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Tried and True Men’s Jewelry For the Red Carpet

For menswear.

Posted on by CEFashion

When it comes to awards season, there is so much buzz about whose gowns and jewelry celebrities will be wearing, but the majority of the talk centers around the ladies. In all fairness to the guys who are headed to the many incarnations of the red carpet, they may not have as much of a variety in the formal wear that they have to choose from, but there is a way to kick up their style with their designer suits by selecting some key jewelry pieces to polish off the look.michael oconnor stylelab's SAG Awards Jewelry Lounge
Celebrity Stylist Michael O’Connor, who can be found utilizing his extensive knowledge of jewelry and fashion to help celebrities select the perfect jewelry pieces for all of the red carpet events through the StyleLab Jewelry Lounge, is a proponent of men adding a little bling with accessories like lapel pins, cuff links, and watches to make them stand out in the crowd.

michael oconnor pieces for celebrity men

In this selection from StyleLab, there are colorful jeweled pieces like the bold blue cuff links, Art Deco pieces like the diamond encrusted rectangle lapel pin, or sleek two-tone gold watches from which to choose. You can even see Michael practicing what he preaches, wearing a whimsical grey pearl and diamond spider brooch, as he greets his celebrity clients in LA.

Taking a look at these men’s accessories on the red carpet scene, we have American actor Adrien Brody, who is sporting the Octo Watch by BVLGARI. It has a great geometric look with the octagonal-shaped watch casing in vibrant gold and matching number markers that jump out, in contrast to the black face. The croco-embossed black leather band just adds to its sexiness.

However, if you are more of a minimalist when it comes to jewelry accessories, then you may want to take a cue from Irish actor Colin Farrell, who in the past made a pair of simple white gold hoops the perfect edgy addition to his suit. Gotta keep that tie tightened up though, buddy!

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Blue is the New Black for 88th Oscars

Posted on by CEFashion

On February 28th 2016, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hosted the 88th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, CA. The entire theater and its walkway is transformed into the elegant red carpet event, where on-lookers are dying to get a peak at the fashion parade of celebrities as they file into the theater to see who will win Oscar gold.
This year, among both men and women, blue is the new black when it comes to tuxedos and gowns. Black is always a traditionally classic color in formal wear, but navy and shades of blue have edged their way to the forefront of fashion on the red carpet. For decades, it was thought that you could never mix navy and black, but that fashion rule was tossed to the wind over the past few season and some really great looks were born.

One person who looked sharp in choosing to mix navy and black was Sylvester Stallone. He is wearing a perfectly tailored navy tuxedo by Yves Saint Laurent Couture, Heidi Slimane, with a black hidden-placket dress shirt, black bow tie, and ties it together with black lapels. Sly’s style is also heightened by his gorgeous wife Jennifer Flavin, who is draped in a black spaghetti-strap, slinky creation by the same designer.

TV co-host and retired football defensive Michael Strahan was also one of the guys who sported blue on the red carpet of the 88th Annual Oscars. Michael’s cerulean blue tuxedo is a great color for him and I like the dark navy lapels as an accent color, but the look is somehow lost with the selection of a bright white dress shirt and a regular neck tie.

For the ladies, blue was also a popular gown color. Cate Blanchett was dazzling in her Armani Prive light aqua blue gown. It was figure flattering, a fantastic color for her light complexion, and the detail of the flower petal appliqués was a beautiful feminine touch. However, on the opposite side of “dazzling” was the gown worn by Mindy Kaling. Her Elizabeth Kennedy creation had a deep navy bodice that was just too tight to flatter her curvy figure and the cobalt blue cape was awkward and heavy looking, in contrast to most capes of late.

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Statement Time with 7 Charming Sisters’ White Hot Necklace

For menswear.

Posted on by CEFashion

When you’re bundled up to your eyeballs and the temperature is somewhere below freezing, it’s hard to stand out. We hear ya! Sure you could run around in stilettos with bare legs and look fabulous while catching pneumonia or hypothermia… or both. But, if you’re anything like us, freezing your tuchas off does not make for a great Saturday night out.

While we have no influence over the temperature outside, we do have some great tips for staying warm and still making a major statement. How, you ask? With some (ever so appropriately named) statement jewelry. A few precious baubles can turn a cold weather outfit from ho-hum to yum! To help you up your style game we turned to 7 Charming Sisters for the latest in bold necklaces.

Start with a button down shirt and great piece like 7 Charming Sisters’ White Hot Necklace. In the spring or fall leave a few buttons open and let the rhinestones peek out. However, in the winter button the shirt and add the necklace on top. When it’s really cold, add a sweater for added warmth and major style!

Or jazz up a turtleneck with a little bling. A statement piece is a great way to enhance a boring turtle neck turning this day staple into something worthy of major style envy. A cozy sweater dress is another great canvas to highlight a few select gems. A comfortable knit will help minimize the chill and a little sparkle will make you party ready, any time.

To get the White Hot Necklace or any of their other statement pieces check out 7 Charming Sisters.

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A Collection of Men’s Casual Shoes and Boots by Jones Bootmaker

For menswear.

Posted on by CEFashion

The Jones Bootmaker Company is a UK-only retailer that was founded in Bayswater, London England in 1857. Since that time, they have 100 brick and mortar stores throughout the United Kingdom. They pride themselves in offering quality products from name brands such as Clarks and Timberland, but also have developed their own brand of footwear for men, women, and children. Jones Bootmaker also believes that their customer service should be as great as the quality of their products.

One shoe that is a great casual shoe for everyday is the Timberland Togo S Casual slip-on shoe. It has a brown leather upper with top-stitching and perforations that keep it from looking plain. The substantial tongue and higher heel-back will help to keep the shoe in place, but the double goring connecting the two will make this shoe easy to slip in and out of. Also, the molded rubber sole will help you keep your traction on slick surfaces. At this time, you can save half price and purchase them for 50 Euros. Also, Jones Bootmaker features plenty of Timberland boots if you’re looking for something classic.

When it comes to their own brand of shoes, Jones Bootmaker has a selection of casual men’s boots that will appeal to the guy who loves both comfort and style. One such boot is the Fossdale S Ankle Boots Desert Boots. As a variation of the “Chukka Boot”, these desert boots are constructed of supple British tan leather that comes up just over the ankle bone with tie closure. In this particular boot, the entire top of the front of the shoe is perforated for interest. The rubber sole with the short stacked heel is classic enough to be worn with either a casual trouser or something that is a little more dressy. The Jones Bootmaker Desert Boot is prices at an amazing 49 Euros for a great leather boot.

For something that is even a little more dressy than the desert boot is the Dom Ankle Chelsea Boots. They come up higher around the ankle than the desert boot, but have the goring all the way up for ease and comfort. Also, the Dom boots have the look of a wing-tip men’s dress shoe with the placement of the leather overlay and perforations. It is the classic look of a shoe, but in boot form. The Dom boot is also on sale for 69 Euros and qualifies for free delivery in the UK with orders over 50 Euros!

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Thoughts on Today’s Fashionistas: Online and Off

Posted on by CEFashion

Do you love fashion? Do you see fashion as an art form? Do you view clothes as a way to express yourself? Do you scour the best boutique clothing sites out there to see what the top forms of elegance are in today’s society? If that’s the case then you might just be a fashionista.

Style, expressionism and art surround us, particularly in the form of what we wear. This is fashion at its core. You can add to this by learning more about the different styles of blouses and pants designs. You can read into the history of dress patterns and talk with your friends about their likes and dislikes in clothing styles to see what can potentially be done to make fashion better. If this is your passion, then you’re a fashionista at heart.

The best of the best; that is what you strive for. In style and fashion and in art. The best comes from the best of brick-and-mortar clothing stores and the best boutique clothing sites. Huge chains can contribute to a fashionista’s online selection but these giants will never have the level of understanding and classiness that a small online boutique does for the customer. A true fashionista in today’s mixed world of digital glamour and physical sophistication is one that integrates the intangible and tangible forms of fashionable art into one but knows the differences between quality and want-to-be quality.

It is a simple mix of both that give away to a true persona of style. But what exact characteristics go into donning the lifestyle of a fashionable person? The archetype of a fashionista can go by the following traits and behaviors:

  1. You own the wearing of your clothing, not the other way around.
  2. You view fashion as one of the most elite forms of art.
  3. Your friends, family and admirers appreciate your sense of fashion and come to you for advice on what to where and when.
  4. Fashion to you is a way to develop your self and personality.
  5. Shopping is not simply fun time but study time, whether it be at downtown shops or on one of the best boutique clothing sites that you recommend consistently to the people of your life.
  6. Seeing the beauty of strangers and friends alike is one of your strong suits, particularly when those people do not see their own beauty.
  7. You are not a slave to the latest trends or hottest fads. You own who you are, in personality, style and attire.

Being a fashion-forward lady does not mean you need to read Vogue every day or check for sales at the most popular shop in town. It means that you know how to identify and build out the most becoming traits in a person’s wardrobe and lifestyle. Shopping at the best boutique clothing sites can truly contribute to this process because the internet is where some of the most unique and amazing styles and ideas come from. One single find from a unique website can make all the difference in brightening up a lady’s personal style and get heads turning. A fashionista knows how to do this through and through.

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Our Favorite Beauty Products Straight Off the Runway!

For menswear.

Posted on by JS

Backstage at fashion week is always crazy! You have what sounds like 100 hair dryers blowing at once, a million people running around and a dozen plus models rushing to get dressed. However, if you can handle the chaos, it’s also the best place to see next seasons best beauty looks and learn about the very best products available (or soon to be on the market)!

We’ve rounded up our favorite products straight from New York Fashion Week!

  1. Zoya’s Naked Manicure kit

We were introduced to this kit last season and we have to say it’s definitely a winner! The Naked Manicure is a collection of products designed to heal and improve your nails. Your nails will instantly appear less damaged and discolored. However, the real beauty of this product is that over time it improves the condition, strength and flexibility of the nails! Our favorite product in the kit has to the be Lavender Perfector, a corrective coat which neutralizes discoloration! (Think of it like concealer for your nails!) The Naked Manicure system was seen all over runways including the always gorgeous Marchesa show.

  1. MAC Trend Forecast Fall 16/LIP

Featuring 6 shades ranging from deep beige to magenta-raspberry, this palette features all of the newest hot colors for fall! The palette was used all over fashion week including the pink lips at Carmen Marc Valvo.

  1. Kevyn Aucoin Luminous Foundation (coming soon to beauty.com)

Who doesn’t want to glow from the inside (or at least look like they are?) This foundation gives a soft natural gleam while covering redness and does a great job evening out the skin, for a fresh faced look, such as the one at Kate Spade created by makeup artist Romy Soleimani.

  1. TRESemmé Perfectly (un)Done hairspray

A touchable hold is important when it comes to hairspray. No one wants to spend time styling only to end up with crunchy hair. Orlando Pita, lead stylist at Herve Leger created a “Romantic Punk” look which featured braids and twists on one side and flowy soft waves on the other. The look was finished off with a few spritzes of Perfectly (un)Done to lock it in place.

  1. Maybelline’s The Colossal Spider Effect mascara

For strong (slightly clumpy) eyelashes like the ones seen at Jason Wu, you’ve got to try this mascara which will be launch June. The lead makeup artist Yadim was inspired by “beauty, disrupted” and applied the mascara only to the tips for spiky lashes.

  1. Kiss Gel Strong Nail Polish

Kiss Provides the vivid shine and wear of a salon gel manicure, but takes the potentially harmful UV/LED lamp out of the picture. Lead Artist, Gina Edwards created a glitter fade mani backstage at Carmen Marc Valvo which is sure to last all week long (that is if the models aren’t required to remove it for their next show!)

  1. Moroccanoil Dry Texture Spray

When designing the perfectly un-perfect low tight knot, such as the ones at Marchesa, a little texture helps keep strands from falling flat. This spray is perfect to add a little oomph and volume into any hairstyle whether strutting on the runway or on the streets!

  1. Morgan Taylor Make It Last top coat

Designed to do exactly what the name says, make your manicure last. We learned about this top coat backstage at Monique Lhuillier and it really works. We think a bottle of this polish is worth adding to your arsenal, if you’re not a fan of chipped nails!

  1. Redken Quick Dry 18 Instant Finishing Spray

For polish and shine like the models at the Banana Republic presentation, this finishing spray is a must! It dries instantly and leaves the hair healthy and shiny! What more could you ask for?

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