Simply Stylist

SWIM WEEK: KATIE MAY

Simply Stylist — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:30:58 +0000

Katie May, Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships at GenArt, is our latest fashion insider to share her favorite swim suit with us! Katie says, “I am petite at 5’3 and lean with curves, so I love to buy suits that are either one-piece, solid and interesting with peek-a-boo cuts, or tiny and flirty in rich textures and fabrics. I am a huge fan of Colombian swimwear designers, their suits always have a flirty undertone and they make with the petite woman in mind, nothing fits better”. This suit from Agua Bendita perfectly fits the bill! From its barely there fit to its rich and bright fabric, this suit will definitely get you noticed this season!

You can follow Katie on Twitter @MsKatieMay or GenArt on Twitter @GenArt. Or visit their site at www.genart.com.

SWIM WEEK: LIZA KAPLAN

Simply Stylist — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:30:16 +0000

PopSugar’s Liza Kaplan joins us for Simply Irresistible’s Swim Week & shares with us her most coveted bikini style!

“This summer, I’m embracing bikini season in Milly’s tribal tie-dye bikini; I love the eye-catching colors and the elevated bamboo accents—it’s an outfit in itself!”

Her favorite style of suit: “You can never go wrong with a classic triangle bikini, it’s universally flattering and since I am smaller-chested I like to opt for bold patterns or bright colors!”

You can follow Liza on Twitter @LizaKaplan & www.popsugar.tv

Tuesday’s Tip: Brush It Off!

Simply Stylist — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:30:59 +0000

Lindsay Albanese joins us again with another fun tip, guaranteed to help those unsightly clothing stains & a trip to the dry cleaner!

“If you asked me what thing I’m reaching for the most when working it would be topstick, then safety pins, then the rescue sponge. Make-up, dust, deodorant, dirt, random smudges, this thing rubs it out! Honestly, sometimes so well I’ve saved from having to pay to take things to the dry-cleaner. Even use it on your shoes! THE most important tip when using this is let the smudged or stained area dry first, the briskly brush it off! BAM!”

MELISSA MAGSAYSAY

Simply Stylist — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:30:02 +0000

A Conversation with Melissa Magsaysay: Editorial Stylist

Magsaysay is a fashion and beauty writer who was most recently the style editor for the Los Angeles Times, a position she held for 5 years. Prior to the Los Angeles Times, she was the west coast fashion market editor at Women’s Wear Daily for 3 years-producing and styling fashion stories for one of the industry’s most informative and influential publications.

As a writer and fashion editor, Melissa is able to communicate trends and fashion advice visually and editorially through stories and on camera segments. Her stories are syndicated to mass appeal both nationally and globally. She also appears on Access Hollywood, Style Network’s “Style Star”, KTLA and NPR as a fashion expert and commentator on celebrity red carpet style.

Melissa’s book “City of Style: Exploring Los Angeles Fashion from Bohemian to Rock” will be released May 2012.

The book, which is published by Harper Collins, is a stunning visual ride through L.A.’s fashion past. It reveals Los Angeles’s far-reaching influence on the style evolution of the world at large—and showcases the brilliant, idiosyncratic individuals who have fueled its powerful transformations.

Tell us the story behind your favorite wardrobe item

Melissa: I have a lot of favorite wardrobe items and all of them have a story behind them, which is a big part of why they are favorites. My best pieces are things I picked up traveling, like my brown leather tasseled loafers that I got in Buenos Aires. I wear them all of the time. Like all beloved things picked up abroad, I wish I bought 2 or 3 pairs! I also love this Army green jacket that I bought in the little boys dept of H&M. I wear it ALL the time and always get compliments. It’s got a shrunken fit, but with masculine details. Perfect.

What’s your most memorable ‘panic moment’?

Melissa: It was probably doing a shoot for WWD in the sand dunes near Pismo Beach with a cast of about 15 dancers. I had produced the whole shoot as well as doing the market work and styling and never had time to edit looks. About 30 minutes before we shot the first look, I realized I had been so busy doing everything else and coordinating all of the various parts of the shoot, there was no time to make looks for any one. I had to create things last minute on the the fly. Not ideal.

How did you recover from it gracefully?

Melissa: I don’t know if I did! Producing and styling a shoot on location is a lot for any one person. But, I just remained calm and had each person come in one by one, focused in on them and the best look without getting frazzled. Of course, I was in a race against the light as well. You just have to hone in on the clothes and environment and do the best you can.

What is your favorite era for fashion?

Melissa: My favorite fashion era has to be the 60s. I love everything from the wasp waist dresses to the mod look. The tweeds, pastels, paisley…Also, it was the most interesting decade because the beginning of the 60s was so different from the end – politically, socially and sartorially. Fashion is a reflection of the time and culture in which it’s happening and to me, that was most uniquely captured during the 1960s.

What was your big break?

Melissa: Working as a fashion editor for Women’s Wear Daily

Whose closet would you most like to raid?

Melissa: Stylist Maryam Malakpour (SEE HER SIMPLY STYLIST INTERVIEW HERE) or Charlotte Gainsbourg.

Who are your favorite designers?

Melissa: Phillip Lim, Mulberry, Chloe, YSL, Proenza Schouler, J. Crew, Madewell

Thanks Melissa! To learn more about Melissa (and pre-order her book) – visit her site www.melissamagsaysay.com. You can also TWEET her @missymagsaysay and also keep up with her via her Tumblr.

SWIM WEEK: CAT WRIGHT

Simply Stylist — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:30:33 +0000

Today’s Simply Irresistible comes from Fashion Stylist, Cat Wright, who shares her bikini must-have for this summer!

“I need this bikini by Zimmerman for the summer! It is important for me to have something with removable straps because, while I spend most weekends doing something active on Venice Beach I definitely don’t want tan lines…so it is good to have options. I love the black and white newspaper print because it keeps it from being too girly and the hint of neon keeps it on-trend for the season. I am smaller on top with some junk in the trunk so the first thing I look for in a suit is something with moderate-to-full coverage below. Once I get through that hurdle I usually just pick a design I like, although, a top with a little bit of boost looks best on me.”

You can discover her work at catwright.com

SAYEH PEZESHKI

Simply Stylist — Mon, 14 May 2012 23:02:44 +0000

City: Los Angeles, CA

Profession: Fashion Blogger, The Office Stylist + CEO, TheOfficeStylist.com

Brands:
Top - Collective
Skirt - Carven
Heels - BCBG
Sunglasses - Jimmy Choo

Caressa Dominique Brizuela

Simply Stylist — Mon, 14 May 2012 23:01:59 +0000

City: Ojai, CA

Profession: Attending school for Visual Merchandising

Brands:
All by: Foreign Exchange

SWIM WEEK: SUZANNE MARCHESE

Simply Stylist — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:25:04 +0000

Summer is just around the corner so we’ve asked Fashion Editor, Suzanne Marchese from US Weekly Magazine to give us her favorite swim picks!

“One of my favorite swim brands is Mikoh. All their suits are a great fit and perfect for a petite frame. Also super soft and none of those itchy labels inside. I just got their Hanalei top and Waimea bottom. What I love about it is the vibrant colors. If you’re short like myself, try a tie side bottom. It helps elongate your legs and makes you appear much taller than you really are!”

You can follow Suzanne on twitter @suzmarchese

Sarah Meets Up with Kelsi Smith

Simply Stylist — Fri, 11 May 2012 21:26:50 +0000

Last week I had lunch at Mendocino Farms to talk fashion with Kelsi Smith, founder of Two Point Oh LA. Their veggie sandwich is kind of amazing. I had a few appointments that day, so I threw on heels with a more casual outfit that could take me from day to evening.

Shoes – Dolce Vita

Necklace – H&M

Sweater – H&M

Pants – Divine Rights of Denim

Tee – Groceries Apparel

Mother’s Day Week: Clothes & Accessories

Simply Stylist — Fri, 11 May 2012 20:26:14 +0000

There’s no better gift than clothing and accessories for fashion loving moms this Mother’s Day. Pandora has an amazing collection of watches, bracelets, and rings and offers hundreds of charms to choose from to build the perfect bracelet for your mother! H&M also has a wide variety of colorful rings and necklaces like this that are perfect for spring and summer. Michael Kors also offers classic time pieces like this rose gold watch that will never go out of style. And for those busy moms out there, Kate Spade has a great tote that’s perfect for running around town or hitting the beach! And you can feel guilt free by giving your mom all of her new goodies in The Give Bag, the world’s most sustainable and reusable gift bag!

Simply Rewind: Louis Vuitton

Simply Stylist — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:30:51 +0000

It’s impossible to go through an airport without seeing that iconic brown and gold Louis Vuitton luggage that is ever so famous. What originally started as a “voyage-friendly” luggage company has now grown into one of the world’s top selling fashion and accessory brands. Louis Vuitton actually got his start working as a packer for Napoleon III’s wife, Empress Eugenie, and grew his empire from there. He went on to revolutionize the luxury luggage world by designing finely made trunks that were compact & durable, as opposed to their aesthetic appeal (although let’s be honest, they’re still fashionable in their own right!). After his death, the line was passed down to his grandson George Vuitton who can be credited with designing the iconic LV logo that has been used ever since. The brand eventually expanded to include wallets and other leather goods but it wasn’t until 1997 when Marc Jacobs became the creative director that Louis Vuitton became the powerhouse we all know and love it for today. Under Jacob’s fashionable eye the brand expanded to include clothing, jewelry, even a home line, and of course that timeless and iconic luggage.