My Go-To LBD

“One is never over-dressed or underdressed with a Little Black Dress.” Karl Lagerfeld once said. Everyone has a staple clothing item in his or her closet that are considered “go-to’s”. Whether it is your favorite tweed blazer, laced black wedge heels, high-waisted jeans, or in this case the ultimate little black dress.

No matter the occasion, formal or casual, my staple item of clothing is a narrow-waist a-line black dress. Perfect to dress-down with a quarter length sleeve bomber jacket or dress-up and accessories with colorful jewelry, shoes, and makeup.  Something every woman holds near and dear to her ankle-strap heels that say I can be simultaneously sexy and serious.  

With the rise of LBD’s in the late twenties stemming from women entering the workforce, this created the fusion of ‘serious’ feminine attire. This uniform for strong independent women became the models for the LBD.  No matter your lifestyle, taste, or preference this go-to black dress will be a timeless fashion piece in the wardrobe for future women. 

Prior to this, you would only see women wear black during a time of mourning; Coco Chanel is credited for spearheading this staple on the 1926 cover of American Vogue. Perhaps one of the most infamous LBD’s that seemingly became it’s own character was Audrey Hepburn’s in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s designed by Givenchy.  Based on this alone, you can see why it’s maintained its place in fashion for decades. 

Mine on the other hand, would be a more modern take on a formal LBD with the influence of the item du jour skater baby-doll dress incorporation of a flaring skirt. Having bought from European-based online store Motel Rocks last year with practically all of my tax return money, you can easily see how this is a staple item in my closet.  Made of 100% Viscose, this drop neck, 3/4 sleeve, zip closure, high-low hem dress all enhanced by a strategically placed mid-section inset to emphasize the curves; a beautiful matrimony for the girl-on-the-go’s LBD.   

Blazin'

A piece that can go with jeans, heels, tennis shoes or leggings. It's the blazer. I love my blazers and I recently stepped out of my all black persona and purchased a navy blue one. Yes, it's not a pop of color,per se, and it's pretty close to black.

Moving on...I love wearing blazers because they are very versatile. I can dress down and look like I still care. The best ones are long enough to cover your bum when you're wearing leggings. I find that the softer, looser blazers are more versatile than the blazers that you typically would wear with a suit.

Another positive is blazers comes in all different colors so you can pair an yellow one with a black and white stripped dress in the summer. Or a red blazer with a white top and black jeans and heels. You can get so many looks with them because they're a layering piece.

Personally, I wear blazers with almost every outfit.  It makes me look more put together. I even wear them with tennis shoes, if I am dressing down. I'll wear a white men's n-neck tee, leggings, tennis shoes and a blazer. A look I, jokingly, call my Kris Jenner look.



I honestly think a blazer fits everyone of all shapes and sizes and can be appropriate in any situation.

A night in Paris with ALYCE Paris

ALYCE Paris is a Chicago based brand that caters to formal dresses from homecoming, to prom, to bridal.

Their mission is “to design and market consistently innovative and fresh styles in evening wear that inspire and endow a unique look and personal feel for girls and women experiencing such momentous occasions as the milestone rites of passage of prom, marriage, graduation and other special life events.”

The founder Alyce Hamm (formally Alice) was born in France in 1930. In honor of the brand’s founder and where she came from they strive to incorporate French and European aesthetic and sense of style through each gown. Some gowns may be more revealing than what royalty would have worn but one step into these gown and I’m sure you’ll look and feel like Kate Middleton. You can definitely see the European elegance throughout each gown.

Alyce and her brand has expanded tremendously since starting in 1967. Though she’s no Balenciaga Alyce has still made a name for herself over the years specifically in the world of gowns.

This season and consistent with past seasons are very slim fitting dresses with the exception of some short princess like homecoming dresses. Most dresses are all blinged out in either heavy beading or shiny sequins for a signature look.

Alyce Paris prides themselves on tradition, heritage, culture, dignity, elegance and respect. Their dresses have been worn by Britney Spears, Vanna White and many more.

This brand makes me wish I was 17 all over again contemplating and trying on a million different potential prom dresses. Check out the latest gowns at alyceparis.com

Art Institute sticks out like sore thumb

Featured at Chicago’s disappointing fashion week Style Bias show was an array of designers. From Fashion Geek, to the Leaders, to designer Albert Ray they all had interesting pieces, and not the good kind of interesting either. Most of the designs were screenprint t-shirts but we’re not going to get into that. The most interesting designers, and remember interesting does not necessarily mean good, were from the Art Institute. Through all the ripped jeans, camo and graphic t’s these designer really stuck out like a sore thumb. Though they weren't cohesive with the rest of the show I’m sure the audience didn't mind a break from the DIY like designs, I know I didn’t. During the Art Institute collection, which included multiple unknown designers, a male model made his way down the runway in what reminded me of something Kanye West or Chris Brown would wear. Cut off black jeans were paired with a 3/4 sleeve black tee layered with a cut off sleeve hoodie with rope drawstring detailing and a pair of dirty gray high top adidas, but that’s not what intrigued me. The model had on a black medusa like headpiece that covered the the entire face, even the eyes. I’m not sure what exactly was made designer but the headpiece definitely stood out from the rest of the Art Institute collection. I don't think I’d seen anything like it before. It was a little scary and obviously not wearable but I give the designer cool points for standing out. It gave the basic outfit a little extra push which was very much needed not only in the outfit but the entire show.  

Due to the fact that the show was poorly organized and didn’t include a program I do not know which Art Institute designer made this piece.

A Wedding Dress That Took The Wedding Cake

Javonica-Chicago Wedding Gown

Javonica Sapp of Japonica-Chicago creates elegant, contemporary, and timeless bridal gowns and eveningwear. At Chicago's Fashion Week, Sanford-Brown College Chicago's fashion show presented the 2009 alumnus' bridal collection on October 15. Incorporated into Sapp's gowns are silks, French laces, and Swarovski rhinestones. Her work has already been featured in Chicago Style Wedding's Magazine after launching her bridal collection in 2013. 

The above Javonica-Chicago bridal gown was a standout piece because of it's elegance and timelessness. The fitted chest is balanced by the fullness of the ruffles. The tea-length gown lengthens into a floor-length dress, which adds a sexy appeal to the shin of the legs. The gown would suit any body type because of its silhouette. Sapp created a gorgeous gown for a magical chapter of a woman's life. 

Standout piece: Revolution Fashion Show

Cheap material mixing and tacky embellishments: the indirect fluidity of the student and alumni fashion show practically screamed. Just when you thought it couldn't get anymore tasteless the seemingly Candyland inspired gown stole the show, or the stock of red pleather at your local fabric store. With a questionable aim to shock the audience, the wrapped pleather, use of gold silk as a peek-a-boo to the train, the wrap-neck Dracula style collar, and attempt to incorporate poppy-like embellishments resulted in a scattered cheer and applause that could have been a result of the craftsmanship and idea or lack there of. 


Although the theme revolved around revolutionary fashion, which could be considered outlandish, the cheap leather and pearl embellishments to resemble poppy's just topped the cake as the wackiest fashion show to be seriously organized. Contemplating whether this was in lieu of the Halloween season or intentionally meaning to cause disbelief, the gown caused an instantaneously scattered applause to which made considerable audience members look to see if the designer came out to be acknowledged. Feeling as if this piece was rushed in production, specifically the wrapped materials outlined in a pearls made one reminisce of a piece featured in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.  


Notably to take on fusing graphic design and fashion to create a "pop art fashion" show sounds provoking but prevailed to serve the audience anything but loud designs, overdone embellishments, neon stripper wigs, bright lipstick, and accompanying picket signs with POW!, BANG!, BOOM! Comic-style thought bubbles. Overall the attempt to create a stimulating fashion show where the aesthetics serve to an unconventional theme, could inevitably be illustrious. However the idea, theme, and way of connecting graphic design and fashion could've served us something more than a sloppy attempt at a fashion showcase. 


The aim of Stanford Brown’s revolution fashion show seemed prevalent to the idea of pushing the envelope with “the future of fashion”, though the creativity seemed rushed and intentionally un-wearable. The transparency for a far-fetched aim made for a Cosplay or new age Disney princess feel, in which the more playful and idealist-based the piece appeared the better.

Dear Edgy, Glamorous, Yet Refined Woman, Meet Your New Favorite Designer for Fall

“She is social, she is charismatic, and as smart as she is, she doesn't take herself too seriously-she is playful when the lights are low… Above all she is diverse and compassionate,” Christina D. Monley explaining who wears her ready-to-wear clothing label, Christina Karin, in a Racked Chicago interview. 

Monley, the principal designer and creative director of Christina Karin, didn’t start her business as some would imagine. She actually received a degree in business and art history from Boston University. Then, she worked in finance on Wall Street. After an uninspiring depth of time spent in finance, she decided to go back to school at the Art Institute of Chicago to study fashion and design. 

In 2012, Monley was chosen to participate as a Designer in Residence for the Macy’s Chicago Fashion Incubator. Since then, she has been designing clothes and remodeling her Bucktown space, which serves as her workspace and showroom for buyers and customers. 

“The goal is for the space to exude everything about my brand: In a nutshell, old Hollywood meets modern-day muse,” Monley said in a Chicago Racked article.  

Monley wanted her fall collection to portray the intimate side of glamour by juxtaposing soft and sparkly with strong and mysterious. Her fall ’14 collection features a cropped blouse and matching high-waisted geometric skirt with black stretch knit and vegan leather detail in bronze. She favored navy blue silk with hints of silk brocade in gold for her blouses, dresses, and skirts. There are smoking jackets in gold lame and navy blue sequins. One of the popular pieces from the Christine Karin collection are the long sleeved draped tunic dresses that are available in sand, cobalt blue, and red.

“I designed this collection with the vision of a woman sitting in a man’s smoking room, surrounded by art, dark mahogany, and swirls of smoke-a feminine allure in a masculine environment,” Monley said. 

Photo credit: Christina Karin website