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7 Wardrobe Essentials Every Fashionable Woman Should Own

Nothing can be more time-consuming in the morning than thinking about what to wear. Despite how many clothes you have in your closet, getting dressed can still be a challenge. Fortunately, this is where capsule wardrobes come in.

Essentially, a capsule wardrobe is a collection of a few staple pieces that don’t go out of fashion. Not only does it save you time, but it also keeps you from spending unnecessary money on a shirt you’ll eventually forget about.

So what exactly comprises a capsule wardrobe? Here are some clothes to put you on the right track.

Black Dress

Every sensible woman needs to have at least one black dress in her wardrobe. In fact, it is one of the few that is truly worth investing in. Like we previously discussed on the Couture Fashion Week blog , you’ll be reaching for it whenever you attend cocktail parties or other formal events. So, you might as well buy one that is made from the best quality fabrics that is fit to last.

Plain White Shirt

The more basic the clothing piece, the more versatile will be. This is especially true for white shirts — the simplest of closet staples that manage to look effortless, perfect, and even appear better with age. But despite its uniformity, not all white shirts are created equal. There are various necklines for every style. For instance, Jungmaven’s hemp-cotton-blend V-neck tee has a classic look and feel that’ll make you look sharp even when paired with some normal pants.

Neutral Blazer

A neutral-colored blazer is one of those pieces every working woman needs, but it can be worn even well past your 9-5 work day. Pair your blazer with a plain button-up shirt, or wear a graphic tee underneath for something a little edgier. Take your cue from celebrities like Sofia Richie, who dons a blazer to complete her athleisure look.

Go-to Jacket

It doesn’t matter if it’s leather, denim, or your favorite hoodie from college; everyone needs to have that one versatile jacket that you can just grab in a hurry, and it’ll still make you look great. Woman Within’s lightweight hooded jacket works especially well for transitional weather as the soft twill material makes for a casual utility feel. The best part is that it’s comfortable without looking or feeling too bulky. There are plenty of options out there, but the most important thing is to look for quality fabric that can withstand any weather.

Denim Jeans

If a simple, classic plain white shirt is in this list, then why we certainly aren’t going to miss out denim, are we? A good pair of denim jeans are timeless and can be worn throughout the year. You can even elevate the look by choosing a darker wash, like indigo or black.

Black Pants

A versatile pair of black pants can get you through most occasions, but are still formal enough to go to work with because of the polished vibe it brings out. They should be comfortable, travel-friendly, and flatter every kind of body type. The best part? They’ll never go out of style. Confidence might be your best asset, but black pants come a close second.

Black Heels

Not too strappy nor too trendy, a pair of black heels are certainly essential when building a capsule wardrobe. They will be with you on most evenings, parties, and workdays — so make sure to pick a pair that’ll keep you standing after hours. LiveAbout recommends choosing heels that are medium in height, which means two to four inches for most women. This makes sure that you’re refined enough without sacrificing comfort.

Exquisite Fashions by Sarene Fu Set to Shine at the GSF Awards Cannes Gala

Sarene Fu Fashion Show at the Global Short Film Awards Gala, Cannes, FranceFashion designer Sarene Fu will present her latest inspired creations during the Cannes Global Short Film Awards Gala and Luxury Fashion Shows on May 25, 2019. Part of the fourth annual edition of the prestigious event, the gala will be held at the iconic Intercontinental Carlton Cannes in Cannes, France.

Sarene Fu is a Taiwan-based wedding gown designer. In 2010 she founded her own exclusive bridal boutique to present her own collection called Emma Bridal Design, catering to her discerning clientele’s taste for extraordinary and modern bridal gowns. The Emma Bridal brand has been embraced by fashion forward brides all over Asia.

In 2018 Sarene Fu launched a new chapter in her career with ready-to-wear designs, expanding beyond bridal wear. Hence, a new signature brand, “Sarene Fu,” was created to reintroduce herself. The first dress collection was created with specialty fabrics, exquisite décor and unique inspiration. She possesses a true talent to express her visions through fashion design, exploring colors that resample harmony in discord, using fabrics with traditional Chinese elements. Ms. Fu strives to make the wearers of her designs feel flattered and classy.

Sarene Fu has presented her exquisite designs at prestigious fashion events around the world including New York Fashion Week and Malaysia Fashion Week.

The Global Short Film Awards Gala and Luxury Fashion Shows is proud to partner with Couture Fashion Week New York and Collezioni Magazines.

Click for more information and tickets to the Cannes event.

Kapriva Couture to Show Edgy Elegant Creations at GSF Awards Cannes Gala

Kapriva Couture Fashion Show at the Global Short Film Awards Gala, Cannes, FranceKapriva Couture will present selections from its latest couture gown collection during the Cannes Global Short Film Awards Gala and Luxury Fashion Shows on May 25, 2019. Part of the fourth annual edition of the prestigious event, the gala will be held at the iconic Intercontinental Carlton Cannes in Cannes, France.

The Kapriva Brand is about edgy, sophisticated, risqué and elegant creations inspired by art and design from all over the world. Their exclusive luxury designer clothing is made and designed in the UK, using the finest materials sourced worldwide. Each piece is designed with inspiration from art and design from global genres, using a combination of unique embellishments and custom-designed hand embroidery, as well as Swarovski element crystals and pearls. Kapriva has a couture range, providing exclusive one-of-a-kind pieces, as well as limited edition collections. Kapriva also offers a couture design service, for those who want a unique piece, made and designed for them. Kapriva has designed bespoke pieces for various events and occasions for individual clients and stage shows and musicians in Los Angeles, including famed burlesque entertainer Vixen DeVille.

The Global Short Film Awards Gala and Fashion Shows is proud to partner with Couture Fashion Week New York and Collezioni Magazines.

Click for more information and tickets to the Cannes event.

George + Ginger to Show Latest Fashions at Global Short Film Awards Cannes Gala

George + Ginger Fashion Show at the Global Short Film Awards Gala, Cannes, FranceInnovative fashion brand George + Ginger will present a selection of its most recent designs during the Cannes Global Short Film Awards Gala and Luxury Fashion Shows event on May 25, 2019. Part of the fourth annual edition of the prestigious event, the gala will be held at the iconic Intercontinental Carlton Cannes in Cannes, France.

Kristi Fitzpatrick started George + Ginger Pattern Co. in 2015, based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. With a degree in Drafting and Design, she began drafting PDF sewing patterns and marketing them worldwide. She shares her passion for design with her customers and engages with them daily. The brand is active on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Reddit.

Along with designing patterns, Kristi works closely with fabric designers and promotes custom lines. As her custom designs evolved, she expanded the George + Ginger label and became involved with Fashion Week shows in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and London. Her designs feature fitted garments, complimented by draped, flowy fabrics. She focuses on designs that are conceivable on all body types and sizes.

Click for more information and tickets to the Cannes event.

 

The MOD House Brings Brilliant Fashion Creations to the GSF Awards Cannes Gala

Top Malaysian fashion brand The MOD House will present a selection of its most recent designs during the Cannes Global Short Film Awards Gala and Luxury Fashion Shows event on May 25, 2019. Part of the fourth annual edition of the prestigious event, the gala will be held at the iconic Intercontinental Carlton Cannes in Cannes, France.

Launched in 1996, The MOD House brand has grown from a distribution house to retail outlets all across Malaysia. Realizing that trends are moving towards customization and online retail, the company has consolidated and is now focusing on its online retail presence.

The creative force behind The MOD House is designer Ho Kok Loong. The brand shows multiple collections annually on prestigious runways all around the world, and consistently works with other designers to come up with the latest designs.

Click for more information and tickets to the Cannes event.

Designer Grace Moon To Show Exquisite Creations at GSF Awards Cannes Gala

Fashion designer Grace Moon will present a selection of her latest creations during the Cannes Global Short Film Awards Gala and Luxury Fashion Shows event on May 25, 2019. Part of the fourth annual edition of the prestigious event, the gala will be held at the iconic Intercontinental Carlton Cannes in Cannes, France.

Grace Moon is a fashion designer and CEO of JM Inspired Design Corporation, a design consulting and brand marketing company. Throughout her 30+ years of experience in the fashion industry, Ms. Moon has worked with companies like Guess as a designer and developer, Papaya as an accessory designer, Foreign Exchange as a head merchandiser/buyer, and Moon Collection as head high-end line designer.

Grace Moon has presented her own signature brand designs at Fashion Weeks in New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. She recently collaborated with the Korean high-end jewelry brand, Amore de Helen, to design and launch a fine jewelry line called Golden Cats Collection. The line is designed and made in the USA to be marketed and sold in Korea.

​Ms. Moon served as a judge for the 2016 Miss Korea Pageant for its historic 60th anniversary event. She was also invited to judge the 2017 Miss Korea Pageant and designed the one-piece dresses and the highlight evening dresses for the pageant. Ms. Moon is currently designing in Hollywood, working closely with many famous designers and producers.

Click for more information and tickets to the Cannes event.

Alexandra Popescu-York Returns to Couture Fashion Week with “Mystic” Collection

Alexandra Popescu-York fashion show at Couture Fashion Week NY

Designer and artist Alexandra Popescu-York will present her latest collection at Couture Fashion Week at 4 pm on Saturday February 16, 2019. The highly-anticipated fashion show will be held at the 4W43 Building, 4 West 43rd Street, New York City.

With an instinct for composition and color, Alexandra Popescu-York, the Romanian-born designer now based in New York, is bringing back the old Hollywood extravagance to transform it into a contemporary line of luxury dresses with a twist of avant garde.

Every piece from “Mystic”, her new collection, tells a story about authenticity and  also reflects the designer’s own bold and eclectic character. Ms. Popescu-York is the only designer in the world that presents artworks of different genres at the same show, at the same time: a collection of fashion couture and a painting exhibition.

Alexandra Popescu-York has been painting since the age of three and studied fashion design and plastic arts at the University of Arts in Bucharest. Now settled in the USA for over ten years, she has built an impressive record of national and international fashion shows and exhibitions. She is a regular favorite of Couture Fashion Week audiences in New York.

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5 Fashion Tips to Look Expensive Without Spending a Lot of Money

It’s every woman’s dream to look fashionable and beautiful. This dream, however, can come at a great cost. If you know how to shop smart, you can actually put together a good wardrobe without wiping out your bank account. You can get that million-dollar look for a fraction of the cost.

Here are fashionable ways to look richer without breaking the bank:

  1. Rent your dresses for formal occasions.

 If you have a formal event to attend, you probably dread having to shop for an expensive gown. With today’s booming sharing economy, dressing for big events need not set you back hundreds of dollars. Check out The Volte Dress Hire to rent that perfect designer gown or cocktail dress at a great bargain price. Think of all the money you’ll be saving when you rent instead of buy clothes for black-tie events.

5 Fashion Tips to Look Expensive Without Spending a Lot of Money

  1. Maximize bargains and sales.

To get the most out of discounts on clothes for sale, here are great ways to save for a bargain:

  • Know when your favorite designer brands go on sale, and save your money for shopping during these dates.
  • Visit a variety of clothing stores and compare prices before you make your purchases.
  • Even during sales, buy high-quality wardrobe pieces. Don’t settle for cheap clothes that are not well-made.
  1. Buy the basic clothing pieces.

There are certain pieces of clothing that are staples in every practical and fashionable woman’s wardrobe. Before you buy other types of clothing, make sure you have these basic pieces that you will mix and match with other pieces of clothing and accessories. These are the following:

  • Jeans

You need a high-quality pair of dark skinny jeans. Buy jeans that flatter your body type and hide your flaws. It’s easy to pair your dark jeans with heels and a striking blouse for a night out or with classic ballet flats and a white shirt for brunch.

  • Blazer

Invest in one or two stylish blazers that fit you well. Choose one in black or navy blue that you can match with a basic round neck white tee and jeans. Another blazer can be in a striking color that matches your skin tone, which you can use on a date or party.

  • Shirts

Purchase a few well-made dress shirts in flattering colors that you can wear with pants or skirts.

  • Shoes

Save up and buy a well-known brand of black pumps. You don’t need too many pairs of shoes, but you do need a few pairs of footwear in classic styles.

  • Dress

Buy your little black dress in a design that suits your body type perfectly. You’ll be reaching for this elegant dress often when you’re invited to cocktail parties or formal dinners. So, choose a black dress that you’ll wear confidently.

If you’ll spend money, invest in these basic pieces as you’ll be using these clothes the most often. 

  1. Wear striking jewelry and accessories.

Once you have the staple pieces of clothing in your wardrobe, dress up your everyday look with stylish jewelry and accessories. Here are some tips you can experiment with:

  • Earrings

Earrings bring attention to your face, so choose eye-catching but tasteful pairs. Wear an interesting pair of dangling earrings to dress up plain colors or styles of clothing. If what you’re wearing is already colorful or quite trendy in style, stick to classic stud earrings.

  • Necklaces

Use beautiful fashion necklaces or pretty scarves to accentuate shirts and dresses. Without having to buy too many blouses and tops, you can vary your look by having an assortment of necklaces and scarves in your wardrobe.

  • Belts

Invest in a few stylish belts that you can use to accent dresses or your classic pair of pants.

  • Shoes

Choose unique pairs of shoes to complete your ensemble. A striking pair of heels or pumps can totally enhance your overall look, and make you seem like you just walked out of the pages of a fashion magazine.

 Take advantage of off-season sales.

When you know how to shop for the clothes you need and want in postseason sales, you’ll be able to grow your wardrobe without spending too much. Prices drop drastically when it’s off-season. Here are tips you can follow:

  • Check your existing clothes and list down the specific pieces you’ll need for the next year. In short, plan ahead for your needs.
  • Make a budget for your seasonal shopping trips.
  • Buy your winter coats after winter at end-of-season sales, and purchase swimsuits on sale in spring and winter. Get the pieces you’ve been dreaming off at big discounts.

 Conclusion

When you know the tricks on saving money in your clothes shopping, looking fashionable and expensive is attainable. Master how you can get the designer clothes you’ve always been wanting without exceeding your budget. Many well-dressed women actually know how to shop smart. That’s partly how they build a well-curated wardrobe. You can do the same for yourself.

Nigerian Fashion Icon Frank Osodi to Present Latest Collection at Couture Fashion Week

Frank Osodi House of Bunor fashion show at Couture Fashion Week NYTop Nigerian fashion designer Frank Osodi will present his latest distinctive collection during Couture Fashion Week New York‘s 29th season. The highly-anticipated fashion show will be held at 6 pm on Friday February 15, 2019 at the 4W43 Building, 4 West 43rd Street in New York City.

Nigerian fashion mogul Frank Osodi Richard is the owner and designer for the labels House of Bunor and Frank Osodi for Bunor, both operating under Bunor Creazioni. Mr. Osodi is a former professional and West African top model. He is the recipient of numerous awards over the years as a fashion designer, most notably International Designer of the Year 1991-1992 and Fashion Person of the Year 2003. Mr. Osodi is also the brain behind the highly successful annual international fashion show Black, Bold and Jazzy, as well as the organizer of the West African Fashion Week which debuted in 2011.

Frank Osodi, called the “king of the bustier” in Nigeria by top fashion media personality Ruth Osime, is known for his creative and impeccably finished ceremonial gowns, evening dresses and bridal ensembles. He captures and expresses the sentiments of a generation and expands his horizon to make an impact on both African society and the Diaspora, by creating a harmony between fashion and life. Frank Osodi is undoubtedly one of the most talented and influential designers in fashion today. He enjoys working with African prints, Duchess satin, French lace chiffon and many other natural fibers and fabrics.

The House of Bunor clientele includes many top Nigerian celebrities, actresses, beauty queens, entertainers and socialites, as well as a number of first ladies. Frank Osodi also dressed Agbani Darego, the first native African to win the Miss World crown.

Frank Osodi’s career in the fashion industry ranges from fashion design and consultancy to model management, media events and make up artistry. He is a past vice president of the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN), and the current president of the model managers association of Nigeria (PROMMAN). Mr. Osodi’s distinctive designs have been presented at many top fashion events including South Africa Fashion Week, the Vukani Fashion Awards, Mozambique Fashion Week and the PAHBA Awards, as well as at events in Atlanta and Barbados and a host of other fashion fairs. Recently his label, Frank Osodi for Bunor, was one of four top Nigerian designer labels honored to showcase their creative pieces in conjunction with the Austrian Lace Manufacturers association in Vienna.

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Wasée Jewels to Show Latest Stunning Designs at Couture Fashion Week NY

Wasee Jewels by Farah Ghatala at Couture Fashion Week NYSan Francisco-based luxury jewelry brand WasĂ©e Jewels will present its latest creations at Couture Fashion Week New York’s 29th season. Marking the brand’s first appearance at the prestigious event, the jewelry will be shown along with the the most recent collection by fashion designer and event producer Andres Aquino at 8 pm on Saturday February 16, 2019 at the 4W43 Building, 4 West 43rd Street in New York City.

The creative force behind the WasĂ©e Jewels brand is designer Farah Ghatala. According to the designer, “Our jewelry is a manifestation of who you are, our creations tell a story — a story you can wear. Your uniqueness shines through in our exclusive chic designs.” All of the stunning jewelry pieces are hand-crafted in the WasĂ©e Jewels Silicon Valley studio.

Wasée Jewels has been worn by celebrities at major red carpet events including award-winning producer and TV personality Lika Osipova at the Emmy Awards, and “Minority Reportz” producer and comedian Mona Shaikh at the Top 1000 Comedians Awards.

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