When I think of Jackie O, I immediately think of her style and elegance. It’s actually a shame, because there was much more to Jackie O than that. Although, I think she projected the many facets of her personalty through fashion. She used fashion as a tool to make her own style, she took risks, and made statements. That is what Style Icons are made of.

my favorite style

One of my favorite ‘Jackie O’ looks is her Classic American style. The type of outfit she would wear in Martha’s Vineyard while spending time with her children. Easy going, comfortable, beachy, yet perfectly pulled together. A casual pair of Chino’s, a round neck tee, a pair of Jack Rogers, and her signature sunglasses. It seems simple – right? So why do so many people get it wrong? I think it’s because they don’t keep it as simple and classic as she did. Stick to classic colors like Navy, white, tan, and red. The chinos should fit properly.

not too tight

They shouldn’t be too tight or too slouchy. They should be pressed, but not starched. The tee should be fitted, not super tight or baggy.

It should be a solid color. Leave the ultra designer bag at home, grab a canvas boat bag instead. Jewelry should be simple.

A pair of diamond studs (real or fake), and a gold bracelet. The outfit becomes less about the pieces, and more about how you wear it, work it, walk it.

Items in this observation:

• Canvas Boat Tote @ Barney’s
• Pucci Scarf @ Foulard
• Jack Rogers Sandals @ Sandal World
• Gap Chinos
• Cutler and Gross Sunglasses @ Net-a-Porter
• Cartier Love Bracelet

Timeless elegance and sophistication. Shanghai Tang is east meets west. It’s a brand that has gone from traditional Chinese apparel to a contemporary blend. It’s modern, chic, and luxurious. When I slip into one their dresses I feel sexy, sensual, and mysterious. Who could ask for more? The silk jackets feel beautiful and have the power to elevate a simple pair of jeans. It”s worth a look – if you’re ever near one of the stores.

Items in this observation:

Kate Winslet was a big winner last night at the Golden Globes. Her dress was simple, but really elegant. We’ve shown you a couple of dresses that can give you nearly the same look – for a lot less. The long Nicole Miller dress is $420. The short ABS dress is $300. A long dress is perfect for a formal event. Or wear a short version, to a cocktail party. Belt the dress with a simple patent belt, or attach a diamond pin to your waist. That will accentuate your waist, and look a little more refined. Kate left her neck bare, but wore diamond dangling earrings. Gorgeous!

Black dresses in this observation:

I’m in complete love with this style pant! They are so feminine, chic, and sharp looking. It’s not just the high-waist that I find appealing. It’s also the cut of the trouser that catches my interest. It that makes thighs look slender, while the flair adds a festive element. Even though we’ve seen this style pant before, its relaunch and redesign is marvelously modern. A couple of years ago a high waist was considered out dated, but no longer. So many women are tired of the ultra low-rise, I’m sure a high-waist will be well received. I know I’m giddy over the
Roberta Furlanetto pant, if only they weren’t a small fortune!

Items in this observation:

It’s odd how quickly weekends go from being about sleeping in, sipping coffee, and reading the paper to driving from sporting event to sporting event. So, how are you going to look pulled together when you really want to stay in bed? The colder months are easier to pull off than you think. It’s all about the outerwear. If you have a good looking puffer jacket, simple yoga style pants, a scarf to bring it all together, you’ll be fine. It almost doesn’t even matter what you have on under the jacket as long as you looked pulled together on the outside. I’m not even against wearing comfy UGG style boots as long as they are more rugged looking and less slipper like than the classic UGG. The weekend look is all about sporty-chic. You don’t want to look too dolled up, but you don’t want to look like a college freshman either. Think sleek, sophisticated, performance gear. Grab a big cup of coffee, and enjoy these years, because soon enough they will be driving themselves around.

warrior gear in this observation:

It’s always a pleasure to see a designer’s growth right in front of your eyes. T-bags became known for their bold prints, maxi dresses, and batwing tops. Season after season, we would see a different version of the same thing. This season we’re seeing sleek, modern pieces in the mix. These pieces read more mature and sophisticated (to me). Now, there’s something for almost every girl in the t-bags collection – the bold girl, the trendy girl, the sexy girl, and the simple chic girl. Awesome!

evolved T-Bags observations:

We all have fond memories when we think back on our wedding day, but have you ever dreamt about doing it all over differently? Looking back, obviously I loved my wedding, but I’m not sure I would have made some of the same choices. This time, I think I would be more dramatic in my selections. I imagine Paris would be a fabulous place to get married. The feel is romantic, but urban – with serious sophistication. The fashions for this destination should be far-reaching, and should beautifully represent the haute couture culture of the city. The accent colors are gilded and gold, lit from within just like the city you’re in. There are no bridesmaids, no reception line, no people you don’t know. This time it’s just family that comfortably lends itself to your union. A party in an elegant city, shopping with the girls, sipping espresso, and hot chocolate that tastes as rich as melted chocolate bars. There are no worries, no tantrums about the day. It’s Paris after all, home of Chanel, a bastion of luxury, and a mecca for the fashionable. Sigh….

items for the City of Lights:

It’s pretty fair to say that by the middle of August most of us are tired of our summer wardrobe. You stand looking into your closet feeling very uninspired as you try to find something to wear to a wedding you have this weekend. Walk Away! Go out and buy yourself a new dress that can easily work itself into your Fall wardrobe. The Julie Haus dress is perfection. It’s in one of Fall’s hottest color, Plum, and can be worn in a million different ways. When the weather gets colder you can pair it with opaque stockings and pumps. Or you can make it more funky by throwing on some boots. We’re loving this dress with layered gold necklaces; they will hang beautifully subtly emphasizing your assets. It’s sensual, rich, and sophisticated. We love the alluring quality of this outfit – it doesn’t give it all away at first glance. It will draw them in time and time again, and the wonderment will be infectious. Success!!

infectious items in this observation:

Gladiator look 1

The first look has a tall gladiator paired with a summer cotton dress. The key to this look, is to keep the dress flowy and unconstructed. The cut of the dress will balance out the tall gladiator sandal, making your legs look slim. A big hobo bag completes the look beautifully.

Gladiator look 2

The second look has a short gladiator paired with shorts, a billowy top, bangles, and a textured tote. The key to this look is to lean toward the bohemian, not preppy. It should look relaxed and sophisticated. It translates into a perfect day to evening summer look.

Gladiator look 3

The third look is a more dressed up version of the gladiator sandal. Again, the dress is free flowing which helps to balance the bulk of the shoe. The gladiator we chose is metallic, and reflects beautifully as opposed to drag the outfit down. We paired the outfit with a linen bag with gold accents, to tie it all together. The dress becomes the focus, with very fashion forward accessories that don’t take over the outfit.

We hope some of these looks inspire some of your own creations. Have fun with it, and relax into a pair of gladiator sandals this season.

Pssst… Have you heard of The June Collection?  Picture a young, beautiful, smart, and talented young lady in her studio toiling away at her design table. June Webers’ collection has classic, feminine lines , with an eloquence from the past. Her designs take us back to a time when Jackie Kennedy was setting the tone for American elegance.  The pieces have an air of sophistication with a warm playful element. June’s youth and energy is what takes her designs from classic conservative to chic American style. In a time when underdressed celebrities run rampant on the red carpet, it’s refreshing to see a designer cultivate a graceful feminine style. The pieces in June’s collection are forever, and eternally elegant. They embrace the purity and simple beauty of women today. That’s what we love most about her designs, they are not overdone. They are built to shine light on the woman wearing it, the beauty of the dress becomes secondary. Now, that is a smart and truly talented designer! In the words of Coco Chanel “Fashion fades, only style remains the same.” The June Collection is all about creating great style.