Milena Style

Posts with tag 'Style Tips'

Shine Like a Diamond! :

October 25, 2009

Color, Cut, Clarity and Carat - the 4 C's for finding the perfect diamond. If you want to shine like a diamond apply the same principles to your wardrobe! 

Color  Color is powerful! Some colors will enhance your best features like your eyes and soften any flaws like circles under your eyes. If you are wearing the wrong colors you could unintentionally be accentuating an uneven skin tone or making yourself appear paler. With the right colors you can camouflage those flaws and brighten your complexion, making you appear even younger! First, find out if you have a warm or cool undertone. If you have a warm undertone you'll look better in orange/yellow based colors. If you have a cool undertone, you'll look better in green/blue based colors. Don't know if you are warm or cool? Schedule a Style Assessment ($25 off to milenablog readers). Once you know what colors work for you, try and keep those colors close to your face. Either avoid the colors that don't or wear them in other places such as a skirt or a handbag.

Cut  How a garment fits you depends largely upon how it is cut. You will find that higher quality fabrics and designs not only cost more, but fit better. Nothing beats a custom made shirt or suit that fits you precisely. However, if you don't have a budget for custom clothing, then it's even more important that you pay attention to cut. You are only as small as your body is, so wearing clothing that contours your body closely will be most flattering. Wearing boxy clothing or clothes that are too big or too tight are only going to add unneeded volume to your figure. Use cut to create clean lines and accentuate or camouflage where necessary.

Clarity  Create a wardrobe strategy by having a clear idea of what your style is now and where you would like it to be. Many of us buy the same things out of habit or buy foolishly because of a lack of time or planning. Know that your lifestyle and budget change throughout your life so if you are still shopping in the teen section and you have your own teen that is a sign you need to re-evaluate your wardrobe strategy. The best way to determine what you need is to first figure out what you have. Evaluate your wardrobe and clean out the things that you don't wear, don't fit or are worn out. Make a list of items that you are missing or need replacing. This will give you the direction you need to start building your wardrobe. If you are overwhelmed at the thought of this, schedule a Wardrobe Edit with your favorite personal stylist and your closet will be cleaned out and you'll have a shopping list in less than 4 hours!

Carat  Measure the value of your wardrobe to you based on how it affects you emotionally and physically. "Look Successful. Feel Successful. Be Successful." When you have on an outfit that you know makes you look good, your confidence peaks and you feel empowered! It's not about having the latest styles and trends-I actually tell most of my clients to limit their trendy clothes to only 10% of their wardrobe-it's about feeling put together and viewing yourself positively! Knowing that you deserve to look and feel good is the first step to creating a wardrobe that is rich in carats! 

Tags: Style Tips, Fashion Tips, jewelry, Personal Style


Dress Like "You" for Halloween...Scary Thaught? :

October 6, 2009

Have you ever thought about being yourself for Halloween?  If “youâ€? were hanging on the rack of a costume shop would you want to be “youâ€?? What would “youâ€? 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 “costumeâ€? 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 “youâ€?, 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!

Tags: Menswear, Style Tips, Fashion Tips, How To, Women's Fashions, Men's Fashions


Give Fall the Boot! :

September 10, 2009

Boots are this season’s must have and you wouldn’t dare live without!  Not only do boots keep your tootsies warm into winter, men can look stylish without trying too hard and women can easily create an eye catching look by pairing them with everything from t-shirts to dresses! 
 
Boots are so big this fall that I had to narrow down the styles that I could cover in this little blog.  The truth is, you can wear almost any style and be right in sync!  Regardless of the style, you'll see a lot of boots with buckles, suede and roll-over tops, just a few details to make them unique!  Here a few worth trying for both women & men!
 
Women's
 
 
Ankle Booties:  A trend we saw last fall is here to stay!  This is one of those shoes that may not be for everyone.  Pair these with skinny jeans or a dress with tights.  It plays out best on people with little feet and proportionate bodies.  Done incorrectly and you can wind up looking like a holiday elf! (Not Rated)
 
 
 
Over the Knee Boots:  I’m still a little nervous to see how these play out in realty!  On the runway with models who have 10 inch round legs that are 10 feet long, they can be quite appealing.  The key is to create a sleek legging-like look.  If you are worried that you’ll look more trampy than trendy – avoid a lot of embellishments like studs or any sort of bling.  These leggy fashion boots are showy enough, so keep them simple. (Joie)
 
 
 
 
Cowboy Boots/Biker Boots:  Although these aren’t at all the same type of boot, I paired them together because both are boots that require a certain personality or attitude to look right.  Wear either boot with confidence and only if they feel like you.  Opt for ones that are lighter in appearance and weight to keep them from looking overwhelming or making you feel like you gained a few.  Choose a style that has some feminine flair to it.  If you want to try either out for style and don’t see yourself as a biker or a cowboy in the future, buy these boots on sale or at a discount store. (Steve Madden)
 
 
 
Slouchy Boots:  With all the 80’s hype in clothing and accessories, these boots easily stroll right into the mix!  Wear your slouchy boots with skinny jeans, tights or even a full skirt!  You need contrast to make them stand out.  I love slouchy boots in grey suede or any soft neutral color.  These are flats so you'd almost imagine them to feel like modern-day super-hero slippers! (Steve Madden)
 
 
 
 
 
Men's  
 
 
Rugged & Casual:  Just how women like to see their men!  Men’s boots have that tough, no messing around look!  Pair with a t-shirt or a soft casual button-up and wear these boots just about everywhere you go this fall! (Bed Stu Romel)
 
 
 
Chukka Boots:  These ankle length boots have 2 or 3 eyelet holes for laces and typically come in a suede or calf-skin.  Don't let the suede fool you into thinking you can only wear these on a hot date.  The casual look of these boots goes just about anywhere too! (RJ Colt)
 
 
 
Western/Biker Boots:  Guys have been wearing cowboy boots and biker boots forever.  This fall’s look is a little more styled out for that guy who wants to add some edge.  Mark Nason shoes are known for their stylish detail.  Be careful to watch the proportion on the toe bed.  While every guy wants to have big feet, if you are on the shorter side, a pair of Nason's with a large toe-bed may make you lose a couple inches off the top (aka-you'll look even shorter)! (Mark Nason)
 
 
 
Dress Boots:  Boots aren’t just for casual wear.  You can really make an impression and still feel comfortable in the winter months with a pair of dressy ankle boots.  Keep the style simple, sleek and smooth.  No extra frills with these! (Mezlan)

Tags: Style Tips, Men's Shoes, Women's Shoes


Wrap Up Your Summer in a Scarf! :

August 13, 2009

One of summer’s hottest accessories makes a great transition into fall for both men and women!  Literally, tie your look together with a scarf!  A scarf can keep you warm as the temperatures drop and also double as a wrap for those cool summer nights. Men can add a scarf to a simple t-shirt and jeans and they’re ready for a night out with the boys of Entourage!

There are countless ways to wear your scarf and several different types of scarves.  The most important thing to remember is that the current trend is a bit loose and effortless, so don’t get too caught up on perfecting the style. 

Choose a style that you feel comfortable in.  A simple wrap around the neck is easy and chic.  Check out how Kardashian, Diaz, Hudson, Pitt, Bartha and Timberlake do this look (below).

Notice that each one used a long rectangular scarf, varying the looseness of the scarf to create different looks.  They all paired their scarves with very basic, not flashy pieces.  A scarf dresses up a simple outfit!  Pairing printed scarves with solid pieces is an easy way to be sure you don’t have too much going on in your outfit.  You don’t want your scarf competing for attention!

Another way to wear your scarf is the slip not.  Fold your long rectangular scarf in half.  Hold the looped end on one side of your neck while pulling both ends around to the other side.  Slip both of the loose ends of the one side through the loop of the other.  Pull and adjust the scarf for the desired fit.  This style can keep you really warm in the cool months and works with both thin and thick fabrics!  Beckham and Jackman have it right!

Another type of scarf is the square scarf.  Rihanna does this perfectly!  Simply fold your scarf in half.  Wrap the scarf around your neck with the point of the triangle pointing down the front.  Wrap the ends around your neck and slightly pull them back towards the front.  Let your ends drape loosely.  This style requires a bit of an edge for men and women to pull off, so don't be shy when wearing this scene stealer!  

Lastly, try wearing your scarf more like a wrap or turtle neck.  This can be done in a lot of variations too!  For the basic wrap, start in the middle of the scarf and wrap one end around your neck.  Then wrap the other end, securing the ends underneath the scarf so it doesn't come undone.  See all the unique ways that Alba wears this look! 

These are just a few ways you can begin to wear a scarf!  Experiment with different looks and see what works for you!

Tags: Style Tips, How To, Women's Fashions, Men's Fashions


Your Boyfriend Called...He Wants His Jeans Back! :

June 29, 2009

I’ve never been a big fan of trends and this one is right there with the rest of them!  The boyfriend jean really doesn’t flatter anyone!  If you are fortunate enough to be thin - you should show off your figure and if you’ve got a few extra pounds – adding extra volume is only going to make you appear larger!  In addition to making you look like your carrying some extra baggage, the cropped style is making your legs appear shorter and wider!  Yes, it’s true.  Your legs stop where the jeans end and this means you visually have 2’5â€? legs or shorter for many of us petite types.  Boyfriends jeans are a trend so if you must buy them, don’t waste your money on designer jeans because eventually they are going to be “outâ€? again (but probably not soon enough). 

 

Instead of following the crowd this summer, opt for a classic white jean to add some style to your wardrobe.  Here a few tips to pull off this summer chic jean:
 

1.  Chose a jean instead of a pant as they are thicker and won’t show pockets or panty lines!
 
2.  Wear nude (not white) thong panties – you don’t want lines or dark shadows!
 
3.  Try a skinny jean for a straight figure or a bootcut style if you are curvier!
 
4.  Pair white pants with a bright colored top or printed top to balance out a heavier bottom.  Avoid wearing black or dark colors on top as you will visually exaggerate the width of your hip and thigh area!
 
5.  Keep pockets minimal.  Cargo pockets will add width to your hip area and flaps on the back pockets will add inches to your back side.  If you are in need of a little extra curve, flap pockets on your bottom can do wonders!

Tags: Style Tips