HAUTE LOOK

How To Dress For A Hurricane

Like many of you, I have had my attention focused on the world as Hurricane Sandy spreads across the east coast. Those of us who live here in Miami were able to avoid the worse but we pray for those who have been affected by this devastating storm. Just the same, some of us may be experiencing a bit of anxiety and humor is the best way to alleviate that stress. Even in the worst of times, there is no reason why you cant be dressed for the occassion. After all, when your roof is gone and your waiting for the insurance adjuster you want him/her to see a woman who can weather any storm (pun intended). So without further ado here is your template to dressing hurricane ready:

1. Leopard jacket by H&M - $48

2. Holister Co scarf - $24.50

3. Burberry Brit waxed coated jeans - $275

4. Orla Kiely umbrella - $51

5. "Cathie" Hunter Boots - $225

6. Pashli Mini satchet by 3.1 Phillip Lim - $650

Dont let Hurricane Sandy get in the way of you having a fabulously dressed day.

Please contact me directly if you are interested in closet assessment or you need styling services.

HAUTE ACCESSORIES

FAUX NERD

So one of my favorite bloggers published a post regarding a new trend with celebrities who sport glasses. Some out of necessity and some just for fun but the look has caught fire from street chic to paparazzi ready. I have been a fan of this look since I was teen (although I have 20/20 vision) and was thrilled to see its back in full affect. Like the saying goes, "everything old is new again." 

As you can see, I have worn this look time and time again with various hair styles. There is something fun about an accessory like this because it can completely transform your look. "Geeks" draw attention to the face and since I spend a lot of time using makeup that makes me look "naturally" beautiful, I had better get some attention! I picked mine up at Nordstrom but there are various offerings that are sure to fit your budget.

HAUTE CELEBRITY

MENA SUVARI

Tuesday night was all abuzz regarding fast fashion retailer H&M's latest collaboration with Belgian fashion house Maison Martin Margiela. The event took place in New York at the historic Beekman building located downtown. Fashion A-listers were in attendance including Sarah Jessica Parker and Kanye West but none represented the brand as well as actress, Mena Suvari. Mena sported pieces from the H&M collection including a nude body-suit with integrated bra top, tan leather pumps with an acrylic wedge, stitched skirt , and my personal favorite; a clutch made to look like a giant candy bar. The MMM collection for H&M is actually recreations from the brands archives that were carefully chosen with the adoring masses in mind. Click here for a look at the collection which will be available November 5. I'm super excited about the boot version of Mena's pump and hope I can make it before it sells out.

What do you think of this look?  

HAUTE TIPS

BASIC MUST HAVE PIECES FOR YOUR WARDROBE

So by now you have probably cleaned out your closet and have consulted trusted family and friends about your new image and your ready to go out and do a little shopping. However, I have listed a few items that you should take into serious consideration if you don't already own them. So without further ado, here is your haute list of wardrobe basics:

1. Tank tops in 3 neutral shades

In these days of outerwear as underwear a little modesty can go a long way. Always having either tank or camisole tops in white, black, and beige ensures you are always repared to cover up if necessary.

2. Heels in 3 neutral colors

Heels of any height have a multitude of benefits including adding height and sex appeal. If you always have a pair in black, brown, and nude (to match your own skin tone) you will always have something to go with any outfit you style.

3. Thong panties

Panty lines are a no! no! They can distract the eye and can leave you with an unflattering shape. I say thong panties are the best but you may prefer a full panty. If so, be sure to choose one that fits your specific bottom shape.

* Side note: Be sure to avoid wearing white bras and panties under white clothing as you may end up showing more then what you intended.

4. Body shaper

These are a godsend and nearly every woman I know has a body shaper in one form or another. Again, the goal is to look great in your clothes by choosing items that fit and then garments that will enhance your shape. Bady shapers come as bodysuits, thigh shapers, butt lifting, and anything else you feel you needs some extra care.

5. White button down blouse

A basic white blouse in either cotton or silk is a must have because it is so universal. Your button down can be worn to work or over a cami with jeans. Dressed up with a cute statement necklace or roll up the sleaves and rock it with a pair of capris. Its a wonderful and essential item that begs to be added to your closet.

There you have it, an easy list to start you on your road to wardrobe transformation. For further assistance, please email me any questions you may have or if you would like to enlist my services.

HAUTE SCENE

MIAMI NIGHT LIFE

Poppin' Bottles at Club Play 

This weekend I was fortunate to get an invitation to one of the hottest clubs in Miami, Club Play. Being new to the area I'm eager to get out, meet new people, and check out Miami night life. So I laid out my outfit (prayed that my jeans fit) and got all dolled up for a night of fun. My girl picked me up and off we went. Being a bit more mature I can now appreciate when you don't have to wait so with my shoulders set back we walked ahead of the line and in with some of the most beautiful women in Miami. Club Play is all that you would imagine a Miami club to be - a star DJ pumpin up the crowd, plenty of bottles with bright dazzlers attached, and of course, half-naked women on poles. The club has two stories and hung high above the crowd was a pyramid screen showing tweets from the nights party goers. It was alive with energy, lights, and hip hop. I have to admit I do miss West Coast hip hop and they never play music that girls like to dance to any more (sad face).

What I Wore

Anyway, for the evening I chose to wear my beloved Marc by Marc Jacobs stretch denim skinnies in cadmium green, Nordstrom leather shell in black, my Jeffrey Campbell Roque platform sandals in white suede, and a fatigue sequin clutch by BCBG. I wanted to be cute of course but comfortable as well. Going out in Miami means early mornings; I mean we do not leave the house till 1a or 2a as most clubs stay open to the wee hours of the morning. This is very different from the clubs in LA that shut down at 1:30a meaning they are shoving you out of the doors by 2a. I kinda  like not having to rush before I go out as it allows me time to workout, do laundry, cook, and work lol.

Though it was not a wild evening it did offer me a chance to dress up and just be a girl something we all need every now and then.

Hennessy Event with Rep Alaina Smith

HAUTE ACCESSORIES

NOIR JEWELRY

I love jeweled accessories!!! Im not sure exactly when this love affair began. Perhaps when I was a child shopping with my mother at Downtown LAs I.Magnin begging her to buy me a tiny cat broach with a "diamond collar. Or perhaps it was the pearl necklace my mother gave me with matching studs I wore to church. Whatever the start of it was I have kept this obsession up for decades slowly adding to my collection one shiny trinket at a time. In fact, I call my jewelry box a treasure box from which I can transform any outfit into something truly unique. So it is with great excitement that I talk to you about my new earrings by nOir jewelry.

I purchased these on Shopbop a few weeks ago because I absolutely loved the color. There are times when a trendy color hits the market that you love but can only take in small doses. For me, these earrings offered the right pop of color without being overwhelming. In addition, I could not resist the fabulosity of the crystals and the ghetto fabulosity of the sheer size of them. The earrings are cotton rope set on hoops with cubic zirconia stones and though they are large they are extremely light. I have worn the crystal encrusted basketball wives earrings and in less than 2 hours Im in excruciating pain at which point I begin cursing Evelyn. However, I can wear these for hours thereby maintaing the integrity of an outfit I took a lot of time and effort to style. If your interested in nOir jewels simply click on the highlighted link above.

A cluster of small pins...and yes, I still have my tiny cat broach

HAUTE CELEBRITY

CONDOLA RASHAD WOWS THE RED CARPET 

Picture originally posted on Vogue.it

One of my favorite new talents on the scene, Ms. Condola Rashad is the stand out actress of the all African-American cast ofSteal Magnolias. If your like me, then you did not miss the Lifetime premiere of the classic and historic remake starring Queen Latifah, Jill Scott, Alfre Woodard, and mother to Ms. Rashad, Tony award winning actress Phylicia Rashad.

Ms. Rashad looks absolutely beautiful and on trend in this embroidered dress at a recent red carpet event. Embroidered looks like this have been seen on the catwalks of couture designers Marchesa, Jason Wu, and L'Wren Scott just to name a few.

So tell me, what was your favorite scene from the new movie?

ALL THINGS HAUTE

Welcome to All Things Haute...a blog

Welcome! My name is Parthenia and I have recently moved to Miami from Los Angeles to jump start new interests. After twelve years in retail and manufacturing, I decided it was time to pursue something for myself. I have always loved fashion which began at a very young age when, like most little girls, I played dress up in my mother’s closet. However, a serious love affair began when I received my first patent leather handbag at the age of five… with matching shoes, of course!!! Since then I have worked for major retailers, boutiques and traveled extensively. After years of following designers, stylist, and  popular sites like The Fashion Bomb Daily, Where Did You Get That, All the Pretty Birds, and countless others; I thought blogging is something that I could do as well and above all else have fun. So with that being said All Things Haute will focus on all things fashionable including news, Miami street fashion, events, and a few styling tips.

All Things Haute's motto is, “exquisite, luxurious and beautiful… like YOU.” This is because we all have an inner beauty that emanates; which is why I will not focus on fashion alone but also giving back and volunteering, all the things that feed the soul.

I sincerely thank you for taking the time to visit my blog. Come along on my journey as I navigate a new city and all the wonders Miami has to offer.

HAUTE APP

POSHMARK

Calling all Budgetnistas!  I have to admit that I love to shop…I mean, I really love to shop.  I purchase mainly online because there is something so exciting about getting a box in the mail, opening it and “discovering” my purchases all over again.  I am particularly fond of designer brands and have found some fantastic finds on The Outnet including an Alexander Wang mesh trench coat I purchased for my Aunt last year.  Now hold on to your wallets because the coat was originally $1100 dollars but I snatched it up for $388 bucks!  Buying my favorite designers at 40, 50, and 60% below cost is better then anything in this world!  Now I want to introduce you to another exciting shopping discovery – an haute app called Poshmark.

Poshmark is a fun way to either sell items from your closet or shop in someone else’s.  Poshmark allows you and your friends to create themed parties (I’m attending a Chanel, Burberry & Christian Louboutin party later this afternoon) that you invite other members to.  If you are a seller, Poshmark will send you a pre-paid and pre-addressed shipping label for any item you sell.  The labels are good for shipping anywhere in the US as long as the package is under 3 lbs. Poshmark does take a 20% cut of your sell but there are zero fees for doing business with them and the cash is deposited into your Poshmark account making this a pretty solid deal.

Poshmark is available for iPhone only at this time but if you don’t have one you can join online.  Hope to see you there and happy shopping!!!

https://poshmark.com/closet/gammaqt

https://poshmark.com/closet/chassy

HAUTE TIPS

HOW TO CHANGE YOUR PUBLIC IMAGE

One of my favorite movies of 2011 is "Crazy Stupid Love" starring Steve Carell and Ryan "my future husband" Gosling. The movie is based on a character who loses his wife to an affair and goes on a journey of self-discovery and finds what true love means. In one of my favorite scenes Gosling's playah' character, Jacob Palmer, tries to school the inept and uncool Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) on the finer points of fashion and how one's wardrobe can be perceived by the world.

Jacob: Are you the billionaire owner of Apple Computers?
Cal: No
Jacob: Oh, ok. In that case, you've got no right to wear New Balance sneakers, ever.

At that point, Jacob makes Cal remove his shoes and chucks them over the railing. A humorous scene but a lot of truth. Cal has fallen victim to being "comfortable" and after years of marriage he just stopped putting any effort into his style or personal grooming. We are all guilty of being in a  state of comfort but it becomes an issue when you lose your individuality,  your enthusiasm for life and it slowly chips away at your sexiness and since non us our billionaires, we simply cant afford this misstep.

If you have lost your way or you want to upgrade your style or simply in need of a new look, the following are a few easy tips to get you on your way.

° One of the first questions you need to ask yourself is ‘What does my wardrobe say about me?’ This is easier said then done because often times we have an eschewed view of how we are perceived.  This means talking to trusted family and friends (who are fashion forward) and getting their feedback on your current look.  Be prepared for what they will tell you and don’t take it to heart; remember, this is just the first step to a better you.

° With your feedback, determine what it is you would like to change about yourself.  Have you allowed yourself to gain a little weight?  Is your wardrobe stuck in a particular decade?  When was your last cut and color?  Sometimes all it takes are a few simple updates to take you from fashion disaster to fashionably chic.  In future posts I will talk about avoiding trend pitfalls and choosing pieces that suit you, your body type, and budget.

° Before you run out to purchase a new wardrobe, you must figure out your style, which is primarily affected by daily life.  Perhaps you are an attorney or realtor and in order to be taken seriously you have to dress “smartly” in bespoke (fancy word for custom made) suits and designer bags.  Or perhaps you are a busy mother who wants to look cool even when you are under tremendous pressure.  Either way, you should pick pieces that are best suited for maneuvering through your day.  You should not only look good in your attire but feel good in it as well.

I will go into further detail regarding basic must-haves every woman should own and editing your closet.  I can help you revamp your look and your closet just through the click of a button.  Email any inquiries to ATHNow@gmail.com. 

Cal goes from shlumpy to debonaire 

HAUTE TIPS

HOW TO GET A MORE ORGANIZED CLOSET

One of my duties as a personal stylist and shopper is to evaluate the client’s closet.  It’s an important step in the process because it allows me to see into the personality of the owner.  Beyond observing ones taste, I want to know if he/she is organized or is the closet cluttered?  I can tell you first hand that clutter is the absolute worse thing you could do to yourself.  It blocks your creativity and fosters a depressing environment.  When you walk into your closet it should truly feel like a boutique.  A well organized closet is pleasing to the eye, stirs your imagination to pull together a fabulous look, and you wont waste time looking for desired items.  So while we all may dream of an Oprah-esque closet, here are a few guidelines we can all do to jumpstart our road to closet utopia.

° Hang as much as possible.  Hanging everything from apparel to handbags not only decreases clutter but also it allows you to see everything in your closet.  Have you ever stumbled across a great scarf or a pair of pants that you haven’t used in quit some time?  Chances are that if those items were hanging and visible then you would have worn them.  Don’t waste time and money by hiding beloved pieces from yourself.

° NO WIRE HANGERS!! Go ahead and laugh but a truer statement has never been made.  On your road to closet rehab wire hangers are dangerous potholes to be avoided at all cost.  Why?  Wire hangers can damage the shape of your clothes and leave unsightly marks.  Wood is best (plastic will do as well) for keeping shape and best of all they will give your closet a boutique-like feel.  All hangers must be the same with all your garments facing in the same direction.  You can find deals on hangers from sites like EBay or Amazon.

° Give your garments room to breath.  A common habit amongst us all is a tendency to overcrowd the closet.  Clothes that are mashed together on the bar hinder your ability to see what you have. The smashing can also cause your clothing to lose shape and again you have unattractive clutter.  Once you have your new hangers and you are ready to replace those old wire ones, take the opportunity to do a closet edit.  Go through every garment and re-hang only what you absolutely love.  Do away with items you have not worn in a while (I personally suggest 1 year), items that don’t fit or simply are no longer apart of your style.  Once you have finished the task donate to a charity but here are some local Miami charities if you live in the area: Lotus House Thrift, Concept House, A Women’s Place and many more.

°  Hang like items with like and be sure to color code.  Should be easy enough but many people will mix dresses with tops and bottoms and so on.  Dresses, pants, blazers, and skirts should all hang separately and color-coded so that you can easily see and choose what you want to wear.

Remember, a well-organized wardrobe will excite you to “shop” it every day.  I hope these haute tips have been helpful but if you have any questions or would like to know more about my services, click the mail button and drop me a line.