Holiday Dressing for Dazzling Effect

“Don we now our gay apparel, fa la la la la la la la la.”

            -Deck the Halls traditional Christmas Carol

The original version used to say, “don we now our bright apparel,” at least according to Wikipedia. And it’s no coincidence that one of the more famous Christmas carols has this line in it. With Christmas (or Hanukah, Kwanza, Festivus or December holiday of your choosing) comes holiday parties. Whether that holiday party is a work get-together, family gathering, ugly sweater party, or friendly soiree, you are going to need a little something extra to wear. So without further ado, I present to you: Heatha’s Guide to Holiday Dressing For Any Occasion.

1. Holiday Work Party — The thing to remember here is to strike the right balance between festive and business like. This is not the party for your sequined black micro mini. You don’t want to wear your regular business attire but you don’t want to show up in your club gear, either. You want to kick up your regular work ensemble a notch. As an aside, this is also the attitude you should have. Please do NOT go to the work party, get wasted and photo copy your private parts or make out with your boss. This is not that kind of party. You want to be able to show up to work the following week with your head held high and the photographic evidence showing only your smiling face in a smashing frock. A sequined scattered jumpsuit, blazer and red heels or your favorite LBD is perfect for this occasion. Add a pop of color to your LBD with a belt or scarf to keep it from being too conservative and stodgy. Keep skin-baring to a minimum, skirts should hit at the knee. Or strut your stuff in a tailored pair of pants and fitted angora sweater with some rhinestone earrings. I’ve found some great options that will keep you polished, and holiday and work appropriate. See below. Note: wear the red pants and lace shirt with a black tank or switch to a streamlined sweater to make it work party ready. Throw a cute jacket or blazer over the first, third and fourth one to add extra polish. Mom, if you are reading this, that red, fur trimmed blazer is on my holiday wish list.

black and white dress – www. Express.com, winter white sweater dress, black lace shirt, red pants, and red velvet burnout dress – www.victoriassecret.com

www.bebe.com

2. Family Gathering — Grandma does not want to see your cleavage. You’re her precious little angel. You want to maintain this illusion for her and your relatives. Okay, maybe they know your more devilish tendencies -- still ,Christmas or Hanukkah with the family is not the time to flaunt them. Most family gatherings are at least somewhat relaxed affairs. You probably don’t need to go all out in the dress department, but you don’t want to show up in ripped jeans and a Budweiser sweatshirt, either. I would suggest slacks or tailored jeans with a festive colored sweater, jeweled-tone satin blouse or stylish tunic. A cozy sweater dress would also work here. Add satin heels or fur embellished boots to up the style factor. Keep accessories festive and tasteful. Think pearl earrings and a long silver necklace. If your family is a little goofier and silly, throw on those Christmas light earrings. Grandma will be proud. Mom won’t cringe. Most families also usually have some of their own holiday traditions. Mine include festive Santa hats or holiday fascinators; I throw one on for the gift-giving portion of the festivities. Tilt them  rakishly, and go with the flow. Holidays should be warm and fun. Speaking of warm, for any of these parties, a red, belted trench strikes the right balance between holiday and chic.

3. The Friend Par-tay or New Year’s Soiree — First, if it does not specify in the invitation, consult your friend about the level of dressy-ness expected. If it’s a casual affair, dress as you would for a family gathering, but in this case you can show a little more cleavage. Still, keep it tasteful. Your friends don’t want to worry about your bits falling out of your shirt and into the cheese dip.

If it’s a cocktail party or New Year’s party, however, this is your time to bling it up a bit. Grab that sequined mini and slinky satin shirt or your sexiest sheath dress. Throw on some rhinestones and killer heels and work what your mama gave ya. I, myself, am absolutely dying to wear my satin, tuxedo inspired romper, tuxedo jacket and Harajuku Lovers black patent and white satin heels. I’ll post a pic on here when I do. Go all out. Christmas only comes once a year and the opportunities we have to get dressed up dwindle once we are past prom age, so take advantage. I’ve put some fun options below.

First options from www.bebe.com, last four looks from www.torrid.com

4. The Ugly Sweater Party — The key here is simple: the only thing on you that should be ugly is the sweater. If you have a 3-D reindeer on your chest, you don’t also need a light up necklace and Nordic leggings. For the sweater, however, the uglier and more overdone, the better. Think your favorite aunt with the 20 cats. You’ll be in the ballpark. You want the word tacky to spring to mind when you put that baby on. Keep everything else chic and in style and you’ll be the cutest girl in an ugly sweater ever! If your sweater is tunic length, throw on some sleek silver, red or black leggings. Add some fuzzy boots, embellished flats or sparkly glitter heels to up the fun quotient. Red, green, gold or silver bangles work nicely as a compliment. Skinny or tailored jeans are also a good option. I saw a photo of a woman in the cutest red plaid skirt with her Santa sweater and it actually made the sweater cute.

The most important thing to remember about holiday dressing, though, is to get into the spirit and smile. The most beautiful person at any holiday party is the one with the biggest grin and the most open heart. After all, isn’t that what the holidays are really about? So follow the above guide to be lovely inside and out. Now go throw on your Santa hat, bring out your dreidel and let’s get to partying. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, A Bright Kawanza, Happy Festivus and a beautiful New Year to everyone out there reading.

Please keep checking back for future blogs which will include such topics as: 

• To Buy or Not To Buy, That is the Question

• It’s a Croc, The Ugg Effect

• How to Dress Appropriately for Any Occasion

•The Five Shoe Trends I’m Loving Right Now.

Also, I have some fun guest bloggers hopefully lined up, so keep your eyes peeled.

  

And as always, I’d love to get your feedback, advice, comments and more. Please comment below or email me at princessheathab@gmail.com.

Be Fierce. Be Fashionable. Be Yourself.

XOXO

H

Sequins: Not Just For Parties Anymore!

Heatha Be took a short Thankgiving break, but she’s baaaaaack. I hope everyone’s Thanksgiving was fulfilling and filled with all those you love.

One thing I’ve always loved is anything with sequins. I have skirts, dresses, pants, shoes, scarves, and more with sequins. You might say I have sequin OCD, which is a problem because sequins are having a big moment right now, particularly as daywear.

The key to wearing sequins in the daytime is to pair them with something cozy and warm and decidedly un-shiny. Think sequin skirt with a cozy sweater, or skinny jeans and tee with a sequined scarf. See my outfit below for my take on the trend. You’re looking for chunky knits, angora sweaters, wooly boots, and the like.

Sweater, Skirt – www.express.com, Shoes – www.stevemadden.com, Jewelry – www.macys.com

I also have a cute sequined sweatshirt from Express.com that really captures the vibe of the sequins for the daytime trend. Pair it with some skinny jeans and some killer boots and you are set. See below.

www.express.com

Also, when wearing sequins as daywear, only wear one sequined item of clothing at a time. So if you have a sequined skirt on, don’t also throw on your matching sequined boots. Keep the jewelry minimal and also warm feeling, like my purple necklace above.

The next thing to keep in mind is that you want to keep the colors subtle. A bright scarlet sequined skirt is probably not daytime appropriate. Keep the color palette soft and subtle. Anything gold, blush, silver, pearl, navy, or black works well. Anything you’d be able to picture on a Vegas showgirl is a no-go. There are even a lot of looks out there right now where they’ve used matte sequins, instead of the super shiny variety to make the look even easier to pull off and more subtle.

The goal is a hint of shine and a slight sheen. My skirt above is not completely covered in sequins but scattered with them which makes it easier to pull off with a sweater.

As with any trend, you can start small if you aren’t sure about trying it. See my blog on Colorblocking for Beginners on how to do this. Maybe even just some dangly sequin earrings to ease yourself into it.

The great thing about trying this trend is you probably already have something sequined in your closet. Most of us girls do! So with some creative pairing, you won’t even have to spend a lot out of pocket to give it a try. See my post on Shopping Your Closet for some ideas on how to do that.

The best part about sequins for day time is that it makes it super easy to switch up your look for a little night time play. Some sassy satin heels and you are ready to rock at the club.

So, shine on, ladies. And if you see a crazed woman out there running from sequined rack to sequined rack, it just might be me on a sequined shopping bender.

To share with me your ideas, get advice or just comment on something I’ve said, email me at princessheathab@gmail.com or just comment below. I’d love to hear from you. Oh, and please subscribe to my blog to keep in the fashion loop.

Future blog topics will include:

• To Buy or Not To Buy, That is the Question

• It’s a Croc, The Ugg Effect

• Holiday Dressing for Dazzling Effect

• How to Dress Appropriately for Any Occasion

•The Five Shoe Trends I’m Loving Right Now.

And as always,

Be Fierce. Be Fashionable. Be Yourself.

XOXO

H

Shopping Your Closet

Budget. A word that strikes fear into the hearts of fashionistas and clothes horses everywhere. Okay, that may be a little melodramatic, but you get the point. Even the fiercest of fashion mavens has to deal with cash shortages. But you can still look your best if you learn how to shop your own closet.

Whatever look you are trying to create can probably at least be started with items you own already. First of all, don’t get too caught up in creating the exact duplicate of what you see in a magazine or catalog. Use it as inspiration. For instance, in my color blocking blog, I didn’t match Solange Knowle’s outfit exactly. I used items I already had and borrowed inspiration from her color palette. Figure out what it is you are liking so much about what you are seeing and work with that.

Also, look at your clothing with new eyes and an open mind. Get creative. Sequins are a big trend right now, even for the daytime. You don’t need to have a sequined skirt to pull the look off, though. You can use your sequin party dress with a cozy sweater thrown over the top. This is also a good way to try out a trend before you buy. A sequin strap shows on one shoulder? It will just make the look that much cuter. You don’t have to use your clothes in the exact way they are intended. Work them the way you want to and the way that works for you. You paid for them. They are yours to do with as you please.

If you have some money to spend, take a closet inventory so that you know what you already have and what you REALLY need to complete the look. Chances are you don’t actually need the bag, shoes, pants, shirt, AND coat. You probably have at least some pieces that will pull the look off already. This also helps you keep your head when you are actually at the store and not go into a shopping binge. If you are working with a budget, make sure what you do buy will work with what you already own. For instance, in the outfit shown below, I’ve had that shirt for quite a while now. Only the skirt is new and was purchased AFTER I figured out what look I wanted to accomplish. It helped me fall in love with that shirt all over again, too. 

 INC Shirt, Express Shirt, Bangles, Nordstrom Earrings, Claire's Hairpics

 

Prioritize. You don’t need to get everything on your wish list all at once. Start with the pieces that you are going to be able to work into your current wardrobe first, and then move to the more specialty items afterward. I admit, I’m not very good at this one but I’m working on it. There is a definite satisfaction that comes with saving up and getting the quality item you want at a time where it isn’t going to break the bank.

And finally, if you have a hip, stylish mom like mine and you’ve already shopped your own closet, you can often go to what I like to call the “mommy store.” I am fortunate enough to have a mom who has saved some of her most special pieces over the years. And retro is all the rage right now. Some of my most favorite pieces used to be my mom’s. The bonus to this is they really can’t be found anywhere else and add a totally authentic vibe. I also have some amazing things that were my grandmother’s, including three brass bangles that couldn’t be more chic. I get to be fashionable and honor the women who got me here all at the same time.

Here’s a mommy store example: I loved the urban cowgirl outfits Ralph Lauren sent down the runway this season, but wasn’t positive I could pull them off and didn’t want to throw down the money until I was sure, so I called mom. Sure enough she had some great belts she mailed me and I already had a white blouse and buff leather pants to go with them. No money out of pocket and I get to do my little turn on the catwalk.

So don’t get caught up in creating exact looks -- get creative, take inventory, and keep in mind what you own. Prioritize, and when all else fails, go to the mommy store. The best part: your closet and the mommy store are open 24/7 and have excellent credit terms.

So what’s in your closet or your mommy store? What items in your closet deserve to be given new life? I’d love to hear and be inspired by you! Suggestions, advice, blog ideas, and comments? Bring them on. I’m dying to know what you all think. You can either comment below or email me at princessheathab@gmail.com.

Next on my blogging agenda is:

• Sequins: Not Just For Parties Anymore

• To Buy or Not To Buy, That is the Question

• It’s a Croc, The Ugg Effect

• Holiday Dressing for Dazzling Effect

• How to Dress Appropriately for Any Occasion

And as always,

Be Fierce. Be Fashionable. Be Yourself.

XOXO

H 

The Five Coats Every Woman Needs In Her Closet

The weather has turned chilly here in San Francisco. It’s crisp and beautiful with a razor’s edge to it, and it has me thinking coats. I know I had a whole list of other things to write about, but the cold snap has frozen them clean off for now.  I promise I’ll get to them soon, but first, to keep you cozy AND chic during the winter months and beyond, here is a list of the five coats every woman should have in her closet.

1. Trench Coat. Whether thigh-skimming or ankle-dusting, find the one that works for you. I recommend camel or black in color to really up the versatility. If you splurge on one coat on this list, it should be this one. It will be your go-to. A trench looks great over jeans, stylish over your work suit, and smashing at the club. It’s warm, stylish, and says, “I have it together.” See the two below to get an idea of what I’m talking about.
   
   

www.victoriassecret.com

www.nordstrom.com 

2. Denim Jacket. When spring arrives, the sun dresses come out and a denim jacket is the perfect complement. It keeps things relaxed and breezy. Over any dress, it can take the look from club to a more relaxed, “I’m heading for a hike or to the beach” feel. A denim jacket is for when you don’t want to take yourself or anything you have to do too seriously. It’s sort of the anti-trench coat. There are many styles and shapes out there. Pick the one that flatters your body. Dark washing or light, it’s your call; just avoid anything that smacks of acid wash, unless you’re attending an 80’s party.

3. Leather / Pleather Jacket. I’m sort of a sucker for leather. I have way too many leather coats for any one person, but that’s because they give any outfit an instant edge. They are the coats I grab when I want to let people know not to mess with me, give off a bad girl vibe, or up the cool factor. Biker chic, cropped, ruffled, quilted, or simple and sleek, there are a lot of options. Find the one that makes you feel like a badass and rock it for all it’s worth. Again, I wouldn’t skimp price-wise. Leather lasts a long time and actually looks better the more worn it gets, so as long as you don’t pick anything too trendy, a leather jacket will be with you a long time. Throw this jacket on over a party dress or over jeans and a white tee shirt and you are the coolest girl in the room. Lately I’ve seen them over maxi-dresses for a super cute way to extend them into winter/fall. These are my current favorites.
   

www.bebe.com

www.victoriassecret.com

4. Something Practical.  This is something you won’t hear out of my mouth very often. Depending on the climate in which you live, this may be a rain coat or a parka. This is the coat you throw on when you walk the dog, go for a hike, or go skiing or sledding. Practical doesn’t have to mean shapeless, though, so make sure it flatters your figure AND makes you feel warm and snuggly. The coat pictured below is similar to the one in my closet.
   

www.neimanmarcus.com

5. Something Outrageous, Sumptuous, and a Little Over the Top.  Mine are faux-fur. I can hardly keep my hands off myself when I wear them. They make me want to purr at their softness. I instantly feel more glamorous the second I throw one on. However, I just saw a lace trench coat at Bebe that would do the same thing. Maybe yours is velvet. Whatever it is, this is your formal coat. This is the coat you put on with your nicest dress and your red lipstick. This is the coat that lets people know you didn’t just show up -- you arrived. This is the coat that makes you smile just to wear it and a little sad when you have to take it off. Below is my newest faux-fur crush. It looks even better in person and is twice as soft as you think it is. Meeeeoooow!
   

www.express.com

Whatever coat you choose to wear, remember your outerwear is the icing on your fashion-cake. It can make or a break an outfit. Sometimes it pulls an entire look together into a cohesive whole, so choose wisely and stay warm out there.

Need help finding a coat?  Shoot me an email at princessheathab@gmail.com with your size, shape, and budget, and I’ll do my best to assist you. I’d love to hear your suggestions, advice, blog ideas, and comments as well. You can either comment below or email me at the above address.

Next on my blogging agenda is:

• Shopping Your Closet

• Sequins: Not Just For Parties Anymore

• To Buy or Not To Buy, That is the Question

• It’s a Croc, The Ugg Effect

• Holiday Dressing for Dazzling Effect

I hope you’ll come back and read them all. Until then…

Be Fierce. Be Fashionable. Be Yourself.

XOXO

H

Color-Blocking for Beginners

I’ve never been one to just jump into the water. I’ve always wanted to be the kind of person that does the graceful swan dive into the deep end, but that just isn’t me.  I often find that you can reach the same destination by taking baby steps.  I dip my toes in, and after they acclimate, I go full legs, then up to the waist, and so on and so forth until I’m comfortable.  Before you know it, I’m in the water and I can jump over and over again into the cold depths with the best of them. Mission accomplished.

And so it is with fashion sometimes. I’ll see a trend and want to try it and then quickly realize I have no idea how to go about doing so. This is how I felt when I first saw color-blocking. It started with a picture much like this one:

This is Solange Knowles. My first thought when I saw it was, “CUTE!”, closely followed by, “How in the heck did she look in her closet one day and decide all that would work together?” I mean, yellow pants, red, black and tan shirt, purple purse, leopard heels, and somehow it’s all popping. It’s at least part attitude, but what’s the other part?

I wanted to try it, but after looking in my closet, I was flummoxed. So I did what I usually do: I took baby steps. I found this dress at Express: 

It was perfect for dipping my toes into the color-blocking shallow end.  It did all the color-blocking for me. I just added the black cardigan and heels and I was done. After wearing it all day, I picked up a few pointers along with the all the compliments I received. First, when color-blocking, black provides a good base and gives all the other colors an anchor. Second, like tones go best with like tones. For instance, on this dress, all the colors are fairly bright. The purple is the only exception, but it’s in the same color family as the berry pink.

In order to slide a little further into the deep end, I decided to use Heatha’s Ninth Tenet of Fashion Fabulousness: I stole Solange’s idea. I wore my red skinny jeans with a black and tan striped top, leopard heels, and a yellow cuff bracelet.

Jeans, blazer, striped tee – Express.  Yellow cuff, sunglasses - Steve Madden. 

Handbag - Jessica Simpson.  Owl cuff – Lucky Brand.   Shoes - Betsey Johnson. 

Necklace, ring – BCBGeneration.

I think it worked out really well, but you can all judge for yourself.  I did notice that when going this bright and utilizing this many colors, keeping most of the jewelry simple is key. I went with gold jewelry to compliment the color palette.

I must say, after wearing this outfit, I feel like I’m really starting to understand the whole trend and I’m really enjoying it. As with any trend, if it isn’t your cup of tea, don’t do it. No need to try every new thing that comes along, but if you do want to try it and are unsure, use my method and just go in increments. My next step is trying to wear something as eye-popping as Sarah Jessica Parker:

Wowza!

If you want to try it, here are a few color palettes to use as inspiration: 

              

So get out there and jump in the deep end….or wade in little by little. If you like color-blocking, give it a try. And send me the pictures of your results -- I’d love to see them.

Need a quick cheat sheet? Remember these four things: 1. Use black as a base or an anchor. 2. Like colors go with like colors. 3. Steal a star’s style!  4. Keep the jewelry simple.  And if you are intrigued, but still a little wary, I suggest starting with some great color-blocked pumps. Then you can, quite literally, just dip your toes in.

Alright, next up for Heatha Be:

• Shopping Your Closet
• Sequins: Not Just For Parties Anymore
• To Buy or Not to Buy, That is the Question
• It’s a Croc, The Ugg Effect

Stay tuned. And as always, if you have any questions, suggestions, or advice, you can contact me at PrincessHeathaB@gmail.com. And remember….

Be Fierce. Be Fashionable. Be Yourself.

XOXO

H

Heatha's Ten Tenets of Fashion Fabulousness

Passion is the new black.

I have a passion for fashion and writing, so I’m combining my two loves. I’m both a graphic designer and a full-time fashionista. After helping friends put together looks, spending countless hours poring over fashion magazines, and shopping enough to be on a first-name basis with many sales clerks around town, I’ve come up with Heatha’s Ten Tenets of Fashion Fabulousness. Hopefully you’ll not only enjoy them, but learn some things both about me and yourself.

1. If it makes you smile to look at; if your skin tingles at the possibility of trying it on, do it! Rock it loud, rock it proud.  You have one life -- live it in the clothes that you love on your own terms. Lord knows I’m not always the queen of appropriateness. I’ve been known to be over-dressed on occasion. But I always like what I have on and I’m always me. I have more fun getting ready every morning than anyone I know. I think you should too.
2. The most important thing about a clothing item is NOT the label -- it’s how it makes you feel. Don’t get hung up on price tags or designers. There are great clothes out there at every price range. So if you see a Prada ensemble you like, but don’t exactly have a Prada budget, put together the same look for less.
3. Love being a woman. Love every freckle, every curve, every sultry smile and knowing glance. Celebrate it. Whatever your size or shape, there is something beautiful about you. Find it and capitalize on it.
4. Celebrate other women too, because tearing down others to make yourself feel better is immature, self-centered, and pathetic. In short, it makes YOU look bad. And catty is never a good look.
5. Don’t change yourself or your style for anyone else. Improvement is good, and change can be healthy, but only if it’s something YOU want. Nothing ruins a look more than someone who is clearly not comfortable wearing it.
6. Fake it ‘til you make it. Not feeling confident? Pretend you do. Walk into the room/club/restaurant like you own the place. We all know that one girl or guy that everyone flocks to and we don’t quite get it. They get it. Confident and happy is attractive, so pretend if you have to.
7. Don’t be afraid to take risks. It’s a shirt, not a kidney transplant. If you don’t like it, TAKE IT OFF. Unless it’s clown pants and big red shoes, no one is going to remember. That neon green tulle monstrosity you wore in 1985? Yesterday’s news.  Case in point, I’ve seen some real fashion disasters on the streets of San Francisco, but I can’t actually describe a single one to you right now. But this girl in a burgundy, a-line, chiffon mini skirt, black lace up boots and an amazing coat I saw last year?  Yep, I remember that. People remember your grand slams, not your strikeouts… so go for it. It’s fashion; don’t take it so seriously.
8. Just because it’s tight doesn’t mean it’s sexy. If it does not fit you, don’t wear it. That goes for anything: shirts, shoes, pants. If I can tell you have a navel ring or ate an extra donut for breakfast, it’s too tight. Neither you nor anyone around you is comfortable. If you’re wobbling down the street in five-inch heels that are too big, you look like you’re about to break an ankle, not like a sex kitten. No matter how fabulous the pump, if it doesn’t fit, it isn’t worth it. And P.S. You have a backside; don’t forget to check out both views before you leave the house. I’ve seen some amazing outfits that work from the front and look like a train wreck from the back. A dress that hits your curves in all the right ways in the front, but makes your derriere look like two puppies fighting in a duffle bag is not the dress for you.
9. If you like the look someone else is rocking, steal it! There’s no copyright infringement involved. No police action will be taken. It’s a shirt, not grand theft. Go for it. Inspiration is everywhere. I rip pictures out of magazines all the time and check out the way other women put themselves together. Then I make the look my own.
10. Take the sentence, “I could never wear that” out of your vocabulary. It’s holding you back. Fashion, as “they” say, is an attitude. Rock whatever you’re wearing like you invented it. You are not too short/tall/skinny/fat/old/young to wear a certain look. You may need to modify it to work for YOU, but you CAN wear it. You own your clothes; they don’t own you. And ugh, throw out the whole crappy, “I am a summer, so I can only wear such and such colors” mentality. It’s a bunch of hooey. I have pale, olive-toned skin and dark hair, and I love the color yellow. It shouldn’t work on me, but I pull it off all the time. I just combine it with other colors and make sure it’s not right up against my face.  Red lipstick doesn’t hurt either.

So there you have it! Coming soon to Heatha Be, Colorblocking for Beginners and Shopping Your Closet. Have questions?  Suggestions?  Advice?  Request for a blog topic?  Feel free to contact me at: princessheathab@gmail.com.

Be Fierce. Be Fashionable. Be Yourself.

XOXO

H