The Basics: The Dress With Sleeves

Last month, I wrote about assessing your wardrobe and differentiating between needs and wants. Part of this assessment involves finding the gaps in your wardrobe: where are you lacking? What's missing from your ideal closet?

Last year, I realised I had very few really good pants; pants that fell correctly on the waist, were hemmed to the ideal length and could go from day to night. Now, I'm happy to say I have three pair of trousers I absolutely love.

Fast forward to this season, all of the Fall 2012 collections have been debuted in their various cities and I'm looking to buy on a strictly as-needed basis (even though there are some very tempting trends)!

So what am I lacking most? Dresses with long sleeves. It sounds bizarre, 'dresses with sleeves' aren't a perennial wardrobe staple but allow me to explain....

Most of us can relate to this dilemma:

We have found the perfect dress, shoe, bag and overcoat. We arrive, store our coat and then suddenly find ourselves  in this awkward middle ground: between our sleeveless party dress and our coat (now in coat check) we're bound to be a little chilly. Pashminas once warmed our cold shoulders, but since 2000 we've stored them away. A simple cropped cardigan can work but too often than not, the sweater covers the beauty of the dress. Many run to the smoking jacket or boyfriend blazer, but it's still not the same as showing off the dress. Time to cut out the middle-man and get straight to the point: the dress with sleeves! No need for sweaters, wraps, blazers or cropped knits because the function is already built in.

Here are the long sleeved dresses I've got my eye on for F/W 2012.

Video Art: Running

My latest video. Part II of my Video Art series. Enjoy!

Because I always feel like running
Not away, because there is no such place
Because, if there was I would have found it by now
Because it's easier to run,
Easier than staying and finding out you're the only one...who didn't run
Because running will be the way your life and mine will be described
As in "the long run"
Or as in having given someone a "run for his money"
Or as in "running out of time"
Because running makes me look like everyone else, though I hope there will ever be cause for that
Because I will be running in the other direction, not running for cover
Because if I knew where cover was, I would stay there and never have to run for it
Not running for my life, because I have to be running for something of more value to be running and not in fear
Because the thing I fear cannot be escaped, eluded, avoided, hidden from, protected from, gotten away from,
Not without showing the fear as I see it now
Because closer, clearer, no sir, nearer
Because of you and because of that nice
That you quietly, quickly be causing
And because you're going to see me run soon and because you're going to know why I'm running then
You'll know then
Because I'm not going to tell you now.

The Basics: The Party Dress

Dress: Giambattista Valli 

My Mom taught me that you always get the dress, before you know you need it. You buy in advance so that you're not running around a week before an event searching and inevitably settling on something you don't necessarily love. 

I found this dress in January at Saks in Los Angeles. Did I have anywhere to wear it to? No. But the colour was perfect, the shape was fun and I knew it was only a matter of time before I could debut this piece. Fast forward a month later and I've been invited to the Brit Awards, the UK equivalent of the Grammy's. 

Since it was a music industry event, I knew my fun two tone dress would be perfect. Before leaving I checked the iternerary for the night; at 3PM we took the Warner Music label boat to the O2 arena, where dinner was served, the show started at 7 finished by 10pm, and we returned on the boat only to be brought to the after party. That's a long night, roughly 8 hours, and if you remember from this post-- nothing beats comfort. With comfort in mind, I opted for these shoes and felt wonderfully at ease the entire night. 

Highlights: Seeing Adele, listening to Adele sing, meeting Ed Sheeran, Boy George sighting, Rihanna's performance, boat ride with Bruno Mars and being in the same room as....Adele. 

Have any of you bought a dress before you needed it? Only to find the perfect place to wear it months later. Please share! 

The Basics: The Little Red Dress

Dress: Donna Karan 

A vivid red will always get a second look, which makes the 'little red dress' essential for festive occasions, holiday parties and special dates. 

According to Edith, "Color in your wardrobe is more than something to please the eye and more than just a matter of personal preference. It is a kind of magic that can transform you from what you are to what you would like to be."

But there are a spectrum of reds, and much like choosing the right lipstick, you have to find the tone that will compliment you best. 

Between all of the possibilities: crimson, scarlet, coral, flame red, ruby red, raspberry etc., there is a flattering option for every, unique skin tone. 

Read More To See: Tips For Finding Your Perfect Red Dress

Future Star: Lena Gora

 

 Photography by me. November 2011, London. 

Three years ago we met in Paris, last summer I cast her for a movie in NY, and I photographed her this fall in London. Now, Lena has arrived in California and set her sights on a Hollywood takeover. 

She's undeniably talented and willing to go above and beyond to deliver a memorable performance. Moreover, she has true star quality. Lena is full of paradoxes--the fluctuation between her tough, 'bad girl' exterior and her genuine innocence and vulnerability makes her unforgettable. 

She's determined to be a star and believe me when I say: everything Lena wants, Lena gets.

Lena Gora Show Reel

Lena Gora Facebook

The Basics: Sunglasses

The only four styles of shades you will ever need: Round, Square, Aviator and something quirky and stand-out, in this case Cat-Eye.

Dolce &Gabbanna

Square-framed sunglasses are classic and compliment long faces.

Tom Ford

Small round-shaped sunglasses are best in neutral materials like tortoise shell. They're also ideal for people with smaller features because they aren't overpowering

Ray-Ban

Ray-Ban aviators accomplish the classic American sports look. These are the only pair of sunglasses I will purchase time and time again.

Alexander Wang

Everyone should have one pair of fun sunglasses: heart shaped, neon, mirrored lenses, snakeskin etc. This pair from Alexander Wang takes the 1950s Housewife 'Cat Eye' shades to the next level.

Read more to shop my favourites.

The Basics: Evening Wear

When an event calls for black tie, one’s mind quickly goes to hours of discomfort inflicted by high heels, tight undergarments, frills and trains. 

A few years ago I attended BET Honors, an event I will remember for the rest of my life. No, I don’t remember who preformed, who spoke or even who was honoured, what I do remember is hours of unbearable discomfort. I wore a beautiful dress that was composed of a short sheath, which fit close to the body, with an intricate lace overlay.  The reality however, was that the two parts of the dress crept up with every single move I made. I was paralyzed for the entire night.

Learn from my mistakes.

Today, I’m more interested in a modern approach to evening wear. This dress from The Row, accomplishes high style and maximum comfort. I don’t believe in elegance without comfort, you simply can’t have one without the other. I first wore this gown to the President’s Inaugural Ball in 2008, but it’s also been worn with a leather jacket and boots out to dinner.  It’s simple in the front with a flair of drama in the back and the drop waist makes it feel vintage. The crushed velvet means it’s easily transported and there’s no steaming necessary. The dress hits a 10/10 for wearability, style and timelessness.

The next time you’re invited to an event that calls for black tie, move towards comfort. You will enjoy sashaying across the room and traipsing across the dance floor, completely uninhibited and free.

Ease and simplicity for all!

The Basics: According to Edith

In 1967, Random House, New York, published Edith Head’s “How to Dress For Success”, a book so packed with fashion wisdom  that it remains in print today. 

After reading and re-reading this book many times, Edith Head has become my fashion God Fairy, the voice in my head guiding me towards eternal style and wardrobe success. Because she dressed all of the iconic Hollywood stars of her generation, she became a master at selecting clothes to make an impression. 

Chapter 4, “How to Build a Successful Wardrobe”, should be photocopied and handed out on street corners as a service to women everywhere.

I’ll share a few gems with you below:

“ At the same time that most women claim they have ‘nothing to wear’, they repeatedly grouse and groan about closet space. They have dozens of things hanging around that they never wear, either because they don’t fit, are unbecoming or are inappropriate for the things they do and the places they go.”

“As women, we all have certain weaknesses and are inclined to go for certain types of clothes whether we need them or not. I know a woman who can’t resist pretty shoes, and her closet is full of them, but she has nothing to wear them with. One friend of mine, who has little need for dressy cocktail and evening clothes, is forever buying new ones. The result of this unfortunate indulgence is her startling appearance at the most casual gatherings all done up like a circus horse.”

...does any of this sound like you?

“Building a proper wardrobe is somewhat like building a home. Think of it like a home -- because your wardrobe is something you’re going to live in. It must not only be comfortable, but adequate for all of your needs.”

“Many faux-pas of fashion can be avoided if you curb your instinctive desire to buy things with your heart instead of your head. If you hunger for certain types of clothes, for which you have little use, put yourself on a diet.”

So first and foremost, assess your life and daily activities and then decide what you absolutely need. Avoid impulse buying, the pieces you want ‘just because’, and with all of the money you’ve saved you’ll be able to buy the worthwhile foundations of a successful wardrobe. 

The Basics: Costume Jewellery

Costume jewellery is the easiest way to add drama to a simple look. The clip-on earrings pictured here have been handed down to me from my Grandmother and Mother, but you can hunt for them at estate sales, vintage stores and flea markets and easily find unique pieces with big personality. 

Some of these earrings feel very disco, like the dangling  pair with red balls and gold chains while others remind me of Dynasty and Old Society. But not all costume jewellery has to be over the top: the wooden pair are bohemian and understated. 

Read more for helpful tips on how to find the best costume jewellery and how to style it:

The Basics before The Basics: The Detox Juice

Every other day I hear about a new juice detox that promises to help you shed 10 pounds in a week. As tempting as these sound, I urge you not to attempt surviving on cayenne pepper, maple syrup and lemon water for days at a time (trust me I've tried and after four days of sheer irritability, crankiness and fatigue I ordered an entire pizza and finished it myself). 

The key to weight loss and great skin comes down to fundamental nutrition: packing as many fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet as possible. This approach helps to curb cravings and get your metabolism running at it's optimum pace. 

It can be daunting trying to get your recommended dose of fruits and vegetables every single day but this recipe makes it easy.

Some notes before you make this at home:

- Wait for the green tea to cool before adding it to the blender, otherwise the hot water will cook the spinach.

- Cayenne pepper is a fantastic healing herb and it increases blood flow in the body. It gives the juice an extra kick, which I like, but feel free to omit the spice if it doesn’t suit your tastes. 

- The juice is naturally sweet but you can add honey or agave nectar to give added sweetness.

This tea-based juice is delicious and you can finish each class knowing you’ve had 3 servings of fruit, 1 serving of vegtables and a cup of antioxidant rich green tea! I have this juice for breakfast or as an afternoon snack. This particular concoction also does wonders after a particularly rough night.

Enjoy!

Berlin City Guide

 Berlin is quickly becoming one of my favourite places. This past week was my second time visiting and once again, I was overwhelmed with the endless amount of creative energy and vibrancy throughout the city. Everyone seems to express themselves through some creative medium: whether it be music, art, or simply what they wear and how they cut their hair. The clubs go on all night and people dance straight through to the next morning, the shopping is unique and well-priced and the art scene ranges from contemporary and experimental to Baroque 17th century palaces. The architecture is far from beautiful, harsh even, but the amazing people make Berlin unforgettable.

Soho House Berlin 

Charlottenburg Palace

 Contemporary Art Museum-- Hamburger Banhof

                                                                       Flamingo Club

If you haven't been, plan to go. If you're an expert, e-mail me some great places to put on my list for next time!

Video Art: Far Nearer

Dear Readers,

I’d like to introduce you to part 1 of my Video Art series.

Music and dance make up a universal language that cuts across all generations and social boundaries. 

I wanted to create a visual collage using found footage of dance, both spontaneous and choreographed in all of its forms: 70s disco, swing dance, animated movement, gazelles in nature, tribal dance and newer forms of krumping and jerking and put them in conversation with each other, hopefully creating something new and unique.

I hope you enjoy the video and thank you for watching.

Future Star: Abteen Bagheri

(Photography by me. December 2011, Los Angeles)

Abteen is a filmmaker, and he's been at it for a decade. When he was in middle school, he would gather his friends, a camcorder and a loosely written script to tell stories using whatever resources he could find. 

Often times the key to success is just to keep going. Now twenty-two, his technique and eye has developed but he still creates with the same enthusiasm. 

He's determined to do things the right way and never cuts corners. I've watched him edit meticulously for hours, aiming for perfection each time. He's broken his ankle in pursuit of a great shot for a documentary in Chicago, shot 16 models in a single day for a fashion story, managed a 60 person crew for an on-campus music video, and chased down actors in green screen suits through a cactus garden.

But his effort isn't wasted; a three-day shoot in Harlem resulted in the brilliant hip-hop video Peso. He proved his talents yet again in his latest video for Milli Mars, which is equal parts dark and beautiful all while managing to provide a gripping narrative.

In May of 2011, with a 48 hour deadline, he brought together close friends, a script written on his iPhone, a camera, whatever set materials and costumes we could find and created Experiment 93473. Essentially, nothing about his process has changed since he was a kid: he still adapts to his environment and uses limited resources to create, except this time the product of his labour landed him in Cannes. 

Keep creating with enthusiasm and determination and somehow, you will end up right where you're supposed to be. 

The Basics: The Sweater

It's winter time, it's cold, it's grey and it's hard to find enthusiasm in your wardrobe. The only cure-all seems to be a cozy knit sweater. 

This dark red Celine sweater is easy to fall in love with: the texture, the colour and the extra long sleeves.  

Adam Chunky Grey Knit 

Alexander Wang Black and White Knit 

Derek Lam Chunky Knit