Confession #1

Forgive me Father, for I have sinned...

It has been what seems to be days, weeks, perhaps... even months since my last visit... Where should I begin?

Remember how we say, ""As winter approaches, we pile on the layers" ? Well... not only are we talking about the number of articles of clothing we wear to avoid catching a cold, we're talking about various trendy pieces... 

Little Black Dresses, Matte Leather, Luxurious Faux Furs, Romanticized Ruffle Blazers, Hard Metal Accessories, Heather Grays, Cozy Knits, and a Clash of Color Dynamics... 

Little Black Dresses: Never Old, Always New

Photos: JustJared, Starstyle

Nina Dobrev opted for a slinky, black number for the Scream Awards. It's all about the accessories! With simple, black dresses... accessories and hair are key to making the basic look pop. Add edge to the look by adding heavy duty chain embellished accessories. Note that Dobrev still kept the look clean by limiting her accessories, making the focal point of her outfit her statement heels and chain draped clutch. She softens her look by keeping her hair in in soft curls, looking sexy rather than rough-tough.

Head-to-toe black is never outdated, rather a staple for the sophisticated. Dash up the look with a sudden dash of color as Olivia Palermo demonstrates with her Hermes orange-tan croc Jige clutch paired with gold chunky accessories.

Tidbit: What I love most about this look? The padded shoulders on her winter-worthy dress. Contrary to popular belief, shoulder pads aren't just for business types or blazers... believe it or not they actually serve a purpose! The plus side of padding the shoulders? It actually adds structure to your shoulders giving a slimming and lengthening effect-- making your neck look slimmer and longer. Try it, you will see what is all the rage...

Victoria Beckham keeps it simple with one staple focus: her perfectly tailored-to-fit black dress. Cinching the waist with a medium width belt in a matching color helps accentuate and slim her waistline.

Matte Leather: Take Out the Shine

Rachel Bilson: Break out those leather shorts again (please, matte it. Any shine would be borderline Julia Roberts a la Pretty Woman hookerish). Break the tough chic look with a flowy blouse, preferably with a feminine accent like subdued ruffles or subtle floral prints. Pairing the shorts with black booties keeps the tough in the look, while the wavy hair and feminine top keeps the look fresh, youthful, and downright girly...

Olivia Palermo: Again, add a touch of sophistication and youth to the look with playful colors. I love the balance of masculinity and femininity in this look. She has the tough exterior of the matte leather dress and bullet-inspired chunky necklace while keeping the balance of sophistication with her suede canary-yellow, broached pumps and orange-brown croc print clutch.

 Luxurious Fall Furs

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley: This Victoria's Secret model turned Transformers hottie's fashion sense has caught my eye for the past few months. With layering techniques meant for professionals, she dares to be different and is always mixing different textures and colors to make a look all her own. 

Tidbit: Add a faux fur piece to your day look.. whether a vest, fur-trimmed coat, or scarf... it'll instantly add a luxurious vibe to the look.
  
to be continued...

xo Qbee

The Secret to the Perfect Ankle Boots for the Short & Tall

I'm super excited about this post! I've been approached by a multiple number of girlfriends regarding this style dilemma so often that I lost count...

"I cannot wear ankle booties for the life of me. I'm too short."

 Images: JustJared
If Rachel Bilson (5'2") to Sienna Miller (5'6) can rock em', you sure as hell can!

Buckle-up, because your prayers will be answered... and it all begins with the strategic trick-of-the-eye.

Oh, you can count the numerous times in numerous posts where I emphasize that styling an outfit isn't always about what you wear, it's about how you wear it. We all have more important things in life to give our noggins a workout over, the last thing we need is to fret about what to wear and whether we can pull a look off or not. Style isn't about brainpower, it's not about the superficial. Rather, it's an artsy composition. Once we get the tips-and-tricks down, everything will happen organically. And that is what sets a bold, confident, fashion maven apart from the brown-nosing copycats of the world <3

First off, before we begin. Pay mind to the toe-shape of the booties. The most flattering are the round yet slightly pointed toe (keyword: slightly pointed). The round toe is much more complimentary to the perfect pair of booties. And to avoid the witch-hunt and false mistaken identity for a witch stuck in a time warp from the Salem Witch Trials, steer clear of the pointed toe booties (exception: if the booties have an urban feel, with lace-up details, a la J.Lo from her Jenny on the Block vid... then you're safe and excused)

 Exhibit A: Fool Proof Cut-off Point: 3 Inches Above the Deepest Arch of the Ankle

Yes, when your mother told you to throw the tape measure away or measuring cup out the window and simply told you to "eye-ball" measure the length of your hem or the amount of flour for your cake mix, she wasn't joking. Ankle booties require just as much of a tactful, eye-ball skill as getting the perfect texture to that cake batter.

1. The most flattering cut-off for your booties would be approximately 3 in. above the deepest arch of your ankle. This is the determining factor for flattering fancy feet.
2. Avoid ankle boots that mold tightly to your leg. You want the top-rim of your ankle boots to give a little room (not just for your better mobility, but for a better, flattering line of sight). Ankle boots that rise straight up rather than clinging to your ankles would heighten your look without making you appear shorter. Regardless of your natural height, this is a must follow tidbit!

Case in Point:

 Alexandra Neel Suede Lace-Up Booties

Ankle booties done right. Eye-ball this fab pair of footwork and you see the 2 rules apply: the ankle cut-off lies about 3 in. above the deepest arch of the ankle and the width of the ankle cut-off is roomy enough to not suffocate the look. If only it had a higher hidden platform.. (this we will continue on in Exhibit B)

Shop It!
Original: $810
SALE $405
La Garconne

Charles Albert Women's New 1347 Bootie

Shop It!
Original: $34.95
SALE $19.95
Endless

Boutique 9 Siaka Bootie

Shop It!
Original: $224.95
SALE $97.97

Pour La Victoire Panthea Bootie in Black

Platorm, peep-toed, and adorned with excessive embellishment. Pour La Victoire never fails to impress in infusing an extra kick to the basic black bootie. Even better, the medium-width cuff above the ankle is thin enough to accentuate the ankle line without overwhelming the heaviness of the fancy footwear. Strategically smart...
Shop It!
Original: $380
SALE $79
Singer22

Exhibit B: Leg Lengthening Open-Faced Booties

If you're on the brink between seasons, a great way to let in some air without lugging along the Fall/Winter season vibe would be to don' the "open-faced booties". Laced-up, buckled, or with cut-outs... you name it, the shoe universe has got it.

The Lowdown: Looks to Kill and Something to Show For

Believe it or not, the open-faced booties don't just look nice, their looks serve an actual purpose! Sure the hidden platform booties can add height to your stature, but with the open-faced booties, the front panel allows your skin to peek through the masses of the bootie, further lengthening those stems of yours without cutting the vertical length of your legs (yes, we are manipulating the naked eye)! Deception is not always a sin, in the fashion world, it's a form of artful manipulation; learning to accentuate and flatter what you do have, rather than focus on what you don't have. This is what sets a confident, bold fashionista apart from the rest. She knows what her flaws are, yet she confidently focuses on her positive sides to find a way to better project it to the world through self-expression and body conscious wear.

 Case in Point:

Sam Edelman's "Queenie" High Heel Booties

Shop It!
Original: $199.99
SALE $99.50
BLOOMINGDALE'S

Jimmy Choo Detroit Suede Booties

Shop It!
Original: $768.38
SALE $539.71
MyTheresa

Sam Edelman Quantum Beaded & Jeweled Suede Stiletto Booties

 

I think I just heard the room fall silent. Gorgeous is all that comes to mind when these shoes are in my line of vision...Magical... Simply Magical..

Shop It!
Original :$300
Lord & Taylor

Critical Closing Statement: A hidden platform + 3 in. above the deepest arch of your ankle + (optional) open-faced booties = ankle master in 3 small commandments at the tip of your brain. Through my experience styling shoots, examining celebrity do's-and-don'ts, and having my fill of tried-and-true moments of trying on a good share of booties, I've concocted these brilliant strategies to finding the perfect, flattering pair of booties regardless of your height.

Now, I have done my homework and shared my cheat notes. It's time for you to stop shying away from those fashion-forward ankle booties and face the music! Time to do your homework...

xo Qbee

The Sizzle: Cargos with Sass

The Sizzle: J Brand "Houlihan" Cargo Skinnies by izzyshoegal featuring J Brand pants

Cargos aren't for the utility man anymore or the Backstreet Boy wannabes. J Brand has been all the hoot over the past years, but the brand is taking us for a spin in these revolutionary J Brand "Houlihan" Cargo Skinnies. Forget about the frump and the tools, girls are introduced to a new round of sass and edge for the modern day gal. We have multi-functioning smart phones, why not give a city gal another conveniency? We had the jeggings, now this pair of pants is definitely worthy of residing in that extra closet space.

Do-It-Right like...

Kate Bosworth in NYC

JustJared

Khloe Kardashian

YourStoreImages

Jessica Alba

StarStyle

Rachel Bilson

WorldOfJoyce

xo Qb