I think my iTunes stopped counting plays on my Pretend Not to Love EP, Tigercity’s EP, from being played so much. That being said, I’ve anticipated the release of their first full length for what feels like forever. Now the wait is over.

Tigercity makes you dance. They are a cross-over from vintage pop (think Hall & Oates meets Michael Jackson with a little bit of the Bee Gees thrown in there) to this whole new synth pop stuff – but this time it is  a little more genuine, not disposable.

Continue Reading…

The safari trend is here now and can be styled through multiple prints, solids, and materials. Dress up this look by trying an animal print or safari themed pattern in dresses or embellished tops. Dress down the look through solids in blouses, shorts, and rompers in olives, blacks, and tans. Add layering pieces such as military style jackets to toughen up the outdoor vibe.

This season at fashion week I was lucky enough to grab a front row seat at Juan Carlos Obando’s Fall ‘10 show at Milk Studio’s.  What a HOT event and there was some pretty awesome swag!
Awaiting each attendee was a collection of hair care products that fashion designer Obando launched this past year.  The collection named Number Four was “founded with the mission to develop a creative, high performance hair care line that runs parallel to fashion, science, art, music and Industrial Design creative cycles.”  Each Number Four product claims…”We exclude all ingredients potentially toxic to humans, rare vintage couture, and our dear environment; 100% Vegan, Sulfate, Gluten, Bad Taste and Paraben Free formulas are never ever tested on any animal.”
www.number4hair.com

I know, I know. It’s comfortable. It’s easy; you find your navy zip top, and your navy pants, and you put it on, and you go to yoga, and then to the Whole Foods. But, I must tell you, just like every other trend that has crossed our paths, this one has played out. No different from mall bangs or Z Cavaricci jeans, Juicy velour has had it’s moment in the sun, but that moment has passed. Let’s move on to 2010, shall we? You traded your Discman for an Ipod, right? So why would you wear the same outfit that you wore when you were carrying around your Discman, rocking out to the latest N’Sync CD?

What do I wear now, do you ask? What is my worthy replacement? I have the answer, and it is more than worthy replacement: Free City. Continue Reading…

This season screams feminity with a sophisticated element on dresses.  Take the elegance of detail and materials and you get glam at its best this season. Embrace your inner girl and go for the sequin or beaded look.

Where it now with your chunky sweaters and boots. Wear it later with denim cutoffs and bo-ho tops.

Kansas City’s own Baldwin denim featured among the top denim brands in the world.

The Denim Debate is not intended to crown any winners…
The “debate” is targeted at everyone from the denim snob, to the person who doesn’t understand why we delay washing our jeans.  The end-state of the site will be an interactive forum of sorts; displaying everything from denim questions, style suggestions, video testimonials, and our contributors profile [...]

See how 22+ denim brands stand up against the efforts of the individuals assigned to wear them in. For the next year our contributors -from all walks of life- will live in their brand’s entry. It will be the job of each to bring the denim to its knees, all the while documenting the progress for you to observe.

See how this local denim brand stacks up at www.denimdebate.com

As a fan of mexican food I can always be persuaded into going for a
meal. El Patron is a new favorite and one that is authentic AND has a
great atmosphere. The staff is out of the world, accomodating, and
efficient. Love the variety of sauces and would recommend any of them
plus a side of guacamole. The food is fresh, interesting, and priced
well. Not to be boring but try the tacos as the crispy shells are out
of this world. They have a great tequila list and speciality drinks
are a plenty. Monday though Friday happy hours from 3-6 consist of 1/2
off appetizers, margaritas, and mojitos. Located on Southwest
Boulevard it has the charm of a locally owned spot with a boutique
envrionment.

2905 SW Blvd
elpatronkcmo.com

Juan Carlos Abando named this collection “La Poderosa Redux” (translation, the potent one). The designer cites his inspiration as technique and “Today’s woman. Her form. The way she moves.”   This Colombian Los Angeles-based designer is an art director by trade, and more recently a fashion designer and beauty entrepreneur .  Obando’s new line “Number Four” was found on the seats of all the attendees of his 2010 fashion week debut located at Milk Studios.  The color palliate of this collection was off-whites, olive, camel, black and grey.  Olive seemed to be a trend this season among many collections.

While I’m not a fan of getting rid of clothing…its time to retire the graffiti tees and be-dazzled tanks. Opt for some class in the form of nautical stripes.

Unless you’re planning on being a member of the Jersey Shore cast for Halloween kick these fashion grenades to the curb faster than “The Situation” goes through girls.

Long beachy skirts, evening tops and dresses arriving daily at Standard Style Boutique.

1. James Perse Tee, House of Harlow Sunburst necklace with Calypso skirt and Joie gladiator sandals
2. Haute Hippie top with Haute Hippie Nude tank and Phillip Lim pant
3. Marc by Marc dress and House of Harlow bangles
4. Marc by Marc dress and House of Harlow bangles

So you’re going to try out the red lip trend for this season? Good for you! But buyer beware, you must have a white backdrop for your red lip! There’s nothing that brings more attention to dingy teeth than a pop color. An inexpensive and easy way to whiten teeth: Crest Whitestrips. Do not go for the alternative generic drugstore brands; shell out the extra money and go for the real deal. The Premium variety work the fastest; in one week as opposed to two; however the standard will work just fine as well. Another tip: go for a blue based red as opposed to a yellow; as a blue will make teeth automatically look brighter.

Alice + Olivia’s designer Stacey Bendet presented a collection filled with the expected: feminine, glamorous party wear!

Soon we’ll shed our black and gray layers for pops of color and skin. With daily deliveries of new items, you can expect these spring pieces in Standard Style Boutique very soon.

A review from Women’s Wear Daily:

Though savvy enough to ignore the word, Beckham is her own muse. She makes the clothes she’s feeling at a particular moment, and these days find her in an increasingly relaxed mood. That hardly means sweats and sneakers, but gentler renditions of the sensibly glamorous dresses that have become her personal and professional signatures.
For fall she started from a Dick Tracy inspiration, mercifully rendered not via fedora-ed-out kitsch, but with a palette of pale neutrals shot with colors Beckham fancies of the comic strip sort — rich red, emerald, sapphire — and graceful lines recalling the languid structure of the Thirties and Forties. Dresses in crepe or jersey draped this way or that across the torso; textural contrasts — lamé chiffon and dense ribbed jersey; stretch felt with wool twill — added depth to solid fields of color.

Left: Joie Cardigan over Isabel Lu cami and Siwiy denim cut-offs
Center: EVER romper with Olive & Olivia cardigan, Marc by Marc cross body bag, 47th and Penn necklace
Right: James Perse Tee with Marc by Marc shorts, 47th and Penn jewelry

All available at Standard Style Boutique on The Country Club Plaza.

Looking forward to spring on these cold and drab days.
Here are some colorful spring pieces coming soon to Standard Style Boutique, receiving deliveries daily of new spring items.

1. Alternative Apparel tank, Splendid skirt, Joie gladiators, 47th and Penn accessories
2. Trina Turk Lace Dress with Dolce Vita wedges, and House of Harlow jewelry
3. Alternative Apparel tank, Ever skirt, Joie gladiators, 47th and Penn bangles
4. Milly one shoulder dress with Dolce Vita wedges, Houe of Harlow peacock cuff
5. Milly dress with Dolce Vita wedges

All available at Standard Style Boutique on the Country Club Plaza.

Once, twice, large or small…just flaunt that selvage stripe.

Women’s Wear Daily said it best:

Inspired by a mixture of Seventies Parisian chic and an urban New York City girl, Rebecca Taylor reworked her sweet side with a subtle edge. Men’s wear-inspired tailored tweed suits were paired with delicate blouses, and there were vintage-inspired faux fur animal-pattern coats, a nod to military with cozy outerwear and plenty of pretty ruffles on everything from knits to dresses. Feminine, as always, but Taylor kept it fresh with plenty of layering to make it look cool and effortless.

To see more images from back stage… Continue Reading…