FashionHap: Mid-Jan 2016 Pt 3 - Blackout

Welcome to the blackout...no, it's not due to a snowstorm. It's simply that every outfit we're appreciating today is black :). No guesses as to why: black is the chic color. Always and forever.
I love how Stephanie chooses dresses that skim without clinging! They can be few and far between these days and she has a talent for picking them out. This one is especially unique and sophisticated, with it's tear-drop cut-out neckline and gold chain detailing. That makes the dress so special! She accents it with delicate, but statement-making earrings that echo the cutout shape and a bold gold cuff. The whole look is classy and polished. And that ponytail? I'm heaven! It looks stunning and adds a perfect touch of sleek casual-ness.
We get two looks from Barbie this week, thanks to her instagram. One is the seen-everywhere coord set. This one is a crop-top and maxi pairing, the latter featuring a so-hot-right-now high leg slit. Those are sexy, but require care not to be overdone. I've mentioned my rule before: below mid-thigh or say goodbye :). What I love about this look is how Barbie elevates it to FIERCE with those scalding booties. #HowShoesMakeAnOutfit101.  Lace-up dresses seem to be trending lately among divas and former divas. Last FashHap, Lana did one. This time, it's Barbie's turn. She can carry off this daring style and I'm huge fan of the way she made it more formal with her ultra-classic metallic pumps. For the rest of us trying to pull this off in public, I would recommend stealing a page from the playbook of Wendy at WendysLookbook.com and layering a lace bodysuit or tee under this.

Next on our Dark Night Of Style FashionHap is Renee with this super cute layered look. She puts a cropped open-weave crochet sweater above a black tee, for a warm, but feminine pairing. Leather leggings add an edge, which she enhances with relentlessly hot suede OTK's. I adore this look! It's a fabulous interplay of texture (smooth with lacy) and style-genre (feminine with fierce). Her fun top-bun hairstyle brings a touch of cool-girl panache.
Charlotte makes a similar pairing with leggings and suede OTK's (another thing that's trending among the Divas lately). She chooses plain leggings and the softer fabric (as compared to Renee's leather) makes a great foil for black and white printed top. Her choice of quieter leggings lets this top take top billing and that works well. Her trademark leather jacket pulls the whole ensemble together.