Michele Benza: Spring summer 2011 Colors Appear Brighten Than Eve...

Michele Benza: Spring summer 2011 Colors Appear Brighten Than Eve...:

Spring summer 2011 Colors Appear Brighten Than Ever

The results are in, the stores are filled with colors! The Spring/Summer 2011 (SS 2011) leading trends give us something to look forward to. Here are some of the highlights you can look forward to: Lower hemlines, bright colors, stripes, cross-over bags, flat sandals, blooms, higher-waisted tailoring, wider-legged trousers and soft make-up.

Up & Down: The Right Hemline

Finding the right skirt length is a major concern in the field of fashion. From mini to maxi, everything is now possible.

Gabrielle Chanel used to say: “There is nothing uglier than the knee.” This spring, we will not be seeing knees.  Houses like Prada, Vuitton, Chloe and others have pulled on the dresses to bring the hem down. The lower hemline will be even more present in next fall.

Regine Beraud, director of women's fashion style at the Bon Marche Paris, said she agreed that le genou cache (the hidden knee) will be highly appreciated.

The skirt is a few inches longer, which completes the era of micro skirts. Enfin! (finally)

Spring/Summer (SS) 2011 – Explosion of Colors!!

The winds of freedom are blowing through the colorful SS 2011 collections. They flaunt flashy colors from head to toe.

Who says you cannot mix all colors together?! This summer all the mixtures are allowed! SS 2011 will be colorful!

Indeed, watching the SS 2011 Fashion Week from le Printemps-Hausman’s Fashion Café, I perceived a multitude of colors: Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Jil Sander and Sonia Rykiel are mixing three different colors. Gucci presented a stylish outfit mixing a purple top with turquoise pants and a duck orange jacket. The second, Louis Vuitton, offers a sexy and dynamic evening wear, with a transparent pink top and a high-waisted blue pants with red details. Jill Sanders opted for a more casual look with flashy colors while Sonia Rykiel preferred pastel colors, which blend perfectly. 

Shoes

It is not easy to find something to suit our feet. Yet the spring-summer collections are generally those that appeal most to our feet.

My first impression about SS 2011 shoe collections is that designers have had pity of us and have created great pumps with heels that are ‘wearable’. Example: most Emporio Armani shoes are 2 to 3.5 inches! Merci Giorgio!

 

Like the next season many colors, shoes will come in a great variety of style and color choices, from boots, ballet flats, platform pumps or sandals, your feet will be trendy. Be aware, shoe shopping can quickly become an addiction. Don’t walk the streets in search of ‘the’ pair of shoes that might claim your shoe passion unless … you leave your credit cards safely home.

Shoes once again are en force and will be our main fashion assets.

Make-up

Whatever trend is unfolding in fashion, make-up always follows it up with inventions that complete the look. It is very important to properly align seasonal makeup with these fashion trends. Update your SS 2011 makeup to complement the fashion season using a matching color palette that go with the mood of the tendances. Makeup artist Kathy Thorpe says that eye makeup is now an accessory to your eyes; that lips are colorful and that loose powders are coming back.

I am happy to say hello to spring. It’s going to be fun wearing natural make-up with bright lipstick and soft pastel for the eyes, and pairing it with our barely tanned skin this summer.

Now, Just for Fun…

For those who like me collect bottle of perfume, check this one: Perfume Bottle “Beyond “by Anna Dello Russo and for the cat lovers, lipstick by Paul and Joe Beaute.

A bientôt,
Michèle
Your Personal Image Coach

Michele Benza: Limited Editions of Luxury Accessories

Michele Benza: Limited Editions of Luxury Accessories:

Limited Editions of Luxury Accessories

Imagine  .......

Christophe Lemaire, the creative director of Hermes, busy making a pair of boots just for you. Pure fantasy? Not for subscribers to Padam Edition.

The site uses the best designers to produce high fashion, luxurious accessories.  Each month the site offers an exclusive collection of shoes and bags created by talented designers. These items will be for sale once a month over a period of 5 days. Only very limited quantities will be avaialble, each creation is numbered. Only 100 copies per model. 

The accessories like the ones you will find on www.padamedition.com would normally ruin most of us. ... Except that the prices via Padam Edition are much more accessible, since there is no intermediary between the creator and the buyer.

The private sale of the first models, signed Christophe Lemaire (creative director for Hermes) and Laurence Doligé (founder of Laurence Dolige – Paris),  is now open to the public. I have checked it out and will definitely become a client if shipping is available for the US.

Sorry the site is in French.

A bientôt,
Michèle Benza
Your Personal Image Coach

Questions about style? Feel free to contact me at michele@mbenza.com

SPRING CLEANING, TIME TO CLEAN-OUT YOUR WARDROBE

Wardrobe consultants make it easy

Imagine this: You are looking for an outfit for a particular event. You are unable to mix your clothes and accessories and you need to refresh your classic style. You need that finishing piece to complete an outfit, or give it several looks by updating the accessories. You wish to upgrade your look without upsetting your silhouette. In short you need a “how to manual” custom-made, just for you; your personality, body proportions, age and budget. Better yet, you need a wardrobe consultant.

Personal shoppers can save you time

Perhaps, you do not have time to pre-shop to start building next season’s wardrobe. You are overwhelmed by so many choices and are unable to do the triage. You wander through the shops, unsure in the fitting room about the pieces you have selected.  You do not know how to adapt your new purchases with your existing wardrobe. You need a personal shopper to do the legwork for you.

Image consultants bring it all together

Hiring the services of an image consultant is the assurance that your new purchases will fit your personality, style, your desires and your budget all topped by a trained and critical eye.

If you want to do it yourself

Even if you are able to perform all of the above without professional help, it’s still time to give your closet a makeover before the new season kicks-in.

Let me give you a little bit of advice: Cleaning-out our closet can be easy if you dedicate enough time and follow certain rules:

• Rule #1 – DO NOT be nostalgic about your clothes.
• Rule #2 – DO get rid of anything you know you will no longer wear.
• Rule #3 – DO NOT keep clothes that do not fit perfectly, that are outdated, or items that are damaged.

Make others happy

Purging your wardrobe also means making someone else happy. It is easier to remove all the toxic elements from you closets if you think about the people you will make happy. Think about all the people that will have a smile on their face when they receive your clothes! Thinking this way makes donations much easier.

Make some extra money

Another option is to consign your items and earn some extra spending cash. After all, the Spring collections have reached the stores and you know what that means… shopping! So gather up those spare items hiding in your closet and visit your local thrift shop or consignment store.

Discover treasures you didn’t know you had

On the positive side of the wardrobe clean-out, you will most probably discover treasures in your closets. Treasures that you forgot you ever owned. And, if you do not know how to handle the treasures give me a call, I will help you assembling wonderful outfits for the next season.

A Bientot,

Michele

Send your Style questions to me at michele@mbenza.com I'd love to hear from you!

www.michelebenza.com/aboutmichele