How To Stand Out In A Crowd

If you follow this blog, you know that I love award season. So I was sitting front and center to my tv last night to catch the Golden Globes. Now, not only do I love the award show but I think I might even love the red carpet more. I enjoy seeing what everyone is wearing, picking up the trends and seeing how each actor’s personality comes through in their choice of wardrobe for the evening. Last night did not disappoint.

There were numerous gorgeous gowns on the red carpet. And many stunning ladies in attendance. However, the one lady it seemed to me who was the most talked about today was Kaley Cuoco. And for good reason.

Kaley wore a beautiful Monique Lhuillier gown, navy on top and a large white skirt with two details worth mentioning. One is the black bow around her waist. Bows were everywhere last night. These are clearly the detail trend of the season. Worn at the waist, the neck, the back and even in the hair, bows were a hot trend last night and I expect this is the only the beginning. The second detail worth mentioning was Kaley’s pockets. Yes, her dress had pockets. And this detail it turns out is the most important.

In a sea of gorgeous women, how is it that Kaley Cuoco stood out? It appeared to me as I watched the red carpet that Kaley walked on it as if she owned it. She walked with an air of confidence, poise and relaxation that made her that much more noticeable. And where did all that confidence and poise come from? Those pockets. No really. Hear me out.

I had the pleasure of attending the Massachusetts Women’s Conference in December, during which I heard Elizabeth Gilbert speak. I loved her speech and one of the concepts she touched on is our need as women to achieve relaxation. Seems practically impossible in this day and age. But last night on that red carpet, Kaley may have been the most relaxed women in attendance, and it showed. In a relaxed state, we can much more easily be present. That’s exactly what Kaley was. She was present in the moment last night and it radiated in her beauty.

It was something in those pockets that gave Kaley a sense of relaxation and confidence. And those qualities instantly enhance your appearance. This is something I always emphasize with my clients. What matters most about what you wear, is that you’re comfortable in it. That makes all the difference. So if you’re looking for a tip on how to stand out in a room full of beautiful ladies: relax, smile, and be present.

"Why We Wear Black"

Oprah. If you haven’t seen her speech from the Golden Globes on Sunday night, stop reading this and go watch it. Then come back here.

I love awards shows. I love the actual show, the red carpet, photos from the after parties… all of it. This year’s Golden Globes were a special treat to watch. In case you didn’t see them or somehow haven’t heard about what happened Sunday night, I’ll catch you up quick. Everyone wore black in solidarity for change. Change that will ensure equality across race, religion and gender. Change that will ensure safe work environments across industries. Change that will ensure equal pay for equal work. Change that will promote diversity everywhere. At least this is my take on "why we wear black".

Throughout the show, the message was one of power, love and hope. I was inspired by the speeches and the solidarity. And then there’s Oprah. The timing was so incredibly fitting because I really think that we need a little Oprah in our lives right about now.

As I was driving my sons to school yesterday morning, they played excerpts from Oprah’s speech on the radio. I was sucked back into listening and forgot about my son listening in the back seat. When Oprah had finished speaking my son asked me “Mommy, who was that lady that just spoke?” … because Oprah commands attention. And when Oprah speaks you listen. Even the little 6 year old boy in my back seat.  “Her name is Oprah Winfrey. She gave a speech last night on the awards show that mommy was watching.” My son wanted to know everything. What was she saying? What does it mean? I did the best I could to simplify the events that are happening and how people are looking to create change. And how Oprah is encouraging others to demand change.

I explained how not everyone gets paid the same for the same work. Of course, that’s a tough concept because in a 6 year olds eyes, fair is fair. And that’s not fair. “But mom, how will she make the bosses listen so that everyone gets paid equal?” My son surprises me every day. But this blew me away. He understood instinctively that change is not easy. Change is hard. And that making people listen is hard. And he wants to know how to do it. He wants to know how people can make change. And damn, that’s absolutely the right question.

I struggled to answer this. One person can make a difference. I believe that. I also know that there’s power in numbers. And standing together we can accomplish more than any one of us can on our own. So I started by explaining to my son that we need to look out for each other. That we need to call out when we see something that’s not right. That we can’t be afraid to speak up. I told him that when people work together, we can make change happen. Right now there are a lot of people who want to see change. That sort of momentum can be powerful.

But boy did my kid make me think. About how we need to empower each other to stand up for ourselves. I know how difficult that can be. It’s not always easy, for a million different reasons. But we have to try. We have to try harder. We have to have a voice and find ways to make it heard.

I want my son to grow up challenging ideas in ways I never did. I was a rule follower. I did what I was told. But I see the value in challenging the rules and the status quo. I see the value in having your own mind. I wish that for my children.

I do my small part to empower women by making them feel comfortable and confident through style and fashion. But I know I can do more. Maybe this will be part of my new year’s resolution…to be more aware, to speak up and to look out for others.

Golden Globes: Fashion Trends for 2016

Are you sick of hearing about the Golden Globes yet? I’m sure by now you’ve heard the whole run down including the winners, the jokes, the best/worst dressed lists and even Leo’s encounter with Gaga…

Well, I have a little different perspective for you.

First, full disclosure, I love awards shows. Even more, I love watching the red carpet. Why? For the fashion. I love the fashion!

These awards shows are a coveted runway for fashion designers to showcase their work. The world is watching. And everyone is asking “Who are you wearing?”

So instead of just a rundown of who was best dressed, let’s break it down a little and look to see what trends were set on the red carpet and what we can expect going into 2016.

1. Off the Shoulder: This is suppose to be a big trend for 2016 and we saw this style reflected on the red carpet. It works well with dresses and gowns in particular. I'm curious to see how this trend is incorporated into retail for the Spring/Summer Seasons.  Examples: Amy Schumer, Lady Gaga, Natalie Dormer
2. White Hot: We saw gorgeous colors and fabrics on the red carpet at the Golden Globes. But in addition to these, we saw the stunning use of white. I was thrilled to see white as a standout. Often, black is the go to color as it's most flattering and slimming. White can be just as flattering when done right. (The key is to finding the right shade for your skin tone!) Examples: Taraji P. Henson, Alicia Vikander, Saoirse Ronan, Laverne Cox
3. Metallic: The metallic fabrics on the red carpet were popular and eye-catching. They also came in a variety of colors. This trend has been popular through the holiday season and appears to have some staying power.  Examples: Olivia Wilde, Brie Larson, Melissa McCarthy
4. Long Earrings:  I love this look! The long earrings were a key accessory at the Globes. I suspect this trend will stick around for awhile. I looks amazing on all face shapes and works best with clean necklines. Examples: Taraji P. Henson, Saoirse Ronan, Bryce Dallas Howard
5. Shades of Blonde:  Thinking of lightening your locks to a gorgeous shade of blonde? Now might be the time! There was quite a spectrum of blondes on the red carpet the other night. Natural blondes are going platinum and natural brunettes are leaning toward blonde. The shades are gorgeous…. Time to book that appointment with your hairdresser! Examples: Jennifer Lawrence, Jennifer Lopez, Brie Larson, Kate Hudson

I am so interested to see what happens at the next awards show. From a fashion perspective, that is!