Beach: Thongs
No, not the kind in your boudoir

I have been know to parade around everywhere in 5-inchers (yes, even at the supermarket!) but sometimes you just need something practical. Beach sandals should be durable, but always cute! An alternative to the boring old flip-flop? The ‘Fit’ by Havaianas is an adorable rubber slingback thong and comes in a rainbow of colors.  At just $28, get a pair to match each of your bikinis.

Brunch: Gladiators
Sparta never looked this good

Yep, they’re still around and better than ever. Gladiator sandals are gracing the displays of every shoe shop and department store window.  This summer there is nothing more chic for your feet. Splurge on a pair in a neutral tone— you’ll keep reaching for them time and time again. Try BCBG’s ‘Irmah’ sandal, $111 at bluefly.com.

Bar: Wedges
A step up on the competition

Tall and chunky meet to make the perfect, sexy summer shoe. From jeans and leggings, to sundresses and shorts, a wedge complements any look and makes your legs worthy of a double take. Bebe makes some of the fiercest shoes, and their summery espadrille-style denim wedge is no exception. Pick your poision–‘Steffi’ is available in black, white or traditional blue denim,  $114.95 from zappos.com.

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Remember back in middle school art class when you learned about complementary colors? They’re opposite each other on the color wheel—red and green, orange and blue, and purple and yellow.

At first glance, these colors do not appear to go together at ALL. But if you take some great pieces from each color palette and stick them together, the results can be surprising. Take orange and blue, for example. Since the advent of denim, blue has almost become a neutral, and I bet you wouldn’t bat an eye at anyone wearing an orange shirt with jeans. Yet the thought of wearing blue heels with an orange sundress is intimidating to some. But is it really that different? Either way, you have a pop from the bright color—orange—and a visually interesting pair of colors.

Model: Starr B. - Photo by Aristotle Olay for FASHIFY.COM

The other pairs of complementary colors also have one popping color and one more subdued color, since they put together a warm and a cool. Yellow, in particular, is a fantastic way to add a point of visual interest to your outfits, especially in a handbag. A fantastic yellow bag with a purple peacoat or purple dress will draw a lot of second glances—in a good way—and you can do the same with the reverse of a rich, royal purple bag and a yellow skirt or shoes. If you don’t go for bright, try a goldenrod hue or a purple so dark that it’s nearly neutral.

Fashion Tearsheet from FASHIFY Magazine. Photo by Aristotle Olay for FASHIFY.COM

Red and green might be the two trickiest complementaries to pair because of the dreaded Christmas tree look. No one wants to look like a walking holiday, but it is possible to put these two shades together without looking like an ugly sweater party. The key is to pick shades that are a bit off—camo green with maroon, for example, or, if you’re really adventurous, neon green with a bright berry red. It’s also important to remember that these touches should be subtle.

Designs by Viviana G, on Runway at Miami International Fashion Week 2010 - Photo by Aristotle Olay for FASHIFY.COM

Rather than coordinating your whole outfit with alternating reds and greens, sling a bright-red bag over your shoulder and wear an emerald scarf or a dark-green pencil skirt with it.
Color-coding your closet already? I know I am!

This post was contributed by Brenda Hineman, who writes about Halloween costumes over at StarCostumes.

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The fashion industry has not escaped the financial melee of the down economy. Many models have noticed that fewer opportunities are being made available in markets such as New York, Miami, Los Angeles. And as a result casting directors, advertisers, clothing lines, boutiques, even photographers, and makeup artists only want to work with the best models, with the best attitudes. These gatekeepers of fashion jobs can either hire or decline a model’s submission based on whether they fit into these two categories: Wanna-be Model or Gonna-Be Model.

Who would be considered a Wannabe Model?

With reality TV shows like America’s Next Top Model (ANTM), Project Runway, Make Me a Model, Keeping up with The Kardashians, and Kell on Earth promoting the excitement and spoils of the fashion industry, it makes sense that impressionable minds would want to follow in that world of designer clothes, runways, and casting calls. However, these people often times aren’t willing to do what it takes to follow this dream to the fullest, putting themselves in the class of Model Wanna-bes.

If you fit these descriptions, you’re a certified Wanna-beModel/Actor/Actress:

• Modeling is not your job. It is your hobby.
• You don’t treat every gig/shoot with the same respect as a paid one. Losing a possibly large opportunity and burning bridges in the process, wasting production’s time when you no-show.
• You are scatter-brained and nonchalant in your communication.

Bottom-line: People remember you in a negative light. Depending if you do this enough times, you are “black-balled” in a way. You can never assume who-know-who.When your name is brought up or you are seen at an industry event

Who would be considered a Gonna-Be Model?

Having natural talent, good looks, and a pleasant personality is helpful, but success in the fashion & talent industry requires much more. You have to be determined, and you have to be professional. You’ll need to know your limitations and work with people that provide constructive criticism so that you are aware of those limitations.

If you fit these descriptions, you’re a certified Gonna-be Model/Actor/Actress:

• You put every ounce of your being into researching possible job opportunities online, networking, word-of-mouth, and sharpening your skill in any and every way you find available to you.
• You treat every gig/shoot with the same respect as a paid one.
• You read instructions and details. Your communication is also clear and concise.
• You are on time, make the necessary preparation for every casting, every photo shoot, and video shoot.

Bottom-line: People remember you in a positive light, and even sometimes give you referrals because of your work ethic.

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The Fur Vest

The faux fur vest is the surprise hit of the season.  Animal-friendly, oh so soft and goes great with everything.  This vest, from NYC & Company is a pocket-friendly $34.95.

The Plum Dress

Purple is everywhere.  It’s THE  way to bring new color to your wardrobe.  This dress by Merona for Target has a flattering waist and bell sleeves and comes in a rich plum that just sings Fall.  At $24.95, the price is as attractive as the dress.

The Peep Toe Shootie

The peep toe shootie is sexy and fresh.  Best worn ultra modern, the peep toe shootie is flirty and fashionable.  Overstock.com features the Adi Designs peep toe shootie in three colors at $29.95.  Your only problem is figuring out which color to get.

The Jegging

A cross between a jean and a legging, the jegging has the silhouette of a legging , but hides jiggles and panty lines like a jean.  Paired with a chunky sweater and boots, it’s your go-to weekend look for Fall.  Nine West is styling a dark wash jegging for an amazing $59.00.

The Chunky Cable Knit

Both a trend and a fashion staple, this sweater can be layered with a long sleeve top underneath or alone and can be paired with jeggings and belted or work alone over jeans.  American Eagle’s cozy version is a steal at $49.50.

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Coco Chanel

Coco Chanel’s name literally means style and fashion.

Become this fashion icon by wearing the classic little black dress made famous by Chanel herself.  Top with a little tweed jacket (or any black and white jacket), strands of pearls and classic pumps.  Carry a perfume bottle with the famous double C  logo. Oh la la!  C’est magnifique. Chanel quilted purse optional.

Anna Wintour

Forget vampires – for a truly scary Halloween, turn into Anna Wintour and really put fear into the heart of every woman at the party.

Wear a red suit or surprisingly simple top and skirt, lots of dead animal (please make it faux), large sunglasses.  Fix your hair in the famous Wintour bob.  Carry the latest issue of Vogue and a Starbucks.  Doting assistants and entourage optional.

Rachel Zoe

Have everyone at the party “go bananas”  when you walk in as neurotic, loveable celebrity stylist  and reality show star, Rachel Zoe.

Pair bell bottom jeans with a boho style hippie top, circa 1970’s.  Platform shoes (the higher the better) are the footwear of the evening.  Top with a faux fur vest (if you don’t already have one, this is a great Fall trend piece to buy), tons of jewelry and rings on every finger.  Messy blond hair and huge sunglasses seal the deal.  Gay male assistant or moody female assistant optional.  I Die!

Princess Diana

Princess Diana was fashion royalty, always beautiful, elegant and graceful.

To channel your inner Princess Di, wear a ballgown (bridesmaid dress or old prom dress will do) for elegant princess or jeans and a turtleneck for daywear princess.  Style your hair in the iconic Diana ‘do and top with a tiara.  Don’t forget to wave at your subjects all night.  Prince Charles optional (very optional).

Audrey Hepburn

Ahh – Audrey Hepburn will forever be the symbol of grace and style.

Have your Halloween at Tiffany’s by wearing a simple black dress, ballet flats and pearl choker.  Style your hair in an updo and add a tiara.  Wear dark glasses and make a cigarette holder out of black rolled paper embellished with jewels.  Moon River playing in the background optional.

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe was the ultimate sex kitten.  Spice up this Halloween by remembering the phrase Gentlemen Prefer Blonds and vamping the night away as Ms. Monroe.

Wear a White Halter Dress or tight red strapless dress, long satin gloves and lots of bling – remember – diamonds are a girl’s best friend.  Lots of black eyeliner and RED lips finish off the look.  Sex kitten attitude mandatory, A breathy chorus of “Happy Birthday Mr. President” optional (but always fun).

Carrie Bradshaw

Sometimes a character becomes so imbedded in our lives that they become “real”.  Strut into the party as the world’s most fabulous fashion victim, Carrie Bradshaw.

Tear your closet open and put on every bit of designer you can find – nothing matching.  This is your time to shine, girlfriend.  Wear that Dolce & Gabanna pink top with the Chloe ruffled skirt!  Or, find a pink tutu and pair with a tank.  Wear your pointiest highest heels and lots of crazy accessories. Pile it on – the more the better.  Cosmopolitan mandatory – your three fabulous best friends optional.

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With a height of 5′6.5 according to Wikipedia. Kate Moss has been an unstoppable force for almost past a decade now.
Magazine after magazine, runway after runway, campaign after campaign, backs up the fact: height is not necessarily the main factor that governs the success of a fashion model. The “it” factor is what stands the test of time. Every client is looking for the model who can represent their brand and stimulate the senses of the consumer in every way.

Kate Moss Calvin Klein Print Advertisement

The “it” factor is what does it. “It” can be anything the client wants it to be. A look.A demeanor. A presence. An attitude.
Don’t fret if you don’t land that audition, or book that casting. It’s not a cold, flat-out rejection. Unless the client tells you otherwise,
you just didn’t have what they were looking at that particular time,for that particular gig. Fine. Let it discourage you.
Let it urk you for a bit. But don’t let it defeat you. Your individual “it” factor may not work for them, but it doesn’t mean it
wont work for everyone and anyone other client.Remember, if you don’t believe you have “it”, how will anyone else believe?

Kate Moss as clearly seen standing next to Diddy, has a short stature, yet is compelling force in fashion industry. Photo courtesy of Vogue Magazine (October 2009)

SIDE NOTE: As you can see, Diddy has been making fashion faux pas even in 1999 with his pimp coat.

Diddy ringing in sales at Sean John. Photo courtesy of Vogue Magazine (October 2009)

In a more recent photo,Diddy was pictured at Fashion’s Night Out in NYC on September 10th trying to bring back “grillz” and a Mr.T chain. If I recall correctly, Nelly’s single “Grillz” came out in 2006. Its now practically 2010. Diddy,for the sake of your remaining fans, myself included, please stick to the “Sean John Billboard in Times Square” look. Please. (Please?)

Other interesting celebrity height facts FYI according Google research:
**Gia Carangi was- 5′7 (has a must read bio)
Eva Pigford – 5′6.5
Audrey Hepburn – 5′7
Twiggy from ANTM – 5′6
Marilyn Monroe – 5′5.5
Alicia Keys – 5′6
Shakira – 5′2

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Stacks of the Nicole Williams book "Girl on Top" were available for purchasing at her book launch party held at Dadeland’s Limited mega-store.

Nicole Williams and The Limited Reveal the Ten Commandments of Style at the book release party for "Girl on Top"

The evening featured wine-in-a-box by Yellow & Blue (apparently it’s making a comeback) and yogurt by Yogurbella, a book signing by Williams, a whopping 40% off the entire store to all the lucky gals who made it that evening and a Limited Fall Fashion Show illustrating the Girl on Top Ten Commandments of Style at work.

Nicole Williams, rocking a strapless leopard print dress, MC’d the fashion show.

Author Williams, rocking a strapless leopard print dress (part of the new upscale Limited Fall line), MC’d the fashion show.  A great evening of fashion and witty advice for all.

The Girl on Top Ten Commandments of Style are:

1. Know your body.

2. Choose classic over trendy.

3. Fit trumps quality.

4. Splurge when necessary (or keep the tags on!).

5. Mind your (panty) lines.

6. Black is always back.

7. Good shoes can transform an outfit.

8. Accessorize in moderation.

9. Learn how to layer.

10. Turn to the experts.

You can pick up a copy of Girl on Top by Nicole Williams at Amazon.com.

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The recession has hit the world economy hard – there’s not a segment of business that hasn’t been effected.  Even the seemingly recession-proof Vogue magazine has been hit by the economy, with internal memos being leaked asking executives to tone down their business expenses.  But Fall season is here and along with the crisp weather come new trends and the itch to add some key pieces to spice up the wardrobe.  What’s a girl to do?

The answer to all your fashion on a budget dilemmas is the consignment store.  Consignment stores have long been the hidden secret of the fashion elite.  After all, could a famous socialite or actress be photographed in the same outfit twice?  Never!  And what about that last pair of Prada MaryJanes just a half size too small but at a price to die for?  Well, that little tightness turned into agony that first time you wore them so….off to the consignment store.

Consignment stores are a treasure trove of fashion finds.  Expect to pay anywhere between 40-80% off retail, but remember…designer labels come with large price tags even at consignment stores so you won’t likely find a Chanel purse for ten bucks – but you will find like-new clothing and accessories, some with the tags still on, at a bargain price.

Carin Kirby of Consign of the Times in South Beach showed us a few of today’s trends and key pieces that can be found at her store at a fraction of their original cost:

Christian Louboutin shooties (Note the famous red soles)

Giuseppi Zanotti snakeskin gladiator pump

Trendy or classic – at consignment prices why not get both?  Louis Vuitton fringe hippie bucket and classic burgundy Chanel hobo

Louis Vuitton satchel with animal accents

Every woman needs a classic Chanel jacket – paired with a little black dress or jeans, the Chanel Jacket is timeless.

Photo Credits: Laine Doss

Consign of the Times is located at 1635 Jefferson Avenue Miami Beach, just off Lincoln Road or you can visit their wensite at www.consignofthetimes.com.

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I started off by paying a modeling school to train me on how to walk the runway, pose for photos, and how to apply makeup for professional photography. Although I could have learned these skills on my own – without paying for training – I did benefit from the walking and makeup lessons, which helped my confidence as a young adult to break away from my awkward teenage stage.

In all, if you decide to get into modeling do not pay anyone for training. Most of the time models are discovered by a legit modeling agency like Ford, and Elite. Sometimes you are required to pay some money for your comp cards, but this should only be a percentage from your paycheck that you will get from your modeling assignments. Legit modeling agencies will also require that at least 20% will come out of your modeling paycheck, and this helps their agency to pay bills and  their staff. If you are a discovered model, you won’t be worrying about the 20% too much.

If you are petite like me and so happen to not be discovered you can start modeling voluntarily within your community, for tea room apparel and runway shows, through your local women’s groups and fashion boutiques.

If you have Adobe Photoshop and some great 5×7 card stock for your printer and some great photos that a local Photographer had helped you obtain by trading your time and his time for prints, then you are all set to make up your own professional looking modeling comp/zed cards, to market yourself to legit modeling agencies. Be sure to look up modeling comp card styles on the internet, which includes zoning professional modeling websites to see their preferred format.

Looks are seasonal within the fashion industry and their is tons of competition, so keep in mind that if you are not discovered, you are still a beautiful person, with opportunities only if you keep trying.

Remember to check out your local Photographers for TFP shoots and your communities event coordinators, women’s groups and boutiques for your own modeling assignments to build your resume and to work towards a paid modeling career. Have fun and feel beautiful.

Photography by: FASHIFY Magazine

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TFP is an acronym for “Time For Print”, but has also been referred to as “Trade For Print” which has since evolved into TFCD –meaning “Trade for CD”. In a TFP photoshoot or a TFCD shoot, you as a model trade your time with a photographer to shoot and produce images that can be used your modeling portfolio and the photographer’s portfolio. You don’t pay the photographer for your shots. The photographer doesn’t pay you for the time you’ve spent working on the shoot.

Q. So how do I book a TFP shoot with a photographer?
A. There’s a few ways to book a TFP shoot with a photographer.

1. Ask photographers directly if you they shoot TFP. Photographers are often updating their portfolios. Google search photogs in your area. Visit their websites and see if they make reference to their availability to TFP shoots. If they openly decline TFP requests, or state that they’re only accepting paid shoots, then do not ask them to shoot a TFP shoot.
2. Join an online modeling community. Online communities like ModelMayhem and OneModelPlace are a great place to meet other models, photographers, and fashion professionals like makeup artists, and wardrobe stylists. You can usually search for photographer profiles and read up on their availibility to take on TFP shoots. For models browsing ModelMayhem, rather than contact photographers directly, you may have better luck booking TFP shoots by placing a casting call for photographers. Make sure you post good headshots and full body shots in your own portfolios so that photogs will know what they are working with.
3. Search Craiglists. Searching the classified ads of Craigslists for TFP opportunities may help you find photographers that are casting models for their portfolios. Make you sure respond with links to your current modeling portfolio, and your shoot availability.

Keep in mind, when meeting with anyone from any online community you do your research on the photographer, and see what other models they’ve worked with. Ask other fashion professionals for their review on the photog, his or her personality, and their shooting style. This will allow you to find the right photographer and be safe at the same time.

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