FabSugar

Wet n' Wild: Cut-Out One Pieces

FabSugar — Tue, 08 May 2007 13:55:11 -0700

For these I want you to envision yourself poolside in Palm Springs or the Hamptons - somewhere cool, calm and collected - not so much wet n' wild as Rio!. I have really come to appreciate cut-out one pieces over the years. Yes, they may create some of the funkiest tan lines but they are so Bond girl! Also, they are nice tummy hiders! I have a DKNY one that is neon green one shoulder with a side cut out & it really stands out amongst the crowd. I prefer these Bond girl suits in graphic prints or solids - let the peekaboo skin speak for itself.

Damsel Striped Cutaway One Piece, $88.

A couple more, read more

Armani Exchange Cut-Out Bathing Suit, $88.

Alloy polka dot cut out one piece, $44. Comes in more fun colors!

Fabucci Metallic Triple Cutout Maillot: Love It or Hate It?

FabSugar — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 09:00:22 -0700

Wow - words cannot express the utter love/hate relationship I have with this Fabucci Metallic Triple Cutout Maillot, ($240). I love the cut-out shape, but I absolutely abhor the color. Seriously, metallic lavender?! This bathing suit would look so much nicer in a solid black. What relationship do you have with this?

Take all of my Love It or Hate It Polls here! To post your selections go to the Love It or Hate It? group. And if you want to learn how to do a blog post click here.

Designer Spotlight: PH8

FabSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 05:50:22 -0700

Alexander Wang isn't the only one inspired by sports. Set to replace BEBESPORT Nov. 5, PH8's take on sportswear is super sexy, slouchy pieces that aren't gym exclusive. Dressed-down chic dominates PH8's (pronounced 'fate') new collection. The look is ideal for the sporty chic chick (moi!) and check out the styling here - muted gray and black tones, dressed up with sequins, and just a splash of pink - all cut to reveal some skin. Forced to pick a favorite, I'm going with these black zip pocket leggings, the perfect reason to toss your average yoga pant. Kudos to PH8 and Bebe for making sporty so sexy.

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2010 Spring New York Trend Alert: Return of the One Piece

FabSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:30:22 -0700

Perfect timing. After this Summer, I decided I need a new one piece. Though I am a skimpy bikini girl at heart, there are times when a one piece is in order. Be it a swanky pool party or chillin' poolside with the fam, the return of the one piece is upon us. Brian Reyes sent out delicate seersuckers, Derek Lam posh loungers, even sexy fashion beast Herve Leger turned down the volume with a printed baby-blue laser-cut suit. If anyone can prove one pieces can be equally as sexy as two, it's Michael Kors and his clear plastic cut-out noir creation. If only I could have that model's chiseled cheekbones, too . . .

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Handbag Designer Spotlight: Novella Royale

FabSugar — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:00:22 -0700

Check this out. Handbag line Novella Royale doesn't believe in waste. In fact, leather from each bag is hand cut from vintage jackets. Cool, right? That means each piece is one-of-a-kind in color, distressing, and seaming. As if that's not enough, each bag is lined with organic fabric and handmade in LA. Luxury handbags without unethical practices - I'm all over it. My favorites from the Fall line are the big-studded satchels and small-studded shoulder bags. Now if only I had more arms . . .

See Novella Royale for yourself.

Fab Field Trip: The Yves Saint Laurent Exhibit at the De Young Museum, San Francisco

FabSugar — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:08:52 -0700

Thursday morning, I was enlightened. Since Yves Saint Laurent's death this past Summer, the fashion world has been paying tribute and speaking praise. Perhaps one of the best ways to do both is to showcase an extensive collection of the artist's work. And so, the de Young museum of San Francisco gave me a sneak peek of Yves Saint Laurent's highly anticipated exhibition, spanning 40 years and 130 ensembles. The exhibit is open to the public Saturday.

The most special guest was there: Pierre Bergé, Yves's partner and business associate since 1961. Pierre spoke to a small group of local press and was humble and heartfelt. His words about Yves tugged on my heartstrings and got me really excited to view the exhibition. "Today is the first collection after his death." He referred to Yves as "one of the greatest of our time." He pointed out that "in our world women are more and more important" and Yves recognized that. "The collection is just a part of Yves's work," reminding us of the 5,000 plus YSL pieces that are preserved and kept in Paris. Can you imagine? He also called San Francisco "a beautiful city" and was proud to have the foggy city house such a collection. Side note: Pierre was wearing an Obama pin.

To read more about my enlightenment and to see loads of wonderful Yves Saint Laurent creations, read more

As a fashion journalist, I am aware of the importance of Yves Saint Laurent. But personally, I haven't had much experience with the house's clothes. Yves showed his last collection in 2002. Only now can I actually purchase pieces from the house, but today's pieces aren't touched by the originator. I have admired vintage YSL, but no, I have never worn an original Yves Saint Laurent. My enlightenment emerged upon viewing precious pieces from "Le Smoking," his homage to Africa collection, the famous Mondrian dress, and representations from his Ballets Russes collection. These were all familiar, as seen in textbooks and pictures, but in real life they are incredible.

The massive collection, curated in an organized yet unique fashion, made my head spin. Another realization was how many of today's designers draw inspiration from these ideas that were presented decades ago. I saw Giambattista Valli in a voluminous LBD, Armani in sleek beaded evening wear, Marc Jacobs in quirky party dresses, Michael Kors in jetsetting separates. YSL Haute Couture was presented through a glass display, and videos and runways shows played throughout. It was a YSL feast for the eyes.

While everything impressed, I had a few favorites I went back to admire a couple more times. First off, the body revealed collection of evening dresses. Yves pushed the envelope with revealing flesh, but he did so with taste. These are key examples. The Africana pieces were super fun; the intricate beading and the exotic cuts were stunning. This famous knit wedding gown made me chuckle. Lastly, his art inspired pieces were pretty magnificent.

This exhibit is both a proper homage and a destination for any fashion lover. On this spooky holiday, this Yves quote felt rather fitting: “My profession is the loving dialogue of this naked woman with all the magic spells of the wrapping of my fabrics.” Consider me spellbound.

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The Project Runway Season Five Finale Runway Show!

FabSugar — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 17:10:36 -0700

The grand finale of my Fashion Week was the Project Runway finale show. And what a show it was. Before the season five contestants showed their collections, it was a reunion among familiar faces. It's always a joy seeing Runway alumni gather and mingle. The recently booted Blayne and Terri were there - all smiles - and favorites like Jay, Rami, Jillian (wearing a familiar knit sweater from her collection), Chris March, and Jack Mackenroth (who I chatted with at the Jill Stuart show, he is so sweet) all made cameos. Enter Christian Siriano, who had his own Spring show the night before. Then, Michelle Tractenberg, Rachel Zoe, and Harvey Weinstein were chatting about. Quite the spectacle!Anticipation grew once Heidi, Nina, and Michael Kors all came out to welcoming applause. Side note: Are Heidi and Nina both wearing Roland Mouret dresses? They looked great, but I wonder if that was planned. At 9:30 a.m. the lights dimmed and Heidi appeared, microphone in hand. She said some heartfelt words to the people of Bravo and the Magic Elves (the show's producers) - saying goodbye and thanking them for five great seasons. To bring you up to speed, Runway is moving to Lifetime for their sixth season (and that will be interesting in itself).

The guest judge seat remained empty. All week long there had been rumblings about Jennifer Lopez being the guest judge, but it was anticlimactic when Heidi announced that Lopez was unable to due to "a foot injury." Boo. And so, Tim Gunn stepped in at the last minute to serve as guest judge. Don't get me wrong - I adore Gunn - but it was very exciting when Victoria Beckham graced us with her presence last time. Once all was said and done, the first collection, by Jerell, was unveiled . . .

To see the collections of Jerell, Suede, Joe, Korto, Kenley, and Leanne, and to read my reviews, read more.

Jerell
Jerell has one of the most lovable personalities, but his collection wasn't so. He came out and thanked his parents, boyfriend, and bestie, and I was really looking forward to his final collection. Bustiers, ruffles, dramatic bodices, and black and gold comprised his aesthetic. There was a regal undertone, as well as a pirate feel, but the taste level just wasn't that high. His two gowns didn't fit so well, and there wasn't a strong point of view. My favorite look was the embellished cardigan over a striped dress with sheer overlay.

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Suede
Oh gosh. I really didn't like this collection. It was immature and incohesive, and the Barbie girl color palette was ridiculous. Suede claimed "Suede's going to rock it" but he didn't. He mixed plaid with pastels, ruffles with one shoulder, and shredded and draped pieces; cotton candy fabrics were utterly unsophisticated. I didn't mind the wedding dress, but that was subpar.

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Joe
Joe is vanilla. His heart is in the right place, but his talent is hit or miss. Throughout the season, he's had some winners and losers, but his final works, which he claimed were Americana-inspired, were disappointing. He should have taken a more Ralph Lauren elegance take on the theme, and less Harley Davidson rough and tough. Brown leather corsets, patterned jeans, leather pants, and a navy dress with white stars were misses; a super cute paisley print dress, turquoise ornamentation, and a textured red ball gown skirt were hits. But this collection was not consistent enough to win.

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Kenley
Fun, quirky and feminine - just like the girl who made it. I like Kenley, although her distinct laugh annoys some, and her Alice in Wonderland take on "her dream wardrobe" was surprisingly versatile. Each piece was unique, and yet the collection melded together wonderfully. There were a few ooh ahh pieces: the black dress with fuchsia print overskirt (pictured above), the dramatic ruffle teal print blouse and black flounce skirt, and the pink and black colorblock bodice with dramatic tulle skirt dress. Her little feathered hats, which she has a penchant for, were a nice touch. This was possibly my personal favorite - full of eclecticism - but things heated up after she showed . . .

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Korto
I think Korto has the most interesting point of view, and her collection was beautifully exotic and elegant. However, there were one too many emerald green dresses, I'm just sayin.' Her collection was "inspired by nature and the landscape and clothes of her native country, Africa." She also designed the beaded and colorful jewelry (which I loved). Her color story was rich: emerald green, turquoise, mustard yellow, white, and ecru. Her silhouettes ranged from a slim halter gown and pouf sleeves to flirty cocktail dresses and asymmetrical cuts. The jungle printed banded belt frock was covetable, but a white frilly long dress was confusing. I loved the sometime Oscar de la Renta exoticism, though.

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Leanne
Funny how the six collections gradually got better. I think Leanne is going to win. Her collection was as stellar as any of the professional collections from the week. It was conceptual, beautiful, and theatrical. Leanne claimed she "lost a million hours of sleep" over it, and it showed. Sculptural skirts, dresses, and gowns floated down the runway to the beat of a neutral, cool palette. The craftsmanship was expert and you could just feel the adoration in the air. I would wear the ivory off-shoulder top and turquoise petal skirt and the ivory and beige corset mini dress (pictured above) in a heartbeat. And her modern wedding dress blew Suede's off the (project) runway.

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On Our Radar: LC's Accessorizes Herself and Tells Us All About It!

FabSugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:00:22 -0700

Miss BellaSugar had the chance to chat with leader of The Hills at a Mark cosmetics event this week . . . and you know she had my back! We got the scoop on Lauren Conrad's beauty secrets as well as her new accessories line in collaboration with Mark cosmetics. As you know, LC is a brand ambassador and the company is launching a campaign called m.Powerment, which aims to speak out against domestic violence. Right on. More news, Lauren is launching an accessories collection with Mark. Between her Lauren Conrad collection and her success with the show, Lauren is on the up and up. Oh, and in case you were wondering, the colorful printed dress she wore at this event is from her Holiday collection.

One item to note is the 'Have a Heart Necklace' that is (only) $22 and 100 percent of the proceeds go to charity. Here's what LC had to say about the special necklace:

“I collaborated with Mark in doing the ‘Have a Heart Necklace,’ which you have in front of you guys, and we are all wearing. They come in silver and gold, they are double-sided. They have the little stones on one side and the little heart on the back of the pendant. It retails for $22 and 100 percent of the profit goes to charity. It's basically the gist of the charity. It also comes with a little extender in the back so you can kinda adjust how long you want. It's also fun to layer with different pieces. It’s just a kind of an easy piece for people to wear.”

To read all about LC's accessory line and to see exclusive photos of the collection, read more

LC on her accessory line with Mark:

"We [Mark and LC] collaborated together and did a line of accessories and we had a lot of fun with it. Oh, and you all get all of this to take home with you. I’ll go through them real quick. We started with bangles because they are easy and they’re not going anywhere. But we did them in silver and gold and we added just a little splash of color; a bit of orange on these and blue on the silver. And then we did - this is actually my favorite piece we did - we did rings that kind of have a little bit of a stud on them all the way around. We did them in gold and silver and you can wear them alone, I stack mine with a little ring, or you can even stack them together. They are just kind of fun and unique. Then we did - these are a little more fun and cute - we did kind of like this costume jewelry look where we did two rings in gold and silver and we did different colors on them. But they are kind of fun to dress stuff up with. And we did the headband because I love headbands. We did a headband and you can either wear it as a normal headband or when your hair is up or down you can put it in and pull your hair over it and then it kind of looks like a little hair accessory in your hair.”

LC on upcoming projects:

“I’m working on a couple things but they are still on their early stages. Obviously I’m always involved with Mark and now with the new charity will make it a little bit more involved. There’s that. I have the clothing line, between that and the show are most of my time because we are filming four times a week plus I have at least two fittings a week plus you know what we are designing. So that’s just every day. And then, my social life. [Laughs]. Because we do a lot of events and then also I don’t have a stylist or anything so every event I go to I can never wear the same thing. So I have to stop and get something to wear.”

LC on styling herself:

"Yeah. That’s the fun part! They asked me if I wanted a stylist and I’m like, that’s the funnest part."

LC on the headgear in the collection

"We did the little cabbie hat, which comes in the black and brown, which are cute for Fall because all these are coming out in back to school. And then we did this set right here, we did it in blue, and black over there. Kind of the draped down hat, you don’t necessarily have to wear in the Fall because you can wear it with a tanktop and jeans and that will look cute. We did a matching scarf with it, which is a long scarf that you can wrap a few times and the gloves which are kind of similar to those knit gloves you wear which are shorter but they are kind of long and go up to about here (points to elbow), because I was recently traveling a lot and I have all these really great coats that cut off right here (at elbow). And they’re really cute but you go outside and you’re really cold so this was kind of a way to make that simple glove a little bit more elegant. And that’s it.”

But, that's not it. Lauren is very excited about her latest endeavor and I'm sure we'll see her modeling her goods around town. What do you think? Are these more or less exciting than her clothing collection? I like the rings - the chunky rhinestone one and studded gold one. As for pricing, they are from $14-$22 and will be available September 16th at meetmark.com. One thing is for sure: LC is on a roll and we can assume she has more fashion tricks up her 3/4-inch sleeves.

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Style For Style: Halt-er Your Bra

FabSugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 03:00:22 -0700

I've never had major problems finding the right bra for a particular top, but I have a bigger-busted friend for whom finding the right bra is a constant battle. Over the weekend, she and I got ready together before heading out for a night on the town, and that is when I witnessed her struggle. She wore a halter top, much like this Theory Kensy Halter Top ($180). Having fairly large breasts, she stays away from strapless bras because they give her that unflattering line across her chest. She wanted to wear her regular bra but didn't want the straps to show because of the halter cut.

To see what my friend and I did to solve the bra strap problem, read more

Sturdy sewing thread, like this Madeira 18-Spool Sewing Thread Set ($29), is the answer to bra straps with halter tops. However, if you can wear a strapless bra with your halter top that is your best option. But if you get those funky lines that cut across your breasts, the following may work for you. Disclaimer: Make sure your halter top isn't one with spaghetti straps or a V-front. In order for this to work, it must be a mock neck or high-neck halter.

Wear your bra and not your halter top. It's preferable if your bra and halter color match just in case it peeps out.
Have a long piece of sturdy sewing thread (about 12 inches) nearby.
Take your left bra strap in your left hand, and your right bra strap in your right hand, and pull them both in front of you until they touch across the middle of your chest.
You may need the assistance of another person at this point. Grab the thread and tie it around your two bra straps, which are still in front of you. Go around as many times with the string until you feel your bra straps are secure across your chest. Cut the remaining thread so you have a clean knot.
Wear your halter top and you'll notice your bra straps are now hidden underneath the top because they are in the front middle of your chest!

Swimwear Designer Spotlight: Jets by Jessika Allen

FabSugar — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 03:00:22 -0700

Feel like walking into a beautiful underwater abyss? Check out the Jets swimwear collection from Jessika Allen. Inspired by beautiful objects and natural surroundings, Allen's coveted bikinis and one-piece swimsuits are sexy with a fun attitude. Each swimsuit is intricately cut and sewn with great detailing making them fit perfectly and splurge-worthy. Her swimwear is sold at Harvey Nichols and Selfridges. Swimsuit season is right around the corner - are you ready?

To see more from Jessika Allen, read more

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