So in embracing Halloween’s trick or treat theme, we decided to give our readers some “tricks” to looking especially stylish all year round. And the “treat” will be feeling fabulous every single day. So don’t be “scared” to try these tips. You will be happy you did!

1. Everyone looks good in cobalt blue! If you are hesitant to wear color and always choose neutrals or basic black we challenge you to try cobalt blue. It miraculously works well on all skin and hair colors and gives a girl a little glow.

2. Fitted is usually better than baggy. We often see clients trying to buy clothes that cover their problem areas. And while we agree, wearing daisy dukes is not a good choice if you have flabby thighs, wearing a muumuu isn’t the answer either! We suggest you buy clothes that fit properly AND try and have almost all your clothing tailored to fit your proportions perfectly!

3. We have never met a girl that didn’t look good in a wrap dress. Our clients often say, “Oh I would look horrible in one of those!” Of course, the minute they put one on they are proven wrong! We don’t care if you are tall. short, have a big bust or you are flat-chested. ALL the ladies look sexy and sophisticated when wearing the wrap. Diane Von Furstenburg is our idol for starting the trend years ago. Try one and you will soon be a fan too!

4. Get a tan! Ok, we are not talking George Hamilton here but everyone looks better with a little tan. We are also not suggesting baking in the sun or going into one of those dangerously unhealthy tanning beds. All we advise is to invest in a tube of Jergens gradual self tanner. Clarins and Sephora also make some nice ones. Bottom line, bronzed is beautiful!

5. Lobe Wonders, double stick tape and baby wipes! These are three must haves for all beauty and fashion lovers. Lobe wonders are sold online and they are basically small stickers that fit behind your earlobes. They act as an anchor for earring hoops and posts so that the an earring won’t sag down on your lobe. They are wonderful for gals who wore heavy earrings in the 80′s and are now paying the price! Double stick tape is great for keeping everything in place and for not letting anything fall out accidentally! And finally baby wipes are miracle stain removers. Store a few in a plastic baggie and take it for on the go!

6. IMPORTANT TIP: Nothing screams sexy like a pair of red stilettos. Spice up ANY outfit with a red pump, bootie or sandal. HOT HOT HOT!

7. If all else fails, add a fabulous accessory. Do you ever feel the wardrobe blahs? You know, when nothing looks right or feels exciting to wear? Well grab a chunky necklace or big chandelier earrings and you will go from feeling boring to beautiful!! And you don’t have to spend a ton of money to make a big statement! Online websites like www.baublebar.com are great for amazing pieces at affordable prices!

Here’s to a stylish new you!

It’s that time of year!! It seems like everyone is shopping for holiday and special occasion dresses. And we love every fun minute helping our clients find the perfect dress or gown that makes them feel so sexy and confident. We get our clients access to showrooms in NYC, designer discounts and offer our passion and expertise. Contact us for info about some fabulous new designers we are now working with! mindyandpaula@thestyleduo.com.

Let The Style Duo style you for your next party or event! We believe everyone deserves to feel beautiful and special!

Our obsession with red started as little girls all dressed in our red leotards and tutus ready for our first dance recital. We felt so special and striking in this bold color even though we messed up every single step to “On the Good Ship Lollipop”. We didn’t care about our dancing blunders because we loved the way we looked and that confidence and attitude made us shine.
Fast forward to 2013 and here we are all excited about the hot color for the season…RED, and we are ready to rock it once again. Red which is often considered the power color, is also linked to love, romance and the heart which makes it no wonder why women keep coming back to this fabulous hue. It is so hot right now that designers and stores like Neiman Marcus have even deemed it the new neutral. While the jury is still out on that one, it is clear that red is the IN color. We feel that red can serve as a backdrop, complement other eye catching colors or take center stage depending how daring you are.
Now even though our dancing shoes are hung up and our red tutu days are long gone, that exciting feeling of wearing one of our favorite colors will never get old for us. So get out there, try it and get “RED”y to shine!

So without revealing our exact ages (ladies never tell!), we would like
to share with all of you some memories of fashions from our past. And
if you are able to figure out by the clothing which decades we lived
through, well then you are probably our age too!

So we feel it is important to bring up style nostalgia because we can
learn from our mistakes! But we can also learn from the styles we got
right! More often than not, old trends become new trends and they come
BACK in bigger and better ways (except for E.G.s!) You remember those
right? Those crazy chunky socks that were scrunched down for effect and
worn with Keds! Were we kidding? Who thought of that fashion blunder?
They looked ridiculous and the socks always got so stretched out and
looked messy and unfeminine. But we didn’t care because they were big
and cozy. And they matched our BIG hair and BIG champion sweatshirts!!
Thank goodness we haven’t seen those resurface. E.G’s belong in the
80′s!

But remember how lace became so popular in the 80′s when Madonna came
onto the scene? We would not leave our house without our lace hair-ties
worn as a head-band Madonna style! Well it’s 30 years later and Madonna
is still going strong (and dating a boy toy half her age!) and lace has
made a huge comeback; on shoes, dresses and even jeans.

Another trend we can’t believe we are sporting again is the cowboy boot. We
thought our Billy Martins were ancient history. Then all of a sudden we saw
a Kardashian or Simpson sister wearing cute new versions and suddenly the cowboy boot
craze is back! Wear them with a little dress or skirt for a more up to date look. Frye and
Steve Madden have cute options. And whatever you do, DO NOT wear them tucked under jeans! So 1988!

Going back even further, we remember wearing metallic knickers to every
Bar and Bat Mitzvah we attended. We felt so grown up and on trend.
Just like a true disco queen! Well welcome back silver,gold and pewter.
But this time around we add rose gold! We are loving the new trend of
mixing these metals with jewelry and accessories. A day doesn’t go by where we aren’t
sporting different shades of shiny jewelry; real, fashion and costume!
Mix, match and sparkle!!

And welcome back Doc Martens! Although we are surprised these guys came
back in style so quickly from the mid nineteen nineties. But here they
are as large and clumsy as ever. We did however, learn our lesson from
last time and aren’t pairing them with baby doll dresses. Grunge is so
end of the century! This time around we are seeing them with jeans and
blazers; a look that is a little more balanced and polished!

Speaking of the 90′s, how could we forget the fashions from good ol’
“Beverly Hills 90210″? We worshiped Kelly Taylor and Donna Martin like
they were the world’s greatest style icons. We rocked those crop tops
and bared our belly buttons just to look like a true West Beverly Hills
gal. So here we are in 2013, and we are seeing midriff baring looks all
over the runways. But sorry Brenda Walsh, no belly buttons this time!
Thankfully, the fashions are showing just a peek of skin, leaving more
to the imagination. Much classier and modern!

We remember living in corduroys as kids! Sasson and Gloria Vanderbilt were our faves
and we wore them with huge “Good and Plenty” combs sticking out of our back
pockets! Fast forward MANY years later, Gap has a beautiful selection of
cords this Fall in a variety of colors. This time around we are seeing
a more modern skinny version and no combs allowed!

And Chanel’s new glossimer lipgloss gives our old #44 flea market lipgloss
from 1984 a run for it’s money! You see what goes around comes BACK
around in style!

Except for E.G.s!

Is it Summer? Or is it Fall? Should you wear sandals or boots; sweaters or tank tops? Can you still wear white or it that a fashion faux pas? Well technically it is Fall but you would hardly know it by the 70 degree weather we’ve been having. And the weatherman has predicted 80 degrees for this week! Therefore, we know how very tricky it can be when getting dressed in the beginning of Autumn. Of course you are dying to wear all your new chunky knits and designer boots. But you also don’t want to be sweating and uncomfortable all day. And it’s every fashionista’s nightmare to be a fashion don’t!! So here are some “DUO” and “DON’T’” tips from The Style Duo on what to wear and not to wear right now.

Sometimes we enjoy what we do so much, we think is this really considered a job?? Well, that is exactly how we felt during our styling session with the gorgeous Dr. Joy last week. She is smart, classy and simply gorgeous! And as a talk show host for the The Dr. Joy Show, she loves to stay stylish and current! So when she asked us to style her for her upcoming season we jumped at the chance to dress this amazing lady!

We spent the day at the fabulous Boutique 811 in Franklin Lakes NJ and came up with some great options for her to wear on her show. Styling someone for television is very different than styling them for an event, work or everyday life. We wanted Dr. Joy to feel sexy BUT also appropriate, on trend, and really confident. Our goal was also to find outfits in rich colors that would look great on television and bring out her beautiful smile and bright eyes! We were amazed how easy and fun our job became because she looked great in everything!!

Here are some of The Style Duo tips for dressing for the camera:

1. COLOR! We love white and we love black but on camera they both look a little blah. Cobalt blues, poppy reds and rich burgundies look great on tv!

2. SLEEK and SIMPLE- While we love to accessorize, on television you have to be careful not to overdo it. Too much jewelry and fussy scarves can look messy and overpowering. Keep it a little simpler when in front of the camera.

3. SEXY BUT APPROPRIATE: Save your super low cut tops and micro minis for the nightclubs. With the whole world watching you on tv, you want to keep it classy. But that being said, buttoned up and boring looks are for the library! Dresses that hit just above the knee are feminine, flirty and on trend.

4. SOLID COLORS: Try and stay away from plaids, florals and bold prints. Solid colors look cleaner and more flattering.

5. COMFORT: When filming for television, the day can be extremely long and grueling. Often it takes hours to get one scene or segment just right. That is why it is important that what you wear is comfortable and easy to move and sit in.

Check out DR. Joys website http://www.drxjoy.com/

And watch her this Fall at http://princetontv.org/About_the_Programs.html .
The Style Duo will be appearing on her show in the upcoming months so we will keep you posted with that!!

Hi Fashionistas!

We are happy to introduce to you a great up and coming fashion website, Limpasseboutique.com!! We are excited to be chosen as their new Style Experts and we will be featured on their site with our “Picks of the Month”! This online boutique carries great brands for the stylish young lady like Jay Godfrey, Naven and Holt which are hard to find in local stores and super cute for any budding fashionista!

We are often asked by our clients where they could find pretty and fashionable outfits for their daughters without breaking the bank. Limpasseboutique.com has beautiful and sophisticated options for Sweet Sixteens, dances and parties. They offer great pieces that are affordable and fun to wear! .

Keep an eye out for many more cool brands to be added to the site in upcoming weeks! And take advantage of their super 30% off sale! Now while you will find stylish looks for your daughters, you will ALSO find sexy options for you on trend moms! The Baccio dresses are stunning for a special night out and can be custom made to your liking. There are even great fashions for men too.

So click on the link, check it out and let us know what you think.

http://limpasseboutique.com/store/fashion-tips-style-duo

Fashionably yours,

Mindy & Paula
THE STYLE DUO

The temps are still in the high 70’s but it is September and the boots and booties want to come out and play!! They have been sitting in our closets since July when we couldn’t help but give in to the urge to buy a hot new pair for the upcoming Fall season. Let’s face it – there isn’t anything better than purchasing a shiny new pair of high-heeled leather boots or anything more satisfying than splurging on a trendy pair of buckled booties! Why is it that owning new boots can take away the end of Summer blahs and turn them into Pre-Fall hurrahs?!

So get ready, because we are about to WOW you with some of the most exciting boots and booties we have been scouting out for Fall. Some are true splurges while others are great bargains. But they will all make you weak in the knees. So bring on The Fall!

PS. Speaking of boots…The Style Duo will be styling and hosting a fabulous fashion show at Neiman Marcus, Paramus NJ early October : FALL Head Over Heels For FALL Handbags & Shoes Event
Lookout for the upcoming evite!

So here we are, getting ready for a nice long vacation to Florida. We can hardly wait to relax, visit family, say hi to Mickey and our fave Disney Princesses and (of course) squeeze in some South Beach shopping time. As we pack our suitcases, we can’t help but remember our blog from last year about packing for a vacation. Although it is always easier said than done, we are trying to heed our own advice. And as we fold our white flowy maxis, we think about how we often tell our clients that adding pops of turquoise or coral really take summer whites up a whole notch and we quickly make sure to pack our fun chunky colored jewelry. We recall our “How To Be A Sexy But Appropriate Housewife On The Beach” WPIX Channel 11 segment and make sure our triangle bikinis are paired with some sarongs for balance and coverage. We neatly hang our splurge ensembles next to our steal outfits and smile knowing we have mastered that sometimes tricky concept.

Wow! We realize this past year as “The Style Duo” we have been busy growing, learning, and having a lot of fun along the way. We have experimented with new and old trends, met some interesting people in the fashion biz, hosted fabulous fashion shows, luncheons, and girls nights out, worked with wonderful department stores, boutiques, designers and showrooms , appeared on numerous T.V. fashion segments and even put our English degrees to good use and wrote style pieces for magazines and newspapers. But as we think back to all of our experiences this year, we realize that the thing we enjoyed the most was spreading our passion for fashion to our loyal, stylish, amazing clients.

While we are psyched for some time away, we are also looking forward to getting back to biz when we return. So here’s a little look down memory lane of this past year. Keep ya posted on new Style Duo happenings for Fall…….xoxo

LOTS OF GREAT PRESS!

TV APPEARANCES!

THE STYLE DUO’S FAVE STORES

STYLING CLIENTS IN FABULOUS SHOWROOMS

As we savor the last few weeks of August, the big question is how to transition seamlessly from Hot Summer Styles to Fabulous Fall Fashions! We must remember that most of September is actually still Summer even though we all get so anxious to start wearing our new Fall purchases. We suggest slowly incorporating new items into your look. For example, it might be too hot to wear your leather skinnies with your new Fall coat and suede pumps but you can easily pair your leather skinnies with a blousy tank and chunky jewelry at night and have a super chic and weather appropriate outfit! Or wear your new suede pumps with one of your more summery dresses and a denim jacket and you look like you are are effortlessly ready for Fall!

Check out these celebrity looks that will help you go from Summer to Fall in perfect style!