Author Archives: Luisa Lucia

Trend To Try: High Waisted Jeans

Posted in Outfit Inspiration by

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I know a lot of people are intimidated by high waisted jeans, or assume that they’re essentially mom jeans.  But right now, high waisted styles are trending, and they’re definitely not reminiscent of mom jeans, if you know which brands to shop.  I spotted this pair at Guess (whose jeans I’ve always been a fan of).  The distressed detailing caught my eye, and it gives the jeans an edgier feel.  I’m more likely to style them for casual wear, and paired them with this super soft tie front tee from LNA.  Because I’m only five feet tall, I prefer to wear jeans with heels to enhance the leg lengthening effect.  FYI high waisted jeans definitely work to lengthen your legs, and look good whether you’re taller or shorter!  However, make sure they fall at the right length and don’t bunch up at the bottom.  I had to have mine hemmed a few inches for the desired effect.  Sooooo what do you think?  Do you dig this look?  Would you try it for yourself?  Comment and let me know!

Get The Look        

Tee Shirt: LNA / Jeans: Guess / Shoes: Steve Madden (old, similar here) / Bag: Rebecca Minkoff / Sunglasses: Crap Eyewear / Necklace: BaubleBar (old, similar here) / Bracelets: BCBGeneration

Photography by Jessica Kircher

Vacation Packing For Florida

Posted in Fashion & Style, Travel by

I’m heading off to Florida again tomorrow night!  To be honest, my dad is not in the best of health, so he asked me to fly back for another visit (I was just there in March).  But at least this time he’s out of the hospital and looking forward to enjoying some time with me and my hubby.  Florida is not a traditional vacation for me since I was born and raised there (in a tiny beach town halfway between Miami and Palm Beach).  But it’s still a nice resorty area and I will definitely sneak in some time for relaxation and meals with old friends.  Traveling there at this time of year is always a bit of a challenge because it will be SUPER hot and SUPER humid.  When I was there in March it was lovely, but not so for the end of May.  Hence I’ll be packing a lot of lightweight, airy pieces and of course a swimsuit or two…

~ OUTFITS ~

FL Collage 1We’ll be there exactly one week so I don’t need to bring a ton of stuff, but there are some key pieces I wouldn’t do without.  I just scooped up this boxy printed crop top at H&M.  It’s from the Conscious Collection and the material is super soft and light.  I’ll probably pair it with some crochet shorts or slouchy cropped joggers.  I’m also in love with the kimono/tank combo I scored at Kohl’s last month. Such a pretty print to pair with denim cutoffs (or simply throw the kimono over your swimsuit)!  And of course a resort vacation wouldn’t be complete without at least one maxi dress.  Stripes are a classic choice.  This dress is great because it’s loose and airy.  A bikini is an obvious must, and I love this floral embroidered suit from Topshop.  I also bought this adorable palm print sundress from H&M.  The fit is lovely, and it’s a perfect Florida piece that I’m really looking forward to wearing.

~ ACCESSORIES ~

FL Collage 2

I try to be smart about accessories, especially for shorter trips.  No need to bring more than three pairs of shoes and two handbags, if you choose wisely.  For this trip I’ll definitely bring my strappy black gladiators, some trendy flat espadrilles, and a nice neutral wedge.  Between the three, I’ll have shoe options for all of my outfits!  I’ll bring one handbag in a pop of color and the Rebecca Minkoff MAB is a great choice.  It’s classic, and big enough for all my stuff, so this is probably the purse I’ll carry on my flight.  Then I only have to worry about packing a smaller bag, and I like the idea of a leopard crossbody.  The leopard is essentially neutral, but a little more exciting, and the small size makes is easy to dress up for an evening out.  Of course I can’t forget sunglasses, which are a must no matter where I go.  I love love love two-tone sunglasses in black and white because I feel like they go with everything. This pair is beyond cute!  I always take my grey suede DVF luggage everywhere I go.  That set is sold out now, but I absolutely adore this option, also by DVF.  I might have to scoop it up as a back-up!

Stay tuned, because I’ll make an effort to shoot most of these looks while I’m there, and I’ll definitely post what I’ve got when I get back 🙂

Dressing For Weird Weather

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Honestly, our weather has been soooo weird lately. By mid May it’s usually quite warm, but we’ve been getting cold spells, and rain, and all sorts. A few weeks ago it was super hot and I scooped up these lovely lightweight palazzo pants and at a local shop called Nectar. They’re very fine and flowy and great for the heat, and normally I would wear them with a summery top. But given the current wind chill, I decided to style them for a slightly cooler setting. The top is a boxy cropped sweater that I purchased at H&M around the holidays last year. I’m sure the embellishments are meant to mimic snowflakes, but not so obviously that I wouldn’t wear it in spring. I like the way the two patterns work together. Since palazzo pants call for heels (especially if you’re short) I opted for some punchy blue sandals for a fun twist. Kept my accessories simple with some fabulous earrings, and voila! This look is the perfect blend of warm and cool to accommodate the uncertain weather.

Get The Look

Top: H&M (old, similar here & here) / Pants: Nectar (unavailable, similar here & here) / Heels: Sole Society (old, similar here & here) / Earrings: JewelMint (old, similar here & here)

Photography by Jessica Kircher

Crazy Week + New Hair Mashup

Posted in Personal Updates by

This past week was Hell.  My styling site (www.urbandarling.com) got a makeover, but unfortunately the transition did not go smoothly.  It looks great now, but initially crashed and was down for several days, which was incredibly frustrating.  In addition to that, I had a major health scare and was stressed out of my mind awaiting catscan results, which thankfully confirmed that I’m a-okay.  In the midst of it all I was having a bit of breakdown and finally decided to chop my hair.  It’s been longish forever, and I’d been debating on going shorter and blonder.  I loved my long hair, but was honestly tired of seeing the exact same hair day in and day out for nearly a decade!  Since summer is coming, I figured now is the time.  I loooove the cut, but I’m having second thoughts about the color.  Of course that can always be changed, and that’s the fun thing about hair – it’s easy to tweak as desired.  What do you think?  Love it or hate it?  I debuted the new look last night at a Marciano event at The Americana in Glendale.  I love that mall, but since it’s outdoors, the whole experience would have been soooo much nicer in warm weather!  Instead it was cold and rainy, which is very unusual for this time of year in So Cal.  Anyway, I love Guess and I love Marciano, and the beautiful Marianna Hewitt of La La Mer was hosting.  My darling assistant Purely Jessica came along, and we sipped champagne and got our hair done, so all in all it was a fun night out.  Just hope next week is a bit more low-key and relaxing!

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Get The Look

Sweater: H&M (old) / Scarf: Cynthia Rowley (old) / Bag: Henri Bendel / Jeans: Guess / Heels: Sam Edelman

Foolproof Outfit Combo: Crop Top + Full Skirt + Heels

Posted in Outfit Inspiration by

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Some outfit combinations are “foolproof” – i.e. the styling has been tried and tested time and again the look simply works.  I love this kind of outfit, even though the combo itself is nothing new, because you know it’s going to look good, and you can still put your own spin on it with the details.  I’m going to start posting these foolproof combos on a regular basis, and decided to start with a current fave.  The crop top/full skirt combo popped up a while back, and I’ve LOVED it ever since first spotting the look.  In fact, I remember styling a very similar look for myself as a pre-teen in the late 90’s, for my middle school graduation party!!  It was a giant midi length tutu skirt (in black) with a baby pink cropped tank and cardigan.  I remember my mother did not like the outfit, but I thought it was awesome, and definitely unique in my small suburban town.  Anyway, the look has been going strong, but I wouldn’t say it’s played out just yet.  Midi skirts and crop tops are still trending, and I’m not surprised because it’s easy to make these pieces work for you.  The key with a big, full midi skirt is to make sure it sits high on your waist at the narrowest part (typically above your belly button).  That way the skirt ensures waist emphasis and flares out from there, creating a nice curvaceous line for your lower body.  Equally as important, your crop top will not actually bare that much skin, because the skirt has you covered 😉 You don’t want more than a few inches of skin peeking out, and certainly not your belly button…Noooo low slung skirts with drop tops okay?!?  That’s not the modern (or decent) way to rock this silhouette. I always recommend topping off this look with heels (unless you’re super tall) because otherwise the midi skirt can stunt you, and of course heels are the more sexy, feminine choice.  Avoid an oversized bag with this look and stick to something ladylike and demure, like a mini bag or a minaudière.

Get The Look

Crop Top (bralette): VS Pink / Midi Skirt: H&M / Heels: Izabella Rue by ShoeDazzle / Bag: ALDO / Sunglasses: Toyshades / Earrings: Forever 21 / Necklaces: Vintage

Photography by Jessica Kircher  

Trend To Try: Sporty Chic

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Working as a professional stylist, I live eat breath fashion, so of course I keep on top of trends.  I do not believe style should be defined by trends, but I do think it’s important to know what’s “in”, whether you’re going to try it or not.  I think the best way to embrace a trend is to make it your own, rather than wearing it the way you see everyone else wearing it.  Athletic inspired style is one of those looks that’s been trending for a while, and it’s especially popular now in the spring season.  I like the cute but relaxed feel of a sporty ensemble, and think it’s a down-to-earth, relatable look.  Here I styled a slouchy athletic tee with a leather trim skater skirt.  For many people, this outfit might have been great with “fashion sneakers”, but that’s one component of the look you would NOT see me wearing.  As previously mentioned, I’m super short, and sneakers do nothing for me…I will literally only wear them if I’m running or hiking and have no choice.  So instead, I went for some fun wedge sandals that have a bit of a sporty vibe.  That’s what I mean about making an outfit your own – do what works for you and your body!

Get The Look 

Top & Skirt: Banana Republic /  Shoes: GX by Gwen Stefani / Bag: Kate Spade / Necklaces: BaubleBar & JewelMint

Photography by Jessica Kircher

I Love Polyvore x 3

Posted in Fashion & Style by

Okay sooooo…I’ve been a Polyvore member for years now (since 2010) and when I first discovered the site I was OBSESSED.  The problem is that it can become consuming, so my usage goes in waves…sometimes I’m just too busy to go there.  Honestly though, it’s a really great tool for creating fashion collages for your blog, or (as a stylist) style inspiration for a client!  And sometimes I just feel the need to get creative and make a set.  That’s where Polyvore contests can serve as a fun incentive.  When I do have some spare time, and feel like getting artsy, I’ll check and see what contests Polyvore is running. Last week I felt like unwinding a bit, so I entered three contests in one night.  The contests are hard to win because there are usually thousands of entrants, but I just do it for the experience of designing to a theme and seeing how it goes!  I wanted to share my recent work, and spread the word about Polyvore, if you aren’t already a user…

First Set: How Will You Style Your Favorite Spring Trend? (in partnership with LuckyShops) I’m all about shades of blue this spring, and I continue to love the midi skirt with a crop top look – it’s kind of sporty, kind of fem, or at least that’s the direction I took it in.  This contest is still running, so you can enter too, and possibly win a $500 gift card from LuckyShops!

True Blue & Neutral

 

 

Second Set: TV Style Icon (Who is your ultimate TV style icon? Pick an actress who always looks great on the small screen and borrow her style!)  Okay, so seriously, sometimes I think I watch Pretty Little Liars just to see what the girls are wearing.  I love how each liar has her own unique style, but Hanna’s in particular speaks to me because she’s not afraid to be sexy and play with color.  Here I created a look that I felt like her character would be happy wearing.

Hanna Marin Inspired Style

 

 

Third Set: Ahoy, There! Nautical Style (Grab your fave striped piece and let it guide you toward a cute nautical look. Are you on board for this trend?)  There’s nothing better than a striped tee IMO.  Here I styled it with a casual chic denim skirt and some super cute red sandals.  The overall effect is nautical inspired but not over the top!

Nautical Chic

 

 

I’d love to hear your thoughts!  Do you use Polyvore?  If not, do you plan to check it out after reading this post? Trust me, it’s fun.