Sharon Haver - FocusOnStyle.com inspiration posts

Stylist Advice- What is Italian street chic?

Italian street chic is one vibrant source of inspiration that's worth giving a go when looking to give your look a playful yet grown-up sense of whimsy... Dear FocusOnStyle: What is Italian street chic? I am going to a event where this style of dressing in required. Please help. Grazie -P.G (M.C via Fashion Advice) Unlike the timeless simplicity of quintessential French Chic, a quick scan through Italian street style images sets one thing for certain; the Italians do have more fun with it and a zest for the livelier sartorial options. >> Catch Up on Italian Style with these posts While shoes and accessories are on the more playful, glamorous side (think high and shiny), what's the most distinctive about Italian street style is both their

First look at this Dries Van Noten Paris celebratory exhibition had me cheering for the designer’s novel approach to mixing bold prints, vivid colors, ethnic references and plays with textiles in ways that are fiercely modern. Let's see what Richard saw. –S.H. I went to see the newly launched Dries Van Noten exhibition last Thursday with a friend visiting from out of town who is into fashion (and who comes once a year to Paris to buy her clothes), so I thought she would enjoy taking in the inspirations too. The fashion exhibitions at Musée des Arts Decoratifs are studiously presented in a specially designated space. The atmosphere is almost like going to the theater: it’s pitch black except for

Paris Holiday Windows that we bet you'll find inspiring! Join us as we follow our resident expat Richard Nahem through Paris and rejoice in his weekly discoveries from the city of light. From Fauchon's candy confections to Baccarat's utter perfection, if there's not a holiday decorating tip to take away here, at the least you'll get a taste of festive French Chic without even leaving home... >>MORE: Holiday Style & Paris Holiday Windows Fauchon- Fauchon Holiday 2013 Fauchon Fauchon The windows of Fauchon on Place de la Madeleine has display towers of their delectable goodies of jars of foie gras and tins with cookies and biscuits. Along side are the classic macaron trees along with a new variation, a tree festooned with mini-eclairs

No airline ticket required! We've got the snaps of the Hermes Paris holiday windows to inspire your most deluxe of desires... Sorbet shades of the house's iconic patterns, panels of rich color and cacti a plenty, what gives? Our Parisian connection, Richard's visit to get a glimpse of what Hermes had in-store during the competitive holiday window frenzy season had him guessing what the season's theme was -have a clue? We're guessing Richard maybe be on to something as the series suggests the best of both worlds when it comes to destination holidays; flora & fauna vs. the heat of the tropics. >>MORE: Holiday Style , Paris Holiday Windows and Hermes Usually the Hermes windows don’t hold anything back when it comes to their luxurious Christmas windows with

Let's talk about the kind of confident & sexy that takes you from day to night. I'll have what she's having: How to look sexy in a winter dress you ask? Let actress Lake Bell show you the way... In Altuzarra, Lake Bell radiates cool sophistication that's perfect to take note of for chillier nights out on the town. >>DISCOVER: More Celebrity Inspiration We all love the ease of a dress but sometimes something that appears so simple can get tricky, but not here. Covered up head-to-knee in a modest black draped neck tunic dress with a snug zippered lower panel, Blake looks ready to combat a cooler fall/winter night even sans tights. Why it works? The fully covered up black top

Peter Som Spring 2014 It all started with Nicolas Ghesquiere's scuplted white cropped tops at his final Balenciaga collection. The Bare Midriff, one of those zones most of us aren't ready to flaunt, has popped up on almost every runway at the New York Fashion Week Spring 2014 shows, but are you ready to try one on? For starters, they aren't for the meek as donning one is most certainly going to keep all eyes focused on your mid-section while requiring confidence aplenty. But the good news is that from the street style mavens to the runways, we've see plenty of wearable takes to keep you in the loop. >>WHAT TO WEAR NOW: Discover our Biggest Trend Report Ever for

Valentino Haute Couture Fall 2013 Dream a little with Haute Couture Fall 2013 runway highlights for wedding, bridal, formal and special occasion inspiration. Take note now from Bouchra Jarrar, Christian Dior, Martin Margiela and Valentino Listen, I can almost bet that not one of us can ever afford a true haute couture gown. That's ok. There's a rare madame somewhere who can and a celebrity who will borrow it. Why pay attention to haute couture? Why bother worrying over the latest designs for the jet-set? Especially when most of us will never even see let alone own such a decadent budget buster? >> WHY DON'T YOU… Check out the rest of our Fall / Winter 2013 Highlights from the runway and fashion week street style

Not sure your guy will wear much of this, and in many cases, that may be a good thing. But you'll want to keep it on your style barometer, so take a peek at Mens Style Spring 2014 from the Paris runways and how to adapt it into more guy-friendly, wearable fashion. - S.H. Givenchy Spring/Summer 2014 Direct from Paris: Mens Style Spring 2014 Runway Trends & How to Wear them Now... Judging by the last few uncharacteristically cool summers in Paris and London, the cities designers offered plenty of options for year-round wear. Not that that's anything to complain about, minus the effects of climate change. Expect lots of leather and coats that at least stateside, you can save for

Prada Spring 2014 Direct from Milan: Mens Style Spring 2014 Runway Trends & How to Wear them... Ok guys, some of you want to put their peacock feathers on and we have some men's style from Milan, from everyday to avant garde. Spring 2014 Mens Collections saw the city up its ante on style with a dozen or so incredibly strong outings, chock full of inspiration for now. In all, classic tech sport apparel met romanticism for a duality that wasn't unnecessarily intellectual, but instead full of wearable, great items. Think rethought and repurposed sweatshirts, bomber jackets, shorts, and t-shirts that were fresh, and easy on the wear. >>MORE STYLE TIPS: Runway Trend Cheat Sheet Fall 2013 Bomber Jackets- Doubled-up

You know how I love Cannes for high fashion inspiration that makes luscious, elegant, and real sense in all of our wardrobes. Join FocusOnStyle as we continue to explore the best of Cannes Do Chic to help you get it together with ease. I'll Have What She's Having: A crisp + chic white button down shirt on the red carpet? Absolument, mon cherie. And for real life too, learning how to wear a white top and black bottom is one of the easiest, most flattering style tricks you can master! Discover the possibilities: Simple. Easy. Unfettered & accessible style. And long before today's starlets went mad for Louis Vuitton's mod homage to graphic inspired black & white optical combos for spring 2013, the simple sophistication

Collect well & you'll have some things forever... From work to play, every smart wardrobe starts with pieces you can't live without! Learn a few simple lessons and get set with a practical, timeless foundation once and for all. When it comes to how to dress classic, the RIGHT elements easily become the 'can't live without pieces' in your wardrobe. Consider those tried-&-true gems as the glue bound to create a well-balanced, working wardrobe with infinite possibilities. >>MORE: Ideas on How to Streamline Your Wardrobe And as many of you out there, us included, continue to get bogged down with fleeting runway trends with less than a four-month lifespan, getting the foundational basics covered in your wardrobe is something to master

How to wear sophisticated pastels a la Paris street style

I'll Have What She's Having: Dusty Pastels & Make-Up Neutrals have dominated trend reports over the past few seasons: Learn How to Wear Sophisticated Pastels to get in on the action... While pastels and timeless neutral tones are nothing new, its more than safe to say that they haven't looked this refreshed and rethought since their heyday in the 90's. And maybe that's exactly part of the reason that pastels seem so fresh as they make for a great alternative to the heavy blacks and omnipresent saturated colors of the last decade. >>RELATED: How to wear pastels and look chic not chintzy- look at Tilda Swinton & Marion Cotillard for style ideas But how to wear pastels well after Easter Sunday

Looking at an overcrowded jewelry box from years of collecting (or, a naked one from fear of accessorizing) can be daunting. Statement jewelry is it for fall, and no time better to get the look than right now with what you have at hand. Here's how to wear big jewelry and look like you mean it! Get Inspired this season with Statement Jewelry from Lanvin Fall 2013: Statement Jewelry (aka that's in your face gorgeous) has been making a splash over many a runway over the past few fashion cycles, and Lanvin's super-sized crystal and paste baubles should have you dreaming of going big for spring. >>Five Pieces of Jewelry You Should Own Finishing off diva ready grab like those

PERSONALITY BRAND KICKSTART: Become An Authentic Superstar...

Stylist Advice- What is Italian street chic?

You really want to see this Dries Van Noten Paris Exhibition

Paris Holiday Windows: Place de la Madeleine and Le Bon Marche

Wishlist luxury by way of Hermes Paris holiday windows

How to look sexy in a winter dress…

The Bare Midriff – Would You Dare and Try New York Fashion Week’s Top Spring 14 Trend?

Looking for some special occasion inspiration? Drool over Haute Couture Fall 2013 Runway highlights

Mens Style Spring 2014 – How to Wear Paris Fashion Week Clothing Now

Mens Style Spring 2014 – How to Wear Milan Fashion Week Clothing Now

Cannes Do Chic! How to Wear a White Top and Black Bottom for Elegant Accessible Style

How to Dress Classic- Discover the can’t live without pieces in your wardrobe

Paris Street Style Trend Report: How to Wear Sophisticated Pastels

How to wear big jewelry… We know you like Inspiration- New Statement Jewelry a la Lanvin

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