Blog - Sharon Haver - FocusOnStyle.com

Here’s How Michelle Obama Makes Pastels Look Chic

I'll Have What She's Having : Sophisticated & pretty pastel shades oozing with daytime elegance. Pastels can be tricky to pull off if you want to look more refined rather than youthful. Even with the best intentions, a grown-up woman can instantly look like a cast off from the sherbet scooper. Last week First Lady Michelle Obama made a case for daytime elegance in an easy to pull-off, well styled look that exudes a certain finesse at pairing subtly distinct separates. SHOP: Accessories Guides MORE: Michelle Obama B-Low The Belt Alpha Belt stretch snake coil belt with simple styling to update any outfit. At Shopbop While it vaguely brings to mind mid-90's Gianni Versace with its powdery hues, classic silhouette and references to haute bourgeois

I see Paris. I see France. I see Madonna's Gladiator's underpants. And they're Calvins! Think you'll look as hot? We cannot lie. There is no point to this post. Well, other than a completely gratuitous & exclusive look into Madonna's Super Bowl Half Time dressing room and her hunky gladiators. MORE: Madonna's Half Time in Givenchy & performance video Madonna herself sent these behind the scene dressing room images of her dancers including Adrien, Brahim, Lilou and Maxime to the Material Girl brand, so let's ogle. GLADIATORS IN THEIR CALVINS Tony's helmet Costumes Costumes for dancers Adrien, Brahim, Lilou and Maxime. organized And don't forget Madonna herself Photos: Material Girl Collection

Six Scents has continually delivered something distinct in the fragrance industry since it was founded in part by Joseph Quartana of seminal boutique Seven New York in 2008 by elevating the art and practice of fragrance. By pairing six fashion designers with celebrated perfumers to create limited edition fragrances so heady and intoxicating that they completely stand on their own, they've reset the backstory one associates with a fragrance. Merging a roster of designers including Juun J, Rad Hourani, Ohne titel, Alexis Mabille and more with an outlining goal to raise awareness and funds for a deserving charity along with offering a new way to engage with scent, the company's vision makes it a thoroughly original contender in the fragrance arena. No.2 Trompe L'oeil, a

Lady Gaga who? 53 is the new forever. Madonna shut the door as the Queen of Glam Pop in a Super Bowl halftime performance that included songs dating back to the Walkman days and right up to future present with the (like she needed it) help of Nicki Minaj, M.I.A., Cee Lo Green, and LMFAO. (Update: Watch the video below) SEE: Dressing room photos of the Gladiators One smart cookie to not let anyone outshine her on stage with the exception of some very fabulous costumes, this time all designed by Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy. Opening with a gold cape hand-embroidered with gold metal cut out pieces, studs, crystals, sequins and paillettes and lined in leopard-print chiffon, accompanied by a Philip Treacy headpiece.

Move over prepsters, wannabe blue bloods, and the yachting set! Sperry Top-Siders are having a F-A-S-H-I-O-N moment. The Milly for Sperry Top-Sider footwear collab launches today and Milly Creative Director, Michelle Smith introduces 13 styles that include ones with her signature prints and fantastic sense of color. We're particularly mad for the idea of a signature Top-Sider upper styled atop espadrille platform heels. Very cute indeed. Milly Authentic Original 2-Eye by Sperry Top-Sider at Piperlime MORE: Shoe Shopping Guides You can find the Milly for Sperry Top-Sider line at Piperlime now. We're predicting that Michelle Obama will be caught wearing a pair soon enough, as they have her preppy chic style written all over them! Don't you think? Check out all the Sperry Top-Sider

Did you ever have the urge to see what it feels like to be front row at a New York Fashion Week show? Well, you don't even need to be in the industry or pretend to be a VIB (Very Important Blogger), because fashion week is becoming democratic! Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week along with YouTube and Maybelline New York will live stream shows from Lincoln Center to fashion fans, industry peeps not able to schlep to the UWS, and surely copycat designers worldwide on Live from the Runway. NYFW is from February 9-16, but starting today, you can watch how-to videos, backstage beauty looks and interviews on the channel. Just think, all this fashion extravaganza without having to listen to an

I'll Have What She's Having: A burst of stylish color in my wardrobe because THIS yellow is far from mellow! Last week actress Kirsten Dunst worked one of the season's most vibrant trends while donning head-to-toe monochromatic color in Stella McCartney separates and looked all the more put together for it. While making her stand out from the crowd in a dinner ready suit, Dunst's outfit also elongates her look while giving off a polished sense of maturity that should serve as a guide as to how girls in their early 30's should consider dressing. MORE: Color Stories What made it work and saved it from making her look like a marigold column were effortless styling tricks and a restrained

Day two of our Pre-Fall roundup for 2012 has us continuing to scour the best collections out there 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

First Look: The Zara Spring 2012 Lookbook just arrived in our inboxs and I couldn't wait to share them with you. Zara is always a fantastic resource to get the latest trends at a great price in durable fabrics. Blend their pieces in with your designer pieces or wear alone, no one will be the wiser that you didn't spend a fortune on an entire look- it's affordable fashion with "real" designer style! MORE: Zara Like Butter- Can't help but think about Faye Dunaway in The Eyes of Laura Mars every time I see a double-slit skirt, like this fluid butter yellow one. While the high slit is super daring, it can be a fun and flirty look for beachy days

It's only the last day of January yet we've had a tad too many shows to share with you over the past weeks... we know. And with that in mind we've condensed Pre-Fall 2012 to two posts of inspirational collections. Pre-Fall 2012, yes it's too much! But look at it this way, we are currently phasing through mid-winter so use these collections to your advantage and work new ideas into your current look to stand-out. >>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.

Zoe Saldana in Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci

Another Sunday, another awards show. The Screen Actor's Guide Awards is a bit different from the rest because attending actors don't try to ridiculously outdo on another as with the Oscars, or add the extra zing as with the Golden Globes. The SAG Awards is as low-key as a red carpet can get, and with that comes some of the most elegant, prettiest dresses that don't 'wear' the wearer... in other words, more class, less schmaltz. MORE: Red Carpet We've highlighted some of the best dressed from last night's awards as an inspiration board of trends for you to think about the next time you REALLY need to go formal. This isn't about fantasy, or novelty, but about pretty, chic dresses with actresses looking modern,

I'm never a fan of gimmicks, but some novelties do make me giggle. In an effort to pass on a quick smirk, I've decided that from time-to-time I will share my own version of Anderson Cooper's Ridiculist or David Letterman's Stupid Pet Tricks starting with... A camel toe barrier, called The Cuchini! Ok, for those of you who wear pants that are too short in the rise (morning after Chinese food bloat could be a temporary culprit), there's now a device to "smooth the ridges of a woman’s mons pubis area providing a smooth and camouflaged appearance," hence, ending hideous camel toe and a possible trip to the gyno for some yeasty infection. I wonder if one should wear it

Shopping Tip: The Silk Blouse Your Essential Go-To Foundation. Layer up in cool, polished style, NOW. Forgo the 2000's fascination with casual t-shirt dressing. This season designers of all kinds have been offering a savvy assortment of fitted silk blouses to help keep you looking polished throughout the day while retaining that must-have sense of comfort and ease. DON'T KNOW WHAT TO GET? Try one of our Shopping Guides for handy, dandy style online. Dress it up, tuck it in, wear it out, layer it up or wear alone, the Equipment Signature Blouse is back & a perfect wardrobe essential in tons of colors. As they can easily go from day-into-night and work as an excellent foundation layer under blazers and

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The Blog Posts...

Here’s How Michelle Obama Makes Pastels Look Chic

Gratuitous Afternoon Eye Candy- Madonna’s Super Bowl Gladiator Studs in Calvin Klein Skivvies

There’s A New Designer Scent To Add To Your Mix- Six Scents Introduces No. 2 Trompe L’oeil with Mary Katrantzou

Madonna’s Half-Time in Givenchy was THE Superbowl of Costume

It’s not Uncle Bif’s shoe anymore. Top-Siders are chic and Milly for Sperry Top-Sider leads the pack

You’re ALL invited to the (fashion) show! Well, to watch 30 #NYFW runways live stream on Youtube

Make a Stylish Move in Color- Kirsten Dunst Did, Here’s how you can too…

Bonus Styling Tips this Season- The Best of Pre-Fall 2012 Part 2

Affordable Fashion Alert- Top 5 looks from the Zara Spring Lookbook

Bonus Styling Points this Season- The Best of Pre-Fall 2012 Part 1

Best of Red Carpet Fashion- Screen Actor’s Guild Awards

Wacky Wonders- The Cuchini eliminates camel toe

Want an essential piece to work your wardrobe around? Try a silk blouse!

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