Body Conscious Dressing: Herve Leger at NY Fashion Week

Herve Leger is best known for its famous body hugging 'bandage style' dresses made famous by supermodels like Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford who were often seen wearing the dresses.  The last few years fashion has seen a revival of this bandage style from high end to the lower priced knock-offs.  Today at New York Fashion Week the collection for spring 2013 was still true to the label's tradition of body conscious dressing. 

Leger, which is now owned by Max Azria, showed a collection that was inspired by the south.  With details that took references from traditional patchwork, appliques and quilting, it was smart and very sexy.  The silhouette's hugged a woman's curves and some included this season's flared trumpet style skirt.  But for the most part all the dresses were snug on the body with no room for any error.  You definitely can't eat that second piece of cake wearing one of these garments.  

Click here to view the full runway show. 

Michelle Obama in Tracy Reese

Michelle Obama walks onstage at the Democratic National Convention in
North Carolina.  

Tracy Reese is an American designer whose work is timeless, classic and always looks good on a woman.  She is one of my personal favorite designers and I was happy to see that First Lady Michelle Obama chose to wear one of her dresses for her speech at the Democratic National Convention.

Black (African-American) designers rarely get opportunities like this on a national scale to have their work seen by the masses.  The dress was custom made in a silky rosy pink, with grey around the hem.  Sleeveless, it showed off her strong arms and the silhouette was fitted with the a full skirt.  She wore the Everly Suede heels in rhubarb from J. Crew which were the perfect finishing touch to her look.

Twitter was buzzing with tweets about what the First Lady wore.  Tracy Reese herself tweeted, "So honored." when she appeared onstage in the dress.

This isn't the first time she's worn Reese.  She was also seen at the London Olympic games wearing a pre-fall ensemble from the designer.  

Michelle Obama in Tracy Reese at London Olympics

Transitional Style

Left to right:  Billy Reid, Imitation of Christ by Tara Subkoff, Lanvin and Ruffian)

It may be the middle of summer but retailers and designers want you thinking about the upcoming fall season.    Stores are already beginning to stock some of the latest for autumn.  Even though the temperatures are still blazing hot, you can still find some pieces that you can mix in your summer wardrobe for transitional style.

One of the trends I love is that bold color continues to dominate.  Blue is one that almost every skin tone can wear.  Because of it's boldness you can actually start wearing this right now during the summer season.  Instead of wearing it with a black or brown shoe accentuate it with bright colored sandals or pumps in red, yellow or even green.

Bright red platforms look fabulous with blue dresses.

Try yellow wedges like this pair by Jimmy Choo.

The Maxi Dress

Stylist Tameka Foster (ex-wife of Usher Raymond) looks radiant
in this bright printed maxi-dress. 

The maxi dress is one of the easiest style pieces this season.  They look great on most body types as long as you pick the right fit.  If you're tall make sure you find a dress that actually reaches your ankles.  There is nothing worse than a maxi dress that hits you in the middle of your calf.  It doesn't look right.

For fuller figures try to find a balance with print and style.  Avoid a pattern that is too busy and go for one like the print you see pictured on Tameka Foster above.  Wrap maxi-dresses look great on everyone.

A maxi-dress on pregnant women looks best in a solid color that skims the body.  That doesn't mean you should avoid patterns altogether but, you should be careful of the prints you select because it can make you look much bigger than you actually are.

If your body is straight, go for styles with a defined waist so it give you a little bit of curve.  Also a neckline that is more open with give you the look of a fuller bust-line.  

BCBG Pleated maxi-dress

It's Wedding Season

 

It's wedding season!  I really enjoyed watching this video from the State of Style Channel.  Bridal season offers so many options for women.  Everything from classic to sexy to vintage goes when it comes to your wedding dress.  Check out all these beautiful gowns.  On your wedding day you want to be the most beautiful you can be.  But make sure that no matter what you do, you're still representing who you are.

Petal Power

Petal power is where it's at for the summer season.  There's nothing prettier than stepping out on the town in a pretty floral printed dress.  It's the time of year when mixing brights and patterns is the way to get noticed.  You'll find everything from small prints to large sunflower patters on flowing sundresses.

Now that it's mid-season it's the best time to find these dresses on sale.  Get yours while the summer heat is still here.

The Dress You Can Wear Again

Twobirds Bridesmaid Dresses

If you've ever been a bridesmaid you know that 99 percent of the time you can never wear the dress again.  No matter what the style, it's usually made of some satin or silk finish material that won't exactly work well for another event.

Designer Ariane Goldman (Finkel) launched Twobirds Bridesmaid Dresses to solve that problem.  After having worn so many bridesmaids dresses that never got a second use, she created a dress that could be changed into at least 15 different styles. Simply wrapping the material in different ways converts the dress into something completely new each time.  Available in various colors, this dress will look amazing on most body types.

Based on reviews from customers the dress has positive response because it can be worn again in so many ways.  However, if you are extremely busty, not all style variations will be flattering.  Women who are fuller in the bust area have expressed challenges with the support in this dress which requires the use of special undergarments to provide the best look.  You'll see in the runway show below that there are a few variations that expose the back meaning a good bra is necessary.

I think the dress is a great idea and can certainly solve some bridal party woes.  If you're a bride searching for the perfect dress for your selected ladies be sure to consider body types and proper fit.  If this dress is on your list make sure all your ladies are confident in the styles and feel good wearing it.  

 

http://www.twobirdsbridesmaid.com