The puffy sleeve trend has made its rounds from the 1800’s to the 80’s, and started resurfacing in the 2019 runway shows of designers such as Marc Jacobs and Valentino. You probably even caught a regal glimpse of Beyonce sporting the style at the 2020 Golden Globes! Here are a four tricks of the trade to style puffy sleeves!
FOCUS ON FABRIC: Finding the right fabric is the basis of conquering a puff-sleeve ensemble. A light fabric can be too wispy and cling, where as sturdy fabric will help the look from losing its shape.
BOLD ACCESSORIES: You can add heightened accessories to help even out the drama of the look. My recommendation, wear your hair up with a large pair of earrings, or even go with a bright color. In this look, I chose to do both with the hot pink Forever 21 bag and earrings.
PRINTS: A good print, like the floral motif seen in this H&M dress, is a perfect way to help camouflage as well as accentuate the puff. You’d almost think that adding a bold print with puffy sleeves would be too over the top, but really, it ups the drama and can give the whole look high-fashion vibes.
CINCH THE WAIST: To even out the fullness of the sleeves, find a design that has a cinched or form fitted waistline, or even do it yourself with a cute belt! It will allow the puff sleeves to be the statement piece without feeling frumpy everywhere else!
Trying this dramatic look takes some getting used to, but with these four style tips, you’ll be ready to wear puffy sleeves like a pro! Who says the runway models should have all the fun?
Summer: a time when staying cool and looking good can be a daunting task. We struggle to keep our hair from frizzing and watch our makeup melt like the Wicked Witch of the West in the humidity. However, one thing you CAN control is your outfit! Check out these Summer Style trends that will beat the heat, featuring items from Pretty Little Thing!
THE ROMPER
Rompers can be tricky. Too baggy and you have a baby diaper effect; too tight and you’ll find yourself with bad cameltoe… and NO ONE wants that! Make sure that your rompers lie somewhere between these two extremes. A few tips: find a romper that is well tailored, has a defined waistline, and has vertical stripes. This ORANGE STRIPE TIE FRONT ROMPER from Pretty Little Thing is the perfect example! Thankfully, the fabric is light and won’t ride up like clingy jersey material, it has a defined high waistline to accentuate your figure, and has vertical stripes to elongate your body. Plus, it’s vacation ready with its bright, vibrant colors!
THE ASYMMETRICAL BODYCON
While I don’t usually gravitate toward tighter dresses, this COBALT FLORAL ONE SHOULDER MIDI DRESS by Pretty Little Thing pulled me in! This royal hue looks fab on any redhead! Since I’m traveling to Cabo San Lucas this month, I was searching for a floral outfit for a night out. Floral prints are great for camouflaging the stomach area, while the asymmetrical shoulder and the structured V-neckline bring the eye straight to the top of the dress. The ruffle is structured, giving the dress movement without throwing clown vibes. You can learn more about wearing ruffles HERE.
THE POLKADOT MIDI
This retro print is officially making a comeback! Polka Dots really speak for themselves and are super easy to style. I adore this Pretty Little Thing CHOCOLATE POLKA DOT MIDI DRESS . The pleated bottom and asymmetrical ruffles allow for fun, flowy movement. Also, this midi’s high waistline and vertical pleats make legs look mile high!
Let the print do the talking! Style the rest of the outfit with solid color pieces, like this TAN CYLINDRICAL BAG. It compliments the neutral tone of the dress, but doesn’t take away from the pattern!
THE BOLD PRINT
While small polka dots are taking over, so are bold print pieces! Confidently wear this statement trend by pairing the print with a solid color, found within the print, to accentuate the design. Additionally, opt for minimal accessories to keep the focus on the motif. This Pretty Little ThingFLORAL PUFF SLEEVE CROP TOP and LINEN FEEL MINI SKIRT are a lovely example of these tips. The top, while long sleeve, stays cool due to being lightweight and off the shoulder. To both make legs look long and stay cool in the heat, this mini skirt is high waisted and has a gauzy material.
THE ACCESSORIES
Hair pieces are definitely the biggest accessory trending this season! Barrettes are making a huge comeback from the 90’s. Lately, I love playing with one large clip, like this PEARL HAIR SLIDE, or wearing multiple styles together like I did with these DIAMOND and GOLD HAIR SLIDES.
Bold earrings, like the GOLD KNOT EARRINGS on the left, definitely take any summer look up a notch. You can dress them up with a killer pair of heels or dress them down with a jean skirt and a white tee.
Currently in our society, we are facing a new era. Strong, fearless women are taking a stand and making their presence known. Both women and men must stick together to spread positivity and strength. There are a few negative people that have told me that fashion blogging is egotistical and that the industry is vain (side eye). I tell you this, blogging gives me the unique opportunity to represent incredible designers, who are using fashion to raise their voice. Also, I get to use my platform to uplift other women and make them feel confident. And that, my friends, is the whole reason I blog. Not for myself, but to reach and connect with others.
Thankfully, I have been so fortunate in my newest collab with Teyxo. Our goals of empowering women align perfectly! Originally, this was to be one of my New York Fashion Week looks, but due to it getting caught up in customs, I never got a chance to wear it. Now, I believe that mix up was meant to be. After watching the news on the trial this week, I think it is more important than ever to lift up other women. Especially, when you find a brand as kind and as energetic about making women feel strong, beautiful, and offering a fresh new way of expressing themselves!
This Teyxo hot pink dress has well constructed architectural pleating and pushes the boundaries with its asymmetry. Personally, I adore the juxtaposition of the clean, professional, buttoned neckline vs the soft feel of the peek-a-boo sleeve. It gives me the same determined feeling as a good power suit without losing its femininity.
Similar to what is currently on the runway, which you can read about in my S/S 2018 NYFW Recap, I chose to dabble with bold statement colors. To compliment the hot pink dress, I accessorized with a fierce pair of Call It Spring Hailassi lavender boots (Similar)
I’m so grateful that I am able to lift up artists who inspire me. Additionally for this collaboration, I got to work with one of my favorite female redhead photographers, SheSoPhoto. I’m telling you, she has an incredible eye and always uses her photographic art to portray the strength of women!
No matter where you live, no matter your politics, no matter your age, let’s come together ladies. Now is the time to take a stand and make a change! What women inspire you? Let me know on Instagram!
These makeup brushes are redheads!! Loella Cosmetics, completely understands how to make gingers happy. The Girl on Fire Brush Set has bright red tips that are beautifully designed for firey and fabulous women. Plus, they are incredibly soft and give a nice smooth blend. Bonus: Loella’s other set, Wild as the Ocean, is blue and perfect for all mermaids!
The Girl on Fire Brush Set comes with 10 brushes: a Kabuki brush, concealer brush, powder brush, foundation brush, angled blush/contour brush, eye shade and blender brushes, eye liner brush, brow brush, and finally, a lip liner brush. They form a fierce set that will now be a staple in my makeup bag! My favorites are the Kabuki brush, due to it’s beautiful blend, the blush brush, since it’s so soft on my sensitive skin, and the brow brush, for its silky bristles yet sturdy shape.
Additionally, all Loella brush sets are 100% Vegan and cruelty-free as well. Ladies, you literally cannot go wrong with these! Want to see them in action? Check out some of my makeup looks from my F/W NYFW 2018 Recap post.
This was such an exciting fashion week because it was my debut of She’s Red Haute to the shows of NYFW! Fashion Week is a time when I can take some daring risks with my looks and let my outfits express my true personality. I’ve decided to break up my experience into two parts, so you can get the full effect!
Fashion week runway shows can be fantastic forms of expression of our current culture. This season, many designers put a huge focus on strong, empowering women bringing back 1980’s inspired power suits and bold colors.
The Dan Liu show had a very James Bond vibe… if James Bond were a boss babe! He did a fantastic job designing long suit jacket dresses. I sported a Chanel inspired Karen Lawrence dress. The strong aura suggested in the dress, with the hightened sleeves and the lattice work illusion top, blends seamlessly with the feminine pearls and bows. Additionally, I paired the outfit with a mod pair of Qupidblock heels and ivory socks to match my New York & Company coat, for warmth. Aside from the dress, my favorite part of this outfit is my Marc New York bag. I adore the color and metal ring handle.
This gold power outfit was completely inspired by the NYFW Malan Breton F/W 2017 collection. His use of metallics and female suits was breathtaking. My jacket and handbag are from Marshall’s and the rest is from H&M. The scalloped belt, which I snagged from a vintage shop, complimented the scales on the jacket to a tee. I felt sleek and ready to take on the world in this outfit, which I wore to the Fashion Hong Kongshow and after party, and the Dahlia Razzook trunk show.
