Fashiontribes Fashion Podcast Central

FASHIONTRIBES TIDBIT: The White Bag is the Season's "It" Bag for Good Reason - it Looks Amazing with Shoes of All Stripes, so Have Fun Experimenting with Bag & Shoe Combos. FASHIONTRIBES FASHION BLOG & PODCAST

PODCAST - FASHIONTRIBES TIDBIT: The White Bag is the Season's "It" Bag for Good Reason - it Looks Amazing with Shoes of All Stripes, so Have Fun Experimenting with Bag & Shoe Combos. FASHIONTRIBES FASHION BLOG & PODCAST - MP3 File

Valentino at Net-a-Porter.com

A fun, retro way to think about getting dressed is the old-school technique of matching of bag and shoes. But these days, they don't have to technically match. While white & black are classic choices, more offbeat - but equally as fun - options include metallics, florals, prints, and hues like lipstick red & muted green. The main thing is: as long as they look cool together, enjoy building entire fab ensembles around them.

Some shoe colors & options to pair with your white bag:

A super-affordable version of the right-now shoe - ShiekhShoes.com

Adorably oversized polka dots from LondonSole.com

Spiffy polka dots - the Carlen from NineWest.com

  Classic black but still impeccably chic - Dries van Noten at MonaMoore.com

Christian Louboutin Metallic Gold Pump - NeimanMarcus.com

Marc by Marc Jacobs - Net-a-Porter.com

Guiseppe Zanotti - Zappos.com

Beverly Feldman "Palm East" - Dillards.com

Less expected: shades of green. Insight from ChineseLaundry.com

Stunning red pump by Pierre Hardy - PierreHardy.com

- Lesley Scott

Fashiontribes Fashion Podcast Fashiontribes Fashion Podcast Central Fashion Podcast White Bag Fashion Shoes Fashion Expert

FASHIONTRIBES TIDBIT: A Trendy White Dress Gets Extra Fashion Mileage with a Cropped Black Sweater, Piles of Black Beaded Necklaces, and Red Shoes & Bag. FASHIONTRIBES FASHION BLOG & PODCAST

PODCAST - FASHIONTRIBES TIDBIT: A Trendy White Dress Gets Extra Fashion Mileage with a Cropped Black Sweater, Piles of Black Beaded Necklaces, and Red Shoes & Bag. FASHIONTRIBES FASHION BLOG & PODCAST - MP3 File

Diane von Furstenberg at Net-a-Porter.com

Yes, all white is sweet-sweet-sweet. But to change things up, a full-skirted white dress just begs for a cropped knit top, especially in black with a pile of matching long necklaces. Vivid red kicks & bag add punch, while oversized Jackie O shades - in a dark color to play off the cardigan top - gives an air of high glamour.

Some black & red options to pair with a white frock:

Michael Kors cropped sweater from NeimanMarcus.com

Funky beads at UrbanOutfitters.com

Black with gold accents from Target.com

Jackie O-worthy oversized shade by Ralph Ralph Lauren at Nordstrom.com

DKNY Bridget at Zappos.com

Via Spiga Spruce from Zappos.com

Luella Joni bag from NeimanMarcus.com

Versace from eLuxury.com

- Lesley Scott

Fashiontribes Fashion Podcast Fashiontribes Fashion Podcast Central White Dress Fashion Accessories Shoes Fashion Trend Bag Jewelry Fashion Expert

FASHIONTRIBES TIDBIT: Another way to Have Fun with Dark Denim: Bright Red Accessories & Lips. FASHIONTRIBES FASHION BLOG & PODCAST

PODCAST - FASHIONTRIBES TIDBIT: Another way to Have Fun with Dark Denim: Bright Red Accessories & Lips. FASHIONTRIBES FASHION BLOG & PODCAST - MP3 File

  Ralph Lauren - Spring 2006

While trendy metallics are can't-fail with dark denim, bright cherry-hued accents keep things lively and fun. The trick? Go for supersaturated colors and remember that a little red goes a long way, so apply judiciously: if you do both shoes and a bag, add accessories with a light hand - either a bracelet & earrings or a necklace, but not all at the same time...which ventures dangerously close to Carmen Miranda-land.

Top it all off with a slick of ladylike crimson lipstick - especially with a glowy & bare summer face - for a delicious touch of French chic.

Some red accent options for dark denim:

Robert Clergerie at Zappos.com

C Label at ActiveEndeavors.com

Brand new from London Sole at LondonSole.com

Miu Miu at NeimanMarcus.com

Aye, Aye Cap'n of Style!  From Fendi at eLuxury.com

Butter soft & gorgeous from Marc by Marc Jacobs at Shopbop.com

Whimsical fun by Luella at Zappos.com

A striking carved red jade ring at HSN.com

Mark Walsh Leslie Chin "Vine" Earrings from BrownsFashion.com

 

A sweet but glamourous red crystal heart on a silken cord by Baccarat at eLuxury.com

Red Petal Necklace by Monies at Vivre.com

Cheap but fab throwaway 80s chic from UrbanOutfitters.com

All the better paired with matching lucite bangles - at Bebe.com

or a single, chunky wood bangle with a gorge high gloss finish - at Nordstrom.com

Of course, sassy diva red lips. by Terry at eLuxury.com

- Lesley Scott

(Runway photo from Style.com) Fashiontribes Fashiontribes Fashion Podcast Central Fashion Podcast Red Accessories Fashion Accessories Shoes Fashion Trend Jewelry Fashion Expert

FASHIONTRIBES TIDBIT: Dark Denim Looks Fresh as a Curvy Sundress a la Ralph Lauren, Especially with Vivid Green Accessories & Shoes. FASHIONTRIBES FASHION BLOG & PODCAST

POCAST - FASHIONTRIBES TIDBIT: Dark Denim Looks Fresh as a Curvy Sundress a la Ralph Lauren, Especially with Vivid Green Accessories & Shoes. FASHIONTRIBES FASHION BLOG & PODCAST - MP3 File

Ralph Lauren Spring 2006 (Purchasing info at Polo.com)

The metallic accents with this flirty confection are undeniably chic, but a fun & fresh way to show off your style savvy with dark denim is with a pair of green kicks, and perhaps a bag & some accessories. If the rich, saturated hues are, well, a tad too green - a toned down olive or khaki'ish green looks just as lively.

Seeing green is easy with these great accessory & shoe options:

Gucci from BergdorfGoodman.com

Schuh from VivaLaDiva.com

  Dolce & Gabbana olive green taffeta & straw wedge at NeimanMarcus.com 

Rachel Leigh Tie-It Bracelet at ShopBop.com

Kara Ross available at KaraRoss.com

Patch NYC from TwistOnline.com

Marc Jacobs Blake leather tote at Net-a-Porter.com

An affordable woven bucket bag from UrbanOutfitters.com

Green done with more subtlety from Fendi - eLuxury.com

- Lesley Scott

(Ralph Lauren Spring 2006 Runway photo from Style.com) Fashiontribes Fashiontribes Fashion Podcast Central Ralph Lauren Fashion Podcast Dark Denim Green Accessories Fashion Accessories Shoes Fashion Trend Jewelry Fashion Expert

FASHIONTRIBES TIDBIT: Jaunty, Nautical Stripes Look Crisp & Chic When Paired with Pared Down Neutrals Like White or Black. Or in Small Doses with Accessories. FASHIONTRIBES BLOG & PODCAST

PODCAST - FASHIONTRIBES TIDBIT: Jaunty, Nautical Stripes Look Crisp & Chic When Paired with Pared Down Neutrals Like White or Black. Or in Small Doses with Accessories. FASHIONTRIBES BLOG & PODCAST - MP3 File

(Marc by Marc Jacobs Spring 2006)

An interesting interpretation of 80s preppiness has been the return of bright, jaunty nautical stripes. Done right, they're incredibly crisp & chic. The trick is to let the stripes do all the communicating, and keep everything else extremely neutral. Grey is one option, but the most striking way to wear stripes is with white or black with stripes. 

Alternatively, striped accessories like a bag or shoe are a great way to dip into the trend without excessive commitment:

Some stylish stripey options:

Casual stripes from Gap.com (a simple switch-out of the flats for a stacked metallic heel would instantly upgrade this for going out in the evening)

Moschino at Net-a-Porter.com

Luella from NeimanMarcus.com

Erotokritos at BrownsFashion.com

- Lesley Scott

(Runway photo from Style.com) Fashiontribes Fashiontribes Fashion Podcast Central Fashion Podcast Stripes Accessories Shoes Fashion Trend

FASHIONTRIBES TIDBIT: Keep Everything in Place While Lookin' Fine by Giving Wee Crochet Bikini Tops - & Bandeau/Tube Tops that Flatten - a Miss & Opting for a Halter Style. FASHIONTRIBES FASHION BLOG & PODCAST

PODCAST - FASHIONTRIBES TIDBIT: Keep Everything in Place While Lookin' Fine by Giving Wee Crochet Bikini Tops - & Bandeau/Tube Tops that Flatten - a Miss & Opting for a Halter Style. FASHIONTRIBES FASHION BLOG & PODCAST - mP3 File

If you plan to be active on the beach, teensy string bikini tops have a way of shifting toward your armpits, creating less than flattering cleavage. The opposite problem crops up with many bandeau-style tube tops: the dreaded monoboob.  However, both dilemmas are easily solved with a halter-style top from companies that made swimwear for chicas on the move - such as Adidas & Roxy.

Some good swimsuit top options:

Adidas by Stella McCartney at Adidas.com

Roxy Gypsy Halter top available at Swell.com

- Lesley Scott

Fashiontribes Fashion Podcast Swimwear Fashion Fashion Expert

FASHIONTRIBES TIDBIT: Being a Tourist Doesn't Mean Having to Tote an Ugly Purse. Pam Pekerman of BagTrends.com Offers Up Tips on Finding a Bag That's Fit to be Seen in a Stylish European City. FASHIONTRIBES FASHION BLOG & PODCAST

PODCAST - FASHIONTRIBES TIDBIT: Being a Tourist Doesn't Mean Having to Tote an Ugly Purse. Pam Pekerman of BagTrends.com Offers Up Tips on Finding a Bag That's Fit to be Seen in a Stylish European City. FASHIONTRIBES FASHION BLOG & PODCAST- MP3 File

If your plans include a visit to a glamorous European city this summer, don't play the part of tacky tourist. A smart bag goes miles - and kilometers! - to setting a fashionista apart from her fashion-challenged sisters. And don't even mention the word fannypack.

Pam Pekerman, the bag guru behind BagTrends.com offers up these tips in finding a bag that's as chic as it is practical:

• LIGHTWEIGHT Opt for fabrics that won't weight you down like linen, or even some leathers.
• SLOUCHY All those hours walking and sightseeeing are way better if your hands are free and your bag isn't too overpowering and oversized - which is why a slouchy shoulderbag is a good choice.
• PLAY IT SAFE Safety is most important, so closures like zippers & drawstrings help keep a pickpocket at bay. Your trip is not the time to brandish that stylish - but extremely open - tote that works so well at home.

Some good bag options to consider:

Ipa-Nima Farrah available at Bagtrends.com

Link Bag from Delias.com

-Rope Large Drawstring Cole Haan g-series at ColeHaan.com

- Lesley Scott

Fashiontribes Fashion Podcast Pam Pekerman BagTrends.com Bags for Travel Fashion Accessories Fashion Expert

FASHIONTRIBES TIDBIT: Pear Shapes Can Enjoy Maximum Hotness in Colorful Swimsuits & Two-Piece Numbers with a Few Easy Tricks. FASHIONTRIBES FASHION BLOG & PODCAST

PODCAST - FASHIONTRIBES TIDBIT: Pear Shapes Can Enjoy Maximum Hotness in Colorful Swimsuits & Two-Piece Numbers with a Few Easy Tricks. FASHIONTRIBES FASHION BLOG & PODCAST - MP3 File

To balance out a pear-shaped figure, address the source of the pear: either hips or thighs.

• WIDER HIPS  Avoid any flat back-and-forth lines that mirror the eye moving back-and-forth across the horizontal plane of the hips. Instead, a halter-style top emphasizes what nature gave a gal - instead of flattening matters out the way a strapless boob-tube does- while colors, adornment, or both, are just what's needed to attract the eye upward.
• WIDER THIGHS Make sure the leg opening doesn't start at the widest part of the thigh. Instead, go for something a little higher cut at a narrower portion of the thigh. Look for a suit with embellishment up around the decolletage or neck area - again to divert the eye upward.

Some cute swim costume options to consider:

  BECCA Swim from EverythingButWater.com

Fun mismatched-but-matching bottom at OldNavy.com

Gottex from EverythingButWater.com

- Lesley Scott

Fashiontribes Fashion Podcast Swimsuit Pear Shape Fashion Fashion Trend Fashion Expert

FASHIONTRIBES TIDBIT: Disguise Your Tummy Like a Pro in a Swimsuit with a Few Magician-Worthy Sleights of Eyeball. FASHIONTRIBES FASHION BLOG & TIDBIT

PODCAST - FASHIONTRIBES TIDBIT: Disguise Your Tummy Like a Pro in a Swimsuit with a Few Magician-Worthy Sleights of Eyeball. FASHIONTRIBES FASHION BLOG & TIDBIT - MP3 File

Magicians, painters, shell game/sleight-of-hand con artists...they all use the same trick: divert the eye away from what you don't want it to focus on, while simultaneously providing a major dog-and-pony show at the point of desired focus. Good tips for toning down the appearance of a tummy include:

• a two-piece tankini that completely covers your belly
• decoration & embellishment around your decolletage & face
• ruching - either asymetrically to draw the eye diagonally downward & sideward, or down the middle of the suit (lines that dissect an area visually automatically create two smaller areas)

Some tummy hiding suit options:

Two-piece embellished tankini at Fields.com

Anne Cole available at EverythingButWater.com

- Lesley Scott

Fashiontribes Fashion Podcast Central Fashion Podcast Swim Figure Fix Fashion Fashion Expert

FASHIONTRIBES TIDBIT: Just as in Life, So at the Beach - be Age-Appropriate in Your Choice of Swimwear & Enjoy Looking Timelessly Chic. FASHIONTRIBES BLOG & PODCAST

PODCAST - FASHIONTRIBES TIDBIT: Just as in Life, So at the Beach - Be Age-Appropriate in Your Choice of Swimwear & Enjoy Looking Timelessly Chic. FASHIONTRIBES BLOG & PODCAST - MP3 File

Although there are fewer rules about dressing your age on the beach, it's much more chic to at least consider your chronological age when selecting a suit:

• Teens & 20s anything pretty much goes, from mixing & matching tops and bottoms, to wearing oversized t-shirts as a coverup, and even tons of accessories. It's hard to not look cute at this age.
• 30s Classic bikinis are a good choice, but in more toned down shades. Err on the side of less-is-more when it comes to accessories, and stick to metals like gold.
• 40s - 50s Opt for a stylish one-piece.
• 60s A non-elaborate one-piece is your best bet, in a vibrant hue like turquoise.
• 70s Channel all that fashion energy into coverups & a great bag. Zebra & leopard print caftans, and a bold tote are always chic choices.

Options for looking stylish at the beach:

Inmocean at Fields.com

TCN Halter Bikini Vivre.com

Michael Kors shirred tankini NeimanMarcus.com

Vividly colored tank from LandsEnd.com

     Strenesse Silk Chiffon Zebra Caftan & Devi Kroell Python Tote - both from Vivre.com

- Lesley Scott

Fashiontribes Fashion Podcast Swimsuits Fashion Accessories Fashion Expert