Lauren's Fashion Blog

‘Tis the Season for a Closet Cleanout!

Lauren Bailey — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 01:42:07 +0000

It’s closing cleanout time again! I’ve been working each week to get my clients’ fall wardrobes into perfect working order. So, I spent a little bit of my weekend working my way through my own closet. Cleaning out your closet and transferring your clothing to the current season is so important when it comes to loving your wardrobe and the way you look. Here are some steps for priming your wardrobe for perfection this season.

1) Remove all spring/summer items from your closet, except for those that can be adjusted for transitional outfits. If you do not have a second closet to store out of season clothing, then place the pieces in an area of your closet that is not easily accessed.

2) Go through the spring/summer items and discard any pieces that are damaged and worn beyond repair, do not fit anymore (you can choose to keep these if you think they will fit again in the future), that you did not wear all season, or that you did not feel good in.

3) Go through all fall/winter clothing and discard any items that are not currently in style or do not fit. Then, incorporate the remaining pieces into your main closet.

4) Make a shopping list of pieces that you discarded and need to replace and pieces/trends that you would like to focus on purchasing this season.

5) Enjoy your newly refreshed and organized wardrobe!

Save the Date: Fall Style Show for Neiman Marcus

Lauren Bailey — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 22:13:51 +0000

It’s that time of year again! Yes, fall fashions are in the air, and the date is set for my Fall Style Show at Neiman Marcus Fort Worth. As one of my clients so beautifully puts it, “Neiman Marcus is the fashion mothership!” Whether or not you are a regular Neiman’s shopper, you are certain to enjoy my style show. I will showcase my favorite “looks” for fall with plenty of tips on how to wear my key pieces and how to build a fabulous and well-utilized wardrobe this season.

Please save the date for September 20th, 2012

Fashion Style Show by Lauren Bailey of Flawlessly Fashioned Wardrobe Consulting

Lite Bites & Beverages

Event will begin around 11 or 11:30 am

If you are on my mailing list, you will receive an invitation in the next few weeks. Please feel free to bring your friends! If you are not on my mailing list and would like to receive an invite, please contact me. I’m looking forward to seeing you at Neiman Marcus Fort Worth on September 20th!

Fall Favorite: Leopard Print

Lauren Bailey — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 17:00:14 +0000

You could call it the print that just won’t quit. For seasons now, we have seen leopard print all over our stores, and this fall is no exception. I must admit that I love the look and just can’t help myself from adding a little more leopard print to my wardrobe each season. Truthfully, I just looked down to see that I am wearing my leopard pajama pants. My obsession may be worse that I previously thought!

Whether you love leopard a little or, like I do, a lot, it is important to select your leopard items with care and in a way that will support and extend your current wardrobe…not leave you thinking, “I must have been crazy when I bought that leopard blouse!” Here are my rules for selecting the right leopard pieces for my clients. I hope they help you in your leopard selections this fall:

1) The key to a happy leopard-sprinkled wardrobe is to purchase items that are in your preferred color family (black & white, brown & caramel, or even red). Stick to a leopard color scheme that will compliment the wardrobe you already have (exp. if your fall color base is brown, opt for brown-toned leopard prints, not blacks).

2) Remember to choose leopard prints that are in the right scale for your body size. For example, if one of my petite clients really wants a great pair of leopard jeans this fall, I will make sure to select for her a very small pattern that will not overpower her small frame. (The NYDJ below are a great example of this).

3) Don’t forget that a little leopard goes a long way. When wearing a leopard print, select other supportive (not conflicting) pieces to wear. Let the leopard be the all-star of your outfit.

4) Lastly, once you have a little leopard in your closet, you cannot be afraid to wear it! Yes, it may be bold and dramatic, but leoaprd can create so much visual interest and fun in an outfit…if you let it.

Now that you know the rules for wearing leopard, it’s time to shop. Leopard is everywhere this season, so stay true to your budget when purchasing your pieces. If you find something you love that is out of your price range, just keep searching. Leopard is popping up everywhere and at every price-point! Here are some of my favorite leopard finds, so far, this season.

Leopard Clutch, $43.00

Photo Courtesy: Karmaloop

Leopard NYDJ, $120.00

Photo Courtesy: Nordstrom

Leopard Blouse, $24.50

Photo Courtesy: Wet Seal

Leopard Wedges, $79.50

Photo Courtesy: Ann Taylor Loft

Leopard Blazer, $198

Photo Courtesy: Neiman Marcus

Photo Courtesy: H&M

Kendra Scott Jewelry for Headshots

Lauren Bailey — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 16:48:15 +0000

The Kendra Scott store in Dallas has generously loaned me tons of their great pieces for my upcoming headshots. Here is the smattering of gems I will be wearing. If you are interested in purchasing any of these pieces, please contact me for information on pricing and to schedule a pick-up/drop-off.

Which piece is your favorite? I love the giant, turquoise earrings. Kendra’s earrings are fabulous, but I have always struggled to wear them because they are so heavy. The Kendra Scott Dallas store recently introduced me to Lobe Wonders, a fabulous companion for their products that they are selling for $6 per box. Lobe Wonders stick to that back of your ear lobes and support heavy earrings so that they don’t tug. Fabulous! Now my clients and I will be able to wearing Kendra’s lovely jewels everyday.

The Swimdress: Making One-Piece Swimsuits Sexy

Lauren Bailey — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:20:44 +0000

One of the newest trends in swimwear for the spring 2012 season is the swimdress. Think retro pin-up girl, but with better spandex and underwire support. This new spin on the one-piece swimsuit is making full-coverage swimwear sexy again for women of all ages. I should know…swimsuit shopping season is in full swing!

After spending the last two weeks located the perfect swimwear for clients in the DFW area, I have decided on my top picks for the swimdress. Here they are! Now you just have to decide which swimdress is for you. Happy swimming, retro style!

Carmen Marc Valvo Swimdress (also available in Red and Black), $167.00

Photo Courtesy: Victoria’s Secret

Betsey Johnson State Fair Swimdress, $178.00

Photo Courtesy: Everything But Water

Jantzen Pin Dot Swimdress (also available in Red), $112.00

Photo Courtesy: Dillard’s

Color-Blocked Crossbody Bags

Lauren Bailey — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:30:46 +0000

One of my favorite trends of the Spring 2012 season is color-blocking. Color-blocking is not only a great trend in clothing, but it also spans other areas of fashion, like shoes, jewelry and bags.

BCBG Max Azaria Color-Block Dress, $248 at Saks

Photo Courtesy: Saks Fifth Avenue

Colin Stuart Color-Block Sandal, $88 at Victoria’s Secret

Photo Courtesy: Victoria’s Secret

Lee Angel Color-Block Bracelet, $94.99 at Amazon

Photo Courtesy: Amazon

Over the past month, I have been on a hunt, for a certain client, for the perfect color-blocked crossbody bag. The specifications are that it must be under $100 and include only neutrals (brown, black, white, etc.). Keeping the color-blocking neutral will also for pairing with a great number of pieces in her existing wardrobe and will ensure longevity when neon color-blocking goes out (and who can tell how quickly that will be!). Here are my two favorite finds for this project. Which bag do you like best?

Contrast Bowling Bag, $72 at TopShop

Photo Courtesy: TopShop

LaMountain Crossbody Bag, $40 at Aldo

Photo Courtesy: Aldo

Top Beauty Supply Stores in North Texas

Lauren Bailey — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 19:20:30 +0000

Shopping for beauty products is a fun and fundamental part of being a woman. After all, even the most fashionable outfit can fall short if you skip your ever important makeup and hair styling steps before heading out the door. Whether your style is uptown chic, downtown trendsetter, or haute hippie, it’s essential to know where to find your favorite products and the latest and greatest beauty finds. Fortunately, in North Texas, there is a beauty store to match everyone’s style and budget. I recently visited a few and here’s my review on the top beauty supply stores in our area. As well as the ins and outs on what to find there and how much money you can expect to spend.

Ulta, $$
2900 East Southlake Blvd.
Southlake, TX 76092
www.ulta.com

Ulta is the quintessential one-stop shop for beauty products. From perfume to nail polish, Ulta is a perfect option for perusing, or shopping with purpose. Ulta also offer a wide range of makeup options from inexpensive and mainstream varieties like Maybelline and CoverGirl, to mid-range brands like Urban Decay and Stila.

If you have a big event coming up, make sure to look into the salon services at Ulta. These services include skin treatments, hair color and styling & body waxing. To finish getting ready for your event, have one of the Ulta makeup artists create a polished party look for you.

My favorite product to pick up at Ulta is a gold (yes, I meant gold) nail polish called Luxe, by Orly for $7.

Read the rest of my article for CBS DFW.

How To Get Winter Style Icon Elle Macpherson’s Look In North Texas

Lauren Bailey — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 02:20:05 +0000

Layering is a big trend this winter season, and Elle Macpherson is one celebrity who knows how to play the layering game. Her mixture of fur, leather and denim looks effortless and city-chic. But, with all those layers, recreating Elle’s outfit could get pricey, fast! I’ve managed to put it all together for under $200. And with so many versatile layers, you are sure to add much than a $200 value to your winter wardrobe.

Photo Credit: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Black (Faux) Fur Vest

Dillard’s North East
1101 Melbourne Road
Hurst, Texas 76053
817-590-3909
Hours: Mon – Sat 10am-9pm; Sun 12pm – 6pm

http://www.dillards.com/

The outer layer of Elle’s outfit, and the main focal point, is her black fur vest. Now, wearing fur can be tricky as it starts looking bulking, especially over so many layers. As I tell my clients, “You should always look like you are wearing your clothes, not like your clothes are wearing you!” The key to keeping trim in these layers is to select a fur piece that is sleek and smooth so that it doesn’t add extra bulk to your waistline. I like this faux fur vest from Dillard’s for $58.80 because it also has a knit back, which contours to the body instead of looking boxy.

Read the rest of my article for CBS DFW.

Oscar Red Carpet Review 2012

Lauren Bailey — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 01:25:44 +0000

Black and white ruled the red carpet at the Oscars last night. High contrast and understated accessories had a major showing, while most hair remained sleek and makeup was minimal.

Here are my top picks from the red carpet at the Academy Awards:

Gwyneth Paltrow was stunning at both the Grammy’s and the Oscars this year. Her stark white gown screams “fashion forward” with accented shoulders and matching cape. While her hair style has been controversial and her makeup is super minimal, it matches her overall look elegantly.

Photo Courtesy: Zap 2 It

Emma Stone looked lovely in one of the only colored gowns of the evening, proving that red-heads really can wear red! She looks totally age appropriate and flawless.

Photo Courtesy: MTV

Jennifer Lopez looked super sexy last night in a plunging gown with cut-out arms. The striped fabric accentuated her lovely frame, as did her high and sleek bun with understated lips.

Photo Courtesy: PopSugar

My personal favorite of the evening! I love Sandra Bullock’s black and white gown with gold detailing. She chose to wear her jewelry on her dress! This look is so modern and made complete by her high ponytail and soft earrings.

Photo Courtesy: InStyle

Angelina Jolie was the most daring of the evening in her thigh-high leg slit. I love the intensity of her dress’s fabric and the contrast between her lips and gown. She is the essence of drama!

Photo Courtesy: My Daily

Michael Kors Watches for Sale

Lauren Bailey — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 02:24:21 +0000

I’m selling two like-new Michael Kors watches for a client. One is gold (on the left), and the other is silver (on the right). They are $100 each, originally about $200. Please contact me if you are interested in either watch. They make the perfect statement pieces!