Spotlight on Style: The Real Housewives!

One of the popular reality shows on TV today are The Real Housewives of Atlanta and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

When these lavish ladies attend elite events, splurge on shopping sprees and host elaborate house parties, they do it in style.

Let's explore the personal styles of the Southern belles of Atlanta and the Cali queens of Beverly Hills.

NeNe
NeNe Leakes, the soon to be divorced socialite's style is what I call a
"Style Chameleon"
She likes to try different styles- edgy-rocker one day and classic cool the next.

Get her style with: leather leggings, graphic tees, minidresses, one shoulder fitted cocktail dresses, long loose dresses, skinny jeans, hoop and stud earrings etc.



Hijabi Style: darkwash straight leg/wide leg jeans or long straight skirt with long graphic tees, cocktail dress with midlength jacket or cardigan if fitted, long A-line wrap dress plus hoop and stud earrings etc.




Cynthia
Cynthia Bailey, the soon to be married model is also a
"Style Chameleon"
She will rock a bohemian chic ensemble one day and then a simple sleek look the next.

Get her style with: long loose dresses, tailored blazers and pantsuits, skinny jeans, short dresses with belts, fedoras, neckscarves, plain tees, hoop earrings etc.



Hijabi Style: maxi dresses with long sleeve shirts or cropped cardigans, pantsuit (with long blazer), Neckscarves with tucked or bun headscarf, darkwash straight leg jeans, loose short dress with belts and straight leg/wide leg pants plus hoop earrings, etc.




Sheree
Sheree Whitfield, the divorced actress in training's style is
Sleek and Sophisticated.
She likes to wear simple yet fabulous items with great tailored shapes and minimal jewelry.

Get her style with: fitted minidresses or cocktail dresses, long gowns, well-fitting straight leg or skinny jeans, elegant tops with details,statement earrings and hot heels.



Hijabi Style: mini dresses or cocktail dresses with cardigans or boyfriend blazers,long dresses with long sleeve shirts, bolero jackets or blazers, straight leg or wide leg jeans, elegant long tops with minimal details- the shorter tops with skirts, statement earrings or other jewelry and hot heels.




Kandi
Kandi Burruss, the single artist/producer's style is Edgy and Urban.
She likes to wear hip hop inspired ensembles as well as a little rocker edge.

Get her style with :graphic tees,darkwash skinny jeans,leather jackets and leggings, knee or thigh high boots with jeans tucked inside, studded accessories, large hoop earrings, black, minidresses with edgy and feminine mixes.



Hijabi Style: Long graphic tees with wide leg/straight leg darkwash jeans,leather jackets, knee or thigh high boots, studded belts,cuffs, large hoop earrings, black, minidresses with edgy and feminine mixes paired with cardigans or long sleeve shirts for the loose ones.



Phaedra
Phaedra Parks, the new mother and entertainment lawyer's style is
Classic and Glamorous.
She likes to wear classic pieces with glamorous accessories.

Get her style with: fur,cocktail dresses, button down A line shirts,trench coats, wrap dresses, pearls,shirtdresses stud earrings, cocktail rings,pumps, satchel purses.



Hijabi Style:Fur,Cocktail dresses with midlength jackets or cardigans over them if they are fitted, button down shirts with straight long skirts, trench coats, straight leg or wide leg pants with simple shirtdresses, pearl earrings or necklace, cocktail rings,satchel purses etc.



Kim
Kim Zolciak, the single pop singer's style is
Feminine and Flirty
She likes to wear pieces with feminine details like ruffles,lace, flowers and frills with other flirty details like tight fits, short lengths and deep necklines.

Get her style with: Ruffled shirts and dresses, poofy minidresses, straight leg jeans, tailored blazers, bell sleeves, v neck tees, fitted cocktail dresses, chandelier earrings, hoop earrings, hot heels, cute flats.



Hijabi Style:Ruffled shirts with straight skirts, poofy minidresses with long sleeve shirts and straight leg/wide leg pants, cocktail dresses with cardigans or jackets over if fitted,straight leg jeans, tailored blazers with skirts or tailored long blazer with wide leg pants, bell sleeves, long earrings, hoop earrings, hot heels, cute flats.




Now that we've seen how they do it Down South, let's head across the country and see how they work it on the West Coast...

Kim
Kim Richards, the single former child star's style is
Sleek and Sophisticated She likes to wear simple yet fabulous items with great flattering shapes and minimal jewelry.

Get her style with: fitted minidresses or cocktail dresses, long gowns, well-fitting straight leg or skinny jeans, elegant tops with minimal details,statement earrings and hot heels.



Hijabi Style: mini dresses or cocktail dresses with cardigans or boyfriend blazers,long dresses with long sleeve shirts, bolero jackets or blazers, straight leg or wide leg jeans, elegant long tops with minimal details- the shorter tops with skirts, statement earrings or other jewelry and hot heels.



Adrienne
Adrienne Maloof, the Lebanese businesswoman's style is
Elegant and Glamorous.
She likes to wear elegant pieces with rich colors and shine accessorized with some blingy jewelry.

Get her style with: fur,long gowns, metallic gold and silver accessories, sequined pieces, straight leg or skinny jeans, one shoulder minidresses or cocktail dresses, empire waisted and A-line tops, hot heels.



Hijabi Style: Fur,long gowns with arm coverage like long sleeve shirts, boleros etc, metallic gold and silver accessories, sequined or shiny headscarves,tops, dresses,darkwash straight leg or wide jeans, one shoulder minidresses or cocktail dresses with long sleeves or cardigans and jackets if fitted, empire waisted and A line tops, hot heels.



Kyle
Kyle Richards, the married former child star's style is
Bohemian and Romantic She likes to wear relaxed silhouettes with flowing fabrics and romantic elements like frills, ruffles, bell sleeves.

Get her style with: Ruffled shirts and dresses, maxi dresses, caftans,empire waisted tops and dresses, tunic tops and dresses, scarves, bangles, long earrings, cute flats, hot heels.



Hijabi Style:
Ruffled shirts with skirts, ruffled long dresses, maxi dresses, caftans,empire waisted tops and dresses, long tunics and tunic dresses,scarves worn around neck along with headscarf, bangles, long earrings, cute flats, hot heels.



Taylor
Taylor Armstrong, the Oklahoma-born housewife's style is
Romantic and SophisticatedShe likes to wear pieces with romantic elements like frills, ruffles,lace and flowers as well as sophisticated pieces with clean lines and tailored shapes.

Get her style with: Ruffled tops and dresses, tailored blazers, empire waisted tops and dresses, dresses with pick-ups,skinny and straight leg jeans, plain tees,stud and hoop earrings, pearls, cute flats, hot heels.



Hijabi Style: Ruffled tops with straight skirts and ruffled long dresses,ruffled short dresses with wide leg pants, tailored blazers with pants or skirts depending on length, empire waisted tops and dresses, straight leg and wide leg jeans and pants, plain long tees, stud and hoop earrings, pearls, cute flats, hot heels.



Lisa
Lisa Vanderpump, the British-born restauranteur's style is
Classic and Feminine.
She likes to wear classic pieces with feminine details like bows, lace and flowers.

Get her style with: cocktail dresses, one shoulder dresses, lace, blush pinks and ivory, trench coats, tights, satchel and clutch purses, straight leg pants, plain tees, wrap dresses, shirtdresses, pumps, pearls, hot heels, statement necklaces, stud earrings, chandelier earrings.



Hijabi Style: Cocktail dresses with cardigans and jackets if they are fitted, one shoulder dresses and tops and long sleeves, lace, blush pinks and ivory, trench coats, satchel and clutch purses, straight leg pants and jeans, plain long tees, wrap dresses and shirtdresses with wide leg or straight leg pants, pumps, pearls, hot heels, statement necklaces,stud earrings, chandelier earrings.




Do you have the same personal style as any of these housewives? Which one(s)?
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Get the high end luxurious looks of the housewives of Atlanta and Beverly Hills for less with these fabulous businesses:

Hessa www.hessa.com
Hessa offers elegant tunics and gorgette scarves as well as quality non-silk ties.
Try out a tunic and scarf ensemble for regal elegance.




Haute Hijab www.hautehijab.com
Haute Hijab is a new business that offers stylish modest clothing options.
Their premiere products are their high quality vintage scarves at affordable prices.
Try out their gorgeous scarves in the numerous styles mentioned in the EBC blog posts on "Scarf Styling".



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That's all for now. Did you enjoy this post? Was it helpful?
Give EBC your feedback by sending an email to emeraldbrocadeconsulting@gmail.com
or comment on this post.

Up next, "Baby It's Cold Outside: What to Wear in the Winter",
Stay Tuned!

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On the fanpage you can: get daily updates on sales and new exciting things from EBC and in the fashion world, join discussions with fellow fans, view EBC fashion videos and much more.

-Hanifah Abdul-Baqi

SATC 2 Fashion and Fashions from the East

Costume Designer Patricia Fields worked her magic again in SATC 2 and produced some very unique,colorful, fashion forward ensembles.



Fashions from, and inspired by the East, feature some bohemian style elements like flowing fabrics, scarves, rich colors,prints, headwear such as turbans and headscarves, more relaxed modest silhouettes and longer hemlines and sleeves.

Channeling this kind of fashion, here were some memorable costumes:




Miranda, Carrie, Samantha and Charlotte are rocking long dresses, headwear,harem pants and scarves in this movie still from SATC 2.

Carrie and Charlotte's ensembles are very wearable with their tasteful, classic Eastern touches. You could rock Miranda's outfit if you switched up the arm cover-up to a more subtle print or a non-print. Samantha's outfit is runway perfect, but we would need to lower the high shoulders on the jacket and switch fabrics and colors and de-taper the harem pant a little to make it ready-to-wear.

For hijabis too? Maybe, if you are brave enough to try it.
Miranda's dress could be rocked with a hip length jacket and headscarf.

Carrie's short dress could be rocked with straight leg/wide leg pants underneath plus long sleeves and a headscarf.

Samantha's harem pants could be rocked if they were in a much looser fabric with very little to no tapering on the bottom of the leg plus a jacket that comes to the knee or just above the knee, belted or unbelted.

Charlotte's ensemble could be rocked hijabi style with a headscarf in a complimentary color, a long sleeved shirt underneath the dress or a bolero jacket or cropped cardigan on top of the dress, and straight leg pants to go underneath the dress.



Does it get anymore fabulous than this on a movie set?
The rich colors and flowing fabrics in these ensembles are to die for.

Samantha's royal blue with purple scarf/cape is the epitome of elegance and is Oscars-worthy. Rock that at a formal event and look and feel super graceful.

Carrie's ensemble is very fashion forward. The harem pant jumpsuit is actually a winner (Surprise surprise. I would usually never recommend harem pants or jumpsuits because they are very hard to pull off without looking crazy)in this ensemble because the fabric is loose and flowy and the legs are not so tapered that they look like hammer pants.
However, the vest needs to go so that the pants can stand out and not compete with the rest of the outfit.

Charlotte's ensemble here has gorgeous rich colors. The printed bodice with the A-line skirt are very feminine and the scarf adds an elegant touch. But, the skirt part would have been perfect if it hit just above or at the knee or was full length; in between lengths tend to look awkward.

Miranda's ensemble has interest and bohemian flair with the printed dress and draped shawl. It's perfect as is and looks very comfortable. Awesome.

Can hijabis try these looks too? Possibly.
Try out Samantha's ensemble with a cropped cardigan or bolero jacket in a neutral or other complimentary bright color.

Carrie's outfit? You'd have to be really brave but it could possibly work with an A-line jacket or top that hit at or just above the knee, preferably belted with a thin belt.

For Charlotte's outfit, you could wear a neutral or matching long sleeved shirt,then layer an A-line skirt in a matching or complimentary neutral under the dress for length and use the scarf around her neck as a headscarf.

Miranda's ensemble is a quick fix: simply add a cropped cardigan or bolero jacket in a neutral color to the dress and wear the shawl as a headscarf or get a new headscarf and keep the shawl draped as shown.

...

Let's take a look at ready-to-wear East-inspired fashions by a successful clothing business and an innovative clothing designer:

East Essence www.eastessence.com
East Essence provides gorgeous, affordable traditional Islamic and Indian clothing.
With prices ranging from $20 to $200 and different styles and colors, there is definitely something for everyone.

Here are some of the popular pieces:

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Purchase a piece, or two, or three and add a little culture to your wardrobe.

...

Nzinga Knight www.nzingaknight.com
Nzinga Knight is a NY based, talented, innovative designer that creates elegant high-end eveningwear for the sophisticated woman with modest taste.
Her feminine designs exude grace and poise, and you will too when you wear them.
Plus, they are currently On Sale for 30% off of the original price!



Also, be a part of the design process for the Spring 2011 collection with the Sponsor/Name A Dress event going on now. This is a great way to support the arts and keep lovely pieces of work such as these dresses out in the world of fashion.
See http://nzingaknight.com/2010/08/18/sponsor-name-a-dress/ for details.
...

That's all for now.

Up next, SCARF STYLING PART 1, Stay Tuned!

Are you on Facebook? Become a facebook fan of Emerald Brocade Consulting at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Emerald-Brocade-Consulting/159412130747810

Questions,Comments? Send me an email at emeraldbrocadeconsulting@gmail.com or comment on this post.

Designers to Watch and Deals for Dresses

Two blog posts in one today, due to being on vacation for most of May:

DESIGNERS TO WATCH

Last month I attended the Dangerous Curves Ahead Charity Fashion Show and Expo hosted by A-Line Style Services in which some fabulous Chicago designers showcased their designs.

Here were the favorites:

Crescendo Apparel:
Crescendo Apparel's designs are made specifically for the curvy woman- hourglass and pear shapes.
Their designs were very flattering for those types of figures- the fabric gently floated away from the body and neatly nipped in at all the right places, creating a graceful feminine shape.
The pieces shown were classic and very useful as wardrobe staples.
www.crescendoapparel.com
Hijabi Appropriate? Sure.
Wear a cropped cardigan, hip length cardigan, blazer, hip length or cropped jacket or long sleeved shirt with the maxi dresses, add a long sleeved, longer top or jacket with the pants and wear a long sleeved top or jacket with the skirt plus some boots to cover the length.

Chocolate Sushi Couture
Chocolate Sushi Couture designs are geared towards the plus size woman. Their designs come in a range of styles and colors, so there is something for everyone. Their pieces stood out in the show because of the great ensembles; we were really able to see how the clothing could be transformed into a complete look.
www.chocolatesushicouture.com
Hijabi Appropriate?
Yup. Wear the tops with sleeves, the pants with a long top, the dresses with a long sleeved top, cropped cardigan or jacket and pants and wear the skirts at home or at private events.

Think Pink Couture
Think Pink Couture designs are for the fashion-forward fashionista. Their pieces are innovative and fresh with the use of many different fabrics and bright colors as well as interesting detailing.
www.thinkpinkcouture.com
Hijabi Appropriate?
Maybe, you might be able to swing it. Wear the short, more fitted dresses with mid length cardigans or jackets and pants or rock them at private events with leggings and a camisole under for coverage of goodies.

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DEALS FOR DRESSES


As we head into summer and wedding season, dresses for different occasions for great prices began to emerge in stores.

Davids Bridal:

Party Dresses:David's Bridal now has a line of Party Dresses- for those times when you are going to a formal event but do not want to wear a long dress or when you are going to a party and you need something to wear that is in that semi-formal area- not jeans and a shirt but not a ball gown either. The prices range from under $100 to over $100.

Vera Wang? Rumor has it Vera Wang will be designing a line of wedding dresses to be sold at David's Bridal. Vera Wang for under $1,000: Yes!

$99 Bridal Gown Sale: A bridal gown for $99? Yup.
There is only one more day left of the $99 Bridal Gown sale!
Go in the store to see what's left. If not, you can look on the website and find a dress for under $500 in the "Sale" or "Outlet" section.

Target:
Maxis: This season Target has a small selection of printed, breezymaxi dresses.
Priced around $20-$25.

Zac Posen: Zac Posen has designed a few pieces for Target, namely short dresses, perfect for a party or a night out. Priced at $40 and up.

Merona: Merona has produced some great shift and sheath dresses this season. They come in a range of colors and subtle prints.

Dots:
This season Dots has lots of maxi dresses in a variety of prints and colors for $25 and under, short party and casual dresses for $20 and under as well as lightweight straight leg pants and shirtdresses for $20 and under.

Burlington Coat Factory:
Maxi Dresses in different prints, colors and breezy materials for $15 and up.
Formal dresses for under $100.

Dept Stores like Kohl's, JC Penney, Hudson Belk and Macy's are carrying maxi dresses and short casual dresses for $20 and up as well as putting their formal dresses on sale for under $100 and $100 to $200.


*MUST-DO's WHEN WEARING DRESSES:
(For hijabis and non-hijabis alike)

1) Always wear a slip under your dresses.
Slips will keep the goodies covered with dresses with transparent materials and keep the fabric in the garments from sticking to your legs or riding up in uncomfortable ways.
The slip should match the length of the garment that you are wearing.
Ex: Long skirt: Wear a half slip that is long in length.


2) Wear appropriate undergarments.
Wearing control tops, spanx, corset/bustier top and supportive bras can dramatically change the way a garment lays on your body. These undergarments will smooth out lumps and bumps, keep body parts from jiggling in unflattering ways, improve your posture and give your body tone and definition.


Where can you buy them? Check lingerie departments in stores like Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Ross, Walmart, JC Penney, Macy's etc.

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to my blog for Emerald Brocade Consulting!

On this blog you will find:

- INFORMATION about my fashion/image consulting business Emerald Brocade Consulting and the services that I offer.

-TRUSTY TIPS on what to wear, what not to wear, when to wear and how to wear.

- ALERTS for amazing Sales

- GIVEAWAYS for great gifts

- COVERAGE and COMMENTARY of hot events in the fashion world

Questions, Comments or Random Thoughts?
Email me at EmeraldBrocadeConsulting@gmail.com

-Hanifah <3