10 Ways with Black Dresses for Everyday

1. The Wrap dress 

Always appropriate

 2. The tee shirt dress

Girly? or street?

Black doesnt tend to be a bohemian colour but if you want street cred rather than girly, style the soft tee dress with boots & some serious metal hardware. 

3. The pleated dress

This style looks fantastic with a tan belt
& either a tan bag or tan shoes.
Short versions are terrific for petite figures.

Here's the tan accessories.

A more structured version becomes a bit dressier.

4. Waisted with fitted torso

 5. 50s style

Love a low front & halter style

A modern dress in a 50s style.

6. Lace

Lace tends to be dressy, so if you want it for a
casual dress, try cotton broderie or small sections of lace trim.

7. Sculptural 

Roland Mouret's Galaxy dress - perfect for busty girls

RM by Roland Mouret Moon dress - perfect for the not so busty girl who wants a hit of Roland

8. Super modern

graphics and modern prints

cut outs

exposed mid riff McQueen

& then there's Anna

9. Pinafore style

 10. Long & loose

As long as you have height - you'll find a way to pull this off,
either with or without a belt.

The peasant style dresses it down, but the accessories can amp it up.

PS: Cant wear black near your face like 50% of women who are fair? 
Then try navy, charcoal, bottle green, maroon - anything dark which will give you the same slimming effect. 

Nina Proudman - blue suede boots are here

Last year Nina was wearing tan boots like they were going out of style. Remember these from Diana Ferrari?

As a boho babe, they looked great & we all loved them on Nina.

This year, the promotional video shows pregnant Nina in blue suede boots. That's a big change, yes?

Fashion Insider has advised that the brand is Tsumori Chisato. This is a Japanese designer who works out of Paris.
Her aesthetic very boho babe, just like NIna. Her prices are unfortunately quite designer (read: expensive).

Sadly the boots are out of stock (ebay, anyone?) and even if in stock, would have retailed for a minimum of $400 before shipping.

So Style into Action has tracked down an affordable alternative:

A NOVO pair, "Moskow"

In "micro suede" (read: synthetic) for $90.
The colour is "midnight".
The heel is a 7 cm wedge.

These are still available - so hurry & buy. 

Stylist's opinion

From a stylist point of view, unless you are swimming in money, you may not want to invest alot in blue suede boots. 

For two reasons:
1. Blue may not be the most classic of colours - hence your options are more limited than say a classic colour like tan or black.

2. Suede is very hard to look after & as a winter boot, will be subjected to alot of beating. A synthetic version like the Novo pair may be more appropriate. 

TIP: You can insert leather half soles & spray them with shoe deodoriser to manage the any build up of smells and moisture. Remember to also give them a break between wears - 24 hours is ideal.

Other brands?

Diane von Furstenberg has had a gorgeous blue suede boot "Parker". 

DVF's Parker boot

Sadly it is out of stock, as are many lower priced non designer options.

As other brands come on the market, Style into Action will keep you posted.

If you see any on the web in the mean time, please let Style into Action know via the Facebook page so that Nina fashion fans can also be aware of them.

Cup of tea break - a few piccies to ponder on....

A few recent piccies to ponder on.....

Kate in California in a "green lawn" Diane von Furstenburg "Maja" dress
with DVF small printed snake minaudiere in "popcorn black/blush"


Loving her in colour...I was getting very bored with her cream/navy looks....


From the DVF look book....

I dont mind how the ruched boots are styled with the longer "socks" in toning colour...looks like a long line, moving the eye up & down...nice!

Kim K in a Balmain jacket & Hermes Birkin bag & new hair colour (?)
Hit or miss?


Jen in a Prada print! Holy cow! An alien has invaded her body!!!
Hit or miss?


Eva L in Herve Leger & Brian Atwood pumps.....
Love the Look? or Only OK?



Keira Knightley in a yellow Whistles pleated skirt and Ralph Lauren bag (& Tiffany necklace)
Hit or Miss?

A Karen Walker version as shown in the current Aussie Marie Claire (with a Witchery sweater)
$420.
Dont fret - I am sure we will see a gazillion versions on the hi street at less than half that price.

A line shifts - figure flattering

A friend of mine is an inverted triangle shape - essentially her shoulders are noticeably wider than her hips - she has ample boobs, small hips/thighs & (is lucky enough for) a defined waist. And she has 3 kids. Despite her heritage, she hasnt inherited the European hips & thighs - lucky girl! Did I mention she has fabulous legs? Why am I hanging around this girl? ^*$%#@(*!#@

Well one of her best clothing shapes is an A line shift dress.
Yet she refuses to embrace this look.

So I promised her some pictures, to encourage her to take up this challenge.....

A little background first.....

Before my time, in the 50s, with voluptuous bodies, voluminous skirts (& hair), the emphasis was on an hourglass physique and high heels - then along came a new decade & a new look.

Born in 1942, Jean Shrimpton caused a stir when she arrived in Australia for the 1965 Melbourne Cup wearing a mini - never before at such an event had "they" seen that - normally the women wore hats, gloves and most definitely dresses below the knee. Not only was Shrimpton's dress too short, it was also sleeveless, with bare legs and she wore no hat! It was scandalous!



Thankfully times have changed - this look is acceptable, in fact, unlike some of the weirdness we see on red carpets & the like these days, this look is always appropriate.

And its perfect for inverted triangles as it balances out the larger top half of the body.


Lets look at the details...

Waist
The clean lines (lack of clutter) at the waist help to create a lovely sillhouette. Think no tucking, no pockets, no belt, no gathers, no pleats.

Did I mention that typically inverted triangles have short waists? The lack of clutter at the waist is precisely what a short waisted (petite) person needs.

The added benefit of this? if (unlike my friend) you dont have a defined waist, or your waist has a few love handles, this look completely hides them. Perfect strategy!

Neckline
Jean Shrimpton was a stick and so a crew neck worked well - my friend has boobs - so my friend will tweak this by having a scoop neck which shows some decolletage (not cleavage, there is a difference and I like to think of it as "class"). You see, large boobs and high necklines can at times look like you have a mono-boob - probably not a look you want to go for.

Hemline
Works especially well for great legs or petite ladies.
Please use fake tan - no direct sunlight

Brooch
One simple piece to bring the eye upward to the face.
You can use this principle to bring the eye to any of your best features, buy placing the bling in that place of bestness!

Shoes
Chanel flat kitten heel slingbacks
Does it get any easier?
You can buy classy inspired versions at very decent prices.

Other
Simple, structured purse. Tailored dress watch. Please leave the Swatch at home.

Hair
Simple, it lines up with the whole look - fresh, not "done", natural.

Applying this to today - 2011 CFDA

I noticed that this look was replicated at the recent 2011 Council of Fashion Designers of America - an industry body of over 370 members that supports and recognizes designers of menswear, womenswear, jewellery and accessories in the USA.

Diane von Furstenberg (President since 2006) in her own design

Look at how she has added some shoulder coverage (she isnt 20 any more - great idea!), gave the fabric bling all over & an an underskirt to anchor the look.

Totally modern shoes to complete the look.
Chic at 64 years old.



Kerry Washington in Calvin Klein Collection

Shown here with Francisco Costa, the head designer of the Collection range, who has interpreted Calvin Klein's minimalist aesthetic in a way so true of the original designer yet still made it his own.

Kerry has small boobs - the high neck is totally appropriate.
Look at the hem - little feathers & it looks like the same at the back.

The moral here? You dont need to be Lady Gaga to make an impression.



Naomi Watts (fave Aussie), in Calvin Klein Collection.

Some have said this to too bland. I think the colours & the way it falls is perfection.

It simple & can hide a multitude of sins for a new mum like her!

Since this is a "liquid" look fabric, I'd guess the shapewear is well practiced & she isnt rushing out at the last minute to find an appropriate piece. She must have been a girl scout - be prepared!




The thing that strikes me about all these looks, whether in the 60s or in 2011, is their simplicity.
Maybe there's something in that idea!

PS: This style of dress is probably one of the easiest to make - if you can follow a pattern, why not have a go?

Then change fabrics, maybe even change necklines or sleeve shapes & with accessories changes you can create a myriad of different looks that can go to work (with a jacket) to to play (chambray fabric, Stella McCartney style) or out in the evening (sparkly tiny matt sequins).