LifeofFashion.com LifeofFashion.com:Musings of life, fashion, and style. 2010-07-23T22:21:22Z Copyright (c) 2010, http://lifeoffashion.com/ ExpressionEngine tag:lifeoffashion.com,2010:07:20 Alexander McQueen’s Final Bow tag:lifeoffashion.com,2010:/1.156 2010-07-20T03:57:30Z 2010-07-21T22:40:31Z Abby abby@lifeoffashion.com The Autumn/Winter 2010-2011 Ready to Wear show in Pairs will be one that goes down in fashion history.  This is the show that features Alexander McQueen’s final work – and it is an extraordinary collection. 

McQueen was fashion’s bad boy.  He is the one you loved to hate.  Some of his collections seemed completely erratic – offensive even.  His ankle twisting heels and rib crushing corsets crossed the thin line of artistic expression and veered into actual danger.  However, how many designers can say both the regal, conservative Michelle Obama and the known-for-her-wacky-outfits Lady Gaga wore their designs.  As far as I know, only McQueen. 

Read full article... ]]> Stylish Mistakes tag:lifeoffashion.com,2010:/1.155 2010-07-07T03:34:42Z 2010-07-21T22:36:43Z Abby abby@lifeoffashion.com Style is highly personal.  Some people like to follow the trends, others prefer a vintage vibe.  Some ladies make amazing finds in thrift stores; others are on a first name basis with the staff at Holt Renfrew.  As long as you are in clean, well-made clothing free of rips, tears, and sagging hems (unless it is intentional, like distressed denim), it is hard to go wrong.  There are, however, a few things every woman should avoid no matter what her style is. 

Read full article... ]]> Darling Dior tag:lifeoffashion.com,2010:/1.154 2010-06-18T03:31:27Z 2010-07-21T22:32:28Z Abby abby@lifeoffashion.com There are few things on earth as spectacular as a couture show.  Well, I suppose you could count the Grand Canyon, The Eiffel Tower, or the view from Niagara Falls; but when it comes to fashion – couture is where the breathtaking moments are.

The beauty of couture is that is has no rules.  It does not have to be pretty, affordable, or functional.  Couture is wholly dependent on the whim of the designer and there are designers with some very avant-garde ideas. 

Read full article... ]]> Perfectly Prada tag:lifeoffashion.com,2010:/1.153 2010-06-03T20:24:04Z 2010-07-20T23:48:05Z Abby abby@lifeoffashion.com Prada is a popular brand among celebrities and socialites; the status of the fashion house was helped along nicely by the Hollywood hit The Devil Wears Prada. Vouge reports that Prada has negotiated a loan designed to refinance existing debt and aid in the expansion of their brand.  In addition to managing the pre-existing debt, the new funds will go towards 30 new stores and a presence in the Asian markets.  It is very exciting to see this fashion house expanding moving upwards. 

Read full article... ]]> First Class Coach tag:lifeoffashion.com,2010:/1.152 2010-05-20T13:37:21Z 2010-07-22T23:13:23Z Abby abby@lifeoffashion.com When it comes to handbags, Coach has been the go-to brand for dependable, serviceable and well-made leather bags.  These days, however, Coach is shaking things up.  Poppy, the line aimed at the younger generation, carries all of the class and craftsmanship of the former collections, but features fabrics, eye-popping colors, more relaxed shapes and cool touches like graffiti and metallic. 

Read full article... ]]> How To Create A Panty Wardrobe tag:lifeoffashion.com,2010:/1.150 2010-05-03T23:42:30Z 2010-07-20T23:16:31Z Abby abby@lifeoffashion.com Gone are the days when all you needed was a stalwart pair of knickers and a practical slip.  Today’s underwear comes in mid-rise, low-slung, cheek baring, full cut, boy short…and that’s just a few of your options!  What you wear under your clothes is every bit as – if not more – important as what you wear over them.  Here is a basic run down on the panties you need in your underwear wardrobe.

Read full article... ]]> How To Purge Your Closet tag:lifeoffashion.com,2010:/1.149 2010-04-23T10:44:46Z 2010-07-22T23:13:48Z Abby abby@lifeoffashion.com There is no point in having great clothes if you can’t find them or they wind up on the floor, blending into the laundry pile.  If your closet is stuffed to overflowing or so disorganized that your family refers to it as the Bermuda Triangle, it is time to purge your wardrobe.

Start by grabbing two hefty garbage bags – one for trash, one for donation.  Then start at one end of your closet and grab a single item.  Ask yourself the following questions, and repeat until you’ve worked your way through all of your clothes.

Read full article... ]]> Mascara Decoded tag:lifeoffashion.com,2010:/1.148 2010-04-07T04:00:25Z 2010-07-20T23:03:26Z Abby abby@lifeoffashion.com Maybelline’s pink tube with green cover used to be the undisputed top seller.  But in the past few years, dozens of new mascaras have exploded onto the beauty scene and they are all fighting, wand to wand, for market share.  Cover Girl has toppled Maybelline’s mascara empire but L’Oreal’s Lash Explosion is creeping up on Cover Girl and gaining ground at a very steady rate.  Today’s mascara wearing woman must choose among volumizers, lengtheners and vibrating wands (hey, that one makes you giggle, doesn’t it?!), not to mention shiny finishes, glossy blacks, and a myriad of colors.  To get some perspective on decoding this strange and fascinating world of mascaras, I spoke to Terran Marcotte, the Cosmetics Manager at a well known beauty supply store.

Read full article... ]]> Spring 2010 top Designer Overview tag:lifeoffashion.com,2010:/1.147 2010-03-29T03:53:33Z 2010-07-20T22:56:34Z Abby abby@lifeoffashion.com We may be in the grip of winter but top fashion designers around the world are warming us up with their Spring/Summer 2010 collections.  Last season echoed the recession with stylish depression-era chic clothing, minimalism in the garments and extravagance in the faux-jewels.  What does 2010 have in store for us?

Read full article... ]]> Spring 2010 Top Designer Accessories tag:lifeoffashion.com,2010:/1.146 2010-03-10T22:38:37Z 2010-07-20T22:51:38Z Abby abby@lifeoffashion.com Trends come and go and styles ebb and flow, but once in awhile the world of fashion springs something on us so unforgettable, it goes down in history.  Spring 2010 may have given birth to one of those memorable moments.  The mother of this infant is the every so controversial Alexander McQueen.  The baby is the dreadful Armadillo Shoe.  Three models quit rather than risk their necks (and ankles) navigating the catwalk in what appears to be the brainchild of an artist gone mad.

Read full article... ]]> Picture Perfect Eyebrows tag:lifeoffashion.com,2010:/1.145 2010-02-26T02:44:16Z 2010-07-20T22:47:17Z Abby abby@lifeoffashion.com Before we get started, I must disclaim.  This is not an article that will tell you how to create a pair of stunning brows on your own.  It will not tell you that waxing is painless. It will not subject you to holding a pencil to your face to find your natural arch.  It will, however, tell you how to get and maintain perfect brows.  If waxing scares you, consider threading or using a topical numbing agent. Let’s begin!

Read full article... ]]> How To Do A Sexy & Smoky Eye tag:lifeoffashion.com,2010:/1.142 2010-02-08T23:08:36Z 2010-02-08T20:12:37Z Abby abby@lifeoffashion.com In the pursuit of beauty, women want many things - the perfect figure, pouty lips, sculpted cheekbones, and smoldering eyes.  While all this can be obtained by various means, the easiest and most cost effective thing on this list is the smoky eyes.  With a few shades of shadow and a steady hand, every woman can have those unforgettable, dark, starlet, forget-me-not, come-hither eyes. 

There are several variations of the smoky eye, so let’s first look at the basics and then how we can add even more drama.

Read full article... ]]> What Makes A Celebrity A Fashion Icon Or Disaster? tag:lifeoffashion.com,2010:/1.141 2010-01-02T01:54:22Z 2010-01-01T17:56:23Z Abby abby@lifeoffashion.com Celebrity fashion is big business.  From red carpet dissections to Hits and Disses on MSN, we are obsessed by who wore what, who looked good, and who was a hot mess.  While anyone can be a hit or a miss for a day, there are a handful of celebrities for whom we have definite expectations.  So, what does it take to be a celebrity fashion icon or disaster?

Read full article... ]]> How To Define And Purchase An Investment Piece tag:lifeoffashion.com,2009:/1.140 2009-12-16T06:33:29Z 2009-12-23T23:36:30Z Abby abby@lifeoffashion.com Start a conversation about women’s wardrobes and the words “investment piece” and “wardrobe staple” are sure to be bandied about.  What exactly are these superhero sounding clothing items and how does one acquire them?  A wardrobe staple, aka investment piece, is an item of clothing that is purchased with the intent of owing and wearing it for many years.  It blends seamlessly into the rest of your wardrobe regardless of the trend du jour and is a quality, well made garment. 

Read full article... ]]> Christmas Gifts For Fashion Divas tag:lifeoffashion.com,2009:/1.139 2009-12-02T06:50:25Z 2009-12-01T22:55:30Z Abby abby@lifeoffashion.com Christmas is only a few weeks away; time to start shopping! Some people are easy to buy for, some are more difficult, but nobody is as tricky as the Fashion Diva – especially if you are not a shopaholic like her.  What do you get the woman on your list that can pick out a Dolce & Gabbana handbag in a crowded room of people?  Read on, for help is at hand!

Read full article... ]]>