Forget about who won the NFL playoffs today, we have bigger things to discuss!! And that is what all the Hollywood’s starlets wore to the The Golden Globes in Los Angeles tonight! It is so fun to try and predict who will make the best dressed list and who will fail miserably with a style DON’T! Think Bjork’s infamous swan dress. And while some celebs are quite predictable with their fashion choices, others are always changing it up to keep us all guessing. Having the best gowns at their disposal, one would expect that all of the celebs would grace the red carpet in magnificent and stylish gowns. However, we all know that is not always the case and many of our fave stars find themselves winning the award for the worst dressed of the night. Being in the biz, we hope to always make picture perfect choices when it comes to helping our clients look red carpet ready. But we also have come to believe that taking chances is more fun than always playing it safe! Here are some of our own picks of who knocked it out of the ballpark tonight!!!

Margot Robbie gets it oh so right in oh so white! Thanks to this GORGEOUS plunging Gucci gown!

Maria Menoudos turned heads in a Max Azria Atelier hot pink stunner!

Kerry Washinton always looks gorgeous and glows more than ever as a mom to be in Balenciaga!

Lupita Nyongo took a chance with this Ralph Lauren cape-like dress and takes the red carpet by storm!! Love!!

When the love your life is your best accessory! Camilla and Matthew look exquisite!

So tonight is the night a lot of girls have been waiting for. It is the night The Bachelor’s Special Edition, “The Countdown to Juan Pablo” airs. This is a behind the scenes look at Juan Pablo’s life as a single father and the casting process that went into finding him a potential wife! And tomorrow night he will start his quest to find true love as 25 women arrive in limos to meet the man that has America swooning. This handsome Venezuelan won viewers hearts instead of Desiree’s last season of The Bachelorette. But this time around he is in the driver’s seat as 25 lucky ladies get their shot to make a love connection. So in honor of all the single ladies out there, we decided this week’s blog should be about how to make a great first impression! Whether you are stepping into a bar or out of a limo, a first impression can mean EVERYTHING in affairs of the heart. So how can a girl put her best and most confident foot forward?

WEAR WHITE!

We often hear about the “Lady in Red” but what about the “Lady in White”? We are not talking about arriving on your date in a white wedding dress like Lindsay did in Sean Lowe’s Season of The Bachelor. And we are not talking frills, bows or eyelet. We are talking about a silky white blouse tucked into fabulous jeans or a sheath dress that shows off every curve. We think that a girl who wears white (in any season) looks confident and stylish and stands out in a more subtle way than the girl in red! Save the red for a later hot date!

PS And if you spill something on your whites; smile and go with the flow. Show him you have a fun and easygoing attitude!!

Emily Maynard in a stunning white jumpsuit, as she catches every bachelor’s attention!

Ashley Hebert winning JP’s heart in a casual white top and jeans combo.

Lindsay going too far in wedding white!

CASUAL HAIR

Listen ladies, here is the deal. Whether we like it or not, guys like our hair down. Long and flowy is a fave. Save the fancy curly updos for proms, and if you find yourself auditioning for a Soap Opera. If you are not doing either of those things, leave the rollers and pins alone!

Brad Womack mesmerized by Chantal’s natural and silky brunette locks.

Ditch the “prom” hair!

LIGHT LIPGLOSS

Guys might think they like the sultry look of their date with red lips; but there is nothing messier than a good night kiss and red lipstick! In the end they are thankful when a girl sticks to a light gloss (possibly flavored!) to keep thing pretty and sexy and neat! Our faves are Chanel Glossimers and Lancome Juicy Tubes for shimmery shine and kissable lips!

Glossy, sexy and kissable lips on Ashley!

Too much lipstick!

With 2013 almost behind us, we are so excited to ring in the new year! A new year of fashions, hairstyles, make-up trends, etc! It will be exciting to see celebrities in high style at the new award season coming up. And we look forward to the always fun and informative Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in February. Season to season we will try out new trends but keep the classics. We have alot of new stylish memories to make in 2014. So let’s take a nostalgic look at some top fashionable moments and some we’d rather forget from this year!

WINNING IN WHITE…

WHITE GONE WRONG…

HOT IN JEANS!

NOT HOT IN JEANS!

GORGEOUS GREEN!

GREEN GONE WILD!

RED JUMPSUIT “DUO”!!

RED JUMPSUIT DON’T!!

PRETTY IN PINK!

PERPLEXING PINK!?!?

BEAUTIFUL TOUSLED HAIR DUO

MESSY HAIR DON’T

Call us crazy but to us there are three favorite things about taking a vacation. One is visiting sunny and exotic locales; two is spending quality time with our families away from computers and video games and three is… PACKING!

Yup! You read that right! Packing is fun for us! Which is why we love when clients asks us to help them get ready for a trip! Before we start packing we first get out our notepads and make an old fashioned list! We start this list a few weeks before the trip to get us in a holiday mood. When the list is complete we check it over and over. Making corrections and additions so that when the time is ready for the next step we are prepared.

We call the next step pre pack stack! Now is the time to take your list, go into your closets and drawers and lay things out in stacks. Find a spot in your house where your housekeeper, dog and kids won’t get in the way and start stacking. Again check it over and over each time you past by. Ask yourselves, “Did I forget my favorite sarong?” “Do I really need to bring two red maxi dresses?” By seeing it neatly layed out you will be able to make sure you are not overpacking or forgetting the essentials.

The last step is to neatly lay your stacks in your suitcase. Wrap silks and linens in plastic to avoid wrinkling and try rolling & stuffing socks, underwear,t’s and tanks in shoes, bags and small corners. This will make more room for bigger items. We also like to put our favorite garments near the top like a new bikini or colorful coverup. Seeing them in plain view gets us super excited for our trip!

Final packing words of advice: leave blowdryers at home. Most nice hotels offer them. Remember to pack a lightweight jacket or cardigan even for warm, sunny destinations. Air-conditioned restaurants are everywhere! And if your are traveling overseas don’t forget your passport!!

It’s that time of year when nothing seems better than being at home, with a fire roaring in the fireplace, a cup of coffee nearby while reading a juicy novel or watching your favorite tv show. But in this little cozy picture what are you fashionistas wearing? If you are anything like us, we always want to try and look cute and fashionable even if we are home alone or with our family. We are not talking spending tons of money on pajamas and lounge wear BUT why not always feel as good as you can even in the comfort of your own home? We don’t want to turn into slobs just because we are married with children. And we also don’t want to make excuses like, ‘”no one important is going to see us so no need to brush our hair” or “sweats with holes is fine”. It’s not fine!! Because guess who is going to see you? YOU! You are going to look in the mirror and see your own reflection. And trust us! You will enjoy your cozy time a whole lot more if you feel confident and beautiful! So the big question is…how do you keep the cute in cozy??

We struggle with this too! It’s hard looking cute when you want to stay comfy. For example we, like many other ladies don’t like to wear constricting undergarments when relaxing at home. That means our pretty padded bras and beloved Spanx are not coming out to play. So what lounge wear will still make our figures look fab without all the help from pads and tummy control?! We have found the perfect solutions.

Slouchy off the shoulder sweatshirts are sexy and make you feel like Jennifer Beals in Flashdance. HOT! Pair a cute one in your fave color with cotton shorts and you will look adorable while you relax!

Another great idea is to invest in a light-weight, comfortable robe. Throw this over thermals or cotton pajamas and you have a look that’s pulled together even in your own home.

If you are more a sweatsuity kinda gal, Juicy sweats are the way to go. Because ladies, Juicy Couture knows how to make a girls bottom look cutie patootie! There’s something about the pocket placement or snug terrycloth that makes you look like a lovely lounging lady.

Tanks with built in shelf bras are great for fashionistas who want to forgo their push-up bras but still want support. Victoria Secret has great and affordable options in a range of colors. Pair these under flannel pjs for an effortless, cozy & cute look!

COLOR is another great way to add to your relaxing mood. Lavender is such a soothing color and very feminine too! Try a cute and cozy nightgown in this shade and don’t forget to invest in soft, warm slippers.

HAPPY RELAXING CUTIES!

So here’s the scene. It is in the wee hours of the morning the day after Thanksgiving. The temperature is barely above freezing and it is still pitch dark outside. Millions of people all over are waiting in lines, sitting in traffic, and being shoved left and right, trying not to get trampled on. Men and women, boys and girls, and even babies are crowding the stores in hopes of getting a huge deal on anything possible. Anything! Toys, gadgets, household items, TV’s, and of course fabulous fashions. But guess which two characters are missing from this scene? Yup that’s right! We here at The Style Duo are cuddled under our warm blankets, sleeping in really late, savoring the moments of our long holiday weekend with family and friends. Now as you know, no one loves to shop more than us. And no one gets a bigger thrill from a great sale more than us. But seriously, this Black Friday hoopla is so ridiculous. As any smart and savvy shopper knows, there are so many better ways and days to take advantage of fabulous deals and steals. Here are some tips to stay on top of the sales ALL year long.

1. Form relationships with the salespeople at your favorite stores. Have them email you about upcoming sales.

2. Open up credit cards at your fave department stores. You will receive coupons and discounts all year long.

3. Buy classic pieces at the end of each season and save for the following year.

4. Instead of shopping on the holiday sale dates wait until a few days afterwards. Be patient, you will actually get a better deal.

5. Find out about presales. Some stores will hold merchandise, let you give your credit card information beforehand, ring it up on the day of the sale and then mail it to you so you can avoid the crazy crowds on the sale days.

6. Take advantage of online sales from the comfort of your own house on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

— Here’s to a Happy Holiday Shopping Season from The Style Duo!!!!

Hey New York! It’s getting cold outside! But instead of crying into your hot vanilla lattes, it’s time to get smart and bundle up! We have always been the first to declare a move to Florida the minute the temps on the northeast dropped to below 50 degrees. But then we decided to embrace our New York/New Jersey locales and start dressing warmer. That means lots of layering, wool scarves and comfy gloves. But the thing we now get most excited about is investing in gorgeous, stylish and WARM coats. Here are some great options to keep you toasty too!!

Moncler Fur Trim Belted Puffer Coat $1850

Layfayette 148 New York Leather Trench Coat $1298

BCBG Wool Fur-Collar Collar Coat $598

Guys need to stay warm too!! Moncler Puffer Vest $550

Sofia Cashmere Fox- Trim Wool Blend Cape $1425

Burberry London Belted Fur-Collar Puffer Jacket $1295

So just as boots, booties, fur vests, wool coats and scarves are making it’s way out of our wardrobes and onto the streets…it is now time to start talking RESORT! This is one of our favorite times of the year because we get to start planning for our Christmas break sunny getaways. And we LOVE the whole planning and packing part of these vacations because it’s all about fun RESORT fashions!

When we think RESORT, we think of the true glamour girl buying all new swimsuits, kaftans, white sundresses and the Louie Vuitton luggage collection! Now we might have to skip the Louie luggage BUT that doesn’t mean we can’t splurge on colorful, trendy pieces that give us a little taste of what’s to come for Spring and Summer. So wherever you are headed for your holiday trips, remember have a little fun with fashion and don’t forget the sunscreen! Here’s a sneak peek…

What we LOVE about this Missoni poncho ($820) is that you can wear it as a cover up on the beach or a poncho over jeans after your trip!

Trina Turk swim pants $154 is a great alternative to a sarong.

Vince Camuto beach tote on sale at Bloomingdales $88

Lilly Pulitzer Dress $168

Tory Burch Tunic – Coverup $295

Valentino flip flops, $295

Men’s Burberry swim trunks $295

Fashion Faux Pas- Defn: a fashion choice that violates accepted norms.

And yes, we have all been there and done that, whether on purpose for attention or by accident because we lost our minds or fashion sense for the moment. However, whatever the reason was, we here at The Style Duo want to help all our fashionistas out there from making bad fashion choices in the future. After all, that is what our job is all about. We love helping women (and men too) find their best stylish selves and feel confident in their own skin. Now don’t get us wrong, we do make our own fashion faux pas from time to time and we often say it is fun in fashion to not always play by the rules. But there are some rules that we believe are good to keep in mind when getting dressed.

1. Bra Straps showing: Invest in a really good strapless bra instead.
2. Too tight clothes: Go up a size if need be. Don’t get too hung up on the number.
3. Too baggy clothes: Find a really good local seamstress and get things altered that don’t fit properly.
4. Muffin tops hanging out because of low rise jeans: Instead buy mid rise jeans and longer tees.
5. Exposed thong: Go commando if need be.
6. Too much bling: A little bling is stylish and too much bling is tacky!
7. Exceptionally long nails: Just cut em!
8. Too much revealing cleavage: We love a little cleavage (and actually wish we had more!) but again too much of a good thing is just too much!
9. Wearing too many trends all at once: While we love mixing things up this can be a bit tricky. If you want to mix trends, pick two at a time and keep the rest of your ensemble simple.
10. Wearing white after Labor Day: Actually this Fashion Faux Pas is NOT a mistake in our eyes. We LOVE wearing white all winter long. Just keep the fabrics season appropriate and opt for winter white shades.

We usually love Jessica Alba’s style but here she gets a little too “trend happy”!

WAY too much cleavage for broad daylight. Save this look for late night clubbing.

Hilary Duff is too beautiful and sexy for this baggy look.

Bra straps showing is a faux pas but your whole bra showing is a MAJOR faux bra! Let’s leave some things to the imagination ladies!

We believe white after labor day is not a faux pas at all! Kimberly Perry broke that old rule at the CMA’s this week and she absolutely dazzled!

ABC’s BETRAYAL…Sizzling hot!

Keeping a close eye on what the most beautiful and stylish celebrities are wearing is a big part of our job. As stylists, we often get fabulous fashion ideas for our clients just by reading Hollywood magazines and watching all the glitzy red carpet events. One celeb newcomer, in particular, that has gotten our attention is the ridiculously stunning Hannah Mare. Hannah Mare is an English model and actress who is currently starring in the ABC prime time soap Betrayal. Now, of course, many of us are hooked on the show because of its torrid love affair (and yes we love that part too) but we are also hooked on Hannah’s beautiful fashions and interesting style. Take a look at some of our favorite looks from this season. And if you haven’t been tuning in on Sunday nights, now is the time to start!

Jack couldn’t resist the Lady in Red Lace! The cut out in back adds another sexy element!

The moment that started it all. And all it took was a simple tank, red bra peeking through and a messy top knot. Effortless beauty!

Invest in an everyday safari jacket like Sara. Go up a size for an edgy cool effect.

It doesn’t get better than this. Soft white button down, boyfriend jeans and gray booties. Rag and bone have almost identical booties that make every casual denim ensemble appear super chic!

Experiment with style. Mix and match. We love the shorts and bootie look here. Adorable without even trying.

Pair a feminine fit and flare dress with a long sleek ponytail for a sophisticated, yet youthful look!