For the past couple of seasons, there is a new focus of what I called “feminine rock chic” – a combination of flirty styles mixed with a tough rock and roll attitude.  It’s no longer the girl next door – it’s the strong beautiful woman who is independent and not afraid to express herself.  This exemplifies the current economic situation that every woman faces.

Trends are exciting but sometimes we need to evaluate how we can update our styles each season.  I’m a risk taker when it comes to fashion but that doesn’t mean I will wear every single new trends out in the market.  I do, on the hand, praise Rihanna and Beyonce for their brave fashion moves.  It’s important to know who you are and stay true to yourself.  I’m a girly girl at heart so I like to wear clothing that is more feminine, but I do like some of the new updated trends for this fall season.

If you’re not an expert when it comes to fashion but do enjoy updating your wardrobe, it can be very irritating to decide whether the new trends are right for you.  Here, I’m highlighting some of the top fall 2010 trends.  Read on and find out whether they are right for you.

Leather

Aviator-Inspired Leather Jacket

Best for:   boyish, pear, tall, curvy

Not for:    petites, busty

The Verdict:  This jacket is perfect for those who have athletic or straight frames because it creates a nice waist line.  If you are a pear shape (hip is wider than the bust), the voluminous lapels balance off your lower half.  And for those who are tall (5′8″ +), the shorter length of the jacket breaks up your long torso.  As a curvy (hourglass figure) girl, you are lucky that you can wear almost all styles.  On the other hand, you should avoid exaggerated style lines like large lapel if you are petite because it will only overwhelm your small frame.  The same is true if you’re busty (chest is wider than your hip) because the large lapels can intensify the magnitude of your bust.

Burberry Prorsum

Double-Breasted Leather Jacket

Best for:    boyish, curvy, tall, petite

Not for:     busty

The Verdict:  This waist-length jacket creates an horizontal line at the waist so it is perfect for those who have a boyish body as well as those who are petite.  If you’re tall, the shorter jacket length breaks up your long torso.  On the other hand, if you’re busty, you should avoid wearing this style buttoned up because it’ll only make your bust larger.  But, you can still wear it if you leave the jacket unbuttoned for a cooler look.

Akris

Thigh Slit Skirt

Best for:  petites, boyish, curvy

Not for:  pear

The Verdict:  The thigh slit skirt is a very sexy feminine cut so it requires a strong dose of confident to work it.  It works very well for all heights but particularly well for petites because it shows  more leg.  As a result, you will look slender and taller.  Because of its sexy and feminine feel, it is perfect for a boyish (straight frame with no prominent waist line) body shape .  As a petite girl with a boyish body, this style is one of my favorite trends.  There is a fine line between sexy and trampy so be sure to get a modest slit length!  You don’t want to draw unwanted attention.  This style is not suitable for pear shapes because the slit will only make your hips appear wider.

Versace

Military

Best for:  broad shoulders, small bust, boyish, pear

Not for:  busty

The Verdict:  The military trends has been going strong for many years now because we’re inspired by our oversea troops.  Because of its prominent details and strong, structured silhouette, it flatters many different body types.  It is particularly flattering to those with broad shoulders, small bust, and a boyish or pear figure.  Contrary to what you might think, the raised or puff sleeve caps camouflage your wide shoulders and balance your hips if you’re a pear shape.  The gold buttons and details like this jacket add interest to your chest so they make your bust appears larger.  Because of this reason, it is not recommended to those who are busty.

Balmain

Full Below the Knee Skirt

Best for:  tall, pear, curvy, busty

Not for:  petite

The Verdict:  In general, a full skirt is a classic silhouette and works for all body shapes.  It has a 50’s feel and will make you feel very lady-like.  But if you’re petite like me, you should avoid wearing skirts below the knees because it will make you look shorter.  Instead, you should wear full skirts that hit at the knees or slightly below.

Louis Vuitton

Oversize Sweater

Best for:  tall, pear

Not for:  petite

The Verdict:  The oversize sweater is by far the most comfortable trend this season and is now updated with interesting detail like chains as shown below.  It is like snuggling with a nice cozy blanket but more fashionable!  This style works very well with those who are tall and have a pear shape body.  The size creates drama while keeping you relaxed.  Although I don’t recommend this style for a petite person, you can still wear it but make sure it’s not overly exaggerated or chunky.  The size can overwhelm your small frame.  The best way to style it for a petite girl is to either wear a short skirt or dress or pair it with skinny jeans with high heels in similar color shades to elongate your legs.

Diane Von Furstenburg

What is your favorite trend and would you know how to work it for your body type?

Photo Credits:  Style.com

Alexander McQueen at his last spring / summer 2010 RTW runway show.

I have always been a fan of Alexander McQueen because of his creative, risk-taking approach to fashion.  Every one of his fashion runway shows are like theatrical performances.  He had a very strong point-of-view and never disappointed his fans.  It is sad to find out that a fashion genius dead at such a young age.  Last year, the fashion world also lost a beloved fashion legend Yves Saint Laurent.

Many people do not realize the intense pressure to be the best in the fashion world.  Most people only see the glitz and glamour.  It requires a lot of hard work to be in this highly competitive industry.  Even though he is gone, I’m sure that he will always be in many people’s hearts – he will certainly be in mine.  Here are some of my favorites from his spring / summer 2010 runway show from Style.com.  May he rest in peace.

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/2009/12/13/fall-holiday-fashion-trends-trends-inspired-by-the-80%e2%80%99s-and-michael-jackson/ http://www.loveleestyle.com/2009/12/13/fall-holiday-fashion-trends-trends-inspired-by-the-80%e2%80%99s-and-michael-jackson/#comments Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:00:10 +0000 judylee http://www.loveleestyle.com/?p=308 Some of us love the 80’s and some of us cringe when we think of the neon shirts and high ponytails.  The 80’s fashion is back.  Well, sort of.  For this fall season’s fashion trend, I see the updated 80’s looks along with Michael Jackson inspired outfits.  I’m talking about boyfriend and sequin jackets, metallic outfits, and motorcycle jackets – the tough fancy look.  I have to say that the styles are certainly more updated.  I couldn’t help but picked up a boyfriend jacket myself.

But since we’re all in a budget nowadays, how can you smartly update your wardrobe so you can still be part of the fun?  What should you spend the money on and where should you save?  Here are some suggestions next time you go shopping.

Boyfriend Jacket

You should certainly spend a little extra money to get a well-tailored jacket.  Why?  Because a boyfriend jacket can be very versatile and will be a good addition to your wardrobe.  You can wear it with skinny jeans or leggings along with ankle booties for a rock n’ roll look that is so hot this season.  Or you can wear it with a cocktail dress for your next dinner party to look polished.

Left:  Rachel Bilson is wearing a boyfriend jacket with a graphic printed dress.

Right:  Try a versatile black boyfriend jacket like this one – Ponte Knit Boyfriend Jacket, Studio 148, Nordstrom, $298

Sequins Pieces

Whether it’s a sequin dress, jacket, shoes, or accessories, I think you should save.  The main reason is that you will not be able to use them as much.  First it doesn’t make sense to wear sequins during the day unless the sequins are lightly scattered onto a sweater, for example.  And if you wear a sequin dress, you probably don’t want to wear it to every holiday party.  So, spending $400 on a sequin dress is totally not worth it.

Left: Taylor Swift looks super glamorous in asequin mini dress at the Z100’s Jingle Ball in New York.

Right:  You don’t need to splurge.  Get the budget-friendly version for your holiday party.  Square sequin dress, Forever 21, $29.80.

Motorcycle Jacket

Pick one that you like (black or brown) and feel good about spending the extra money.  I purchased a Coach leather motorcycle jacket back in 2007 for $400 (it was originally $1000) and I am still wearing that jacket every winter.  It has the perfect fit and goes with casual or fancier outfits.  Yes, I think it’s a little pricy but considering that I use it so much every season, it costs about a penny a day.

Left:  Rihanna is looking tough in a black motocycle leather jacket.

Right:  Pair this leather jacket with jeans or a dress and play with the style.  Leather biker jacket, William Rust, Shopbop.com, $480.

Fur

If you’re eco-friendly, faux fur is the way to go.  First, you’re saving innocent animals and second, many faux fur garments look and feel so real that you almost cannot tell the different.  Having that said, this is one fashion piece where you can save.  The fur vest is so hot right now that I got mine at Forever 21 for $28!  It’s a fun piece without the price tag.

This is not the same vest that I bought but it is very rocker chic!  I would recommend wearing a belt because the vest can make you look chunky.

Featured:  Faux fur studded vest, Forever 21, $39

Girls all over the world are in love with their signature stylish yet comfy matching tracksuits.  Knowing that their customers love to travel in them, JC will test the concept of opening stores at four airports: Miami International Airport’s American Airline terminal, British Airway terminal at New York’s JFK International Airport, Taiwan TaoYuan International Airport Terminal II, and Athens Airport Duty Free area, according to WWD.  Customers will be able to find the best JC travel items at these airport stores including apparel, accessories, footwear, children’s wear, and intimate apparels.  Destination specific tees like “Choose Miami” will only be available at that location.  The stores will range in different sizes – 200 square feet to full size free-standing boutiques.

Featured

Left:  Juicy Couture’s signature velour hoodie, Nordstrom, $98

Right:  Juicy Couture flannel boxer shorts, Nordstrom, $32

That’s a great idea!  How many times do you have to wait for hours at the airport and run out of things to do?  Plus, if you forgot to pack your favorite tracksuit, you will be able to pick up a set while you’re waiting for your next flight.  To take this idea even further, they are partnering with airlines to feature their products on the on board catalogues.  Be prepare to see more pink while you’re flying.  I think this is a great concept and JC is definitely thinking outside the box to increase their brand presence and sales.  I expect more companies to follow suit.

Lindsey Lohan and Emanuel Ungaro collaboration – Spring 2010 runway show

Celebrity collections are either a hit or miss.  There are many successful endeavors like Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B and Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen’s Elizabeth and James.  But consumers are getting tired of seeing celebrities jumping into the designing scenes especially when the recession hits, and many celebrity’s collections have either downsized or shut down completely.  Jennifer Lopez announced earlier this year that she’s shutting down her high end contemporary line Sweetface as well as Mandy Moore’s Mblem.

On the left:  Elizabeth and James “Alexandra” Blouse, Shopbop, $295

On the right: L.A.M.B. Embossed Vertical Tote, Nordstrom, $495

Don’t expect the celebrity collections going away anytime soon.  Nicole Richie will launch her new contemporary line Winter Kate in spring 2010 and Selena Gomez will launch her first fashion brand Dream Out Loud by Selena Gomez in fall 2010.  Nicole Richie already has her fashion accessories brand called House of Harlow 1960 and a maternity collection called Nicole for A Pea in the Pod.  This new line will include mostly tops, vests, and bed jackets.  I’m personally not a big fan of the bohemian chic but it has been a fashion trend for many years.  It will be interesting to see how the collection will turn out.

On the left: 3/4 sleeve button detail maternity blouse, Nicole for Pea in the Pod, $88

On the right: 6 strand bracelet, House of Harlow, Piperlime, $75

Selena Gomez is currently in the works for creating Dream Out Loud by Selena Gomez.  According to WWD, Selena will launch a full RTW collection that includes dresses, tops, jeans, skirts, jackets, and some accessories with a focus on eco-friendly fabrics for the clothes.  As an up and coming young teen star, she will be joining her peers like Miley Cyrus as a teen celebrity designer.

It’s actually exciting see that many new fashion lines are launching next year including my first bridesmaid dress collection called ju.Lee.  Certainly, the recession is not slowing us down.

]]> http://www.loveleestyle.com/2009/11/11/are-you-ready-for-more-celebrity-fashions/feed/ 0 http://www.loveleestyle.com/2009/10/25/the-reality-side-of-the-fashion-industry/ http://www.loveleestyle.com/2009/10/25/the-reality-side-of-the-fashion-industry/#comments Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:59:49 +0000 judylee http://www.loveleestyle.com/dev/?p=205 As I am catching with my daily updates of the WWD fashion news, I came across a very interesting article “Is Fashion’s Mystique Gone?” about the changing trend towards revealing the behind-the-scene works of many designers and the fashion industry.  Shows like Project Runway and America’s Next Top Model have been sweeping viewers off their feet by revealing the good, bad, and ugly side of the fashion industry.  The statistics speak for themselves – there is an average of 3.3 million viewers for Project Runway and 3.1 million viewers for American’s Next Top Model.  I’m a regular viewer of Project Runway not only because fashion is what I do for living but also because the show is entertaining.  “Let see what kind of out of this world challenge are they going to make the Designers do this week!”  The drama is what keeps the viewer hungering for more.  Let’s face it – we enjoy seeing aspiring designers and models being emotionally tortured on national TV by Heidi Klum and Tyra Banks.

Project Runway and  America’s Next Top Models

What strikes me after reading this article is the question that it raises – Is the magic of fashion gone because so much has been revealed?  Luxury is part quality, creativity, and exclusivity.  With so many designers posting their behind-the-scene footages of their day-to-day work online, some may wonder if they are diluting their appeal by taking out the mystery.  I think in a way it’s true but then it opens the door to a different level.  As a consumer myself, I would like to know the brand – I mean, really know the brand – the people who design them, the people who make them, the materials that they use, and the steps to make it happen.  I like to know the story behind what I’m buying.  This is what makes my purchases interesting.  Because I am a designer myself, I know how much work is involved in making even the simplest dress.  It can take many hours to think of an attractive design that my customers want; more hours to create the pattern that fits many different bodies; even more hours to test and re-test the style; and finally putting all the fine details together before the dress is considered complete.  It’s a lot of work but I love what I do and I feel like it’s all worth it.  However, not everyone knows what’s really involved in making a beautiful garment or accessory.  With social networks, it’s easy to show the customers what they are buying and what makes their purchases special.

I think reality shows and social media will continue to thrive especially in the fashion industry.  I don’t think it takes the magic away either.  Just because designers are showing the sweats and tears and the process to producing their work doesn’t mean anyone can do it.  My husband can watch all the Project Runway episodes that he wants but he still can’t hem his pants.  I’m still doing it for him.  He is fascinated with how I can put a dress together because it’s not something he can do by just watching or observing me while I work.  It is not as simple as it may seem.