July 2012 | Blueprint for Style

Extra Size Style

Flowers For The Plus Size Lady

Prints especially florals can be a nightmare to wear…not to mention plus size options. We searched and found a fabulous top that ♥ offers ruching and coverage where it’s needed, ♥ a print that doesn’t overpower, ♥ a snug bodice to keep your silhouette shapely, and ♥ a tank styling that makes it work just as well under a blazer for work as with jeans on the weekend! Item: Kiyonna Roselyn ruched tank, $52 {note: it’s available in black, eggplant, and a teal floral

2012/07/31

Fall Trends

A/W 2012 Trend: Precious Coats

We all need a coat for winter (unless you reside in Florida or Arizona). Technically your coat from last year should work just fine but if you want to be on-trend, then go for outerwear that offers a bit of embellishment that may be slightly more than you want for a daytime look, or an asymmetrical hemline. What I love and hate about this trend: (+) The coat would work for your evening affairs as well given it’s slightly dressier

2012/07/30

Furnishings

Men’s Style: Yay or Nay?

This is a picture of Kenyatte Nelson, a PR big-wig with P&G Prestige. This picture was featured in Details Street Style section and I wanted to get your take on whether you liked it the look or not. My opinion: overall I love the use of color in some of the accessories (but not all to avoid overkill); and the fit and styling of the jacket is absolutely perfect. The rolled up jeans I’m not too hot on although very “in”

2012/07/30

Health & Fitness

Body Reboot – Week 3

Week three is in the rear view for Julia and I. As I mentioned earlier this week, I’m feeling it all over – tighter (yes!), better breathing (yes!), better jumprope performance (yes!) but more sore (yes!). We’ve rounding out day 21 and we’re still going strong with 45-minute Rides at 6AM, 1-hour Barre classes at 6:45PM, and even 1-hour weekend tabata Rides at 8AM. Highlights from last week (Sun-Sat): 11 classes in total (7 Ride, 4 Barre) A weekend with

2012/07/29

Grooming

ONLY For Men Who Are Comfortable Naked

I’ve seen them. I’ve felt them. I’ve even fondled them {does that sound slightly unnatural?}. I’ve laid eyes on them post-first-wash. I’ve reveled in their beauty and simplicity. Indeed James Perse‘s stretch-cotton jersey boxer briefs are ‘the truth‘. They’re soft, supple, breathable yet fitted enough to keep everything in check. You don’t have to dump out your entire underwear drawer yet ~ just buy one…and I’m 90% certain you’ll be on the hunt to acquire more. You may even feel the

2012/07/27

Health & Fitness

To Better “Watch” My Progress

Julia and I are two full weeks into our 30 Day #BodyReboot and, I’m not sure about her, but I’m feeling it. My body is feeling “tighter” but moving up and down the stairs isn’t so easy anymore. I’ve been keeping up with my 2-3 minutes of jump rope everyday (except one day I forgot because I was out of town) and now I’ve started running. In all fairness, I was running before but went cold turkey after the last

2012/07/27

Stores & Sites to See

Carol Lim: A Fashion “Two-fer”

Do you know Kenzo? They’re a 42-year-old label founded by Takada Kenzo in Japan in 1970. He quickly changed his focus to parfums and by 1987, launched Kenzo Parfums. Kenzo is part of the LVMH empire and is now under the direction of Carol Lim along with co-creative director Humberto Leon. Ever heard of Opening Ceremony? The international chain of “young & hip” mini-boutiques that showcase emerging talent and established designers. The stores are known for their offbeat collection and

2012/07/27

Fall Trends

A Pre-Fall Peek At Designer Derek Lam

Derek Lam will be bringing ‘sexy back’ to classic menswear with ladylike interpretations of the classic styling. I’m excited because that means the pieces have a greater likelihood of being timeless (& thus worth investing in). Derek takes care to focus on the feminine psyche when designing his pieces and it comes through most of the time ~ this collection looks like he took texture, color and print a little more seriously. Don’t look for edgy or new wave; this

2012/07/26

Men's Matters

Gentlemen’s Q&A

Question: I need a “summer suit” and already have a khaki one. Is that enough? Do I need something else? What else could possibly be out there for me to try…and to quiet my girlfriend? Answer: Khaki is great choice for summer especially in a Super 100 material. The other two truly summer options are a white suit {a la Colonel Sanders} and seersucker {a la a deep South tradition}. The white suit can make you look like a bit

2012/07/26

Paper

Tech Isn’t Tactile, The Power of Paper

There’s something lovely, memorable, sincere, and treasured about paper. Think about the last time you received a handwritten note ~ chances are pretty good that you still have it. Contrast that with your most recent email “thank you” ~ it’s likely in the “Trash” waiting to be permanently deleted. I think my love of paper came from my mother ~ it was in the form of note pads, journals, calendars, daily planners, cards (lots of cards!), and doodle paper {not

2012/07/25

Bottoms

A Dapper Don & His Denim

I saw this picture in GQ (it was from Backyard Bill; focused on New York Fashion Week, September 2011) and instantly fell in love. Not with the model, Armando Cabral, but with his casual command of denim. There are a few other pictures in the photo journal and here’s what I got out of them: you never see denim ironed (a BIG no-no!) you don’t see denim dragging the ground you don’t find too much craziness on top you do

2012/07/25

Fall Trends

A/W 2012 Trend: New Wave

The name says it all – don’t think classic but edgier, modern, and non-traditional match ups. “New Wave” means you should be ready and comfortable pushing the fashion envelope a bit, and those in more traditional positions or companies or more formal work environments would do well to admire from a distance. What I love and hate about this trend: (+) It’s a chance to push the envelope from what we know (+) There’s lots of leather! (-) Can’t be

2012/07/25

Health & Fitness

Week 2 – #BodyReboot

Julia and I are closing out week two and we’re starting to see some progress & feel less movement! Biker Barre is helping Julia and I stay true to our goal of rebooting our body and fitness routine. This week we did 10 classes (6 Ride, 4 Barre) and next week promises much of the same (8 classes in total) except…..I am out of town for two days. the plan is to do a double on Monday, pack my jumprope and

2012/07/21

Grooming

Dopp Kit Contents

We’ve been doing some informal (read: stealth) recon on the contents of men’s dopp kits, and we wanted to give you the scoop on our study results to date. Here are the top 9 items: toothbrush deodorant shaving cream razor facial moisturizer nail clippers toothpaste {we’re still not sure why this wasn’t at the top with toothbrush} contact lens/solution small bottle of leftover hotel moisturizer Do you agree? Are missing something? Share HERE, so we can perfect the contents of

2012/07/20

Furnishings

Building Your Basics & Batman

For men, this is simple because it doesn’t require quantity just the right baseline to get you started. Esquire produces The Handbook of Style and I love their insights and share them with you often. Recently, I conducted a corporate training session on “Dressing for Your Corporate Climb” and here’s one of the tips I shared with the men around wardrobe basics: 5 shirts 4 ties 3 suits {your first should be navy or grey, then the other and then a

2012/07/20

Extra Size Style

A Little Extra Shrug

Problem: You’re ready to head out for a nice dinner and your top is sleeveless/short-sleeve. What do you wear? On top of that, as a plus-size woman, the question can be even more difficult to answer. We’ve got you covered….. Solution: A little shrug is just right. We found this open stitch shrug by Eloquii ($50) and loved it because ♥ the open stitch design made it perfect for warmer weather ♥ it was available in white, black or khaki (our favorite!) ♥

2012/07/20

Dresses & Outfits

Midweek Style In A Jiffy

I want to look like this on any given Wednesday. This Szeki cap sleeve shirtdress ($118) is effortless, strong, bold, easy, uncomplicated, and would show off my new arms and legs (see my 30-day #BodyReboot). It can be worn as-is for a bit of funk {that’s me!} ~ or with a wide belt and flats for a more relaxed, bohemian feel ~ or with a pair of leggings for a slightly modest, modern sexy look. Either way you cut it, it

2012/07/18

Dresses & Outfits

Dresses!

I love the LBD but right now there’s so much color out there – – – one of my favorite online places, Dorothy Perkins, is featuring 10 fab dresses for $55 including a couple of LBDs and a bit more. My favorite is black and latte panel dress ~ peplums are very feminine, the latte panel down the middle is figure flattering, and the length is the ideal mix of professional and chic! Which is your favorite?

2012/07/18

Grooming

Well Suited for Style

The right suit highlights your physical upsides and downplays your shortcomings….does yours? If you don’t get Esquire, here’s an easy cut-out they did a while back that kinda hit the nail on the (proverbial) head ~ we tweaked it a bit but the bones remain. You are… You want… You should avoid… Long & Lean (e.g., Barack Obama) horizontal lines to create breath/broadness; three-button jackets that match the scale of your torso vertical lines (they emphasize your height); tight suits and

2012/07/17

Fall Trends

A/W 2012 Trend: Femme Fatale

Clearly not a trend for the fellas….but also not one for all of the ladies either. “Femme fatale” is a very body-conscious trend that will work best with those is more public spotlights, C-suite types {for less formal roles in advertising, marketing, etc}, and, of course, models! What I love and hate about this trend: (+) It is feminine which means, at some level, it celebrates womanly curves (+) You’re likely to see hemlines go up a tad (+) It

2012/07/16

Health & Fitness

Body Reboot – Week 1

I’m here – and that’s a start. And so is Julia! We survived the first week of seven classes across six days (four riding, three barre) at Biker Barre. I’m in love with Biker Barre ~ it’s not only the actual location which is clean and chic, but its the instructors who are ALL rock stars (Stephen – the “Ballet Czar” Barre; Katie – the dancing Ride monster; Gabriela – just a Ride BEAST; and Erin – the sweet-as-pie, Barre

2012/07/14

Grooming

Fashion News: Hugo Boss Is Gone

Well the real truth is it’s not all of Hugo Boss but rather their top-of-the-line Boss Selection line that is being folded into the Boss core brand. Remember Boss has – Boss Black {upscale, modern}, Boss Orange {urban cool}, Boss Green {sportswear}, and Hugo {contemporary line}. What does that mean for you and why should you care? If you don’t own or have never aspired to wear any of their made to measure suits then this doesn’t affect you. If

2012/07/13

Accessories

Pumped About This Pump

I get lots of emails and when I saw two other blogs featuring this shoe, I had to get in on the game. It’s the Carly canvas platform pump by Ann Taylor ($115) and I’m loving it: espadrille-inspired sturdy heel leather sole (very important for comfort!) rounded toe And look how we styled it ~ Ann Taylor Carly pump, $114.99 Zara printed dress with gold piece, $29.99 Rochas two-tone leather pouch, $645 Topshop rose gold, large aviator sunglasses, $24

2012/07/13

Tops

Loro Piana Cashmere

Loro Piana uses the rarest Mongolian cashmere; they helped discover baby cashmere. Each baby kid is combed from the fleece before its 12 months; and it can only be collected once. Each kid produces no more than 30 grams of usable fiber. Collecting fleeces takes over one month. Loro Piana focuses on tradition and quality thus, a Loro Piana cashmere t-shirt is $825. But if you love cashmere and quality and are a bit overcome by the price, try J.

2012/07/13

Stores & Sites to See

Just Be-COS

COS stands for Collection of Style and is a store with no U.S. presence. I’ve seen them in Paris and although I wasn’t prepared to make any purchases, I loved it for the clean lines, uncomplicated styling ~ very Celine-esque and Carven feel. Here are the critical points: it’s an H&M upscale brand H&M CEO Karl-Johan Persson is opening several locations this year! it’s for men and women their focus is on high-end design, decent quality and reasonable pricing = nothing too

2012/07/11

Our Blog

News, Articles & More

Flowers For The Plus Size Lady

A/W 2012 Trend: Precious Coats

Men’s Style: Yay or Nay?

Body Reboot – Week 3

ONLY For Men Who Are Comfortable Naked

To Better “Watch” My Progress

Carol Lim: A Fashion “Two-fer”

A Pre-Fall Peek At Designer Derek Lam

Gentlemen’s Q&A

Tech Isn’t Tactile, The Power of Paper

A Dapper Don & His Denim

A/W 2012 Trend: New Wave

Week 2 – #BodyReboot

Dopp Kit Contents

Building Your Basics & Batman

A Little Extra Shrug

Midweek Style In A Jiffy

Dresses!

Well Suited for Style

A/W 2012 Trend: Femme Fatale

Body Reboot – Week 1

Fashion News: Hugo Boss Is Gone

Pumped About This Pump

Loro Piana Cashmere

Just Be-COS

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