Shoe Gasm

I’m a fan of exotic, graphic prints. Pair this with a pleated skirt and werk! Loving the Nicolas Kirkwood collection…

…Throwing this one up here for good measure! 😉

Color Fall 2012

Check out Pantone’s fresh and exciting color forecast report for the Fall!

Inspired! Beyoncé’s maternity wear can hide YOUR belly!

If you’re just as psyched as I am about Queen Bey’s growing baby bump, you’ll be watching her appearances just as much as I am. I’m loving the creative ways that she’s managed to delude us for months. But what if you’re not expecting and your tummy is your trouble area? Or maybe you just gave birth but you need to disguise this area while you work off those extra pounds. Here are some pointers so elegantly demonstrated by Mrs. Carter.

Use fun patterns and exotic prints

Using bold patterns can distract from and hide your tummy, especially in a figure-flattering shape. Also, if you put emphasis on one area, like your legs, the focus will go there. Beyoncé wears this adorable sundress with these great Louboutin pumps.

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Fool Them with Fringes

Fringed dresses or tops are a great way to hide and cover your mid section. And when the top is a deep v-neck, it brings eyes up and puts emphasis on the face and chest instead of your belly. I love fuchsia color is flirty and youthful and a great compliment to most skin tones.

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Rock Bold Hues

This jumpsuit, one of Bey’s favorite things to wear, in this bold orange hue is a perfect way to keep your wardrobe interesting while distracting from your tummy. The buttons give and elongating effect while the high belt give it shape. The bold orange compliments her complexion. Search for colors that compliment and distract but be careful choosing your colors. Nobody wants to look like a basketball.

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Sexy Sequins

Now, this one is tricky. You would think that you could look like a disco ball but paired with the right pieces and a form-flattering shape, you can delude just as well as Bey does here at her fragrance launch in New York. The eyes go in every direction but the mid-section with this beautiful blue combination. The scoop neck sequined tunic bring the eyes up while the blazer conceals and distracts. The shorts send the eyes down to her long legs.

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Long Sweeping Dresses

This is a great and easy basic for anyone looking to hide their tummy. Again the eyes go North and South because the skirt lengthens. But the amazing thing that Bey does here that you can achieve with a separate top is show a little skin just about the mid-section to break up the black and create interest. This is an ultra chic look for evening wear.

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Flowing Fabrics

Who said going casual has to be boring? Pair an easy loose top the flow over the mid-drift for an easy, cute, and comfy way to dress down. Beyoncé’s shorts are cropped and bring attention to the legs to distract from the tummy area. You can also do this later on in the season with a blazer and cropped pants.

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Contact me for more tips and style fixes at danielle@dm-designstudio.com

Miu Miu Just for Kicks

I am by no means a sneaker fiend.

I can’t tell you which pair of Jordan’s are Jumpman 10’s nor do I camp out in front of FootAction for the release of ANYTHING. But I do know a dope pair of kicks when I see ’em. I find it ironic that the lust-worthy footwear would come from the fashion house of Miu Miu, which is more known for Italian made handbags and ready-to-wear than a pair of glamazonian Converses. I’m with it though. All the way. With finishes in patent leather, lamé, and over-sized rhinestones, these kicks proclaim “I’m here!!”. If I were a sneaker, I think this is what I would look like. Prices range from $450 to $585. They’re available now at Nordstrom and of course your nearest Miu Miu boutique. I’m slightly obsessed.

Listening with My Eyes: Typography in motion

For the last month, I have been under a visual blitz by this image that I keep running into: Beyoncé in a typographic tutu. And I know very darn well that type isn’t made to be fluttery. But tell that to type sculpture guru Ebon Heath. A native of Brooklyn, Bali, and Berlin he creates his amazing typography installations using geometric shapes and grids. I’m astonished by this work and wondered why it had to take Complex magazine to put this incredible artist in the folder of artists that I secretly want to be like admire. And it’s ironic because it was only a few weeks ago that I asked myself how many renown designers of color can I name without hesitation. The list was awfully meager. In any event, kudos to Ebon and I hope to see more things from him soon (now that I’m following).

Black bags bore me

I’ve been redesigning my closet after my move to New Jersey and came to the realization that I do not own a black handbag. I have black clutches. But no black handbag. And I thought to myself, “why?”. I realized that you can do so much more with a fun pop of color. That ever single time I went to purchase a black bag, I ended up leaving with a bold red, rich brown or cool grey (if you wanna get technical I kinda do own a black bag since grey is a shade of black–it’s the geek in me).  But ask yourself, why does black have to be such a must?? Does it really go with EVERYTHING?? Sometimes, black draws away from the outfit. Sometimes, it makes you look like you have no imagination or you’re afraid to step outside of the box and actually coordinate something rather than “play it safe”. Since I’ve been at Prada, so many of my clients gravitate towards that ominous black bag in an attempt to have something that with go with every outfit. Unless you work in a funeral home, wearing all black all the time doesn’t always work with every occasion–ESPECIALLY in the summertime! Here are my picks for now that will carry you through the fall. Now go ahead and fight the urge to pick up that bag!!

Diane Von Furstenberg Dream Clutch $265

Alexander McQueen Skull Box Clutch $1245

Rebecca Minkoff $595

Prada Nappa Antique Handbag $2295

Balenciaga City Cross $1595

Burberry Quilted Bowling Handbag $1695

Marc Jacobs $575

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Design Your Body!

Graphic design may be my main-squeeze, but fashion is my mistress! On occasion a regular basis, I step out on the love of my life to fulfill my other (ah-hem) needs. Who needs Us Weekly to air my laundry when I can proudly showcase it here? I personal shop and offer style consulting advice for those who recognize the need to improve and design a better alternative to their current look. And that’s the basis of what design is: taking all ready provided assets and making the most of what’s there! Of course with a trained eye and the principles of color, balance, shape, texture, and space, (see the correlation?) you can achieve the best with what you are given!

Here is the link to my most recent case study. For many women, a large bust can be a gift or a curse. In this case, it had been a curse for my client. She had issues finding great daytime looks that she could wear in the office (or anywhere for that matter) that demanded a bit more than a t-shirt. Take a look at the great options she was given that created a sophisticated, youthful, and flattering figure. Right this way.

Give Me Liberty…!

If you’ve recently noticed that the retail world has become a prettier place, it’s not an accident. It is not some strange coincidence that some retailers decided to be all on one accord with similar designs. Not a chance. It is the work of world-renown English design emporium Liberty of London.

You can shop Liberty for just about anything. But these anythings are not just anything! Liberty collects and designs everything from dresses, to throw pillows, to candles with their specialty elaborate florals. I could go on and on about how amazing they are but I’ll let you endulge judge for yourself! Their most recent design collaboration is a limited edition collection for Target. So you know what that means–exquisite style for an affordable price. I was able to take a sneak peek at the collection earlier in the month and I cannot wait! And if you missed it, check out the images from their pop-up shop that was a block away from Times Square in New York! Who visited?? How was it?

The Graphic Tee Cult

On one of my many shopping excursions, I came across an interesting company that produces amazing graphic t-shirts. And after my Dear Summer series, I decided “why not continue to talk about fashion!?” The Sacred Stitch Clothing takes on a very artistic and humanitarian approach to the graphic tee craft. Not only do they have a super talented in-house staff, by they on occasion employ a variety of designers and photographers who lend their own touch to the collections. I like that it’s street but not “hood”. Artsy but, still experimental in the approach. The clothing is fresh in every sense of the word. Me likey!

Something about Sacred kinda reminds me of Affliction. It’s got the edgy, embellied type. It’s got the gritty feeling from the bold graphics. But at the same time the two clothing companies are very different. Affliction being from the West Coast has a darker, hard rock vibe. I love the sculls and distressed fabric. And Affliction is more of a lifestyle. You can rock a t-shirt under a jacket with jeans and a pinky ring! Sacred Stitch, being from New York, has more of an urban originality to it. Where Affliction is a lifestyle, Sacred is a movement. It’s more for the street creative, if you will. I like the hand drawn artwork and the screened graphics. And since I’m a typography fiend, I can’t help but fall for the bold experimental use of type. Okay Okay….and maybe because I’m a native New Yorker, I sound a little more partial to Sacred.

Hands down, both brands are cool. I’d look twice if I noticed a guy wearing either one. I won’t say which is my favorite 🙂 but how do you feel?

Sacred Stitch Tee

Affliction Tee

Dear Summer (Design)-Part 2

Art Under Glass: Summer of Love

So here we are, another ode to summer. I have to admit, this might be my favorite series of posts of all time! I am truly enjoying this set. This one is going to be a little different though. I would like for you all to add to this. I want to see how many stores are truly in the summer spirit! I saw a lot of funky, creative, splashy things out there. I may even revisit this post and add whatever I catch with my trusty camera phone.

If you haven’t been paying attention, Macy*s is one of the Kings of Windows (I just made that up…but it’s true) and is most famous for their Christmas display. People from all over the world line up to visit this mid-town Manhattan icon to see the story of Miracle on 34Th Street in the window display. But what many people miss are the tons of creative displays they put on during the year. They change their windows just about every week or two. And each time, it is something glamorous and spectacular. The visual designers here truly understand the concepts of space, colour, texture, and patterns. I love their use of decals. It just adds another dimension to the designs and helps to tell the story better. You sometimes forget that the purpose of all of this is to display clothes!

This week’s display, Summer of Love, under a series called Art Under Glass, uses the images of iconic San Francisco photographer Robert Altman. The sixties themed graphics coupled with the striking images from his latest book, The Sixties, exudes the freedom, liveliness, and revelry of the hippie movement and it’s favourite season–summer! Enjoy!