Styling in the Winter

Ahh baby its cold outside! Well you could wear P.J.s and stay inside all winter but that’s no fun. So how do you look good and enjoy those brisk colder days that challenge you even when you are just getting into your car.

First you have to find a coat you love. One that looks fabulous on you.  Nothing,  too bulky that will add pounds. 

When you find that perfect coat, the one that will you will feel toasty in as you move from day to night, pick a neutral in gray, black and brown.  White can look stunning but it isn't practical and really hard to keep clean.  Beige or Tweed would be better if you want to go light.

The real fun begins with hats and scarves.

  Pick a neutral toned hat, one that compliments your coat. But you can still vary it up adding color to that black hat and matching it with a scarf that picks up the color. 

  A light gray, burgundy or a mixed pattern or print works.   Browns look good with burgundy, a lighter shade of brown, cream, purple or a non-flashy orange or print

When evening comes, glitz it up with a bit of glamour.  

Go a little wild breaking free from your everyday look.  Different fabrics like velvet or brocade will spice your look up.

A nice pair of warm stream-lined gloves will give you the right look.  Gloves can match your scarf or hat. Leather gloves never go out of style and always look amazing.

Layering inside and out is essential as we all know.

 A pretty camisole under a t-shirt or a tank top under a long sleeved shirt is the way to go.  Avoid those granny bulky sweaters.  If you are in the cold for a while   you can wear thin thermal leggings or heavy tights

 and leggings under a skirt.

 There is no need to abandon all dresses.  For an all outside excursion wear some fleece- lined jeans.

Boots will keep your feet warm especially leather boots.   You can find all kinds of deals in all kinds of styles and colors.   Add a pair of socks to keep those tootsies extra warm.

So finish that hot cocoa and with these tips you are ready to go out.

 Keep Styling in Delco!

Check out some Fall looks with Philly South Street Flair

A fashion show  at Headhouse Shambles  structure

featured a great night of South Street's looks that me. From vintage to today's look. The colors popped as bright as the flashes going on trying to capture the Fall looks. 

Here's a peek at some great styling looks for autumn. Some you can wear anytime.
Some of the boutiques featured included Urban Princess Boutique, PASSIONAL Boutique, Philly AIDS Thrift, Mckinzie Chic, Crash Bang Boom, Helena Boutique, ARMOUR Philadelphia and Hats in the Belfry, Dude's Boutique PNK Elephant, Nostaglia and shoes from Bus Stop.

So you don't have to go to New York City for some styling looks Delco. Check out some of my favorites. Remember Keep Styling in Delco.  Master of Ceremonies Cory Wade agrees. Dressed head to toe in South Streets great looks from America's Top Model. So take a trip to South Street.  

Make Me Over Malika

 " Transitioning from Summer to Fall is very exciting but can get very tricky and confusing if you aren't careful," stresses Malika, a personal stylist.  

Asya  and Malika at Family Community Day in Yeadon. Malika collected used and new clothes to help others and demonstrated how to have a stylish  look  at the event.  

The Delaware resident is originally from Delaware County and uses her "Psychology of Styling" to give you a look that says you. 

"The best part about going into a new season is being able to carry over some of last seasons favorites. This fall don't be afraid to keep those distressed shorts out  and pair them with sweaters, socks, leather and boots. Layer your favorite summer tanks, pop on a blazer and go," she said.

"Fall is a fun season The weather gets cooler, colors get darker, and you get a lot more options. If you're on the fence about what colors are fall appropriate look outside your window. The colors on the leaves will tell you all you need to know. Enjoy your greens, browns, and  different hues of burgundy," said Malika. 

Malika grew up in Yeadon, and went to high school at Penn Wood  High in Lansdowne until her senior year. Her  family moved to Delaware  and she graduated from William Penn High School in New Castle.  She went on to earn her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. After she went on to get her Master's in counseling from West Chester University. Hence this is how she came up with the "Psychology of Styling. "
Malika has always had a strong interest in fashion.She held retail positions all throughout her undergraduate career. While earning her degree at Morgan State Malika began styling her friends for events and soon realized she found her calling.  Malika enjoyed styling because it was natural to her. Malika continued styling family and close friends all throughout graduate school ,however, she did not decide to make a career out of wardrobe styling until she completed her graduate degree. 
Malika started her company Make Me Over Malika in March of 2014.  She has already taken the tri-state area by storm. Malika has been featured on numerous fashion blogs,Philly.com and DelwareOnline.com and asked to be a featured stylist for Atlantic City's upcoming Fall Fashion Week. 

How Malika works may be different form other stylists.  Here's what to expect if you decide it's time to make a change and contact her. 

As a personal stylist you are responsible for composing specific looks to help enhance your clients overall appearance. At Make Me Over Malika  things are  somewhat different. Prior to picking out any clothes or getting into event details Malika has each client complete a client intake form. 

With this intake form Malika begins her in depth  session she refers to as “the Psychology of Styling”. With a master’s degree in counseling, Malika uses her skills in observing human behavior to know each h client personally before even servicing them. Once Malika has a feel for who her client is the client then arranges what services she needs.

 At Make Me Over Malika (MMOM) clients have options. Malika  will go out independently to pick out pieces and bring the items to them or . the client has the option of having a one on one shopping session in stores with Malika.

Due to a number of potential clients contacting Malika from out of state she also offers a “Shop at My home store” option; where she contacts the client’s local store to have merchandise held for them. On September 6 Malika will officially launch her company’s website, where clients will be able to book her services directly.

In the meantime if you are looking to for help contact her by e-mail.  MakeMeOverMalika@gmail.com. 

                                   Keep Styling in Delco!

What to Wear to a Wedding!

        Have you been invited to a wedding, but aren't quite sure what to wear?
The rules are different for different times of day, as well as different formalities. In general, you'll want to wear a dress and just about any color goes except for white. Long dresses are reserved for very formal weddings.  Here are some tips from Danielle of  David’s Bridal’s  and some tips on what type of dress to shop for. She’s included some dos and don’ts.   Get ready to look as good as the bride!  Informal Daytime: Short dress or suit (business attire OK for morning weddings)

 Informal Evening: Cocktail dress (which is any dressier dress -- for example, a little black dress not  full length.

Semi-Formal Daytime: Short dress or suit

Semi-formal Evening: Cocktail dress

 

      Formal Daytime: Short dress or suit

       Formal Evening or Black-Tie: Long or dressy short cocktail (beading, glam accessories, wrap    

  Ultra-formal or White Tie: Long gown, extra glitz (Costume Jewelry, faux diamonds, furs, etc.

Dos and Don'ts

If you have to ask if it's appropriate, it probably isn't. Do use good judgment if the invitation doesn't specify the formality of the event.
Don't wear white because it competes with the bride, unless you ask her first, as a courtesy. There are plenty of other colors available. This rule may seem outdated, but it's actually just good etiquette to not contend with the bride on her special day.
Anything too sparkly will make you look overdressed.  Don't wear black or sequins during the daytime.
Don't worry about wearing the same colors as the bridesmaids or mothers. You can't possibly coordinate with everyone in the wedding party.
Club wear: overtly sexy clothing (strapless, see-through, etc.) doesn't belong at a wedding. A pastel suit or soft floral dress for daytime or a little black dress for evening (after 6 p.m.) will take you almost anywhere.
Casual can mean a pretty sundress (like for a coastal or beach wedding) but rarely means something as sloppy as jeans or shorts.
To see more dresses go to http://www.davidsbridal.com

Buying a Bathing Suit- Here's the scoop!

The pools are open. The ocean is calling. It’s time to find the perfect bathing suit.

We all dread this time of baring our clothes especially if we don’t look like a Sport’s Illustrated Bathing Beauty. But here are some tips to help you find your way around the rack and look fabulous.  The first thing is to know your body type.

Are you an apple, a pear, curvy hourglass, rectangle or an  inverted triangle?

Give yourself time to shop?

Try on at least ten bathing suits.  I know how frustrating that can be but just think that tenth bathing suit might be the one.

Suits always run smaller than the size they are so don’t be discouraged. It’s not you, it’s the suit.

Stand tall and love the body you are in. Remember you are beautiful just the way you are.

So check out your shape and go for it.

Pear Shape

Look for tops with extra design elements above the waist. This detailing draws the eyes upward, making your bust look bigger and downplaying the weight of your bottom half. Skimpy tops only end up emphasizing your bottom half, making it look even fuller than it actually is. Find   swimsuits with horizontal stripes across the bust or waist.

 Look for swimsuits with scalloped necklines or V necks. These deep necklines give you the illusion of cleavage, making your small bust look fuller and drawing the attention away from your hips.

Avoid the boy short look or skirted bottoms.  A high cut brief will make your legs look longer.  Tankinis will give your body a longer look, thus giving a slimmer appearance.

Apple Shape

Look for fabrics designed to keep your stomach flat. Thicker materials or swimsuits with built in support at the stomach can keep your middle region looking slim. Try a one-piece suit with shirring down the sides and at the waist. Shirring pulls your waist in, making it look narrower.

 Camouflage your mid-section with creative prints. Bold or creative prints and. color blocking can also be used to create this effect. Stripes or patterns placed along your side draw the eye to the side instead of your stomach. Avoid billowy swimsuits. Extra material only adds bulk

                         Inverted Triangle                                 

 Halter tops provide your large bosom with the support it needs looking attractive and feminine. Avoid swimsuits with high necklines. While these may provide your bust with the support it needs, they may make you look too matronly.

Gravitate toward patterns instead of solids. Look for swimsuits with draping in the middle. This balances out your larger chest with your slim hips. Try a top with a racer-back. Racer-back straps provide more support that many other types, which may prevent your larger bust from bouncing around. Support your busty figure with under wire cups.

 Bathing suits that contain no under wiring may not be enough. Avoid triangle tops. These provide very little support, making you look even bustier as a result. Moreover, you are more likely to experience a wardrobe malfunction with nothing but skimpy string triangle cups to tame your bust.

Rectangle

Avoid bandeau style tops. Bandeau tops emphasize your lack of upper curves, however, making your body look more boyish.

Look for feminine prints and colors, like pink giving you a   softer appearance. . Try a swimsuit with angled stripes. Stripes angled downward toward the center front of your suit create an optical illusion, making it appear as though the suit has a nipped waist. This creates the appearance of curves. Wear a swimsuit with ruffles or fringe.

Ruffles create the illusion of volume, which makes you seem curvier. Ruffled trim works especially well if you have an athletic rectangle shape. Make your bust look curvier with a front tie. A knot that lands in the center of your chest draws the eye to your cleavage, accentuating the shape and creating a voluminous appearance.

Bikinis break up your straight contours by revealing your stomach, which defines your waist. String bikinis work especially well due to the ties. Look for a bottom with ties that cinch at the side thus creating an illusion of curves.

  So darling you found the suit time to make a splash. Just be who you are and enjoy the sun but don’t forget the sunscreen.

                                Keep styling in Delco!!!!

Spring is here!!!

Putting together some of the trends and making it work 

Time to shed those winter coats and hats! It's Spring! It's time to be bold with color and patterns. Stripes are big whether they are diagonal or straight across. White and Black again are huge this year.  Look for a great tailored white shirt. It will carry you through the season. You can layer it over a top underneath.

Skirts are longer.  Long or tea length but that  is not to say that you won't see minis out there or skirts that show a little leg with a slit.

The cropped top is back so start doing that abs work now.  I am going to include the first video to get in shape  today.  Show some skin with a partial mesh look.

Think feminine this season flowered prints, flirty skirts, Pastels and nude colored flowing outfits take center stage but so does the color yellow.  You choose: wear it as an accessory or go full blown with a yellow from head to toe.  

Athletic wear has taken its own life now and you can dress up so you can acceptably wear it beyond the gym doors.  Colored sneaks are all the rage so anything goes and yes they can match anything you wear.

Are you ready for this - culottes are back and so are Bermuda shorts. Wear heels with these so you can elongate your legs.

Silk rules the night with little slinky slip dresses in beige, black, red.or navy.

Check out Holly''s Fitness tips! Time to get in Shape.It's time to embrace Spring!!!

Carmindy launches her new make-up line at Soft Surroundings in King of Prussia Mall

Carmindy is coming to Soft Surroundings at King of Prussia tonight to launch her new make-up line, Carmindy & Co. The line will be sold exclusively at the store.

Carmindy is known for her work as the beauty expert on TLC’s What Not to Wear.   Carmindy has traveled the world, painting faces, in the studios of Paris, on the beaches of Brazil, and on the streets of Havana. She has lived in Los Angeles, Milan, Miami, and now makes her home in New York, where she has established herself as a top makeup artist. Her work has been seen on the pages of Cosmopolitan, Elle, InStyle, O, Essence, Self, Lucky, Seventeen, Marie Claire, and Glamor.

The beauty expert has authored three best- selling beauty books titled The 5 Minute Face, Get Positively Beautiful and Crazy Busy Beautiful.  When you purchase anything from her new line at the launch party you will receive a copy of her book, The 5 Minute Face which inspired her make-up line. She will sign the book and if   any one has any of her other books she will sign them too.

Here are some tips from Carmindy! 
 

What inspired you to create your own line of make-up and why?

All the wonderful women I worked with on that show inspired Carmindy & Co. They were busy moms, students, full time workers, cancer survivors, you name it and I worked with them. I found that they were not interested in a fancy multi-step red carpet celebrity look. What they really needed was a fast, easy and foolproof way to look polished and pretty in a flash. I had worked for over 20 years as a professional makeup artist in the fashion industry on countless photo shoots so I knew certain colors that worked well on all skin tones. I came up with this line as a problem solving way for all women of all ages and all skin tones to enhance their natural beauty.

What five cosmetic items should a woman have with her at all times?

My 5 Minute Face Kit has it all in one easy beautiful kit that comes in a pretty little bag that fits in your purse! Carmindizing Highlighter Duo, Ever After Eyeliner Pencil, Elevate Mascara, Love Struck Blush and Kiss Me Lip Butter.

When you leave the house what item of make-up should you never forget to wear?

My Carmindizing Highlighter

For women over forty what are the essentials to looking good?

My Skin Zen Primer and Game Changer Foundation.  As we age our skin can look uneven with spots and blemishes like broken capillaries and rosacea and this combo will create a flawless canvas and keep you looking young and fresh.

So come out and see Carmindy tonight and keep Styling in Delco!

Check out these shows for looking fabulous!!!

                                   and Immaculata Fashion students team up

Immaculata University’s Fashion Merchandising program is co-hosting its annual Fashion Show along with Wings for Success of Chester County on Saturday, March 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Great Hall.  

               The event showcases fashions from local boutiques and designs by Immaculata students. There will be a “Project Runway” type competition, fashion and beauty vendors, and fashion/styling workshops.  A silent auction for high-end fashion items will also be available.

  QVC program host Rachel Boesing will serve as emcee for the event with QVC as an event sponsor providing beauty “swag bags” for attendees.

“Wings for Success is the perfect partner for our Fashion Merchandising program allowing our student to experience ‘fashion with a purpose” commented Chris Baeza, Immaculata ‘s Fashion Merchandising program director and moderator for one of the workshops.

You can choose one of  three workshops attend;  Dressing for Your Body Type, Spring Fashion Trends, or Sustainable Fashion.

 Advance registration for the full event, including the workshop of your choice, is recommended and available online until Friday, March 28, at www.wingsforsuccess.org/event/fashion-forward-fashion-show-expo-auction.  Ticket prices are $65 after March 21; a limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

      Come support the SPCA at Rescued on the Runway Shows

The Delaware County SPCA will host its annual spring fundraiser the Rescued on the Runway Fashion Show series on Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30.

The two-part fundraiser will feature both human and animal models in the fashion show. The models will wear fashions sponsored by Philadelphia Premium Outlets. WMGK 102.9 DJ Debbi Calton will host the fashion show on March 29^.      Animals featured in the show will be animals “rescued” from the Delaware County SPCA as well as animals awaiting their forever homes.

Saturday evening’s event features an open bar, heavy hors d'ouevres, cupcakes by the Sugar Cube Cake and a deluxe goody bags that features items such as Smith’s Rosebud Lip Salve.

 Delco's SPCA will also be awarding its annual Ginger Award to an exemplary. Pit Bull in the community, recognized every year during the Delco SPCA’s Pit Bull Celebration Month of March. Tickets for Saturday’s event are $75

Sunday’s event is a three-course luncheon. Tickets for Sunday’s event are $50. Both events feature a silent auction, a cash prize raffle and music. Tickets for the Rescued on the Runway can be purchased online at www.delcospca.org or by contacting Justina at 610-566-1370 x231 or jcalgiano@delcospca.org.

All proceeds from the fundraiser will go toward the Delaware County SPCA’s lifesaving efforts, including caring for the over 3,000 it adopts out every year and prevention programs such as low-cost veterinary care, a pet food bank and humane investigations.

Generous event sponsors include Media Real Estate, Pilot Freight Services, McLoughlin Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning and Haverford's RML Photography and Ashlee Mintz Photography will be donating photography services for the events. Flowers are donated by Halladay Florist, in West Chester, and hair and makeup services are donated by Springfield’s Nirvana Hair Gallery.

A fun weekend coming up for all you fashion gurus. Keep Styling in Delco!!!!