Fashion Talk: My Style Is Unique

I have always thought my style was unique. I think that is why I never really blended in with the average crowd. In high school I was mocked, in college I was praised, and in everyday life--people are amazed at my style. As a businesswoman, I find myself shopping for dresses or anything of an elegant yet conservative nature because that is the kind of clothing I am most comfortable in. It is not that I am opposed to wearing anything else, it is just me. 

I am a size 5 and have been this size for most of my life. I am 5'2-5'3, so that is a curvy size. At least for me. My weight tends to fluctuate. I have been called skinny and I've been called fat. I have been skinnier than what I am now and I have been fatter than what I am now. In end, what others think is none of my concern, as what I think matters most. 

In regards to my style, there are quite a few things that I love, many things that I hate, and a lot of things I simply debate whether or not to wear them or at least wear them again. Does that make sense?

When I am at work, I wear primarily business clothing. This can be anything from sophisticated suits to swanky slacks to upscale casual. I never wear anything too flashy or formal as my everyday attire is subdued. Now, when I go out, I like to wear clothing a little more lavish, but even then I am never too flashy nor formal. 

Some dresses that I am loving at the moment include: Givenchy Beaded Long Sleeve Dress, Boden Tilly Ottoman Belted Sheath Dress, Carolina Herrera Oleander Print Silk Fit & Flare Dress, Ted Baker London Hedgerow Flounce Sleeve Body-Con Dress, Galvan Sequin Long Sleeve Cocktail Mini Dress, Carolina Herrera Leaf Print Stretch Cotton Dress, HVN Paula Deep V-Neck Sequin Dress, Alice + Olivia Delora Body Con Dress, and almost every dress at Herve Leger with the exception of Maxi dresses as they tend to not look the best on me. Perhaps it is because I am short or the fact that I am not a size 0. Who knows. 

When it comes to print, I am not the biggest fan in spite of me wearing zebra print in my photo. But all of the dresses at Pinup Girl Clothing are truly beautiful and designed with so much heart by the talented Laura Byrnes from California who I admire and respect. Versace has been really obsessed with creating zebra print lately and I am not really too sure what to think of it. 

I absolutely love stretch knit trousers, boot leg suit pants, pencil skirts, a-line skirts, and anything that can complement a majority of my wardrobe. I also love double breasted blazers and one-button blazers. And speaking of blazers and jackets, the Dolce & Gabbana Double Breasted Stretch Wool Blend Jacket is stunning. What do you think? I am not a fan of wool. In fact, it makes me itch, but I would wear the Judith & Charles Matera Wool Suit Jacket if it were made with faux wool. 

Now a lot of you have messaged me and asked what my favorite pair of jeans are. To be honest, I don't really wear jeans unless they are of a higher quality simply because of my body shape. I find that high-end jeans fit me best. I prefer straight-leg and skinny jeans to boot cut, flare, and wide leg. I am also fond of some of the legging style jeans. Not necessarily a jegging, but a denim legging, although I some of my favorite pairs of jeans are actually denim leggings. 

Some of my favorite jeans include the Isabel Marant Etoile Jamie High Waist Skinny Jeans and the LYSSE High Waist Denim Leggings. I would probably make an exception for the L'AGENCE Margot Metallic Coated Crop Skinny Jeans as they are beautiful. I love corduroy jeans. I own several pairs of the Kut From The Kloth Diana Stretch Corduroy Skinny Pants.

I love athletic wear (or activewear) and find myself wearing a lot of yoga pants. They are what I am truly comfortable in. In fact, if I had it my way, I would wear nothing, but v-neck shirts, hoodies, and yoga pants all day. Of course capri leggings, gym shorts, and crew socks have me sold too. I have to admit, I am quite conservative when it comes to my gym style and don't like to show any skin at all, so to me a hoodie and shorts is okay in my book.  

As much as I love activewear, I can't choose a favorite for each thing that I truly enjoy, but I can share with you some of my favorite brands. They include: Zella, Nike, Adidas, Calvin Klein, BCBGMaxAzria, and much more. 

I despise jumpsuits, but manage to love the Joie Tau Jumpsuit, which is probably one of the few I will ever wear. Although the Balmain Beaded Sequin Jumpsuit I would probably wear. Rompers are probably one of the worst thing to ever happen to fashion and I am not saying this because they look the least flattering on me. I am saying this because they look like a permanent faux pas. 

Other things I will not wear include: halter tops, halter dresses, color block gowns, tube tops, cheesy biker shorts, jumper dresses, ruched sleeve jackets, long cady pants, oversized blazers, asymmetrical midi dress, elbow patch coats, or anything with shoulder pads. Just not my thing. 

I will get into a deeper discussion about fashion very soon. We will talk shoes and accessories later on. Until next time, take care of yourself and your style. Have a wonderful evening! 



FTC: Some affiliate links used.

RIP Karl Lagerfeld

Karl Lagerfeld
(Photo by Wikimedia Commons/
Christopher Adach)

Today the world of fashion, including fashion enthusiasts around the globe have suffered an immense loss as we all say goodbye to one of the greatest designers, Karl Lagerfeld. As the creative director for world-renowned fashion house Chanel, Lagerfeld spent over 35 years with the brand.

Lagerfeld has been sick for quite sometime; however, he managed to check himself into the American Hospital of Paris yesterday. He died today. As the cause of death is unknown, the world remembers one of the greatest fashion visionaries for his contributions to fashion.

The internationally known designer spent several years with Balmain before joining Chloe. As some of his work was ridiculed in the press during the 50s and 60s era, Lagerfeld didn't give up. He jumped immediately into a collaboration with fashion house Fendi shortly after spending several years with both Balmain and Chloe. He continued to work, designing clothing for some of the greatest starlets in cinema including Elizabeth Taylor and even designed theatrical costumes on Broadway. He also created work overseas for an array of brands before finding a home at Chanel, where he remained the creative director from 1983 until his death today.

In addition to working as the creative director for Chanel, Lagerfeld has worked with an array of brands including Diesel, Orrefors, H&M and even Shu Uemura. In fact, I worked with Karl back in 2015 when he collaborated with Shu Uemura. I was a content producer for Examiner at the time. It was a joy working with him, as he was optimistic and always looked forward to doing something new. His beautiful cat Coupette was the main part of the collection he did with Shu Uemura. I still have the amazing eye shadow palette as well as the lip glosses he sent me.

"I am a fashion person and fashion is not about clothes - it's about all kinds of change." Karl Lagerfeld

Rest in Peace.

Get the makeup look: Rodarte at LA FW19

The pink look at the Rodarte LA Fashion
Show for Spring 2019.
(Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images
for JNSQ Wines)

Rodarte's latest collection for Spring 2019 was all glitz and glam. Taking you through a trendy 1930s burlesque meets glitter glam swing, the brand really brought so much to this collection. And although I am not sure I would think this were a Spring collection if I examined the pieces for the first time, I definitely believe it has serious potential for those fashion enthusiasts who are de rigueur and want to wear something that looks like it was produced with inspiration through five decades.

And as much as I liked the pieces for this collection from Rodarte, what really stood out to me was the makeup. Compliments of NARS Cosmetics, James Kaliardos is the man behind the makeup at today's show.

"The makeup for this show was inspired by the vibrant glitter from classic Hollywood musicals," makeup artist James Kaliardos shared.

So, is it possible to recreate this look at home? Absolutely.

First and foremost, Kaliardos prepped the models' skin. He went with the NARS NARSskin Multi-Action Hydrating Toner followed by the NARS NARSskin Aqua Gel Luminous Oil-Free Moisturizer. He continued prepping the face using the NARS NARSskin Luminous Moisture Cream and the NARS NARSskin Total Replenishing Eye Cream.

Continuing with the face portion of the look, the makeup artist went with the NARS Sheer Glow Foundation followed by the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. He finished the face off with the NARS Soft Velvet Loose Powder.

The makeup artist went with four looks for the show. The clean look, the red look, the berry look and the pink look which all utilized different products.

For the clean look, Kaliardos went with the NARS Fireclay Mosaic Blush for the eyes, the NARS Orgasm Afterglow Lip Balm for the lips and the NARS Fireclay Mosaic Blush for the cheeks. He also used the NARS Brow Perfector on the eyebrows.

For the red look, the makeup artist used the NARS Don't Stop PowerMatte Lip Pigment followed by glitter on the eyes. He, then, used the NARS Jungle Red Lip Liner Pencil on the lips followed by the NARS Don't Stop PowerMatte Lip Pigment. He finished the lips with glitter. To complete the look he used the NARS Fireclay Mosaic Blush on the cheeks and the NARS Brow Perfector on the eyebrows.

For the berry look, James Kaliardos went with the NARS Audacious Lipstick in Janet for the eyes followed by the NARS Audacious Lipstick in Fanny. Then, he went with the NARS Eyeshadow in Domination followed by glitter. For the lips he repeated the same process he used on the eyes. To finish the look, he used NARS Fireclay Mosaic Blush on the cheeks and NARS Brow Perfector on the eyebrows.

For the pink look, the internationally known makeup artist went with the NARS Audacious Lipstick in Claudia for the eyes followed by glitter. He continued with the lips using the same products, the NARS Audacious Lipstick in Claudia before finishing it off with glitter. To finish the pink look, Kaliardos used the NARS Fireclay Mosaic Blush on the cheeks and the NARS Brow Perfector on the eyebrows.

Congratulations! You have just recreated the makeup look for the Rodarte LA Fashion Week 2019 Spring show.

Get the Look: Dior Men 2019 Pre-Fall Show

Photo by Lorenzo Dalbosco/Dior
(used with permission)

In 1947, Christian Dior had a vision to become one of the world's biggest fashion empires, when he debuted his first collection. As we look at what has become of this world-renowned fashion house, we see nothing short of panache, epitomizing only elegance in both the world of fashion and the world of beauty. And as gusto as the Dior was then, today in 2018 his legacy lives on. Dior's newest collection for Pre-Fall 2019 was designed by Kim Jones and presented in Tokyo, creative and image director of Dior, Peter Philips created a dramatic yet cyber-chic look which he says is inspired by the great science-fiction classic "TRON".

So, is it possible to re-create this look at home? Absolutely.

First and foremost, the internationally known groomer prepped the models skin. Using only Dior beauty products, his goal was to keep the models' skin as hydrated as possible. "I hydrated the skin well with the Dior Homme Dermo skincare line." Philips applied the Dior Invigorating Moisturizing Emulsion followed by the Dior Pore Control Perfecting Essence and the Dior Anti-Fatigue Firming Eye Serum.

Then, Philips used the new Dior Backstage Line and Face Body Foundation. "This foundation helps obtain even skin and a clear complexion. I like it because it has an ultra-light texture and creates and incredibly natural impression," he shared with me. To complete the makeup portion of the look, he used the Dior Backstage Brow Palette followed by the Dior Diorshow Brow Styler.

The look created was used to complement the innovative fashion designs for the collection. "I created these silver 3D designers, some of which have a rainbow glimmer to replicate the new Dior Logo created by Kim Jones for this new Pre-Fall collection," Philips shared.

As the Dior groomer continued, he applied the actual Dior logo to some of the models just on the nape of the neck. He decided to go with a more abstract approach, so Philips applied individual letters just below the ear, as well as, on the forearms, the back of the hands and even on some of the fingers. "I wanted the look to have more of a metal sheath, as my goal for these futuristic decorations was to create a very 'robotic-chic' effect," Philips added.

The hair was styled by stylist Guido Palau, who gave the models a very structured look. For this look, Palau wanted to create a very futuristic yet cyber-rock effect with controlled volume.

This completes the grooming look for the Dior Men 2019 Pre-Fall Collection. For more information visit Dior today.


FTC: Press article for Dior. No affiliate links used.

Get the hair look: Misha Nonoo at NYFW SS'17

Misha Nonoo at NYFW for Spring/Summer 2017.
(Photo by TRESemme)

The big apple is quite possibly the most exciting city in the world. And it just got even more exciting this week with the start of New York Fashion Week for Spring/Summer 2017. As one of the hottest events on earth, fashion houses and designers debut their collections for the Spring and Summer season for next year. One of those designers is Misha Nonoo. As unique as the styles are, what made this event really stand out was the grungy tousled tresses of the models. Thanks to New York Fashion Week Ambassador for TRESemme, Chris Naselli was able to create a haute hair look to complement the style.

"Keep your roots matte and apply gloss only to the ends, this will give you naturally looking hair and shine where it matters," Chris Naselli shared in regards to the grungy tousled wave hair look.

So, is it possible to recreate this hair look at home? Absolutely.

First and foremost, Naselli washed the models hair with the TRESemme Botanique Nourish & Replenish Shampoo and the TRESemme Botanique Nourish & Replenish Conditioner. As he continued, he applied a few drops of the TRESemme Botanique Damage Recovery Oil Elixir from the mid-shaft of the hair all of the way through the ends.

Then, the TRESemme stylist took his hair dryer and began to rough dry the models' hair. As he continued, he began to part the models' hair in the middle to work in natural texture. He, then, began to pull one inch sections of hair randomly from the crown of the head before using a curling iron to create zig zag bends.

What did he do next? Naselli took his fingertips and began breaking the zig zag sections apart with his fingers before generously spritzing the TRESemme Botanique Nourish & Replenish Hydrating Mist.

To finish the look, Naselli sprayed the TRESemme TRES Extra Firm Control Hairspray.

Congratulations! You have just recreated the hair look at the Misha Nonoo Spring/Summer 2017 show at New York Fashion Week. #NYFW

Candace Smith introduces the Lady Warrior shirt

The beautiful Candace Smith
wearing one of the Lady Warrior
shirts.

If you haven't noticed this Summer, Bravo's "Millionaire Matchmaker" made the move over to WE tv and rebranded the show as "Million Dollar Matchmaker".  There is a new format along with matchmakers from the past, but one thing remains the same is Candace Smith. In fact, matchmaker Candace Smith returns as a senior matchmaker; actually the only matchmaker to appear in every episode this season. In true Candace fashion, she keeps it sexy and so much fun every Friday night at 10pm/9c.  

 

In addition to the new show, Candace stars in the film My Father, Die, which premiered at South by Southwest and will be in theaters at the end of the year. This action thriller is set in the South and is written and directed by Sean Brosnan and produced by Pierce Brosnan, Sanja Banjic and Orian Williams. Amazing right?

 

And if that wasn't enough, the beautiful and brilliant philanthropist created the Lady Warrior Shirt, which gives a portion of proceeds to the Downtown Women's Center in the heart of Los Angeles, where she has been a longtime volunteer.  

Miss Hawaii 2014 Moani Hara
wearing the Lady Warrior shirt.
The Lady Warrior shirts are available
at Candace's official store.

 

When asked about the inspiration behind the shirts, Candace said, "The Lady Warrior Shirt was inspired by all the fascinating women in my life who are not at all the one-dimensional image perpetuated by the media. Some of these women include the young girls I have the pleasure of coaching; the resilient women at the Downtown Women’s Center I interact with; the boss women in the entertainment industry; the strong, Southern women in my family and my Miss USA sisters."

 

"Many have endured much more than anyone would ever know because of how high they hold their heads, the warmth in their hearts and the swag in their steps. I worked closely with Frank Denbow of Startup Threads (Shopify) to bring my vision to life and I'm eternally grateful," she continued.

 

What is Candace's mission? What inspired her to create the Lady Warrior Shirt? "I hope to not only spread awareness for the Downtown Women's Center but to also empower women of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds to find their inner warrior.  We are taught as young women to be ladies but it is also crucial that women learn to be fighters as well.  Women should be comfortable with this duality and celebrate it," she shared.

 

The Lady Warrior shirt is all about
women's empowerment. An
incentive to the soul.

So, how will the purchase of a shirt help the Downtown Women's Center? According to Candace, they will help the shelter immensely. "I worked with the Downtown Women's Center, where I have volunteered for many years, to arrange for a portion of all proceeds to go directly to the center. The Downtown Women’s Center is so important because it is not just a shelter; they provide permanent supportive housing and a safe and healthy community fostering dignity, respect, and personal stability with the goal of supporting the women until they feel strong again to be independent."

 

To support the Downtown Women's Center, simply purchase a Lady Warrior Shirt at Candace's official store. Just remember, when you do rock it to share the link along with the hashtag #LadyWarriorShirt all over social media.

 

Catch up with Candace on her official website as well as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

 

Check out my latest interview with her about Million Dollar Matchmaker here.

Pasties talk with Pastease

The amazing owners of Pastease,
Stephanie and Todd.

When it comes to embracing freedom in a fun and sexy way, Pastease knows all about it. Created over a decade ago, this amazing pasties brand lets your spirit shine proudly. Whether you are a burlesque dancer, an exotic dancer, a raver or just a regular gal looking to spice up your love life, Pastease allows you to explore your inner tease. Recently, I had the opportunity to talk to Stephanie from Pastease. Here is what she had to tell me...

(Q) Hello Stephanie. How are you? Tell me a little more about the Pastease brand...

S.P: I'm doing great! How are you? Pastease is our online business, we make self adhesive nipple pasties. All of our styles are made with medical grade, latex free, waterproof adhesive. We've been making these since 2002 in the good ole USA!

(Q) Behind every great creative genius lies a major source of inspiration, a major source of influence. I have to ask, what inspired you to create Pastease?

S.P: My husband used to frequent the Lake Havasu scene. Women were getting ticketed for going topless regularly. Todd started looking into the various laws around the US regarding toplessness. As it turns out, most states only require the nipple to be covered for women to go topless. The idea was born! He originally started selling them in small quantities, the sales would cover beer and gas money for a weekend out on the lake. From there, he grew the brand by creating a website and attending various Lingerie Trade Shows. Several distributors picked up Pastease brand Pastease. From that point on the brand has steadily grown.

You offer an array of pasties in so many themes and varieties. What are the most popular right now? We offer a huge variety of shapes and styles, there's something for everyone on our site. We have a few styles that are popular year round and others that are that gain popularity around upcoming holidays. Right now our Leaves, Pizza, Red Glitter Hearts, Aliens, and Shamrocks are super popular!

(Q) Everyone from burlesque dancers to ravers to exotic dancers to regular women (like myself) use pasties from the Pastease brand. Let's not forget the men who love them too. As a fan of the brand, I think it is so amazing.

S.P: Thank you! We love that we have such a diverse group of women and men that enjoy Pastease.

(Q) I noticed that you have a special line called Tease. Tell me a little more about this line and how it is different from the pasties already available through the Pastease brand...

S.P: We started Tease about a year ago. We wanted to offer a product that would reach out to a different end user. Pastease has bright, crazy packaging that doesn't always speak out to the bride to be or the woman trying pasties for the first time. This time around, we went with fashion forward packaging and styles with a more seductive look and feel. Pastease is all about Sexy Fun Freedom. Tease is all about Soulful Seduction. In the end, we found that a lot of the same people enjoy Tease as much as they enjoy Pastease. A lot of the stores we sell to are selling both lines, as well. I have found when showing the two lines at trade shows, to friends and family that they usually gravitate towards one package or the other though. Internet shopping and shopping at your local favorite boutique are two different experiences. I think it's only when shopping and touching the different packages is when the underlying themes and packages call out to different people. Both lines are made with love and the same medical grade adhesive.

(Q) When it comes to creativity, it is definitely in your forte. I can tell that when you created the merkins, you definitely embraced it in more ways than one. For those women reading this interview, can you explain what pasties are?

S.P: We started making the merkins for people that wanted to bare as much as possible. Our strapless bikinis are for those that love rocking micro bikinis. We fondly call Pastease + merkin a strapless bikini. Merkins are meant to be worn over the bikini area, but we've found that a lot of customers like wearing them as a triangle top bikini. Like most of our Pastease fans, we found that people come up with the most creative of uses for our products. The merkin also works great as a pant liner for those wanting to go commando, but want to feel a little less naked, just peel and stick to the inside of your pants. I've also had a marathon runner use the merkins on the inside of his thighs for prevention of chaffing.

(Q) Can you really customize your own pair of pasties? Tell me a little more about this...

S.P: Yes, you can! For many years we've been custom imprinting large quantities of Pastease for the topless pools in Vegas as well as, the various business, parties, clubs, personalities, etc. We now offer customs to anyone wanting as little as 5 pair. You can visit our custom page here. It's super easy to order, pick your shape, color and upload the image you'd like! Since we started offering them in smaller quantities, we've done them for birthdays, anniversaries, and so on.

(Q) So, if a guy who is a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, a Denver Broncos fan, a New England Patriots fan, or a fan of anything that includes specific fan colors decides to surprise his wife, fiancé, girlfriend, or friend with pasties that represent those colors, he can do that?

S.P: He sure can! We offer a large variety of sports themed colors. We had a lot of requests for these over the years and our sports fans are happy to see these.
 
(Q) Other than the official website, where can you find Pastease pasties?

S.P: Pastease are available all over the web. They are available at: Yandy.com, DollsKill.com, iHeartRaves.com, NastyGal.com, Amazon.com, and so many more!

(Q) When it comes to sizes, you offer virtually every size for every woman out there. I just love that you embrace diversity. I have to ask, what do you think about the diversity in the lingerie industry?

S.P: What's not to love about diversity?! Sexiness comes in all shapes and sizes. We love offering something that brings out the inner goddess in us all. By offering so many shapes and sizes, I feel we are able to ignite the inner tease in every woman out there. I think the lingerie industry offers a lot of diversity. Black lace is no longer the only sexy thing out there for women. You see everything from neon fishnets body suits to sheer vintage style babydolls that are sexy. We, of course make a Pastease that can be paired with any piece of lingerie.

(Q) How can pasties spice up your love life?

S.P: Pastease are great for spicing up your love life. Some of my favorite tips and stories for turning up the heat are get one of our glow styles and play glow tag or turn all the lights off and come into a room with two bouncing stars or hearts. Here's a video I did a few years back about our glow styles. Another idea is to put a pair on before a date night. Let your partner know what you have on at dinner or maybe even text them a picture. The excitement and heat will continue to brew until you are able to rock out with your pasties later that night. Most importantly, Pastease make the person wearing them feel sexy, sultry and empowered. When we feel good, we look good. When we feel sexy, the world can hear our silent purrs. Pasties are the equivalent to getting a new sexy matching bra and panty, no one needs to see them or know you have them on for you to feel good. Sometimes we just need to turn up the heat for ourselves.

(Q) For all of those women reading this interview, what would you like them to know? What is next for Pastease?

S.P: I want every woman on the planet to know she is nothing short of a goddess. Love yourself, take care of yourself, nurture yourself, compliment yourself, and fix up for yourself. We live in a time where advertising leads us to being sexy for others, impressing others, be any and everything for others, but that is so wrong. When you love yourself, that love radiates out of you and shines onto the world around you. Know that. Embrace rocking your inner goddess and everything will fall into play perfectly. When I honor myself, my attractions, do, wear and eat things that make me feel good, I feel and look my best.

What's next for Pastease? I can't give you all my secrets. You can expect a bunch of sexy, fun styles over the next few months and of course more shiny, sexy things too! I'll just say there is something for everyone in our next set of new styles, the foodie, the hippie, the disco queen and so much more.

Shapewear talk with Bubbles Bodywear: Exclusive interview with Karen E. Jones

Love My Bubbles is one of the hautest secrets to achieving a flawless figure. Offering an extensive selection of shapewear, this brand is a pioneer in the world of curve-enhancing. Since 2003, the Bubbles Bodywear brand has not only changed the way women and men look, but feel too. Recently, I had the chance to speak with Karen E. Jones, the founder and CEO of the Bubbles Bodywear brand. Here is what she had to tell me...

(Q) Hello Karen. How are you? Tell me a little more about the Love My Bubbles Brand...

K.J: The Bubbles Bodywear brand offers innovative underthings that not only boost the figure, but more importantly, our self-esteem. We strive to create high-quality, effective shapewear designs at affordable prices for women (and men) who want to boost their backside. Throughout the history of women’s foundation garments for the bottom half of our bodies, the primary focus has been on slimming, but without discretion (flattening everything including our natural backside curves). In contrast, Bubbles’ focus from day one has been to flatter, boost and flaunt those female curves. We believe that when we look great, we feel great. When we feel confident, we put ourselves in more challenging situations, we experience more and we become stronger people. We know from listening to our customers that our shapewear can be a small but important part of this process.

(Q) What inspired you to create this amazing shapewear brand? Tell me a little more about the inspiration behind Love My Bubbles...

K.J: I started Bubbles Bodywear in 2003. I launched our website with 3 patented “booty lifting” shapers that I invented to boost my own curve-deficient figure. My timing was great! Heroin chic was out and J-Lo and Beyonce were in. I listened to customers’ style requests over the years, and began developing and designing more padded and lifting shapewear. Making our own original products gave me control over the style, quality and sizing of our product offerings as well as our supply chain. As a result, Bubbles Bodywear has evolved from a “house brand” on our website LoveMyBubbles.com to our primary focus. Regarding this, we have some exciting news! As of January 2016 we now offer women’s shapewear only designed and made by Bubbles Bodywear!

(Q) Is it true you are offering new seamless additions to the Love My Bubbles (Bubbles Bodywear) brand? Tell me a little more about the new seamless essentials...

K.J: In 2015 our design and manufacturing focus shifted to seamless shapewear. It’s a popular category in the shapewear industry and an area where we were lacking. Finding a manufacturing partner was key which is why we had not launched a seamless collection in previous years. Italy was my primary target as they are known worldwide and throughout history for their superior quality. In 2014 we began working with a “mom and pop” operation in Italy to create our first seamless booty-lifting shapers that we call our “High End” Collection. In just one year we grew this category from zero to eleven new, beautiful, innovative and comfortable seamless body shapers that I’m very proud to offer our customers.

(Q) Diversity is definitely in your forte, but I have to ask, what are your thoughts about the diversity in the lingerie industry?

K.J: We have an incredibly diverse customer base! This is both a challenge and an opportunity for us to create products for everyone who comes to Bubbles looking for problem-solving shapewear. At trade shows and throughout the industry I have seen a shift in the past 13+ years from the basics (bras and underwear for the masses) to more focused product offerings. For example, since our inception we have focused on increasing curves – people thought I was crazy in the beginning, but I thought “if I need it, there are other people out there who also need it”. I think this is the prevailing attitude with entrepreneurs in the industry, meaning that you don’t have to create a brand that will take over the world…just focus on satisfying an untapped market. If there are more companies like Bubbles, everyone will be able to find the products they want or need in the marketplace.

(Q) When a woman thinks they need more control of an area, do you think they should go up or down a size?

K.J: Definitely not! This is a great question because the fact is that, especially when shopping online, people often do exactly this. Wearing the wrong size shapewear may result in the garment not functioning properly, an extremely uncomfortable fit, or product damage. Instead, look for a product that is described to do specifically what you need (ie: cinch the waist, slim the thighs, etc). And at LoveMyBubbles.com we encourage customers to follow on our size charts and customer comments about fit and sizing.

(Q) What is the most common mistake women make when trying to find the right shapewear?

K.J: Buying the “bestseller” rather than buying what is right for them. Bubbles pioneered the industry of booty-defining shapewear and in doing so we have spent these 13 years educating our customers on how to buy our shapewear. Not only choosing a garment size but choosing the type, thickness and width of booty padding can be a big challenge. This is why we produce product videos, offer an extensive FAQ on our website and offer very detailed descriptions of our products. Many of our customers study our website for ages before they finally buy! When in doubt, we encourage customers to call. Currently all of our Customer Service operators have 18 months up to 10 years experience advising customers on the right Bubbles for their needs.

(Q) Is it true that men are wearing shapewear now days?

KJ: Yes! We’ve heard them called “mirdles” which is my personal favorite. But our specialty is padded underwear for men. They are a very popular item for a wide demographic of men. The fact is that anatomically men have fewer fat cells on the gluteus maximus. So technically, they need padded underwear more than women do! We have a regular male customer who’s a doctor. He wears our “Jackpot!” padded boxer brief at work because he feels self-conscious about his sagging scrubs as his residents walk behind him during rounds.

(Q) Who can benefit from using Love My Bubbles?

K.J: After 13 years I still hear about new and creative uses for our products. It’s not just about looking better in a pair of jeans. It’s also about self-esteem or even comfort. We supply movie sets, photo shoots, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, plastic surgery offices, cancer centers, the theater, costumers, fashion designers, stylists, new moms, people who have experienced weight loss (intentionally or as a result of illness, medication, etc) and people sitting for long periods of time. I could go on and on!

Many years ago we received a note from a customer thanking us. She had lost a dangerous amount of weight as a result of stress during her mother’s bout with an illness. After her mother passed she was not going to attend the services for fear of what people would think of her appearance. She told us that wearing our products (to help her look as if she was a healthier weight), gave her the confidence to stand up in front of family and friends to give the eulogy. I never anticipated that our products would have this type of benefit or effect when we started out. But I’m so happy to know that we help people in so many different and unexpected ways.

(Q) For all of those shape wear enthusiasts reading this interview, what would you like them to know? What is next for the Love My Bubbles brand?

K.J: More original and creative shapewear solutions from Bubbles Bodywear! As our fiercely loyal brand ambassadors already know, Bubbles is a different kind of company. We’re not here to make and sell typical shapewear styles. We pride ourselves on innovation. We strive to serve markets that are otherwise ignored by bigger companies who require huge margins and a massive customer base to justify product development. Instead, we focus on our customer and a very different kind of bottom line!

Get the hair look: Herve Leger at Fall/Winter 2016 NYFW

Hervé Léger at Fall/Winter
NYFW for 2016.
(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
for NYFW: The Shows)

Hervé Léger is a world-renowned French fashion house created by Hervé L. Leroux. Created over 30 years ago, Hervé Léger created the classic bandage dress in a strong effort to mold and shape a woman's figure. Over 18 years ago, the brand was acquired by BCBG Max Azria. Then, in 2007 it was relaunched by Azria before finally being present as Hervé Léger by Max Azria in 2008.

Today, the brand is stronger than ever. As Hervé Léger introduced their newest collection for Fall and Winter, the show also had quite a few other surprises other than haute designs. As the official hair care sponsor of New York Fashion Week, TRESemmé's Orlando Pita gave the models a very chic, twisted punk braid.

“We wanted the hair to make a statement and Lubov Azria’s punk inspired collection was the perfect opportunity to do so. This style allows women to take a classic look and give it a grungy accent, so that they can channel their inner tomboy.”- Orlando Pita, New York Fashion Week Ambassador for TRESemmé told me.

So, is it possible to re-create this hair look at home? Absolutely.

First and foremost, you are going to want to shampoo and condition your hair. For this particular look, Pita started with the with the TRESemmé Perfectly (un)Done Shampoo and Conditioner as a base. The Perfectly (un)Done collection from TRESemmé will create effortless waves. As you continue, you are going to want to apply a small amount of the TRESemmé Perfectly (un)Done Wave Creation Sea Foam to the roots. Then, you are going to want to rough dry the hair, as this will enhance the hair's natural texture.

Then, you want to create an uneven deep side part. Now, you are going to want to begin plaiting and twisting from the forehead all of the way to the back of the neck. As you continue, you are going to want to the secure twisted plait with a small elastic and bobby pins, allowing only small strands to fall out. Taking a flat iron, you are going to want to run it over the top of the hair at the part line.

Then, shake hair over the shoulders to cover up the end of the braid. To finish the hair look, apply the TRESemmé Perfectly (un)Done Brushable Hold Hairspray for touchable hold.

Congratulations! You have just re-created the Hervé Léger hair for the Fall and Winter collection at New York Fashion Week. #NYFW

Lingerie talk with Chad Horstman, CEO and founder of Yandy

Chad Horstman, CEO and
founder of Yandy.

Yandy offers some of the greatest lingerie and costumes in the world. Offering a huge selection, you can also find swimwear and clothing there too. With low prices, it is one of the most popular stores on the world wide web. Founded over a decade ago by Chad Horstman and his brother Evan, this world-renowned lingerie store started out in Horstman's garage in the heart of Scottsdale, Arizona and evolved into one of the biggest stores to hit the intimate scene. Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with the man behind the brand, CEO and founder of Yandy, Chad Horstman. Here is what he had to tell me...

(Q) Thank you so much for speaking with me today. Yandy is such an amazing store to purchase everything from lingerie to costumes. I have to ask more about this amazingly underrated store and it's innovation. Tell me a little more about Yandy...

C.H: When we first started Yandy, we were solely a lingerie company. My brother Evan and I started Yandy in 2005 out of my garage in Scottsdale, AZ. I had a background in digital marketing and computer information systems and Evan had a background in supply chain management so we brought our diverse skill-sets together to create Yandy. We soon discovered that many of the lingerie manufacturers also manufactured costumes so that first Halloween we gave them a shot.

That's when business really started to boom. We recruited friends and family to help pack orders. My entire garage was filled and we eventually had to spill into my closets and spare bedrooms in order to house all of the merchandise. We were packing and shipping around the clock. We used all of our earnings from that first Halloween to purchase our first warehouse. From there, we expanded to an even larger warehouse a few years later. In 2012 we moved to our current, 35,000 square foot warehouse and we're packed to the rafters. In addition to offering lingerie and costumes, we also have a wide variety of clothing, dresses, swimwear, and club wear available.

(Q) What inspired you to create Yandy? Tell me a little more about the inspiration behind the brand...

C.H: It all began after I had a disappointing experience shopping for some lingerie for my then girlfriend. I started the lingerie hunt by going to an extremely well known and popular lingerie brand. I quickly discovered that the selection I found was small and there was a real lack of styles and options. It was also a really uncomfortable in-store experience overall. After that, I thought I might have better luck finding the right lingerie gift online, but when searching found the products that were carried on various lingerie sites were just as underwhelming as the lingerie I had looked at in person. My discovery and own frustration as a lingerie consumer is what then sparked the idea to correct this and offer a diverse selection of lingerie, at an incredible price point and in the privacy of your own home.

(Q) You offer a wide-range selection of lingerie, costumes, bras, panties, swimwear, clothing and shoes as well as, accessories. Currently, what are the most popular, best-selling items right now?

C.H: Our current top 5 products include everything from sexy to sweet including teddies and chemises and everything in between. They include the Unwrap Me Satin Bow Teddy, the Hollywood Chemise Set, the Victorian Lace Bustier and Thong, the Elegant Bra with Garters and G-String Set, and the Faux Leather Venice Lace Corset.

While we make sure our staples, like these top sellers, are always available, we are constantly adding new on-trend products into our assortment every season. This spring we will be unveiling our very own private bra label featuring many of the top trends for Spring like soft pastel, candy-colored pieces.

(Q) That is amazing. I noticed that Yandy's prices are the best on the web.

C.H: Thanks! It’s nice to hear that feedback from an avid lingerie lover. Price is something that is very important to us. Although price is always of high relevance in retail, I think that with lingerie it’s especially significant since lingerie isn’t typically worn as an everyday wardrobe item. At Yandy you can purchase stylish lingerie sets that are high quality and on-trend at less than half the cost of major lingerie retailers.

(Q) When is Yandy the busiest?

C.H: We are typically the busiest the week before Halloween, the week before Christmas and the week before Valentine’s Day. But lingerie sells year round and with our upcoming 2016 swimwear launch and private label bra line, we expect to have really explosive growth all year long.

(Q) The bustier and corset debate continues. What is the real difference between a corset and a bustier?

C.H: Good question. Both items date back quite far historically. The main difference is actually in the overall intent of the bustier versus the corset. Bustiers were designed with the purpose of accentuating a woman's bust line and cleavage, whereas corsets were made to provide definition and a slimming effect to a woman’s waist and hip area. Corsets tend to be much tighter and are made to be more confining than bustiers based on their purpose of creating a well-defined hourglass shape when worn.

(Q) If someone is searching or hosiery, where should they start?

C.H: On the Yandy website of course! In all honesty, when shopping for hosiery, like with lingerie, bras and other undergarments it's all about the fit, material quality and with hosiery, durability. We look for hosiery that has great elasticity and stretch built-in. We provide a great selection of hosiery and our sizing charts are very accurate unlike other brands I’ve seen that are all over the map with sizing and measurement recommendations. Our customer service is fantastic and very knowledgeable about our product and helps guide customers through picking the best size and the desired fit that they are looking for when it comes to hosiery, as well as the thousands of products we offer.

(Q) I absolutely love the concept of Club Yandy. It is the lingerie version of Birchbox and Ipsy. For those individuals reading this interview, can you explain what Club Yandy is and who it benefits?

C.H: Thank you! We are actually getting ready to unveil a new and improved Club Yandy and we are very excited about what it will offer our current Yandy loyalists and all of our potential new Club Yandy members. We created Club Yandy for any woman who loves collecting lingerie and feeling sexy. We wanted a program that was extremely affordable and still offered the best on-trend lingerie sets at a fraction of the cost each month. Every month, club members receive a lingerie set typically retailing for between $20 - $40 for up to 60% less. Besides the great savings, Club Yandy provides a fun surprise element to the shopping process too and now it will be delivered to each member in our new packaging that we are very excited to add to the program. We’ve also added a lot of additional perks like birthday and seasonal gifts and great birthday savings the week of your birthday.

(Q) If someone loves pinup, retro, vintage and burlesque lingerie, can they find something at Yandy?

C.H: Yes, we have an entire category dedicated to popular burlesque styles that features over 100 unique items. Also many of our looks throughout all of our categories are based on pinup and retro lingerie. Burlesque lingerie for instance. Classically sexy styles are something that we use as inspiration at Yandy!

(Q) I would love to know, what do you think of the diversity in the lingerie industry?

C.H: I think diversity in the lingerie industry is currently changing. More lingerie brands are now including products for a broader range of body types. Yandy has always been ahead of this trend. We are proud to have a very extensive line of plus size lingerie that includes nearly 2,000 unique styles, more than any of our competitors. Today, a lot of competitors are beginning to feature smaller lines catering to plus size women within their overall product mix, probably because plus size now accounts for an ever increasing amount of retail spend. I always felt that it was important to have a highly diversified selection of lingerie for all body types from petite to curvy.

(Q) The big question is - why should one choose Yandy?

C.H: Yandy carries the largest selection of quality made lingerie that you’ll find at the prices that seem hard to believe. We carry lingerie in hundreds of colors and thousands of styles guaranteeing that whatever look a woman may be seeking she’ll find it with us. Another main reason to shop with us is that we make the experience easy, fun, enjoyable and always hassle free. Every aspect of the shopping process and areas within the company that facilitate it, from our website, to our customer service team, to our shipping and return policy was created to make buying lingerie the best possible experience for our customers. If we ever discover that something could be made better, we change it. I think our customers appreciate all of this and we have some really loyal fans including 1.5 million followers on Facebook.

(Q) For all those Yandy enthusiasts including women and lingerie lovers reading this interview, what is next for the brand? What is next for Yandy?

C.H: It’s important to us that we always stay innovative and fashion-forward when it comes to trends and what’s next for us. One fashion category expansion that we have coming up this spring is the launch of our Yandy private label bra line that will feature more of an “everyday sexy” selection that women can wear from day to night. Each piece within the collection is comfortable, versatile, very fashionable and also extremely affordable. We’re also very excited about our Summer 2016 swimwear line that will feature many new on trend and fashion forward styles.

NYFW for Fall/Winter 2016 kicks off tomorrow.

Tomorrow is New York Fashion Week. Fashion designers from around the world come together to show off their collections for one week only. NYC is taken over by everything fashion for one week. The best part is, these collections are for Fall and Winter 2016. Just click here to see the schedule for Fall/Winter 2016.

#NYFW
#FW2016
#MBFW
#FashionWeek

NYFW February 2016 Schedule

New York Fashion Week is quite possibly the hottest fashion event on earth. Founded by Eleanor Lambert, this event alone is estimated to spend over $850 million every year. For the Fall and Winter collections 2016, New York Fashion Week (NYFW) will take place on Thursday, February 11th and will continue until Thursday, February 18th. So, what does this year's schedule look?

The day before Fashion Week, you can join Sachin & Babi at 10 am. For tickets to this particular event, email: tyson@sachinandbabi.com. Then, at 5 pm you can join Cristina Ruales.

On Thursday, February 11th the NYFW kicks off with the Nicholas K collection at The Dock at 9 am. Then, at 10 am BCBGMAXAZRIA demonstrates their Fall/Winter collection at The Arc. At 11 am join Kye at the Gallery. Erin Fetherston will be showing her collection followed by Jay Godfrey at 11 am at the Space. As the festivities continue for Thursday, at 3 pm Desigual will show their collection for the Fall and Winter 2016 collections at the Arc along with Helen Yarmak who is also showing her collection at 3 pm. Then, at 4 pm join Marissa Webb as she shows off her collection for Fall/Winter at the Gallery.

At 6 pm join NYFW for the Kids Rock! event at the Dock and then join Hanley at 7 pm at the Space. Marcel Ostertag at the Gallery along with Paul Penaranda will both be showing their collections at7 pm, as well. Join Go Red for Women at 8 pm at the Arc, as the first night of fashion week concludes with this show along with Yuna Yang at 8 pm.

Rise and shine on Friday, February 12th for Karigam at 9 am at the Space. At 10 am join Tadashi Shoji as he shows off his Fall/Winter collection at the Arc. Yigal Azrouel will be showing his collection at 11 am at the Gallery followed by Concept Korea at 12 pm at the Dock. With a few hours of break in between, join Cushnie et Ochs at 3 pm at the Gallery followed by Fashion Hong Kong at 4 pm at the Dock. Then at 4:30 pm join O'2nd as they show off their 2016 collection for Fall/Winter at the Space.

At 6 pm join Couture Fashion week along with Nicole Miller at the Gallery and PLY who both are having shows during the 6 pm time frame. Then, at 7 pm NYFW will be holding the Carol Galvin Foundation Women's Cancer Fundraising Gala. As the gala is happening, you can also join Francesca Liberatore as she shows off her Fall/Winter collection for 2016 at the Dock. Closing out night is Demoo Parkchoonmoo at 9 pm at the Gallery.

Starting off Saturday, February 13th at 10 am is Lacoste. Then, at 11 am Taoray Wang shows off her collection for Fall/Winter 2016 at the Dock. As the day continues, you can join Rebecca Minkoff at 12 pm as she shows off her latest collection for the Fall and Winter season of the year at the Gallery. Then, at 1 pm Herve Leger will be showing the collection at the Arc. At 2 pm join Son Jung Wan at the Dock followed by Leanne Marshall at 3 pm at the Gallery. At 5 pm join Alexander Wang. Then, at 6 pm join Baja East at the Dock. At 6:30 pm the pre-show event with FTL Moda and FWO. #IAmNYFW At 7 pm join Monique Lhuillier as she shows off her newest collection for the Fall and Winter season at the Arc. New York Fashion Week ends at 8 pm on Saturday with Altuzarra.

Sunday, February 14th kicks off with Tome at 9 am at the Dock. Then, at 12 pm join Asia Fashion Collection at 59 Chelsea Piers, Floor 2 followed by Derek Lam who is also hosting a show at 12 pm at the Gallery. At 12:30 pm join Rachel Zoe as she shows off her Fall/Winter collection for 2016 at the Space. Then, at 1 pm join Noon by Nor for NYFW festivities at the Dock. At 4 pm, Cesar Galindo Collection will be showing their latest. As fashion week continues in the big apple, join Diane Von Furstenberg 5 pm. At 5:30 pm join Runa Ray at the Space. At 6 pm join Jenny Packham as she shows off her latest and greatest at the Gallery. Then, at 7 pm join Prabal Gurung as he shows off his collection for Fall/Winter 2016 at the Arc. As the night continues, Vivienne Hu is also at 7 pm at 540 West 21st Street in the big apple. With quite a few hours in between, Couture Fashion Week concludes the day at 11:30 pm.

Fashion Week allows designers to show off their latest and greatest collections including individual pieces. As this week continues on Monday, February 15th, you can join The Row at 9 am. Then, at 10 am join Carolina Herrera as she shows off her Fall/Winter collection for 2016. As the day continues into the late morning, you can join Tommy Hilfiger at 11 am. At 12 pm, you can join Anna K as she shows off her newest collection along with Lela Rose who is also showing her latest collection at noon at the Gallery.

Then, at 1 pm join Thomas Wylde at the Dock followed by Jeremy Scott at 2 pm at the Arc. As NYFW continues, join Maiyet at 4 pm. As 6 pm reaches, you can join Reema Acra as they show off their fashion collection for the Fall and Winter season of 2016 at the Dock. As the hottest event in fashion continues, you can join FTL Moda 6:30 pm along with Libertine at 6:30 pm the Gallery. Then, at 7 pm join Vivienne Tam at the Arc. Finishing the day at 8 pm, join Rag & Bone as they show their collection for Fall/Winter 2016.

Tuesday, February 16th is a new dawn, a new day and a brand new life at this year's NYFW . Tory Burch kicks off the day at 9 am. Then, at 10 am join Badgley Mischka along with Chiara Boni La Petite who is also showing their collection at 10 am at the Dock. At 11 am, you can see Vera Wang and her newest collection for Fall/Winter 2016 at the Arc. Then, at 1 pm join Angel Sanchez at 148 West 37th Street. As the day continues, you can also join Hiromi Asai and Hiromi Asai & Kimono Artisan Kyoto at 1 pm at the Dock. What is happening at 2 pm? Join Alice + Olivia by Stacey Bendet at the Gallery. Also at 2 pm is Dennis Basso at the Arc.

As fashion week continues in the city that never sleeps, join Venexiana at 4 pm. Then, at 5 pm join Carmen Marc Valvo at the Arc followed by Amber Poiter at 5:30 pm. Also at 5:30 pm join Salinas at the Dock. Fashion Week Online VIP Lounge - Public Event is held at 6 pm. Also at 6 pm join Salinas as they show off their Fall/Winter 2016 collection. As the night continues, join Oscar de la Renta at 6:30 pm. Then, at 7 pm join Georgine as they show off their collection for the Fall and Winter season at the Gallery. What else is happening at 7 pm? The NYFW Fashion Charity Rising Stars Runway Show. As the night comes to an end, join The Art Institutes at 8:30 pm at the Arc followed by Kelsey Randall at 9 pm.

So, what is happening on Wednesday, February 17th? The day starts with Michael Kors at 10 am. Then, Xuly Bet at 11 am at the Gallery. Starting at 12 pm join Naeem Khan the Arc followed by Bibhu Mohapatra at 1 pm at the Dock. Then, at 2 pm join BOSS Women as they show their Fall/Winter collection for 2016. Also at 2 pm is Dan Liu at the Gallery. At 3 pm, join DKNY. Then, at 4 pm join Victorinox Installation. As NYFW continues join Jasmine Chong at 5 pm followed by Anna Sui at 6 pm at the Arc.

As Thursday, February 18th approaches, so do quite a few upcoming shows that are so exciting. So what is happening on the last day of fashion week? Join Ralph Lauren at 10 am at 550 Washington Street. Ralph Lauren is also having another show at 11 am at the same place. Then, join J. Mendel at 1 pm followed by Calvin Klein at 2 pm. Then, at 6 pm join Marc Jacobs. New York Fashion week concludes wtih The Blind Fashion show at 6 pm.

This year's sponsors include: Lexus, TRESemme, DHL, Maybelline, Aquafina, Fashion GPS, Intel, Papyrus, Getty Images and E! Pop of Culture. I will continue to update this information as more information is made readily available. For more information visit NYFW.com.

#NYFW
#FW16
#MBFW
#FashionWeek