Château de Yvonne

My Most Inspirational ______ of 2011…

My most inspirational person with style of 2011 is non other than my very good friend Joy Pigg! I admire her style so much because its a lot like my own. I would describe it as traditional, contemporary-chic with a little bit of POP! We always seem to be on the same level of greatness when it comes to picking out clothes and what the next hot fashion trend will be. She is the only friend I have who I can seriously talk to about something like the color mustard! However, things aren’t always tangerine tango with Ms. Pigg and I. For instance, I loathe getting dressed with her because it takes HOURS (no exaggeration) for her to get ready. On top of that I know if I ever go shopping with her I better be prepared to take multiple shopping trips and to be out the entire day because that’s how long it takes to find the perfect birthday outfit (and with days of searching we never found one until mere hours before her b-day outing…typical joy)! Moreover, she’s also a procrastinator, but that’s totally irrelevant to this post and is neither here nor there. Anyways…When I think about how she dresses herself I realized that it takes her so long to get ready because she is committed to making a good impression wherever she goes, and her clothes are always on trend because she rarely ever settles for mediocre fashions provided to us by Stonecrest Mall. I rarely ever see her in the same outfit twice, and every time I go in her closet I find something I NEEEED to borrow. We are long-time friends. We get each other. We are closet soul-mates; and that is  why Stephanie Joy Pigg has earned the Martacious INSPIRATIONAL PERSON WITH STYLE OF 2011 AWARD (NON CELEBRITY). Congratulations Piggles!

You can follow Joy and be inspired too @theactorJOY on Twitter!

Un Peu D’inspiration (A Little Inspiration)…

Optimism is the key to life. Its an underlying factor that gives you wisdom beyond what you can see. Having the knowledge that there’s more to life than the present will give you the confidence to overcome the many adversities life may throw your way. I believe strongly that whatever path you’re on in life right now is exactly where you need to be. You have to take those bad situations in stride and know that they’re happening for a reason, and ultimately you will become a better person. Just knowing that gives me reason to move on and push forward. So keep on pushing on, stay positive, and make lemonade out of lemons. Success is only at the top of the hill.

Inspirations Pour L’automne (Inspirtaions for Fall)

Combat Boots

“Orlena” and “Lones” from Aldoshoes.com

Combat boots are the new fall shoe! They have a rustic, classic feel to them, which make them a must-have in anyone’s wardrobe (especially mine). Pair them with leggings and an off-the-shoulder cardigan for an effortless, sexy look!

Fur jackets

Now I’m fully aware that for some people fur is a necessity for the Fall and Winter seasons. However, its been given a bad rep over the years for being too gaudy. Personally I don’t think there is such a thing as too gaudy because sometimes more is more! Apparently designers agree with me since we have been seeing this on the runway for the past few Fall/Winter seasons. Now that the 70’s are in full affect for this Fall you better have something fur hanging in your closet!

Color Blocking

When I try to explain color blocking, I usually get a vibe of confusion and fear at first. Trust me, it’s easier done than said. The first thing you need to do is grab a color wheel. You should choose colors that are either complimentary (directly across from each other on the color wheel) or analogous (directly beside each other on the color wheel). That’s the basic way of doing it until you get more comfortable with using more daring color combinations. The second secret to a successful color block is to use colors that are in the same shade family (i.e. neons with neons and pastels with pastels). Mixing them together, in my opinion, just looks wrong. Last but not least, tie the colors together by adding a neutral item like a jacket, belt, purse or shoes, and there you go. You just color blocked!

Fedora Hats

A big part of the 70’s were the accessories, and who could forget those funky fedoras? If you’re a hat person, pick something funky and daring. Bring the classic fedora into the modern age. If you’re new to hats and want to be more demure, then choose a vintage style fedora in a warm fall color such as cranberry or mustard. Tis the season!

Red Lipstick

“Russian Red” and “Ruby Woo” by M.A.C.

I’m not gonna do a whole lot of explaining as to why red lipstick is one of my fall inspirations. Red lipstick is a must for any season, and contrary to popular belief, it can be worn by women of any shade. You just have to find the shade that fits you. Just go to a M.A.C. counter (if you haven’t noticed by now I only wear M.A.C.) and try on as many reds as you need to in order to find the one right for you. Simple.

Now go ahead and be fabulous for fall!

Une épiphanie (an epiphany)

“You have to believe you’re worth everything you want”

I heard that saying on tv and it literally made me cry. Who says you don’t have the right to be happy or achieve the success that you want? No one can stop you, not even yourself. That’s just something to think about when life gets you down. Peace, Love, and Haute Couture.

I Should’ve had a V8!

So the Summer season is winding down and Fall is approaching, hence I am slipping into a minor depression until I get into my Halloween-Thanksgiving-Christmas mode. However, all hope is not lost because New York Fashion Week is right around the corner!! Its like Christmas came three months earlier. I will be covering all the standout shows from fashion week, so expect more “Who am I?” posts, designer history, and trend forecasting. Don’t worry, you can thank me later :)

I cannot believe I almost forgot about this—I guess I should’ve had a V8!

Qui suis-je? (Who am I?)

My favorite handbag designer: 

  A brand that has a uniquely made pattern that you can identify from a mile away. Who am I?

Bottega Veneta of course!!

The signature cross-weaving technique that BV has incorporated into most of their handbag designs is not one to forget. From entire hobos to subtle outlines of top-handles, each collection uses this classy technique in a way that still wows it’s fans after almost 50 years of designing. I like it because you can pick and choose when to be simplistic and when to be more edgy without drastically changing your signature style. Another highlighting feature is many designers have not gone crazy using this technique, which keeps interests high and knockoffs low. Consequently, when you’re walking down the street with a well-crafted woven bag, people KNOW its a Bottega Veneta original, and that’s simply très chic!