The good news is that all the stores have after Christmas sales so you shouldn’t have any problem finding a new outfit for the New Year’s party.  Most Fall/Holiday clothing will be anywhere from 25% – 75% off.  Now is the time to gather your gift cards and have a little fun shopping.  If you are not sure where to begin or want some ideas and inspiration, I’m going to show you how to pull together an outfit that will make you shine. 

This is the final post to my “Looking Your Best for the Holidays” series and the last post for 2010.  For this post, I will suggest styling tips for a curvy girl.  When people hear “curvy,” they automatically think plus size.  That is not quite true.  Curvy really means that your bust and hip are prominent in proportion and as a result, you have a well-defined waist line and it creates an hourglass figure.  To look good in any outfits, it’s all about maintaining the right proportion.  You not only have to consider the basic bust/waist/hip measurements, but also your makeup and shoes.  Yes, you have to consider the overall look.  Whether you are a size 4 or size 16, if you have the right proportion, you will look gorgeous no matter what size you are.  It is no rocket science but there are a few principles that you need to understand to make it work. 

What:  New Year’s Party

Where:  Lounge XYZ

Body Shape:  Curvy

Attire

 Rebecca Taylor Sparkle Sweetheart Dress, Neiman Marcus, $495

This is perhaps one of the best strapless party dresses this holiday season.  Why?  First of all, the silhouette is super flattering.  The sweetheart neckline downplays your bust and the full flirty skirt glides graciously on your hip.  The color is neutral but with an unexpected surprise with rows of silver sequins on the bodice.  I have tried on this dress myself and it looked amazing!  The all-around boning in the bodice holds up the shape and you won’t have to worry about gravity while you party.  This dress is your focal point for your entire outfit. 

 Aqua Cashmere Raw-Edged Two-Button Blazer, Bloomingdales, $178

A blazer is a great sidekick to your wow dress but the classic style is too business-like to a New Year’s party.  Instead, I recommend a jersey blazer because the cut is classic but it’s more edgy.  It is uber comfortable and the button closure at the waist creates the perfect waist line. 

Accessories

Left:  Felix Fey Amour Clutch, ShopBop.com, $150  Right: Lauren by Ralph Lauren Faux Python Double Wrap, Bloomingdale’s, $38

To create a waist line while not wearing a blazer (you know that you want to show off your sexy shoulders at the party,) I suggest that you add a contrasting belt.  This gold double-wrapped skinny belt injects extra drama to your outfit.  Think of it as a necklace for your waist. 

Leaving your purse at home is not an option for most gals.  But heading off to a party with a large tote?  I don’t think that’s a good idea either.  You won’t want to worry about your purse while with party, after all.  The best solution is to carry a small clutch that is handy and attractive.  This Felix Rey clutch is eye-catching but won’t compete with your dress and you can slip it under your arm.  The adorable design is different and will hold your basic essentials like cash, credit card, ID, lip gloss, and mints. 

Shoes

Left:  Cole Haan Violet Air 90 Pump, Endless.com, $247.50; center:  Kate Spade New York Peep Toe Pumps, Endless.com, $345; Right:  Pour La Victorie Irina Platform Pumps, Endless.com, $254.95

Finding the perfect pair of shoes that will work with your dress is eventually the key to a pulled together look.  The good news is that there are many options for you to choose from and it depends on your personal taste.  Since it is a semi-formal party, I recommend that you wear some kind of heels (at least 2.5” to as high as your feet can tolerate) to elongate your legs and to enhance the “chic” factor.  With a sexy, romantic dress, it’s about showing off your legs in the best possible way.  All three styles suggested here will work well with your overall look and best of all, you can easily wear them with other outfits after the party. 

Another idea that I want to throw in is to wear a pair of sheer pantyhose.  Opaque tights have been stealing the spotlight for years now as the ultimate “leg friend” but sheer pantyhose are starting to gain momentum in the runways lately.  They are slowly making a fashion comeback!  If you’re tired of wearing opaque tights, consider their sheer cousins.  The bonus?  Control top pantyhose will tighten up your thighs and cinch in your waist so you can look fabulous in your dress.  Who said that you must hit the gym to look good?       

Beauty

Left:  Smashbox Master’s Class Style Files, Sephora, $59; right: OPI Merry Me! Nail Colour, Sephora, $9

Your makeup should complement your outfit and complete the style.  Assuming that you know how to do the basic foundation (moisturizer, foundation, powder, eye liner and mascara), all you need are the right colors.  If you need tips and suggestions on basic foundation, read my previous post.  I’m a big fan of color palettes because you don’t have to think which colors will go well together.  Let the experts do the hard work.  Color palettes are carefully edited by beauty experts so you can feel confident that they will work nicely together.  This Smashbox all-in-one palette is genius because practically all the essentials are together in one kit.  Talking about simplifying your life!

To take it up one final notch, you should try a festive nail color like red with sparkles.  Since your overall wardrobe color palette is neutral, red will be an unexpected color.  If you typically prefer dark color clothing, wearing bright nail polish is one way to introduce color to your look in a subtle way.  It is amazing what a little bit of color can do.  

Do you have any styling tips for your New Year’s party?

So, you’re not sure what Fashion’s Night Out is about?  It started last year when NYC and 12 other cities throughout the world banded together to celebrate all things fashion.  Many retailers throughout the world created their own unique events to get customers excited about fashion.  What can be more “lovelee” than high-spirited fashionistas strut out in their glamorous dresses and 4” heel shoes with their friends to support the fashion industry?

Nordstrom

865 Market Street

San Francisco, CA 94103

Fashion’s Night Out
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Shop exclusive collections from TOMS shoes, William Rast and more, including Fashion’s Night Out apparel and tote bags you can only find at this event. Get the inside scoop on the latest beauty trends and products at the Girls Getting Gorgeous Party in Cosmetics. You can also enter to win a suit signed and worn by Michael Buble* and a Golden Ticket Fashion Experience, which includes a $2,500 Nordstrom shopping spree, closet makeover with a Nordstrom Personal Stylist and a one-year subscription to Vogue*. And you’ll enjoy New York City inspired refreshments, a live DJ and other fun surprises throughout the evening. To find out more call 415.977.5167.

Saks Fifth Avenue

384 Post Street,

San Francisco, CA 94108

September 10 from 6 to 8

Fashion’s Night Out

Enjoy passed champagne, DJs and trivia contests.
Get Fall 2010 runway make-up with their beauty lines and enjoy informal modeling and their fashion lounge.

Shop with your MasterCard® card and receive the exclusive rock n roll playlist.

For more information,
please call 415.986.4300.

Neiman Marcus

150 Stockton Street

San Francisco, CA 94108

September 10, 2010,  6PM – 9PM

-        Meet jewelry designer Mimi So while sipping wine

-        View work from the students at The Academy of Art

-        Makeovers from the cosmetic department

Neiman Marcus

400 Stanford Shop Center

Palo Alto, CA 94304

September 10, 2010, 6PM

-        Bay Area Stylist competition

-        Theory Fashionista Event – preview their newest trends and vote for your favorites created by your local stylists!

-        Taste the premium espresso and coffee at the Gift Gallery and try the candy bar and chocolate fountain

-        Louis Vuitton customized tote event

-        Preview the latest trends in tabletop

-        Enjoy the Jo Malone fragrance bubble fountain

-        Something for the guys: foosball and Wii sports challenge in the Men’s sports lounge

Macy’s

170 O’Farrell Street

San Francisco, CA 94102

Fashion’s Night Out
Meet Carlos Santana
Shoes, Level 2
6-7pm

Meet music legend Carlos Santana!  With your Carlos by Carlos Santana Footwear or Handbag purchase* of $50 or more, you’ll receive a special gift with purchase and the chance to meet Carlos Santana.** Inspired by the passion and energy that embodies Santana’s music; Carlos by Carlos Santana is The Sound of Style.

Meet Countess LuAnn de Lesseps
Bridge, Level 2
7:30pm

Countess LuAnn de Lesseps, from the hit Bravo TV show, The Housewives of New York City, will join us for a personal appearance. The Countess will sing her new hit single, ‘Money Can’t Buy You Class’, and then sign her book ‘Class with the Countess’ with any $100 storewide purchase.

Flutter, A September Night’s Dream
Impulse, Level 3
6-9pm

Macy’s and local fashion authority Owen Buenaventura present “Flutter”, an exhibition of San Francisco’s up and coming fashion designers. Watch as the designers compete in a style challenge – to create a Macy’s look that captivates their design sensibility. Vote for your favorite signature look and help crown the style challenge winner.

Featured designers include Jill Giordano & Brian Scheyer, Daniel & David Concepcion, Phuong My, Danielle Pettee and Mike San Gaspar.

Santana Row

San Jose, CA

Fall Fashion in the Park

September 10 – 11

Technically, Fall Fashion in the Park is not an official part of Fashion’s Night Out, but it happens to fall during the same time period.  If you’re looking for an exciting fashion event in San Jose, Santana Row is the place to go to this weekend.

There are 4 runways shows over two days, showcasing the hottest fall trends from Santana Row retailers, including Ted Baker, Pink Stripes Boutique, Donald J. Pliner, Furla and more!

Plus, meet special guest Jay Sario, from Project Runway, at the 6 p.m. show on Friday, September 10 & Donald J Pliner at the 12pm show on Friday, September 10.  To purchase your tickets, go to www.santanarow.com.

Red Carpet at the Emmys 2010 on Sunday night 8.29.10

Claire Danes

Claire Danes was a vision at the Emmy on Sunday night.  She took my breath away in the 90’s as one of my favorite teen idols and fast forward 15 years later, she took my breath away in this golden shimmer dress by Armani Prive!  The dress was covered head to toe in crystals and beads.  It definitely worked very well for her slender body shape.  The simple hair and golden makeup totally pulled the look together without competing with the dress.  This is something to keep in mind if you’re wearing a “Wow” dress like this.

However, this dress style is not for everyone.  It requires that you have a relatively proportionate body (hour glass shape) to really pull it off.  The reason is because there are no details like ruffles or pleats to diverge your attention away so every curves (the flattering type and ahem, the rolls) show too.  A body shaper is a must to master the look.  Every imperfection will show, ladies.  If you have the right assets, this is the style to go for at the red carpet or at the next black-tie event.  I do wonder how heavy was this dress?

Emily Blunt

Emily Blunt knows her figure and style.  She is one of the most fashion-forward actresses in Hollywood.  Although some people criticized her choice for the Emmy, I personally think this dress worked for her.  First, she was not nominated for the Emmy so this dress was rather understated, unlike Claire’s.  Second, the color and shape were very flattering on her and the one-should look is so hot right now.  The flowers and beadings added interest to the style and were not “screaming” out at you.  Most body types will be able to wear this dress beautifully.

Kelly Osbourne

Kelly Osbourne’s style has evolved so much over the years and she also impressed me at season 9 of Dancing with the Stars.  This black V-neck fitted sheath-style dress looked amazing on her.  It gave her a very feminine hourglass shape and highlighted her figure in an alluring way.  V-neck style is a good alternative to strapless.  You don’t need to always wear strapless dresses to formal events.

Also, it’s important that you find a dress that hits you at all the right spots – neckline, bust, waist, and hip.  If the dress is out of proportion, no matter how pretty the dress is, it will look strange on you.  Again, don’t forget your secret weapons – body shaper and push ups.  They will give you tight abs and perky busts.

January Jones

When Mad Men team went up the stage to accept the awards, I immediately noticed January Jones’ electric blue ruffled dress by Versace.  Although many people thought it was a terrible choice for her, I thought it served its purpose.  It demanded attention and brought her out to the spotlight.  Unlike the traditional classic red-carpet styles that we usually see, she broke outside the box.

Don’t get me wrong.  I don’t think this dress is for any body and for any occasion.  It requires a certain attitude and confidence along with the right body shape to make it work.  But in this case, she did it.  The neckline was sexy and the uneven hem was unexpected along with the bold color.  She kept her makeup simple and no jewelries so they don’t compete with the dress.  But her stylist could have done a better job with her hair.  It looked too causal for red carpet.  To translate the dress to the mass, the train should be cut off so the length is right around knee to below-the-knee.  Unless you are at least 5’6”, you should avoid tea length dresses.  They will make you look short.

Emily Deschanel

I wasn’t thrilled with Emily Deschanel’s choice at the Emmy.  The color was great and silhouette was flattering but the head-to-toe ruffle layers were just too much!  Even with a figure like hers, she looked like she gained 10 lbs.  So imagine for the rest of us with normal bodies.  Who wants to add chucks?  The dress would look great if the designer cut back on half of the ruffles and kept either the ruffled top or ruffled skirt.

Tina Fey

Tina Fay is one my favorite female comedy actresses.  I absolutely adore her yet many times, I question her dress choices (I wonder if she has a stylist?)  Let’s talk about the positives first.  The silhouette was flattering and the color combination popped.  I saw her curves and the train was appropriate for red carpet.

But it stopped right there.  The cap sleeves were way too tight on her so they made her arms appeared larger than they were.  I have the same problem so I always avoid tight cap sleeves like these.  The top would look more flattering if the dress was sleeveless instead.  Ladies, if you are self-conscious about your arms, don’t purchase tops or dress with wide shoulder bands either because they’ll make your arms look bigger.  Smaller bands (1-2” width) or spaghetti straps are the best choices.

Anna Paquin

Alexander McQueen is another favorite designer of mine but his style is more theatrical and dramatic.  Sometimes, it’s hard to translate to glamour and sophistication.  In this case, the dress was the wrong choice for Anna Paquin.  She looked like she was ready to slay some vampires in her black patent pumps on the red carpet (watch out, Bill!)  She drew attention alright but not necessary the positive type.  The statement embellishment on top was too much while it seemed like that there weren’t enough fabric to finish the length of the dress.

The embellishment on the top would have look fierce if it were made as a jacket paired with jeans for a night party.  The style would be so in line with the current rock & roll trend.  I think the intention and style was good but it was made for the wrong occasion.

What do you think of the dresses at the Emmys?

Photos courtesy of People.com and Emmys.com

I had loads of fun res-styling the models to create this fantasy photo shoot.  The look was very ethereal and whimsical.

It was a beautiful day and the vineyard was gorgeous!  To make it fun, we gave the models some bubbles to play with!  Sarah was wearing the “San Francisco” dress in color American Beauty and Seema was wearing the “Honolulu” dress in color Buttermilk.  We loved Seema’s wild hairstyle and makeup, thanks to our talented makeup artist Tiffany Chiang!

How can you re-wear a bridesmaid dress for your next cocktail party?  It’s all about re-styling.  Add some cute jewelries and put on a trendy jacket.  Poof!  You’re transformed.  Here, Sarah was wearing the “Miami” dress in color Buttermilk.

The models were re-styled for the Cocktail Party scene.  Seema looked fierce in the short version of the “Chicago” dress in color American Beauty with a belted faux fur vest.  Sarah was wearing the “Miami” dress in color Buttermilk with a statement pink stripe rhinestone belt and a black lace jacket.

Before we wrapped up the shoot, Van Hsieh of Ocean Blue Video filmed a lifestyle segment for us.  Here, Seema was wearing the “Los Angeles” dress in color Desert Blue.

Many thanks to the following professionals.  Without them, we wouldn’t have a successful photo shoot!

Karl Ko, photographer

Chyna Darner, photographer

Tiffany Chiang, makeup & hair

Monica Kau, flowers

Van Hsieh, Ocean Blue Video

Sophie Lai, coordinator

Albert Hwang, my assistant

Seema Rampal, model

Sarah Abney, model

Kenny Rampal, model

Special thanks to Clos LaChance Winery for accommodating us!

Until next time,

Judy

Photos courtesy of Karl Ko Photography

]]> http://www.loveleestyle.com/2010/07/14/ju-lee-photo-shoot/feed/ 0 http://www.loveleestyle.com/2010/03/08/2010-red-carpet-styles/ http://www.loveleestyle.com/2010/03/08/2010-red-carpet-styles/#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:49:22 +0000 judylee http://www.loveleestyle.com/?p=394 Did you tune in for the Academy Awards last night?  Besides wanting to know who were the winners for best actor (Jeff Bridges), best actress (Sandra Bullocks), and best picture (The Hurt Locker), I was eager to see who was wearing what.  Generally in the past, there would be a handful of worst dressed, but surprising this year, I don’t really see that many!  I might not be crazy about some of the gowns but overall, I only hated one.

Sandra Bullock impressed me this time as my absolute favorite last night.  Unlike the last dress she wore to the Golden Globe, she nailed the look this time by picking an elegant embroidered gold sheath gown.  Way to go, Sandra, on your Best Actress Award and the Best Dressed Award!

One noticeable trend at the Oscar was the front slit gowns.  It’s been a while that I’ve seen this style before and I like it!  It’s very sexy yet red carpet appropriate.   A little bit of legs goes a long way, ladies!

Anna Kendrick and Demi Moore both looked enchanting in a soft romantic style.

Left:  How about classic with a twist like Carrie Mulligan’s Prada dress with interesting gadget embellishments (tiny forks, knives, scissors?)  The dress was age appropriate for her – classy yet edgy.

Right:  Or Kate Winslet’s classic champagne dress by YSL?  As you can see, you don’t need an extravagant dress to look this good.  It was effortless chic!

Left:  Sleek with the wow factor.  Elizabeth Bank’s Versace gown was figure flattering but her poise made her look super sexy.

Right:  Hail to the “Queen!”  Queen Latifah knows how to dress for her body.  She doesn’t chase the trends but always sticks to what works.

If I have to pick one dress that I hate, it’d have to be Diane Kruger’s Chanel gown.  The colors were nice but the ruffles at the mid-section was way too much, not to mention the exaggerated, low-cut halter neckline.  There was too much going on from head to toe.  The overall look was simply not figure flattering.

It was truly an amazing experience for me to be part of the planning process.  Arlene and Eileen were fantastic planners and it was an honor to work with them.  I was pleasantly surprised with how well we all worked together despite the fact that it was our first partnership.  Yes, there were some problems along the way but overall, it was a successful show.

We were stuffing swag bags the day before the show.

Rehearsing with the models before the show.

Guests were already checking in 15 minutes early for the show!

Left:  Pear and Pepper Catering offering soup samples to the guests.

Right:  Guests were tasting different types of wine by International Vineyards.

Joe Salazar of West Coast Bartending School was showing off his skills during the “27 drinks in 15 minutes” presentation.

Beautiful jewelries by One World Designs.

My models and I were showing off some of the new ju.Lee bridesmaid collection dresses.

Iridescence Bridal Couture set up.

My bridesmaid dress re-styling presentation – the before and after of your bridesmaid dresses.  You can re-wear your bridesmaid dresses by using some simple styling tricks.  Really!

LOVE

Left: Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy – Felicity Huffman dazzled in a gorgeous gown highlighting her perfectly toned arms.  The halter style neckline is perfect for those with broad or strong shoulders.

Right: Cameron Diaz picked the right color and silhouette.  The gown is elegant and figure-flattering.  If you have a boyish figure like Cameron, this style is perfect for you because the rushings create a waist for an athletic body.

Left: There is nothing simple about Penelope Cruz’s black lace gown.  I’m generally not a big fan of black dresses at formal events because they are hard to stand out.  But the dress worked wonderfully well here because it had lots of details and textures.

Right: Toni Collette looked perfect in this gold sequin dress by Elie Saab.  It is absolutely glamorous and eye-catching.

Emily Blunt & John Krasinski: If I have to pick the best dress at the Golden Globes, I would have to give the A+ to Emily Blunt.  The silhouette and fit are impeccable with the right amount of pleats and ruffles.  The look is very flirty but red carpet appropriate.  Even though she didn’t win Best Actress, she got my vote for the Best Dressed.

Not So Hot

Left: Overall, Drew Barrymore’s gown is not bad but the metallic ruffles that are growing out of her are.  The silhouette is actually very flattering and the champaign color is quite charming.  This would have been a stunning dress if someone had stepped back and edited.

Right: I love fitted gowns and black is always a safe color choice.  But not in this case for Mariah Carey.  The exaggerated plunging V-neck was over-the-top and the gown was simply too tight.  If you have an apple body shape like Mariah, this dress style will not help you balance out your top half.

Hate

Left: It’s the invasion of the ruffles!  I’m a fan of ruffles but this dress has crossed the line.  Sorry, Chloe Sevigny.  Nice color though.

Right: Although the style of the gown is not bad, the color choice is all wrong.  If you have fair skin like Elisabeth Moss, light, airy colors like blue mist will only fade you away.

Left: When I saw Sandra Bullock walked up the stage to accept her Best Actress award, I couldn’t help but stared at her gown.  Purple is one of my favorite colors but the sheer organza fabric used was horrendous.  The style and fit of the gown looked flattering but the fabric made the dress look cheap.

Right: Nicole Kidman is probably one of the most elegant Hollywood celebrities but her choice for the Golden Globes last night was very questionable.  The style of the dress was very classy but there were too many bows and the color was all wrong for her skin.

]]> http://www.loveleestyle.com/2010/01/18/golden-globes-2010-fashion-love-or-hate/feed/ 0 http://www.loveleestyle.com/2010/01/10/sneak-peak-of-ju-lee-the-all-occassion-bridesmaid-collection/ http://www.loveleestyle.com/2010/01/10/sneak-peak-of-ju-lee-the-all-occassion-bridesmaid-collection/#comments Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:30:42 +0000 judylee http://www.loveleestyle.com/?p=345 Happy New Year!  For the past six months, I have been working vigorously on the first bridesmaid collection.  It has certainly been an exhausting project so it is very exciting that I’ve reached a great milestone!  On February 28, 2010, I’ll be participating at a special event in Treasure Island, CA to feature a sneak peek of ju.Lee.  The Free Pamper Yourself Event is a fun, interactive event organized by me and two other wedding coordinators.  This event is open to the public and the best of all, it’s FREE!  There will be a total of 25 local professional and wedding vendors featured.

During this event, you will get a sneak peek of ju.Lee before its official launch later this Spring.  This will be the only chance for the public to preview the collection.  I’ll show you how ju.Lee is different from other bridesmaid collections with a styling demo.  I don’t want to give out too much so if you’re going to be around the Bay Area that day, you should definitely register for this event.  You won’t be disappointed.  To learn more about this event and to register, visit the event website.  Hope to see you all there!