Style Stop: Last-Minute NYE Looks

On this week's installment of "Style Stop" on WWAY's "Good Morning Carolina," we discussed some last-minute looks for New Year's Eve. If you waited until today to get your outfit together, here are some ways to upgrade your look from casual to party chic!

Shop the Look

Lydia
Everyone on set wanted to steal this gorgeous ark & co dress! I absolutely LOVED the bow detailing on the back! The dress, along with the stunning statement necklace and fur shrug (shown in the video), were all from Lula Balou in Wilmington.

Tal
I'm really huge on mixing patterns so it was fun to do this with Tal. The windowpane Peter Millar sport coat and flower-print tie played well with the striped Eton shirt and brown color-trimmed pocket square. With the exception of Tal's dark-wash denim, all of these awesome pieces are from Gentleman's Corner in Wilmington. 

Myself
I kept my look casual but fun with a Jewel-Collar Denim Shirt, Bead Dot Sweater and dark-wash jeans, all from Talbots at Oleander Drive in Wilmington.

From left to right: WWAY "Good Morning Carolina" anchor Randy Aldridge, model Lydia Chandler, myself, model Tal Moss and GMC anchor Ashley Jacobs!

Would you like some more last-minute style tips? Contact me for more information on my services!

Wyoma Road Opening

A local boutique in town officially opened its second location in Wilmington today. 

Wyoma Road, a resort wear boutique owned by Gail Killman, is sharing space at Camille's of Wilmington - a bridal and formal wear shop. The shop also has merchandise at Blue Moon Gift Shops. The pairing with Camille's, however, makes plenty of sense because a bride shopping in Camille's may want to shop for attire for her honeymoon, too! 

I'm a big fan of the store and its abundance of jersey wrap dresses that seem to flatter every shape under the sun. The chevron dress is one of my favorites!

 The other merchandise reminds me of warm, sunny days on the coast - something we're still experiencing here in Wilmington, despite the fact it's the dead of winter! Many of the garments are thin enough to layer for transitional wear, and ideal for those who are planning a vacay in the near future.

Cute tops!

And peep these adorable shorts!

Tons of trendy jewelry for the spring!

To check out the store, visit Wyoma Road at Camille's at 7134 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28411.

And if you need me to pick up a few items on your behalf, Contact Me. My personal shopping clients receive special deals at Wyoma Road and many other boutiques in town!

Style Stop: Look Hot When It's Cold

I'm stoked about my new style segments with WWAY NewsChannel 3 (Wilmington, N.C.)!

The biweekly "Good Morning Carolina" segment will be called "Style Stop" and will air around 6:45 a.m. on every other Monday. On the show, I'll talk about the latest trends, stylish events and more!

Here's this week's episode. Be sure to tune in on Monday, December 30 for the next installment! 

Shop the Look
Jessica is wearing a Talbots Sparkle Tweed Jacket, with an Ann Taylor Loft blouse.
Bria is wearing Faux-Fur Vest, Dot Jacquard Scarf and Audrey Cashmere Sweater, all from Talbots.

LUX Dress Showcased at Holiday Fashion Show

I was invited to present a garment from my consignment store LUX at the TMW Modeling and Productions Holiday Fashion Show last night! Looks like the dress was a big hit! Model Lynne Jones sported the dress and it looked amazing! 

The dress - a hooded, sequined number by ISSUU - was sold that evening!

BTS: Models and Marinas

I partnered with Sean Carr Photography, silverceiling makeup, Camille's of Wilmington, Joanne Miranda Designs and The Sailfish at Scotts Hill Marina to pull together a cool advertising shoot! This project was one of my favorites because I actually had a chance to partner with Joanne Miranda Designs to create some pretty beautiful bridal accessories featured on model Britani Storey.

Take a peek at the behind the scenes video (courtesy of The Good Life Film Co.) and a few of my favorite images.

Models and Marinas from Matt Evans on Vimeo.

Model Britani Storey dons the headpiece and hand bling Joanne Miranda
and I designed specifically for the project!

Model Lily Nicole looked stunning in this dress!

This was a beautiful landscape shot of model Lydia Chandler overlooking the
Intracoastal Waterway in Porters Neck, N.C.

The Right Dress For the Nontraditional Bride

It's officially wedding season, and this is when the Agency receives tons of calls from brides wanting to know how to choose the right wedding dress. The process is different for every woman, but is particularly challenging for the nontraditional bride.

If you're looking for an alternative wedding gown that demonstrates your interest in fashion or showcases your personality, you'll definitely want to listen to these tips!

Alternative Bridal Dresses -- powered by ehow

New Online Consignment Shop!

I recently launched an online consignment store called LUX (Lenore's Upscale Xchange). The name "Lenore" is based off of my middle name.  I'm a huge fan of consignment stores and wanted to make beautiful garments obtainable with affordable pricing. I'm off to a small start, but hope to expand to more clothing and sizes soon!

So take a moment to check out the new store at www.ConsignedLux.com!

First Lady Style

It's always wonderful to see history unfold in front of our eyes, especially when it's the second inauguration for the first black president of the United States of America. Millions of viewers tuned in to watch President Barack Obama's inauguration. And regardless of political preferences, there was no doubt that fashion enthusiasts would have plenty to say about First Lady Michelle Obama's outfit choice.

Her swearing-in ensemble was a beautiful one designed by Reed Krakoff. The blue dress was a variation of what we've seen on the First Lady before. An A-line dressed paired with a bolero or cardigan is not a new concept for Mrs. Obama's wardrobe.

Larry Downing-Pool/Getty Images

However, what I found to be stunning was her outerwear designed by Thom Browne. The coat-and-dress pairing in the navy, jacquard print was inspired by a men's necktie, which should be no surprise given Browne's background in menswear. Plus, it complimented the president's necktie of choice, which was blue (at the last inauguration, he wore red).

The pop of color with the J. Crew gloves was a beautiful way to top off the ensemble. And did I mention my love for the bangs! Her look was fresh and modern take on a very classic silhouette, which is totally befitting for the occasion. 

What did you think of the First Lady's ensemble? 

Belk Spring Fashion Preview

Arlene Goldstein, the Belk vice president of trend merchandising and fashion direction, chatted with local fashion bloggers, stylists and journalists at the Belk Fashion Preview in Raleigh.

I had the opportunity to attend the Belk Fashion Preview in Raleigh this week, and was very excited to see what was around the corner for spring. The silhouettes aren't drastically different from what we've seen in the past, but the color combos will be fresh and new.

Black and white combinations are a great way to start the season. Arlene Goldestein, the Belk vice president of fashion direction and trend merchandising, considers the pairing a palette cleanser from the dark hues of the fall.  I definitely agree. There's something modern about this combination. 

Mixing pale pastels with dark colors is also a hot concept this season. 

Multiple patterns in one outfit is an ongoing trend that will have an ubiquitous presence this spring. For tips on how to collage your patterns, check out my post on Power Prints. 

And check out a few more of the trends! 

Lace will be one of the most dominant textiles for the spring. You'll see it in all sorts of hues. And white will be a huge color this season, too. Not just white dresses, but white shoes, accessories and more!

Statement jewelry is a must-have, especially with necklaces. And don't forget your prints!

So what are you looking forward to wearing this spring?

Springing Ahead to Spring

For the next few days, the weather will be warm and sunny in Wilmington. It'll be so warm that you may confuse the dead of winter with the early days of spring. So why not take this time to revel in what's to come for the next season?

The Pantone Fashion Color Report, released last fall, revealed a palette filled with muted pastels and exuberant brights. Now that it's 70 degrees outside, I can actually imagine wearing these beautiful colors!

Basking in today's pleasant sunniness has me thinking of warm color combos, such as  Linen, Poppy Red and Nectarine - colors that are sure to be strong power players in the local retail market. 

What spring colors are you looking forward to wearing?

Scandal Style: Olivia Pope

Every woman loves the simple, yet confident style of "Scandal's" Olivia Pope. She's strong, brazen and effortlessly chic in every outfit she's seen in. It's not hard to pull off an Pope-inspired ensemble on your own, just stick to your basics:

The Suit Jacket: Many of Pope's blazers have a special detailing in the silhouette that give her that extra oomph. Whether its a stand collar or a flattering peplum, she knows how to make a statement with her jackets.

The Tailored Trouser: Not too tight, not too lose. Most of Pope's trousers have a straight leg to skim over her slim figure. If you're a bit curvier than Pope, aim for a wide leg pant to achieve a similar look.

The Sassy Sheath: On occasion, you'll see the Fixer wearing a dress, and when you do, it'll be a flattering sheath paired with a stunning overcoat.

*Style Tip* Look for these basics in muted neutrals and pastels.

Scandal Style: The Olivia Pope Look by jdagency featuring talbots

Ann Taylor sheath dress
anntaylor.com

Talbot
talbots.com

Checkered jacket
thelimited.com

Low rise pants
express.com

Power Prints

Graphics and prints were a huge hit on the spring 2013 runways, and clashing multiple patterns in one look has been a trend for quite some time now. Yet, I still have clients who aren't quite sure how to tackle the trend on their own.

If you're ready to start the new year off with a stylish bang, let's get you up to speed on the art of mixing prints.

Mix colors in the same color family. 

Proenza Schouler, Spring 2013

Avoid mixing two bold patterns at once. It'll look too busy and will overwhelm the eye. Think one subtle print with a bolder graphic. 

Sunday Life Magazine, Copyright 2012 (Styling by The JD Agency)

 Peg your look with neutral accessories and shoes.

Sunday Life Magazine, Copyright 2012 (styling by The JD Agency)