Just a normal fall day in the District this weekend. It was exceptionally gorgeous out, so we took advantage and scoped some nice places to shoot outdoors. One of the nice things about living in DC is there are so many interesting backdrops to shoot at - monuments and memorials galore, and of course all the beautiful museums. I'm looking forward to shooting at some of these places very soon.

The dress I'm wearing here I found randomly in a cousin's closet (she didn't want it anymore) but I thought it had lots of potential. Again, I'm wearing it with pants because it's just too cold to wear something baring my legs right now, and I'm not insane to try.

One look making its way back from the '90s is the dress-over-pants. Remember this baby?

Gwen Stefani, c.1998

Well, Gwen's style isn't the only thing that's improved since then. The dress-over-pants look is making a comeback, and this time it's sophisticated and sleek, thanks to the likes of Helmut Lang, Rag & Bone and Rebecca Taylor:

(... and Givenchy and Haider Ackermann while we're at it).

Hate it or love it, you have to admit: at least it's one way to carry your summer wardrobe into winter! For example - you might remember this dress from TSM's feature in the Washingtonian this summer:


To take your winter wardrobe into summer, you can wear a dress like this with a pair of sleek, slightly flared pants and a sweater thrown on top, and voila! You end up with an entirely different outfit, and one that's completely winter appropriate to boot:



To make this look work for you, here are some simple tips to keep in mind:

1) Keep the dress at knee-length or higher. A knee-length hemline will maintain the leg and waist proportions of your body. Anything longer tends to look awkward.

2) Keep the waist defined. With so much fabric (dress plus pants), you want to be sure to create shape somewhere. Instead of wearing a shapeless shift dress, try one with an empire-waist or one that will make it easy to define your waist with a belt.

3) Stick to darker tones. For winter months, stick to a neutral palette (like greys, blacks, and browns) to make you feel like your dress is made for winter, instead of being a horribly-misplaced dress from summer.

And now for your Thanksgiving enjoyment, here are some photos of well-coordinated decor. Since most of us are spending today indoors anyway, why not feast our eyes on some good decor (since we'll be feasting our stomachs anyway ;)
 
For a sleek black, white and gold palette, check out this great example. The matching glossy black door arches and bookshelf add a glam look to the room which is carried through to the black granite floor. The gold accents in the vases, picture frames and chair add an element of luxury, augmented by the crystal chandelier. Finally, the sequined black-and-white chevron throw cushion adds some much-needed pattern and texture to the room.

Ralph Lauren

For a brighter, more classic look, check out this example alternating gold and seafoam seamlessly. This room is all about the dramatic gold ceiling-to-floor curtains and square moldings.

Hey guys!

Sorry for the lack of posts the past few days - it was hubby's birthday so I surprised him with a trip to a private lodge in the Shenandoah Valley for the weekend. It was the perfect winter escape - bare trees and rolling hills outside, hot cocoa and a warm fireplace inside.

Check out some of the photos from our trip!

The drive to the Shenandoah

The lodge entrance

The view from the lodge

I will post more soon. Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!!

In my makeup bag right now: E.L.F. Blush and Bronzer Duo, E.L.F. Eyebrow Kit, E.L.F. brushes

It's getting chillier out there! Which can only mean one thing - time to break out the winter coats.

After a long time in storage, I finally brought out one of my favorite coats again. Bought in my last year of college, this one's proven to be a classic that's withstood the test of time and trends.


One of my all-time favorite looks for winter is a long, lady-like winter coat. Even better is one with an elegant, belted waist.

What's YOUR favorite look for winter?

Maybe you've thought about adding some global accents to your decor but aren't sure which are good pieces to buy or worse, whether they'd actually clash with the decor you've already got going on.

The best way to get your own decor right is by understanding why great examples work. Global decor done well mixes different prints and pieces in a seamless, effortless way.

Here's one great example: layers of different print rugs, hexagonal Moroccan coffee tables, Indian screen-printed throw cushions, Safari-inspired zebra print furniture and antlers, and Moroccan poufs - we've got a lot going on here. But somehow, it manages to all look chic and put-together instead of becoming a cluttered mess. One reason is there's a consistent color theme in the decor pieces that ties them all together: we see the reds and oranges from the rugs being pulled through the couch cushions, and then also immediately complemented by the accents of greys, blues and black. The clean, grey walls provide balance to the busy room, while the glossy paint finish adds that chic factor.


Design by Melissa Collison

Everyone should have someplace they can go for fashion inspiration. Whenever I'm bored with my closet and get caught in a fashion rut, I browse through the famous looks of past style icons to get some fresh ideas to incorporate into my wardrobe. So to make such references easier, this blog will feature a Style Icon Series in which we will explore the iconic looks of some of the world's most fashionable women.

Icons like Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, and Kate Moss have managed to create styles that women have tried to emulate for decades. But what is it about these women that makes the rest of us associate them with impeccable style? Whether it's a classic look or bombshell status, each of these women has a distinct style that others recognize immediately as "Jackie O" or "Marilyn". They've all managed to achieve this recognition by claiming a few original statement pieces as their own. And when you have a signature look that other women want to copy, you have become a certified icon.

One of the most famous style icons is of course Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Her signature look was simple: pillbox hats, ladylike dresses and suits with clean lines, white elbow-length gloves, a short string of pearls, and then later oversized glasses, trenchcoats and turtlenecks. Whether she was attending stately dinners or relaxing with family, Jackie embodied classic Americana and created a new twist on this traditional style for generations to come.


How can you become your own fashion icon? Know what works best for you. Jackie Kennedy once told Vogue magazine, "“I am tall, 5’7”, with brown hair, a square face, and eyes so unfortunately far apart that it takes three weeks to have a pair of glasses made with a bridge wide enough to fit over my nose. I do not have a sensational figure but can look slim if I pick the right clothes." Like all truly fashionable women, Jackie knew her strengths and weaknesses and played up to her assets. It's great to take inspiration from women we admire, but always do it in a way that stays true to your own sense of style. Being original (even if that means putting your own spin on a classic look) is a prerequisite to becoming a fashion icon.

These are some of the pieces I'd imagine Jackie wearing today. The black lady-like Dolce & Gabbana satchel is a perfect classic and goes with practically everything. I also think Jackie would've liked Victoria Beckham's sophisticated and feminine silhouettes. And whether it was a statement scarf or pair of gloves, Jackie had a penchant for accessorizing her ensemble with the right pieces. These Lanvin items - the yellow accented scarf and dark maroon short gloves - would add the right dashes of color to a neutral outfit.

Old Town Alexandria is a beautiful, quaint, quiet little neighborhood near us. It's one of the oldest communities still standing (since 1749!), so if you spend some time exploring the area, you're likely to find gorgeous narrow cobble-stoned alleys, tiny original houses and antique brick-lined walls and streets. We were out and about this weekend and came across this gorgeous bike tunnel near the harbor. It was a cool, grey day and you can see the mood perfectly in these pics. I'm wearing one of my favorite oversized cozy grey sweaters (which is now 10 years old!) And paired it with these cool faux leather leggings from Zara. They're not your typical leather leggings because they're cotton/spandex in the back, making them uber comfortable. I love wearing something cozy and soft like a big wool sweater with shiny, faux leather leggings. The combination is unexpected because of the mix of hard and soft. And that's what fashion's all about, really! Trying new things with an unexpected result that's still appealing.

I'm a sucker for leather. Especially black. In the right shapes and with the right mix of textures, black leather is impossibly chic. A little hard-edge, a tad goth, but when worn with the right pieces, it's nothing other than high fashion.

I don't know about you, but I'm always looking for something unique to wear to formal and semi-formal events like weddings and holiday parties. There's only so much of the simple cocktail dress I can take. This past weekend was no exception. Eid was on Saturday, and to celebrate, we were invited to a friend's home for dinner. I chose to wear two pieces from our upcoming collection which celebrates a mix of Eastern and Western styles. Saturday's ensemble consisted of a block-pattern embellished jacket worn over a stone-embellished tapered maxi dress. I love both these pieces because they're so different and versatile - I can wear each piece so many different ways, which is a must for anything I put in my closet. I finished the look with neutral stilettos and one of my favorite gold box clutches.

I'm so excited because we're gearing up to officially launch our line and website very soon. There, you'll be able to find these pieces and many more like them.

As we get closer to launch, check back here often to see how we style all the pieces and put them together!