Ceremonial Sigh

Why do I love get ups like this? Cause I CAN'T WEAR THEM [my voice may have raise] buthey sure are cute. Go ahead you long legged ladies.......rub it in!

Opening Ceremony Pre-Fall 2012

CHANELing My Inner Goddess

LOVE the fabrics and textures for Chanel's Pre Fall 2012. The shimmering taffetas, sheer silk chifons and hand beaded silks reek of a luxurious Fall. How will you create this look more affordably? Love to hear!

My Giant Adult-Sized Onesie | Raising Kvell

My Giant Adult-Sized Onesie | Raising Kvell

Undercover Lover

Undergarments that is, and yes I'm a lover! Spanx are no new craze, I'm aware. They have delighted the likes of every celebrity body for quite some time now. However, some of you out there are not convinced of it's importance.
Spring is lurking, and with the sun comes slinky dresses and sheer frocks that are not forgiving for lumps and panty lines. I smack these on my clients that are size 2's, because the trick is to smooth not only to shrink [although the shrinking effects are exciting]. Even the smallest g-string can't be hidden when you have body clinging fabrics, and vpl's are never in style. It's a necessity to own one! Try the styles below, which are my two favorite!
Nude should be worn on lighter to bronzed skin tones, and black should be worn on darker to African American skin tones.

White In Winter

"No white after Labor Day" is as recent of a rule in fashion as "women shall not bare ankles."
Forget the rule ladies (mothers), you can! Although ecru, eggshell or off white are the recommended shades for winter, white denim should not be put in the corner till Spring! "nobody puts white denim in the corner" [my ode to Dirty Dancing].
DO pair the white denim with heavy luscious sweaters, DO wear tall boots with that sweater, and DO mix with shades of cream. DO NOT mix with light cotton blouses and DO NOT pair with open toed shoes.
Pairing white denim with fabrics that are Winter compatible like tweed, wools and angora will shout out to the world, "I know how to wear white after Labor Day and I look good doing it!" [followed by a crossing of the arms and shifting weight to one leg].

Gifts for the Good Girl

I suppose I won't be getting these then. I am loving the DVF earphones and the Alaia coffee table book for my fashionable friends. At the small price tag of just $25 each, and wrapped in the oh so cute Net-A-Porter packaging, it's my go to for Christmas.
Both found at www.netaporter.com

Tuesday Tidbit

Most of the Cooler months don't allow for my upper thighs to come out and play (any months for that matter). While I've loved this look for 3 seasons now, I have to alter it a bit. If you find yourself with "thicker thighs" pop on a pair of textured, solid black or fishnet hose with those over the knee socks. If your legs are shorter, slide those socks down two inches so they hit right above your knee. Don't assume you can't (or can) wear this trend, just make a few changes. The shorter and thicker you are, the worse this trend looks.

Conversion Conundrum

It would be so much easier if all of the shoe designers all over the world got together and had one universal sizing chart.....but, that meeting never happened. While hiking with girlfriends who forced me to work harder than I wanted, the topic of European shoe size conversion came up. [I might have said this hike would be easier in high heels, and it escalated from there]. Anyway, the conversion is simple, and it goes a little something like this:

Check the bottom of the shoe to see where it's made [Italy, France, US]. If your shoe size is 8, then your French conversion is 39, while your Italian conversions 38.

Italian made simpler: add a "3" to the front for your Italian size up until the size 10, then it's a "4".
ie: 5(35), 6(36), 7(37), 8(38), 8.5(38.5), 9(39), 10(40)

French made simpler: go up one whole size, THEN add the "3" in front until the size 9 then it's a "4".
ie: 5(36), 6(37), 7(38), 8(39), 8.5(39.5), 9(40), 10(41)

If you are confused as to why you are a 38 in Jimmy Choos, while being a 39 in Loub's, now ya know. [insert fairly large grin].

Mirror Mirror- Color Tips

If I Were a Boy

Peplum Problems?

I know, they're cute as a button, but who wants to wear a button? Before assuming anyone can wear peplum skirts or jackets, take something into consideration: proportion. This design works perfectly on bigger chested, no hipped women (making you appear to have curves down there). Flat chested, bigger hipped women stay away: DANGER ZONE AHEAD! If your curves are lacking everywhere, enjoy the Peplum trend till your blue in the face, it'll make you look bootylicious. If your curvy everywhere, eh eh (rocking her pointer finger back and forth), just look from a distance.
It's a great detail to a boring dress, but make sure you know you can wear it!

Walking Disco Balls

Stop it please. I can hardly stop staring at this collection with all it's kaleidoscope colors and disco ball prints and textures. I say, who cares how wearable this is for the everyday woman, it's gorgeous. My plump silhouette would just stare at these pieces in my closet making me happy just to own them. The metallic organzas, bold paillettes (big round sequins if you will), hand painted squares of python make this by far my favorite collection for Spring 2012. Manish Arora for Paco Rabanne has inspired me to throw a disco party (ABBA playing in the background).

C of Wonder

Simon Fashion Now at Roosevelt Field showed us several new retailers at fabulous price points. My favorite: C Wonder. Think J Crew meets Kate Spade meets Anthropolgie with a price tag similar to H&M. This store has everything [clothes, accessories, jewelry, shoes, housewares in adorable prints and colors] all nestled into a super creative and aesthetically pleasing space.

Check out the girls backstage in some of my favorite pieces from the show!

Breath Of Fresh Air

Calling all New Yorkers!!!! Joe Fresh is making it's way to the US. Not familiar? You will be soon, since their price points are comparable to H&M and styles similar with Anthropologie and J.Crew, who would want to miss that? The three pieces below, available at joefresh.com, are all under $80.

Mission: Transition

At the request of a very talented Fashion Show Producer, and in honor of the 73 degree weather in Boston, Consider this your inside scoop on transitional dressing.
The Three Key Items According to Ali: the silk blouse, the leather vest and the suede boot[ie] (in my efforts to pack one suitcase for two months, these are all nestled in)

Silk blouses look fab with the sleeves rolled up, and in a winter shade like navy or deep red it's the perfect layering piece. They breathe well and fall so nicely on the body.

The leather vest is perfect over a sleeveless or short sleeved t shirt. While still maintaining the Fall look, its a hip way to layer and stay cool (adjective and temperature).

The suede boot[ie] can be thrown on with a short skirt, wool shorts, denim cut offs....the world is your oyster with the boots, just wear Fall colors and no Spring fabrics.

More options: wool pants with t shirts, short skirts with long sleeves, and sleeveless dresses that you can add tights to when the weather chills.
The key is try to mix a very Fall item, in relevant Fall colors (suede shoes, leather, wool) with a piece that keeps you cool.

This blog dedicated to those who live in two season weather. Fear not sweet Texans, Floridians, and Cajuns, you can be in style AND be cool.

Treats for the Tootsies

Spring may be a plethora of splurges on shoes! These two will be living in my closet come warm weather!

Fur A Rainy Day

Want a colored fur coat? Try dying it at home!

Supplies needed:

Spritz bottle
Hot water
RIT liquid dye
Cream or white fur jacket

Spray jacket to your satisfaction and let it dry over night. The next morning use a damp rag to wipe away excess assuring it won't bleed onto clothes! If needed, feel free to comb it out. Viola! Instant coolness and approved by Ali, but remember this is not complete saturation of color just tinted!

Please only do this cool process on fur jackets that need sprucing and have been purchased at a thrift or resale store [which happens to be the ONLY place I purchase fur].

Red Hot Fall

Do it ladies: mix your reds, deep reds, burgundy 's and burnt oranges. Save those neutrals for your tootsies and your thinking cap (hats). Don't mix more than 3 shades to avoid looking like that hat lady. Elie Tahari is showing it best in Vogue's Fashion Night Out at the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace.

The "It" Kit

The Doctor is in and just in time for my traveling and styling adventures. Hollywood Fashion Secrets has created the perfect stylist's kit on-the-go, The Fashion Emergency Kit! My recommendation: keep one in the car and one in your underwear drawer.

These are available starting next week on their adorable website, www.hollywoodfashionsecrets.com. Be sure to check out their other products [all staples in my kit] like, Behind the Seams underarm protectors and Hollywood Goes Commandos alternative panties. The packaging is delicious, the products WORK, and they are affordable [the impossible trifecta].

Proper Nudity

It's not that kind of blog, but there are still right and wrong ways to do nude {in every way possible}.  We all know by now {and if you didn't, now you do} that nude shoes make your legs appear longer by never seeing an "end point" at your feet.  Instead, the eye skims past it, as to appear never ending.  However, the whole point of a nude shoes is that it looks nude on YOU.  The object is to match your skin tone, to avoid wearing just a brown or a cream shoe {either are fine if thats your intention}.  Which shade is yours?

Stella and Dot (bracelet envy)

I have been quite the fan of Stella and Dot since my friend started to sell in this past year. She came to dinner in head to toe Stella, and i was crushing. Since I always wear wrists full of bracelets and each season try to replenish with new styles, I am hosting a party soon so I can do just that. If you live in Houston, get excited! Chances are, you'll have an invite in your inbox soon.
These are on my wish list, and the best part is they are all around $60 (which happens to be my price limit per bracelet). Try pairing several styles on one wrist, I love the clacking noise they tend to make.

Color (in)Theory

No matter the heat index in the latter parts of the summer, come September I am in full Fall get up. Keeping it relevant, I dress for the weather in all months except for September (transition in to Fall/Winter, and February (transition in to Spring/Summer).
This year, Spring trends are being friendly with Fall trends, and can be transitioned into the colder season. Color, color and more color! Be daring and mix colors you wouldn't normally: royal blues and burgundy, burnt orange and bright pink, greens and plums, ocre and navy blues, teals and bright reds....so many combinations!

Here are some colors that play well with each other. Prints in these colors are even better!

Jeweled Dreams

I love Fall the most. I love layers, jackets, scarves, hats, boots with socks, on top of more jackets and layers. What I love most about this Fall? Finally, a lot of color on top of more color on top of more prints on top of more color! It's an "Ali" kind of Fall! I woke up at 4am thinking about what pieces I needed to create these looks. I am crushing big time.

Chunky Monkey

If I were to ever write a love song it would be to Jeffrey Campbell (or unicorns). He is one of my favorite shoe designer and I love his curved heels for Fall. When unicorns come back in style, I'll write them a love song.

Designer Delivery

I write letters. Love letters, thank you letters, thinking of you letter.....lots and lots of letters. I love this Christian Lacroix stationary, for all it's glorious detail. The inside of the enveloped foiled just like the card, with the stickers embossed with "CL" on them. I ALMOST don't want to send them to anybody.

Designer Cheat Sheet. You're welcome.

For those of you who may not know, but want to, here is your cheat sheet. Creative Directors, Designers, and how to say their names.....short lesson, more to come.

Olivier Theyskens (pronounced TAY-SKINS) Artistic Director for Theory after designing a capsule collection for Spring 2011.

Balmain (pronounced BALM-AY if you wanna sound French, BAL-MAN if you wanna sound American).

Rodarte had to designers and they are sisters; Kate and Laura Mulleavy from Pasadena, CA. (Pronounced ROW-DART-AY).

Christian Louboutin (prouncounced LOO-BA-TONS, not TAWNS).

Badgley Mischka are two designers and lovers; Mark Badgley and James Mischka. (pronounced BADGE-LEE MISH-KA).

Cesare Paciotti (pronounced CHAY-SE-RAY PA-CHEE-O-TEE) gorgeous shoe designer, if you don't know him, look him up.

Proenza Schouler (pronounced PRO-ENZA SHOE-LER) are two designers: Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough.

Christopher Bailey is the Creative Director for Burberry (pronounced BUR-BURRY)

Balenciaga's Creative Director is Nicolas Ghesquiere (pronounced GUESS-KEY-AIR)

Christian Lacroix (pronounced LA-QUA) collaborated most recently with Desigual, but has been designing since the 80's.

Alexander McThey're back!

Oh I loved these in Alexander McQueen's (moment of silence) 2004 RTW. I just saw they made their way back into Vogue on Emma Watson's tootsies! Had to share my excitement for these thigh high nude mesh boots.

Why I love these

Sarong Shorts by Willow.

I love my legs, the front of them at least. Shorts are always tricky for me to wear since I am short and curvy. The back of my legs aren't my best asset (the first three letters of that word, might be though). These sarong shorts allow me to show a little leg but still flatter my figure by covering my not so great back thighs! I love these, and if they came in cream, white and grey, I would own all!

The Costume Council presents.....Wow that purse is so sparkly, it's blinding me!

If it weren't too obnoxious to people that actually have a reason to send birth announcements, I would send one in honor of my new Judith Leiber. I can picture myself in a photo studio wearing a gorgeous dress (perhaps the one I had on at the momentous occasion), holding the bag up on the air like a mother would hold her sweet, adoring baby. No? Ridiculous?
I have wanted a Judith Leiber bag as long as I can remember. Few things in this world (several hundred at least) make me feel tingly the way sparkle and rhinestones do, so you can imagine how I must felt when I realized, "I own this bag" (it took days for it to sink in). My excitement must have been the reason I handed her her book No Mere Bagatelles backwards (and upside down) to sign. "Crap", I shrieked!

I call it Cuban Prep.....

Banana Republic is typically known for "business chic", but I pulled together a look that even I would wear.
The jacket came with a fabric belt, so I removed it and added a metallic skinny belt. These t-shirts come in several shades and will be a staple underneath all jackets for me this season, I love the way the sides peek out of the bottom. I ALSO love that most stores carry light weight socks that coordinate with their lines, so I added a pair with these strappy sandals. If you do pair socks with open toes sandals, make sure they are thick straps and hide the toe seams underneath your feet.

xoxo
Ali

Simon Fashion NOW! Atlanta.

Transition wear for the cities that are staying cold longer. I have much sympathy since I live in Southern California (wink).

Simon Fashion Now Brings Atlanta Style Fresh Spring Fashion

Simon Fashion Now Brings Atlanta Style Fresh Spring Fashion

My latest wardrobe project

Expense vs. Cheap: How To Shop Smarter for Spring

I am a stylist and I have to (yes, HAVE TO wink wink) buy what's "in" for each season. I am also self-employed and single (gasp). The two combined don't allow me to purchase my entire Wish List on my Net-a-porter account. Moment of silence if you will.

I found 3 things that I wanted to purchase for Spring. After about an hour of research, I found practically the same items on other sites for more than half the price. Style for cheaper at last!

Guiseppe Zanotti's leather platform sandal for $740 vs. Go Max Platform sandal with studded detail for $49 at Piperlime.com



Sexy slinky dress by Vivienne Westwood for $315 vs. Victoria Secret cowl back slink dress for $58




Strapless black Jumpsuit by Sonia by Sonia Rykiel for $600 vs detail pleated jumpsuit at Spiegel.com for $129