FashionHap: SeptemberSlam, Pt. II

I love the way Emma’s fashion began to incorporate more chic elements after her brief foray into being Emmalina! We see evidence of it here, as she paried a cold shoulder cropped top with a pencil skirt for a polished and professional look at a Be A Star rally in Melbourne. Her lace-up booties completed the modern, sensual vibe of the look. This outfit is uncomplicated, but well-chosen and effective.
Lana had her starlet on with this gingham dress from Lioness Fashionwhich showcased both ruffled sleeves and an off-the-shoulder silhouette. This piece is unique in that it’s incredibly glamorous, but not especially fancy. She accented the blue and white check with red ankle strap heels and a scalding red lip. Her high bun is a perfect choice, giving refinement to the look and showing off her statement earrings. She carried a Louis Vuitton tote for a sophisticated, classic finish. It’s too bad we didn’t get good lighting or clarity in the photo of her next look, because it’s a fun one! It looks like Lana topped wide-leg pants with a cropped top and a leather moto jacket. A gorgeous braid added casual beauty to the ensemble. With causal and sporty looks coming in, we’ve seen a lot of looks that feel kind of careless and bland pass as fashion – the kind of thing you’d wear around your house on a Saturday morning but which doesn’t have any real stylish zing to it. This look rocks my world because it embraces a laidback attitude without sacrificing fashionality and stylish intention. (Aside: this look could 100% be recreated with wide-leg track pants and sneakers). She kept the same vibe, but from quite a different direction with her next outfit, a camo jumpsuit. I’m not often a fan of camo, but Lana is selling me on it here with her well-chosen accessories! I love the way she’s styled this piece, rolling it to just below her knee and adding peeptoe mid-calf boots – so fierce! (The peeptoe could be swapped for a closed toe with no issues, too). I’m also on board for the curve-enhancing addition of the wide waist belt. I applaud how she coordinated it with her bag, as well. For myself, I might have leaned toward a black belt and bag, with a touch of hardware for a little extra attitude. Next up fromher is a choker-neck LBD with a super-high side slit. This look is a combo of minimalist elements: simple dress, simple bag, simple heels, with one trendy detail (the choker neckline). It’s an excellent example of how very simple can be very right! I love that Lana added a little extra flair with her half updo. She could have just left her hair long and loose and it would have worked, but this hairstyle adds a more polished finish which is both appealing and very pretty! She gave us a take on all-denim, next, pairing a tied denim shirt with destroyed, high-waisted skinny jeans. The laidback, Americana vibe of this look is fab and, again, I love the breezy gorgeousness of her half up-do.  I don’t say this often, but…I actually would have preferred less formal footwear here. The metallic gold sandals are long way in formality from the destroyed denim and it feels like a bit of a reach to combine them. Her black mid-calf boots from the camo look would have rocked my world. Alternatively, using non-destroyed denim and keeping the gold sandals would have done the trick by elevating the outfit slightly and bringing it a little closer in formality-level to her shoes.

This cute look from Maria suffers the same lighting and clarity issues we saw with one of Lana’s pics, but I couldn’t resist including it because Maria is one of the few Divas who uses flats with any regularity, and does so with competence! Here, she pairs embellished loafers with an LBD – easy, classic, never out of style. So good and I’m loving it! I also couldn’t resist re-sharing some of Maria’s other work – this floral design was part of an event she planned (in another of her many careers – entertainer, business owner, real estate flipper, event planner: the girl does it all!). It struck me because I worked as a floral designer while I was in college and it’s so fun to me to see her work! She combined ivory hydrangea, seeded eucalyptus and salal leaves in a simple vase. The elements here are simple, as is the color scheme, but it gains power from the massed style of the design (hydrangea are great for that!).  Lastly, Maria shared this announcement on Instagram to let us know she is pregnant! Congrats Maria & Mike! Best wishes to you and your mini-me-to-be! This is one of the cutest baby announcements ever :) I just love how adorable, playful and creative it is!

Maryse embraced the red trend with this look from Raw. It looks like your standard red suit, with a fitted, mid-stance jacket and slightly flared legs – stunning! But there’s more – note the lace-up detailing at the shoulders! That is amazing…and it makes this piece incredibly unique! Maryse’s taste is impeccable as always! She went jewel-free and let that fab jacket do all the talking, while completing the look with open-toed sandals.
I love Mckenzie’s dress with one tiny exception – this pairing of blush with bittersweet red isn’t my favorite. I often have trouble buying multi-colored item because I feel like there’s a designer’s law somewhere that they have to include at least one ugly color in every multi-hued item. Actually, I don’t mind the red on its own or with other fall hues (pumpkin, olive, mustard); it’ only with the blush that it bothers me. Conversely, if it were a slightly more pink shade of burgundy, I’d be 100% fine as well. And after all that long-winded diatribe about color, I really love the silhouette of this dress from the sexy narrow straps to the feminine ruffled bodice to the flirty fit-and-flare shape to the flowy pleats.  It’s a wonderful dress in every respect other than that little color hang-up I have :) and I love the way Mckenzie finished it: with beige strappy pumps – it’s delicate and super-pretty! Her next look-worn for a friend’s wedding - is even better, as she accented a strapless jumpsuit with a wide, metallic gold waist belt and coordinating ankle strap sandals. There’s always something polished and luxe about the mix of gold and black and that’s demonstrated flawlessly in this look! I’m also a huge fan of the side slits on this jumpsuit – they’re high enough to be sexy, but not showing everything there is to be seen. Mckenzie’s gorgeous twisted self-band in her adds just the right touch of elegant beauty. Glorious look! She’s got me raving again with her last showing, a vintage-tinged pairing of a black collared blouse (from Blush Boutique), accented with polka-dotted sheer fabric at the yoke and ruffled gingham mini skirt. The immediate vibe is one of nostalgic romance, but the look is sneakily modern in its incorporation of trendy gingham, as well as in the finishing touch: suede OTK boots (from Catherine Malandrino)  that enhance the au courant attitude! Mckenzie’s low pony is low-fuss, but shows off the details of her blouse, while hoop earrings add a tiny metallic gleam. She rounded out the month with a choker top and cape (from Nasty Gal), paired with ivory shorts and finished with black stappy heels from Steve Madden. I love the way the cape makes a huge statement – it’s the piece that catches your attention and provides the focal point of the whole look. By adorning it with other simple pieces, Mckenzie let its trendy power have center stage, making the ensemble accessible, effective and bold in a just-loud-enough way. Girlfriend is on one heck of a style roll!