Photos: far left- Lady Gaga in Alexander McQueen on the white carpet, center- Jared Leto of 30StM and Lady Gaga, far right- The boys of 30StM on the white carpet (Tomo Milicevic , Jared Leto, Shannon Leto)

For those who missed the white carpet last night, google the pics on the web. Not only is the pre-show (whether the carpet be white, red or green) my favorite part of any awards show, the VMA fashion never fails to surprise.

Favorites of the night? Gaga in Alexander McQueen on the white carpet. Completing the look was a gold feather headband. The color of the dress would not have had the same effect on a red carpet, but truly popped against the white. So thanks, MTV, for making one good choice since removing TRL and most other music programming from your line-up.

The second photo is Gaga with Jared Leto, lead singer of 30 Seconds to Mars, the crowd favorite of the night for best dressed man. My vote? He’s second, but my favorite happens to be a relative of his. Not only did all three men of 30 Seconds to Mars look great, but Shannon Leto, drummer of 30StM had a look of “Maybe I just threw this on? Maybe I tried? Maybe I just look good.” His look did not appear to be contrived in the slightest, yet completely VMA acceptable. Not that I didn’t love Jared’s Burberry jacket, or Tomo’s polished-with-a-hint-of-grunge look, but Shannon truly rocked it. (Note: If we were going for best dressed band, the boys are all in). And congrats to them for Best Rock Video!

As for worst dressed? I won’t say who I’m putting at the top, but among the category are Ke$ha (expected) and Justin Timberlake (soooo unexpected, the inner 13-year-old me feels wrong for typing this, but I wasn’t the one ill-dressed).

Xo

This belted shirt dress from XCVI is a perfect office piece.
Buy it now and impress your co-workers with this smart look.

Monday through Friday may not be your favorite days of the week, but why not look your best to keep you going?

I have interviewed young ladies and gentlemen, as well as attended important business meetings, where I have been so distracted by the (sometimes lack of) apparel the other person is wearing, I cannot hear a word coming out of their mouth. Now, brand is not coming into play here. I mean tops that are too low, pants that are too tight, dresses that are too short and even a halter top (evidently the vest over it was supposed to make the look office appropriate).

I am an avid supporter of the miniskirt (in moderation and well balanced) but the office is never a place for it. Personally, I understand not wanting to wear a suit – I, for one, look ridiculous in a suit. I do, however, rock a pencil skirt or my skinny dress pants paired with other pieces to complete my look.

This is not an issue of monetary value of clothing, as I am on a budget like many, but an issue of not understanding what is appropriate. Please remember:

Skirts no more than 2” above the knee

Nothing strapless

Balance proportions (ie- skinny pants or fitted skirt with a full-top)

No cleavage

Tailor your clothes to fit you (it’s worth the money to look presentable)

Dress for your industry

Be yourself (show who you are in color and accessory)

Feel free to share any other tips, do’s or do not’s (free of any names, of course)…

xox,
365Hangers.com

1. Combining floral prints

2. Nautical prints and cuts

3. Denim and leather in unexpected ways

4. Copper tones without the burn

5. Nudes and neutrals in layers

Florals- Combining prints is a great way to make a statement this season. Use a common color pattern to keep from looking haphazardly. Another rule of thumb: combine large prints with small prints to avoid being swallowed by the patterns.

Nautical- From sailor stripes to anchors away, this is a great trend to hop on to. We’re loving sailor cuts in shorts, nautical stripes on dresses and accessories in brass and rope. Limit yourself to one piece to avoid looking like you’re headed to a Halloween bash.

Denim & Leather- Too hot for these two? Never. Denim and leather have both popped up this season in lightweight fabrics like chambray and in new cuts (leather shorts, perhaps?). This is a trend to rock all summer and bring with you into your fall wardrobe.

Copper- From accessories to full pieces, copper is a great look to rock. Shades vary from bronze to gold, go with whichever works best with your skin-tone.

Nudes- From pale pinks to gauzy grays, neutral tones are great for summer. Not only will they help you stay cooler, but you’ll look cool rocking them. Layer the soft colors for a great look, whether it be a night out or a day off!

I was once a girl who changed her hair drastically at least 4 times a year, usually more. In the recent years, it has become less, because I have began to found a look that suits me. Along the way I’ve been blonde, brunette, had pink highlights and long auburn locks courtesy of extensions (and of course there was the dreaded orange look with at home highlights at the age of 12… oops). My hair has varied in length from the middle of my back to the infamous Vikki Beck’s cut (which was the exact change that took place).

Some of us have been blessed with the ability to pull off any hair cut or color, thanks to face shape and skin tones, but I honestly think anyone can pull off any cut or color, they just need the attitude to rock it. Just a few things to keep in mind- if you have a long, narrow face, long layers or a long, blunt cut will draw the eye to make it appear even longer, and vice versa with a wide bone structure, as it will appear wider. As for the rule of light hair in the summer and dark hair in the winter, I personally threw that rule out the window years ago. I tend to keep my hair lighter as it is, but the shade of it has nothing to do with seasons for me.

Hairstyles are truly as important as any other part of your look. The right one will get you endless compliments, yet the wrong one will unfortunately get equal attention (at least it grows back, right?). Fashion weeks are my favorite time to collect new hairstyles for me to test out. Evidently, great minds think alike. French Vogue has done a profile on the best 20 hairstyles from Paris Fashion Week. A lot of these looks won’t require a major overhaul, but are a fun look to try for a night out with the girls. My fave? The ever-so-popular chignons seen on numerous runways. The loose chignons at Chanel and Giambattista Valli were my favorite, yet Valentino did a tight one worthy of a great day-to-night look, and Lagerfeld gave us one for the inner rockstar we all possess (Elie Saab and YSL did tighter versions as well). These were all looks I could rock on a daily basis with my current style. My favorite which has inspired a future change? The heavy, blunt Lanvin bangs. The one I die for but could never rock? The dramatic sculptures from Mr. John Galliano. Where do you find your hairstyle inspiration?

xoxo

So extremely sad were the news of Alexander McQueen.. how  can someone so  talented and inspiring be driven to end his own life? ( He was found dead in his home on Feb. 11th) His interesting and unique expressions  awed us all season after season. One thing for sure, he will be missed greatly.  Fortunately, to all of our anticipation we now know that the label shall continue spreading joy to the fashionistas around world! We can expect to see the collection hit the runways in March just as scheduled, that is what Lee Alexander McQueen would have wanted after all…to see his dreams thrive.

Neutrals are great for any season, and carry over nicely, which makes them a must-have for any wardrobe. The key is making it work for you.

Some people prefer neutrals in navy, while others prefer black, or go for both and mix and match (once a don’t, it’s now a do). Also, think of the range of greys offered: ash to charcoal, heathered to solid. When it comes to browns and taupes- compliment your skin tone. Contrast is good- if you have fair skin, go for darker browns and tans to keep from looking washed out, where as if your skin is darker, you can totally rock the lighter shades (like Celeste on our site today… needless to say, I’m jealous… I, personally, would look washed out in that top).

I tend to stock up on key pieces in neutrals, such as my camis, v-neck tees and cardigans, this way I always have what I need. Look at it like owning shoes- you need your sandal, flat, pump, stiletto and boot. You need your basics- so take what you wear a lot, and get it in neutrals. Maybe you’re a cardigan person, or maybe a crew neck sweater person. If you are a jeans and tee person, stock up on neutrals in your favorite tee. Another trick here is buying quality- it’s an investment. You can do this on any budget- J Crew, Gap and American Apparel are great for quality basics on a budget (you’re looking at under $30 for a shirt) . Looking for something to get you through only a season? Target is your savior (under $15 for a shirt). For perfect pieces to last awhile, I look to lines like James Perse, Alternative Apparel and Michael Stars ($40 to 90 for a shirt).

Neutrals allow you to play with color in your accessories, and allow you to change the look of an outfit with unlimited accessory possibilities. For instance, a white v-neck with jeans is basic for your day off- dress it up with a cocktail ring, heels and a fitted blazer, or make it friday night worthy by tucking it into a miniskirt and adding a multi-layer jeweled necklace. One basic tee, numerous trendy looks.

Bottom line: Neutrals are a must have, and can be done on any budget.

I must say, some women just do it all. And some do it all and have rock hard abs. Gwen Stefani has sold millions of albums, tried acting ( a small part in “The Aviator”, you kind of have to look for it) and of course she started her amazing clothing line L.A.M.B. in 2004. For the spring/summer season Gwen didn’t stay away from her favorite rock n’ roll inspired style. Zippers, denim and layers with fab high heels hit the runway before the signer/designer showed up herself, sporting her trademark platinum hair do.

I guess I have made it obvious that Marc Jacobs is one of my favorite designers. There are plenty of pieces that I write somehow manage to bring up Mr. Jacobs in one way or another. Well, here I go again. I am sure we are all aware of the big, fabulous and very important event happening this month.. yes, yes its the one and only New York Fashion Week. Lets just say Marc by Marc Jacobs didn’t disappoint this time, as always. ( ok maybe he sometimes gets carried away but I make excuses for him) Some might say that the over use of khaki (hey, its in right now!) was being desperate or perhaps the flat shoes with black socks that didn’t seem too couture. But I must say the use of pastel colors and the loved layering won me over right away. Mostly, I admire that he is true to his art. Its not about actresses endorsing your brand- its about real and classic designs that appeal to the modern woman. And that is why we didn’t see any celebs at his show. They weren’t invited.

For those of you who made it to the Barney’s Warehouse sale this past weekend, I envy you… a little. While I am sad I have no new Stella McCartney stilettos in my closet, I am thankful I was able to sleep in and not have to wrestle other over-caffeinated females for deeply discounted designer apparel and accessories. Too bad it’s not every weekend… or maybe it’s a good thing, for my checkbook at least…

The great thing is we bring you those designer discounts 24/7/365 (hence the 365 hangers) and there is no herding at the front door necessary. And for those who like to shop in person, a new surprise for you. For the new year, we’ve decided to offer exclusive sample sales on-site, so you can come get the pieces yourself- no need to wait for the UPS man to come! Keep your eyes peeled for more info. (hint: are we facebook friends? or when was the last time you read our tweets?)

For those of you who have been shopping, thank you. And thank you for passing the word along to your friends and family. For those of you who have been browsing, thank you as well, but what is it we’re missing? Your favorite designer? Size? Let us know. We love a discount on our favorite designers and love being able to share that with you. If we haven’t yet been able to, please let us know why! Feel free to leave a comment here, on facebook, twitter or email me at randi@365hangers.com.

xoxo

Legendary designer Alexander McQueen has passed away. Immediate circumstances surrounding his death are unknown. Our thoughts are with his friends and family.

Another rainy day in L.A.

Okay, so I can’t really complain when the everyone else is getting hit with inches (and in some places feet) of snow… The rain tends to make me want to curl up and home and never leave- some would say I’m solar powered. I’ve found that the perfect way to beat the blues (and grey) is to brighten up!

Be the one who stands out in a bright color of your choice. When I say bright, I don’t mean “I just came from an all-night rave” green or “I’m going to go hunting” orange, but something other than the usual neutrals. I’m the queen of neutrals- as you can tell from the photo, I like to use my accessories for color (and sometimes my hair). I do have my colorful must-haves though. On days like today, I pull out a great yellow cardigan to brighten my day, or an electric blue dress to rock my favorite social gathering.

Going from Winter into Spring and Summer is the perfect time to add new hues to your wardrobe- you’ll even notice the change in colors in retail stores. Pinks, purples, greens, blues- they all look great in moderation. If you’re still afraid you’ll look neon, stick to your primary and secondary color wheel- a kelly green or cherry red are always great choices.

The best part about getting designer pieces in hot hues? Other take notice. Keep the cut classic and the quality high when playing with “notice-me” colors. If the quality is lacking, others will notice that even more. That’s why we’ve pulled pieces to add to your wardrobe without taking much from your pocketbook.

What’s your favorite color to wear on a gloomy day like today? I’ll give you a hint of mine- my favorite piece from today is a certain Marc Jacobs top.

xoxo

Ok, so perhaps Lindsay Lohan and Heidi Montag wearing your stuff doesn’t necessarily give you the right rap but the brand Larok also has fans like Blake Lively and Eva Longoria who can’t resist their simple yet sexy flocks. Still just a baby company, was started in 2004 to create a line that would be a rocker/street chic addition to your already fabulous wardrobe. Vogue, Elle and Glamour are all talking about the new collections which makes us just a tad bit curious…

When I saw Jennifer Love Hewitt at the Country Music Awards ( Yes, I watch their red carpet, don’t judge me and no I don’t know what she was doing there) I had to know who made her cute white flock. Long and behold its the talented Robert Rodriguez. We already know that it was Christian Dior’s book that influenced him the most to become the fabulous couture maker of today. But did you know that every season he is inspired by the newest European fabrics? From there he creates the amazing silhouettes for every collection. Perfectly tailored designs and only top quality textiles is what makes Mr. Rodriguez one of the best up and coming designers. That is exactly why Oprah herself seeks out for the latest of this brand..

We might know that Sharon Stone is a fan- but who is Nanette Lepore, the designer so many celebrities crave? Well, she is an Ohio native who grew up traveling down Route 66. Perhaps that is why her collections are so gypsy inspired and have a strong free spirit about them. Arts are clearly an influence on Ms. Lepore’s designs. After all, not only was her father a painter but her husband as well. Today, Ava is flaunting one of her deco print dresses- very free spirited indeed..

Thanks New Zealand for giving us (or lending I guess) your best designer! We do appreciate her. So much that we put her designs in Sex and the City which was a big honor in the U.S fashion world. Carrie Bradshaw is not the only one wearing the pieces- Kate Winslet and JLo have dabbed into the collections that have our American born designers green with envy. Great talent runs in this New Zealander family- check out Rebecca’s sister Victoria Taylor who is a nationally known jewelery designer and has her own line called Tory Jewelry Company.