colors like eggplant. Light colors like baby blue or pink aren't professional looking, so avoid these colors for your work wear. If you are on a budget and can't afford more than one coat this year, this is the one for you!

The Puffer or Parka: There aren't many people in cold weather states that don't own one of these. While these coats will definitely keep you warm in the coolest of conditions, they are meant for those more casual occasions. They are perfect for a day in the park, watching a football game or running errands, not for professional wear or special occasions.

The Jacket: A jacket is simply a shorter version of a coat. Almost all jackets are meant for more casual occasions. Made out of everything from cordoroy to wool to leather, your jacket is a great staple for most all your casual occasions. Cropped versions expose more of your outfit and can really add to it. Think of your jacket as an accessory and it can be a lot of fun!

Special Occasion Coat: A coat that perhaps has a finer fabric like the one in the picture above. I have one that has a timeless lace overlay that seems to work with most dresses. Many of these coats have fun details that almost make them an outfit on their own. These coats are fun and can really make you stand out in a crowd when everyone is wearing something more traditional. The downside is that they may not always keep you the warmest.

Faux Fur Jackets & Wraps: A fun addition for the person who wants to change it up! Faux fur can make you feel glamorous and work well with everything from a pair of jeans to an evening dress. Wraps are a great option if you only need to hop from the valet to the the door.

October 6, 2009
- Dress Like "You" for Halloween...Scary Thought?

Have you ever thought about being yourself for Halloween? If “you" were hanging on the rack of a costume shop would you want to be “you"? What would “you" look like?

Halloween is a time for us to experiment, have fun and even try out an alter ego! Think of the time and thought you put into a costume for one night, compared to the ones you wear every day. It could be scary. Like it or not, we live in a world where we are constantly judged on appearance. Even without being discriminating we have certain assumptions that we make about an individual. If you see someone who has a wrinkly shirt on you may assume that they are lazy or messy. If you see someone at an event wearing khakis when everyone else is wearing a suit, you might think they are at the wrong place or that they're part of the staff.

Think about the “costume" that you wear everyday. What does it say about you? If you are intelligent, organized, and creative on the inside then you want your clothes to say those same things on the outside. Take those words that you want people to associate with you and find ways to visualize them through your clothes. Here are a few tips and examples using men's shirts and women's suits:

Powerful/Ambitious– use striped patterns, angled or straight cut styles and dark colors to convey authority. Keep clothing tailored to fit your body and wear crisp and smooth fabrics.

Friendly/Caring– use rounded patterns, curved styles and soft, muted colors like mauve or brown to convey friendliness. Clothing can be a little looser and full of texture.

Creative/Modern– mix patterns, combine styles and use splashes of bold color over neutral colors like grey and black. Blend loose and tight clothing together in one outfit.

The key is to truly look like “you", whatever that is. We use the word "costume" in place of "outfit", only because of the holiday. Your outfit should never feel like a costume! For example, some women may feel like they are wearing a costume if they were outfitted in some of the clothes we’ve seen on Carrie Bradshaw in Sex in the City. While many of these are amazing couture pieces, for some women it would feel like they were playing dress up.

Your costume should be desirable. First ask yourself how you feel about it and then ask a close friend. Have them give you three things they like about your style and any constructive criticism on what they dislike. You can even be as direct to ask them if they would want to wear your costume. Finding out why or why not will let you if you need a little tweaking or a whole new fitting. If you have been wearing the wrong costume for years, you may just seek the expert advice of a stylist, like Milena. She’ll help you create a costume that represents you on the inside and fits just right on the outside!