A Diva State of Mind

Memorial Day Weekend is unofficially the beginning of summer which means it is time for swimwear! If you haven’t gone shopping for swimsuits yet, I hope this post will serve as a guide on your quest to find the perfect one for the season!

Let’s dive in shall we?!

Bigger on Top (Larger bust than hips)

Support and coverage is key! If you’re going to wear a two piece, look for swimsuit tops that fit like a bra.  Tops that have a thicker band on the side of the swimsuit top will aid in supporting your girls! If you prefer a one-piece, look for swimsuits that have structure in the bust; a soft foam cup or shelf bra. While you can wear thinner straps, thicker straps may be more comfortable depending on bust size.  You can balance out your top half by wearing a roll down bikini bottom in a bright color or print.  This will create flattering volume in your lower half and help create the ideal hourglass shape.

Available at Bare Necessities

Available at Bare Necessities

*Suggested Retailers: Bare Necessities (up to a K cup), Victoria’s Secret (Up to DD cup), Panache (D-K cup), Freya (C-JJ cup) and Athleta.

Bigger on Bottom (larger hips than bust)

The bigger on bottom body type gets tricky. In general, you’ll want to select swimsuits that are cut higher in the leg (both bikini’s and one-piece). This will make your thighs look leaner. Many believe boy shorts work because they cover the derrière, however, boy shorts cut at the widest part of your thigh. That’s why they are great for women who don’t have curves. Bikini’s with side ties and banded bottoms work well too. For the desired hourglass shape, pair your bikini bottom with tops that have patterns, texture (i.e. ruffles and fringe) and prints to bring the attention up (this applies to women who overall have a small chest too).  You can also wear one piece swimsuits or tankinis that have color and eye-catching detail on the top like this one. A halter top will give the illusion of wider shoulders and a longer torso, therefore balancing out your bottom half.

Retro style swimsuits are also another option. They returned to the fashion scene a few years ago and are here to stay. High waisted bikinis work for women who are curvy. They create the illusion of a longer leg AND they hide the belly (if that’s a problem area).

Beyoncé for H&M

Sao Paulo High-Waisted Bikini with underwire. Available at Monif C.

*Suggested Retailers: H&M, Target, Old Navy, Zappos, Macy’s, Kohl’s and Monif C.

Straight (Boxy, No Curves)

A woman who fits this description would be or very close to a 1:1:1 chest, waist, hips ratio. You can add volume to your chest and hips by wearing prints, patterns and texture, like ruffles, fringe and embellishments.  Boy shorts are great because they give the illusion of having hips. Bandeau and halter tops are great for a narrow frame.

Before & After from Glamour.com

The Bikini Lab Fringed Bikini Top. Available at Nordstrom.

Marc by Marc Jacobs one piece on Oprah.com

*Suggested Retailers: Nordstrom, Old Navy, Target, Everything But Water, Figleaves

Extra In The Middle

A one-piece swimsuit with ruching, cut outs, control panels and color blocking will help hide the tummy.  Not only will these details hide the tummy, but they will also help define your waist. If you want to wear a two piece, a tankini is a great alternative to a one-piece or a high waisted bikini.

Monaco Swimsuit from http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/

Miraclesuit Swimsuit, Sanibel Ruched Tummy-Control One-Piece. Available at Macy’s.

Spanx swimsuit featured on Oprah.com

*Suggested Retailers: Dillards, Macy’s (they have Tummy Control Swimsuits), Kohl’s , Spanx and ModCloth

Hourglass

Your shape is considered ideal. Lucky you! You can pretty much wear anything but halter or triangle bikini tops and triangle bikini bottoms will look great on you. This type of bikini cut really shows off your assets (without being raunchy of course). Show off your torso by opting for low-rise bikini bottoms. Monokini’s are also a great option; the style of the swimsuit highlights your curves and emphasizes a small waist.

Halle Berry

Wireless Monokini. Available at Victoria’s Secret.

*Suggested Retailers: All stores listed in the post

Plus Size

If you’re plus size, you want to look for swimsuits that define a waist. The Miraclesuit below is perfect because it drapes diagonally across the midsection, creating a waistline. Swimsuits with ruching and color blocking are great at hiding the tummy while defining a waist. The retro a-line skirt style swimsuits like the one below from ModCloth are great for slimming out your thighs. It hits shorter than boy shorts, so it doesn’t cut at the widest part of your thighs. Many people will recommend wearing darker colors, but if you want to wear a bold color or print go for it. Check out Gabifresh in a black/white stripped bikini here!

Miraclesuit on Oprah.com

Gabi Fresh x Swimsuits For All

Coupe of Tea One Piece

*Suggested Retailers: ModCloth, Evans, Forever 21, Swimsuits For All, Panache, Miraclesuit, ASOS

I hope this helps you on your swimsuit shopping journey!! Please share with anyone you think could benefit from this post!

If you have any style questions or are interested in higher a personal stylist, please don’t hesitate to contact me at keri@adivastateofmind.com or 301-836-1451.

Two weeks ago, The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City hosted Mom’s Nite Out, a national program organized to celebrate motherhood.  The event included a makeover contest, a live Caribbean band, special discounts in stores, massages and two fashion shows!

Myself, Melissa Sabatine and Nichole Williamson were the stylist for the fashion shows. We literally spent the day of the show running around the mall for model fittings, picking up apparel from various stores and getting the model’s make-up and hair done. Was it exhausting? Yes, but I loved every minute of it!!

During each fashion show, we showcased outfits that mom’s could wear for various occasions but were also on trend.  We used clothes from Macy’s, The Limited, Caché, Banana Republic and Juicy Couture. Here are some looks from the show:

Date Night outfit from Caché.
Styled by Keri.

Date Night/Girl’s Nite Out from Caché.
Styled by Keri.

Wrap dress for work from Macy’s.
Styled by Keri.

Work outfit from The Limited.
Styled by Nichole.

Wrap dress for work from Banana Republic. Styled by Melissa.

Casual outfit to run errands or attend a soccer game. From Macy’s.
Styled by Keri.

Juicy Couture dress. Great to dress up with heels/sandals or down with flats for a casual chic outfit.

The stylists! With Melissa and Nichole

Thank you District Fete for allowing me to style the Mom’s Nite Out fashion show! I had a great time and look forward to more styling opportunities :)

Over the past couple months, my friend Renee has been revamping her wardrobe; she recently lost weight so it was time to get rid of clothes that were too big and replace them with pieces that fit. However, like many women, she got stuck wearing pieces the same way. So last Saturday, I went over to her house and we spent 3 hours going through her closet creating new outfits; 2 casual looks and 22 outfits that she could wear to work.

Renee has a lot of color in her closet so I really wanted to focus on showing her how different color combinations worked together. Every time she tried on an outfit and stepped in front of the mirror she would say “I love this” or “I would’ve never put this together!” When I got home, she texted me and said “You changed my life!” That statement definitely moved me.  Being a personal stylist is about more than putting outfits together. It’s really about helping women feel good about the way the look. Loving the way you look definitely plays a roll in how you feel about yourself. It takes some time, but once a woman learns how to dress her body and put looks together, she becomes more confident and proud of her body.

Here are a few of the outfits created from her wardrobe.  She purchased items from Target, H&M, Old Navy and EXPRESS. If you’ve been in a style rut, hopefully these looks will provide some inspiration. Please excuse the quality of the photos.

Great look for a casual afternoon or evening out.

Add some interest to a black sheath dress with a colorful blazer and color block pumps.

This cap sleeve peplum is great for slimming the waist and creating balance between your top and bottom half.

One of our favorite looks. Love the color combination!

The color of the top doesn’t have to match the purple in the skirt exactly! As long as they are in the same family, it works!

Use statement jewerly and heels to make a jersey dress appropriate for work.

Dress up a jersey dress with a blazer and bad heels!

This skirt is navy and black. Yes you can wear those color together!

If you’re like Renee and feel like you need help putting outfits together, please contact me! I’m here to help you get full use out of your wardrobe. Believe me, you have more outfits in your closet than you think! Contact me at keri@adivastateofmind.com or 301-836-1451 to schedule a free consultation.

Last month my client Yanique contacted me because she was going to be featured in Bethesda Magazine for “The Up and Comers” feature. This article features movers and shakers in the Bethesda area who are making their mark before they’re 40.

The photo for the feature took place at her job so she needed help selecting an outfit from her wardrobe that said she was a CEO but also stylish.

After going through her closet and trying on a few looks, we opted for a purple sheath dress. A pop of color is more fun than black! I really wish the photo was full length so you could see her shoes! We paired the dress with a black skinny belt to help define her wait and a pair of black cap toe animal print pumps.  We completed the look with a black blazer.

Ladies, if you are the CEO of a company or a senior executive, you can wear color and print!  The key is to find balance. If you wear a dress in a bright color like purple or blue, pair it with a neutral blazer. Uplift a neutral dress with a patterned belt or pump. A good tailor is a must if you want to look sharp in the office!!

Yanique is the Presidet & CEO of the Consumer Health Foundation. Please check out her feature in Bethesda Magazine HERE.

When Tramaine asked on Instagram where she could find wide leg printed pants, I should’ve known right away! I love wide leg pants and I’m addicted to printed pants right now.

After a little research, I found a variety of retailers that sell them. H&M and Macy’s offer wide leg pants that will look great worn with flat sandals this summer. Depending on where you work, a wide leg printed pant may be hard to pull of in a business casual environment, but these pants will look great for night, weekend and vacation outings!

Check out the widget below:

wide leg printed pants

Update: After posting this, Tramaine contacted me on Twitter and told me she also found a bunch of printed pants on Etsy. That’s great site to find unique items that may be hard to find in major retailers.

Yodit of Favored by Yodit contacted me and Shakirah of Style Atelier on Twitter yesterday inquiring about cost saving ideas to update one’s closet for spring. I thought to myself “this would be a great blog post!”

Many are on a tight budget, but that doesn’t’ mean you have to forfeit your style and /or the opportunity to update your wardrobe.  You can do both on a budget!  If you’ve been wondering “what can I do to spruce up my wardrobe without spending a lot of money” check out these tips below:

Source: www.sheknows.com

1. Change the way items are worn - Do you always wear your favorite coral top with tan pants? If so, switch things up!!! If you wear the same shirts and pants together, break up the combination. Pair that coral top with the navy skirt in your closet and animal print pumps. Pair those tan pants with the printed top you’ve been scared to wear because you weren’t sure if it was “too much.” Step outside your comfort zone! Changing how items are worn will make you feel like you have a lot more options.

2. Pair blazers with shorts and linen pants - Shakirah provided this great tip on Twitter. Blazers can be worn all season long. I paired my bright orange one with navy blue shorts last summer just to try something different. It became one of my favorite outfits! Have fun with your blazers. By the way, if you don’t have a blazer, it’s a Diva Must Have. Get one ASAP!

3. Cut old jeans to create shorts  – If you don’t have old jeans to cut up, you can purchase jeans at a thrift store (they cost no more than $5 per pair) and cut them to create shorts.  Cut-off shorts and destroyed denim have become a summer staple. Instead of paying $30+ for a pair at stores like Urban Outfitters or American Eagle, create your own for less than $10?! I plan on taking a trip to the thrift store this summer. For instructions on how to create shorts like the ones pictured below, click HERE.

Source: www.edgemagazinesite.com

4. Change the hemline & details on dresses - Changing the hemline on dresses will change the way a dress looks. If you have dresses that you are tired of wearing but don’t have the means to purchase new ones, shorten the hemline and change the day dress to one you’d wear at night.  If you’ve worn the same black belt with a dress, change the belt for a different color or pattern. If the dress has buttons, change them! Small changes can make a huge difference.

5. Change buttons on jackets and cardigans - That jacket you’ve had in your closet for YEARS can probably use an upgrade. Have fun with details like buttons. Ask a seamstress to change the button or you can do it yourself; head to your local fabric store like Michaels and search for buttons that represent your style. Same goes for cardigans.

6. Shoes polished & heel taps changed - Do your pumps look run down? They probably don’t need to be replaced just yet.  Instead, they can be polished and shine like new. Also, change the heel taps if the metal of the heel is sticking out (this is one of my pet peeves). A little shoe maintenance will keep your favorite heels in great condition for years to come.

Source: www.living.msn.com

7. Shop trend accessories - Instead of purchasing new clothing, purchase fun statement jewelry. Wear a bold necklace with your favorite sheath dress. Brighten up an outfit with a bold color shoe. Use accessories to take an outfit to the next level.

8. Shop Consignment Shops and Thrift Stores - There’s nothing wrong with shopping while on a budget. You can use coupons, shop sales and also check out consignment shops and thrift stores for some serious savings.

What are some other ways fashionistas can update their wardrobe for less?

The spring season is upon us (although the winter weather is trying to stick around)! A change in season warrants a closet clean-out. It’s a great time to evaluate your current wardrobe: are there pieces that no longer fit? Are there items that are outdated? Do you feel like you’re missing some key wardrobe pieces? Have you lost weight and now need new clothes?

While most people can clean out there closet on their own, others prefer some guidance. If you need help getting your wardrobe in order, contact me! I met with a new client last month and we went through her closet to create a shopping list of items she needed.  I’m meeting with a new client this weekend to do a closet clean-out and create a new shopping list. She recently lost weight, so over the next few weeks we’ll use the list to go shopping for a new wardrobe.

If your wardrobe is full of clothes, but you need new ideas on how to put looks together, closet shopping appointments are also available. No time like the present to get your wardrobe in order!

For more information about personal styling services and rates, please contact me at keri@adivastateofmind.com or 301-836-1451. If you have any style questions, send me an email!!

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen some behind the scene photos from a Façon Magazine photo shoot. Façon Magazine is the voice of emerging fashion.  For the cover, the editor wanted to highlight a vintage boutique, so she tasked me with styling a photo spread featuring pieces from Zoubeck boutique in Old Town Alexandria. Talk about pressure!

The photo shoot was on Sunday, March 17th bright and early at 7am.  We wanted to capture the great offerings at Zoubeck against the beautiful backdrop of Old Town.  Shoutout to the model Jessica! I think the high that day was 42 degrees; she was cold but she rocked it!  The fabulous ladies of Flawless U were responsible for hair and makeup.

Below are photos from the shoot. Some are featured in the magazine and others are some of my favorites that aren’t included in the publication:

Please check out the Spring 2013 issue of Façon Magazine available online at www.faconmagazine.com to see the full photo spread and other great features! For more information about Zoubeck visit www.zoubeck.com. They have some really nice pieces. Every time I’ve stepped foot in that store, I have walked away with something

Last Friday, my line sister called me and asked me to style her for an interview with a Turkish American news station. She could’ve used what she had in her closet but she preferred shopping for a new dress.  We met Monday evening at Columbia Mall in Maryland to search for the perfect dress and accessories.

Ebony-Nicole was told by the show’s producer that she couldn’t wear black, red, green or patterns. Talk about restrictions!

Our first stop was The Limited. They have some really nice pieces for spring, however they just didn’t work so we made our way to JC Penny. I had shopped at JC Penny last year for a client and had much success so I was hoping I could find a dress this time around.  By the way, the JC Penny of the past is now gone. Please believe I’ll be stopping back in the store to do a little shopping for myself!  But I digress….

We checked out the dress section (dresses were less than $50, most ranging between $25 & $30) and I pulled at least 10 dresses for Ebony-Nicole. After trying them on and narrowing down the options, we decided on a coral peplum dress with cap sleeves.  This dress was great for her body type. The cap sleeves help balance out her bottom half (since she’s bigger on bottom)  and adding a belt really helps define her waist, creating the desired hourglass shape.

The dress came with a black belt but we wanted to create a look that was polished but spoke to her fun, bubbly personality so we used a leopard print belt she had in her closet. With 15 minutes to spare, we headed back to The Limited to purchase a necklace, gold earrings and ring.  Shout out to The Limited for having a “get up to 3 items for 50% off” sale! The dress + jewelry = less than $60!!

Ebony-Nicole looked great on Wednesday and her interview went very well. She owned her look! I look forward to working with her again.

For information about personal styling services, visit the Personal Styling page and contact me at keri@adivastateofmind.com or 301-836-1451. 

I’m in the running to become the next Simon Style Setter for the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City. Please vote for me!! Voting is open until Friday, March 29th HERE. You can vote as often as you like!

Presented by the Corcoran’s 1869 Society, ARTINI is a vibrant evening of art, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, entertainment, and dancing. The gala is the culmination of a month-long celebration in which eight mixologists from the District’s most prominent restaurants and bars compete to see who can create the most artistic martini. The city’s favorite artini, as chosen via online vote, will be revealed at the gala.

RaShonda contacted me earlier this week and asked if I could write a post on what to wear to this popular DC event. The event attire is cocktail chic, so I knew immediately that I wanted the outfit suggestions to stray away from a black dress. When people think of cocktail attire, a black dress is the first thing that comes to mind because it’s easy.  But let’s have a little fun!

As I mentioned in the Party Dress Alternative post a few months ago, jumpsuits are a great alternative to dresses. With heels and the right accessories, a jumpsuit is just as sophisticated as a dress.  Pair a black jumpsuit, which can be purchased at a variety of retailers including Macys, ASOS and Nordstrom, with ankle strap sandals, edgy gold accessories like the Tatty Devine Pegasus Earrings from ASOS and a bold red lip. If you have long hair, this outfit will look great with a sleek top knot and the right touch of mascara.

If you are more conservative, opt for a knee length cap-sleeve dress in a bright color and feminine detail like lace. This red dress is from Dorothy Perkins and is a great option to show off one’s curves in a classy way.  Let the dress be the focal point by pairing it with nude pumps like the ones below from Jessica Simpson or slingbacks from Christian Louboutin. A subtle way to introduce more than one color in your outfit is through accessories. You can add purple earrings and a patterned clutch for visual interest to the red and gold combination.

If you don’t want to wear a bright color like red, don’t default to black. Try navy. It is a neutral and a nice alternative. This One Shoulder Shimmer Dress is from John Lewis. This dress is great because the tiers in the dress create a slim waistline while accentuating your curves. Navy can be paired with gold or silver; in this case pair the dress with silver sandals or peep toe heels from GUESS. When dressing up for special events, multiple accessories aren’t always necessary.  For this look,  I decided not to add a bracelet; the statement earrings and ring are just enough. Complete the look with a smokey eye and nude lip.

If you are attending ARTINI and need assistance putting together an outfit, please contact me! Styling services may include shopping for a new outfit or creating a new look from your current wardrobe!

What do you think of these looks?