This weekend was all about Fashion. Sunday I meet up with my friend Erika of Your Chick is Showing. She is a stylist. We meet so she could style me for her launch party where I will be an example of her styling services. On Saturday I attended the Curvy Closets Fashion Show. It was my first time attending this yearly Fashion Show. It was great. I posted lots of pictures on my Instagram and Facebook pages. On Friday I got to see Clinton Kelly , you know the tall guy from What Not to Wear and The Chew, live at Macy’s at the Cherry Hill Mall in NJ.
I still find it so amusing that blogging has lead me to so many fashion events. I don’t have a love of fashion or desire to be edgy or trendy. What I do have is a desire to feel and look my best. Whether we like it or not our outward appearance and our inward feelings are connected. I approach these sojourns into the fashion world as an opportunity to learn, to learn about how to better dress my body, to learn about the styles and designers that are available in women’s sizes, and to learn about the different ways I can find more joy by improving my wardrobe.
I’d have to say I learned the most from the Clinton Kelly event. He started out right away sharing his fashion knowledge explaining that there are 4 pillars of fashion: color, texture, pattern, and shine. All of these things work together to create a pleasing or less than pleasing look. He then put on a fashion show showing us the 5 fashion trends we can expect to see in the next few weeks and months.
The first is Mixed Media. Mixed Media is mixing different fabrics and texture on the same garment. I’ve seen this most often in the pops of faux leather that is finding its way onto skirts, vests , sweaters etc…
The second is Sweater Dressing. Sweater dressing includes layering sweaters on sweaters, sweater dresses and sweaters being used as coats. Clinton came up with the word Coatigan. A Cardigan heavy enough to be used as a coat is a Coatigan. For curvier figures like mine, Clinton advised that flat knits are best to avoid adding bulk.
The third trend is Military. You will notice from the photos that military style does not just mean camouflage but includes cargo pants and jackets as well. Clinton advised that military style clothing can be a stable in your wardrobe over multiple years. Make sure the items you wear define your waist. Even with a masculine look like the military trend, you are still going for hourglass look . If you attended the August #CJBL then you heard Erica of Your Chic is showing explain different body types and how to dress them to make your own figure look more hourglass.
The 4th trend, and my favorite, is Embellishment. I love adding a little sparkle and bling to an outfit. Clinton advised that we should remember attention goes to the shine. So, add shine to the parts of your body you want to play up and avoid shine on the parts you’d rather draw attention away from.
The 5th, and final trend is Baroque. The baroque style includes lots of golds, velvet, and lace. Clinton predicted that we will see lots of dresses for fall and holiday season in this style.
After the fashion show Clinton had time for Q & A. This was really great. Clinton was pretty funny while answering the questions. Here are some of the general tips from the Q & A session:
- Choose the silhouette then pattern. First see if the silhouette is flattering before you consider if you like the pattern or color of a dress. Even a normally unflattering pattern can look great if the silhouette is right.
- Pair trends with classic items.
- Build up the top half of your body to draw attention upward to balance a curvier hip when wearing skinny jeans. Clinton advised that the skinny jean is beginning to be a staple cut for woman’s pants.
- If your skin tone is one of your best qualities, then choose colors that are close to your skin tone. If your skin is not one of your best features, then choose colors that are contrasting.
- If you have big boobs get a proper fitting (really everyone should get a proper fitting) . If your straps are digging into your shoulders you are wearing the wrong size. For large busts, V-necks are more flattering as well as wearing jackets that nip at the waist.
- Create an illusion that you are taller and longer to help you look slimmer. Do this by skipping turtlenecks and crop pants.
- Jackets that stop mid hip take attention away from a thicker or rounder mid section.
Overall the main takeaways from the Clinton Kelly event where stop listening to your mom (if you’re are grown) or anyone else and don’t dress for a man. Simply dress for yourself in what makes you happy, using trends to keep you youthful and current.
Which of the above trends do you like the best? Will you be sporting any of them?
Clinton Kelly may be coming to a Macy’s near you:
Wow, that look exciting. I have to take the time and actually attend a fashion show.
You should Sistergirl. They are fun and interesting.
This was excellent! Thanks for sharing 🙂 As an interior stylist, I often find it so very interesting to understand the latest fashion trends because these are the same trends that make their way into home design/decor. I love the "mixed media" trend…mixing fabrics and textures on the same palette. I'm also a huge fan of the "baroque" trend – it's just so happy, simple, and feminine. You did a wonderful job capturing and showing pictures with examples – I feel like I can breathe now knowing I'm a bit more up to speed with the trends. And reading this reminds me I have to get my order in for my skinny jeans online today too! 🙂 Great job!
It is interesting how all things are connected and influenced by each other.