FashionHap: October Cometh, Pt. II

A little more Brandi love kicks off this FashionHap, starting with this incredible velvet off-the-shoulder dress. The color is similar to the lace coord set I was raving over last time, with similar stunning-ness (did Brie just make up a word again? Most likely.) This silhouette is incredibly elegant and, despite being totally ‘right now’, it also has a timeless quality – in ten years, it will be just as appropriate. Brandi completed the look with nude pumps for a more formal interpretation, but you could just as easily style this piece with black booties and a leather jacket draped over your shoulders for a casual look. Her next outfit showcases a lovely mix of elements. It starts with an apparently simple navy dress – until you get down to the cool architectural detail of the asymmetric hemline. Pointy-toe ankle booties in black suede add a shot of fierceness. Top this with a black trench and you have power dressing at its finest. Instead, Brandi threw a curve ball and added a classic tote  - in neon candy pink! This effervescent, joyous color lightens the mood of the look dramatically. Instead of power and seriousness, it becomes about sophistication and FASHION. I love how this one choice makes such a tremendous impact on the statement the look makes! From there, she gives us a chic, casual look that channels a bit fo the 70’s, spun up with a bit of now. She pairs a floral bell-sleeved crop top with a denim mini skirt and completes the look with beige suede OTK’s.  While her top feels feminine and nostalgic, the other two pieces modernize the look and give it and edge. To keep the 70’s vibe, this could be styled with a midi A-line denim piece.
Brooke unleashed her rock-star side with this night-out ensemble. A graphic tee with an eye-catching cut-out underlies a classic denim jacket and pocket-revealing cut-off jean shorts. And there’s no slowing down – she kept the fierce raging by finishing the look with suede OTKs. Everything about this combination is grunge-punk attitude! Her statement earrings (and I love that she did her hair in a ponytail so we really get to see them!) and cuff bracelets add a touch of shine and glam. It’s so much fun seeing Brooke go hard on a look like this -she does it so well!
Carmella instagrammed this super cool pairing of a star printed romper from Love Culture with mid-calf booties. Mid-calf can be a tricky height to utilize, but they work really well here because there’s plenty of space between the top of the bot and the hem of the romper. I love the way they bring attitude and a street vibe to the fashion vibes of this star print. I can be in or out on these kinds of patterns, but this is a particularly pretty rendition! The wide choker is the perfect complement to complete the look.

I can’t resist a little teaser (a teaser for a review for looks that came out on the fall…does Brie understand how time actually works? :)) – Brie donned this sheer-sectioned bodysuit for the Total Divas new season photoshoot and it is scalding hot! I love the patterning of the mesh and the confidence she wears this with! The only thing I’m on the fence about are her multiple side braids. What do you think – yea or nay? (And yes, I’ll be reviewing all the ladies’ looks in a dedicated post soon!).
Cathy detailed this look on her new blog, a cool and sporty pairing of jogger pants with a slim knit sweater.  The look is so simple and easy, but still feels current and stylish. I like the way she chose pointy pumps for a definitive exclamation point on the look! I might have gone with black here instead of nude to hearken back to her top and bag. Alternatively, pure white would have made a intense and trendy counterpoint.
Charlotte gave us a peek at her travel style as she debarked in this pairing of blue denim with a sheer bodysuit black suede OTKs. I’ll go on record as mentioning that I’m not a fan of the visible brassiere styling (not just here, but anywhere). It’s very tricky to pull off in non-editorial settings and consequently best avoided. However, Charlotte’s intelligently softened the effect by topping the look with an oversized bomber jacket, which helps considerably. I particularly adore the pop of color that’s brought to the look by the bright lining! Next up is the same velevet one-shoulder top I went wild over previously, this time paired with skinny jeans instead of wide leg pants. The piece demonstrates its versatility by working equally well, providing the textural and formal counterpoint to the denim. Charlotte reinforces the causal nature of the look and brings a dash of toughness in via her combat boots. I love the way the varying materials and formality levels of the piece play out here! I often mention the way Charlotte handles shoulder-accentuating pieces in her style because he body shape can make them tricky. Here’s an example of doing it flawlessly at the 30for30 film event. This flutter-sleeve blouse adds volume to her shoulder area and could make her look top heavy, but she allays that by pairing it with flared pants that balance out her body perfectly. If you have a shape like Charlotte’s and want to wear flutter sleeves, puffed sleeves, shoulder-detailed pieces, this is how you do it! Brava, Char! She spices up the nearly-all-black look with a pop of white from her pointy pumps.  I love everything about this, including her choice to top it with a cropped faux fur jacket for chillier moments! It’s polished, chic , unstudied and it looks amazing!

A quick hit on this fabulous new shade on Alicia’s gear repertoire: I’m loving this bright lime shade as much as all the other iterations she’s come up with! The slightly holographic finish and the bright color feels so 80’s space age :).
Gail gets love from me for this cutout pantsuit with zipper detailing she wore to an October event. This shows the sleek and modernist side of Gail’s style. I love the clean cut and flawless fit! Her softly curled flowing tresses provide a feminine counterpoint to the streamlined vibe. Gail tends to be a platform sandal fan, but this look is made for pointy toe pumps as a finisher :). She went from there to glamour girl with this gold sequined sheath. Cutouts again created shape and interest, while black piping added a sporty vibe. She completed the look with coordinating gold platform ankle-strap sandals that are gorge! The slight vintage vibe makes an interesting play against the futuristic feel of her dress, adding a depth that enhances the simple color palette of the look.