Blog - Sharon Haver - FocusOnStyle.com

Whoa, There’s Vintage Western Style-A-Plenty

Inspiration Notes: Vintage Western Style to clean your city palette... We all need a deep breath some time. For me, it happens when I get to kick back at my vacay house and leave the urban grind behind for some mountain air. I consider my family VERY lucky to live in the best, most diversified city in the world (NYC) and to be able to spend quality time in an area with the most gorgeous natural vistas (Jackson Hole, WY). >> MORE: Flea Market finds Of course, I can't leave my stylist eye behind. I just adapt it to what is around me.(Okay, okay. I confess that I did do some online shopping by way of some Giuseppe Zanotti and Maison

With Fashion’s Night Out and a new season around the corner comes one surprising collaboration from Vogue Icon Grace Coddington for Balenciaga and some whimsical signature illustrated t-shirts from Alber Elbaz at Lanvin As FNO approaches stay tuned for a bevy of heady collaborations and exclusive scores that will have you singing all the way through fall. First up comes a special collection of accessories from Balenciaga featuring Coddington's irreverent signature cat illustrations that are certain to instantly become collectors items. >>MORE: Top 2012 Must-Haves Launching on September 6th, the limited edition “Pumpkin” accessories line created by Grace Coddington and Nicolas Ghesquière boasts Coddington’s distinctive drawings of Pumpkin, her cat, modeling winning Balenciaga looks from the past decade created by Ghesquière. And

As we've devoted this week to helping you score an updated, easy on the wear and budget friendly work wardrobe for the season ahead comes a selection of stylish trousers that we guarantee will make you look slimmer instantly... How you ask? Well just like the black & white knit dress from Phillip Lim we highlighted last week, color-blocking and plays on print have now made their mark on the classic work ready trouser. >>MORE: Stylish wardrobe options for the office that are AFFORDABLE Take a cue from the trends and reconfigure your figure with pants that while in style, also happen to offer marvelous ways on making you appear smaller instantly. >>DISCOVER: Trim your figure in seconds with this

From United Bamboo, New York's quintessential label for preppy downtown cool with a slightly off-kilter vibe comes one notable, affordable collaboration with Madewell that hits stores today... Over the past decade, New York's United Bamboo has continually delivered well-made goods that subtly evoke the spirit of the avant-garde without forgoing an easy wear for fashion's sake. We've seen them riff on nautical & architectural themes, preppy regalia, tailoring of all sort -all envisioned with an arty bent that begs onlookers to look twice, in the right kind of way. >>FIND: The perfect printed tee -and it's affordable too... And just as we've all been trying to work prints into our wardrobes comes a selection of pieces in classic shapes with

Stylish Office Wardrobe, YES, that can happen! With the end of summer and back-to-school time coming around, step up this season with an advance on style to look your best at the office as we'll be spending the next few days considering top, attainable options to get you ready If you've been reading FoS, by now you may have scored a series of in-the-know notes on how to look chic any time with any budget, and with a quick visit to Macy's, (and, there's a Labor Day SALE too!) your work wardrobe is soon to be revitalized. >>DISCOVER: The never-ending versatility of a classic silk blouse From essential tailoring to on-trend dresses chic enough for cocktail hour to versatile separates that look

Day two of our Pre-Fall roundup for 2012 has us scanning the best collections as they hit shops to help you update your look immediately -why wait? Didn't you love Day 1 of our Best of Pre-Fall styling tips? >>More: Runway Pictures & Shows Balenciaga- Taking his cue from the illustrated works of celebrated fashion artist Antonia Lopez and 80's era French power dressing from the likes of Mugler & Montana, Nicolas Ghesquiere's latest outing didn't abandon his signature takes on 60's sci-fi, cool street wear and Balenciaga-isms -instead, they were super-charged. While the solid pants in off-colors could be the easiest ideas to lift from the outing, there was plenty of new styling tricks to take advantage of this

Although it's still mid-August, we've begun to look forward to fall dressing over the past few weeks. And with that in mind and with deliveries of cooler weather clothes hitting shops, comes another look at Pre-Fall 2012 with two posts of inspirational collections. Look at it this way, we are currently phasing through summer so use these collections to your advantage and work new ideas into your current look to stand-out and look fresh. >>More: Runway Pictures & Shows No 21- Just a few seasons old, we've been fans of Alessandro Dell'Aqua's new signature label No. 21 since it launched as it remains consistently wearable while retaining the kind of nonchalant sex appeal that fashion has embraced since the begining of the last decade. Keeping with

It's back-to-school season and while we've recently shown you the best from high-end brands like Chloe and Stella McCartney for inspiration, here we pay a nod to Ralph Lauren's smart, preppy and attainable line of Kid's clothes. From the master of American sportswear and one blockbuster designer that virtually every single person owns an item from comes a line of colorful classics with Lauren's signature notes. >>> MORE: Ways to spoil your kids in style Ralph Lauren Kids >>MORE: Inspiring Kid's Clothes >>Meet the RL Gang and shop their looks... View the range: [nggallery id121] Stylish children's options starting at just $20 online now: More Dolce & Gabbana... Photos: Ralph Lauren via Facebook

Talk Thursday continues... don't forget to send your fashion questions for a bit of stylist advice! Hey Sharon, I went from a polished mod style and attending MBFW as an invite because of my fashion sketches, to literally digressing into a wardrobe of almost exclusively leggings and shapeless tunics. I obtained a full-time job in graphic design where the bar is very, VERY low. Think: free t-shirts and Crocs on my co-workers-- I will never stoop that low. For me, the realization that I've gotten lazy is now a bit too much-- it almost feels like I am uninspired on a daily basis. I don't want to go back to the mod look. I have been researching basic pieces for implementing a

Printed Matter: Prints we know, are nothing new, but what is new amongst the print heavy trend that's been cycling through fashion is the idea of a shoe with a contemporary silhouette in an unexpected print.... One that does all the talking for your outfit -in a manner of speaking, of course. After all, prints, especially the head-to-toe variety we've seen friends challenge themselves with as of late, simplay aren't for everyone. >>TAKE A LOOK: SHOE SHOPPING GUIDES Well, we're happy to report that there's no need to worry about missing out when you consider the myriad of easy ways you can incorporate the idea into your current wardrobe. Versus by Christopher Kane >>DISCOVER: How to wear printed pants... No

Color-Block, while not a new trend, does boast an incentive for checking-off top trends when considering the instant slimming 3.1 Phillip Lim's body-con number is sure to do on you... That's right, who'd have ever thought that a simple, no-frills dress, with no uncomfortable under garments, no layers, no panels -could work such magic? But take a look at the model above (f.y.i we do know she is a skinny model to begin with...), who's contrasting black & white dress works to create an exaggerated, desirable hourglass figure while remaining thoroughly modern. >>DISCOVER: Simple Style Tips for Smart Color-Blocking Here, black edging along the sides creates a trompe l'oeil effect that takes inches off your silhouette while stark white brings the

Retail Remedy: From our resident Parisian contributor Richard Nahem comes a visit to milliner Marie Mercié's charming boutique Stephen Sondheim famously begged the question "Does anyone still wear a hat? " in the song "Here's to the Ladies who Lunch " from the musical "Company". If he walked by Marie Mercié's eponymous shop near St. Sulpice, the answer would an emphatic yes! >>MORE: Because you don't need to travel for French-Chic-Style discover our French Style Section Mercié's shop is a wonderland outfitted with ultra-chic feminine hats to feast your eyes on. For her summer 2012 collection (she designs two collections a year)she used straw and raffia and color is king. Vibrant shouts of fuchsia, purple, orange, sunshine yellow, and tomato

With the 50th death anniversary of prolific Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe comes a luminous new tome celebrating her bombshell style- Dressing Marilyn: How a Hollywood Icon Was Styled by William Travilla Take in rich accounts that made fashion history with Andrew Hansford's new book celebrating the work of William Travilla for Marilyn Monroe, the definitive poster girl of 50's era Hollywood glamour. And considering Monroe's flawless chic, who hasn't had a Marilyn moment in their life? >> BUY: Dressing Marilyn: How a Hollywood Icon Was Styled at Amazon >>DISCOVER INSPIRATION: Get a modern update to Monroe's beauty regime via Michelle Williams >>UNDERNEATH IT ALL: Marilyn Monroe Chest X-Ray Sells About the Book William Travilla is one of the best costume designers

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The Blog Posts...

Whoa, There’s Vintage Western Style-A-Plenty

Grace Coddington For Balenciaga And Fun Finds From Lanvin

The New Flattering Pants – Want It Wednesday

Artful Prints from United Bamboo for Madewell – Trend Tuesday

Stylish and Versatile Options for the Office – Yes Please!

Revisit The Best of Pre-Fall 2012 Part 2

Revisit The Best of Pre-Fall 2012 Part 1

Back to School with Ralph Lauren Kids Fall 2012

Stylist Advice: Should I Revamp My Wardrobe From The Ground Up For French Chic Style?

Get the Trend – Floral Printed Shoes- Want It Wednesday

Look Thinner in Minutes with Smart Color-Block – Trend Tuesday

Notes from Paris- Parisian Milliner Marie Mercié

New Marilyn Monroe Fashion Book – Dressing Marilyn

Female Entrepreneurs: Helping You & Your Business Get Out There!