Style Maven: Eileen Davidson

Many of us know and love Eileen Davidson for her long-standing role on The Young and the Restless as chemist and cosmetic business power player, Ashley Abbott. We get our daily dose of this Genoa city style maven on CBS, watching her daily trials and tribulations. The Young and the Restless is seen in many countries including France the birthplace of fashion. In France Young and the Restless is called “Les feux de l’amour” (The Fires of Love).

Davidson is not only a brilliant actor, but is also a mother, a wife, and an author. She recently tweeted that she is even working on her fourth book; "Swingin' in the Rain".

Any multi-tasking, hard working, intelligent, creative mother is inspiring. She is a style maven who loves her vintage clothes and looks great at her age. Bright, fit, flawless and fabulous at 50, bravo Eileen.

I recently had the opportunity to talk with Davidson about life and fashion during a twitterview.

LISAG: Can you describe your personal style aesthetic and attitude about fashion?

EILEEN: My personal style is all over the place. I love classic and contemporary, feminine and menswear. I dress according to my mood.

LISAG: What are the key components/pieces in your closet?

EILEEN: Wrap dresses. I love them & have many. Casual… dressy. I wear them with boots, flats and heels, to the beach or a premiere.

LISAG: How do you feel about vintage clothing and accessories?

Style Interview with Tori Spelling

Tori Spelling: Mother of 2, Actor, reality star (Oxygen "Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood") Author (3 times over), Designer, Wedding Planner and Style Maven.
Tori gets a lot of flack in the press for her personal life and her weight. Society has created a "beauty myth" that we all, from time to time, subscribe to. However, we, as intelligent, beautiful women fail to remember in our insecure moments that it is a standard that has been collectively created and set up to be unattainable. We are being set up to fail by participating in a mass hallucination of the "perfect size", "body type" or "look" and we buy it every time. Tori is a sample size, what all designers covet, however, the media seems to think she is "too thin". I think she is beautiful and should ignore such judgments.
The Spelling silver spoon was the proverbial key that opened some doors but it is her dedication, hard work, and mommy-wife-biz multi-tasking skills that has won my respect. Creative, strong, working women always inspire me.
Love her, be annoyed by her, or hate her one thing you cannot deny is that Tori Spelling has style!
I applaud Tori's eclectic and bold style sensibilities. I love BOLD jewel tone colors, patterns and accessories. She is very classic and chic while still keeping a current edge. I'm inspired by women who are bold enough to mix Vintage into their current wardrobes. Tori, in my humble Pro-Fashional opinion, knocks it out of the park. Bravo Tori! Can we go shopping and styling sometime?
I had the opportunity to ask Tori our 5 Style Questions:
LISAG: Can you describe your personal style aesthetic and attitude about fashion?
TORI: I feel that fashion is expression. I have an eclectic style. I love mixing styles. While I like being on trend I love pairing the newest looks with vintage pieces. Timeless accessories never go out of style
LISAG: What are the key components / pieces in your closet?
TORI: Jeans are my essential. I have different fits and washes. I also love boots, belts, and scarves. I collect old and new ones and they are great go tos.
LISAG: How do you feel about vintage clothing and accessories?
TORI: I LOVE vintage clothes and accessories. There's nothing better than a great vintage score!
LISAG: What are your favorite vintage pieces (clothing and/or accessories)? Do you only wear designer vintage?
TORI: I love vintage Chanel tweed jackets, YSL jewelry, Zandra Rhodes caftans and dresses, Givenchy, and Lanvin. But I also love non designer vintage as well!
LISAG: What are you wearing this fall? Tell our readers the key elements for your fall/winter wardrobe.
TORI: Vintage pieces for fall include long sweater vests, Navajo sweaters and dresses, Chinese robes/bedroom jackets as coats/jackets, prairie dresses, sweater dresses, boho skirts, cowboy boot mules, and below the knee vintage flat boots.

ECO-CHIC

Movement? Or Marketing?

The term Eco-chic represents a current trend merging the concepts of high-fashion, global responsibility and sustainability. This term has been circulating in the mainstream media for a few years now but I have often wondered if it is just a genius marketing ploy for large corporations to ride on the heels of scientific information and the global concern for our planet, to capitalize on the demise of the earth as we know it. Or, is there really something to the whole Eco-chic concept as a mind set or a movement in the right direction?

A Great EsCAPE

Fall/winter 2010 is upon us! It is my belief that everyone should try to step outside their fashion comfort zone and purchase (or re-use) at least one piece that may feel like a risk and be (or become) an investment for your fashion future. Make a great esCAPE from your everyday conservative dressing and try a cape, caplet coat, cloak, or some newly crafted version of a poncho for fall.
The origin of capes and cloaks can be traced back to the Romans and Scots, who used a primitive version of this garment to protect them from the elements. Then called Mantles, the shapes, lengths, and definitions of capes and cloaks has also evolved over the years as several variations of virtually the same garment.
The word cloak comes from the Latin word “clocca”. Unlike its cousin the cape, it is always full length (or mid calf) and usually has a hood. A Cape can be defined as a sleeveless outer garment fastened at the throat and worn hanging over the shoulders. It comes in various lengths but generally appears a cropped version of its cloaked cousin.
Several high-end fashion houses have shown capes for fall 2010, including Chloe, Celine, Alexander Wang, Alberta Ferretti, and Yves Saint Laurent. Check your vintage retailers and consignment shops for vintage versions of the cape/cloak. I have even seen re-designed knit poncho sweaters at Old Navy this season.
The cape, cloak, or caplet coat is a great on-trend choice for the central coast based on the weather and environment. Although it is fall/winter one does not require a full-length winter wool jacket or what Coasters refers to as, “going to the snow” attire. With a cape you get front and back coverage but your arms are bear to reveal the chic sleeves of the outfit or the cute cuff you are sporting underneath.
How to plan your great esCAPE:
1) For a flattering silhouette, wear a cape with skinny jeans/pants, pencil skirt, fitted dress, or long fitted skirt. The contrast between the fitted look with the layered cape is beautiful not bulky.
2) Opt for a cape that reflects your individual personality and style sensibilities. Grab a military inspired cape, go hobo with a fringed poncho or knit cape, or explore vintage glam with a faux fur caplet coat for the evening. Make your own style statement!
3) Choose a cut and color that is complimentary to your body type. Women of all shapes and sizes can embrace this trend. For example, choose a thin material in a camel, grey, or black to create a slimming silhouette. Petite ladies can wear almost any cape with flair and curvy girls should opt for something with structure (use a belt) with a shorter length.
4) TRY IT! And above all have fun. Play dress up with a cape and dare to wear it to work or your next event.

Make your daily life your runway. Release your inner fashion super hero or SHE-ro and enjoy your great escape!

Feline Fashion for Fall

There are several trends from the runways for the Fall/Winter season but one stands out to me as the ‘must wear’: The animal print. Just like everything in fashion this trend is cyclical. Every so often designers resurrect the animal print from the archives and make it new again to strut down the catwalks of Paris, New York, Milan, London and Fall/Winter 2010/2011 is no exception. However, I must offer some guidance for incorporating an animal print into your looks. There is a fine line between looking feline fabulous and looking like a variation of fashion road kill. There are many pieces and accessories available for this season at all price points. Check your local thrift, vintage or consignment shop, and labels like Forever 21, Baby Phat and Victoria’s Secret (online) for reasonable priced items. If your budget allows you to visit higher end designers like LAMB, Stella McCartney, Lanvin, and Dolce & Gabbana there are many showing animal print pieces and accessories. When you have no budget you can ALWAYS look to your own closet and storage. You can re-style something that you already have into a fresh look for fall. Some would argue that the animal print has been done so many times that is has lost its chic appeal. To me it is as fresh and exciting as the first time it pranced down the catwalks (pun intended). It is about how YOU style the printed pieces that make it fresh and new. If you have never incorporated an animal print piece into your central coast closet now is the time! To avoid a furry faux pas consider the following:
ALWAYS wear FAUX furs. Wearing real fur or animal skins is “weak” not chic. There should be no victims of fashion and that includes defenseless animals.
Stick to one print. Try to avoid mixing and matching animal prints (ex: leopards do not belong with zebras!)
Pair animal print pieces with a solid color pallet. Pair solid colored garments with animal printed accents, choose one. For example, wearing jeans and a solid color tee (black/white) add an animal print trench coat or purse.
If you are not ready to take the leap into leopard with a statement jacket, knee high boots or printed tops, only use animal printed items to accessorize. Try carrying an animal print clutch with your favorite LBD (little black dress) or add a scarf to your black power suit for work. Take tiny steps in your zebra print shoes toward making this trend your own.
Try something fresh, add faux fur this season and step away from central coast conservative dressing to take a walk on the wild side (in faux snake skin shoes of course!). No animal print is off limit; just use sparingly and avoid a fashion disaster. “MEOW”

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