Real Style Inspiration

Today I have the pleasure of being a featured guest blogger on KMS California's style website, RealStyleInspiration.com!

 

I wrote a fashion essay on how I developed my personal style and included tips on cultivating your own unique look.  Browse RealStyleInspiration.com for more of their fashion and hair tips, or click here for the permalink to my post!

 

Enjoy!

 



Spring Forward

Dress, Betsey Johnson.  Jacet and shoes, F21.  Bag, H&M.  Sunnies, Urban Outfitters.  Ring, Alexis Bittar.

Tomorrow starts the first day of Spring!  Spring is traditionally a time for renewal and new beginnings, and this yearly fresh start is coinciding perfectly with my personal life!  I definitely feel as if things are changing for the better, and this enthusiasm for what's ahead is influencing my wardrobe.  2012 had some rough patches and I adopted a tougher, edgier wardrobe as a sort of armor.  With all the amazing things that 2013 has brought me, I find myself reaching for bright colors and feminine prints to show off my lighter side.

 

I last wore this Betsey Johnson dress on this blog almost 2 years ago, for my college graduation.  A lot has happened between 2011 and 2013, but classic style still reigns!  A dress like this will never seem outdated or "so two seasons ago" because the cut is simple and the floral print is timeless.  While I love a crazy trendy piece from time to time, I mostly shop with this classic simplicity in mind- I don't want to have to revamp my entire wardrobe when the trends change. 

 

 

That being said, it's a lot of fun to amp up classic pieces with trendy touches!  Members-only jackets have been huge for a few seasons now, and you can find a cool one at pretty much any price point.  There are some amazing leather versions out there (like this one) that can get pricey, but mine was a $25 find at Forever 21.  The casual feel of the maroon/navy jacket toned down my fancy florals and brought it back to weekend territory.  I felt like a super-cool 50s chick rocking her boyfriend's varsity jacket all day!

 

 

 

Another huge trend right now is print-mixing.  I put that fashion-forward idea into practice here with the mix of my floral pumps and rose-printed dress.   These light blue/pink silk shoes are a dulled-down floral, so I didn't feel like they were competing for attention with my dress. 

 

When mixing patterns, I have a couple rules I try to follow. One: make sure there is a common thread.  For example, the two prints I wore here are both florals.  That common thread means I can play with color (blue shoes/red dress).  Another way to do it would be to have a common color.  If I wanted to mix stripes and polka dots, I'd try to have them both based in the same color family.  And number two: add a solid piece to the mix.  Here, I added a strong solid-colored jacket to break up my all-over pattern.  If you're trying out a patterned skirt and shirt combo, make sure your shoes are one solid complimentary color and you'll be fine!

 

 

I added a few fun extras, like these floral-framed sunnies from Urban Outfitters and my favorite scarab ring from Alexis Bittar. 

 

Fashion Tips from "Spring Forward":

 

1.  Invest in classic pieces and don't spend too much on trendy items.  This dress (which has already lasted me 2 years) was a big fashion splurge- I spent around $300 on it (don't judge me!).  Clearly it was worth the price because I wore it consistently for 2 years, and I can see myself wearing it as an eccentric old woman too!  Fads like varsity jackets or crazy printed shoes probably won't stand the test of time, so it's wise to buy these items at budget-friendly prices.  The quality of the cheaper garments won't be great, but when you're only going to wear it for a season or two anyway, who cares?

 

2.  When trying out a new trend, don't go overboard- try pairing a trendy piece with a classic counterpart.  If you're drawn to the neon jeans look, wear them with a classic white buttondown. This mix will keep you from looking like a fashion victim! 

 

3.  Revisit pieces in the back of your closet that you may have forgotten about.  Maybe your own graduation dress would look great with a jean jacket, or (for the men out there) the tie you wore to senior prom could be a great way to dress up a button-down and skinny jeans. 

 

 

Don't forget that Spring also means it's time for Spring Cleaning- the perfect time to clean out your closet and get a fresh fashion start!  Don't know what to keep, what to toss, and what to tailor for a more modern fit?  I absolutely love rummaging through someone else's closet and helping them through that process, and a "closet consultation" is one of my featured services as a personal shopper.  I've recently launched my styling/personal shopping website- jessicadefinostyle.com.  Contact me there if you'd like a consultation or any other services I offer- if you mention that you're a Hell or High Fashion reader, you'll get 20% off the listed price :)

 



Superstar

Top and pants, Forever 21.  Shoes, Urban Outfitters.  Ring, Marc by Marc Jacobs.  Bangles, H&M.

 

Yves Saint Laurent once said, "Fashions fade.  Style is eternal."  To me, true style is present when how you look is the physical embodiment of who you are as a person.  When your style is true to who you are, it will be relevant through seasons and seasons of fashion trends.  You can have impeccable style if you only shop hand-me-downs from Goodwill; you can have style if you're decked out in the latest runway trends.  What matters is that you're wearing pieces that you have a personal connection to!  Keeping this in mind, I've been able to find inspiration in some pretty untraditional style icons.

 

 

Peggy Bundy, untraditional icon.

 

I remember the day a coworker told me my fashion sense reminded her of Peggy Bundy: I didn't know whether to be offended or proud.  After some thought, I decided I was proud to emulate Peggy- because she definitely had a look that was all her own!

 

As the wife on 80-90s television series Married With Children, Peggy Bundy lived a normal life in the suburbs with her husband and kids, but she never dressed the part.  She knew she was more fabulous than her surroundings and never succumbed to boring "mom" fashions.  From one look at Peggy you can tell what kind of person she is:  strong, proud, glamorous, and she certainly doesn't take any shit!  She celebrates every curve on her body unapologetically, which is such a refreshing break from today's stick-thin style icons.   Her particular "fashions" have faded, but her style and message live on.

 

 

Taking a look out of Peggy's book, I decided to show off my hourglass shape with some serious color and print! 

 

To me, this look is all about balance:  I wore a busy print on the bottom, so I wanted to make sure to have a solid color on top.  Since my outfit was pretty skintight, I made sure my cleavage was under wraps.  The mix of bright color and bold pattern is attention-grabbing, so plain black heels grounded the outfit. 

 

 

This balance is what makes the outfit more "Jessica DeFino" (that's me) than "Peggy Bundy." While she never cared for balancing out her wardrobe (everything was tight, low cut, bright, and printed!), this balance is one of the signature marks of my own personal style.   I think my message is pretty similar to hers though: this look says I'm fun, confident, comfortable with myself, and not afraid to be bold!  Plus, wearing yellow with my red lipstick  always makes me feel like Wonder Woman so I had an extra boost of bad-ass attitude :)

 

Fashion Tips from "Superstar":

 

1.  Realize that to others, your style is a visual representation of who you are.  Ask yourself if your look sends out the message you want to send to the world.  Ill-fitting jeans and a worn-out tee say that you don't care enough about yourself to wear clothes that fit properly; a short skirt and belly shirt say that you can't be taken seriously.  Make sure you're saying what you need to say!  And if you're not, you can ask me for help :)

 

2.  I've said it a thousand times: balance is SO important.  If you love to wear short skirts, don't pair them with cleavage-baring tops- or at least throw a fun blazer over the outfit for a sassy way to cover up!  Men can practice their balancing act on nights out by pairing a button-down/tie combo with jeans instead of dress pants- it will keep your look in "business casual" territory without feeling too stuffy!

 

3.  Find your power color(s) and consistently work them into your wardrobe!  Nothing can stand in my way when I'm wearing red or yellow- I just feel 10x more confident- so I wear my power color in the form of red lipstick everyday.  Find little ways to incorportate your colors into your everyday wardrobe: a fun hat, a statement necklace, a pair of bold sneakers.  You'll walk around with a little extra swag in your step, guaranteed!

 

Well Suited

Blazer, vintage.  Shorts, F21.  Shirt, Gap.  Shoes, Zara.  Clutch, MCM.

 

My friend Natalie Smith is the queen of shorts.  She can sport short shorts and make them super sexy or tomboyishly charming, business casual or perfect for playtime.  Here she is wearing the hell out of her fave pair while bringing the house down at a show:

 

 

Whenever I style Natalie, shorts are always one of the first things that come to mind.  It's a style I love but rarely wear myself so, inspired by Natalie, I wanted to come up with a fun way to wear my own shorts.  Enter the short suit!

 

The short suit is definitely not a new concept- it's been popping up on the red carpet for a while now.  In addition to Natalie, my inspirations for this look included Michelle Williams and Ginnifer Goodwin.  How cute are they??

 

 

 

Even though I don't have a pixie cut like all these beautiful ladies, I thought I might be able to pull off this look.  So I pulled out some of my funky shorts (leather, cat print) and got to work!

 

 

 I work in a pretty relaxed environment, so I wanted to test drive this trend in an office-appropriate way.  These adorable cat print shorts were the perfect statement piece, so I let them shine by pairing them with all neutrals.

 

 To temper the craziness of cartoon-kitty printed shorts, I picked one color from the shorts- cream- and matched it to a conservative button down shirt.  Since short-shorts aren't traditionally office-friendly, I wanted to make sure my top half was completely covered up and not drawing any attention!  I layered a light brown shrunken blazer on top for more coverage.

 

My nuetral heels not only fit into the color scheme of my outfit, they also enlongated my legs.  Nude heels paired with short shorts are guaranteed to make your legs look miles long! 

 

 

 

I didn't want my neutral look to border on boring, so I added some pizzazz with an oversized clutch.  This vintage MCM version is perfect with the rest of my outfit:  the neutral color is easy, the funky print is fun, and the oversized shape mimicks a briefcase- the best compliment to my faux-suit!

 

After this successful attempt, I caught suit fever and took this version for a spin:

 

Shorts and shirt, F21.  Blazer, J Crew.  Shoes, Rachel Roy.  Clutch, Betsey Johnson.

 

I matched my leather shorts to a tight wool blazer and a graphic buttondown.  I love pushing up the sleeves of a blazer to let the shirtsleeves show, especially if there is a cool print or fun design to show off.  This teensy little touch packs a lot of punch!

 

This cute clutch addes some personality to the black-and-white look, and some heart-studded purple shoes finished it off.

 

 

I'm not sure if this is a look I'll be rocking all the time, but it was fun to give it a try and expand my fashion horizons!  It's important to experiment to keep your wardrobe evolving and expanding:  when you see a look you love, instead of thinking "I could never pull that off", try thinking "How can I make this work for me?"

 
Fashion Tips from "Well Suited":

1.  Look to friends, magazines, the red carpet, etc for ideas- but then make them your own.  I know Natalie would never wear shorts the way I did, just like I can't rock hers the way she can.  Every look needs to be tailored to who you are, what body you have, and what you're comfortable with- so get inspired, but be true to your sartorial self!

2.  If you're looking to try out a short suit, keep it from looking stuffy and business-y by mixing textures.  Here I mixed silk and leather shorts with wool blazers that didn't quite match.  Even denim is OK- I'm dying to try out denim cutoffs with an oversized boyfriend blazer.  Anything goes!

3.  Nude pumps are a great way to finish off a short shorts outfit.  They'll make your legs look like they go on forever-- who wouldn't want that?

 

If you guys decide to try a short suit out for yourselves, send me pics- I'd love to see how you're taking inspiration and making it your own!

 

Reader Request: The Extra Mile

After my last blog post, a reader requested that I give a  tutorial on how to create my signature cat-eyed, red-lipped look.  While makeup isn't my area of expertise, I consider cosmetics to be an extension of an outfit- the finishing touch that brings a look to the next level.  So if a tutorial is going to inspire someone to take their look up a notch, I'm happy to do it!  And without further ado, here it is:

 

What You'll Need:  concealer, liquid foundation, translucent powder, brozer, blush, neutral eyeshadow palette, black liquid liner, black mascara, brow kit, and red lipstick.

 

1. Start with a blank canvas.  Wash your face, moisturize, and apply SPF.  Dab some concealer onto red patches and dark spots, patting lightly with your fingertip until blended.  Use a concealer that's about half a shade lighter than your natural skin tone to brighten your complexion.

The blank canvas I started with!

 

2.  Get red of dark circles.  Apply 4 dots of concealer under each eye, from inner to outer corner.  Apply 1 dot of concealor directly under the arch of your eyebrow.  Pat and blend in the same way you did for dark spots until concealer is completely blended, getting rid of dark under-eye circles and highlighting your brow bone.

 

3.  Time to apply foundation.  Choose a shade that matches your natural skin tone (find this by testing foundations on the hollow of your cheeks).  Some say foundation should be applied before concealer, but I'm a big believer in concealer first!  Since concealer can sometimes lighten and brighten the skin, using foundation afterwards totally evens out your tone, leaving perfectly even color behind.

 

Squirt a dime-sized amount of foundation, tinted moisturizer, or BB cream onto your fingertips (pointer, middle, ring) and blend fingers of both hands together.  Then dab a dollop onto your cheeks, chin, and forehead and blend downward until the foundation is evenly distributed. 

 

Many people use a foundation sponge or brush to blend, but I think that the fingertips bring a lighter and more natural feel.

 

4.  Set the concealer and foundation by using a powder puff to lightly apply a layer of translucent powder over the face.  This will keep your liquid concealer and foundation from melting!

 

5.  Contouring is next!  With a flat brush, swipe a light layer of bronzer (about 2 shades darker than your skin) into the hollows of your cheeks (suck in your cheeks- bronzer should be applied in those dips).  Also dust it along your jawline and hairline.

 

6.  Next up is eye makeup.  I prefer powder eye shadows and use this huge shadow palette from ELF that has all the colors I could possibly need. 

 

 

 

Again, use your fingers to create the perfect natural/smoky eye.  Dip your ring finger (the muscles in this finger are the weakest, so the touch will be lighter and more natural) in nude shadow and dust it over the entire eyelid, from lashes to brows.  Next, dip your pinky in a cream or white shadow and dot it in the inner corner of your eyes- this brightens up your whole face!  A shimmery dark brown shadow is your next shade, and use your ring finger to dust this over your eyelid, from lash line to the crease.  Finally, swipe a gray or black shadow into the creases of the outer half of your eyelids. 

Eyes, post-eyeshadow and Step 1 of eyeliner

This sounds like a lot, but look at the result:  so natural!  The trick to keeping dark shadows from looking overdone is using your fingertips instead of brushes. 

7.  And now, the piece de resistance- winged eyeliner!  This step is a little tricky and it's very easy to over-do it.  To keep myself from going overboard with eyeliner, I first add a coat of black mascara to my lashes.  The boldness of the black lashes  gives you an idea of how dramatic your eye makeup will be, which in turn makes you realize that you don't need that much liner to make a statement!

  Take a felt-tipped black liquid liner, and run the tip along your lash line from the middle to the outer corner.  Do this on both eyes.   Next, run the tip of the eyeliner from the inner corner of your lash line to the middle- the new line should meet up with the first one you made.  Doing your eyeliner in 2 steps like this ensures a straighter, steadier line.

Now, the hard part: touch your pinky to your temple, and pull your skin up and out like this:

This looks very silly, but I guarantee you'll get the smoothest line!

Take your liquid liner and trace a line from the end of your lashes, up towards your pinky.  The skin around your eyes will crease and give you the perfect angle to follow with your liner.  Draw the wing out as long and thick as you'd like, following your skins natural pull.  Voila!

I keep plenty of moistened Q-tips on hand just in case I don't get this right the first time.  Keep trying, and you'll get it right eventually :)

8.  Add a few more coats of black mascara to your lashes.  I'm a Jersey girl, so I pile the stuff on...but 1 or 2 more coats should do for the rest of you :)

9.  Now, using the same technique that you used for contouring, apply your blush. This time when you suck in your cheeks, use your blush brush on the cheekbone that is sticking out, like this:

Another silly face.

10.  Finishing touches!  To complete my classic 50s face, I use a brow kit to fill in my patchy eyebrows so that they look full and bold. 

I love the mole on my right cheek, and layers of foundation sometimes cover it up.  To make sure my mole is still a part of my look (a la Marilyn Monroe), I darken it with a touch of liquid eyeliner.  Even if you don't have a mole, feel free to experiment and draw one on- I guarantee you'll feel glamorous!

Finally, I swipe on a matte red lipstick that will stay in place all day.  L'Oreal has amazing longwear lipsticks, but recently I've been using the Sephora brand and loving it! 

 

While this may seem like a lot, I do my makeup in 10 minutes flat.  Everyone has room in their morning routine for that!

Enhanced mole!

Bold brows!

 

 

New fave Sephora lipsick!

 

So there you have it!  Did you girls like this tutorial?  Let me know if you'd like a step-by-step guide to anything else-  the "no makeup" look, the 60s mod look, etc.

In the same way that makeup is an extension of your wardrobe, hair can make or break a look!  Me and almost everyone I know in LA (literally about 15 of my friends), all use the same AMAZING hair stylist: Matthew Kazarian at Vidal Sassoon Beverly Hills.  Here's how chic he will make you look:

 

 

                               

 

Call 310-274-8791 to make an appointment with him!

 

For my next post I'll be back to talking about clothes, but every once in a while it's good to remind yourself about the little extras that take your style to the next level.

 

BTW, I've been loving the reader requests coming my way--- please chime in with questions or suggestions in the "Comments" section!

Fringe Benefits

Vest, H&M.  Shirt and shoes, Target.  Pants, Zara.  Necklace, F21.

This weekend was one of the best weekends I've ever had!  My man and I decided to celebrate our 2 year anniversary with a trip to San Diego, and I could not have had a better time!  I kept meaning to snap blog pictures while we were out and about, but we were having too much fun to remember until our last day in town.  I hadn't planned on blogging this outfit, but my western-themed getup perfectly matched the Old Town San Diego surroundings and I couldn't resist posing for a few shots.

 

 

 

I thew this outfit into my suitcase at the last minute just to have a more casual option with me, and I'm glad I did.  It ended up being the perfect thing to wear to Old Town, a little town in SD that seems to have stopped time in the 1860s.

 

I really love the mix of textures in this outfit.  Denim and leather are SO classic together: think James Dean in his dungarees and leather jacket, or even cowboys in denim and leather chaps.  But I feel like this outfit manages to mix the two in a fresh way, which is always a good thing!  This look feels basic and familiar, but definitely not run-of-the-mill. 

 

A chambray (lightweight, plain-weave denim) shirt is a classic that should be in every wardrobe.  I only recently added one to my collection, and I've worn it a ton ever since!  Mixing it with contrasting denim jeans is a fun and on-trend look, and putting one under a blazer is office-appropriate and fresh.  Here, I opted to mix mine with leather-look leggings and a leather vest for a classic, edgy vibe.

 

 

 

A fringe-filled necklace served as the piece-de-resistance: it tied together all the western elements and brought an "Urban Cowgirl" feel to these seperates. 

 

One of my favorite fashion tricks lately has been mixing a short statement necklace with a classic collared button-down.  As you can see here, having such a sparkler at your neck brings all the attention up towards your face- and who doesn't want that?   It's also a feminine and badass way to take the stuffiness out of a buttoned up collared shirt.

 

 

 

I added my classic black Mary-Janes to finish it off.  These shoes have a chunky heel, so even though they're 4 inches high I feel totally supported.  For girls who want to try to wear heels but are scared of hobbling around, find the thickest heels you can.  I guarentee you'll be able to walk in them!

 

 

Fashion Tips from "Fringe Benefits":

 

1.  Casual doesn't have to mean sloppy.  There are so many comfy yet pulled-together options out there now: leggings that have a leather coating, soft denim button downs, and even tailored sweatpants and lace sweatshirts!  Having a few pieces like this in your arsenal will ensure that you look sharp even on your shlubby days.

 

2.  You can't go wrong wearing classics with a twist.  A crisp white button down?  Classic.  Pinning a quirky brooch (like this one from ASOS) on the lapel?  Twist!  For guys:  Wearing a sports coat over a tee shirt is classic.  Now add a hoodie in between the two and you've got your twist!

 

3.  Are you mostly a flats girl but looking to branch out?  Short, chunky heels are huge this season.  Try a pair like this to kickstart your new high-heel obsession!

 

 

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I received a reader request for a makeup tutorial, so I'm going to tackle that with my next post- it's going to be about all the little extras (makeup, hair, mustaches & beards) that take a look to the next level!  Anything you'd like me to focus on?  Let me know!

 

 



Primary Care

Blazer, H&M.  Dress, Jill Stuart.  Bag, ASOS.  Shoes, Prada. 

 

While wandering around Melrose last weekend with some friends, I decided to pop into Wasteland while the rest of my crew indulged in ice cream across the street- and what I found there was sweeter than any chocolate caramel confection could ever be.  I'm talking about my new Prada sandals!

 

I just about died when I spied these patent colorblocked beauties jammed into the packed shelves at Wasteland.  When I looked further and discovered that they were just my size and only $65 (at least 90% off the original price), the deal was done. 

As soon as they were in my hands I started dreaming up ways to wear them, and thus this outfit was built from the ground up!

  

I love the sharp colorblocking on the shoes and wanted to make my outfit a parallel study in colorblocking.  Since black is the least featured color on these stacked sandals, I made it the basis of the rest of my look- that way the shoes are still the center of attention! 

I envisioned the outfit I wanted in my head, and I could see this black Jill Stuart number paired with an ultra-mod knit jacket either in red or yellow.  However, I didn't own anything that fit the bill so I did some research online.  Since I knew exactly what I was looking for, I pulled up a few webistes for stores in my area- forever21.com, urbanoutfitters.com, hm.com, etc.  I sifted through pictures of little sweaters and blazers and finally came across this bright yellow one on hm.com.  It was the one!  I called the store, put it on hold, and picked it up after work.  So easy!

With an outfit this simple (jacket, dress, shoes), accessories are everything.   I don't wear yellow very often, so I decided to go all out and add little yellow flower post earrings to the look.  My ever-present fly brooch (this is becoming a habit...3 posts in a row featuring fly jewelry!) softened the hard lines of the blazer with a little whimsy.  I found a few bangles in my bauble collection that featured blocks of black and gold- the perfect way to add another "colorblocked" element to the look!

Finally, my ASOS book bag was the ultimate finishing touch.  The clean lines of the square shape pulled the whole outfit together, and that pop of blue was my favorite part!  Blue wasn't an obvious choice to match with the rest of the look, but since red, yellow, and blue are all primary colors they actually mix perfectly!

Fashion Tips from "Primary Care":

1.  Start with one piece-  a new pair of shoes you can't wait to wear or a pair of printed pants you've been dying to show off.  Consider the things you love about the article- the colors, the cut, etc- and think about how you can accentuate those qualities.  For the guy readers out there:  if you love how a fitted tee shows off your broad shoulders, consider a pair of slim cut jeans: the tighter cut will accentuate that manly "V" shape!

2.  Are you in need of new clothes but hate shopping?  You have a few options: you can ask me to take you shopping and I'll do all the hard work for you! Or you can turn to online pre-shopping.  Many websites have a "Find In A Store Near You" option (you might remember how this feature saved my life in this older post!) which makes shopping unbelievably easy- I was able to shop from the comfort of my desk at work and pick it up in a 10 minute trip to mall.  Pick out the pieces you want to try, give the store a call to put the items on hold for you, and say hello to stress-free shopping!

3.  Try mixing all primary or all secondary colors together for an unexpected color pop.  As you can see here, red/yellow, blue/yellow, red/blue or all three make for a clean and pulled-together combo.  My boyfriend even has one great outfit where he mixes purple and green (secondary colors) to perfection.  The colorwheel is a foolproof guide to mixing and matching!

If any of you stressed-out shoppers want to take me up on my offer, e-mail me at jdefino726@gmail.com to set up an appointment!