A Diva State of Mind

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 :)

On Thursday, May 16, 2013, mila & fire will kick off a series of events with the launch of their contemporary summer collection & look book at retail therapy.  The event series will focus on the indie shopping experience, styling consultations and networking to build and grow local brands.

Along with happy hour specials and music by The Beard & The Fro, Kimee Brown of Neon V Magazine will provide a styling presentation and consultation incorporating mila & fire’s new summer collection.

Please check out this event and make sure you visit the Endless Touch vending table for the latest natural hair and body oils, body butter, lip balms and body scrubs (shameless plug for my friend’s company, I know)!

FREE ADMISSION!

SNOBSWAP & Dewdrop are delighted to announce Swap In The City charity swap party and fashion show on Thursday, May 9th from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. The dynamic duo invites fashion enthusiasts to swap designer clothing and accessories and enjoy a fashion-focused event to help end domestic violence.

Swap In the City will rally DC’s emerging fashion giants for a fun-filled evening of social shopping and style sneak peaks. Attendees dropping off their luxury swaps will be greeted with complimentary cocktails and treats, a wealth of style tips from local experts, and a fashion presentation by Kolton J and D’Milikah.

Closing the night with a high-end clothing swap, event-goers will walk away with coveted, designer goods for a noble cause. All unswapped items will be donated to the Goodwill of Greater Washington and a portion of the event ticket proceeds will benefit Becky’s Fund, a non-profit that aims to foster awareness, encourage advocacy, promote activism and create support for victims of domestic violence.

To purchase discounted tickets for Swap In the City visit www.swapinthecityDC.eventbrite.com.

You’re invited to join Nicole Garder of The Womanly Curve and Candice Nicole from Candice Nicole Public Relations invite you to join them for a Monumental Run on Sunday, April 21, 2013 in honor of the Boston Marathon victims.  This event is open to men and women runners, joggers and walkers!

Registration is FREE: www.amonumentalrun.splashthat.com

The ladies of 8 Vintage, Alicia of Endless Touch and I are hosting a summer networking event and fashion presentation. For the presentation, we need models!!! If you are a model interested in participating in the model call on Monday, April 8th, please email Alicia at flawlessU_8575@yahoo.com.

Please share this model call with anyone you think may be interested!

“Fashionably LOUD” is this Sunday, March 24th at IBIZA Nightclub, hosted by Autumn Joi and sounds by DJ MIM. The event will also include live performances and health & wellness, food, jewelry and clothing vendors.

Doors will open at 6PM. To attend the fashion show, you can purchase tickets by visiting http://www.fashionablyloud.org. 

OPEN BAR 6-7pm featuring the ROYAL LEMONADE made with CROWN ROYAL BLACK. This event is for the 21+ crowd.

REMINDER: 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 every day!!

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?