Moda Por Menos: Summer Style with ASOS New Look!!

Summer is almost halfway over, but the day parties, rooftop cocktails and  backyard BBQ’s are still going strong! With six weeks (including the birthday of yours truly) left till Labor Day I thought it would be a great time to do a MPM for some summer inspiration-and luckily BLF fave ASOS was here to help out! Scroll below for our guide to this seasons trends courtesy of ASOS’ newest addition NEW LOOK:

 

Bold mixed and tribal prints are showing up everywhere, and Rocsi totally WERKS this look! She lets her top do the talking by keeping her accessories neutral (plus, what else do you need to say when your legs look like THAT), and pairing it with denim cutoffs. You can turn heads at your next house party with this mixed print top (click pictures for links):

 

Pair with ASOS Low-Rise Denim Shorts and have fun!

 

White on white never goes out of style for summer, and Adrienne Bailon makes it pop by mixing textures (can I pause for a second to pay homage to Adrienne’s makeup artist? She STAYS flawless). Keep it simple at your next rooftop date (or in my case, an all-white birthday) with this crochet-accented dress:

 

Flowers optional!

 

 

Bailon again takes us to this summer’s love of prints by remixing it on bodycon dresses! There’s a day party in your future, and you know there’s someone you want to impress but not appear you’re trying too hard, so slip on one of these numbers with metallic sandals and pair with beach-y waves for effortless chic.

 

 

 

And last but not least, Rocsi shows us how it’s done when you have a hot summer date with a dare-to-wear cutout dress!

They’ve found a way to put a slit, hole or illusion panel in almost every article of clothing it seems this summer, and I have to say…I’m not that brave. So I found a cutout dress I can deal with:

 

Pair with a pop-of-color shoe and a bright lip and that’s all the bold I need!

So what are your favorite summer trends so far?

I’VE GOT A SECRET (The Curvy Socialite & Ideeli)

Congratulations to BLF pal The Curvy Socialite on her partnership with Ideeli!! Be sure to check in for great Plus-Size offerings!

The Curvy Socialite

In recent weeks I have been on this mission to “curate” my life. I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting ready to start a new chapter (stay tuned my darlings….all will be revealed in due time) but I have been on a “de-cluttering” kick. Paring down and “lightening” up your environment is a great way to make room for new things. .

So part of this new chapter has me changing up my style a bit…”upgrading” my fashion sense so to speak. My very late “spring cleaning” has me at a point that my closet is nearly empty. Between what I have donated, given away or sold…there really isn’t much left in the wardrobe. This near Herculean (lol…see my reference to this summer’s certain blockbuster… I can’t wait to see Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in the movie about the ancient Greek hero) task has me trolling…er..browsing the internet looking for…

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Moda por Menos-the Lupita Edition!!!

We are back with the first MpM of the new year!

I have been following awards season since the beginning of January, and by far the red-carpet standout was 12 Years a Slave’s  Lupita Nyong’o!

Taking award season by storm, Miss Nyong’o has rarely a misstep on the red carpet. Sticking to a basic style formula that highlights her best assets, glowing skin and flawless makeup, Lupita’s effortless look is one of the easiest to adapt into your own wardrobe. Let’s check out some of her looks below!

The self-admitted shopping averse starlet relies on her stylist Micaela Erlanger to piece together her signature look (which NY Magazine coined “bold minimalism“), focusing on bright basics and creative remixes of classic silhouettes. First up, the sheath!

Lupita’s defined arms take the stage here. Her stylist takes a bold approach to a simple silhouette by playing with texture and color. Nyong’o sticks to primary colors to let her skin really pop.

For this take on the sheath you can experiment by trying a texture you would not normally choose, such as this Adrianna Papell Embellished Mixed Texture Sheath:

Or a bold primary color, like this KAMALIKULTURE sheath:

Both under $100 dollars!

Next, her stylist personalizes the classic V-neck:

Here Lupita’s hourglass figure is the star. The multi-lingual actress (fun fact: Nyong’o was born in Mexico to Kenyan parents and speaks fluent Spanish) lets her hips do the talking and keeps the dress simple with minimal accessories.

Be the star of your next event with this take from LuLu’s at a mere $36 dollars:

Or jazz up after-work cocktails with this desk-to-dinner frock from ASOS:

And finally, Lupita has a little fun with mixed prints!

By far the most fashion-forward of her red-carpet looks, her stylist creatively pairs prints with fun textures to give her a youthful edge.

You can add a little “pop” to your next brunch with these paisley shorts by J-Crew:

Or give structure to a colored pant with this textured blazer from Alfani:

Lupita has definitely been my girl crush for this awards season! What have your favorite looks been so far?

Moda Por Menos- Inauguration Style!

The pomp and pageantry was on full tilt for the Inauguration of our 44th President’s second term. With all of the awe-inspiring “firsts” out of the way, we get to highlight what everyone wants to talk about- the fashion! From balls to lunches, processions to award ceremonies, both pundits and Hollywood elite made a statement and showed off their signature style. While us mere mortals do not have inexhaustible access to Pucci, Wu and Louboutin, why should they have all the fun? Let’s see how we can make their signature looks more accessible, shall we?

THE GOWNS:

Being a pageant girl, this is always my favorite to watch! This Inauguration saw complete opposites taking center stage: on one end intricate designs featuring paneling and burnouts, and on the other simple silhouettes using jersey fabric and solid colors.

Both Michelle Obama and Beyonce Knowles went the ornate route using detailing and burnouts to accent their silhouettes. The First Lady stunned in Jason Wu opting to let the dress shine with simple accents:

While Mrs. Knowles-Carter opted for full-on Texas style with a Pucci dress accented with Lorraine Schwartz Emeralds and big hair.

To emulate FLOTUS’ gorgeous patterns I turned to an eveningwear standby of mine Adian Mattox. This dress offers the same silhouette and metallic accents in a dress that can be used for both daytime and evening events (CLICK HERE to snag it for yourself):

While both Jovani and Adian Mattox offer options for Beyonce’s stunning look:

On the other end, entertainment mavens opted for dresses with solid colors and simple details. Alicia Keys wowed in this Michael Kors gown and let her back do the talking;

While Eva Longoria hosted the Latino Inaugural 2013 at The Kennedy Center in simple yet stunning Vivienne Westwood;

Jovani offers a similar backless gown with a hint of sparkle for a fraction of the price:

While LaFemme gives you the strapless style with a few extra accents:

DAY DRESSES:

And let’s not forget the daytime style! The lovely ladies again brought their A-game in stylish-yet-tasteful cocktail attire. The First Lady wowed in Reed Krakoff for POTUS’ Sunday swearing-in:

While Rosario Dawson and Eva Longoria rocked their frocks while highlighting achievements in the Latino Community:

Elie Tahari provides an appropriate alternative for Mrs. Obama’s A-line frock:

While Asos and Venus help us out with Rosario’s and Eva’s looks!

Now, all we need are some er…”occasions”!!

Those were my favorite looks, what were yours?

Moda Por Menos; The Scandal Edition!!

So I, like most other women, am on the edge of my seat for this evening’s season premier of Scandal on ABC; not just for Columbus Short (**fans self**) but for Kerry Washington’s envious style!!

Unfortunately we do not all have acces to that mega-closed full of Neiman Marcus & Jimmy Choos, so your favorite chica has broken down Olivia’s Scandalous style and made it affordable for you! So let’s get started;

One of the most important things to note about Olivia’s style is that the most attention is paid to fit and detail. There are few embellishments and she rarely shows off leg or décolletage-the emphasis is on the silhouette. The best place to start is with the proper foundation undergarments:

While Spanx® is one of my favorite lines; $32 for a pair of hosiery may not be your thing. Luckily they have a budget-friendly Assets® by Sara Blakely® line at Target! Their high-waist mid-shaper is perfect for both skirted and pant outfits and is just $16 bucks:

 

Next we build the silhouette with basic staples that can be layered, dressed up or stand alone. You definitely want these key staples:

A Sheath Dress: It must have enough structure to stand alone, and be fitted enough as to not bulk up your layering. I prefer to have shapers built in, like this Sheath Dress with Power-Mesh Control by Shape fx® for Spiegel:

Or if you prefer your shaping separate, this basic sheath from Liz Claiborne for JC Penney makes a perfect addition without straining your budget:

A Pencil Skirt in a Strong Fabric: You want to have a structured skirt with a hint of stretch to serve as a strong base to compliment softer tops or jackets. Olivia keeps most of her tops and jackets feminine (for example, utilizing shapes like peplum over boyfriend-y jackets) so you want a strong skirt to balance it out. I love NY & Co’s 7th Avenue Ponte Pencil Skirt:

A Straight-Leg Pant: Same idea as the skirt; strong fabric with a hint of stretch. These Worthington Pants from JC Penney give you plenty of room to accessorize-especially at $22 dollars!

Statement Bag: Olivia. Does. NOT. Do. Trendy. Her accessories and outerwear scream “timeless”. To get your Pope on, grab a statement bag in a neutral color, like this shoulder bag from Aldo:

Neutral Pump: Did you ever notice her shoes? I didn’t either; I just noticed her walk! Keep it simple and put-together with a basic pump, also from Aldo:

Traditional Pieces with Non-Traditional Shapes: The best part about Olivia’s style is she makes timeless items trendy by switching up the shape & detailing. A great remix for a traditional trench is this double-breasted cape style by NY & Company:

Another way they’ve remixed the basics is by playing with hard and soft detailing, like this tweed skirt with faux-lather piping by Liz Claiborne:

It is the perfect strong base for a feminine top like this one:

So there you have it; for less than $200 bucks you can get your own Scandalous Style!

Ladies, what were your fave looks from Scandal?