Kawji Fashion Blog

You always have to think about how you look. If gold is the color of the minute, consider this: are you tan? If so, gold will heighten your complexion, so if you like it, go for it. I myself am very pale; gold tends to make pale people look washed out, even sallow. You know what looks fantastic on us? Silver.

Skinny jeans look good on girls with slender, lanky figures. If you are curvy and tall, wide legged jeans are going to make you look stellar. Curvy and short? Not so wide legged.

If you understand the essential, fundamental differences between style and fashion, you will be better able to decide what trends will work for you. Style is an art; fashion is cool, but it tends to be transitory — just like trends. What is fashionable today will not be fashionable tomorrow … but what is stylish is generally classic for a good long time.

Trends. They are so tempting. But come on, we have to be honest with ourselves, we cannot always pull them off for one reason or another. Me, I am short and not a size 2, so skinny jeans are never going to look good on me. And many times, trends are not only passing, but they are too expensive and, well, unattractive, to waste money on in the first place. For instance, one trend in facial hair right now is to shave off or bleach one’s eyebrows. Uhm … why?

So, let’s talk about when to just let the trends go. Let’s talk about how to keep things in perspective.

A trend may be super hot, but that does not mean that it’s right for you. You might see it in Vogue or Harper’s Bazaar or even another, more applicable fashion mag — but remember that the models wearing that particular trend have the benefit of professional stylists … and professional airbrushing.

If there is one trend that is never going to go ahead – it is going to be makeup.  Makeup is something that is constantly going to be around and women … and men alike are going to constantly wear it, however when you do wear it – isn’t it fantastic to have some beautiful brushes that actually work and make your makeup super easy to put on?  That is what the Sephora Glitter Eye Shadow Brush is all about.

This particular silicone tipped applicator is absolutely beautiful!  It really does what a lot of brushes can’t, for it allows you to put that sparkly glitter on your eyes just where you want it to go and nowhere else.  It also allows for it to actually stay put – which is something that a lot of brushes can not promise.

That is why I think that you should spend the thirteen dollars and pick up this little beauty – the Sephora Glitter Eye Shadow Brush remember!

For those of you that are in love with the holiday that is coming up … you are probably trying to think of exactly what to be.  Honestly, I have been racking my brain of what I am going to wear or be for Halloween until I came up with something that is not only fashionable but awesome!  Twiggy!  This fashion icon is one that has been loved by many people and honestly … I can’t wait!

Now, if you are trying to get the Twiggy look, it is not all that hard, you will however need two sets of false eyelashes.  One that is very full and dark and the second to be kind of sparse and spiky; it is going to work, I promise!

Sculpt lid out from the tear duct to outer corner with matte gray shadow – be very exaggerated and rounded and arc it like a rainbow. Then, take a near-white silver shimmer eye shadow and apply boldly to lid and brow bone.  Then you use some liquid black eyeliner and you are all set!

I will never understand why, but the fashions popularized in the 1980s are coming back, and people are getting into it. So although it hurts my heart a little bit, I would be terribly remiss if I didn’t tell you how to make it work for you.

The 1980s goes high end, thanks to fashions offered by BCBG, Stella McCartney, Louis Vuitton, and others.

Remember, this was a decade known for its excess; it was all about money and power.

So you need black tights and leggings in metallic shades. You need to channel Le Palace and, of course, Studio 54 — go watch the movie, peeps, you at least get to see Ryan Phillipe half naked.

Power suits are back, along with exaggerated shoulders getting paired with nipped in, tight waists. Silhouettes should be triangular, jersey tunics are the rage, and fetish boots that graze the hips are in, in, in.

For your color palette, go black with shades of grey — but day glo neon colors are back, too.

Go punk. Really, even I can’t complain about punk.

Look for sequins, wear leather, find some fur (or faux fur), and make sure you go red lip.

Retro glam is a growing trend, the likes of which can be both elegant and edgy — if it is done right. The problem is, it is hard to discover the right components to make new trends work for you, so in the upcoming weeks, we at Kawji are going to take a look at some of the individual facets for the hottest trends, so you can pick and choose to put together a look that works for you.

With retro glam, think the Golden Age of Hollywood as a base and a starting point. Look at what John Galliano is doing for Christian Dior, especially in terms of the flapper and 1920s Orientalism.

Shimmers and shines will do you will, as will the surrealist glamor tricks straight from the 1930s — think Dali, Man Ray, and Cocteau.

Think Joan Crawford and the austere elegance of the 1940s. Go dark and somber, think perfectly tailored jackets (see Prada) and draped dresses.

Karl Lagerfeld is actually one of those designers that I have been obsessed with since forever.  His clean and crisp lines as well as the fact that he has one of the most breathtaking collections in the world makes it easy to see that Karl Lagerfeld is going places; after all, have you seen his latest collection?  The Karl Lagerfeld collection for spring is full of all sorts of surprises.

For example, I did not expect to see a lot of the high-waisted shorts as well as the beautiful cropped jackets or even some of the high-neck shirts that he placed on his models.  All of that was beautiful and his color scheme?  Well, black and white was most of it but some brown was in there as well.

So keep an eye on Karl Lagerfeld – this is a designer that is taking it to the next level!

It has to be said that Prada is one of those companies that I never would have thought would come out with something ugly – however I think that they have outdone themselves this time.  Really, I thought that these types of boots are the ones that belong in the fishing pond and that’s all.

While I am still – totally skeptical about how this look actually translates into a street-wearable look, but I guess … since models are adopting it, the streets of NYC are going to be littered with everyone wearing Prada’s Thigh-High Fishing Waders.

If you want to look dumb … you should invest in Prada’s Thigh-High Fishing Waders – if you don’t, well save you pennies!

Remember how we were talking about deconstruction the other day? Well, this is a great example of what I meant by that.

Rodarte, with sister designers Laura and Kate Mulleavy at the helm, are the driving force behind this upcoming arts and crafts fad. We will be seeing lots of dresses evocative of cobwebs, for instance, and collages made of things like sandpaper silk, lace, leather, and cheesecloth in burnt plaids.

There will be a whole lot of braiding to be seen as well. Rodarte is weaving skirts and vests out of leather braid. Caroline Herrera has debuted a vest with rope weaving. Chado Ralph Rucci went one better and is offering a fabulous braided leather jacket, complete with tassels along the hem. Even Diane von Furstenberg has gone mad for macrame.

You might be thinking that it is way too early to start worrying about the fashion trends which will be showing up in spring of 2010, but come on! It is never too early to be prepared, right?

One thing that will be looming on the horizon is brightness. Although a lot of designers are going for deconstructed, monochromatic styles, many more recognize that bright, bold colors and lots of shine will be needed to put some vibrancy back into life after a long, cold, grey winter.

Designers are using sequins, as you can see in this coat dress designed by Phillip Lim. DKNY is following suit, as is Michael Kors.

There will also be plenty of prints, from dip dyes to floors to animal prints and even Rorschach inspired patterns!