style inspiration: Olivia Palermo

where do you find your style inspiration?

true, we as americans find it via celebs, and this post is no exception. in my defense, i don't really think that everyone knows who Olivia Palermo is, but her star is definitely rising and she is {thankfully} making a name for herself aside from her reality show persona {google her if you have no clue what i'm talking about}.

whether she's wearing her hair dark or light, long, cropped, curled or straight, Olivia P has a true sense of personal style that i love. her lady-like ensembles almost always include a statement necklace along with a great bag and shoes. the looks are well put-together, and yet she always looks comfortable and at ease.


in addition, she's not afraid to take risks and plays with many silhouettes and prints. take a look at these random pics, and you'll see why she's definitely a gal to look to for style inspiration...















p.s., i'm happy to report that fashion e-tailer Piperlime.com is expanding its guest editor program to include Ms. Palermo for fall along with Rachel Bilson and Byrdie Bell! :)

all images via tumblr

inspired-style: mixing prints...

when it comes to mixing prints, my daughter is a pro. from a very young age i told her my #1 rule: just make sure to coordinate your colors. she's very good with it now. she loves having fun with her clothes {exhibit a, above}, but manages to stay coordinated, never thinking twice about taking fashion risks! :)

i myself am a huge fan of mixing prints, but to do it right {and in a more, sophisticated, grown-up way}, you should keep these guidelines in mind:

**be sure that at least one color repeats throughout your outfit.
**loose prints work well with structured prints {think swirls with stripes}.
**blending small designs {think plaid} with larger-scale ones {bold flowers} are fun and look great year-round.

for more ideas regarding this inspired trend, check out this article on RealSimple.com

source

On My Holiday Wish List: Mia Tote by Big Buddha

it was the huge ruched flower that caught my attention, but i love that this Mia tote bag by Big Buddha is simple in its overall structure. it also has an embossed print on the faux leather that gives it a special look. factor in a very wallet friendly price tag and it's a perfect pick for my holiday wishlist. :)

xo

what i'm reading: Fierce Style by Christian Siriano

Fierce Style: How to Be Your Most Fabulous Self by Christian Siriano* allows every woman the opportunity to get advice from Project Runway's most successful and fierce winner.

i admit, i was always a huge fan of Christian's-- every week i would tune in to PR, eager to see what he would create. he was even memorable to hubby because of his repeated use of the word "fierce"; the man couldn't remember Christian's name, but if i said "you know, the 'fierce' guy", he instantly remembered, LOL!

with a foreward from Tim Gunn (if you get the book, don't skip this part!), Fierce Style touches on everything from how to create your own signature style, give your wardrobe more pizazz, how to dress your body type, the best places to shop for your style preferences (even on a budget!), beauty and hair tips, what inspires him, and the list goes on...


pic of Christian working, featured in chaper 7 (page 98)

throughout the book, Christian shares his own style blunders and missteps, lists his favorite (and not so favorite) things, and the best part of all? the glossary of terms at the back of the book (i'm glad i'm not the only one who uses the word fabulous to describe everything i love!)!

i really like this book because it's practical, fun to read, has amazing tips (and pics!), and each chapter is broken down into bites, rather than being long and drawn-out. you can literally pick this book up, open it to any page, and get a style tip, beauty inspiration or an idea on how to make the most of your own time and talents so you can be your most fabulous, fierce self.

great job Christian!

you can find Fierce Style: How to Be Your Most Fabulous Self in bookstores now and online at amazon.com

xo
first pic taken by me :)
Christian Siriano photo via amazon.com
*the publisher, The Hatchett Group, sent this book to me for review