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 [email protected] or 301-836-1451.

When warm weather arrives, we all break out our favorite flip flops.  Before you slip your feet into your “go to” $5-$10 flip flops, you may want to consider Havaianas.

You’re probably wondering “why would I be interested in any flips flops other than ones I can get for $5 to $10??” Believe me, I asked the same question. Havaianas is a brand that has been around since the 1960s and prides itself on quality, comfort and aesthetic appeal. Havaianas flip flops are designed with a midsole that has shock absorbing capability. The outsole is made from a durable rubber to provide wearers with optimum footing.

Havaianas Flip Flops

What I like about Havaianas is that they offer a variety of designs (I’m very into prints right now) and customers have the option to Make Your Own. While it’s great to buy the basic colors from the local store, printed flip flops and designing your own gives you an opportunity to have fun, be creative and express your style while you wear them around town or on your favorite vacation.

Although Havaianas originated in Brazil, the company has experienced rapid growth in the United States.  A number of celebrities have been seen wearing them including Kim Kardashian, Nicole Ritchie, Jennifer Aniston and more.

Currently there are Havaianas stores located in LA, Miami Beach and NYC. If you’re not located in one of those cities, no worries! Havaianas can be purchased at a variety of retailers including Zappos, Nordstrom, Amazon and Piperlime. The company also occasionally sends out “Pop Up Shops” to various cities across the US.

Prices begin at $24. To check out Havaianas flip flops and the custom design option, click HERE.

*This is a sponsored post*

HERSTAR has teamed up with the NBA to create stilettos for all the ladies who are looking for a fashionable way to show support for their favorite basketball team. The goal of HERSTAR is to “adorn sports fans in fashion forward and sexy sports attire. ” The heels are available in suede or crystal ranging in price from $100 to $275.  HERSTAR’S founder Holly Joffrion said she came up with the idea after realizing that women love shoes just as much as their favorite team:

“We look forward to offering sports fans a high-end line of fashionable heels. We understand how much women love their shoes and recognize that going to an NBA game can be an event beyond the hardwood. We’re able to combine the love of basketball and footwear together, allowing female fans another way to display their passion for the game.”

While, I understand HERSTAR wanting to make sports fashionable for women, I just can’t imagine anyone wearing these stilettos.  Ok I take that back; I wouldn’t wear them.  As Jocks and Stiletto Jill so eloquently stated, “NBA team logos on women’s footwear screams CHEAP and TACKY! Slapping a logo on a platform heel and Italian sizing does not qualify as fashion.”

But that’s not the only reason I wouldn’t wear them.  I want to be comfortable when attending sporting event (since I don’t have the option of sitting in a floor seat like celebrities do where wearing heels is deemed more appropriate).  If I were going to wear heels to a game, I’d want to wear something that doesn’t have to be reserved just for a game.  I know people don’t have to only wear team logos to games, but let’s be real. If you saw someone walking down the street wearing these you’d give them the side eye.  The cost per wear is not worth it (I’ll do a separate post on cost/wear one of these days).

If these pumps are really a hot commodity, they seem like ones that will be hot for a minute and not the next. I first noticed the stilettos on other sites last month during the height of the NBA playoffs.  During that time everyone was in love with OKC and the Miami Heat, so I’m sure at the time the OKC and Miami Heat pumps were a big hit for some females fans at the time, but are they really hot now?!

So what would I recommend wearing to a sporting event?  Wear a fitted jersey or t-shirt with the team logo, skinny jeans and flat boots.  Don’t want to wear a jersey or t-shirt? Incorporate your favorite team’s color in your outfit instead.  If you can’t wear flats to sporting events, these looks will work with heels too.

If you do have a favorite NBA team and want to show your support by purchasing a pair of heels from HERSTAR, please don’t pair your Los Angeles Lakers purple and gold pumps with a purple and gold outfit. That’s doing ABSOLUTELY TOO MUCH! I just had to make that statement because you already know someone is going to walk around trying to be matchy matchy!!!

Click HERE to view all NBA stilettos.

What  do you think of the NBA Stilettos? Would you wear them?

Source: Ask Kissy & Black Visions

I am great at pushing others to step outside their comfort zone.  Whether it is wearing colors you’ve never worn before, mixing prints or showing off your figure in a tasteful way, I’ve been pretty successful. But when it comes to me, I don’t really go outside of what I know. Over the years I have added more colors and pattern to my wardrobe, but you’ll never see me show too much skin….until this past Tuesday.

I was invited to a Hawaiian themed party and the first thing a friend asked was, “are you going to dress in theme?”I hadn’t planned on it because I didn’t have a grass skirt or coconut bra top, but she suggested I wear linen pants and a cropped top. Only problem, I didn’t have a crop top because I don’t show off my stomach.  The most skin I show when going out is my legs, usually a short dress or skirt. But my stomach is always covered.  The only time you’ll see my stomach is if I’m in a swimsuit.

So I entertained the idea of showing skin; I traveled to Urban Outfitters and found a bra top. It was cute and it was sexy but I wasn’t sure it was me (or that I could really pull it off) so of course I sought the approval of some friends. They all had the same reaction “hell yea, that’s sexy” or “need wear that and show off your figure.” Krystin of Be Loud Be You even called me out on twitter:  “Ummmmm if yall aint know @DivaStateMind got a hot body underneath all those damn conservative clothes #ShowItOff” Are my clothes really THAT conservative???

So after all of the feedback and hoopla, I told myself I was going to wear the top. I know it may not seem like a big deal to many, but it was to me. I think all women are body conscious no matter their size and this was an opportunity to not be so shy when it comes to showing off my figure. Plus it was hot as hell Tuesday night so being half naked  was not a bad idea! ;)  

At first I was a little nervous because I was naked (in the words of my friend Jasmine)! But as the night went on, I became more comfortable. I really like my outfit and the way I looked. Others loved the outfit too.  Who knows, more crop tops/bra tops may be in my future!

I don’t write this post to brag about my size or show off. I hope this provides some inspiration to those that have been a little hesitant to step outside their comfort zone.  I may be a stylist but I’m also human so I know how uncomfortable it may be to try something new.  I encourage all of you to embrace who you are and be proud. Show yourself off!

Hope you have a fantastic weekend!

My friend Erikka texted me the other day and asked:

So Ms. Fashionista, I want a white Michael Kors watch.  Isn’t that a no go for winter?!?”

The short answer? NO white is not a no go for winter! The “no white after Labor Day” rule doesn’t exist anymore (if it ever did really exist).  We all wear white button up shirts after Labor Day right? So why can’t we wear white watches and other attire?

When Erikka asked her question, I immediately thought I needed to do a post on wearing white during the winter but I really wanted to focus on jeans. Many people feel like white jeans can’t be worn upon the arrival of the fall and winter seasons.  However, that’s not the case at all!

If you’re on the fence about wearing them during the winter, hopefully the outfit ideas below will help put you at ease.  Pair your jeans with fabulous boots and a sweater.  Want a dressed up, but casual look for a house party or social gathering? Pair them with sequin tops or sweaters. A friend paired her white skinny jeans with a red sequins top, black blazer and sky high black pumps for a house party. She looked FAB!!  And I already know what you’re thinking. Yes you can also wear sequins after the holiday season!

Skinny Denim by J Brand
Boots by Fergie

Skinny Denim by J Brand
Boots by Audrey Brooke

Cardigans by Kimberly Ovitz
Boots by Sam Edelman

Have style questions? Submit them to [email protected].

It’s no secret. Christian Louboutin shoes are AMAZING!!! And the shoes are no different!

I first saw the Panama Geometrico Daffodil pump on Bravo TV Watch What Happens Live when Tracee Ellis Ross wore them. I thought they were fabulous but didn’t pay too much attention to them. Until I saw them posted on Instagram by Saks Fifth Avenue. After taking another look, I must confess, these shoes are HAUTE!

These 6.3 inch pump “is an ode to the eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s. Panama Geometrico is a work of art.”  The Panama Gemetrico retails for $1,075. *Swoon*

In response to this week’s post, What Should I Wear With A Fur Vest, blogger Jennifer of Comme Coco commented “I’m dying to wear a fur vest soon but I can’t find the perfect one. I want one I can wear with black and every one I find is brown based.”

While there is absolutely nothing wrong with wearing a brown vest with black, after all they are both neutrals, trying to find a black or black/grey vest can be challenging but not impossible! Below are some vests (other than brown) to wear with black this Fall/Winter season.

More LOFT…

Along with the stores listed above, others include Kohls, QVC, JC Penny, New York & Company, H&M, Victoria’s Secret and Fabulous Furs.

If you have style questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected]

When most people think of wearing a vest, they automatically think of a more casual look as pictured above.  Don’t be afraid to dress your vest up with a fabulous pencil skirt! A vest paired with a skirt is a great alternative to wearing a dress if you are attending a lot of evening events during the holiday season. You can also wear your vest with a pair of winter shorts as shown by Sheila from It Girl Allure.

Of course a vest can be worn with a dress! Pair with a fitted long sleeve dress, tights, booties and your look will scream chic!

If you have style questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected]

Known to highlight the fabulous closests of stylists, DJs, photographers and designers, The Coveteur, has created a collection of the best and most rare CHANEL bags found in those closests this past year.

CHANEL is timeless and all black CHANEL bag with gold details screams classic!  While some seen in the photos by The Coveteur are black, there are a number of  CHANEL bags in a variety of colors and textures, makeing them truly a one of a kind piece.

To view the complete “Rare CHANEL Hall of Fame” by The Coveteur click HERE.

“Back in the day” I wasn’t a big fan of sequin. Over the years, I’ve eased my way into liking sequin.   I have a black sequin top from Express that I absolutely love. However, this year, I am in LOVE.  I, like so many others, patiently waited for blogger Cortnie to finish creating her new sequin clutch.   I recently purchased a cute grey sequin top that I plan on wearing for New Year’s Eve and I have had my eye on a gold sequin jacket for quite a while (still trying to justify that purchase in my head before actually going through with it).

Sequin doesn’t really start to pop up on most people’s radar until the holiday season. Some people love it and others hate it. But if you’re somewhere in the middle; meaning you want to wear sequin but you’re just not sure how without looking like a walking disco ball, here are few ways you can incorporate sequin into your holiday looks this year:

•Petites Rose Gold Sequin Dress
•Rupert Sanderson Harper Platform Suede Pumps
•Poppie Jones Leopard Clutch - Brown
•Stella mccartney jewellery GOLD
•Sandie’s Large Red Enamel Chandelier Earrings - Final Sale

•GRYPHON Sequin Tank
•bright blue blazer - blazers - coats / jackets - women - River Island
•Rich & Skinny Mid-Rise Skinny Jeans
•ZiGi Black Label Shiny Pump - Black
•Purple gathered satin clutch handbag
•Effy Collection Sterling Silver Blue Sapphire & Topaz Ring
•Rhinestone Bauble Ring Silver
•Gypsy Soule Textured Hoop Earrings

•Alexander Wang Asymmetric Ribbed Cotton Sweater
•IRO Metallic Viliana Sequin Pant
•Giuseppe Zanotti Platform suede bootie
•Lodis ‘Astor Edith’ Clutch Nude One Size
•Asos Dream Catcher Feather Drop Earrings
•Madilynn’s Extra Long Red Stone Oval Shape Fashion Ring
•Black Rectangular Crystal Cocktail Ring

For suggestions on how to wear a sequin blazer or shorts, check out last year’s holiday looks here. If you are interested in scheduling a consultation to discuss your styling needs, please contact me at [email protected] or (301) 836-1451.