http://shop.vardagen.com/

This trend is technically not-so-new, but it is worth mentioning for the sheer fact that it seems to be taking over fashion world in men's denim.  Rolled jean legs.  More and more style-conscious guys are keeping the hems of their denim a few inches north.  For more examples of this look, scroll down to our blog post on JCREW fall fashion.

This past Sunday, the New York Times profiled Alexa Chung, fashion's latest "It girl."  She is an international beauty (her father is part Chinese) and hails from merry old England.  For those of you into the hipster look, this is your fashion-ista to follow.  Alexa is 100% her own person and claims that all her beauty icons are men. 

"It's all about effortlessness," she says.  "It's all about looking underdone."

After a short stint on MTV, Alexa is now teaming up with PBS.  Yes, you read correctly.  The public television station known for Sesame Street and upper-crust television specials is turning over a new leaf.  The show, "Thrift America" will feature Alexa skimming through vintage shops and garage sales for interesting fashionable finds.  The New York Times described the upcoming series as "Antiques Roadshow" meets "Anthony Bordain: No Reservations." 

Should be interesting.

After four trips to Time Square, a journey to the Top of the Rock, a weekend excursion to Philadelphia, a not-quite-traditional Thanksgiving feast, and seven (yes, seven) visitors to our tiny Brooklyn apartment, this blogger is now wrapped up in less-than-fashionable pajamas with the flu.  Oh what's a girl to do?

StyleWise Image is all about making lemons into lemonade and working with what you got.  So although my body is crying out for some Vitamin C, I am delighted to have some time again to dwell, dream, muse on STYLE.

A sneak preview of topics:  the latest "it" model on the runways, current and upcoming fashion fads (for both women AND men), discussions on color, designer profiles, and Manhattan style vrs. Brooklyn style.

Stay tuned....and stay healthy!

I'm in love with the current fall looks from J CREW. Especially the MEN'S styles.  Lookin' good, fellas!

The days of  October are quickly passing which means that Halloween will be here soon!  Drama is big in the fashion world and I find that most of what's considered haute couture would be to-die-for costumes. You could be:

 Cinderella

The Snow Queen

The Flower Fairy

And my personal favorite,

The Monarch Butterfly

Despite my being more interested in who attended the flea market, I did happen to notice some rather interesting things for sale, many of which could be worn.  And all of them packed with personality!

There were typewriter rings.

 Rings to tell the time.

 LEGO cuff links.

 And a wide variety of hipster t-shirts.  (My personal favorite was the tree hugging lumberjack).

 On Saturday we went to the Brooklyn Flea Market where you can find all sorts of treasures.  I, however, happened to be more interested in the people who walked around us.  So many interesting/beautiful/stylish/wacky/whimsical people to see! 

 There was the super-cool lady near the row of army uniforms scoping out some records.

  A young woman walking her dog in bobby socks and oxfords (a growing trend in here in NYC).

A person who is happiest being in all the colors of the rainbow.

A girl in a cute skirt nonchalantly eating her chocolate ice pop while a film crew shoots behind her.

 And a pair of snazzy two-tone shoes!

Andrew Field teaches how to live for yourself and for others.  

Rockaway Taco, A Selby Film from the selby on Vimeo. 

Right as October hit, the weather gave us a particularly beautiful Saturday.  We took advantage and hopped on the Q train to Coney Island.  It was everything we hoped it would be.  Full of nostalgic, whimsical, silliness and a dreamy ocean to gaze at. Everywhere I looked, there were explosions of faded and not-so-faded color. Below is some weekend-adventure inspired fashion.

Lucerna dress from Anthropologie, $128

 Mossy Atoms Skirt, on sale at Anthropologie for$79.95

 Sweets Shoppe Dress, modcloth.com, $62.99

 Michelle Mustard Cardigan, Lavender and Lace Shop, etsy.com, $16

Pins and Needles Short Sleeve Rugby Striped Sweater, Urban Outfitters, $42

 Musette Dress, J Crew, $198

 Just me enjoying the sea!

“When I started in the '90s the atmosphere was so severe...You  could not tell how much people love fashion. I was so frustrated. The
atmosphere was so by-the-rules. You could not show enjoyment. Why not? Show it off! Minimal or whatever you want to call it, that was the worst time for me. Awful. I want to scream ‘Bella!’ when I see something on the runway. I do not want to sit and show no emotion. I shout ‘Ooh la la!’ Finally we can get out of control about fashion.” - Anna Della Russo, editor of Nippon Vogue

Image: Paul Morigi, WireImage / Getty Images 

Image: Vittorio Zunino Celotto / Getty Images 

Image: Vittorio Zunino Celotto / Getty Images

 New Yorkers tend to be multi-taskers, and seeing a music performance in the middle of a vintage thrift store is just another way to be entertained.  At Guvnor's Vintage Thrift, a person can stop by every week to see a quirky entertainer and have a free drink.  We marveled at their awesome selections of boots and scarves while listening to rockabilly folk singer, Seth Kessel and his saxophone playing friend, Joe M F Wilson.

Yesterday, we had a wonderful encounter with two oh-so-stylish ladies. When I asked to take their picture we learned that they were actually mother and daughter.

What are your names? Sophie and Marie Mathiaut

Where are you from? "My mother and I are from France, but I have lived in Brooklyn for several years now. My mother is from the Burgundy region."

What styles influence you? "Ralph Lauren. I love the American, preppy equestrian look. My mother favors some British styles. (The plaid in her skirt, for instance)."

Is there anyone in your life who is an influence in your personal style: "My mother."

Why did I even have to ask? Merci beaucoup, Sophie and Marie!

As we shuffled from restaurant to restaurant, we couldn't help but notice some stylish looking businesses.

There was the local grocery who attracts customers with their colorful row of flowers:

The coquettishly hip hair salon with pink walls and velvet chairs:

And my personal favorite, "The CLEANER Dry Cleaner" (aka Green Apple Cleaners):

These businesses prove that you can be practical AND wise on style!

Let's face it: This city oozes style.

It's in the people, the clothes, the buildings, the shops,the theatres. Style is everywhere. Everywhere! And for the next three months, I am providing a peek into the crevices of its foundation.

Weather happens.

Rain on the wedding day is considered good luck for a marriage, but it sometimes makes a situation slippery.  What do you do when you planned the last six months for a outdoor picnic-themed wedding and end up with a monsoon? 

Be flexible.  Laugh.  Remember that you are supposed to be celebrating a joyful occasion.  Of course, a Plan B is always smart.

Too bad it was $10,000. 

But wait!  It's available to rent for only $1000?  It must be too good to be true.

It's not.  For the more practical brides who can't imagine spending six month's rent on one dress (but secretly wonders what it would be like to have that Cinderella), here is your fairy godmother:  preownedweddingdresses.com

This website is a true treasure and sells (and rents) impecable designer dresses for a fraction of the cost. 

SOME EXAMPLES

A $10,000 Monique Lhuillie gown. Available for rent at $1000:

Jorge Manuel $9800 gown, purchase for only $1,150

Priscilla of Boston $2600 gown, purchase for $325

Jorge Manuel $8,600 gown.  Purchase for $1,150

Manale La Reine $3600 gown.  Purchase for $500

Here are the artistic lovebirds:

And their amazing work:

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THEIR WEBSITE:  www.cinderellaphoto.com

Last week, we presented to AISD's "Ready For The Real World" event.  We talked to high school students about the importance of first impressions and the appropriate way to dress for a job interview.  

But enough with that!  Spring time is finally in full bloom in Amarillo.  After a few dreary cold spells we are enjoying the sunshine.  The birds are chirp chirping away and (cue the cheesy music)  LOVE is in the air.  Ha ha.

This of course means weddings.  They happen all year long, but there is 

something about late spring that gets people in a frenzy to say "I do."  So for the rest of this month and the early part of June, we will be talking about gowns and flowers and cakes and venues and pictures and something old, something new, something borrowed, something....okay you get the point.

Photo credit:  Cinderella Photography, www.cinderellaphotography.com

Look something like this:

Or someone like this:

Into someone like this:

Ok ok, so none of  these are actual StyleWise images, but you get the picture.  We have been honored with some really wonderful clients and we would love your mother to be added to the list.  Feel free to peruse our website (www.stylewiseimage.com) for more information on our services and client photos.

As we mentioned before, style is all about attitude.  StyleWise assistant and blogger, Shannon Holt, woke up this morning with her left eye feeling so irritated, she couldn't open it and had to visit the doctor. She should be better in a few days but this got her to thinking about eye patches. 

They aren't just for pirates, you know.  Some examples:

 The Runway Model Eye Patch

 The Heidi Klum Eye Patch

The Quentin Tarantino Eye Patch

The Perfectly Plaid Eye Patch

The Vintage Vamp Eye Patch

Like we said, it's all about attitude.  Have a good weekend, everybody.