Sailor Girls… Get Noticed

 

Photos (William & Kate) c/o: www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/; www.bff.tv/fashion-face-off-2/

SJP and Kate are nautical visions of summer in Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen’s ribbed sailor dress. Sarah Jessica wore the navy style in Hollywood, accented with a red croc clutch and hot-red bowed peep toes. Kate wore the classic white version with black heels in Prince Edward Island… her new husband playfully thanked P.E.I for naming the island after him. Awe… And speaking of the Prince. What’s not to love about Kate in a white Sarah Burton dress? Memories

This gorgeous dress isn’t available, but you can still skirt your sweater this month and into the fall in beige, navy, off-white, or black. Thicker knits flatter… And as always, SPANX are your friends.

 

SPANX very much

Few women haven’t heard of SPANX. If you haven’t until now… you’re welcome.

What you wear UNDER your clothes, is just as important as what everyone can see. So use the secret weapon of stylists everywhere (Rachel Zoe herself swore by SPANX maternity shapewear during her recent pregnancy) and say goodbye to unwanted bulges, back-fat, double (and triple!) bum. There’s absolutely no shame in a little help sans-knife. The tiniest of celebrities (Kelly Ripa, and Sarah Jessica Parker) swear by SPANX to snug their assets, whereas curvacious stars like Katy Perry and Kim Kardashian use the genius-spandex formula to hug their curves. The billion-dollar brand is such a success (they were one of Oprah’s favorite things in 2000… thanks O!) you can now find a wide range of styles and colors for EVERY outfit and ANY occasion. Made for REAL women!

Marilyn Monroe was famously quoted saying, “I don’t know who invented high heels, but all women owe him a lot.” Pretty sure the iconic sex symbol and her infamous curves would have been equally spankful to SPANX founder and creator Sara Blakely. Two words: Shear. Genius.

 

December holiday must-haves

Anthropologie Shimmering Street Shorts

Spanx Polka Dot tights

J.Crew Bronson Suede Booties

Cropped Tuxedo Trouser Pants great with heels

By Malene Birger Sequin Embellished Top

J.Crew Satin Invitation Clutch

Ann Taylor Statement Braided Crystal Chain Necklace

J Brand 12

Sam Edelman Black James Flat Suede Boot

white silk scarf

“Life has texture – dress for it!” - Linda Fargo, Bergdorf Goodman

10 – Shimmering Short Shorts - worn with dark tights and high heels, or flat over-the-knee boots when your gams need a rest, these are a go-to that can take you from holiday days to nights. Keep your top subtle, a black or cream tank, even gray works well. Let the shimmer in the shorts be your statement, you don’t want to channel an ornament for the tree. Think shimmer-chic.

9 – Polka-dot hosiery – and because it’s the holidays, we’re giving this look some SPANX (sidebar: thank goodness for SPANX!!) Statement hosiery is an instant update – it’s the new fishnet, and taking a cue from mini SJP we can’t get enough. There’s nothing polka-dot hosiery doesn’t go with!

8 – Black Shoe Booties - the perfect shoe for skirts, dresses, trouser-pants, capris, skinny jeans, cords and more… whether worn with detailed hosiery or basic black you can’t go wrong.

7 – Cropped Tuxedo Trouser Pants -  don’t feel like showing your legs? Fear not, the right pair of pants can get you through the season. Trouser pants are great with pumps and shoe-booties. This style works with embellished tops, boyfriend blazers, and anything sequin. The irony of this masculine piece with something uber-feminine on top can’t be resisted.

6 – Something Sequin – Whether you opt for an embellished top, a sequin boyfriend blazer, bag, clutch, sweater, dress, skirt, or pants – LIGHT IT UP. Just keep it to one sequin (and shining) piece per outfit, and keep everything else simple. The sequins are the statement. Let them shine.

5 – Statement clutch – the J.Crew one above is great because it has a strap, allowing your hands to be free for handshakes, food, drink, and tending to little ones. Leave your suitcase-size bags at home, at the office or in the car. Keep it simple, subtle and chic with an envelope-size clutch.

4 – Costume Jewelry – a statement necklace, bracelet, or ring – pick one, ROCK it, OWN it…

3 – Leather pants – real, faux, or wax coated – this look is hot hot HOT. It’s spot-on with a boyfriend blazer, loose tank, or even paired ironically with a casual tee Sandra-Bullock-style.

2 – Flat over the knee boots – too much holiday time in heels can reek havoc on your back, but don’t reach for ballerinas too quickly. You can still have statement-shoe-style with flats. Get your boot on, over-the-knee. So cute with tights or leggings, short shorts, a mini skirt or dress. Or even paired with a long formed-fitting tank, and oversized boyfriend blazer. Let OTK’s save you!

1 – white silk scarf – white is unexpected this time of year, but it looks sooo great! Opt for a silk pattern that’s inherently dressy like this Jimmy Choo “Stefy” Silk Scarf. It goes with EVERYTHING.

Other holidays go-tos include anything Valentino-red, a LBD, fur, and a pair of statement heels.

Just reach for any of these items, and mix & match yourself all the way through. ‘Tis the season