Style Watch - Emma Watson

While doing a post on the royal style I came across a photo of Emma Watson in this gorgeous mouth-watering dress hence I decided to look further into her style to see if she has more of those. I'm not a movie fanatic truth be told and I can be pretty lame at remembering names of actors but I rarely forget a stylish look. In summary Emma has acted in Harry Porter, is the face of glancome and is still in Uni. Emma can sure rock a pixie haircut.

For those who love background information, Emma has her own website which provided the following information about her. Emma is best known for playing the iconic character of Hermione Granger in the eight enormously successful HARRY POTTER films. Her performance in the first film of the series, HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE, won her a Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actress. Emma also acquired two Critics’ Choice Award nominations from the Broadcast Film Critics Association for her work in HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN and HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE. The completion of the seventh and eight movies saw Emma receive nominations in 2011 for a Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award, and for Best Actress at the Jameson Empire Awards. The HARRY POTTER franchise won the BAFTA for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema in February 2011.

Emma’s additional credits include the lead role of Pauline Fossil in the BBC adaptation of Noel Streatfield’s classic, BALLET SHOES, which aired on BBC One on Boxing Day to 5.2 million viewers. In her first animated feature, Emma voiced over as the character Princess Pea in THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX which grossed $86.2 million worldwide. Further to her acting career, Emma is an ambassador for Lancôme, following in the footsteps of Penélope Cruz, Kate Winslet and Julia Roberts as the face of this celebrated brand. Emma has also worked with Fair Trade and organic clothing producer People Tree and collaborated with Alberta Ferretti on the organic Pure Threads collection.

Emma is in her third year of study at Brown University where she is concentrating in English Literature. She is currently on a year abroad studying at Oxford University.

Raf Simons...the Underdog? Not anymore

It's amazing how at the time of the split between Jil Sanders group and Raf Simons more people bet on Jil Sanders remaining a success with Raf Simons perhaps floundering off into oblivion. I would say after Raf Simons successful first Haute Couture show for Christian Dior the windings are blowing in a different direction. The fashion world is as fickle as you can get. Only a few months back there was much speculation and gossip as regards his fate at Jil Sanders. After his first show as creative director at Dior which was very well received, the fashion world cannot get enough of Simons. Jil sanders the founder of Jil sanders group agreed to once again return to the label as creative director. This wouldn’t be the first time the 68-year-old German designer left and then returned to her namesake label. She initially resigned in 2000 because of disputes with Prada’s CEO Patrizio Bertelli after Prada bought a 75% stake in the label, only to return in 2003, produce two successful collections, and resign a second time because of Bertelli. Raf Simons was replacing John Galliano at Dior

Something of a quick study, Simons had no formal training in fashion. He was a student of industrial design at the Antwerp Royal Academy before he launched his men's collection in 1995. Simons has been widely know for his minimalistic styling and architectural lines. Perhaps the stint at Jil Sanders influenced him greatly as regards minimalism while his industrial design training influencing his architectural lines. That said and done his stint at Dior has started with a roaring success as he was able to combine Dior's classic aesthetic with his own.

Styling Tip : Scarves, Shawls and Wraps

So two weeks ago I did a closet edit for my friend Cyndi and to my utmost shock she had millions(ok that's hyperbole) of scarves!! Let's just say we took more time negotiating as to how many she should keep and how many she needs to get rid off. I promised her a post on the scarves as one of the deals.

First things first we do definitions. Blame my legal training :-)A scarf, also known as a muffler, warmstrangler or neck-wrap is a piece of fabric worn around the neck, or near the head or around the waist for warmth, cleanliness, fashion or for religious reasons. They can come in a variety of different colours. Ancient Rome is one of the first origins of the scarf, where it was not used to keep warm, but to keep clean. It was called the sudarium, which translates from Latin to English as "sweat cloth", and was used to wipe the sweat from the neck and face in hot weather. They were originally worn by men around their neck or tied to their belt. Soon women started using the scarves, which were made of cloth and not made of wool, pashmina, or silk, and ever since the scarf has been fashionable among women.

The most important thing to remember when styling with scarves is to keep it simple and avoid perfection. The great thing about scarves is that they read better the more “thrown on” and sloppy they appear, and they communicate an effortlessness that is always attractive. Also important, wear scarves (in fact, this applies to all clothing) in such a way that you are comfortable. If you’re uncomfortable, you’ll end up fidgeting. Don’t force a scarf if it’s not working


Scarves can be categorized according to the materials used to make them, to the function they serve, and to the kind of designing method employed.

By Material
a scarf can be made of silk, wool, cashmere, pashmina, cotton, acrylic, viscose or polyester.Silk is a natural fiber that results in a simply beautiful fabric; it is light and airy, whilst being the strongest natural fiber known to man. Wool is taken from animals in the Caprinae family, principally sheep; it is used in clothing for its warmth and sheer versatility. The insulating properties of wool can even be used to keep cool; many desert peoples use thin wool scarves to keep out the heat of he midday sun.Cashmere wool is spun from the fleece of the Cashmere goat. The fleece is known for its unrivalled softness and can be spun in a variety of yarns and fibers. Pashmina is a type of fine cashmere wool from Himalayan Mountain Goat and is prized for its incomparable softness, warmth and light weight.Cotton is the most popular natural fiber in the world. The Woven cotton fabric is a wonderfully light, breathable textile and easy to take care.Acrylic fabric is a type of fabric made from acrylic fibers; it is an excellent wool substitute. Clothes and scarves made by acrylic are considered as good as or even better than cashmere in softness, light weighted and appearance.Viscose is created from a combination of natural and man-made components. Viscose rayon has a silky appearance and feel, and also has the ability to breathe in a manner similar to cotton weaves

By Function,
Some of the major types include head scarf, winter scarf, beach scarf, and neck scarf.
• Head Scarves: Are the scarves worn on the head either as an adornment or to shield one’s hairdo.

• Winter Scarves: Are made of thick fabric (wool, Cashmere, cotton, etc.) great for insulation, are used during the cold winter months to protect oneself from the chill.
• Beach Scarves: Are mainly used during beach outings, with designs that depict beach scenery. They can also be a part of one’s daily accessory.
• Neck Scarves: Are worn stylishly around the neck as an adornment or to add a personality to one’s overall look.


Types of Scarves


Now an essential fashion accessory, scarves have a long history of using which can be dating
back to 1000 B.C. Today there are countless kinds of scarves in the market.

Scarves can be categorized according to the materials used to make them, to the function they
serve, and to the kind of designing method employed.

By Material
a scarf can be made of silk, wool, cashmere, pashmina, cotton, acrylic, viscose or polyester.


• Silk Scarves:
Silk is a natural fiber that results in a simply beautiful fabric; it is light and airy, whilst being the strongest natural fiber known to man. China developed silk by 3000 B.C., possibly even earlier. This light and radiant fabric has a smooth texture that feels great against the skin and drapes wonderfully.



• Wool Scarves:
Wool is taken from animals in the Caprinae family, principally sheep; it is used in clothing for its warmth and sheer versatility. The insulating properties of wool can even be used to keep cool; many desert peoples use thin wool scarves to keep out the heat of he midday sun.

• Cashmere Scarves:
Cashmere wool is spun from the fleece of the Cashmere goat. The fleece is known for its unrivalled softness and can be spun in a variety of yarns and fibers. Cashmere is said to give the highest insulation with the least bulk, making it perfect for light shawls and cashmere scarves that are cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
• Pashmina Scarves:
Pashmina is a type of fine cashmere wool from Himalayan Mountain Goat and is prized for its incomparable softness, warmth and light weight.


• Cotton Scarves:
Cotton is the most popular natural fiber in the world. The Woven cotton fabric is a wonderfully light, breathable textile and easy to take care.


• Acrylic Scarves:
Acrylic fabric is a type of fabric made from acrylic fibers; it is an excellent wool substitute. Clothes and scarves made by acrylic are considered as good as or even better than cashmere in softness, light weighted and appearance.

scarfscarf

• Viscose Scarves:
Viscose is created from a combination of natural and man-made components. Viscose rayon has a silky appearance and feel, and also has the ability to breathe in a manner similar to cotton weaves.


By Function,
Some of the major types include head scarf, winter scarf, beach scarf, and neck scarf.
• Head Scarves: Are the scarves worn on the head either as an adornment or to shield one’s hairdo.

• Winter Scarves: Are made of thick fabric (wool, Cashmere, cotton, etc.) great for insulation, are used during the cold winter months to protect oneself from the chill.
• Beach Scarves: Are mainly used during beach outings, with designs that depict beach sceneries. They can also be a part of one’s daily accessory.
• Neck Scarves: Are worn stylishly around the neck as an adornment or to add a personality to one’s overall look.

By Design, there are hand painted scarves, beaded scarves, and embroidered scarves.

For a more detailed step by step look at how to wear scarves and how to use them as accessories check out http://pennyluxe.com

Style Peep: Diana and Kate Middleton

Let me start off by saying that this post was inspired by a twitter conversation I was having with one of my closest friends whose a Kate Middleton fan while I'm a Diana fan to the blood. Not that the two are mutually exclusive but after the Royals killed off Diana- I firmly believe this by the way- I stopped carrying about the royal family so while the whole world was going gaga and is still enthralled by Kate, I really couldn/t give a toe. I don't hate her or dislike her. Just collateral damage of Diana, the queen of hearts being offed.

That said and done this post is about a peek at both their styles, and obviously I will pick a few of my favorites seeing as these women probably have over three outfit changes in a day.

Diana loved red!! Like no kidding but it suited her. She was doing color blocking way back in 1989! Can you believe that? This woman did not wear outrageous clothes but she commanded such a following due to her quiet charm, personality and easy style. I have not always been a fan of some of her hairstyles but for most part it suited her. So do the big shoulder jackets, plaid, hats,and well fitted suits. She was not afraid to show a bit of leg :-)though often paired with some bit of hosiery.

As for Kate :-) how many pairs of boots does this girl own? more specifically knee-length boots! That and coats!!!!!!! albeit they are feminine and all but she has enough as far as I'm concerned. My favorite Kate looks are the turquoise gown and marine inspired Alexander McQueen outfit. I had to include the horrid yellow hot pants that makes me wonder what Kate was thinking when she bought, wore and left the house in those. Topped off with a blue sequined top! That was one big gaffe. That said and done. This is one pretty girl and who I have to admit has a style of her own. She looks especially good in the gowns she has been seen in so far plus she carries off all those quirky hats splendidly. I'm now a fan? Nope but I get why she has the following she has.

So do tell which of my picks are your favourite and which are a total no-no for you. Furthermore of the two who is your favourite?

What I wore...

Unlike most stylists I rarely post my own photos...more so full ones but as I was cleaning my camera I came across these two photos which my small brother took over Christmas holidays while I was with my family. I love the plum look because I did not give it much thought. I was feeling lazy and did not see why we had to go eat out on boxing day. Plum is like one of my favourite colours and trust me it's fully represented in this look. So do tell me what you think

The other look is of a dress I initially was ambivalent about but came to love.

Closet Edit

Just imagine having a closet filled with ONLY the clothes that make you feel fabulous, happy,hip, cool, giddy, and fill you with energy. Imagine the power you take into each day when you feel that way at the start?

Organizing a closet like that is not a small thing, in terms of how it can impact your life.A Closet Edit is an affordable luxury and the foundation to great style. Having a Closet Edit will also save you time because you’ll know exactly what to wear and where to find it. We begin by discussing your wardrobe goals, lifestyle needs, and your desired personal style. Focusing on one category at a time, we examine each piece of clothing to determine if it works with your needs and goals. Based on this, we decide what you should keep and what can be donated. Of course, the final decision is yours. After we’ve gone through your wardrobe, we organize the closet so you know what you have and how to put an outfit together—easily and quickly.

A Closet Edit takes 2-3 hours although, depending on your wardrobe, it can take up to 6 hours.
The purpose of a Closet Edit is to figure out how to maximize the wardrobe you already have. It doesn’t matter how unorganized or unclean your closet is. The goal is to make your closet function positively for you.When the Closet Edit is complete, you will have an organized closet you can be proud of.

If you already have a style that you are happy with, I can give you ideas on how to make your wardrobe more versatile. We will never try to lead you to a style you would be unhappy with.

Sometimes we hold on to clothes because we are stuck in a style routine, not so much because the pieces are favorite items. If this is the case, or you are not sure, we can talk about it, and you may decide to donate them. The choice is ultimately yours.

Certain clothes are true favorites for a reason. I,m not here to change that, but to help you feel and look your best. You might fall in love with those favorites all over again with a fresh look at how you can wear them!Many people think having a personal stylist or a personal shopper is a luxury they can’t afford. Any budget can afford the services of a personal stylist or personal shopper.

When you work with me, you are gaining invaluable knowledge to save you money and time for the rest of your life. You are learning something, not simply having a style transformation.




Clear out all the stuff that is getting in the way of you looking and feeling your very best right now (no, not 5 kgs from now) and get rid of it. All of it.

Your closet is where you start each day. It's where you get your first sense of who you are presenting to the world, and who you are presenting to yourself.You simply can't be your best if you don't feel great about what you are wearing. It's like having a bad hair day, and you know what that feels like (we ALL do).


Most closets have about 10-20% of clothes and accessories that you actually wear, and the rest sits in there gathering dust and taking up space.And keeping all the rest of the stuff that you're not using creates the illusion that you have a full wardrobe that will take you anywhere you need to go, even when it isn't true.

In a nutshell:



1. Take out everything that doesn't fit the body you have right at this moment. You're not wearing that stuff right now anyway, so it doesn't belong in your closet.
(And you'll never, ever, ever convince me that it's motivating to have smaller clothes in your closet to keep you on your diet. Those too-small clothes just make you feel bad.)

2. Next take out everything that is worn out, out of style, you never liked anyway, and that doesn't flatter you. You deserve to have every single thing in your closet delight you. If you're wondering how to tell if your clothes have passed their expiration date, maybe it's time for a review of your clothes wardrobe and a stylist is especially good at this.



3. Look at what's left.
What?
You only have five things left in there?
Good. Now you know what you have actually been wearing (even when you spend 15 minutes in the morning trying to decide what to wear). And imagine how easy it will be to keep five things organized.

Please don’t be embarrassed. The purpose of a Closet Edit is to figure out how to maximize the wardrobe you already have. It doesn’t matter how unorganized or unclean your closet is. The goal is to make your closet function positively for you.When the Closet Edit is complete, you will have an organized closet you can be proud of.

A Closet Edit gives you a fresh perspective of what you already have. It can be as uplifting and refreshing as splurging on a new wardrobe. It would be great if everyone could go on one of those makeover shows that gives you Ksh50,000 for a new wardrobe. But most of us have to wear what we currently have and slowly update and add to our wardrobe.

You don't need to rush out and spend hundreds of dollars on a new wardrobe.

Often clients will buy a piece each month, and I can even do the shopping for you! You don't have to go all out when you do start buying - a few accessories will dress up any outfit.

So if I've peaked your interest with the above do look at the services I'm offering for the different closet edits and do get back to me or suggest the same to a friend who you think may need a closet edit